The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-14

| o-OmlUable VIII JtlHt SurH0uHted Hil obstteles
and overcame all difficulties, and with spirit
Of solf-sacrifee and devotion that knew no
limits he formed the scattered and incongru-
Gus materials OF what Mt first appeared to be
only political club into a regiment Of disci-
plined and wel-drlled soldiers, capable Of
the most efficient exhibitions OF skill and
courage.
Night after night did the different compa-
MES Of these two organizations meet in OBJ
scure Streets or vacant houses, or empty cot
ton presses for drill and military instruction.
The men were poor, and the costly improved
| breecl- loading guns were beyond the reach
Of the large majority. Artillery would have
been absolutely unattainabe, had 1T not been
for the generous and patriotic devotion of the
members Of the firm Of Leeds u Co., at the
risk of the coniiscation of their large capital.
and of exile. If not of death. For weeks they
employed their worltmen. machinery and
capital in fitting up a battery of artillery
| while many other citizens Of large capital
would not contribute a fraction Of their wealth
to buy arms for others to carry; they risked
| their entire fortune in the cause of free gov
eminent in Louisiana and every man in their
| Office and foundry car led his gun Oh that
memorable day.
Such extensive preparation for an armed
conflict could not but become known to the
usurping government, Hoping to precipitate
| conflict before we were ready, they COM
| mence q on the 18th and 18th of September.
1874, the arbitrary and illegal seizure of the
arms Of private individuals. and followed this
| acti on with several forcible seizures of arms
In store and on shipboard that had been or
dered by the volunteer military companies.
1t became Immediately evident that we must
forever bow our necks to the yoke, or strike a
sharp and incisve blow. Less than half the
men In the companies had no other arms than
pocket pistols. RI we permitted the robbers
who had plundered us under the forms of law
to disarm us In violation of law, we would be
indeed fit for any insult or degradation they
might put upon us. Then came the hurried
consultation between General Ogden and his
friends who had assisted Ia the work of
preparation. Something must be done.
and that quickly - for without guns
or the prospect of getting them
the whole organization would go to pieces
and those who already had guns would be
disarmed in detail. II fight was brought
on and we were not victorious, exile or per-
haps death by the executioner would have
been the lot of the vanluished followed by
the utmost suffering In poverty of their wives
and children. II Kellogg was u lawful gov
ornor, all those in arms against him were
guilty Of treason Such was the dread alter |
native presented to those who on Saturday, |
September H. 1874, had to determine the
course of action that it was necessary to take |
to save Louisiana
"A mass meeting to give the military move |
ment popular and moral support was de- |
cided on by two or three in consultation with |
Gen. Ogden In private office on Carondelet |
street. South Cardinals gifted son, In 1
those stirring words that made to Jingle the
ears of all who heard them, wrote the call |
for the meeting. Not until Sunday night, the
18th, were the orders given to the military or
ganizations to assemble with arms and
ammunition, at the places appointed.
Who can describe the anxiety and terrible
sense of heavy responsibility that weighed
on the hearts of all engaged In the movement
during the long hours of that Monday morn
ing conflict against overwhelming odds
was inevitable. Defeat meant exile, poverty
and want, or prison cell with worse Would
all those enlisted In the cause OF liberty stand
true and faithful TO the last Would their
courage, cohesion and devotion be sufficient to
enable them to meet the enemy successfully
Many Of the bravest, most earnest and pa
triotic, seeing clearly the great and crushing
svils that would follow defeat, advised that
our forces be withdrawn and disbanded for a
more propitious time. One heart never
l,,.s {ala |
was immovable and irresistible, from the
moment when a conflict was determined on
n council, until final victory crowned his
banners Every one in the State Is ia
miliar with the history of the battle
How the shortest line from the river
20 the New Canal along Julia street
was taken for the line Of battle; how the best
armed companies were thrown out In the open
field on the river, and those with short range
guns thrown forward as a picket, under the
shelter Of the buildings on Camp and ST.
Charles streets. The we'll drilled and superbly
,rmed ianissaries of Kellogg, with several
failing guns and Napoleon field pieces, came
rom their armory up the wharves, assured
If an easy victory over what they thought a
mob; and how at the first onslaught they fled
|
House, leaving their arms behind them, is
veil known to all. When on the next morn
ng the last vestige of the enemy disap-
,eared, and our rightful Governor took
possession Of the public buildings, great
weight was taken off the hearts of the people.
Alas! We incurred the loss of many noble
men who had offered up their lives sacrifice
IN the altar of liberty. 1t behooves us to
Keep their memory ever green. We should
'aise monument to their names. Year by
year on this sacred day we shall strew their
graves with flowers, and speak their praises t
And in after years when our children and our
;hildren's children shall ask us What mean
ye by these rites, and what does this shaft
?" we shall tell them the story {
Of our wrongs and of our sufferings, and of
The glorious day of our deliverance. And
hey shall learn to love Liberty for the things