The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-03
=. POLITICAL DUEL.
soRH SwFUL "REMINISCENCES OF A
VETERAN OF TMIHTY.FIvE
YEARS AGO.

We, in common with host of the other
friends Of our fellow citizen, Gen. John l.
Lewis, are gratified to see him once more
abroad, in the enjoyment Of that remarkable
vigor and vivacity Of mind, body and spirits
which have distinguished him throughout his
long and eventful life and have been so well
preserved to an extreme old age.
On the twenty-frst of January last this
staunch veteran who fora qoarter of a century
has, with so much dignity and impressiveDsss
fulfilled the duties OF executive officer Of The
Supreme Court, whilst announcing in the usual
form the adjournment OF the court, was sud
denly seized with apoplectic symptoms and
fell to the floor. He was taken to his home,
and his symptoms regarded by the at
tending physicians as OF q serious character.
After some weeks OF confinement and the skill
lq application OF the proper S@fdi9s The
Gus assaults OF q dangerous malady, and re-
turned TO his duties and to the society of those
old friends and contemporaries by whom he
has always been regarded with SO much affec-
tiOn and respect. o
Theosudden interruption of the uniformly
vigorous physical condition OF Gen Lewis
was traced by his physicians to serious
wound he received at the battle of Mansfield
in 1868 when, at the hfSd Of large force Of
disciplineeeforce of Gen Banks, and assisted
in arresting the advance OF that invading
army. In that affair the General was struck
on the head by O fragment of q shell and was
knocked from his horse senseless.. The mis-
sile left u deep indenture on the skull and evcy
since the General has experienced period
ically the effects of the confusion in
severe headaches and great debility.
His general health. however, continues
good, and we sincerely trust he will long be
spared to us Us one of the most honored and
respected of that small band ofoeterans who,
by their galantry, patriotism, high sense
Of honor and fidelity In all the relations Of
life. illustrated the early history of our city.
Gen. Lewis is one of the few survivors of the
era OF the ceason OF Louisiana to the United
States and the establishment of what is
known as the American Dominion. native
Of Kentucky, born in 1900, he was brought by
his father to this city when an infant, wit
States was present as q boy at the battle OF
New Orleans, knew Familiarity all the great
men who have figured In the eventful his
tory OF the city. has filled successfully
the offices of clerk Of our First District
Court, Sheriff, Mayor of the city, Senator, aud
Major General Of the militia, and during our
late civil war marshaled the militia OF the
State and led them with the most heroic gal
lantry and military skill against the. well
equipped and disciplined army of Banks, in
field, This is the brief eptome of the life and
services of this gallant veteran Who, after the
loss of fortune and of nearly all his contem-
poraries, contents himself with the small
emoluments of the office of erier Of our Su
preme Court, and gives to the position dig
nifty and impressveness that are rarely wit
messed in the judicial tribunals OF this country
When we commenced this article it WAS not
our purpose to extend 1t to a sketch OF the
character and services of our venerable friend
We have been led quite far away from our
original object, which had no further scope
than the correct recital of sad "reminiscences
OF Gen. Lewis, which has been with grave
seriousness recently raked out OF the many
tory and reproduced by one of our contem
poraries. This is the version Of u duel which
occurred in this city more than thirty years
ago. in which Gen. Lewis acted the part forced
upon him, of friend of one of the combat
ants In this capacity the duty devoIved
upon Gen Lewis OF loading the weapon Of
his principal By this load 9 brave man, a
father and husband, was killed. Tween
ty years afterwards. during our late
war, the eye of the General, when
through q village In one of the Red river
parishes, was attracted by sign over small
store which was painted with the letters Mrs.
Hueston milliner and mantua maker"
Hating in front of the store, he inquired Of
some citizens who stood near: SIS the lady
who keeps this store the widow of a gentle
man who was az editor in Baton Rouge and
was killed thirty years ago?" "The same
was the response.
"My Cod" exclaimed tho warm hearted
veteran to q brother officer who rode by his
side, 81 loaded the gun which killed him.
The terrible scene was brought to his reCol-
lection with n distinctness and remorsefui
sorrow which unnamed the stern old soldier.
The tears gushed from his eyes, his utteranee
was choked with grief, and one of his aids had
to seize him by the arm to prevent his falling
from his horse. AS soon as he could recover
from the shock of this revelation and reminder
of the most painful incident in his long life,
the General directed one Of his aids to inquire
into the circumstances Of the widow, and to
tender any aid or protection in his power to
alleviate the sorrow and restitution in which
she had been left by the unhappy bereave-
ment in which he felt he had borne SO promi
was in far better circumstances Of worldly
comfort than the poor Confederate chieftain
AS the General rode out Of the village with
his staff, he related the facts. 1t was in
occurred in this State between the Wing and
Dem ocratic parties. The contest was for
in Congress. Each party
had brought forward Its strongest candidates.
The journals of the two parties were es-
pecially vigorous and aggressive in their
party. Personality and virulent criticism
were never before carried to such pitch In
this State. The Tropic, daily newspaper,
conducted with great yigor and savagery by
bOI mGhiult, ItuSsu u HciCtly DtulStLtuI
tone into the party and It's press throughout
The State. Many personal conflicts and affairs
Of honor resulted from this bellcose spirit.
These quarres of individuals were adopted
Dy their parties, and the fights assumed
The character of faction fights instead Of per-
5onal affairs of honor. One of the most I'M
happy and tragic of these combats was that
which reYllted in the death Of Hueston, the
editor of The Baton Rouge Gnsette. oHueston
was of Northern birth, and had recently as
5umed editorial charge Of the paper, which
nad previously maintained the reputation of a
prudent, sedate and cautious Wing Journal.
Hueston gave an entirely new character to
The Gazette. The Tfopic had innoculated the
Gazette with it's partisan virus, and it's edi-
torlals brIstled with sarcasms and . offensive
lnjustitiabIe of these, which ledoo the tragic
scene, we have to relate, was con
aimed in review OF the congressional
candidates. The Democratic candidates
n the Fourth and the Second Congressional |
Districts were Gen. Bossier and the Hon.