The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-23
TWO OF OUR 1915 VETERANS.
AN INTERESTING MEETING AFTER
THEIR SIGHT Is RESTORED
TO TKEM.

The military pageant OF yesterday must
have stirred the hearts OF the few veterans
now left, who SO gallantly defended our city
against the advance OF the British In 1916.
Two that we happened to meet we know felt
the old soldierly spirit come back when the
!" lear piercing fife" sounded on the street.
These two were Messrs. Joseph st. Cyr and
Charles Raymond.
Mr.. st. Cyr is eighty-two years OF age, and
belonged to the rifle company Of the Bat
the memorable eighth OF January by Major
Plauche. He Is still an active man, and moves
about with all the elasticity OF youth
Mr.. Raymond is eighty-fve and was a
member OF the same battalion In the battle at
Chalmette. Full OF vigor and well-preserved
strength, he, like his fellow veterans. looks
twenty years younger than he is. Both,
strange to say enjoy the companionship OF
wives they married sixty years ago.
1t was interesting yesterday to listen to
their story OF the battle, to note how the eye
would sparkle, and the chest heave as they
recounted the fighting OF that day. Plauche's
command was on the right they said and
had for it's protection only a low breastwork
OF earth. In the embrasures for the cannon
there were two or three bales OF cotton, but
from the time the last gun was fired, until the
red coats withdrew from the field.
Plauche's command, Mr.. Raymond says,
was composed OF rifle company, one OF
dragons, the Blues of Capt. Maunsel White,
the LIE Francs and the Chasseurs. OF the
whole command but six are now alive, and
they are G. Raymond, J. st. Cyr, s. st. Cyr,
Jean Gervais, Jean Lamothe and ?. M. La
pice.
The occasion which brought about the
m oafinU with fhqcp tried veterans WAS tn con-
graduate them on new lease OF life they
had just received.
| For some years they were almost blind
from cataract OF the eye, and could barely tell
| daylight from darkness. The sklllful hand
| and knife of that celebrated oculst here, DIR.
| Cornelius Beard, opened the portals OF vision
| to those old soldiers, and they see again. The
cure must have been wonderful, for nature at
eighty five years has but little vital force OF
revivication left. Both were happy over the
gilt of a sense OF which they were 80 long
bereft and spoke Of the doctor In a feeling
manner, OF his delicacy and extreme tender
ness. The doctor has, 1t seems, been remark
ably fortunate In all of his cases OF cataract
Adolph Dupre, Esq, G. Toledano and many
others have been also restored to sight.
| Mr.. Dupre Is one OF the noblest examples
of our true creole stock. Seventy-eight years
of age he has all the vivacity Of his youth
and in conversation is more agreeable thar
| those whose years fall short OF him two score
His face is classical and shows the true type
OF Louisianian, and now that his sight is
nearly restored will enjoy for years to come
the caresses OF his grandchildren. In 1915
he was too young to enlist In the cause o.
New Orleans, but since our victory he has
ever been firm and unfiinching defender o.
the peoples rights.
| 1t is somewhat remarkable that such 9
number of our oldest families should be sc
successfully operated upon by the same
physician. r..
During the long conversation Messrs st
Cyr and Raymond gave many incidents ol
the eighth of January which we have hos ae
space to publish. We left them looking as
happy and contented as young lovers.