The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-10-01

In Jnckso1's camp, In their scarlet uniforms
i excited much curiosity and exultation
Among the captured waa Major Mitchell.
OF the British army. who aftarward OBJ
tained high rank and great consideration III
England ne q gallant soldier and able leader.
After the war Mr.. Story resumed bile cures
and duties as D Merchant. and. with his great
credit and the confidence OF the people,
succeeded in establishing the Bunk of Lott
latana, which was chartered sometime about
the year 1924. The bank Honrtshed and be-
came the solid Institution which we have de-
scribedt and retained ita reputation down TO
1862. when this city was occupied by the Fed
\ eral troops. Through It's whole career 1t oc-
eupled thsyold Dorie building Mt the corner
OF Cont aud Royal streets. which had been
built by and for The bank on an old vacant lot
/ which was enclosed with picket fence. to
4 which Jackson and hts staff fastened their
horses when they first rode Into the city, and
when they dlsmounted To enter the building,
No. ito Royal street, which had been assigned
Oh their quarters.
/ During the long cnreer OF the bank Its presl-
dents were always chosen from veterans OF
the war Of 1874 which fact shows that our
1
military virtues Oh their descendants oil the
present intensely military ora, When Mr..
Story died he was succeeded by w. w. Mont
Romery. I'M old, worthy and wealthy merchant
who had acted as Jackson's chief quarter
master In the operations around this city, and
| whose elegant villa below the city had been sur
rendered to the General MS his post headqt1ar-
ters From the dormor window of this build
Ing, Jackson, with the aid of u telescope, could
command d view OF the British camp and OBJ
serve their every movement.
This old mansion still stands we'll pre-
served, bearing even now The marks Of the
cannon balls that were showered upon 1t by
the British batteries. On the retirement OF
MIR. Montgomery, whose family having Inter-
married with some Of the highest titled fam
lilies Of France and reside In mn elegant
palace or hotel as IL Ii called in France, In
the Faubourg st. Germaine, DIR. W. N. Mer-
Ger was called to the presidency. DR.. Mercer,
whose death only occurred few years ago,
was too well known to even the present gem
GRAFTON TO Justify an extended sketch, Al o
phllnnthroplst, patriot and successful admin
istrator Of large estates, his history and char
acter are familiar to oil our readers. But
even they do not know that this mild, cour-
teous and genial old gentleman was d gallant
soldier Of the war Of 1912, who served by the
side OF Com. Barney In bis gallant resistance
to the advance oil the British army at Bla-
densburg In 1919, and remained as O prisoner
with the wounded commodore and his COM
mand after they had been overwhelmed by
the superior force Of Gen. ROSES army from
which the militia supports Of Barney fled
like scared sheep.
DR.. Mercer held the position OF preei-
dent Of the Bunk Of Louisiana when
the Federal army and fleet advanced
upon and occupied this city in 1862 He
had always been d Union man, had vigor-
ousiy opposed secession, but when the war
ensued his sympathtes were strongly enlisted
In behalf Of the Confederate cause There were
then In the vaults Of the bank more than
three millions OF gold and par values.
The State authorities demanded that these
funds should be sent into tho ConYederacy to
escape appropriation and conflscation. DR..
Mercer ut first opposed tho demand. and sug-
gested that the funds be distributed among
the depositors and stockholders but Mt last
yielded to the itnperlous demands OF the MILL
tafs power oil tho Confederate government.
1he funds were accordingly sent into the |
Goh7aderaey. After an adventurous career.
during which vigllant agent followed them |
through the Confederaey. they ut last sud- |
denly disappeared and no distinct trace or |
information could ever be discovered OF tho |
direction they took OF OF the manner La which /
they were absorbed In the general calamity |
Of the GoEfadaraey.
This lose ended the career Of the old bank |
aud brought saroverty and tiaeoIatton to hun /
dreds og atsea rich but thenceforth impoyel-
ished fasnilias and citizens.
The bank was drawn into that general maei-
strom OF 80 many once Rich estates arsd cor,
porations, to wit, bankruptcy. The h;stlding
which for SO long iittss iEts9 represented tho
financial institution conducted within 1t. as
cold Reliable" YVES SOLID nos 'syng Ago to- the
city, and after gtsne three years use AS q
criminal SQUIRT has now been assigned as q
very appropriate ahd eligible depository of the
most valuable and important records OF tic
city, to sit: OF all deeds, ueEsGagag and the
ct titles OF property aGi securities;
and the care Of taeae valuable rsrardA 91As besai
confided to those two honest and l. frlotia Bitl-
zens whom tho people In 1879 elected Ms *halr
Governor aud Lieutenant Governor, JoAn
McEnery and Davidson b. Penn.
s~.a~~~.vs~~~swm-~-s~~
GRIM VIsAGED WAR HAS SM00THED