The Donaldsonville chief., 1879-09-20
Military Pageant.

Military Pageant.
Parade Of the Louisiana National Guard In
New Orleans-The Cannoneers Of Dom
saldson and Cofield Battery Partici-
! pate-The Latter Company Mus
I tered into State Service.
| The Cannoneers of Donaldson and
Cofeld Battery left here on their special
trail. a few minutes after 7 o'clock, last
Saturday evening, and reached New Or
leans about IL o'clock after very pleas
ant and hilarious trip. The Cannoneers
were received at the New Orleans wharf
by Col. Glynn and Major Scott of the
Louisiana Field Artillery, and escorted
to the arsenal Of that regiment, at Me-
chanics' Institute, and subsequently to q
restaurant, where supper and quarters
for the night were in readiness for them.
| Cofield Battery was received at the
landing by Col. Bachemin and several
other Of the regimental officers Of Or
leans Artillery Company F, of the same
regiment, Capt. P. s. Wiltz, Jr., COM
manding, accompanied by the regimen
tai band. The troops formed in line,
headed by the band, and marched to the
Orleans Artillery arsenal on st. Peter
street, just back Of the court buildings
and Jackson Square. As the procession
approached its destination, cannon
stationed in front of the Square sent
| forth its peal of welcome, the piece be-
ing dexterously handled by 81 squad of
| Capt. Sambola's battery E. At the
arsenal arms were stacked and liquid
refreshments partaken of upon the invi-
tation of Col. Bachemin and his brother
officers. After few moments spent in
pleasant converse and determination
| with the officers and men Of the regiment
assembled to receive them, the visitors
were escorted to the Four Seasons res
taurant and there provided with some-
thing to eat and comfortable beds. The
Donaldsonville boys slept soundly that
night and the next-that is, if the wri-
ter can judge them all by himself.
Sunday morning, between 9 and 10
o'clock, the Cannoneers accompanied
their regiment, the Louisiana Field Ar
| tillery, to the St. Louis Cathedral, where
| military mass was celebrated and a
sermon preached in memory of the men,
bers Of the White League killed in the
fight with the Metropolitan police on the
14th of september, 1874. Later in the
day the Cannoneers were supplied with
new arms-Sharp's improved military
rifes-in lieu Of the old-fashionod muz-
zle-loaders they had previously carried.
The presentation took place at the Field
Artillery armory and was pleasant
ceremony.
| Cofeld Battery did not assemble on
afternoon, an hour before the time fixed
| for the parade of the State troops. At
half past 3 the six companies comprising
the Orleans Artillery formed on Chartres
street, preceded by the Garde Lafayette
and Francs Tireurs, Independent CON-
mands which had accepted an invitation
to join the regiment in the parade. By
courtesy Cofield Battery was assigned a
position at the head of the regiment, OF
on the extreme right, as it would be
described in military parlance. In this
order the battalion marched to Canal
street and took its allotted position in
the procession then forming.
The Cannoneers occupied the extreme
| right of the Louisiana Field Artillery's
line.
| The pageant was brilliant one and
was witnessed by many thousands OF
people, the streets along the route OF
march beng crowded with spectators.
We can not spare the space necessary to
describe the formation of the procession
in detail, hence will content ourselves
with the foregoing general reference to
its character, and with the gratifying
assurance that tile Donaldsonville troops
comported themselves admirably and
presented an appearance which com.
pared favorably with that of the othe,
commands in line.
As soon as the parade was over, the
Orleans Artillery returned to Jackson
Square and here, on the wide portion o1
Chartres street between the Square and
the Cathedral, the arms and equipments
were inspected by Major Glen. l.. Walk
CT, Brigade Inspector, attended by sew
eral regimental officers. This done, the
other companies were dismissed and thu
ceremony of mastering Cofeld Batter,
into the State service as battery c, Or
leans Artillery, was performed, Majol
Walker officiating. The members of thu
command took the customary oath t.
serve two years aud obey, the orders Of
their superior officers during tnat period
and Major Walker declared them duly
mustered in as part and portion of til.
Louisiana State National Guard.
The Cannoneers and Cofeld Battery
were entertained at dinner by the officers
of their respective regiments, and W.
venture to say that more enjoyable re
pasts are seldom discussed any where
To fitly describe the great good humo1
that prevailed, the many appropriate
toasts quaffed and the patriotic speeches
, made would consume more time ant
space than we can afford. Never Wer,