The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-31
OHIVALRIO WARFARE.


| CetewayO, the so-called barbarian, VINO IN
tllcted upon the British the terrible calamity
of Isandula, has at least the sentiments OF
an honorable and chivalric warrior.
| This lis shown by his return Of the sword OF
the Prince Napoleon, who was killed by the
Zulus In skirmish. Such Incidents, when
they occur among civilized warriors. elicit
warm commentator Of the cheftains who
exhibit such regard for the feelings OF the
surviving friends Of soldiers slain in battle
and for the Eride which true warrior feels
III the emblem Of his gallantry.
When the loss of d sword results from the
killing OF an enemy 1T has always been re-
garted an act of duty and honor to restore It
to the friends Of the deceased warrior.
IT may be doubted whether q Ike obligation
exists In case the sword Is lost BY lack OF SKILL
courage or by being overpowered, without IN
volving the death Of the owner thereof
case of this sort arose at the battle OF New
/ Orleans In 1916, when Gen keane, In com
mand Of one OF the attacking columns, was
wounded and losing his sword, the General
In command Of the British army addressed q
polite note to Cen Jackson during the armls-
5tpob'S W. "..S
Eighth. referring to Gen. Keane's loss OF q
memorial sword, which was the gift OF cher
lshed friend, requesting its return.
Il The sword had been picked up on the held
by some of the Tennessee sharpshooters Of
Coffee's brigade and had been sent TO head
Il quarters It was costly and elegant weapon,
and was evidently the sword OF q superior
officer but bore no name by which 1t could be
| Identified.
Edward Livingston and John X. Grymes,
the two ablest lawyers at our bar, were on
Gen JacksOns staff, and to them the General
usually referred all questions OF law and
etiquette These gentlemen had been SO &C
custo1ned to the conflicts and discussion at
the bar-beng generally opposed In all large
suits In our courts-that they rarely agreed
upon any question which had two sides. Ana
, so they disagreed on the question submitted
to them by Gen. jackson, whether the request
of the British commander was reasonable
and proper one, and whether a sword cap
tured in battle was not o lawful prize OF war
! and o legitimate trophy Of victory. Beside,
there was, as suggested by Mr.. Livingston.
lack Of proof Of Identification. The captor
had claimed that 1t was the sword OF Gen.
Pakenham, the commander in-chEef, who
!, was killed ID the battle Of the ninth.
Then came Up the point, which was most
learnedy discussed by these great iursts.
whether either courtesy, the rules OF chtvalrlc
war, or even generosity required or justified
!, the delivery of the sword Of q wounded OIL
Ger who was able to ride off the field and re-
main with his command until the battle was
over These were the points made aud
} pressed by MI. Livingston, who was North
ern man.
Col Grymes however, objected to the In
i PRODUCTION Of such nice nisi pfuts In question
: OF chivalry and military courtesy. He was 8
: Virginan and Loulsanian, and insisted that
, all doubts and exceptions should be waived II
n favor Of an application OF that character from
:, q gallant soldier.
= Gen. jackson, after hearing the arguments
y Of the eminent jurists, sided with Col. Grymes
y and directed the return OF the sword with 6
I, courteous and manly note, in which he re
y ferred to the unusual character OF such q de
y mand.
VI So Gen. keane got his sword, II his 1t was
a and made good use Of 1t In his subscquen
y and distinguished career as military chief
tain in India There were many instances 0
|
Il the return of the swords Of officers killed ii
Is battle, but we have never heard OF one OF tn
Is return Of the sword OF d wounded or captiv
ID officer, unless ID the cases of a capitulatton
e. as in the surrender Of the forts below the cit
81 and of Gen. Lees surrender at Appomattox
u when there were express conditions that tn
W officers of the captivating armies should re
" tain their sdearms.
On the contrary, at least one Of the com
H. manders In the late war added new leaf
his peculiar laures, by breaking into tn
s. armor Of d lady to possess himself OF tn
t. swords of honor confided to the lady by
distinguished veteran Of the old army, Whor
We age and infirmity had compelled to retir
II from active service.
The same chilvalric chieftain ordered
search Of the residence Of another distiI
puished Confederate general for his swOr
OF honor, and actually invaded the tomb {
e. the heroic Albert Sidney Johnston In like hor
is orable pursuit.
" How grandly will the conduct Of that nobl
IL chieftan, Stonewall Jackson, contrast wit
in this ignoble action Of the Lowell cheftain O
he the occasion Of the death OF Gen. Phi
70 kearney at the second battle OF Aanassa
ne That daring and lfnpetuOuS OI1ceT, ID fldlD
down his lines, approached too near to tt
r. skirmishers of the Louisiana brigade, We
To- fred upon and killed By them. His body fe
lie into the hands Of the men who fired upc
OF him and his body was taken to headqua
sh ters Gen Kearney wore at the time of h
d. death an elegant and costly sword, watch an
IT. some valuable jewelry memorials. In tt
a first pause Of one Of the severest and mo:
&, destructive battles OF the war; the body OF til
. brave Federal chiaftain undis turbed. with hi