, 1879-04-20
Some "reminiscences OF the Late
ly-Deceased Confederate
General.
How His Father Cured Him Of His We
sire to Become Sailor.
A ChiYalrous Commander--~How He
Treated Union Prisoners.

man on his own account. His biography ha
already been written in the Daper5,-hoW he Of
posed Secession, aud only went into 1t undo
protest when his native State OF Louisiana ha
already committed itself to the doctrine. Fiuall
entering the contest, he made one OF the mos
brilliant records, considering everything, OF an
man on the Southern side. It should be born
IN mind that, being opposed to the War, an'
having fought Secession till hostilities actual
commenced, he retired to his own estate, dc
tcr1nincd to accept only such responsibility d
was brought to him unsought. He was sool
appointed Colonel OF the Ninth Louisiana In
1antry, and came up through the various stage
to.
L1EUTENANTGENERAL,
In which grade he presented the hilt OF hi:
sword to Gen. Candy, on the 4th Of May, 1866
His volume OF "reminiscences OF the War,
which came very near being posthumous, shows
| that he was close observer OF men and things,
and possessed no mcan ability as writer. Al
though playing a somewhat subordinate part il
the late unpleasantness, he always attracted
! marked attention. :"
| About year ago was thrown into the CON.
| panr, for an evening, Of an old ex-planter from
Louisiana We we're fellow guests at the Gibson
House, in Cincinnati; and, be being Of a commu-
nicative turn OF mind, the conversation naturally
| fell upon affairs with which he Was acquainted
! in his natiye-State. We had talked only short
! time when he conveyed the information that he
| had before the War lived near the old Taylor
| estate, and had in the old days known the ex-
! President, and more recently knew Gen.
!" Dick" quite intimately. was naturally in
terested, and, obtaining large number Of facts,
arm tempted to give them now, notwithstand-
ing the fact that "reminiscences OF the Confed-
crate Brgadicrs are not 80 pleasant as they might
be, these days, to the Northern mind.
"President Taylor's family Was ACCOMPLISHED
in the highest degree,' said the old gentleman.
t'Alrs. Jefferson Davis is not only a perfect
lady, but she IS thoroughly educated, her father
having taken every possible pains in her behalf;
but, while all the ex-President's children were
very dear to him, it was thought by q good
many people that he was
p, 49,. MORE FOND OF DICE
than of any OF the rest. He was bright and in
tcrcsting, full of fancies, and quite fond OF his
books. He would often astonish his father with
some reflection much beyond his years, and it
was to him that the ex-President looked for the
honor Of the family to dcscend.''
"How was Gen. Dicks early education con-
duttea2h asked.
'saIostly by private tntors,n be continued,
~ Entil he had reRched some advancement
when, as Is we'll known, he was sent to the West
Point Academy, where he graduated But, like
many other boys whose minds are very active,
and afterwards make great men, Dick, at about
the age OF 10, got some very curious notions into
his head, that caused his father good deal OF
trouble. But the hero Of the Mexican war and
the future President was adequate to the emer-
gency, and, Dy holding him with close rein and
indulging III a little ,juuicioua management, he
was able to bring him through all right.''
In hat fr1
run?n
principally, as I have been told, in one d.
rection, or at least SO much SO that, when they
were diverted from this direction, he was largely
cured Of them all. he had, suppose, been
reading more OF less pirate tales aud sea-noyels,
aud, from their exaggerated statements and
descriptions OF the beauty and pleasures OF slife
on the ocean-wayc,' be determined that nothing
but
THE LIFE or SAILOR
would suffice to crafty his ambition and the
cravings Of his heart. He put this In much less
glowing colors than it appeared to him, resery-
ing the Oriental plcturlnss for the depths of his
own SOUL Finally he broke his intention OF fol-
lowing the life OF a sailor to his father. The
latter received the information with q great de-
gree OF surprise, and attempted to persuade his
son from bis Intention. Dick listened with
marked attention, bns was not convinced
pursue any other calling, and in due time in
1oru'ed his father so. .He said: I take no
interest in any study now that does not bear
upon this subject. | see pictures of ships be-
tween my eyes and the page when try to read |
my ears in my most quies moments.' have |
heard the cx-PresIdent relate this incident: and
he said that, when this point in the impetuous |
boys discourse was reached, be could not
man, and, eeasing bis speech, be ayerted |
his head, while 4 big tear started is !
each eye at the thought that his father I
atd not appreciate or understand his deep !
3egs'ngs: s sa;a 1,1 mate pp ny mind when saw
pcr1nlttcd him to try his hand at what he
thought was his natural calling. he would surely
run away from home and try It any way. This,
oi course, would be VERY. unfortunate, and
marked to hIm, in lny kst,dcst tone Of voice,
TINT. II he was bent upon the life OF 4 sailor, 1t
would DC useless in me to oppose him, aud |
would
DO ALL IN MY POWER TO ASSIST HIM.
told him that would much prefer to have
40 means oppose his fnclinations. The next |
Jay the conversation was agaiu taken up BY the
ather telling the son that be. had better
,es1n * hs life M ct sailor: as utmost every
1ext day they would 60 to the port, where
le would ret him berth on steamboat. He
slso argued that, in order to make 1t success,
Dick should begin at the bottom and come up
|
'nter the service as cabin-boy. This was new
dea to the young man, who had not thought
much Of the details Of the business; but he Was
ietermined not to back out. According to an
they went the next day to the port,
nd there, incog., the General and future Prcsi.
lent sought among the various offices and | 1
iTer- captaius Of the dock for the position Of | :
abin-boy for bis sou. The search was moi q /
cry long one, but sufficient to show to both
athcr and son all the disagreeabIe features of
he low class Of characters VINO haunted the l
ocks OF the Mississippi River ports In the old !
days. The young man was
BOUND GUT FOR TWO TEARS
0 the captain Of one Of the smaller crafts. The
arting scene between father and son did not
ispay half tue feeling that either felt. hnt .
9th bore up we'll under the pressure, The ex. =.
resident departed for his .,otel to remain dur
'g the nlgnt, and the next day returned to bis
s'Well, how did Dick enjoy his new ltfe?, !
'kcd, much Interested, as the uarrator pansea
" DC didn't like 1t at all. He had meyer hcen
seq 10 much restraint, and had been used tn =
WING orders rather than oheying them. II |
ave MS superiors order hin about came verv :
ard; and. ouce OF twcc, when he didn,t otcv
ISL as 1asr as ne should have done. he was nc. y
sted with kick He had come to The shin with m :,