Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-24

WcH. IHOy WcTO ClOtneu III uoucSV""
bore in their hands tho long rifles an'
in their belts tho long knives of tho
back woodsmcn. Rough, staiwart, fear
less aud determined was tho aspect Of
these men.
Their leader was u giant ia limbs and
stature, with tho voco of Stentor aud
tho air of command Of nm old soldier
iIo wore u largo broad sword, and rode
u powerful horse, aud held his followers
under absolute control. Tho sagacious
observer would have quickly discovered
in this chieitain II veteran soldier Of
tho old Continental army of tho war of
independence.
Formed into u compact column, tho
troopers rolo Mt trot towards the old
Spanish Fort, which commanded with
its battery tho town and tLo river.
The town aud fort woro wrapt in pro-
found slumbor. Tho Governor was ab-
sent, aud tho garrison in the fort were
rcposing in perfect security and nncon-
seriousness of any hostile design against
them. Arriving at the main cato Of tho
rear entrance TO the fort, tho command
or of tho mysterious visitors advanced
and called out to u sleepy sentinel oc-
cupying tho sentinel box to open tho
gates. The sentinel, hesitating for q
minute, was aroused from bis halfslnm-
boring condition by tho impcrious, thun-
doring tones, loud enough to arouse tho
whole garrison, of . moro emphatic
command, "Opcn thom gates id
quickly or the whole lot of you, internal
DaGos, will 10 blown into the Mis-
sisslpp.'
This loud order awOko tho commander
of the garrison, who, hastily putting on
his uniform and betting his sword to his
waist, called out the guard and accom-
panied by some half dozen old SOL
diors, hurried to tho gate, and confront
ing tho gigantic commander Of tho
threatening force, demanded what thoy
wautod-"Wly they dared to intrude
upon u garrison of his Catholic Majesty
at such an hour and in such an as.
pcct p
This commander was q gallant young
Creole, tho son of u former Governor,
Grandpro by name.
"Young man. replied the chief of tho
intrudcrs, in his tearfully harsh and
appalling tones, you had better peace
fully surrender this fort and lot Us
quietly plant tho flag of liberty and
rcpublicanism over it,
Tho intrepid commander, with fierce
oath, bravcly shouted, "We don't want
any of your liberty"
"Thcn,' replied the rough veteran,
two will ram IT down your throat with
tho bayonet.'
Tho young commander advanced to-
ward tho cannon, twelve pOundcr,
commanding tho cato and tho road lead
ing to il, which was crowded with the
horscmon, and shouted to tho Spanish
soldiers TO stand to their pieco and fire
upon tho intrudors.
The words had hardly passed his lips
when tho crack of rho was heard
from tho horsolan, and tho young Gro
olo foil upon tho trunnions Of his piece
mortally wounded. Then above all tho
din and confusion on both sides could
bo hoard the neverto-bo-forgotten voice
Of tho gigantic commander of the horse
men:
crush in, boys; burst opon the gate
and givo tho Internal Spaniards hell"
The order was obeyed with rosistlcss
force. lu rushed the assailants, down
went tho Spanish soldiers on their
knees, calling for quarter, and in less
timo than is consumed in tho relation,
the old Spanish stronghold fell into the
possession of tho Anglo-American set
tiers of West Florida.
The prisoners were kindly treated.
Tho body Of the gallant Grandpre was
borne to his quarters and was cnveloped
in the last Spanish flag which ever
waved over any portion of the province
of Louisiana.
In its place was hoisted on the flag,
STAFF a small flag previously prepared by
some fair damsol of tho Plains, of white
cotton, with q single star of red woolen
in the centre.
THUS foil the vice royalty of Spain III
West Florida, and thus the Auglo-Amer.
lean race established its dominion over
tho whole present territory of Louis
lana And this grand result was achiev,
cd by the race, not by government OF
coufcdcracy, in obedience to an uncon.