The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-06-02

arms, by his. brother Robert, who
was married and settled IN that city.
About this time, which was du-
ring the Administrator of President
Jefferson, the General Government
thought it advisable to equip mum
her Of gunhoats for service on the
Mississippi, and Horatio Sprigg was
placed in command of one of them,
but for some reason the object fell
through and was abandoned. Again
thrown upon his own resources, he
determined to settle in some portion
Of Louisiana; like many others who
were led by the tide of emigration,
and which had been attracted hither
by the glowing narratives of the rich
ness of this section, be established
himself permanently in the vicinity
of Alexandria.
In February, 1918, he was married
TO daughter of Col. Hall, gentle
man who had moved here from Scott
County, Kentucky.
When Col. Josiah S. Johnston went
to New Orleans with his regiment of
Militia, to the assistance of General
jackson, Mr.. Sprigg accompanied
him as Quartermaster, but in the dis.
positions afterwards made, he was
assigned to duty on the gun boat
fleet, of the city, commanded by
Commodore Patterson, and took part
in the operations, under that officer
against the English. At the close
of hostilities, Mr.. Sprigg returned
to his home near Alexandria, and de-
voted himself to the career he had
last chosen, that of planter. Pos
sessed of rare good sense, and OF
sound Judgment, his enterprise and
energy were rewarded with the high
est success, and he early acquired
prominence as one Of the three great
landed proprietors of Bayou Robert
The other two being Archie P. vii
Iiams and George Y. Kelso.
His wife died in 1924, and in 1926
he married in Baton Rouge, Mrs
Frances senlcr, the young widow Of
Il talented yonng surgeon of the reg
ular army. her family being then con
sidere ! one of the proudest and most
aristorratic in the State.
In 1928, Mr.. Sprigg was elected
General of Militia by the Legislature
having been put in nomination by
Genl. Montfort Wells, who, at thai
} time, was member of that body
: his opponent was P. A. Rost, Asso
ciate Justice of the Supreme Cour
t of Louisiana.
In politics General sprigg was I
J lifelong Wing, and though strong ii
. his convictions, he never permitted
1 his opinions to cause him tn assai
t the motives of those who differe,
: with him. He was never an aspiran
e for political honors, and indeed, 81
strong was his aversion to the chron
e ic ce-seeker, that he repeated,
: refused when pressed, to permit hi
! name to be mentioned in connection
1 with political preferment. Endowe'
}. by nature with talents and abilitie
|, of a very high order, and POSSESSING
il as he did q character which wa
above reproach, he was eminentl
It calculated to adorn the highest sta
j, ton. He was fond of reading, an
IS possessed naturally, legal turn Q
h mind, which led ]. Kingsbury Elge
and other eminent jurists to say tbs
It had Gen. Sprigg been educated to til
h Bar, he would have stood pre-em
% uent-adding that they would rattle
W consult him in manner requirin
70 sound judgment, than ore of the
it own profession.
b. Thirty or forty years ago, car
is playing, in which the stakes we
d. sometimes enormous, was freely i
lg dulged in, from which practice Il
I'd gentlemen of that day, in and arour
IN Alexandria were not wholly exemE
K Vingt et-an was favorite game, at
ur seance one night, of which Gener
IF. Sprigg made one of the party, he "
en- gerered about all that he was wort
u on very low hand, he drew al
be made exactly twenty one. Jud,
of Miller who was in the game, seiz
to the lucky card, and throwing it doy
It, on the table before Gen. Sprigg,
:" his nervous, emphatic manner, a
he in his peculiar tone of voice, sal
of "Sprigg, go home and nail this ca
lis up at the foot of your bed, whe
lis you can see it every morning VIII
ad l,