Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-26

one oip CouJlnental army OF Jne war
independence.
Formed into a compact column, th
troopers rode at a trot towards the oil
Spanish Fort, which commanded Wit
its battery the town and tie river.
The town and fort were wrapt in pro
found slumber. The Governor was ab
sent, and the garrison in the fort wer,
reposing in perfect security and uncon
seriousness Of any hostile design against
them. Arriving at the main gate of the
rear entrance to the fort, the command
er of the mysterious visitors advanced
and called out to sleepy sentinel oc.
cupying the sentinel box to open the
gates. The sentinel, hesitating for a
minute, was aroused from his half slum-
becing condition by the imperious, tbun-
dering tones, loud enough to arouse the
whole garrison, of more emphatic
command, "Open them gates id
quickly or the whole lot of you, internal
Dagos, ,Awill be blown into the Mis-
sissippi."
This loud order awoke the 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 a dozen old sol.
diers, hurried to the gate, and confront
ing the gigantic commander of the
threatening force, demanded what they
wanted-"Why they dared to intrude
upon garrison of his Catholic Majesty
at such an hour and in such an as
pect p
This commander was a gallant young
Creole, the son of former Governor,
Grandpre by name.
"Young man, replied the chief of the
intrnders, in his tearfully harsh and
appalling tones, "you had better peace
fully surrender this fort and let us
quietly plant the flag of liberty and
republicanism over it,
The intrepid commander, with fierce
oath, bravely shouted, owe don't want
any Of your liberty
"Then,' replied the rough veteran,
eve will ram it down your throat with
the bayonet.'
The young commander advanced TO- |
ward the cannon, twelve FOUNDER,
commanding the gate and the road lead
ng to 1t, which was crowded with the
lorsemen, and shouted TO the Spanish
'oIdlers to stand to their piece and fire
lpon the intruders.
The words had hardly passed his lips
When the crack of a rifle was heard
rom the horseman, and the young Gre
le fell upon the trunnions of his piece
wounded. Then above all the
in and confusion on both sides could
e heard the never-to-be-forgotten voice
t the gigantic commander of the horse
len:
"Rush in, boys; burst open the gate :
nd give the internal spaniards hell"
The order was obeyed with resistless ,
'rce. In rushed the assailants, down =
ent the Spanish soldiers on their 4
nees, calling for quarter, and in less Y
me than is consumed in tho relation, | q
10 old Spanish stronghold fell into the a
of the Anglo.American SET k
ers of West Florida. .
The prisoners were kindly treated.
1e body of the gallant Grandpre was {,
'rne to his quarters and was enveloped n
the last Spanish flag which ever
aved over any portion of the province b
JLOui5idu6. n,
In it's place was hoisted on the flag W
'tf small flag previously prepared by Il
me fair damsel of the Plains, of white Of
tton, with a single star of red woolen m
the centre. al
Thus fell the yicc.royalty of Spain in al
est Florida, and thus the Anglo-Amer. q
n race established it's dominion over of
whole present territory of Louis sc
-. Aud this grand result was achiev- NJ
BY the race, not by government or to
lfederacy, in obedience to an uncon- ar
liable tendency and passion of the Gil
lerican people to extend their civiliz- VI
on and expand the area of their free se
titutions and marvellous powers of ar
'elopment, ard Of political and social
struction. Indeed, the enterprise &C
ich had this brilliant result was stl
'ngly condemned and censured by .
national government, which did not crt
itste quickly to appropriate the oil
ts Of the victory, to apologize for I'M
oflense to the friendly power bereft Pc
this rich province, and displacing fro
ephemeral government established to
hn nh 81 4 L = IN