Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-24
BATON ROUGE IN 1861.

DAroN ROUGE IN 1861.
On the eleventh of January, 1851, oc.
cured another great military and poll
tical event in tho little capital of Louis.
lana, IL was ", event Of profound inn
port aud far roacting consequences.
This was tho arrival by steamboat
from Now Orleans Of a'splendid body of
uniformed soldiers, two hundred in
number, fully armed and equipped, and
commanded by u veteran Colonel Of tho
Mexican wal. This body of soldiers.
hold under admirable discipline and
bearing themselves with all tho port
and self.reliance Of thoroughly drilled
regulars, marched from the boat to tho
broad street known M tho Boulevard,
and tllcro formed in an imposing limo.
They woro quickly joined by several
bodies Of local troops, also woIl dis,
ciplined and organized.
| After short roviM and tho delivery
by aids Of certain brief orders, this M
posing array broke into column, and
led by their gallant commander, Tho
stalwart aud Soldiorly Mexican veteran,
took up tho march through tho broad
street which conducted to the main gate
of tho barracks and arsenal, few
squares off. 1t was tho same road which
Thomas and his rugged adycnturcrs had
traversed fifty years before. Tho ad-
vance of this formidable column was
not made in silence through tho streets
of q slumbering town, or under cover OF
darkness. On the contrary, tho whole
population aud crowd Of visitors
throngod the streets, filed tho galleries
and windows, and, without unsccmly
demonstrations, regarded the scene with
countenanccs Of profound interest, not
unmiAgled with sorrow, appro hcnsion
and restrained pride aud earncstncss.
Tho column, adv ancing with stcadi-
ness and military precision, soon reach
cd y position which commanded full
Wow of tho wi,lc main entrance 10 tho
barracks and arsenal.
Tho gates were wide open. No scnG-
mol now guarded thcm. No Grandpro
could bo sccn to offer his liIo as u sacrifice
to his loyalty. There lay before the
gallant body of volunteers an abandon
ed fortress and arsenal Not u hostile
soldier was visible. 70 flag waved from
the flagstaff; its ropes and truck had
been cut Tho volunteers marched
through tho open gates on tho wide
campus, wheeled into line, and their
commander, ordering his officers to the
front, assigned thor. TO various duties,
and eujoinins thcstriNost ordor and dis
cipline, disnisscl tho battalion for
meals and rest. And now, again this
famous old historical citadel was prac-
tically abandoned to the occupation OF
the soldiers of Louisiana. A fow hours
before it had been occupied by q force OF
tho United States under Major llaskins,
composed OF eighty regular officers and
soldiers. By previous arrangement
made with the Governor of Louisiana
and his military board, tho commander
of this force had, with duo and proper
protest, agreed to abandon the barracks
and arsenal in case u superior force pre-
sented itself. The condition precedent
was satisfactorily executed. A glance
at the force aud the preparations for the
armed occupation satisfied Major Has
kins, and he marched his garrison forth
and took quarters elsewhere.
That night the volunteers rested from
the fatigues and excitement of the mo
mentous event Of the day.
4 Early OH the twelfth Of January tn,
barracks, arsenal and camping grounds
and indeed the whole town, were aIiv'
with preparations for the celebration OF
the event Of the day before. The band'
of music struck up the most animatint
military airs. The volunteers were bu