Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-05-21
RATION ROUGE LOUISIANA SATURDAY, MAY p, 1881.

I s-s & . !!
'1ightning that scorched the ground"
beneath their feet in times that tried
mems souls, am reminded Of those COR
reous scenes that Moor depicts in the
aVale of Cashmere where music and |
love combined for q time to make
heaven Of this dull earth--and rejoice,
with exceeding joy, that am permitted
to take part with your people here to-
day in the honored ceremonies Of this
grand event. The holy chords Of the
memory Of the past are once more Vi
bratipg and strains from distant hard
fought fields came floating before me.
Yes, remember that when the red b0of
of war pressed upen Virginia's bosom,
men from her loving Southern sisters
came rushing to her defense. Louisia-
ma, contemplating the bloody spear cp.
on which she was soon to lean, pointed
with the gauntleted hand Of her pride |
to the first Confederate successes at |
Sumter and Manassas, won by the genius
OF her own Beauregard In the ebb and
flow Of the crimson tide that Tor four
years afterwards surged over the Old
Dominion, Louisiana braves who fol-
lowed the feather Of Dick Taylor, Of
Harry Hays, of Seymour, Of Nichols of
Starke, of Stafford, Of Davidson Penn,
of Old Bob Wheat, and host OF heroic
leaders, rode upon the crested waves OF
war, and the story of their services would
comprise much Of that splendid. Army
of Northern Virginia itself. Now, when
the wand fpeaceis waving wide through
sea and land now, when no war or bat
tie sound is heard; now, when the shield
and spear are high uphung, and the
broken chariot stands unstained with
the soldiers blood, survivors OF q gallant
band are lofty and lasting attestation to
commemorate their love for the memory
of their great commander
eyes, yon granite minstrel's voiceful stone,
| In deathess song shall tell,
! When mahy vanished year has flown,
| The story how he fell
Nor wreck, nor change, nor winters blight,
| Nor times remorseless doom shall dim one ray
| Of holy light that gilds his glorious tomb.
It was upon the twenty first of Janua-
nv. in the year 1924, that o boy was
born in the town of Clarksburg, then in
in Virginia. Three brief years had
scarcely rolled on and he was moth
erless; but four years more and lie was
fathelless, and the protecting roof of his
fathers house sheltered the poor orphan
At 3 years of age, becoming satisfied that
he could not agree with his lady's hus-
band, with that resoluteless of will that
so strongly characterized his every ac-
ton afterwards, he lett the friendly
shelter, and, walking eighteen miles,
sought another home at the house OF a
half-brother Of his father. Ever rest.
less even at so tender an age, when nine
years old he departed from his second
home, and in company with brother
only three years his senior, he yentur-
ously embarked OH II ilat-boat plying
it's trade on the Ohio river to seek his
fortune, staring fate in the face and
trusting all to aD untiring energy ane
courageous heart. For time he disap-
peared from the knowledge of relatives
and friends; the lost boy was on an is
land in the Mississippi river, this son o
adventure was cutting firewood, to be
used in the steamers floating Upon The
bosom Of the great Father OK Waters
Engaged in such occupation, without
previous acclimation, he was soon pros
trated by q malarial fever his you'll
could not not contend against, and get
ting better, with discretion that die
honor to his valor, made his way bacl
to the home he had left. Thus, in TIL
only instance within my knowledge, di'
chills and fever, the arch enemy ofSouth
water courses, perform friendly act
placing under a debt Of gratitude
gratefulpeople. Once more at the HON
of his halfuncle we find this perambu
lating boy making himself useful on
farm, interspersing such healthy occu
patton, the historian tells US, with oftel
exercising his relatives horses by da
and gong to the dances in the neigh
borhood at night.
In ls42, when Is years old, hearipl
that the cadet from his district at TIL
United States Military Academy at Yves
Point had, for some cause, given up til
place, he packed his wardrobe in a pal
of leather saddle-bags, and in homespu
garments started to Washington to sc
:; Mr.. Samuel Hays, his representative il
J. Congress. Once there, he presente
himself before the Secretary Of War
mountain boy-seeking a military ed,
=. cation. The indomitable pluck OF ia
y youth won a deserved success. He W:
- appointed q cadet and graduated, an
n was commissioned as a lieutenant in til
N First Regiment Of Artillery, Unite
l. States Army, in l54G. In his book I
It maxims he had written: "Y0u may b
o. whatever you resolve to be-" He dec
J. ded to be soldier! And now what ar
re the wild waves of the gulf of Mexie
1t saying to this unhedged young officer,
ID he listens to their ceaseless roar, whe
f. entering upon bis first active milital
a service! The surging pillows tell hi
9, that the asdent to the Temple of Fan
#. for the soldier is dangerously steep, al
to the whole world has seen but few
lie them reach the very summit Of the aizi
he heights. Is he dismayed' Does ne ia
1e ter? All, no! be is resolved to climb j
y, and the rising fame of a young soldi
+, lights up the glorious track made by Il
D. gallant heroes of Winfield Scott's arm
I'D from Vera Cruz through Cerro Cord
on CherubuscO, Moline del Rey, Chapr