The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-07-10
HENRY w. ALLEN.

remains of Henry W. Allen will be
entombcd at the Capital grounds
at Baton Rouge. and the plain
monument that will mark the spot
where the ashes of the patriot re-
pose, will tell q story that every
true Louisianian should bequeath
to his descendants as precious
heirloom. It is not story of bat
ties won or of grand conquests.
1t is holier. 1t is a story of patri-
otic devotion, of bravery, of suf-
fcring, of defeat and voluntary ex-
lie. Grander is the hero whose
forfitudc endures such trials, than
the hero whose brow is crowned
with diadem of laurels and gems !.
Louisiana's hero wore no crown.
His glory has been expressed in
these few words: "He wos the
friend Of the ,rido,o and the orphaa."
The history of Henry W. Allen,
is quickly told.
lie was born in Virginia. and in
his youth emigrated to Mississippi,
where he taught school; afterward
learned and practiced the profess
sion of law. by some good for
tune he became the owner of a SUI
gar estate in West Baton Rouge.
There he led the quiet life of the
planter of those days and was sent
to represent his parish in the Leg
islature. While thus engaged he
was appointed commissioner SER
wing without pay, to supervise the
laying out and establishment of
the State Capitol grounds at Baton
Rouge. Many of the beautiful
magnolias which shade the grounds
were planted by his own hands.
Under his tender care the grounds
became perhaps the sweetest bow
er in Louisiana. At this stage,
the war drums sent forth their
martial sounds throughout the
land, and in answer, Henry w.
Allen inscribed his name ut the
head of the roll of privates of the
Delta Rifles, of the 4th Louisiana
Volunteers. 1t was not long ere
he assembled to the Colonelcy of
the regiment, and at Shiloh rcceiy-
cd his first baptism of blood.
Again at Baton Rouge, on the 5th
of August 1862, in full view of the
Capitol he loved so we'll, Colonel
Allen, leading the charge. received
the desperate wound which intime
caused his death in Mexico.
Unable longer to serve his State
in the field, he was elected Cover
nor, and entrusted with the care of
his people most beset by the pri-
vatiOn and anxieties of war. Then
it was that the true character of
Henry w. Allen was displayed.
Appalled, by no obstacles, careless
of technicalities, he had no other
objects in view than to aid the
South to the full extent of his
power and at the same time to
watch with the tenderness of a par
ent over the non-combatants-the
women and children left helpless
in precarious homes. In the State S
name he bought cotton and other
products. These he had sold for
whatever he found in exchange for
medicines; cotton cards, to be
used by the women in making
clothes for their children, the sol
diers and themselves; agricultural
Implements to raise food, and for
other objects of prime necessity.
That the young might not grow up
| in ignorance while the war was GO
ing on, he caused school books to
be printed at Shreveport, and his
trusty secretary, Major L. w. Hal
sey, now the secretary of Governor
McEncry, has yet in his possession
a copy of the Louisiana Gram
mar printed by order of Cover
nor Henry w. Allen. lie made it
a part of Major Halsey's duty to
aid in the composition and compi-
lation of such works.
The battle-scarred hero was car
ing for the mothers, the wives aud