The Opelousas courier., 1885-07-18
Henry w. Allen.

monument UHab ulaEkS bH0 SpoG
where the ashes of the patriot
repose, will tell a story that
every true Louisianian should
bequeath to his descendants as
d precious heirloom. 1t is not a
story of battle is won or of grand
conquest. 1t is holier. 1t is a
story of patriotic devotion, OF
bravery, of suffering, of defeat
and voluntary exile. Grander
is The hero where fortitude en-
hires such trials. than the hero
whose brow is crowned with a
diadem of laurels and gems +!
Louis, ana's hero wore no crown.
lis glory has been expressed in
hPsc few words : "He qVGs the
njan0 Of the aOidow and the or
pEaH.''
The history of Henry w. Al
Iep, ia quickly told.
de was born in Virginia and
ii bis youth emigrated to Mis-
slssipDi, where he taught school
and afterwards learned and prac-
ticed the profession of law. By
sogIe good fortune he became
the owner of a sugar estate in
West Baton Rouge. There he
lea the quiet life of the planter
ofthose days and was sent to
represen this parish to the Legis-
azure. While thus engaged he
vas appointed a commissioner
arving without pay, to super
rise the laying out and the en-
Enlistment of the State Capitol
grounds Baton Rouge. Many
81 the beautiful magnolias which
shade those grounds were plant
cd with his own hands. Under
bis tender care the grounds be-
came perhaps the sweetest bow
er il Louisiana. At this stage,
the war drums sent forth their
martial sounds throughout the
land, and in answer, Henry w.
Allen inscribed his name at the
head of the roll of privates of
the Delta Rifles, of the 4th Lou
isiana Volunteers. It was not
long ere he assembled to Colon
eIcy of the regiment, and at
Shiloh received his first baptism
Of blood. Again at Baton
Rouge, on the 9th of August
1862, in full view of the Capitol
he loved so we'll, Colonel Allen,
leading the charge, received the
desperate wound which in time
caused his death in Mexico.
Unable longer to serve his
State in the field, he was elected
Governor and entrusted with
the care of those of his people
most beset by the priyation and
anxieties of war. Then it was
that the true character of Henry
I'M. Allen was displayed. Ap-
palled by no obstacles, careless
ofa technicalities he had no other
objects in view than to aid the
cause of the South to the full
extent Of his power and at the
same time to watch with the
tenderness of a parent over the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS women and
children left helpless in preca-
rions homes. In the States
name he bought cotton aud
other products. These he had
sold wherever he could in ex-
change for medicines cotton
cards to be used by the women
in making clothes for their chill.
dren, the soldiers and them.
selves agricultural implements
to raise food, and for other OBJ.
Tects of prime necessity. THAI
the young might not grow uI
iii ignorance while the war wa
going on, he caused schoo
books to be printed at Shreye
port, and his trusty secretary
ii. W. Halsey, now the secreta
~ of Governor McEnery, has We
ID his possession q copy OF tlhl''
HLouisiana Grammar printet
by order Of Governor Henry "
Allen. He had made il q par
81 Major Hanseys duty to ali
ID the composition and compll
alton of such works
The battle-scarred hero wa
caring for the mothers, TIL
wives and the children Of th'
soldiers who were facing th'
enemy
What country can point 10
nobler example of patriotic Gle
V0tiOn /?
Gov. Allen was q strong az
gocafe of the policy of incorpo
rating oolored men into en-
Confederate army and of othe
sures which eyinced hi
ssM&nkn0a SR earIse OF tll.