St. Landry democrat., 1893-02-11
CAMP NICHOLS.
How and Where Louisiana Shelters
Her Soldiers Who Wore the Gray
The Cosy Homo on the Bayou
st. john.

Catharinc Cole writes dts follows TO
the n. 0. PicayUne OF tho Louisiana Sol
dicrs Home:
The Soldiers Home is Just IL block be-
low ESpianado avenue, fronting Oh the
bayou st. John.
The houses consist OF the main build
ing, a dOrmit>.gY addition, an lnGrmary
ward in sepa .ate building, tho super
intGndcnt>s neat cottage, u sort OF cot
tagette, in which lives Old Mrs. Rooney,
with wash houses, etc, in The rear.
The view from the street is partlcu-
| larly charming.
1t was in 1880 that the fact that many
Of the brave confederate soldiers WHO
| had survived The war were growing old
and helpless, first began to make itself
apparent. In 1882, growing out of tho
generous action OF the two gallant or
| CARNATIONS, the Louisiana Division OF
! the Army OF Tennessee aud the Army
of Northern Virginia, a home for old,
penuiicss and disabled confederate SOL
diers, who had gone into the war from
| Louisiana, was organized, and sought
and obtained an annual fund from the
state legislature. It was also arranged
| that tie directors and officers OF the
!
| those two associations lists of officers,
| and that each association should IN turn
contribute the president and secretaries
aud treasurer. During the yeals since
| the home was opened the state funds
! have varied from $4,000 to an appro
! priati0n of $500. This year the apprO-
| priation is $4,000.
! The home own the picturesque prop
! erty on bayou St. John, four acres, and
| all Improvements, also fine tomb in
/ Greenwood cemetery, recently COM
pIcted. Ii is a beautifully kept and gen.
eTOusIy conducted institution, and re-
! ceives loving and loyal support from
I outsiders, who continually send cloth
| ing, books and little luxuEiCs specially
| adapted for the old, the lonely and the
sick.
The parlor is a CHEEKY room, with its
! pictures and books and pretty furni-
/ ture.
! Behind the parIov one CROSSES a small
! hall and enters the library, q long, many
! ca,peting, comfortably furnished, and
with long shelves set i'll the walls and
| loaded with books, magazines and bound
volumes of war documents.
| Every morning and every evening the
! big bell rings and the old soldiers col
lcct in this rambling library room for
roll call. What a brave remnant they
| are, stumpiDg in Oh one leg, or perhaps,
with an empty sleeve, or feebly feeling
| their way with both eyes shot out :"
during the war. There are tifty-four
soldiers III the house, and with the eX
! ception Of three or four, one a cOnsuinp
! tive, the others laid up with bad legs,
all are able to answer IOll call, and per-
form some practical work about the
place. 1t is chiefly the men who attend
to the yard they do the painting, dig
ging, fence making, look after the gar
| has a great supply. At present some OF
I them are at work making Il vegetable
garden.
I The rules governing Camp Nichols
are not stringent. The men do what
work they can and for extra service are
paid. They are free to come and go on
receiving permission from the superin-
tendent, and are given liberal allOWan
ces OF tobacco.
The appearance Of Camp Nichols and
its condition is above repTOach and a
credit to its officers, and the state.
Each soldier Is provided with a suit of
gray which he wears on holidays and
tctc days and when he goes to town.
When he dies he is buried in this suit
aud is placed, unless others claim him,
in the Soldiers Home tomb at Green
wood.
One Of tie chief inmates Of the home
IS old Mrs. Rooney. She followed the
boys of the Fourteenth Louisiana dur
ing all the war, washing, mendiug and
caring for them. Now that she is old
and alone the soldiers take care of her.
She lives in Il tiny room off to herself
away from the main building " here she
mends the boys clothes and lives out
the end Of her life in sunshine and
peace.