The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1893-04-15

war we are hot here to discuss,
whether the withdrawal of the South
ern States was right or wrong we
are not here to pass judgment upon
those who fred upon and took Fort
Sumpter but we are here to-day, for
the grand and noble purpose of recog
nizins the valor, the bravery, and the
devotion of our Southern soldiers, and
to applaud them for the part they
played in that great drama. We en-
dorse their acts, and l, for one, have
no apology to make or offer for the
| armies of the South. We can speak of
and applaud the brave and noble sol
diers of the Lest Cause We can re-
| we're and cherish the memory of our
dead heroes.
We can Oh the other hand, hail and
respect the Star Spangled Banner,
that flag that floats over the grandest
country on eartll. Yea, we can love
that Flag and our one Common Coun-
try, and still be consistent, because we
are Americans,
The time will come, when the North
and the South will claim all the brave
and gallant dead, no matter on which
side they fought-so they fought for
principle-and be glad to honor their
memory.
Not far from third of a century
ago, this beautiful country was all
| abiaZe, with excitement on account.
of the Secession Of the Southern States
and the firing upon Fort Sumpter.
Amidst all this excitement there was
but one idea that filed the miNds Of
the people, and that was to organize
| and move to the front il defense Of
our rights and cur homes.
The wal cloud, had scarcely cast a
shadow over our section, when the
spirit of Southern chivalry, took hold
| upon such men as n. II. Ri.htor, F. S.
Goode, j. B. Dunn and others, who
Immediately formed an infantry COM
pany of 125 splendid men the "Gri-
vot' Guards, and, bidding farewell to
all they held dear in this world, offer
| ed their services to the Confederacy
for one year. This company was sent
to Pensacola, and there, with four
companies from New Orleans, and one
from Shreveport, was formed the cele-
brated First La. Battalion, with Chas.
d. Drenx as 1t. Col. and n. H. Righ-
tor as Major. We served in Virginia
for one year-the time of our enlist
ment-at the end OF which time we
were disbanded. While camped at
Richmond, alongside the Washington
Artillery, both commands had march
ing orders for Manassas, but before
the time arrived for our departure.
the battle of "Big Buthill" was fought
on the Peninsula, and The impetu0us
Dreux, fearing that we had marching
orders for the wrcng point, for fight,
and that likely the war would close
before the mettle of the First La. Bat
talon could be tried, plead to have
our marching orders changed: they
were changed. We marched to York
town, and there We camped. Soon
our ranks were so thinned by sickness
and disease, that we wished thou
sand times we had never seen the
| place. Though our loss IN battle was
slight, only the spirited Dreux and
few others were killed, many of our
boys died of disease, and many of
them still rest, around Yorktown. l
see before me, to-day, one of my old
comrades, who went through that ter
rlble scOurge, it was in our case, where
the love ard devotion Of the ladies of
Virginia were exempllfied, when they
came into our camp in their carriages
and took us home with them and nurs
ed us back to health again. The
First La. Battalion, as an organiza-
ton of discipline, knowledge of Mill
tary Tactics aud character, had nc
superior in the land. While as a body
they par ticipated in very few engage
ments, that Battalion furnished to
the service nearly of its members as
officers for new commands, the other
] reenlisted in other commands foi
the balance Of the war.
1t was my good fortune to have
been made one of the officers in Cap
tain Shatfer 81 company, from Terre-
honne, Il short time before the 1st La;
Battalion was disbanded. found my
company at Berwick City in April
1862. 1t was here that the Goth La
Regiment was organized it was com,
posed OF ten companies One from
Natllitcehes. two from Lafayette, one
from st. Mary, three from Telrebolne
two from Lafourche, and one from As
sumption.
Oar organization was perfected By
selecting us our Col. that splendid
gentleman, and representative of !;
gallant race, Hon. AleXaadre DeClou
ct, of ST. Martin Parish ts our 1t
Col. we selected the Hon. Duncan 5
Cage of .Ierrehonne, nozzle and brave
Il prototype Of all tLat was honest and
true. Our Major was the Hon. Win
c,.ester Hall, whose devotion to. ant
! ,.l.iIa IN tE. 0&EAl ~ 49, l..e-...-... ~.