The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-02-06
Levee to be taken on board the

D0alS.
He also bought the crops i'll the
seed of everyone who would sell
to him, "a large namber,) glpnea
and hauled it to Alexandra,
amounting in all to several thou
sand bales four or five thousand.
Some of the Transports loaded mp
and started out with the cotton,
| Otners-when Gen'l. Banks met
with his defeat at Mansfield and
rctreated to Observation-Disclosures OFT
the cotton to receive on board his
troops. Before the army lett Al
exandria they burned the town
and will, it all Of Gen'l. Bailey's
cotton, that had not been previous
ly carried off by the boats and con.
tinued the retreat to the mouth OF
Red River, applying the torch
and leaving il their wake the vast
and wautOu destruction Of prop
eTty.
Gen. Bailey made his claim against
the Government for the cotton dc.
stroyed aud that which was car
lied off on the Government boats,
spent much time and a fortune i'll
preparing the necessary testimony
to prove up his claim. Employed
able Lawyers at great expense, to
prosecute his claim, but never re-
ceived from the Government to
this day, one cent. His claim is
still alivc and pending, but those
who should have been the beneficia-
lies-Gen'l. and Mrs. Bailey-have
passed away in poverty, lament
ing the injustice of our great and
good Government"
Soon after the close CT the war
the Cotton Factor house of G. A.
Weed & Co., Of New Orleans, fail
ed and went into bankruptcy, en-.
teriDg on their schedule Of iiahil-
tiles the name Ct William Bailey,
$500, 600.
This WAS a crushing blow, from
which he never recovered, fnan-
cially. Up to the time OF her death
Mrs. Bailey was buoyed up by the
the hope that her cotton claim,
which she continued to prosecute
after the death of her husband,
would be paid-at least, in part
and that she would be thus en-.
ab!ed to become once more, the
proud Mistress of her beloved
homestead, which though badly
wrecked by time and the want of
means to keep it up, was still to
her, the dearest spot On earth.
Mrs. Bailey died suddenly, in
the Richland house, in the arms of
her granddaughter, Miss Alice
Pendleton, at l O'Clock q. M, Jan.
Goth. No premoniticn of this sad
end was given. She having re-
tired at her usual hour and appa.
rently in her usual good health,
a few hours later, calling for her
grand daughter, who at once rc-
sp,ndcd. She found her standing
by a raised window as if to get
fresh air. A stimulant was called
for and administered, after which
no word was uttered but she sank
to the floor, expiring in a few
moments. Her remains were
tenderly ca,ea for by loving
relations and kiud friends and the
following day removed to st.
James church Alexandria, Of which
she was a member, where the sol.
emu and impressive funeral ser
vice OF the Episcopal church was
rendered by Rev. DR.. II. G.
Duncan, then taken to Mt. Clivet
Cemetery, pineville and laid at
rest by the side of her husband.
Mrs. Bailey was ill many respects
a very remai kable woman. From
her birth, education and wealth, she
Was in early life thrown in contact
with the most prominent people of
the country aud gained much in
terestiug information, which she
stored away in her memory to be
drawn upon III after years, to the
delight OF her hearers. She pos
sesstd to The last, a wonderful
memory and never forgot a name.
AS a convcrsationalist, she WAS
unsurpassed, adapting herself to
her surroundings with that ease
and unaffected manner that charm
ed all with whom she ccDverscd.
Of late Years she confined her
reading to newspapers and Maya
zines, through which she kept we'll
posted Oh tho current topics Of the
day. She was a firm believer in
the principles Of the Democratic
party and an admiter Of President
Cleveland and from her high est.
mate of the integrity and fair deal.
ing of Mr.. Carlisle, hoped he
would see his way clear to pay
hcr part, if not the whole, for
her Cotton taken and destroyed by
The Federal Government during
the war. Mrs. Bailey was rs
years aud 3 months old at the
time OF her death.
1t WAS an interesting incident
TO see the great number of old
family servants, who came from
f:!r aud pear to ask for q last lock
ut their "ol.l Mistress" aud to ex.