The Opelousas courier., 1897-10-23
The Louisiana Troops in Vir-
ginja.

"Dick" Taylor. There are in St
Landry many of the survivors O:
"that magnificent body of troops
which history records and honor,
as one of the browning glories Of
the immortal Army of Virginia.
and the many descendants of that
band of heroes here and through
out Louisiana will read with just
pride the position that history
accords to the Louisiana soldier
in the terrible conflict of 1S61-5,
when the mettle of the Creole was
so often put to the crucial test
and never found wanting.
Arriving at Manassas, Col. Tay-
lor's regiment was assigned to
Walkers brigade, composed of
the 9th, 18th and Sth regiments of
Louisiana infantry. This com
mand, in point of excellence of
material, marked ''esprit de
corps" discipline and instruction,
was worthy of Gen. Walker, its
grand commander. No juster or
more truthful tribute was ever
paid to this gallant man than by
Taylor in his narration of the
events of the war: "No enter
prise "a too rash to awaken his
ardor, il it necessitated daring
courage and self-devotion. Truly
he might have come forth from
the pages of old Froissart.'
In the reorganization of the
army, Gen. Walker was trans
ferred to the command of a Geor-
gia brigade and Col. Taylor with
the rank of Brigadier General,
was appointed to succeed him.
As the Colonies of the 9Th, 18th
and Sth regiments were his Sc
niors in date of appointment and
had ''won their spurs" at the re-
cent battle of Manassas, Col.
Taylor declined his promotion
and urged President Davis to
make another selection. The in
sistance of the latter supplement-
ed by the expressed preference of
the Colonies of the brigade pre-
vailed and Gen. Taylor entered
upon the command of that mag
nificent body of troops which his
tory records and honors as one of
glories Of the immortal
of Virginia. 1t was this
body of Louisiana soldiers, glo-
fighting against heavy odds
lnder the eye eff Stonewan Jack
ION, that eXtorted from that great
md taciturn chief the exclama-
ion: "Grand, magnificent, plen-
lid soldiers!" 1t was to these
louisiana soldiers that jackson.
very chary of Communications,
presented the batteries captured
y them at Port Republic. The
larration of that brilliant feat of
rms appears in the admirable I
ook of Gen. Taylor, entitled !
Destruction and Reconstruct {
and is reproduced in this {
ketch as a rare gem of military '
escription: +
"Ewell, in immediate charge of '
ross Keys, was ready early in the |
forming of the Sth, when Ere b
ont attacked. The ground was a
nGulating, with much wood and b
, extended view could be had. c
| my front the attack, if such it "
'uld be called, was feeble in the b
,treme-an affair of skirmishers a
which the enemy yielded to the tt
lghtest pressure. A staff Off G.
r of Jackson's, in hot haste, tt
with orders from his chief tt
march my brigade double Il
lick to Port Republic. Elzy's n
igade in second line to the rear, r;
IS asked to take my place and o.
lieve my skirmishers, then, adj a
sing the staff officers to notify p
veil, whom he had not seen, we S
.rted on the run, for such a ell
sssage from Jackson meant bus N
,ss. Two Of the intervening tu
les were quickly passed, when tt.
other officer appeared with or W,
to halt. In half an hour, dur pr
) which the sound of battle at Sc
Oss KEYS thickened. Jackson ali
ne. As before stated, he had W:
ssed the night in the village, in
h his staff and escort. Up as ha
lal at dawn, he started alone to ba
the bridge, leaving his lei
'ple to follow. The bridge we
a few yards below the last an
Use in the village. and some sal
1t overhung the river. Under 70,
'er OF this a small body Of bu
Sc, with one gun, from Shields his
ces, mad reached the east end be
The bridge and trained the gun ha
it. jackson was within an ace tin
capture. As he spurred across, pc:
gun was fired on him, but DIR,
bout effect, and the sound thu
up staff officers and es- he
t, when the horse retured be,
tn. This incident occasioned fee
order to me. After relating emf
all save his own danger) Jack oul
passed on to Ewell. Thither col
flowed to remain in reserve nes
ii fhn ronnyol f -