Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-21
THE LOUISIANA BOYS.
CAPT. ERNEST wILTZ TELLS OF
THE FAMOUS CHAssEuRs-A.PIED.
new ORLEANS LADS In The LATE WAR
Something About Their Campaign
Marches, Little Food, and Tremen-
dous Losses in Battle.
New Orleans Picayune)

tANth OiitdhS Iltdyul't
Captain Ernest Wilt, formerly n we'll
known resident Of New Orleans. where he
has many friends. and also Confederate
veteran and a member during the civil
war Of Captain st. Pauls company OF
"Chasseurs-a-Pied." which was recruited
here. has written from Richmond, Va,
TO a friend in this city an entertaining
letter recalling some OF the experiences
| Of the Chasseurs while I'm Virginia, and
| giving also a glimpse Of how the volun-
teers of Gl-'Cj lived while I'm active SER
| vice. The letter will be found interesting
| in several respects to our young soldiers
venturing forth in the present war with
| Spain. Captain Wilt suffered some years
| ago a paralytic stroke. and he writes his
letter from the st. Sophia Home, in the
| city of Richmond. delightful retreat
for invalds, and where his friends in New
Orleans sincerely hope he may ere long
regain strength sufficient to enable him
to return to his native city.
Following is the letter: &C.. p. d.
St. Sophia Home,
Richmond. Va, July % 1898.
My Dear Charles.-As ! think great
deal Of you. and having nothing to do in
| my present delightful seclusion, thought
| | would entertain myself in giving you a
retrospective review as 10 myself up TO
| the time i last saw you in this city. or
| course. YOU must make some allowance
| for the decrepit condition Of my system,
! caused by the paralysis Of my body oc-
casioned by q dreadful fall l had some
years ago in Jacksonville. Fla.
To begin with, / shall say [ was mem
Der Of the Chasseurs-a-Pied. After the
secession of Louisiana, In April, 1851.
our captain. then Henri st. Paul. went
over TO Montgomery, Ala, ana rendered
the services Of his company to the Con-
federate States, which was accepted. We
left New Orleans soon after for the siege
of Fort Pickens. We marched from our
armory, on Rampant street. to the depot
Of the New Orleans and Pontchartrain
railroad.
on arriving at Lake Pontchartrain we
took a steamer. which landed us in Mo-
bile From thence We marched In relays
until we reached our destination, opposite
Fort Pickens. where we camped.
There were many incidents occurring
there during our encampment. which last
ed about a year. II would be too te-
dious to relate them now. Suffice IL TO
say that while on the boat an election
Of sub officers was held. and / was elected
named "the Little Corporars" tent In ii
were harbored Faurie Bourgeois. Lawson
L. Davis and another man. besides ny
self. We were ordered 10 Richmond, by
request Of Captain 81. Paul. The addition
Of two other companies caused the promo
ton of ST. Paul to the rank OF major,
and - Macon was made captain of our
company. Arriving in Richmond, we
camped on Fulton I'M, an eastern suburb
Of the city now.
A DAY OF SLAUGHTER.
In the spring of 1862 we were ordered
IN march. starting on the Mechanicsville
turnpike. until we reached point which
was subsequently called "the Seven
Pines" IL was on a Saturday. l re-
member well. for il was the first days
battle. Colonel CASTOR Copnens, who
commanded the Zouaves Of louisiana,
took command Of our battalion in the
absence of Major st. Paul, who had
gone South recruiting his companies.
Colonel Coppens ordered us TO load and
fire. We were then in ''cul de sac on
the edge of the woods. Immediately, as
we approached the woods we were met
bv i tremendous fire on all sides, from
the Federal troops We were ordered 10
lie down. oh. what a day of slaughter IL
was TO usi and we should have been all
shot had il not been for the presence OF
mind OF Captain Goodwin, OF the Cres-
cent Rifles. of our battalion. who, seeing
our predicament, got us 10 rise anu
charge. In the mean time REINFORCE
ments came up, and we ran the Federals
beyond the ChickahOminy. 1t was here
that Captain Macoin, Faurie Bourgeois,
and a number of others Of our command
were killed and wounded.
1t being late Saturday night, the army
rested for the night. The battle was 70
be resumed the next day, but sunday
morning General Anderson, commander
of our brigade noticing how decimated
were our ranks, told the chasseurs that
thew should not enter the hight, but
placed US on the roads TO keep back the
stragglers and TO look after our wounded
and dead comrades. With his permission
Joe DemOruelle. who was the next oiilcer
In rank succeeded Captain Macon,
whose body was taken 10 Richmond Tor
intorment CAPTAIN Demorucle with q
squad Of four men q among the nurnber),
escorted the remains of our beloved
cantain 10 the Cathedral where the fUne-
RAJ service was conducted by the then
Bishop McGil, and the BODY was tenn
norarilv laid to rest in a vault owned by
the Bishop. until IL could be removed TO
New orleans after the cessation Of hos
tnities.
The squad. after the funeral, repaired
70 the Columbian Hotel, in Shockoe slip,
and passed the night. On Monday morn
ing We returned 10 the command and Kept
No the fighting FOR six more consecutive
days. until our troops had driven Nc
Clcuan's 10 Harrison Landing where he
vas protected by mis- gunboats. mus
ended the Seven Days" fight, and we
were at rest for awhile.
Lieutenant Bourges. Of our command
also lost mis- life. John J.. Rapier' whom
possiblv YOU know, was our orderly ser
eeont and by the death OF Macoin VINO
was succeeded by Demoruelle. he became
first lieutenant The death OF BOurSes
left another vacancy, TO which was
elected through the influence OF Rapler'
Davis, Petpain, and others.
LITTLE TO EAT
shortly afterwards I became incapaci-
tated for long marches. owing 10 a Yari-
cocele. Nv father came 20 Richmond be-
cause II mad been reported IN New Or
leans that had been shot in the head.
He came al the urgent request OF my dear
mother who believed / had been killed.
lie had pass from General Butler, who
tbor controlled New Orleans. The pass
stated that he could visit Richmond and
rotn-, with his wounded son, who would
bo ,nrnolested during his stay in New Or
leans. Ii was not long however, before
he had both of US arrested and sent 10
Jct,f~ leland where we remained for three