The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1898-04-23
GENERALS GORDON AND
Evans ON ZOUISZ4NA
SOLDIERS.


SOLDIERS:
Now that the country is about to
be plunged into a terrible war and
military companies are being orga-
nized throughout the Southern States,
many an old confederate soldier has
had his mind carried back to scenes
in the late war by the warlike pre-
parations of the present day. These
old fellows, tried and true, know
what war means. They know its
miseries and it's trials. Aud though
their patriotism and courage can
not be questioned it is with a feel
ing akin to sorrow that they see
their sons and their friends sons
drawn into the vortex by the same
sense of duty which in 1860 i'm
PEELED them to sacrifice all-position,
fortune and life-to defend prin-
ciple. Should it come to the scratch
they would hate to see the boys go,
but to see them shirk their duty
would be still more painful to them.
The Louisiana boys have won inn
perishable glory upon the field of
battle in the civil war and if occa-
sion presents itself it is safe to say
that the young Louisianians of to-
day will give good account of
themselves. One of our fellow
townsmen, who shared the hardships
of the s'late unpleasantness" as
member of that gallant band who
won the 'sunfeigned admiration"
of the CT ivalrous Gordon, handed
US the following which was clipped
from the Natchitoches Times imme
diately after the war.
Our readers will no doubt be
pleased to see what Generals Cor
don and Evans had to say of the
Louisiana soldiers. 1t will be seen
that Col. Waggaman was command
ing officer. Both brigades, which
at first we're 70, 900 strong, had been
so much reduced in number, that
they were combined under the COM
mand of Col. Waggaman:
HEADQUARTERS GcRDoN's DIVISION, }
NEAR APPoMATrox CourT-IousE Va,
April nth, 1865.
To Cek Eugene IFaSg0~ton, Commanding
Hays and .SkaGord's B~ig"As.'
Colonel-'rhe sad hour has arlived when
we, who have served in the Confederate
Army so long together, must part, at least
for time, but the saddest circumstance
connected with the separation is that it oc
under u heavy disaster to our beloved
cause. But to you, Colonel, and to our
Hays aud S,aford's Brigades, desire to
say that you can carry with you the proud
consciousness that in the estimation of your
Commander. you have done your duty.
Tell Louisiana when you reach her shores,
that her son in the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia have made her illustrious on every
battle-ground, from the First Manassas to
the last desperate blow struck by your COM
mand on the Hill of Appomattox, and tell
her too, that as in the first, SO in the last,
the enemy fed before the valor of our charg-
ing line.
To the sad decree of an inscrutable Provi
dence let bow in humble resignation,
awaiting His 1oiU for the pillar of cloud to
be lifted
For you, your gallant officers and devoted
men, I shall always cherish the most pleas
ing memories, and when say farewell, it is
prayer to Almighty God for you. future
happiness. C. "A: EVANS,
Brig. Gen1. Com Dig Division.
(oFFICIAL.) l. l.. LYONS,
Capt. and A. A. 4. Gen'l Hays and Stat
ford's Brigades.
Headquarters SECOND CoRps, J
ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
April IL, 1865.
To Co.. Eugene Ipassumau, Commanding
Hays and .Sto6ora's Brigaae.
In parting with the Louisiana Brigade of
this Army, cannot omit to offer the tribute
-:
illustrated the arms of any people.
Coming with glorious ardour into the sup
port of cause, which sacred in itself is
doubly consecrated to-day by its dead, you
have carried your enthusiasm into hundred
battles, filling your comrades and country
men with pride and your enemy with fear.
Steadily and mistaken have you passe d
throughout the struggle, with untarnished
record. Your name is without the shadow
of stain. Your conduct in the closing
hour is as lofty when with full ranks you
struck and exulted in victory.
Take with you, soldiers, in parting, the
unfeipned admiration of nv heart