Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-06-20
An Interesting Letter

An Interesting Letter.
! ] have before me most interesting
letter. 1t was written October 81,
1899, to Major Guy c. Pierce of Kill
bourn by H. B. Talliaferro, an attor-
ney-at-law of Harrisburg, Louisiana.
The father of this lawyer, Judge ]. G..
Talliaferro, was. January &c, 1861. a
member of the convention that voted
Louisiana out of the union. When his
name was called Judge Talliaferro
arose and said:
Mr.. President Several of the
gentlemen who preceded me took oc-
casion to express their strong attach,
ment to Louisiana and the deep inter
est they feel in her prosperity, and
offer these as the leading reasons
which induce them to support this
momentous measure. Sir, have lived
and from my early childhood All my
interests, associations and feelings
are connected with her well-being
All that have of worldly goods and
worldly hopes and aspirations are
centered in Louisiana The soil OF Lou.
isiana covers the bones of very many
of those who were near and dear to
me. and that soil will. at a day not
far distant, envelop my own, Sir,
am behind no man in attachment to
Louisiana. | am unable to see that
higher and grander position which
gentlemen say Louisiana is to assume
by the act of secession. Clouds and
darkness. rather, are before me. The
dimness of aSe, perhaps, prevents me
from penetrating the gloom and see
ing the bright skies and green fields
beyond In tie exercise Of my best
judgment, and under my honest con.
victions of the ruinous tendency oil
this measure, must pronounce 1t an
act of madness and of folly. Sir, !
vote nay"
Judge Talliaferro not only voted
nay, but presented protest in which
he stated clearly to. reasons why the
state should not secede from the
union, ending up with the declaration
that such action would be contrary to
the will of the people. which, so he
declared, is supreme.
The writer of the letter H. b. Tallia-
ferro, after some reference to the or
dinance of secession of Louisiana.
which was then, and still is, In the
collection Of our state historical soci-
ETY., goes on to tell something about
his own service during the civil war
lie says:
Il was born and raised here; have
lived here all my life except when
absent at school and In the federal
army during the rebellion. The out
break found me at school--a country
boy. The school was that of which
General Sherman was superintendent
near Alexandria. this state. The war
broke 1t up, and out of corps Of 1870
cadets, ! was the solitary one who
stood by the old flag, and proved
my loyalty by two years of service in
the Federal army. All the others
went into the rebel army.
my father told me that my first ale
glance was due to the government OF
the United States, under which had
been born and reared. and that that
allegiance was paramount to that
which | owed my native state: that
armed resistance to Federal authority
was treason against my country; that
the rebellion would be crushed and
slavery abolished; and that come veal
or come woe I must not take up arms
against my government, nor let any
act OF treason ever attach to me.
4 1T was these precepts OF a noble,
patriotic father, instilled into me In
my youth, while the flames OF civil
war were enveloping us here on all
sides, that shaped the course I pur-
sued. After this, began the fearful
ordeal with me. ! had To fee to the
woods for safety, where I spent two
Years lodging and hiding like an es-
capped cu'prit to avoid conscription.
These two years form a memora biz
epoch In the history OF my life. To
recount the many trials. dangers, pri.
vatioDs and troubles which beset me
day and night during those two years.
would be wearisome Suffice Il to say
that passed through death, the
grave and hell, as Il were. yet man
aged to live through IL all and main
tain my fidelity to the flag. In the
end was driven by the bl jodhounds
OF conscript hunters TO N1ichez. Mis-.
sissippi, wncre entered the Federal
army. served till the end OF the
war, was honorably discharged and
was among the last TO get home after
he struggle was over
Your narrative about your service
Il Baton Rouge brings mp fond mem
orles was there myself belonged
70 The 1st Louisiana cavalry and was
at Baton Rouge from April, 1864, 70