The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-01-30
VETERANS OF THE cONFEDERAcY.

VETERANS OF THE CONFEDERACY.
Although nearly forty-three years have
passed since the surrender at Appamatox,
a number of prominent ex-Confederate
leaders are still living and taking an ac-
tive and important part in the affairs of the
period. During these forty three years
they have made deep impress upon polit-
zeal history and business enterprise, and
have distinguished themselves as much in
civil pursuits as in the field of war. Of
the Lieutenant Generals there are still
three left-Stephen D. Lee, Alexander P.
Stewart and Simon Bolivar Buckner.
A great number of the Confederate Gen.
erals who were prominent as Governors,
United States Senators and Congressman,
have joined the " silent majority, " but their
deeds of patriotism and the glorious SER
vices they rendered their country on the
tented field and in civil life will live in his
tory as long as honor and patriotism has
an abiding place in the hearts of men.
Among other surviving Confederate vet
Grams who have achieved fame in peace as
we'll as in war are Ex-Governor Francis T.
Nichols, of Louisiana; Ex-Governor O'Fer-
rail-, of Virginia; Congressman Joseph
Savers, of Texas; Gen. Matthew c.. Butler,
of South Carolina; Senator j. W. Daniel,
of Virginia; Major Generals L. l.. Lomax,
r. F. Hoke, S. G. French, w. T. Martin,
G. W. C. Lee and Thomas L. Rosser.
Many interesting and characteristic in
cidents are told of these gallant ex-Con-
federates by admiring historians who have
chronicled their deeds in the pages of his
tory. One of these related of General
Nichols is especially worthy of preserva-
ton. When he retired from the Governor
silver service, the salver bearing the words
in which he voted the bill granting new
charter to the infamous Louisiana Lottery !:
cat no time and under no circumstances
will permit one of my hands to aid in
degrading what the other was lost in seek
ing to uphold-the honor of my native
State. Were to affx my signature to this
bill, would, indeed, be ashamed to let my
left hand know what my right hand had
done. place the honor of my State above
money" General Nichols lost an arm at
Winchester and a leg at Charlottesville.
Recalling his youthful ambition to become
a Judge, like his father, he is reported to
have exclaimed: 81 can never make a
just Judge now. am too one-sided." He
was, however, appointed Chief Justice of
the Supreme Court of this State for term
of twelve years, and he is to-day an As
sociate Justice of the Supreme Court. In
our opinion, with the exception of Louisi-
ana's peerless War Governor-General
Henry Watkins Allen-Francis T. Nichols
made, in every sense, the best Governor
this State has ever had.
The manner in which the Confederate
veterans rejoined the home circle in the
Union after the war is we'll illustrated by
a remark attributed to "loyal" citizen of
Ohio. He said that che had expected the
Southerners when they came back to Con-
gress after the war to stink quietly in by
the back door and meekly pray to be for
given like the prodigal son; instead of
which they stalked boldly in by the front
entrance, took prominent seats, and didn't
wait for the fatted calf to be killed, but
called for veal at once.'' The country is
all the greater and more prosperous to-
day because of the talents and energy of
the ex-Confederate veterans, officers and
privates alike, and because they renewed
their allegiance in manly way, and not
like sneaks and towards. No wonder the
North and West wanted them back-they
were too valuable to lose