The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1909-06-05
lie. who fought for our rights, for

gle. who fought Tor our rights, Tor
you and for me.
1. w hen Louisiana seeded from the
Union in 1861, among The first regi
ments that left Tor tie seat OF war
figured the Donaidsonvilie Artillery.
They were known then as les Canoneers
de Donaldson, (Donaldsonville Can
uoneers ]. and were formed and organ
lied into The state service 10 Decem-
Der, 1887, by Numa Augustin. Al the
time for action they we're 1o3 men
strong and, flushed with the martial
fires of Nj ars. / can see them even now
as I saw them on that fateful sixteenth
Of September, 1861. when they took.
their departure at our landing here on
the Mississippi front. with banners
unfurled. | can hear the shouts of
patriotic ferVor in response to the
wayings and autterines of handker-
chiefs IN silent signals OF farewell,
amid the sobs and Wailings of uncon
trollable emotion. Under the leader
ship of the gallant young commander
Capt. Victor Maurin, whose honorable
/ name has been handed down to Us and
whose worthy descendants still repre-
sent him in this community, the brave
men followed and fought in twenty Two
engagements. standing upon twenty
Two battle fields. All, friends, If The
/ soil of the old Dominion state of VIr-
GINA could speak, the name Of Den.
aldson would be heard and the echoes
would rever Der ate Donaldson
from Bethel and from Williams
| burg, all around Richmond, at Seven
Pines and Gaines Mills, at Mechanic
vile and Malvern HILL through Il 9
valley at Gordonsville and Culpepper,
past the Rapidan, across the R8p
pahannoek st Broad Run Gap, II
Centreville and Second Manassas, 1T
Harper's Ferry, across Virgins 5
frontier on TO Maryland, My Mary
and, = il the hot battle of Ante, am,
sometimes called Sharpsbure IL he
fierce struggles at Fredericksburg, in
6he Wilderness, at charlottesville,
across Mason and Dtxon's line upon
The very soil of Yankeedcm, and in
Pennsylvania at Gettysburg. Alas,
here in the three days bitter contest
they met the Waterloo OF fate. Faeiro
overwhelming numbers, the Wearsrs
of the grey slowly and sullenly re
treated along the banks Of the Potomac
followed by the constant hammering
Of the brave aud intrepid Ulysses s
Grant. who forced them back, With
steady purpose they disputed every
inch of territory, led On by the chi
valric, immortal and beloved com
mander, Robert &. Lee, TO the fatal
terminus of the struggle at Appomat
tox in April, 1865, when the Grand
Army Of Northern Virginia, reduced
to the pitiful number Of 9000 haggard,
ragged and battered veterans, sur
rendered to annihilation and starVa
ton. Never till after the surrender
did our brave boys look Wistfulfy
| back, with shattered hopes, to their
ruined and broken homes, to meet
again the loved ones 1bey had left
behind.
VIII snah ! raaon.s ,.+1, uo,,s.;,,
ask. WV these re,,ni,,ns 90 -
orialsq, WIN hen : bistar, -.
aud tauohf with rsee,r.Is - oa sss4
evantss WIN are heroes e,oral 80
| trua held nm a. ,nsairatio,s 49,
lation2 Whv do We con,,1a,,,,,, 5 80
Fourth of july and Thanlyseivin..
Day? WHY do all christian aa,ions
celebrate the advent and res,,reectiaa
Of the Savior at Christmas time ana
Easter tide? All, friends there ara