The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1911-11-18
-. C.-,.r>e~1er11e11t
A Gallant Soldier Answers last
Roll CALI.

Roll Calf.
Captain William Richardson Col
Inns died on last Friday the 10th inst.
at O'Clock p. M, at the residence Of
his daughter, in the town of Franklin
La. Captain Collins was native oil
Adams county, Miss. born on the
10Th day of January, 1899; educated
in New Orleans, and engaged in bust
ness there before the war. When the
call to arms was first sounded
Throughout the Southland. calling her
sons to the front in defense OF her
honor and rights, VIM. Collins in his
young manhood was already second
lieutenant in the Orleans Cadets, one
of the finest companies ever raised in
Louisiana of which Charles D..
Dreaux was captain. On the 18th day
of April, 1861, this splendid company,
on Lafayette Square in the city of New
Orleans. was mustered into the Con-
federate service for twelve months,
and went direct to Pensacola, Florida,
where they were joined by three other
splendid companies from New Or
leans, La. Guards Co. ga" COM
manded by the late Captain c. E..
Fenner, La. Guards Co. "B." COM
manded by Captain Francis Rawle.
still living, and the Crescent Rifles
commanded by the late Captain Fisk,
and two other fine companies from the
country, the Shreveport Greys, COM
manded by the late Captain Beard,
and the Grivot Guards from HOuma.
La, commanded by the late Captain
N. H. Rightor. These five splendid
companies formed the First La. Bat
talon of Infantry, better known as
the "Dreaux Battalion" and after
organizing with Charlie Dreaux as
lieutenant colonel and N. H. Rightor
as Major, the command was ordered
to Virginia and served their term of
enlistment under Gen. Magruder on
the Peninsula. Upon the death of
Lieutenant Colonel Dreaux, Lieut.
enant :Collins became captain of the
cadets
A sword was never worn more worth
lily by any officer in the Confederate
army than the one that was buckled
around Capt. "Bill' Collins. While
a most splendid drill-master and a
strict disciplinarian, he was beloved
by his fellow officers and every pri-
vate in the battalion. He was high
ly educated man, far above .mediOcrity;
the grave and serious
that confronted the South in
the trying days of 1S6l-1S65, and ap-
preciated fully the responsibilities
which rested upon every Southern
man
The years service of the Dreaux
under such leaders as
Captain Collins, was equal to the
at a military school, and at
the end of their enlistment all return
ed to the service, furnishing many
gallant officers to other and new com
mands, doing valiant service for the
balance of the war.
Captain Collins made his way to the
Trans Mississippi Department and |
With few brave and gallant fellows,
rganized an independent company, |
Known as "Vinson's Scouts" which |
service in the lower Teche |
This company of scouts
we're regularly mustered into the Con-
ederate army early in 1863 with
Bailey VinsOn as captain and "Bilr'
Collins as first lieutenant. and his
vas the master hand which brought
discipline and efficiency into its ranks
The war ended, May 1865, 1t. Collins
eceived his parole and accepted the
Inevitable, making his home in St
larry Parish, joining scores of brave
zen, most of whom in ''church yards
les, rendering valuable aid in re-
this beautiful country and
living back to it, its prestine glory.
On April Goth, 1866. he married one
t St. Mary's noble daughters, Miss
1artha Bedell, daughter of lothian
hubert Bedell, one of the foremost
ugar planters of ST. Mary. He is
lrvived by this faithful wife, with
yo sons, Robt. and Dreaux, both
olendid men and good citizens, and
ne daughter, LESSEE, now Mrs. M.
ordon Jonse, of New Orleans. Cap
lin Collins was courtly gentleman.
brave and gallant soldier, good
tizen, and most competent business
an. modest and retiring, but true and
)neSt.
lies labor done, as sinks the CLAW,
Light from its load the spirit flies; \
lille Heaven and earth combine to saw,
How blest the righteous when he dies"
OUR FRIEND AND COMRADE FOR F1F-
TY YEARS.