The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-07-06
DEATH OF MAJOR s. 4. POCHE.

4
| to Eternity, After TWO Weeks Ill
ness with neumonia-spIen
Military Record.
Major Simeon A Poche, gallant
Confederate veteran, native and life
long resident of Louisiana, and dis
tlngulshed citizen OF Dona1dsonville
for more than twenty-five years, died
at 8 o'clock Thursday morning at his
home in Chetimaches street, after
an illness of two weeks with pneu-
monja Major Poche contracted the
fatal malady as the result of sitting
on the gallery of his home to cool
off after having become oyerheated
oy physical exercise, and although
he made a game fight against the
dreaded illness, his advanced age
initiated against his recovery and
he was finally forced to succumb to
tho heavy ODDS against which he
battled so bravely. He was con-
scious to the last and babe his rel
atives and friends an affectionate
farewell, stating that he realized
the end was inevitable and was pre-
pared to enter the presence Of his
Maker. His death was tranquil and
painless fitting close to life
nobly spent.
Major Poche was a native of st.
James parish, aged eighty-one years
and five months. and had resided in
Donaldsonville since 1885. He was
a mechanical engineer of exception
al ability and patented several
very successful mechanical devices.
for many years he was employed as
chief engineer Of various large Lou
isiana sugar factories, among them
being those Of the Shadyside Plant
ing Co., in st. Mary parish, and the
4emann Co., Ltd, in Ascension.
At the outbreak of the civil war
Mr.. Poche enlisted in the Chasseurs
of St. James parish, under command
of the late Capt. Alfred Roman.
\ short time afterWard the company
proceeded to Camp Moore, where the
Eighteenth Louisiana Regiment was
organized, with. Alfred Mouton as
colonel, Alfred Roman as Lieutenant
colonel, and William Mouton as ma
Jor. While the regiment was in win
ter quarters at Camp Lewis, above
New Orleans, Mr.. Poche was elected
second lieutenant of Co. B, the cap
tain being E. G. Mire, and the first
lieutenant Leopold Armant. In
April, 1862, the 1871. Louisiana was
ordered to Corinth, Tenn, and there
incorporated into brigade with Gen.
Ruggles commanding. Shortly after
ward the brigade proceeded to Pitts
burg Landing, where the Louisianians,
under Col Mouton, fought against
two federal gunboats, the Lexington
and Tyler. The regiment was then
ordered to the front and partici-
pated in the battle of Shiloh, retreat
after f the ssstsaa : a g To
Corinth, where it stood a siege Of
nearly two months AT the battle of
the captaincy Of his company.
From Corinth the regiment proceed
ed in turn to Tupelo, Chattanooga,
Mobile and Vicksburg, and from the
latter city, then in thehands of the
Confederates, it was despatched to
| the TecIle country to join General
Dick Taylor's army preparatory to re
sisting the invasion Of Louisiana by
General Banks federal forces. The
regiment took part III the battle Of
Mansfield, Capt. Poehe's company be-
ing the first to open fire on the
enemy, a detachment of cavalry,
which they drove back. In the last
hour of the fighting Col. Armant,
commanding the regiment, was killed.
General Mouton had been slain ear
Iier in the action, and Capt. Poche,
badly wounded in the thigh, was left
on the battlefield among tae dead
wounds for three months, and upon
recovering rejoined his regiment,
surrendering at Natchitoches in June,
1868.
A few years ago Capt. Poche was
appointed an aide de camp, with the
rank of major, on tho staff Of Gen
eral Schaeffer, then commanding the
Louisiana Division of the United
Confederate Veterans. He was one
Of the organizers of Major Victor
| u y : !, 1in- Camp No 33.U. G. v, and
was it's commander from the date
of organization until his death.
Major Poche's wife, nee Belzire
Chapman. died years ago. He is sur
yiyed by four sons, Messrs. w 4.
and Alfred Poche, Of st. James, P.
Alex. Poche, Of this city, and S.
George Poche, of Belle Rose, and
one daughter, Mrs. Joseph W. Byrnes
of Donaldsonville.
The funeral took place Friday morn
ing at 9 o'clock, and was one OF the
largest and most imposing corteges
over seen in this community. Hun
dreds of people from all walks of
life accompanied the remains of the
deceased soldier to their. last rest
ing place, and the local Confederate
organizations We're represented by
large delegations. The members OF
Major Victor Maurin Camp constitu-
ted a guard Of. honor to the body OF
/ their late commander. Impressive
services were held at Ascension
church, Rev. j. NJ T. Massardier
oFfi ciafino after which i1termeQt