The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-11-11

BENTON. La, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER ii, 1915
BosslER'S PART In THE CIVIL WAR.
IA paper ocritten by the editor Of the Banner, by
request of Gen. Ttonsos J. Schater, and read al
the meeting of the Louisiana Division Of the
United Confederate Veterans held in Monroe
October ;, 1881
Comrades of the Louisiana Division:
The early sixties are memorable in the
history of Bossier Parish, memorable for
the departure of her patriotic sons to bat
tie for the independence of the Southern
Confederacy. In her towns and hamlets
were the fathers, mothers, sisters and
friends assembled for the purpose of giving
their blessings and last goodbye to their
loved ones who had responded so readily
to the call of their country in its greatest
need Receiving from the hands of the
fair daughters of Bossier the silken ban
ners of the Confederacy, and with words Of
cheer and admiration from its fair donors,
and blessings Of loved ones, embracing Of
mothers, wives and sisters, and an affec-
Tomato goodbye to all, nearly eight hum
dred as gallant men as ever left any parish
or state, marched forth for their country's
defense. The ranks of the six companies
organized in Bossier were composed Of
farmers, mechanics, merchants, lawyers,
and in every walk of life-the flower of
youth and the manhood of the parish.
incidentally, to emphasize that ours was
not, as Northern people have repeatedly
declared, "a rich mans war and = poor
mans fight on the part of the South, l
mention the incontrovertible fact that the
rich as we'll as the poor were in the ranks.
Everywhere patriotism prevailed. The
spirit of our Revolutionary forefathers
was reproduced in the hearts of the chiv
alrous sons of Bossier. The call to arms
was quickly responded to by her people.
The six companies serving in the Con-
federate Army from Bossier Parish left for
the front as follows:
Bossier Volunteers, E. G. Randolph,
Captain, June 10, 1861.
Robins Grays, Loudon Butler, Captain,
September %, 1861.
Vance Guards, Richard W. Turner, Cap
tain, September "a, 1851.
Bossier Cavalry, Thomss W. Fuller,
Captain, April 2, 1862.
Marks Guards, J. W. Rabb, Captain,
May 7, 1862.
Bossier Guards, R.. E. Wyche. Captain,
April -, 1863.
This was total membership of 800 out
Of 800 voters. Twenty-four attained the
rank Of captain, two that Of major, one
lieutenant colonel, and four colonies.
All were organized at the Court House in
Bellevue, except the Robins Grays. Here
was the beginning of the history of Bos-
sier's part in the great struggle. Here
were Numbered the imprisoned speeches
OF the orators of the day. Here were given
the farewell dances to the departing VOL
unteefs, where was whispered "the old.
old story" always new.
Dear old building! so full of memories
patriotic, sacred and tender, and alas, sad
to say it, Of deeds that are recorded in the
annals of crime. The old building is now
only a memory. Not one brick upon
another is left as mute reminder of it's
past glory and grandeur of "those rare
old, fair old days, the days OF long ago."
Bossier Parish before the war was mainly
populated by sturdy, industrious farmers
and their families, brave and honorable
men and fair and gracious women-an
honor to any country.
On every hand there was an abundance /;
want was unknown to her proud and self
reliant people. Here was, indeed, a land
OF peace and plenty" restful. grateful,
satisfied" Contentment smiled like a
beatic benediction on her happy homes
prolific farms and broad plantations--un-
til cruelty awakened by the tocsin of war.
Northern fanatics, deaf to every appeal for
peace and safety, breathing death and des-
oiation, or survie submission to indignity
and o,ltraoa announced tn air blood TT rstv
determination TO coerce the South by an
preston was the naughty Northern ulti-
matum. Submission-vile and base word
was scorned by the South. and her gallant
sons proudly accepted the challenge to de-
fend their rights.
Bossier Parish gave six companies COM
posed OF as gallant men as were ever mar
shaded under the the colors Of any country,
and their deeds Of valor are part of the
history of the Army of Northern Virginia
of the Army of Tennessee from. Shiloh to
Perryvile, Kentucky; Chicksmauga, Mis-
sionary Ridge, and oil battles from Rocky
Face to Atlanta and Jonesboro, Georgia
Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, Ten
nessee; and in the Trans Mississippi De-
partment at Mansfield, and many othe,
engagements in that department.
In every engagement in which they par
ticipated, the high character and service
of her officers and men is shown by the
record to be second to none.
The Bossier Volunteers, the first company
to leave the parish--stacking arms at APP
pomattox, April 8, 1865-had as its firs
regimental commander Richard Taylor, the
hero of the Battle of Mansfield William