Woman's enterprise., 1922-04-07


sunshine of his heart, for his beauti-
full, joyous young wife, slowly Ian
guished with tuberculosis, and not
withstanding the lavish care and
tender consideration of her husband
and other loving ones, the sweet,
winsOme young woman, scarcely more
than a girl, peacefully passed into
eternal slumber.
Henry Watkins Allen was elected
to the Mississippi legislature and
served with distinction for a number
Of years.
He later moved to Louisiana and
located in Tensas parish where he be-
came a planter. His health having
failed he went to Cooper's Wells,
Miss, for recuperation and while
there ne met a prominent planter
from West Baton Rouge who having
taken g fancy to Allen. induced him
to accompany him to his home. AL
len was regarded with the warmest
affection and was treated as a son by
the old gentleman, who upon his death
left him his heir to valuable estate,
which Allen named "Allendale." Here
the most lavish hospitality was ex-
tended to Aliens friends who came
from Baton Rouge and the surround
ing parishes to enjoy the delightful
entertainments given from time to
time. Though Henry Watkins Allen
was widower, without children, and
while he admired and perhaps loved
several beautiful and charming wo-
men during his life, he never re-
married, and Salome, the bride of his
youth always reigned queen of his
heart.
In 1853 Gen. Allen was elected a
member of the Louisiana legislature.
The following year he went to Har-
ward University to take a special
course in law, afterwards spending
his vacation in Europe.
On his return to Louisiana, upon
the breaking out of the Civil War, he
enlisted as a private in the Delta
Rifles and was the first name called
on the muster roll by the First Ser
geant of the Company, John McGrath.
The old muster roll of the Delta RI
f1es is still in existence.
When the regiment was formed he
was elected Lieutenant Colonel of
the Fourth Louisiana Infantry, Of
which Robert J. Barrow was Colonel
and s. E. Hunter was Major. He was
stationed at various places in the
Southern part of the State for a time
after which he was sent to Jackson,
Tenn, where he was made Colonel Of
the Fourth Louisiana Regiment, upon
the registration of Col. Barrow. Gen.
Beauregard later appointed him Mil
itary Governor of Jackson. He was
a prominent figure in the memorable
battle of Shiloh where several gal
liant Louisianians distinguished them
selves for bravery. Allen was wound
ed during this battle by having a
mimic ball pass through his cheek,
but this incident did not prevent him
from continuing to fight.
After the battle of Shiloh, he was
stationed at Vicksburg, Miss, and
later accompanied General Brecken-
ridge to participate in the Battle of
Baton Rouge. That city had been
bombarded and captured by Farra-
gut, who commanded the fleet of Fed
eral gunbcats. On the fourth Of Au-
gust the Confederate troops came
across from Camp Moore in Tangipa-
hoa parish and on the morning of the
5th of August, the battle of Baton
Rouge took place. Allen was on the
left wing of the battle in the
Eastern limits of the city. He was
fighting desperately when he fell,
having been shot through both legs.
His life was for some time despaired
Of, but he recovered sufficiently to
again be of service to the Confed-
eracy, though not in active duty on
the field. He became Brigadier Gen.
eral in 1863 and soon afterwards was
elected by the Confederates, the Gov
ernor Of Louisiana and was inaugu-
rated at Shreveport on January rs,
1864. Governor Allen was recognized
as the chief executive in all the State
outside of New Orleans and the fed
eral lines. Michael Hahnn, a citizen
of New Orleans who remained with
the Union, was governor Of that part
OF Louisiana which acknowledged fed
eral authority.
After the war Governor Allen went
| into voluntary exile into Mexico