Year: 1866

N


day of April last, after n short III
ness. Tho distressing report of his
death reached us two or three days
ago, in an unauthentic form, and We
have refused to admit the sad news
us true MS long rs there was ration
al hope that tho report was uniound'
ed. 1t now becomes our duty to re-
cord the painful tidings, and to an
nouncc to tho people of Louisiana
the death of their loved and vene'
rated chieltain. Another hero has
gone to his rest--a christian hero
whose peer will be hard to find. In
pain and sorrow wo speak of our
departed friend-not in culogy, for
that is needless, but merely to eX-
press our own deep sorrow that he
had not been spared to cheer and
aid his loved people. We know OF
no word which can be uttered to
mitigate the heavy grief that will
settle upon thousands, of breasts
when this bereavement is known.


Gov. Allen was born in Prince
Edward county, Virginia, and was
connected with the Sigons, the Wat
kins, and other old and highly re-
spectacle families of that State. lie
was partly educated at home, but
he finished the work of mental dis
cipline without assistance, aud ac-
quired classical education so thor
ough as to render him good teach
er, in which vocation he spent some
months of his earliest residence in
Mississippi. We have often heard
him speak of his teaching with
mingled pride and pleasure. He
was, to agreat extent, selftaught,
and always expressed an ardent
sympathy with all who tried to gain
knowledge under adverse circum.
stances. Allen went to Texas and
participated in the struggle which
resulted in the independence of the
Lone Star State. He there won the
esteem and confidence of many of
the gallant men who laid there the
basis of n new republic. He after
wards practiced law in Mississippi,
until, through the gratitude of
wealthy gentleman whom Allen,
though an entire stranger, had most
carefully attended during painful
and dangerouo illness, he became
the owner Of q fine plantation in
West Baton Rouge. From the date
of his advent to Louisiana, he stead
lily rose in public esteem. He was
sent to the Legislature, and served
with distinction through two or
more sessions. 1t was here that his
high public spirit, his energy, his
eloquence and his great purity of
character first began to attract gen.
eral notice. The elegant and hos
pitable sugar planter had even then
established reputation for person
al chivalry and incorruptible integ-
rity, though few were then conscious
of the existence of those gems Of
mind and heart which he subse-
quently exhibited.


When the secession of the South
ern States occurred, and Louisiana
was called on for troops, Allen lent
himself to the work of raising vol
unteers with ardor and enthusiasm,
employing largely of his private
means for their equipment and sub
sistence, and in providing for the
wants of the families of those who
enlisted. Feeling it his duty to
share in the labors and dangers of
the field, he yielded to the solicita
tions of the commissioned officers
of the Fourth regiment, and was
chosen lieutenant colonel.


As an officer, Allen was noted for
his devotion to the welfare Of his
subordinates and the men of his
command, for his great kindness to
the sick, for his attention to the COM
fort of his men, for his strict disci-
pline over them, and for his unceas-
ing efforts to add to their efficiency.
He never lost sight of the main bus
mess of all troops in the time of
wa., which is to prepare for fight in
every possible way. He was never
absent from camp, except when
called off by imperative duty or
when disabled by wounds. Ills kind
but exacting rule was aided by his
own constant example, for he yield
ed the same prompt and implicit
obedience to his superiors that he
asked Of his own command. He
loved good soldiers and brave men
with an affection that sprung from
his own chivalry. No deed of gal
lantry by an officer orprivate in his
regiment failed to receive his kindly
notice and cordial appreciation. He
infused his own brave and chivalric
spirit into his men, and wherever
he led they followed with spirit and
alacrity. He was always q hard
student, and when chosen lieuten-
ant colonel Of the afterwards re-
nowned Fourth Louisiana regiment,
he went vigorously at work in ac-
auiring such military knowledge as
his previous experience in Texas had
taught him TO be necessary. With
what success he studied is abundant
" shown by the high esteem he
won among the chieftains of the
western armies of the Confederacy.


Allen had much Of the heroic in
his composition. His bravery was
of that high order which comes from
the soul. His bright and vigorous


mind made him almost intuitively
aware of any dangerous situation


and his constitution was nervous to


the extremeof delicacy. But when


honor or duty called for a risk or q