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WWwWWwWWWWW^WWWwWWwSTORY OF THE KENTUCKIAN WHO BEAT ROCK BYPicturesque Incidents In the Career of Gen* Lovell Rousseau, Lawyer, Soldier, Diplomat,Who Also Excelled as an Athlete*# ♦ . . ♦plause had subsided the athletic captain quietly turned, toed his heel-In a recent issue of the Louisville Courier-Journal an interesting article was published from tbe pen of Edmond Thickstun on incidents in tbe life of Gen. Lovell H. Kousseau, atone time a resident of Bloomfield. In the Mexican war be was captain of Company E, Second regiment Indiana yolunteers, and he has always been kindly remembered by tbe older citizens of this place. Tbe only survivors of bis Mexican war company are Wm. Holtsclaw and Daniel Cox, both aged citizens of Center township.Tbe sketch by Mr. Thickstun follows :“Well this is the first time I eversaw a man beat rock by note.” The*speaker was a horseman on a turnpike in Lincoln county, Ky., during the thirties of the last century. The person addressed was a young Kentuckian of magnificent physique, who had a Latin grammer propped up before him, while be was beating rock to tbe cadence of a Latin conjugation.He was Lovell Harrison Kousseau, destined to become noted as lawyer, soldier, statesman, diplomat and then, to rest in lovely Arlington, after New Orleans and Louisville had §ach heldhis remains for a short time in their%soil.“Beftting fock by note” was only one of tbe many picturesque things tbat Lovell Kousseau did. One following him through much of the path he afterward trod has found numerous instances of his picturesqueness.Shortly after tbe turnpike incident tbe champion footracer of Virginia entered Kentucky to win tbe championship of that state. Kousseau accepted bis challenge, and borrowed the $2,000 stake of a friend, who, the legend runs, mortgaged a slave to procure the money. Rousseau, who was not in training, wanted the competition to be a 200-yard dash, but tbe Virginian held that a mile race was tbe only true test. On tbe day of tbe race young Kousseau appeared barefooted and bareheaded, in tow-linen sbirt and trousers. His heart sank within him as bis antagonist threw off bis duster and stood forth in silk tights. But trained skill was defeated tbat day by the natural agility of a matchless physical manhood.' Tbe Kentuckian passed the finish leisurely prancing along, and looking over bis shoulder for theVirginian, who was several paces in the rear. As Kousseau ran he urged his antagonist to burry up.For a while after this Kousseau✓made considerable money in jumpiog and footracing. It was only a means to an end however, as he disliked sport for gain. Immediately on procuring enough money to complete his education, he applied himself diligently to the study of law and was admitted to the bar. Going to Bloomfield, Ind., he entered a law office with his brother-4in-law, Andrew J. Thickstun, and quickly stepped to tbe front as a pleader. When be visited his mother in Louisville he made tbe trip on horseback. One of the stopping places was the Tegarden Tavern, in Orange county, Ind. A young feitow happened along with a fine little mare that he wanted to bet against $50 on a 200-yard footrace. He seemed to be a local celebrity in that line, and he canvassed all tbe rest of the county in vain. He then approached Rousseau and bantered him for a race. Kousseau replied:“I don’t like your conditions, my boy.”“O, you want a handicap, do you?”“No, indeed, I wish to allow a handicap. I will bet you $50 against your mare that I can run around you in a 200 yard dash.”The fellow gasped, took a little better look at his antagonist, and stood pat. The Hoosier was to run straight forward, the Comeracker was to cross his path from right to left, let him pass, and then beat him to the goal, all of which was done. The stakeholder then delivered the mare to Kousseau, who rode her up and down the road in front of the tavern all evening, tantalizing the chagrinned Hoosier unmercifully. At bedtime Rousseau said:“Now my friend, here is your mare back again. I do not follow athletics for a livelihood, nowadays, and do not wish to keep her. I advise you to quit foot-racing for gain. You’re a very, very ordinary runner.”Col. Spicely, of Orleans, Ind., relates that when the Second Indiana Volunteers were down in Mexico, Rousseau and he were captains in that regiment. They were both in a crowd of loafers one day at tbe sutler’s tent, where the men were jumping from the counter out onto tbe floor. After a good deal of jumping, one man “cleared” everything that bad been done, by some three inches. After the buzz of admiration had ceased Kousseau carelessly got on the counter and lightly sprang some six inches beyond that best jump. Wben the ap-marks and, to use Spicely’s language, “bopped back on that counter like a bird.” Thereafter, when a crowd of soldiers felt athletic, they always looked cautiously about to see if Capt. Kousseau was near.The Second Indiana was forced back at Buena Vista, and it was jocularly said tbat Kousseau beat an army mule back to tbe hacienda. While he was on bis return home, tbe Whigs nominated him for tbe State Senate. He reached home only four days before tbe election, and *was invited by his opponent to a joint debate in the towns of tbe senatorial district. The invitation was accepted, and tbe other candidate always concluded his speech with these words:“My fellow citizens, Capt. Rousseau is a famous foot-racer, as you all know. I understand tbat he beat a mule in his race to tbe rear at Buena Vista.”No attention was paid to this by Kousseau until they reached Spencer, where all of the returned Mexican veterans were present. At this place, after his regular speech on the political issues of the campaign, Capt. Kousseau said:“My opponent has taken pains to repeat several times in this debate that in tbe retreat at Buena Vista I beat a mule to the rear. I cannot say if that is true or not. One thing I know and there are many here who know the same, when the order was given to fall back we executed the maneuver with all possible dispatch. If a mule was running at the same time, I have no doubt that 1 beat him. 1 have never been defeated in any race. And in this race for the Senate, in which I am now engaged, ! expect to beat tbe biggest ass in Indiana much worse than it is said I beat his cousin downin Mexico.”Kousseau then sat down amid prolonged cheers, and the result, when tbe ballots were counted tbe next day, verified his prediction.In 1849 Rousseau removed to Louisville and began the practice of law with his brother, K. H. Kousseau, afterward United' States Minister to Honduras. They quickly built up a lucrative law practice and were thoroughly identified with their nativestate at tbe outbreak of the Civil War, notwithstanding their absence in Indiana. They decided for tbe Uuion, as their brother, Samuel Kousseau, decided for the Confederacy. Lovell went to Jeffersonville to recruit his Louisville Legion, and when Buckner advanced on Louisville Col. Kousseau recrossed the Ohio and placed his command between Buckner and the city, at Muldraugh’s Hill.Shortly afterward he was commissioned Brigadier General. Almost at once be became a great favorite in tbe army. He was born an aristocrat and was raised, until tbe age of 15, in tbe lap of luxury, but bis father’s death at that time, and the consequent bitter struggle with poverty, bad ameliorated his bearing to a most pleasing and gracious dignity. He waoted to be in every fight, and once at Stevenson, Alabama, he left bis own troops in command of another and rode with all speed, accompanied by bis staff, in tbe direction of tbe firing. His horse gave out when be was still some distance from tbe actual fighting. He reached another General’s headquarter’s, where a civilian post-office employe, with whom be was acquainted, was on duty. He shouted:“Here, Johnson, lend me a fresh horse. There’s a fight on hand and I’m not in it!” , 9Johnson quickly mounted him and away be went and reported to the officer in command on the firing line. In tbe emergency, he was put in command of a regiment whose Colonel was not present, and in that capacity he fought all day, though his rank at that time was Major General of volunteers.Before this, at the battle of Shilob, be had attracted great attention by his picturesque behavior. Bragg had dubbed the Union soldiers “Rag, Tag and Bobtail.” On the second day Rousseau was with Buell’s re-enforcements and when the advance began he rode up and down tbe line with his hat on his sword, shouting:“Here Bag, here Tag, here Bobtail! Sickem Bag, sickem Tag, sicketn Bob-tail!” This created tremendous enthusiasm and contributed no little to the success of the day..Later, Kousseau was in command of a powerful raiding party in Alabama. At onetime he was opposed by an insignificant force under an old comrade iii Mexico. He sent a flag of truce to this Confederate officer. The one who bore the flag carried a letter to the Confederate commander which read as follows:“Dear Foddy:—“If you don’t getout of tbe way, I’ll run over you.“Affectionately, but apprehensively,“Kousseau.”It is said that the friend on tbeother side got out of tbe way.Rousseau’s tremendous popularitywas due to his approacbabiiity, bis handsome, soldierly bearing, bis princely generosity and his chivalrous nature. Once, while in camp at Nashville, bis family joined hitn, and his son, George Lovell Kousseau, got to selling papers. The General said: “Now George, that’s right. Sell all the papers you can tomorrow and I’ll add the price of a paper to every one you sell.”A waggish staff officer beard him sayCensured In the House For Speech Made After the War, He Returned to Louisville to BeVindicated By * ‘Home Folks. ’ ’ ,WWW W WWWWWWWWW'^'w^'w^WWWWW^WWWwW*They decided on a public censure, but Rousseau resigned bis seat. He explained to the Governor of Kentucky tbat this was done to avoid any stigmathis, and told it to everyone be met. The result was that George sold some $15 worth of papers tbe next day. Every officer id camp seemed to want the Journal, which was the one George was selling, and several bought as high as a dozen copies. While the Geoeral was “coughing up” the bon us tbat evening George tentatively re* marked: *“I suppose we will continue this arrangement to-morrow, pa.”“No George, to encourage an infant industry I subsidized you. But your industry has developed such remarkable strength that I withdraw the subsidy. I feel that you are altogether ctfpable of going alone.”At another time a number of ladies visited at headquarters down in Ten-• uessee. One of them had a pretty baby in her arms and he took It from her for a moment, fondling it affectionately. She said:“General that child’s name is Lovell Kousseau Simpkins.” The generous Kousseau “hulled out” a dollar instead of pronouncing a blessing on tbe little fellow. The proud mother told this on her return home, and many babies, with Lovell Kousseau for a Christian name, found their way to headquarters within the next few weeks. A timely order to move Saved the General from bankruptcy. The next time he pitched camp be memorized a short blessing to pronounce onthe Lovell Rousseaus who might show up.Kousseau resigned his volunteer commission in November, 1865, and returned to Louisville to the practice of law, A bright career in that profession seemed opening before him, but tbe Republicans wanted him in Congress, so he went there in 1866. Reconstruction wsb imminent, and he believed with tbe president, tbat the Southern states had never been out of the Union. His outspoken con victions antagonized the radical wing of the Republican party, and it led to an at* tercation with a member from' Iowa, Hon. Josiab B. Gri nneil. Mr. Grinned used some personalities that Kousseau did not resent, exoept to say tbat he supposed there was not a memberoh tbe floor of tbe House who believed►what the member from Iowa bad said.One word brought on another, andat last Mr. GriuueU said damagingthings about Kentucky. Kousseau would not staud for tbat, and called for a retraction. He was refused and Kt/usseau caned Grinned in tbe Capitol. The majority in the House then determined to humble Kousseau.tbat might rest upon Kentucky in-, the premises. However, be patiently waited for the censure, which be ingenuously believed would now fall upon himself individually, and not upon Kentucky.On the day that the rebuke was to be administered, Rousseau placed him* self where he could proceed alone to the Speaker’s chair when he sb.ould be .called for. He seems to have had a horror of being in tbe custody of the sergeant-at-arms. So when he was called for he stepped quickly to the bar of tbe House and received his reprimand. He then returned to Louisville, and was received with open arena by both parties.Women of Kentucky presented him; with a magnificent cane, in lieu of the one tbat had beeo “defiled in its contact with the person of Joiah B. Grin* nell,” He was nominated by tbe Republican party, and was not opposed by the Democracy. Serving to the end of his term, he was then com mis-ioned a Brigadier General in the regular establishment, with tbe brevet of Major General. He was immediately sent by the president to officially receive Alaska from tbe Russian Government* After that he succeeded Gen* Sheridan in command of the Depart? rneno of tbe Gulf at New Orleans, and died there shortly afterward.He had endeared himself to the people of New Orleans during bis short administration, and they did full honor to his remains. But Louisville felt that he was properly her dead, and begged bis body of the Crescent City* An imposing pageant wended its way to Cave Hill cemetery wben tbe remains were reinterred. Soon the Na-%tion said tbat he was one of its honored dead, and asked Louisville for his bones. Tbe body was then removed to Arlington, and reposes now amidst the mighty dead with whom Rousseau stood for the Union.Three Of his monuments receive floral tributes every Decoration day. One who laid an offering at his tomb in Arlington recently noticed tbat his son-in-law, Gen. Watkins; his daughter, Mrs. Gen. Watkins; his son, Lieut. George Lovell Kousseau, and bis grandson, Corporal Lovell Kousseau Watkins, all lie near him. Tbe same stone records the beginning and the end of all their careers.
Newspaper Details
Bloomfield News
Bloomfield, Indiana, US
Fri, Jul 17, 1908
Page 3
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 04 Jul 2020
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