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u. D. C. DEPARTMENTLOUISIAN DIVISION.ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE the OF BATON ROUGH.On the fifth day of AuR.,|st lgj!2 the Battle of Baton Rouge was fought a nd while not classedgreater halt be 0f the Ci. il \\among tnear wasroar of guns, near the eastern limits, announced the opening of the fray:“As the ringing yell of die Confederates came nearer and nearer and the citizens began to leave town, ornevertheless oesperate, and usulted in heavy losses on both sides. The Confederate force was comprised of Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi troops and of the local companies were the Delta Rifles, National Guards, Bynum’s Battalion and gome cavalry scouts.Gen. Williams commanding the Federal forces was killed and Generals Allen of Louisiana and Clark of Mississippi and Helm of Kentucky wounded. The last named officer was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and Major Todd, some say a brother and others a nephew of that !ady, was killed. The Confederate force numbered 2/200 men with eleven Pieces of artillery. The enemy wassaid tc number 5,500 men with 18 )ieces of artillery.The Federals were driven to thetake refuge in their bomb proofs.'There was but one avenue left open to those who were leaving the place. The contending forces occupM the full extent of the eastern suburbs, the United States garrison the north, and the fleet in the river, the west; and So through Catfishtown, •streams of men, women and children, laden with what little of their household treasures they had seized in their alarm, poured out of town and fled along the Highland and river roads. Manay crossed the river at Brusle Landing, and met with every attention from the kind-hearted people of that “burg.” The remainder found shelter in the houses of the Highland and coast planters. Those who remained in town, and had not prepared any place of refuge, gathered their families into their houses and listened in alarm to the wild roar ofvery comfortable bomb proof, that when he essayed to take possession, he was refused admittance by hisneighbors, who filled the spacious pitto his exclusion.“Soon the streets were filled with Federals and negroes who were making for the shelter of the gunboats, and the dropping of musket balls in the streets betokened how close the line of conflict had approached to the river. The Federal left wing had given way and was in full flight. The right wing stood their ground more stubbornly and retreated in better order.”HENRY WATKINS ALLEN.'iver bank where they found refuge battle as it surged nearer and nearer, mder the guns of ships of war, the’ Many bomb proofs had been made atter being stationed so as to sweep by private parties who had long ap-very street from North to Govern- prehended this attack. Theywerenent with shell and grape shot.The following, written some thirty!lined with plank and covered ’ears ago by an eye witness, will give ; heavy timbers and earth.! simply square pits sunk in the ground,withnidea of fright and flight of civil- “It is rotated of one citizen, whoins, men women and children whenibad built for himself and familyaBuy her a beautifulDIAMONDWe have a large assortment of clusters and solitaires set in the latest mountings.We sell them on easy terms. Your credit is good. Come and see us.Few men were more beloved by the people of East and West Baton Rouge or by soldiers who followed his leadership than was Henry Watkins Alien, soldier, statesman and patriot, to whose memory stands the monument on the grounds of the State Capitol, grounds embellished under his loving supervision while a member of the legislature.Few men of this or any other country achieved fame in so short a period 0f time as did Allen, who mustered in as a private soldier in the Delta Rifles became in rapid succession Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel,Brigadier General and Governor of Louisiana all within four years.The writer remembers as if but yesterday when Allen signed the muster roll of the Deltas when it was j thought by many he would decline doing so as one of the soldiers expressed it, “because he was a politician.I They were, however, mistaken in the man, for standing at the head of a list of members alphabetically arranged his was the first private whose name was called and as it was, he stepped forward from the ranks to a I tabic on which the roll was spread, j signed in a bold hand Henry Watkins I Allen and the boys cheered as he did 'so.I remember, too, quite distinctly,F. E. BOUEThird St. and N. Blvd,• seeing Colonel Allen in the Hornet’s i Nest at Shiloh with blood dripping | from a wound in the right cheek, the j ball entering near one corner of his | mouth to emerge near his right ear and yet undismayed, though suffering intensely saying, “Stand steady men, | ibis is as good a place to die as any on the field. Brave Allen! He never thought for a second any of his regi-jmcnt and particularly his former j comrades of the Delta Rifles would flinch from death while serving the i South.Sometime after the battle of Shiloh this regiment was detached from the Army of Tennessee and ordered to Vicksburg leaving arms and accoutrements behind to be re-equipped onarrival at the hill city. Marching u: armed to the railroad deput at Co inth they remained sometime loadir; baggage and just as about to entra the fight at Farmington started bi they guns of the Washington Arti Jery had scarcely opened upon the et emy before Allen was double quickin his men to where they had stacke arms and seizing them he hurried tlt; ward the battlefield for which he wa reprimanded by General Bragg fo disobedience of orders. The roar o the guns aroused in him a spirit o fight he could not control.It was at the battle of Baton Roug Allen received wounds that ended hi military career but not his life o usefulness to Louisiana as he wa elected Governor by the voters of tha portion of the state not in possessioi of the Federals. With his capital a Shreveport the ardent patriot began! at once to assist the people to be come more self-sustaining and inde pendent of outside sources. He en cuuraged farmers to produce food if abundance and opened communicator with Mexico whereby articles of ne cessity were obtained which could no* be produced in this state. He im-ported spinning wheels, cotton carc and looms through the operation ol which the people could be clothed, ir fact he proved himself as wise ir peace as he had been valient in war On the downfall of the Confederacj Governor Allen sought refuge in Mexico where he died after a short time from wounds received in battle and his remains now rest within :ho cap* itol enclosure shaded by the trees he-had had planted and within sight of the spot where he fell with both legs shattered by a shell.No wonder Daughters of the Confederacy pay frequent visits to the spot where his remains are resting awaiting the Judgmcn Day. Theflowers seen on the monument from time to time hear testimony that Henry Watkins Allen has not and will not be forgotten by descendants of those “who followed where he led.o-Mv neighbor, Mrs. Moriety,Was crazy to get in society.She was crazy, for sure;But it worked its own cure,For of functions she soon had satiety.“Sir, what will these phntos cometo?”Asked the patron, ill at ease. “Fifty Dollars, said the photographer,“Now then, look pleasant please!
Newspaper Details
Womans Enterprise
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US
Tue, Aug 01, 1922
Page 11
Full Page
Clipped by
Ronnie H.
AL, USA 01 Mar 2021
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