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The generation of 1860 is notable for its military service.
In 1862 these people furnished two regiments
of volunteers to the Union army and several officers to a third
regiments were composed of men who were officers and soldiers
from our most illustrious free families.
These valiant
patriots, worthy descendants of their forebears who fought in
the wars of 1815 and 1845, burned with the desire to take up
arms for the cause of freedom. At the first call for volunteers,
they enlisted for three years. They participated in several
major battles and impartial history has recorded the quality
of their valor.
The bravery and the fearlessness
of the Creole troops excited the admiration, not only of the
other American people, but of the entire world.
The conduct
of Captain Andre Cailloux was adequate proof for the minds
of skeptics and it silenced the enemies of the black man.
The eyes of the world were indeed on this American Spartacus.
The hero of ancient Rome displayed
no braver heroism than did this officer who ran forward to
his death with a smile on his lips and crying, "let us
go forward, O comrades!" Six times he threw himself against
the murderous batteries of Port Hudson, and in each assault
he repeated his urgent call, "let us go forward, one
more time!" Finally, falling under the mortal blow, he
gave his last order to his attending officer, "Bacchus,
take charge!" If anyone should say the knightly Bayard
did better or more, according to history, he lies.
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Buckaneers
in Louisiana
by: Tommy Thompson |
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A point important to the race
problem was resolved: Andre Cailloux certainly proved that
the black man is able to fight and die for his county.
Our
grateful people honored him with an elaborate funeral after
the enemy finally released his remains which had lain out
on the plains for two months. All those whom Captain
Cailloux had glorified by his heroic death came
to show their recognition on this solemn occasion.
Never before,
with one exception, had New Orleans been the theater of such
a demonstration. Men, women, and children, all wearing mourning,
followed the coffin of this hero to his tomb where his mutilated
remains were laid to rest.
In all history there was but one
Andre Cailloux! May our compatriots remember him! May they
erect a monument or a statue that will save his name from
oblivion.
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Our people and
Our history
by: Rodolph Lucien Desdunes |
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