USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 17
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Rio Grande, and be handed down through time as a religious custom of the South, to wreathe the graves of our martyred dead with flowers: and we propose the 26th of April as the day."
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The proposal of Mrs. Williams and her colleagues found favor with the Northern as well as the Southern people and the ceremony, if not the date, is now observed in every state in the Union. In several of the Southern states the legislatures, by the enactment of suitable laws, set apart the day suggested by Mrs. Williams as a legal holiday, to be observed as Memorial day. In the North, owing to the fact that the season is some weeks later than in the - South, May 30 is the day observed. The custom was observed in Louisiana for some years before a day was set apart by law, but Act No. 110 of the session of 1896 provides "That the 6th day of April, Decoration Day, be considered and set aside as a dies non throughout the state in memory of the Confederate dead." The custom of decorating graves has also been extended in most of the states to the heroes of other wars, and it is worthy of mention that in both North and South the graves of the Blue and the Gray are treated with absolute impartiality in the matter of distributing floral wreaths.
Mercier, Dr. Alfred, was one of the most cultured and versatile men of letters whom Louisiana has produced. Indeed his versa- tility was remarkable as he was a dramatist, poet, essayist, philoso- pher, novelist and scientist. His views were always original, and whether or not they were expressed in poetry or prose, they were set forth in a style always correct, elegant and polished.
"L'Ermite du Niagara," his first drama, with its fascinating plot, was published in Paris in 1842. "Fortunia," a dramatic novel in five acts, in which the element of pathos is at times very pro- nounced, appeared in 1888. "La Rose de Smyrne." a graceful and touching orientale, "Erato," a collection of short and harmonious poems, and "Reditus et Ascalaphos," a long philosophical poem of rare beauty, are among the most widely known of Dr. Mercier's poetieal productions. Among his poems are: A Flower and a Sylph, Morning. Old Bard and Young Girls, Lolotte, Sweet Su- zette. The Man and the Spider. Tawanta, The School Teacher's Song, In the Streets, Message, And Where are They? and Setting Sun.
Dr. Mercier was also a successful writer of fiction. Among - his most popular productions in this field are: "Le Fou de Pal- erme," his first work of fiction, in which is narrated a touching love story ; "La Fille du Prêtre." a romance dealing with the church and attacking the celibacy of priesthood; "L'Habitation St. Ybars," a story containing a most vivid portrayal of Louisiana plantation life before the war: "Lidia," an idyl: "Johnnelle," a novel contain- ing a fascinating plot and philosophieally placing the horrors of infanticide before the reader. Among his miscellaneous writings may be mentioned: The Banquet. The Engadine (a tourist's de- seription), Diamonds, Sleet. Algiers, Nihilism and the Nihilists, Essay on the Creole Dialeet in Louisiana, Negro Fable, Progress
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of the French Language in Louisiana, Observations made on Flashes of Lightning, Love and Faith, Notes on Earthquakes, Episode of the Epidemic of 1878. An Exile, Woman as portrayed in Homer's Poems, Dramatic Clubs in St. Martinville, Remarks on the Carnatz Institute, Dante Alighieri, Obituary of Mrs. Armand Cousin, Hamlet, his Mental State, The Climate of Louisiana, Slumber-Dreams and Somnambulism, An Excursion in the Pyre- nees, The Important Role Played by Medals in History, Ancient and Modern Pugilism, Paracelse, Etienne Viel-his Translation of Fénelon's Telemachus, and The Storm of 1888, all written in French.
Dr. Mercier was one of the prime movers in the founding of L'Athénée Louisianais (q. v.), and upon its organization was made perpetual secretary, a position which he capably occupied up to the time of his death in 1894. He was a liberal and extremely versatile contributor to "Comptes Rendus," the official organ of the society. Many of his productions were read before the society and appeared in the columns of the above mentioned periodical.
All in all Dr. Mercier was a man of the most profound learning. He loved knowledge and culture for their own sake and he was most contented when he believed that their fruits were being liberally partaken of by others. Though strictly loyal to American laws and institutions he was especially devoted to the French lan- guage and customs, and it was his ardent desire that the general literature.
Mercier, Dr. Armand, late of New Orleans, enjoyed the distinc- tion of acting as the first president of L'Athénée Louisianais, a society composed of Louisiana men of letters, which has for its purpose the promulgation and the preservation of the French lan- guage and its literature among Louisianians. He capably filled this position of honor up to Jan., 1881, when he was succeeded by Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard. Dr. Mercier was a man of culture and literary attainments and he contributed a number of articles to the Comptes Rendus, the official organ of the above mentioned society. Shortly after his death in 1885 he was ardently eulogized before the society in a paper by Leona Queyrouze, entitled "Dr. Armand Mercier's Death." (See Athenee Louisianais.)
Mermenton, a post-village of Acadia parish, is a station on the Southern Pacific R. R., 5 miles east of Jennings, and 12 miles west of Crowley, the parish seat. It is situated in the rice district of southwestern Louisiana, and is the trading and supply point for a rich farming country. It has an international money order post- office, telegraph station, express office, good schools, a number of mercantile establishments, and in 1900 had a population of 175.
Merrick, Edwin Thomas, jurist, was born at Wilbraham, Mass., July 9, 1809. a son of Thomas and Anna ( Brewer) Merrick. The first of the family to settle in America was Thomas Merrick, who came to this country in 1634. He settled near and owned a large part of the land on which the city of Springfield, Mass., now stands. Edwin Merrick's grandfather, Jonathan Merrick, a wealthy fariner,
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fought in the Revolutionary war, and assisted in the capture of Gen. Burgoyne. When Edwin was quite young his father died and he was 'raised by an uncle, Samuel Brewer of Springfield, N. Y., where he received his early education. In 1828 he entered the Wesleyan academy at Wilbraham, where he graduated 4 years later ; studied law for a time in the office of William Knight ; moved to New Lisbon, Ohio, where he continued his law studies with his uncle, Col. A. L. Brewer ; was admitted to the bar of Ohio in 1833, and began to practice at Carrollton ; was induced to take charge of his uncle's law practice and returned to New Lisbon ; formed a partnership there with William Russell; when Mr. Russell retired Mr. Merrick formed a new partnership with James H. Muse, of Clinton, Ia., and moved to that city for a time before settling in New Orleans. In Louisiana civil law is the basis of jurisprudence. which made it necessary for Mr. Merrick to study law again, which he did and passed a brilliant examination before the supreme court. He was admitted to the bar of Louisiana in 1839, rapidly acquired a large practice, and recognition throughout the state. In 1845 he was elected judge of the 7th district, and in 1846 the Whigs nominated him for justice of the supreme court, to which position he was elected by a large majority. Though opposed to secession, Judge Merrick believed the people had a right to decide and stood with them when the state left the Union. During the war he lived with his family on his plantation at Pointe Coupée, occupied with his duties as chief justice. In 1863 he was reelected and in 1865 returned to New Orleans to live. His property had been seized by the Federal authorities but he succeeded in recover- ing it, and was admitted into the law firm of Race & Foster, the new firm becoming Race, Foster & Merrick, later it was changed to Merrick, Race & Foster as an honor to Judge Merrick, and finally to Merrick & Merrick, when the judge's second son, E. T. Merrick, jr., was taken into the firm. In 1871 Judge Merrick pub- lished a treatise on the "Laws of Louisiana and their Sources." which was such a brilliant work that it caused world-wide com- ment. In 1840 he married Caroline E., daughter of Capt. David Thomas of Jackson, La., and they had four children, two of whom are still living-Edwin Thomas, and Capt. David Merrick, a wealthy planter of Pointe Coupee. Judge Merrick never took a case unless he believed that law and justice were on his side, and his great success as a lawyer was doubtless due to this fact. He died at his home in New Orleans, La .. Jan. 2, 1897.
Mer Rouge, an incorporated town of Morehouse parish, is one of the oldest settlements in northern Louisiana, having been set- tled during the first two decades of the 18th century by people from the New England states. It is located on the St. Louis, Iron Moun- tain & Southern R. R .. 6 miles east of Bastrop, the parish seat, and is the second city in size in the parish. It has a beautiful location, pretty homes, commodious business- houses, a money order post- office, a bank, telegraph and express offices, and is the trading and
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shipping center for one of the richest agricultural districts in the state. In 1900 it had a population of 465.
Merryville (R. R. name Hall City), a village and station in the northwestern part of Calcasieu parish, is situated on the Gulf, Colo- rado & Santa Fe R. R., about 15 miles west of De Ridder, and 40 miles northwest of Lake Charles, the parish seat. It is in the western long leaf pine region, has important lumber industries, a money order postoffice and is the trading and supply town for a large section of country.
Metcalf, a post-hamlet of Caddo parish, is about 4 miles west of Reisor, the nearest railroad station, and 12 miles southwest of Shreveport, the parish seat. The population in 1900 was 50.
Methodist Church .- (See Protestant Churches.)
Mexican War .- (See War with Mexico.)
Meyer, Adolph, member of Congress, was born Oct. 19, 1842. Ile attended the Virginia state university, but left in 1862 to enlist in the Confederate army and served until the close of the war on Gen. John Williams' staff. At the close of the war he returned to Louisiana, where he became a cotton and sugar planter, and was also interested in the banking and mercantile business in New Orleans. In 1879 he was elected colonel in the Louisiana National Guard; in 1881 received an appointment as brigadier-general in the same organization and was placed in command of the 1st bri- gade. Soon after this he entered political life and was elected to Congress as a Democrat, serving from 1890 to 1908, when he died. He rendered great services to Louisiana as a member of the Con- gressional Committee on Naval Affairs.
Midland, a town of Acadia parish, is situated at the junction of the main and a branch line of the Southern Pacific R. R., about 9 miles west of Crowley, the parish seat, in the great rice district of southwestern Louisiana. It has rice mills, a money order post- office, express office, telegraph and telephone facilities, and is the shipping point for a large quantity of rice.
Midway, a post-village of Bossier parish, is located about 6 miles east of Benton, the parish seat, and is the terminus of a short line of railway that connects with the Vicksburg, Shreveport & Pacific at Haughton.
Milford, a post-hamlet of Rapides parish, is situated on a branch of Bayou Boeuf, about 3 miles east of Hoyt, the nearest railroad station, and 15 miles southwest of Alexandria, the parish seat.
Milhet, Jean, the richest merchant in New Orleans during the closing years of the French domination, was a man of great public- spirit and intensely loyal to France. In 1764 he was chosen as the commissioner to bear the petition of the inhabitants of Louisi- ana to the French ministry, praying that the colony might not be separated from the mother country, and for over two years he remained in Paris, endeavoring by every means to have the treaty ceding the province to Spain annulled. Upon his return to Louisi- ana he cast his lot with the people as against Governor Ulloa, and became one of the leaders in the revolution of 1768. (q. v.) He
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was arrested by order of Gov. O'Reilly, sentenced to imprisonment for six years, and his property sequestered. In 1769 he was taken to Havana, where he was confined in Morro castle until 1771, when he was released through the intercession of the French gov- ernment. Upon gaining his liberty he went to St. Domingo, where he was soon afterward joined by his wife and three children. Baudry des Lozieres says that his joy at seeing his wife and chil- dren again was so great that he died within a week. His name and memory are still revered in Louisiana as those of a man who was willing to sacrifice liberty and property, and to risk even his life, for a cause that he believed to be just.
Milhet, Joseph, one of the prominent merchants of New Orleans at the time Louisiana was ceded to Spain in 1762, was active in his endeavors to have France retain possession of the province. He was the first man to sign the petition to the superior council, asking that body to suspend the operations of Gov. Ulloa's order of Sept. 6, 1766, relating to the colonial trade and commerce. As an officer of the militia he, with his command, joined in the revo- lution of 1768. Some of the arms belonging to the revolutionists were stored in his residence, and he was otherwise energetic in the insurrection. When the memorial of the planters and merchants, regarding the events of Oct. 29, 1768, was drawn up, he was again the first man to attach his signature, little dreaming that he was signing his death warrant. He was one of the five men sentenced to death by Gov. O'Reilly's court, and on Oct. 25, 1769, in the barracks yard of the Lisbon regiment, he fell before a file of Span- ish grenadiers, a martyr to his principles and a sacrifice upon the altar of liberty.
Military Reservations .- The following is a list of the U. S. mili- tary reservations within the state of Louisiana: Jackson Barracks, Fort Jackson, Fort Livingston, Fort Macomb, Fort Pike, Proctor's Landing, Fort St. Philip, and Battery Bienvenue.
The reservation at Battery Bienvenue contains 934.7 acres, and is located on the right bank of Bayou Bienvenue at the forks of said bayou and Mazant. It will be remembered that the British forces under Pakenham, in the War of 1812, made their way to the Mississippi below New Orleans by way of Lake Borgne and the Bayous Bienvenue and Mazant. The lands were reserved for military purposes by executive order, dated Feb. 9, 1842, and included all "the public land 1,200 yards each way from the fort." Jurisdiction was ceded to the United States by legislative act, ap- proved June 1, 1846, giving to the Federal government control for military purposes of the works of fortification at Battery Bien- venue, Fort Jackson, Fort St. Philip, Fort Pike, Fort Wood (now Fort Macomb), Tower Dupres and Proctor's landing, the state retaining concurrent jurisdiction with the United States for the service of civil and criminal process, and exempting the ceded property from all taxes and assessments, "while the said traets of land shall remain the property of the United States, and shall be used for the purposes intended by this act."
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Jackson Barracks reservation contains an area of 87.87 acres, and is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi river, about 3 miles below the city of New Orleans. The land embraced within the reservation formerly belonged to Pierre Cotteret and Mrs. Pru- dence Desilets, widow of Louis Badius, and was purchased in par- cels in 1833 and 1848. The legislature ceded jurisdiction over the tract to the United States by a general act of cession, approved July 6, 1882 (see National Cemeteries).
Fort Jackson reservation contains an area of about 557.6 acres. and is situated on the right bank of the Mississippi river abont 73 miles below the city of New Orleans in the parish of Plaquemines. During the French and Spanish domination it was known as Fort Bourbon, and passed to the United States under the cession from France in 1803. A formal reservation for military purposes was made by executive order, dated Feb. 9, 1842, afterwards modified by executive order, dated Oct. 26, 1847, so as to compromise all the public land lying 1,500 Castilian varas from the most salient parts of the extreme outworks of the fort. Together with Fort St. Philip, the two works were the most important of the lower defenses of the river below New Orleans during the war between the states. The story.of their reduction after a fierce struggle by the great fleet under Admiral Farragut is familiar history.
Fort Livingston reservation contains an area of 126.16 acres, and is situated on the west end of Grand Terre island in the parish of Jefferson, at the entrance of Grand pass to Barataria bay. It was bought by the state from Etienne de Gruy in 1834 and imme- diately after ceded to the United States for purposes of fortification.
Fort Macomb, formerly Fort Wood, contained an area of 1,364.71 acres. The reservation is at Pass Chef Menteur on Lake Borgne in the parish of Orleans. Assuming it to be part of the public do- main it was reserved for military purposes by executive order, dated Feb. 9, 1842. which included all the public land lying within 1,200 yards of the fort, measured from the most salient point of the works. Claims, based upon French grants, arising, executive order, dated June 20, 1896, transferred to the department of the interior all that portion of the reservation "which lies on the east side of Chef Menteur Pass, in Sec. 28, Town 11 S., Range 14 E., Southern District of Louisiana." The area of the remainder is unknown.
Fort Pike reservation contains all the land in Sec. 19, Town 10 S., Range 15 E .. and is situated south of Great Rigolet on the northern margin of the island of "Petites Coquilles," which divides Lake Borgne from Lake Ponchartrain, about 35 miles northeast of New Orleans. The land was reserved for military purposes by executive order, dated Feb. 9, 1842, and included the public lands within 1,200 yards of the fort. All the land had been patented to the state as swamp except the above described section. In 1894 a revocable license was granted to the State of Louisiana and the city of New Orleans to occupy a portion of the reservation for the care, treatment and confinement of contagious diseases, and to use
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the made ground outside the outer west ditch of the fort for the residence of the attending physician.
· Proctor's landing reservation contains an area of about 100 acres and is situated at the foot of Lake Borgne in the parish of St. Bernard.
Fort St. Philip reservation contains about 1,145 acres and is situ- ated east of the Mississippi river, nearly opposite Fort Jackson in the parish of Plaquemines. Like Fort Jackson it was a fortified point during the French and Spanish domination of Louisiana, and passed to the United States as such in the cession from France in 1803. That portion of the reservation comprised in Sec. 11 was formally declared a reservation for military purposes by executive order dated Feb. 9, 1842. In 1902-3 condemnation proceedings were resorted to, and the reservation was increased by some 549.73 acres. After Jackson's memorable defcat of the British below New Orleans on Jan. 8, 1815, four British vessels maintained an ineffectual bom- bardment of Fort St. Philip for a period of 8 days. The batteries of the fort wrought great damage to Farragut's fleet before it finally fell into the hands of the Federals in the spring of 1862.
Militia .- On April 10, 1805, Gov. Claiborne approved an act "for regulating and governing the militia of the Territory of Orleans," and under its provisions was made the first enrollment of citizens subject to military service after the province had passed into the possession of the United States. A supplementary act was ap- proved on April 29, 1811, and was in force at the time Louisiana was admitted into the Union in April, 1812. At the first session of the state legislature steps were taken for the more perfect organi- zation of a militia force. On Sept. 6, 1812, Gov. Claiborne approved an act authorizing him to enroll a corps of militia, to be chosen from such persons as should have paid a state tax. "Certain free men of color" were eligible, but the act expressly stipulated that all commanding officers should be white men. The next day the general assembly adopted a resolution instructing the governor to request the national government to loan the State of Louisiana 4,000 stands of arms, 400 sabers, etc., appropriating a sum sufficient to pay the freight on the arms if the request was granted, and $5,000 for the purchase of ammunition.
The first general organization of the state's militia was author- ized by the act of Feb. 12. 1813, which provided that all able-bodied citizens between the ages of 16 and 50 years should be subject to military duty, except civil officers, ministers of the gospel, physi- cians, keepers of ferries, and certain other persons whose occupa- tions were of such a nature that the legislature deemed it advisable to exempt them from militia service. The act contained 51 sec- tions, giving detailed directions as to the organization and main- tenance of the militia. expressly repealed the acts of the territorial legislature, and ordered 600 copies to be printed in pamphlet form to be distributed by the commander-in-chief among the officers of the different commands. The organization of the militia under the provisions of this law was greatly stimulated by the British
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invasion in Dec., 1814. In the military operations about New Or- leans the Louisiana militia, commanded by such men as Gens. Vil- lere and Morgan, Col. Michel Fortier, and Majs. Plauche, Lacoste, Daquin and Latour, played a conspicuous part. (See War of 1812.) The state was somewhat tardy in officially recognizing the valor of her militia on that occasion, but on Jan. 7, 1820, the general assembly adopted a resolution "That the governor be, and he is hereby authorized, to present one stand of colours to the uniformed companies of the city of New Orleans, on the 8th instant, as a token of gratitude for the eminent services of those companies, at the time of the invasion of our territory by the British," etc.
By the act of March 18, 1820, it was provided that whenever 1,000 noncommissioned officers and privates should be enrolled for active military service the governor should organize them into a brigade to be known as the "Louisiana Legion," commanded by a brigadier-general. In Feb., 1821, the governor was instructed to purchase four 4-pounders, with carriages, for the use of the New Orleans uniformed companies, each of which was required to drill at least once a month. Shortly after this the militia in the parish of Orleans was organized into the "First Brigade," and in April, 1826, the legislature directed that four inspection reviews of this brigade should be held annually-on Jan. 8 and the first Saturdays in April, July and October.
Several important changes in the militia laws were made by the legislature of 1829. Elections for filling vacancies in the office of brigadier-general were provided for, the voters at such elections to be the commissioned officers of regiments and battalions ; the com- mander of any regiment or battalion was authorized to organize not more than two companies of his command as mounted infantry when deemed necessary ; the act of 1826 was repealed ; the appoint- ment of an adjutant-general, a quartermaster-general, surgeon and provost marshal was provided for ; a system of fines for nonattend- ance at musters was inaugurated; the duties of the adjutant-gen- eral and provost marshal in assessing and collecting these fines were defined : all fines were to go into the regimental fund : students in seminaries and colleges were exempted from military duty; the governor was instructed to have the militia laws put into pamphlet form, 1,000 copies of which were to be printed for distribution, and an appropriation of $300 was made for that purpose.
A complete reorganization of the militia was effected under the act of March 8, 1834. All free white male citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 years were made subject to militia duty, and were divided into two classes. Those between the ages of 18 and 30 years were designated as the first class, and those between the ages of 30 and 45 constituted the second class. Company organi- zations were to consist of a captain, 1 first and 2 second lieuten- ants, 5 sergeants, 6 corporals, 50 privates of the first class and as many of the second class as might reside in the company district. In addition to the above officers, artillery companies were to have 3 artificers and 2 musicians. The regimental organization was to
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