May 29, 2010

THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS

From Gilbert LaBauve's Journal  1915

It was this 8th day of the present month that the battle of New Orleans,101 years ago, was fought. My father would often speak to me of the streunous time, of those days; how the Tennesseeans and Kentuckeans would drift down the Mississippi River, in flat boats roofed over, and dance on the roof of the boats as they floated down the river, as they were going down the river towards N. Orleans, in anticipation of trouble from the British who were ammassing forces around Pensacola and vicinity of New Orleans.

Finally the call was made for men, and a company was organized in No. Baton Rouge and adjoining parishes and, the men flocked to the American Standard, no one holding back.
My grandfather, Isidor Labauve was at the battle of New Orleans on the 8th of January 1915

THE LABAUVE GUARD


THE LABAUVE GUARD

Company B, Labauve Guard, 11th Regiment Infantry,

James A. Ventress Jr was commander, at his promotion Joseph
Warro became commander. Warro resigned 4 Jun 1862 & John C. Kleinpeter became commander.

Regiment was organized at Camp Moore on 13 Aug 1861 with 857 men.

Ordered to KY, they became part of the garrison at Columbus.

On 7 Nov, the men fought in the Battle of Belmont MO - 12 killed & 42 wounded.

Then moved to Island No.10 after the evacuation of Columbus & remained there till 17 Mar 1862, then to Fort Pillow.

The regiment took 550 men into the Battle of Shiloh on Apr 6th & suffered heavily in a bayonet charge against an enemy artillery battery.

On May 9th, they participated in the Battle of Farmington MS - 12 men killed, wounded or missing.

General Braxton Bragg ordered the regiment disbanded on 19 Aug because of its decline in numbers caused by battle causalities & illness.

The men left from Co B went into the 20th LA Regiment. Some picked men were organized as part of the 14th LA Battalion Sharpshooters.



Many thanks to the United Daughters of the Confederacy Website
UDC4LA@aol.com

copyright (c) 2000 Steven A. Cormier
11th Regiment Volunteer Infantry
www.acadiansingray.com/11th%20Regt.%20Inf.htm - 14k

May 28, 2010

DEATH OF A HERO


From Gilbert LaBauve's Journal

July 17, 1917

I am about recording the death of a hero, Gustave Labauve, Orderly Sergeant of a Company of the 18th regiment of Infantry commanded by Col. Armant of St James' Parish, participated in the battle of Mansfield, during the Confederate War.

The 18th regiment was ordered to charge a battery disployed behind a rail fence. As soon as the colonel received the order to charge the battery, he arose, leaving his regiment prone on the field. And, answering "The order to charge will be executed; but charging that battery is leading my men to death." whereupon he mounted his fiery steed, no sooner had he mounted, than a ball ended his military career. He fell dead; but the regiment made the charge nevertheless, and, in advancing at a double quick, the Standard bearer fell. No sooner had he been killed than Alexander Breaux of Fausse Pointe raised it high, telling the boys to follow their standard.

He had made only a few steps onward when he was killed, Leonce Ransonette also of Fausse Pointe, raised the color on high and advanced on toward the goal, but he also fell, mortally wounded

Gustave Labauve, happened to be, the only officer of the company unscathed. All the others had either been wounded out of action, or killed; he, as follows, in such emergencies, would not allow the regimental color to trail in the dust. On picking it up, he raised it on high and called to the men to follow him on to victory; no sooner were these words uttered than he was perforated by a mines? ball. And, fall on the bloody field, covered with immortal glory.

He was my first cousin, Uncle Victor Labauve being his father. There was not a lazy bone in that boy, fear was an unknown quantity in him. He was always ready to do his part in everything. I knew the boy well, for we split boards together in the Fausse Pointe swamps on Bayou Crocodile that empties into Lake Pond. For nearly two months we were encamped near that bayou; I was then 15 years old, and Gustave was about two years older than myself.

The Company must have been the center of the regiment, as it was entrusted with the Regimental Color. The regiment got to the rail fence, anyhow.

All at once the battery which had been pouring grape shot and canister into the ranks of the 18th regiment ceased. firing, and the whole battery with its support of infantry, were captured as prisoners of war, but the Confederates who had flanked them by a circutious movement around them. They all surrendered, about 5000 men in all. To accomplish this Genl. Dick Taylor had sacrificed nearly one whole regiment. Gustave Labauve was every inch a man;

To prove his sense of honor, it is only necessary to relate about his furlough at his home at Fausse Pointe, for he was on furlough home at the time the yankees went up the Teche to Red River. His wife and wife's relatives begged him to remain home--that his furlough was not yet up. But nothing could prevail on him to remain home while his company would be exposed to the enemy's fire on the battlefield. So, eluding the yankee army by a flank movement, he left his home and arrived at the headquarters, just in time to enter into action.

May 25, 2010

TREASURES OF GRAND PRE




Historic site reveals more valuable artifacts to archeologists

By GLEN PARKER

Mon. May 24 - 4:53 AMHistory is being unearthed at the Grand Pre National Historic Site at an unprecedented rate.
The latest phase of a decade-long archeological dig at the Acadian village came to a close on Saturday amid an atmosphere of optimism and enthusiasm.

"For us, this is an outdoor classroom," said Jonathon Fowler, professor of archeology at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

He has been leading a team of 14 undergraduate students in the latest phase of the dig, which got underway on May 3.

The continuing work is the result of a partnership between Saint Mary’s, Parks Canada and the Societe Promotion Grand-Pre.

"We’ve found lots of things," Fowler said.

Some artifacts unearthed so far, besides the rock walls and foundations, include fragments of pottery, handmade nails, a glass wine bottle, window pane glass, coins, spoons, belt buckles, buttons and clay pipes.

"We’re finding things that are durable, and some of these objects are very datable," Fowler said.

In 1755, the site was the centre of an Acadian village. It is thought that the original parish church stood there. It has long been a site of national significance.

photo:  The Memorial Church in Grand Pre    
http://www.grand-pre.com/en/courage-to-conquer.html

May 22, 2010

GACHGS MEETING

WestBankGenealogySociety Yahoo! Group

Title: GACHGS meeting



Date: Tuesday May 25, 2010

Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Location: St. John the Baptist Parish Library, 2920 Hwy 51, LaPlace, LA

Notes: Speaker: Emory C. Webre

Topic: The Education of Freedpeople in Louisiana by the Catholic Church during Reconstruction, 1865-1900

May 21, 2010

ACADIAN MEMORIAL EVENTS






Summer and Fall 2010


121 South New Market Street, St. Martinville, LA


www.acadianmemorial.org


Phone: (337) 394-2258


===============


July 28, 2010 - Day of Remembrance
Join the Acadian Memorial for an afternoon of commemoration:

Induction of Bernie David, Louisiana representative of the Mi'kmaq

Nation, into the Acadian Museum Hall of Fame "Living Legends."

Program co-hosted by the Acadian Museum of Erath, & held at the

Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville.

Tribal ceremony by the Métis/Mi'kmaq nations coming


from Vermont, Canada and Louisiana..St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church


French Service and Mass to remember the day the Deportation Order was


signed.


=================


August 15, 2010 - National Day of the Acadians

National Day of the Acadians has become International Day of the


Acadians! Celebrate the culture and heritage with educational lectures,

storytelling, Acadian films, and reception at the Acadian Memorial


ending with a French Mass at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church.


===========


October 6, 2010- L'Ordre du Bon Temps supper


Gala dinner for Acadian Memorial Foundation members belonging to


L'Ordre du Bon Temps (Order of Good Cheer) to be held at the City Club


at River Ranch, Lafayette, LA. Executive Chef Patrick Mould and


International Guest Chefs prepare and deliver an extraordinary gourmet


dining experience. Purchase of Foundation membership and event tickets


required.


Brenda Comeaux Trahan


Curator Director Acadian Memorial & Museum of the A.M.


Director of St. Martinville Department of Tourism


www.acadianmemorial.org & www.stmartinville.org


337.394.2258


fax 337.394.2260