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January 25, 1864 -June 2, 1865
Henry Watkins Allen (April 29, 1820 – April 22, 1866) was an American soldier and politician, and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served as the Confederate Governor of Louisiana late in the war.
Allen was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, was educated at Marion College, Missouri, taught school and practiced law in Mississippi, and served in the Texas Revolution against Mexico. He was a member of the Texas state House of Representatives in 1853, after studying law at Harvard. In 1859 he went to Europe with the intention of taking part in the Italian struggle for independence, but arrived too late. He made a tour through Europe, the incidents of which are recounted in "'Travels of a Sugar Planter." He was elected to the legislature during his absence, and on returning took a prominent part in the business of that body. He had been a Whig in politics, but had joined the Democratic Party when Buchanan was nominated for president in 1856.
He joined the Confederate army as a lieutenant colonel in 1861. He was wounded at Baton Rouge and at Shiloh. Allen became a brigadier general in 1864, and was elected Governor of Louisiana in 1864, losing office when the Confederacy collapsed in 1865.
After the war, he moved to Mexico City, edited the Mexico Times, and wrote Travels of a Sugar Planter. He assisted in the opening of trade between Texas and Mexico. He died in Mexico City and was buried in the Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge.
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MESSAGE
Executive Office,
Shreveport, La., Jan. 16th, 1865.
Gentlemen of the Senate and of the House of Representatives:
You have assembled again, in regular session, for the purpose of transacting the business of the Commonwealth. During the year that has elapsed since I had the pleasure of meeting, you, very important events have transpired. Many bloody battles have been fought with varied success--many valuable lives have been offered up on the altar of our common country. The war has raged with unabated fury, yet our troops, with a few recent exceptions, have been everywhere triumphant; and the armies of the Confederacy are to-day well organized and are still formidable. Divine Providence has blessed the land with plenty, while that terrible scourge, which often in our climate decimates whole cities, has been but partially felt. Our own queenly metropolis, though cursed with the presence of an insolent, thieving, vandal foe, has yet been spared the visitation of pestilence; and Louisiana has perhaps lost fewer lives in a year of battles than she has often lost in a summer of the fever. In this department, although our people have suffered much from the wicked raids of the enemy, we have no reason to complain. We should not murmur, for our arms have been victorious in an eminent degree. The enemy have been driven out of the Attakapas parishes, and are not now seen on the right bank of the Atchafalaya. Although many of our farmers have suffered from drought, and from the late planting caused by invasion, we still have corn enough in Louisiana for two years' subsistence. With grateful hearts we should thank Him, who rules the destinies of the universe, for this plenty in the land.
Since your last session we have been called to mourn the loss of many of our best citizens. HENRY JOHNSON, once Governor of Louisiana, a cotemporary of Clay, and Webster, and Calhoun, died at his home in Pointe Coupee, full of years and full of honors. PIERRE EMILE BONFORD, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, after a brief illness, died at Alexandria, exiled by war from home and family. He was a finished scholar, a thorough and very learned lawyer and jurist, and a devoted patriot. His singularly pure, candid, genial and generous nature won the love of all who knew him. I took him from the army and placed him on the bench. In his death the State has suffered irreparable loss. HENRY MARSHALL and BENJAMIN L. HODGE, the one succeeding the other in Congress, have also departed this life. Both were distinguished for their sterling integrity and great patriotism. Your own body has also lost one of its brightest ornaments, in the death of PRESTON POND, Jr., Senator from East Feliciana. On the battle field death has stricken many a shining mark. Generals POLK, MOUTON, and STAFFORD have fallen fighting gloriously their country. Their memories are embalmed in the hearts of all Louisianians--a nation's tears will flow for them--their graves will be hallowed ground. ARMAND, and BEARD, and CLACK, and CANFIELD, and SHIELDS, and BELL, and WINANS, and WALKER, and TAYLOR--all fell as fall the brave. I would recommend that a few acres of the battlefield of Mansfield be bought by the State, and that a monument be erected to the gallant Mouton and his brave comrades, who fell there in defence of their country.
To be continued...
