_Capt. André Callioux.--His Body lies in State.--Personal
Appearance.--His Enthusiasm.--His Popularity.--His Funeral.--The great
Respect paid the Deceased.--General Lamentation._
The death of Capt. André Callioux created a profound sensation
throughout Louisiana, and especially in New Orleans, where the deceased
had lived from childhood. This feeling of sorrow found vent at the
funeral, which took place on the 11th of July, 1863. We give the
following, written at the time by a correspondent of a New-York
Journal:--
_“New Orleans, Saturday, Aug. 1, 1863._” “The most extraordinary local
event that has ever been seen within our borders, and, I think, one of
the most extraordinary exhibitions brought forth by this Rebellion, was
the funeral of Capt. André Callioux, Company E, First Louisiana National
Guards. Here, in this Southern emporium, was performed a funeral
ceremony that for numbers and impressiveness never had its superior
in this city; and it was originated and carried through in honor of a
gallant soldier of the despised race, to enslave which, it is said, will
soothe this State back into the Union.
“Capt. Callioux was fine-looking, and, in his military dress, had an
imposing appearance. I remember seeing him at Gen. Banks’s headquarters,
in company with at least fifteen of our prominent military officers; and
he was a marked personage among them all. In the celebrated assault and
repulse on Port Hudson by Gen. Banks, Capt. Callioux fell, at the head
of his company, on the 27th of May last, while gallantly leading it
on to the enemy’s works. His body, along with others of the national
regiments, after the battle, lay within deadly reach of the rebel
sharpshooters; and all attempts to recover the body were met with a
shower of Minie-bullets. Thus guarded by the enemy, or, I might
say, thus honored by their attention, the body lay exposed until the
surrender of the place, the 8th of July, when it was recovered, and
brought to this city to receive the astonishing ovation connected with
the last rights of humanity.
“The arrival of the body developed to the white population here that
the colored people had powerful organizations in the form of civic
societies; as the Friends of the Order, of which Capt. Callioux was a
prominent member, received the body, and had the coffin containing it,
draped with the American flag, exposed in state in the commodious hall.
Around the coffin, flowers were strewn in the greatest profusion, and
candles were kept continually burning. All the rights of the Catholic
Church were strictly complied with. The guard paced silently to and fro,
and altogether it presented as solemn a scene as was ever witnessed.
“In due time, the band of the Forty-second Massachusetts Regiment
made their appearance, and discoursed the customary solemn airs. The
officiating priest, Father Le Maistre, of the Church of St. Rose of
Lima, who has paid not the least attention to the excommunication and
denunciations issued against him by the archbishop of this diocese, then
performed the Catholic service for the dead. After the regular services,
he ascended to the president’s chair, and delivered a glowing and
eloquent eulogy on the virtues of the deceased. He called upon all
present to offer themselves, as Callioux had done, martyrs to the cause
of justice, freedom, and good government. It was a death the proudest
might envy.
“Immense crowds of colored people had by this time gathered around
the building, and the streets leading thereto were rendered almost
impassable. Two companies of the Sixth Louisiana (colored) Regiment,
from their camp on the Company Canal, were there to act as an escort;
and Esplanade Street, for more than a mile, was lined with colored
societies, both male and female, in open order, waiting for the hearse
to pass through.
“After a short pause, a sudden silence fell upon the crowd, the band
commenced playing a dirge; and the body was brought from the hall on the
shoulders of eight soldiers, escorted by six members of the society, and
six colored captains, who acted as pall-bearers. The corpse was conveyed
to the hearse through a crowd composed of both white and black people,
and in silence profound as death itself. Not a sound was heard save the
mournful music of the band, and not a head in all that vast multitude
but was uncovered.
“The procession then moved off in the following order: The hearse
containing the body, with Capts. J. W. Ringgold, W. B. Barrett, S. J.
Wilkinson, Eugene Mailleur, J. A. Glea, and A. St. Leger (all of whom,
we believe, belong to the Second Louisiana Native Guards), and six
members of The Friends of the Order, as pall-bearers; about a hundred
convalescent sick and wounded colored soldiers; the two companies of the
Sixth Regiment; a large number of colored officers of all native guard
regiments; the carriages containing Capt. Callioux’s family, and a
number of army officers; winding up with a large number of private
individuals, and the following-named societies:--
Friends of the Order.
Society of Economy and Mutual Assistance. United Brethren.
Arts’ and Mechanics’ Association.
Free Friends.
Good Shepherd Conclave, No. 2.
Artisans’ Brotherhood.
Good Shepherd Conclave, No. 1. Union Sons’ Relief. Perseverance Society.
Ladies of Bon Secours.
La Fleur de Marie.
Saint Rose of Lima.
The Children of Mary Society.
Saint Angela Society.
The Immaculate Conception Society. The Sacred Union Society.
The Children of Jesus.
Saint Veronica Society.
Saint Alphonsus Society.
Saint Joachim Society.
Star of the Cross.
Saint Theresa Society.
Saint Eulalia Society.
Saint Magdalen Society.
God Protect Us Society.
United Sisterhood.
Angel Gabriel Society.
Saint Louis Roi Society.
Saint Benoit Society. Benevolence Society.
Well Beloved Sisters’ Society.
Saint Peter Society.
Saint Michael Archangel Society Saint Louis de Gonzague Society. Saint
Ann Society.
The Children of Moses
“After moving through the principal down-town streets, the body was
taken to the Bienville-street cemetery; and there interred with military
honors due his rank.
“Capt. Callioux was a native of this city, aged forty-three years, and
was one of the first to raise a company under the call of Gen. Butler
for colored volunteers. ‘The Union,’ of this city, a paper of stanch
loyalty, which is devoted to the interests of the colored people,
speaking of Capt. Callioux, says ‘By his gallant bearing, his
gentlemanly deportment, his amiable disposition, and his capacities as a
soldier,--having received a very good education,--he became the idol of
his men, and won the respect and confidence of his superior officers.
He was a true type of the Louisianian. In this city, where he passed his
life, he was loved and respected by all who knew him.
“‘In Capt. Callioux, the cause of the Union and freedom has lost a
valuable friend. Capt. Callioux, defending the integrity of the sacred
cause of liberty, vindicated his race from the opprobrium with which it
was charged. He leaves a wife and several children, who will have the
consolation that he died the death of the patriot and the righteous.’
“The long pageant has passed away; but there is left deeply impressed on
the minds of those who witnessed this extraordinary sight the fact that
thousands of people born in slavery had, by the events of the Rebellion,
been disinthralled enough to appear in the streets of New Orleans,
bearing to the tomb a man of their own color, who had fallen gallantly
fighting for the flag and his country,--a man who had sealed with
his blood the inspiration he received from Mr. Lincoln’s Emancipation
Proclamation. The thousands of the unfortunates who followed his remains
had the flag of the Union in miniature form waving in their hands, or
pinned tastefully on their persons.
“We would ask, Can these people ever again be subjected to slavery?
Are these men who have been regenerated by wearing the United-States
uniform, these men who have given their race to our armies to fight our
would-be oppressors,--are these people to be, can they ever again be,
handed over to the taskmaster? Would a Government that would do such
a thing be respected by the world, be honored of God? Could the
Christianized people of the globe have witnessed the funeral of Capt.
Callioux, there would have been but one sentiment called forth, and that
is this,--that the National Government can make no compromise on this
slave question. It is too late to retreat: the responsibility has been
taken, and the struggle must go on until there is not legally a slave
under the folds of the American flag.”