Colonel Eugene Waggaman, who led the Tenth Louisiana regiment in the famous charge at Malvern Hill. [New Orleans Picayune, February 10th, 1889.]
But few of Louisiana's sons fail to add brilliancy to her laurels by their gallantry in war. Of those who fought in the great struggle between the States, none have a nobler record than those who were taught bravery in her homes; and of the gallant men who went to the front from this State, none are held in higher regard, none fought with truer conception of the ‘cause’ from beginning to end, than Colonel Eugene Waggaman. He entered the war with more than man's usual portion of wealth and honors and history already possessed. He had only the triumph of his principle to gain by victory. He had wealth and luxury to lose by defeat. But he was one of the first to volunteer to defend the South, and when the war with its mournful end was over,, his name had been made worthy of those borne by his fathers, and in the hearts of the men he had commanded for four years he had gained a place which will be occupied by memories of his deeds as long as a Confederate soldier lives.Colonel Waggaman comes of families not simply titled, but historic [447] in each generation. His ancestrage can be traced far back among the noble families of Europe. His great grandfather was the Baron Rudolph von Brouner, who, after an eventful life, came to Louisiana with the commission of the King of Spain, as a comandante of the province of Louisiana. He was a Swiss, and commanded a regiment of Swiss infantry, which saw service under three kings. The first of these was Amadee I. of Italy, who presented to Von Brouner the title of baron, a medallion, a gold snuff-box containing the portrait of the king and ornamented with diamonds, and other tokens of friendship and appreciation. The services of the Swiss were next enlisted in the cause of the last Stanislaus of Poland, after which they came to Louisiana to preserve the interests of the Spanish dominion. With him to America, as his bride, the Baron brought Christine Carbonari, of the celebrated Spinola family. Two daughters were the issue of the union, one of whom married Cyril Arnoult, a Flanders merchant who had settled in New Orleans and participated in the battle of January 8th, 1815. Their daughter, Camille Arnoult, married George Augustus Waggaman, a Marylander, whose forefather, Bartholomew Ennals, had settled in Dorchester county, Maryland, shortly after the foundation of the colony by Lord Baltimore.
George Augustus Waggaman, the father of Colonel Eugene Waggaman, speedily became prominent in this State. He became a judge in the Federal courts, then Secretary of State for three Administrations, and finally, in 8131, was elected to the United States Senate for six years. He was one of the leaders of the Whigs, and took an active part in the excited political occurrences of that time. So bitter did the partisan feeling become, and so earnest and fiery were the leaders, that a duel resulted. Denis Prieur was leader of the Democrats. The encounter took place under the oaks at Metairie ridge. Senator Waggaman did not desire the life of his opponent. With his first shot he attempted to ‘wing’ him, but failed. At the second exchange Prieur's bullet cut the femoral artery of Waggaman's leg. This was on the 20th of March, 1843. On the 22d the Senator died of gangrene, having refused until too late to have his leg amputated. Had he lived six months longer he would have been made Minister to France by President Tyler, who had married his cousin, and who was his personal friend.
Senator Waggaman's children were: 1. Henry St. John, who became a lawyer and died at an early age; 2. Christine, who married Sanfield McDonald, the first Prime Minister of Ontario, Canada, and [448] who refused the order of knighthood offered by Queen Victoria; 3. Eugene, who is the subject of this sketch; 4. Mathilde, who married Judge Henry D. Ogden; 5. Eliza, who married John R. Conway, and Camille, who died in youth.
Eugene Waggaman was born in this city in a building corner Customhouse and Royal, which has since been burned, on the 18th of October, 1826. He was educated at Mount St. Mary's College, Maryland, and graduated from there as valedictorian of the class of 1846.
Returning to this State from school he took charge of his mother's and his own sugar plantation in Jefferson parish, and at the age of twenty five years married Miss Felicie Sauve, the daughter of Pierre Sauve of the same parish. During the years 1858-9 he was a member of the State Legislature which called the constitutional convention. In the next the war had come. With the martial blood of his ancestors tingling in his veins, he at once prepared for the fight. He raised in his own parish a company of cavalry known as the Jefferson Chasseurs. These were the young men of the plantations accustomed to the saddle from infancy, and perfect masters of their animals. Being chosen their captain, he went on to Montgomery, the seat of the Confederate Government, and offered the services of his company.
The value of cavalry was not appreciated by the new government. The Virginia campaigns had not yet happened to teach them the lesson. The cavalry was declined as too costly to support, and Captain Waggaman was compelled to return and so declare to his men. But he was determined. He asked the company to fight on foot, but not one man complied. Coming to New Orleans he enlisted as a private in the Tenth Louisiana Regiment, commanded by his cousin, Colonel Mandeville Marigny. Before the regiment left, he became captain of the Tirailleurs d'orleans, a company composed in large measure of foreigners—Greeks, Italians, Indians, Spaniards, and representatives of all the southern European nations. To drilling and molding this strange mass he devoted himself with telling effect, and to the end they were amongst the most loyal to the cause.
The Tenth Louisiana went to Virginia and shared in all the battles of the retreat. Promotion was rapid in the regiment where, out of the forty officers allowed it at one time, thirty-one were killed or wounded. So not many months of active service had been seen by the regiment before Captain Waggaman was made a lieutenantcolo-nel, commanding the Tenth Louisiana. [449]
On the 1st of July, 1862, came the battle of Malvern Hill, and with it came glory and fame to the Tenth. The story of the battle is well known, but the account of ‘that charge, less famous, but equally as desperate as that of Balaklava,’ will bear repetition. The following narrative of it is taken from the Military Record of Louisiana, by the late lamented Napier Bartlett, published some fifteen years ago, viz:
A daring attempt in the first place had been made to flank Malvern Hill; but this movement had been met by a superior flanking party of the enemy. The brigade now pressed forward across the open field fronting Malvern Hill with the ardor of young soldiers panting for their first laurels, and ignorant of the madness which had doomed so many of their numbers to cruel wounds or certain death. As they advance the troops on the flank give way, though all of Semmes' brigade continued on gallantly in spite of the waning light. When within five hundred yards of the Federals the brigade reformed, and the desperate cry rang out, “Fix bayonets—charge!” —commands almost equivalent to a death sentence. But with the natural ardor of the troops from the Pelican State, the men labored up the crest of the plateau immediately in front of thirty-three pieces of artillery. Up the hill they go at a double-quick, Colonel Waggaman jumping imprudently far in advance of the regiment, but the men tearing on after him. On the last fifty yards of the charge comes the strain. It lasts but five minutes. In that time one hundred and twenty-seven men are lost out of two hundred and seventy-two. So withering was the storm of shell and bullets with which they were received that at one time they walked over a whole regiment who were lying down, colors and all, and who appeared in the dusky twilight to be so many corpses. Onward still the little band pursued its way, although unsupported by the other troops, until it crossed bayonets with the Federal infantry. It thus happened (one of the rarest occurrences of the war) that the whole of the Tenth Louisiana engaged in a bayonet struggle along almost their entire line, with a force fifteen times greater than their own number. The advanced line of the Federals having been driven back, the Tenth finds itself among the cannoneers. While Dean, a brave Irishman, was receiving his death wound at the side of the leader of the Tenth by a bayonet through the neck, the latter succeeded in knocking up the muskets in his immediate front and in cutting a path as far as the second line of the enemy's artillery. His death seemed inevitable. Cries of “Kill him,” “bayonet him,” sounded on all sides. His command, [450] which it may be said in passing, had been ordered forward by a military error, and never for a moment had a ghost of a chance of success, were of course nearly all either killed or captured by the formidable line in their immediate front. Those of the Tenth who succeeded in stumbling back over the bodies of their fallen comrades owed their escape to the darkness.
Colonel Waggaman was captured, and with some sixteen others, including Captain I. L. Lyons, was taken to Fort Warren, near Boston, where they remained until exchanged. They were everywhere treated with courtesy, and one pleasant incident, at least, mingled softening remembrances with those of his imprisonment. Just before his capture he had thrown away his sword to prevent surrendering it. This was a weapon valuable both for the quality of its steel, its make and the fact that it had been in use by the family for over one hundred and fifty years. At the exchange, this sword was returned to him by Assistant Adjutant-General Thomas, who had been specially commissioned to do so.
After the exchange Colonel Waggaman was sent back to Louisiana as a recruiting officer, but was shortly afterwards recalled to Virginia by special order of General Lee. He took Stafford's command of the Second Louisiana Brigade. He did brilliant fighting in the second Valley campaign. He was wounded in the forearm at Winchester, but even while suffering from his inflamed wound continued in command. At Petersburg he led the Second brigade in another desperate charge, and again saw perilous action when the brigades were covering the retreat.
Then Appomattox and surrender came. There it was Colonel Waggaman's sad honor to surrender all that was left of the 16,000 men who composed the Louisiana brigades. When they had been drawn up in ranks for the ceremony, Colonel Waggaman begged of them the privilege of becoming the depositary of a piece of the brigade's battle flag. This was willingly granted. The flag had to be surrendered, but a piece could be taken from it. With that sword which had saved his life at Malvern Hill he cut a section including the lateral side and two stars. This he has sacredly preserved with the same old saddle-bag and papers in which it was placed, to be transmitted as his most valuable heirloom to his children. Only one person has ever induced him to part with a portion of it. That one was the daughter of his old commander—Miss Mildred Lee. He gave her, some twelve years ago, a small piece, including one of the stars, and in return received a splendid portrait of her father. [451]
At Appomattox every respect was shown the Louisiana soldiers. At the surrender they marched with heads as erect as ever. When they impinged on the line of the conquering army, the victors shouldered arms with grave faces on which was neither smile of cynicism nor suggestion of the defeat of their adversaries.
Colonel Waggaman returned to New Orleans with the remnant of the Louisiana troops. His fortune was shattered, and he has since shown as much fortitude of body and character in supporting his large family as he did while leading his regiment on the Virginia fields. Several times since his State has called upon him for his services, and every time he has responded faithfully and well.
