Battle of Baton Rouge Commemoration & Dedication of Yellow Fever Memorial • Saturday, August 9th
John W. Wilbert, Jr., board member of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, performs TAPS during the annual ceremony each year. This year's event will be held on Saturday, August 9, at 10 a.m. in Historic Magnolia Cemetery.
A special memorial monument will be dedicated to honor the victims of the 1878 Yellow Fever epidemic. More than 100 individuals died during the epidemic and are buried in the cemetery.
What: Patriotic commemorative ceremony honors 1862 Civil War Battle of Baton Rouge Dedication of a new memorial to victims of 1878 Yellow Fever epidemic
When: Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m. to 11.a.m.
Where: Historic Magnolia Cemetery, 19th Street, Baton Rouge
Who: Patriotic Americans, Families, Children, Civil War Historians, Decedents of the Yellow Fever Epidemic
Free and Open to the Public
The Foundation for Historical Louisiana invites the public to attend a patriotic ceremony at Historic Magnolia Cemetery on Saturday, August 9. The program, which honors the 1862 Battle of Baton Rouge, will include a special dedication to unveil a memorial in honor of the hundreds of individuals who lost their lives to Yellow Fever in 1878 in the Baton Rouge area. Many of these individuals are buried in the cemetery.
The free commemorative event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Historic Magnolia Cemetery, located at Florida Boulevard and 19th Street. The program will feature a color guard, canon firing, wreath laying, taps, a vocalist, and civil war enthusiasts in period dress. There will be a tent, chairs, and water under the Oak trees of the historic cemetery. Children are encouraged to attend. Civil War books and heritage items will be on sale from the Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s museum store. For further information call Foundation headquarters at 225-387-2464.
Magnolia Cemetery was established in 1852. Following the war, due to a poor economy, Magnolia Cemetery fell into disrepair. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Civil War Discovery Train, the cemetery is being restored thanks to FHL, the Magnolia Cemetery trustees, BREC, and others. Ory Poret, a member of the board of FHL and the trustees, serves a chairman of this annual Civil War commemorative event. This sacred and historic site is also the location of the Foundation’s “Magnolia’s Memories” theatre program held annually in March. Professional actors portray the lives of individuals buried in Magnolia Cemetery, giving viewers insight into early life and times of Baton Rouge.
The Battle of Baton Rouge took place on August 5, 1862 on the grounds of Magnolia Cemetery. Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 25, 1861. On May 29, 1862, Union troops led by Brigadier General Thomas Williams began the Federal Occupation of Baton Rouge.
On August 5 at 4 a.m., Major General John C. Breckinridge and his 2,600 troops from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky entered Baton Rouge and began fighting Union forces. The Confederate army forced the Union troops back toward the Mississippi River. But, in order to recapture Baton Rouge, the Confederates needed their iron clad ram, the C.S.S. Arkansas to destroy all the Union ships on the river. The Arkansas, however, suffered engine trouble and was burned and set adrift by its crew four miles upriver from Baton Rouge. Unharmed, the U.S. S. Essex and four other Union gunboats bombarded the Confederate troops until they withdrew and marched out of Baton Rouge that same day. Among the soldiers that fell was Brigadier General Williams and A.G. Todd, half-brother of Mary Todd Lincoln, President Lincoln’s wife.
For further information contact the Foundation for Historical Louisiana at 387-2464.
Schedule of Events August 9th.
The Foundation for Historical Louisiana invites the public to attend a patriotic ceremony at Historic Magnolia Cemetery this weekend. The free event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Historic Magnolia Cemetery, located at Florida Boulevard and 19th Street.
The 25th annual program will feature a color guard, cannon firing, wreath laying, taps, a vocalist, and civil war enthusiasts in period dress. Colonel Philemon St. Amant II, U.S. Army (Retired) will be the guest speaker. There will be a tent, chairs, and water available. Civil War books and heritage items will be on sale from the Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s museum store. Families are encouraged to attend. This year in addition to the regular ceremony a memorial to the victims of the yellow fever epidemic laid to rest in a mass grave will be unveiled. The monument is a project of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, BREC, and the Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance. For further information contact the Foundation for Historical Louisiana at 387-2464 or visit www.fhl.org
Master of Ceremonies
Ory Poret
Chairman, Historic Magnolia Cemetery Trustees
Member, Board of Directors, Foundation for Historical Louisiana
This program is dedicated to the memory of Dot Lewis for her many years of
service to Historic Magnolia Cemetery.
Presentation for Colors and Flag-Raising
Chip Landry, Coordinator
U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard
Sgt. Jason S. Pitts, Commanding
Louisiana State Militia
Chip Landry, Commanding
Westside Honor Guard
Bernie LeBlanc, Commanding
Pledge of Allegiance
Frank Warren, President, Gen. Philemon Thomas Chapter,
Sons of the American Revolution
Invocation
W.T. Winfield, Past Chairman,
Mid City Historical Cemeteries Coalition
Vocal Offering
“Star Spangled Banner”
Marliese Samuel
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
Port Allen, LA
Introduction of Guest Speaker
Lenore Feeney, Chair,
Foundation for Historical Louisiana
Guest Speaker
Colonel Philemon St. Amant II,
U.S. Army (Retired)
Wreath-Laying by the United Daughters of the Confederacy
Rachael Grace, President,
Joanna Waddill Chapter, UDC
Interested parties may now place small flags or flowers on graves.
Comments on Obelisk Honoring Yellow Fever Victims of 1878 Laid to Rest in Historic Magnolia Cemetery
Memorial Remarks: Robert F. Epperson, Director of Park Operations,
Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission
Assisted by: Shelly Roy, Chairman, Mid-City Historical Cemeteries Coalition
Larry Gates, Cemetery Board Member
Firing of Salute and Retirement of Colors
Rifle Volley
Fifth Company, Washington Artillery of New Orleans,
Sixth Massachusetts Battery
Captain Glen Harrison, Commanding
Fenner’s Louisiana Battery
Major Reinhard Dearing, Commander
Captain Donnis Davis, Section Commander
Taps
John W. Wilbert, Jr.
Acknowledgements
Carolyn Bennett, Executive Director, Foundation for Historical Louisiana
Benediction
Rev. Nina Russell (Retired), Cemetery Board Member
Vocal Offering
“God Bless America”
Marliese Samuel
Retire Colors
Closing Remarks
Ory Poret
Donations to our cemetery fund are gratefully appreciated.
FROM URL on August 1, 2008:
http://www.fhl.org/FHL/Home/CurrentEvent.shtm
John W. Wilbert, Jr., board member of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, performs TAPS during the annual ceremony each year. This year's event will be held on Saturday, August 9, at 10 a.m. in Historic Magnolia Cemetery.
A special memorial monument will be dedicated to honor the victims of the 1878 Yellow Fever epidemic. More than 100 individuals died during the epidemic and are buried in the cemetery.
What: Patriotic commemorative ceremony honors 1862 Civil War Battle of Baton Rouge Dedication of a new memorial to victims of 1878 Yellow Fever epidemic
When: Saturday, August 9, 10 a.m. to 11.a.m.
Where: Historic Magnolia Cemetery, 19th Street, Baton Rouge
Who: Patriotic Americans, Families, Children, Civil War Historians, Decedents of the Yellow Fever Epidemic
Free and Open to the Public
The Foundation for Historical Louisiana invites the public to attend a patriotic ceremony at Historic Magnolia Cemetery on Saturday, August 9. The program, which honors the 1862 Battle of Baton Rouge, will include a special dedication to unveil a memorial in honor of the hundreds of individuals who lost their lives to Yellow Fever in 1878 in the Baton Rouge area. Many of these individuals are buried in the cemetery.
The free commemorative event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Historic Magnolia Cemetery, located at Florida Boulevard and 19th Street. The program will feature a color guard, canon firing, wreath laying, taps, a vocalist, and civil war enthusiasts in period dress. There will be a tent, chairs, and water under the Oak trees of the historic cemetery. Children are encouraged to attend. Civil War books and heritage items will be on sale from the Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s museum store. For further information call Foundation headquarters at 225-387-2464.
Magnolia Cemetery was established in 1852. Following the war, due to a poor economy, Magnolia Cemetery fell into disrepair. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Civil War Discovery Train, the cemetery is being restored thanks to FHL, the Magnolia Cemetery trustees, BREC, and others. Ory Poret, a member of the board of FHL and the trustees, serves a chairman of this annual Civil War commemorative event. This sacred and historic site is also the location of the Foundation’s “Magnolia’s Memories” theatre program held annually in March. Professional actors portray the lives of individuals buried in Magnolia Cemetery, giving viewers insight into early life and times of Baton Rouge.
The Battle of Baton Rouge took place on August 5, 1862 on the grounds of Magnolia Cemetery. Louisiana seceded from the Union on January 25, 1861. On May 29, 1862, Union troops led by Brigadier General Thomas Williams began the Federal Occupation of Baton Rouge.
On August 5 at 4 a.m., Major General John C. Breckinridge and his 2,600 troops from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky entered Baton Rouge and began fighting Union forces. The Confederate army forced the Union troops back toward the Mississippi River. But, in order to recapture Baton Rouge, the Confederates needed their iron clad ram, the C.S.S. Arkansas to destroy all the Union ships on the river. The Arkansas, however, suffered engine trouble and was burned and set adrift by its crew four miles upriver from Baton Rouge. Unharmed, the U.S. S. Essex and four other Union gunboats bombarded the Confederate troops until they withdrew and marched out of Baton Rouge that same day. Among the soldiers that fell was Brigadier General Williams and A.G. Todd, half-brother of Mary Todd Lincoln, President Lincoln’s wife.
For further information contact the Foundation for Historical Louisiana at 387-2464.
Schedule of Events August 9th.
The Foundation for Historical Louisiana invites the public to attend a patriotic ceremony at Historic Magnolia Cemetery this weekend. The free event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. on Saturday, August 9, at Historic Magnolia Cemetery, located at Florida Boulevard and 19th Street.
The 25th annual program will feature a color guard, cannon firing, wreath laying, taps, a vocalist, and civil war enthusiasts in period dress. Colonel Philemon St. Amant II, U.S. Army (Retired) will be the guest speaker. There will be a tent, chairs, and water available. Civil War books and heritage items will be on sale from the Foundation for Historical Louisiana’s museum store. Families are encouraged to attend. This year in addition to the regular ceremony a memorial to the victims of the yellow fever epidemic laid to rest in a mass grave will be unveiled. The monument is a project of the Foundation for Historical Louisiana, BREC, and the Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance. For further information contact the Foundation for Historical Louisiana at 387-2464 or visit www.fhl.org
Master of Ceremonies
Ory Poret
Chairman, Historic Magnolia Cemetery Trustees
Member, Board of Directors, Foundation for Historical Louisiana
This program is dedicated to the memory of Dot Lewis for her many years of
service to Historic Magnolia Cemetery.
Presentation for Colors and Flag-Raising
Chip Landry, Coordinator
U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard
Sgt. Jason S. Pitts, Commanding
Louisiana State Militia
Chip Landry, Commanding
Westside Honor Guard
Bernie LeBlanc, Commanding
Pledge of Allegiance
Frank Warren, President, Gen. Philemon Thomas Chapter,
Sons of the American Revolution
Invocation
W.T. Winfield, Past Chairman,
Mid City Historical Cemeteries Coalition
Vocal Offering
“Star Spangled Banner”
Marliese Samuel
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church
Port Allen, LA
Introduction of Guest Speaker
Lenore Feeney, Chair,
Foundation for Historical Louisiana
Guest Speaker
Colonel Philemon St. Amant II,
U.S. Army (Retired)
Wreath-Laying by the United Daughters of the Confederacy
Rachael Grace, President,
Joanna Waddill Chapter, UDC
Interested parties may now place small flags or flowers on graves.
Comments on Obelisk Honoring Yellow Fever Victims of 1878 Laid to Rest in Historic Magnolia Cemetery
Memorial Remarks: Robert F. Epperson, Director of Park Operations,
Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission
Assisted by: Shelly Roy, Chairman, Mid-City Historical Cemeteries Coalition
Larry Gates, Cemetery Board Member
Firing of Salute and Retirement of Colors
Rifle Volley
Fifth Company, Washington Artillery of New Orleans,
Sixth Massachusetts Battery
Captain Glen Harrison, Commanding
Fenner’s Louisiana Battery
Major Reinhard Dearing, Commander
Captain Donnis Davis, Section Commander
Taps
John W. Wilbert, Jr.
Acknowledgements
Carolyn Bennett, Executive Director, Foundation for Historical Louisiana
Benediction
Rev. Nina Russell (Retired), Cemetery Board Member
Vocal Offering
“God Bless America”
Marliese Samuel
Retire Colors
Closing Remarks
Ory Poret
Donations to our cemetery fund are gratefully appreciated.
FROM URL on August 1, 2008:
http://www.fhl.org/FHL/Home/CurrentEvent.shtm
