James Arnow /Arnaud The War Years, Acadia Parish, Louisiana Contributed for the LA GenWeb Archives by MR. RICHARD A ARNAUD FFWP26E@prodigy.com ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Chapter One SCENE: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA; CANAL STREET OR JACKSON SQUARE, CIVIL WAR, JUNE 28, 1864. The North had captured New Orleans early in the war and General Butler had subdued the civilian population with his infamous Order 28. General Banks replaced Butler and continued to govern the City with the help of the civil authorities. Masses of white and blacks had descended upon the city looking for work or a free meal since the rural communities were in a state of disrepair. Port Hudson and Vicksburg had fallen and with them the North had gained control of the Mississippi River from its headwater to the Gulf. The war had moved further up into Virginia and surrounding states and the natives of New Orleans were left to find food and shelter as best they could. James Arnow, 18 years of age, a shoemaker by trade, enlisted in the United States Army for three years. A one hundred dollars bounty was issued for enlistment. Twenty-five dollars was paid cash and the balance of seventy-five dollars was credited to the First Ward, First District of the City of New Orleans, Parish of Orleans, Louisiana. He was described as being five feet three and one-half inches in hight, fair complexion, with fair hair and hazel eyes. An officer describes him thus. "This man has been on duty as orderly at this office for the past five months and answers the purpose admirably, he is very small in statue and hardly fit for duty in the ranks." James Arnow was enrolled as a Pvt. in Co. "H", First Regular New Orleans Infantry at its organization. It was on of two Union units named after a city the other being Baltimore. He states on the Company Muster-in and Descriptive Roll that he was born in Clitchville, (in a later document spelled Clutchervile which the author will suppose to be Clouthierville located in Natchitoches Parish) Louisiana and was eighteen years of age, having been born January 5, 1846. His parents were born in France. Family tradition is that the parents died in one of Louisiana's yellow fever epidemics and James was placed in an orphanage. No mention was made of any other family members. The company muster roll signed by Harper, copyist, indicates the James was present the months of June through December 1864. He was detached as an Orderly by Provost Marshal, District of Carollton November 29, 1864 and received thirteen dollars advance pay. He owed 38/100 for C & G. E. Again the Company Muster Roll shows James Arnow present and detached as an orderly to the Provost Marshal, Parish of Jefferson for the months of January 1865 through April, 1866. The September, October, 1865 muster roll marks him present. Under remarks James was listed as sick. The November, December, 1865 indicates James was appointed Corporal by R.O. dated November 19, 1865 because of the desertion of O'Brien. January and February 1866 muster roll finds the company in Monroe, Louisiana on special duty by S.O. 31 for second Headquarters, Eastern District Louisiana dated February 5, 1866. The company was posted at Bastrop, Louisiana to protect the United States Tax Collector from violence. The company changed its station to Providence, Louisiana March 4, via Monroe, Louisiana and the Red River Landing for the same purpose. March and April muster roll states the company changed station from Providance to New Orleans March 27, 1866 in accordance with S.O. number 68 Headquarters East District of Louisiana dated March 23, 1866. Arnow was absent at muster roll call. May 10, 1866 James Arnow was directed to report to the Paymaster for duty as orderly. Corp. James Arnow , appears on the company muster-out roll, dated New Orleans, Louisiana, June 1, 1866. Muster-out to date June 1, 1866. Last paid to April 30, 1966. Clothing account: Due to soldier $ 19.35. Bounty paid $ 25.00; due $ 75.00. Remarks: Joined at original organization. Private to November 19, 1864. Chapter Two Marriage and Children Upon leaving the service, at age 20, he took what little possessions he had accumulated an traveled to Natchitoches, Louisiana for about eight months, after which, for what ever reason he might have had,he went to St. Landry Parish, (Bayou Mallet). Why he went here and what he did remains a mystery. He list his occupation in later documents as a farmer and laborer. The next record of James Arnow is January 8, 1871 at Mallet Woods where John Goss gave his consent for his daughtger, Ruth Goss to marry James Arnaud, she being of age and his daughter. ( This is the first time the name Arnow is spelled Arnaud. James continued to use the original spelling for his own name and his children. His wife would use the original spelling when applying for government pensions, etc. The rest of the family used the spelling of Arnaud there after.) James Arnow and Ruth Goss were married at Bayou Mallet in St. Landry Parish January 12, 1871 by the Justice of the Peace. James was 25 years of age and Ruth was 23 years of age. Their children born at Bayou Mallet were as follows: James Henry b. 20 Dec. 1871, Mary Josephine b. 11 Aug. 1873, Anna Florence b. 9 Mar. 1875, William Bengamin b. 26 April 1877, Dora Elizabeth, b. 31 May 1879, John Goss b. 29 Aug, 1881, Chester Arthur b. 3 April 1884, Tresa Violar b. 15 Sept. 1886, James Leon b. 5 Mar. 1889, Walter Cecilus b. 11 Mar. 1893 and David Daniel b. 7 April , 1895. Ten of their eleven children were born at Bayou Mallett, St. Landry Parish, while one child, Mary Josephine was born in Calcasieu Parish. The author believes there were Goss's in West Lake, Calcasieu at that time and the Arnows were with them at the time of Mary Josephine's birth. James died July 16, 1914 in Eunice, Louisiana. The cause of death was listed as Brights Disease from which he suffered for one year. He was buried in the St. Louis Cemetery in Eunice. References: General Service Administration, National Archives and Records Service Ruth Goss Arnaud Family Bible (Richard A. Arnaud's possession June 4, 1995.) James Arnow and Ruth Goss Marriage Record James Arnow Death Certificate # # #