Biography of 	Behan, Gen.  William J. Orleans Parish
Submitted by 	Mike Miller December 1997

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    General William J. Behan was born in the city of New Orleans, La.,
in the year 1840, of Irish parentage, and of a family prominently
connected with the history of that city.  The father of our immediate
subject, John Holland Behan was a native of Dublin, Ireland, where he
passed his boyhood.  At an early age, becoming impressed with the
advantages offered by the attractions of the new world, he resolved, as
many of his countrymen have done, to seek his fortune in the "land of
the free."  Accordingly bidding farewell to the tender associations of
kindred and home, he came to America, locating in New Orleans where he
acquired an extensive business as an architect and builder and became an
extensive real-estate owner.  After the close of the Civil war he
removed to Philadelphia, where he resided until his death, in 1890.  His
wife, Katharine Walker Behan, whose death occurred in 1846, was also a
native of the "Emerald Isle."  General Behan is the eldest of a family
of three children.  Frank A., the second child, is a prominent business
man of New Orleans and is president of the Crescent Jute Manufacturing
company, of that city.  Charles J., the youngest, enlisted in the
confederate service, as a member of the Fifth regiment, Louisiana
volunteers, and was killed on his eighteenth birthday, in the desperate
fight at Antietam.  General Behan spent his boyhood days in his native
city, where his training and education was of the best order, and at an
early age, we find him a dashing young officer in the confederate army,
where he distinguished himself by his gallantry and unswerving duty at
all times and under all circumstances.  His command, the Washington
artillery, became as well known to the Union soldier as it was in the
confederate ranks.  They were always in the front and participated in
every campaign of the Army of Northern Virginia, from the battle of Bull
Run, in 1861, to the surrender at Appomattox, 1865.  General Behan had
barely reached his majority when the war-cloud whose mutterings had been
threatening our national prosperity suddenly burst in all its fury
deluging our country in fraternal blood  He had been born in the south
and had been reared and educated a southerner, and the southern cause,
endeared to him by the tender associations of boyhood, received his
earnest support.  He received a captain's commission in the confederate
infantry, but preferring to remain with the Washington artillery, with
which he was already connected, he took the field with this command.
The Washington artillery left New Orleans May 27,1861, amid the booming
of cannon, the music of bands, and the deafening cheers of the
multitude.  On the line of march the streets were crowded to such an
extent as to greatly impede their progress.  Ladies thronged the
balconies, showering down flowers upon the brave soldier-boys going to
the war.  They received the baptism of fire at Bull Run, in which fight
they took an important part, successfully holding in check a force
greatly superior, both as concerns armament and numbers.  General
Beauregard, in his report of that battle says: "The skill, the conduct,
and the soldierly qualities of the Washington artillery were all that
could be desired.  The officers and men won for their battalion a
distinction which I feel assured will never be tarnished."  In the
limited space of the present paper, it would be impossible to recite the
many engagements of this command during the four years of the war; its
history has become a part of the history of that heroic struggle.
During its entire service the soldierly bearing, the unflinching courage
which won the admiration of General Beauiegard, at Bull Run, was ever
pursued, winning for the command many notices of merit from the
different generals, in their reports of battles.  In his report of the
battle of Fredericksburg, General Longstreet says: "Notwithstanding I
knew them to be steadfast veterans, they have kindled a new admiration
for their remarkable firmness." General Ransom in his report of the same
battle says: "Though no part of my command, I will not pass over the
already famous Washington artillery.  Its gallantry and efficiency are
above all praise."  General Lee, in his official report says: "They
sustained the heavy fire of artillery and infantry with unshaken
steadiness, and contributed much to the repulse of the enemy."  General
Behan participated with his command in all the engagements of the Army
of Northern Virginia, including both battles of Manassas, Antietam,
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the siege of Petersburg,
and the Seven Days Fight around Richmond.  The General enjoys the proud
distinction of being one of the few who entered the service in 1861, and
served until the surrender, participating in many of the fiercest
battles of the war, and yet during this entire time, never lost a day's
service.  Endowed by nature with a rugged constitution, he escaped
sickness so common to the troops, and although he was conspicuous for
his daring and bravery he escaped without a wound, barring a slight
scratch received at Gettysburg, which did not incapacitate him for
service.  It was, however, a most miraculous escape.  During the
desperate cannonade at Gettysburg, the General had just wheeled his guns
into line, and while in the act of dismounting, with one foot still in
the stirrup, a shell from a federal battery, on Cemetery Hill passed
over his horse, killing the man who was running forward to hold the
animal.  A fragment of this missile of death struck the General upon the
forehead inflicting the only wound received during the war.<p>
General Behan was a firm believer in the right of secession and the
confederacy, but since that question has been settled through the
arbitrament of the sword, he is a loyal and patriotic citizen of the
Union.  Time evolves wondrous changes, and the sectionalism of a few
years ago is rapidly passing away, and in the light of after events it
must be admitted by all that no people in the long range of historic
events were ever actuated by stronger motives or inspired by a higher
sense of duty than those who engaged in the confederate cause.  No
ambitious lusts for conquest and power; no sordid desire for the
acquisition of territory, or feeling for revenge, mingled with or
degraded that cause; they fought for political existence, for their
honor and their homes.  And now that the conflict is ended and the busy
hand of time is fast removing all traces of the struggle, replacing them
on every hand with evidences of peace and prosperity, let us trust in
the happy belief that the day is not far distant when we, as a united
people, shall regard the heroic deeds of both sides as the precious
heritage of a common country; when the military genius, lofty character
and distinguished achievements of the leaders of both armies will alike
inspire with feelings of admiration and pride the heart of every true
American.  After the close of the war, General Behan returned to his
home and soon engaged in business, and it might be added that the same
dash and strict attention to duty which made him conspicuous in war has
characterized him in peace.<p>
As a merchant, manufacturer, and sugar planter, his efforts have been
crowned with an eminent success.  During the reconstruction period when
the "carpet bag" government became oppressive and unendurable, the
citizens of Louisiana, having determined to resist the encroachments of
corrupt officials, organized themselves on a military basis, and General
Bohan was chosen as one of their leaders.  The result of the movement
was the routing and overthrow of the worst state government known in the
Union, and September 14, 1874, will ever live as a bright day in the
history of Louisiana.<p>
Politically General Behan has always been a democrat of the Jeffersonian
type and has always been actively interested in political matters.  He
now represents his district in the state senate, having been elected to
that position in 1888.  In that body he takes an active part in the
measures before the house, and is chairman of the committee on the city
of New Orleans, also of the military committee.<p>
In 1882, while traveling in Europe, the people of New Orleans, conferred
upon him the honor of electing him mayor of the city without his
knowledge of the fact, and his first information relative to such action
was upon his return when he was informed that he was the mayor of the
"Crescent City."  He served in this capacity with credit to himself and
satisfaction to the municipality.  He accepted the position under
adverse circumstances; the city had just adopted a new charter and was
badly in debt.  Under his administration the various departments were
adjusted, and upon his retirement from the mayoralty order had been
restored and the city was again placed on a cash basis.  June 7, 1866,
General Behan was united in marriage with Miss Katie Walker, daughter of
William Walker, a prominent citizen of New Orleans.  To this union have
been born two daughters, Miss Bessie, who in 1891 officiated with
becoming grace and dignity as the Queen of, the Carnival, and Miss
Katherine.  The General and his family are well known in social circles,
in which they are recognized leaders.  The General is a prominent member
of the, Pickwick Club, and is the major. general of the United
Confederate Veterans, of Louisiana.
 
 From Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, volume 2, pp.
279-280. 
Submitted by Mike Miller