St Landry County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Taylor, Lieutenant John Arthur June 9, 1862
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The Opelousas Courier (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, October 11, 1862, Image 1

OBITUARY

Among the noble youths who have fallen in our struggle for independence, none 
occupies a greater spot in the memory of his friends than the late John Taylor, 
who fell at Manassas in the gallant discharge of his duty as 1st Lieutenant of 
the "Opelousas Guards". Born in Charles County, Maryland, in 1835; having 
received a liberal education in the choicest academies of his native State; and 
having been thoroughly instructed in medicine, at the Universities of Maryland 
and Louisiana; he settled in Opelousas, several years ago, to embark upon the 
practice duties of his profession. He possessed qualities which soon endeared 
him to a wide circle of acquaintances and friends. He was modest and unobtusive 
in his general deportment. His manners were mild and gentle. Kindness and 
amiability appeared to be his predominant traits. And these qualities were 
occasionally relieved by gleams of vivacity and playfulness, which imparted 
additional attraction to his character. It is not to adorn paean avocations 
with his varied intellectual attainments.

But the country was summoned to arms. The youth and the chivalry of the South 
were appealed to, to contend in the struggle of Independence and self-goverment 
against tyranny and arbitrary power. Lieutenant Taylor was among the first to 
gird on his sword, at the call of his country. From beneath the repose of his 
quiet and amiable character, flashed a patriotic enthusiasm, which continued to 
exhibit itself in his subsequent eventful career. His gentleness yielded to 
resolution and firmness in the pursuit of a lofty purpose. His modesty and 
reserve were transformed into the valorous courage which displayed itself 
afterwards on eventful battle-fields. His general benignity was irradiated with 
a glow of energy which gave him new life as a patriot, a soldier, a commander. 
He was elected 1st Lieutenant of the "Opelousas Guards," and was among the 
first on the great theater of the war in Virginia. He participated in the 
memorable triumph of Southern arms at Manassas. He was among the leaders in the 
storming column at Fort Royal. He followed Stonewall Jackson on his triumphal 
marches through the Valley of Virginia. He figured in the memorable battles of 
the Chickahominy. He shared in the pursuit of the federal army across the 
Rappahannock. He marched on, under his victorious General, to the historic 
plains of Manassas, from which he could see once more, the green hills of his 
native Maryland. It had been his ardent dream to be among the first to plant 
the standard of Independence by the homestead of his youth, - to grasp again 
the hand of his father, and to receive once more a mother's blessing upon his 
head. The associations of his childhood and the memory of a mothers love, 
commingled with his patriotic ardor, as he strained an aching gaze across the 
intervening Potomac. But he was not destined to realize his [paper smudge] 
*aipation. He fell, at Manassas, amidst the [ink smudge] of battle, leading in 
the front ranks of danger and death. Like the storm-beaten mariner, returning 
from the peril of many seas, to be shipwrecked in sight of his cottage by the 
shore, he was stricken down in the tempest of battle, in full view of his 
mother's home and his native Maryland. But he fell as a soldier may be proud to 
fall, - all garlanded with glorious victories, and leaving a name imperishably 
associated with the birth of National Independence.  J. E. K. 

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