Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 25.djvu/186

 182 Southern Historical Society Papers.

The story is related that Senator Waggaman intended only to wing his antagonist, and it resulted fatally for him. He missed his aim, but Prieur's bullet was more accurate, striking the senator in the leg and severing the femoral artery. The senator never recovered from the injury. He refused to permit the amputation of his leg, and died of gangrene on March 22, 1843. The duel had occurred on the 2oth. Had he lived six months longer he would have been sent as minister to France, for such appears to have been President Tyler's intention.

Senator Waggaman's children were: (i) Henry St. John, who became a lawyer and died at an early age; (2) Christine, who mar- ried Sanfield McDonald, the first prime minister of Ontario, Canada, and who refused the order of knighthood offered by Queen Victoria; (3) Eugene, the subject of the present sketch; (4) Mathilde, who married Judge Henry D. Ogden; (5) Eliza, who married John R. Conway, and (6) Camille, who died in youth.

Eugene Waggaman was educated at Mount St. Mary's College, Maryland, and graduated from there as valedictorian of the class of '46.

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 1858-59 he was a member of the State Legislature which called the Constitutional Con- vention. In the next year 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 plan- tations, accustomed to the saddle from infancy and perfect masters of their animals. Being chosen their captain, he went on to Mont- gomery, 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 les- son. 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 loth 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