GENERAL LAFAYETTE'S 1825 VISIT TO BATON ROUGE
The most exciting event that took place during the Duplantier years at Magnolia Mound was the visit to Baton Rouge of the Marquis de Lafayette in April of 1825.
Armand and his son accompanied the war hero from New Orleans. Fortunately there is an eyewitness account of the momentous event by Lafayette's secretary, A Levasseur.
Twenty-four hours after leaving New Orleans, we arrived at Duncan's Point, where we were met by a delegation of citizens who had come down from Baton Rouge, which is situated eight miles above, to ask General Lafayette to stop and spend a few moments among them. The general thankfully accepted the invitation and two hours afterward we landed at the foot of the amphitheatre above which the city is built.
The landing was filled with the people of the city, at the head of whom marched the municipal guards. The first regiment of the Union was drawn up in battle array under the same star spangled banner which had previously been planted over the ruins of the Spanish despotism by the inhabitants of the parishes in the face of the greatest dangers.
Accompanied by the populace and the magistrates, the general repaired to the reception Hall wherein he found the busts of Washington and Jackson crowned with laurels and flowers. In this place he received the testimonials of affection from all of the people, and went with them to the fort where the garrison awaited him. As the troops marched past him he received a salute of 24 guns.
Next we went into the main room of the building in order to inspect the barracks, but to our great astonishment, we found on entering the first room, that it was not filled with beds, nor arms, nor “gay with all the accoutrements of war,” but contained a numerous assembly of beautiful ladies brilliantly attired, who surrounded the general and offered him flowers and refreshments.
The general was deeply touched by this agreeable surprise, and he remained for some time in the midst of the charming garrison. Upon our return to the city we met a great gathering of citizens who had joined together for the purpose of tendering a public banquet to the general, where there prevailed the candid cordiality of the French.
It was almost dark when we went on board the Natchez to continue our journey.
When we departed from Baton Rouge we were grieved to leave for a second time, some of the persons who had accompanied us from New Orleans, notably, Mr. Joseph Armand Duplantier, and his son, whose tender friendship had been so helpful to the general
Two years after Lafayette's visit Armand died.
Magnolia Mound: a Louisiana river plantation
By Lois Elmer Bannon, Martha Yancey Carr, Gwen Anders Edwards
Pelican Publishing, 1984
PAGE 42 -44
