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Page Six
SOUVENIR CENTENNIAL EDITION, HANCOCK COUNTY EAGLE
August, 1958
Shown above are important documents belonging to deMontluzin
deMontluzin Family History
by
Caroline Kiefer
My desire is to express this story as I feel it. This I cannot do, being too inept in the handling of words—iso—tin my limited manner I shall endeavor to convey to you a little of the spine-tingling romance which raced in my blood as I held in my hands documents and letters written by kings and men of great courage w.iM stepped from history’s pages to honor through their descendants our town of Bay St. Louis.
Those of us familiar with the deMontluzin family are well aware of their aristocratic French lineage. Many times We have read, or have been told stories of Mr. Rene, the courtly, polished, Old World gentleman, who has himself made history in Bay St. Louis. However it was not until recently that Rene deMontluzin, Jr., repealed this exciting chapter taken irom the family archives which I shall attempt to relate here.
This is the story of a great soldier, a magnificent hero, a man of distinction. It is the story of Louis deMontluzin, grandfather of Rene deMontluzih, Sr.
Louis deMontluzin, only son of a noble French Couple, spent his early youth in Belgium with his parents when they had been forced to flee their native France to dwell temporarily in political exile. Following tradition established by forefathers, who, for generations dating back to the Crusaders of the 13th century, had served as officers in the Imperial Armies of France, Louis returned to his homeland and joined the army of Napoleon Bonaparte. He was comftnissioned a lieutenant in the 11th Regiment of Chasseurs.
His experiences were colorful as he proudly rode his prancing steed on the mighty march through Europe with the conquering forces of “The Little Colonel” —but two episodes of his life stand above all others.
It was during the bitter winter which marked the beginning of the downfall of the mighty Bonaparte Empire, when the French Army had marched eastward through Germany and Poland, and was deeply encamped in the heart of the vast Russian Empire, that Lieutenant deMontluzin felt the
first cruel scars of war. Endless miles of snow-covered steppes made it impossible to keep supply linos abreast with troops, forcing the French Army to face its first retreat.
A selected group of officers and men out on reconnaissance had reached a small wooden bridge when they became suddenly aware of a platoon of Cossacks approaching from their rear. In this desolate land there was no hiding place save under the span of the bridge Instinctively the French sought its refuge, depending on the dark curtain of night to obscure visibility. The heavy-footed Cossacks tramped across the flimsy wooden structure, the clumping of their boots drowning the audible heart thumps of the valiant Frenchmen under their feet. When the footfalls became distant echoes, the French felt it safe to venture out of hiding. This they did just in time to be trapped by a second detachment of ferocious Cossacks. A cold white moon glared malevolently down that dark bitter night on a scene of carnage and horror as loyal French soldiers lay dying or dead. The entire detachment was annihilated with the exception of one man, who by a miracle escape ed the onslaught and was able to warn the main body of the French Army of the trap from which he alone had escaped. This man was not Lieut. deMontluzin. Young Louis, cruelly slashed by seven lance thrusts, had been left for dead, drenched in a pool of his own red blood which slowly oozing on the cold ground stained to cardinal the patch of white where he had fallen. When the Russian soldiers left the scene of slaughter, human vultures descended, stripping valuables and garments from dead prey. Such was the fate of Louis deMontluzin. Stripped bare of all clothing, his body flung aside by the vultures in their lustful greed for more loot from other unfortunate victims. It was this careless toss of a supposed corpse which saved the life of the young lieutenant.
The ambush had taken place in a clearing where huge piles of sawdust had accumulated from tree cuttings, and in tossing the supposedly dead body aside, it had landed in the midst of one of these piles. deMontluzin could not
have survived had not the shavings from the wood clogged the wounds, staunching the flow of blood, and noiselessly sifting over his body during the long hours of darkness staved off the bitter cold and prevented death from freezing. With the first break of dawn a small band of nuns from a nearby convent crept out on an errand of mercy to aid survivors, or give decent Christian burial to the dead. As the good women were employed in their gruesome task one noticed a slight twitch from the hand of a butchered body. Quickly covering his nakedness they carried him to the nunnery in their village where he was tenderly nursed back to life. Later as a prisoner of war in an army hospital where he was recuperating, a group of Cossacks entered the room where deMontluzin was bedded. As fate so often does, men were brought together for a second time. Among the Cossacks was one from the group which had ensnared and slaughtered the French Detachment.
Recognizing the young Fench lieutenant, the savage soldier lunged forward with raised sabre in a mad attempt to sever der.Iontlu-zin’s head from his body. Instinctively the Frenchman placed his arm across his face, just in time to deflect the blow of the descending blade. His life was again saved by a miracle, but the small finger of his right hand hung by a thread of flesh. Calmly he lifted his bleeding hand to his mouth and completed the ampur tation with a single bite of his Heeth. Outraged soldiers leaped forward and grabbed their former comrade. Pinioned by strong arms he was dragged screaming his wrath from the room. (In those days prisoners of war were respected as fighting men, and such conduct as displayed by the Cossack was appalling to other soldiers of his group). Violently ejected from the building onto the street, he was immediately executed for his action.
On a nearby estate the Baron de Techeekasgar heard of the dastardly behavior of the Cossack, and forthwith ordered his servants to inform prison guards that Lieutenant deMontluzin was to be brought to his castle where he would be responsible for him as
a prisoner of war guest. For the next two years deMontluzin spent his time with the Baron deTech-eekassar. The association developed into a deep and lasting friendship between the two men.
A letter written to his father by Louis deMontluzin while confined at the estate of fhe Baron is one of the prized possessions among the fabulous documents of the deMontluzin family of Bay St. Louis. The sheer simplicity of this letter, written after suffering such awesome experiences wrings the heart of those who read it and are aware of the man’s history. The translation reads:
“My dear father:—.
On Oct. 3, 1812, I was made a prisoner, but thank God found people who took pity on me— and now I am very happy—I am at the home of Baron deTechee-kassar who has for me much kindness—I am well, and pray for your conservation—I beseech you, my dear Father, to comfort my good Mother—Remember me to the family—Good-bye—I kiss you with all my heart and all my life will be your
Respectful son, deMontluzin Lieutenant Feb. 2, 1813.
The sender of this letter requests answer sent for its security to Mr. J. K. Stein at Brady in Gallicie who will take care of forwarding it directly.
This advice is given Monsieur to facilitate the correspondence. Addressed	German/
Brady	via
Strasbourg
, Monsieur deMontluzin Jeansay at Pont de Veyle Department of L’Ain in France.”
Eventually Lieutenant deMontluzin re*che(fhis beloved France to reunite with his parents and resume his duties as a professional soldier with the Chasseurs.
It was this samfe man who was responsible for exonerating Napoleon from; the terrible blunder of Waterloo, and for testimony given in hia behalf by Louis deMontluzin, Napoleon took from his own chest ax Eight Pointed Emperial Cross and pinned it over'the heart of his trusted lieutenant.
The controversy which raged for years as to the cause of Bonaparte’s defeat at Waterloo was cleared by deMontluzin. The emperor was absolved of blame by this testimnoy.
Napoleon had sent verbal messages to Marshall Grouchy to join him at Waterloo. Grouchy failed to respond and returned no message to Napoleon. Then it was that Lieutenant deMontluzin was sent to Grouchy with written orders to join his Emperor immediately with all the troops under his command. deMontluzin carried back written acknowledgment from Grouchy of his receipt of Napoleon’s orders to join him. However, Grouchy did not join Napoleon, but marched his forces east toward Prussia, leaving Napoleon to the mercy of the mighty English Army commanded by the Duke of Wellington. The famous battle was raging before deMontluzin’s return and he was unable to deliver Grouchy’* acknowledgment. The outcome of that battle is common knowledge. With the French Army routed, Napoleon was exiled to Elba, and it was not until his return from the island following his first banishment from France, that deMontluzin was able to produce the written evidence to clear Napoleon of the stigma of a fatal tactical blunder. Had deMontluzin been killed in battle, Napoleon’s prestige as a great military commander would have been greatly dimimed.
deMontluzin continued his military career. A professional soldier his services were sought at all times. His valor and loyalty were rewarded When he was decorated by King Louis XVTH with the Royal Order of the Legion of Honor in 1824, and it was King Charles X who bestowed on deMontluzin the most coveted decoration of Famce, The Royal and Military Order of Saint-Louis. He
married late' in life but was blest with a son. It was this son, bearing his father’s name who first broke tradition of many generations of deMontluzin men by choosing a profession other than soldiering. This Louis was a scholar and journalist—and it was because of his political writings in support of Louis Napoleon forty years after Bonaparte—that France became a dangerous place for him to live. With a close friend, who was an associate in writing, and his family deMontluzin parted from, his native land after the revolution of 1851. They came to the new world in 1855 and settled in Convent, La., where for a number of years Professor deMontluzin conducted a private school. Later he moved his family, and still accompanied by his life-long friend took up residence in New Orleans, where he opened a private school, and in addition printed and wrote a newspaper. Ill health brought him to Bay St. Louis.
Most of us know the rest of the story. Louis in 1878 opened a small apothecary shop and with the aid of two of his sons who studied pharmacy developed it into a Mecca for townsfolk needing pharmaceutical care. L. A. deMontluzin and Sons is historically important in the county today, being one of the oldest and few surviving old-time apothecary businesses in this wide land. Mr. Rene, son of Louis, is equally important, he is one of the oldest active pharmacists in the United States, having celebrated his 92nd birthday.
Mr. Rene made Bay St. Louis his home. He married the late Miss Venie Lillian Word of Oxford, Mississippi, and reared their only child, Rene, Jr., to follow in his professional footsteps. Rene, Jr., is married to the former Miss Emily Hosmer of Greenwood, Mississippi, and they have a ten-year-old daughter, Lorraine, named for the part of France from which the deMontluzin family came.
Fernand deMontluzin, eldest brother of Mr. Rene, Sr., moved to New Orleans. One of his children,. Colonel R. E. E. deMontluzin, has three sons, R. E. E., Jr., Adrian, and Louis, who perpetuate the distinguished name.
The late Mrs. Jeanne deMontluzin deLappe, a sister of Mr. Rene, Si*., was the mother of Mrs. Alice deLappe Doll of New Rochelle, New York, and of the late Mrs. Adrianne deLappe Sporl of New Orleans, who is survived by her sons, C. A. Sporl, Jr., and Harold D. Sporl of the same city.
The descendants of this famous family have a heritage of which they may be justly proud. There are stories on top of stories to be related from the wondrous documents possessed by Mir. Rene at his Bay St. Louis home.
To have held in my hands, clearly legible, yellowed, but otherwise perfectly preserved parchment, written by hand and signed by Louis XIV, King of France, dated 1689, honoring yet another member of this family, will always brings a- thrill with the memory. Some of these documents are illustrated in this book, priceless treasures on indestructable parchment, signed and royally sealed by kings of France. The generosity of the deMontluzin family is shown by their pleasure in sharing the enjoyment of these museum treasures with fellow townsfolk and friends.
COTTON RESEARCH AND PROMOTION PAYING OFF
The cotton industry’s promotion and research techniques are paying off in rapidly increased sales. The industry has achieved considerable progress in research on crease resistant and minimum care cotton materials. As a result of this successful research, some 800,
000	bales of cotton were used for wash-and-wear cotton clothing in 1957. Intensified promotion and research is one of cotton’s most valuable weapons in modern competition.