EUGENE F. LOUD

 

EUGENE F. LOUD.—In the subject of this sketch, we have an excellent representative of American patriotism.  When this country was assailed by the armed and defiant host of treason, he enlisted in Company B, California Battalion.  He went East with his command and was consolidated with the Second Massachusetts Cavalry.  The regiment went to the front immediately and joined the Army of the Potomac under the dashing, efficient and lamented Colonel Lowell.  The celebrated company was employed for a long time in guarding a line of 100 miles between the enemy and Washington and in raiding and harassing the Confederates as far as the Richmond lines.  The subject of our sketch was in the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek, so memorable in the history of the rebellion. He gave a graphic account of  his own experience in the war to the Fraternal Record (Grand Army edition), from which we make the following extract:

“February 28^th we left front of Winchester on what has been termed Sheridan’s big raid up through the Shenandoah Valley to Waynesboro, capturing the remnant of Early’s army; across the Blue Ridge to Charlottesville, to the James river canal; up that rich valley to the James, destroying mills, factories, canals and ridges; back to near Richmond, fighting our way step by step to our supplies at White House Landing.  March 19, resting long enough to get rations, we joined Grant in front of Petersburg, March 26, going to the extreme left of the line.  Taking three days’ rest and nights, sleeping, if at all, in the saddle, always with my regiment, always in line; I witnessed the surrender of Lee and the other throw of the Southern Confederacy.”

The regiment was mustered out at Readville, Massachusetts, August 4, 1865.

Mr. Loud returned to California after the war, and instead of mining, his former occupation he has held various positions of trust and profit in the ordinary vocations of life.  In 1884 he was elected a member of the Legislature from the Forty-third Assembly district and made a good record as a legislator.

He is a member of King Solomon’s Lodge, No. 260, F. & A.M., and George H. Thomas Post, No. 2, G.A.R.  He was one of the charter members of Valley Lodge, No. 30, A.O.U.W., San Francisco, organized in April, 1878; was elected its first Overseer, then Foreman and then Master.  He served the order as deputy Grand Master under Taylor one year, Barnes two years, McClure one year, and took active part in shaping and developing the order on this coast.  In 1885 he was elected Grand Overseer, and Grand Foreman and Grand Master the year following.  He has been an active worker, an in the capacity of deputy Grand Master visited a majority of the lodges in the State.  He organized the Fraternal Institute, now called the School of Instruction and was its first president, and on December 15, 1883, was made the recipient of an elegant gold watch as recognition of his services in the order.  He is an unostentatious citizen, ever ready to go where duty calls him, as his war and fraternal record shows.