Henry Watkins Allen
| Henry Watkins Allen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 17th Governor of Louisiana | |
|
In office January 25, 1864 – June 2, 1865 |
|
| Lieutenant | Benjamin W. Pearce |
| Preceded by | Thomas Overton Moore |
| Succeeded by | James Madison Wells |
| Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives | |
| Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 29, 1820 Prince Edward County, Virginia |
| Died | April 22, 1866 (aged 45) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Salome Crane |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 Republic of Texas Confederate States of America
|
| Service/branch |
Texian Army Confederate States Army
|
| Years of service | 1861–1864 (CSA) |
| Rank |
 Captain (Texian Army) Major General (Louisiana Militia) Brigadier General (CSA)
|
| Commands | 4th Louisiana Infantry Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
Texas Revolution American Civil War |
Henry Watkins Allen (April 29, 1820 – April 22, 1866) was an American soldier and politician, and a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He served as the 17th Governor of Louisiana late in the war and was the last governor elected under Constitutional law to the post until the end of Reconstruction.
Allen was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, was educated at Marion College, Missouri, and taught school and practiced law in Mississippi. He served in the Texas Revolution against Mexico as a private and later as captain. He was elected as a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives in 1846, after which he studied law at Harvard University. He later moved to Louisiana and was elected to the Louisiana Legislature in 1853. In 1859, he went to Europe with the intention of taking part in the Italian struggle for independence, but arrived too late. He toured through Europe, the incidents of which are recounted in Travels of a Sugar Planter. He was re-elected to the legislature during his absence, and on returning took a prominent part in the business of that body. He had been a Know Nothing (American Party) in politics but had joined the Democratic Party when Buchanan was nominated for president in 1856.
Allen enlisted as a private in the 4th Louisiana Infantry Regiment but was quickly promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on August 15, 1861. Allen became the regiment's Colonel on March 1, 1862. He was seriously wounded at Shiloh and Baton Rouge. Colonel Allen met Sarah Morgan on November 2, 1862, when he was still unable to walk due to his wounds in both legs at the Battle of Baton Rouge. She described him as a "wee little man" with a "dough face".
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