Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-13
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER IS, 1926.
srAuENBAcH, THE sHARPsHooTER

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STAUENBACH, THE sHARPSHOOTER
After the battle of Austerlitz, the Austrian
army was virtually disbanded. The regiments
were left without pay, in consequence OF the &C.
neral breaking up of the Austrian hnahce; ths
public spirit was extinguished by the result oil
so many unsuccessful wais; NaPoleans genius
seemed to have gained the ascendancy ana the
general feeling throughout the continent was
that all efforts for independence were hopeless.
But in the midst ofthis national despair there
were some gallant spirits left, as if 10 keep up
The remembrance of the old national glory, and
be ready for the time of retribution. Among
the disbanded troops was regiment OF sharp
shooters. chiefly raised among the range OF the
Corinthian Alps. They were ordered home to
their native place, and some French officers,
with commissary general, were sent to attend
them 10 Laybach, and see the measure COM
pleted.
The country in the neighborhood of Laybach
is remarkably billy, and the regiment was com
aeled 10 scatter good deal The men fell IN
10 eroupes. and as they became less Immediate
~ within the sight Of their masters, mnrmurs
arose al the Journey, and the insult ofbeing thus
driven home by French Commissaries. AS a
party were thus talking at turn Of the noun
lain road, where they had halted wlthout much
fear Of their officers before their eyes, the rear
company of the regiment, commanded by Lieu
tenant Stauenbach, overlook them, and the Sit
sers-down invited others TO drink. Discipline
had been nearly at an end Tor some days before,
and Stauenbach made no objection lie had
probably been meditating something OF what
followed, for, on the glass being presented to
him, he drank sthe health OF our father, the En-
oeror) and better days to our country. he
coast was received with shouts. What was
subsequently done 10 rouse the sharpshooters IS
not known, but it may be tolerably conceived,
from the fact. that the colonel and staff were the
,nlv part of the regiment that entered Layoach
v,;,b the Frenc hmen; what had became OF
s,a,enbach and the other officers no one Could
,ell. INQUIRY was set on foot by the French au-
ihorities. WHO were then pervadinS every cor
ne, Of the Austrian territory: but nothing could
ne ascertained, further, than that the whoie re-
,ime1t had anticipated Napoleon,s orders, ana
Dad suddenly disappeared.
In few days, however, reports were ofouSh'
IN 20 Lavbach Of occasional fires having oeen
seen in the mountains that edge the valley OF
The Saave; and one morning the dispatches, re-
pularly forwarded 10 the French commissafy ID
chief. did moi arrive. This produced some CTS
,urbance in the city, and noslight alarm among
The gentlemen Of the French 5tatf, who lmme-
dia,ey despatched courier TO Moravia iof an
additional force Of French troops. The courier
so; ont at night, TO prevent accidents; out ms
rreyention was unlucky, for the next DAY NE
WAS sci down blindroded within snort as
lance Of Laybach, with note declaring war
a,rainst the French and informing"the french
STAFF that if they chose to stay IN Layoacn
they might, but that no man OF them shouiu
sper return TO France. This formidable aocu
,nent was signed "the King OF the mountains:
This billet produced singular excitement 10
the CITY. The French commandant instantly
ordered meeting Of the authorities, and IN 'nlS
civic and military counsil his Majesty oil the
Mountains was declared public enemy, ana
reward of the adequate number ot'thaiers was
offered for him, dead or alive. lhis was pro
bablv an unwilling measure on the part oil &ne
crave burphcrs Of Carniola, but they knew the
activity of Napoleon's vengeance TOO wen -
alb of hesitation; with the populace II was al
;orether different affair, and their rejoicing al
sbe defiance was all but treason to the suprefha-
w &C The conoueror. The "King OF the Mouh,
-fa;ns'' was an effective name, and the haol,uai
saste of the German for forest wonders iouhd nS
supreme indulgence in iasenting attributes anu
adventures for this mysterious monarch.
War. and OF all It's kinds insurrectionary wal,
Is fitted 10 take hold upon the popular imasina-
ton. lis secrecy, its sudden exploslons-Ns
sndden extinclions in one quarter, TO- sprung up
like conlagration in another-even The per-
sonal intrepidity, intelligence, and dexteriy re-
CURED in its solitary and hazardous enterprises,
,hrow a romantic and superstilious interest a.
hnn, Il. that gives powerful impulse to the
oou. The skiing of the Mountains"
49, none of the established Incidence OF the
throne au he seemed even to have the faculty OF
being every where at once. Inc arriyal OIL
oouriers soon ceased totally, or occurred 3nly
Nv nerm;ssion Of his invisible majesty; and zen
he letters were generally open, and accompa-
MED by remarks, sometimes burlesqpe and sar,
castle. and sometimes conveying 1n'elise"c rs y
peasants brought provisions to the city only un
der the passport Of his majesty; the traders ahe
travellers were compelled to advertise N ~.
Laybach Zsitung before they set out 'neia aua, -
with declaration that they were not goins :. :
France; in short, his majesty's determlnalorr :.
extiuguish all intercourse with the lana % y
ranny, was expressed with the most undipio'ha
nTr[fN