The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-02
sTAUENBACH, THE sHARP.sHooTER.

After the battle of Austerlitz, the Austrian Army was virtually disbanded. The regi- meas were left without pay in consequence of the general breaking up of the Austrian f. nance; the public spirit was extingl'ished by the result of SO many unsuccessful wars Napoleon's genius seemed to have gained the final ascendency and the general feeling throughout the Continent was, that all efforts for independence were hopeless.
 But in the midst of this national despair, there were some gallant spirits left, as if to keep up the remembrance of the old national glory, and be ready for the time of retribu- ton. Among the disbanded troops was a regiment of sharp-shooters, chiefly raised a. mong the COrinthian Alps. They were or- dered home to their native place, and some French officers with a cOmmissary general, were sent to attend them to Laybach,and see l the measure completed. NF
 The country in the neighbourhood of Lay bach is remarkably hilly, and the regiment was compelled to scatter a good deal. The men fell into groupes, and as they became murmurs arose at the journey, and the insult off thus being driven home by French com- missaries. As a party were thus talking at a | IUEu MI ulOuUtdUl UUduS WuCTC tUCy U6U halted without much fear of their officers be- fore their eyes, the rear company of the reg iment, commanded by It. Stauenbach, over- took them, and the sitters down invited the others to drink. Discipline had been nearly at an end for some days before, and Stauen- bach made no objection. He had probably been meditating something of what followed, for on the glass being presented to him, he drank :" the health of our father (the Empe- ror.) and better days to our country" The toast was received with shouts. What was subsequently, done to rouse the sharp-shoot- CTS is not known, but it may be tolerably con- ccived from the fact, that the colonel and staff were the only part ofthe regiment that entered Laybach with the Frenchmen; what had become of Stauenbach and the officers, no one could tell. Inquiries were set on foot by the French authorities, who were then prevailing every corner of the Austrian Ter ritory butpothing could be ascertained, fur ther, than that the whole regiment had antic- | ipated Napoleon's orders, ard suddenly dis appeared.
 In few days, s,however,r reports were brought into Laybach of occasional fires having been seen in the mountains that edge the valley ol the Save :; and one morning the depatches | regularly forwarded tO the French cOnmis- sary in rhiefdd not arrive. This produced some disturbance in the city, and no slight a. larm among the gentlemen 1.-the French staff who immediately despatched courier tC Morasia for an additional force of French troops. The courier set out at night, to pre- vent accidents but his prevention was un lucky. for the next day he was set dowr blndfolded within short distance of Laybact with note declaring war against the French and informing the French Staff that if they chose to stay in Laybach they might, but tha not a man of them should ever return tC France. This formidable document wal signed the King of the Mountains"
 This billet produced a singular excitement ] in the city. The French commandant in, stantly ordered meeting of the authorities and in this civic and military council hii Majesty of the mountains was declared pub. lie enemy ,and reward ofthe adequate mum,