The Litchfield County post., 1827-08-02


 way back to the clump where the colonel had first taken his stand.
 The storm had now risen t0 pitch offuTy that made the shelter of the forest more per ilous than oven the open air; the trees were torn up by the rOOts-huge branches were flying about to the infinite peril of every one who came in their way-sheets of gravel, B. the lighter stones from the sides of the lime stone cliffs, filled the air and when to this were added thunder. that absolutely deafened the ear, and flashes that burst like shells from rock to rock, splitting whatever they touched, it may be believed that the French wished themselves far enough from the mountains of Idra.
 It was now between twelve and one; the troops had now been out four hours, and no symptoms of the insurgents had appeared, & every soul was heartily tired, the order was given to return. The whole corps was in stantly en route, with gladdened hearts ; but even this had now become no trivial matter. The road, bad enough before, was now ten times worse ascents were SO slippery as to be almost inaccessible, and the descents were but so many prccipices-plunging them into so many torrents, as every rivulet had now swelIed into furious stream. The Lay bach river this night had many knapsack S pouch carried down its flood from the tribu- tary streams of the hills.
 In two hours afterwards,it would be morn ing, and the storm at length began to snb- side. But fighting was altogether out of the question, in the present dilapidated state of the sgrand army" of Laybach, They were now toiIing their slow way along the verge of hollow in which the quicksilver mines lie, and which from it's shape and perpetual vapour put the traveller in mind of the boiler of assteain engine but however picturesque for fiie eve of the tourist, a more vexatiOus route ior drenched army could not be found in Germany.
 On a sudden the old guide pointed to something that through the fog looked like the light in cottage window. In moment it had disappeared,and was in another follow cd by successive lights. The Colonel was an old soldier, and had learned his first lesson in the mountain battles of the Brisgan. The troops were instantly closed up, and ordered to stand to their arms-but the order had scarcely been given before a shower of shot was poured in upon the position. Some men were knocked down close to their Colonel {; and among them the old guide. De Talmont was proyerbially brave, and cared nothing a. bout giving or taking death ; but he had humanity about him still, and he stoop- ed down to give the dying man draught of water out his canteen. The peasant swal- lowed it with difficulty, and then dropped back on the ground with deep groan. The firing had suddenly ceased, or was kept up only by the French fiankers, who sent out a randc m shot now and then, without, howey- CT, knowing on which side the assailants were to he found. The word was again given to move, and the column began again to proceed down the sharp decliyity above the village of Idra but this decliyity is TOO feet by the plumb line and it may be imagined that in utter darkness, it was not the easiest path in the world for drenched and harrassed party offoreigners. They had not descended half a hundred feet, when rifle flashed full in the Colonel's face; and the signal was followed bya rapid running fire, that seemed to circle the whole valley. The column feebly attempt ed to recover the high ground, but the balls came in showers from the ridge; to make their way down to the village was as much out of the question: unless they rolled them selves down the scarped precipice, where none but dead man could ever reach the bottom tO stand where they were was in- possible, for the bullets were raking their CO., lumn in all directions. .|.
 The Colonel had now found out his error, and with a few desperate men made a rush to the summit The fire gradually paused on both sides from the excessive darkness, and he made good his footing, but out of his 500 not above 50 could be gathered round him / the rest had been either shot or scattered ? through the forest. With that fifty, howev- CT, he made bold stand, and the firing began 10 be vivid again, when he felt himself sud denly grasped by the neck. The grasp was that of giant {; and he was in a moment dragged away among the rocks, until between exhaustion and surprise, he fainted. ' When he opened his eyes he found him. self in hut with two or three long bearded withholding figures, warming themselves o, yer stove. Beside the bed on which he lay there was sitting handsome, athletic young man, in the uniform of Wager the Co., lonel thought that he had seen the face before, and inquired into whose hands he had faen
 "Better hands than Frenchman's," was the rough answer: ]" for if we had fallen into theirs. we should have been shot you are now among the free hunters of Car nOlia."
 "And who are you?" said the prisoner.
 "Me why am all things in turn," said the Yager, laughing. Yesterday. l was a grave citizen of Laybach, attending the order ? ofColonel de Talmont to shoulder my mus ket and mount guard in honour of Napoleon Al Al.