The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-02-28

dying fast; but he thanked me in foreign
language, which, although did not exact
ly understand, l could easily make out by the
look he gave me. Mullins, of the rifles, who
stepped up while supported his head, calrd
me a fool for my pains. Better knock out
his brains, Harris" said he: "he has done us
mischief enough. I'll be bound for it, to-day.
After the battle | strolled about the field in
order to see if there was any thing to be found
worth picking up among the dead. The first
thing / saw was three-pronged silver fork,
which as it lay by itself, had most likely been
dropped by some person who had been on the
look out before me. A little further on | saw
French soldier sitting against small rise in
the ground, or bank. He was wounded in the
throat, and appeared very faint, the bosom of
his coat being saturated with blood which
flowed down. By his side lay his cap, and
close TO that lay bundle containing guam
tity of gold and silver crosses, and which
concluded he'had plundered from some con-
vent or church. He looked the picture of a
sacriligious thief, dying hopelessly, and over
taken by Divine wrath. kicked over his cap,
which was also full of plumber, but declined
taking anything from him. | felt fearful of
mourning the wrath of Heaven for the like of
fence-so left him and passed on-A little
further off lay an officer of the 50th regiment.
knew him by sight, and recognized him as
he lay. He was quite dead, and lying on his
back. He had been plundered, and his clothes
were torn open. Three bullet holes were
close together in the pit of the stomach: be-
side him lay an empty pocket book, and his
epaulette had been pulled from his shoulder.
/ had moved on but few PAGES, when re-
collected that perhaps the officers shoes might
serve me, my own being considerably the
worse for wear, so | returned again, went
back, pulled one of his shoes off, and knelt
down to try it on. II was not much better
than nv own-however, determined on the
exchange, and proceeded to take offits fellow
As did so | was started by the sharp report
of firelock, and at the same moment bull
let whistled close by my head. Instantly
starting up, turned and looked in the direc-
ton whence the shot had come. There was
no person near me in this part of the field
The dead and dying lay thickly all around;
but nothing else could 1 see. looked TO the
printing of my life and again turned to the
dead officer of the 50th. 1t was evident that
some plundering scoundrel had taken a shot
at me, and the fact Of his doing so proclaim
ed him one of the enemy. To distinguish
him amongst the bodies strewn about was i'm
possible; perhaps he might himself be one of
the wounded. Hardly had | effected the ex-
change, put on the dead oficer's shoes, and
resumed my rifle, when another shot took
place, and second ball whistled past me-
This time was ready, and, turning quickly,
| saw my man; he was just about to squat
down behind small mound, about twenty
PAGES from me. | took hap-dazard shot at
him, and instantly knocked him over. l i'm
mediately ran up to him; he had fallen on his
face, and heaved him over on his back, be-
strobe his body, and drew my sword-bayonet.
There was, however, no occasion for the pre-
caution, as he was even then in the agonies
of death.
1t was relief TO me to find l had not been
mistaken. He was a French light infantry
man, and | therefore took it quite in the way
of business-he had attempted my life, and
lost his own. twas the fortune of war; so
stopping down, with my sword cutthe green
string that sustained his calibash, and took
hearty pull to quench my thirst.