The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-10-17
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CAPTAIN POSITIVE.
A SOLDIERS STORY.

A French veteran with one arm, was seated
before the door ofh his neat cottage, one pleasant
evening in July. He was surrounded by sew
eraI village lads, who with one voice ihtreated
him to commence his promised story. The
old man took his pipe from his mo,ih, wiped his
lips with the back Of his remaining hand, and
began thus:
In my time, boys, Frenohmen would have
scorned to fight with Frcnchmen in the streets
rs they do now: No, no: when we fought, it
was for the honor Of France, and against the
foreign enemies. Well, my story begins on the
9Th ofNovember 1912, short time after the
battle of Wasma We were heating a retreat,
not before The Russians, for they kept at re.
spectacle distance from our cantonmenls, but
before the biting cold of their detcsiable coun-
| try, more terrible to us than Russians, Anstri
ans and Bavarians put together. For the last
few days our officers had been telling US that
we were approaching Smnlensko, where we
shonlG I've certain To find food. fire, brandy and
shoes: ',,:; ~ 'in O,ran';nir we're prrishing
in .ha ica. az; orrr~tnn::y hn'rcssed by Il band
81 Iosgac :'Jef>.
! FFe had a?a:.he- t.. s!x :tp'!::. without
;.us:i;g to draw t..r;,tn, ''r &C :.!:2: Eat re.
PCS" vas certain dean, \ n;'tcr Nin' hurled
the SHOW flakes against our faces and now ana
then we stumbled over the cnrpses Of our com
raccs No singing or talking then Even the
grumblers ceased to complain. and that was
had sign. walked behind my captain he
was short man, strongly hn;, rugged and Sc.
| we're, but brave and true as his own sword.
blade. We called him Captain Positive for
once he said thing. so il was-no appca-he
never changed his mind He had been wound
ed Wiazma, and his usually red face was now
quite pale while the pieces of an old white
handkerchief which he had wrapped around his
leg was soaked with blood. | saw him first
move slowly and then stagger like drunken
man, and at last he fell down like block.
! sMarblau! captain said |, bending over
him, you can't lie there
You see that can, because I do, replied he,
pointing to his limbs.
Captain said I, 'you mustn't die thus and
| raising him in my arms, managed to place
him on his feet. He leaned on me and tried
to walk; but in vain he fell once more and
dragged me with him.
John said he, ris all over. Just leave me
here, and Join your column as quick as you can.
One word hleore you 60 at Voreppe. near
Grcnoble, lives a good woman, eighty two
years old, my-my mother. Go to her, see her
and tell her ,hat-that her whatever you
like, bu, give her this purse and this CROSS
That's all?'
'Ts,hat all, captain? {?
'Isaid 30. Good.bye; and make haste
Boys. don't know how it was, but tet two
tears freezing on my Cheeks"
mo, Captain, cried |, Il won't leave yon ::
you shall come with me or will stay with you.
Il forbid your staying
Captain, you might just as well forbid a wo.
man talking
'IfI escape I'll punish you severely
| You may place me under arrsst then, but
hsi now, you must let me do as please
Your re an insolent fellow
very likely captain, but you must come
with me-
.IIe hi, his lips with anger, but said no more,
rased him and placed his hody across my
shoulders like a sack. You may easily imag.
inc that while bearing such burihen could
not move as quick y as my comrades. Indeed
| soon los, light Of their columns, and could
perceive nothing but the white silent plain
around me. moved on, and presently there
appeared band of Cossacks galloping towards
me, their lances at rest, and shouting their hend-
'sh war cry.
The captain vas ny this time IN state OF 10.
tai NnconcIo"sness and | resolved, c"s'' "h"t II
might, not to abandon hln' | Ia'd nun on inc
ground, covered h'n with snow an" men erep'
under Il heap oi dead comfan's' leaving ho"e''
er my eyes al liberty. Soon Inc CossacNs
reached us, and began striking with Their Ian,
ces right and left, while their horses t'ampled
the bodies. Presently one OF these rude beasts
placed his huof OH my left arm and crushed 1t
to pieces. Boys did not say word ana n"'
move save I" thrust my right ha"d INTO my
mouth To keep down the cry OF torture ana m