Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-12-25
The Siege of Dantzic.

When Marshal Leiebyre, in 1907, inves.
led Dan,zic,, the celebrated engineer Bous-
,,sra nut il in a condition to sustain
regular siege. Gen. Kalkreauth,ove whom
Bousmsrd exercised much influence, had
under his command a garrison of twelve
thousand Prussians and three Russian bat
tsIions. For the attack, Marshal Leiebvre
led on q mixed multitude olFrench, Poles,
and Germans, TO the number Of sixteen
thousand. He always showed his soldiers
an example of modesty and courage; the
Marshal of the Empire never forgot that he
had risen from the ranks, bu, was always
foremost in mounting breach, or leading
on forlorn hope.
Two months, however, passed on, and
Dsp,zic continued impregnable. 1t was
no, certainly an unreasonably long time to
spend in reducing so strong a place, yet
Napoleon became impatient. He who had
astonished the universe with the rapldlty
Of his invasions and conquests. and who
had recently reduced the kingdom OF Prus-
sia 10 obedience in seven weeks. had some
rah, 10 complain of Lefebvre's tardlness.
From his camp a, Finkenstein he surveyed
the whole of Europe, moved Turkey.
threatened Russia, looked at England with
impo,ent displeasure, concluded treaties
with Germany, sent forth his commands.
and raised soldiers wherever and whenever
he willed, and amid pll this he could not,
without manifest lmpatience, think of the
siege of Dantzic.
Whats Leiebvre about. What is he
doing, don't understand his dallying."
Such were the Emperor's abrupt exclama-
tons. Whenever a despatch from the
Marshal arrived, containing an account OF
the LEGAL difficulties of the siege, Napoleon
would give it a rapid glance Of his eagle
eve, and then throwing ii down contemptu.
ously, would say, S'uff-deuce take the
Alsatian and his fine descriptive style"
Demon" said the Emperor one day,
addressing his favorite artist, "l must
know how matters are progressing at Dant-
zic. Go ,hither Immediately. present your
self 10 the Marshal, and bring me back a
drawing of the place. depend on you
Co"
In a quarter of an hour after The delivery
q, this imperial mandate, Demon was on
the road 10 Dantzic with his pencils and
nor,folio. He was now upwards OF sixty
GEARS old, and had sojourned with Louis
XIV. and Louis XVI. at Versailles, with
Frederick the Great at Po;sdam, with Cath.
crime II. at ST. Petersburg, and with Vol.
tare at Ferney. Since the memorable
Egyptian expedition, he had followed the
footsteps of Napolion. AT Bylau ball
struck a piece of ordnance close to the
Emperor, and killed three men, Demon
uho had iis;..i iesS;..i in the scenes of'rumPfhf IN
70 draw from NATURE ia :'sonT. C''' 'ae
s,ormiest battle, without thinking oil danger
or caring for risk, just then approached
calmly with his sketching materials IN his
hand. =,
Emperdt "a but you must retire. Demon
= loo much peril here for your head, and toe
much smoke for your eyes," Napolior
forgo, nothing the artists perfect coo'nes'
a, Bylau vas present to his mind when HI
sen, him. to bring back'a military plan o
DantAic.
Arrived ot the outpos, Of the besiegln'
army. Demon asked an audience OF IN
u,rsbal. and told his errand. Lefebvre
wbo knew little, and cared less. about tn
character and talents Of his visitor. did nc
give him credit for good faith, but believe
tho, be came with some sinister desigr
He measured the artist leIsurely with a
uniriendly eye, and then in tone OF iron
said, "Ah, ah, SO Monsieur wants TO Sc
Oantzicf lie wants TO inspect the STATE
the siege for himself! Well. 'tis really
rre,,v drama I'll secure him seat in tt
s,age-box!"
So say ing. he called a sergeant, one
tho bravest. and withal one of the du!le
fellows in the army, and said,. Firbac
you will lead this gentleman to the sp
from whence he will have the best view
Dantzc you undersand' on the glac
opposite the bas,;on Of Bsehofsberg."
"Yes, Marshall replied The ssehadi'
moving on. :