Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-08-20
From the Washington Unior

Eliza Cooks Journal.
From the Washington Union.
Military "reminiscences Of the
Time Of the Empire, by an Old
GuardsMnam.
After the passage of the Elster, the
army was preceded, as retreating ar
mics usually are, by a disorganized
host Of fugitives, who pillaged the
country through which they passed
for the means of subsistence. Throw
ing away their arms, they rushed in a
disorderly throng towards the Rhine,
armed with spits and trying pans,
and carrying their camp kettles upon
their backs, in place Of knapsacks.
This style of equipment gained for
them the nickname of Fricotu,s-
There were perhaps twelve or fifteen
thousand of these wretches, including
the wounded, and most of them were
conscripts. Horse and foot we're
mixed up together; and so completely
were their uniforms disfigured by
II and dust and dilapidated by
age, that it was impossible to
re them, or to ascertain to
- arm OF the service individuals
belonged. On they went like flock
of sheep chased by wolves, sometimes
pouring through the roads and high
ways, until they choked up the route
upon which the army was moving, and
then upon some sudden alarm clearing
hedges, fences, and bitches, and
spreading over the plains, which they
devastated in their passage. They
annoyed us terribly in more way
than one; not content with causing a
scarcity, which reduced those who re-
manned true to their colors to the dir
est extremity, they embraced every
opportunity to plumber, when they
could, the very scanty supplies our
commissaries attempted to provide
and transport with us. And yet these
were the men who won the glorious
battles of Lutzen and Banizen, and
had covered themselves with glory
upon the ramparts of Dresden. Then,
however they were on the advance
Retreat, as Napoleon said had de-
moralized them, and all attempts to
check their mad career were futile
| recollect one fine morning Marshal
Ondinot undertook to make an exam
pie of some of them, in the hope tina,
it might have an effect upon their
companions. He ordered dozen OF
them to be seized and brought before
him for examination. The process
was brief enough. who and what
are you? was the first question. "A
Fricoteur,' was the answer. NO in
solence! TO what regiment do you
belongp Il don't know :On your
knees, sirr Fire! and a volley from a
platoon of fusiliers finished the career
of the deserter. Hundreds of Frico-
teurs witnessed this scene. One of
thep risoners, when his turn had come,
threw sumerset over the heads of
the guards, aud rushing among the
crowd, escaped. The sergeant seized
the nearest bystander, and shot him
in the place of the fugitive. The
Fricoteurs whistled, took to their
heels, and pursued their way as be-
fore.
Sometimes these attempts to stop
them were attended with risk, when
the force which undertook it was in
adequate, as our Chief de ESQ adron
Rossignol found to his cost. Accom-
panied by few officers, he threw
himself across the path of these ma
rauders, and attempted to bring them
to a halt, sword in hand. Rascals!
he exclaimed, the honor, the glory of
the grand army'-they did not give
him time to finish. "To the devil
with your glory and honorr shouted
the Frlcoteurs. Down with the Off
GERS? And with roars of mingled exc
crations and laughter, they seized the
horses by their brides, dismounted
Rossignol and his companions, and
the living torrent literally flowed over
them as the water does over mill
race. They did not treat each other
any better, for if one of their number,
fell, overcome by famine and fatigue,
he was stripped to the skin in a mo-
ment by his companions, and tram.
pied to death, or left to die in ditch.
Such was not Rossignors fate,