Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-12-18

suppliant. Joachim was moved; he was alway,
kind-heartedi but he had received his orders
ne repressed his emotion, and with anger burn.
ing IN his face, and in voice of thunder he de.
clared his purpose to dccimate the regiment.
"The CONSERVATION of the troops was great
as you can imagine. The regiment, confined in
The barracks, sent several deputaions TO Muir
to implore his clemency. Officers and soldiers
swore 10 confront death in the first battle, be-
meath the eyes OF the Emperor. Murat was for
a long while infexible, in appearance at least;
at last he seemed touched by their submission.
But the fault was so great, and his orders SO
peremptory, that he demanded that three soldiers
chosen from among the most mutinous, should
pay with their IlYes Tor the crime OF the lSG:
: ment. The three victims were soon designated;
they were put in irons, and their execution an
nounced for the following day. The regiment
still remained confined in the barracks.
q .''ln the middle of the night, Joachim directed
the three soldiers to be brought before him; a
sergeant in whose prudence he could confide,
led them into his presence.
''You will be shot tomorrow i said Murat.
The soldiers burst into tears. Prepare FOR death,
and fall like brave men. 1t is the only way to
wipe out all memory OF your crime. i charge
myself with the duty Of transmitting your last
tarewells, your last regrets 10 your fathers and
mothers. Your families did not merit children
such as you. Have you thought Of your nc
ther? Speak, Sobs stiAed their voices. Those
poor W omen would haye been proud and even
happy il YOU had fallen in battle with the Aus
trian but to die thus, unfortunate men Go! |
will send you priest to afford you The last sue
cors OF religion. Think upon France and your
God; from this moment you belong no more to
this world"
The soldiers cast themselves at Joachim's feet,
not 10 ask for mercy, but for his pardon, before
death As they were leaving the apartment,
joachim recalled them. "Listen!'' he said "if
I should grant you your lives, would you live
henceforth like honest men?'
] mo, we wish to die, replied one Of the SOL
diers, we have deserved death; let them shoot
US; il is just"
I But i. do not wish to have you shot? cried
Joachim. Wherefore would you die, when
would have you live? have never given the
worl.tQ fire, except at the enemy, and cannot
bear to give it against those who are my brothers,
who are Frenchmen, although guilty"
'And joachim wept like woman-hc, the
bravest OF men: Was lac not Mcssicurs:''
/ And we wepi also arouni the armchair of the
Comtcsse de Liplno, who spoke SO touchingly
Of her heroic husband.
After pause, she continued her narrative.
.'Lsten 10 me!' said Joachim, in a mlder
tone. You are great culpris, but am glad TO
find that you have energy of character; you will
second my project well. grant yor your lives,
buL it is necessary that you should tomorrow
be thought dead by all the world; above all, by
your regiment. Tomorrow, near nightfall, you
wall be led out of the Pisan gate, upon the glacs;
YOU viii receive the fire Of platoon, at twenty
p GEES distance, and you will fall dead; at this
moment the last file OF your regiment will pass
across the place Of execution: the obscurity of
the evening will favor the deception; man, of
whose fidelity am assured, will place you upon
a tumbrel, and transport you TO the ccmeiry.
Here u will fni change Of clothing wherewith
to disguise Yourselves as sailors, and thousand
francs will be counted out to each OF you; you will
remain concealed for a few days in an inn, which
will be pointed out TO you; in two or three days
an American vessel will sail for New Orleans;
there y0u will go to pass your days, and live
like honest men--do You hear? You will be
taken on board as soon as the wind is favorable.
Be prudent and follow my advice exactly. Go;
| will take care of your families"
''The soldiers bathed Murat's feet with their
tears, and repeated again, that they would do as
he had directed them.
"All passed as Joachim had arranged it. A
severe example was given TO the regiment; but
there was no blood spilled, and the Emperor
happily deceived, thanked Murat for having
sacrificed but three lives TO the demands Of dis
cipline. The Emperor was never informed OF
the generous Sratsgem to which my husband re-
sorted in this affair; ii was for "a long time Sc
cret between myself and few Of our faithful
friends who have never be.rayedait. There is
now no iudiscretion in divulging it, and divulge
il rhoselore for your sakes."
After this narrative, Murat's widow, toe
deeply moved to prolong the conversation, re-
t1red 10 her apartment. We likewise were much
affected; we kept silence. Every eye was turn.
ed upon the magnificent portrait, painted by lie
Gros 1t represents KING Murat, in striking
attitude, gUllopng along the shore of the bay ol
Naples, Mount Tcshvius, belching flames, rises
in the background. Mural and Vesuyius! two
volcanoes, fecG to face.
The conclusion Of this narrative was recoGnt-
ed TO me, several months .afterwArls, by per-
son very intimate with the imperial family. II
. is like the romantic denOusemeni of drama
which seems to belong less to real life than tc
the Imagination Of the novelist.
Upon the borders of forest in the vicinity
of New Orleans, huntsman knocked at a door
OF a modest farmhouse, 10 seek shelter from L
violent storm. 1t was in the autumn Of 1880
The hospitable dcOr was oSsned, and the stranger
was led by an aged woman INTO a neat apart
ment, plainly furnished and almost entirely
hung with Partisan Autographs, representing oul
principal deeds Of arms.
1T appears, y said the stranger, in the French
language, that my Kind star has led me among
fellow comtrymen.%
Monsieur isa Frcnchman, dOubtless3" saic
; the Old woman. dD =
"Yes, madame; and good Frenchman too.
, have even relatives here in this apartment"
. MY son is in the glrden;vI will ~ and cal
: him. ~. ,,ill ha vary olad IN see VOa " -