Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-01-24
The siege of Dantr,c.


ton sustain irregular siege General kakreuth, over
whom Buisn1ard exercised much influence, had under
his command garrison OF twelve thousand Pssians
and three thousand Russian baltaons For the attack
Marshal Lefebve led on mixed multitude of French;
Poles, and Germans, 10 the number of sixteen thou-
sand. He always showed his soldiers example of
modesty and courage the Marshal of the Empire new
forgot that he had risen from the ranks, but al
ways foremost in mounting breach, or leading on
forlorn hope
Two months however passed on, and Dantzc con-
tinued impregnable 1t was not certainly unrea-
sonably long time 10 spend in reducing so strong
place. vet Napoleon became impatient. He who had
astonshed the universe with the rapidly of his inva-
sions and conques1s and who had recently reduced
the kingdom OF Prussia TO obedience in weeks,
had some right 10 complain of Lefebvre's tardiness.
From his camp at Finkensten he surveyed the whole
of Europe, moved Turkey, threatened Russia, looked
at England with mpotent dspeasure, concluded trea
ties with Germany sent forth his commands, and rails
ed soldiers wherever he willed and amid all this he
could not, without manifest Impotence, think of the
siege of DantZic.
"Whats Lefebvre about? What is he doing! II
do not understand his daying. Such were the EN-
peror's abrupt ordinations Whenever a dispatch
from the Marshal arrived, containing an account of the
local difficulties of the siege, Napoleon would give
rapid glance OF his eagle eye and then throwing II
down CONTEMPORARY, would say, Stuff! deuce take
the Asatian and his fine descriptive styer'
:" Demon" said the Emperor one day, addressing his
favorte artist, Sc" must know how matters are progress
/
yourselfto the Marshal, and bring back drawing
| of the place. depend on you. Go :"
In quarter of an hour after the delivery OF This i'm
peral mandate, Demon was on the road 10 Dantzic
with his pencils and portfolio. He was now upwards
of sixty years old, and had sojourned with Louis XIV.
and Louis XVI. at Versailles with Frederick the Great
at Po'sdam, with Catherine H. at ST. Petersburg. and
with Vol,aire at Ferney. Since the memorable Egyp
tian expedition. he had followed the footsteps OF Ma
poleon At Eylau ball struck piece of ordinance
close 10 the Emperor and killed three men. Demon,
who had learned in the soil of the Pharaohs to draw
from nature in the midst of the stormes BATTLE with
out thinking of danger caring for risk, just then ap
preached calmly, with his sketching materials in his
hand.
"I was just thinking of YOU" said the Emperor
but you must retire, Denon-too much peril here for
your head and too much smoke for your eyes, Ma
poleon forgot nothing the artists perfect GOODNESS at
Eylau present TO his mind when he sent him TO
bring back military plan al Dantzc.
Arrived at the outposts OF the besieging army De.
asked audience of the Marshall and told him his
Grand Lefebvre, who knew little, and cared less,
about the aracter and talents of his visitor, did
not give him credit for good faith. but believed
that he came with some sinister design. He meas
ured the artist leisurely with unfriend,y eye,
and then with tone of irony, said, "Ah, ab so
Monsieur wants to see Dantzic' He wants 10 inspect
the state of the siege for himself? Well tits really a
pretty drama; I'll him seat in the stage box ~
So saying. he called sergeant, of the bravest
and wi,hal one of the duest fellows in the army, and
spot from whence he will have the best view of Dan-
zc; you understand? the glacis opposite the bas
ton of Bischofsberg"
Eyes. Marshall replied the grenadier, moving on.
81 thank you, Marshall said Demon, as he prepa-
red 10 follow his guide.
"Thank me for nothing,' muttered Lefebvre be.
tween his teeth. "So," thought he, "the Emperor
dstrusts me, and sends spy TO my camp! A rascal
ly policeman, Pll be bound He thought 10 deceive
me with his plans and drawing, if, indeed, Bona.
pare child, that wanted pictures to amuse him
fancy I'll give my gentleman. Monsieur Demon, as
he calls himself, quite enough of his trade. I'll teach
him how to stand fire I'd give days pay for the plea
sure of seeing him away from the bullets"
Meantime Demon and his guide walked rapidly on
ward They soon crossed The line, and came within
range OF the the forts which at that moment
were keeping up most animated interchange of cI-
whites with the French batteries Balls and bullets
whstled about the heads of the artist and the grenader
and the soil on which they trod was deeply furrowed by
proectles OF various kinds Precse at spot where
the missiles were flying thckest, Frbach paused and
told Demon that they arrived at the point in.
Dictated by the Marshal. Without making any remark
the artist stepped into hollow dug by the passage OF
bomb, and whose raised edge formed sort Of desk
he then calmly opened his portfolio, took his pen
A Gil, and began TO sketch.
His brave guide looked at him with astonishment.-
" pleasant place." said he " to stand in and admire
, the landscape" Then seeing that Demon pursu.
ing his employment very eisurely, Comrade'' said
l he, will you remain here long?
, "Why do you ask -
"Why-why! Just because it's too hot here tc
be quite agreeable"
f Do you think so Then don't let me detain YOU
You return to the camp, and when I shall have
e finished, shall easily find my way back"
"Adieu, then, monsieur: reroir ~ So saying
the grenader walked off, nothing 10th. to reon his
company, whose dinner was just served.
s Marshal Lefe5vre meantime had much business tc
transact AT the end of two hours he suddenly recol
: lected Firbach and Demon What !" exclaimed he
"not yet returned? 1t would really annoy me to have
one of my brave fellows meet death by the side of
: spym
Firbach, at all events, is in high state of preser
e vation,' said an aidde-camp: Sc him just now
e refreshing himself at the canteen."
d " Then the other must have fallen? Well, we'll
the joke was certainly rather too practical should
have preferred his taking back his report Bonapare
y But 1t CAN'T be helped; spy, after ALL is grea
y loss!"
/" Sacre ~ cried the aid. decamp, who was looking
q through spy-glass: here's the very walking
quietly towards u.s. as if the bullets were so many bon
t 6ons p
els it possible that the fellow can have stood eve
n since between the batteries! Where's Firbach Cal
It him to me.'
= The grenadier came, and related exactly what hat
y passed. Just as be had finished, Demon arrived.
e pleasant to the warm hearted Marshal run
l. meet the artist, grasp both his hands, and excaim
No, you are not spy, but really brave honest fell
IS low. misook you, Monsieur Demon, and hope YOU
e will forgive Take sketches under shower O
shot and shell tits ten times greater feat than head
C ing charge. sword in hand The Emperor has com
mssoned you to take back description of h
l. place already you have one side of it-forgiv
C me that 1t was the rOupheSf-now I will sho,u vo1