Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-06
THE FER0CITY OF ST JUST-AN HISTORICAL
ANECDOTE OF 1894

THE FEROClTY OF ST. JUST-AN HISTORICAL
ANECD0TE OF 1794.
Here comes messenger from the enemy, citizen rep
resentatve who looks if he sent to invite to
repenish exhausted stores from the depot of his I'm
perial Majesty, the Emperor Of Austria"
From the depot of the Austrian tyrant you should
say, interrupted rudely young man. whose fierce and
domineerng department contrased strangely with his
delicate and effeminate appearance
The last speaker the representative ST. Just who
adopted this mode of giving lesson in republican man
ners to General Charbonnier old soldier brave,
though easy and goodhumored manwho had been rails
ed by the strange vcissudes of the times from the
ranks to the command Of the army Of the Mosele and
who was then occupied in beseging the fortress of
Charleroi
"Citzen General, continued the arrogant Proconsul
il You ignorant Of the language Of repubicanism,
oaght ut least understand your duty as soldier
The republic expscts yon to receive the enemy with
powder and ball Eet that flag Of truce be fired upon at
once I"
Charbonner was for moment thunderstruck he hesi-
tated but only for an instant The powers Of the Pro-
consul were unlimited his orders were peremptory the
General had learned obedience in the ranks have no
discretion" said he to himse " it is front face for
ward march," And he prepared to obey command
which set at defiance every principle of civilized warfare
when simultaneous burst Of disapprobation, mingled
with threats and enreates from the officers and
troops had witnessed this extraordinary scene.
"Sb moment, General" said the unmoved St. just !;
and then casting sinister and malignant look upon the
officers who had dared to disapprove of his conduct
This is not the first time have had occasion to suspect
your patriotism unworthy servants of free nation" he
exclaimed nor shall you escape the penalty you have
hut will fo f,a
ground Of republican army soed by thefeet of slave
Of despotism, bring the Austrian before me, and will
show you how the representative of free people
ceives the envoy OF tyrant."
superior officer of the Austrian army was then intro
duced with the usual fomates observed such occa
He was the bearer of proposals for the surrender
Charleroa most unhopedfor piece of good fortune
For the French army which the reckless Proconsu had
to cross the Sambre and take up its present posi-
ton in state of entire ine6ciency either numbers
material for the achievement of the purpose he had
n view. The moment, however, that the Austrian pre-
ented to the General the papers containing the conditions
which it proposed that the fortress should
ptulate ST. Just snatched them brutay from his hand
them to pieces, and tramped them under his feet
hen waving his hand with nsolent gesture towards
the city, he said to the envoy; Slave 60 back to
your master, and tell him want neither papers
sagss from him am here to take possession of Charlie
ro and he surrender il without conditions
his blood and the blood Of all who dwell therein be
his head
In vain all remonstrance in vain did Charbonnier
md his officers represent the infurated Proconsu that
they were without the necessary material to carry the
siege with efficiency that the soldiers without pay
III clad, and almost without provisions that for lack of
proper camp equpage, the army exposed to the in
clemency Of the weather. in damp and unhealthy marsh
and that sickness already thinning the ranks at
fearful rate In vain did they him that if the
Dutch and German forces which their march to
relieve Charlero should arrive before the city was taken
not only would its capture be impossible but the very
,sfpp of 81 ha
numerical superiority of the enemy No consideration
could move the wifu obstinacy of St. Just he ordered
the Austrian away from the camp and the only
swer to the remonstrances of the General gave directions
that battery Of heavy should be Immediately
planted behind the foremost trenches H this was moran
position and ready lombard the city by break da
the morrow, he he would have the commander
nchie the general of artillery and the chief of the
gineers shot before the eyes of the army.
The ferocious character Of ST. Just too well known
to admit of any donbt that he would carry into execution
his sangunary threat if his orders obeyed to
the letter. and incredible efforts made to comply
with his requston Innumerabe artifcers were set to
work to place the damaged and waywon park of artillery
into the highest state Of efficiency Of which it was
be The country for leagues around ransacked
pckaxes shoyes and other tools for the completion Of
the trenches and the construction of the batteries The
superntendence of the works committed to Captain
de Meras, old artillery Officer Of great merit and expe-
rience, who il not doubted would carry out his in
structons If 1t in the range Of possibilities do So
De eras was an ancient chevaer OIL the prescribed
der of ST. Louis whose ardent love Of country had re-
called him to her banners although the dynasty which
he had served with much devotion in his youth had
crumbed before the rude ataint of repubicanism and
he with numbers of his friends and compatrots in arms
had been driven into poverty and exile, degraded from
their rank and despoed Of their wealth and honors
Joining the republican army soon a. the first hostile
foot had the soil Of France the gallant old cheya
er had been awarded grade which, however inferior to
that which he had formerly filed or to that which his
proficiency In the military art entitled him to- ena
bed him. by the exhibition Of courage and
skill unequalled in its ranks command the confidence
Of his supeors and to acquire the respect and affection
Of his men.
IL was nightfall before sufficient quantity of mining
utensils had been collected and while these we're being
transported in wagons the advanced works where De
Meras and his detachment already posted they
intercepted BY accommodating party from the fortress
and taken Patiently during the night did the old cheva
er and his gallant band persevere with their few tools
and inefficient force, in the prosecution Of their work.
md eagerly and anxiously did they look for the addi
uona supply Of utensils and which to enable
them to complete their undertaking Morning dawned,
and neither relief nor assistance buin their place
appeared the fierce Proconsu who had arisen before the
break Of day. and assured that his orders had
been obeyed to exact the fearful penalty he had
In vain the misfortune which had befaen the re-
lief party explained to bin in vain the impossbity
of executing the work without additional and uten-
sils represented to him. St. just inexorable his
fury seemed to have itself into
and cruel purpose Of revenge against the
gallant old officer who commanded the detachment He
ordered De Meras to be shot upon the spot and MS if to
lggravate the severity Of his sentence he called upon
platoon Of his own srtllerymen to execute his bloody
sentence upon their captain. The appeared To vn
for moment; for instant the rein Of discipline
restrained them but in the next hundred It's were
eveed at the heart of the Proconsu The tyrant trem