Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1853-07-07
MISCELLANY.
My First Battle.
FROM THE FRENCH,

I joined my regiment on the evening
Of the 4lh day Of September. The colonel
was in bivouac. He received me at FIRST
rather ungraciously but when gave
him letter Of introduction from General
P, he changed bis demeanor towards
me. ! was then presented to my captain
who had just returned from a reconnoit.
ering excursion. He was a tall man,
with harsh, repulsive features developed
in coarse black hair. He he'd arisen from
the ranks by his courage and ga!lantry,
and had gained his epaulets and Cross Of
Honour upon the field of battle. His
feeble voice contrasted greatly with his
gigantic bulk. This in6rmity was caused
by a gun shot, which had pierced his
breast during the battle of jena. When
he was info' med that I came from the
military school of Fontainebleau. he made
wry face, and said, "It was but yes
terday that my 6'st lieutenant fell upon
the battlefield. understood his hint,
that ! was not able 10 gil the vacancy.
/ at first intended 10 return his compli.
ment with sarcastic ans wer, but finally
concluded to swallow the pill.
The moon arose from its concealment
behind the enemy's redoubts Of Cheve>
rino. which were almost Two cannon shot
distant from our camp. The moon was
large and red, which is usually the case
vixen it FIRST arises but my Imagination
caused rae 10 think il much larger than
ever / had seen il before. The dark
shadow Of the redoubts appeared in the
moonlight like the crater Of volcano.
An old soldier near me. pointing to-
wards the moon. said: She is vesy rec
Tonight sign that it will cause much
blood to be split. before we can take
yonder redoubt."
l have always been slightly tinged
with superstition. and this prophecy. es-
pecially at the present moment. made a
deep impression upon my mind. /
stretched myself upon the ground. but
it was impossible for me 70 sleep. and
therefore arose again. and gszed at the
line OF watch. ires of the enemy, as they
glimmered along the heights Of Cheve-.
limo. When my hot blood became cool
IN the night air, 1 returned TO my fire.
and wrapping myself in NY cloak. closed
any eyes. fetveDtly hoping that ] might
not open them until morning. But sleep
would not visit my eyelids. and my
thoughts became still! more serious and
gloomy. Thought that / had not one
friend among the hundred thousand who
were gathered together on that Geld. II
should chance to be wounded, ignorant
surgeons would dress my wounds I'M,
skilfully. All that bad eSer heard con-
ce, ming such operstions, came 10 my
mird. Ny heart beat heavily. Invol'
unfairly j formed kind Of cuirass d
mr. pocket. book aud Handkerchief ovel
my breast. v,..t.45 aa
AT the dawn Of day we were summon
ed By the reyille. Afterwards the guni
were stacked. Everything betokenee
that we would have . quiet day. Toward
,t,ee O'Clock our abide camp appeared
bringing an Older. We we're placed
| under arms again. Our scouts wer'
dispersed over the field. We FOLLOWED
them. marching slowly. In twenty main
nies We discovered the Russian seDtlneIs
.bo in,mediateIy retired Behind thei
'edoubis. A pack 0: our heavy artilIe'
was placed upon our right and on gu
left. each being quite distance from III
They commenced . lively Ere upon th
enemy, who returned 10 with eqn'
vigoF. in Q lew moments the EedOut
was concealed behind dense clouds I
smoke.
Our regiment was covered from Il
ere Of the Russians by slight mcunI
THEN balls seldom reached us. for the
singled out cur SsnnoaieTs. The mo-
81 their balls passed over our beads I