Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1854-12-21

observed to approach at full gallop. He brought
the order for two companies of Voligeurs TO
storm the battery. 1t was hazardous opera
ton. The chances were that two thirds of
those who made the attempt would perish =
and therefore the VOltigeurs, in spite of their
tried intrePidity, looked at each other, shook
~ asads. ana shrugged their shoulders
eChe even, and those hardy veterans, grum-
bled in an under tone, pointed to the cannon,
and said, Does the general fancy that those
boys there spit nothing else but roasted spplesT
Others said, Does he mean to serve US up to
the COssacks in dish Of mince meat, that he
sends couple of hundred Of US against that
iedoubt?'
'SOldierSp exclaimed the aide e-de-camp, start
ing away at full gallOp' 1t is the EmperOr's or
DER
"YOu should have told us so at frst young.
greenhOru! said an oldsergeant,a as be fixed his
bayOnet on the end Of his musket. Come
along, come along, we must not keep the Little
Corporal waiting. When he once has told you,
Go and be killed, he does not like YOU TO
make wry faces
Nevertheless, slight degree of hesitation
had taken firm hold of the company's courage.
The captain who commanded them had, for the
second time, given the order to the drum. major
TO take couple Of drummers, to advance, and
beat the charge. The drum major stood still,
leaning upon his long cane, tossing his head,
and appearing not at all disposed to obey
Meanwhile, BilbO quet, sitting astride on his
drum, and gazing with upraised eyes at his un.
decided principal, whistled fer's tune. and beat
the double-quick march with his fingers. At
last, for the third time, the order was given 70
the drum-msiOr. who did not seem at all more
disposed to obey than before, when Blboquet
suddenly jumped up. slung the drum at his
side, seized his drumsticks, and walking immes
diately under the drum majors nose, looked al
him contemptuOusly, measuring him FROM head
to foot, and, in single sentence, paid him bach
all the insults and injuries he had SO long had
at heart, by saying, Let us be Of,yOu great biz
wench =
The drum major was about to lift his cane,
but Bilboquet was already at the head of the
two companies, beating the charge like drum
mer gone mad. The soldiers, rous,d by this
sight and sound, advanced to follow him, and
ran toward the terrible battery. Six pieces o.
artillery were discharged from it at once
Whole ranks of brave Votigeurs fell, and did
not raise again, The smoke, driven by the
wind, enveloped them; the roaring Of the can
non stunned them; but the smoke was waited
away, the thunder ceased for an instant; they
saw before them, twenty PAGES in advance, thu
undaunted Bilboquet beating the charge, and
it seemed to them as if the sound of his drum
feeble as it was, gave bold defiance to the
great cannon which had just been fred. The
Voltigeurs ran forward without stopping, and
constantly the drum kept its place before them
calling them on with its fearless voice. Soon
second discharge burst forth from the battery
and scattered, with hail storm of grape shot
the broken remains Of two fine companies. A
this moment Bilboquet turned round, and per-
ceived that scarcely fifty men were left out o
the whole two hundred who had started. I'm
medately, as if in a transport of revenge, hi
redoubled his noise. One would have though
there were twenty drummers beating At once
The drum-majOr himself had never rolled will
such fluent and spirited ereseendo. The sol
diers once more darted forward, and entered
the battery, BilbOquet marching the first. ant
shouting to the Russians at the top Of his voice
'The fragments are excellent and here the.
are! Wait minute, wait minuteP
During the occurrence of these events, tn
Emperor, mounted on hlock, watched tn
completion of the heroic capture. At ever
, discharge of the battery, he trembled upon hi
cream -colored horse; and then, when the sol
; diers stOrmed the battery, he lowered his sp '
glass, excaiming in an undertone, Brave fel
+, lowsl' Ten thousand men Of the guard, VIII
9 were behind him, began clapping their hand
in applause, and shouting, Bravo. VOldgeurs
t And they we're tOlerably good judges Of sue
matters, assure you.
Instantly, by the orders Of Napoleon, an aide
). de-camp galOped up to the battery, and return
a ed with equal speed.
How many of our men are there within
: asked the Emperor.
'Forty-one sire,' answered the aide de camp
o Tomorrow. forty -onc Crosses of the Legio
? Of Honor said the emperor, addressing hi
Major-general.
Accordingly the following day the whole re
Igiment formed grand circle around the ruin
Ofthe two companies Of Voltgeurs. The name
Of the surviving heroes were successfully ca
led, and a Cross of the Legion of Honor wa
given to each. The ceremony ended, all wer
on the point of retiring, when voice wa
heard - xrooaad f-Ovo ,ha xoub