The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1854-12-02

BILE horsemanship." 1t was his good fortune,
somehow or other, to win the attention. OF thas
kind-hearted, amiable man, the late Duo DOR
leans, who listened to his story, believed hun
20 be the victim of a conspiracy. solicited an"
obtained his restoration to the army, and llber>
ally provided him with an outfit, when he was
annexed by the War Department to one ofthe
regiments destined to serve in Algeria. IL
will be recolleeted that. in the time of Louis
Philippe Africa was sort of natural safety
valve for carrying off all the maurdis syefs
of the French army. And it is scarcely too
much to believe that the re-appointed sub
lieutenant was selected for this particular ser
vice, not entirely on account of his good repu-
taton.
But the adyenturer, q soldier of fortune tru-
ly, felt that once more be had chance that
his future might redeem his past. At first he
was distinguished by his chivalrous courage
Afterwards, the intellectual qualities of the
man came into operation. 1t was found that
he could write as well combat. lie was
made Military Secretary to the omlnander-n-
Chief Of the Frcnch-AIgerine army. and obtain
ed the favor of his superior officers. by dcserv-
ing it. Years rolled ON. and he became elevat-
cd in rank, every stepin his promotion hav-
ing been honorably won by proves in the
field. In fulncss of time, he was entrust-
cd, as Brigadier with separate Command.
and success seemed ever to await him. There
appered every reason to expect that, were
| lite spared. the highest honors OF his profession
would be his.
| There came, like moral avalanche, the
Revolution of 1913. In Algeria, when the
news was made public, there was doubt
among the French army. in the presence ofonc
support of the Monarchy, or to adopt the Re-
public The latter was resolved upon, the
! Lieutenant General for he was that now
strongly siding with the moving party. After
a time another adventurer (Louis Napoleon
Bonaparte) was elected President of the French
Republic. The dashing soldier from Algiers,
who had returned to Paris. speedily became an
intimate friend of the new President who pro-
NOTED him to to the rank of General. and kept
him constantly near his person. The public
wondered at the strong alliance between the
two. A few attributed it to personal sympa-
thy. The truth was. one was necessary to the
other. Bonaparte wanted the aid of bold.
INSCRIPTIONS soldier, and the other, who had
sufficient prescience to loresec the ambitious
| schemes resolved to raise himself by aiding
them.
Accordingly, the coup dttat of December
1851, whereby Louis Napoleon became Dctat
or, was accomplished wholly under his person
al instructions to General de ST. Arnaud. for
such was the rank and name of the man whose
career we have been sketching. 1t was accom-
plished. The Empire followed. St. Arnaud.
literally rewarded in many other ways. was
continued as Imperial Minister of War-recciv-
ed the baton of a Marshal of Francc-was sent
to the East with tie French auxiliary forces.
and there. by virtue of his superior rank, (Lord
Raglan being only GencraD held supreme
command over the Anglo French army.
! Fortune. which had so remarkably bcfrend
ed st. Arnaud through his checkered career,
did not forsake him at the end. When he quit
ted France. he labOred under a heart complaint
which required calm and quiet, rather than eX
citcment and agitation. But--tor the man was
brave as his own swOrd'-St. Arnaud could
not. or would not, abandon the opening field Of
| coming and increased rcnown. In spite of the
recommendation OF his hy>icians and the ell
treaties of his friends. he went on this cam
paign His wiie-young. beautiful and devo:-
cd-abandoncd the gaetics of Partisan life TO
accompany him. 1t was whispered at the time
! (while all the world was laughing at the
count of her seventeen hundred band-boxcs)
that she well knew the critical state of his fail
ing health, and was unwilling. should her worst
fears be anticipated. that any other than her
self should sit by his sick bed and administer to
his wants in Illness Brave heart throbbng
in that woman's BOSOM how complaccnt must
now be conviction. that It's mistress has done
her duty
Needless here to recapitulatc the inaction
and the delays which retarded the expedition
to the Crimca. At last. in the battle of the
Alma. where Marshal st. Arnaud commanded,
| personally SO weak that he had to be support
ed on his horse by two soldicrs.) he had the
satisfaction of seeing his troops victorious
With many OF them he had fought on the arid
sands of Africa. and he well knew what they
could do. His official despatch announcing
the victory. is singularly modest and imprr
sivc: Written on Sept. II, Che day after The
battle) it commences by stating that the French
! cannon had spoken, and that there was one
name more to add to the victories which adorn
the flags of the French army" His narrative
is brief and clear. doing justice to all-eyccpt
himself. When he had to mention that tho
English were little late in extending their
left, he adds They bravcly made up for the
delay" How noble is the praise given by one
brave man to another in this account of the
English and their leader:
"On our left the English met with large mas
SEES OF the enemy and with great difficulties :;
but everything was surmountcd. The English
attacked the Russian positions in admirable or
der the fire of their cannon carried them and
drove off the Russians. The bravery of Lord
Raglan rival, that Of antiquity In the midst
OF cannon and muskct-Shot he displayed a calm
ness which never left him.
OF himself he makes no mention But that
omission was supplied by Lord Raglan who
concluded his despatch to England bv special
cuogy OF the French cnd their commander
| The battle of the Alma was fought ON Sep
tcmbcr 20 Six days after. st. Arnaud was
compelled to resign the command, (Which d.
VOWED upon General Canrobcrt, who WAS
wounded in the battlc) and prepared to return
to Constantinoplc. There was a stern Interrupt
ton Death called him away on the .9th His
remains will be brou-h to France, and dcpos-
tied in the Invalides at Paris.
| SO ends the career of man evidently of no
! ordinary mind. Fortune, which had visited
him with alterations Of light and shade. gave
him noble compensation in his later years. and
has finally bestowed on him what soldiers CO.
vet. the privilege of dying in the very arms of
victory. Two warlike hosts now in alliance,
and long at enmity, deplore the death of Mar
sha St. Arnaud.