Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-07-10

'oSCi pui cdiu uo iHCIt' llIIeu HIIH duu
carried him on my shoulders like sack.
You can easily imagine that with such
burden, ] could not keep pace with
my comrades. In fact, soon lost sight
OF their columns, and could discern moth.
ing around me but the white and silent
plain. | still walked on, when present.
ly appeared troop Of Ccssacks gallop.
ing toward nc, with furious geslicula.
tions and wild cries.
"The captain was by this time com.
pleiely insensible, and resolved, what.
ever it might cost me, not to abandon
him. laid him down on the ground,
and covered him with snow; then crept
beneath heap Of dead bodies, leaving,
however, my eyes at liberty. Presently
the Cossacks came up, and began to
strike with their lances right and left.
while their horses trampled us under
their feet. One of these heavy beasts
set his foot upon my right arm, and
crushed it. My friends, did not speak
| did not stir; | put my right hand into
my mouth to stife the cry Of torture
which nearly escaped from me, and in
few minutes the Cossacks had dis.
perssd.
"When the last OF them had disap.
peared, | quilted my refuge, and proceed.
ed 10 disinter the captain. To my Joy
he gave some signs Of life; | contrived
to carry him with my one arm toward a
rock which offered sort Of shelter, and
then laid myself by his side, wrapping
my cloak round US both.
1.-The night had closed in, and the snow
continued TO fall.
"The rear.guard had long since dis
appeared, and the only sound that broke
the stiffness Of the night was the whs
tie Of a bullet, or the bowling Of the
wolves feasling on the corpses that lay
stretched around. God knows wha
thoughts passed through my soul during
that dreadful night, which, felt sure
would be my last upon earth. But
remembered the prayer which my moth
er had taught me long before, when
was a child at her knee, and bendin!
low, repeated it with fervor.
"My children that did me good, an.
remember always that sincere and fer
vent prayer is sure to comfort you.
felt astonishingly Gained when | return
ed to my place beside the captain. Bu
the time passed, and had fallen into
state of half stupor, when ] saw grouI
of French officers approach. Before
had time to speak TO them, their chief,
little man, dressed in furred pelisse
stepped forward toward me, and address
ed me
"What are you doing here? Why ar
you away from your regimen!?"
"Fol two good reasons" said lpoin
ing first to the captain, and then to m
bleeding arm.
"The man says true, Sire," said on
OF those who followed him; 81 saw hiI
marching in the rear Of his regiment, an
carrying this officer on his back"
"The Emperor-for, my friends, it we
he!-gave me one Of those glances th'
only he, or the eagle Of the Alps coul
give, and said: "lt is we'll. You ha,
done very we'll. Then opening his p
lisse, he took the cross which decorate
, his green coat. and gave it to me.
. that instant l was no longer hungry, r.
longer cold; | felt no more pain from N
arm than if that awkward beast ha
3 never touched it.
9 "Davoust," added the Emperor, al
4 dressing the officer who had spoken
s him, "see this man and his captain pl
ced in one Of the baggage wagons
: Adieu! And making me motion Of Il
!. hand, he went away"
It Here the veteran ceased, and resume
e his pipe.
!. "But tell US what became Of "Ca
g tain Obstinate,'" cried many impatie
x voices.
!, "The captain recovered, and is now
n general on the retired list. But the bt
6 of the Joke was, that as soon as he 6
q we'll, he put me under arrest for fife
a days, as punishment for my infracti
;, Of discipline.
|, "This circumstance came to the et
y of Napoleon, and after laughing heartil
y he not only caused me to be set free, t
ID promoted me TO the rank Of sergeant.
|. As to the decoration, my children. HI
m is the ribbon at my button.hole. but
le cross | wear next my heart"
ID And opening his vest, he showed
u. eager audience the precious relic, s
Q, pended from his neck in little S
IL in bag.