Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1856-01-26

sergeant in the twelfth reglm..lu ol the
line, then chartered at Strasburg. He
was native Of that half-savagc, half
civilized part of Burgundy, knownundcr
the name of Morvan; and his comrades
ever spoke Of him as q tough customer. :"
Always the first and last to fire, he had
the reputation of liking but two things
in the world-the smell of powder and
the whistling of bullets.
Now one day our friend Pierre took it
in his head to address a letter to his col
oncl, in which he applied for leave of
absence to 60 and see his aged mother,
who was dangerously i'll. He added
that his father, being seventy years of
age, and suffering under a paralytic alfec-
ton, could not be of any use in nurse
tending the poor woman, and hcpledged
himself to return as soon as the health
of his mother should be restored.
The colonies reply to Pierre's appli-
cation was, That as the regimentmight
at any moment be ordered to take the
field, no leave of absence could be OBJ
/ tanned"
Pierre Pitois submitted A fortnight
elapsed and then a second letter was
received by the colonel, in which Pierre
informed him that his mother had died
without the consolation of giving her
last blessing to her only child, and in
which he again solicited leave of absence,
saying that ''lIe could not state hi,
reason for this request--it was a family
secret'-but earnestly imploring tho
colonel not to deny him this favor.
Picrre's second letter was as little sue.
ccssful as the first The poor fellow,
captain merely said, ''Pierre, the colone
has received your letter; he is sorry fol
the death Of your Old MOTHER but h,
cannot grant you the leave of absenct
you require, as the regiment leaye
3trasburg tomorrow"
: All, the regiment leaves Strasburg
and for what place, may | ask you 2
said Pierre
For Austria" replied his officer. -
i" We are to see Vienna, my brave Pi
tots; we are to fight the Austrians. i
not that good news for you? You vii
be in your clement, my fine fellow"
Pierre Pitois madeno reply; he seemed
lost in deep thought. The captain caugh
his hand, and shaking it heartily, said
"Why do you not speak, man ? are yot
deaf to-day! am telling you that, il
less than week, you are to have tho
pleasure Of a sct-to with the Austrians
and you have not one word Of thank!
for the good news; nay, | verify believe
you have not even heard me-"
Indeed, captain, | have heard every
word, and | thank you with all my hear
for your news, which / consider very
good"
81 thought you would" said tho
officer.
"But, captain, is there no chance O
obtaining the leave of absonceP
3" Are you mad p was the reply
Leave Of absence the very day before
taking the field 2"
never thought of that" said Pierre
" We are, then, on the point of taking
the field, and at such time, ! suppose
leave is not givenP
1t is never asked"
" 1t is quite right-it is never ovcl
asked. 1t would have the appearance
of cowardicc. Well, then, will no
press it any more; | will try and get Oh
without it."
"You will do well, replied the cap
tain
The next day the twelfth regimen
entered Germany, and the next--Pierrt
Pitois deserted
Three months after, when the twolftl
regiment, having rcaped on the field b
battle an abundant harvest of glory, wa
making its tyiumphal entry into Stras
burg, Pierre Pitois was ignominiousll
dragged back to his corps by brigad,
Of gcndarmcs
court-martial was Immediately called
Pierre Pitois was accused Of having de
serted at that very moment when hi
regiment was TO meet the enemy face t.
face. The court presented singular
spectacle. On the one side stood fortl
thy accuser, who cried:
Pierre Pitois, you, one Of the braves
men in the army; you, on whose breas
the star Of honor yet glittcrs; you, VIII,
never incurred either punishment or cen.