The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-12-29

left. 6" En- avant I" And in fifteen min.
utes more the Frenchmen marched into
the little hamlet.
Hating in an open space between the
church and the two principal beer-housss,
the officer summoned the inhabitants to-
gether. The whole village was already
awake, for few had slept during the
night. Their ears were still stunned by
the thunders of yesterday. and visions Of
burning and pillage still danced before
their eyes. At the command Of the lieu
tenant, the soldiers seized all the male
inhabitants, and forcibly placed them in
line before him. The women and child
rem waited near in terrible anxiety, for
no one understood the words which were
spoken, and these ominous preparations
led them to immagine the worst.
At this juncture the son of the village
pastor appeared upon the scene. He was
a young man of twenty, who was study
ing theology in order to become his faith
er's successor, and fortunately had some
knowledge of French. The appearance OF
things, without the cries and entreaties
of the terrified people, told him that his
help was wanted. He Immediately ad-
dressed himself to Lieut.. Lamotte, and
begged for an explanation of the pro-
ceedings.
81 am ordered to punish this village" +"
answered the latter, " for your treatment
of our soldiers last night. The marshall
orders that ten Of you must be shot,
The only thing that l can do is. to allow
you to draw lots among yourselves, or to
point out those concerned in the out
rage"
But" continued the young man,
"your general has been misinforme L..
No French soldiers have visited our VIII
lage before you. We have truly been in
great fear and anxiety the whole night /;
but the valley is deep and the village is
partly concealed from view by the woods
on the side. There are also the villages
of Middle and Lower Waldorf, which lie
further down in the open valley. You
can soon satisfy yourself, sir that this vii.
lage is entirely innocent and l entreat
you not to shed the blood Of our harmless
people"
:" There is no time for investigation. y
said the officer. Il was ordered to pro-
ceed to Waldorf, and am guided hith-
er. will wait till you make your choice
Of ten men to be sacrificed, but have no
authority to do MORE"
BY this time the people had learned
the fate in store for them. The women
in tears and appealing gestures crowded
around the officer, begging him to spare
their sons and husbands-the men stood
silent, with bloodless faces and dumb i'm
ploring eyes. The scene was evidently
painful, both to the officer and the SOL
diers, accustomed as they were to the un-
merciful code Of war. They were anxious
to put an end to it and leave but the
clergyman's son, inspired with the belief
that the fate Of ten men rested upon his
efforts. continued to urge his plea with a
zeal and eloquence that would not be set
aside. Lieutenant Lamotte struggled
awhile between his sense of duty and his
natural humanity, while the young advo-
cate appealed to his conscience and to
the obedience which he owed to higher
commander than Davoust. Finally he
consented to wait while sergeant was
dispatched to head quarters. accompan-
led by peasant TO show him the nearest
way. A few lines hastily penciled, sta
ted the facts in the case, and asked for
further instructions.
Meanwhile the inhabitants waited in
state of suspense scarcely to be endured.
Lieut.. Lamotte-who was a thorough
Frenchman, soon wearied of a painful
emotion, and shaking it off at the risk of
appearing heartless, said The morn
ing is keen, and walk before sunrise
does not diminish the appetie-can you
give us some refreshments from your
hidden supplies % At word from the
young man, many of the women brought
together the coffee they had prepared for
their own breakfast, with black bread,
T,ags of bear, and a small cheese or two
ifficient for a rough meal-of which the
lbldiers partook with the usual laughing
omments on "la cuisine Ahenanda." -
Fhe company of victims looked on in
Hence, and more than once muttered,
gloomily: We are feeding our execu-
toner's"
Even if that should be true, said the
young man, cit is but doing as Christ
has taught us. Whether or not we OBJ
tain Christian charity from these men,
let us at least show them that we are
Christians"
This rebuke had its effect. A few Of
the men assisted in entertaining the sold
iers, and the latter with their facility for
fraternization soon made themselves at
home. AS the stomach fills, the heart
also enlarges, and the men began to say
among themselves: "It is a pity that
these men should be shot by mistake"
1t was not long before the sergeant and
his guide arrived. The former handed
the lieutenant a note, which he hastily
tore open and read. "Waste no time in
parley. 1t is indifferent which village is
punished an example must be made
Do your duty and return instantly" So
ran the pitiless answer.
"Chose your men !" said the lieuten-
ant, rising to his feet, and grinding his
teeth to keep down his faltering heart
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