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

to God that he will remove the sin o
slaughter from your soul"
AS the officer met his earnest eyes, full
of sublime calmness and courage, his
own suddenly filed with tears. He turn
ed to his men, who Stood drawn up in
line before him. but no word was spoken.
Their hands were in their proper places,
according to drill regulations and there
were drops on many cheeks which they
could not wipe away. There was ST.
lent question in the officers eye-a ST.
lent answer in theirs. The former turn
ed hurriedly, beckoned the young man
to him, and whispered, in an agitated
voice 9i
My friend, will save you by strata
gem. Choose ten of your most courage
Gus men, place them in line before me,
and will order my soldiers to shoot
them through the head. At the instant
| give the order to fire, they must fall
fat on the ground my soldiers will aim
high, and no one will be injured as soon
as the volley is fired I will give the or
der to march but no one must stir from
this place until we are out Of sight
These words were instantly translated
to the people, but so great was their pan
ic that no one offered to move. The pas
tors son then took his place, alone, in
the vacant space before the line of SOL
diers. II offer myself" said he, "as
one trusting in God that we shall all be
saved; and | call upon those of you who
have the hearts of men in your bodies,
to stand beside me-" Young Conrad, a
sturdy farmer, and but newly BRIDE
groom, joined him-casting. as he did
so, single encouraging look upon his
future wife, who turned deadly pale. but
spoke not word. One by one, as men
who had resolved to face death-for the
most of them had but trembling half
confidence in their escape-eight others
walked out and took their places in line.
The women shuddered and hid their
eyes the men looked steadily on in the
fascination of terror and the little child
rem in awed but ignorant curiosity The
place was as silent as if devoid of life.
Again the lieutenant surveyed his
men. Take aim !'' he commanded.
He continued" aim at their heads, that
your work may be well done ~ But
though his voice was clear and strong.
and the tenor of his words not to be mis-
taken, clairvoyant flash of hidden mean
ing ran down the line, and the men un-
derstood him. Then came the last COM
mand "Fire but in the second
which interviewed between the word and
the ringing volley the ten men were al
ready failing. The crack of muskets
and sound of their bodies were simulta-
neous. Without pausing an instant the
lieutenant cried Right about wheel p
Forward !" and the measured tramp of
the soldiers rang down the narrow vii
lage street.
The women uncovered their eyes and
gazed. There lay the ten men, motion
less and apparently lifeless. With wild
cries they gathered around them but
ere their exclamations of despair had
turned into those of JOY, the last Of the
soldiers had disappeared in the wood.
Then followed weeping embraces, as all
arose from the granddaughter, and
sobs of hysterical joy. The pastors
son, uncovering his head, knelt down.
while all reverently followed his exam
pie, and uttered an eloquent prayer of
thanksgiving for their deliverance.
What this young man had done was
not suffered to go unrewarded. A bless
ing rested upon his labors and his life.
In the course OF time he became cler-
gyman, filing for awhile his fathers
place for the people he had saved. but
was afterwards led to wider and more
ambitious sphere. He was called to
Leipzig, received the degree of Doctor
of Divinity, and finally became known
throughout Germany as the founder of
the Gustav Adolf Herein (Gustavus
Adolphus Union, which has for its OBJ
ject the dissemination of Protestant prin-
clples by means of voluntary contribu-
tions. In some respects it resembles the
Home Missions of our country. Many
churches, built by this Association, are
now scattered throughout the United
States.
The inhabitants of Waldorf never for
got their pastor, nor he them. He came
back from time to time, to spend few
days in the quiet little village of his
youth, and where the most eventful cri-
sis of his life was passed.
In 1856, three out Of the ten pseudo
victims of Davoust were still living in
their homes, and the people bethoug hit
them that the semi centennial anniversa-
ry of such an event deserved a special
celebration. DR.. -, Of Leipzig,
formerly the parson, was invited to be
with them. He came--he would have
come from the ends of the earth--and af-
ter solemn religious service in the
church, proceeded to the very spot on
which he had stood and faced the French
muskets, and there related to the child
rem and grandchildren of those he had
saved, the narrative which l have here
given in less moving and eloquent words.
Those who were present described the
scene as singularly impressive and affect
ing. The three old men sat near him as
he spoke and the emotions of that hour
of trial were SO vividly reproduced in
their minds that. at the close, they laugh
ed and wept as they had done on the
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