Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-15
JOURNAL AND BUSINESS DRECT0RYS AIM TO AMTSE TO NsTRU
FREEHOLD N. J. THURSDAY MORNING DECEMBER 10 1859

orders that ten of you must be shot. The
only thing that 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 misinformed. =
No French soldiers have visited our viii
lage before you. We have truly been in
great fear and anxiety tho whole night,
but the valley is deep and the village is
partly concealed from view one 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 village is entirely
innocent, and entreat you not to shed
the blood of our harmless people,"
There is no time for investigation, !"
said the officer. Il was ordered to pro-
coed to Waldorf, and / am guided hither.
will wait till you make your choice Of
ten 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
with tears and appealing gestures crowd
ed around the officer begging him to spare
their SONS and husbands; the men stood
silent, with bloodless faces and dumb,
imploring eyes. The scene was evidently
painful, both to the officers and the sol,
diers, accustomed as they were to the I'm
merciful code of war. They were anxious
to put an end to it and leave, but the
clergymans son, inspired with the belief
that the fate of ten men rested upon his
efforts continued TO urge his plea with
zeal and eloquence that would not be set
aside. Lieut.. Lamotte struggled awhile
between his sense of duty aud his natural
humanity, while the young advocate ap
! pealed to his conscience and to the ODE
dlence which he owed to higher com
mander than Davoust. Finally he con
sented to wait while a sergeant was
dispatched to head quarters, accompanied
by peasant to show him the nearest
way. A few lines hastily pencied stated
the facts in the case, and asked for fur,
Their instructions.
Meanwhile, the inhabitants waited, In
a state OF suspense scarcely to be endured.
Lieutenant Lamotte-who az thorough
Frenchman, soon wearied of painful
emotion, and shaking it off at the risk of
appearing heartless- said "The morn
ing is keen, and walk before sunrise
doesn't diminish the appetitej can you
give US some refreshments from your hid,
den supplies 2" At a word from the
young man, many Of the women brought
together the coffee they had prepared for
their own breakfast. with black bread,
mugs OF beer, and small cheese or two
sufficient for rough meal-of which the
soldiers paftook with the usual laughing
comments ON Id Cuisine UAtlemanda," y
The Company of victims looked on in
silence, and more than one muttered,
gloomily:--" We are feeding our execu.
TONER'S"
Even if that should be true" said the
young man, 1t is out doing as Christ
mas taught us. Whether or not We Oh
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 sol
diers, and the latter with their facility of
determination. soon made themselves at
home. AS the stomach fills, the heart
also enlarges, and the men began to say
among themselves 1t is 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 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 pitt ess answer.
" Choose your men !" said the lieuten
ant, rising to his feet, and grinding his
teeth to keep, down his faltering heart.
But now the lamentations brofse out
afresh. The women citing around the
men who were dear to themt and many
of the latter, overcome By the general
distress, uttered loud cries and PRAYERS
Tor mercy. The young man kDelt down
in front of them, saying to the officer :: |
do not kaeel to you but will pray to
God that he will remove the sin of s.augh
ter from Your soul.'
AS the ofScer met his earnest ewes, full
of sublime calnness and coGrase, his
own suddenly filled with tears. He
turned to his men who stood drawn up
in line before him, but NO word was spo-
ken. Their hands were in theft proper
places, according to drill regulations, aud
there were drops on many Cheeks which
they could not wipe away. There was a
silent question in the officers cye-a
silent answer in theirs The former
turned hurriedly beckoned the young
man to him, in an agita.ed voice:
My friend, l will save you BY strata.
gem. Choose ten Of your most Courageous
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. anfE
no one will be injured as soon as tho
volley is tired ! will gise the order to