, 1859-12-30
cHEvAL1ER DE aoURGuEs.

lt would be unpardonable, IN our hstorlcal
recollectOns, to pass over the singular and chiv-
alrous story Of Chevalier de GouTgGes; which is
much less generally known than It deserves, &C
exhibiting all the devotion Of ancient herOism,
and as o striking example Of the ruling passion
surviving the softenng operation Of time and tri-
umphing finally over every impediment.
The French and Spaniards had long been at
bitt.r enmity; and the wars between them were
carried on with all the evaporation of ancient
rivalry and mutual hatred. The encroachments
Of the former upon the territories claimed by the
Spaniards in Florida, raised the liveest indigna-
ton in the minds Of people not less martial and
chivalrous than the French; and when we add
that these encroachments had been chiefly made
by the HuguenOts, rIce held in sovereign detes:
tation by the Catholic Spaniard, and prosecuted
to degree Of intensity BY Philip H., the height
Of animosity to which they were excited can
easily be conceived. Nor were the French less
susceptible Of angry and vindictive feelings, to
which may be added the poignant stings Of Of
Tended national pride. They had never forgiven
the captivity Of their popular and gallant prince
Francis l.; the memory Of this supposed disgrace
still rankled in the population nor was it ever
wholly eradicated, until adequate reparation was
made to the national honor, by the accession Of
. French Prince to the throne Of Spain, many
years afterward. Notwithstanding short ces-
sation Of the warfare between these two great
powers, the passi ,ns we have attempted to de-
scribe remained in full force.
LaudOnniere passed the winter Of 1904 in the
fort which he had built near the mouth Of St
MaTy's River, and which he called La Caroline.
In August, 1865, having experienced the mutt
nous disposition Of part Of his force, superadded
to the horrors Of famine, he was preparing "
abandon the enterprise, and 10 return 10 France,
when he was joined by R'baut with svasonabe
supplies. On the 4th Of September, they were
surprised by the appearance in the road Of six
large vessels, which proved to be q Spanish fect,
under the command Of Don Pedro Menendtz
Hostilities were Immediately commenced; and
the French, having an inferior force Of four yes.
Sis, were obliged to put to sea, chased BY the
Spaniards. The former, however, being the bet
ter sailors, after dStancing their opponents, re-
turned TO the coast, and re-landed about eight
leagues from the fort Of La Caroline. Three Of
the Spansu vessels L, pt the open sIa, while the
others lay in the road watching an opportunity
to alta k the Fr+nch fort Ribaut, who was
brave Odt obstinate man. persisted in his resolu-
tion to Tut oct to sea again for the purpose Of
meeting md fighting with the Spanish vessels.
The season Was extremely tempestuous, and
La IdOnnitre, having FIRST vairly endeavored to
dissuade his colleague from the rash attempt
fortified himself and made every prUplration to
resist the attack winch he anticipated. Atlength,
notwithstanding the very heavy aud loLg contin-
ued rsinS the Spaniards were deserted by the
French sentinels advancing 10 the assault on the
goth September. The iamparts, maintained with
spirit by q small force, were soon surmounted
and carried-the gallant defenders slain in the
breaches. Laudonniere, fighting his way brave.
y, was the last to leave the fort, and succeeded
in escaping to the woods; where he rallied few
Struggling c0untrymen, aud whence he ultimately
returned 10 France. The remainder, with the
fort, fell into the hands Of the Spanards Nor did
the disa tsrs OF the Trench end here. The vessels
commanded by Ribaut were driven on shore by
the storms then prevalent-many Of the people
lost-the survivors and their commander became
prisoners to the SpaniArds. The French were
cruelty, and, with bitter taunts, put to death.
Several were hung from the neighboring trees
with this insulting Legend Ceaz CT Ront pas
etc traits de Ia sOrte en- 0ualite de Francois Rsais
eOmBe heretiQues et enRsmis de DieU."
Ample chasiisement was, however, about to be
intlicted-Champlain, who writes Of this transac-
ton with the blunt and honest indignation Of
soldier, in his own familiar and quaint style oh
serves: "They were repaid in the same coin with
which they paid the French" So Shakespeare
truly says:
In these cases,
westill haze judgment here that we but teach
Bloody instructions which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor. hiseven-handed justice
Commends the ingredients Of our pOison'd chalice
To our own lips.
This outrage excited the deepest indignation In
France; but the avowed hatred Of the Court tow
ard COligny and the Huguenots prevented public
satisfaction being demanded from Philip II.
The instrument Of just retributiOG was not want.
ing to the emergency; but il was reserved for
private individual to redeem the honor Of the
French name.
"In the year 1857" says Champlain, there
presented himself the brave Chevalier de Gour-
gues, Who full Of valor and courage to ayengc the
insult on the French nation, aud observing that
none among the nobility, with whom France
abounded, offered to obtain satisfaction for such
an injury, undertook hi,lself to do So" He was
q gentleman Of Gascony, and there were at that
period few inferior officers in France, or perhaps
all Europe, who bad acquired more brilliant
reputation in war, or had undergone greater VI
cisstudes. When very young, he had served in
Italy with honor and on one occasion, having
the command Of small band Of thirty men, near
Sienna in Tuscany, he was able for considers
bic time to Withstand and repulse the assault ola
part Of the Spanish army until all his men be-
ing slain, he Yielded himself prisoner. Contrary
to the usage OF war among generous foes, he was
sent 10 the galleys in chains, as q robber-slave.
The galley, 10 which the indignant DE GOurgues
was condemned, was afterwards captured by the
Turks on the Sicilian coast, aud sent into Rhodes
Again putting TO sea with Turkish crew, it was
encountered and taken by the galleys Of the
Knights Of Malta and De Gourgues recovered
bis liberty and his sword. lie afterwards made
several passages TO Brazi and the coast Of Africa.
still treasuring up vengeance on the Spanards;
and he had just returned from one Of his voy-
ages, with the reputation Of the bravest and most
astTOus tale Of La Caroline, and the disgraceful
manner in which his cOuntrymen had been put to
death by the Spaniards. Like patriot be felt
kecnly Tor the honor Of his country and as .
man, hO bur Ied for an opportunity Of satiating
his long dormant revenge on the pefdiOus Span
;.,.ls e. el.- uuvo, en,, er..1,s,n. of hi,nsaif