Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-11-24
fanlilv Gulrtle,
OBEYING ORDERS.
STORY OF THE INVASION OF RUSSIA.

old man took his pipe from his mouth,
and wiped his lips with the back of his
remaining hand, and began thus:
In my time, boys, Frenchmen would
have scorned to fight with Frenchmen in
the streets as they do now. No, no, when
we fought, it was for the honor of France
and against her enemies. Well, my story
begins with the 9th of November, 1912,
short time after the battle of Wanna.
We were beating a retreat, not before
the Russians, for they kept respectable
distance from our cantonements. but be-
fore the biting cold of their detcstable
country, more terrible to Us than Rus
siaas, Austrians, and Bavarians, put to-
gether. For the last few days our Off
GERS had been telling US that we were ap.
preaching Smolensko, where we should
be certain Of finding food fire and shoes;
but in the mean time we we're perishing
in the ice. and perpetually harressed by
bands of Cossaek riders.
We had marched about six hours, with
out pausing to take breath for we knew
that repose was certain death. A bitter
wind hurled snow flakes against our
faces, and now and then we stumbled
over the corpses of our frozen comrades
No singing or talking then Even the
grumblers ceased to complain, and that
was bad sign.
| walked behind my captain; he was a
short man, strongly built rugged and Sc.
we're, but brave and true, as true as his
own sword blade. We called him Cap
tain Positive, for when he once said a
thing so it was-no appeal-he never
changed his mind.
lie had been wounded at Wiazma, and
his usually red face was now quite pale,
while the pieces of an old white handker,
Chief which he had wrapped round his
legs, were soaked with blood. | saw him
first move slowly, then stagger like a
drunken man, and at last he fell down
like block.
"MarbIeau captain" said I, bending
over him, you can't lie there"
=" You see that I can, because l do"
replied he, pointing to his limbs.
" Captain" said l. you musn't die
thus" and raising him in my arms, man
aged to place him on his feet He leaned
on me and tried to walk, but in vain; he
fell once more, dragging me with him.
John said he, IT'S all over. Just
leave me here, and join your column as
quickly as you can. One word before
you goat Veroppe, near Grenoble,
lives a good woman, eighty four years
old, my-my mother. Go to her, see her.
embrace her, and tell her that-that-
tell her whatever you like. but give her
this purse and my cross. That's ALL
6 Is that all captain"
" L said SO. Good bye, ard make
haste"
Boys I don't know how it was. but I
felt two tears freezing on my cheeks.
" No, captain" cried |, " | won't leave
you--ether you shall come with me, or
will stay with you"
" | forbid you staying"
Captain, you might as wei forbid
woman's talking"
" If | escape III punish you severely"
" You may place me under arrest then,
but just now you must let me do as
please"
" You're an insolent fellow"
" Very likely, captain, bos you must
come with me-"
He bit his lip with anger, bat said no
more. [ raised him, and placed his body
across my shoulders like a sack. Yoa
may easily imagine that while bearing
such burden | could not move as fast
as my comrades. Indeed [ soon lost sight
OF their columns. and could perceive
nothing but the white, silent plain around
me.
l moved on and presently there ap.
peared band of Cossacks galloping to,
ward me, their lances in rest, and shout
ing their iendish war cry.
The captain was by this time in a state
ot total Inconsistencies, and | resolved,
cost what 1t might, not to abandon him.
| laid him on the ground, covered him
with snow, and then crept under heap
Of my dead comrades, having, however,
my eyes at liberty. Soon the Cossacks
reached us, and began striking with their
lances right and left, while their horses
trampled the bodies.
Presently one Of these rude beasts
placed his foot upon my left arm and
crushed it to pieces. Boys, | did not say
word; | did not move, save to thrust
my right hand into my mouth, to keep
down the cry ot torture, and in few
minutes the Cossacks disappeared.
When the last of them had ridden of.
L crept out and managed to disinter the
captain. He showed few signs of life:
nevertheless | contrived with my one
hand to drag him towards rock, which
offered sort of shelter, and then Law
down next to him, wrapping my capote
Night was closing in, and the snow
continued to fall. The last of the rear
guards had long disappeared, and the only
SOUNDS that broke the silence, were the
whlstl'ng of distant bullets, and the near.
er bowling of the wolves, who were de-
vourlng the dead bodies.
God knows what things were passing
in my bosom that night, which thought
would be my last on earth. But | re-
membered the prayer my mother had
taught me long ago when I was a child
by her side, and kneeling down | said it
fervently.
Boys, it did me good, and always re.
member that sincere earnest prayer will