The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1860-01-13
storming Of the Bastion.

i-OHurIes heaflc greutstory5 Whlte Lies,
/ occurs the following description of al
attack BY the French upon the Bastior
st. Andre, during the wars of Napoleon
The picture Of the event has no superior
in the language for graphic description
and fearful interest
"This won't do. comrade, we must go
shall attack from your position. SO
shall go down the line and bring men up
Meantime pick up my detachment
Give me good spice of veterans. shall
get one word with you before we go out.
God bless youp
God bless you, RaynalW
The moment Raynal was gone. Camil-
lie beckoned q. lietenant to him and Or
dercd half the brigade to form strong
column on both sides of Deaths Alley.
His eye fell upon private Dard. Come
here" said he. Dard came and saluted.
"Have YOU any one at Beaurepaire who
would be sorry'ifyou were killed?"
"Yes, colonel. Jacintha that used to
make your broth, Colonel"
"rake this line to Col. Raynal. You
will find him with the 18th brigade"
He wrote a few lines in pencil, folded
them, and Dard went off with them, lit
tie dreaming that the colonel of his bri-
gade was taking the trouble to save his
life because he came from Beaurepaire.
Colonel Duiardin then went into his
tent and closed the aperture, and took
the good book the priest had given him,
and prayed humbly, and torgave all the
world. Then he sat down, his head in
his hands. and thought of his child, and
how hard it was to die and never see him.
One sad sob at tllis-one only. Then he
lighted candle, sealed up his ardor of
valor, and wrote line begging that they
might be sent to his sister. lie also
sealed up his purse, and left memoran-
dunn that the contents might he given to
disabled soldiers of his brigade upon their
being invalided. Then he took out Jo-
sephine'S letter. ..
Poor coward" he said. ''lct me not be
unkind. See, burn your letter, lest it
should be found, and disturb the peace
you prize SO highly. /, too, shall soon be
at peace, thank God" He lighted it
and dropped it on the ground; it burned
slowly away. lie eyed it desparingly.-
SAY, you perish, last record of an unhap-
py love; and as you pass away so am
going-my soul to my Creator, my body
to dust-ay, poor letter even SO passes
away my life; wasted by Generals not fit
to command corporal's guard-my
hopes Of glory and my dreams OF love-
it all ends to-day, at nine and twenty
He puts his white handkerchief to his
eyes-Josephine had given it to him.
He cried o little-not at dying, but at
seeing his life thrown away.
When he had done crying he put his
white handkerchief in his bosom, and the
whole man was transformed beyond the
power of language to express. Powder
does not change more when it catches
fire. He rose that moment, and went
! like flash of lightning out of the tent.
| The next he came down like falcon be-
tween the lines Of the strong column to
Deaths Alley.
Attention. cried the sergeant, "the
! Colonel"
There was dead silence, for the bare
| sight of that erect and inspired figure
made the mems bosoms thrill with the
certainty Of great deeds to come; the
light OF battle was in his eye. No longer
the moody colonel, but thunderbolt OF
war, red hot and waiting to be launched.
"Oficers, sergeants and soldiers, a word
with you.'
La trOlX-'Attentlon.
"Do YOU know what passed here five
minutes ago?'
The attack Of the bastion was settled,
cried u captain.
1T was, and who was to lead the as
sault-do you know"
"No"
"a colonel from Egypt"
A groan from the men.
with detachments from other bri
gades."
"Ah.' an angry roar.
Col. Dujardin walked quietly down be
tween the two lines, looking with hi
fiery eye into the mems eyes on thu
right. Then he came back ON the othel
side, and us he went he lighted thos,
mems eyes with his own. 1t was a torcl
passing along line of ready gas light
''The work to U.S." he cried in a voice
like clarien lit fired the hearts as hi
eye had fired their eyes, the triumph tt
strangers! Our fatigues and our losses
have not gained the brigade the honor o
going out at those fellows that have
killed so many of our comrades"
A fierce groan from the men.
What! shall the colors of another bri
gade and not ours fly from that bastior
this afternoon
No. no." in a roar of thunder.
~"Ah you are of my mind. Attention
The attack is fixed for five o'clock. Sup
pose you and | were to carry the bastiol
ten minutes before the Colonel from
Egypt can bring his men upon th'
ground"'
A fierce roar of joy and laughter-th
strange laughter Of veterans and bori
invincblcs.
That was question put to YOU
hearts-your answery'
The answer was yell of eNulting a.
sent, but it was half drowned by anothe
response, the thunder OF the impatier
drums, and the rattle OF fixing bayonet'
) The colonel told off a party to the ba
terry.
Level your guns at the top tiers
Fire at my signal, and keep firing owe
our heads till you see our color on tn
place."
lie then darted to the head of the co
umn, which instantly formed behind hi
in the center of Deaths Alley.
''The colors no hand but mine sha
hold them to-day" ..
, They were instantly brought to hin
his left hand shook them free in the q
f ternoon air. A deep mui1nur of .jo
from the old hands at the now unwonte
sight. Out flashed the sword like ste
. lightning He waved it towards the ba
!, terry.
) Bang. bang! bang! bang! went Il
cannon, and mokerollei over the trenc
# es. AT the same moment up went Il
e colors waving, and the Colonel's clari'
voice pealed high above all:
"rwenty-fourth demi-brigade--forward
n They wentso swiftly out OF the trenc
d es, that they were not seen through tn,
ot own smoke until they had run some 81
y ty yards. No sooner were they So
q | ,a,,,,,;oo on lila Iav;lo than tyn thf