The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1860-12-05
From the London Court Journal.
The Deserter.
AN ANECD0TE OF NAPOLEON T.

1--WE OF tnat nall-saVage naiI-clFinzeu part y
Burgundy known under the ime of Morvan
and his comrades ever spoke of him as "a
tough customer" Always the first and last
to fire, he had the reputation of liking but
two things in the world-the smell of pow.
der and the whistling Of bullets.
Now, one day our friend Pierre took it in
to his head to address letter to his colonel,
in which he applied for leave of absence to
go and see his aged mother, who was dan
gerously i'll. He added that his father, be-
ing scventy-eight years of age, and suffering
under paralytic affection, could not be OF
any use in nurse-tending the poor woman,
and he pledged himselfto return as soon as
the health of his mother should be restored.
The coloners reply to Pierre's application,
was that as the regiment might at any mo-
ment he ordered to take the field, no leave Of
absence could be obtained"
Pierre Pitois submitted. A fortnight
elapsed, and then second letter was re-
ceived by the colonel, in which Pierre in
formed him that his mother had died with
out the consolation of giving her last blcs-
sing to her only child, and in which he again
solicited leave of absence, saying that she
could not state his reason for this request
it was a family secret but earnestly i'm
ploring the colonel not to deny him this
favor.
lierrc's second letter was as little success
ful as the first The poor fellows captain
merely said:
"Pierre, the colonel has received your let
ter; he is sorry for the death of your old
mother, but he cannot grant the leave of ab
scnce you require, as the regiment leaves
Strasburg tomorrow"
"Ah! The regiment leaves Strasburg; and
for what place, may ! ask youl" said
Pierre.
"For AUSTRIA" replied his officer. ave
are to see Vienna, my brave Pitois: we arc
to fight the Austrians. Is not that good
news for you! You will be in your element
my fine fellow"
Pierre Pitois made no reply; he seemed
lost in deep thought. The captain caught
his hand, and shaking it heartily, said to
him:
"Why do you not speak, man. Are you
deaf to-day! am telling that in less than
a week, YOU are to have the pleasure ofa set
to with the Austrians, and you have not one
word Of thanks for the good news; nay, !
verify believe you have not even heard
me-"
" Indeed, captain, have heard every
word, and thank you, with all my heart,
for your news, which consider very good"
81 thought you would" said the officer.
"But, captain, is there no chance of OBJ
tanning the leave of absencel"
"Arc you mad !" was the reply. "Lcavc
of absence the very day before taking the
6Al?"
81 never thought Of that" said Pierre
ave are, then, on the point of taking the
field, and at such time, | suppose, leave is
never given'"
I" 1t is never even asked"
at is quite right-it is never even asked.
1t would have the appearance of cowardice.
We'll, then, will not press it any more; |
will try and get on without it,"
"And you will do WE'LL" replied the cap
tain.
The next day the twelfth regiment en-
tered Germany, and the next-Pierre Pitois
deserted.
Three months after, when the twelfth rcgi-
ment, having rcaped in the field of battle an
abundant harvest of glory, was making its
triumphal entry into Strasburg, Pierre Pi-
tots was ANONYMOUSLY dragged back to his
corps by brigade of gems ddrmes. A court
martial is Immediately called. Pierre Pi-
tois is accused of fhaving deserted at the very
moment when his regiment was to meet the
enemy face to face. The court presented a
singular spectacle. On the one side stood
forth the accuser, who cried:
"Pierre Pitois, you, one of the bravest men
in the army; you, on whose breast the star
of honor ye: glitters; you, who never in
CURED either punishment or even ccnsure
from your officers; you could not have quit
ted your regiment-quitted it almost on the
eve of battle-without some powerful mo-
tive to impel youl This motive the court
demands of you; for it would gladly have it
in its power, if not to acquit you-which it
ought not, perhaps, either to do or to desire
at least to recommend you to the Emper-
or's mercy"
On the other side stood the accused, who
answered:
81 have deserted without any reason, with
out any motive; do not repent. If it
we're to do again, would do it again.
deserve desth-pass sentence"
And then came some witnesses Who de-
posed:
"Pierre Pitois is a deserter. We know
II is fact, but we do not believe it"
And athare ararrod