The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-01-25

the officer summoned the inhabitants to-
gether. The whole village was already
awake, for few had slopt during the night.
Their ears were still stunned by the thun-
ders of yesterday, and visions Of burning
and pllage still danced before their eyes.
At the command of the lieutenant, the
soldiers seized all the male inhabitants,
and forcibly placed them in line before
him. The women and children waited
tn terrible anxiety, for no one under
stood the words which were spoken, and
these ominous preparations led them TO
imagine the worst.
At this juncture, the son Of the village
pastor appeared upon the scene. He
was young man Of twenty, who was
studying theology in order to become bis
fathers successor, and fortunately had
some knowledge Of Franch. The appear
anco of things, withoat tho cries and en-
treaties of the terrified people, told him
that his help was wanted. He immsdi-
ateIy addressed himself to Lieut. Lomotto,
and begged far an explanation of the pro
ceedings.
81 am ordered to punish this village"
answered the latter, "for your treatment
Of orr soldiers last night. The marshal
orders that ten of you must be shot. The
only thing that l 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,
'syou. general has been lnisiuformed. NO
French soldiers have visited our village
before you. We have truly been in great
fear and anxiety the whole night; but the
valley is deep and the village is partly
concealed from view by the woods on tho
side. There are also the villages of Mid
die and lower Waldorf, which lie further
down in the open valley. You can soon
satisfy yourself sir, that this village is en-
tirely innocent; and entreat you not
to shed the blood of our harmless pee
pie"
"Thers's no time for investigation, "said
the officer. II was ordered to proceed
to Waldorf, and am guided hither. l
will wait till you make your choice of ten
men to be sacrificed, but have no authorl-
ty to do more"
BY this time the people had learned
the fate in store for them. Tho women in
tears and appealing gestures crowded
around the officer begging him to spare
their sons and husbands-the men stood
silent, with bloodlasa faces and dumb,
imploring eyes. Thes cene was evidently
painful, both to the officer and tAe sold
iers, accustomed as they wore to the un-
morciful code Of wgr. They were
anxious to put an end 70 it and leave !;
but the clergyman's son, inspired with
the belief that the fate Of ten men rested
upon bis efforts continued to urge his plea
with zeal and eloquenee that would not
be set aside. Lieut.. Lamotte struggled
awhile between his sense Of duty and his
natural humanity, while the yonng advo-
cate appealed to his conscience and TO
the obedience which be owed 20 highep
commander than Davoust. Finally he
consented to wait while q sergeant was
dispatched to headquarters, accompanied
by peasant to show him she neeTost
way. A few lines hastily poacilod statod
the facts in the case, and asked for further
instructions.
Meanwhile the inhabitants waited, in n
state Of suspense scarcely to be endured.
Lieut.. Lamotte-who, was o thorough
Frenchman, soon wearied of o painful
emotion, and shaking it off at the risk Of
appearing heartless, said: "rhe morning
is keen, and Q walk before sunrise does
not diminish the appotite-can you give
us some refreshments from your hidden
supplies 2" At a word from the young
man, many of the women brought togeth-
er the coffee they had prepared for their
own breakfast, with black bread, mugs
of beer, and small cheese or two--suff-
Gent for rough meal-of which the
soldiers partoek with the usual laughing
comments Of "Zacui8inc AHenaGadd." =
The company Of victims looked on il
silence, and moro than once muttered
cloomily: "We are feeding our oxecu.
| TONERS"
"Eyen if that should bo true" said the
young man, sit is but doing as Christ has
taught us. Whether or not we obtain
Christian charity from these men, let US
at least show them that we are Chris
tan"
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