Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-11-21
A TRUE sToRY.-BY BAYARD TAYLOR.

On the 18th of October, 1856, a celebra-
ton of peculir character was held in small !
village near jena 1t was an occasion OF an |
entirely local nature, and might have passed
Over , ,,ooI;ate vicinity but for its connection
with me battle which, fifty years before annihl
lated the power of Prussia. An account OF
It. however, was published IN most OF the
German broasbs on AZ t'i the tm
the celebration took place, l was resloihS
Gotba. not more than fifty miles distant, aha
heard the story almost in the very words Oh
the chief actor in it.
On the 14th of October, 1910, the "iiiuy
nnlands northeast of jena witnessed the teI
r;hln combat which resulted in the triumph
ant entry of the French army ih'o Pean 1as;a
tow davS sfter-luring which time PRUSSIA
had lost 60, 900 men, 65 standards, ana ooo
oonnon A norton of the French army was
encamned on the battle field, or quartereu III
tho VILLAGES around. The poor lnhaoltants
ovprwhelmed by this sudden avalanche OIL
,,,or mon their quiet fields, where tor nun
, dr.d Years or more they had reaped theif
! bar,ect in neace submitted in helpless apa
: thv while their houses and barns were pun
a dered by the lawless soldiery:
n Davoust-the Butcher OF Hamburg a.
the Germans called him-took up MS guar
o ters for the night in one OF the most colllio'
g table houses in the neighborhoou Oh tle soIn =;
Of slaughter. After giving orders TO III
y troans Rn was about retiring for repose, whe
st ON ofticer entered Pardon me, General
IS he said but there is case which require
to attention The German cGnnltte must !
tan,ht to respect us. Ten soldiers OF o., u
ut Ath Infantry. uuartered in the village OIL w,
lid dorf have been driven away by the peop
lst and two or three of them are severely I'M
IN red"
Dayoust's cold eye glttered, and his mo-
ro- tache curled like the lip of mastln. oe
lieutenant and twenty men to the Viiias
1sd nick out ten of the vagabonds, ana sh'
inp them!" was his brief order.
No The next morning, at sunrise, Lieuteh
~ Iouotte with twenty men, marched over
,sb- trampled hills, to seek Waldorf On res
r ;ng ridge which overlooked the intersec'
o;ca of two or three valleys, more than one
No. looo was visible through the cold fog
,sv heginning to rise "Qui est Waldorf!
no. onired the officer of a man whom ne me
+ho+ tbo wav "Das," answered the man,
,.rn. cher Waldorf" pointing to village on
and ieft 6 En- acant," said the officer, and
Ill fo,r roinntes more, the Frenchmen mar
.gita- into the little hamlet.
,Tess Hating in an open space near lhe CIV
nner the officer summoned the inhabitants to'
,lided or The whole village was already aw
arms but few had slept during the night
where ears were still sumner oy 'ne - -
Yesterday, and visions OF burning anu
that still danceu oe.oie H. soldiers s
re in mana OIL ',ie '..nts ond nlaced tn
ashed all the ihale i.iiiao'.%L' TI or,,op and ch
. .i'.a .aited nea- in terrible anxiety, Tor mol
begins derstoou Tue WIS ,i tbaro To ;mapi
I time Gus preparations led them 70 i'l"o
char worst.
was At this iuncture, the village pastor
appeared upon the scene lie was
you, man of twenty, VINO was stuuy u'e -,
earse!' in order to become his fathers mess
and fortunately had some knowledge
mother French language. he oegseo Lieut.
nird. for an explanation of the proceedings.
said a 81 am ordered to punish this villae
None swered the latter, "for your treatfuen
next soldiers last night The Marshal ord
ten of you must be shot. You can
nc "ao draw lots among yourselves or po
r. -, those concerned in the outrage
in an But said the young man, "yo
,,r;pdows eral has been misinformed No Frel
diers have visited our village befor'
There are also, the villages of Mi
'nouge' Lower Waldorf, which lie further
my ,iie the open valley You can soon salts
90 'h,lg self. sir, that this village is entirely
ess ,nan and entreat you not to shed the
ooula l. 'J as our harmless people.
- III. There is no time for Investigate
\ m and the officer. Il was ordered to 60 TO
= = and he and am guided hither. will va
&c e hv make your choice of ten to be sacrl
!, ~ vb;cb have no authority to do more
. .ss shin Bv this time the people had lie
',4 n ,ts fate in store for them. The wo