The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1861-01-10
THE DEsERTER.
AN ANEcDorE OF NAPOLEON THE FIRST.
From the London Court Journal.

geant in the twelfth regiment cf the line.
| then quartered at Sirasburg. He was ma
tive of that half savage. half civilized part
of Burgundy known under the name OF
| Morvan, and his comrades ever spoke oi
him as a1ough customer" Always the
Of likin o. I(etwo things in the world the
smell of powder and the whistling Of bull
| lets.
Now. one day our friend Pierre took ii
into his head to address a letter to colo
mel, in which he applied for leaveof alb
sence to go and. see his aged mother, who
was dangerously i'll. He added that his
father, being 78 years OF age, and suffering
under paralytic affection. could not be OF
any use ir nursing the poor woman, and he
pledged himself to return as soon as his
mothers health should be restored
The Colone's reply to Pierre's apPlica
ton was ''that as the regiment might at any
nome mt be ordered to take the field. no
leave OF absence could be Obtained
Pierre Pitois submitted. A fortnight clap
sed and then a second letter was received
by the Colonel, in which Pierre Informed
him that his mother had died without the
consolation of giving her last blessing TO her
only child. and in which he again solicited
leave Of absence, saying that she could not
stale his reason for this request-it was a
family seeret-but earnestly imploring the
Colonel not to deny him this favor.
Pierres second letter was little sue
cessfu as the first. The poor fellows Cap
tain merely said
Pierre. the Colonel has received your
letter; he is sorry tor the death of your old
mother. but he cannot grant the leave OF
absence you require. the regiment leaves
S<rasburg tomorrow"
"Ah The regiment leaves Strasbrrg;
and for what place, may l ask your said
Pierre.
"For Austria" replied his officer. 1--WE
are to s, 9 Vienna, my brave Pitois; we are
to fight the Austrians. Is not that good
news for you? You will be in your ele-
ment, my fine fellow.
Pierre Pitois made no reply; he seemed
lost in deep thought. The Captain caught
his hand. and, shaking it heartily said:
"Why do you not speak, man! Arc you
deaf to-day? l am telling that, in less than
a week. you are to have the pleasure OF a
set to with the Austrians. and you have not
one word Of thanks for the good news; nay.
verify believe you have not heard me"
"Indeed. Captain. I have heard every
word. and thank you. with all my heart,
for your news, which / consider very good
Il thought you would p said the officere
"Are you mad?" was the reply. leave
of absence the very day before taking the
feld?"
II never thought Of that" said Pierre.
I'VE are, then, on the point of taking the
field, and at such time. suppose, leave is
never given?"
at is never even asked!'
1T is quite right-iti is never even asked.
1t would have the appearance OF cowardice
Well, then, will not press it any more;
will try to get on without it."
"And do well,' replied the Captain.
The next day the twelfth regiment en-
tered Germany, and the next-Pierre Pitios
deserted!
Three months after, when the twelfth
regiment. having reaped in the field Of bat
tie an abundant harvest OF glory. was max
ing its triumphal entry into Strasourg. Pierre
Pilios was ignominiously dragged back to
his corps by brigade of gems d'arnaes. A
court martial is Immediately called. Pierre
Pitios is accused Of having deserted al the
very moment when his regiment was to
meet the enemy face TO face The court
presented singular spectacle. On the one
side stood forth the accuser who cried:
pierre Pitois, you. one OF the brave>t
men in the army; you. on whose breast the
star Of honor yet glitteis; you, who never
incurred either punishment or even censure
from your officers; you could not have quit
ted it almost on the eve of battle-without
some powerful motive to impel you! This
motive the court demands OF you; for it
would gladly have it in lis power, if not to
acquit you-which it ought not, perhaps
either to do or desire-at least to recon
mend you to the Emperor's mercy"
On the other side stood the accused who
answered.
Il have deserted without any reason
without any motive; do not repent. If it
were to do again. would do it again.
deserve death-pass sentence
And then came some witnesses who de-
posed:
Pierre Pitios is deserter. We know
it is fact, bu, we do not Believe it,
And others averred:-
"Pierre Pitois is mad; the court cannot
condemn madman. He must be sentenced.
then, not TO death, but to the lunatic asy-
lum."
This alternative had very nearly been
adopted, for there was not one person in the
court who did not consider the desertion of
Pierre Pitois as one of those singular oc
currences beyond the range of human pos
sibihties. which, while every one is forced
to admit as a fact. no one can account for
or comprehend. The accused. however.
pleaded guilty most positively, and was
most pertinacieus in his demand for the Just
penalty of the law to be Inflicted on him
He so boldly aud fearlessly avowed his
crime. continually repeating at he did not
regret it. that at length his 6rmness a,sumed
the character OF a bravado. and left no room
for clemency. Sentence Of death wa.
therefore pronounced.
/ Pierre Pi.ios heard his sentence read
with the most unfiinching gaze Tkey
warmly urged him to plead for mercy. but
he refused. As every one guessed ths, a
the bottom Of this affair there was some
strange mystery. it was determined that the
execution OF Pierre should be delayed
He was carried back to his military
prison. and it was announced to him that
IS mark of special favor, he had three
IarS him ~ prsSS fnr ar1au H.