The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-08-01
PA,T AY,AU l.

Lony Ire the Emperor :" The regiments
received this information with loud huz-
zas the on y exception was Ploquet, who
was heard muttering through his teeth
"Pshaw these Parsians are all alike
they tell us the greatest favor they can
confer upon us is to order Us where we
may be cut down by the balls of the enc
my"
'How is this, Corporal" said [; care you
not pleased to see these bravadoes SO near
us ?"
''Yes, so near us f.; when we have march
ed an hour under this stiff harness. and
entered their battlement~, more than half
Of us will be cut to pieces before we know
where we are"
''I}ut look at the glory" said l.
"Glory-death. The glory is neither
for you nor me-" said he: '.it is for ali
these Parisians, dressed out with glitter
ing caps of general officers, trigly appar-
eled, their boots shining, and who feast
three mes day
The army was then ordered to advance.
In the space OF an hour we deployed un-
der the fire of the enemy's batteries, which
swept off whole files of our men. Our
regiment, being exposed to the destructive
artillery, suffered most dreadfully. For
moment hesitation prevailed-a panic
had siezed the new allies, who were on the
eve of retreating Ploquet, who Was in
the third rank, immediately threw his
musket across them and swore he would
split the first man who would attempt to
leave the rank While thus acting,
bali struck his cartridge box, and carried
part Of it away, which caused him to make
one Of the drollest grimaces l ever be-
held.
Five packages of cartridges lost"
said he, gnashng his teeth; latter Ca
rying tnem two hundred leagues without
firing onc-it is aggravating y
The regiment then rushed toward at
double quick time. The Russian artillery
soon quit firing-it was awful-it had u
solemn efIect-the oldest sighed adieu,
and the officers raised their hands in sup
piication. Ploquet seized his musket, his
brilliant eyes flashed like lightning, and
after muttering "A dreadful oath, he rushed
impetuously forward. Suddenly a blue
light was seen to rise from the redoubt-
an awful explosion had taken place, which
made the ground shake like an earth
quake then dense smoke enveloped the
whole battlefield, and hundreds of shat
tered bodies were strewed around Plo-
quetwas no longer near me, and | thought
he had been among the slain When the
wind had cleared away the smoke, saw the
lower part Of his body entering the breach
which was made lie was easily distin-
guished by the remnant of his cartridge
box, which still adhered to his back
hastened to bis assistance, and although
[ followed the way, he was not to be
seen.
True, the carnage which was going on
in the fort did not allow much time for
search. The-assauIt was continued una
bated, as the example set by the Corporal
the other braves TO follow to
bre and bayouet aloue elittered in the
melee which was dreadfully severe. The
battle was fought man to man, and the
slain on both sides lay together on the
spot where they fell. The skirmishing
lasted more than twenty minutes, and sell
dom was duel fought with more desper-
alton and obstinacy. When the skir-
mishing had ceased, the cry OF victory
was heard-the redoubt was ours, and the
eagle was placed on the walls
Over the noise and confusion which
then prevailed a voice was heard calling
on the drum major to lower the flag, but
there was no answer; the drummer was
called but no drummer appeared-all
were slain. Out cf an army which had
mustered four effective battallions, of eight
hundred men each, four hundred alone
remained.
Very soon after, found Ploquct lean
ing UP against a wheel Of the advanced
train, endeavoring to staunch with his
shirt sleeve the blood which was flowing
in streams from "A wound he had received
on his head. | hastened to his relief. and
saw tiat the blow which he had received
had split his shake. ''It was lucky" said
[, s.that your head was so we'll protected"
'Ah my friend" said he, edo you call
that lucky, when | have lost two bundles
of cigars such as you never have smoked
and such as / do not expect soon to find
again"
He then showed me the cigars, that the
sabre cut in two.
But" said I. ''these cigars must have
saved your life, probably"
He replied very briefly, sit might be
probable" !"
Happily his wound was not very seri-
Gus one, and he refused permission to ab-
sent himself from duty-but he only asked