The weekly Butte record., 1861-10-26
Marshal Bosquet.


ent day Pierre Francois Joseph Bosquet
passed singularly adventurous life-a life Of
camps, boudoirs and gambling tables He
was. in his prime, the handsomest man in the
French army. He was the most reckless
gambler, the most prohigate roue, one of the
most sklful swordsmen in his regiment, and
one of the bravest. he was always occupied
either with duels, fighting Arabs or making
love. Twenty campaigns endured in Africa
gained him reputation and rank From
lieutenant of artillery he rose, step by step, and
by force Of real merit, to the post of General
When the Crimean war broke out he was at
the head of division of Infantry, and display
ed talents aud qualities which rendered him
conspicuous among the list of French warriors
chiefs 1t was rumored that the Emperor
feared his popularity and was jealous of it !;
for knowing him to be the most sagacious
officer in the army he suffered Canrobert and
Pelissier to be appointed over him. Bosquet
was laughing, good humored fellow, and took
his fate kindly.
Adored by soldiers, in favor with all his
brother officers, and satisfied with the renown
he was gaining he could submit to temporary
modification. The coarse, unprincipled and
depraved st. Arnaud-that man of iron nerve
who almost died in his saddle rather than yield
to disease-loved Bosquet like brother. The
two were inseperable, and were members of
the famous group of Uireurs who, when Louis
Napoleon was President, gathered around him
for orgie or conspiracy. Bosquet lost his
friend when ST. Arnaud died, though the bat
tie of Alma was more friendly to him than any
Marshal, for it sent his name triumphantly to
Paris, where he was lauded as a hero. At
Inkermann he distinguished himself by his
generalship and courage. They say, regardless
of his rank, he dashed into the fight with the
ardor of subaltern. His glittering sabre
strewed the grous5 with corpses, and his men
cheered in frenzy of excitement at the daring
of their chief. Bosquets succor to Lord Rag
lans troops in q moment of peril rendered him
favorte with the English army. Parliament
voted him formal thanks for his exploit, and
the Sultan decorated him with the order of
Medlide of the first class-an order accorded
before only to sovereigns and princes of blood.
Bosouet was at the Mamelon Vert and at
the taking of the Malakoff, fighting always in
the blodiest manner 1t was said Of him, like
St. Arnaud, that he grew crazy at the sight
of blood, and woe to the man within reach of
his sabre. When he went back to France the
Emperor could not help taking notice of him.
He was successfully made Senator, Marshal
of France Knight of the Bath lin England),
and Knight of the Legion of Honor. His
honors were rich and plenty. They gave him
a royal income, and like a rolicking soldier he
spent it. Bosquet's equipage, Bosquet's din
ners and Bosquet's amours were the talk of all
Paris.
His bearing was fine one, the rough eXpe-
rience of camps had given him manly grace,
and in the prime of life he seemed determined
to drain the cup of pleasure in the capital to
the dregs. There were rumors in the clubs of
the sad and proligate reves which Bosquet,
the Emperor, and the Count de Fleury held at
the st. Cloud palace. Bosquet's name was
on every tongue He was urai lion. One
bright morning, however, his time came He
paid the penalty of his immortality with his
death wound. The bright eyes of the wife of
a young inferior officer had attracted him, and
his prestige. his chivalric, gentemanly ways,
his gallant military presence, proved a poor
ladys ruin. Discovered by the outraged hus-
band, he was not allowed time to defeud HIM
self, and helpless and unarmed he received the
avenging sword blade deep in bis breast.
The warm blood nearly spouted forth the
gay Marshal's life, but finally the wound was
staunched, aud suffering, almost dying man,
he was conveyed to bis own residence. The
story was hushed as much as possible A duel,
etc, was given as the cause Of his illness, but
soon the entire adventure was known, and the
clubs chartered and gossiped freely about it.
The Emperor protected the young officer at
Bosquet's request. He went through mock
trial and was acquitted. In the italian war,
recently, he served with distinction. All this
time-nine weary mOnths-Bosquet fingered
on; day after day, his wound slowly killing
him. Stretched on q sick bed the once dash
ing officer must have INDUCED in sad refec-
tions. They say he prayed. and prayed for
DEATH Probably nobody thought of Offering
him the consultations Of religion-how they
sneer at those things there though the woman
for whom he was dying and an affectionate
sister gave him every sympathy and care
Finally, the spirit fed, and at the age of fifty
one the hero Bosquet is honOred by gorgeous,
imposing funeral What lamentable finale
and is not the whole career peculiarly French
"SwEAR HIM AND LET HIN Go."-The best
piece of satire upon the leniency observed by
the authorities, in reference to Rebels found
committing depradations, is in the shape of
story, which is told, we believe by Governor
Pierpont As the story goes, some of the sol
diers in General Cox's camp, down in Kanaw-
ha, recently caught large rattlesnake. The
snake manifested most mischievous disposi-