The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1861-11-26
PRINCE NAPOLEON AND THE
OLD SOLDIER.

OLD SOLDIER.
Last evening there occured one of those
rare incidents IN the progress OF Prince
Napoleon's tour through the United States,
which will not soon be forgotten by our IL
lustrious visitor, albeit lender recollection
therefore may not be OF long duration With
one Of the parties interested whose gray
hairs will ere long be moisiened by the
clammy dews Of death.
Lorcnz Harte, a relic Of the Grand Ar
my of the First Napoleon, nov an inmate
OF the Cook county poor-house, had an m
teryiew with Prince Napoleon. County
Agent Hanson, learning the wish OF the
old soldier, kindly conveyed him TO the
fremont. His card WAS sent TO the
Princes apartments, and the old man,
bowed down with The weight of eighty
years, was ushered into the august pres
ence.
The Prince arose TO receive his remark.
able guest. There they stood for mo-
ment looking each other in the f.ce--ihe
second heir 10 to the French crown and
the SCARED aud bronzed veteran OF score
OF battles. Advancing, the Prince grasped
the old mans hand, and conducted him TO a
seat, and spoke so kindly that the veteran
heart overfowed, and he burst into tears.
To those at all acquainted with the his
tory Of the Napoleonic dynasty, neither
the kindness OF the Plince nor the emotion
of the old man will be wondered at. All
such well know the first Napoleon held
upon the affections OF his soldiers, as well
as the old aud uncomfortable idolalry mani
tested by the latter toward the former, up
on all occasions, whether in victory or de-
feat.
In that interview, yesterday, the vetcr-
an " fought his battle DER again" The
Prince questioned hun, and listened with
glistening eyes to his recital OF those thrill
ing scenes which ever had rs their hero
Napoleon.
The quick eye Of the Prince noticed the
absence OF three fingers iiom one Of the
soldiers hands.
Where did you lose your fngers?"
"In tile retreat from Moscow | wa,
attached to the cavalry, and in one Of The
charges of nose ,illainous Cossacks, =
lance deprived inc OF my fingers. But,
aud the old veterans eye shone with The
old battle light, my sabre fnslcd him, sire
All, those Coscacks were the most splendit
horsenen that ever saw, but they wcr,
afraid OF Murat's cavalry, after ALL Ant
the old soldiers mind wandered back tt
that terrible retreat from the burning cap
ital OF the Russians, surrounded by the III
flexible rigors OF Russian winter, anc
aarrassed day and night by those iuriou!
onsets OF Cossack cavalry--those valid ant
daring children Oh the plain.
"1hls, sire, was done at Lodi" exhibit
ing terrible scar upon his left shoulder
made by grdpe-slol.
"And this" barring the cali Of hIs left
leg, showing the track OF bullet lbrougl
and through it, was done al Arcola.'
"Ths sabre cut upon my head was re-
ceiyed at Auslerlitiz, and SO was This, sire,
tenderly holding up the Cross Of the Leg.
ION OF Honor, bestowed upon him by MAJ
poleon tor special service Oh that bloody
tield.
And thus the old baltle-scarred yeter-
an whiled away two pleasant hours--hour;
! traught with proud and tender recolcclions
to both the Prince and soldier; and when
the vete an arose TO go, he blessed the mu'
nllicence Of the Prince, which had pressed
a well filled purse into his hand, and given
him assurances that la Belle France had
not forgotten her veterans, and a libera
pension should be provided for him.
Chicago Journal