Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-09-17
PRINCE NAPOLEON AND THE OLD
SOLDIER

Last evening there occurred one Of those rar
incidents in the progress of Prince Napoleon
tour through the United States which will no
s1on he forgotten by our illustrious visitor
albeit tender recollectiOns thereof may not be o.
long duration with one of the parties interested
Whose gray hairs will ere long he moistened BY
the cammy dews of death
Lorenz Ilarte, a relic of the Grand Army OF
tue First Napoleon, now an inmate OF the Cook
County Poor House, had All interview with
Prince Napoleon. County Agent Hanson, learn
ing the wish of the old soldier, kindly conveyed
him to the fremont Ills card was sent TO the
Princes apartments, and the old man, bowed
down with the weight OF eighty years, was
ushered into the august presence.
The prince arose to receive his remarkable
guest. There they stood for moment looking
each other in the tace-the second heir 10 the
French crown and the Scared and bronzed vete-
ran of score Of battles. Advancing, the Prince
grasped the old mans hand and conducted him
to seat, and spoke so kindly that the veterans
heart overfowcd, and he burst into tears
To those at all acquainted with the history Of
the Napoeonic dynasty, neither the kindness of
the Prince nor the emotion of the old soldier will
be wondered at All such well know the re-
markable power that the first Napoleon held up
on the affections of his soldiers, as well ms the
wild and uncomfortable idolatry manifested by
the latter toward the former, upon all occasions,
whether in victory or defeat
In thot interview, yesterday the veteran
"fought his battles DER again. The Prince
questioned him, and listened with glistcning
eyes to his recital of those thrilling incidents
which ever had rs their hero Napoleon.
The quick eye of the Prince noticed the nh
fNnce Of thec fingers from one of the soldiers
hands.
"Where did you lose your fingers p
"ln the retreat from Moscow. | was attached
to the cavalry, and in one Of the charges of those
yllainous Cossacks, n lance deprived me of my
fingers. But" and the old veterans eye shone
with the old battlc light, smy saber finished him,
sire. All, those COssacks were the most splendid
horsemen that ever saw, but they were afraid
of Murats cavalry, after ALL" And the old
soldiers mind wandered back to that terrible
retreat from the burning capital of the Russians,
surrounded by the intlexible rigors of Russian
Winter, and harmssed day and night by those
furious onsets of COssack cayalry--those wild
and daring children of the plains.
"'rhis, sire was done at Lodi" exhibiting n
terrible scar upon his left shoulder made by
grape.shot.
And this barring the calf of his left leg,
showing the track of bullet through and
through it, "was done at Arcola."
"This saber cnt upon my head was received at
Austerlitz, and so was this sire, tenderly hold
ing up the Gross of the Legion of Honor, be-
slowed upon him BY Napoleon for special service
on that bloody field.
And thus the old batte-scarred veteran whed
away two pleasant hours-hours fraught with
proud and tender recolections to both Prince
and soldier; and when the veteran arose to go
he blessed the munifcence of the Prince, which
had pressed well-illed purse into his hand, and
given him assurance that la Belle France had not
forgotten her veterans and that a liberal pension
should be provided for him. Chicdgo JourAdt