Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-11-21
THE GRIM SERGEANT,
A yERrrABLE HISTORY.

of The French. Bravely had the sons of
Gaul won their prizes; and heaps of slain
living within that mammoth ea,thwork
sttested how dearly it had been bought.
Few wore the survivors OF those vol
unteers who had carried the place by q
eoup dc main, and they were lying that
night wrapped in the sleep Of exhaustion.
rndisturbed, at first, by the loud explo-
sions which were heard proceeding from
the town. But even these tired men
woke shortly Afterwards, when the start
ling intelligence spread as fire through
the camp, that tho Russians were retreat
Ing to the north shore, leaving the post
they had 50 long and so ably defended in
flames and ruins.
Forgettul of their fatigue, even the
remnants Of the storming parties united
in bands and glided into the city to plum
der what they could undeterled bv the
frequent and terrible explosions and the
fast spreading fires.
First and foremost among the maraud-
els were twelve men Of the Fourth
regiment, headed 10y one known to his
comrades by the name Of Grim Ser
geant.' Philippe Charente was one Of
the bravest men in the army. Gifted with
prodigious strength. and his dauntless
courage had given him a ply siognomy
which hal procured for him the above
mentioned sobriquet; and being taciturn,
rumor had Invested him with character
for great ferocity Now, the truth was,
that a more gentle hearted creature than
Charante did not exist. But men often
pride themselves upon possessing quail
ties which are reall y foreign to their
natures. SO the Sergeant was pleased
when he was joked about his maevolcnt
and stearn disposition, and smiled grim
ly.
One good turn his dark disposition
certainly did for him--for he was held
in so much awe by his comrades that he
lead peaceful life. no one caring to stir
up the wrath Of the supposed man tiger.
Philippe had done good work in the
Crimea, and had escaped the sickness
which cut off SO many brave fellows. He
had lead one OF the storming parties into
the Malak Off, and came out Of the dread
struggle without wound, though his
companions fell around him mown down
by the fire of the enemy, like grass by
the scythe of the mower.
He was one Of the first to awake at the
news of the retreat, and possessing the
confidence Of his comrades, he soon col.
lected few daring spirits, whom he led
into Sevastopol.
Onward went the little band, through
streets OF burning houses, over heaps o
tho slain, broken gun carriages, carcasse'
Of horses, wrecks Of every kind. Theil
number gradually lessened d--some crushe,
by falling ruins, others perished by tn,
struggling Russians.
Still undaunted-s animated by
the hope of plunder, the survivors ad.
vanced through flame and blood to reap
harvest from tho departed foo. At last
they reached the side Of the harbor, and
entered a magnificent house which was
not yet in flames, and seemed in less
dismantled condition than the generality
Of the riddled buildings around.
Nor were their hopes excited by its ex-
terna appearance. disappointed upon en-
tering, for tho soldiers found within a
largo collection of pictures, costly furni.
ture, books and articles of Jifovterie
which lay scattered on every side. An
open piano. table covered with fancy
work, and a desk with papers npon it
attested the recent occupation Of the draw
ing room, in which they created confusion
worse confounded, The large bow win.
dows Of this noble room, in which a
terrace, which ovcrhung the water, and
commanded view of the harbor on the
north shore.
Charcntc, attracted by the sound of ar
explosion, stepped out upon the terrace
for an instant, aud gazed upon the scene
before him, where to the right the Rus
slams were hurriedly destroying the float
ing bridge, over which they had mad
their masterly retreat; and the who'll
water swarmed with vessels of every de
gree, from the hastily constructed raft t.
the fairy-like steamers, all of which wer,
busily employed in conveying goods ant
provisions to the north shore.
His attention was suddenly called to
the interior of the room by q loud shout
from his companions, ana tho agonized
scream of female voice, when turning
round he saw that the soldiers in break
ing bown large mirror, had brought
to view closet which it had concealed
and from which thay were dragging forth
young girl about fourteen. who, with
upIilted hands and heart rending accents,
craved for mercy from hcr rude cnptors
BIT the encounters which they had had
with the Russians that morning, and the
losses they had sustained. had exaSpelated
the French One rultian pointed pistol
At the poor child's head, whilst another
raised sword to cut her down. In an
instant the Grim Sergeant was in the
midst OF the group; he struck the pistol
up so that it exploded harmcssly in the
air, he dashed away the menancing wea.
pom and scizing tho shreking victim in
his arms, he glanced arounG upon his as
tonished comrades and shouted
'She shall not have the death of a
soldier with sword and gun, she shall
be drowned like cat, in a bath of Rus,
sian water" Then throwing off hi,
sword, he leaped upon tho terrace an,
plunged into the water bencath. For ,
moment tho soldiers stood transGxeA-
they rushed to the window to watch TN
sergeants proceedings, but another ma
rauding party entered the house at thi
time, they were fearful Of losing the
spoil, and returned to the work Of pul