St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-01-17

7 out the consolation of giving her last bles
: sing to her only child, and in which h
again solicited leave of absence, saying tha
; che could not state his reason for this re
qucst-it was family secret" but earn
7 estly imploring the colonel not to deny hin
this favor.
Pierre's second letter was as little sue
cessful as the first. The poor fellows cap
tain merely said:
"Pierre, the colonel has received you,
letter; he is sorry for the death of you,
ola mother, but he cannot grant the leave
of absence you require, as the regimen,
leaves Strasburg Tomorrow"
"Ah! Tie regiment leaves Strasburg
and for what place, may I ask your" said
Pierre.
! "For Austria" +" replied his officer. awe
are to see Vienna, my brave Pitois;; we
arc to fight the Austrians. Is not that
good news for you? You will be in your
element, my fine fellow"
Pierre Pitois made no reply; he seemed
lost in deep thought. The captain caught
his hand, and, shaking it heartily, he
said
"Why do you not speak, man? Are
you deaf to-day? I am telling that, in
less than week you are to have the plea
sure Of a sct-to with the Austrians, and
you have not one word of thanks for the
good news; nay, verify believe you have
not even heard me-"
'1ndced, Captain, I have heard every
wcrd, and [ thank you, with all nv heart
for your news, which I consider very good"
"l thought you would" said the officer
"But, Captain, is there no chance of OBJ
tanning the leave of absence ?''
Are you mad % was the reply. "Lcave
Of absence the very day before taking the
feld?" ".'".
"I never thoug ght Of that" said Pierre.
"We are, then, on the point of taking the
field, and at such a time, l suppose, leave
is never given?'' >.
cit is never even asked" ,:.:.,
tbs quite rlsht--it is never even asked.
1t would have the appearance of cowar-
dice. Well, then, I will not press it anv
more l will try and get on without it,"
"And you: will Do WELL" replied the
| eesaqppttal1pa eesqp 1pa<,.-.--.-,,-- ----------4
tois deserted. - i...: ri .<.... ~
Three mouths after, when the twelfth;
regiment, having reaped in the field of
battle an abundant harvest Of glory, was
making it's triumpbal entry into Strasburg,
Pierre Pitois was ignominiously dragged
back to his corps gems darmcs. A court
martial is Immediately called. Pierre Pi-
tots is accused of having deserted at the
very moment when his regiment was to
meet the enemy face to face. The court
presented singular spectacle. On the
one side, stood forth the accuscr, who
cried:
! "Pierre P;tois, you, one Of the bravcst
mon in the army you, on whose breast
the star Of honor yet glittcrs you, wh<
never incurred either punishment OF cen
sure from your officers you could no
r have Quilted your regiment quilted it ol
almost the eve of battle-without SOM
powerful motive to impel you This mo
tive the court demands of you; for it wou''
, gladly have it in its power, if not to acqpi
you-which it ought not, perhaps, eithe
to do or to dcsire-at least to rccommen
+ you to the Emperor mercy
4 On the other side stood the accused, wh
It answered.:
a II have deserted without any reason
n without any motive; I do not repent.
It it were to do again. / deserve death
IS pass sentence"
~ And then come some witnesses wh % d
4, posed:
!, "Pierre Pltois is mad; the court cal
not condemn lnadman. He must
sentenced, then, not to death, but to Il
lunatic asylum"
This alternative had very nearly be-
7. adopted, for there was not one person
the court who did not consider the desc
as ton of Pierre Pitois as one Of those sing
1c lar circumstances beyond the range of h
Ie man possibilities, which, while every o.
IL is forced to admit as fact, no one c.
be account for or comprehend. The accuse
er however, pleaded guilty most positive]
u and was most pcrtinacious in his dema1
he for the just penalty Of the law to be
he fictcd on him: He 50 boldly and fcarle
St. ly avowed his crime, continually repeati
that he did not regret it that at length
it firmness assumed the character Of a brs
ais ado, and left no room for clemency. s.
of tencc of death was therefore pronounce
er, Pierre Pitois heard his sentence re
lat with the most unhinching gaze. Th
zee warmly urged him to plead fo1 mercy, (
N, he refused. AS every one guessed Il
ne at the bottom of this affair there was so
elf strange mystery, it was Determined Il
th- the execution of Pierre should be delay
He was carried back to the militia
Gu prison, and it was announced to him til
at as mark of special favor, he had tn
Id, days given him to press for pardon.