Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-11-08
Amenities of War.


had been repulsed in their first attack
The weather was hot. anil there was par
tial cessation of the fire in different parts Of
the field for an hour or two about the
middle of the day. During this the SOL
dicrs of each army went down to get water
at the same little stream, and we're near
enough to hold amiable intercourse togeth-
er. renewing the battle again Immediately
afterwards. The French finally retired.
but returned after some day, with an in
creased force, before which the allies found
it necessary to abandon falasera, and TO
leave their sick and wounded at the riiercy
of the enemy. So far from these unfortti-
nate men suffering ty the change. the
French marshal, Mortier, Immediately of.
ganized good hospital for them, by beds
and other conveniencies demanded Of the
inhabitants, and placed them In very sti-
perior position TO that in which they had
been under our own arrangements. One
very fine young officer who had lost leg
seemed particularly to attract Morier's SYM
pathy. He supplied him with money for
his drafts ard other convenien,ie< and
when he was well enough, gave him leave
and credentials TO enable him TO return
home to Paris, where he was present at the
fetes for the marriage of Napoleon I. TO
Maria Louisa of Austria
No unnt cessary harrassing warfare was
carried ON between the outposts OF the two
armies; on the contrary, there we're fire.
quently amicable understandings between
them. Sometimes, in changes of position
or circumstances, partial alterations would
be required, or one party have to retire
more or less; this would be frequently set
tied by polite message; or if in move
ment by wave Of the hand, when, if the
party appealed to saw that it was reason-
able, would give way. Thus. after the bat
tie of Busaco, French outpo,t remained
in village nearer to our line than was JUS
tifable in our relative position. Instead of
attacking them, Gen. Crawford sent mes
sage requ' sting them to move TO greater
distance. The officer commanding the post
said that he had been placed there by supe-
rior authority. and could not retire, unless
obliged by force; upon which the general
ordered out one of his field pieces, and fred
a round or two into the village. This sat
isfed the honor and responsibility of the
officer, who made bow and Withdrew his
party, which, in fact, we would have anni-
hilated.
In the retreat 70 Corunna, our cavalry
halted one evening at Benaveut-, and took
measures for destroying the bridge. Napo-
lean, in person, followed US as fas as this
spot. during the night the French patrols
came several times to their end of the bridge
to ascertain whether we still held on but
on being challenged by our seniinels retired.
One dragoon advanced further than the
rest, and one of our seutinels, of an Irish
regiment, called out, 'Will ] shoot thnt fel-
lowf by no means, replied his officer,
and the dragoon hearing the h,bbub speedi-
ly withdrew. At the battle Of Corunna
our wounded were carried off the field, and
we retired at nightfall and embarked. A
French drummer, with others, in hopes of
picking up something of little value, and in
tumbling over the body of British officer,
discovered that he was not dead. Upon
giving that information the officer was re-
moved, taken great care Of. and finally re-
covered. He was one Of the heroic Ma
piers.
After the action of Fuentes donor the
village was between two armies. Men from
each were scattered over it. somewhat mix
venienci 10 take out to their respective
bivouacs To prevent confusion, or perhaps
quarrels, they drew line Of demarkation
along one street, which neither was TO pass
and this amicable relation was respected by
both. At the lines of Lisbon. as they were
calied-but, in fact, some twelve or Hfteen
miles in advance Of that city-the two ar
mics lay in front of one another quiescrnt
for some months their advanced posts in
some parts being so near that friendly COM
municaiions frequently took place brtween
them. The British had the fine city of Lis
bon in their rear, where every sort Of CON-
fort could be obtained. The French had
no such resources within their reach. II
happened on more than enc occasion. that
the French officers AZ our outpost would
ask of ours TO Obtain for them some little
luxury from Lisbon--a box Of cigars, cof-
fee, stationary, or other Dbjszf-which re-
quest was always complied with Perhap.
one of the mosi Interesting ans cdeies Of the
courtesies Of war is that beautiful irait Of
the French Dragon who met FELTON, IIar-
vey, of the l. Irh Light Dragons, in cav
ally skirmish. Harvey had los, an arm.
and, as they approached each other instinc-
lively raised the stump TO ep'l'-aser to save