Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-10-10
Prince Napoleon and the old Soldier,

A few days ago there occurred one of those
rare incidents in the progress of Prince Napo.
Icons tour through the United States, which
will not soon be forgotten by our illustrious
visitor, albeit tender recollections thereof may
not be Of long duration with one of the par.
ties interested, whose gray hairs will ere long
be moistened by the cammy dews of death.
Lorenz Harte, relic of the Grand Army
of the First Napoleon, now an inmate of the
Cook County poor-hOuse, had an interview
with Prince Napoleon. County Agent Han
son, learning the wish OF 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 a moment look
ing each other in the face-the second heir to
the French crown and the SCARED and bronzed
veteran of a score of battles. Advancing,
the Prince grasped the old mans hand, ard
conducted him TO a seat, and spoke SO kindly
that the veterans heart oyerfowed, and he
burst into tears.
To those at all acquainted with the history
of the Napoleonic dynasty, neither the kind
ness of the Prince nor the emotion of the old
soldier viii be wondered at All such well
know tie remarkable power that the first Ma
.
as well as the wild and uncomfortable idcIatry
manifested by the latter toward the former,
upon all occasions, whether in victory or de-
feat.
In this interview, the veteran fought bis
battles DER again. The Prince questioned
him, and listened with gIistening eys to his
recital of those thrilling incidents which ever
had IS their hero a Napoleon.
The quick eye Of the Prince noticed the
absence OF three fingers from one of the SOL
Gier'S hands
Where did you lose your fingers p
" In the retreat from Moscow | was at
tached to the cavalry, aud 10 one of the char
ges of those villainous Cossacks, lance de-
priyed me of my fingers But, aud the old
veterans eye shone with the old battle-ljght,
3. my sa5er finished him, sire Alb. those
Cossacks were the most splendid horsemen
that ever saw, but they were afraid Of Mu-
rats cavalry, after ALL And the old soldiers
mind wandered back TO that terrible retreat
from the burning capitol Of the Russians, sur
rounded by the iDfexibIe rigors of Russian
Water aud barraSsed day and night by those
furious ousets Of COssack ca7alry-those Wild
aud daring children Of the plains.
81 This. sire, was done at Lodi" exhibiting
terrible scar upon bis left sdoulder made by
q grape shot.
" And this,7 barring the calf Of bis left leg,
showing the track Of bullet through and
through il, " was done at Acro,a"
This saber cut upon my head vas received
at Au='e-ljtze, aud so was this sire" teHdeTly
hO''as up cte Cross Of the Legion Of Honor,
bestowed un0u him by Napoleon for special
service on lat bloody fed.
Aud thus the old ba.tIe-scaTred veteran
~hjIed away two pleasant hours-houFs traught
with proud and tender recollections 10 both
Prince and soldier aud when the veteran
arose to 90 be blessed the mu1ifcence Of the
Prince, which had pressed we.Lf.led parse
into his hand, aud given hin assurance that
Ia Bale France had not forgotten her veterans,
and tina; liberal pension should be pro7id
ed for him.