The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1862-03-20
storm,ng OF the Isedoubt.

t Lay the nero IN nis tomo. 80 stE ft- n
PARK BExyAxrx.
Storming Of the RedOubt.
o .a35Efs4s9i1 $50 SO q
Translated for ThetSprinafeld Republican
from the French IF n. -Ncrimee]
A friend Of mine, soldier who died ol
the fever in Greece some years since, related
to me one day his experince in his first bat.
tie. His story interested me so much that ]
took the first opportunity of writing down
fsom memory.
"Ijoined my regiment on the evening Of
September fourth. I found the colonel in
the camp. and; h. receive me bluntly enough
but alter having read Gen. B,'s letter ofrec-
cominendation. his manner changed, he ad.
dressed me kindly. and presented me to my
captain, who had just returned from recon.
noissance This captain, whose acq,ain-
tancc hardly had tine to make. was darl;
cornplexiohc man, with hard and repulsiye
features. lie had been a private soldier, and
had earned bis cross and e,mnletts upon the
battle field. His voice, which was weak and
husky, consrasted siangn'Y with his giant
like figure, I was told that this weakness
Of voice was owing to a shot he had re.
ceivcd at Jena. Hearing that was from
the school at Fontainehleau, he said, with an
expressive grimac, MY Lieutenant died yes
to-day understood what he meant. =
you viii have to take his place. and you
are not fit A sharp answer came to my
lips. but held my tongue.
The moon came up behind the fortifica.
tons Of Cheverine, (which were at two can.
non shots distance from our camp,) looking
large nnlrci as asua' at its rising; but this
evening it seemed to me of extraordinary
size. For an instant the redoubt showed
black against its brilliant disk, resembling
the cone Of a volcano at the moment oferup.
ton An old soldier, who stood near by,
remarked the color of the moon. 1T is very
red,' said he; that is sign that we shall
have hard work to take that famous re.
doubt I have always been somewhat su.
pcrs,itions, and this prediction, at such a
time, sensibly affected me. I lay down bu.
could not sleep. arose, and walked back
and forth for some time, watching the long
line of lights which blazed on the nights
above the village Of Chevcrino. When l
thought the fresh, bracing night air had suf
ficiently cooled my blood I returned to the
fire, wrapped Myself in my cloak and shut
my eyes, hoping not to open them again till
morning. But sleep would not come to me
Insenslbly, my thoughts took . gloomy
turn; remembered that had net single
friend among the hundred thousand men
who covered that plain. FL were wounded
I should be placed in hospital and treated
carelcssly by unskillfll surgeons. An thai
had ever read or heard of surgical opera
tons came back to my mind; my heart bea
painfully, and in Voluntarily arranged ir
the fashion ofa breast plate the handker
chief and portfolio which carried in my
bosom. Twas very tired, but il I dozed
those gloomy images were continually recur
ring, and swoke with start Of terror
At length fatigue overcame me, and wher
the rcveillc beat was sleeping soundly.-
We were drawn up in line, the roll was cal
led, and then our arms were stacked, ant
everything promised quiet day. =
"About three o'clock an aid dc camp bea
ing orders rode up. The troops were sum
moned to arms; and the artillery drawn on
on the plain, while We followed slowly, ar,
in twenty ninutcssaw the advance guard o
the Russians reti. within their Notifications
A body Of artillery was stationed on ou
right and snether on our left. both at q con
siderable distancelin advance ofus, VII
opened sharp fro upon the enemy, whic
was cnergetically ret4rped, and soon tn
fortifcations Of ofChcverino were lost to sigh
beneath thick clouds of smoke. Our regimen
was almost completely sheltered from tn
fire Of the Russians by rise of ground
Their bullets, when. aimed at, us, whic
was seldom, for they fired chiefly upon th
artillery Companies, passed over our head
or at most threw upon US earth and stone
As soon as the order 70 advance was givel
my csptsinturned upon me an inquiriu
look, which forced me to stroke my .nasccl
moustacbc with as nonchalant an air as
could assume. And in fact, was not frig
tened; the only anxiety felt was lest
should be suspected Of fear. The harmlc
bullets contributed not little to produce II
heroic calmness. Vanity whispered that
was in great danger, being at last under 4
FIRE of a battery, and was delighted to III
myself so comfortable, promising myself I
pleasure Of relating the capture Of Chevcri
in the drawing rooms Of Madaine de Sal
Luxsn, in The Rue de Provence.
sOur colonel rode along the line, and
costcd me: Won said .hs, you viii III