Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-04


time for your debut / smiled complaeently,
an. with sodier-ike air as | brushed the
sleeve of my coat, which bullet striking
some thirty PAGES off, had covered with dust
Ii seemed as If the Russians perceived the
small effect of their fire, for they now began
to send shells instead of bullets, as being more
likely to tell upon Us In our sheltered situation
Presently one burst with terrific explosion,
killing a man close by me, and knocking off
my hat. IL congratulate you" said the cap
tain, as / picked up my hat, "you are safe
for to-day" | was not ignorant of the mill
tary superstition which holds that non gus IN
idem is as good an axiom for the battlefield
as for court of justice, and put on my hat
with defiant air, saying as gaily "a | could,
" lhls Is rather an unceremonlous way of
making man salute" which forlorn joke
seemed excellent, considering the circum-
stances. "Icongratulate you" again exclaimed
the Captain; ''you will not get scratch, and
YOU will command company this evening,
for | shall get my discharge to-day. Every
time / have been wounded, the officer next in
command has been struck by a spent ball."
added he in lower tone, as if ashamed of his
superstitious feelings, "their names always be-
gan with p" felt encouraged; most men
would have been, as l was, struck with these
prophetic words. Novice as was, felt that
could unbosom myself to no one, and it was
incumbent upon me to appear always coolly
intrepid.
In half an hour the fire of the enemy sensi-
bly, increased and we left out shelter to attack
the redoubt. Our regiment consisted of three
battalions. The second had orders to charge
upon the redoubt from the valley side, the
other two were to make the first attack.
was in the third battalion. As we emerged
from behind the natural rampant that had
protected us, we were greeted with several
discharges of musketry, which, however, did
but little mischief in our ranks. The whist
ling of the balls surprised me; / could not help
turning my head, and thus got laughed at by
nv companions, who had become more famil-
lar with the sound. On the whole, said to
myself, battle is not so terrible, after all.
We advanced quickly, preceded by the artil-
lery. Suddenly the Russians gave three
shouts and then were silent and ceased firing
a. don't like that silence said my Captain;
"it bodies no good" / thought our troops
were somewhat too noisy, and could not help
comparing their tumutuous shouts with the
imposing silence of the enemy.
We soon reached the foot of the redoubt;
the palisades had been broken, and the earth
blown up by our fire. The soldiers rushed in
over the ruins with cries OF" Vire Empertu,"
louder than could have been expected from
men who had shouted so much. | raised my
eyes, and shall never forget the spectacle
which met them. The smoke had risen, and
hung like canopy, twenty-feet above the
redoubt. Through the blue vapor, | saw be-
hind the battered parapet the Russian grena-
diers, with pieces raised, motionless as statues.
j can still see these men, each with his left eye
fastened upon us, the other concealed by his
musket. In an embrasure, few feet dis
tance, stood a man close by a cannon and
holding firebrand. / shuddered, for l
thought my last hour had come. 1.-The ball is
going to beginw cried our Captain, 'good
night" They were the last words / heard
him utter. The drums beat in the redoubt;
/ saw the muskets lowered; shut my eyes,
and heard horrible crash, followed by cries
and groans. / opened my eyes, astonished to
find myself alive; the redoubt was again en-
veloped in smoke, and i was surrounded by
dead and wounded. My Captain lay at my
feet; he had been struck in the head by shot,
and was covered with his brains and blood.
OF all my company there remained but six
men besides myself.
A moment oil stupor succeeded this slaughter.
The Colonel, waving his chapeau on the point
of his sword, was the first to scale the parapet,
shouting, Virep Empereur!" and was followed
by all the surviving soldiers. have scarcely
a clear recollection of what ensued. We en-
tered the redoubt know not how, and fought
hand to hand in smoke so thick that we
could not see each other. l must have struck
some one for | found my sabre all bloody
AT last heard the shout of victory, and the
smoke clearing, saw the heaps of dead bodies
and the pools OF blood which covered the
ground. The cannon too were almost hidden
by the corpses of those who had fallen. About
two hundred men in French uniform were
standing in disorder, some loading their mus
kets, others wiping their bayonets, and with
them were eleven Russian prisoners.
The Colonel had thrown himself pale and
bleeding, on broken cdisson near the en-
trance. The soldiers pressed around him. |
approached also where is the senior Cap
tan?" he asked of Sergeant. The Sergeant
shrugged his soldiers significantly. "And the
senior Lieutenant ?" "This gentlemen who
arrived yesterday" answered the Sergeant
with perfect cooness The Colonel smiled
bitterly. Come, sir" said he to me, '.you are
ommander-in-chief; see that the entrance OF
the redoubt is promptly fortified with these
wagons, for the enemy is in force; however,
Gen. c. will relieve us shortly" Colonel"
said /, "you are grievously hurt "Cut to
pieces, my dear fellow, but the redoubt is oursv