The weekly Butte record., 1863-03-14

Z
Russians TO use their guns against them a
third time, for 10 half minute they would be
in the battery engaged in hand-to-hand fight
with the artillerymen. Another rush. and after
receiving 7olley Of musketry which scarcely
took effect. the Voliigeurs, with Blboquet
still at their head, leapt into the battery. and
in few seconds had disposed of their oppo-
nents aud captured the terrible guns
During the attack the Emperor stood on a
hillock watching its progress. He shuddered
Is each volley Of artillery swept down his men;
and when, at length. be saw less than half a
company enter the battery. he lowered his
glass. exelaiming Brave Fellows
Then ten thousand men OF the Imperial
Guard who we're stationed behind him, began
to clap their hands, and 10 shout, ." Bravo,
Voltigeurs. - And these were good critics ;
they knew what they were applauding.
Immediately alterward Napoleon gave some
orders to an aid de-camp. who thereupOu set
off at a gallop toward the battery, and instant
Y ICtuIItQ SdtlS I9aCS
"How many got in?" inquired the Emperor
Forty-one, Sire" replied the aid-de-camp.
Forty-one crosses tomorrow morning" +"
said the Emperor, turning toward the General
of the brigade to which the 9th belonged
The next day the regiment was formed in q
circle around the remains of the two companies
that had been entrusted with the capture of
the battery. As each name was called out,
the soldier answering to it stepped forward to
the General and received the Cross of the Le-
gion Of Honor.
The ceremony was over; the forty-on had
received their crosses, and the men were about
to be marched back to their encampments,
when voice from the ranks cried out:
And l. then? Am to have nothing ?"
1t was Biboquet, the little drummer boy,
who had been quite forgotten.
The General looked around and saw the
young hero standing before him, bis face red
with excitement and with two large tears
starting from his eyes.
You? what do you want?" asked the
General.
"Why, General, wasn't one of them ?' in
quired Bilboqaet almost in q passion. " Didn't
beat the charge in front of them all, and
wasn't it that got first into the battery?"
It's true, General, he did, exclaimed forty
one voices.
Silence in the ranks" shouted the General.
Then, turning again to BiIboquet, he said
What am [ to do, my poor boy? It's
very hard, but they have forgotten you. Be
sides you are very young" he continued
" Wait till you have hair on your chin, and
then you'll get one too. In the meanwhile,
you must try to console yourself with this"
And with these words the General held out
a forty frame piece to the unfortunate Biboquet
who looked at it for a few seconds without
evincing the slightest intention of taking it.
All were silent. Every one was looking at the
poor little drummer boy, and wondering what
he would do. His eyes were filed with tears,
and those who had been the first to tease him,
now pitied him from the bottom of their hearts.
The whole regiment seemed inclined to take up
his case and probably the result would have
been a petition to the Emperor, had not the
young drummer suddenly changed his attitude
lie raised his head, looked the General full in
the face, and said
Well, give it to me. l must wait for an
other time"
And, without further ceremoney, he put the
coin in his pocket, and went back to the ranks
humming an air.
From this moment no one thought of i'll
treating young Bilboquet. Bu: he was not
very communicative to his comrades, and
seemed to have some strange project in his
head, about which he was constantly medita-
ting. 1t was expected that be would spend
his forty francs in treat, and several hints to
that effect were thrown out by his fellow SOL
dcrs, Bat no. Biboqbet kept his money
and his counsel to himself
Sometime afterwaTd the French army en-
tered Smolensk. Bilboquet had assisted at the
capture, and the day after walked all over the
town examining every face with remarkable
curiosity. He seemed pleased with most of the
he saw, for he was perpatually
smiling. especially when be met man who had
q long beard. and be met several thousands of
them in the course of the day.
However the boards of Smolensk are for
the most part carrotty. This seems not to
have met with Blboquet's appreciation; but
he probably reflected that if the Russians. the
Poles. and other Sclavonians had red boards
that was not their fault, and that they had not
chosen that color themselves for the purpose of
q French drummer boy. However
that may have been. he continued to laugh
whenever he met man with red beard,
until at last he found himself in the Jewish
quarter of the city, where all the boards are
hi,CE