East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-06-09
"Elrht Ye.rs.,l

"Love of country and my husband,
from whom | was DESTROYS never to bc
separated
What You woman:
yes, sire and YOU have never had in
the regiment an arm more devoted than
mine.n
What is the name Of your husband"
"POucut.n
Prom what country do you come :"
"Angoulemc.'
Your a ge:"
"Thirty.three."
"tlavc you any chil'ircn?'
"Ycs, sire, one son. -
How is he employed ~
"As trumpcter to the llth dra'
goons."
"Veiy well; do you understand the
evolntions the regiment
Yes, sire, AMI tho sword exercise"
81 am very anxious to witness this
sad the emperor, who listened to Breton
Double with increased interest "Col,
onel, Let troop advance and let the
brave Breton join thcranks.
The colonel directed tho movements,
which were executed by Breton Double
with so much ardor aud precision, that
the emperor was delighted AMI sur
prised at witnessing q woman manage
her horse with the yigor and courage OF
an old campaigncr.
al arm satisfied with your zeal and
ability" said the emperor, "and appoint
you regimental quarter master; take this
towards your dress at the same time
placing a Napoleon in her hand, and or
deriag twenty five additional to be
given her. eco and rcjoin your squad
ron, we shall meet again"
Breton Double expressed her CRATE
ful thanks to the emperor, and lost no
Time in taking the position to which, by
hernew rank she became entitled, amidst
the congratulations and cheers of the
numerous witnesses OF tho scene. The
9th hussars shortly afterwards joined
the corps of the army in Prussia, and
the battle of Eyau afforded Breton
Double an opportunity of distinguishing
her self The action had continued
moro than two hours, when Breton
Double, who had been sent to the right
wing with an order, rCioincd her corps,
and perceiving that the troop were sur
rounded 10y large body Of Russians,
couragoously dashed through the enc.
my, sword ia hand, killed the comman.
der, relieved her countrymcn, and re.
turned to the camp, proudly displaying
the sash of the van9uishcd officer.
The emperor having been Informed OF
this gallant feat, directed q golden medal
presented to her, which was received
by our heroine with grateful and relig-
ious respect. Subsequently, in Prussia
at the commencement or an action, she
had the misfortune to be wounded by
musket ball in the right hip: instead,
however, of returning to the camp she
continued TO assault the enemy with in.
creased vigor, out of revenge for the
pain she was enduring, from the wound;
but she was again struck by a bullet un'
der the right arm. Notwithstanding
this, she refused to quit the field, bound
up her wounds with her handkerchief to
stop the bleeding, hung her arm in a
sling, passed the rein of her bride over
her neck, and changing her sabre from
her right to her left hand, rushed like Q
furious hyena into the enemy's ranks
After killing and disabling several men
she was Immediately carried IN triumph
TO the emperor, Napoleon recognizing
Breton Double, was affected Mt such dc
votion and bravery; he took from hi'
own breast the cross OF honor, and pIa
ing it on hera, directed she should forth
with have her wounds examined and
every attention paid to her by surgeons
From that period until 1914 Breton
Double did not quit her regiment, per
forming eminent services IN the cam
paign, sometimes as courageous sol
der, and at other times entering into
the enemy's lines in female attire, eithe
as q huckster or peasant, III which latte
capacity she often obtained information
that was highly important and adyanta
gcous to the Freuch troops
At Waterloo she paid her last trib
ute to the glory of France, in the mill
tary service of which she had passed
seventeen years; during that engage
ment her leg was broken by muske
ball. and Poncet, her husband, then ;
captain died at her side, enthusiastcal
ly believing .he eagle was still victori
Gus. Her leg was ampntated on tn
field of slaughter, and Breton Double
respected and admired by her late en-
cmys, was conducted to Dublin, whcr'
she was obliged to undergo a seconc
amputation above the knee. Af.er pass
ing six years in this country, everywhere
honored and Hospitality treated, she re
turned to France on the death of Louis
XVIII, furnished with certificates fron
the French consul in Dublin and Tho
ambassador in London. From her lont
absence, it was concluded that she ha'
been killed at Waterloo, and in conse
quencc, the name of this woman, 81
worthy Of the order Of the Legion o
Honor, was not retained in the list o
members. She eventually obtained from
Charles X, pension of $50 francs; bu
the revolution OF July, so beneficial t.
Others. did but add to the misfortune: