The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-02-26

those concerned in the outrage"
But" continued the young man
"your General has bcea misinformed
No French soldiers have visited on
village before you. We have truly
been in great fear and anxiety thr
whole night; but the valley is deel
and the village partly concealed from
view by the woods on the side
There are also the villages Of Middle
and Lower W aldorf, which lie fnrthel
down in the open valley. You car
soon satisfy yourself. sir, that thi.
village is innocent, and / entreat vor
not so shed the blood of our harmless,
people,
There is no time Tor investigation
said the officer II was ordered "a
proceed to Waldorf. an am guided
hither. | will wait till you make
choice Of ten mon TO be satisfied, hut
have no authority TO do more"
BY this time the people had learned
the fate in store for them. The wo-
men in tears and appealing gestures
crowded around the officer begging
him TO spare their husbands and sons
the men stood silent, with bloolless
faces and dumb imploring eyes The
scene was evidently painful. both TO
the officer and the soldiers, accustom-
ell to the UInerciiul code OF war -
They were anxious to put IN end to it
and leave; but the clergymGn's son,
inspired with the belief that the fate
Of ten men rested upon his efforts.
continued to Irse his plea with 4 zeal
and eloquence that would not be set
aside. Lieutenant Lamotte struggled
awhile between his sense Of duty aud
his natural humanity, while the Young
advocate appealed to his conscience
aud to the obedience he owed TO a
higher commander than Dlyouste.-
Finally he consented to wait while II
Sergeant was dispatched to head
quarters, accompanied by peasant
TO show him the nearest way A few
lines, hastily pencilcd. stated the facts
of the case, and asked for further in
struction.
Meanwhile the Inhabitants waited
in a state OF suspense scarcely to I've
endured. Lieutenant Lam0tlo--who
as thorough FrcNchman, soon wea-
ried of u painful emotion. and shaking
it OF at the risk Of appearing heart
less, said: The morning is keen,
and . walk before sunrise does not
diminish the appetite, can you rive
MS some refreshments from your hid
den supplies? At word from the
young man, many Of the women
brought together the coffee they had
for their own breakfast, with
black bread, mugs OF beer, and Il
small cheese or two--sulllcicnt for 1t
rough meal--of which the soldiers
partook with the usual laughing com
ments on 81 cuisine iIie1qUiL' The
OF victims looked on in 81
lence. and more than once muttered
gloomily, 'we are feeding our exe.u-
TONERS"
Even if that should he true" said
the young man, lit is but doing as
Christ has taught MS. Whether or
not we obtain Christian charity from
these men let rs at least show them
that we are Christian"
This rebuke had its effect. A fey
Of the men assisted in entertaining the
soldiers, and the latter with their ia
cility for fraternization soon made
themselves at home. As the stomach
llls, the heart also enlargcs, and the
mon began to sny among themselves,
1T is pity that these men should be
shot through mistake
1t WAS not long before the Sergeant
and his guile arrived. The former
handed the Lieutenant n note, which
he hastily tore open and read
Waste no time in parley. 1t is indif
ferent which village is punished m
example must be made. Do your
duty and return instantly" So ran
The pitiless answer,
"Choosc \ our menl' said the Lieu
tenant, rising to his feet aud grinding
his teeth to keep down his taltering
heart. But now the lamentations
broke ont afresh The women cllug
around the men who were dear To
them, and many Of ,thc latter, over
come by the general distress, uttered
loud cries and prayers for mercy -
The young man llnelt down in front
Of them. saying to the officer, II do
not kneel to you, but | will pray TO
God that he viii remove The sin OF
slaughter from your SOUL
As the officer met his earnest eyes,
full of sublime calmnoss and cour-
age, his own suddenly filled wlth
tears. lie turned to his men who
stood drawn up in line before him,
but no word was spoken. Their
hands were in their proper places,
according to drill regulations and
there were drops on many cheeks
which could not be wiped away
There was a silent question in the Of
fcer's eye--a silent answer in theirs.
The former turned hnrrledly, beck
oned the young man to him, and
whispered in an agitated voice:
My friend, / will save you by
stratagem. Choose ten of yow most
courageous men, place them in a line
before me and | VIII order my sol
ders to shoot them through the head.
At the instant give the order to fire,
they must fall fat on the ground my