The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-08-23

summons.
"Say to your commander" he said, in
reply to the messenger, "that this garri-
son will defend this post to the last ex-
tremity."
The officer who had borne the flag of
truce retired, and in about ten minutes
piece of artillery was brought into the
pass and opened on the tower. But to
effect this the piece had to be placed di-
rectly in front of the tower, and within
easy musket range of it. They had
scarcely got the gun in position when
rapid fire was opened on it from the tow
or, and continued with such marked effect
that the piece was withdrawn after tho
second discharge, with a loss Of FIVE men.
This was bad beginning, 80 half an
hour after the gun was withdrawn, the
Austrian colonel ordered an assault.
AS the troops entered the defle they
were received with rapid and accurate
fire, so that when they had passed over
half the distance they had to traverse,
thoy had lost fifteen men. Disheartened
by this, they returned to the mouth OF
the de6le
Three more assaults were repulsed IN
this manner, and the onomy by sunset
had lost forty-fvc mon, of whom ten Woro
killed.
The firing from tho tower had been
rapid and accurate, but the Austrian COM
mandcr had noticed this popularity about
it-every shot seemed to come from the
same place. For awhile this porploxed
him, but at last he came to the conclusion
that there wore a number Of loop-holes
close together in the tower, so constructed
as to command the ravine perfectly.
At sunset the last assault was made
and ropulsod, and at dark the Austrian
commander sent second summons to tho
garrison.
This time the answer was favorable.
The garrison offered to surrender at sun
rise the next morning, if allowed to
march out with their arms and return to
the army unmolested. Aftor some hesi-
tation the terms were accepted.
Meantime, La Tour d'Auvergno had
passed an anxious day in the tower. He
had opened tho fight with an armament
of thirty loaded muskets, but had not
been able to discharge them all. He had
fred with surprising rapidity, but with
surprising accuracy, for was well known
in tho army that he never threw away
shot. Ho had determined to stand to his
post until he had accomplished his end,
which was to hold the place twenty-four
hours, in order to allow the French army
time to complete its maneuvre. Alter
that, ho knew the pass would bo of no
consequence to the enemy.
When the demand for q surrender camo
to him after tho last assault, he consented
to it upon the conditions named.
The next day at sunrise the Austrian
troops lined the pass in two files, extend
ing from the mouth to the tower, leaving
q space between them for the garrison to
pass out.
The heavy door of the tower opened
slowly, and in few minutes bronzod
and Scared grenadier, literally loaded
down with muskets, came out and passed
down to the line of troops. Ho walked
with difficulty under his heavy load.
To the surprise of the Austrians, no one
followed him from the tower.
In astonishment tho Austrian colonel
rode up to him, and asked him in French
why the garrison did not como out.
~ am tho garrison, colonel" said the
soldier, proudly.
"What," exclaimed tho colonel; "do
you moan to tell me that you alone have
held that tower against me?"
II have that honor, colonel" was tho
reply.
"What possessed you to make such an
attempt, grenadior p
aThe honor of France was at stake"
The colonel gazed at him for a mo-
ment with undisguisod admiration; then,
raising his cap, ho said, warmly: "Grcna-
dier, I salute you. You havo proved
yourself tho bravest of the brave"
The officer caused all the arms which
La Tour d'Auvcrgno could not carry to
be collected, and sent them all, with tho
grenadier, into the French lines, together
with noto relating to the whole affair.
When the knowledge of it came to the