The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-08-23
IIrEIH gaIRgT GIRAMAD1IER.

and which was meant to commemorate
the heroism of o departed comrado.
When the companies assembled Tor
parade, and the roll was called, there was
ono name to which it's owner coulo hoV
answer-it was that of La Tour q Au-
vergne.
When it was called, the Oldest sergeant
present stepped pace forward, and rails
ing his hand to his cap, said, proudly:
| aDied on the field of honor"
For fourteen years this custom was
continued, and only ceased when the re-
stored Bourbons, to please their foreign
masters, forbade everything that was cal
culated to preserve the spirits of the sol
diers of France.
La Tour d'Auvergne was not unworthy
in life the honor thus paid him after his
death. He was educated for the army,
entered in 1766, and in 17S1 served under
the Duke de Crillon at the siege of Port
Mahon. He served always with distinc-
tion, but constantly refused offers Of pro-
motion, saying that he was only fit for the
command of q company Of grcnadiers;
but finally, the various grenadier COM
panies being united, he found himself in
| command of body of 5000 men, while
retaining only the rank of captain.
Hence he was known as the First
Grenadier of France.
But it is of ono particular exploit of his
that we wish to write, moro than his ca
reer in general.
When he was forty years of age ho
went on visit to friend, not far from
section of the country that was soon to
become the scene of q campaign. While
there he was busy in acquainting himself
with the features of the country, think
ing it not unlikely that this knowledge
might be of use to him, and whilo hero
the brave grenadicr was astonished to
learn that tho war had been rapidly shifted
to this quarter, and that regiment of
Austrans was pushing On to occupy
narrow pass about ton miles from wherc
he was staying and tho possession of
which would give them an opportunity
to prevent an important movement Of tho
French which was then on foot.
They hoped to surprise this post, and
were moving SO rapidly upon it that they
wore not more than two hours distant
from the place whore ho was staying, and
which they would have to pass in their
march. 1t matters not how he heard tho
news. 1t is sufficient to say that hc de-
termincd at once to act upon it.
He had no idea of being captured by
tho onomy in their advance, and he at
once set off for the pass. Ho know that
the pass was defended by stout tower,
and garrison of thirty men, and he hoped
to be able to warn the mon of their
danger.
He hastoned on, and arriving there,
found the tower in perfect condition. 1t
has just been vacated by the garrison,
who had heard of the approach Of the
Austlians, and had been seized with q
panic thoreat and had fed, leaving their
arms, consisting of thirty excellent mus
kets.
La Tour d'Auvcrgno gnashod his toeth
with rage as he discovered this. Search
ing in tho building ho found several boxes
of ammunition which tho towards had
not destroyed. For a moment he was in
despair, but then with grim smile he
began to fasten the main door and pile
against it such articles as he could find.
/ When no had done this ho loaded all
| the guns he could find, and placed them,
together with q good supply of ammuni-
ton, under tho loop-holes that command
cd tho road by which the enemy must
advance.
| Then he ate heartily of tho provisions
which he had brought with him, and sat
| down to wait. He had absolutely formed
the heroic resolution to defend the tower
alone against the enomy.
There were some things in his favor in
such an undertaking. The pass was
steep and narrow, and tho enemy's troops
could enter it only in double files, and in
doing this would bc fully exposed to the
fire from the tower The original garri-
son Of thirty mon could easily have held
it against division, and now ono man
was about to attempt to hold it against a
regiment.
1t was dark when La Tour d'Auvergne