Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-03-23
JAQUEs DUFOUR.
A STORY OF THE GRAND ARMY.

On the oath of October, 1912, the first corps
of the French army having received an order to
evacuate Moscow, arrived at Malijarosayetz in
time to share in the glorious engagement in
which Prince Eugene, at the head of the 4th
corps, proved victorious over the concentrated
forces of the enemy. The battle was obstinate
and bloody, and the little town vigorously
and CALAMITY contested on both sides, and
several times taken and retaken before the close
of the day, when the French ultimately secured
possession.
Colonel Kobiinski one of the aides -de-camps
of Marshal Davoust, while galloping along the
line to deliver order, was struck by cannon
shot, fell from his horse, and was supposed to
have been killed, but the marshal was riding
slowly over the field, man covered with blood
suddenly raised himself upon his elbow in the
midst of heap of dead, and family exclaimed
"What, comrades, will you leave me here
to perish without hep?''
1t was Colonel Kobilinski, who, it was gener-
ally believed, should he have escaped with his
life, must have fallen into the hands of the
enemy. litter was hastily constructed by the
men of the escort, and the sufferer soon
under the hands of a surgeon. His wound was,
however, of so frightful a nature, that when it
had been carefully examined, the surgeon ex-
changed with Davoust glance which betrayed
that he had no hopes of saving his patient
Nevertheless, by desire of the Marshall with
"nom eh0 B"ii"hI youuS iolo was al eoPCcHti
favorite, it was resolved that his wounded leg
should be amputated at the hip but the agony
of the operation proved intense that Kobilinski
having, as q last farewell, convulsively pressed
the hand of his General, once more became un-
conscious.
On the following day an order arrived for
Davoust Immediately to quit the Kalouga road
and to fall back upon that of wilma, from which
point the retreat was to be effected and the
troops were already in the act of commencing
their march, when the Marshal had sent to in
quire into the state of his aide-de-camp, return
ed with the information that contrary to all ex-
pectations of the surgeon, he still lived Davoust
resolved that the unfortunate man should not be
abandoned in his last hours to the vengeance of
the Russians, still unable to devise any means
of transportation which would secure his safety.
The hospital wagon had been left in the rear all
the baggage burnt what was to be done
Suddenly a thought struck him and halting n
company of grenadiers who were at the moment
filing before him, he said impressively:
"Soldiers my aid-de-camp, Colonel Kobi-
inski, has had his thigh shattered by ball.
He is, as you all know, Pole and he must not
be allowed to fall in the hands of the btterest
enemies of his country. He has served France
we'll and bravely, and it is but fitting that French
men should show how they repay the debt
confde him to the care of your company. 1t
will be n service of danger, as thus burdened,
you will be unable to keep up with your comrades
on forced march but know that you will do
your duty when tell you to guard him as you
would your colors."
A murmur of assent ran along the line. The
prenaders fell back in order that the troops by
whom they had hitherto been followed might
advance and then, having laid kobilinski as
commodiously as they were able to upon his
litter. they placed him in the center of the COM
pany and followed the retrogade movement of
the army With the tenderness of women rather
than roughness of wnter-beaten veterans, they
bore the wounded man along occasionally stop
ping to change his bearers, or to deprive them
selves of some portion of their own clothing to
protect him still more from the piercing cold.
Meanwhile, the sufferer-grateful for the care
of his Jealous companions, exulting in the un-
hoped-for kindness of his beloved commander
by whom, manned and helpless as he was, he
had been so generously cared for, and grateful
to Providence on thus finding himself still sur
rounded by familiar and friendly faces-appear-
ed, despite the anguish produced by the motion
of the litter, to awaken to renewed hope and at
intervals he expressed his conviction that the
skill of the French surgeons would not only cure
his wound, but even enable him once more to
take the field.
81 am young comrades" he said, cheerfully,
knows? l may yet have glorious career before
me. cannot surely die when my task is but
just commenced
"True, Monsieur, true" was on one Of these
occasions the sympathizing reply "our Marshal
cannot spare you yet Only let us carry you
safe to wilma, and all will soon be right with
you again. Why here is Jacques Dufour, who
has more scars upon his body than he has teeth
in his head and yet if he chances to have SICK
comrade, he can eat his rations for him as wen ,
as his own. Take pull Monsieur, at the oo.te .he
which the doctor said was to help you over nam 'no
road, and keep up your heart. fe'.e ~, Rnss
from a Frenchman." ond
Thus passed several Of the t0Io%e a Sna aoa
weary march of the gallant little ssesI and % snow
sne sceae derness began to depress the stoutest
!, ,As the ONLY TSss gssdua s aHs
"nlcn .ney .,;ous that the retreat, which had COM
memo nenced in so orderly and hopeful a manner, had
under the incessaut intensity of the cold, degen-
Grated into disorgonzed march. Arms, mill,
mrv eouipments and dead horses, were scattered
=, ;,,erva,s along the road but still the grcna-