Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-01-22
srlrrt TaIr.



During the First French Empire, every regi-
ment had its dog whose intelligence, thanks to
the soldiers care, was improved by education and
discipline. The Grand Armys dogs were picked
up almost everywhere, except in England. They
had been recruited iH Poland. in Prussia, in Hol-
land in Saxony, and In Flanders. They were
mongrel mastifis hounds, Danish dogs aud span
ies. Bat matter whence they came, they soon
turned French Foreign dogs were naturalized
without knowing It,
Bugen is an island in the Baltic Sea, opposite
to StrAlsund, on the coast of Pomerana Forti-
fed both by nature and by art, Its situation is cx-
ceedingly strong. Ia time OF peace, IN conse-
quence Of its fertile soil its salubrous air. and is
mild climate. Rugen is a delightful retreat In
time Of war it is an important post natural cta-
del, and formidable fortress, whose possession
has been purchased at the expense of many a
bloody fight. During the campaign of 1907 the
island was comprised in their sphere of operations
by the corps commanded by Marshal Davoust, and
was occupied by an infantry regiment Of the line,
and by several companies of sappers and miners.
The regiment, OF course had a dog-a black and
white poodle-named Capuchin-not because he
was born in Capnchins' convent in Italy (Which
would have besa a quite sufficient reason,) but in
allusion to the copper or iron rings by which q
gun-barrel is fastened to its stock. The dogs
short bark might perhaps have been thought to re-
semble the snappish report Of a musket.
ations ordered by Napoleon the First, the island
had to be suddenly evacuated, to carry out move
ment in retreat, abandoning the whole line of the
Pomeranan coast. Every post every man, was
withdrawn; but in such a hasty way that they for
got an advanced sentinel perched on the top OF q
hillock which commanded the entrance Of the port
of Rugen. This sentinel was a youug soldier
named Firmin Bolard, who had scarcely been
three years in the service. At present soldier
who has served three years is considered quite a
veteran; at that time, troopers who could reckon
three, FIVE. seven, and nine years Of service,
were still called conscripts. Now, Bonard the
soldier and Capuchin the dog happened to be par
ticularly good friends, bound by the strongest ties
OF mutual attachment
The corporal of the post had planted Frmin as
sentinel on the hillock exactly at midnight The
latter therefore calculated on being relieved at
two in the morning, and also that from two till
FIVE he would have three good hours to doze and
slumber in the corps-degar,le So Firmin Bonard
beguled the time by anticipating this supreme in-
dulgence, also by thoughts of his village steepe,
OF his aged cures ancient housekeeper, OF the
hay-stack where he used to play at hide-and-seek
aud sundry other recoleotions In this way the
minutes slipped slowly by, aud the two hours
guard were drawing to close.
All at once he heard a noise. lie listened
1T is the corporal coming to relieve guard ~ lac
thought, aud prepared TO utter the formal - Qu
NNtf DuL tht houlN, Wiith itstmbtu llAi OF
human footsteps, soon followed by complete
silence. " couldn't be- mstalen!n he said "a
himself. Besides, my time must now be up
lie listened again, still more attentiyely, Almost
Immediately, he heard lhe barking Of a dog, whc
came forward in his direction On recognizing
Capuchin's voice, the sentinel looked round hin
anxionsly. Perceiving nothing which threatened
an attack, he wondered what could he the mean,
ing OF this nocturnal visit Before lac had time
10 consider the matter, the animal hai climbed the
hill and was jumping up his legs. Z" lt's you. Ca
puchn Very good. You got tired of waiting
there and am tired OF standing hero. The air
is keen. aud ! am terrible slnepy You should
have brought the corporal with YOU. His watch
must have stopped H. ought to sell it for old
iron and buy a new one.N
Capuchin's answer was frenzied bark and a
series OF mad leaps around his friend.
" i undorstand,n said Firmin smiling. :" You
are asking me 10 dance to warm myself It's pity
you are not provided with the password aud a
musket.N
Capuchin continued TO bark, running right and
left like creature possessed. Finding all these
man@ascrs useless, be ran up to the soldier, pull
ed him by the coat, and tried hard TO pull him
away, renewing his efforts with such violence that
he tore the soldiers uniform. firn,n, consider
ing this proof of affection more troublesome than
pleasant, lost his temper, and gave poor Capuchin
a kick. The dog, bowling at finding himself so
eruelly maltreated and misunderstood, retrcated