The Republican journal., 1869-09-16
CAPTAIN OBSTINATE.

CAPTAIN OBSTINATE.
My story commences (said an old soldier
OF The tgrand army who had left one of his
arms ON the field of battle, y on the 9TH of No
vember, 1872, Il short time after the battle of
WiAzma. We beat = retreat, not before the
Russians, for they were al Il respectable dis
lance from our camp, but before the sharp
and bitter cold Of their detestable country
4 cold more terrible to us than the Russians,
AusrianS and Bavarians all put together,
During the preceding days our officers had
lold Us that we were approaching Smolcnsko,
where we should get food, fire, brandy and
hoes; but in the meantime we were perish
nc IN the glaciers and continually harrassed
" the CossackS. We had marched six hours
without stopping to take breath, for we knew
hat repose was certain death. An icy wind
blew the drifting snow in our faces, and
from time to time we stumbled over the froz-
en corpse OF Il comrade. We neither spoke
nor sang; even complaints were no longer
heard, and that was u bad sign. | marched
by the side of my captain-stout, strongly
built. rough and severe, but brave and true
~ the blade of his sword; we called him
"Clptam Obstnate,' for when he once said
thing, it was fixed he never changed his
opinions. He had been wounded at Wanna,
md his usually crimson face was then ghast-
~ pale while Il ragged white handkerchief,
Ill stained with blood, was bound round his
nance. All nj once SAW him stagger on his
4'gs like 4 drunken man, then fall like n block
the ground.
"Good heavens captain,N said |, bending
over him, ''you cannot remain here
You see that | can, since do it, replied
he. showing his legs.
'Captain,' said |, you must not give way :;
md lifting him in my arms, tried to put him
on his feet He leaned on me and attempted
ia walk, but in vain; he fell again, dragging
me with him.
John" said he, ''al is over. Leave me
and reioin Your company as quickly as posi-
hle. One word before you go! At Voreppe,
near Grcmohc lives good woman, eighty
Two years of age. my-my mother Go and
-ee her embrace her for me, and tell her that
that tell her what you will, but give her
1his purse and my cross. 1t is all have
Now go!'
rs that an, eaptan?''
That iSall God bless you! Make haste
,\dicun' My friends, | do not know how it
N:,S, but felt two tears roll down my checks
mo, captain | cried, Il will not leave
you; either You come with me, or | will re-
main with you.n
II forbid You to remain
Non like, but nj present You must let me do
al please"
''Iou are IN insolcnt fellow
Every good captain but You must come
with me-
He bit his lips with rage, but said no more
lifted him and carried him upon my shout
der like Il sack. Yon can easily imagine that
nth such burden, | could not keep pace
it'll my comrades In fact. | soon lost SIGHT
al their columns, and could see nothing
around me but the white and silent plain |
I'LL walked on, when presently appeared a
troop of CoSsacks @alloping toward me- with
l.llion3 gestculations and wild cries
The captain was by this time completely
inScnsible; and resolved, whatever it might
cost me, not to abandon him. | laid down
ON the ground, and covered him with snow
'lhen crept beneath a heap of dead bodies
irlving, however, my eyes at liberty. Pres
rntly the COssacks came up, and began to
lrike with their lances right and left, while
their horses trampled us under their feet.
One Of these heavy beasts set his foot upon
nay arm, and crushed it, My friends I did
NOT speak, did not stir; put my mouth to
ille the cry of torture which nearly escaped
rom me, and in a few minutes the Cossacks
hld dispersed
When the last Of them had disappeared, |
quilted my refuge, and proceeded to disinter
The captain. To my JOY he gave some signs
III life. I contrived to carry him with my
one arm toward a rock which offered sort
OF shelter, and then laid myself by his side,
wrapping my cloak around us both.
The night closed in, and the snow continue
ed to fall: The rear guard had long since
disappeared, and the only sound that broke
the stiffness of the night was the whistle of
the bullet, or the bowling of the wolves feast
ing on the corpses that lay stretched around.
Heaven knows what thoughts passed through
my soul during that dreadful night, which |
felt sure, would be my last upon earth. But
remembered the prayer which my mother
had taught me long before, when I was a
child ut her knees; and bending low. re-
peated if with fervor.
That did me good, and felt astonishinply
Gained when returned to my place by the
captain. But the time passed and I had
fallen into state of half stupor, when saw
a group II French officers approach. Before
| had time to speak to them, their chief a
little man, dressed in q furred pelisse, step
ped toward me, and said, ''What are you do
ing there? Why are you away from your
regiment"
''For two good reasons" said I, pointing
first to the captain, and then to my bleeding
arm.
"The man says true, SIR" observed one of
those who followed him; 81 saw him march
ing in the rear of his regiment, and carrying
this officer on his back