Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-30
A BOLD SOLDIER BOY.
How the Great BiIIiardist Fought,
BIed aud Surrendered for HIS
Country.

How the Great BtlIturutst ouEn.,
Bied aud Surrendered for HIS
Country.
Gin. Commercial Now York Special, as.l
The match for the billiard champion
ship of America, between A; r. hl-
dolphe and Joseph Dion, Of Montreal,
was TO have been contested sometime
last week, in this city; but, owing to the
absence Of the former in Europe, 1t was
feared that it might fall through. But
the return of Rudolphe on Saturday, and
his explanation of his remarkable ad-
ventures, set everything right. lie lett
New York in the City of London, on the
9th of June last, and arrived at Liver
pool on the 18th of July. From there
he went to London, staying few, days,
and made short trip to Scotland, ana
when the war was declared he started for
Paris, thence he rushed of to Lyons
and Bordeaux, stopped there a week
or ten DAYS, and returned to Paris
A few days after this, came
the news of the defeat of the French
army at Woerth, upon which the French
Government called for volunteers, es-
pecially those who had served in Algeria
and Italy. Rudolphe was one of these
last. and Immediately volunteered. He
had served in the Seventh regiment OF
the line from 1856 to the winter Of 1898,
when he was transferred to the Third
regiment of Zouaves, then serving in
Algeria On the outbreak of the Italian
war, in 1859, the Third Zouaves were
sent to the seat of war, and were en-
gagged both ct Majenta and Solferino.
At the latter RudolpRe was promoted to
be Sous Lieutenant, a rank correspond
ing with that of second lieutenant in our
army. When peace was declared the
regiment returned to Africa, and
Rudolphe served with them till
1864, when he sent in his resig--
nation. As soon as he offered
his services in Paris, they were at once
accepted, and he was appointed at once
TO his old rank in battalion OF volun-
teers then forming at Chalons, which ne
Joined on the 18th of August Rudolphe
describes these volunteers as the most
extraordinary mixture of men he had
ever seen. The majority were stragglers
from McMahon's defeated army, and in
Guided Chasseurs, Zouaves, Turcos and
soldiers of nearly every foot regiment in
the service. In addition, there were
Gardes Mobile, gems darmes, and volun-
teers drawn from every class of society.
Scores of the oldest and most noble fam
lilies in France shouldered a musket side
by side with the lowest ruffians OF the
Faubourg St. Antoine, while volatile stu
dents from the Quarter Latin marched
arm in arm with Forcats from the gal
leys at Toulon. OF uniforms they
had none. Each was dressed as he
pleased, the only military trapping
being the regulation body and
cross-belts and muskets, there not being
enough chassepots to arm the volun-
teers. Rudolphe, being an officer, car
ried a saber. He and many others paid
their own expenses from Paris to the
camp at Chalons, and were at once
massed into battalions. When McMa-
hon destroyed the camp the army re-
treated to Mezieres and Bethel and
thence to Sedan. Rudolphe was in the
battle Of August 30, at Beaumont, as
well as in several small skirmishes, and
was taken prisoner at Sedan with the
rest of McMahon's army. At the ex-
piration of thirty-six hours all the OH
GERS were called together and paroled
en- masse not to serve again in the army
during the war. Rudolphe returned to
London on the 10Th of September, and
left Liverpool in the Cunard steamer
Abyssynia on the 18th, arriving here
safely on Saturday evening.