Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1871-06-09

the beautiful manufactures in iron and
steel of Berlin,-brides even brought
their wedding rings, and the poor peas
ant girls, if they had naught else, their
flowing locks; for the highest pride of
| women had no charms for them while
| their country was trodden down by the
heel of the oppressor. Thus was intro
duced an age of iron, whose mark of
honor for noble deeds was the Iron
| Cross.
When Germany became free again in
consequence of the great uprising, the
Iron Cross was held sacred to that
epoch, and the order closed. But when
the second Napoleon threatened to
bathe his steeds in the waters of the
Rhine, and possess himself of the fairest
cities of the land the first impulse of
| the nation was to renew the order of
| that Cross that had been TO them sig
nal of Gods favor in times past; and the
possession of the Iron Cross became the
darling aspiration of every man in the
army, from meanest private to King
William himself.
This proud insignia has been charity
bestowed, with the sole view of making
it an emblem of genuine merit; but no
great engagement has taken place that
has not witnessed deeds so heroic as to
claim this coveted reward. In one in
stance even the chaplain of regiment,
who had sought permission to accom-
pany his charge to battle. came back to
receive the Cross. In the heat of the
contest the officers had nearly all fallen,
and the men were wavering from a
withering fire from the heights they
were storming; the chaplain, seeing
the urgency of the moment, seized a
sword, and, preaching to his men like
Peter the Hermit, led them in the
fierce assault, and soon scaled the dan
gerous crest, and stood with his chill
dren victorious ON its summit. The
remnant of the brave band voted him
the warriors cross, and the King gladly
bestowed it.
The scene here depicted is the sequel
of bitter contest in one of the sorties
from Paris. The alarm had come in
the dead of the night, but, like the cleo
trio flash, it had given life to the sleep
ing post, and in a few minutes the rat
tling artillery were fastening to the en-
emies' intrenchments. Cannon were
roaring, balls kissing, and men falling
by scores around. Presently one of the
ld-pieces is shattered, and the horses
lie groaning on the earth the advanc-
ing foe will soon possess it as trophy,
when a boy-officer calls his men to his
side, cuts the traces, and with superhu-
man strength he and his men drag it,
creaking and cracking, from the enemy,
while the latter pursue and bring half
of his men to the ground before the
piece is safely rescued.
On another wing of the engagement
the ammunition fails A mounted mes
senger is sent to bring NV supply,
but the way leads through burning
village. Without hesitation, the officer
commanding the column starts in full
gallop with his powder train through
the flaming streets. Smoke is ascend
ing from every roof, and glowing Gin
ders are falling thick and fas5; single
spark on his treasure, and he and his
men would be blown to atoms but this
is no place for timid hearts-rather lose
their lives than lose the battle.
And now comes the reward for this
valor and devotion. In few days the
heroes are summoned to the gardens of
Versailles, accompanied by their COM
panions in the contest. As their COM
mander calls them forward from the
silent ranks the drums peal out a bravo
to the men who have done their duty,
and smile lights up their faces which
compensates for many a shadow. By
the side of the gray-haired veteran
stands the beardless youth who has
just received his first baptism of fire
alike in courage, though separated by
years. AS their names are called, they
step forward, and are told that the
manly heart should be of gold, but the
will of iron; that theirs having proved
so, they are found worthy to wear the
Iron Cross as a badge of duty done and
honor won.
With this proud emblem on his
breast, many soldier has returned
happy to his family, though crippled in
body, to receive the ovations and thanks
of his fellow citizens, and give to his
children an heirloom of which they
will be ever proud. In some instances
this distinction has been gained only by
the loss of life, and then the honor has
been conferred on the dead soldier who
brought from the field the testimonial
of the gaping wound in the open
breast. The cross in this instance IS
sent to his nearest relatives, as the
richest legacy fallen warrior can leave
them.
As we pass from lights to shadows in
our story, we next encounter the Red
Cross-the sympathy for those wounded
on the battlefield or pining in the hos
pital. 1t is not the fate of the battle
that all may gain the cross of honor and
bravery to which all aspire too many,
alas lie wounded and crippled, writh-
ing in an agony from which only quick
relief will save from death After the
warrior has fulfilled the demands of
duty, and lies victim of his bravery,
he has claims to the ordinary rights of
humanity, though he be fallen soldier
in the face of an enemy.
These claims were so nobly responded
to in our own war by the Sanitary Com
mission, that the world looked on its re-
suits and admired. In 1864, a conven-
ton of the friends of humanity in war
was convened in Geneva, with view to
the adoption of an international code
for the benefit of the sick and those
wounded in battle. The principal
points adopted were, that the moment
a man is wounded so as to be disabled,
his person is sacred from assault, and
also that the Sanitary Corps attending
the army for the relief of the sick and
wounded shall be considered as neu-
trails, and their persons be free from at
tack or seizure while engaged in the
performance of their duties. The col
or adopted by this branch of the army
were the Red Gross on a white ground,
and they were declared sacred on the
battlefield and the ambulance; the