Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1872-06-27
FACING DEATH.

PACING DEATH.
Wkils sAs English were ID CaupsS Nav,
-. at Tie time of ths Peninsula svsr. I
Gssnau sf the Stitch Rsginsns..
kyseehman and txo Italians belonging n
the Chassenrs Briiannique 4ere shot fol
desestiou. On the morniS bat the sen
sssss of shs frst was to TN ID iasse..
sesticn. the disisioa was nihlsaueae'
| aide the town. where they fornsd sthres
sides cf . square. The prisoner us,
marched past the various regiments. 90
compinied By the chaplaia Of the division
and ths guard appointed to shoot Ma
When his desbtiors wsrc finished : he Vai
hliudfolded By the provost-msrshal, AN
placed kneeling Oh the brink of the grsse,
already opened to receive him he gave
thsssikush and tho aczs sseussas he I'LL
pierced By half dozen musket balls
The didereut regiments then passed the
body, receiving the word, "eyes left, q,
they passed him.
NV grandfather was on the general pro-
vost guard the evening previous to the
other three being shot. The serseants
came with the compary's books to settle
their accounts the tro Italians were in
paroxysms Of agony. crying and wringing
their hands: the behavior of the French
man. who had been taken prisoner. had
volunteered into the Chasseu-s Britain.
nique and afterwards deserted from them
to his countrymen. formed a strong con-
trast to that of the others; calm and dig
ni6ed. he seemed to feel no fear Of death
nor did any complaint pass his lips. save
the injustice Of trying him ass deserter.
being Frenchman. In his circumstan-
ccs. he argued. it was natural that he
should endeavor to join his friends the
first opportunity that offered.
When the sergeant was settling their
accounts. the Italians paid no attention to
anything said to them but he discussed
every item with the greatest exactness.
and the sergeant wanting a small coin
about the value of farthiug to balance.
he desired him to procure it before he
would sign the ledger but. though thus
exact with the sergeant. the moment he
received his balance, which amounted to
some dollars, he divided every penny Of
it among his fellow prisoners
When the Italians received their money
they sent for brandy. and began to drink
Unexpectedly. endesvoring to drown their
sorrows and scar their minds. but it had
quite different effect. for they then broke
from all restraint in the expression Of their
feelings. and cried and groaned with ago
ny in such manner. that they could be
heard at considerable distance from the
guard-room. In this state they continued
until morning. when they ceased their
lamentations. only because they were ex-
hausted BY their former violence Quite
different was the conduct of the French
man when the brandy was procured. the
Italians pressed him to take some, but he
thanked them. and refused.
"No." said he. throwing look of min
gled pity and contempt on them. Il need
no brandy to enable me to face death"
He continued to walk about with hisarms
folded during the whole evening: with
out seeming in the least disturbed oc-
casionally indeed his countenance soften
ened, and tear-drop gathered in his eye.
but it was not permitted to linger there {;
and as If ashamed of showing the least
want Of frmness, he assumed redoubled
infexibility Of countenance.
1t was reported that he was brother Of
Marshal Souit. He was certainly a man
Of noble mind and independent spirit, ell
egant in person. and handsome in fea-
lures. About midnight he lay down and
slept soundly until near the hour of exc
cution his courage seemed to be now
even more extended. He cleaned himself
with the greatest nicety. conversed with
his fellow-prisoners cheerfully, and en-
deavored. although without success. to
infuse some courage into the poor Italians.
The guard having arrived. he took leave
of those prisoners who was confined with
him; and to one, with whom he was more
familiar than the others, he gave sorae pri-
vnte injunction, and on parting with him
he said em mpha,ically:
Remember, die Frenchman.
He marched of to the place Of execu-
sion with the same collected intrepidity h.
had before evinced. and his demeanor on
the ground where he was shot. was simi-
lar to that displayed while prisoner all
admired his courage, aud were sorry foI
his fate. :