Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-02-15

I -
| seems to me have heard the name.
| What does thy father dO:"
'He does nothing any more, be-
cause he was killed at Marengo."
"Aht ah," exclaimed Napoleon,
drawing a step backward. "That
was glorious for him" he continued
in a grave tone, 'but it was unfor-
tunate for thee"
And then, to relieve his mind, as
/ well as that of the child, from the
sad recollection, he continued quick
| iy.
"And thou has brother-doubt-
less ne Is with thy mOther?"
Yes, my emperor, but he IS
fifer, and a great deal bigger than
/ me-since-"
ono matter - interrupted NapO-
leon, quickly, and laying stress
| upon each word that he spoke.
"Thou shalt say to thy mother,
/ when thou seest her, that l find
thee much too young for campaign
/ ing, and that l repeated to thee that
| She has not common sense"
go, my emperor, L dare not"
stammered the little drummer, drop
ping his eyes upon the ground.
"And why not, sirs'
"Ah my emperor, one does not
| speak so to q mother whom one
! loves"
At hearing these words, Napoleon
| gave an involuntary start, then,
shaking his head, he said, in low
voice to Berthier, who was near
| him:
E'The little man is sensible-he is
/ iG rnFarn fn fnaRh
! children to forget the respect due
their parents; but that is no reason
| WHY the mother has not done wrong.
Look, gentlemen" he continued,
pointing out to his officers the fig
ure of the young dummer, who
| was rolling his drumsticks round in
his little hands, care not these fine
soldiers to oppose to Wittenstein's
| dragoOns?"
''But, my emperor" cried Seibert,
raising himself on tiptOe. 81 am
not afraid and besides, already
know all my beats. NJ. Romeuf, our
drum major, gives me extra lessons
on the days when he does not teach
my comrades"
"Ah! that is different" replied
Napoleon, making gesture of mock
appreciation. GAS NJ. Komeuf, the
drum-major, gives thee extra les
sons, have nothing further to say,
only that l did not know it. AS for
the rest, we shall judge tomorrow
what thy talents are, and what pro-
gress thou hast made with this mer-
itoriOus professor of thine
And lightly pinching the boys
ear, Napoleon smiled, remOHuted his
| horse and rode away.
''He is quite pretty, this little one
remarked he to Savary. IS they rode
forward in the inspec ion of the
regiment. eff any ace dent should
happen to him, l should never for
give his mother"
The battle of AU terlitz, to use
Napoleon's words, was thunder
! bolt, but that of Eylau, which the
Russians pretended to have gained,
! though the French never lost it,
might perhaps be better compared
to an earthquake, for it was certain
| ly one of the most terrible conflicts
that ever engaged the grand army.
The whole morning was passed IN
death parlcys, according to the eX-
preston of Murat, who here, as
! everywhere, enacted prodigies of
| valor. About the third hour after
noon, the combat had become so
bloody hat most determined ma
lures were imbued with horror. a
battery of the guard, consisting OF
eight pieces of twelve pound cam
non, under the orders Of Gen. Lari-
bossiere, discharged for over tive
hours an avalanche of broken cop
per and iron (mitrdiIIeS) upon the
Russians, crushing them literally TO
powder. Night alone put a period
to the carnage, and the French
troops bivouacked upon the field OF
battle in the same positions they
had occupied during the combat OF
the day.
The next morning, February 9Th,
Just at day0reak, as was his custom,
Napoleon was visiting every place
where French and Russians had en-
countered during the action. The
ground was covered with bed of
snow out of which protruded here
and there, the bodies of dying men
and ruins of every description,
while on all sides great blotches OF
blood stained the temporary white
ness of the ground. Detachment'
of prisoners ranged in all directions
on the vast field of havoc, lifting
the wounded of both armies and
bearing them to the ambulances
The spectacle was a frightful one.
Traversing the plain of Preusc h
Eylau, Napoleon passed over thai
portion of she ground where the
Old Guard and the corps of marsha
Davoust had made head against the
entire hostile army. There lay six
, teen French generals, among whom
were the brave d'Haut POul, Dahl
man Corbinean, who commanded
: of the imperial guard. In viewing
| the horrible massacre, Napoleon
cried in half-shOked voice: 80 dealt
l has passed by this way -
As he spoke, long train of carts
litteTs and tumbrils, loaded wit
= Russian corpses debouched upon tn
$ plain, and advanced toward him
5 As the funeral cOrtege approached
: the emperor checked his horse, an
: turned quickly.
"IIalt, gentlemen - cried he, ad
n dressing his major staff. ''Of hats,
i added he, in a voice of emotion
l. And uncovcring his head as the tirs
Il cart reached the elevation where
d had paused: "HOnor to unfortI
I nate courage" said he saluting til
4 procession.
\ When the last tumbril had passe
/ before him, he drew bride and roc
* on; but hardly had he proceeded tw
/. hundred pacea, than he perceived ;
il a distance a shapeless looking ma!
# borne on the shoulders of a man
a sortO of blouse.
d "Savary," cried he to the add
l. camp, ''go and see what that is"
ID The officer spurred forward L
m ward the object and returned imm
10 | diately.
ST "Sir! tits q young drummer who
II they are conveying TO an ambulanc
l. Both his legs are shot Off"
poor little Onen exclaimed Il
le emperor sadly, dropping his head.
at But all at once, making an abruI
rs movement on his horse, and raisiI
ID his ewes to heaven as if q pOwerf
r recollection had crossed his min
te he cried:
d, "a young drummer, said yo
ct Run, sir, run, and learn his nan
and the number of his regiment -
10 The aid-de-canp was of like
lp arrow, and during the brief peril
tn of his absence Napoleon appear
V agitated with emotion that hc strO
r, in vain to master, as was evident
It. every one present. Sayary l
ct turned.