Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1873-11-12
My Captain.

My Captain.
One fine evening in the month of July,
an old soldier of the "Grande Arm ee, ~
who had left one of his arms on the field of
battle was seated at the door of his pretty
cottage. He was surrounded by a group of
young Villagers, who were DANGEROUSLY
reminding him of his promise to tell them
some of his military adventures. After
moment of pretended resistance to their
wishes, the old man took his pipe from his
mouth, passed the back of his remaining
hand across his lips, and thus commenced
mis- tale:
f "In my time, my friends, the French
would have disdained to fight against
Frenchmen in the streets, as they do in
these days. No, no! when wa fought, it
was for the honor Of France, and against
her foreign enemies. But my story COM
mences on the 9Th of November, 1872, a
short time after the battle of Wanna We
beat a retreat, not before the Russians, for
theywere at a respectable distance from our
camp, but before the sharp and bitter cold
Of their detestable country-a cold more
terrible to us than the Russians, Austrians
and Bavarians all put together.
During the preceding days our officers
had told US that we were approaching
Smolensko, where we should get food, fire,
brandy, and shoes but in the meantime
we We're perishing in the glaciers, and con-
tinually harassed by the Cossacks. We
mad marched for six hours without stop
ping TO take breath, for we knew that re-
pose was certain death. An icy wind blew
the drifting snow in our faces, and from
time to time We stumbled over the frozen
corpse of q comrade We neither spoke
nor sang; even compliments were no long
e heard, and that was a bad sign. 1
marched by the side of my captain short
strongly built, rough and severe, but brave
4 . l. LII 6 Ii
called him Captain Obstinate for when
once he said thing it was fixed; he never
changed his opinions. He had been wound
ed at Wanna, and his usually crimson
face was then CHASTITY pale, while a ragged
white handkerchief, all stained with blood,
was bound round his head, and added to
the pallor of his countenance. All at once
1 saw him stagger on his legs like drunk
en- man, then fall like block to the ground.
'M0rGLeu, captain said /, bending
over him, you cannot remain here
"'You see that | can, since / do it, re-
Piled he, showing his legs.
Captain said |, you must not give
way lifting him in my arms, tried to
put him on his feet. He leaned on me,
and attempted to walk, but in vain he
fell again, dragging me with him.
"'John,' said he, all is over. Leave me
here, and reioin your company as quickly
as possible One word before you goat
Voreppe, near Grenoble, lives good wo-
man, eighty-two Years of age, my-my
mother. Go and see her, embrace her for
me, and tell her that-that-tell her what
you will, but give her this purse and my
cross. tits all / have! Now co.
is that all, Captain?i
" That is all. God bless you! Make
hastei Adieu!' Ay friends / do not
know how it was, but felt two tears roll
down my cheeks.
"'No, Captain I cried, 4 " III not leave
you either you come with me, Or / will
remain with YOU
az forbid you to remain
You may place me under arrest, then,
if you like, but at present you must let me
do as please
"'You are an insolent fellow
very good, Captain, but you must
come with me- He bit his lips with rage,
but said no more. lifted him and carried
him on my shoulders like a sack. You
can easily imagine that with such a bur-
den could not keep pace with NV COM
rades. In fact, soon lost sight Of their
columns, and could discern nothing around
me but the white and silent plain. / still
walked on, when presently appeared
troop Of Cossacks galloping towards me,
with furious gesticulations and wild cries.
1.-THE captain was by this time complete
iy insensible, and resolved, whatever it
might cost me, not to abandon him.
laid down on the ground, and covered him
with snow; then crept beneath heap of
dead bodies leaving, however my eyes at
Liberty, Presently the Cossacks came up
and began TO strike with their lances right
and left, while their horses trampled US
under their feet. One Of those heavy ami
mails set his foot upon nay right arm and
crushed it. My friends, did not speak,
lid not stir. / put my right hand into my
mouth TO stihe the cry Of torture which
leally escaped from me, and in few min
ltes tire Cossacks bad dispersed.
mWb, IN the last Of them had disappear
d, ] GuA tied my refuge and proceeded to