Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1874-01-21
THE DEGRADED MARSHAL.
How BazRfne Received the News of His
Condemnation.

|
| Condemnation.
When the court retired the Marshal
withdrew o his apartments, whittier he
was accompanied by his wife, his brother,
| his two nephews, and their wives Capts.
Gredin and Mornay Soult, NJ. Bouillet,
Madame Assein, and a few other attached
friends. During the four hours while the
court was in deliberation the Marshal talk
ed freely, familiarity, almost gayly, as
though his life was no longer at stake. In
a short time his wife, unable to prolong the
distressing interview, retired, and, &C
companied by NJ. Lachaud's daughter, went
to the chapel to pray. Colonel Villette-
that perfect personification of devotion
had remained in the gallery connecting
the Trianon with the Trianon sousbois, in
order to obtain the earliest intelligence.
At half-past eight M. Georges Lachaud,
who had just heard the sentence, came to
him there and accompanied him to the
the Marshal, in order to prepare the latter
for the visit of Gen. Pourcet. "Well,"
asked Col. Villette, eagerly, &c is he acquit-
ted?' NJ. Georges Lachaud, without re-
plying verbally, made gesture of despair,
and then assembled the staircase leading to
the apartments of the Marshal, followed
by the Colonel, who staggered like a
drunken man. At the sound of the open
ing door the Marshal, who was engaged in
conversation with those about him, adj
vanced toward the young advocate, and,
observing his respondent countenance, at
once understood what was the nature of
his communication. "They have con-
demned me to death" he said, quietly, and
grasping the hand of NJ. Georges Lach-
aud. Understanding his significant silence
the Marshal asked him, by what major
ity?" Unanimous" was the reply.
" All ~ was the sole exclamation of the
Marshal, and then he resumed, as if
nothing had occurred to interrupt the
conversation he had been carrying on.
Every one was in tears; the condemned
Marshal alone preserved q calm aspect.
At that moment Col, Villette entered
the room. He had advanced toward him
whom he had so uevotedly served during
the last eighteen months, but as he was
about to grasp the offered hand his strength
gave way and he fell heavily TO The ground.
While these present fastened to the unfor-
tunate officers assistance, the Marshal, to
conceal his emotion, passed into the next
room, where NJ. Lachaud was repOsing af-
ter his labors. He met him, however, on
the threshold, and the Marshal, in calm
and almost cheerful tone, himself cammu
nicated the fatal news. In the midst of
this heart rending scene, the COmmandant
GuiOth, aid-de-camp to the Due IL Aumale,
arrived. 1t is needless to say that his pre-
sence caused a painful sensation. NJ.
Guioth. who evinced great emotion, hand
ed to NJ. Lachaud a letter from the Presi-
dent of the Council of War, requesting his
immediate presence in court. NJ. Lachaud
followed the aidde-camp. He found the
Judges assembled and the Due d'Auhlale,
with all the consideration due to the man
who had used such powerful but fruitless
eloquence, read to him an appeal for mer-
cy signed by all the members of the court.
He added that he was about to visit the
Minister of War and the President of the
Republic personally to support the recon-
mendations of the court. The distinguish
ed advocate simply replied that he would
communicate the fact to the Marshal, and
withdrew.