The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-12-31
ua.1aHoN Ar THE llALAKoFF,


Few lpeopIe who read or speak of /
Marshall Mac Mahon are acquainted |
with the details of the capture of the !
Malakoff, which is considered one of |
the bravest and noblest deeds in the
long and brilliant military career of
the. President of the French Republic
The following, translated from the
French of Paul Estienne, will be found
particularly Interesting -
/ The appointed hour of ATTACK ap-
preached. The General in Chief had
selected the Branchion redoubt as his
post of observation, and around him
were grouped General Mel, General
Thiery, General Martnnprey, and a
brilliant aud numerous staff General
Bosauet had taken up his position in
/ the sixth parallel, which, though great
IN exposed and extremely dangerous
was a splendid vantage ground of OBJ
servaiion. At the head of his first
brigade, and as close asit was possible
TO approach to the outworks of the
Malakoff, stood General MacMahon.
His right hand grsspea his sword hilt.
while in his left he held his watch and
with head bent and eyes liked, the
General calmly awaited the final mo-
ment The few minutes preceding
the hour were most solemn. Not
sound nerl a. whisper disturbed the
fatal silence. The troops were hud-
died in the trenches, aud the advance
| lines were reclining within eight yards
from the Afaiakof. ThsiZouaVes and
\ the LegiouarieS were in front, and
their eyes were steadily fixed on their
/ General, awaiting but his look to rush
forward. The time fixed was twelve
] at midday, and for q few seconds pre-
viously, every breath was stilled and
.AEacMahon's intensity of calmness was
supreme. The Generals watch was
consigned to his breast pocket, and,
] in an instant after, his eye had run
] along the whole line. HIS SWORD
| CLEANED in the air, and at the same
4 noment the bugles sounded 'sThe
Charge" Every mouth cried EN-
i eUdRflT and the cry was re-echoed
from rank to rank. and from front to
rear. The .Zouaves, with MacMahon
i at their head, reached the fosse, and
4 some climbing by scaling ladders,
sOne mounting back over back, and
Others reaching the parapet no one
knew hew, the French entered the
] fort. The Russians poured musketry
shot and cannon shot into those on
ward rushing lines, but despite shot
and repeated bayonet charges, Gener-
al, MacMahon held his own, and the
i Russians fell back before the headlong
4 charge Of Zonaves and Legionaries.
Il Knowing that the MalakoH was the
Key to Sebastopol, the Russians
Il poured in shot and shell on the devot-
ed. troops of MacMahon. Within the
fort the conflict was terrible, but Mac
J ipMah0h was stern and his only order
WAS ten GVdntF Meanwhile it was
4 ,rumored that the Malakof was mined
and Marshal Pelisier, irrespective OF
I this rumor, felt that the odds were too
great against MacMahon, and he &C.
corlingIy despatched an aid-de-camp
begging the General to make good his
!. retreat from so dangerous and so ex-
tpesed q position. Il am here, and
ol here Ieremain," was the dry and only
t answer MacMahon sent back. The
, Russian General determined to make
one effort more to regain the Malakoff
ID "A storm2o grapeshot and shell was
poured in, and was succeeded by bay
onet charges of the best and bravesi
of the Russian troops, Twenty times
repulsed, twenty times did the Rus.
slams return to the charge, The brav-
est Generals fell at the head of theil
columns. The Zouaves of the Imner'
ial g uard, and the Brigade of General
Douay, were sent to reinforce Mac
Maho on. The Grenadiers of the I'M
perial Guard, headed by Colonel
BretteVille, and General Wimpffen's
Brigade, ,iwere next sent to his assist.
"A 1nnce.. The Russians fought with more
than bravery-they fought as fights g
forlorn hops.-As limo after line was
T. I ofsl
on in. black masses, and hurled them.
selves against the French ranks, Mar
shal Pelisier grew nervous and terri
fed as to the result, and he despatched
aide-de-camp after aide-de-camp beg
ging MacMahon to relinquish the dan
gerous post and save his life. Wearied
with such orders, Mac Mahon at length
replied, with impatience, Que te
Dia6le-Am / not master of my own
skin | have taken the place and III
keep it." The Malakotf was taken af-
ter terrible loss of life, but il secured
the success of the war. During the
murderous struggle MacMahon was
4 ever in the front, led charge after
charge, and when his victory was as
sured was heard to say, swell, now,
perhaps they won't ask me to leave it. ;
For this daring act of bravery and
4 ller6fsm Mac Mahon was named to the
y Grand Cgess of the Legion of Honor
:, 1t would be well i'll those days to
remember that after the Treaty OF
4 Paris, EIacMahon was returned to the
4 French Senate in 1856, and, when the
5 / Imperial Ministry brought forward
their Bill of General Society, after the
Orsini conspiracy, he was one of the
: few who dared to raise his voice
against the Bill, on the grounds thai
littwas not at the time needed, and
was unconstitutional.