Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-10-28
LA TOER DAUvERGNE.

Until the year 1914 there was touch
ing and beautiful custom TO be witnessed
in certain regiment of French Grena-
diers, which was meant to commemorate
the heroism of a departed comrade. When
the companies assembled for parade, and
the rolls were called, there was one name
TO which its owner could not answer. Ii
was that of La Tour d. Auvergne. When
il was called, the oldest Sergeant stepped
a pace forward and, raising his hand TO
his cap, said proudly: Z" Died on the field
of honor" For fourteen years this custom
was continued, and only ceased when the
restored Bourbons, to please their foreign
masters, forbade everything that was cal
cuIated to preserve the spirit OF the
soldiers OF France.
La Tour d. Auvergne was not unworthy
in life the honor thus paid him after his
death. He was educated for the army,
entered in 1858, and in 1881 served under
the Duke de Crillion at the siege OF Port
Mahon. He always served with distinc-
ton, but constantly refused promotion,
saving that he was only fit for the COM
mand of company of Grenadiers; but
finally, the various grenadier companies
being united, he found himself in COM
mand of body OF 5000 men, while re-
tanning only the rank of captain. But ii
sof one particular exploit of his, more
than Of his career in general, that wish
to write.
When he was over forty years old he
went on q visit to friend not far from
that section of country that was soon to
become the scene of bloody campaign.
While there he was busy acquainting him.
self with the features of the country,
thinking it not unlikely that this knowl'
edge might be of use to him some day
and while there the brave grenadier was
astonished to learn that the war had rapid
ly been shifted 10 this quarter, and that a
regiment of Austrians were pushing on to
occupy narrow pass about ten miles
from where he was staying, and the pos
session of which would give them an op
portunity to prevent an important move
ment of the French which was then on
fsot. They hoped to surprise this post,
and were moving so rapidly upon 1t that
they were not more than two hours dis
tant from the place where he was staying,
and which they would have to pass In
their march.
II matters not how he heard the news.
1t is sufficient TO say that he determined at
once to act upon it, He had no idea OF
being captured by the enemy In their ad.
vance and he at once set off for the pass.
He knew that the pass was defended by a
stout tswer and a garrison OF thirty men,
and he hoped to be able to warn the men
of their danger. He fastened on and ar.
irving there found the tower in perfec'
condition 1t had just been vacated by
the garrison, who heard of the approach OF
the Austrians and had been seized by q
panic thereat and had fed, leaving even
their arms, consisting OF thirty excellent
muskets.
LaTour d'Auvergne CRASHED his teeth
with rage as he discovered this. Searching
in the building, he found several boxes o!
ammunition which the towards had moi
destroyed. For moment he was in de
spair, and then, with grim smile, he be-
gan to fasten the main door and pile
against il such articles as he could find
When he had done this he loaded all the
guns he could find, and placed them, TO-
gether with a good supply Of ammuni
ton. near the loopholes that commanded
the road by which the enemy must adj
vance. Then he ate heartily Of the pro
visions he had brought with him, and sal
down to wait He had absolutely formed
the heroic resolution TO defend the tower
alone against the enemy
There were some things in his favor If
such an undertaking The pass was steer
and narrow, and the enemy's troops could
enter IL only in double files, and in doing
this would be fully exposed TO the tir'
from the tower. The original garrison o
thirty men could easily have held i
against a division, and now one man was
about to attempt 10 hold it against regi
ment.
1t was dark when La Tour d'Auyergnt
reached the tower, and he had 10 wal
some time for the enemy. They were
longer in coming than be had expected
and for while he was tempted to believe
that they had abandoned the expedition
About midnight, however, his practlcec
ear caught the distant tramp OF feet
Every moment the sound came nearer
and at last he heard them enter the defile
Immediately he discharged couple o