The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-11-05
SELECT STORY.
La TOUR DAUYERGNE.

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La Tour d'Auyergne When il WAS
called, the oldest Sergeant stepped "a
pace forward and, raising his hand to
his cap, said proudly: "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 every
thing that was calculated to preserve
the spirit of the soldiers Of France.
La Tour d'Auvefgne was not un-
worthy in life the honor thus paid him
after his death. He was educated for
the army, entered in 1853, and in 1871
served under the Duke de7CrilIioD at
the siege OF Port Mahon. He always
served With distinction, but constantly
refused promotion, saying that he was
only fit for the command Of a company
of Grenadiers but finally, the various
found himself in command of a body of
5000 men, while retaining only the rank
of captain. But it ia of one particular
exploit Of his, more than of his career
in general, that / wish to write.
When he was over forty wears old he
went on visit to friend not far from
that section of country that was soon to
become the scene Of bloody camp ign.
While there he was busy acquainting
himself with the features of the country;
thinking 1t 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
rapidly been shifted to this quarter, and
that a regiment of Austrians were push
ing on to occupy narrow pass about
ten miles from where be was staying,
and the pos session of which would give
them an opportunity to prevent an in
portant movement of the French which
was then on foot. They hoped to sur
prise this post, and were moving 20 rap
idly upon it that they were not more
than two hours distant from the place
where he was staying, and which they
would have to pass in their march.
1t 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
advance and he at once set off for the
pass. He knew that the pass was defend
ed by stout tower and a garrison of
thirty men, and he hoped to be able to
warn the men of their danger. He
hastened on and arriving there found
the tower in perfect condition. 1t had
just been vacated by the garrison, who
heard of the approach of the Austrians
and had been seized by panic thereat
and had fed, leaving even their arms,
consisting of thirty excellent mnskets.f
La Tour d'Auvergne gnashed his
teeth with rage as he discovered this.
Searching in the building, he found
several boxes of ammunition which the
towards had not destroyed. For mo-
ment he was in despair, and then, with
a grim smile, he began to fasten the
main door and pile against it such arti-
cles as he could find. Wheu he had
done this he loaded all the guns he
could find, and placed them together
with a good supply of ammunition
near the loopholes that commanded the
road by which the enemy must advance
Then he ate heartily of the provision:
he had brought with him, and sat down
to wait. He had Absolutely formed the
alone against the enemy.
There were some things in his favor
in such an ur dertaking. The pass wa:
steep and narrow, and the enemy
troops could enter it only in double files
and in doing this would be fully expos
ed to the fire from the tower. This ori
ginal garrison of thirty men could easi
IL have held it against division, an6
now one man was about to attempt Il
hold it against a regiment.
1t was dark when La Tour d Auvergn'
reached the tower, and be had to wal
some time for the enemy. They wer
longer in coming than he had expected
and for while he%as tempted to be
lieve that they had abandoned the ex
pedition. About midnight, however, bi
practiced ear caught the distant tram
of feet. Every moment the sound cam
nearer, and at last he heard them ente
the defile. Immediately he discharge
a couple of muskets into the darkness t
let them know that he knew of thei
presence and intentions, and he hear
the quick commands of the officers, an
from the sounds he supposed the trooT
were retiring from the pass. Until til
morning he was undiSturbed. The An
trian commander, feeling sure that til
garrison had been informed of h
movements and was prepared to receiS
him, saw that he could not surprise ii
post, as he had hoped to do, and deeme
it prudent to wait until daylight befol
making the attack.
At sunrise he summoned the garriso
to surrender. A grenadier answered ii
summons.
"Say to your commander" he sa
in reply to the messenger, "that the ga
rison will defend this post to the last e
tremity.
The officers who had borne the fag
truce retired, and in about ten minut
a piece of artillery was brought into Il
pass, and opened on the tower. But
effect this the piece had to be placed
rectly in front of the tower, and
easy musket range of it. They HI
scarcely got the gun in position when
rapid fire was opened on it from I
tower, and continued with such mark
effect that the piece was Withdrawn aft
the second discharge with loss of Fl
men.
This was bad beginning, so half
hour after the gun was Withdrawn, I
Austrian Colonel ordered an assau
Al ~ L.