The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-10-28
LA TOUR D'AUVERGNE.


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. 1t
was thatsof La Tour d. Auvergne. When
it was called, the oldest Sergeant stepped
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 everything that was cal
culated 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 1853, and in 1871 served under
the Duke de Crillion at the siege of Port
Mahon. He always served with distinc-
ton, but constantly refused promotion,
saying that he was only fit for the CON-
mand of company Of Grenadiers; but
finally, the various grenadier companies
being united, he found himself in CON-
mand of body OF 5000 men, while re-
tanning only the rank of captain. But it
is of one particular exploit of his, more
than of his career in general, that l wish
to write.
When he was over forty years old he
went on a visit to a 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 to this quarter, and that
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 OPP
portunity to prevent an important move
ment of the French which was then on
foot They hoped to surprise this post,
and were moving so rapidly upon it 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.
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 adj
vance and he at once set Oft for the pass.
He knew that the pass was defended by a
stout tower and 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 perfect
condition. 1t had just been vacated by
the garrison, who heard of the approach Of
the Austrians and had been seized by a
panic thereat and had fled, leaving even
their arms, consisting of thirty excellent
musketS.
La Tour d'Auvergne CRASHED 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 moment he was in de-
spair, and then, with grim smile, he be-
gan to tasten the main door and pile
against it 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 ad
vance. Then he ate heartily of the pro-
visions he had brought with him, and sat
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 in
such an undertaking. The pass was steep
enter it only in double files, and in doing
this would be fully exposed to the fire
from the tower The original garrison of
thirty men could easily have held it
against division, and now one man was
about to attempt to hold it against regi-
ment.
1t was dark when La Tour d'Auvergne
reached the tower, and he had to wait
some time for the enemy. They were
longer in coming than he had expected,
and for while he was tempted to believe
that they had abandoned the expedition.
About midnight, however, his practiced
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 of
muskets into the darkness to let them
know that he knew Of their presence and
intentions, and he heard the quick CON-
mands of the officers, and from the sounds
he supposed the troops were retiring from
the pass. Until the morning he was un-
disturbed. The Austrian commander,
feeling sure that the garrison had been in
formed of his movements and was pre-
pared to receive him, saw that he could
do, and deemed it prudent to wait until
daylight before making the attack.
At sunrise he summoned the garrison to
surrender. A grenadier answered the
summons.
Say to your commander" he said
in reply to the messenger, " that the garri-
son will defend this pos. to The last ex-
tremity."
The officers who had borne the flag of
truce retired, and in about ten minutes q
piece of artillery was brought into the pass,
and opened on the tower. But to effect
this the piece had to be placed directly
in front of the tower, and in easy musket
range of it. They had scarcely got the gun
in position when rapid IRE was opened
On it from the tower, and continued with
such marked effect that the piece was
withdrawn after the second discharge with
loss Of five men.
This was a bad beginning, so, half an
hour after the gun was Withdrawn, the
Austrian Colonel ordered an assault. As