The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-09-20
side of the general of the brigade, with

! out in force Let this thing be stayed
!, The marshal directs that you face abou
/ and advance upon the PENINSULA
. In an instant all was changed in tha
division, and the brigadier general, VIII
, had temporary command, thundere
forth his orders for his countermarcl
The gloom was dissipated, and wit
glad hearts the soldiers turned from tn
thoughts of the execution of brav
comrade to thoughts of meeting tn
enemy.
"What shall we do with the prisoner?
asked the sergeant who had charge o
the guard.
LEAD him back to the camp" replie'
the captain,
The direction was very simple, but tn
execution thereof was not to be so easy
for hardly had the words escaped tn,
captains lips when squadron of Prus
sian cavalry came dashing directly to
ward them. The division was quick.
formed into four hollow squares, whil'
the guard that held charge of the pris
oner found themselves obliged to flee.
ain heavens name" cried Jerome
"cut my bonds, and let me die like
soldierl"
The sergeant quickly cut the cord tina
bound his elbows behind him, and ther
dashed toward the point where his owl
company was stationed. The rattle q
musketry had commenced, and the Prus
the squares of French troops. Jerome
Dubois looked about him for some weap
on with which to arm himself, and pres
emily he saw a Prussian officer not fal
off reeling in his saddle as though he hat
been wounded With quick bound be
reached the spotpulled the dying Officer
from his seat, and leaped into the empty
saddle.
Dubois was fully resolved that he
would sell his life on that day-sell it in
behalfo OF France-and sell it as dearly as
possible. But he was not needed where
he was. He knew that the Prussians
could not break those hollow squares
so he rode away thinking to join the
French cavalry, with whom he could
rush into the deepest danger. Suppos
ing that the heaviest fighting must be
upon the Nehrung, he rode his horse in
slams we're vainly endeavoring to break
that direction, and when he reached il
he found that he had not been mistaken
Upon slight eminence toward Hagels
burg the enemy had planted battery ol
heavy guns, supported by two regiments
of infantry; and already with shot and
shell immense damage had been done
Marshal Lefebvre rode up shortly
after this battery had opened, and very
quickly made up his mind that it must
be taken at all hazards.
Take that battery" he said to colo
mel of cavalry, "and the battle is ours
Dubois heard the order, and saw the
necessity. Here was danger enough
surely; and, determined to be the first al
the fatal battery, he kept as near to the
leader as he dared. Half the distance
had been gained, when from the hill
came storm of iron that plowed into
the ranks of the French. The colonel
fell, his body literally torn into pieces by
a shell that exploded against his bosom
The point upon the peninsula now
reached by the head of the assaulting
column was not more than hundred
yards wide; and it was literally path Of
death, as the fire from twelve heavy guns
was turned upon it. The colonel had
fallen, and very soon three other officers
went down, leaving the advance without
a commissioned leader. The way was
becoming blocked up with dead men,
and dead horses, and the head of the
column stopped and wavered.
Marshal Lefebvre, from his elevated
place, saw this, and his heart throbbed
painfully. If that column were routed
and the Russian infantry charged over
the peninsula, the result might be calam-
itous.
But-see! A man in the uniform of
; French private, mounted upon a pow
erful horse, caparisoned in the trappings
of a Prussian officer, with his head bare,
and bright sabre swinging in his hand,
rushes to the front and urges the column
forward. His words are fierce and his
look is dauntless.
"For France and for Lefebvrel" the
strange horseman cries, waving hissword
aloft, and pointing toward the battery.
"The marshal will weep if we lose this
dayi"
The brave troopers, thus led by one
who feared not to dash forward. where
the shot fell thickest gave an answering
shout and passed ON, caring little for the
rain of death 80 long as they had lively
leader to follow. Hoping that he might
take the battery, and yet courting death
Jerome Dubois spurred on; and finally
the troop came upon the battery with
irresistible force.
1t was not in the power of the cannon.
eers to Withstand the shock, and the Rus.
sian infantry that came to their support
we're swept away like chaff. The battery
wasquickly captured; and when the guns
had been turned upon those who had
shortly before been their masters, the
fortune of the day was decided. The
Russians and the Prussians-horse, foot
and dragoons-such as were not t4ken
prisoners, made the best of their way
into Dantzick, having lost much more
than they had gained.
Jerome Dubois retured to the guard
house, and gave himself up to the officer
in charge. Fisrt surgeon was called
to dress several slight wounds which he
had received. Next bis colonel was
called to see what should be done with
him. The colonel applied to the gene
raj of brigade, and the general of brigade
applied to the general of division. and
general of division, applied to Marshal
Lefebver.
@What shall we do with Jerome Du-
bois.
"God bless HIM" cried the general
veteran, who had heard the whole story
"Ill pardon him to day; and to morrow
I'll promote himI"
And Jerome Dubois, in time, went
himself to see the loved ones in France
and when he went he wore the uniform
of a captain.
BARNUM'S FAT WOMAN.
No circus is now considered complete
unless it has an enormously fat woman