The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-31

The WEATHER YESTERDAY was cloudy and
raw. About half-past O'Clock last night
snow commenced to fall, and at midnight it
was still showing slightly.
Thermometer YESTERDAY: A. NJ, 27;
8 A. NJ, 81; noon, 40; P. NJ, 40; P.
NJ, 3S; midnight, SO.
The Military Convoy.
Translated for the Dispatch from the French of
d. Emile Louvcstre.l
It was the month Of January, 1909.
Spain, invaded by the French and defend
ed by an English army, had become the
bloody theatre Of a struggle that was every
day growing more desperate. After beat
ing the SDaniards at all points, Marshal
Soult had Just attacked Sir John Moore,
whom he had forced to retreat towards Co.
runna. Several OF the divisions command
ed by the English general had even been
separated in this precipitate retreat, and
the conveys, broken by the incessant attacks
OF the French, were scattered along all OF
the roads in feeble detacbments, all trying
to reioin the main body OF the army.
One OF these detachments, composed OF
five or six baggage-wagons and some ambu-
lances containing wounded men, was pur-
suing with great difficulty an unknown
route, and was under the command OF an
Irish sergeant named Peters.
Night was beginning to fall. The sky
was charged with heavy clouds that an
nounced the approach OF storm. The
country they were traversing had barren
and desolate look. Not village and no
signs Of cultivation. AT long intervals
only might be seen deserted house, the
doors and shutters OF which had been
burned to make bivouac fire; horses that
had died OF fatigue; corpses, and the usual
debris that gives evidence OF the passage OF
troops during campaign.
UDon examining the character OF these
marks Peters found that the body OF troops
that had proceeded Lheui belonged to the
French army, which made him fear that he
would only with difficulty be able to Join
the army OF Sir John Moore. Besides, his
companions, most OF whom were wounded,
were painfully dragging themselves along
and with them impatience was joined TO dls-
couragement. AS always happens in these
painful experiences, each one was seeking
for some scape-goat upon which he could
vent his displeasurc. Some blamed the
general, who had not known how to adopt
fine measures indispensable for such q re-
treat; others blamed the Spaniards, from
whom efficient aid might have been eX-
pccted, though they disappeared on seeing
the disaster Of their allies; all cursed the
good luck Of the enemy and promised them
selves a speedy revenge.
IT was in this frame OF mind that they
reached q sort OF crossroads. where some
cytinguished fires and some baggage that
had been abandoned gave evidence OF re-
cent bivouac. ...
The narrow plateau upon which the
French had encamped was bordered on one
side by pretty deep ravine, in which there
flowed a brook. The noise made by the
wafer attracted some OF the wounded men,
who were tormented with thirst, and they
wished to descend in order to drink. Pc
ters stopped the convoy to aid them him
self; but on approaching the edge OF the
bank he saw in the bed Of the stream dead
mule still harnessed to broken cart, and
it seemed to him that he heard human
voice under the cloth covering OF the Vehi-
Gle. He slid down to the bottom OF the ra-
vine, removed the hoops with which the
cart was covered, and saw woman, who
asked him in Spanish to help her.
The sergeant understood this language q
little, and wanted to know how she got
there. In reply. the poor creature told
him she had fallen asleep from fatigue,
abandoning herself to the instinct OF the
mule; that it had probably approached too
dragged down with the cart; that waking
up at the very moment of the fall, she had
become aware OF it without being able to
prevent it, and had remained for q long
time stunned by the blow; that finally,
when she came to herself again, all her
efforts to eXtricate herself had been una
yailing, and she owed her safety only to the
arrival Of the sergeant.
While engaged in listening to these eN-
plantations, Peters, with the assistance OF
his companions, had succeeded in raising
the woman, all Of whose limbs were aching,
and in drawing her from under the over
turned cart; but at length, when they were
able to see her by the last rays OF daylight,
she was recognized Dy her dress as sutler
in the French army. AT this discovery the
goodwill Of the companions OF Peters sud.
denly changed to anger, and threatening
eXclamations broke out on all sides:
Called to the defence Of Spain, the soldiers
OF Sir John Moore had become accustomed
to regard as traitor every Spaniard who
sympathiZed with the invaders. Especially
did they deteSt those women who, sacrificing
their patriotism to q personal affection, had
cast in their fortunes with the French, and
had Qecldeu 10 rOHOW Cne army OF the Mar.
shal and to undergo with it all the hardships
Of war. This was precisely the case of Do
lores, the wife OF grenadier Of the First
division.
| The little band OF iugitives at once ener
getically expressed their regret at havins
rescued the French sutler from her danger
Gus position, and some Of them were ready
to pass from insults to violence when Peters
happily interposed his authority.
1 s'Enough OF this. talk |! y he exclaimed
sternly, placing himself in front of Do
lores. "Do you make war upon women,
sh'd like to know; and isn't this woman
sufficiently punished for her choice? For
ward, without any more delay, and let cacf
4 one mind his own business,,if he know!
what's good for him."
/ This advice was followed by the order tt
i set etforward again, and when there was M
Ilonger anyone around him except some
women and soldiers OF bis own company
he turned to the sntler, who, weak anG
spiritless, was seated near her broken cart
n W hat is going to become OF you ut tht
bottom oil this rayine ~ he asked in tone
Il m 40 tuao nad hv nifty fs Cor