Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-04-19

are out in force. Let this thing
stayed. The marshal directs thu
you march about and advance ,,po
the peninsulaw
Il In an instant all was changed
that division and the brigadier gen
eral, who had temporary command
Numbered forth his orders for hi
countermarch. The gloom was dissi
pated, and with glad hearts the sol
diers turned from the thoughts of tn
execution of brave comrade {,
thoughts Of meeting the enemy.
"Wllat shall we do with the pris
oner9" asked the sergeant who ha,
Of the guard.
"Lead him back to the camp" re.
piled the captain.
The direction was very simple, bu
the execution thereof was not to bt
SO easy, for hardly had the words es.
capped the captains lips when squad.
ron of Prussian cavalry came dashine
directly toward them. The division
was quickly formed into four hol-
low squares, while the guard that
held charge of the prisoner found
themselves obliged to fee.
Gin Heavens name, cried jerome,
''cut my bonds, and let me die like a
sOldier!'
The Sergeant quickly cut the cord
that bound his elbows behind him,
and then dashed toward the point
where his own regiment was station
cd. The rattle of musketry had COM
menced, and the Prnssians were yainly
endeavoring to break the squares of
French troops. Jerome Dubois look
ed about him for some weapon with
which to arm himself, and presently
he saw a Prussian officer not far off
Keeling in his saddle as though he
had been wounded. With q quick
bound he reached the spot, pulled 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 behalf of France-and sell is as
dearly as possible. But he was not
needed where he was. He knew that
the Prussians could not break these
followed squares; SO he rode away,
to join the French cavalry,
with whom he could rush into the
deepest danger. Surprising that the
heaviest fighting must be upon the
The Nehrung, he rode his horse in that
direction, and when he reached it he
'ound that he had not been mistaken. |
Upon slight eminence, toward Ha-
,elsberg the enemy had planted a bat
cry Of heavy guns, supported by two
regiments Of infantry and already
With shot and shell immense damage
lad been done.
Marshal Lefebvre rode up shortly
fter this battery had been opened,
nd very quickly made up his mind
hat it must be taken at all hazards.
"Take the battery" he said to a
olonel of cavalry, "and the battle is
urs."
Dubois heard the order and saw the
ecessity. Here was danger enough,
nrely! and, determined to be the
rst ut the fatal battery, he kept as
ear to the leader as he dared. Half
ne distance had been gained, when
ON the hill came a storm of iron
nat plunged into the ranks of the
rench. The colonel fell, his body
tcrally torn in pieces by a shell that
kploded against his bosom.
The point upon the peninsula now 7.
cached by the head of the assaulting
,lumn was not more than hundred q
ards wide, and it was literally u
ain of death, as the fire from twelve /
,avy guns was turned upon it. The
lionel had fallen, and very soon
rec other officers went down, leav- =
& the advance without q commits
oned leader. The way was becom- .
g blocked up with dead men and
'ad horses, and the head of the col a
ms stopped and wavercd.
Marshal Lefebvre, from his elevated =,
ace, saw this, and his heart throb- :.
d painfully. If that column We're ~
uted and the Russian infantry v
or the head of the peninsula, the ~
suit might be calamiteus. r
But--see! A man in the uniform
a French private, mounted upon q ~ y.
werfnl horse caparisoned in the W
'ppings Of a Prussian staff officer, ",
til his head bare, and a bright sabre ~
inging in his hand, rushes to tho y.
mt and urges the column forward. ~
$ words are fiery and his look is
For France and for Lefebvrem
strange horseman cries, waving n
sword aloft and pointing toward II
hatfarv tvTha Morsho1 will ,roo,, oil