Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-05-19
NO l.llI9.
misfellaneous.
A plsoBEDlENr SOLDIER.
BY DAVID KER.

"Now, lads. there's the battery: re-
member the Emperor himself is Watching
YOU. and carry it in true French style.
The moment you get il, make Yourself fast
against attack; and mind that any man
who comes out again to pick up the
wounded, even though l myself should
| be among them, shall be tried for diso-
bedience rs soon as the battles over
So spoke Colonel L;asallc 10 his French
grenadiers just before the final charge that
decided the battle of Wagram. Then he
waved his sword and shouted, -En ordpfr'
Forward swept the grenadiers like a
torrent, with the shout which the Austrians
opposed 10 them already knew TO their
cost. Through binding smoke and pelt-
ing shot they rushed hcadlong on. with
mouths parched, faces burning, and teeth
set like wise. Ever and anon a red fash
rent the murky cloud around them, ami
the cannon-shot came tearing through
their ranks, moving them down like grass.
But not man flinchcd, for the same
Thought WAS in every mind. that thew were
fighting under the eye OF their Little
Corporal" AS they atfectionately called
the terrible Napoleon.
Suddenly the smoke parted, and right
in front OF them appeared the dark snuz-
zles of cannon. and the white uniforms of
Austrian soldiers. One last shout, which
rose high above all the roar of battle. the
bayonets went glittering over the breast
work like the spray of Il breaking wave,
and the battery was won.
where's the Colonel 2" cried voice
suddenly
There was no answer. Tho handful of
men that remained of the doomed band
looked meaningly at each other, but no
one spoke. Strict disciplinarian as he
was. seldom passing a day without pun
ishing some one, the old Colonel had
nevertheless won his mems hearts COM
pletely by his reckless daring courage in
battle; and every man in the regiment
would gladly have riskcd his life to save
that of 1.-THE old growlcr." us they called
| him.
But If he were not with them, where
was he? Outside the battery the whole
ground was scourged into flying jets of
dust by a storm of bullets from the fight
| that was still raging on the left. In such
"A cross-fire it seemed as il nothing living
could escape, and il he had fallen there,
there was but little hope for him.
IL see him." cried n tall grenadier.
| Hes lying out yondcr, and alive, too,
for saw him wave his hand just now
III have him here in five minutes, boys,
or be left there beside him.
'But you mustn't disobcy orders, Du-
bois, said young Captain (now the old
est surviving officer. so terrible had been
the havoc). hoping by this means to stop
the reckless man from rushing upon cer-
tain death Remember what the Colonel
told you-that even il he were left among
the wounded, no one must go out to pick
him up
II can't help that, answered the SOL
der. laying down his muskct and tighten
ing the.straps of his cross-belts "Cap-
tain, report Private Dubois Tor insubordi-
nation and breach of discipline. I'm 90
ing out to bring in the Colonel"
And he stepped forth unflinchingly into
the deadly space beyond.
They saw him approach the spot where
the Colonel lay, they saw him bend over
the fallen man; shielding him from the
shot with his own body. Then he was
seen to stagger suddenly, rs if from a
blow; hit the next moment he had the
Colonel in his arms, and was struggling
back over the shot-torn ground, through
the dying and the dead. Twice he stopped
short, as If unable to go farther; but on
he came again. and had just laid his officer
gently down inside the battery, when,
with his comrades shout of welcome still
ringing in his ears, he fell fainting to the
earth. covered with blood
by the next morning Colonel Lasellc
had recovered sufficiently To amaze the
whole regiment by putting under arrest
the man who had saved his life; but the
moment it was done the Colonel mounted
his horse and rode off to headquarters ut
full gallop. In about an hour he was seen
coming back again, side by side with n
short. square built man i'm gray
coat and cooked hat, at sight of whom the
soldiers burst into deafening cheers, for
he was no other than the Emperor Napo-
leon.
..Iet me see this fellow" said Napole-
ON, stearnly; and two grenadiers led for
ward Pierre Dubois, so weak from his
wounds that he could hardly stand.
$50, fellow, thou hast dared to disobey
orders. ha? cried the Emperor, in his
eharshcst tones.
Il have, sire. And il it we're TO be
idone again, I'd do it,
"And what II we were to shoot thee
for insubOrdnation ?''
my life is your Majesty's. now as al
ways" answered the grenadicr. boldly.
"And if must choose between dying my
self and leaving my Colonel to die. the
old regiment can better spare . common
fellow like me than brave officer like
lhim.''
A sudden spasm shook the Colonel 8
iron face as he listened. and even NapO-
;leon's stern gray eyes softened rs few
linen had ever seen them soften yet.
"Thou'rt wrong there" SAID he. ''for l
lwould not give a common fellow 0f thy
sort for twenty ColoneIs. were every one
of them as good as my old Lasalle here.
Take this, Sergeant Dubois he ias-
tened his own cross OF the Legion Of Hon
or to Pierre's breast. II warrant me
thou'lt be Colonel thyself one Of these
days" ss .a.s
| And sure enough, five years later Pierre
Dubois was not only y Colonel, but q
l(sonnr.al