The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-05-06
A DIsOBEDIENT soLDIER.

Now, lads, there's the battery; remember the
Emperor himself is watching you, and carry IL I'm
French style. The moment you get into 1t, make
yourself fast against attack; and mind that any
man who comes out again to pick up the wound.
cd, even though myself should be among them
snail be tried for disobedlence as soon as the bat
ties over"
80 spoke Colonel Lasalle 10 his French greua
oilers Just before the final charge that decided the
battle OF Wagram. Then he waved his sword and
shouted, "En auant"
ForWaru swept the grenadien like q torrent
with the shout which the Austrlans opposed to
them, already knew to their cost. Through
Dhhding smoke and peltng shot they rushed
headlong on with mouths parched, faces burning
ana teeth set like wise Ever and anon a red
ndsh rent the murky cloud around them and the
cannon shot came tearing along through their
RANKS, Rowing them down like grass. But not a
man hinched, for the same thought was in every
mind that they were fighting under the eye OF
their Little Corporal" as they affectonately call.
ed the terrible Napoleon,
Suddenly the smoke parted, and right In front
OF them appeared the dark muzzles Of cannon,
ana the white uniforms Of Austrian soldiers One
last shout which rose high above all the roar Of
the battle the bayones went glttering over the
o'eastwork like the spray Of q breaking wave and
the battery was won.
But where's the COlonel2" cried voice SUI.
denly.
Ihere was no answer. The handful that remain.
ed OF the doomed band looked meaplngly at each
other, but no one spoke Strict dscipllnarIan AZ
he was, seldom passing day without furnishing
some one, the old Colonel had nevertheless won
his mems hearts completely by his reckless cour-
age In battle; and every man In the regimen
would gladly have rlSked his life to save that OF
the old growler,' as they called him.
But II he was not with them, where was heY
Outside the battery the whole ground was
scoursed into flying Jets OF dust by storm Of bull
cts from the fight that was still raging on the left
In such a cross fire 1t seemed as II nothing living
could escape, and If he had fallen there there was
but little hope for him,
u see himl" cried a tall grenadier. Hes living
out yonder, and alive too, for saw him wave
his hand just now, I'll have him here In five
minutes, boys, or be left there beside him"
"Buty you mustn't disobey orders Dubois" said
young Captain (nOw the oldest surviving officer
so terrible had been the havoc,) hoping by this
means to stop the reckless man from rushing I'D.
on certain death. Remember what the Colonel
told you--that even II he we're left among the
wounded, no one must 60 out to pick them up.~
II cant help that" answered the soldier, laying
down his musket and tightening the straps Of his
cross'belts. Captain, report Private Dubois for
insubordination and breach Of discipline. I'm
going out to bring in the Colonel"
And he stepped forth unHnchingly 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, as
II rom blow; but the next moment he had the
Colonel in his arms and was struggling back over
the shot torn ground through the dying and dead.
Twice he stopped short, as II unable to 60 farther
but on he came again, and had Just lain his Off,
Ger gently down insi1ethe battery, when, with is
comrades shout Of welcome, still ringing In his
ears, he fell fainting to the earth covered with
blood.
By the next morning Colonel Lasalle had re.
covered sufficiently to amaze the whole regiment
by putting under arrest the man who had saved
his life; but the moment 1t was done the Colonel
mounted his horse and rode off to headquarters at
full gallop. In about an hour he was seen com.
irg back again. side by side with short square.
built man in gray coat and cooked hat, at sight
OF whom the soldiers burst into deRfenug cheers
for he was no other than the Emperor Napoleon.
Let me See this fellow, said Napoleon, sternIy;
and two grenadiers led forward Pierre Dubois, so
weak from his wounds that he could hardly
stand,
So, fellow, thou hast dared to disobey orders,
ha?' cried the Emperor in his harshest tones
II have, sire, And ifit were to be done again.
I'd do IT."
And what if we were to shoot thee for insubor.
dinatiou?'
my life is your Majesty's, now as alwsys" an.
swered the grenadier boldly. land II l must
choose between dying myself and leaving my
Colonel to die, the old regiment can better spare
a common fellow like me than brave ofioerlike
him.
A sudden spasm shook the old C)'oneps IRON
face as he listened, and even Napoleon's stern
gray eyes sOftened as few men had ever seen them
soften yet.
"Thou'rt wrong there" said he for would
not give common fellow thy sort for twenty
Colonels, were every one as good as my old La.
sale here. Take this Sergeant DubOis'-and he
fastened his own cross of the Legion of Honor to
PIerre's breast 81 warrant me thoul't be Co.
lionel thyself one of these days"
And sure enough five years later Pierre D1.
bois was not only Colonel but General.
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THE ROWFRY ROW