Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-12-22
GsIes s1lo Skeifkfs.
1eHlD CAST troy fnE WAfERs.


CITY ~ Jena bore Melancholy WJt0SSS 10
the brief. but bloody battle. which open
ed the way for the triumphal entry OF the
French army into Berlin. eleven days later.
Marshal Davoust, 1.-THE butcher OF Ham,
burg, thus named on account OF his
cruel treatment of that city-hsd taken up
his quarters in The most comfortable house
he could find near the field Of Jena. and
/ IRE iss ned hfs ders regarding the dis
posal of his troops. and received the re-
ports Of his adjutants. He had just thrown
aside his cloak, and was about TO retire
TO rest. when one Of his officers entered,
to submit To the Marshal's consideration q
case demanding prompt attention.
The German canaille must" he said.
'.be taught manners. Ten soldiers Of
certain company Of the Fourth Infantry,
quartered in the village OF Waldorf. have
been turned out by the inhabitants, and
some Of them badly wounded"
Davoust's cold eve lighted up. as he
CURLY replied: ''Send of lieutenant
with twenty men. and orders to choose
ten of these rufiians at Waldorf and shoot
them down. And the Marshal, without
troubling himself more about the matter,
went 10 sleep.
Next morning, at sunrise. Lieutenant
Lamotte, at the head Of twenty men. set
out to seek the village Of Waldorf. Hav-
ing gained height commanding view
Of two or three different valleys, the lead
Or asked his guide whereabouts the village
Of Waldorf might 10.
There" replied the man. indicating
place TO the left, there Is Upper Wald-
orr"
I'm arant." cried Lamotte and, half
m hour later, the execution party entered
the village, and halted on an open space
near the church. where the Inhabitants
were desired to assemble. The soldiers
compelled the men to form line. while
the women and children stood near, dread
ing the worst
At this crisis. the son Of the parish
clergyman confronted the invaders. He
was young man Of about twenty years
Of age. student Of theology. and happi-
ly. was not without some knowledge Of
French. When he realized the perilous
situation, he begged Lieutenant Lamotte
for an explanation Of his proceeding.
1--WE orders to punish this village" re-
piled the officer. .'f'r the bad usage which
our soldiers experienced here yesterday.
The Marshal commands ten Of you to be
shot. All can do is to permit you to
draw lots. or give up the offenders"
''But. SIR" returned the youth. "your
commander is misinformed. You are the
first French soldier to enter our village.
There are two other places of the name Of
Waldorf, and It would be quite easy to
convince yourself that we are guiltless of
all provOcation. ! entreat you to spare
the innocent
II have no time for investigation. MY
orders are to net against Waldorf. and
this. l am told. is the place. shall wait
till you have agreed among yourselves
which ten of you are to fall, and can do
no more
Meanwhile. the villagers had been in
formed OF the impending doom. The wO-
men wept and entreated. while the men
stood pale and speechless. Even the
officer and his soldiers. used to the stern
code OF war. loathed the task assigned
them: while the pastors son. in the firm
persuasion that his representations would
be avaiing. pleaded his cause with fer
vor and address that did not fail to make
an impression.
tween military duty and human compass
sion. while the youthful spokesman APP
pealed to conscience and the demands of
authority higher than Marshal Davoust's.
At last. the officer consented to wait till
sergeant. despatched under the guidance
Of rusti',. should have brought further
instructions from headquarters.
IN little while. the sergeant and his
guide re-appeared on the scene. The
former handed the lieutenant despatch.
which was hastily opened. and ran thus:
lose no time in talk. II is all one what
village is punished, il only an example is
made. do your duty. and return imme-
diately.'
"Choose your men - said the officer.
locking very Stern. to hide his emotion.
The young student. falling on his knees.
once more made an appeal. II don't
kneel TO you" said he. "but will pray to
God TO prevent you soilng your conscience
by such acruel massacre
His cool determination aud courage
quite overcame the lieutenant. Berkon-
ing to the student. he whispered to him:
81 am about TO save you by strategem.
Choose ten OF your coolest hands, and
range them in line before me. will
then order my men TO shoot them through
the head. When say Fire. the ten
men must fall fat on the ground the sol
diers will shoot over their heads. and none
of them will be hurt. shall then order
my men off the ground. whence none of
your people must stir till we are fairly out
Of sight"
This decision was at once communicated
to the villagers. and. after much persuasion
on the part Of the pastors son. nine others
stood up with him. The men perfectly
understanding each other. he now COM
manded them To fire. In the moment be- /
tween his words and the peal Of the mus
kets. the ten villagers sank to the ground.
and, without losing second, the officer
cried. Right about. march,
When the measured tread of the retir-
ing soldiers resounded through the silent
village street, and the women ventured to |
look up. ten men lying motionless. and to
all appearance lifeless, met their view |
With cries of alarm they rushed forward
to see what had happened; and. before
their weeping had been exchanged for
Joy. the last soldier had disappeared in
The adjacent wood.
What these two men had done, WAS not
to lose its reward. In 1856. three of the
ten men above mentioned still surviving
in Waldorf \ Jubilee celebration of the