Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-04-04
Acts Of Courage.
From Temple Par.


A small flag had been seen at the side
of a rock standing near the flank of one
of the French trenches before Sebasto-
pol. No one knew how the flag had
come there. It was remarked that can
nOnballs and shells had fallen into the
trench with fatal effect, as If there had
been an enflading fire. A sudden light
broke upon the officer In command. The
flag was point to aim at from the ram
part, and the rock sent the shot by rico
Chef into the trench. He called for
volunteer to take away the flag. There
was no reply. In the French army it is
not enough to give word of command,
I which has to be explained before it is
Obeyed The officer went to q private
soldier of the name of Victor Picault.
and asked him to go. The man answered
that he would If he knew why. The case
was then made clear to him. He sprang
out Of the trench, and ran to the flag
under a shower of rife bullets. He
pulled it down. At the moment when it
fell a whole battery discharged grape
shot at him. He threw himself on the
ground Both the French and the Rus
SLAMS thought he was killed. He sudden
ly jumped up, unhurt, and ran to the
trench with the flag in his hand. He re-
celved DOn-commissioned rank and the
Gross of the Legion Of Honor. An in
cldent displaying the coolest courage
was next related. | am sorry not to have
noted down the name OF the young lieu
tenant alluded to. A small detachment
OF infantry under his command had been
sent out of one of the French trenches
to attack a Russian rlte-pit with the
bayOnet as soon as the fire. directed upon
1T from the trench, should have ceased.
Shot and she'll we're meanwhile dis
charged at the detachment from the ram
parts. Some of the men remarked to
their officer that by staying there they
would soon all be hit, while they might
reach the cover of the trench III time to
return at the cessation Of the firing from
1t. The officer answered that they had
been ordered to stay, and that being un-
der fire was no reason for their running
away. At that moment she'll fell at
his feet, and he thanked the Russians,
touching his cap to them, for sending
him light for his cigar, which he pulled
from his pocket. He bit off the end of
1t, lighted at the fuse of the shell, and
held out his cigar case to the soldiers,
asking if any of them would like to
smoke. The shell burst, and, strange to
say, neither the brave youth nor any one
of the detachment was hurt by it. The
soldiers were thus shamed into standing
by so sef-possessed and gallant an Of
fcer. A gunner was then praised for his
courage and strength. During an attack
on one of the French batteries he had
remained alone to defend 1t, all his COM
rades having been either killed or
wounded. Hebrandished one of the lev
ers of his cannon like a quarter-staff,
striking Gown five Russians with it. He
received two bayonet- thrusts In his
shoulders, but still had vigor enough to
wrest rife from one of those who mad
Wounded him. He shot the one with it,
and knocked the other over with a blow
on the head from it's stock. Some Zou-
ayes came to his assistance, and saved
him by charging the Russian line of at
tack. They carried him in triumph to
the commander who was at
breakfast. On hearing the report given
of the affair the great general made the
gunner sitdOWn to share his meal. When
he was Withdrawing Cross of the LIE
gion of Honor was pinned on his breast
by the general himself. The gunner Of
fered his humble thanks, and asked if
he might now go to have his wounds
seen to. Intense was the establishment
OF the officers present. Among them
was a staff surgeon, who was ordered to
examine the man at once. The two
wounds were pronounced by him to be
very serious, but not mortal, and the
happy gunner was sent to the ambu-
lance.