The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-11-28
ON THE SENTRY LINE.
HOW A COLONEL WAS CAPTURED.
A Russian Onlcrr's Fail Before the Proves
OF nn IriYhInan,

During the night which followed the
engagement fought at the bridge Of
Traktir, the commanding officer OF the
Russian engineers employed on this
service, passed on foot along the
French and Turkish lines with all
the plans which had been drawn by
his subalterns, comparing them, as
he proceeded, with the appearance of
the positions. He trusted that the faint
starlight which sufliced for this purpose
would not be bright enough to enable
the advance sentries to see him.
When, lie reached the Sandman lines,
however he was seen by the retired
officer Of English Dragons who was
standing sentry in front Of an outlying
picket. He did not challenge; but after
laying down his rifle, he advanced slow
ly and stealthily with only his sword
bayonet in his hand. On coming near
the small mound on which the Russian
colonel stood examining the plans lie
crept on his hands and knees, then
started up and ran at him, placing his
bayonet suddenly on the officers breast,
and calling upon him, in such French
as he was master Of. TO surrender. The
Russian tried to draw his sword, but
was prevented by the IriShman. He
refused, however, to surrender, but
seized his adversary round the waist,
vainly trying to throw him to the
ground. They were both strong and nc
tive men, and, neither Of them being in
the least wanting i'll courage n fierce
struggle ensued
The dawn was beginning to break, but
they were not near enough to attract the
notice Of the Sandman guard who slept
in full reliance on their sentry. Many
hard blows were dealt on both sides, but
still the Russian kept hold Of the bay
onct with his left hand and did not sue
cumb. At last the Irishman wrenched
the bayonct from the Russians grasp,
and flung 1t away, contrlying ut the same
time to get his adycrsary's head under
his left arm, when he pummelcd it &c
Justify with his right fist that tho pun
ishment soon became too severe for the
officers further endurance. He surren-
dered, and gave his word Of honor not
to attempt to escape, while he handed
his sword TO his conqucrcr. They
walked to the outpost, the Irishman,
talking all the time in his broken French
and laughing very heartily as he spoke
Of their mornings adventure, which he
treated rs an excellent Joke, The officer
IN command Of the outlying picket sent
the Russian colonel under II strong es-
cort to General Durando, with the Irish.
man, to tell his own story.
The plans were found to be most &C.
curato and complete, and the service
rendered III intercepting them was so
much thought of that General dc Ia
Marmora got an officers commission foi
the young lrishman, and took him on
his staff as an aide. dc.cnmp. An attempt
was made to treat the Russian engineer
as II spy, but his captor came forward
and saved his life by declaring that he
had never entered the Sandman lines
and that he had been attacked and made
prisoner Mt distance of 200 yards from
them. His evidence was accepted as
conclusive, and the colonel was accord
ingly sent to Constantinople as n prison
or Of war. He bore no ill.will for hi
capture, which he attributed solely t.
the Irishman's superior knowledge o
the British science of boxing, and h,
spoke in the highest terms of his op
ponent's chivalrous conduct in throwing
away his sword-bayonet when he nigh
have stabbed him to the heart with 1t
80 helpless was he with his head in s,
awkward n predicament. He also praise,
the lrishman for relying on his parol,
instead of binding his arms ignomini
ousIy, and for preventing his being sho
| as II spy.