The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-05-12
Acts Of Courage.
From the Temple Bar

"A Sulall nag naQ been seer at the
side of a rock standing heal the flank
Of one of the French trenches before
S~ebastopol. No one knew how the
nag had come there. It was re-
marked that cannon balls and shells
had fallen into the trench with fatal
effect, as if there had been an enfilad.
ing fire. A sudden light broke upon
the officer in command. The flag
was a point to aim at from the ram
part, and the rock sent the shot by
ritochet into the trench. He called
for a volunteer to take away the flag.
There was no reply. In the French
army it is not enough to give a word
of command, which has to be ex-
planned before it is obeyed. The Of
hcer went to a private soldier of the
name Of Victor Picault and asked
him to 80. The man answered that
he would if he knew why. The
case was made clear to him. He
sprang out of the trench and ran to
the flag under a shower of rife bull
lets. 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
tie French and the Russians thought
he was killed. He suddenly jumped
up, unhurt, and ran 10 the trench
with the flag in his hand. He re-
celved n0n-cOmmissiOned rank and
the cross of the Legion of Honor.
An incident displaying the coolest
courage was next related. I am sorry
no to have noted down the name of
the yourg lieutenant alluded to. A
small detachment of infantry under
his command had been sent our of |
M of the trenches to attack
q Russian rif1e-pit with the bayonet
as soon as the fire, directed upon it |
from the trench, should have ceased. !
Shot and shell were meanwhile dis
charged at the detachment from the |
ramparts. Some Of the men remarked
to their young officer that by staying |
there they would soon be all hit.
while they might reach the
v of the trench i'm time to !
return at the cessation of firing from
1t. The officer answered that thew
had been ordered to stay, and that
being under fire was no reason for
their running away. Atthat moment
a shell fell at his feet, and he thanked
the Russians; touching his cap to
them, for sending him a light for his
segar, which he pulled from his pock-
ct. He bit off the enc of it, lighted
at the fuse Ofthe shell and held out
his segar case to the soldiers, asking
II any of them would like to smoke.
shell burst, and, strange to say.
the brave youth nor anyone
the detachment was hurt by it.
The soldiers were thus shamed into
standing by SO self-possessed and gal.
liant an officer. 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 it, all his comrades
having been either killed or wound.
ed. lie brandished one of the levers
Of his cannon like 4 uuarter-staff.
down five Russians with it.
lie received two bayonet thrusts in
MS shoulders, but still had vigor to
~rest a rifle from one who had
him. He shot the one
With 1T, and knocked the other over
blow on the head from its
took. Some zouaves came to his as
istance and saved hlm' by charging
he Russian line of attack. They
him in triumph to the com
nander-in-chief, who was at break
On hearing the report given Of
affair the great general made the +.
sit down to share his meal. :
When he was withdrawing q cross !
the legion of honor was pinned on .
is breast by the general himself. /. :
he gunner offered his humble :
hanks, and asked if he might now ! !
o to have his wounds seen to-. In .
snse was the establishment of the :
Ulcers present. Among them was :
staff surgeon, who was ordered to :
kamine the man at once. The two E
'Ounds were pronounced to be very :,
but not mortal, and the y
Apply gunner was sent to the ambu- "
nee.