Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-05-17
WAR HEROES.
Men who Calmly Paced tho Ensmy's
Bullets.

Oh rock standing near inc nank OF
one of the French trenches before Sc
bastopol. No one knew how the flag
had come there. 1t was remarked
that cannon-balls and shells had fallen
into the trench with fatal effect, as If
there had been an enfilading fire. A
sudden light broke upon the officer in
command. The flag was a point to
aim at from the rampant, and the rock
sent the shot by ricochet 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 word of command,
which has TO be explained before IL Ia
obeyed. The officer went to private
soldier by the name Of Victor Picault
ald asked him to 60. The man an
swered that he would go 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
rifle bullets lie pulled it down. At
the moment it fell a whole battery dis
charged grape-shot at him. lie threw
himself upon the ground Both the
French and the Russians thought he
was killed. He suddenly jumped up.
unhurt, and ran to the trench with the
flag in his hand. He received non
commissioned rank and the Cross Of
the Legion Of Honor.
An incident displaying the coolest
courage was next related. ! am sorry
not to have noted down the name of
the young lieutenant alluded to. a
small detachment Of infantry under
his command had been sent out Of one
Of the French trenches 10 attack
Russian riilc-pit with the bayonct as
soon as the fire. directed upon it from
the trench. should have ceased. shot
and shell were meanwhile discharged
at the detachment from the ramparts.
some Of the men remarked 10 the
young officer that by staying there
they would soon all be hit. while they
might reach the cover Of the trench
in time to return at the cessation Of
the firing from it. The officer answer
cd that they had been ordered to stay.
and that being under fire was no rca-
son for their running away. At that
moment a ghell fell at his feet. and he
thanked the Russians, touching his
cap to them, for sending a light for
his cigar, which he pulled from his
pocket. He bit Off the end Of It.
lighted II at the fuse Of the she'll. and
held out his cigar-casc 10 the soldiers.
asking If any Of them would like 10
smoke The shell burst, and strange
To say, neither the brave youth nor any
Of the detachment was injured by II.
The soldiers were thus shamed into
standing by SO self-possrsscd and gal
liant an officer
\ gunner was then praised for his
courage and strength. During an at.
tack on one Of the French batteries h,
remained alone to defend 1t, all his
comrades having been killed or wound
cd He hrandished one of the levers
Of his cannon like a quartcr-staG
striking down five Russians with Il.
He received two bayonet thrusts in
his shoulders. but still had yigor
enough to wrcst n rifle from one of
those who had wounded him. He
shot the one with il. and knocked the
other over with blow on the head
from its stock Some Zouayes came
To his assistance and saved him by
charging the Russian line Of attack.
They carried him in triumph To the
commauder-in-chief. who was at break
fast. On hearing the report given OF
the affair. the great general made the
gunner sit down to share his meal.
When he was withdrawing Cross Of
the Legion of Honor was pinned on
his breast 10y the general himself.
The gunner offered his humble thanks,
and asked if he might 60 to have his
wou.ds Neen to. Intense was the as
constituent of the officers present.
Among them was a staff surgeon. who
was ordered to examine the man at
once. The two wounds were pro
nounced by him TO be very serious. but
not mortal, and the happy gunner was
sent to the ambulance Temple Bar.