Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-08-28

All then it is over with us. Can
tain, said but he made no answer .
ne was insensible. Well said Il to
myself, L am not going to die, nor to
let HIM neither, without a good hard
struggle for it that would not become a
soldier OF the empire. No; if they come
near me it will cost some of those vile
Cossacks dear they ehall know what a
Frenchman can do; / will stop that
sbominable hurrah of one or twoof them,
or my name Is not Manchot.
/ had not much time to think. for
they drew quickly nearer, with that wild,
wretched yell of theirs. Call them
soldiers Bah ! nasty, dirty, savage
looking fellows; with their bony, rag
ged, ugly little horses. Why, they
were only fit to kill the wounded and
the dying-to injure and plumber those
who could not help themselves-not to
fight against Frenchmen.
Well, but what was l to do? l laid
the Captain down, and covered him over
with the snow as well as I could. Then.
seeing number of corpses lying to-
gether in heap. l went and laid down
among them, pretending that L too was
dead.
1.-THE better to hide myself, turned
over body, and was Mortified to find it
was that of an old comrade of mine, who
had fought by my side on the glorious
field of Austerlitz, Sergeant Subra. A
drawer and better soldier there was not
IN the whole Grand Army. AT any other
time | should have been much grieved,
but now all my thoughts were taken up
with how was | to escape the enemy. So
crept as well as / could under the
corpse of the sergeant. / he Cossacks
were on us. Never did think myself
so near death as then. They galloped
right over us, and in doing so the hoof
of one of the horses came down upon
me, and mashed my left arm. All |
my children, you may be sure it was not
easy for me to keep from calling out
the agony was SO very great. To keep
Ill the cry that seemed to force itself
from my heart, l almost bit my lips
through. Well, having done what mis-
chief they could on horseback, they
passed on-those numbering, thieving
villains.
81 then ventured to look up from my
hiding place. All, as thought at first,
We're gone. L was glad of this, for what
can one man, with O broken arm, do
against hundred with two arms and on
horseback? AS l cautiously looked
around, still lying where had hid-for
l was too old soldier to betray myself
until L knew that the whole coast was
clear--l saw that one of the enemy still
remained behind-a big, ugly scoundrel,
who. dismounted and leading his horse,
was at this time bent on the plumber Of
an officer. At this sight my anger made
me forget my pnin. / felt hurt that so
pitiful a villain should have it in his
power to iniure brave man.
"'Ah ! | said to myself softly, IF /,
Corporal Manchot, can help it, you shall
never boast of what you are now doing
So | seized a musket with my right
hand; loade(! it and prepared to take
aim. In doing this / made some noise
which alarmed the thief; he started,
listened, rose from his knees and looked
around, but saw nothing. Not satisfied
with that, he walked round the heap
where / lay, at only a few yards dis
lance. You may think ] did not make
any noise then. l even breathed as
lightly as l could. He saw-he heard
nothing, so, with his confidence re-
stored, he went back to finish the work.
With that l lifted my musket-but if
you ever should try to lift your musket
to your shoulder to take ain with your
left arm shattered you will find it very
awkward thing to do
My instinct-the instinct of vet
eran, see you-told me that, so | did not
try hI1t n1 NJ L.
of dead comrade and took aim-very
good, you may be sure, for my life de-
pended on it--fred-when bang his
battles were all over, as the Captain had
said to himself; he leapel up, flung out
his arms and fell dead
"This raised my spirits-it somehow
seemed good omen to me that | should
escape. But how? All ! did not see
that. returned to where | had buried
the Captain in the snow-dug him out
tried all | could to lift him again on my
shoulder, but could not do it because of
my broken arm. While / was endeavor-
ing to ran, IN, my pulling him about
revived him-he opened his eyes and
saw me leaning over him. At first he
did not understand how thinks were,
but soon, recollecting himself, he said
with MS strong voice as he could,
though that was very weak:
80 What, corporal, you here still I
Am then not to be obeyed? Did I not
tell you to leave me and join your COM
many? Why, if these things are al
lowed, there will soon be no discipline
in the army! If L live You shall be
soundly punished-you shall, on the
word of Capt Tetu.
"This persistency of his displeased
me, so | replied to him more sharply
than l should:
"'Ma fol Captain, if you are going to
be so obstinate, Manchot will initiate
you, or he is not corporal in the Grand
Army. If you stay here, he stays too,
so say no more about it what ] have
said | will do.
He looked offended, but said moth
ing-poor fellow, for he soon became in
sensible again. Night was now fast
coming on, so / went and gathered as
many cloaks as / could-alas there
was no scarcity of them-and wrapped
him in them.
"Then / sought for something to eat
at was we'll | had finished off the
Cossack, for l found on him a flask of
brandy, which he had evidently taken
from one of our officers, and some
bread.
Returning to the Captain, Ipoured a
little spirits down his throat, which re-
vived him; | then made him eat and
drink, and took some bread and brandy
myself. 1t was now dark, and there
was nothing for me to do but wait till
morning, to see what that would bring
forth. | knew the rear-guard of the
army was not past, and had some hope:
that we might be picked up by them.
"Never shall l forget the fearful hor'
rors of that night. 1t never ceased t.
snow. The cold seemed to pierce intt
ones very vitals, and freeze up the mar
row in our bones, and the blood IN thu
heart. Nothing was to beheard but thu
growing of the wolves and the gnashint
of their Jaws, as they gorged themselve
on the plentiful banquet which Ia.
around. l felt the frost was gradual,
mastering me, and that it would sool
numb all my limbs. | was certain