Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-05-23
COMBAT OF THE THIRTY.

The great fencing master of Paris, Wig
eaut, of Paris, narrates this extraord i
nary incident in a recently published
work, the hero of the story, Jean-Louis,
being French mulatto:
In 1914 Jean-Louis had not yet left the
army; he had taken part in more than
thirty battles or engagements in Egypt,
Italy, Prussia and Russia. 1t is in Spain
that we find him during that disastrous
year of 1914; which witnessed the su-
preme effort of Napoleon against the in
vasion Of Europe.
The Thirty-second regiment formed part
OF the third division of the army, and had
| just arrived at Madrid by terrible forced
marches. 1t was no longer a question of
conquest, but of falling back upon France
Us speedily as possible.
Scarcely had the regiment been able to
obtain few hours rest at Madrid, than
several commissioned officers and
soldiers OF that regiment-true zouaves of
the epoch-scattered through the various
quarters of the city, upon what in troop
ers' language they call la noce "a spree. "
| Unfortunately the fun was soon spoiled
by one of those soldiers quarrels, which
occur only too often in an army composed
of the most heteroclitic elements.
1t must be remembered that as soon rs
Napoleon |, added a new kingdom to his
cOnqucsts, his first care was to incorpor-
| ate into his army the armies of the nation
he had vanquished. Thus it came to
pass that for five or six years, Italians
Dutch, SaXons, Bavarians, not to mention
our traditional friends the Poles. took
part on the side of France in the great
battles of the empire. So long as the
star of the conQueror continued to
shine, these armed hosts which Napo-
Icon urged before him accepted their
condition of subiection; but from the
day the star began to pale, each only
thought of shaking off the yoke of the
terrible master who obliged Europe to
conquer itself with its own weapons.
The defections of 1813-Lutzen, Baut-
zen, Leipsic pecially-indicated that
the prestige of the conquerer was being
gradually entombed beneath the SHOWS
of Russia. All Germany commenced to
turn against those French regiments of
which she had been the auxiliary The
Italians incorporated into our army were
almost the only ones who remained faith
full to our fortunes. But if, even in the
hours following victory, certain violent
animosities had never ceased to exist be-
tween regiments so incongruous both by
nationality and temperament, it may
readily be imagined how such ill-feeling
would develop on the day when serious
reverses had robbed our eagles of their
aureole of invincibilty.
The Third division of the army of
Spain, which included the Thirty second
regiment, of which Jean-Louis was a
member, also included the First regiment.
| Now this was composed almost exclusive
ly OF Italians, incorporated voluntarily OF
| lorcibly into the imperial military system.
Some of them had also started through
the city to seek amusement and wine.
Suddenly the noise of a violent quarrel
reached posada in which the French
were singing merrily. These instantly
ceased their fun, and listened:
"lt is those rascals of Italians. IIa
they are fighting with our mem"
The noise redoubled. Soon was heard
the clash Of steel, q tunult of tables
overturned, yclls of fury, and ferocious
shouts Of
Orally here, Frenchman
death to the Franccsi"
In the twinkling of an eye the French
rush into the street, run to the scene of
the fight and shout to all comrades to
follow. But other Italians drinking in
other posadas have also heard the appeal
OF their comrades, and hurry to succor
them. In lew minutes more than a
hundred men of the Thirty second regi-
ment arc fighting with as many men of
the First. 1t is regular pitched battle
blood flows, heaps of wounded are lying
upon the pavement and only the arrival
of two companies with fixed bayonets
stops struggle which is degenerating
into q butchery.
The leaders are arrested and the mill
tary chiefs immediately hold council.
This time, beyond all question, a severe
example must be made; otherwise discip-
line will be altogether destroyed. Soldiers,
oblivious of the uniform they wear, have
attacked each other. Finally it is unani-
| hlOuSly uSSIdCu ny INC COuuCl G0dC UQG
fencing and provosts of the two
guilty regiments shall answer all respon-
sibility for the quarrel, and shall honor
ably fight it out in duels until it shall be
decided impossible to continue the com
bat.
Fifteen swordsmcn arc selected upon
either side.
Jean-Louis is the first fencing master
OF the Thirty second regiment. The first
fencing master of the first regiment in
Giacomo Ferrari-a man nearly six feet
Aigh, active and incontestably brave.
tic has practiced the science of arms
from his infancy, in that Italian school
still so celebrated. Before entering the
army Giacomo Ferrari had even opened a
fencing school in Florence, which had
won foI him a reputation that extended
to the furthercst parts of the peninsula.
1t is with this redoubtable adversary that
Jean-L Louis will have to measure himself
Since the famous combat of the Thirty,
/ do not hesitate to affirm that military
history never offered the spectacle of a
.nore terrible encounter than that of those
soldiers, all skilled in the exercise of
their art, all habituated to look death
IN the face without winking-all re-
solved to sustain the honor of their regi-
ments to the last gasp
Imagine whole army all drawn up in