Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-02-01

I'VE again retired; but the Captain
had p~rophesied rightly, and at early
dawn the firing awakened US. Rushing
to arms, we fell into line, and La Soft
never did his cursed blue eyes appear
to me more wicked-took his place be-
side me. The battalion began its march.
Our object was to rout the %whitecoats,
fortified with cannon in the Village of
Melegnano. Forward march! Before
we had gone a mile, V'lan! the Aus
trians' shot pierced our ranks and struck
down about fifteen of Jul Then
our officers, who expected the order to
charge, commanded us to crouch down
in the corn and fire, but they, of course,
remained standing, and l assure you
that the Captain was the most erect
among them. On our knees in the corn,
we continued firing on the battery, just
within our range. Suddenly 1 felt some
one pushing myelbow; turning around,
| saw La Soft, who was loading his gun,
and looking at me with a villainous ex-
preston about his mouth.
".Do you see the Captain thereP' said
he, pointing toward him.
".Yes. What of that?' answered l,
with a glance at the officer, who was
standing about twenty feet from us.
''Well, sir, he made a mistake when
he spoke to me as he did last night"
''Then in a trice, with a quick, exact
movement, he shouldered his gun and
fired. l saw the Captain start, throw
back his head, beat the air a second
with both hands, drop his sword and fall
heavily to the ground.
".Murderer!! 1 cried, selling the Ser
geant's arm.
"But with the butt of his gun he dealt
me q blow in the chest which threw me
several feet from him.
"'Fool! Prove it is 1 who killed him.
'Mad with rage 1 arose; but so did
every one, for our Colonel, bareheaded
upon his reeking horse was there, point
ing with his sword to the Austrian bat
terry and shouting at the top of his
voice:
".Forward, Zouaves-fre'
"What else could I do but charge like
the othersp And how famous is that
charge of the Zouaves at Melegnano.
Have you ever seen the great sea beat
ing against a rock? Yes? All, well,
this attack was very much like that.
Each company climbed to the top of the
redoubt as, a wave over the rock. Three
times the battery vas covered with blue
coats and red ~breeGhes, and three times
they were driven bacK,,>and the breast
works appeared again with taeircannon
mouths, as impossible as the rock after
tho wave sweeps over it.
'But the fourth company, our own,
was to carry the day. Twenty bounds
brought me to the redoubt. With the
aid Of my gun | leaped yer the en-
bankment, just in time to see a light
mustache, blue cap and rifled can
non, which almost touched me. when
1 was shot near the left shoulder
with such force that / thought my arm
was blown off. Dropping my gun from
giddiness fell unconscious on my side
cal the ammunition wagon.
''When [ again opened my eyes, only
the sound OF distant musketry could be
heard. The Zouaves were there, stand
ing in a half-circle but with disordered
ranks, and while brandishing their guns
in the air shouted 'Vive I'Empereur!'
"An old General, followed by his
staff, was approaching us on g~alloping
steed. Stopping his horse. he took off
his cap and waving it joyfully, shouted:
''Bravo, Zouaves! You are the best
soldiers in the world!'
81 vas sitting near the ammunition
wagon, and while carefully supporting
with my right hand the poor broken
arm, [ remembered La Soif's horrible
crime Of shooting his officer in the back
on the battlefield.
"Suddenly he left the ranks and ap-
preached the General. Yes, he, La
Soft. the Captains assassin! In the
battle he had lost his fez, and his closely
shaver head showed a deep cash,
whence oozed a stream of blood over his
forehead and cheek. With one hand he
supported himself by his gun, with the
other presented the General with an
Austrian banner. all pierced with holes
and stained with large red spots-a flag
which he had taken.
"The General regarded him with adj
miration.
"'Look, Bricourt,' said he. turning
to one of his orderlies, look at him!
What brave men!'
"'That is true, General" answered
La Soft, 'and, besides, you know the
First Zouaves are good for more than
one battle
"'Let me shake hands with you for
these Words exclaimed the General.
You shall wear the cross
"And while repeating, Such men!
Such brave men!' he said something to
his ald-de-camp which l did not under.
stand. You know how ignorant 1 am,
but, nevertheless, well do l remember
the words:
not, Bricourtp'
"But Just then my arm panied me 50
acutely tF"+ l again lost consciousness,
and nett saw nor heard ANYTHING
more.
"You know the rest. l have often
told you how my arm was amputated,
and how / spent two months in an am
bulance, suffering all the time with
fever and delirium. During the many
sleepless hours, 1 used to ask myself
what [ ought to do regarding La Soft.
Denounce him openly?: Yes, that was
my duty-but why? 1 could furnish NO
proofs. And then 1 would say to my
self, he is a scoundrel, it is true. but
courageous; he killed Captain Gentle,
| but he also took an enemy's f1au and