Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-08

age to the tremendous events which in
| rapid succession convulsed his nation.
/ The French revolution, the battle OF
Valma. the execution of Louis XVI, and
his Queen MARIA Antoinette) the victories
of Bonaparte. commander of the French
army in italy, over the Austrlans; his
Egyptian invasion and saDguinary WORK;
the battle of the Nile and destruction of the
French fleet BY Lord Nelson; the cross
ing the Alps by Bo 1aparte and defeat OF
the Austrians at Marengo; renewal of
war between France and England; Austen
litz Trafalgar, Jena, Vimiera and
Corunna; the rapid promotion OF the
artillery captain to commander-ln- chief
and Emperor of France-tnese all fol
lowed in quick succession by the time he
had reached the age of l6. In that year
l-1806-young Radoux enlisted on a
French privateer, the ''Vetren." Captain
/ Legrand. But after short and bloodless
experience, he, with others. was captured
/ BY British cruiser, they being surprised
and overpowered by superior numbers.
/ He was transferred to prison ship, and.
! for seven long, weary years and some
months he was prisoner of war, all of
which time he never saw the moon or
stars. But one day he saved from
drowning an English officer. for which
service he was Internationally released.
! Radoux forthwith returned to his native
town, where he was received as one risen
| from the dead. Ere long he married his
young love, Mile Jeanett Adams. and
settled down to domestic lite. to cultivate
the arts of peace. But his deans of quiet,
domestic life were soon to be dispelled,
for one of the most important war dreams
in the history of the world was about to
| be inaugurated-a storm that was destined
to eliminate in the world-famous
Waterloo.
In the month of March. 1884, Europe
was again thrilled by the startling intelli-
gence that Napoleon, who, on the triumphs
of the allied powers, had abdicated and
gone to The island of Elba, and Louis
Philippe the Bourbon King, restored to the
throne of France, had escaped and landed
in France, and with the army was advan
cling on Paris. the King fleeing before him.
Bv the end OF May, Napoleon had assem-
| bed in the northeast for active operations
under his own command, an army OF be-
tween l20 600 and 100, 900 men, with a
| fine park of artillery. and in the highest
state of equipment. discipline, and efficen-
CIV. To meet him. in this emergency, the
allies made tremendous exertlons, hoping
to grapple successfully with their olden
foe Belgium was to be the theatre of the
deadly contest, and thither the French
Emperor massed his forces. Among the
recruits who responded TO the new call for
troops was young Radoux. He received
the appointment of lieutenant in Capt
MichaPs company, 74th regiment of intan
try and he and his command. IN their
blue uniforms and caps, fully armdf and
equipped, marched out from the fortress
OF St. Malo, thence across the low neck of
land of st. Severance, and on to the Bel
gan frontier. to JOIN the forces of Grouchy,
constituting division of the main army
commanded by Napoleon in person. The
story of Waterloo and the disastrous re
suit to the French army by the failure of
Grouchy to effect a junction with the EN-
peror on that memorable 18th of June,
1914. is 100 familiar to need recapitulation
In the darkness of night the remnant
of that splendid army, which few
hours before had greeted their
beloved chief with shouts of "Vive
fEmpereur! fled, disordered mob. to-
ward Paris, pursued by Blucher's Prussians
and the brief but momentous campaign
was ended. The French troops made their
way to their homes and thus terminated
the military career of Lieut.. Radoux.
The next year Lieut.. Radoux, with his
wife and infant child-the Mrs. Dam to
whom reference has been made-came to
the United States. They landed in Boston
and from there made their way to Ray
moud, Me-, where for many years, as
have observed, he was engaged in mining
and also taught dancing. His few neigh
bors have kindly recollections of him, and
all testify to his gentlemanly qualities and
kindness OF heart. His first wife died in
this country, and he married for his sec
ond wife Susan Dingley. an aunt of Ma
thaniel Hawthorne, at that time youth
in college. She, too, is long since num-
bered with the dead. Some % or 80 wears
ago he removed to Portland, where he
has ever since resided Beside Mrs. Dam,
he has three other children living-a son
at Sebago Lake, Me-, a daughter in Pbila-
delphia and another daughter in Washing
ton.-C. o. STICKNEY IN Boston Herald.