News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-05-29
FIRST GRENADlER OF FRANCE.
How the Austrian Colonel Was Surprised
When the Garrison Marched Out.


La Tour D'Auvergne was educated
for the army, which he entered in
1857. He served with distin ctiOn, but
refused offers of promotion, saying
that he was only fit for the command
of company of grenadiers. While
on a visit to friend, about the year
1870, he learned that a regiment of
Austrians was pushing on to occupy
narrow pass, the possession OF which
would be great embarrassment to the
French. This pass was defended by
a strong tower and agarriSOn of thirty
men. D'Auvergne Immediately set
off to warn the garrison of It's danger.
On arriving there he found that the
men had taken the alarm and fled, in
their haste leaving part of their guns
and ammunition behind. For a mo-
ment the grenadier was in despair;
then he resolved to attempt the de
fense of the pass alone. He made his
Preparations, loaded the guns and
watched for the enemy. The pass was
steep and narrow, and the Austrians
could only enter in double file, in do
ing which they would be fully exposed
to the fire from the tower. 1t was near
midnight when d'Auvergne heard the
tramp of feet entering the defile. lie
Immediately discharged two muskets
into the darkness as Il warning that the
garrison was prepared to resist. The
Austrian commander, finding that his
plan of attack had failed, postponed
his attack, and at sunrise called upon
the garrison to surrender. Say to
your commander that the garrison will
defend the pass to the last extremity"
the brave grenadier replied.
The officer with his flag of truce,
carried back this message, and shortly
afterward a piece of artillery was
brought into the pass. The grenadier
opened such a destructive fire upon
the gunners that it was soon aban-
doned, with a loss of five men. The
Austrian colonel ordered an assault
As the troops entered the defile they
were received with so accurate and
rapid fire that by the time they had
passed over hall the distance they had
lost fifteen men. They returned to the
mouth of the d;,flc Three more as
saults were repulsed in like manner.
At sunset the Austrians sent a second
summons to surrender. a favorable
answer was this time returned. The
garrison would surrender on the next
morning if allowed to march out un-
| molested
After some hesitation the terms were
accepted. D'Auvergne had accom-
plished his object The twenty-four
hours which he had gained had relieved
| the French of all embarrassment, and
| the carrying of tie pass was now Of
! little moment to the enemy. The next
| dav at sunrise the Austrian troops
! lined the pass i'll two files, aud through
| them the garrison was to pass out.
| The heavy door of the tower opened,
| and bronzed grenadier, loaded down
with muskets, came out and walked
| past the troops. In astOnishment the
! Austrian colonel rode up to him and
asked why the garrison did not follow.
Il am the garrison, colonel" the
soldier answered proudly.
What. Do yOu mean that you alone
| have held that tower against me2' eX-
claimed the Austrian.
L have had the honor, colonel,
was the reply. The honor of France
was at stake"
The colonel gazed at him a moment
with admiration, then said warmly:
"Grenadier, salute you! | can adj
mire bravery if il is III an enemy"
When the circumstance came to the
knowledge of Napoleon he offered to
promote the brave Frenchman; but
DAuvergne said NO" The various
grenadier companies were afterwards
united, and he found himself in com
mand of 5000 men while retaining
only the rank of captain Hence he
was known as The First Grenadier
| Of E',opoa ''-MoDtraal Star