Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-06-19
Brayest Of tho Brave. !.
AN OLD STORY WORM isE-TELmsa.

tel Tor the army, Whlcf ne entered
in 1767. He served with distinc-
tion, but refused offcrs of promotion,
saying that he was only fit for the
command of q company of grena-
dicrs.
While on visit to a friend about
the year 1890, he learned that .
regiment of Austrians was pushing
on to occupy narrow pass, the pos
session of which would be great
embarrassment 10 the French. This
pass was defended by strong tower
and garrison of thirty men.
D'Auvergnc Immediately set off
to warn the garrison of its 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 moment the grenadicr was
in dcspaiT then he resolved to
attempt the defense of the pass alone.
lie made his preparations, loaded the
guns and watched for thc enemy.
The pass was steep and narrow
and the Austrians could enter only
in double file, in doing which they
would he fully exposed to the fire
from the tower.
1t was near midnight when
D'Auvcrgnc heard the tramp of feet
entering the dclilc. lie Immediately
discharged two muskcts into the
darkness rs a warning that the garri-
son 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 surrcn-
der.
"Say to your commander that the
garrison will defend this pass to the
last extremity" the brave grcnadicr
replied
The officer, with his flag of truce,
carried back this message, and shortly
aftcrward piece of artillery was
brought into the pass. The grcna,
dicr opened such destructive fire
upon the gunncrs that it was soon
abandoned, with a loss of five men.
The Austrian Colonel ordered IN
assault. AS the troops entered the
dcflc they were received with so
accurate and rapid fire that by the
time they had passed over half the
distance they had lost over fifteen
men. They returned to the mouth
of the dciilc. Three more assaults
were rerulsod iii like manner.
At sunset the Aus,rians sent a
second summons to surrender.
"A favorable answer was this time
returned. The garrison would sur
render on the next morning, if
to march out unmolcstcl. |
After some hesitation The terms were
accepted.
D'Auvcrgnc had accomplished his
object. The twcnty-four hours
which he had gained had relieved the
French of all embarrassment, and
the carrying Of the pass was now Of
little moment to the enemy.
The next day at sunrise the Aus
train troops lined the pass in two
files, and through them the garrison
was to pass out. The heavy door
Of the tower opened, and Il bronzcd
grcnadicr, loaded down with mus
kcts, came out and walked past the
troops.
In astonishmcny the Austrian
Colonel rode up to him and asked
him why the garrison did not follow.
"l am the garrison, Colonel" the
soldier answered proudly.
"What! Do you mean that you
alone have held that tower against
mc?" exclaimed the Austrian.
81 have had the honor, Colonel"
was the reply. "Thc honor Of France
was ut stake"
The Colonel gazcd at him moment
with admiration, and then said
warmly -
"Grcnadicr, salute you! can
admire bravery if it is an enemy"
When the circumstances came to
the knowledge of Napoleon, he
to promote the brave French
man, but D'Auvcrgnc said "No."
The various grcnadicr companies
were afterwards united and he found
in command Of eight thou
sand men, while retaining only the
rank of captain.
Hence he was known ms "rhc
First Grcnalicr of France"