Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-05-15
FIRST 6RgNApIeR OF FRANCE.
How the Austrian Colonel Was Surprised
When the Garrison Marched Out.

How the Austrian Colonel Was Surprised
When the Garrison Marched Out.
Ii Tour DAuvergne was educated
for the army. which he entered in
1867. H. served with distinction, but
refused oilers Of promotion, saying
that he was only tit for the command
of a company Of g~renadiers. While
on a visit to- friend, about the year
1870, he learned that a regiment of
Austrians WAS pushing on Ia occupy a
narrow pass. the possession of which
would beagrcat embarrassment To the
French. This pass was defended by
a strong tower aud IA garrison Of thirty
men. DAuvergne Immediately set
of Ia warn the garrison of It's danger.
On arriving there he found thai the
men had taken the alarm and fled, in
their haste leaving "A part of their guns
and ammunition behind. For a mo
ment the grcnadier was in despair;
then lac resolved To attempt the de-
Tense 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. II was near
midnight when dAuvergne heard the
tramp ~ fC"' entering ~" dciilr. He
Immediately discharged Two muskets
into the darkness as a warning that the
garrison was prepared 10 resist. The
Austrian commander, finding that his
plan of attack had failed. postponed
his attack, and al sunrise called upon
the garrison Ia surrender. say TO
your commanderthat the garrison will
defend the Ass 10 the last extremity"
the brave grruadier replied.
The officer, witt. his flag of truce,
carried back this Message, and shortly
a%fterward Il piece of artillery was
brought into the pass, The grenadier
opened such a destructive fire upon
the guuucls In Il II was soun aban.
doned, with a los Of five men. The
Austrian culuu.l ordered an assault.
As the troops entered the dciilc they
Were received with 81 accurate and
rapidly fire hi by the time they had
passed. over u II the distance they had
lost tifi on non. They returned 10 the
mout. oil u e. driilc. Three more as
saulls We're repulscd III like manner.
At sunset tue Austrians sent a second
summons - surrender. \ favorable
answer vas this time returned. The
garrison would surrender on the next
morning if allowed to march out I'M
molested.
After some hesitation the terms were
accepted. DiAuvergne had accom-
plished his object. The tw~enty-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
t.ay at sunrise the Austrian troops
lined the pass in two files, aud through
them the garrison was 10 pass out.
The heavy door of the tower opened.
and a bronzed grenadier, loaded down
with muskets, came out and walked
past the troops. In establishment the
Austrian colonel rode up to him and
asked why the garrison did not follow.
II am the garrison, colonel" the
soldier answered proudly.
What! Do you mean that you alone
have held that tower against me." ex-
claimed the Austrian.
Il 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:
"Genadier, | salute you. can ad-
mire bravery if it is in an enemy"
When the circumstance came to the
knowledge of Napoleon he offered To
promote the brave F~enchman; but
D'Auvergne 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 France. - Montreal Star.