The morning call., 1891-10-25

UdZUi Az MeuiDd uol MO Deco Il ulNiStoit
marching to attack fort was assailed by
Spanish guards, who had just killed an en-
tire company of French v0ltigeurs. La
sale, on his way from another field of bat
tie, where he had made brilliant charge,
saw and understood the situation. He was
alone and his sword still stained with blood,
but he called TO Mareehal Bessiers, I'VE
must charged and improvising q column of
gendarmes, dragons and Polish light
horse, Lasalle fell on the Spanish guards
and Immediately they were dispersed.
Then it was easy to capture the city of
Medina del Rio Seco.
1t was Lasalle who, in 1906, with a brig ade
of hussars, without infantry and without
cannon. captured Stettin. offended by 100
pieces OF artillery and 5000 men. At first
the enemy had no idea that the force of the
attacking army was so small, but after the
capitulation, when the soldiers of the
garrison began to lay down their arms. they
saw that they had surrendered to handful
OF men. Indignant, they wished to take
back their arms, but the hussars charged
with their sabres, and the Prussians were
obliged to acknowledge themselves con-
quered. Lasalle was so confident that he
would win this battle, and so confident that
the Prussians would resent surrender to
so few men, that he sent for egiment of
infantry 10 aid him in executing the terms
of capitulaton; however the regiment ar
rived after the gallant soldiers OF Lasalle
had ended the work to their own satisfac-
ti0n Napoleon himself was greatly aston
ished at this victory, and named Lasalle
General of Division. AT the same time he
wrote to Murat: Il compliment you on
the capture of Stettin. If your light cavalry
captures strongholds in this manner | must
dismiss my artillery and melt my can non. ="
Lasalle had most remarkable adventure,
that made him more than popular, when he
was Captain of hussars in the MasSena
division, during the Italian campaign. He
loved and was loved by a MarquiSs de
Sail, a woman noted for her wit and beauty !;
her devotion TO the officer was so great that
later, when he lett her, she poisoned herself.
One Iight, when the French army was en-
camDed opposite the enemy, Lasalle decided
that he must go 10 VicenZa in order to see
the beautiful Marquise. To do this he was
obliged to pass the enemy's camp: the night
was dark, for it was December. Twenty
i've horsemen were chosen 10 accompany
him, the sentinels of the enemy were
passed and Vicenza was easily reached. To
return was more difficult; the son shone and
all the routes were carefully guarded. La
sale and his hOrSemen swan across the
Bacchiglione River overturned pest of 100
hussars, captured ten horses, rode through
showers of whiZzing balls and returned in
time to take their place in the
ranks of the division, reviewed by the
commanding General. When BOnaparte
saw in the division this band of men with
sOlled uniforms, when he saw Captain de
LdSHli6 covered Win nuu. HO was ASTON
lshed and demanded an explanation. La
sale concealed nothing. but, fortunately,
he saved the situation by giving informa-
ton about the position of the opposing
enemy. This information was of so great
value tn at he was pardoned and promoted.
Later, when Bonaparte was First Consul,
he said before all the dignitaries invited to
dine with him: LaSalle gave me so much
information that he and |, with the aid Of
Massena and JOubert, gained the battle OF
Riyoli."
LaSalle certainly was Napoleon's great
favorite. When the General was about to
marry, the Emperor gave him from his own
pocket So coo. A few days later Napoleon
saw Lasalle at the Tuileries, and said:
when are you TO be marredY
when | shall have money enough to buy
some furniture and the wedding presents"
The astonished Emperor replied: But
l gave you 100000 francs last week; what
have you done with all that money!"
= Il needed half 10 pay my debts. aud the
rest lost in gambling"
Napoleon smiled, pulled Lasalle's NUS
tache rather vigorously, ana told Marechal
DurOc to pay Lasalle another $4,000.
And this man, whose military talent IS
made him the model Of his tune. who in a
hundred comDats decided the victory by his
inc mparabfe audacity, this man died at the
age of 81. He wanted TO die young and al
ways b lieved that death would come to
him in early youth When SO years old he
said: Il have lived my life. l am General
of Division, the Emperor has given me
$1,000 frdncs year, and | am ready to die ~
At the battle of Wagram General de La
sale met his fate. soldier, whom he
wounded, raised himself, fired and killed
LaSalle as he was about TO charge at the
head of regiment His ades-de-camp
buried him in the cemetery of Saint Marx,
and his tomb, destroyed at one time, was re-
stored in 1929 by General Yermoloff, who
married 1.asales only daughter. Since
then the cemetery has been transformed
into manufactures and public buildings.
Iu the midst Of these was found the tomb of
LaSaile, and the stone above recorded that
Here lies Antoine CHARLES Louis Count OF
LasaIr, General of Division He was the brav-
est among the braYe-lOyal and generous as lie
was valiant. The example ana Idol OF Tue French
his country, he died on the held Of honor July 6,
1909, aged 81 years.
In the entire annals of nations. few
men of Lasella'S age have lett history
wonderful as bis.
The evening before the battle of Wagram
Laselle wrote to his wife, Countess de La
sale, 81 Rue Basse du Rempart de la Made
leine (Chaussee d Autin), Paris:
/ going to slsep two or three hours, dear
friend. | have been 10 supper with his Imperial
HighDess, the Nlceroy. ana lie has treated BIu-
yete, Pere and myself spendidly.
The entire army Is uniting, and in two or three
days we shall sec who will reign on the Danube.
We have five or six hundred pieces of artillery
love, L think OF thee. Thy CHARLES.
The next day Lasalle was dead.
BARONESS AL1HEA SALVADOR,