The morning call., 1892-07-14
THE TRUMPETBR.

Those who have not assisted in great bat
ties, and know of them only from brilliant
description, have little idea of these des-
perate conflicts. where the masSed armies
launched against each other struggle through
the whole day in an atmosphere Of flame
and iron rain. Dwelling only upon the VIC
tOrious result. they ignore the uncertainties,
the det0urs and the unexpected happenings
of these terrible DAYS. Reading in the mar
ratives Of historians of the strategy OF gen.
erals, one is led TO believe that all that
takes place is like a parade-a KIND OF
mathematical chess carried on by players
who have soldiers for pawns. 1t is neces-
sary 10 take part in this melee to understand
the sangumary chaos. The plan of a battle.
so easy to follow in a history, cannot DO
compTehended so clearly upon the ground
Enveoped In clouds Of dust aud smoke
one knows nothing Of what Is transpjrlng
around him, distinguishes with difficulty a
corps of friends from that Of enemies, and
dies without becoming aware with which
sIde rests the advantage. Each one does
his duty blndly, aud often knows OF VIC
tory but from the order Of the DAY.
1t was thus with certain regiments at
Auerstadl. The Prussians, who presented
battle front Of six leagues, were attacked
time, and there resulted series OF conf cts
which led. as one may say, to two battles.
one won by Napoleon. the other by Marshal
Davous..
Our company, sent into one Of these en-
counters was successful after a struggle Of
several hours, and drove the enemy from
village which they abandoned only after il
was set on fire. l was pursuing the last
skiTmisheTS. who were retiring toward the
wing commanded bY the Prince Of HOheu-
srnN
struck by musket ball which knocked me
over and caused me TO lose consciousness
almost Insta ltly.
When l Tegained my senses | found myself
alone at the foot Of the wall l had attempted
10 climb The other houses were still burn
inE. Some dead bodies were dispersed here
and there, and :there could be heard in the
distance the boom OF cannOnS and the crack
of musketTy.
partially arose, and with difficulty draw
lng myself upon my knees, sought 10 dis
cover some near point 10 which TO proceed
for succOT but all was silence. Evidently
he battle had concentrated Itself iB the Two
extrenities OF the enemY'S line, and | was
abandoned.
This conviction. together with the blood
had lost, reduced my courage. saw my
self condemned 10 perish mseTably amidst
this ruined hamlet. However. l made a
last effort TO gain q SmHli, isolated dwelling,
which seemed tie only one that had escaped
doubt abandoned it before the approach Of
the TWO armies. for IL Was entirely vacant.
Tie PrusSian soldiers, who had bIY0uaCkcd
there tie preceding night, had broken the
furniture up for fuel / found but the four
walls and scattered debris.
OF ali the suffeTingS l endured that Of
thirst Was the most intoleIable. In crossing
The court / had perceived a well. but il was
deep. | had no means Of drawing from it.
and, like a new Iantalus, It was vain for
me TO bend before this water the lips that
could mt reach 1t. ! WAS at the end Of my
strength and courage. My leg, stiff from
the bleeding II the wound dId not permit
me to take another step. Everything began
20 SWIM before ny eyes, a cOldness seized
me and darkness came on. | gained a c1T-
nrT Of a room on the ground floor, where |
fell gr0aulng. sort OF numbness duled
the pains which penetrated my BODY: |
gradually lost the perception of my suffer
ing l had, as might be said. accepted my
miserable situation as one buried alive.
considerable period Of time elapsed. !
thought that all was at an end for me, when
step sounded a. the door Of the cottage.
" IN an EFFORT raised my head aud tried
10 give cry Tor help. bat my voice was eX-
tlnguisned between my teeth. cOuvulsiYely
set together l could only perceive By the
lingering evening light tUmpeter Of our
regiment NhO was about to enter, SEEM
Dgiy himself seeking Tor shelter, He
crossed the Sill with caution, aud looking
Mo the depths oI the apartment perceived
ne.
"A comrade," lie cried approaching. 81
~ you have had bad encounter Some
bail wanted % chat with you too near. Bat
bow the deuce happens It that you are alone
here, far from the ambulances p
l ATTEMPTED 90 explain what had occurred.
Il underestimate understand" be re-
Dlied. The company has followed its
course without regarding those who have
been left behind. |; IS the same with mine.
which, drawn to the left wing, was set on
by regiment Of cavalry and swept SO far
away that was not able TO regain the de-
tachment."
Where is the ighting?"
IL don't know. When I found myself
alone and night approaching l thought of
seeking a nook IN which to rest till morning.
Only expected 10 fall into a better place
than this. There does not seem to be much
luxury of furniture here-the planks for
feather bed and the walls for covering
You have found your couch a little mill.
tary"
Irepled with chattering teeth that sucb q
rifle mattered little TO dying man.
'tle, fe!' interrupted the tTumpter. an
preaching me. Die because OF a damaged
stump? III wager you are thirstyI"
81 burn!
"Wait for me. l will go and draw some
water from the we'll"
he tnrned toward the doorway, when /
cried to him that the bucket was broken and
the rope removed.
mo matter" said he. 81 must try other
means. II shall never be said that one
Frenehman allowed another TO die for want
# a drink
lie went out and I turned my face to the
"all, certain that his endeavors would be
useless. The length Of his absence led me
even to believe that he had departed but
al length he reappeared, bearing his sbaITo
within his hands; 1t was transformed into
water bucket; from the chin straps de-
pended long withe In place OF rope
Nlct9ry! he cried. I'VE have the
huld! have been gone some time. The
merchants OF this place having shutun
Their shops, 1t was needful to fabrjcate
something but at las! am here Drink In
discretion"
He presented the shake to me and drank
with ayidity. He then Informed ma lit
the cannOns had ceased to make Themselves
be heard; the battle was ended. and. ae.
cording to all appearance to our advastare
Tor tie line occupied the previous evening
by the Prussans as biv0uac had been abane
doDed We need OILY wait till morning for
suCc0T. va
While giving me these encouraging details
the trumpeter sought bout Us for means of
rendering our condition less painful. The
night wind, which penetrated the apart
meDt through the door and broken vindov
fIoze me. He departed for few Minutes
ana Teappeared with several old bundles al
straw beds which he fastened over the
apertures go securely as to defend ma
against the cold. He bathed and dressed
nav wound, declaring 1t to be a good one.
ana llkely to make me major. / allowed
him to 90 all this without resisting and
also without thanking him. | was SO cast
eown Dy my mlsfOrtunes that had lost the
instinct Of self-preseryatIon. Living on the
earth In my obecure corner | awaited tbe
enu OF my suferings with more of longing
thaE lear. The trumpeter, who had rested
moment bsnt over me and shook bis
head ""O"A MS
NY comrade has not much desire for
NE, he murmured. "Yet, nevertheless
Inc wound is nothng-a lead In the shank
Ihese poor quarters have beaten down his
moral courage. Cannot l enable him to