Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-28

DahoInsg Here the hottest hgnt Ia
the campaign x 1850 took place uPoa
tie fourth day II March. lad Il 10.
eeen t9r the intrepid bravery Of Lieut.
Comperat. = young olcer Of tie
marines, the entire French force would
have been GlnlhIl2.sd- During ths
i,ht II the tAlra u March and the
early morning Of The fourth. under
cover II the intense d. laass ami the
a1slitsonaily favorable Circumstance Of
Violent storm, king Behanzn de-
eided u make move upon the French
camp The attack as well planned,
and every care taken - insure the
probability u success. Without noise,
or lights, and Ia careful military order,
the forces ot Dahomey took up thsir
position IA forest situated about two
hundred yards from the French hnes.
Here they rested, awaiting the arrival
u dawn with tbs intention Of GO u
lnenciug h0stihties at eOekcrOw. The
French force Vas composed Of three
hundred tirailiears OF the native Sene-
gales infantry and troops from the
G1lboon country, and II WAS bilieted In
The factories II Messrs. Regis and
Fabre, two French merchants engaged
Ia business at kotonou.
The arrangement Of our forces was
adroitly planned, being the result OF q
thorough knowledge II the difficulties
n the situation created by the peculiar
war tactics Of the Dahomeyans and the
rature Of the ground. -Four small posts
formed one section Ia echelon represent
ing the base 81 an isosceles triangle
having upon one flank the open sea and
ga the other a canal leading 70 the Den
ham lake. Instead of posting solitary
advanced sentinels, 50 easy 10 surprise
and overcome. forty gardes civiles, with
two pieces Of untain artillery, formed
the second line drawn mp near a some
what rude structure pretentiousiy called
the ''Sanatorium
The vigil Of the naval infantry con
tinued without any occurrence happen
ing 10 disturb the monotony Of ''sentry
20" All the world seemed asleep, the
silence Of the night remained unbrOken
The men Of the guard, however, wert
wide awake indeed, especially Lieut..
Comperat, who commanded the most ex
posed Of all the posts 20 the north OF q
certain spot where a fort was in course
% construction. About a quarter be
fore o'clock a. m. the terrific storm OF
wind and rain which had been raging
all night suddenly began 20 abate. anC
through the rifted clouds the moon
rays shone forth cheeringly. Lieut.
Comperat, Of whom ! may casually re
mark that his first instruction in the
military art was obtained during hi
brief attachment to the Third ReSi
ment OF Zouaves, he having graduateC
/ from the Ecole Saint Maixent in 1884
heard suspicious sounds coming through
the thick humid air; it seemed TO tn
officer that he could distinguish TIL
noise OF muffled footsteps. Instant.
/ the trumpet WAS sounded and tn
lieutenant formed his men in position
/ 70 resist attack, and no sooner had thi
/ been accomplished than, amid a storm o
wild yells, hurrahs and savage wa
/ cries, an immense crowd of warrior
/ threw themselves against the bastiol
| protecting the French position and en-
deavored to penetrate il. Then Compe
rats voice rang out distinctly, givin,
the command 10 fire. This first wolfe.
] was followed by three simultaneou
ones Ia return. The Gaboon soldier
were calm and confident in their de
meanor under fire, the severity of whicl