St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-17
SILBERT OF AUSTERLITZ.


The Park of st. Cloud has not always
been as it is today, like all English gar
den with its formal walks and alleys.
At the beginning of the century it was
like a green forest. A little distance
from the road there stood at the village
of Bellevue two tumble-d0Wn novels,
formerly used as StorehouSeS. One
faced the heights of Bellevue, one the
road to Sevres. When Consul Bona
parte chose st. Cloud as state resi-
dence, the war department used the
two buildings for an infantry guard,
which, as it was in muSket shot of the
Sevres factory. was called 1.-The factory
post" 1t was furnished each day by
tho soldiers at st. Cloud, commonly tif-
teen men commanded by sergeant
and corporal, with a drummer, when
the emperor was in residence, as the
post was then one of Importance, on &C.
count Of the park, where Napoleon
loved to wander with an aid-de-camp.
On Sept. l5. 1904, the little post was
commanded by a grizzled sergeant of
the line named Bonnet. On tnat day,
on account Of some changes at st. Cloud.
the post had not been relieved by 2
o'clock, though II was the usual hour,
and Sergeant Bonnet had scarcely taken
possession, when the voice Of the Senti-
mel rang out the well known cry, "TO
arms. The Emperor" and every SOL
dier leaped to grasp his gun and adjust
his equipments.
''ro the right, face! Carry arms!
Present armSI' commanded the old
sergeant, who placed himself behind his
file of men as he saw the emperor,
mounted, and accompanied by Duroc.
Only the little drummer-tapin, as the
tinieSt ones were called under the en-
pire-could not put on his drum and
strike up. Napoleon signed to him to
remain at rest, and, when he dismount-
ed to chat with the men, he asked:
Where is the commanding officer?''
"There has never been one," said
Bonnet, advancing. at is always a
sergeant who commands. and l am in
charge.'
Casting glance at the little drum
mer, the emperor demanded: "And
why do you laugh under arms, M.
Snal?'
Il laugh for joy at seeing you," the
boy replied.
'Since you are so happy. let US talk
little. 1t seems to me that you are
Young W carry d III uiu. Ou ollOulQ NC
a tifer. How old are you"
Ten years at CandlemaS, my en-
peror."
-Four or five years more and you
shall make a campaign. Now you
ought to stay at the depot if your regi-
ment goes to war;
"At the depot? Never! l would
rather ride on pillion behind one of
your guards"
You argue we'll. But tell me your
name"
Jean Silbert, born at the bivouac of
Roer. army of the Lambre and Meuse."
land what does your father do?'
Dead, my emperor. Killed at the
crossing of the Rhine in 1888" and
big tear rolled down the drummer rosy
cheeks.
And your mother?"
''She is a cantinlere. my emperor.
You know her well. She is the little
Mere Moulin, so called from the affair
at Valmy. She is with the Twentieth,
with my brother Francois, drummer
like me-"
"Ah, you have a brothers, %
Eyes, a little older than me-"
"And so you'd like to take part in
the next campaign ? But if your mother
is with the Twentieth regiment,- why
are you with the Ninth ?"
Sergeant Bonnet is my. godfather, and
he has made me wish for a badge of
honor. if the chance of campaign
favors me. know all the batteries as
we'll as Rigodon, and the manual as
we'll as a grenadier."
Queer little fellow" said the en-
peror. What say you to that, Ser
geaut. Is that your advice %
'Yes. sire. The child is right. When
he isn't able to keep up he will mount
on my shoulders. 1t won't be the first
time. Wen follow together wherever
you lead u.s.
"Dnroc, take note of the names. and
remind me of them upon occasion"
Then, mounting lightly upon his
horse, the emperor galloped away to-
ward Sevres.
Long live the emperorw cried the
men. and the little drummer ratified
away with the deXterity of drum ma
jor.