The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-11


II congratulate YOU" said tho cap
tain as picked up my shake. You are
safe now for the day"
l knew the military superstition
which believes that the axiom mon bis
i'll idem" is rs applicable to the battle
field rs to the courts of justice. re-
placed my shake with swagger
'"That's n rude way to make one raise
ones hat, l said as lightly us l could
And this wretched piece of wit was, in
the circumstances, received as excellent.
81 compliment you," said the cap
tain. You will command company
tonight, for shall not survive the day.
Every time / have been wounded the
officer below me has been touched by
some spent ball, and" he added in q
lower tone, ''all the names began with
p"
1 laughed skeptically. Most people
would have done the same, but most
would also have been struck, US 1 WINS,
by these prophetic words. But con-
script though was, felt that 1 could
trust my thoughts to no one, and that it
was my duty to seem always calm and
bold.
AT the end of half al hour the Rus
sian fire had sensibly diminished. We
left our cover to advance on the re-
doubt
Our regiment was composed of three
battalions. The second had to take the
enemy i'll flank. The two others formed
the storning party. was in the third
On issuing from behind the cover we
We're received by several volleys, which
did but little harm. Tho whistling of
the balls amazed me but after all, "
thought, "a battle is less terrible than
1 expected "
We advanced at smart run, our
muskcteers in front
All ut once the Russians uttered three
hurrahs, three distinct hurruhs and then
stood silent without firing
Il don't like that silence" said the
captain. 1T bodies no good -
began to think our people wcro too
eager. 1 could not help comparing,
mentally, their shouts and clamor with
the striking silence of the enemy.
We quickly reached the foot Of the
rcdoubt- The palisades were broken
and the earthwords shattered by our
balls With roar of give Tempe
rcur!' our soldiers rushed across the
ruina
raised my eyes Never shall forget
the sight which met my view The
smoke had mostly lifted and remained
suspended like u canopy y. go feet above
the redoubt Through O blush mist
could be perceived behind the shattered
parapet the Russian grenadiers with
rifles lifted, as motionless as statues
l can sec them still-thc left eye of ev-
cry soldier glaring at us, the right hid
den by his lifted gun In al embrasure
at few feet distant man with q fuse
stood by n cannon
shuddercd believed that my last
hour had come.
Now for the dance 70 open," cried
the captain. These We're the last words
heard him speak.
There came from the redoubts "a roll
of drums. saw the muzzlcs lowered
shut my eyes Iheard most appalling
crash of sound, to which succeeded
groans and cries. Then l looked up,
amazed TO find myself still living. The
redoubt was once more wrapped in
smoke l was surrounded by the dead
and wounded. The captain was extend
cd at my feet. A ball had carried off
his head. and 1 was covered with his
blood. OF all the company only six men
except myself remained erect
This carnage was succeeded by kind
Of stupOr. The next instant the colonel
with his hat on his sword's point, had
scaled the parapct with cry of give
l'empceurr' The survivors followed
him IL that c1,OcaalnA &c q On l.,
of dream. We rushed into the redoubt,
l know not how; we fought hand to
hand i'll the midst of smoke so thick
that no man could perceive his enemy
l found my sabcr dripping blood, I
heard shout of ''Victory!" and in the
clearing smoke 1 saw the earthworks
piled with dead and dying. The can
mons were covered with heap Of
corpees About 200 men in the French
uniform were standing without order
loading their muskets or wiping their
bayonctS Eleven Russian prisoners
were with them.
The colonel was lying. bathed in
blood, upon broken cannon. A group
OF soldiers crowded round him. ap-
preached them.
liz 10 tiio oiticSO captain! nc WIS
asking of a sergeant.
The sergeant shrugged his shoulders
most cxprcssively.
no is the Oldest lieutenant?"
This gentleman, who came last
night" replied the sergeant calmly.
The colonel smiled bitterly.
Come, sir, " he said to me, "you are
now i'll chief command. Fortify the
gorge Of the redoubt at once with wag-
Crs, fer the enemy is out in force But