Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1896-06-25

which believes that the axiom ''non bis
in idem" is ~ applicable to the battle
field as to tho courts Of justice. l re-
placed my shake with d swagger.
That's a rude way 10 make one raise
ones hat, 7 said az lightly as / could.
And this wrctchCd piece Of wit was, in
the circumstances, received as excellent.
II compliment you, (" said the cap
tain. 'You will command company
tonight, for shall not survive tie day.
Every time | have been wounded the
officer below me has been touched by
some spent ball, and, he added in a
lower tone, "all the names began with
r."
laughed skcptically. Most people
would have done the same, but most
would also have been struck, as was,
by these prophetic words. But, con-
script though l was, I felt that l could
trust my thoughts to no one, and that it
was my duty to seem always calm and
bold.
AT the end Of half an 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 storming party. l was in the third
On issuing from behind the cover we
We're received by several volleys, which
did but little harm. The whistling Of
the balls amazed ire. "But after all. I"
I thought, a battle is less terrible than
expected.
We advanced at smart run, our
musketeers in front.
All at once tho Russians uttered three
hurrahs, three distinct hurrahs, and then
stood silent without firing.
II don't like that silence, - said the
captain. 1T BODIES no good -
began to think our people We're too
eager. / could not help comparing,
mentally, their shouts and clamor with
the striking silence of the enemy
We quickly reached the foot Of the
redoubt. The palisades were broken
and the earthwords shattered By our
balls. With roar Of "Vive Tempe
reur!" our soldiers rushed across the
ruins.
l raised my eyes. Never shall forget
the sight which met my view. The
smoke had mostly lifted and remained
suspended like canopy at 20 feet above
the redoubt Through a blush mist
could be perceived behind the shattered
parapet the Russian grenadiers with
rifles lifted, as motionless as statues
can see them still-the left eve of ev-
cry soldier glaring at us, the right hid
den By his lifted gun. In an cmbrasure
at a few feet distant man with fuse
stood by a cannon.
shuddered. believed that my last
hour had come
Now for the dance TO open, " cried
the captain. These We're the last words
/ heard him speak
There came from the redoubts roll
of drums. 1 saw the muzzles lowered
l shut my eyes. l heard most appalling
crash Of sound, to which succeeded
groans and cries. Then | looked up,
amazed To find myself still living. The
redoubt was once more wrapped in
smoke. was surrounded by the dead
and wounded. The captain was extend
ed at my feet A ball had carried off
his head. and | 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 swords point, had
scaled the parapet with cry Of "Vive
l'empereurI' The Survivors followed
him. All that succeeded is to me a kind
Of dream We rushed into the redoubt,
l know not how; VIC fought hand TO
hand in the midst Of smoke so thick
that no man could perceive his enemy
| found my saber dipping blood, |
heard shout cf ''Victoryln and in the
clearing smoke l saw tie earthworks
piled with dead and dying The can
mons were covered with heap of
corpses. About 200 mon i'll the French
uniform were stapding without order
loading their muskets or wiping their
bayonets. Eleven Russian prisoners
We're with them.
The colonel was lying, bathed iii
blood, upon broken cannon. A group
Of soldiers crowded round him ap-
preached them.
"Who is the Oldest captain?'' be was
asking of sergeant
The sergeant shrugged his shoulders
most expressively.
"Who is the oldest lieutenant"
This gentleman, who came last
night, replied the sergeant calmly.
The colonel smiled bitterly.
Come sir, " be said to me, you are
now in chief command Fortify the
gorge Of the redoubt ut once with wag-
ons. for the enemy is out il force. But
General c. il coming to support
you.
Colonel l asked him, "are you
badly wounded?"
"Pish, lily dear fellow The redoubt
is taken. "-Prcsper Merimce.
Couriers and Interpreters In Spain.
On tho rlatfCrm we were stcDDad