The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-17
MADE A GALLANT CHARGE.
Polish Trooper FORCES Ahead of His
Comrades and Breaks the Enemy's
Ixa

AGOOpeE Urges Aneau Oh his
Comrades and Breaks the Enemy's
Ranks.
Polish officer, now dead, who came
to the United States soon after the
Russians suppressed the Polish insur-
rection under Gen. Chlopicki, in 1891
used to tell with much zest the story
of his promotion from the ranks. He
was private of cavalry when Chol-
picki's retreat began, says the Youths
Companion. The troops had made a
weary night march, and were in
bivouac for breakfast when scouts
brought word that they were almost
surrounded by the Russian force In
stantly the Poles hurried to their sad
dies, mounted and sought way of
escape.
The young cavalryman had been boil
ing some pieces of ham for himself in
a camp kettle. Anxious to "save his
bacon" he dumped the half boiled
meat into his saddlebags and joined his
companions. Two minutes later his
horse became FESTIVE, at a most mop
perfume moment, for on surrounding a
ridge the Poles had found themselves
confronted by a Russian force of in
fantry.
There was but one thing to be done.
The Russian line must be broken
through at once. 1t was being rapidly
REINFORCED. If the Poles should fail
to cut their way out at the first charge
they must be all captured.
On they rushed at the order to
charge, and now our young trooper s
horse had become fairly frantic and
quite uncomfortable. He sprang far
| away in advance of the charging line
| The rider determining to make the
| best fight he could, swung his saber
took a stronger grip with his knees and
| gazed hard at the face of the Russian
he expected to be launched against
Just then a vOlley was hurled into
the charging line, but the foremost
horse and rider escaped unframed A
few moments and-they were upon the
enemy. Usually a horse refuses to
leap at bayonets, but this one jumped
furiously at the kneeling front rank.
and such was the momentum and fury
of the beast that the Russians just in
his front lost their nerve broke and
gave him entrance.
Through the gap thus made other
Poles sprang moment later. Striking
right and left they widened the breach,
and in ten seconds the Russian infantry
was demoralized. The Poles escaped
with slight loss, and it was not long
before their young leader quoted his
Steed, dismounted and found a chance
| to examine his half-cooked ham,
few hours later the Polish general
VI CdIdNtIy IOue up 10 the captain OF
the troop that had so distinguished it
self, complimented him and said "By
the way, captain, who was that splen-
did young officer that led you all imp
He wasn't an officer; that was only
one OF my boys"
mot an officer! May the bullets
strike me If l don't make him one! Call
him out here at once"
The general shook hands with the
youth, promoted him to a lieutenantcy.
then and there, and gave him place
on his staff
Some days later, when the captain
called at headquarters. he sought out
the new lieutenant whom he found
| dolefully contemplating his unsaddled
horse, which had a huge, raw sore on
each side.
What on earth is the matter with
your horse?" asked the captain.
ooh, nothing much!'
But what made these terrible
sores 2"
THE same thing that made me a
lieutenant" said the hero "a big chunk
of hot ham in each saddle-bak; but.
for the love Of the saints, don't tell the
general or the boys