The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-06-09


,,i,t lyon will command company
tonight. for shall not survive the day.
livery time / have been wounded the
,ffic,r below re has been touched by
some e,Cnt bali, and, a" he added IN a
lower tone, "all the names began WIN
r."
laughed specifically. Most people
would have done the SAME, but most
would also have been struck, az was
iv these prophetic words. But, con.
script though | was. felt that could
1ust my thoughts 10 no one, and that II
was my duty 10 seem always calm ana
bold.
At the end Of half an hour the Rms
sian fire had sensibly diminished. We
! left our cover to advance ON the re-
/ doubt.
Our regiment was composed OF three
battaliops. The second had TO take the
ancmy in flank. The two others formed
the storming party. | was in the third.
On issuing from behind the cover we |
were received by several volleys, which
did but little harm The whistling OF
the balls amazed me. but after all,
[ thought, "a battle is less terrible than
! expected.
We advanced at smart run, our
musketeers in front.
All at once the Russians uttered three
hurrahs, three distinct hurrahs, and then
stood silent without firing.
II don't like that silence" said the
CAPTAIN. ut 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
: halls With a roar of "Vive Tempe
: reurr our soldiers rushed across the
ruins.
3 raised my eyes Never shall forget
;, the sight which met my view. Inc
u smoke had mostly lifted and renamed
II suspended like canopy at 20 feet above
. the rcdoubt Through blush mist
>. could be perceived behind the shattered
d parapet the Russian grenadiers with
~ rifles lifted, as motiCnless as statues
n | can see them still--the left eye OF ov-
cry soldier glazing at us, the night md
~ den by his lifted gun. In an embrasure
u at few feet distant IA man with fuse
- stood by a cannon
shuddcred. / believed that my last
- hour had come.
10 "Now for the dance TO open, cnec
the captain These were the last words
" / heard him speak.
There came from the redoubts rol
e. Of drums saw the muzzlcs lowered
80 / shut my eyes heard a most appalling
IT, crash Of sound, TO which succeeded
M proons and cries. Then / looked up
Ire amazed 10 find myself still living Th
OF redoubt was once more wrapped 1
1al smoke. was surrounded by the dea
re- and wounded The captain was extend
no. ed at NV feet. A ball had carried o.
his head. and | was covered with n
ND Hood. OF all the company only six me
H. except myself remained erect.
5 u This carnage was succeeded by KIN
MS Of stupor. The next instant the coiohe
with his hat-on his swords point, ia
MS scaled the parapet with cry OF wv
no l'empereur!' The survivors follow'
en-, him. Al that succeeded is to me a XII
Neo of dream. We rushed into the redout
OF know not how; we fought hand
age hand in the midst of smoke so thu
that no man could perceive his eneln
lor- found my saber dripping blood,
ack heard a shout Of "'Victory" and III I
una clearing smoke l saw the earthwor
. 20 nilcd wiih dead and dying. The ca
re- mons were covered with heap
my corpses. About 200 men in the Fren
sen uniform were standing without orc
w. loading their muskets or wiping TN
IL bayonets. Eleven Russian prison'
l al were with them.
ana The colonel was lying. bathed
'hat blood. upon broken cannon. gro
cart of soldiers crowded round him
az preached them.
my "Who is the Oldest captain he
my asking Of sergeant.
earl Tie sergeant shrugged his should
y 10 most expressively.
III ae "Who is the Oldest lieutenant!
This gentleman, who came
the night, F" replied the sergeant calmly
'eak' The colonel smiled bitterly.
Up III Come, sir, he said to me, you
we now in chief command. Fortliy
an gorge If The rcGoubt az once with "
other ons, for the enemy is out in force
General ca ia coming TO SUPP
mp you.
com "Colorcl:" ! asked him. "ae
badly woundedy'
o the "Pish. lay dear fellow. The redo
III ~ is taken "--Prospcr Merimcc'
the