Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1899-05-06
: WAS just 16 years old. 1t was ii

WAS just l6 years old. 1t was in
the January of 1871. The French
town In which | lived was beseged
by the Prussians. For two months the
enemy had held our little garrison
blockaded like fox in it's hole. 1t was
a terrible winter. 1t showed inces-
sanity. Cold and hunger were harder
to contend with than the enemy him
self, and the fever thinned our ranks
faster than his bullets.
In order to warm our blood from time
to time we made little sorties; but it
was labor in vain, for we were inclosed
In circle of fire. Those who fell suf-
fered no more, and those who survived
continued to deceive themselves with
the hope of escape. In our home there
remained but my mother and me. My
rather was sergeant and color. bearer in
one of the companies which the citi-
Zens had formed from the first moment
of the invasion.
One morning he came home, having
fought through the entire night, and.
embracing my mother, inquired for me.
My mother replied that | was at the
military school, where he had entered
me. Just then came in with my drum
on my back and my drumsticks thrust
through my shoulder belt, happy to be
alive in spite of the misery of the time,
and whistling like blackbird My
father fixed his eyes on me.
Tell me, my son, if you have not al
ready learned something of the art of
warp
II felt very proud, and answered:
81 believe so, my father
In fact, knew there was no one who
could teach me how to better handle a
drum.
Let me see how you can beat your
drum" said my father. Very we'll
Now beat for charge
| beat my drum SO furiously that
under the inspiring call felt that
could lead an assault on the bells of
the cathedral tower.
"Well dOne!' said my father; that is
frst-rate."
Then he said nothing more until my
mother had gone to her chamber, when
j hC biCh INT ClOSC1 W ullll, anu Sdlu,
gently:
Listen, my son; the enemy has kill
ed many of our men, and. besides, 100
men, at least, are wounded. The drum
mer of our company has two bullets in
his breast. We must have another. III
this hour every one ought to be willing
4 to do his whole duty-wilt thou take his
placer"
My heart filed my throat and choked
my answer. | do not know that this
! was from pleasure, but it certainly was
not from fear.
The day passed. That night. while
my mother slept, my father with his
gun on his shoulder, and | with my
drum on my back, set out for the camp.
! Thus | became soldier.
For one month all went smoothly.
! This did not prevent me, however, from
] bringing down with my fathers gun a
brigand Prussian who showed his head
at the corner of the woods. | had a
steadier aim than the old soldiers even,
and the man l drew on was a dead
man.
One morning at daybreak the cap
tain, who had collected his men on the
parade ground near the old gate of ST.
Claude, called to my father who was
drilling his men.
"Sergt. Bigorne," he said, "the enemy
presses us each day more closely; If
this continues, in eight days he will be
within our walls. This must not be.
Tonight the commandant has ordered
a sortie in order to reinforce the troops
at Luneville, who hold the country in
the enemy's rear. Your division is to
be the advance guard, sergeant. 1t is
the question to pass the enemy or die
In the attempt"
$50 be it," answered the father; "we
will 60"
And we went. This was a dreadful
day. The enemy had been informed,
and received us with volley Of grape
shot. However, we held out firmly
until evening, SO firmly that not one of
us heard the order for retreat, and
when night fell we were encircled by
the enemy, with no hope of escape
All the same, these civic guards, shop
keepers as they were, did not know
when they were beaten, and when a
comrade fell they simply fought for
two.
OF our own section only two were
left. counted for nothing, being so
slender that think must have passed
between their bullets. My father had
received saber wound In the shoulder.
but l could see him still bearing aloft
the flag above the smoke of the battle.
Our fire slackened; the ammunition
had given out; the end had come. The
word strangles me yet when | think of
tive were forced to surrender.
Two hours later they irnnriSnnnd ns