Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-05-06

gun on his shoulder. and I with my
drum on my back. set out for the camp. /
Thus I became a soldier.
For one month al went srnooshly. /
This did not prevent me. however,
frsm bringing down with my fathers
gun a brigand Prussian who showed
his head az the corner Of the woods
had a steadier aim than the old soldiers
even, and the man I drew on was
dead man.
One morning at 5aybreak the cap
/ tain who had collected his men on she
{ parade ground near the old gate OF
Saint Claude, called 20 my father. who
was drilling his men;
"Sergt. Bigorne." he said. "the enc
/ my presses us each day more closely.
I II this continues. In eight days he will
bc within our walls. This must not be
I Tonight the commandant has ordered
a sortie in order to reinforce the troops
/ az Luneville. who hold The country in
the cnemy's rear. Your division Is 20
be the advance guard. sergeant II Is
the question 10 pass the enemy or die
in the attempt"
$50 bc IT," answered my father: 1--WE
will go"
And we went. This was a dreadful
day. TIE enemy had been informed.
and received Us with a voliey OF grupe-
shot. However We held out firmly nm
ul evening. 50 armiy that not one Of
Us heard the or,cr FOR retreat. and
when night feu We were encircled by
the enemy. with no hope 81 escape. All
the same. these civic guards. shopkeep-
ers as they were. did not know when
they were beaten. and when com
rade fen they amply fought for two.
Of our own section only two were
left. counted for nothing. being so
slender that I think must have passed
between their balls Ny father had
received sabcr wound In heshouldcr.
but / could see him still bearing aloft
the flag above the smoke OF the battle.
Our fire slackened; our ammunition
had given out; the end had come. The
word strangles tne when I think Of
tive were forced Go surrender.
Two hours later they imprisoned us
In a farmhouse that The fires cf war
aad spared. Pruslan field marshal
followed by hischief Of stan. easmount
e. for a look al his prisoners
His men showed In their eyes %.
pleasure our capture gave them bc
q their white uniforms. blacirned wit
powder and the marks Of our nab<
thros.a showed the evil we had dor
them
The field ma rshal ordered the wound
ed 20 be attended, 20. and. stepping 4
front OF my father. demanded the ia :
My father. whose hands we saw wer
empty DECLARED he did not know wher
% was The field marshal turned Z
q the officer Of the post and said:
= Very well. II he does not remembe
by tomorrow morning. shoot him"
5 When they had relie~ed US OF ou
arms and placed US under guard IN
father, who watched the sentinel froI
the corner OF his eye. told us that b
had hidden the dag; that. seeing u
day was going against Us, he had tor
IL from its standard, wrenched n
II eagle from it's perch. hung Il into
- ditch. while he had concealed n
J precious silk. riddled with balls. al
der his coat.
- My father was a simple man. the
srendant or peasants. a son Of the soi
but in speaking 20 US Of these thing
: the man SEEMED to expand and becou
exalted with the words he uttered.
- He told Us this fragment of silk W
- sacred. that the wind that swelied 1
= folds was the breath of the natio
: and that il moved In the MIDST OF US ,
: the march az the image OF our countr
NJ Then he thrust il into my bcxol
- not wishing il 70 be found on him wb,
he he should be shot next day. 1 4,
suddenly that / had become a man.
ne, In the evening the Prussians Sc
"a dag Of truce asking n suspension
or hoStilities that each might bury
~ dead and asked one Of our numb
~ 70 act as guide TO our lines An c
nv eomrade, who knew the country we
a. offered 20 conduct the officer. wh
r. IL was discovered that no one had
"A bandage for the eyes OF the bearer
the Tag of truce.
=, A sudden .dea struck me. II vs
of running a great risk, but il was wor
the trial.
IF you wish. viii bandage the :,
OF the officer with my own hRndk
h chief" ] said. produced The flag. I
:. redand blue stripes OF w hick had 70
Cd inside. leaving the white alone "
bic.
My father instantly underStoo5 ,