The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-05
THE WHITE GRENADIERS
STORY OF THE GRANDE, ARMEE
translated From the French of Edmond Pilon.

A STORY OF THE GRANDE ARMEE
translated From the French of Edmond Pnon.
Copyrighted by the Foreign Story Syndicate Co.
1t was of those unforgettable STORIES full of
Armee brought back with them. tell it just as the old
grenader told it to during of the long winter
evenings when we sat together by the fire. while the
curiy-halred children played about us:
Yes, that colossal army that the Emperor Napoleon
had drawn from the whole of Europe persisted among
the plains of Russia When the regiments commanded
by Oudinot, Victor and Drombrowsky finally united
at orcha, barely 10000 strong. Behind lay
Moscow burning the black smoke rising in columns to
the dark sky overhead. All!
cost victims but there victory that has
given completely the glorious of French
courage After Malo-Iaroslavets after Mojaisk and
after Krasnoie when the Of Joseph's army
down. Bavarians, the Pednontese and Span
iards; with the increasing the OF
our old troops, from Normandy Burgundy and
all the provinces the sturdy backbone of the army
dreaming in the midst horror, country
they hoped to again and the little villages where they
born. Silently in disorder we obeyed
command to march, suffering, wounded and weary but
still hoping
The long march from Wanna to smolensk was at
length finished and the joining the of Davout
with the Imeperial Guard brought great deal Of
comfort What ioy it was to find once more our old
comrades whom thought had lost forever in the
vast trenches of the steppes. After Orcha had lit
tie rest The sappers of the first division,
they had been chosen by the had undertaken
the construction of bridge the Berezua Their
work had to be protected. The two armies of the Rus
sian generals Tchtchagof and Wtgenstein
ing closely each side threatening wings. If
combat should be the ISSUE it would be impossible for
retreat overwhelming disaster
Warned by General Ebe, the emperor his commands
and chosen to protect from the the
guard composed of the straggers, the SICK the artillery
train and the baggage of the staff.
My section commanded by lieutenant, stationed
little wood, hidden behind pile
down for fuel; behind carriages of
and the chests artillery Towards evening
lieutenant ordered us to crouch down. close together
around meager fire. which did not dare to strengthen
lest we betray presence
The first oman called to stand sentry Jacques
Lebadois staunch Normandy lad Jacques loaded his
tied his big ordonnance handkerchief around his
ears, held out his hands toward the fire and
wished us all good night.
"Ony," he laughed STEPPED away, "don't let
left us. A moment after, we saw him about a
hundred steps little rise that overlooked the
position we could distinguish his figure going
and coming his big shaggy bonnet would emerge
from the shadows and his bayonette would flash for
instant beneath the cold stars that terrible
realize it until you feel it, numbing the
soul within your body. Slowly the burned low and
all dropped off to Sleep crouchng there in the shad
When I awoke, an icy wind raging and turned
look for Lebadois. 1t did take long discover
his tall figure clearly outlined against the dark sky
standing upright and mOtionless.
'By our Lady" thought cit must be time to
the poor fellow" and called the lieutenant. He
rolled himself quickly from his big coat stirred the fire
and read the name of LIE Honnec At the word LIE Hon.
shook himself looked to his weapons and followed
the lieutenant. Soon they within few steps of
Lebadois called softly him. But Lebadois made
reply.
"Ha!" they whispered "the poor fellow is asleep"
They advanced slowly and they reached the tall
grenaer lieutenant raised his lantern and looked
squarely into the mans face
Yes, truly, he sleeping He slept the sleep from
which he would wkae again. for standing sentry
there, he had frozen to death.
Honnec good Breton that he was made the sign
of the and without word to betray fear hesita
ton, he quietly took his stand
They two now, to stand guard: Lebadois. firm
in his rigid pose, LIE Honnec going and coming at
little distance from his dead companion.
Two hours passed. Once more the lieutenant called
to relieve the guard. The chosen this turn was
Pierre Brave Partisan ganin rightly named. He
always ready with funny speech and it was i'm
possible to find him tired. In the times of
his CHEEKY failed to give
heart again. His little piercing and his mouth
with the merry twist in each corner, seemed always
laughing joke
Once more the little party of two moved away from
the bvouac.
"Ho! there, lie Honnec old man. back and get
warm, it is Bibis turn" cried the lieutenant
But LIE Honnec without answering, held his gun
pointed stiffly at invisible flash of horror
burned in the lieutenants and with unspeakable