Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-06

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&RHN7 Latour. undoubted
AA ly leads the world
E A hundred poets
lave sung and as many biographers have
written of his deeds. but time does no
wither nor oft telling stale the beauty
of the tale. Centuries hence it's appeal
will be as strong as 1t is today. for i,
has for its essence three elements-hero-
ism. simplicity and love Of country-with-
out which life would be barren and gov
ernments could not endure.
A generous, kindly spirit was Latour
d'Auvergne. The blood of one of the
greatest mobiles Of France flowed in his
veins, but never did he show envy or
malice because the bar sinister robbed
him OF title or empty honors. OF a war
rlor race. he proved himself the warrior
supreme. He was nearly fifty years old
when France entered upon that period
of blood and struggle almost without
parallel in the history OF the world. To
him country meant more than king. In
the army of the Alps, in the days Of the
directory. he fought as grenadier. Col
umns might be shattered. generals might
make mistakes, but Latour and his gren-
adiers never were known to fail. With
sword or bayonet he led his men. No
task was too desperate. no charge too
hazardous for him. Soon the army rang
with stories of his bravery. He was the
first to enter Chan1bery. sword in hand.
In battle he was all that was gallant. In
victory he was all that was magnani-
nous, tender and humane. He lived a
life of Spartan simplicity. No soldier
could go hungry while he had crust OF
while he had a blanket he could call his
own Promotion was offered to him a
dozen times. but every time he declined.
He would be captain, nothing more.
His example was an inspiration to the
soldiers Of France. Men craved to serve
under the banner Of Latour. The grena-
diers developed into the flower Of the
army. When he was sent to the Pyrenees
he commanded 5000 men, but still he
a dread did the enemy have OF the bay
onets of Latours Grenadiers that the
corps got the name OF the internal
column
poleon sent him to the army OF the
Rhine, and. unable to get him to accept
regular promotion, gave to him the title
of 1.-The First Grenadier Of France A
wonderful leader he proved himself time
and time again. but at Oberhausen. in
Bavaria, June "a, 1900, in the hour Of
victory, he was killed. Never to simple
soldier was shown greater honor than TO
Latour d'Auvergne. The whole army of
France mourned for him three days, and
every soldier set aside one days pay to
buy a golden urn to hold his noble heart.
His sword was sent to the Church of the
Invalides to be treasured as one of the
priceless glories OF France. and then, by
order of Napoleon, who knew how to do
things we'll, there was inaugurated GUS
tom that continued to the close of the
empire. At the muster roll of his regl-
ment each morning the name of Latour
was called and the oldest sergeant step
ped forward and answered: Mort au
champ d'honneur' Dead on the field OF
honor.
America had its prototype Of Latour
dAuvergne in William Jasper. The same
chivalrous spirit, the same rugged SIM
plicity, the same magnificent bravery
that Latour displayed characterized Sergt-
Jasper. What does II matter If the
American soldier appeared upon a smaller
stage and before a smaller audience?
what does it matter IL he neither could
read nor write? Valor, patriotism and
modesty are qualities OF the heart. What
does it matter that the place OF his birtn
is In doubt and that his grave is un-
secure.
Out of obscurity William Jasper lifted
himself on the 2sth day OF June in that
vivid year Of 1776. A British Meet was
attacking Charleston. 8. c. 1t was the
first big engagement Of the revolutionary
war To dispute the passage of the Brit
ish ships the Americans had constructed
fort on Sullivan Island. The fort was
a crude affair of palmetto logs and sand
bags, and only the front OF 1t was COM
pleted On Long Island. just below Sui
ivan Island. the British had landed a
large force Of troops. commanded py Sir
Henry Clinton. which was to cross TO
Sullivan Island and attack the Iort on
the side and rear. To oppose Clinton,
four or FIVE hundred Americans, mostly
picked rifemen, under Col. thompson
and Gen. AIuhlenberg, were stationed at
the east end of Sullivan Island.
II C3intons force effected landing the
fort was doomed. II the British ships
passed the fort and took a position on
the western end of Sullivan Island the
ships would be out of danger and the
garrison would be helpless, for the tort
was open On that side.
Gen. Charles Lee, who had been sent
by Washington to command the troops
defending the southern seaboard, thought
il folly to expose the men in the fort to
the fire of the British ships. He be-
lieved the cannon balls of the warships
would make short work OF the rude de-
lenses and he feared the whole garrison
would be slaughtered or captured II the
trie, who was in charge Of the fort. did
not have Lees military experience, but
he knew more about the resisting force
of sand and palmetto. and he also mao
no end of faith in the fighting qualities
Of the men with him. The ships or the
British were Of the best of the time
They threw a weight of metal sumcient
to crumble any ordinary fort. The troops
under Clinton were British regulars.
ciassed as the best lighting men of the
world The American fort, hastily put
up. only half finished and defended by
men whose experience In warfare was
confined principally to Indian warfare.
seemed but a scant shield for the city.
under Thompson and Muhlenberg might
hold Clintoa's men back for time, but
this was a hope only.
-
On balcoay. on roof and in church
steeple the people OF Charleston gathered
TO witness so much OF the contest as
they could Above Fort Sullivan they
could see tie new South Carolina flag OF
independents. 1t had blue body and in
an upper corner was a crescent. The
Stars and Stripes had not come into serv-
ice at that time. So long as the people
could see the nag on Fort Sullivan
Charleston was safe
With beating hearts the watchers saw
the stately warships form in line of bat
tie ard move upon the fort. The Active.
Bristol Experiment and Solebay led
Then came the Actaeon, Sphinx, Syren,
Thunderstorm, Ranger and Friendship
They saw the flagship of the commodore