The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-11-18
CONTINUED from page -
GENERAL DE cHARETTE.

anu Lie COuuulduUOF Ol lie AOudNGS
lost no time in offering the French
Government his services and those of
his men. Gambetta accepted his pro-
posal, and the Pontifical Zouaves, who
were allowed to keep their uniform,
were incorporated into the army of
the Loire, which was commanded by
General de Sonis. The "Volontaires
de PQuest," as the Papal soldiers were
now called, were in France, as in
Rome, under the immediate orders of
their old chief. They gloried in their
former name of soldiers of the Pope,
and before them was carried a flag
bearing an embroidered representa-
ton of the Sacred Heart.
The Battle of Loigny.
On the LIST of December, 1870, took
place the famous battle of Loigny, of
which Charette and his Zouaves were
the heroes. The battle had been go
ing on for some hours and the regu-
lar troops were about to waver and
to yield their ground; Charette and
his men were in the heart of the
fight, when Sonis, riding up to them,
cried out: "Zouaves, forward; show
them what men who are Christians
can do" Immediately Charette gave
his orders. The Papal soldiers knelt
to receive absolution, and then rushed
forward, crying: ''Vive Pie TX, vive
la France" Charette, on horseback,
was in the thick of the fray, and close
to him young Breton, M. de Vertha-
mon, bore the sacred banner aloft. Of
the little band of Papal soldiers who
on that winters day went SO gaily to
their death, the greater number never
returned; when de Verthamon was
struck, the banner passed into the
hands of Count Fernand de Bouille
and of his son, both of whom were
killed. Then M. Cazenove de Pra-
dimes seized it, and when he fell griev-
ously wounded, M. de Traversay pos
sessed himself of the torn and blood
stained standard. Charette, whose
horse was killed under him, contin-
ued to advance on foot. Those who
saw him then never forgot how, with
flashing eyes and drawn sword, he
| fought his way onward.
EN- avant," he cried, and his men
rallied round him with undated en-
thusiasm. Only towards nightfall was
he obliged to stop. A bullet had
struck him in the thigh, and the pain
forced him at last to sink down by the
roadside His Zouaves offered to
carry him away: mo, no. he said,
"never mind me, go on and fight for
France"
He was found by the Germans and
borne to the presbytery Of Loigny,
which was crowded with wounded. M.
de Maricourt, who was present when
he came in, says: ~ had seen this
magnificent soldier in Rome, but in
this poor, little room, full Of the smell
of blood, himself wounded and a pris-
oner, he seemed to me even grander
than in the brilliant days of the past"
AS soon as his wound was healed,
Charette, whom Gambetta had made a
General, rallied what remained Of his
Zouaves and took part in the battle
Of LIE Mans; his regiment was dis
banded, only when the capitulation of
Paris put an end to the war.
The Later Years of His Life.
The last forty years of his life were
spent in comparative retirement His
first wife, daughter of the Duke de
Fitz James, died young, and his two
children, by her, son and daugh-
ter, also died before their father. He
then married an American, Miss Polk,
who survives him, and by whom he
leaves one SON, who has also married
an American. wife. tsi!
Charette's death took place i'm his
Breton home, La Basse Motto, which
was presented to him some years ago
he had lived, true to his ideals. Close
to him was held the blood-stained ban
ner of Loigny, the sacred memento OF
a glorious day, and upon the faded
and tattered flag his eyes rested low
ingly before they closed to the things
of this world.
His faithful Zouaves, now old men.
WdtCnS0 61OuAU Lie USdu UOuy Oh EQG1Tl
beloved chief, which, according to his
desire, was buried in the uniform Of
the famous Papal regiment founded
and trained by him. To the end OF his
life he remained closely attached to
his old soldiers, all of whom were GER
tain of a cordial welcome ait La Basse
Motto. General de Charette was
buried on October 21st i'm the church
that, after the war OF 1870, was erect
ed in the little village of Loigny. Here
are gathered together the bones OF the
brave men who, on that memorable
December day, fell fighting for their
country under the blood-stained ban
ner that at the funeral ceremony, was
laid across the coffin OF Charette. |
Many survivors or the Papal regiment
were present; for the last time they
rallied round their leader, the brilliant |
soldier, who personified the best quail |