The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-08-03


to mass" As pictured to myself that
quiet. happy life, I could have hurst
into tears.
But the drums began to beat and tho
trumpets sounded.
| The first movement was when our
four divisions were ordered to al
| vance. We were about twenty thou
sand men marching in two lines and
sinking up to our knees with every
step in the soft mud. Nobody spoke
| word.
Face to face with us were the Eng
fish. in perfect order, their cannoneers
with lighted matches in their hands.
On all sides, as far as the eye could
reach, nothing was to be seen but cui-
rasses, helmets, swords, lances and
rows of bayonets.
"What a battlel" cried Buche, my
comrade-at-arms. "Woe to the Eng
lishl"
And thought as he did. believes
that not single Englishman would
escape But bad luck pursued us that
day; though, had it not been for the
Prussians, think we should have ex'
terminated them all.
Down into the little valley we pour
ed, right into the face Of the English
fire, and shouting all the time "Give
them the bayOnet"
The batteries hurled their grape-shOt
point blank upon us. It was then, for
the first time. l saw the English close
Mt hand They had fair skins and
were clean shaven like respectable cit
liens. They can fight we'll. too-but
we are as good as they. Every shot
of the English told; and this forced
us to break our ranks, for men are
not mere palisades.
And almost at the same moment we
saw a mass Of red dragons, on gray
horses, sweeping along like the wind
and sabring our stragglers without
mercy. It was one Of the most ter
rible moments of my life as we wers
driven back.
What a fearful thing Is battle!
Then out came Marshal Ney waving
his sword in the air. Older, thinner
and more bony than when I saw him
last but still the same brave soldier
with the clear eyes that seemed to
take us all in.
Forward" he cried, II shall lead
you myself" And we rushed ahead,
one after the other like q pack Of
wolves, until we gained the principal
outpost of the British.
But suddenly the rumor spread that
the Prussians were coming. I felt
myself grow pale.
At that moment cries of "Vive FEN
pereur!" rose from thousands of
threats behind us, and looking back
saw all our cavalry of the right wing
advancing to attack the solid squares
Of the English. It was an awesome
sight. With waving sabres they rush.
ed pell-mell again and again upon the
red-coats. Twenty such charges they
made, until the horses of our cuiras-
siers, exhausted, could no longer even
walk-and there still firmly stood the
great red lines, steadfast as walls.
Now all that remained for attack
was the Old Guard-those wonderful
veterans who had fought in Germany,
in Egypt, in Spain and in Russia. Of
whom the Emperor took special care
and who no longer knew parents or
relations. They only knew the en-
peror who was their god. When it
was said in the ranks 1.-THE Guard Is
going to charge" is was the same al
saying, "The battle is wont"
And Ney commanded them!
Upon the Guard fell the concentrated
hail Of bullets. In twenty minutes
every officer had been dismounted and
the Guard, reduced from three thou
sand men to twelve hundred, slowly
gave way.
Now the entire English army fell
upon us. And, as the remnant Of the
Old Guard fell backward, across the
! field fed hussars, cuirassiers, artillery
and infantry like an army of savages.
WHAT can I tell you more2 It was
utter rout. And in the valley old
Butcher, with forty thousand Prus-
SLAMS, was looming up.
The end Ind come-and I wept like
a child.
Back we s,1rried, borne down with
fatigue, hunger and despair.
Keep on" cried Buche, 1.-THE Prus-
SLAMS take no prisoners. Look they
are cutting down Everyone"
So back. back. even to Paris we
fed, and there we learned that hos
tilities were to be suspended. that the
emperor had gone, and that the king
was returning to the throne. Deser-
tons began.
| I hurried ON from village to village
and at last reached Pfalzbourg-and
my home.
Up the stairs I sprang; Catherine
was In my arms. fell to sobbing Sc
violently that one would have thought
misfortune had come upon mo.
The first words of Catherine were
"Joseph, knew that you would corle
back. had put my trust In God"
Thus happiness finally reached us
| Now I have lived to see tho return