The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-08-13

tnlnklnS OF me. CdlucTlnc 40 oitsAn6
on the bed and weeping. Aunt Grethel
has taken her prayer-book and is going
to mass" AS l pictured to myself that
quiet. happy life, could have burst
into tears.
But the drums began to beat and the
trumpets sounded.
The first movement was when our
four divisions were ordered to ad-
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
q word.
Face to face with us were the Eng
lish, 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 ana
rows of bayonets.
"What a battler' cried Buche, my
comrade-at-arms. "Woe to the Eng
lish"
And I thought as he did. / believed
that not a 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 Engiisn
fire, and shouting all the time GIVE
them the bayonetw
The batteries hurled their grape-shot
point blank upon us. 1t was then, Tor
the first time, saw the English close
at hand. They had fair skins ana
were clean shaver 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 straggfers without
mercy. 1t was one Of the most ter
/ rible moments Of my life as we were
driven back.
| What a fearful thing is battle!
Then out came Marshal Ney waving
his sword in the air. Older. thinnel
and more. bony than when saw MIN
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 pack Of
wolves, until we gained the principal
outpost of the British.
But suddenly the rumor spread thai
the Prussiahs were coming. l fell
!, myself grow pale.
n At that moment cries Of "Vive Fem
, pereurw rose from thousands o.
throats behind us, and looking baci
saw all our cavalry Of the right win,
! advancing to attack the solid square
Of the English. 1t was an awesom'
: sight. With waving sabres they rush
J ed pell-mell again and again upon tn
e red-coats. Twenty such charges the!
81 made, until the horses Of our cutras
/ siers. exhausted, could no longer evel
walk-and there still firmly stood tn
great red lines, steadfast as walls.
81 Now all that remained for attacl
was the Old Guard-those wonderful
/, veterans who had fought in Germany
! in Egypt. in Spain and In Russia. Q
! whom the Emperor took special car
! and who no longer knew parents
i relations. They only knew the en-
j peror who was their god. When
) was said In the ranks 'sThe Guard
d going to charge" is was the same
saving. 1.-THE battle is won't"
~ And Ney commanded them!
ii Upon the.Guard fell the concentrate
d hail Of bullets. In twenty minute
d every officer had been dtsna0unted an
d the Guard, reduced from three thos
: ssnd men to twelve hundred. slowl
. gave way.
Now the entire English army re
4 mon as. And, q the remnant Of tn
; Old Guard fen backward, across u
. neld fied hussars, cuirassiers, sxtilles
and infantry like an army Of savage
I'll What can tell you more? It w
+ inter rout. And In the valley OF
Butcher, with forty thousand Pru
+ SLAMS, was looming up.
d The end had come and ! wept III
d child.
eel Back we scurried, borne down wit
h fatigue, hunger and despair.
le ..Keep on" cried Buche, Athe Pru
r SLAMS take no prisoners. Look! tn
4 are cutting down everyone"
81 So back, back, even to Paris y
re fed, and there we learned that nc
et tilities were to be suspended, that Z
a emperor had gone, and that the HI
n was returning to the throne. Dese
st lions began.
1t I hurried on from village to villa
"a and at last reached Pfalsbourg al
3. ny home.
u Up the stairs I sprang: Catheri
y,lvas II my arms. ! fell TO sobbing
vfoleHtIy that one would have thong
o | misfortune had come upon me.
r The first words Of Catherine wei
Z, ~Joseph, knew that you would COZ
d hack. had put my trust in God"
Thus happiness finally reached
n | 49,, hovn ljvod IN eco the rein