Year: 1866

| EXPLOITS OF THE FIRST GRENADIER OF
| FRANCE.


For many a year there was a touching and


beautiful custom to be witnessed in certain
regiment of French grenadiers, and which
was meant to commemorate the heroism of
departed comrade.


When the companies assembled for pa
rade, and the roll was called, there was one
name to which its owner could not answer
it wa that of La Tour d 'Auver=pe.


When it was called, the old scrgeant
present stepped pace forward, and raising
his hand to his cap said, proudly:


''Died en- the field of honor.


For fourteen years this custom was con-
tinued, and only ceased when the restored
Bourbons, to please their foreign masters
forbade everything that was calculated to
preserve the spirits Of the soldiers of France


La Tour d Auvergne was not unworthy in
life the honor thus paid him after his DEATH
He was educated for the army, entered in
1867, and in 1871 served under the Duke de
Crillon at the siege of Port Mahon. He
served always with distinction, but constant
ly refused offers of promotion, saying that
he was only fit for the command of COM
pany of grenadiers; but finally, the various
grenadier companies being united, he found
himself in command of body of 5000
men, while retaining only the rank of cap
tain.


Heneehe was known as the First Grcna-
dier of France.


Dut it is of one particular exploit of his
that we wish to write, more than his career
as general


When he was forty years of age he went
on visit to friend, not far from section
of the country that was soon to become the
scene of a campaign. While there he was
busy in acquainting himself with the fea-
lures of the country, thinking it not un-
likely that this knowledge might be of use to
him, and while here the brave grenadier
was astonished to learn that the war had
been rapidly shifted to his quarter, and that
a regiment of Austrians was pushing on to
occupy narrow pass about ten miles from
where he was staying, and the possession of
which would give them an opportunity to
prevent an important move of the French,
which was then on foot.


They hoped to surprise this post, and were
moving so rapidly upon it that they were
not more than two hours distant from the
place where he was staying, and which they
walld have to pass in their march. 1t mat
torv NOT bovr ba hoard tho naws IT. Is sniff
cient to say that he determined at once to
act upon it.


He had no idea of being captured by the
enemy in their advance, and he at once set
off for the pass. He knew that the pass
was defended by stout tower, and garri-
son of thirty men, and he hoped to be able
to warn the men of their danger.


He hastened on, and arriving there, found
the tower in perfect condition. 1t had
just been vacated by the garrison, who had
heard Of the approach of the Austrians, and |
had been seized with panic thereat and had |
fed, leaving their arms consisting of thirty
excellent muskets.


La Tour D'Auvergne CRASHED his teeth |
with rage as he discovered this. Searching |
In the building he found several boxes of /
ammunition which the towards had not de- !
stroyed. For moment be was In despair,
but then with grim smile he began to fas-
ten the main door and pile against it such |
articles as he could find.


When he had done this he loaded all the |