Part 11 (2/2)

Brief Explanation.--A French colonel, in taking a redoubt from the Russians on the Moskwa, lost twelve hundred of his men, more than one half of whom remained dead in the entrenchment which they had so energetically carried.

When Bonaparte the next morning reviewed this regiment, he asked the colonel what he had done with one of his battalions? ”Sire,” replied he, ”it is in the redoubt.”

Death of a Hero.--At the battle of Malplaquet, in 1709, Marshal Villars was dangerously wounded, and desired to receive the Holy Sacrament. Being advised to receive in private, he said, ”No, if the army cannot see me die like a hero, they shall see me die as a Christian.”

Magdeline de Savoie.--Anne Duc de Montmorenci, who was prime minister and great constable of France during the reigns of Francis I., Henry II., Francis II., and Charles IX., was very unwilling to take up arms against the Prince of Conde and the Coligny's, to whom he was endeared by the ties of friends.h.i.+p, as well as those of consanguinity. He was however induced to give way by the following animated and forcible speech of his wife, Magdeline de Savoie: ”It is then in vain, sir, that you have taken as a motto to your escutcheon, the word of command that your ancestors always gave at the outset of every battle in which they were engaged (_Dieu aide du premier Chretien_). If you do not fight with all your energy in defence of that religion which is now attempted to be destroyed, who then is to give an example of respect and of veneration for the Holy See, if not he who takes his very name, his arms, his n.o.bility, from the first baron of France who professed the holy religion of Christ?”

A Relay of Legs.--Rivardes, a Piedmontese, had attached himself to the house of France, and was much esteemed as a soldier. He had lost one of his legs, and had worn a wooden one for some time, when in an engagement a ball carried off the latter, leaving him the other safe and sound. On being raised up, he exclaimed laughingly, ”What fools these fellows are! They would have saved their shot had they known that I had two others equally good among my baggage.”

Present!--During the Crimean war a French captain wrote to the Cure of his native place in these words: ”I endeavour to regulate my affairs in such sort, that if G.o.d should address to me the call, I may be able to answer, _Present!_” Not long after this the brave captain met his death under the walls of Sebastopol.

Quartering.--At an election for Shrewsbury, in the reign of George I., a half-pay officer, who was a nonresident burgess, was, with some other voters, brought down from London at the expense of Mr. Kynaston, one of the candidates. The old campaigner regularly attended and feasted at the houses which were opened for the electors in Mr. Kynaston's interest until the last day of the polling, when, to the astonishment of the party, he gave his vote to his opponent. For this strange conduct he was reproached by his quondam companions, and asked what could have induced him to act so dishonourable a part as to become an apostate. ”An apostate,” answered the old soldier, ”an apostate! by no means--I made up my mind about whom I would vote for before I set out upon this campaign, but I remembered Marlborough's constant advice to us when I served with the army in Flanders, 'Always quarter upon the enemy, my lads--always quarter upon the enemy.'”

Seeking for a Ball.--The Count de Grance being wounded in the knee with a musket ball, the surgeons made many incisions. At last, losing patience, he asked them why they treated him so unmercifully? ”We are seeking for the ball,” said they. ”Why then did you not speak before?” said the Count, ”I could have saved you the trouble, for I have it in my pocket.”

Turenne.--In the year 1675, the Council of Vienna sent Montecuculi to oppose Turenne, as the only officer that was thought to be a match for him.

Both generals were perfect masters of the art of war. They pa.s.sed four months in watching each other, and in marches and counter-marches; at length Turenne thought he had got his rival into such a situation as he wanted, near Saltsbach, when, going to choose a place to erect a battery, he was unfortunately struck by a cannon shot, which killed him on the spot.

The same ball having carried away the arm of St. Hilaire, lieutenant-general of the artillery, his son, who was near, could not forbear weeping. ”Weep not for me,” said Hilaire, ”but for the brave man who lies there, whose loss to his country nothing can repair.”

Generosity of Turenne.--The deputies of a great metropolis in Germany, once offered the great Turenne one hundred thousand crowns not to pa.s.s with his army through their city. ”Gentlemen,” said he, ”I cannot in conscience accept your money, as I had no intention to pa.s.s that way.”

TEMPER.

Henderson, the actor, was seldom known to be in a pa.s.sion. When at Oxford, he was one day debating with a fellow student, who, not keeping his temper, threw a gla.s.s of wine in the actor's face; upon which Henderson took out his handkerchief, wiped his face, and coolly said, ”That, sir, was a digression; now for the argument.”

Peter the Great made a law in 1722, that if any n.o.bleman beat or ill-treat his slaves he should be looked upon as insane, and a guard should be appointed to take care of his person and his estate. This great monarch once struck his gardener, who being a man of great sensibility, took to his bed, and died in a few days. Peter, hearing of this, exclaimed, with tears in his eyes, ”Alas! I have civilized my own subjects; I have conquered other nations; yet I have not been able to civilize or conquer myself.”

Fletcher, of Saltown, is well known to have possessed a most irritable temper. His footman desired to be dismissed. ”Why do you leave me?” said he. ”Because, sir,” to speak the truth, ”I cannot bear your temper.” ”To be sure, I am pa.s.sionate, but my pa.s.sion is no sooner on than it is off.”

”Yes, sir,” replied the servant, ”but then it is no sooner off than it is on.”

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