Part 28 (2/2)
To render his words intelligible to Teimer, and to hear his replies, General Bisson was obliged to approach him, and he stepped up to him with his staff-officers in greater haste perhaps than was compatible with his dignity.
”What else do you demand?” he asked, in a tremulous voice.
”What I demanded at the outset,” said Teimer, firmly. ”I want your troops to lay down their arms and surrender to the Tyrolese. I have already drawn up a capitulation; it is only necessary for you and your officers to sign it. The capitulation is brief and to the point, general. It consists only of four paragraphs. But just listen to the shouts and cheers of my dear Tyrolese, and see what excellent marksmen they are!”
Indeed, the bullets of the Tyrolese whistled again at this moment through the ranks of the enemy, and every bullet hit its man. Loud shouts of despair burst from the ranks of the French and Bavarians, who were in the wildest confusion, and did not even dare to flee, because they knew full well that they were hemmed in on all sides.
General Bisson perceived the despair of his troops, and a groan escaped from his breast. ”Read the capitulation to me, sir,” he said, drying the cold perspiration on his forehead.
Teimer drew a paper from his bosom and unfolded it. He then commenced reading, in a loud, ringing voice, which drowned even the rattle of musketry
”In the name of his majesty the Emperor Francis I. of Austria, a capitulation is entered into at this moment with the French and Bavarian troops which advanced to-day from Steinach to Wiltau; the following terms were accepted:”
”FIRST. The French and Bavarian soldiers lay down their arms on the spot now occupied by them.”
”SECONDLY. The members of the whole eighth corps are prisoners of war; and will be delivered as such to the Austrian troops at Schwatz, whither they will be conveyed immediately.”
”THIRDLY. The Tyrolese patriots in the custody of these troops will be released on the spot.”
”FOURTHLY. The field and staff-officers of the French and Bavarian troops will retain their baggage, horses, and side-arms, and their property will be respected.”
”You see, sir, it is impossible for me to sign this,” cried General Bisson. ”You cannot expect me to subscribe my own disgrace.”
”If you refuse to subscribe the capitulation, you sign thereby not only your own death-warrant, but that of all your soldiers,” said Teimer calmly. ”See, general, here is fortunately a table, for this is the place where the people of Wiltau a.s.semble on Sundays, and dance and drink. Fate placed this table here for us that we might use it for signing the capitulation. There is the capitulation; I have already affixed to it my name and t.i.tle as commissioner of the Emperor Francis. I have also brought pen and ink with me, that you might have no trouble in signing the doc.u.ment. Subscribe it, therefore, general, and let your staff-officers do so too. Spare the lives of your poor soldiers for you see every minute's delay costs you additional losses.”
”I cannot sign it, I cannot!” cried Bisson, despairingly. He burst into tears, and in his boundless grief he struck his forehead with his fist and tore out his thin gray hair with his trembling hands.
[Footnote: Hormayr's ”Andreas Hofer,” vol. 1, p. 257.] ”I cannot sign it,” he wailed loudly.
”Sign it,” cried his officers, thronging round the table.
”You must refuse no longer, for the lives of all our soldiers are at stake.”
”But my honor and good name are likewise at stake,” groaned Bisson, ”and if I sign the capitulation, I shall lose both forever.”
”But you will thereby preserve to the emperor the lives of upward of three thousand of his soldiers,” exclaimed the officers, urgently.
”Never will the emperor believe that this disaster might not have been averted,” wailed General Bisson. ”Even were I merely unfortunate, he would impute it to me as a crime. He will forgive me no more than Villeneuve and Dupont. His anger is inexorable, and it will crush me.”
”Then let it crush you, general,” said Teimer, calmly. ”It is better that you should be crushed than that several thousand men should now be crushed by the Tyrolese.”
”Sign, sign!” cried the French officers, stepping close up to the table, taking up the pen, and presenting it to the general.
”Then you are all determined to sign the capitulation after I have done so?” asked General Bisson, still hesitating.
”We are,” cried the officers.
”We are ready to do so,” said Major Armance, ”and in proof hereof I affix my name to the capitulation before you have signed it, general.”
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