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THE PARTERRE

OF FICTION, POETRY, HISTORY, AND GENERAL LITERATURE.

No. 37.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1835. Price Two-Pence.

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A REMINISCENCE OF MY FIRST CAMPAIGN.

(For the Parterre).

'Twas my first campaign-I might almost say my first field; for though I was present at the desperately fought battle of Dresden, and the variety of slight engagements which followed, all seemed to dwindle to nothingness, before the mighty struggle which I was to witness on the morrow. It was the eve of the memorable battle of Leipsic, upon the issue of which, the destiny of Europe seemed to depend: the last great effort of that giant spirit, who had wielded the thunderbolts of war upon so many victorious fields.

I belonged to a regiment of cuiras siers; we were in the rear of the "grand army," and the shades of night had descended long ere we arrived at the spot which we were to occupy for the night; watchfires were blazing along our whole line, surrounded by the fatigued soldiery. After obtaining some little refresh

ment, I walked forward a few paces to observe our position. From the proximity of the countless watchfires which blazed in the direction of the enemy, I judged that immediately morning dawned, the battle would commence, so near were we to each other.

What an imposing scene!-two of the greatest armies that had ever followed European leaders, lay hushed in repose

nothing disturbed the awful calm but a confused murmur, like the hum of some mighty hive.

What reflections crowded upon my mind! Before the setting of to-morrow's sun, how many brave men, who were now full of lusty vigour, would be stretched upon the bare earth stiffening in their gore-how soon would this repose be disturbed by the deafening thunder of cannon, the rude shock of cavalry, and close and deadly bayonet charge.

In the midst of my reflections I was joined by an officer of my own troop: he had entered the regiment at the same time as myself, and we had formed a sincere friendship for each other. His

usually cheerful countenance, now wore an expression of deep thought, if not of melancholy. Upon my rallying him upon his rueful visage, in a subdued tone he thus addressed me, "My dear friend, I feel a strange presentiment that to-morrow will end my mortal career. I know you will laugh at me for indulging in what you deem chimerical forebodings; but the conviction that I shall fall in to-morrow's contest is indelibly fixed in my imagination. You have always expressed a sincere regard for me, let me now bring you to the proof; promise me that you will deliver these two packets to the parties to whom they are addressed. This is addressed to one for whom my heart beats with an affection that shall cease not till I am a lifeless corse: it contains a miniature and a lock of my hair. The other is addressed to my father, M. d' Olliever, and contains a locket which is composed of his and my sister's hair. Promise me that in the event of my death, you will deliver these with your own hands. I have cogent reasons for being thus urgent, for I more than suspect a villain of calumniating me in the tenderest quarter-my love to Hélène de Chaluz, to whom you will find the packet addressed." I pledged myself to comply with his request, but at the same time endeavoured to chase those sombre forbodings from his mind my efforts were ineffectual however, and he continued plunged in settled gloom. ⚫

Our conference was scarcely finished, before the faint streaks of day appeared in the horizon: we hastily joined our division, when all was bustle and confusion, which however was soon hushed, and every man mounted and ready for action. We were not kept long in suspense, for our veteran colonel received orders to take, up a position in the rear of a large wood which protected our left flank; here we were quickly joined by squadron after squadron, until we mustered some thousands strong. It was now evident that one of those sudden and irresistible shocks of cavalry, with which Napoleon was so wont to surprise his enemy, was in contemplation. The enemy however soon shewed himself to be aware of our movements, by sending several rounds of artillery crashing through the wood; no time was therefore to be lost, we were quickly wheeled into line, and at the command of a voice which every horseman knew well, every blade flashed in the faint morning light;-again that voice was heard thundering - forward !·

charge! and on we rushed, the solid earth trembling beneath the thunder of our chargers' hoofs,-our brave chief, who had led so many daring charges, about twenty yards in front, his sabre flashing above his head, and his long dark locks waving like war-pennons on the breeze.

Terrific as our charge was, it was unsuccessful; for the enemy having received notice of our intention, had so strengthened his position by bringing up his bravest troops, that we were unable to force his ranks.

Our onset seemed to have been the signal for the commencement of the general engagement, which now raged along the whole line with a fury which I have never seen equalled; one incessant roar of cannon and musketry rolled from the opposing lines. The proximity of the two armies was so great that every volley did most deadly execution; whole ranks were struck to the earth, and regiments were reduced to skeletons without once changing the position they had occupied in the morning.

Night was drawing on apace; but not a foot of ground had been won or lost on either side. Owing to the sanguinary contests in which we had been constantly engaged since break of day, our regiment was almost annihilated, but our services were not yet to be dispensed with: in conjunction with some regiments of chasseurs, we were ordered to attack and drive back a division of Polarussian infantry, and cover several regiments of Austrian cuirassiers. Whilst forming for this service, I bantered my friend upon his melancholy forebodings, for like myself he had hitherto escaped without a single wound: before he could reply, we received orders to charge, and I saw him no more alive. Upon our charging the Austrian cuirassiers, they retreated almost annihilated, leaving the infantry to their fate; they formed in squares, and firmly awaited our attack. How my heart bled for these gallant men, thus compelled to maintain a contest so unequal. In vain did we endeavour to break in upon them ;-firm as the earth that supported them, they withstood our repeated shocks; again we returned to the charge, and again were we received by the steady huzza, the deadly shower of balls, and the bristling ranks of bayonets; and again were we forced to retreat before our brave oppo

nents.

In the third charge which we made at this devoted band, a ball not twenty yards from the muzzle struck my bridle

arm, almost at the same moment my horse was shot under me,-in falling, he pitched me forward on my head, and I fell insensible on the plain. Upon recovering my senses, I found myself in total darkness, stretched on the field of battle with my arm broken, and my body sore from the bruises I had received in my fall. After some efforts I raised myself upon my feet and endeavoured to walk, but the spot upon which I had fallen was so thickly covered with the dead and wounded that I could not stir, without disturbing some dying wretch. Oh God! the memory of that dreadful night clings to my recollection with a tenacity that bids defiance to the efforts of time to efface it. Shrieks of despair and agony, accompanied by fearful curses and imprecations, resounded from -but enough! enough; let me no longer dwell upon the harrowing theme.

In a

short time I was discovered by a party sent out to collect the wounded, and conveyed to a hospital at Leipsic. From the inquiries I made concerning the fate of my friend, I learnt that he had been so desperately wounded that he was not expected to survive many hours; he also had been conveyed to Leipsic.

In that city the utmost confusion reigned; the streets were crowded with wagons bearing the wounded soldiery to the hospitals. The inhabitants were in the utmost consternation: from the issue of the first day's conflict, they fully expected to have the victorious allies thundering at their gates; it was even reported that the king of Saxony had sent proposals of capitulation to the allied sovereigns.

After my wound had been dressed, I went the round of the hospitals, hoping to gain some intelligence of my friend. After a toilsome search, I was so far successful as to find his remains, for his spirit had fled some hours before my arrival: he had been shot through the lungs, and all human aid was futile. As I gazed upon his lifeless form, my ima gination conjured up visions of the fond relatives and friends to whom I should shortly have to communicate the sad narrative of his tragical end, and my eyes were unconsciously dimmed with tears. I resolved to execute the commission with as little delay as possible; but the hazards incident to a soldier's life, rendered the accomplishment of it doubtful.

I will not detain the reader, by a recapitulation of the memorable events which occurred subsequently to those I

have endeavoured to relate in the foregoing pages; it will suffice to say, that the 19th of October beheld Napoleon and the wreck of his splendid army retreating through Leipsic, totally disorganized: of four hundred thousand men with whom he had commenced the campaign, barely ninety thousand escaped beyond the Rhine.

This disastrous chain of events at length terminated in the abdication of the emperor, and I then found myself at liberty to fulfil my promise. After spending a few weeks with my friends in order to recruit my shattered health, I set out upon my melancholy mission. My journey lay through some of the most beautiful provinces of southern France; and to one who had so long been accustomed to the blasting scenes of war, nature seemed clothed in double charms.

At the conclusion of my second day's journey I arrived at my place of destination, which was a retired village. It being late in the evening before I arrived, I determined to postpone my errand until the following morning, when I might make my débût in some decent trim. The caberet I found did not furnish accommodations in the most superior style of elegance, but I had seen too much of the "bivouac" to stand upon

niceties.

Scarcely had morning dawned before I was roused from my slumbers by the merry peals of the village bells, and other joyful demonstrations, with which the populace are wont to celebrate some happy event. When the landlord entered with my morning meal, I inquired the reason of those joyful ebullitions.

"Why, Monsieur," exclaimed he, "I thought all the world knew this was to be the wedding-day of Count Lenois and Hélène de Chaluz-it is the talk of the whole province. The Count is the richest man in this part of France, and who will deny that Hélène de Chaluz is as handsome as he is rich? No one who has once seen her, I think. Yes, yes; a splendid fête shall we see this day, I promise you."

So saying, he hastily left me, to attend to the numerous guests who were now rapidly filling his little hostelry.

His unexpected information filled me with perplexity and astonishment.Hélène de Chaluz about to be married! -Could she then so soon forget the devoted affection of him, who, in the dark hour of death, had dwelt upon her remembrance with such intense emo

tion. Lewis had expressed his suspicions of the machinations of a villain, -was that villain Count Lenois ? Possibly So. At all events I resolved to redeem the pledge I had so solemnly given my friend, and that with as little delay as possible. Inquiring, therefore, of the landlord, he directed me to the mansion which was about to become the scene of so much festivity. I found it surrounded by equipages of every description, and crowded with the company invited for the occasion. Upon requesting to see Madame de Chaluz, I was ushered into an ante-room, and after a short delay an elderly lady entered, and announced herself by that title. I in stantly concluded that she was the mother of the lady I wished to see.

"I am extremely sorry, Madam," said I, "to intrude at so unseasonable a juncture, but I am compelled by unavoidable circumstances to request a short interview with your daughter."

"Why, really, sir," she replied, "you have reason to apologise for your illtimed intrusion. What business of so pressing a nature can you have with my daughter, that you are compelled to interrupt her almost in the midst of her nuptials? Cannot you communicate it to me; you may rely upon her hearing it the earliest convenient opportunity. You cannot possibly see her now, for she only awaits my return to enter the carriage with the Count."

I again apologized for my interruption, but declined acquainting her with my errand, which was, I said, intended for her daughter's ear alone. After some further urging on my part, she acceded to my request, but manifestly with the greatest possible reluctance. She left the apartment, and in a few minutes returned with a young lady, whom she introduced as her daughter, and again retired. Her appearance instantly struck me: she was rather above the middle height, of a majestic and graceful figure; her handsome countenance was strikingly expressive, causing emotion in the most heartless and phlegmatic observer. She was arrayed in all the splendour becoming the wealth and rank of her intended husband; but her speaking features were darkened by a cloud of the deepest melancholy, forcing the beholder to the conviction that the blighting fangs of grief had already fixed upon her young heart.

As I gazed upon her speaking countenance, the conviction that the image of Lewis was still engraved upon her heart,

and that she was encompassed in the toils of some designing villain irresistibly fastened upon my mind.

For some seconds I stood perfectly at a loss how to open my melancholy embassy, being convinced that the direful intelligence at such a moment would produce overwhelming effects. At length, in a faltering voice, I commenced the melancholy narrative. At the mention of her lover's name, the truth flashed like lightning through her brain, her face assumed a deadly paleness, she sunk -upon a seat, and seemed gasping for breath. This was too much for me; I hastily produced the packet directed to her, and placing it in her trembling hand, turned away to avoid seeing the troubled emotion I was convinced it would occasion. I heard her tear open the envelope-a silence of some minutes eusued at length I ventured to cast my eyes towards her-she had read the letter, and was slowly untwirling a lock of his beautiful hair, which he had wound about her miniature. The torrent of her emotions at length found vent.

"I knew it-I said it," cried she, in frenzied tones. "I have been deceived, I have been entangled in the snares of a villain. Oh! wretch that I was, to listen to his vile calumnies, to have had my mind poisoned with the breath of this reptile. But thou shalt be revenged Lewis; never, never will I be his: but am not I at this moment arrayed ready to be led forth his victim?—thus, thus perish the wretch's hopes!" As she uttered these words, she snatched the rich coronet of diamonds that glittered in her dark hair, and dashed it to the floor, at the same time shrieking violently, and in the paroxysm of her passion, tearing from her person the valuable jewels with which she was decorated, and throwing them from her with frantic energy. Nature could endure no more, she fell violently to the floor in deep convulsions.

Her screams, and the noise of her fall, brought her mother and several of the bridal party into the room; a gentle

man,

whom I supposed to be the Count, hastened to raise her and support her in his arms, others of the company crowding round her with looks of astonishment and dismay. Upon applying restoratives, she slowly recovered; but no sooner did she perceive the person who supported her than she renewed her shrieks, writhing in his embrace with signs of the utmost loathing.

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"Unhand me, wretch,' she cried, thy touch strikes horror to my soul!

Away, reptile! lest thou wouldst have me expire at thy feet." She relapsed more violently than before, and was speedily borne to her apartment, followed by the wondering group.

I remained perfectly unnoticed in the midst of the general confusion, and therefore determined to quit a spot where my presence had caused so much excite ment. Before I had advanced two steps towards the accomplishment of my purpose, however, I received a slight tap on the shoulder upon facing round, the Count stood before me. He was a man of middle age and stature, possessed of a good face and figure, but the former was characterized by a peculiar cold and sinister expression, which in my eyes betrayed a selfish and treacherous disposiAfter eyeing me for some seconds, he thus addressed me:

tion.

"Pray," said he, in tones so cold and calm, that he seemed to drop (if I may use the expression) rather than articulate them, "will you have the goodness to enlighten me, with regard to the scene we have just witnessed: you are the person to whom I am to address myself for an explanation, I presume. Am I right in my conjecture?"

"Whatever your conjectures may be, sir,” replied I, in a voice and manner not a little less stiff than his own, "I do not feel myself called upon, either to confute them, or acknowledge them correct. I have accomplished the purpose for which I came, and do not feel bound to explain myself further."

"You have accomplished the purpose upon which you came, have you?" said he, in tones of suppressed rage. "Am I to suppose then, that the interruption of my union with Hélène de Chaluz was your object?"

"If that hypothesis is most congenial to your feelings," rejoined I with a sneer, "I will not question the stability of its foundation. At any rate, you cannot but acknowledge, that my unlooked for presence has been the means of breaking up some ingenious plot, which seems to have been hatching against the peace of your beloved Hélène." I saw this touched him to the quick, and in a voice tremulous with rage, he said, "I know you, you are some minion of Lewis d'Olliever?"

"And I know you," shouted I, in my turn; you are a most consummate scoundrel!"

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meet me there, in ten minutes, I will join you with weapons that shall settle this affair without more brawling."

I signified my assent to this proposal, and left the house by a private door, which he pointed out. I had not arrived at the appointed spot more than five minutes, ere I was joined by my adversary, who carried a brace of pistols, muffled in a silk handkerchief."

"I suppose," said he, with a sarcastic grin," as you are the challenged party, you must have your first choice of weapons."

To this I made no reply; but taking one of the pistols which he held towards me, proceeded to examine it.

"What!" exclaimed he, "do you think I mean to assassinate you; do you suspect me of treachery?"

"I know not what your intention was," said I, having finished my examination," but the charge of this pistol is blank; I am perfectly willing to admit, that this was the result of accident; but, with your permission, I will reload it myself."

He said nothing, but produced a powder flask and bullets. Having loaded, I desired him to take his ground.

"We will each walk six paces," said he, "and then turn and fire."

To this arrangement I assented. Placing ourselves back to back, he gave the word "ready," and I stepped forward; but ere I had taken three steps, the vil lain turned and fired. The shot struck me in the small of my back; and the shock was so great, that I thought I was shot through the body. Believing myself to be mortally wounded, I exerted all my remaining strength, and wheeled round, determined to take vengeance on my cowardly assassin. He had not stirred a single step from the spot, when a smile of malignant pleasure at the success of his murderous scheme, was visible on his countenance; on seeing my movement, he hastily produced a second pistol, which he had till now concealed. I could hear the slight tick of the lock as he cocked it, but my arm was already raised, and before he could level, I touched the trigger, and with a shriek and a bound he fell a lifeless corse to the earth. now grew sick and faint, my head grew giddy, the objects about me seemed rapidly whirling round, and I at length fell insensible to the ground, beside my prostrate enemy.

I

When I recovered my faculties, I found myself in bed, with my wound dressed; but I was so reduced with the

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