MY ONE CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 20

MY ONE CAMPAIGN.

By N. It. MARTIN

i When the old soldiers of the " Grand Amino" meot together in our little Breton town of Vannes I sometimes wonder whether I have a right to be amongst them. They Rpeak of the Bridgo of Lodi, of the battle of the Pyramids, of Marengo, of Ansterlitz and of Jena. They tell of that groat campaign of 1814, when the Emperor stood liko a wild boar at bay and would have driven the vast Continental armies from France lut for tho base treachery which surrendered Paris. In hushed tones they talked of that last campaign in Flanders, and Michel Adler ptands up in the cabaret and shows us how Marshal Ney led the last charge of tho " old guard." Ihen there is quiet for a moment or two till Michel lifts his glass and says: "Comrades, the Little Corporal," and wo drink the groat name in silence. However, if the talk runs on tho great expedition to Russia, then Michel Adler says: " But Jacques Bruno saw this best--he was the Emperor's Guard," and so once more 1 tell the story of my one campaign. I was one of tho conscripts of 1812, and in the usual course would have been placed in one of the regiments guarding tho frontier. But so many of the best of the old soldiers were lighting in Spain that the Emperor gave orders that the strongest ol the recruits should bo sent to reinforce his army in Germany. So early in 1813 some five thousand of us, mostly Bretons and Normans, were gathered together at V«rdun, where we were trained, and from wheneo we set out on our march across Germany. How well I remember the townspeople watching us a.s we set out on our journey. The women cried, as tvell they might, for though there were few Verdun men amongst us, yet they had seen so many strong young fellows march past them during the last twenty years—and how few had thoy seen return. There was Jeanne Hatry, the baker's daughter, waving her handkerchief to mo and striving to look cheerful, though I could not but remember how she wept when 1 had said "Farewell" to hor tho night before. 1 called to her from the ranks. "Good-bye, Jeanne, what shall I bring you from Russia?" Sho laughed and sairl, "Bring me a fur cloak,' and then her voice seemed to choke as sho added, " and take care of yourself. Jacques." I kept looking back at her waving handkerchief till wo had passed tho jforfifications and were on the German road, and I remember wondering whether the great Emperor felt a pang when he had to leave those he loved to go forth to conquer. I

I need scarcely toll of our journey across Germany, "of the brutality with which some of our sergeants—tough old soldiers—treated tho young recruits, and of our half-frightened, half hostile German allies. When we actually reached the First Army Corps at Dantzig and were distributed amongst tho regiments, wc found that tho old soldiers did not look forward to tho campaign with satisfaction. 'lho Marshals were said to ho grumbling. It was rumoured round tho camp fires that even Nov had said: " And when will this devil of a man stop ?" Rut when the army once began to move the grumblers were silent. The prospect of fighting, of booty, of promotion, closed the mouths of all but those who were already marshals and had palaces in Paris. You know, of course, that wo had little trcuble with the Russians. There was one stiff fight in which they were, badly beaten,, and then the enemy retreated steadily. Many of the old soldiers shook their heads at this. They said that in tho old times the Emperor's enemies never had a chance to -retreat, and that tho Emperor was becoming lazy. But. the discontent all vanished when the gilded domes of Moscsw came in sight. At last the dreary marching was over, and the Emperor once more would make peace in an enemy's capital, whilst his trusty soldiers would have pleasant quarters at tho foe's expense. We were halted for a couple of hours outside the city whilst Murat and the cavalry cleared a few

straggling Cossacks out of the suburbs. Whilst we worn waiting Duroc rode along the lines of the First Army Corps, giving orders that any man found looting would be. shot. A murmur ran through the ranks at this Announcement, and one old soldier of Italy cried out, " And what are we here for then 1" Tl was whispered that the Emperor did not wish to exasperate the enemy too much, or he would destroy all chance of a peaceful settlement. Perhaps his keen eye saw already that his position was a precarious one.

When we defiled into the city to our astonishment there was no one to be seen. The great squares were empty, the shops and the bazaars were closed. The windows of the empty houses stared blankly at. us. At Inst., as we searched the city we found in obscure corners the tew remnants of tho populace. Blind beggars, lunatics, and cripples who had been unablo to leave the city were all

who remained of -tho great population of Moscow. On the first evening wo bivouacked in Moscow wo noticed that a fire

balloon was sent up from a remote part of tho city. Tt was a signal. S6on the city was ablaza in half-a-dozen different quarters. It- was said that several times our patrols caught Russians stirring up tho flames with tarred lances, and that theso incondiaries whon detected were at once thrown into the flames. All through tho next day the fires burned. A friend of mino, who was in tho Emperor's bodyguard, told mo afterwards that the Emperor was uneasy all tho day in his quarters at the Kremlin. He spent most of his time at a window watching the doomed city. In vain his staff urged him to leave the Palace, and to take tip his quarters at a country house outside the city. '1 hey were anxious because tho Kremlin Square was lull of artillery and ammunition waggons, and one spark from tho vast conflagration might cause Emperor and Palace to lie involved in one common destruction. When night fell tho flames seemed to surround the Kremlin on all sides, but still tho Emperor would not move. At last, however, it was dis-

covered thai part of (he Kremlin itself was on fire, and a Russian soldier was found trying to light another wing. |f e captured and taken to (ho Kmperor. i'he Emperor put to him a question or two. which the Russian pretended not to understand. .Angrily the Kmperor made n ; gesture of disgust, and in a moment the I incendiary was thrown into llie courtyard, where tho bayonets nf the Grenadiers promptly settled 'his affair. Hut this event made the Kmperor decide to leave the Kremlin. Surrounded by his staff he tried to leave by all the main entrances, hit everywhere (he flames Mocked his wa\. At last Prince Eugene remembered that there was a. little postern gale leading from (he Kremlin to (he Moskwa. When, however, (hey left the building and entered Ibis narrow winding street it also seemed (o be the entrance rather than the outlet to this hell of fire. findaunted, ( lie Kmperor rushed into this "arrow passage without the slightest hesitation. lie advanced amidst the crackling of (lames, the crash of doors (ho falling of burning timbers and of tho red-hot iron roofs which trembled around him. I'he flames were blown by tho wind and formed an arch over the street. The liille band, headed by the indomitable Kmperor, walked on n ground of Hie, beneath a fiery sUy, and between two walls'of fire. Al last even the i;reat Kmperor paused. '1 he street seemed impassable, retreat was impossible, and his great career might have ended there—but for me. The quarter"! of (he First Corps had been burnt down early that morning, and we had been moved to a bivouac outside the city. However, I bad returned to Ihe city in (ho evening. A Jew pedlar bad. (old me of the treat fur-dealers' warehouses in the streets close to the Kremlin, and 1 lid not forget my promise !e Jeanne Ha try. The fire had relaxed dis- j cipline and few pickets were set, so 1

A SHORT STORY.

(COPTIIIGhT.)

had little difficulty in leaving tho camp and entering tho city. I could aoe the domes of tho Kremlin gleaming in tho firelight, and I mado my way in that direction. I.passed through the smoking ruins of a quarter which had been burnt down that morning, and camo to the back of a street which was already in flames. I climbed over a wall into a courtyard, broke down a door, and in a moment or two had gained entrance to a large houso. I mado my way to the front of the houso and saw that the streot was in a blaza, but as my retreat was secure that did not trouble mo. 1 hunted through the house, which was evidently that of a rich noble. I found a fur cloak which to iny mind seemed suited for Jeanne, and a purse containing some fifty or sixty Russian gold coins. This contented me, the moro especially as I heard tho flames roaring overhead, and knew that the roof of tho houso I was in had caught fire. I wos about to make my retreat when 1 heard voices in tho street in front. For a moment I was tempted to steal away quietly. I know that I should be severely punished for looting if any officer was there, but I remembered that frenchmen might bo in danger. So I unlocked tho front door of tho houso, and saw before me in tho street—the Emperor. I had tho fur cloak on my arm. Ho stepped toward rno hastily, and raising his hand, said, " You are looting, you scoundrel!" " No, siro," I answered. "It is but a souvenir 1 promised a lady." But Prince Eugene seized me by the shoulder and said, " Lead this man out of this at once, man, if you can, or wo sha 11 all bo burned alivo." I Quickly I showed them the way through tho house and courtyard to the quarter of smoking ruins which lay behind." I led them to tho city gates, and then tho Emperor said to tho guard, " Put that man under arrest, and bring him to my quarters." Then I was seized by two soldiers, and with that unfortunate cloak still in my hands was led to tho house at which the Emperor was to spend tho rest of the night. When wo reached tho houso tho Emperor turned round, " Strap that rascal to a gun-wheel," he said; " ho shall ho taught to obey orders." It. was a bitterly cold night, but, luckily, ono of the guard was humane enough to throw the fur cloak over me. You deserve some comfort out of it," ho said, laughingly. I had not been tied up for more than an hour when Princo Eugene came out of tho houso. Ho looked amusedly at me, and said*, " You have been justly punished for looting, but I do not forget that you have saved tho Emperor." Before ho rode away he placed a heavy purse with his own hands in my ammunition pouch. The Princo was al-

ways a soldier and a gentleman. At last that long anrj dreary night came to an end. Soon after sunrise I awoke from a sort of half sleep. My limbs were absolutely stiff with cold and confinement. I was waiting wearily for the order of release when I felt, someone pull my ears sharply. " Ah, this is the rogue—tho looter." The Emperor, accompanied by General Duroc, stood before me. " Where have you served, you scamp?" continued the Emperor. I his is my first campaign, sire." And what were you stealing furs for, rogue '!" "I had promised to bring Jeanne Hatry a souvenir of the next capital you conquered, sire."

" And now you wish to got back to your Jeanne, I suppose." When you have no more countries to conquer, sire." Ah, Duroc," said the Emperor, " the spirit of the army is right. If the recruits talk like this, what will my old soldiers of Egypt and Italy say ? Tell the guard to relcaso this youngster." Then tho Emperor turned to me. " You are now sergeant in my bodyguard. Let mo see if you dare disobey my orders again."

Soon I was released from my bonds, and my comrades were congratulating me on promotion. Ihe next day I entered on my new duties. For nearly a month the army waited at Moscow. The Emperor expected that the Russian Emperor would sue for peace, but tho cowardly Russians waited for their great ally, " General Winter." At last, in tho middle of October, our march back to Poland began. It was my duty in turn with the other officers of tho "guard to ride beside the Emperor's carriage. Sometimes I can imagine I hear him now dictating at full speed to his secretary, who in vain toiled after the Emperor's torrent of words. Why one morning he was dictating a des'patch for two hours—about what—the need for fresh recruits—the war with Spain ? N6, it was a plan for connecting all tho canals and waterways of France. And he had every figure, every place, the name of every official at his fingers' ends. If anv

ordinary man had studied the subject for a Jifotimo he could not have mastered it as the Emperor must have done in a few passing moments. _ The Emperor was doubtless a magnificent general, but in my humble opinion his marvellous memory was the most wonderful thing about him. It is true that nowadays tho Bourbon slanderers say that the Emperor used t,o learn out of the wav things by heart just to impress his hearers with his wonderful knowledge. But whom was ho to impress here ?—his secretary and his bodyguard—men whom he hid made yesterday and could unmake to-morrow ? No, tho slanderers with all Europe to aid them have driven the Emperor from liis throne at last; they have made him a fonely exile on a barren island.

Ono chill October morning, tho day after Prince Eugene had brilliantly defeated the Russians, wo were escorting the Emperor after he had inspected tho rearguard to a meeting of tlie marshals which was to be held at, his quarters. As we rode along the main road a large body of cavalry appeared on our right. When we advanced toward them they shouted, and we I bought they were saluting (he Emperor. Suddenly General Rapp, who was riding with Ihe Emperor, shouted to us, "I* or ward, they are Cossacks," and as he spoke "tho enemy wheeled into the high road, a groat body some thousands strong. General Rapp threw himself in front of tho Emperor, and I had just time to join him when the onslaught came. The General's horse fell, pierced through Ihe chest with a Cossack lance. I struck several lances aside which were aimed at the Emperor, and then a pistol bullet shattered mv arm. Just then tho bodvguard poured a volley into tho thick of (lie Cossacks, and the cowardlv savages turned tail and ran. General Plat off with his five thousand Cossacks, who had (ho Emperor actually in their power, were defeated by forty men. They could have ridden us down by sheer weight without

drawing a weapon. Tn a. few minutes Mural's cavalry di- ision came up, and (here was fine slashin" work, for (hev rode through the Cossack regiments as if (hev were water. The Kmperor sat silently through the skirmish, and then asked anxiously if (he General was hurt. When he was reassured on this point, he turned to me: You are hurt, you rogue. . Ah ! you will loot no more. See that this youngster is put in one of the travelling carriages, Throe. T will see. sir, that you get back safely to Jeanne Hairy." I saluted with i ./ uninjured arm, and forgot pain and everything else. Had not the great Emperor remembered my sweet-heart's name? I saw little of the horrors of the retreat, for thanks to the Emperor's orders I was well cared for, but unfortunately my arm had to be. amputated at tho 'field hospital at Smolensk, and I never bad a chance of striking a blow for the Emperor again. Nowadays when my friends al the cabaret say (o me. " Your wife is a good woman, P>rnne, but proud," T answer piietly, "It is not every woman, my 'rvn.ls, -vho has had the honour to Vie • emernbored by our Little Corporal." And Michel Adler, curling his moustache, erica out, " Well spoken, Jacquei."