Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1875 — A Neglected Sentry. [ARTICLE]

A Neglected Sentry.

A soldier of the First Empire, named Jacques Roussel, lias just died at Montpellier (Hcrault), at the age of ninety-two. lie was the hero of a. singular adventure, of which a number of journals spoke at the time, and which he himself used often to relate. In 1807 the French took possession of Rugen, a small island in the Baltic, separated from the coast of Pomerania by a narrow channel. It was occupied 'by a detachment of Davoust’s corps, when the order came to evacuate it immediately. The embarkation was so hasty that a sentinel was forgotten—no other than Roussel. Ignorant of what had passed he continued to pace up and down, and no relief having come after three hours he lost patience and returned to the guard-house, which, of course, he found deserted. Making inquiries, he learned with despair the departure of the detachment. “ Mon Dieu!” he exclaimed, “ I shall be reported as a deserter. lam lost, dishonored!" and he burst into tears. Ilis grief aroused the compassion of an honest artisan of the place, who consoled him and gave him shelter, and, after a certain period, gave his only daughter to him as a wife. They were all living happily together when, at the eml. of liVe years, a vessel was sighted and the people flocked to hail it, the uniform of the French army being recognized. “ Pour k coup, they have come for me,” exclaimed the frightened sentinel; but a sudden thought restored his courage. He ran to his dwelling, quickly donned the uniform, which lie had carefully preserved, seized lus musket and, returning to the shore, mounted sentry at the-mo-ment when the French landed. ‘ ‘Qui vivef" lie called out in a stentorian vojee. “ Qui vine vous meme?" replied those from the vessel. “A sentinel.” "How long have you been oil duty?” “For five years!” Dayoust laughed heartily at the adventure and ordered that a release in due form should be given to this deserter in spite of himself. Roussel lived happily with his family for some years ; but, having the misfortune to lose liis wife and only child, lie soon felt a strong wish to return to liis country. He arrived at Montpellier toward 1829 and resided there ever since upon his saving and a small pension granted him by the Second Empire.