horseman came from
Roly into our road at full gallop. I advanced to the edge of the hedge
and presented my musket, and cried, "Who goes there?" "France!" "What
regiment?" "Twelfth chasseurs! Staff." "Pass on!" He went on his
way faster than before. I heard him stop in the midst of our
encampment, and call "Commandant." I advanced to the top of the hill
to see what was going on. There was a great excitement; the officers
came running up, and the soldiers gathered round. The chasseur was
speaking to Gemeau, I listened, but was too far away to hear. The
courier went on again up the hill, and everything was in an uproar.
They shouted and gesticulated. Suddenly the drums beat to mount guard,
and the relief turned a corner in the road. I saw Zebede in the
distance looking pale as death; as he passed me he said, "Come!" the
two other sentinels were in their places a little to the left. Talking
is not allowed when under arms, but, notwithstanding, Zebede said,
"Joseph, we are betrayed. Bourmont, general of the division in
advance, and five other brigands of the same sort, have just gone over
to the enemy." His voice trembled.

My blood boiled, and looking at the other men on the picket, two old
soldiers with chevrons, I saw their lips quiver under their gray
mustaches, their eyes rolled fiercely as if they were meditating
vengeance, but they said nothing. We hurried on to relieve the other
two sentinels. Some minutes afterward, on returning to our bivouac, we
found the battalion already under arms and ready to move. Fury and
indignation were stamped on every face, the drums beat and we formed
ranks, the commandant and the adjutant waited on horseback at the head
of the battalion, pale as ashes.

I remember that the commandant suddenly drew his sword as a signal to
stop the drums, and tried to speak, but the words would not come, and
he began to shout like a madman: "Ah! the wretches! miserable villains!
_Vive l'Empereur_! No quarter!" He stammered and did not know what he
said, but the battalion thought he was eloquent, and began to shout as
one man, "Forward! forward! to the enemy! no quarter!" We went through
the village at quick step, and the meanest soldier was furious at not
finding the Prussians.

It was an hour after, when having reflected a little, the men commenced
swearing and threatening, secretly at first, but soon openly, and at
last the battalion was almost in revolt. Some said that all t