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Songs, Odes, and Other Poems, on National Subjects (1842)
Songs Odes and Other Poems on National Subjects - 1842 Author:William McCarty Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Nicholas, Chevalier D'Assas, was born at Vigan. He was an officer in the Regiment d'Auvergne, and by his patriotic death rendered himself worthy of the admiratio... more »n of posterity. On the night of the 15th of October, 1760, he commanded the outpost at Klostercamp, in the neighbourhood of Gueldres, and at break of day went out to examine the posts. While so occupied, he fell in with a division of the enemy's troops, who were on the point of attacking the French army. He was seized, and threatened with immediate death if he uttered a cry to alarm his regiment. The safety of the French army was at stake. Without a moment's hesitation, he summoned all his strength and exclaimed, " A moi, Auvergne, ce sont les ennemis!" The threat was immediately executed, but the patriot had gained his object. The immediate advance of the Regiment d'Au- verane, who had heard, but were too late to save him, rendered the attack of the enemy unsuccessful. D'Assas was never married; but a pension of 1000 livres was decreed to his family forever. The payment was interrupted during the French Revolution, but it has since been renewed. chapter{Section 4PREFACE. The compiler of these volumes for many years entertained the plan of making a collection of national songs and ballads: deeming the task, however humble, one the result of which would be acceptable to his countrymen. To fulfil the undertaking, required little else than resolution to begin, and industry to finish the work. The songs lay scattered through magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals, common song-books, and stall-ballads. All these were to be collected and examined. Files of newspapers from the period of Braddock's defeat to the death of President Harrison, a period of eighty-six years, have been carefully searched: and the Pennsylv...« less