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"To our next meeting, then," cried Francois, as I hurried on after the major; whilst once more the voltigeur ranks burst forth in full chorus, and the merry sounds filled the valley.
Those battalions of VII Corps which could still do good service, except five, which were kept in reserve, were again sent up the Mance valley, and the battalions from the Bois de Vaux came to their support toward Point-du-Jour and the quarries. The IId Corps of the French Army thus attacked was now reinforced by Guard Voltigeur Division. All the reserves were brought to the front.
I have seen the Kentucky voltigeur introduce a fancy-dance on two wild steeds, and jump through a fiery hoop in the character of Shylock; and I confess I liked him better in those happy days at New York, than since he has proclaimed himself as the great transatlantic tragedian, and has set up as an infallible critic because he has proved himself a fallible actor. And then the death of Desdemona!
Not only was I restored, but they even placed me in the same regiment I served in during the campaigns of Egypt and Italy. The corps, however, was greatly changed since I knew it before; and so I asked the Emperor to appoint me to a voltigeur battalion, where discipline is not so rigid, and pleasant comrades are somewhat more plentiful. I had my wish, gentlemen.
"Oh, give to me the trumpet's blast, And the champ of the charger prancing; Or the whiz of the grape-shot flying past, That 'a music meet for dancing. "Tralararalal" sang a wild-looking voltigeur, as he capered along the street, keeping time to his rude song with the tramp of his feet. "Ha! there goes a fellow from the Faubourg!" said an officer near me.
It is true his liberality had not had a very comprehensive range: he had sunk his money in the improvement of the personal appearance of his company in purchasing pompons or new feathers or whistles, when he was a voltigeur in establishing his serjeants' mess on a more respectable footing in giving his poor comrade a better coffin, or a richer pall: these had been his foibles; and in indulging them, he had expended the wealth, that might have purchased him on to rank and honours.
In the Rue Philippeaux a ball passed through the face of a soldier of the 21st of the Line infantry, and then through the head of a voltigeur behind him. Sixteen soldiers fell in the attack on the barricade of the Rue Rambuteau. A blouse pointed a pistol at an officer of the Municipal Guard; the pistol hung fire, and the officer passed his sword through his assailant's body.
"He is a dragoon, a voltigeur, an artillerist, a pontonièr what you will he knows every thing, as I know my horse's saddle, and cloak-bag."
"And so you are determined to join the cavalry again?" said François, as he sat by my side under a tree, where a cheerful fire of blazing wood had drawn several to enjoy its comfort. "That is what I cannot comprehend by any stretch of ingenuity, how a man who has once seen something of voltigeur life can go back to the dull routine of dragoon service."
Sourd, chief of the squadron, and fifty chasseurs of the 7th, each carrying a voltigeur en croupe, followed them, as well as two frail rafts which transported four hundred men in twenty trips.