Wilkés, non-commissioned officer in a line regiment, a native of Valenciennes; taken prisoner on the banks of the Bérézina; led in captivity 1,400 leagues from Paris, where he was kept three years.
Captain Vachain, of whom I have spoken above, had a very lively discussion while we were in Spain with my sergeant-major, which ended in a duel and a sword-cut which divided my sergeant-major's face in two from the top of his forehead to the bottom of his chin. He did as much on various occasions for Austrians, Prussians, Spaniards, Russians, and English, against all of whom he was fighting for ten years without stopping, for during this time he took part in more than twenty great battles commanded by the Emperor Napoleon.
At the Battle of Esslingen, May 22nd, 1809, Vachain was carrying a skin filled with wine, hung at his side. One of his friends, a non-commissioned officer like himself, signed to him that he would very much like a drink. Vachain called to him to come near, and, stooping to one side, he offered him some wine. This took place during the action, when bullets and grape were flying on all sides. The man had hardly swallowed it, when a brute of an Austrian ball carried away his head as well as the gourd of wine.
Two days before they had dined together at Vienna, and there they had made each other gifts of what they possessed in the way of watch, belt, etc., in case of the death of one or the other. But Vachain had no desire to put his promise into execution. He drew back and fell into rank, thinking himself lucky not to have been struck by the same ball, but reflecting that at any moment as much might still happen to him, for it was warm work just there. I was wounded that same day.
Besides the old soldiers whom I knew individually, I can quote others who made a glorious and terrible fight with Russia:
MM. Buoy, retired Captain at Valenciennes, and a native of that place, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
Hourez, retired Captain at Valenciennes, and a native, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
Piète, Sub-Lieutenant, Valenciennes.
Legrand, ex-gunner of Grenadiers of the Imperial Guard, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
Foucart, Barrack-Master, wounded and taken prisoner, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.