Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Foreign Butterflies.djvu/22

20 attack was made by the combined troops of the marshal de Broglie and the prince of Soubise, on the army commanded by Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. Cuvier relates, that in the vicissitudes of the contest, the company to which M. Lamarck was attached happened to be thrown into such a position as completely exposed it to the fire of the enemy's artillery, and that, owing to the confusion which took place in the French army, it was entirely forgotten and left in that perilous situation. All the officers were soon killed, as well as the greater number of privates, when an old grenadier, perceiving that there were no longer any of the French within sight, proposed to the young volunteer, who by the death of the officers had unexpectedly acquired the temporary command, that the little troop should be withdrawn. This, however, he resolutely refused to do until he received regular orders to that effect, which at last were dispatched, when the troop were discovered to be missing, and reached him with the utmost difficulty, owing to the rapid advance of the enemy. This instance of intrepidity and vigorous adherence to orders gave so much satisfaction to the commander-in-chief, that he instantly issued an order for Lamarck's promotion. Some time afterwards, he was nominated to a lieutenancy, and his warmest anticipations