The Merry Past 



commission as an officer of Hussars to enlist as a 

 volunteer in the regiment of Dragoons, then in Spain, 

 where Lieutenant Langenois served. 



Having heard that she had been killed, he was most 

 agreeably surprised at her arrival ; and, in gratitude 

 for her fidelity and for her sacrifices, not only married 

 her, but procured her from his relation the same 

 rank with himself. When the peace with Spain was 

 concluded, her regiment was ordered to join the Army 

 of Italy, where, at the battle of Lodi, she was wounded 

 in three places, and promoted by Bonaparte to a first 

 lieutenancy, at the same time that her husband, who 

 had greatly distinguished himself, was made a captain. 



During the blockade and siege of Genoa, in the 

 spring of 1800, her regiment belonged to the corps 

 under the command of General Rochambeau, who 

 attempted to throw in succours to Massena, the 

 Governor of Genoa. In one of the daily skirmishes, 

 in the vicinity of that city, she again had her horse 

 killed under her, was wounded, and made a prisoner 

 by General Haddik ; who, in admiration of her 

 courage, presented to her a splendid Hungarian horse 

 of his own, and released her without being exchanged. 

 This horse, the General of Division, Duhem, had the 

 insolence to put into requisition for himself, during 

 her illness of a fever that then raged in the French 

 army ; and when, on her recovery, she claimed it, 

 he refused to restore it. She sent him a challenge ; 

 but, instead of fighting, he ordered her under arrest 

 for insubordination. Such was, however, the regard 

 that the officers and men had for her, that in an en- 



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