48 British War Dogs 



The following story is taken from Miss Williams's 

 " Sketches of the French Republic " : 



" At the moment when the ranks of the Imperialists 

 were broken at the famous Battle of Castiglione, and the 

 heat of the pursuit was in proportion to the obstinacy of 

 the contest, Buonaparte coming to the spot where the 

 thickest of the combat had taken place, where the French 

 and Austrians lay strewn in horrible profusion, he perceived 

 one living object amid those piles of corpses which was a 

 little Barbet dog. The faithful creature stood with his 

 forefeet fixed on the breast of an Austrian officer. His 

 long ears hung over his eyes, which were riveted on those 

 of his dead master. The tumult seemed neither to distract 

 the attention nor change the attitude of the mourner, 

 absorbed by the object to which he clung. Buonaparte, 

 struck with the spectacle, stopped his horse, called his 

 attendants round him, and pointed out the subject of his 

 speculation. 



" ' The dog,' said Buonaparte, ' as if he had known my 

 voice, removed his eyes from his master, and throwing them 

 on me for a moment, resumed his former posture ; but in 

 that momentary look there was a mute eloquence beyond 

 the power of language. It was a reproach, with all the 

 poignancy of bitterness.' Buonaparte felt the appeal ; he 

 construed the upbraiding of the animal into a comprehensive 

 demand for mercy ; the sentiment was irresistible ; it put 

 to flight every harsh and hostile feeling. Buonaparte gave 

 orders to stop the carnage instantly." 



Writing to Field-Marshal Marmont, Napoleon said : 

 " Collect all the savage dogs you can, and picket them down 

 outside^ the ramparts to give warning of attack." 

 r We find the alertness of the dog appreciated in the 

 Crimean War. The Russians constantly had them with 



