After this refreshment, he became communicative, and told me he had served seven years in the French army, three of which were spent in working on railways.

He had fought the Italian campaign, and was full of details of the battle of Solferino, on which occasion his _bataillon_ was led on by the Emperor in person.

According to his account, four _bataillons_ were drawn up for the assault of a tower, and when the first advanced it was swept away to a man.

The second met with a like fate, and Liotir was in the third.

His officers had all been killed, and a corporal was in command.