THE GRENADIER
BIANCHINI AT
TARRAGONNE
1811
translated and edited by Geert van Uythoven
Souvenir de guerre
« L'assaut
de Tarragonne fut marqué par un trait de courage qui pourra figurer parmi les
plus beaux souvenirs de l'histoire. Lors de l'assaut du fort Olive le caporal
de grenadiers Bianchini, du 6e régiment italien, avait fait prisonniers, au
pied même des murs de la ville, quelques soldats espagnols et les avait amenés
au général en chef, qui, admirant son courage, lui demanda quelle récompense il
pouvait lui offrir : L'honneur de monter le premier à l'assaut de Tarragonne,
dit Bianchini. Cette réponse pouvait n'être que de la présence d'esprit ;
c'était de l'héroïsme.
Le 28 juin
1811, ce brave homme, devenu sergent, vient au moment de l'assaut se présenter
dans la plus belle tenue au général en chef, et réclame de lui la faveur qui
lui a été promise. Il s'élance des premiers, reçoit un blessure, continue de
monter avec sang-froid, exhortant ses camarades à le suivre, est atteins deux
fois encore sans être arrêté, et tombe enfin la poitrine traversée d'un coup de
feu. »
Remembrance
of war
“The attack of Tarragonne was marked by a
feature of courage which deserves to placed among the most beautiful memories
of the history. At the time of the attack of the Olive fortress the corporal of
grenadiers Bianchini, of the 6th Italian regiment, had captured at the foot of
the walls of the city, some Spanish soldiers and had brought them to the
general-in-chief, who, admiring his courage, asked him which reward he could
offer him: “The honor be the first in the attack of Tarragonne”, answered
Bianchini. This answer was not only a sign of the presence of mind; it was
heroism. On June 28, 1811, this good man, having become sergeant by now,
appeared at the moment of the attack to present himself in the most finest
uniform to the general-in-chief, and claimed of him the favour which was
promised to him. He stormed first, received a wound, but continued to go up
with a cold-bloodedness, exhorting his comrades to follow him. he was hit reach
another two times still without being stopped, and fall finally fell by a
musket shot through the chest..”
Source: Anonymous, “Souvenir de
Guerre”, in ‘Journal de l’Armée’, Tôme 2. (Paris 1834) p. 253.
© Geert van Uythoven