When he entered, His Honor informed him that he desired him to take
charge of the men on their passage over.
"I know they are a pretty wild lot, and no doubt will not obey orders,
still I will depend upon you to do your utmost to keep them quiet, and
not have them disgrace the uniform they wear."
He then gave Paul a strong letter of recommendation commending him for
his courage and service to France, also presenting him with the arms he
bore in the service. To this day Paul retains his chassepot as a memento
of the happy, careless days he passed, while serving under the
Tricolor of France.
Two days after, all the foreign volunteers were mustered to embark on
the steamer Stromboli, the authorities taking the precaution not to give
them the promised twenty-five francs until they had passed up the gang-
plank. As the steamer moved out of Havre the citizens turned out in
large numbers to bid them God speed. And when the bows of the steamer
were kissed by the waves of the channel, the boys were all pretty
hoarse shouting "Vive la France" in exchange for the cries of "Vive
l'Amerique," that was sent over the water to them from the mighty crowd
on shore.
The voyage to Liverpool was an uneventful one and the volunteers behaved
well with the exception of emptying a cask of wine which they
conscientiously filled again with water.
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