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Saak County DescendantsOf a Waterloo SoldierWrittenWest%MadisonThe recent celebration of the Leipsiccentenary and the comparatively nearapproach of the Waterloo centenaryrecalls the interesting fact that in theCatholic cemetery at Roxbury, just across the Wisconsin river from Sauk City, are buried three soldiers who fought in the great battle of Waterloo, June 13, 1815. Grandchildren of at least one of these veterans are now living in Sauk City. The first known published reference to these veterans and their campaigns was contained in a letter to the Lodi Valley News by the late James R. Steele in 1896. Mr. Steele wrote: “In the Catholic cemetery at Roxbury are buried three men, soldiers in the wars of Napoleon Bonaparte. Theirnames were Numiere, Polly and ClassNumiere was under Blucher fighting against Napoleon, while Polly and Class fought under Napoleon on the plains of Waterloo against Wellington. Blucher coming up at night effected the overthrow of Napoleon. Polly wore the star of the Legion of Honor on his breast as one of Napoleon’s guards. The writer saw him while living at the age of ninety. He stood six feet, straight as an arrow. Mr. Class went at the age of fifteen as a substitute for his brother, who had a family, and served until the downfall of Napoleon. Being at the home of his daughter, I went out to where her father was dressing the grape vines. There stood the man who had shouted ‘Victory’ and suffered defeat on the blood-red fields of Spain -one of the army that crossed the Niemcii 500,000 strong to invade ! Russia, one of the number who stormed the Russian intrenchments at Borodino, fighting uncovered in the open plain, causing Napoleon to exclaim at St. Helena, ‘You immortal heroes!’ He saw the burning of Moscow, the greatest conflagration of modern times, lived and fought through that fear ft 1 retreat.“A little girl whose mother died in the snow was carried through. When the soldier who carried her sank down in death his comrade took her up; hundreds carried her and died. On the bridge spanning the dark rolling waters of the Beresina the enemyconcentrated their fire. The bridge went down beneath the weight; the French eagle sank, but rose again. The dark waters of the river closed over the dead and dying, but the little child went safely over and back to France. TheRussiansclaimed30,000 dead bodies were taken out of the river inthe spring.“The “Polly” to whom Mr. Steele had reference, was Peter Pauli. His was the only grave of these veterans the writer was able to locate while on a recent visit to the cemetery at Roxbury. A new monument has been placed over his grave to replace a former one of older design. It bears the inscription:Peter Pauli Geb. 10 Juni, 1792 Gest. 7 Sept, 1884r. i p. -Schlafe Wohl, O Vater, Schlafe,Deiner Walfahrt Leiden aus,Sanft Sei Dir der Letzte SchlummerDein Erwachen Ohne Kummer.John and Peter Pauli, who conduct the Pauli house at Sauk City are grandsons of the man who had the distinction of being one of Napoleon’s guards and a winner of the cross of the Legion of Honor. Their grandfather was not on the Russian campaign, they said, but served one year against Napoleon and three years under him. It will be remembered that in his campaigns Napoleon trampled ruthlessly again and again upon the German states and co npelled them to recruit the ranks of his soldiery. At the battle of Waterloo the man on each side of Pauli fel and when he turned to assist the artilleryman behind him the latter had also fallen. Pauli came with his family to America from Triere, Germany, about 1848, going first to Milwaukee and settling later in Roxbury. Of his sons one died in Roxbury and one is believed to have lost his life in the Galveston storm some years ago. A daughter, Mrs. Philippi, lives at Ama, Buffalo county, Wisconsin.History also records that Napoleon had a celebrated Swiss gun—maker named Pauli.Editor’s note—It is reported that two Waterloo soldiers are buried in Rock Hill cemetery near Baraboo. These will be mentioned later.The translation in the German words above are as follows:fer\ “ L- Peter PauliBorn 10 June, 1792 Died 7 Sep. 1884R. L P.(Requiescat in Pace)Sleep well, O father, sleep,Your sorrows of wandering are over Gentle be your last slumber Your awakening without care.
Newspaper Details
Baraboo Weekly News
Baraboo, Wisconsin, US
Thu, May 07, 1914
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Allen C.
IN, USA 17 Jan 2020
Other Publications Near Baraboo, Wisconsin
Baraboo News
Baraboo Weekly News
Baraboo Republic
Sauk County Farmer
Sauk County Democrat
