Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue XV, 24 November 1880, Page 4

Old Madame Annette Drevon, who keeps a vegetable stall in the Parisian Hallea, is (says the " Daily Telegraph") the only woman in France upon whom the Cross of the Legion has been beßtowed for an actual deed of arms performed on the battle-field. She was attached to the 2nd Zouaves as vivandiere, when that regiment was serving in Italy, and during the battle of Magenta, the Zouaves being at close quarters with tbe.enemy, two Austrian Grenadiers seized the regimental | colors, and were carrying them off in triumph, when Annette rushed after them under a heavy fire of musketry, shot one dead, severely wounded the other, and brought back the flag in ! safety to her comrades, For this feat ; she was decorated, and subsequently ! she proved herself, by another deed of reckless daring, abundantly worthy of the distinction conferrei upon her. Throughout the Franco-German . war > she acted as sutler to the 32nd lofantr y, and behaved on several occasions with conspicuous . gallantry. One day, shortly after the conclusion of the armistice, sha was' standing by one Of the town gates of the Thionville, when a Bavarian soldier grossly insulted her, Without an instant's hesitation ;, she drew her revolver and shot him down where be stood. She was arrested on the spot, and conveyed (o Melz, where she was promptly tried by court martial and sentenced to death. Fortunately for her, Prince Frederic Charlea happened to ride into Metz early in the -morning appointed for her execution ; and hearing that a woman was to be shot for firing upon a German soldier,