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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 769, 27 August 1853, Page 4

Curious and Eventful History. —An officer, well known at Calais and Lille for many years by the name of Commandant Coulombon, or Coulombon rimmortel, has just died at the latter town, aged 89. His history is a curious one. He entered the army in 1784, at the age of 19, and passed with honour through all the lower gradesof the army. In 1792 he entered the King’s Guard, and at the end of that year, being raised to the rank of commandant, was charged with the task of organising the ninth battalion of the Pas-dc-Calais. In the war of La Vendee, he distinguished himself pnrlicularly, and it was to his exertions that Genera! Hoche owed in part his success in the a Hair of Quiberon. At the head of some hundreds of men, Coulombon surprised the fort of Penlhicvro, in which there were 2000 emigrants. Being without a flag, Coulombon raised up above the wall a soldiers cap, which Hoche perceiving, sent him aid, and the fort surrendered. Some lime after, Coulombon, accompanied only by a small escort, was proceeding to St. Bricnc, whither he had been summoned by General Vallelaux, when be was attacked by a body ofVendeans, and had his horse killed under him. and his escort put to flight. Coulombon beiug taken prisoner, was condemned by the Vendeans to death, but was informed that ho should be pardoned on condition of his divulging the password of the army and facilitating the capture A f Lamballe. Coulombon, who was then a married man, and the father of two sons, refused with indignation, saying, “Ho your duty. My children shall never have to blush for their father.” Immediately after he was taken out, and a file oi men being placed at. a short distance from him, the word to fire was given, and lie fell, pierced by two balls in Hie lower part of the body, and eight others in the breast. To make the mailer still more sure, four stabs were given him with a bayonet, and a number of blows administered to him on the body with the butt-end of the men’s muskets. A grave was then dug, and the body was about to be thrown into it, when the sound of a drum was heard, which caused the Vendeans to make off. The escort had given the alarm to the garrison of Lamballe, and a body of men was sent out to the aid of the commandant. When the men came up, the body of Coulombon was found to still give some signs of life. He was carefully removed, and after several days’ lethargy, recovered bis senses, and by unremitting attention of eight medical men bis life was saved. He was then 28 years of age, and he lived for GO years afterwards! For 20 years he wore on his breast a silver plate, which covered a vast wound, which look 14 years to close up. Coulombon being decorated in 1804, when the order of the Legion of Honour was instituted, continued to serve until the year 1814. His eldest son was killed at Waterloo, being then a lieutenant of artillery. Since that period Coulombon bad lived in honour amongst bis other children, who had become manufacturers,and one of whom at present directs an important establishment at Lille. — French paper.