nally gilded, but in its
present battered condition much of the gilt has been worn off, or shot
off, and the original material is plainly discernible. If it could be
lifted its weight would be found to be about three and a half pounds.

Around the neck of the eagle hangs a wreath of pure gold. There is an
inscription on the back of it, which says that the wreath was presented
to the regiment by the loyal city of Paris after the wonderful Ulm
campaign.

One of the claws of the eagle has been shot away. The gold laurel
wreath has also been struck by a bullet, and some of its leaves are
gone. The tip of one wing is missing. The head of the eagle,
originally proudly and defiantly erect, has been bent backward so that,
instead of a level glance, it looks upward, and there is a deep dent in
it, as from a blow. And right in the breast gapes a great ragged
shot-hole, which pierces the heart of the proud emblem. The eagle has
seen service. It has been in action. It bears its honorable wounds.
No attempt has been made to repair it.

The staff on which the eagle stands has been broken at about half its
length, presumably by a bullet. The shattered, splintered end
indicates that the staff is made of oak. It had been painted blue
originally. The freshness of the paint has been marred. On one side,
a huge slice has been cut out of it as if by a mighty sword stroke.
The tough wood is gashed and scarred in various places, and there is a
long, dark blur just above the broken part, which looks as if it might
be a blood stain.

Below the eagle, and attached to the remainder of the staff for about
three-fourths of its length, is what remains of a battle flag. The
material of it was originally rich and heavy crimson silk, bordered
with gold fringe. It is faded, tattered, shot-torn, bullet-ridden,
wind-whipped; parts of it have disappeared. It has been carefully
mounted, and is stretched out so as to present its face to the
beholder. In dull, defaced letters of gold may be read
inscriptions--the imagination piecing out the missing parts. Here is a
line that runs as follows:

_Napoleon, Empereur des Francais, au 5e Infanterie
de la Ligne._

And underneath, in smaller and brighter letters, as if a later addition:

_Grenadiers du Garde Imperiale._

There has been some sort of device in the middle, but most of it has
disappeared. From what remains, one guesses that it was a facsimile of
the eagle on the