What I saw of the War at the Battles of Speichern, Gorze & Gravelotte. A narrative of two months' campaigning with the Prussian Army of the Moselle

Front matter

What I saw of the War ■■»'"' " -■ ■*" " Gorze Gravelotte WHAT I SAW OF THE WAR AT THE BATTLES OF SPEICHERN, GORZE, & GRAVELOTTE A NARRATIVE OF TWO MONTHS' CAMPAIGNING WITH THE PRUSSIAN AEMY OF THE MOSELLE BY THE HON™*- C. ALLANSON WINN WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON MDCCCLXX Tin Right of Translation is reserved. ERRATA. Page'204, 1. 16, for "pelisse" read " fichu." „ 208, 1. 16, for " civility" read " incivility." „ 210, L 19, for "the " read " two."

Preface

In publishing the following pages, I have endeavoured to give an account of a residence with the Prussian army somewhat out of the beaten track of newspaper correspon dents. Indeed, during the time I sojourned with the Prussian army, I only saw two ; one cautiously making notes behind a poplar at the battle of Gravelotte; the other was my companion, to whose discretion, as an officer formerly in her Majesty's service, the Prussian authorities trusted. They, however, did not permit him to follow their army as a correspondent, but winked at his occupation when they found that he wrote nothing that could betray their plans ; indeed, I have rea son to believe that at first many of his let-

PREFACE.

. IV ters were opened. He obtained his permission as follows : On presenting himself to General von Goben, who commands the 8th Army Corps, then situated at Saarbriick, and handing in his card, the General, observing that in the corner of it was written Special Correspondent to , immediately remarked to him that, as an old soldier, there could be no objection to his fol lowing the army, but as a correspondent it was quite out of the question. General Goben then suggested he should introduce himself with a plain card — thus early evincing a friendliness which he afterwards showed on all possible occasions — and the erlaubniss was granted. I had far greater difficulty in obtaining my pass, as kind-hearted General von Goben could not understand what amusement or profit a young' man and a civilian, unless corresponding for a journal, could derive from scenes of blood shed ; and it was not until I told him plainly (knowing, as I did full well, that in this world there is no greater lover of honesty and straight forward speech than a Prussian officer) that

PREFACE.

. V though having by nature a great fancy for soldiering, as an only son I had been dissuaded from giving fortune another chance against me in the game of life and death ; and my object was not to witness the " slaughtering of vast hosts of Prussians," as he grimly sug gested, but to seize the present opportunity of making myself practically acquainted with soldiering. He smiled somewhat sadly. Perhaps he had an only son about to engage in the deadly struggle, and was thinking how glad he would have been had the English custom pre vailed in Germany. Anyhow, he kindly bade me go to his etdt Major, who made me out a pass. I had not been in possession of this precious document more than an hour, when a proclamation was posted to the effect that from that time no one would be allowed to follow the army except by the King's own permission.

I need not say that I could scarcely have hoped for an erlaubniss in that quarter, with no better excuse than I had presented to Gen eral von Goben. Many poor German corres- VI

PREFACE.

. pondents, whose very daily bread depended upon a permission to follow, were at this time turned back ; and I remember one poor fellow in particular who eyed my bit of paper greedily, telling me that he had a wife and many little mouths to feed at home, and could get bread for them if he were only permitted to share the privations of the campaign. German cor respondents, I may state, are not paid quite at the same rate as ours. These remarks I have made to show that I have a reason for the supposition that this volume may contain some anecdotes and details that have been hidden from the pene trating eye of the Press ; otherwise I should be deserving of the name of something worse than an egotist if I supposed that, with my total inexperience of writing, I could make palatable to the public a dish that had been served out to them by the journalists every day for the last five months. Bruges, Nov. 1870. CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Page Panic At Kreuznach

— JOURNEY TO SAARBRUCK — THE COM- MANDANT — A PURCHASE — NEWS OF THE ENEMT — THE UHLANS — PRUSSIAN HONESTY — COURTESY OF OFFICERS — ENGLISH NON-INTERVENTION — A GERMAN REGIMENT — THE FIGHTING FORTIETH, ....'. 1-12

Chapter II. The Capture Of Saarbruck

— THE BATTLE OF SPEICHERN — A GALLANT RESCUE— THE ROAR OF BATTLE — VIEW OF THE FIELD — THE WOUNDED — SCENES ON THE FIELD — A FRENCH OFFICER — PRUSSIAN COURTESY AND HOSPITALITY — NIGHT QUARTERS — REMARKABLE ANECDOTE — A WOUNDED OFFICER, ...... 13-28

Chapter VI. Battle Of

GORZE— CLOSE OF THE BATTLE— A FEARFUL NIGHT —SCENES ON THE FIELD — THE WOUNDED — REJOIN OUR CORPS— AGAIN ON THE MARCH— PRUSSIAN DOCILITY- MEASURES AGAINST PLUNDERING — M. JAQUIN — A SPOILT CHILD — IN SEARCH OF AID — FEARFUL LOSSES, . 54-68

Chapter VII. Scenes On The

FIELD— THE WOUNDED — DISPOSITION OF THE SLAIN — THE WOUNDED — A DYING OFFICER — A DEATH SCENE — HASTY BURIAL — WOUNDED FRENCH — CONSOLA- TION — PRUSSIAN IMPARTIALITY — THE CHASSEPOT — A SLAUGHTER-HOUSE — THE WOUNDED ADJUTANT — AN UN- WONTED LUXURY, . . . . . 69-83

Chapter VIII. The French Position

— THE PRUSSIANS— THEIR SUPERIORITY IN NUMBERS — THEIR PLANS— A WOUNDED HORSE — OPEN- ING OF THE BATTLE — PROGRESS OF THE FIGHT — THE PRUSSIAN CAVALRY — THEIR UNIFORMS — IN THE FRONT — FEARFUL CARNAGE — THE MITRAILLEUSE — PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE — GENERAL STEINMETZ — A GALLANT OFFICER —THE WOUNDED — A FEARFUL WOUND — NEWS OF OUR FRIENDS — RENEWAL OF THE FIRE — A SUDDEN PANIC — A NARROW ESCAPE — IN SAFETY ONCE MORE — DANGER OF THE PRUSSIANS — A CATASTROPHE — INACTIVITY OF THE FRENCH — HELP AT HAND — FINAL DEFEAT OF THE FRENCH, ...... 84-112 CONTENTS. IX

Chapter IX. The Prussian Strategy

— BAZAINE's MOVEMENTS— THE PRUS- SIAN SUCCESS — RETURN TO GORZE — A NIGHT WALK — GORZE AT LAST — PRUSSIAN HUMANITY — COMFORTABLE QUARTERS, ... . . 113-122

Chapter X. French And German Cookery

— THE FRENCH PEASANTRY — AMATEUR TAILORING — A CURIOUS APPLICATION — A MYS- TERY SOLVED — A LOST DARLING — WOUNDED MEN — FOR- AGING — ACT AS ASSISTANT-SURGEON — A FEARFUL CASE — THE UNBURIED DEAD — THE LOSSES OF OUR REGIMENT, AND OF THE 60TH — BURYING THE DEAD — DESCRIPTION OF THE POSITION — STRENGTHENING THE POSITION — OUR . 123-142 RETURN WALK — ARRACK PUNCH,

Chapter XI

A SUSPICIOUS HOST— SUPPLIES IN PROSPECT — A WOUNDED ACQUAINTANCE — A SUCCESSFUL OPERATION — AN EXECU- TION — FRIGHTFUL ATROCITY — THE CHATEAU ST CATH- ERINE ITS OWNER — HIS STORY — NEGLIGENCE OF THE FRENCH — SEARCH FOR A HOUSE — A LIBERAL OFFER- SCENE AT OUR QUARTERS — A DRUNKEN OFFICER — A FRACAS — ITS ISSUE — WE DECLINE TO INTERFERE — A CATASTROPHE, ..... 143 162

Chapter XII

A PLUNDERER'S STORE — REJOIN THE REGIMENT— METZ la pucelle — A RAID ON THE ENEMY — OUR SUCCESS— THE RE- TREAT — SIGNS OF SLAUGHTER — A MEMENTO OF THE FIELD — SUPPLIES FOR CAMP — A STARVING FRENCHMAN — AR- RIVAL AT CAMP— GORZE ONCE MORE — AN INVALID, 163-176 X CONTENTS. ■187 -219 -233

Chapter XIII. Outpost Duty

— CONSTRUCTING A BATTERY — A DESTRUCTIVE SHELL — ASPECT OF METZ — OUTPOST FARE— CAMP COOK- ING — AN EARLY START — SECURING OUR RELICS — PRUS- SIAN COURTESY — A CHOLERA PATIENT, . .177-

Chapter XIV. Scenes On The Road

— REMINISCENCES — UNFRIENDLY VILLAGERS — A HOSPITABLE MAYOR — PROSPECTS OF FAM- INE — AN INQUISITIVE GUEST — A WOUNDED OFFICER — PONT-AU-MOUSSON — AN ARRIVAL — A SUCCESSFUL RUSE — ASPECT OF THE TOWN — CIGAR BUYING — ABSENCE OF WAR PRICES— OUR LANDLADY — A SUPPER-PARTY — AN ANXIOUS HEART — A DISTURBANCE — A SUMPTUOUS BREAKFAST — PURCHASES — CAPTIVE GARDES MOBILES — THE CAFE DU COMMERCE — A RECOGNITION — A PLEASANT EVENING — DEPARTURE FOR CAMP — A RAILWAY A.MBULANCE TRAIN — ARTILLERY ON THE MARCH — REJOIN OUR FRIENDS — 165- LETTERS FROM HOME THE FELDPOST,

Chapter XV. Our Night-quarters

— THREATENINGS OF ILLNESS — VISIT TO THE OUTPOSl'S — LIFE IN THE FRONT — A PATROL'S REPORT — MODERN WARFARE — CHANGES IN WARFARE — INEFFI- CIENCY OF THE BRITISH SYSTEM— CHANGES REQUISITE AS REGARDS CAVALRY, .... 220-

Chapter XVI. The Investing Army

— ARS SUR MOSELLE — MILITARY ADMINIS- TRATION — REMARKABLE PRESERVATION THE PRUSSIAN POSITIONS — THE PRUSSIAN BATTERIES — A SORTIE FROM METZ — BATTLE OF ST JULIEN — SUCCESSES OF THE FRENCH — BAZAINE'S CONDUCT — THE FIGHT RESUMED — CONTENTS. XI defeat of the french — an impromptu raid — asleep in the trencnes — changes of position — in the wood — our danger — we are fired on — our escape — our quarters — our friends in the chateau — a crimean stew — dinner at the chateau — musings, ...... 234-258

Chapter XX. Prussian Courtesy

— GENERAL STEINMETZ — OUR PASSES WITHDRAWN — INTENDED REMONSTRANCES — A PLEASANT SURPRISE — FRENCH PRISONERS — A PLEASANT EVENING — SECRET PREPARATIONS— OUR POSITION — BOMBARDMENT OF METZ — A WELL-AIMED SHELL — OUR ESCAPE— FRESH FROM HOME — A DARK NIGHT WTALK — ACCURATE PRAC- TICE — CHANGE OP QUARTERS— ATROCITIES OF THE PEAS- CONTENTS. XII ANTRY— METZ TO BE STARVED OUT — SEARCH FOR QUAR TERS—OUR SUCCESS— OUR NEW QUARTERS— A MOURNER —FRENCH CAVALRY HORSES — KINDNESS TO PRISONERS FRENCH LITERATURE — THE FIELD TELEGRAPH — NEWS FROM HOME — PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE — A LAST excursion, ... . 289-318

Chapter XXI. At The Foreposts

— AN AMBUSH — PRINCE LOUIS OF HESSE — BATTLE-FIELD OF GRAVELOTTE — A CHURCHYARD — SIGNS OF SLAUGHTER — TENDER REMINISCENCES — LOST AND FOUND — THE PRUSSIAN HELMET — PRISONERS FROM SEDAN — REVISIT GORZE — SENTRIES CHALLENGING — A LONG RIDE — START FOR HOME — GENERAL VON GOBEN — FAREWELL TO OUR FRIENDS — ON THE ROAD — QUARTERS AT COURCELLES — RAILWAY COMPANIONS — A DISTURBANCE — A RESCUE — A CURIOUS REQUEST, . . . 319-341

Chapter XXII. Bismark And The War

— THE PROPOSED ANNEXATIONS — ALLEGED PRUSSIAN CRUELTIES — THE FUTURE, . 342-348 Map, End of Volume. Music, Do. WHAT I SAW OF THE WAE.

Chapter I

I WAS at Kreuznach with my wife when the first noise of this war made itself heard. If I remember rightly, it was on the 1st of July that I read in a paper at the Kursaal how Count Bismark was accused in the French Senate of attempting another coup, and how the French nation rebelled universally at the idea of having Prussian influence on their southern as well as their eastern boundary. It is not my intention here to enter upon a discus sion whether the strong ebullition of feeling that made itself manifest among the rulers of the French people was justified by reasonable fear for the safety of their country ; but I propose in the following pages to afford to those who are willing an opportunity of A PANIC AT KRETJZNACH. 2 reading an account of some of the sad scenes which came under my observation during a sojourn of two months with the 8th Prussian Army Corps.

It must not be supposed that we had no bright times ; but they were as minutes compared with hours. If any of my readers would question me as to what pleasure I can take, or what object I can serve, by awakening the memory of past pains, I make answer that it is my hope that the recording of sufferings which have directly flowed from acts of heroism may be the means of doing justice to the many whose worth, by their loss, I have learnt to value. Great was the panic at Kreuznach among people of all nationalities at the first reports of angry words between the Cabinets. Naturally the French were the first to flee, then went the Americans, and finally the English ; so that a few days after the exodus had commenced, our watering-place was reduced from a population of some 10,000 to perhaps as many hun dreds.

War, however, had not yet been formally de clared ; and a party of fifteen English held stoutly to the idea that France could expect no more from Prussia than the concession that had been made — viz., the withdrawal of the Hohenzollern candidature ; and that consequently there would be no war. News at JOURNEY TO S.\ARBRUCK. 3 this time we had none, canards plenty. So one day — it was on the 17th of July — I determined to put an end to the state of anxiety we were all in by journey ing up the valley of the Nahe to Saarbriick, making friends with the commandant of the town, and from him learning whether war were really imminent When my intention became known I was commonly considered mad — at best an eccentric Englishman ; for it was generally supposed that not only had war been formally declared, but that the French had actu ally crossed the frontier, and were proceeding rapidly down the valley of the Nahe, then wholly undefended.

Eegular traffic by railroad had already ceased. Trains had commenced to pass in sight of our windows at the Holland Hof towards Coblenz, crammed with blouses — stupid-looking country bumpkins, soon to become smart and intelligent soldiers of the finest army in the world. We started at seven o'clock p.m., the train being due at Saarbriick, some seventy miles distant, at eleven o'clock. We did not arrive, however, until two o'clock AM., owing to the perpetual stoppages at different stations on the loop lines, to let the long trains full of mobilising men pass us ; for we were running on a single line. At Saarbriick Station we found a small detach- THE COMMANDANT. ment of the 40th Hohenzollern Fusiliers quietly un loading ammunition and stores ; but not a sign of the invader was here. After a good night's rest, or rather after four hours of sound sleep, I breakfasted at half-past six o'clock, and immediately repaired to the commandant of the town, colonel of the 5th Lancers.

He was a fine-looking man, and was there with a battalion of his regiment for purposes of forepost duty. When we called upon him he was going his rounds, and so we did not see him till later, when he rode up to the hotel with another fine-looking old Prussian officer, then lieutenant-colonel of the 40th Eegiment. The latter we could not help remarking for his commanding and stern appearance, with which was pleasingly contrasted an amiable manner, — common characteristics among Prussian officers. "What, sir, do you want?" said the colonel of Uhlans. I told my wishes, — how that at Kreuznach there were many invalids, and that I was anxious to learn if the French were really marching down the Nahe. He made no objection to "my seeing what I could see," as he ex pressed it, but did nothing to facilitate my movements.

Not so the colonel of the 40th Fusiliers, a battalion of which regiment was on outpost duty in the vicinity of Saarbriick. He entered into friendly A PURCHASE. 5 conversation in the coffee-room of the hotel, and ended by offering to send me round with his captain of the day to all the outposts that came under his special supervision. Not content with this courtesy, this dear old warrior (for he has since become to me as one who had occupied for years a place in my heart) insisted on my drinking with him and his officers, after table d'hote, several bottles of the best champagne he could find in the town. He also explained to me with his own hands the drill and mechanism of the zilndnadel geivehr. Great amusement was caused at the table by the following trifling incident : — In the morning I had seen, at a cutler's opposite, a very handsome couteau de chasse, a very formidable - looking weapon.

I purchased it, and requested the shopman to send it to me, as at such a time I did not wish to be seen carrying weapons. Great was the laugh, then, when the waiter placed this by my side in the middle of dinner, the officers remarking that the English had early taken up arms with the Prussians. Dinner con cluded, the captain's horse was brought round, and we set forward on our tour of inspection. About a mile outside the town, on the road to Sarreguemines to the south, we came to the section of a company of the 40th Foot. They were put through a species of parade, NEWS OF THE ENEMY. 6 and we continued our route, meeting occasional patrols of two soldiers. About two miles farther on we arrived within a thousand yards of the frontier, and there found the most advanced forepost, consisting of about thirty Uhlans, who had to furnish patrols for the immediate vicinity.

I made the acquaintance of two very pleasant officers, who showed me their maps, and explained their posi tion. They expressed much wonder at the French not having taken any aggressive steps, as at that time the Prussian frontier was almost wholly undefended. In Saarbriick, for instance, there were not more than one battalion of lancers (Uhlans) and one of infantry. Having ascertained that all was well, we commenced our return. We had not proceeded more than a quarter of a mile when a patrol, consisting of a corporal and two privates of the line, doubled up to the captain, and said something to him in German, the meaning of which I did not quite understand. The officer, how ever, soon enlightened me by saying — " Sir, I regret to leave you, but scouts announce the advance of the French towards Saarbriick from the direction of Forbach, and I must ride on."

Feeling, however, that I did not care to be left alone under existinocircum stances, I was induced to accompany him "at the double." THE UHLANS. 7 When we arrived at the spot where in the morning we had seen the picket of the line, we found that it had already been called in ; and just as we neared the town, hearing a galloping of horses behind us, we looked round, and saw the Uhlans whom we had iust left trotting in to mass with the rest of their battalion. These had also come into Saarbriick from different isolated foreposts. They presented a fine ap pearance, and, as they all had in their hands, instead of their lances, revolvers cocked and dressed, a dis agreeably business-like feeling came over one. In the town all the shops were shut, and great consternation prevailed. Having accomplished my object, I hastily packed up my traps and went to the station.

On my way I passed the Lancers going over the river towards For bach to reconnoitre. By the greatest piece of good luck I found one of those immensely long trains, com posed of coal-trucks, luggage-vans, and horse-boxes, used to convey the German labourer to his uniform, just about to start. I made a spring into the first waggon that I saw, which happened to be one of the aforesaid coal-trucks, tumbled on my nose in the black dust, picked myself up, and thanked my stars for my good fortune in catching a train at all. My star, however, was in the ascendant, and I must PRUSSIAN HONESTY. 8 recount two more pieces of good luck, one emanating from Prussian honesty and the other from Prussian bonhomie and politessc. I trust they will excuse me for making use of French words when eulogising two of their chief characteristics.

About ten minutes after I had made my leap into the truck, a rough and by no means intelligent-looking person in a blouse, whom I may term — for there were some eighty others — a companion in coal-dust, held out to me a valuable rubyand-brilliant ring, which had been on my finger, to my knowledge, a short time back. He also tendered me a cigar, that was wholly unrecognisable from the fact of it being crushed nearly into snuff, telling me that, having seen them fall from my hand when I climbed into the waggon, he had picked them up, but had only just been able to make his way to me through the other companions in coal-dust. The ring fitted my finger loosely, which accounts for my not having missed it at the time. He refused, in the most un compromising manner, to receive any gratuity whatever for this remarkable display of honesty.

This little incident was scarcely over when I happened to catch the eye of a staff-adjutant, who was hastening about the platform. Guessing at my nationality, I suppose, he asked, from the platform, of me in the coal-dust, as far as I could make out, what COURTESY OF OFFICERS. 9 I wanted. Now, I can understand and speak little or no German ; and as he was in a hurry, I had no time to tell him by signs that I was anxious to relinquish my seat in the coal-dust for one in a more comfortable position. There were two first class carriages to the train, for the use of officers, and also a special staff carriage. He had to leave me, and I jumped out of my truck, determining to attack the position occupied by the subordinate part of the staff. I was repulsed at first, with con siderable loss of pride ; but my friend the adjutant, coming up at that moment, divined what I wanted, and, in a most courteous and unexpected manner, led me off to the special staff compartment, where I was politely welcomed by two generals, neither of whom could speak my language.

I only mention this last piece of good fortune as an example of the every day courtesy that an Englishman, conducting himself as a gentleman, receives at the hands of Prussian officers. We talked as well as we could a sort of hybrid of English, French, and German — beginning a sentence in French, going on in German, and winding up per haps with an English word. Even thus early there were signs of discontent as to the course England was pursuing — or rather the Government of England -in not keeping a tighter hand on our Birmingham ENGLISH NON-INTERVENTION. 10 gun-makers and Newcastle coal-merchants. One of the generals expressed his sure opinion that now that the King of Prussia had done everything in his power consistent with his dignity to avoid the war, England would join the Germans in case France still wantonly insisted on fighting.

" For," said he, " with your fleet and our army France will surely come to reason ; you will then have been the means of averting bloodshed, and without cost to yourselves you will have obtained much honour and thanks among continental nations." I begged him not to be too sanguine, as England for some time had been decided in her policy of non intervention. I did not add that many maintained that the course adopted by the party now in power indicated the opinion that national prestige was hardly an equi valent for the expenditure ; but I found it difficult to defend the conduct of our Government in the many conversations I afterwards had with both French and Prussian officers of high rank. From several French generals, and on many occasions, I heard the same statement — namely, that a firm protest on the part of England at the outset would have prevented the war.

I shall never forget the speech of a wounded major of the Imperial Guard at Gorze : " My friend," he said, " looking at this sad war as I do now A GERMAN REGIMENT. 11 from my bed of sorrow, I see that I, with my thousands of compatriots, have been laid low — sacrifices to the ill-timed arrogance of our rulers, and, thanking you as I do from my heart for your kindness, I can never forget that you belong to a nation who refused to make use of one of the greatest privileges that belongs to a strong power — England refused to enter the one firm protest which would have put a stop to a war, the declaration of which was not based on one sound or justifiable reason." Such was the text of his remarks, and I felt, as I listened to his words, like one whose brother or near relation had become a criminal.

But I have digressed too far from my friends in the saloon. We left Saarbriick at six o'clock p.m., and at two o'clock A.M. we arrived at Kreuznach. Such was my introduction to the Prussian army. Here it may be interesting for those who are not initiated, to know the constitution of a German regiment. Each is composed of three battalions ; every battalion numbers 1050 men rank and file, and is commanded by a major. The battalion has four companies, and each company has over it a captain, who thus commands in the Prussian army some 250 men, and occupies a much more responsible position than a captain in our service. Attached to the four THE FIGHTING FORTIETH. 12 companies also are four first-lieutenants, eight second lieutenants, and under (unter) officers answering to our non-commissioned officers.

Over the whole regiment there is an oberst - lieutenant, or lieutenant colonel. Further on I will give an account of their daily mode of living, commissariat, &c. One word only about the 40th, the Hohenzollern Fusilier Eegiment, which, as has been seen, was the first specimen of Prussian infantry that I met. Since then it has earned for itself the name of the fighting 40th, having been three times in action during this bloody war. The 2d battalion has lost all its officers ; and though I have frequently met the regiment dur ing the campaign, I have only found one of the hospitable friends that I met with at Saarbriick, and have scarcely dared to inquire for the others. .Almost before the war commenced, this gallant regiment sus tained a severe loss by having their kind-hearted and able oberst-lieutenant, Von Henning, transferred to the command of the 33d Fusiliers.

The alarm that I had witnessed on the 18th, I un derstood from the telegraphic department at Kreuz nach the next day, was caused by some trivial attack made by the French on some of their own peasants who were endeavouring to bring their horses across the frontier to the Prussian depot at Saarbriick.

Chapter II

I TOOK my wife and three other ladies away from troubled Germany, and having seen the latter off for England, and settled my wife in Belgium, returned with as much haste as I could, with the intention of joining the Prussian army at Saarbriick. This I found to be a much harder matter than I had at first anticipated. However, thanks to, in great measure, the assistance given me by a British officer, who even under that denomination had met with some small difficulty in obtaining an erlaubnitz or permit for him self, I succeeded in getting a pass from General von Goben, to carry me without let wherever went the 8th Army Corps. I shall pass over the immaterial skirmish which took place on the 2d of August. It resulted, as most of us know, in the evacuation of the town of Saarbriick by the Prussians, who at the most, to my certain knowledge, did not muster more than THE CAPTURE OF SAARBRUCK. 14 strong.

They never had the slightest intention of holding the place, and loud was the laughter among the Prussian troops when the French accounts of the "taking of Saarbriick" appeared in the German press. People who were not present cannot be aware of the absurd exaggeration contained in the report. The French troops did not occupy Saarbriick for many days ; they were not ready to advance, and the town, lying in a valley, is not suited for defence— so they retired to the heights of Speichern. Speichern is a small village lying to the south by a little west of Saarbriick. It is situated in a valley, and separated from the above town by a range of steep and wooded hills ; on these hills the French were then posted. I said that I would pass over the skirmish at Saar briick ; but there is one anecdote that I must relate before we proceed on our way towards Gravelotte.

There was a young Prussian under-officer standing in a rather exposed position at one end of the bridge near the station ; the French tirailleurs were at the other, keeping up a brisk fire. Most of the Prussian soldiers had retired, and he was begged to follow. " No, no," said he, " not till I've had a good shot at one of those fellows." At last he took steady aim at one of the enemy, who had repeatedly fired at him, and fired ; the THE BATTLE OF SPEICHERN. 15 Frenchman span round and dropped on one knee. "Now," said the young Prussian, "I will leave them." He could not have been more than seventeen years old. Nothing of particular interest occurred in the next few days at this point. Of course I heard of the defeat of part of M'Mahon's army by the Crown Prince at Weissenburg. This brings me in mv narrative to the 6th August, when occurred the first serious fight in which our army took part — the taking of the heights of Speichern and the village of Forbach by the Prussians.