The school and the army in Germany and France : with a diary of siege life at Versailles

Front matter

ERMANY-^ France

Cornell University Library

The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library.

Chapter I

Credentials. — Bismarck. — Ferrieres. — Sedan. — "Versailles. — King William. — Cost and Management of Versailles. — General Bumside. — Peasants eating Royal Game. — Relics of St. Cloud. — Sortie from Mount Valerien. — Chateau Beauregard. — Chateau Balzac. — Prussian Military Burial. — Hotel du Reservoir. — German Princes Page 9

CHAPTER ir.

, Types of German People. — Characteristics of Princes. — Pnissian Officers. — Posting and quartering the German Army. — The Old Noblesse 55

Chapter III

Pall of Metz. — Fortifications about Paris. — Americans from Paris. — The Mitrailleuse. — Roads in Europe.- — Food about Paris. — Contumacy of the French People. — Alarm and Re-enforcements. . — Promotion of Eoyal Princes. — Von Moltke. — France and her Situation. — The American Press. — Conduct of the Germans 65

Chapter IV

Guard-mounting. — Small-arms. — Prussian Uniform. — The Iron Cross. — The Crown Prince. — Army Police. — Americans. — Thiers in Paris. — Church at Versailles.— Revictualing of Paris.— Causes of the Fall of Metz.— Prussian Soldiers.— Their Equipment, Rations, Allowances, and Pay.— Retiring unworthy Officers. — Billeting. — Regimental Bands. — Brigade Commanders. — Chiefs of Regiments. — Ambulance. — ^Field Telegraph. — Transportation. — O'SuUivan 83

Chapter V

Von Roon. — Blumenthal. — Prussian Artillery. — Cavaliy Equipments. — ^No

Stragglers. — Keratry. ■ — Society at Versailles. — Paris from the Lines. —

Leaving Versailles. — Railway Terminus Supplies. — A Night among the

Soldiers. — Soup Sausage.... 117

Vi CONTENTS.

Chapter VI. The Prussian Army

The Great Elector.— Frederick the Great.— Blucher.— Conquest by Napoleon. — Short TeiTQS of Sendee. — Local Distribution of Army Corps. — The Landwehr.— Officering the Army andLandwehr. — A weak Point. — ^Army Kefoi-m.— War of 1866.— The Breech-loader.— Operations against Erance. —Mobilization.— De'p6t Troops.— Garrison Troops.— Eield Administration.— Observations I'age 136

Chapter VII. The French Armt

Origin of its Tactics.— The early Armies of the Revolution.— The Conscription.— Reorganization of the Army.— Vital Statistics.— Strength in 1867^ — Trochu. — Administration. — The Intendant-general. — Infantry. — Cavally. — Want of Simphcity. — Popular Enthusiasm. — ^Army Organization. — Observations ; 186

Chapter VIII. Comparative Obsekvations Upon The United States Army

Remedy for Desertion. — Undue Size of the Staff. — Want of Unity. — Schenck's Salary Bill. — Sutler System. — Soldiers' Safe Deposit. — Officering of Troops. — Brevet Rank. — Extravagance 222

Chapter XIII

The University of Paris. — The College of France. — The Jesuits. — The Schools during the Revolution. — Municipal Divisions of France. — The Church in France. — ^Brethren of the Christian Schools. — Louis XIV. — Coercive Catholic Education. — Efforts of the Convention. — Napoleon and the Schools. — The University of France. — Schools nnder the Restoration. — Guizot. — The Monarchy of July. — ^Law of 1833 3i0

CHAPTER XIV. FKENCH CIVIL SCHOOLS — Continued

The Coup D'fitat and the Schools. — Present Condition of Schools. — School Buildings and Management. — Primary Normal Schools. — Secondary Instruction. — The Lyceums and Communal Colleges. — Superior Noi-mal School. — The Seven Great Lyceums. — The University. — Popular Intelligence. — Conclusion 362

Appendix

Okganization and Administeation of the Gekmas Abmy 383

IN

GEPtMANY AND FRANCE.

Chapter i

The following official documents will exhibit my credentials, and show what facilities I had for gaining access to sources of original information. The letter from Count Bismarck is my authority for printing his interesting statements as to the origin of the war, made in the conversation recorded in my diary.

" Wak Depaktment, Adjutant General's Office, "Washington, August 29, 1870.

" /fecial Orders, No. 224.

[exteact.]

" * * * By direction of the President, leave of absence until further orders, with permission to go beyond the sea, reporting his address monthly to this office, is hereby granted Colonel W. B. Hazen, Sixth Infantry.

" By order of the Secretary of War.

" (Signed) E. D. Townsend, Adjutant-general."

"Consulate of the North German Confederation "in Belgium, Brussels, September 22, 1870.

" The American Colonel and Brevet Major-general W. B. Hazen has received permission from his Excellency, the Lord Chancellor Count Bismarck, to join the German armies, and

10 THE SCHOOL AND THE ASMY.

will therefore be permitted to proceed unhindered through Sedan and Rheims to the royal head-quarters. So far as circumstances will allow, he will be assisted to reach his destination with celerity.

" The Royal Prussian Privy Councilor

" Of the North German Confederation,

" Ballou."

"Grand Head-qtiartebs, Fbeeieees, France, "September 29, 1870.

" Colonel Hazen, Brevet Major-general ofthe Free States of North America, is hereby authorized to follow the allied German armies to the seat of war, and remain with them. " The Minister of War and Marine,

"VonRoon."

" Versailles, November 11, 1870.

" SiE, — I am directed by Count Bismarck to send you the inclosed introduction to a gentleman attached to the Foreign Office in Berlin, who will give you all the information you desire there.

" I am your obedient servant,

" L. BUCHER.

"To General Hazen."

"Versailles, March 4, 1871.

" SiE, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 2d of February, asking my consent to the publication of the conversation we had at Ferrieres toward the end of September last. Owing to the great number of interviews I have had during the war, I can not recall to my mind all particulars of that conversation ; but, trusting to your discretion that with respect to persons you will dbserve the limits between confidential talk and public utterance, I have much pleasure in acceding to your request. "I am, with great regard,

" V. BiSMAECK.

"Fort Gibson, Indian Ten-itory, U. S."

BISMARCK. 11

BISMAKCK.

Sept. 27th, 1870. — I have just visited Count Bismarck ■with General Burnside. "We found him quartered at Ferrieres, the country-seat of the Paris branch of the Eothschilds, where the king at present has his head-quarters. On our arrival Count Bismarck was engaged with one of the French legitimate princes, who was urging upon the Premier the claims of his House. On being shown in, we found Count Bismarck busily engaged in copying, with a lead-pencil as thick as one's thumb, some very rough draft of a documeiit. He came forward and received us with warmth and a smile of genuine amiability and kindness, and, after a few remarks upon the latest war news, begged to be permitted to finish his copy, which would take but a moment. He occupied a small room, in which were a few chairs and a writing-desk. He is something over six feet in height, with a large frame, well filled out, but not gross ; hair quite gray, and clear blue eyes. In conversation, the usual sternness of his countenance changes to kindness, with a manner of open frankness that can not fail to win the listener. On finishing and dispatching his copy, he turned to us, and, scarcely waiting for a fresh cigarette, began a very interesting talk of at least two hours' duration, in which he was the uninterrupted speaker.

He said, " The German people were astonished to find themselves involved in a general war. After a long and laborious season of duties at Berlin, I had gone down to my place in Pomerania, and was engaged in laying out my grounds and planting my gardens, with my wife and all my children about me, happy in the belief that I should have an uninterrupted summer, without the distraction of official work. Some time in May dispatches began to reach me, sometimes in cipher, indicating that

12 THE SCHOOL AND THE AMMY.

there might be trouble with France ; but I gave little heed to them, and continued the rural work of which I am so fond and which my health seemed to require.' My place is not directly on the line of communication, so that my letters and papers did not reach me very regularly, and I had almost forgotten the events made possible by previ- ; ous dispatches. ' i • i

" The subject of the young Hohenzollern's pretensions to the throne of Spain had, already been brought to the notice of the king, who had opposed them on the ground of the unfitness of German princes to rule Latin subjects, as shown by the experiment in Mexico. I had not been officially consulted on the subject, but it appeared to me a pity for a young man who desired a kingly career, and had the position at his. disposal, not to take it; and, as he was, married to an exemplary, good woman, and was himself a man of uprightness and correct life, his religion also being, that of Spain, I thought that his example, with that of his wife, together with the, management of Spain promised by, his scholarly habits, might be advantageous to the Spanish people, and his reign successful. The matter had the year before been brought to the notice of the young man, who visited Paris soon after, and acquainted the emperor with the scheme, as a matter which his sovereign character gave him a right to know. The prince's acceptance, if the, matter should be at last favorably considered, was still to be subject to a vote of the Spanish people. On his mentioning to me casually that the Spanish, throne had been of-, fered him, I remarked that a crown was not offered a lieutenant of hussars every day, and urged him to make sure of it, promising that I would see that the king consented. . '.' The king at last reluctantly gave his assent, not as sov-, ereign,,for the matter had not advanced so far as to be discussed in that light, but as the head of the army of Prussia, mSMABCK. 13

in which the young man held a commission. The king had grave doubts as to the propriety of Prussia's favoring the' scheme, for the political reason that Prince Leopold ■would be too strongly in favor of the French idea and against Prussia. He was a blood relative of the emperor; his father had projected for the emperor his Strasbourg fiasco, and had always been the bosom friend of Napoleon ; and it was he, in fact, and not the son, who was arranging the Spanish throne business. The thought that it could ia any way be distasteful to the French sovereign never occurred to any member of the Prussian Government.

"It was at this juncture that the note came from the French Government requiring the renunciation of the young man's ambition. Seeing that it was likely to make serious trouble between the two countries, he had, by the advice of his father, made personal renunciation before the matter had been fairly brought to the notice of the Prussian Government ; and coming himself to Berlin, found, as he supposed, every thing settled, and next morning went back to his country home, and the king went to his summer resort at Ems.

"Imagine the surprise of all Prussia, on learning. in a few days that France was not satisfied, but required that the Prussian Government should disclaim all future intention of placing a German prince upon the Spanish throne. Instructions were at once given the Prussian ambassador at Paris, to see to it that the dignity of his Government was fully sustained, but he did not quite seem to comprehend the character of the business he was dealing with. The Government at Berlin now wrote me that it seemed inexpedient for the king to remain longer at Ems, unaccompanied by his ministers. The king abhors war, and our military system is such as to bring into the ranks the very best of our men. He seemed ready to

14 THE SCHOOL AJXD THE ABMT.

make great .concessions rather than bring sacrifices upon the country, and wrote a dispatch to the emperor virtually making the disclaimer asked. This dispatch was sent to me, his minister, for revision, and its tone somewhat altered to better suit the emergency. I now telegraphed again to our minister to sustain the dignity of Prussia. The king was not offended by the conduct of Benedetti, but saw fit to treat him with consideration. The ambassador at Paris was still unequal to his work, and wrote the king a letter urging the withdrawal of his dispatch and full compliance with the wishes of the emperor. The king, to save war, was inclined to do so, but the sentiment of Germany, and the advice of his ministers, prevented him ; and, upon his refusal to withdraw his dispatch, set out for Berlin, where the ministry were summoned to meet him. By accident, we all met at the railway station in Berlin, were joined by the crown prince, and had set out for the Assembly Chamber, when our attention was attracted by the newsboj's crying out that war had been declared by the French. We sought the papers, and the king, believing that war had been declared, put up his hands to his head, and said, 'Must I, in my old age, again go to war!' and tears ran down his cheeks. Upon examining the papers, it was found to be quite uncertain whether war had been declared or not. There was no actual declaration, but a telegram saying that a declaration had been made. But the time for action had arrived, and the crown prince, just behind me, whispered in my ear, ' Radical or nothing.' I then said to the king that there was no impediment to mobilizing the whole army, and that no occasion had ever been so favorable. He at once replied that he would mobilize the whole army. Fearing that he would retract, I spoke out quickly, and in a loud voice, so that forty persons could

BISMARCK. 15

hear me, 'The king has declared that he -will mobilize, the whole army,' and the war minister, who was present, said, 'I have heard it, and will at once give the necessaryorders.' The work was now beyond recall, and what followed you all know. Germany is a peaceful nation. We have a nearly perfect military system, but it is for defense and not for aggression, and is rendered necessary by our geographical position.

"France has within two hundred years invaded Germany twenty times, and has for a long time past crowded us, and we have swallowed the insult until now, when we feel like a man in his strength with his family about him, who has been pushed and jostled all his life by some one wishing to quarrel with him, until at last he has turned and said, 'Now let us have it out; let us have it out for good, and make that the end of it.' Ever since the war of 1866, a war necessary to clear the political skies of Germany, a purely family affair, having nothing to do with the outside world ; and ever since the scheme of German unity commended itself as a scheme of strength and good to the German people, France has been jealous of our prosperity, and has wished to humble us. That idea could only end in war; the sooner over the better; but it must end with substantial guarantees of peace in future, and Germany would be untrue to herself and civilization if she stopped short of this.

" The future of France no one can foresee. There is no intention upon our part to interfere in any way with her internal affairs. The great trouble is, and will be, to find a government strong enough, or representing a sufficient component of French sentiment to deal with.

" Only a day or two since, a delegate visited me in the interest of the emperor's government, proposing that the French fleet gain some point on the coast of France under

16 TSM SCHOOL AND THE AMMT.

direction of the empress, and that we recognize the regency. And this evening a gentleman from one of the Legitimist families, who kept you waiting so long, desired recognition, with large representations of power and influence. To all these I have to say. that, whenever any considerable portion of the French people express a wish that their claims be represented here, or whenever evidence of any sort is brought that such a wish is indulged by any considerable number of Frenchmen, the subject will, be given attention proportionate to the extent of that sentiment. The same trouble is experienced with the Paris Eepublic. As yet it represents only the streets of that city, while many portions of France have denounced it, and it is well known that to the common people Eepublicanis.m is distasteful. I have wished, and so expressed myself to Jules Favre, that the sentiment of the people of France be taken as soon as possible upon this subject, that we may know with whom to deal, and this brings me to the subject of the Jules Favre interview of the 21st inst.

" He came three times to see me. The first visit was little else than a declamation, in true school-boy style, I being the listener ; and the second was about to be like it, when I intimated the necessity of bringing our ideas into working order, to see if we could not agree on something practical. His whole topic of conversation was an armistice, which should continue not less than six weeks, to give time for holding elections and for the meeting of the delegates in Paris.

".The conditions of a peace were to be left for future consideration. : He also wished the military status to remain as it was at that time, except that all the roads leading to Paris should be opened, giving free transit with the world; and proposed, as compensation, that the garrisons of Tours and Strasbourg should march out with the hon-

BISMAMCK. 17

ors of war, and that we should be allowed free opportunity to bring up food and clothing for our armies. Metz, not being on the line of communication, was not considered. I replied that an armistice was always detrimental to a victorious army, and that, as our certain victory over Paris depended upon our shutting off the food supply, he must, in return for our granting free ingress, give us some commanding positions about Paris, like Mount Valerien ; and added, that the garrisons of Tours and Strasbourg should surrender as prisoners of war, as they would be compelled to do in a few days, from advantages already in our hands. This, he replied, could never be done, as it would humiliate the proud people of France. I told him that I was not the advocate of the dignity of France, but of the interests of the German army and nation ; and the interviews closed without seriously touching upon the eventual conditions of peace.

" The French people are anomalous-^being neither like the Spaniard nor the Italian, but more like the Chinese. , A Frenchman is content to be a servant, provided some one is servant to him, and never aspires to advance from his position. The American or German does not wish to be a servant, nor does he wish others to be servants to him, if there are ways to better their condition. They have within themselves elements of independent character, and always seek to improve their fortunes, and see their own prosperity in the prosperity of those surrounding them. They both possess the elements of manhood which constitute Eepublicanism. It is doubtful if the French people do ; but this is not our business, as we have not come here to meddle with such things. The French people have been taught errors about their country and themselves from their infancy, until they are quite unable to comprehend their true position in the scale of humanity. From

18 THM SCHOOL AND THS ABMY.

•having a Bureau of the GGvernment, I have often, during the campaign, been quartered in school-houses to give room to my numerous clerks, and have thus seen much of the character of French instruction from the text-booTss I have found in them. The elementary reading-books for the tenderest children are made up of the glories of France, and represent her as the birthplace of all the great men, the discoverer of all countries, the victor in all battles ; in fact, the invincible centre of all that is good and powerful, and all other countries as, in a sense, her dependencies. This self-laudation extends through the entire life of a Frenchman ; and, in believing it to be true, the nation have neglected the means of making it so.

"The terfns of peace were casually mentioned in my conversation with M. Favre, when he remarked that the fortresses were the gates of the frontier; to which I replied, that France held the keys of these gates, and the German people had decided that for the security of Europe it was necessary to keep them on our side. He said that France might agree to the dismantling of the border fortresses, and would give all the money she had, but never agree to the cession of territory. I replied, that money was no compensation for the loss of life ; that what were needed and would be insisted on, were material guarantees of a nature that would secure Germany from the necessity of sacrificing life in the future ; that it seemed as if France, after choosing the arbitrament of war, was now seeking to escape the natural penalties of defeat ; that she now had our terms, which might not be our terms six months hence, and that if she compelled us to protract the war ten years, we might annex France and crown our kings at Rheims.

" We are glad to have military men from other countries see our operations, although our generals have made

BISMAMCE. 19

some objections on the ground that they encuniber our army ; but we have told them to come among us, taking their chances for comforts. We have nothing, and do nothing, but what we are willing the whole world should see and know ; and we have told the French people everywhere, that every body may write to any body and we will forward their letters, only stipulating that letters passing through our lines shall, for military reasons, be left unsealed."

As we took our leave. Count Bismarck said to us that during our sojourn with the German forces we mightcall upon him whenever we needed any thing. The whole manner of this remarkable man impresses one with his open, frank good-nature, and his conversation reveals a mind, thoroughly trained in the highest school of German philosophy and liberality. He speaks English perfectly, and possesses to a singular degree the power of presenting subjects clearly and forcibly. The idea of Bismarck's personal appearance generally accepted in the United States is incorrect, as it makes him ten years too young, and too precise in dress. His brow is heavyy and his mustache shaggy at the ends, like his hair. There is a remarkable fullness under the eyes, and he has that blonde complexion peculiar to the Germans. His military rank is that of major-general, and he is also cliefoi a cuirassier regiment, of which he wears the uniform. He was born at the ancestral residence known as " Schmhausen,''^ on the first day of April, 1815, and is descended from an old family of the better class, who took their name from the little town of Bismark, originally "Bischofsmark." His father was a retired ofi&cer of the Prussian horse guards, and married a daughter of one of the king's ministers. Young Bismarck passed his early days on the paternal estate, and was afterward sent to one of the private schools at Berlin, and, later.

20 TSS SCHOOL AND TEE AEMT.

continued his studies at the " Gris Cfo^fre." Even at this period he gave proof of unusual energy, and indicated a preference for. historical investigations. He studied both at Berlin and Gottingen, and during his student life was wild and impetuous, but graduated- very creditably in • 1835.. .In the following year he went into the practice of law, and took the position of Government referee, or commissioner, at Aachen and "Potsdam. He then joined one of the battalions of riflemen as volunteer, and after serving, his year, visited the Agricultural School at- Edua. The: paternal estates, now very much reduced, urgently demanded the attention of Bismarck, and were by his father, turned over to his two sons.- The death of their mother in 1839, however, somewhat disarranged their plans. Their father lived until 1845, during which time the management of the estates was shared -by the two brothers, by whose extraordinary circumspection and care the property was soon brought up from desolation to fruitfulness. Bismarck's formerly active life' unfitted him for the monotony of the country, and his thirst for greater activity gave him no rest. Whole days wo^ld- be passed in woodland rambles, or in convivial sports:with" the young men of the neighborhood, among whom he' was known as the "mad Bismarck." During all this time, however, he never.. neglected study, but devoted himself closely to history, theology, and philosophy, and it was at this epoch of his life that he amassed that fund of knowledge which distinguishes the present statesman. He also at this time traveled in England and France. Upon the decease of his father, a . distribution of the estate took place, and Schonhausen fell to Otto. Here he afterward made his home, and thence be commenced his public career. He was elected deputy to several of the minor German Diets during the following years, till 1851, when he was appointed

BISMARCK. 21

by the Prussian Government secretary of legation at Frankfort, with the title of Privy Councilor. He made himself well known in Germany in these six years, and the experience then gained was a valuable preparation for his subsequent diplomatic duties.

In August, 1851, he was nominated as representative of Prussia at the Federal German Diet, which position he held until 1859, when he was appointed ambassador to St. Petersburg. On his return to Berlin, he was offered a place in the ministry, but preferred the embassy at Paris, which was also at his disposal. He was speedily recalled, to take the Presidency of the Prussian Ministry, which position he still holds. With a firm hand, unmoved by the machinations of those around him, Otto von Bismarck worked from that moment to make Prussia the leading power of Germany, politically, as it was already in liberality, native character, and learning. The conclusion of the Gastein Convention, in the fall of 1865, brought him the title of count, as well as the satisfaction of seeing the settlement of all existing conflicts in Germany. Count Bismarck became at once the most popular man in Prussia, and after the establishment of the North Gerpian Alliance in 1867, was elected federal chancellor. His management of foreign politics has in recent years been no less a triumph to the man than to his country and to civilization, while his disclosures of the plans of Louis Napoleon have shown how far superior were his talents to those of the people with whom he dealt. He not only refused all offers made him by the French Government, but turned them to account in terminating the protective alliance with the South German States.

Count Bismarck is highly favored in his domestic life. In 1847 he married a woman of rare excellence and purity, and of a high order of intellectual endowment. His

22 ■ THE SCHOOL AND THE AEMT.

two sons have already borne a distinguished part in the present war. At the successful close of the Austrian war, the Prussian Government voted to Count Bismarck a sufficient sum of money to enable him to purchase in Pomerania an estate named Varzin, more in keeping with his tastes and dignity than his former home. It is here that his happy family reside, and here that the count himself takes refuge whenever a lull in his laborious life permits. He is reputed to be a careful and judicious manager of his financial affairs. He is unfortunately afflicted from time to time with a nervous malady which drives him from his labors and greatly alarms his friends. Count Bismarck is one of the few men who in their own lives see their names celebrated in all lands, and has in the present war taken the foremost place in the most memorable epoch of modern German history.*

FEEEIERES.

Sept. 2?)ih. — Ferrieres, where the king and his ministers have established their head-quarters, is the country-seat of the Paris representative of the Eothschilds. It is owned by the aged widow of a son of the founder of the family. The building is square, and without courts or turrets, hav-

* At the close of the war of 1S66, Pnissia Toted each of her most conspicuous generals and statesmen a donation in money as a reward for exti'aordinary services to the state. This is done in England, Prussia, and nearly all the countries of Europe, and is only an expression, through the executive or legislative power, of the generosity of the nation. We see the same thing in our own country, where, since it is not compatible with our republican theo- 17 to make it a legislative act, the impulse of the people manifests itself through private channels. It is, howevei-, in essence the same thing, and in every case comes from a natural and proper desire to make gratitude for great services felt in a substantial manner. In Europe no one thinks of refusing what is considered a proper reward, and I do not see why we should do differently. In refusing, one is neither just to himself, nor kind to those who would honor him.