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diff --git a/41689-0.txt b/41689-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c9e74a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/41689-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8770 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41689 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 41689-h.htm or 41689-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41689/41689-h/41689-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41689/41689-h.zip) + + + Images of the original pages are available through + Internet Archive. See + http://archive.org/details/withambulancedur00ryan + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). + + A carat character is used to denote superscription. A + single character following the carat is superscripted + (example: Sept^r). Multiple superscripted characters are + enclosed by curly brackets (example: 1^{st}). + + + + + +[Illustration: +James Robinson & Sons Dublin, Photo. +Walker & Boutall Ph. Sc. +Charles E Ryan] + + +WITH AN AMBULANCE DURING THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR + +Personal Experiences and Adventures with Both Armies 1870-1871 + +by + +CHARLES E. RYAN, F.R.C.S.I., M.R.C.P.I. + +Knight of the Order of Louis II, of Bavaria + +With Portrait and Maps + + + + + + + +New York +Charles Scribner's Sons +153-157 Fifth Avenue +1896 + +Aberdeen University Press. + + + + + TO + JAMES TALBOT POWER, + MY OLD FRIEND AND SCHOOLFELLOW, + I DEDICATE + THE FOLLOWING PAGES. + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Ere I attempt to set before the public this slight record of my +experiences during the Franco-German War, I must first disclaim all +pretence to literary merit. + +It was written in 1873, and is simply an embodiment of a series of notes +or jottings, taken during the war in my spare moments, together with the +contents of a number of descriptive letters to my friends. They were +written solely for them, and nothing was farther from my mind at the +time than the idea of publication. + +Thus, they remained in a recess of my study for nearly a quarter of a +century, until a new generation had grown up around me; and doubtless, +but for their friendly importunity, there they would have lain until the +memory of their author, like the ink in which they were written, had +faded to a blank. + +I would ask my readers to bear in their kindly recollection that the +scope of such a work as the following must of necessity be limited. + +As a medical man, I had at all times and in all places my duties to +perform; hence I have been unable to be as elaborate as other +circumstances might warrant. + +I would also remind them (and every one who has been through a campaign +will know) how vague and uncertain is the information which subordinates +possess of the general movements of the army with which they are +serving. + +It happens occasionally that they are wholly ignorant of events +occurring around them, the news of which may have already reached the +other side of the world. + +Again, I am greatly impressed with the difficulty of representing, in +anything like adequate language, those scenes--some of which have +already been delineated by the marvellous pen of M. Zola in _La +Débâcle_--which the general public could never have fancied, still less +have realised, except by the aid of a masterly exposition of facts such +as that stirring chronicle of the war has given. In it the writer has +dealt rather with history as it occurred, than invented an imaginary +tale; and those who were eye-witnesses of Sedan can add little to his +description. + +For many reasons, therefore, I am filled with the sense of my own +incompetence to do justice to my subject. But I console myself with the +reflection that my theme is full of interest to the present generation. +Nor does it appear a vain undertaking if one who was permitted to see +much of both sides should give his impressions as they occurred, and in +the language he would have used at the time. My feeling throughout has +been that of a witness under examination. I have endeavoured to narrate +the incidents which I saw, certainly with as close an approach to the +reality as I could command, and, if in a somewhat unvarnished tale, yet, +as I trust, have set down nought in malice. I have added no colour which +the original sketch did not contain; and have been careful not to darken +the shading. + + CHARLES E. RYAN. + + GLENLARA, TIPPERARY, + _January, 1896_. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +FROM DUBLIN TO PARIS VIA BRUSSELS.--THE WAR FEVER.--LEVIES TO THE FRONT. + + +The first question friends will naturally ask is, how I came to think of +going abroad to take part in the struggle between France and Germany, +what prompted me to do so, and by what combination of circumstances my +hastily arranged plans were realised. + +These points I will endeavour to explain. From the outset of the war I +took a deep interest in the destinies of France, and warmly sympathised +with her in her affliction. I longed earnestly to be of some service to +her; indeed, my enthusiasm was so great at the time that I would even +have fought for her could I have done so. I was then studying medicine +in Dublin, and was in my twenty-first year. Just about the time of the +battles of Weissenburg and Wörth nearly every one in Dublin was +collecting old linen to make _charpie_ for the French wounded; and, as I +could do nothing else, I exerted myself in getting together from my +friends all the material I could procure for the purpose. Day by day +news poured in of French defeats following one another in close +succession, with long lists of killed and wounded; while among other +details I learnt that the French were very short of medical men and +skilled dressers, and that the sufferings of the wounded were, in +consequence, beyond description. I thought to myself, "Now is my +opportunity. If I could but get out to those poor fellows I might render +them some substantial assistance; and what an amount of suffering might +one not alleviate did one but give them a draught of cold water to +appease their agonising thirst!" + +For a few days these thoughts occupied my mind almost to the exclusion +of every other. It happened one evening, when I was returning by train +from Kingstown, that I met Dr. Walshe, surgeon to Jervis Street +Hospital. During the course of our conversation, which was upon the then +universal topic of the Franco-German War, he remarked that if he were +unmarried and as young and active as I was, he would at once go over to +France, and seek a place either in a military field hospital or in an +ambulance, or endeavour to get into the Foreign Legion, which was then +being enrolled, adding, that he greatly wondered no one as yet had left +Dublin with this object. I replied, "I shall be the first, then, to lead +the way"; and there and then made up my mind to set out. + +It was the 12th of August, 1870. + +I endeavoured to discover some kindred spirit who would come out with me +and share my adventures, but not one could I find. Those who had not +very plausible reasons at hand, to disguise those which perhaps they +had, laughed at my proposal, and appeared to look upon me as little +better than a mad fellow. How could I dream of going out alone to a +foreign country, where the fiercest war of the century was raging? Even +some of my professors joined in the laugh, and good-humouredly wished me +God-speed and a pleasant trip, adding that they were sure I should be +back again in a few days. Two of them had, in fact, just returned from +Paris, where they could find nothing to do; and they reported that it +was dangerous to remain longer, as the populace were marching up and +down the streets in the most disorderly fashion, and strangers ran no +small risk of being treated as Prussian spies. + +All this was unpleasant to hear; but I was determined not to be +thwarted; and so, portmanteau in hand, I stepped on board the Kingstown +boat. It was the 15th August, a most glorious autumn evening, and the +sea was beautifully calm. I now felt that my enterprise had begun, and +as I stood on deck watching the beautiful scenery of Dublin Bay receding +from my view, the natural reflection occurred that this might be the +last time I should see my native land. I was leaving the cherished +inmates of that bright little spot, which I now more than ever felt was +my home. It would be my first real experience of the world, and I was +about to enter upon the battle of life alone. + +Arriving in London on the morning of the 16th, and having spent the day +with some of my school friends, in the evening I went on board the +Ostend boat at St. Katharine's wharf. We were to start at four o'clock +next morning. I slept until I was awakened by the rolling of the vessel +out at sea. The boat was a villainous little tub, and appeared to me to +go round like a teetotum. We had an unusually long and rough passage of +sixteen hours, and I was fearfully ill the whole time. When we arrived +at Ostend, so bad was I that I could not leave my cabin until long after +everybody else. Hence a friend of mine, Monsieur le Chevalier de Sauvage +Vercourt, who had come up from Liège to meet me, made certain when he +failed to perceive me among the passengers that I had missed the boat. +On inquiring, however, of the steward if any one had remained below he +discovered me. + +My friend gave me two letters of introduction, one to M. le Vicomte de +Melun, which subsequently got me admitted into "La Société Française +pour le secours aux blessés de terre et de mer"; the other to the Mayor, +M. Lévy, asking him whether he could find a way for me into the Army as +an assistant. When I had pulled myself together a bit, Vercourt and I +dined together in the open air, at a Café on the Grande Promenade. + +It was the fashionable hour, and every one seemed to be in gala dress. +Half, at least, of those we saw were English, the remainder French and +Belgians. It is a curious sensation, that of being for the first time in +a foreign country, where one's whole surroundings differ from all one +has been accustomed to see and hear in one's native land. My boyish +experience made everything, however trivial, a subject of interest. As I +walked through the town with Vercourt, I was greatly struck by the +civility of the people, their cleanliness and the neatness of their +persons and dress, and above all by the absence of any visible +wretchedness even among the poor. + +These points occupied our attention and conversation until we found +ourselves on our way to Brussels. The country through which we passed, +though really most unattractive, had for me many points of interest, and +gave me an agreeable picture of what was meant by "foreign climes". + +The bright clean cottages and farmsteads, with their gardens and +flowers, contrasted lamentably to my mind with the tumble-down +dilapidated hovels of mud, surrounded by slush and water, which I had +been accustomed to see from my childhood. Everything bespoke the +comfort, happiness, and prosperity of these people. The neatly trimmed +hedges with which every field is fenced, the lines of poplars skirting +the roadways and canals give a surprisingly smart and cultivated aspect +to the whole face of the country. I was greatly struck by the blue +smocks and wooden sabots of the men and women. Even the children in the +rural parts of Belgium wear these wooden shoes. During our stoppages at +the different stations the Flemish jargon, as in my untravelled +ignorance I called it, of the rustics amused me. I noticed in one part +of the country that all the pumps had their handles at the top, and that +these moved up and down like the ramrod of a gun. It was novel to see +the people on stools working them. At ten o'clock that night we arrived +in Brussels, and put up at the Hôtel de Suède. + +My friend and I rose early next morning, and went sight-seeing. He was +an _habitué_ of the place, so our time was spent to the best advantage. +That Brussels is a most charming town was my first impression; and I +think so still. My delight at seeing the Rue de la Reine and the +Boulevards leading from it I shall not easily forget. A city beautifully +timbered and abounding in fountains, grass, and flowers, was indeed a +novelty to one whose experience of cities had been gained in smoky +London and dear dirty Dublin. In the Rue de la Reine I remarked the two +carriage-ways, divided by a grove of trees. This plantation consisted of +full-grown limes, elms, sycamores, arbutus, and acacias. There was yet +another row on the footpath, next the houses. The breadth of this long +Boulevard may be about that of Sackville Street. It was a beautiful +sunny day, and as I sauntered along beneath the trees something new met +my eye at every turn. I was struck by such a simple matter as seeing the +carriages dash into the courtyards through the open gates, instead of +stopping in the street, whilst the occupants were making a morning call. +Then the high-stepping horses and the gaudy equipages were enough, as I +thought, to dazzle the youthful mind. One could live here a lifetime and +never know that such a thing as dirt existed,--at all events, in the +sense with which we were only too conversant in some parts of my native +land twenty-five years ago. + +These simple observations of the boy at his first start in life make me +smile as I read them over. Yet I do not think that I ought to suppress +them; for who is there that has not felt the indescribable charm of +those early days, when the commonest things in our journeying fill the +mind as if they were a wonder in themselves? And what is there in the +grown man's travels to equal that opening glimpse of a world we have so +often heard talked about, yet never have seen with our eyes until now? + +But to return. It was in the Rue du Pont that I first saw the tramways. +I went in one of the cars to the superb Park, which is as fine as any in +Europe, and of which Brussels is so justly proud. It amused me beyond +measure to see the butchers', bakers', and grocers' boys driving about +their carts drawn by teams of huge dogs, varying in number from one to +four. While the drivers were delivering their goods the poor animals +would lie down in their harness with their tongues out, until a short +chirp brought them on their feet again, ready to start. This seemed for +them the most difficult part, since once set going, they went at a great +rate, apparently without much trouble, and rather enjoying their task +than otherwise. I have seen teams of dogs so fresh that they were all +barking whilst they tore along the street at full speed. In the evening +the cafés were beautifully illuminated; and seated beneath the trees +hundreds of people enjoyed their cigarettes and _café noir_, while they +discussed, with many and vigorous gesticulations, the affairs of Europe. +In the afternoon of the 18th I bade good-bye to my kind friend Vercourt, +who had been so admirable a cicerone to me, and took my seat in the +train for Paris. + +During our journey I was rudely awakened from a sound sleep at one +station by every one suddenly jumping on their legs and crying out, "_La +douane!_" while they seized their luggage, and rushed out of the train +as if it were on fire. If you did not do the same you were +unceremoniously bundled out by the officials. To every inquiry I got the +same answer, "_C'est la douane_". Now this word was not in my +vocabulary. I may observe that at my school French was taught on the +good old plan, out of Racine and "Télémaque," in which commercial terms +are not abundant, and hence I did not know in the least the meaning of +"_la douane_"; it might have signified fire, blood or murder; and I was +for a long time sorely puzzled. I thought in my drowsy confusion that +some part of the train had broken down, and that all the passengers and +luggage had to be removed with as much haste as possible. But when I, a +passenger to Paris, saw a fellow seize my portmanteau and disappear with +it through one of the doors, it was too much for me; I went after my +effects, collared him, and asked him, in the best French I could muster, +where he was going with my property. A big gendarme explained the +situation, and pointed to a large room, where the rattling of keys and +opening of boxes soon made his interpretation unnecessary. + +On returning to my carriage I found myself next a middle-aged gentleman, +who, though he spoke French fluently to his neighbours, was evidently an +Englishman. We joined in conversation, and he seemed to know more about +Ireland and Irish affairs than I did myself, which, in truth, might +easily have been. He had such a frank, genial manner, and appeared to +feel so genuine a sympathy, not only with my own countrymen, but with +poor suffering France, that I confided to him my story and mission, +which evidently pleased him; and he told me that he would get me a cheap +billet from his landlady in the Hôtel de l'Opéra, a comfortable hotel +centrally situated opposite the new Opera House. He had told me his name +was Steel, but vouchsafed no further information about himself. When we +arrived in Paris he was accosted by several of the officials as Monsieur +le Général; and he bade me stay with him, and said that he would +accompany me to my hotel. Having, after much tiresome waiting, got +possession of our luggage, we passed out of the station between two +lines of soldiers, and were carefully and closely inspected before being +allowed to proceed. A whisper from my new friend the General appeared to +be a magic pass, for every one seemed to know him. A stalwart gendarme +demanded my passport, took down my name and address, where I last came +from, and what was my business in Paris, and then let me go. When we +arrived at the Hôtel de l'Opéra, again the concierge greeted my +mysterious friend with the title of M. le Général, when he hurried +upstairs, bidding me wait until he came down, and he would go out with +me to dine at a restaurant. + +As I stepped outside the door and looked up and down the Boulevards, I +knew at once that what I had heard and read of the beauties of Paris as +seen by night was no fiction, but a bright reality. What added to the +novelty of the scene was that the whole populace seemed to be in a fever +of excitement. I asked my friend what was it all about. He told me that +they were rejoicing because a proclamation had just been made from the +Mairie of three glorious victories won by their arms. This accounted for +the bands of civilians, thousands in each, composed of labourers and +artisans, who were marching boisterously up and down the streets, +cheering and singing the "Marseillaise," with flags and banners flying +of every colour and description. The sight was at first appalling, as +that momentary glance recalled to my mind so vividly what I had read +about the scenes enacted in the streets of Paris during the first +Revolution, by a similar communistic and ungovernable mob. Yet I thought +the whole thing good fun; but my friend warned me not to speak, and told +me to keep out of the streets at night. It was dangerous for a stranger +to go out after dark, since the populace were apt to take him for a spy, +or as being there in the interest of the enemy, and this might mean +instantaneous death. Such things had occurred lately. We now turned +into the Café Anglais, and dined very well, after which my mysterious +friend took leave of me and disappeared. I only saw him again for five +minutes a few days subsequently, and have never set eyes on him since, +nor could I get any satisfactory information at the hotel, although they +informed me that he was a resident in Paris, and was often at the Hôtel +de l'Opéra. Perhaps some reader of these pages may know more concerning +M. le Général Steel than I ever did. Who and what was he? But conjecture +is idle work, and I must get on with my story. + +Having seen Brussels before Paris, the latter did not make that +impression which it generally does on one who views it for the first +time, before he has visited any other of the capital cities on the +Continent,--for Brussels is a miniature Paris. I walked up and down the +Boulevards, observing everything and everybody, until, feeling somewhat +tired, I looked at my watch, and found to my astonishment that it was +nearly one o'clock, so I returned to my hotel and went to bed, and +dreamed of the glories of the city of pleasure. + +Next morning, the 19th, I sallied out in quest of the Mansion House to +which I had been directed. For some time I walked up and down the +Boulevards in order to make observations as to my whereabouts, and to +note my surroundings. My first great landmark was the beautiful new +Opera House, which is one of the sights of Paris. Its massive pillars +and wonderful display of allegorical figures, all in white marble, +delighted me--as also did the wooded Boulevards with their gorgeous +shops and all the pleasing sights which met my gaze at every turn. + +Having been only a few days in the country, I naturally felt a little +shy at venturing into anything like a long conversation with the +natives. Soon, however, I mustered up sufficient courage (to be wanting +in which was to fail in my errand) to ask my way of one of those gaily +dressed officers of the peace, who, from their gorgeous uniform and the +dignity of their manners, I had made up my mind could be nothing less +than majors-general of the reserve out for a stroll. + +My bad French elicited from this worthy only the most courteous +civility, and he took the greatest pains to explain to me my route. As I +went on I felt elated at this first experience of the proverbial +civility of Frenchmen, and was sure that I should find it easy to get on +with them. + +After some two miles of pleasant rambling, I arrived at the Mairie in +the Place du Prince Eugène; but found that M. le Maire was out, so +returned and dined at the Café Royale, opposite the Madeleine and +afterwards visited the church, and walked outside it several times. It +was from all sides alike massive and beautiful, nor was I disappointed +at its interior, though I confess it did not impress me so much as the +façade. Having spent an hour inspecting its details I took a cabriolet +to the Mansion House, where, having sent in Vercourt's letter, I was +ushered into the presence of M. le Maire, after about ten minutes +waiting. + +This polished gentleman received me with the greatest kindness and +civility, but explained that he could not procure me a place in the Army +Medical Department. He referred me to l'Intendance Militaire, Rue St. +Dominique, which was the Foreign Legion Office. I at once started +afresh, and, having found out the officials to whom I was directed, they +informed me that they had not the power of giving appointments, but that +M. Michel Lévy, Medicine Inspecteur, Val de Grace, was the person to +whom I should apply, at the same time assuring me that there was not the +least use in my doing so, as the Foreign Legion was fully equipped and +all the vacancies filled up. Believing this information to be correct, I +set this last proposition aside and kept it in my sleeve as a _dernier +ressort_. Although defeated in my object I was not in the least +discouraged, for I had determined to make every effort before confessing +myself beaten. + +As I was much fatigued, and it was too late to prosecute my plans any +further that day, I went out for a stroll on the Boulevards. Presently +I heard the trampling of horses coming down the street, mingled with the +loud cheering of the populace. It was a troop of Cuirassiers, and in +another minute I was in the midst of a seething crowd, and could +perceive nothing around me but a sea of hands, hats, and heads in +commotion. The civilians, who were in a wild state of excitement, +cheered the troops, "Vive les Cuirassiers!" while the dragoons in return +shouted "A Berlin!" and "Vive la France!"--not "Vive l'Empereur!" When +they had passed, the excitement continued in another form, for a +desperate-looking mob marched up and down in detachments as they had +done upon the previous night, with flags flying, and banners waving, +singing all the while "La Marseillaise" and the "Champs de la Patrie," +with intervening shouts of "A Berlin". All this was of great interest to +me, especially the singing. When the crowd joined in the chorus of their +National Anthem the effect was something never to be forgotten. + +I now went to bed, feeling sleepy and done up from sheer excitement. +Next day, the 20th August, a lovely morning, I found my way to the +Palais de l'Industrie, where, after waiting three hours in a crowded +ante-room, I presented my letter to M. le Vicomte de Melun, who came out +to see me. This kind old gentleman spoke graciously, and desired me to +come next day, when he would give me a place in an Ambulance. Fully +satisfied this time with the result of my efforts I returned with a +light heart, and having dined in the Rue Royale went out sight-seeing. A +few hundred paces brought me into the Place de la Concorde, and, oh, +what an incredibly magnificent sight presented itself from the centre of +that beautiful square! I passed the rest of the evening in the Bois de +Boulogne, and rising early next morning, full of hope, hastened to the +Palais de l'Industrie, where, without much delay, I saw M. de Melun. He +informed me with regret that every place in the Ambulances about to +start had been filled up previous to my application. However, if I left +my letters and certificates and came again on Tuesday morning, he would +let me know, should there be a vacancy for me in any of those which were +starting at the end of the week. + +This second disappointment greatly annoyed me, but I did not give in. As +it was Sunday I hastened back to High Mass at the Madeleine, a grand +choral and musical display. The constant clink of the money and the +click of the beadle's staff as he strode along bespangled with gold lace +and gaudy trappings, made prayer and recollection well nigh an +impossibility. Coming out of church, I met an old schoolfellow of mine, +a Parisian, with whom I had a long chat and pleasant walk in the +Tuileries. He pointed out to me the Empress leaving the Palace by a +private way, accompanied by some of her ladies-in-waiting. I may remark +that she wore a dress of grey silk, trimmed with black crape. + +During the whole of this day troops continued to march through the city, +some mere regiments of beardless boys, awkward and unsoldierlike, but +with a true martial spirit, if one might judge by the hearty way in +which they sang as they went along, and joined in the choruses. + +These were the latest levies, and were going to the front. Next day, +Monday the 22nd, after many circuitous wanderings, I made my way to the +Irish College; and left my letter of introduction to Father M----, who +was not at home, but was expected the following day. When I got back I +found that the Boulevards and Champs Elysées were thronged with noisy +workmen singing the "Marseillaise" on their way home from the +fortifications, where they had been employed in great numbers on the +extensive works which were being now pushed forward night and day. To +avoid being jostled by the mob I took a place on the top of an omnibus. +It was dusk, and as we came down the Champs Elysées, the beautifully +illuminated gardens, with their cafés chantants, merry-go-rounds and +bowers,--surrounded by the most fanciful and pretty devices imaginable, +and lighted up with miniature lamps,--together with the lively din of +music and singing followed by rounds of applause, made me feel +transported for the moment to fairyland. But it was a short-lived +delusion; and who would imagine, with all this folly, at once so +frivolous and so French, that the great tragedy of war was being enacted +around us? However, that such was the case even here was abundantly +evident, for it was the sole topic of conversation. Soldiers were +everywhere in the streets; the public vehicles and omnibuses were +crammed with them; their officers seemed to monopolise half the private +carriages; they crowded the public buildings, and soldiers' heads +appeared out of half the street windows. I had always heard that +Frenchmen were a highly excitable people, and the truth of that saying +was never so clearly demonstrated. Here they were in their thousands, +moving about in a state of restless, purposeless commotion, singing +songs from noon to midnight, and, as it appeared to me, most of them +quite out of their senses. + +Tuesday, the 23rd August, I went once more to try my luck at the Palais +de l'Industrie; and M. le Vicomte de Melun again told me that there was +no vacancy, but my name had been placed on the Society's books for an +appointment, and when the vacancy occurred he would communicate with me +at the Hôtel de l'Opéra. I felt disappointed that every effort up to +this had been a failure, but consoled myself at having gained one point, +_viz._, that of having been registered as a member of the Red Cross +Society. + +I now determined to try some of the working staff, who, though perhaps +less influential than the Vicomte, might be able to help me quite as +well. Not to be daunted, I went to another part of the Palais, where I +informed a gentleman, who, I perceived, was a superintendent and active +manager, that my name had been placed on the Society's books by M. de +Melun. This made him all attention. He spoke English well, and was very +civil to me. His name was M. Labouchère, 77 Rue Malesherbes. In few +words I told him the object of my mission, how I wanted to work, and was +willing to accept a place in any capacity whatever, in the service of +the wounded. He now informed me that there was one vacancy as aide in a +Belgian Ambulance, and as I was most anxious to fill it he had my name +put down. He gave me the casquet and badge of the Society, and told me +to come to-morrow for my outfit and all necessaries. + +In the meantime I was sent out with eight or ten others of the Swiss +Ambulance, to collect money in the streets through which we passed. We +went in a body, and had each a little net bag at the end of a long pole, +very like a landing net, but with a longer handle and a smaller net. As +we passed along we cried out, "Pour les blessés," and as the omnibuses +and carriages drew up while we were passing, we availed ourselves of +this opportunity by putting our bags up to and sometimes through the +windows, and landing them in the laps of those within. By this means we +got heaps of silver pieces, and even gold from some of the best dressed +personages. We also put our nets up to the windows, wherever we saw them +occupied, and into the shops. Large crowds gathered along the route, and +everybody gave something,--a great many two and five franc pieces. It +was several hours before we reached the railway station, as we went very +slowly. All knew by my accent that I was a foreigner, and perhaps +British; and they seemed to like the idea, for they pressed forward to +throw their coins to me, when there were other nets nearer them. When +the time of reckoning came I found that I had collected more than my +comrades. I saw ladies in the carriages that passed us crying bitterly, +and the weeping and evident grief of the ambulance men on parting with +their friends at the railway terminus were very touching. Having placed +my money in the van I returned to the Palais de l'Industrie, where I was +introduced to M. le Verdière, second in command in the Belgian +Ambulance. He desired me to come at nine o'clock next day to get into my +uniform and prepare for starting. + +Highly pleased at what I considered at last a success, I went, as I had +previously arranged, to see Dr. M---- at the Irish College. He received +me very warmly, and introduced me to a Chinese bishop with a pigtail, +whom I found a most intelligent and agreeable man. + +That evening I saw troops going to the front in heavy marching order; +and although they were four abreast, they reached from the Arc de +Triomphe to within some little distance of the Place de la Concorde. On +my way home I met a man who told me sorrowfully that before the war he +had been a successful teacher with a large class, but that all his +pupils were drawn in the conscription, and his occupation was gone. + +Next morning, the 24th, I was all excitement, as I fully expected that +this day might see me on my way to the front. I hastened to the Palais +de l'Industrie, where M. Labouchère informed me of the nature of my +appointment in the Belgian Ambulance. What was my astonishment when I +found that I should have ten _infirmiers_ under me, for whom I was to be +responsible, and to whom I must issue orders! Much as I desired to +accept this most tempting offer, common sense got the better of my +ambition; and I declined, feeling conscious that my imperfect knowledge +of French would prevent my being able to discharge my duties with +efficiency. + +All this was a disappointment and a humiliation, but I had now become +used to reverses. My friends, of whom I had already quite a number, +comforted me by saying that I should be most likely sent to Metz, which +was full of wounded with but few attendants, numbers of the latter +having been carried off by typhus fever, which was making great havoc in +the town. I stated that I had not the least objection to going if the +Society wished me to do so; but I felt that I should prefer some other +mission. Later on in the day, as I was searching for M. Labouchère in +the Palais de l'Industrie, I was astonished to perceive that one of the +large open spaces of the Palais, which was used but yesterday for +drilling the recruits, now contained rows of mounted cannon placed close +beside each other, while the unmounted guns were piled in lines one +above another; great heaps of cannon balls were also stacked in the +centre, like ricks of turf. This change, wrought since the evening +before, will give an idea of the rapidity and energy with which the +Government plans were being executed. Emerging by one of the upper doors +of the building, I was startled at seeing the whole Champs Elysées +occupied by masses of soldiers, flanked at each side by double rows of +cavalry. They were being inspected before going to the front. It was a +splendid sight. I went out afterwards to the Bois de Boulogne, where the +timber next the ramparts was already being cut down. There were crowds +of men at work on the fortifications as I passed through, making ready +for the siege. + +As it was growing dusk I moved towards home, and met on my way a stream +of soldiers dressed in a most elaborate uniform, differing in every way +from that of the Line. From the enthusiastic reception they met with on +all sides, and the familiar smiles and nods which they exchanged with +the admiring citizens, I knew that they were the Garde Nationale, the +pride of the Parisians. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +I JOIN THE ANGLO-AMERICAN AMBULANCE.--M. DE FLAVIGNY'S SPEECH.--TO +MÉZIÈRES AND SEDAN. + + +August 25th I went to my official quarters full of hope, but found that +nothing further had been decided. M. Labouchère told me that I was +certain of a place in a French Ambulance, and presented my testimonials +and papers to the chief of the 8th Ambulance, who disappeared with them +into the committee room, promising to send me an answer at once. This he +never did, though I waited his reply for some hours, until hunger +compelled me to go in search of dinner, which I found in the Boulevard +St. Michel, No. 43, Café-Brasserie du Bas Rhin, where I had as much beef +as I could wish for. (I was afterwards told that nothing but horse flesh +was sold at this restaurant.) + +I then returned to the Palais de l'Industrie, where I was offered a post +in the Medical Staff in charge of a train between Paris and Metz. I +declined, upon the ground of my expecting to hear every minute of my +having been appointed to an Ambulance. Hours passed without a syllable +from the Chief of the 8th Ambulance; and now for the first time I felt +discouraged, but pulled myself together, and again threw myself with +energy into the struggle. + +I still had forces in reserve; for my friend, Madame A----, +lady-in-waiting to the Empress, had promised me letters of introduction, +which I daily expected, but which had not yet arrived. As I was whiling +away the time conversing with one of the understrappers of the Palais, +he told me that the siege of Paris by the Prussians was confidently +expected by most Parisians; they talked of cutting down all the trees +around Paris, and demolishing the farmsteads and farm produce in the +vicinity, and my informant observed, "Déjà on cherche la démolition du +Bois de Boulogne". + +I walked out to the fortifications and saw batches of men throwing up +mounds, whilst others were making excavations beneath the mason-work of +the permanent bridges, to facilitate their being blown up on the +approach of the enemy. Upon my return the garçon at the Hotel showed me +with much pride his uniform and accoutrements, with which he had been +presented that day on being made a member of the National Guard. + +The loud beating of drums and the clatter and din of horses and men as +they passed along the Boulevards before dawn, made it easy to be up at +an early hour next morning, the 26th of August. + +I set out for the Palais de l'Industrie, where an order was handed me +to hold myself in readiness to start that night for the front, so I +returned quickly to my hotel, paid my bill and packed up my traps. I +found two letters awaiting me: one from Madame A----, with an +introduction to Professor Ricord, the Emperor's surgeon; and another +from the Princess Poniatowsky, enclosing a note to the Count de +Flavigny, President of the Society. They were now of no use, as I had +been appointed to an Ambulance; but had I got them at first I should +have been saved many days of anxious waiting. As it afterwards turned +out, it was my good luck that they did not arrive sooner. An order was +now issued that all strangers should quit Paris; and a heavy gloom +seemed to be settling down rapidly over every one and everything. The +conviction was daily growing that the Prussians were approaching Paris; +but no one really knew, as every day's intelligence contradicted that of +the day before. There seemed to be a great national competition in +lying, in which every one manfully struggled for the prize. + +At this juncture I was introduced to Dr. Frank, second in command of an +Ambulance which had lately been organised in Paris by a number of +English and American surgeons, and which was known as the +Anglo-American. Dr. Frank received me courteously, and appointed me one +of his _sous-aides_ or dressers. Having given me directions as to my +outfit, he sent me off with another young member of the Ambulance, John +Scott of Belfast, to procure all necessary supplies. The pleasure I +experienced at finding myself in harness at last was beyond expression; +and it was not lessened by discovering in my new mate a bright, jovial, +and witty companion and a fellow-countryman to boot. We hurried off to +the Palais Royal, where we ordered our uniforms, knapsacks and kits, and +then went out and had a chat and a stroll. + +Saturday morning, the 27th, Dr. Frank introduced me to Dr. Marion Sims, +now chef or surgeon-in-chief, and also to his staff, which was composed +of Drs. MacCormac, Webb, Blewitt, May, Tilghman, Nicholl, Hayden, and +Hewitt, and Drs. Wyman and Pratt, as also to Mr. Fred Wallace and Harry +Sims. Hewitt and I worked away for some hours getting the stores ready. +Having finished this task we went to be photographed at Nader's, in full +marching kit. I now packed up everything I did not want and sent them to +M. de B----'s house (where they remained until after the war was over), +and made my final preparations for starting. I received a month's pay in +advance from Dr. Frank, so there was but little chance of my being hard +up for money, as we were to be found in everything. Colonel Loyd +Lindsay's English branch of the "Société pour le Secours aux Blessés" +furnished the English contingent of the ambulance with the sinews of +war; and of this Dr. Frank was the representative. + +On the 28th August I went in full uniform to the Madeleine, after which +I took all my traps to the Palais de l'Industrie, where I met Marion +Sims and had a chat with him. He addressed me kindly as "my dear boy"; +and from the gentleness of his manner and his sympathetic nature, I felt +that I should like him very much; and so it afterwards came to pass. We +all now worked with a will, getting together our stores, provisions, +horses and waggons, and making all ready for the procession, which, +after a scene of confusion, noise, and excitement, left the Palais de +l'Industrie about three o'clock, in the following order:--In front, +carried by Dr. Sims' three charming daughters, the flags of England, +France, and America; then the surgeons and the assistant surgeons; after +these the dressers or _sous-aides_, of which I was one; then the +_infirmiers_, all fully equipped, with the waggons for stores and +wounded bringing up the rear. + +While we were standing in our places, in the Champs Elysées, waiting for +the final start, a young girl, pretty, and elegantly dressed in deep +mourning, stepped up and tried to address me, but she sobbed so much +that I could with difficulty understand what she said. After a little +time she made her wish intelligible. Should her husband ever come +across my path in a wounded condition, she charged me to be kind to him, +and to bestow upon him particular care for her sake. The earnestness +with which she confided her sorrow to me, a stranger who had nothing to +recommend him but his youth, well nigh overcame me, so that the poor +thing very nearly had a companion in tears. She gave me her card, which +I still possess. The girl could not have been more than twenty. I tried +to say something to her that was kind; but so confused and upset was I +that I could hardly utter a word. Presently the Count de Flavigny came +forward and addressed us in a long and eloquent speech, flattering alike +to our nationalities and to our cause. + +A death-like silence reigned throughout the crowd as he reminded us of +the scenes upon which we were about to enter; the cause we were to +vindicate; the hardships we were likely to undergo; the good that each +of us was bound in duty to perform; the sacrifice of every personal +consideration, and even of our lives if necessary, in the grand and holy +cause of the service of the wounded. + +There were tears in many eyes, for not a few of the bystanders had at +that moment friends near and dear, in dread suffering and perhaps in the +agony of death. These few minutes made a deep impression upon me. + +I now realised that I was entering upon a hazardous campaign, and felt +the weight of the task that I had undertaken; and as the word +"_Marchez_" was given I stepped out strong in mind and body, proud of +the privilege which it had pleased Providence to bestow upon me, and +yearning to fulfil that mission of charity which we had that day +inaugurated. + +As we passed through the streets in the order I have already given, the +dense crowds cheered us along the way to the railway station (de l'Est), +crying, "Vive les Americains!" "Vive l'Angleterre!" while the +handkerchiefs of the ladies waved from all windows. Tears flowed +abundantly on every side, as they readily do in France for less reason +than the present one. All were delighted at the practical sympathy of +the foreigners, on behalf of their wounded and suffering +fellow-countrymen. + +The crowds were so great that we found it difficult to make anything +like rapid progress, and were several hours reaching the station. + +Having arrived at our destination, we took our seats in the +waiting-room, not knowing in the least where we were going, as no one +did but the chief and Dr. Frank. After waiting a couple of hours we got +into a train in which we started off into the darkness, for it was ten +o'clock. We travelled all night, and as morning dawned arrived at +Soissons. Here we learned that we were under orders to join MacMahon's +army at once. As from information received, Dr. Sims supposed him to be +somewhere in the vicinity of Sedan, it was his intention to make for +Mézières, a small town in that neighbourhood, which we reached on Monday +night, 29th August, arriving at Sedan the following morning, Tuesday, +30th, and remaining there to await further orders. + +As we entered the town I was astonished to perceive that not a single +soldier was visible, and that the sentinels on duty at the gates were +peasants dressed in blue blouses, bearing guns upon their shoulders, a +military képi being the only attempt at uniform. + +All was still as we hastened through the streets to our quarters, at the +Croix d'Or in the Rue Napoléon. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +AT SEDAN.--THE EMPEROR IN TRANSIT.--OUR FIRST RETREAT BEFORE THE +PRUSSIANS.--THE CASERNE D'ARSFELD. + + +On the 30th of August we got orders through the _Courrier des +Ambulances_, the Vicomte de Chizelles, to proceed at once to Carignan, +where hard fighting had been going on, and where, we were told, the +field had been won by the French. Accordingly at noon the whole +ambulance moved out of the town, by the Torcy gate to the railway +station, a few hundred yards outside the ramparts, whence a special +train was to have carried us on to the field of our labours. Through +some mismanagement on the part of the French authorities, and through a +combination of adverse circumstances, our transport was delayed so long +that we were unable to leave that evening. The railway officials +contended that the cause of the delay was neglect, on the part of our +_comptable_, to specify the exact amount of accommodation required for +the transport of our waggons, stores, and horses, without which we could +not work efficiently on the field of battle; but the real cause of the +delay, we subsequently discovered, was the capturing and blocking of +the line by the Prussians, which fact was, in French fashion, studiously +concealed from us. All this was very annoying to our chiefs, who were +most anxious to get to the front. In order, therefore, that we might be +able to start at daybreak next morning, we took up our quarters for that +night in the station house. Being much fatigued after the excitement of +the day we went to the bureau, where all our luggage was, and, after +much ado, got hold of our wraps. There was one large waiting-room +through which every one was obliged to pass in order to enter or leave +the station, and here I and a number of my comrades stretched ourselves +upon the bare boards, covered up in our rugs and overcoats. + +Shortly after eleven o'clock, the arrival of a train caused us to start +to our feet. The Germans, we knew, were in the neighbourhood, and the +thought of a surprise flashed simultaneously through the mind of each +one, when, to our intense astonishment, the door opened, and Napoléon, +with his entire état major, marshals, and generals, walked into the +room. + +The Emperor wore a long dark blue cloak and a scarlet gold-braided képi. +At first he seemed rather surprised at our presence, and for a moment or +two delayed returning our salute, which he eventually acknowledged by a +slight inclination of the head. He had a tired, scared, and haggard +appearance, and, besides looking thoroughly ill, seemed anxious and +impatient. After a few moments' delay he hurried off on foot, in the +midst of his _entourage_, through the station house, and along the road +leading to the town of Sedan. + +I and two of my comrades followed until we saw the Emperor and his +attendants arrive at the gate, through which, after some parley with a +blue-bloused sentry (for there was not a regular soldier in the town), +they gained admittance. As we were about returning to our temporary +quarters, speculating on the probable future as suggested by the scene I +have described, we met a party of soldiers straggling along, composed of +men of different regiments, both line and cavalry. We addressed one of +them, who seemed more tired and worn out than the rest. He told us they +belonged to the 5th and 12th Army Corps, and that they had escaped from +the affair at Beaumont, where, having been several days short of +provisions and exhausted with hunger and fatigue, the French were +thoroughly routed. He said that they numbered about eighty, and were +accompanied by an officer whom I afterwards heard give the name of De +Failly, when challenged by the sentry. This was no other than the +General de Failly who, on that very day at Beaumont, was deprived of his +command for bad leadership, and superseded by De Wimpffen. In the rear +of this party of fugitives was a cartload of women and children. One of +the women told most pitifully how the Prussian shells had that morning +devastated their homes in the vicinity of Beaumont and Raucourt, and how +several parts of those villages were then in flames. These poor +creatures, numbed with cold and fright, gladly partook of the contents +of some of our flasks; and we were all pleased when, after half an +hour's parley with the peasant sentry, the drawbridge was let down and +they were admitted into the town. + +I now returned to my quarters in the station, where I slept soundly +until I was awakened at break of day by Dr. Frank, who enjoined us to +get ready at once, so as to push on to the front. This was the morning +of the 31st August. At early dawn there was a thick fog, which, however, +soon cleared away, revealing to us the fact that we were not far from +the Prussian lines, and that they had actually during the night got full +possession of the range of hills commanding the station and the whole +town of Sedan. At times we could see distinctly numbers of Prussian +Uhlans appearing now and then, from behind woods and plantations, on the +heights of Marfée opposite us, and again disappearing, leaving us fully +convinced that there were more where those came from. A little later, +when the fog cleared off, we perceived in the opposite direction, at the +north-east side of the town, numbers of troops moving about. These we +found to be MacMahon's forces. Now we became conscious of how we really +stood. Our chief called us together, and with the stern manner and firm +voice of an old veteran said, "Gentlemen, by a combination of unforeseen +circumstances over which I had no control, we are now in the awkward +position of finding ourselves placed between the line of fire of two +armies. If they commence hostilities we are lost. It is therefore my +intention as promptly as possible to retreat behind the French lines." +Having said so much, he gave the order to move on. This we did across +some fields, which we traversed with ease; but presently we came upon +some heavy potato and turnip plots. Here our progress was necessarily +very slow, heavily-laden as we were, with our three waggons ploughing +through the soft furrows; and as we were not quite sure of the country +that lay between us and the army, our position was most unenviable. + +Two of our party, Drs. May and Tilghman, went ahead upon horseback, one +of them carrying an ambulance flag. These two galloped along rather too +impetuously as it appeared, for they came unexpectedly upon the French +outposts, who, not knowing them to be friends, quickly fired a volley at +them. Having discovered who they were they did not repeat this salute. +It was just as our waggon horses had come to a standstill, being +completely exhausted from pulling and floundering in the soft ground, +that Drs. May and Tilghman returned at a gallop to inform us that the +Meuse lay between us and the main body of the army, and that there was +no bridge, or other means of crossing, without going round through the +town. + +Just at this moment a courier came up in hot haste to say that, as the +Prussians had just been seen in the immediate vicinity, the gate of the +town would be immediately closed, and that the Military Commandant +required us at once to make good our retreat, and get in the rear of the +French army. We now saw that there was no alternative but to leave our +baggage, stores, and waggons just where they were, and to fly into the +town, which we did with all possible expedition, as from the position of +the enemy we expected every minute that an engagement would take place. +When we got inside the gates, two civilians volunteered, for a reward, +to recover the baggage and waggons, with May and Tilghman as their +leaders. These two gentlemen were veteran campaigners of the American +Confederate Army, as were also all the other Americans of our ambulance, +save Frank Hayden, who hailed from the North. + +These not only brought back all our effects, but also a quantity of +potatoes which were found in the field where the waggons had been left, +and upon which we largely subsisted during the week following. + +We now reported ourselves to the Intendant Militaire, who told us that +he had the night before received an order to have in readiness 1800 beds +for the use of the wounded. There was not a military surgeon in the +town, nor any medical stores or appliances save our own; and of civilian +doctors we never heard, nor were they _en évidence_. + +The Intendant Militaire put all the beds which he had provided at our +disposal, and gave us full control over their disposition and +management. + +Accordingly we took possession of the Caserne D'Asfeld, and made ready +for receiving the wounded. We also had our stores arranged so that +everything might be at hand when required. + +It was while thus busily engaged, transporting our stores, and putting +things in their place ready for use, that I saw the Emperor Napoléon +slowly pacing up and down in front of the Sous-Préfecture, cigar in +mouth, with his hands behind his back and head bent, gazing vacantly at +the ground. + +All that morning we had heard the distant booming of cannon, in the +southward direction of Carignan and Mouzon. As the day advanced the +cannonading came nearer, and grew more distinct, until it seemed to be +in the immediate neighbourhood of the town. At nightfall the firing +ceased, and we could perceive the glare of a distant village, in the +direction of Douzy, lighting up the darkness. + +A brief sketch of the defences of Sedan, as well as an explanation of +the position in which our hospital stood with regard to the +fortifications, will not be out of place. The river Meuse, on the right +bank of which Sedan is situated, communicates by sluice-gates with two +deep trenches about thirty feet wide, separated from one another by a +high embankment. On opening these gates, the trenches and a vast expanse +of meadow land, extending nearly to Bazeilles and along the river beyond +it, had been flooded, and the city was thus defended by a double wet +ditch for about three-fourths of its circumference. All this lay +external to the stone-faced ramparts, upon which stood heavy siege-guns, +ostensibly to protect the town. They were, in fact, obsolete dummies. +Outside these, again, were high earthworks, faced by strong palisades of +spiked timber. At the summit of the north-east corner of the +fortifications, towering above the plateau of Floing, rose the +Citadel,--a huge, dark mass of mason-work and grassy slopes, which +seemed to frown over a series of steep cliffs upon the town beneath. +Above this stood our hospital of the Caserne D'Asfeld, called after a +French Marshal of Louis XIV.'s time. The Prussians afterwards knew it as +the "Kronwerk D'Asfeld". It was a fortress which had a drawbridge and +defences of its own. From these details we may judge what a stronghold +Sedan would prove, were it not for the range of hills opposite, called +the Heights of Marfée. But these command the town; and the Prussians had +been permitted to occupy them. + +Now, as to the Caserne itself. Standing on the highest point of the +fortifications, about 100 feet above the Meuse, it might have seemed the +very position for a hospital. It was a two-storied bomb-proof building, +with a flat roof, 240 feet long, and contained nine large wards, +fifty-three feet by seventeen, and ten feet high, as well as four small +ones with twenty beds in each. There were two spacious windows in every +ward. The floors were concrete. On the fortifications outside were rows +of magnificent trees, which gave the grounds a picturesque appearance. +But in front, facing the town, there were no trees; and from this point +we had an unbroken view of Sedan and the valley of the Meuse, with the +hills opposite. The villages of Donchery, Frénois, and Wadelincourt were +all visible. + +Six cannon commanded the outer breastworks, behind the buildings, and +two sallyports led out beneath the fortifications, on to the plains of +Floing. We heard from the wounded, as well as from other sources, that +the French were retreating on Sedan, and that the Prussians held the +left bank of the Meuse, and the valley and hills about it. The French, +on their side, occupied the Illy heights to the north of the town above +the plateau of Floing, the Bois de Garenne, and the east and south-east +plains, from Daigny and the valley of Givonne to Bazeilles. Hence, it +was evident, even at so early a date, that the French army had only the +strip of small country to the north and east of Sedan, between the right +bank of the Meuse and the Ardennes, by which to make good their retreat +on Mézières. And of this narrow space, the defile of St. Albert alone +was available for the passage of large bodies of soldiers. + +The Prussian outposts were already in Vendresse and Donchery. Could they +succeed in moving further north before the French started, they might +cut off the retreat of the whole army. + +The movements of the French in these straits had been extremely +perplexing to us. They must have known their situation, if not on the +29th, certainly on the 30th and 31st. Why, then, did they not keep to +the left bank of the Meuse, and seize the only available strong position +visible on that side--the Heights of Marfée, which they could have held, +and the possession of which would have covered their retreat along the +defile of St. Albert? Instead of doing so, they chose to fall back on +Sedan; a trap out of which no sane man, military or civilian, could, +under the circumstances, expect an army to free itself. These positions +were occupied by the Prussians at the earliest possible moment. But even +if the French could not have come up by the left bank of the Meuse, +they might, as late as the night of the 31st, have retreated by +Moncelle, the plain of Floing, and the right bank of the river. Thus, at +all events, they would have got clear of the enemy's heavy guns, which +assailed them from the hills in front; and would have had some chance of +meeting their foes on more equal terms. But they went to their +destruction like men in a dream. + +Late that evening, several large batches of wounded came into the +Caserne. These kept us employed till after midnight, when we slipped out +and ascended the fortifications, that we might look once more at the +still blazing village, the name of which we had not then heard. Of +course it was Douzy. And now we perceived, by the innumerable camp-fires +gleaming around us on all sides, that we were close to the ill-fated +army, of which Marshal MacMahon held the command. To-morrow it would +cease to exist, and with it the Napoleonic Empire would come to an end. + +[Illustration: + + BATTLE OF SEDAN + Positions at Daybreak + Sept^r. 1^{st}. 1870. + + French | Germans + A _12^{th} Corps (Lebrun_) | G _Prussian Guards_ + B _1^{st} " (Ducrot)_ | S _Saxons_ + C _5^{th} " (Wimpffen)_ | Bav. _Bavarians_ + D _7^{th} " (Doucey)_ | W _Wurtembergers_ + E _Cavalry_ | + + _London, John Murray, Albemarle Street._ + E. Weller] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER, 1870.--EXPERIENCES AT THE CASERNE.--WOUNDED +HORSES.--THE FRENCH RETREAT BECOMES A STAMPEDE.--SOLDIERS DESPAIR. + + +Full of strange forebodings, I retired to the guard-room at the end of +the building which overlooked the town, where Père Bayonne, our +Dominican chaplain, Hewitt, and myself had our stretchers. Tired out, I +slept as soundly as if nothing had happened, or was to happen. But about +a quarter to five on the following morning,--that historic Thursday, the +1st of September,--Père Bayonne and I were aroused by the strange and +terrible sound of roaring cannon. We heard the shells whizzing +continually, and by-and-by the prolonged peals of the mitrailleuse. On +looking out, we saw a thick mist lying along the valley, and clinging +about the slopes of the hills in front of us. Presently it cleared away; +the morning became beautifully fine, and the sun shone forth with genial +warmth. + +Immediately beneath us lay the town, with its double fortifications, and +its trenches filled by the Meuse, which seemed a silver thread winding +through a charmingly wooded and delightful country. The whole range of +hills which commanded the town was occupied by the Prussians; and we +could see their artillery and battalions in dark blue, with their spiked +helmets and their bayonets flashing in the sunlight. + +Neither had we long to wait before 150 guns were, each in its turn, +belching out fire and smoke. For the first couple of hours the heaviest +part of the fighting was kept up from the left and further extremity of +this range of hills. But as the morning wore on, the guns immediately +opposite us opened fire, although the main body of the Prussians had not +yet come up the valley into view. The plains and hills to the north and +north-east of the town and immediately behind us were covered with +French troops, the nearest being a regiment of the Line, a Zouave +regiment, and a force of cuirassiers. It was magnificent to see the +bright helmets and breast-plates of the latter gleaming in the sun, as +they swept along from time to time, and took up fresh positions. I +watched them suddenly wheel and gallop at a headlong pace for some +hundred yards, then stop as they were making a second wheel, and tear up +to the edge of a wood on a piece of high ground, where they remained +motionless. A regiment of the Line then advanced, and opened fire across +them, down into the valley beneath the wood; while for twenty minutes a +hot counter-fire was kept up by a force of advancing Prussians, the +French still moving forward, and leaving plenty of work for us in their +rear. As the firing ceased, the cuirassiers, who had been up till then +motionless spectators of the scene, suddenly began to move, first at a +walk, then breaking into a trot, and, finally, having cleared the corner +of the wood, into full gallop. They dashed down the valley of Floing and +were quickly lost to our view. This was the beginning, as I afterwards +learned, of one of the most brilliant feats of the French arms during +that day. It has been graphically described by Dr. Russell, the war +correspondent of the _Times_. Beyond doubt, until noon, when all chance +of success vanished, the French fought bravely. I shall here instance +one out of many personal feats of valour, which came under our notice. + +While I was assisting in dressing a wounded soldier, he told me the +following story, which was subsequently corroborated by one of his +officers who came to see him. This soldier was St. Aubin, of the Third +Chasseurs d'Afrique, concerning whom I shall have more to say by-and-by. +He was only twenty-three, and a tall, fair, handsome fellow. He had been +in action for seven hours, and had received a bayonet thrust through the +cheek. His horse was shot under him during the flight of the French +towards Sedan. Still undismayed, he provided himself with one of the +chassepots lying about, and falling in with a body of Marines, the best +men in the French army, he, in company with this gallant band, faced the +enemy again. Numbers of his companions fell; he himself got a bullet +through the right elbow. Promptly tearing his pocket handkerchief into +strips with his teeth, he tied up his wounds, and securing his wrist to +his belt, seized his sword, determined to fight on. Unfortunately, the +fragment of a shell struck him again, shattering the right shoulder. In +this plight he mounted a stray horse, and, as he told me, holding his +sword in his teeth, put spurs to his steed, and joined his companions at +Sedan, where he sank out of the saddle through sheer exhaustion and loss +of blood. + +Early in the day vigorous fighting was going on outside the town, about +Balan and Bazeilles, and between us and the Belgian frontier. As early +as ten o'clock, it was evident that the Prussians were extending their +line of fire on both sides, with the ultimate object of hemming in the +French army, now being slowly forced back upon the town. By eleven +o'clock, the plains to the north and east between us and the Belgian +frontier were occupied by dense masses of the French; and at noon, the +Prussian artillery on the hills in front turned their fire over our +heads, on the French troops behind us. From this moment, we found +ourselves in the thick of the fight. Around us on every side raged a +fierce and bloody conflict. The Prussian guns in front, which had kept +up an intermittent fire since early morning, now seemed to act in +concert, and the roaring of cannon and whizzing of shells became +continuous. It was an appalling medley of sounds; and we could scarcely +hear one another speak. + +During this murderous fire, we received into our hospital twenty-eight +officers of all grades (among them two colonels), and nearly 400 men of +all arms. Occasionally, one of the shells which were passing over us in +quick succession would fall short, striking, at one time, the roof of +our Hospital or the stone battlements in front, at another the +earthworks or a tree within the fort. One of these shells burst at the +main entrance, close to where I was at work, killing two _infirmiers_ +and wounding a third,--the first two were, indeed, reduced to a mass of +charred flesh, a sight of unspeakable horror. A second shell burst close +to the window of the ward, in which Drs. MacCormac, Nicholl, Tilghman, +and May were operating, chipping off a fragment of the corner stone; a +third struck the coping wall of the fortification overhanging the town, +about twenty feet from our mess-room window; and a fragment entered, and +made a hole in the ceiling. The bomb-proof over our heads came in for a +shower of French mitrailleuse bullets, which so frightened our cook that +he upset a can of savoury horseflesh soup, which he had prepared for us. +But, to add to the danger, about half-past two a detachment of +artillery, bringing with them three brass nine-pounders, came into our +enclosure (for, as I have said, the guns supposed to be guarding our +fort were absolute dummies), and opened a hot fire on the enemy, in the +vain attempt to enable Ducrot's contingent to join De Wimpffen at Balan. +It was a brave and determined effort, but as futile as it was rash, for +it brought the Prussian fire down upon us; and in less than half an +hour, the French had to abandon their guns, which were soon dismantled, +while the trenches about them were filled with dead and wounded. At one +time, Dr. May and I counted on the plain a rank of eighty-five dead +horses, exclusive of the maimed. The sufferings of these poor brutes, +which were as a rule frightfully mutilated, seemed to call for pity +almost as much as those of the men themselves. For the men, if wounded +very badly, lay still, and their wants were quickly attended to; but the +horses, sometimes disembowelled, their limbs shattered, kept wildly +struggling and snorting beneath dismounted gun-carriages and upturned +ammunition waggons, until either a friendly revolver or death from +exhaustion put an end to their torment. + +Everywhere on this plain, to the north of the town, there was now the +most hopeless confusion. The soldiers, utterly demoralised--more than +half of them without arms--were hugging the ramparts in dense masses, +seeking thus to escape the deadly fire directed on them by the advancing +Prussians. It was clear that the fortunes of the day were going against +the French; and if we ask the reason, some reply may be found in the +testimony of a Colonel, who told us, with sobs and tears, that for six +hours he had been under fire, and had received no orders from his +General. A little later on, about half-past three, an officer, carrying +the colours of his regiment, rushed into our Hospital in a state of the +wildest excitement, crying out that the French had lost, and entreating +Dr. May to hide his flag in one of our beds,--a request with which the +latter indignantly refused to comply. + +About a quarter to four, although the din of battle was still raging, we +could see the white flag flying, and rumours of a truce were current. +The space round the Caserne D'Asfeld was at this time crowded with +troops; and a knot of them were wrangling for water about our well, +which, being worked only by a windlass and bucket, gave but a scanty +supply. The events that now followed have been described by the French +as an attempt on the part of Ducrot to get his forces through the town, +and out by the Balan gate, there to reinforce General Wimpffen, and +sustain his final attempt to break through the German lines. But what +really happened was this: The French, aware that the battle was lost, +had become panic-stricken, and getting completely out of the control of +their officers, their retreat on Sedan was, in plain truth, the stampede +of a thoroughly disorganised and routed army. It was a strange sight, +and by no means easy to picture. A huge and miscellaneous collection of +men, horses, and materials were jammed into a comparatively small space, +all in the utmost disorder and confusion. Soldiers of every +branch--cavalry, infantry, artillery--flung away their arms, or left +them at different places, in stacks four or five feet high. Heedless of +command, they made for the town by every available entrance. And I saw +French officers shedding tears at a spectacle, which no one who was not +in arms against them could witness without grief and shame. + +A Colonel, who had carried his eagles with honour through the battles of +Wörth and Weissenburg, related how he had buried the standard of his +regiment, together with his own decorations, and burned his colours, to +save them from falling into the hands of the enemy. All these officers +had but one cry: "_Nous sommes trahis!_" openly declaring that the loss +of their country, and the dishonour of its arms, were due to the perfidy +and incompetence of their statesmen and generals. That some of these +allegations of treason were well founded is beyond question: the +universal incompetency we saw with our own eyes. + +I observed one remarkable incident during this state of general +disorder. A regiment of Turcos came into our enclosure with their +officers, in perfect order, fully armed and accoutred. These +gaunt-looking fellows, fierce, bronzed, and of splendid physique, stood +stolid and silent, with their cloaks, hoods, and gaiters still +beautifully white. Watching for some minutes, I noticed a movement among +them, and they commenced a passionate discussion in their own tongue, +evidently on a subject of interest to them all. In another minute the +conclusion was manifest. Approaching the parapet in small parties, and +clubbing their rifles, they smashed off the stocks against the +stonework, and flung the pieces into the ditch beneath. In like manner +they disposed of their heavy pistols and side-arms. Then, having lighted +their cigarettes, they relapsed into a state of silent and dreamy +inactivity, in which not a word was spoken. + +Along the roads leading to the gates of the town, more particularly +along the one beneath us, streamed a dense mass of soldiers belonging to +various regiments, with numbers of horses ridden chiefly by officers, +and some waggons, all bearing headlong down on the gates. As they passed +over the narrow bridges, literally in tens of thousands, packed close +together, some horses and a few men were pushed over the low parapet +into the river, and many of the fugitives were trodden under foot. At +length, between four and five P.M., the firing gradually slackened. For +some time it was still kept up, but in a desultory manner, towards +Balan. At half-past five it ceased altogether; and the sensation of +relief was indescribable. + +The grounds about the Caserne D'Asfeld had, in the meanwhile, become +packed with runaway soldiers, whose first exploit was forcibly to enter +our kitchen and store-rooms, and plunder all they could lay hands on. Of +course, they were driven to these acts by the exigencies of the +situation. The blame for such excesses cannot but attach to that centre +of all corruption, the French Commissariat, which broke down that day as +it had done at every turn during the whole campaign. We had some wounded +men in the theatre, Place de Turenne, down in Sedan; but the streets and +squares were so densely crowded that it was with difficulty some of our +staff could make their way to them. All were now burning with anxiety to +know whether the French would surrender, or hostilities be resumed on +the morrow. A continuance of the struggle, as we felt, would mean that +some hundred and twenty thousand soldiers, and ourselves along with +them, were to be buried in the ruins of Sedan. + +Our fears, however, were soon allayed. Before nightfall we heard that +the Emperor had opened negotiations with the German King, and that the +capitulation was certain. + +At last darkness set in. The stillness of the night was unbroken, save +for a musical humming sound as if from a mighty hive of bees;--it was +the murmur of voices resounding from the hundred thousand men caged +within the beleaguered city. As we stood for a moment on the +battlements, sniffing the cool air, with which was still intermingled +the gruesome odour of the battlefield, how impressive a sight met our +gaze! Bazeilles was burning; its flames lit up the sky brilliantly, and +brought out into clear relief the hills and valleys for miles around; +they even threw a red glare over Sedan itself; while above the site of +the burning village there seemed to dance one great pillar of fire, from +which tongues shot out quivering and rocketing into the atmosphere, as +house after house burst into flames. + +The number of Frenchmen wounded during those few hours of which I write, +is said to have been 12,500. Probably a third of that figure would +represent the number of Prussian casualties. As for our own ambulance, +during that day it afforded surgical aid to 100 officers and 524 men. +The number of those killed will never be known; all I can state is, that +in places the French were mown down before our eyes like grass. There is +a thicket on a lonely hill side, skirting the Bois de Garenne, within +rifleshot of the Caserne D'Asfeld, where six and thirty men fell close +together. There they were buried in one common grave; and few besides +myself remain to tell the tale. + +Such is the story of Sedan as I beheld it, and as faithful a record as I +can give from my own experience, of that never-to-be-forgotten 1st of +September, 1870. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE BURNING OF BAZEILLES.--WORTHLESS FRENCH OFFICERS.--A WALK ABOUT +SEDAN.--IN THE VALLEY. + + +To our labours in the Hospitals I shall presently return. On the 31st, +Drs. Frank and Blewitt had established a branch hospital at Balan, and +during that day and 1st September, had rendered assistance, both there +and at Bazeilles, to those who were wounded in the street-fighting or +injured by the flames. Dr. Blewitt informed me that at one time, the +house in which they were treating a large number of wounded had its +windows and doors so riddled with bullets, that, in order to escape with +their lives, they had to lie down on the floor, and remain there until +the leaden shower was over. The French inhabitants also, he said, had +fired upon the Bavarians; they had set their bedding and furniture +alight, and thrown them out on the heads of the Germans, who were packed +close in the streets; and after the first repulse of the invaders, +several wounded Prussians had been barbarously butchered, some even +(horrible to relate) had had their throats cut with razors. This, it +was reported, had been the work of French women. On the other hand, +several of the native soldiers had been found propped up against the +walls in a sitting posture, with pipes and flowers in their mouths. Upon +retaking the village, when the Germans discovered what had been done, +they retaliated by shooting down and bayoneting all before them, nor in +some instances did the women and children escape this cruel fate. So +exasperated, indeed, were the Germans by the events of those two +dreadful hours on the 1st, that not a life did they spare, nor a house +did they leave intact, in that miserable town. + +Such, in brief, was the history of Bazeilles. It is not a subject which +one can dwell upon. When, within a day or two later, I had occasion to +pass through it, and saw the still burning ruins which bore witness to +the awful deeds done on both sides, my heart sank. All that fire and +sword could wreak upon any town and its inhabitants was visible here; +and it is not too much to affirm that, so long as the name of Bazeilles +is remembered, a stain will rest on the memory of French and Germans, +both of whom contributed to its ruin. + +On the 5th September Dr. Frank took possession of the Château Mouville, +which belonged to the Count de Fienne. It is situated between Balan and +Bazeilles, and was quickly filled with wounded from both places. But +for some time our ambulance was unable to get its waggons through the +streets, so impeded were they with the charred remains of the dead and +dying. + +I have now described what I can vouch for, on the testimony of some of +my companions, as having occurred at these two places; and I will leave +my own account of what I saw myself in Bazeilles until a later occasion. + +To go back to Sedan. As night drew near, the refugees outside the +Caserne lighted their fires, and put up their tents. Those who had no +tents rolled themselves in their cloaks, and lay down just where they +happened to be. All were overcome by fatigue, long marches, and want of +food and sleep; they seemed only too glad to rest anywhere, and to enjoy +a respite from the sufferings and hardships which during so many days +had weighed upon them. + +The true story of these unhappy soldiers will never become known in +detail; and if it did, the public would hardly believe it. Many of them +started, as I heard from their own lips, with only two-thirds of the kit +they were booked as having received. In some instances their second pair +of boots were wanting; or, if not, the pair supplied had thick brown +paper soles covered with leather, and were often a misfit. The men, as +we read with perfect accuracy in _La Débâcle_, were marched and +countermarched to no purpose; they received contradictory orders; and I +learned from their statements, that neither general officers nor +subalterns knew whither they were going; and that one corps was +constantly getting foul of the other, simply from not being acquainted +with the map of the district in which they found themselves. More than +one declared to me that their officers were _officiers de salon;_ they +were _canaille_, said the men, who when under fire were the first to +seek shelter, and from their position of security to cry "_En avant, mes +braves!_" In fact, the common soldiers felt and expressed the heartiest +contempt for them. Of this I had abundant evidence. It was enough to see +how the rank and file came into the cafés and sat down beside the +officers of their own regiment, as I have seen them do, taking hardly +any notice of them, or deigning them only the lamest of salutes. On the +other hand, when officers came into a café (which they did upon every +possible occasion), the men would pretend not to see them. I have +observed, not once, but scores of times, captains of the Line, wearing +decorations, seated in taverns drinking beer and absinthe with the +common soldiers. They were as despicable in their familiarities as in +their want of courage; and who can be surprised if their men did not +respect them, or wonder that such leaders had no control over the +privates when in action? + +As I mentioned before, we treated a number of officers of high grade +who were wounded on the 1st. They, in their turn, did not hesitate to +show how small was the confidence which they reposed in the grades above +them, by insisting that they had been sold and betrayed. They had +received no orders; and the generals of division had failed to make +their different marches in the appointed time, and to bring up their +commissariat, because their movements were hampered by the Emperor and +his staff, with their infinite baggage and useless attendants. +Statements such as these, together with what I witnessed myself, +convinced me in a very short time that it was not the soldiers of France +who were wanting in courage and endurance, but their officers who were +thoroughly incompetent, and their commissariat and whole military +organisation, which was rotten to the core. + +But to my Hospital. As I walked around the building the sight was +picturesque and very human,--the camp fires showing all the ground +strewn beneath the great trees with jaded sleepers. Entering by one of +the doors, I stumbled against something, which turned out to be a +slumbering Turco. The fellow yelled out words quite unintelligible to +me, and rolled over, without giving himself any more trouble, out of my +way. The medical staff now retired, and attacked what bread, meat, and +soup had been saved from the depredators of our larder that morning; +after which we resumed work once more. We were kept at it the whole of +that night, the following day, and some hours of the night after that, +without intermission. During the whole of the next day we were engaged +in receiving and conveying wounded men from the cottages and farmsteads +scattered over the plains at Illy and Floing, all of which were crammed +with disabled combatants. My duty in the Caserne was to dress the +lightly wounded, and assist at the operation table until the afternoon, +when I was desired by our kind and considerate chief to take four hours +off duty, and get some sleep. + +Instead, however, of taking this rest, which no doubt one required, I +sallied forth with F. Hayden on an expedition into the town, to the +Croix d'Or, where I had left something on the 31st, which I thought I +might recover. We found it hard to get out of our own enclosure; and +even on the steep path leading to the town, men were lying asleep, while +others roamed about in search of food. But when we got into Sedan, the +streets were thronged with soldiers. At several corners we stopped to +see men who were hacking and hewing the carcases of horses, which they +had just killed. Hungry crowds surrounded them, many of whom were +munching the lumps of raw meat, which they had secured, without waiting +to have it cooked; and in the Place de Turenne lay the bloody skeletons +of two horses, from which every particle of flesh had been cut away. +Here, as our cook, "nigger Charlie," assured me, was the source of my +morning's meal, which I had washed down with brandy, and thoroughly +relished. I may be pardoned for turning quickly from the revolting +scene. + +Finding that it was impossible to proceed, we retraced our steps to the +Caserne, and, making our exit this time through one of the sallyports, +went over the scene, at least in part, of yesterday's battle. + +It was a beautiful autumn evening, and the sun shone bright. Butterflies +flitted to and fro, and myriads of insects danced in the light as if for +a wager. Just as we were walking along the entrenchments outside, we +very nearly met with an inglorious end from a shower, not of bullets, +but of _pistols_, which came over the battlements, and continued falling +at intervals. On looking up, I perceived, standing on a projecting +angle, a stalwart Turco, who made signs that I should keep in close to +the parapet, which I did. This friendly fellow persuaded his comrades to +desist for a little, and thus enabled us to retreat. + +On getting clear of the ramparts, we found ourselves north of the town, +with the Bois de Garenne crowning the heights in front, and the valley +of Floing sloping away to our left. But the plateau which yesterday +swarmed with a surging mass of soldiers in conflict with the enemy, and +upon which we had seen the Cuirassiers and Chasseurs d'Afrique, at the +sound of the trumpet, tear headlong in their mad career to death,--was +now hushed, and presented a field of such horrors as are not to be +described. + +The burying parties had been hard at work for hours, but still the dead +lay scattered about on every side:--here singly, there in twos and +threes,--and again, in groups huddled together, which had been mown down +where they stood, by the same missile. Their features in some instances +were contorted and dreadful to behold,--some with portions of their +skulls and faces blown away, whilst what was left of their features +remained unchanged; others with their chests torn open and bowels +protruding; others, again, mangled and dismembered. The larger number +lay either on their backs or faces, without any apparent indication of +the nature of their death-wound. And some there were who had received +the first aid of surgical treatment, and died in the positions in which +they had been placed. + +Lower down the valley the corpses in red and blue, and the ranks of dead +horses, the broken spears and sabres, and the bent scabbards, spoke +silently but forcibly of the fury of that historic encounter. When one +looked along the plain for about half a mile on each side, one saw that +now deserted battlefield strewn as far as the eye could reach with +guns, and ammunition, and upturned waggons. There were carriages, and +dead horses by the side of them; firearms of every kind, in places +stacked several feet high, and knapsacks innumerable; caps, helmets, +belts, plumes, shakos, spurs, and boots, and every description +imaginable of military accoutrements. We remarked, besides, all manner +of articles--sponges, brushes, letters, pocket-books, soldiers' +regimental books, band-music, tin boxes various in size, and showing the +most diverse contents, others empty and their former contents scattered +about; as also nets for hay, saddles, saddle-trappings, whips, bridles, +bits, drums, portions of band instruments, and, in fact, as many +descriptions of objects great and small as would furnish an immense +bazaar. + +In one place I found a chassepot inverted together with a bayonet, set +at the head of a French soldier's grave, and a cavalry sword which lay +unsheathed beside its owner, who, still unburied, gazed vacantly in +front of him with a glassy stare, whilst the flies swarmed about his +half-opened mouth. The only indication of how he met his death was a +small patch of blood-stained earth beside him--not red, but tarry-black. +Near at hand, also, lay, covered with blood, a bit and bridle, without +anything to betoken how it came there. + +The dismal monotony of the scene was relieved only by those little +mounds of fresh earth scattered here and there, which marked where the +bodies of the slain, varying from one to ten in each place of sepulture, +had been consigned. Burials were still going on before our eyes. + +Over many of the graves were set up rustic crosses, made with two pieces +of wood tied together, or more frequently devices in arms. + +Silent as the prospect lay in front of us, its mournful stillness was +occasionally broken by the neighing and scampering of bands of horses, +still uncaptured, which were wandering in a fruitless search for food +and water. As they looked wildly round with their nostrils +distended,--some with just sufficient trappings left to indicate the +military status of their former masters,--one could almost think that, +still unconquered, they sought their comrades and the fray. + +In my ramble I passed through several gardens and orchards skirting the +Bois de Garenne. It was pitiful to see their condition. The trees were +utterly ruined, and their branches all broken; the flower beds were +ploughed up by the bursting of shells, and the houses had become mere +wrecks. Through some of them these missiles had made a clean breach. +Further on to the right, there had been a pretty little cemetery, +planted with yew trees, evergreens, and flowers, which had many small +monuments in marble and cut stone; but these, for the most part, were +broken or disfigured, and the iron railings and the shrubs around them +had been torn down. + +As I walked through, I paused for a moment to look upon the two +graveyards,--the one with a history of centuries, judging from its many +ancient tombs,--the other of yesterday's making--its only monuments the +little mounds of fresh earth, over which, a few months hence, the green +corn of spring would be waving, to obliterate the record of to-day's +ghastly scene. + +Hastening from this melancholy spot, I passed several burying parties. +The ceremonies which they used were rude and scant enough; for all they +did was to heave the body into the newly-made grave, and heap the earth +over it in silence. + +Next we ascended the tree-crested height above the plateau of Floing, +where we had seen the cavalry massed on the morning before. We first +entered the wood. It was intersected by walks which led to an +observatory and a Château in the centre. Here, as everywhere else, +disorder reigned. One might easily have conceived that an army had been +annihilated in the act of preparing their toilet: for all things +belonging to a soldier, from his full-dress uniform to his linen and +boots, were scattered about in all directions. Rifles and arms of all +sorts were cast away in hundreds. The brushwood in many parts was very +thick; but even in the midst of almost impenetrable scrub we found arms +and accoutrements in abundance. More than once we came upon the corpses +of French soldiers, who lay as if asleep. They had probably dragged +themselves from the scene of carnage to this lonely spot, and there +expired, unmolested. + +At one place in particular the underwood was so thick, that I had to +crouch down in order to get through it. My attention was drawn thither +by the signs of a path having been forced in that direction. A little +further in, I found an open space of a few yards square, which was now +occupied by a grave. It had no device upon it, except a cross scratched +in the red clay. Lying beside it, I found a piece of shell, a religious +picture, a prayer-book, and fragments of a uniform, which I still have +by me. I fancy some kind comrade had paid his friend a last tribute, by +giving him, as it were, a special burial in a place to himself. + +In order to reach the building in the centre of the wood, I had to pass +through a little garden, whose only flowers seemed to be rows of +dahlias, of every colour and description. Among these the shells had +made havoc. In one bed, I remarked a deep hole where a shell had fallen, +and some of the plants had been lifted several feet away. In other +places, furrows of some yards in length were made by shot and shell, as +if a plough had worked intermittently here and there. Some were deep, +others just skimmed the surface and ran a zigzag course, as if a +gigantic animal had been turning up the ground with his muzzle. The +building, into which I made my way, seemed to be an observatory or +pavilion, belonging to the Château, which stood some distance behind. +Its doors and wood-work were riddled with bullets, and the roof was +blown away. There, curiously enough, a large quantity of music was +strewn about. Under cover of this wood, the Bois de Garenne, we had seen +the French massing their troops; and they had evidently been lying here +in ambush when the Prussians detected and shelled them, before the final +rout, during which they abandoned their arms and ammunition. Down the +slope of the hill, and in the bottom of the valley facing the Meuse, +dead men and horses, with groups of hastily-dug graves,--many of them +German,--and broken spears, and numbers of unsheathed cavalry swords, +told the same tale of a death struggle in which hundreds must have +perished. + +Further along the valley, beside a lonely thicket, was a large mound +with a stake driven into it, and an inscription in German characters, +made with some material which looked like blacking, "Here lie thirty-six +men of the 5th corps". Who shall reckon the number of French dead in the +many graves adjacent? + +As my time was up, I now hastened back to my post, feeling like one who +had awakened from a terrible nightmare. Yet I was much invigorated by +this expedition, so mournful in its circumstances, and went to work with +renewed energy. + +On the evening of the 3rd, word was brought us that some of the wounded +lay in a bad way in a cottage outside Balan. Dr. MacCormac, accompanied +by Dr. Hewitt and myself, at once proceeded through the town and along +the high road, which we followed only for a short distance. Then we +struck out to the left until we arrived at a small wood, where certain +of the French troops were still encamped, but as prisoners. + +The night was fine, and would have been pitch dark had not the camp +fires shone around numerous and bright. When we came to the house in +question, Dr. MacCormac performed several amputations, at which Hewitt +and I assisted. In a couple of hours we started again for home, but +being both hungry and thirsty, turned aside into a little cottage, where +we told the poor woman in occupation that we had been attending the +wounded, and had had nothing to eat all day. We were willing to pay for +anything she could give us. At first she looked at us sternly; but when +we told her on which side we had been engaged, she melted, and received +us with a welcome, which, if not effusive, was, under the circumstances, +cordial. + +Out of her larder she offered us bread, and a quantity of what she +informed us was beef. We could not be particular; and it was not without +enjoyment that we made our doubtful, but much needed supper on her +viands. No further incident delayed our return to the Caserne D'Asfeld. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +WORK IN THE HOSPITAL.--THE ISLE OF IGES.--MY ARAB HORSE.--PRISONERS SENT +INTO GERMANY. + + +I do not intend entering here into full details of our work during this +eventful period. But, to give unprofessional readers some idea of its +nature and extent, I may state, that after the battles of August 31st, +and 1st September, we had 72 amputations of upper and lower extremities, +the great majority of which operations were performed by Dr. MacCormac. +Besides these, there were scores of equal magnitude--ligatures of +arteries of the neck, arm, and thigh,--and a host of operations, which, +in comparison, are usually termed minor, most of which, especially when +very serious, were accomplished by the same skilful hand. After the +hurry and rush of the first few days, we adopted a general routine of +work, and divided the number of wounded equally among the staff of +surgeons and assistants. We were eighteen, all told. Dr. Marion Sims was +our head, Dr. MacCormac our chief operator, Dr. Webb our _comptable_, +and Mr. Harry Sims our storekeeper. As I stated before, Drs. Frank and +Blewitt managed a branch hospital in the Château Mouville, where they +rendered to the victims of fire, sword, shot, and shell, of bullet and +bayonet, the most signal assistance at the imminent peril of their +lives. + +Thus for our three hundred and eighty wounded at the Caserne D'Asfeld we +had but twelve men, six being surgeons, and six assistants and +_sous-aides_; so that the number of wounded which fell to the share of +each surgeon and his assistant was sixty-three. Almost every case +occupying a bed in the hospital was of a serious nature, such as to +require much time and care in dressing it daily. But, besides, we had to +dress the lightly wounded who came to our hospital for inspection, and +who were quartered in the town wherever they could find room. The work +was simply enormous. We rose at six and breakfasted at half-past seven +upon horseflesh soup, or coffee and condensed milk (Mallow brand) with +musty bread, for our special supply of provisions was exhausted, and +neither bread nor beef could be obtained at any price. The duties to +which we then applied ourselves are easily imaginable; they included the +setting of fractures, extracting of bullets, ligaturing arteries, +resecting bones and joints, and assisting at the operation table. This +last was frequently my province. I was under Dr. May, an experienced +American surgeon, who, as I have mentioned earlier, had served in the +Confederate Army. No one could be more considerate. We worked most +agreeably together, and soon were the best of friends. + +During the press of the first few days, we juniors had lots of bullets +to extract and plenty of minor surgery; for although we were not +supposed to perform any operation, yet under the strain of necessity we +could not but often neglect this otherwise wholesome arrangement. Every +day numberless operations were gone through, at which we assisted in +turn; and thus had what we sometimes thought more than enough of +practical surgery. I spare the reader details; yet only perhaps by such +ghastly touches as are here omitted, can the nature and ravages of war +be truly described. + +At one o'clock the meal which we took resembled our breakfast, with the +addition of a little brandy; then we fell to work again, sometimes not +giving over until six, when we had supper, which was a repetition of our +other meals,--coffee or horseflesh soup, and sometimes horseflesh with +black bread and brandy. Then each took his turn of night duty. It was +very important to keep strict watch on the infirmarians, all soldiers +under the direction of a sergeant who remained in the guard-room when on +duty. We still owed allegiance to the French, and were nominally under +the Intendant Militaire, M. Bilotte. This gentleman paid us a daily +visit, and laid under requisition all the provisions he could get in the +neighbourhood, which was not much, considering that the presence of +200,000 men had involved the consumption of every particle of food in +the town and the surrounding villages. + +Being junior member of the Ambulance Staff, I came first on night duty +and took my position on a stretcher in the guard-room, where it was all +I could do to keep myself awake. My eyes would close in spite of +resolution, and I sometimes awoke just in time to escape a reprimand +when Dr. Marion Sims came round at midnight to make his inspection. As a +veteran in the American War he kept the strictest discipline, and +occasionally made our blood run cold by a description of the penalties +inflicted during that lively time for the smallest dereliction of duty. +However, except that a dozen or so of poor sufferers required morphia to +tranquillise them, nothing occurred until the small hours of the +morning, when it struck me that some of the _infirmiers_ might be, like +myself, inclined to doze. Accordingly, I went round and looked them up. + +All were stirring, except the infirmarians of wards 2 and 5, who were +stretched out, one on a bench, another on the ground, fast asleep. I +kicked them up to attention, and left them certainly more frightened +than hurt. On my reporting the matter, as I was bound, next morning, the +sleepy delinquents were put in the cells for twenty-four hours. + +Later on, one of them had twice as much punishment for the same offence. +Poor fellows, I could not really blame them. + +A source of disturbance during the night was the droves of loose horses, +principally Arabs, that kept neighing and pawing the pavement outside +the building, in their endeavour to reach the water which was stored in +buckets near the open windows. Every night, as their thirst increased, +they became more frantic; and during the daytime they came in dozens, +drawn by the scent of water, all the while kicking each other furiously. +Some had bridles, some mere fragments of their trappings, and the rest +had got quit of all their furniture. It was novel to see these chargers +careering about in demi-toilette. In a few days, however, all the +wounded animals, now become useless, were shot; the others were brought +together--chiefly by the sound of the trumpet, to which they quickly +answered--and were picketed in the valley beyond the Meuse and above +Donchery. + +One morning Hayden and I made an expedition, and secured two of them. +Mine was a fine chestnut Arab, which I kept tied to a tree in our +enclosure, while one of my _infirmiers_ contrived to get fodder for him +outside the ramparts, in addition to what I could procure myself from +the ambulance stores. Mounted on our captures, Hayden and I used +occasionally to explore the country during our hours off duty. +Afterwards, when leaving Sedan, we turned them out again upon the +plains, where, doubtless, they enjoyed a short-lived freedom. Some of +the unsound horses, which the Prussians did not require, they sold for a +trifle to the inhabitants. I saw a remarkably useful pair of horses, +apparently sound and in good condition, which were sold by auction in +the Place de Turenne for twelve francs, that is to say, ten shillings +the pair. But we must bear in mind that, with a little vigilance, and by +evading the Prussian pickets, horses might then be had on the plains for +the trouble of catching them. + +What had become, meanwhile, of the defeated and entrapped army of +prisoners? After much trouble, their officers had got together all that +remained of the regiments, and had sent in a return of their strength to +the Prussians. For three days our enclosure was not clear of them. One +afternoon, when the prisoners had been shut up into their Island "Park," +the Isle d'Iges, Hayden and I paid them a visit. It was a melancholy +sight. That imposing army, which included the best soldiers of France, +had been marched ignominiously, though 85,000 strong, out of Sedan, and +penned like sheep in this island, formed by a bend in the Meuse. There +they were kept in view by Prussian sentinels and mounted pickets. We +passed the guard without difficulty, for there was no prohibition +against Red Cross medical men entering the camp. In addition to the +French rank and file, those officers who refused to take the parole were +confined upon the island. We saw them to be in a miserable plight, the +mud up to their ankles, and their clothing scanty and torn. Many had +lost everything and were wholly without kits. The rain, which had +succeeded to that brilliant sunshine of the 1st, had now been coming +down in torrents for twelve hours, and was drenching them to the skin; +for their tent-accommodation was altogether insufficient, and failed to +shelter them. Men and officers alike looked miserable. + +This open-air prison, I have said, was formed partly by a bend of the +Meuse, and partly by a broad, deep, and impassable canal. Within such +narrow limits we observed the captives, who were walking up and down in +batches, trying to get a little warmth. Some endeavoured to light a +fire--no easy task with wet sticks--others were making coffee, or busied +themselves in cutting timber to throw on their smoking branches. Their +food was a scanty supply of bread and coffee, served out every two days; +and for this there was quite a scramble, which ended in many failing to +secure more than enough for a single meal. Thus they were condemned to +starve until the next supply was served out. We may well ask how such a +multitude could exist during those weary days, at the mercy of the +weather, and in a sea of filth. But many died, and the sufferings of +the rest were deplorable. These poor fellows told us that hundreds of +them were victims of dysentery, and begged us to give them such opiates +or astringents as we might have about us. Unfortunately, we could do but +little under the circumstances. + +Whilst I was speaking with a knot of soldiers, my friend fell into +conversation with a captain of the line, M. le Marquis de ----, of the +4th Chasseurs d'Afrique. He, too, was suffering from the effects of wet +and exposure. Hayden, with that generosity for which he was remarkable, +promised to come the next day, and to bring all the medicine required. +In return, the captain pressed upon him a fine grey Arab, with bridle +and saddle, which Hayden accepted, but could not take away then, for the +guard would not have passed him out. However, when he came the day +after, with a plentiful supply of medicaments and brandy, he rode an old +grey _garron_ which he had picked up somewhere, and on his departure +went off with the captain's beautiful mount;--a change of steeds that +the Prussian did not trouble to remark. + +Every day we saw from our quarters regiment after regiment bundled off +(there is no other word for it) into Germany. As we watched the whole +French army slouching away to the sound of Prussian music, I confess +that some of us had strong language on our lips and still stronger +feelings in our hearts at the shameful sight. We anathematised the +enemy, who now seemed to be pursuing their advantage so unrelentingly. + +Yet, candour compels me to add, that when I looked at the Prussian +sentinels guarding our gates and pacing our ramparts, I could not help +admiring their stern, yet frank and honest countenances, and their +stalwart physique. A notable contrast, indeed, they presented to the +stunted, nervous-looking, and worn-out French soldiers, who, however, it +is only fair to add, were suffering from the effects of long exposure +and privation, and whom we had seen at their worst. Still, there was a +difference in the men themselves which no one with eyes in his head +could fail to observe. What was the explanation of it? He that can reply +to this question as the truth demands, and he alone, will explain why +the French campaigns of 1870 and 1871 were such a dismal series of +misfortunes. The break-down of the Commissariat, the peculation in high +quarters, the confused plans, and the military disorder must be ascribed +to causes which were long in action before the French entered on their +struggle with the Fatherland. I am convinced that those causes were +moral and intellectual; and that they still exist. The future of France +will depend on how the nation deals with them. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MORE WOUNDED.--SIGHTS AFTER THE BATTLE.--A COUNTRY RAMBLE.--HEAVY +HOSPITAL TASKS.--L'EAU DE ZOUAVE. + + +Every day Sedan became more and more crowded with the soldiers who were +hurt; and on the 12th we found ourselves so much pressed for room that +we had to put up thirty-six auxiliary tents, which, for this humane +purpose, we had stolen from the French. + +The first contingent arrived from the neighbourhood of Bazeilles. When +they came in we saw that the poor fellows were in a bad way, many still +groaning from the pain of their wounds, which had been much increased by +their being jolted about in waggons, with only a scanty supply of straw +beneath them. Some had fractured limbs; others had undergone severe +surgical treatment, such as amputations; and these latter suffered +inexpressible torture. + +All were craving for food and water, neither of which had been given to +them during many hours. Some, altogether exhausted, died on the night of +their arrival. One detachment of the sufferers had been allotted to Dr. +May and myself; and I heard from a soldier that he, and a number of his +companions, several of whom had lost their legs, were permitted to +remain on their backs upon a little straw for whole days, in a deserted +farmhouse outside Givonne. Their dressings had neither been removed nor +changed; they had had only water to drink, and a small quantity of musty +black bread to eat. + +Another suffered from a terrible bed-sore, which arose in the same way. + +But what was our surprise, when, on the following day, the Germans sent +us up from the town 130 French wounded, to make room for their own in +Sedan! They had them conveyed on stretchers; and, as it happened to be a +pouring wet day, the unhappy men arrived in their new quarters drenched +to the skin and shivering with cold, for many of them had nothing but a +light shoddy American blanket to cover them or their tarpaulin. + +These new comers, the victims of neglect, exposure, and overcrowding, +became soon the victims also of fever, secondary hemorrhage, dysentery, +pyæmia, and hospital gangrene. It cannot be surprising that they died +every day by the dozen. One morning, in particular, I call to mind that +there had been fourteen deaths during the night. + +Whether it was that the Germans had more wounded of their own than they +could conveniently attend to,--which I believe was the case,--and were +therefore unable to look after the French wounded, or that they were +unwilling to do so, I cannot tell, but I know, from personal +observation, that large numbers of French soldiers died from the neglect +which they had undergone previous to entering our hospitals. + +I am aware that the Germans have been blamed, on more than one occasion, +for the fearfully neglected state of the French wounded in the districts +occupied by them. But I think the true explanation may be found, first +and foremost, in the great desire which the peasants had to convert +their houses into ambulances, outside of which they could hang the Red +Cross flag. Thereby, they exempted themselves from having the invaders +billeted on them. But also, it was owing to the reluctance which these +same peasants felt at parting with their wounded, which would have put +an end to their own immunity. Furthermore, we must take into our account +the undoubted fact that the Prussians were themselves anxious to leave +them with the inhabitants, and so get quit of the trouble which it +involved to transport and treat them surgically. Besides this, so great +was the dread which the French wounded experienced of being handled by +German doctors and taken to German hospitals, that, in many instances, +they persuaded their own people to conceal their presence as long as +possible. And, all through, we cannot but remember the appalling +disorganisation and incompetence of the French voluntary ambulances, +which were never to be found when wanted, and which when they did +appear, brought with them little or nothing that was necessary to make a +battlefield ambulance useful. They possessed no stores; they had few +willing hands or cool heads, and discipline was unknown to them. + +I think it but right to add, that once the French were transmitted to a +German hospital, they invariably (as I can testify from experience) met +with the greatest kindness at the hands of the military surgeons, and +had all that science and good order could do for them. + +During all this time we were virtually prisoners in the hands of the +Prussians, and they kept a regular guard upon our quarters, while +numerous sentries paced up and down the ramparts beside us, as we went +to and fro. Nevertheless, far from interfering in any way they gave us +help in every possible manner, and showed us the most marked deference. +But the sentries who, after nightfall, were placed every fifty yards in +the streets, were, at first, constantly challenging us, until they came +to recognise our uniform, and knew who we were. + +An incident, which I ought not to pass over, occurred one evening as +Hayden and I rode out for an airing. We were going along the road which +led through the Prussian artillery camp outside Donchery, and we met a +carriage or landau, accompanied by a strong guard of Uhlans, in which +was a French officer, evidently wounded, for he lay on his back, propped +up on pillows. Another officer of rank sat beside him. We were informed +that the wounded prisoner was Marshal MacMahon, and that he was on his +way to Germany through Belgium; but I have found since that this could +not have been the case, for Marshal MacMahon was taken away early on the +day of Sedan itself. Next we trotted on to the cottage at Frénois, +where, a few days previously, the Emperor had met Count Bismarck. We +then rode to the Château Bellevue in which Napoléon had had his +interview with the King of Prussia and the capitulation was signed. Here +I was shown, and sat upon, the chair in which the fallen Emperor had +been seated. The pen and ink were shown us, also, with which, as it was +alleged, the articles had been written. But I felt by no means sure of +this and told my companion so. It was amusing to see his indignation, +and the vehement way in which he put down my scepticism, as detracting +from the interest of our pilgrimage. + +Our next move was to inspect some of the enemy's positions on the +heights of Marfée. Here we could trace no débris of any kind,--a +sufficiently striking contrast to what we had observed on the other +side, where one might conceive that myriads of the French had come +together for a death struggle. Over many of the Prussian graves were +erected small improvised crosses, with the numbers of the dead marked in +black paint. Of these graves not a few were afterwards opened, and the +bodies buried deeper down; for they had been lying so close to the +surface that the odour became most offensive. The Prussians wisely got +their dead out of sight quickly, and buried them hastily, without caring +how imperfectly the work was executed at the time. This they did lest +the sight of the dead might have a demoralising effect upon the living. +As we took a zigzag course towards home, we passed close by the railway +station, and perceived that it was full of wounded men. The Salle +d'Attente and all the offices and rolling-stock had been converted into +ambulances. In many of the carriages the partitions had been removed, so +that they now presented the appearance of a hospital upon wheels. + +The sight was interesting to me, for I had been one of the last who had +travelled in those carriages and alighted on that platform. As we passed +on we skirted the French camp, and scanned the remaining occupiers--now +reduced to a handful--of this plague-spot. And before returning, we +inspected the pontoon bridge which the Prussians had thrown across the +Meuse upon the evening of the 31st. I had never seen a bridge of the +kind, and was naturally struck with this wonderful result of an hour's +labour. By-and-by, fortune gave me an opportunity of seeing a still more +marvellous bridge of boats, constructed and destroyed on the Loire at +Orleans. + +Next day, when I had finished my work, which consisted, as usual, of +dressing wounds of every conceivable description, I was despatched by +Dr. Sims to Dr. Frank at Bazeilles, in order to ascertain what +additional surgical material was required to carry on his hospital at +that place. Passing through the town, I noticed that the streets of +Sedan were no longer overflowing with French soldiers. They were filled +with Prussians, wearing that grave or stolid expression which marked +them out so clearly from their adversaries. All the shutters were up, +the doors closed, and not an inhabitant to be seen. One could imagine +that the town had been completely deserted before the hostile troops had +entered. + +Such, however, was by no means the case. The inhabitants had shut +themselves up as a silent protest, and that their eyes might be relieved +from the spectacle of the invader rejoicing over his victory. For, true +it is that with a Frenchman, to be out of sight is to be out of mind. A +few days later came a decree from the German Commandant, obliging the +citizens to open their doors and shops, and to resume the ordinary +traffic. + +I left the town by the Balan gate, stepped off the high road, which was +blocked with transport and Commissariat waggons, and took my way through +the fields. In this short journey of less than a mile, I unwittingly +stepped over many a grave, and was sometimes made unpleasantly aware of +the proximity of its occupant to the surface. Having arrived at my +destination, which was easily found,--for the château was an ancient +mansion, standing in the midst of fine woods and gardens, and had an +avenue leading from the village through a handsome entrance.--I +delivered my orders, and then looked round the hospital. It was airy, +clean, and commodious, was evidently worked on system, and not +overcrowded. In attention to this latter point, lies the secret of +success in a field hospital. + +I was privately made aware of an interesting fact, that the pleasant old +man who went about dressed in a rustic costume, blue blouse, loose +trousers, and rough shoes, and made himself generally useful, was the +owner of this pretty place. He had adopted the disguise as a safeguard +against the Prussians, and in order to keep an eye on his property. From +time to time, he produced out of his secret stores wine of an old +vintage and corned meat,--both welcome delicacies during those days of +horseflesh soup and black bread. + +Having done my errand, I walked through a plantation which communicated +by a wicket with the road leading to the village. More than a week had +elapsed since our attention was being drawn in the direction of +Bazeilles by those continued volleys of musketry, and the fearful +conflagration which had been so conspicuous in the darkness. Yet some of +the houses were smouldering as I passed through. One of our Ambulance +surgeons who had been present at the street-fighting, gave a vivid +description of the scenes enacted there under his own observation; but +to these I have already alluded, and I shall relate only what I saw. +Here it was that the dead lay in such heaps that they had to be cleared +away before the cavalry could pass. Now all were decently buried, except +such as lay beneath the burning ruins, and of these, people said, there +were numbers. As the weather was again very close, the odour was in some +places most disagreeably perceptible. Strewn about was débris of every +kind; arms, accoutrements, broken furniture and household effects, +portions of bedding, and shreds of women's and children's clothing. I +pulled at one piece of a garment which was visible through the débris of +a ruined house, and fancied that its wearer was lying only a few inches +beneath. It was a child, so far as I could judge from the dress. That +thought made me hurry away from the spot with a feeling of sickness. +Before its downfall, Bazeilles had been a pretty little town, each +house having its own trees and garden; but now, with the exception of a +few flowers and shrubs at the Mairie, all had been destroyed. There were +statues and vases still standing in their place; but not a single thing +which could lead one to suppose that, a few days previously, this heap +of ruins had been a thriving village, its streets lined with comfortable +houses, and its people flourishing. + +The village church, standing in the centre of the Square, was a total +wreck. On entering, I perceived that here, too, the shells had done +their work effectively; for the altar seemed as if it had been struck +and shivered to pieces by a mighty hammer. The stone font set in the +wall was broken to bits, the glass hung in cones from the windows. I +have kept some of these as memorials to this day. Among the rubbish of +the altar and tabernacle, I came upon a piece of shell,--the same, no +doubt, that wrecked the sanctuary. This I have also preserved. + +For some time I wandered about the deserted streets, taking in the sad +sight. So fierce had been the conflagration that the trees were burned +down to the bare trunks. On turning a corner, I espied at the top of the +street, facing me, a man with a portfolio and easel in front of him, +hard at work sketching the ruins. As I approached he gave me a searching +look, and resumed his work. Later on he came up to the Hospital, and I +found he was an artist on the staff of the _Illustrated London News._ +In that paper I saw afterwards the sketch he was taking; and a very +excellent one I judge it to be. + +On the way back to my quarters I saw a crowd of children at a convent +door, from the steps of which two nuns were distributing bread from a +large basket. These children, I was informed, were some of the innocents +who had fled with their mothers from the burning village. It made my +heart ache to see the eagerness with which these half-famished little +creatures snatched at and began to devour the bread. And now as I slowly +trudged up the steep path which led to our Hospital, I could not but +reflect how terrible a curse is war, and what a very faint idea he will +have of it who has not seen the detestable thing face to face. + +Our Hospital work, hitherto very heavy indeed, was now increased by our +thirty-six tents. All were filled with wounded; and we should soon have +overtasked our strength, but for the timely assistance which the English +Society lent us. About the 11th September, Drs. A. O. Mackellar, +Sherwell, Beck and Warren, and two dressers, accompanied by two English +nursing Sisters--Miss Pearson and Miss McLoughlin--arrived, the former +from Metz, the latter from London. They brought a supply of Mallow +condensed milk and potted beef--a welcome supplement to black coffee +and horseflesh soup. Up to this we had quite forgotten the outer world; +and we knew little of the great events which had passed, and were +passing, outside our own limited experience. + +Some days previous to being thus reinforced, several of us were attacked +by intestinal disorders, from which I, among the number, suffered +severely. In a few days, the origin of this malady was accounted for. +The body of a Zouave, in a state of semi-decomposition, was drawn out of +the well which alone supplied the Hospital. + +His presence there was discovered by the bumping of the bucket against +something soft, when a grappling iron was let down and brought up the +dead body.... This poor fellow had, we supposed, been wounded slightly +on the 1st; and, during that night, or the night after, had dragged +himself to the edge of the well, and had fallen in, probably owing to +his efforts to procure some relief from his thirst. There was no other +way of accounting for his presence. Dr. MacCormac christened this well +"L'Eau de Zouave". I resolved never again to complain of the coarse and +scanty fare upon which we subsisted; but my blood curdled at the thought +that this unsavoury and deadly beverage, in the shape of a cold infusion +of Zouave and brandy, had for some days past been my chief drink. Such +is war! + +The weather, which had been fine and warm since we left Paris, had now +become wet and stormy. In spite of all we could do, the misery and +wretchedness of the wounded under canvas was beyond description. For the +rain came through the tents and soaked their scanty bedding. I occupied +a small tent in the middle of the others; and to give some notion of the +weather, I may mention that one night, when I had taken off nearly all +my clothes (by no means a usual, or always possible, proceeding) and had +got between the blankets, being stretched on a straw mattress, I awoke +to find myself in the open air, with the rain and wind beating fiercely +upon me. The tent had been swept away by a gust of wind. I started out +of bed, and, standing in the dark, up to my ankles in mud, drenched, and +not half-dressed, called to the Hospital guard. One of them brought a +lantern, and guided me to the main building close by, where I found some +dry clothes, and made up a bed with a few benches in the mess-room. With +the help of a tumbler of brandy and hot water, and a dose of chlorodyne, +I had an excellent night's rest in my new quarters. + +But this bad weather, exposure, and overcrowding--all things beyond our +control--brought disaster into our camp. Pyæmia and secondary hemorrhage +showed themselves everywhere. All our secondary operations died, and I +regret to say that their places were immediately filled up by the +Germans, who turned all the French wounded that they could out of the +principal buildings of the town, and sent them up to us, in order to +make room for their own. Though the position of the tents was changed, +and disinfectants used as far as possible, numbers of these new invalids +had been hardly with us a couple of days when they were seized by the +same infection. The Hospital had become a centre of the plague, and +threatened to be a death-trap to all who should be sent thither. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +TWO THOUSAND PATIENTS.--NIGGER CHARLIE.--LOUIS ST. AUBIN, CHASSEUR +D'AFRIQUE.--THE BOY PEYEN.--GUNS CAPTURED IN THE TOWN. + + +THE number of wounded in the care of our Ambulance was at this time, +roughly speaking, about 500. There were 218 in the Caserne; each of the +thirty-three tents held 4 patients, and Dr. Frank had in his Hospital +150 Bavarians. This will make the total given above a fairly accurate +estimate. During and after the battles of the 31st August, and the 1st +September, the number of men whose wounds we dressed and attended to, +without receiving them into the Hospital, was calculated by us at about +2000. Nor can this be thought excessive, when, within rifle range around +us, there were of French wounded alone, over 12,500. + +A further insight into the magnitude of our labours may be gained from +the fact that in our Hospital at Sedan we had a total of 436 primary +operations,--152 for injuries of the upper, and 284 for injuries of the +lower extremities. Another interesting fact worth recording is, that +during the battles about Sedan, not a single case of wound by a +mitrailleuse bullet was met with by any member of our staff. + +Dr. Marion Sims assured us that the hardships we endured, and the amount +of work we actually got through, went beyond the limits of his varied +experience. To enter at length into details would, besides involving +obscure technicalities, be tedious to the general reader. I will confine +myself to a brief account of our Staff and General Management, and +select from my observations a few interesting cases. I have named the +original members of our Ambulance, and those who had recently joined us. +Nor must I forget Père Bayonne, the Dominican Friar, who was a general +favourite, and untiring in his efforts to deal with the religious wants +of the dying soldiers--no easy task among Frenchmen. Neither ought I to +omit M. Monod, our Protestant chaplain, a quiet, gentlemanly man, who +moved noiselessly about, and slipped little pamphlets with stories of +the usual type, and sheets of paper with Bible-texts printed on them, +into the patients' beds as he went along. + +But I have yet to mention, at such length as he deserves, one of the +most notable characters in our Ambulance, our _chef de cuisine_ and +stud-groom, "Nigger Charlie". He was coal-black, and he and his +forefathers had been Virginian slaves in Dr. Pratt's family. When the +slaves were enfranchised, and slavery abolished, Charlie came to Paris +with his master, whose family were ruined by the emancipation, for all +their wealth had consisted in their slaves. At Paris, Charlie served Dr. +Pratt faithfully for years; indeed, he often told me that he loved his +master more dearly than his life. Dr. Pratt, on the other hand, knew and +said that in spite of his undoubted devotion, Charlie would sometimes +steal his money and pawn his plate, after which he would take to his +heels, coming back only when all he had gained in this unrighteous +fashion was spent. But, though chastised not too leniently with the +whip, nothing would induce him to run away for good. It was, in fact, +impossible to get rid of him. + +When, therefore, the negro heard that his master had joined the +Ambulance, although he had a good salary as courier in an American Bank +in Paris, he packed up his traps, and, without saying a word, landed +himself into the train by which we arrived at Sedan. He was a wonderful +cook, and knew how to serve up horseflesh soup and steaks so as to defy +detection. He was also a wit of quite a brilliant type, a great rider +and judge of horses, and as a liar beat all records. But his most +decided characteristics were hatred of the Yankee, contempt for black +men, and a chivalrous devotion to white women. I had many a pleasant +chat with him. His descriptions of slave life in Virginia, as he said it +went on in nine cases out of ten, and of the happiness of their +domestic situation and surroundings, were extremely vivid and even +touching. I presume he was, at any rate, a true witness in his own +behalf. + +Now, as to the exact nature of our Hospital work and its results. It is +to me a constant subject of regret that our knowledge of the antiseptic +treatment and drainage of wounds was then only in its beginning. +Although lint and _charpie_ dressings were used, saturated with carbolic +solution, yet covered as they were with oiled silk and a bandage, their +effect was spoiled. Neither was any serious attempt made to render the +instruments, operating table, and surroundings of the patients, aseptic. +Hence the high rate of mortality which ensued. Startling, in fact, as +the statement may appear, I am convinced that if we had refrained from +performing a single secondary operation at Sedan, our results would have +turned out far better. + +There was associated with every individual in this great host of +patients an interesting story,--how, when, and where did they receive +their wounds? And among the number some cases could not fail to be +exceptionally romantic or affecting. The sketch I have already given of +Louis St. Aubin's adventures,--that brave Chasseur d'Afrique who was +thrice wounded on the 1st,--may be taken as an instance; and I will now +add what happened in the sequel. + +St. Aubin came into the Hospital under Dr. May's care and mine. Two days +afterwards, Dr. MacCormac performed resection of both his joints. But so +afraid was Louis that advantage might be taken of his induced sleep to +amputate his arm (a mutilation to which the poor fellow would in no case +submit) that he refused utterly to be put under chloroform. Throughout +the operation, which was of necessity a protracted one, he bore up with +amazing courage. When the bones had to be sawn through, he clenched his +teeth on the fold of a sheet, and, except to give utterance to a few +stifled groans, neither flinched nor moved a muscle. His powers of +endurance were wonderful. Day after day I attended at this brave +fellow's bedside, and he and I became much attached to one another. I +took him little delicacies when I could procure them, and I was +determined not to let him die if I could help it. Dr. MacCormac visited +him very often; but he was quite jealous of allowing any one but Dr. May +or myself to dress his wounds. + +For some time he went on favourably,--a progress which I observed with +pleasure; but then fell back so much that we almost despaired. At this +time his sufferings were intense; and I had much to do to keep him in +bed. One day he implored of me to put him altogether out of his pain; I +expostulated with him as firmly as I could, and pointed out how unmanly +it was to use such language, whatever he might be enduring; when he +said, with an agonising earnestness, "Tell me, doctor, is it possible +that Christ suffered as much as I am suffering now?" I answered, "Your +pain is as nothing to His," and he calmed down and went through his +agony in silence. + +Happily, it was not long until he became better; and when in course of +time, I was obliged to leave with the Ambulance and go to the front, he +was rapidly recovering. Our parting was sorrowful, for I honoured and +loved the noble spirit of that dauntless soldier. He begged for my +address in Ireland, that he might write to me; and he has done so +several times. I subjoin the translation of one of his letters sent to +me while he was in Hospital after I had left Sedan. + + "SEDAN, Oct. 10th, 1870. + "Monsieur le Docteur, + + "I do not wish to delay any longer before giving you an account + of myself, and once more expressing my gratitude for the + interest you have taken and the care you have lavished on me. + What am I to tell you about my wound? It is slow in healing, and + since your departure, I have had to undergo treatment very + different from yours; but I have not given up the hope of a + complete recovery, although I suffer a good deal, and am obliged + to stay in bed. + + "I should be very happy if I could see you at my bedside, M. le + Docteur. In spite of the pains taken with me, I feel your going + away; you were so kind and patient. Shall I ever see you again, + and thank you with my own lips? I hope so with all my heart. I + will never forget you. + + "Please accept, with the expression of my deepest gratitude, my + entire devotion. + + "LOUIS ST. AUBIN. + + "I take the liberty of sending you my address, and I hope you + will do me the honour of letting me hear from you. Thanks to the + kindness of M. de Montagnac, I shall receive your letter + direct." + +The address given was that gentleman's, at Bouillon. + +I insert this touching note, less on account of the generous +acknowledgment which Louis St. Aubin makes to his doctor, than to show +what fine qualities were in him, and how gracefully his French courtesy +enabled him to express himself. Indeed, when his Colonel came to see the +lad, he declared that Louis was the best and bravest soldier in his +troop, and that he did not know what fear was. + +Another young fellow, quite a boy, Peyen of the 50th Regiment of the +Line, had been shot through the wrist, and Dr. May considered that +amputation was necessary. He was a bright young fellow, with a beaming +countenance and a twinkle in his eye; and when I came to let him know +our determination, and take him to the operation ward, I found him +smoking a cigar. Not a bit dismayed, he got out of bed, slipped on his +trousers, and tripped briskly up the cloister, smoking his cigar all the +while, until he mounted the operation table. His arm was amputated; but +when he recovered from the chloroform state, he declined to go back to +bed until he saw his comrade's leg cut off. "I want," said Peyen, "to +tell him how it was done." This might be an incident in _Le Conscrit_ of +MM. Erckmann-Chatrian. + +He quietly smoked another cigar which I procured for him, and +attentively watched every step of the operation; after which, he and his +companion returned to their ward together. + +Peyen wrote me a letter, which I still possess, and will here append, to +show me how well he could write with his left hand. Nothing but a +facsimile could do justice to the quaint and brave caligraphy of this +letter, which I am sorry not to reproduce in the original. It read +pretty much as follows:-- + + "AT SEDAN, September 18th, 1870. + + "On the 4th of August, took place the Battle of Bixembourg + (_sic_) from 9 in the morning till 9 at night. The _division + Douai_, composed of about 8000 men, too weak to resist an enemy + six times their number, was forced to beat a retreat to Hagenau. + In this sad engagement General Douai was killed at the head of + his Division. The battle was won by the Prussians,--that is + true, but the honour remains with France, the Division having + stood against 60,000 men all that day, and having even prevented + them for five hours from ascending the slope of Bixembourg. + + (Signed) "PEYEN, LOUIS, + "Ever your devoted servant. + "To M. le Docteur of Ward No. 5." + +This plucky young fellow recovered without a single bad symptom. But, +alas! it was not so with a vast number of our other patients; for, about +the 14th, many of them were in a bad way, and nearly all our staff +complained of not feeling well. Dr. Sims noticed one day that the work +was telling on me, and ordered me off duty, sending me out for a walk. + +Accordingly, I went into the town, and saw the French guns which had now +been stored in the Park, or exercise ground for the troops during times +of peace. I never shall forget that sight. There were 400 pieces of +artillery of all sizes, including 70 mitrailleuses packed close +together. The question suggested itself, Would an army of 100,000 +Englishmen, with this amount of guns and ammunition, submit to lay down +their arms and skulk into Germany? Could any combination of +circumstances make such a thing possible? I do not believe it. An +officer on duty about the place kindly took me through the Park, and +showed me the working of the mitrailleuse, as well as a number of heavy +cannon. He warned me against picking up unburst shells, for they had +been known to explode as long as seventeen days after being fired--a +statement which I thought unlikely. + +Standing beside this plateau was a large building which belonged to the +Nuns of the Assumption, and in which a sister of mine, who is in that +Order, had until recently been living. I paid them a visit and the +Mother Superior received me cordially, telling me of their labours on +behalf of the wounded, and pointing out where a shell had struck one of +the doors leading into the garden. There was also a round hole in +another door, as clean cut by a bullet as if it had been done with a +punch. + +The refectory of these good Sisters was now made the operation room; and +many of the lightly wounded were limping on crutches up and down the +cloisters, their faces beaming with contentment, as well they might, for +the Nuns were indefatigable in attending to their wants. Having bidden +adieu to the amiable Superior, I directed my steps to the Place de +Turenne. Here the church, theatre, public schools, and extensive +buildings of the cloth and silk factories in the Rue Marqua, were +crowded with invalids, as was every second house in the town. All these +showed the Red Cross flag--under Prussian management, and I looked into +some of them, thinking that the Church especially, was an uncanny sight +when turned into a hospital and full of the wounded. + +I now passed on through the town, and out by the Torcy Gate, and so home +again. It was four days before I was allowed another ramble, as Dr. May +had a slight attack of blood poisoning, and his work was given to me. +Most of our _infirmiers_ had been drawn by the Prussians. Those that +remained were French ambulance men; and, if we except three, were +altogether ignorant, lazy, and good-for-nothing fellows. They had +received no technical training; and the task, therefore, which devolved +upon me taxed the energies of mind and body. + +Some of our patients were wounded in three, four, five, and, in one +instance, in six places, which made the dressing of their wounds a +tedious affair. I had also to dress ten or a dozen amputated limbs. At +one time I had in my charge eighteen of these, a couple of resections, +no end of flesh wounds from bullet and shell, numerous fractures--most +of them compound ones--and all varieties of lacerations and contusions. +About this time there were some forty secondary operations, in all of +which conservative surgery had been tried; but owing to the overcrowded +state and vitiated atmosphere of the Hospital, these patients nearly all +succumbed. From the commencement our lightly wounded men were removed as +soon as possible, and sent to some French or Belgian Military Hospital. +The result was that, after a few days, we had none in our care but the +severely wounded. I cannot conclude without mentioning the kind way in +which Dr. Marion Sims dealt with me. Nor shall I ever cease to recall +with gratitude, his invariable consideration for one so much younger +than himself and wholly without experience. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +SUSPICIOUS PRUSSIANS.--THE ILLUSTRIOUS STROMEYER.--OPEN-AIR +TREATMENT.--NEUTRALITY BECOMES DIFFICULT.--DR. SIMS LEAVES US.--UNDER +ARREST.--FAREWELL TO SEDAN. + + +I forgot to mention a curious story told me by a French soldier, who had +a bullet wound through his arm. To account for it, he said that it had +been received from the pistol of a Prussian horseman, to whom he was in +the act of handing a piece of bread, which the fellow had asked of him. +Could this be true? It seems to me incredible, and, for the honour of +our common humanity, I hope was false. + +A strange encounter which one of our new arrivals, Dr. Warren, had with +two Prussian sentinels caused some excitement, and not a little +amusement, among the rest of us. Dr. Warren was returning after dark, +with some arms that he had secured as trophies, and secreted a few days +previously. When he was passing beneath the ramparts a sentinel from +above halted him, and challenged him to give the word. Dr. Warren, who +could then neither speak nor understand French or German, shouted and +made such explanations as he could in English, which it is needless to +observe the sentinel did not comprehend. How unsatisfactory they were to +him our friend was quickly convinced, by the sentry raising his rifle +and firing at his head. He heard the bullet hit the bank close beside +him, and, as it was dusk, the flash revealed two other sentries on their +beat near by, one of whom followed suit; but luckily with no better +success. + +A yet more extraordinary method of assault was now resorted to by a +third, who, being conscious, no doubt, of his incompetence as a +marksman, began to hurl large stones over the ramparts at our stranger. +Thus far, Dr. Warren had been standing petrified with astonishment, but +now realising his position he made up his mind to run, which he did at +the utmost speed, for he expected every second to feel a bullet through +him, the only doubt being where he would get hit. He escaped, and the +whole affair was reported to the Prussian commandant. This officer had +two of the sentinels mildly reproved for their excess of zeal, and the +hurler punished in that he had adopted an unsoldierly method of attack. +Dr. Scott suggested to me that this last man must have been by descent +from Tipperary. + +Misadventures were in the air just then; for, a morning or two +afterwards, Drs. Parker and Marcus Beck happened to ignite some +cartridges which were lying on the ground near the Hospital, and thereby +caused an explosion. The guard turned out, arrested our two heroes, and +took them before the commandant, who, upon receiving their explanation, +set them at liberty. As time wore on, our relations with the Teutons +became more and more friendly. At first they had looked upon us with +distrust; but, when they found that our organisation was thoroughly +international, that we were independent of the French, and our staff and +management as complete and efficient as they proved, the invaders seemed +to take unusual interest in us. Their surgeons came in numbers to the +Hospital, where, of course, they met with all civility; and we, on our +side, had nothing of which to complain. + +Not only so. Their surgeon-general, the great Stromeyer, condescended to +inspect our hospital, and complimenting the Chief on its details and +management, invited him to visit his own Ambulance at Floing. Dr. +MacCormac did so, and was highly pleased with all he saw. The success of +the Prussian surgical operations was very striking. It contrasted most +favourably with our results; but this depended, in great measure, on the +Floing Hospital having been a temporary structure, consisting of +improvised shanties, boarded all round in such a way that the sides +could be opened at will in louvre fashion, so that, weather permitting, +the patients were treated practically in the open air, yet without +subjecting them to chill or exposure. I conceive that this was the +explanation of their low death-rate, for the surgical methods of +procedure were identical with our own. And I may anticipate here a +remark which my experience at Orleans afterwards confirmed, _viz._, that +such open-air treatment is the only effective protection against +blood-poisoning. + +This was the first introductory step to our transition from the French +to the German side, but the change was slow and gradual. Hints, indeed, +were constantly thrown out that our services would be well received, if +we followed on in the track of their army. At first we firmly asserted +our neutrality. But we were made to understand that the attitude we had +assumed was impracticable; we must make up our minds to be on one side +or the other. These warnings did much to determine the line of action +upon which we finally resolved. Our movements were also influenced by +the fact that while, as regarded the majority of our staff, our +sympathies were undoubtedly French, yet later on, when we came in +contact with the Prussians, and got to know them thoroughly, the +admiration with which we started for the other side was very much cooled +down. We looked on the belligerents with less prejudiced eyes, and, in +the long run, had no decided leaning one way or another. + +In a few days from the time of which I have spoken above, Dr. May was +sufficiently well to resume duty. There was a fresh addition to our +staff in the person of Dr. Sherwell, and our duties becoming less +laborious, suffered us at length to breathe. We could now go down +frequently in the evening, for an hour, either to the Hôtel de la Croix +d'Or, or to a first-rate café in the Rue Napoléon, where it was possible +to enjoy a smoke or a drink, and a game of billiards upon a table +without pockets. This was a great recreation, and I found it did one +good after the labours of the day. There we met the French officers who +were on parole, and not a little surprise did we feel to see them smoke, +drink, and crack jokes as if the capitulation of Sedan were ancient +history. There also we came across the surgeons and assistants of the +Prussian Military Hospitals, many of whom knew French fairly well, and +not a few spoke English. We, however, had to be back again by nine +o'clock, before our drawbridge was taken up; for the standing order had +been issued that any one found in the streets after that hour was liable +to be shot. + +On one occasion I happened to be returning with a fellow "Chip," who, +after the labours of the day, had partaken rather too freely of "bock" +and "cognac de café". With no small difficulty I had induced him to +start, and we found the streets dotted with sentries on night-duty. +Hence, every few minutes we were halted, and made to advance until their +bayonets almost touched our shirt-fronts. This would not have made me +nervous, had not my friend, who was a good deal more noisy since he +tasted the open air, objected to being stopped by the sentries in so +rude a fashion. He declined, in short, to account for himself. Fearing +unpleasant consequences, I came forward on the approach of every sentry +and gave the name of our corps, specifying our quarters, and adding +gently, "Mein Freund hat zu viel bock getrunken". They invariably met +the palaver with a laugh, and let us pass on, for some of them knew who +we were. One fellow, either a little more inquisitive than the rest, or +else not recognising our uniforms, put us through a regular examination, +upon which my companion began to speak roughly, and even made a clutch +at his rifle. Fortunately, the sentinel perceived what was the matter, +and was willing to let him pass; but my man wouldn't stir an inch. Here +was a predicament! As he could speak a little German, he used his +knowledge to abuse the good-natured sentry, and when he had come to the +end of his vocabulary, began again in French (of which language he was +perfect master), winding up at last in English. The soldier presented +his rifle, I daresay with the intention of frightening my comrade; and +I thought it time to seize him by the collar and get him along by main +force. Thus we arrived within regulation distance of the gates of the +Citadel. + +The bridges were up, and the sentry on duty refused to let us advance +any further. By this time my friend had quieted down, and was beginning +to realise his position; for here we had to wait fully half an hour +while the sentry was hailing the others, who in their turn hailed some +more, and so on, until the officer of the watch came on the scene. His +business was to call out the guard, when, after much shouting, +shuffling, and shouldering of arms, the drawbridge was let down and we +were admitted. I was glad enough to get my obstreperous friend safely +landed within. It was a parlous incident, though my friend's drollery +and witty _sotto voce_ remarks--for he was not really overcome by the +"bock" to the extent of intoxication--have often made me laugh heartily +since. + +I have thus brought my readers to the middle of our third week at Sedan; +and it was with feelings of sincere regret that we now bade adieu to Dr. +Marion Sims, who, in so short a space of time, had won the regard of +every member of our staff. He appointed in his place Drs. Frank and +MacCormac as co-surgeons in chief--Dr. Frank for the Balan and Bazeilles +division of our Ambulance, Dr. MacCormac for Sedan. + +As our work was growing gradually less, we now had time for a ride +nearly every afternoon. There was one in particular which I enjoyed +much, and often took in company with my friend Hayden. It was from Sedan +to Bouillon, conveying or bringing back the post. This was the only +channel through which we could receive letters from home. Bouillon, as +is well known, is a very picturesque town, about six miles from the +frontier, and twelve from Sedan. The road thither goes through Balan, +Givet, and Givonne, over hills and dales, and through a finely wooded +country, partly lying in the Forest of Ardennes, from which there +stretches a vast succession of woods for twenty or thirty miles. As we +near our destination the road winds circuitously, and turns at last into +the Valley of Bouillon. When I saw it, the autumn colours were all +abroad, and no prospect could be more enchanting. There, beneath us, +nestling amid the foliage, now rich and golden, which clothed its hills, +lay in the noonday sun, the ancient town of Bouillon, through which a +rapid and boiling river, the Somme, flowed over a rocky bed, and was +leaping and dancing round one huge boulder, above which rose the +ivy-mantled turrets of Godfrey's once mighty fortress. The steep and +grassy slopes seemed to come down sheer to the water's edge. It was a +place of sunshine, quiet and secure; and, at first sight, one would have +thought it inaccessible. + +I may mention that it was in this little expedition, when passing by +Givonne, that I espied, lying on his side and basking at full length in +the sun, a beautiful black and tan hound, identical in appearance with +the old breed of Kerry beagles. My companion was amused that I could +feel excited about Kerry beagles. But I had my reasons, and I asked the +owner of the house to whom the dog might belong. He replied that it was +the property of a Marquis in the Ardennes, who kept a pack for hunting +deer and wild boars, and he added that probably such a dog would not be +sold under 500 francs. The "Black and Tans" are an old-established pack +in my neighbourhood, with which I have long had very close associations; +and it made my blood run faster to be reminded of them in the +neighbourhood of the Forest of Ardennes, which for the world at large +has other memories, less personal, if more poetic. + +Having arrived at our destination, and delivered and received our +letters, we had a good dinner and a smoke. None of my readers can know +the pleasure of a good dinner if they have not lived in a situation like +that which was then allotted to us. We went to see the old castle, with +its corridors hewn out of the solid rock, and its manhole in the parapet +leaning over the river, from which highwaymen and robbers--if not others +less guilty--were hurled into the waters beneath. Lingering about the +place for hours after we ought to have started, the evening came on so +quickly that we shirked the long journey in the dark. We thought it +better to stay the night at Bouillon, and take our chance of getting off +a reprimand by means of this explanation. + +At first light next morning we started, but on arriving at the Hospital, +Dr. May, without asking why we had come after time, informed us from the +chief that we must consider ourselves as under arrest until further +notice. This was not exactly pleasant. But we had our work to do, and +there can be no doubt that the strict discipline kept in our Ambulance +was what made it so successful. + +Many members of the French Hospital staff, whom I met here and +elsewhere, assured me that jealousy and want of discipline among them +were potent causes of their failure; their supply of material--which was +generally very short--in some cases outlasting the final disruption. + +I had one other most interesting expedition, to the Château Bellevue and +along by the hills where the Prussians established their heavy guns on +the First. It commanded the whole valley, and as we looked down upon the +Plateau of Floing, the Bois de Garenne, the slopes of Givonne, and our +hospital standing on its huge embankment above the ramparts of Sedan +between them and us, the only wonder was that a single man of us +remained alive. + +It was now time to think of a fresh field for our labours. Dr. Parker +and I were deputed to visit Arlon, a town in Belgium about thirty-five +miles distant, to consult with Capt. H. Brackenbury, who was secretary +to the English Aid Society on the Continent. We made the journey in a +two-horse open carriage by way of Bouillon in about ten hours; and with +such charming scenery, and in agreeable companionship, the journey could +not fail to prove delightful. + +On the next day, Sunday, we had an interview with Brackenbury's +secretary, for he was not at home himself; and we then started off again +for Sedan before there was a soul in the streets, so that my +recollections of Arlon do not amount to a great deal. + +On our return the staff held a meeting, at which Dr. MacCormac gave in +his resignation as chief in favour of Dr. Pratt (son-in-law to Marion +Sims), who succeeded him. Dr. MacCormac was engaged, as we knew, to +deliver an inaugural address at the Queen's College, Belfast, about the +middle of October; and his pupil, Scott, accompanied him on his +departure. As Dr. Nicholl also wished to return to America, it was +arranged that Wyman and Hewitt should continue with Dr. Frank for some +time before we disbanded, for the Hospital at Bazeilles had to be wound +up with our own. The following members were then selected to proceed to +the front,--our new chief, Dr. Pratt, and Drs. May, Tilghman, Mackellar, +Parker, Warren, Hayden, Sherwell, Wallace, Wombwell, Adams, and myself. +These formed the staff. With us went, of course, Nigger Charlie, and a +Turco named Jean. This Turco had received a bullet in the back at Metz, +during an effort (which proved successful) to get water from a well +which was guarded by a Prussian picket, who had already bowled over four +or five others intent on the same enterprise. + +The 4th of October, which was the day appointed for starting, arrived. +We said good-bye to the few patients now remaining, who were to be taken +over by Dr. Frank. Among them was my friend Louis St. Aubin. The poor +fellow on taking leave of me, in his weak state, sobbed like a child, +and I felt equally grieved at having to part from him. We bade farewell +to Dr. MacCormac with much regret; and then the drawbridge was let down, +Dr. Pratt gave the word to start, and the Anglo-American Ambulance made +its exit from the Caserne, slowly wending its way down the rugged path, +_en route_ for Paris. + +The first chapter in my experience of a military Hospital, and of the +battlefield, was closed. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +RISKY TRAVELLING.--AT BRUSSELS.--FRENCH AMBULANCE BREAKS DOWN +COMPLETELY.--WE START AGAIN FOR PARIS. + + +Dr. Pratt was of opinion that, if the Germans did not require our +services, they might perhaps allow us to get into Paris, where, as it +was rumoured, medical men were scarce. With this object in view, we had +determined to go round by Belgium, and now made for Bouillon, the +nearest frontier town. It was a lovely evening when we arrived. As we +came near the custom-house--"_la Douane_," the meaning of which I now +understood--we were in a state of trepidation lest, on the waggons being +overhauled, our trophies of Sedan should be discovered and taken from +us. For my part, I had hidden my chassepot, pistol, sword, and lance-top +from the Plain of Floing, securely beneath some sacks of corn. But the +officers allowed us to pass with only a formal scrutiny. As it was late, +we stayed that night in Bouillon at the hotel. All our baggage, waggons, +horses, and infirmarians were quartered in the old Castle yard; and, +having given my horse to the groom to be picketed (for I had turned my +grey Arab loose again on the plains of Sedan), I joined Hayden, and went +down into the town to look for quarters. When we had secured them, we +dined very comfortably at our hotel with the rest of the staff. This was +the first meal we had enjoyed for many weeks in a neighbourhood free +from war's alarms, and we found it pleasant. + +After a sound night's rest we arose at three, and had our horses and men +together at the appointed time, which was an hour later. But more time +elapsed before all was ready, and it was quite five when marching orders +were given. We reached Libramont after a pleasant five hours' journey +through a pretty and very interesting country. Here all our staff, with +the exception of Hayden and myself, took the fast train to Brussels. + +We two had been told off to stay in charge of the _infirmiers_, waggons, +horses, and stores, which we were to take on to Brussels in the evening, +by luggage-train. This was a heavy task, and occupied nearly all the +afternoon. Moreover, we had to get our ten horses fed, watered, cleaned, +and boxed, which was far from easy, considering that few of the +_infirmiers_ knew anything about the management of horses, while their +boxing and conveyance by train were quite beyond them. Here my +experience of boxing horses for the world-renowned Fair of Cahirmee, +near Buttevant, stood me in very good stead. Three of our waggons were +heavily laden with stores and corn, and required a truck each for +themselves. The fourth was a light covered fourgon which contained our +personal luggage, and in this we resolved to travel up to Brussels. + +Having dined on mutton and fruit in a clean little inn near the station, +at 7·30 P.M. we started, comfortably stretched out at the bottom of our +fourgon, and covered up in rugs and coats. The night wore on, and we +were suddenly aroused from our slumbers by feeling the movement of our +waggon upon the truck, which latter was only a sand train. As we went +along, the line became more and more uneven; our van rolled several +times backwards and forwards, and was kind enough also to sway from side +to side in a most uncomfortable manner. I crept out and found its +moorings loose. The night was dark and misty, and we had no light, nor +the means of getting one; and, as the wheels of the fourgon were high, +and the edges of the truck low, while the motion of the train was very +rough, we thought it would be dangerous to try our hand at putting the +concern straight. We discussed our chances of being pitched overboard; +but concluded that the risk was small, although the jolting and swaying +from time to time vexed us not a little. However, at one in the morning, +we found ourselves at Namur, and were told we should have to stay there +four hours. + +Accordingly, leaving men, horses, and waggons at the station, my friend +and I strolled into the town. It was a beautiful moonlight night. After +some wandering we saw a gleam in one of the restaurants, and roused up +the landlady, who kindly gave us some hot coffee and braised mutton. +Thus fortified we settled down in a couple of arm-chairs, and slept for +some hours. At half-past four we took our places again in the waggon; +but not until we had seen it firmly secured. + +We arrived in Brussels at 10 A.M., having been _en route_ more than +fourteen hours. When we alighted we were in a sad plight,--sleepy, +hungry, and disreputable-looking, bearing upon us all the marks of the +hardships which we had gone through since entering on the campaign. Not +many minutes after our arrival, Dr. Pratt came up, and expressed his +satisfaction that orders had been carried out punctually. There was a +conveyance waiting, he said, to take us to the Hôtel de France; and +there we should find breakfast and comfortable quarters ready. + +After the wear and tear of the last couple of months, one may fancy our +joy at this sudden return to the comforts, and even the luxuries, of +civilised life. No longer the din of armed men on the march, or going to +their exercises; no longer sentries at every step; no longer the +streets thronged with military! Yet, the sight of an occasional French +officer limping about on crutches, or with his arm in a sling, reminded +us that the seat of war was not far distant. When breakfast was over, we +turned in and slept until evening. Then, with some others of the staff, +and certain friends of Dr. May's who had fled from Paris, we took a box +at the Circus, and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. + +Next day it was our business to report to Captain Brackenbury. After +filling up forms, answering questions, and submitting to a deal of red +tape, we were handed our pay up to date and a month in advance. + +Here we learned that the French Society, under whose patronage we had +started from Paris, was now disorganised, and had stopped supplies. Not +only were its funds exhausted, but its Ambulances had failed to render +efficient service on the field of battle. Although we had now joined the +English Society, and, in consequence, were associated also with the +Prussians, it was a graceful act on the part of the Vice-President of +the French Association to make his acknowledgments, as he did, for the +assistance which we had given to his countrymen in our Hospitals around +Sedan. + +At noon on the 8th of October, we received orders to hold ourselves in +readiness; and great excitement arose when it was noised abroad that the +Prussians had cut the line between Lille and Brussels. Thus, we might +have to go round by London, in order to reach Paris. We ascertained, +however, that the line had not yet been injured, although the enemy had +come into its immediate neighbourhood near the town of Lille. + +In the evening, therefore, we quitted Brussels by train, taking with us +stores, waggons, and horses. The journey to Lille was a short one, and +from thence we travelled by Douai and Arras to Amiens, where we halted +for a few hours to eat and sleep until the next train set out for Rouen. +At daybreak we resumed our expedition, and as we entered Normandy the +whole aspect of the country, which had been hitherto flat and +monotonous, changed for the better. The red-brick houses, some tiled, +some thatched, reminded me a little of villages I had remarked in my +journey from London to Holyhead; but here most of the houses had timber +built into them, which made them more quaint and picturesque. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +AT ROUEN.--ON THE ROAD TO PARIS.--IN THE WOODS AMONG THE +FRANCS-TIREURS.--TAKEN FOR SPIES.--A REFUGEE FENIAN.--TO MANTES. + + +We arrived in Rouen at four o'clock in the afternoon of the 9th, and +found the town full of Gardes Mobiles, who were marching about in +civilian dress, but armed to the teeth. + +Our few hours of sight-seeing next day were not long in coming to an +end; but on going to the Railway Terminus, we heard that a telegram had +just been received, saying that the Prussians had torn up the line to +Paris, and we could travel no further. + +However, in a couple of hours, we succeeded in chartering an +engine,--four waggons and a carriage--in which we determined to proceed +as far as we could. Our advance, when we had started, was so slow and +deliberate that we felt sure our conductors were only waiting to pull up +at the first opportunity, and jump off the train as soon as they saw +danger ahead. After going no faster than a horse could have trotted for +two hours or so, we came to a dead stop at a little country village +called St. Pierre. Beyond this point our guard and driver stoutly +refused to carry us; and, as it was now late, we thought well to stay +there for the night. We occupied the village inn and a private house +close by. As we had orders to start at daybreak, we were up betimes next +morning. I went out as soon as it was light, and took a stroll through +the village, in which many of the houses seemed to have been deserted. +On inquiry, I found that, since the first intelligence, a few days back, +that the Prussians were coming, the owners of these houses had packed up +their moveables and gone north, leaving their dwellings to take care of +themselves. The situation of St. Pierre, overlooking the Seine, was +pretty enough. On the heights above stood its quaint little church, +built of flint-stone, and as black as coal in appearance. I went inside, +and saw that it was unadorned, but scrupulously clean. + +In another hour we were on our journey again, this time by road. We took +the _route Impériale_ through the valley beside the river, and it would +be difficult to do justice in description to the varied and picturesque +scenes that came repeatedly into view, along the many miles which we +pursued of its winding course. + +About midday we gained Gaillon, where we halted to refresh our horses +and ourselves. Gaillon is a large village, with a refreshing air of +comfort and cleanliness about it, and has a broad central street, lined +on each side with handsome trees. Having rested a couple of hours we +pushed on for Vernon, which was, perhaps, some ten miles distant,--a +long journey, during which we had to accommodate our pace to the jaded +horses with their heavy-laden waggons. Our way took us through vast +orchards, and, from an elevation at one part of the road, we could see +nothing for miles round us but fruit trees. But as we were now in +constant expectation of meeting the Prussian outposts, our Chief picked +out Hayden and myself, being the lightest and keenest horsemen in the +party, and sent us ahead, my friend to reconnoitre on one side of the +road, and I upon the other. + +For a long while not a soul did we meet, and Dr. Pratt came to the +conclusion that Vernon was unoccupied, whether by the French or the +Prussians, as had been the case at St. Pierre. Believing that it was so, +Hayden and myself received orders to push on thither, and report our +approach at the Mairie, where we must secure the necessary accommodation +during the night for all our party. + +With these commands we started, I on a mare of Dr. Pratt's, which we had +got from the Prussians at Sedan, and Hayden upon a black belonging to +Dr. May. As evening came on, it grew so dark that we could hardly see a +few yards in front of us. On we went gaily for some miles, chatting +unconcernedly on various topics, until our road entered a thick and +gloomy wood, with high forest trees towering up on each side. The +darkness was now such that we could not see one another. It was +necessary to slacken rein, and let our horses go at a slow walk, lest +they might leave the road and get us into unexpected trouble. + +My friend here remarked to me cheerfully what a helpless condition we +were in, should any accident happen to us, or supposing we fell in with +the French outposts. The words, which echoed through the woods (for he +was speaking at the top of his voice, and it was a still night), had +hardly passed his lips, when suddenly we heard, first a rustling, and +then the sound of voices; shouts were raised on every side of us; and +through the brushwood in all directions we could hear men crashing +headlong towards the place where we stood entrapped. + +We held our ground, for to attempt escape was certain death. We should +have received a volley before we had gone many yards. + +The challenge now came to us on all sides in French, "_Qui vive?_" We +replied, "_Deux officiers de l'Ambulance Anglo-Américaine_". + +They seemed not to be satisfied, and challenged us twice, finally +shouting, as if we were half a mile away, though but a few short paces +from them, "Advance, two officers of the Anglo-American ambulance, +twenty paces, and halt!" + +We had no time to obey, for, in a moment, we were surrounded by armed +men. One seized my wrists and another my horse's rein. In a moment a +lantern was produced, wherewith having examined us and found that we +were unarmed, they let go their hold, but roughly hustled us out of our +saddles. + +We watched these men, whom we knew by their uniforms to be +Francs-Tireurs, as they carefully examined our horses by the light of +their lanterns. All this time Hayden and I were kept apart, and, on my +attempting to speak to him, I was told that if I did so, I should be +shot straightway. + +By a dim light, which some one held behind me, I discovered that I was +standing in a circle of these irregulars with bayonets set. This was the +less assuring that we had heard much of their lawlessness, and in what +fashion they dealt with those who fell into their hands. I now made a +motion towards the breast pocket of my tunic, to get my official papers, +when a musket was pointed at me and I was told not to move. Having held +a council of war over the horses, some of the men now came up and +informed their comrades that they had at last caught two Prussian spies. +For they had discovered, on my mare's flank, the Prussian brand, and, +moreover, we spoke French with a German accent; while our uniforms also +were not French but Prussian. When they had come to this conclusion, I +need hardly say that the treatment we received was not the most +courteous. They cursed and swore at us, and flourished their bayonets +about as if they had been walking-sticks. They marched us along +separately, often threatening that if we stirred or spoke, except by +their direction, they would shoot us. Two of these brigands (for they +were nothing else) marched behind me, two in front, and as many on each +side with fixed bayonets, as if I were likely to overpower them unless +guarded by the whole eight. Even when I put my hands into my trousers +pockets, the flourish of a bayonet near my stomach (from a fellow whom I +discovered to be more than half drunk) compelled me to take them out +again. + +What distance we marched before arriving at Vernon we could not even +guess, so much upset and, I must acknowledge, so daunted were we at the +possible fate in store for us. We knew too well that these ruffians were +capable at any moment of hanging us from the nearest tree. Indeed, +before we entered the town, I came to the conclusion that several of the +band were under the influence of drink. I believe there was quite as +much risk of our being shot accidentally as on purpose. They appeared to +have no officer among them; nor could any of them, I suspect, so much as +read or write. They would be admirable judges, therefore, all +considered, of the difference in speaking French between the Prussian +and any other foreign accent! + +We must have tramped some three or four miles, when we got into the +town; and there it was an advantage to have even these drunken bullies +as our escort, for crowds gathered in the streets as we passed along, +and taking us to be Prussian spies, stared and scowled fiercely--some +even menacing us with clenched fists. Had not our captors guarded their +prey jealously, I am confident that we should have had a rough handling +from the populace. + +When we were taken into the principal barrack, I supposed that we should +be allowed to see the officer of the guard, to whom we could show our +papers, and then pass out. But nothing of the kind; the officer of the +guard was not to be found. He had gone into town to dine with the +Commandant of the place. We were put in the lock-up at the rear of the +guard room, with two sentries over us. Our courage now returned, and we +opened fire at the fellows on guard. Hayden, who spoke French fluently, +gave them his mind concerning the Francs-Tireurs individually, and the +whole French Army collectively, in such scathing language that they must +have thought we were most certainly Prussians. I, not being of so +excitable a temper as my friend, gave them to understand that such an +exhibition of military ignorance and _gaucherie_ as we had witnessed +that night would have been impossible anywhere but in France; and I +think with good reason. + +We had been in the lock-up for about an hour, when the officer of the +guard appeared and examined our papers. These he forwarded to the +Commandant Militaire, who inspected them once more, and immediately +ordered our release. + +The Commandant came down himself to apologise for the manner in which we +had been treated, and added the information that the Francs-Tireurs were +_canaille_, who had neither military status nor any organisation. But he +assured us, as we did not need telling, that it was a mercy we had not +been shot by them. + +We were never in a thorough passion until now. My companion repeated his +strong language, and shook his fist at this gentleman; but he, measuring +the situation like a true Frenchman, became very civil and declined the +contest. After that, I begged him to overlook anything discourteous that +had been said in the heat of provocation; and our interview ended by his +ordering two gendarmes to escort us to the Mairie. We had just time to +secure the requisite quarters when our corps arrived. + +I need hardly say how concerned our friends were about this ugly +incident, or how great was their satisfaction at our having escaped a +fate which had befallen others at the hands of this undisciplined but +armed rabble. It is a matter of history that the Francs-Tireurs showed +no respect even for the property of their own countrymen; and we must +not be surprised if they were relentless towards any of the invaders +whose ill luck it was to fall in with their companies. They reminded me +a good deal of what I had read about Italian brigands, whom it is +certain they resembled. And their very existence, in such a province as +Normandy, was a striking proof that France had sunk into the utmost +disorder. The Empire had perished; the Republic, established on the 4th +September, was struggling feebly for its life. + +Another incident of a different nature, but of considerable interest to +me, occurred next morning, just as we were on the point of continuing +our journey. + +I was standing outside my quarters ready to march, when I noticed a +smart-looking, well-dressed young man, more like an American than a +Frenchman, eyeing me at a little distance off. + +There was something about him that excited my curiosity. As he +approached rather timidly, I smiled, and said, to relieve his +embarrassment, "You are not a Frenchman, I presume?" upon which his +hesitation disappeared, and, in unmistakable Tipperary accent, he +exclaimed, "No, indeed, Mr. Ryan. I'd make the queer Frenchman, born +and reared as I was in the parish of Cullen, and educated near your +father's place in the Street of Kilteely, by Mr. William Lundon." + +As the speaker had uttered all this in one breath, my amazement was +considerable. Suddenly, and under such circumstances, to meet a man at +Vernon who came from the village of Kilteely, and was acquainted with +me, gave me, so to call it, a shock; and I stared at him for some +seconds without speaking. The new-comer went on to inform me that his +name was Timothy Nihil; that he was an enforced exile from his native +land; and that, at the time of the Fenian rising in 1867, he had been +the leader of that party which attacked and fired on the Glenbane Police +Barracks, near Cullen. He was, in consequence, obliged to flee the +country. He had come over to this place, and, being a man of some +education and intelligence, had found a situation as Professor of +English in the Pension of Vernon; which appointment, he told me, was +worth nearly £100 a year to him. + +Timothy Nihil had been brought up in the National school; and, indeed, +went through his classics, as he had said, under Mr. William Lundon, a +teacher of great ability in his own line. To him, perhaps, it was owing +that my Fenian had a very polished address. Poor fellow! his face +lighted up with pleasure when he spoke of "the Old Country"; and when, +in answer to his inquiries about different friends, I told him all I +knew, he beamed with delight. Rebel though he had been, he was yet a +fellow-countryman; and as such I gave him the hand of friendship, and +could not but sympathise with him in his exile. With tears in his eyes, +he repeated that he could never go back to Ireland again. + +He was particular in asking about my brother John, for whom he had from +his earliest youth a warm affection; neither did he forget the Black and +Tan hounds at home, in which I have already expressed my own interest. +When he had walked out of the town with me a couple of miles we parted, +after an earnest request that I would give his people news about him on +my return, which I did very gladly. During our conversation not a little +amusement was caused among the party by an English officer, Captain +F----, of the Carbineers, who, when he heard that my new acquaintance +had been a Fenian, became much excited, and was with difficulty kept +from laying hands on Nihil. I explained, however, under what +circumstances he had spoken to me, and the Captain cooled down. His +strong feeling against these men was in itself not unreasonable, as he +had been on active service in Ireland during the winter months of 1867, +and had commanded a flying squadron there. + +During these four days of our journey to Paris, the weather continued +very fine, and our walking tour through so pleasant a country was most +enjoyable. Sometimes we chatted with the peasant folk who crossed our +footsteps; and I am bound to say that, in these districts, numbers of +those with whom we talked were loud in praise both of the Emperor and +the Empire. "Look," they often said, "at our beautiful roads,--the +_route Impériale_, for instance, between Rouen and Paris--look at our +towns and villages, with their magnificently wooded streets, and their +public buildings and monuments; look at the fine bridges and aqueducts +which you see all round! Whom have we to thank for these things but the +Emperor? Who has given work to the millions of the labouring class +throughout France? Who has made Paris one of the most beautiful cities +of the world, and the Capital of Europe? Who ruled France when she was +the most rich and prosperous of nations, with a trade and commerce more +extensive than ever before?" Such were the facts on which these humble +people became eloquent. Were they altogether in the wrong? Let others +decide. + +The country between Vernon and Mantes is very hilly, and some parts of +the road were rendered almost impassable by the deep trenches which the +French had cut across them to hinder the German progress. Strangely +enough, although they went to such great trouble to destroy the road, +they yet left a narrow causeway, over which a waggon might pass, with a +few inches to spare. Afterwards, round about Orleans, I saw this +business of making the roads difficult for the enemy, much more +cunningly contrived, as I shall relate in its place. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +A TOWN CAPTURED BY FIVE UHLANS.--MANTES TO VERSAILLES.--WE ARE ANNEXED +BY THE GERMANS.--GENERAL SHERIDAN AND NIGGER CHARLIE.--SOUTHERN EXILES. + + +Our horses being fatigued from the long journeys and heavy roads, we +made but slow progress. On coming to Mantes we put up for the night at +the Hôtel de France. This famous town is a wonder of cleanliness, with +streets as tidy as they are kept in Holland, and not a disagreeable nook +anywhere. Much consternation had been caused the day before, by five +Uhlans coming into the market-place with a train of waggons, and +carrying off all the corn and fodder they wanted for the troops about +Versailles. After they had satisfied these demands, the Uhlans proceeded +to set the station house on fire, as also to saw down the telegraph +posts and cut the wires. "What pluck these five must have had!" will be +the reader's exclamation. "Imagine such a force riding through a +populous town and carrying away with them half the produce of the +market, while the people looked on and never dreamt of molesting them!" + +But the feat was not so daring, after all. Every one knew that, if the +inhabitants had interfered with these Uhlans, the place would have been +visited the day after, and reduced to ashes. Such was the punishment +inflicted upon whole villages of innocent and peaceable inhabitants, +sometimes in revenge of what had been done by a few individuals. I shall +give, by-and-by, a proclamation which was posted up on the walls of +Orleans, describing such an execution, and threatening to repeat the +like under similar circumstances. + +Here it was that Pratt, who was anxious to get a vehicle in which most +of the medical staff could travel, produced an order which he had got +from the Prussian authorities at Sedan, requiring the Mairie of any +French town through which he passed, to provide him with whatever horses +and vehicles he might need for the use of his corps. Hayden and I were +sent to carry out this unpleasant task. Armed with our peremptory +document, we made a tour of discovery through Mantes, and, by throwing a +couple of francs to a lad, were informed of a large, private, +four-wheeled omnibus,--the very thing we wanted,--and a dashing, +stoutly-built pair of greys that might draw it. The yard gate stood +open, so in we walked, with the boldness of highwaymen, and asked to see +the owner. I knew by the servant's face that he suspected what was in +the wind. He retreated without uttering a syllable; but soon came back, +followed by his master--a middle-aged man of gentlemanly appearance. He +seemed very uneasy; but, when we showed him our requisition, and told +him that we had come to relieve him for a time of his carriage and pair +of horses, his face wore an aspect of the blankest dismay. + +We, however, gave a sign to our own ostlers outside the gate, and +directed them to harness the horses and put to, which they did with as +great alacrity as if they had been Prussians, the owner looking on in +sullen silence. But what were his feelings, when, twenty minutes after, +he saw us driving his team through the gate and out of the town, I dare +not guess. This carriage and pair, I may here subjoin, we used until the +end of the war, when they were returned to the Mayor of Versailles, with +a request that they might be given back to the original owner at Mantes, +minus, however, one of the horses, which died from overwork and +hardship. + +Thus it is, that, during times of war, the sacred rights of property are +violated, and systematic robbery is held to be justifiable by those who +can successfully practise it. In this instance the property was +ultimately restored to its rightful owner; but, in how many cases is +that never done? To be sure, the Government is supposed to indemnify any +individual who can produce the counterfoil of the requisition: yet it +would be interesting to hear from such injured persons, the story of how +much they asked and how little they got. + +We pushed on rapidly towards St. Germain, for Dr. Pratt was in haste to +get there as soon as possible. Curious to relate, we had not thus far +fallen in with a single German outpost; neither did we, until our +entrance into the Forest of St. Germain, when we were challenged, and +had to give up our papers for inspection. A few miles outside that town +we passed through the village of Mézières, which had been burned to the +ground a few days previously, and was now a smouldering heap of ruins. +One burned village is like another, and I might have fancied myself in +Bazeilles. Whole streets in the suburbs of St. Germain, through which we +passed, had been plundered, and, in some cases, the soldiers had gone +from house to house by means of holes, which they had picked through the +partition walls. I rambled over a pile of such buildings, and certainly +the wanton destruction within them was astounding. The Germans, I must +say, when not watched, are rare good hands at pillage; but they were +kept down by such rigid discipline, and so severely punished for every +offence, how trivial soever, that they were, and are, I suppose +(although not with their goodwill), the best conducted soldiers on +active service in Europe. In the matter of discipline, nothing appears +to have been changed, at least in the way of relaxation, among the +Prussian rank and file, since the good old days of Frederick the Great +and his eccentric and brutal father. + +Soon after leaving St. Germain we came upon the heights of Marly, just +below the aqueduct. From this position we commanded that historic view +which is too well known for me to think of describing it, even if I +could. Beneath us we observed the Palace of St. Cloud, destined in a few +short hours to be a ruin; and beyond, towering gloomily above it, the +fort of Mont Valérien. Nor was the garrison of the latter idle, for it +kept up a brisk cannonade in our direction, even as we were looking +towards it. + +Presently we noticed a number of men descending beneath its guns. +Evidently, something unusual was about to take place. Of this fact we +were soon made certain by the shells dropping much nearer to us, some +bursting at the other side of the road beneath;--which, for a moment, +led us to imagine that the fort had mistaken us for an ammunition train. +The shells came very close; and the ladies who were with us felt, as was +not unreasonable, a good deal of alarm. + +Just then two bodies of Bavarian cavalry and a regiment of infantry +passed us in hot haste, doubling down the hill, along a by-road, to join +other troops of the Line which were concealed in the woods beneath us, +and under cover of them were advancing. Directly to our left and below +us, the Prussian batteries opened fire from their positions, which +covered their cavalry and infantry on the right and left flank. For some +time the booming and rattling were kept up vigorously, reminding us of +the 31st August and 1st September on a small scale. But in about an hour +all was quiet again, and the French had retreated within their big fort. + +This was only one of numberless little skirmishes, which were constantly +taking place between the besiegers and besieged, according as either +made excursions in the country around them in quest of provisions, +fodder, or fuel. + +Early in the afternoon we entered Versailles, and reported ourselves +immediately to the Prussian General Commandant of the place. We +established our headquarters at the Hôtel des Réservoirs, in the street +of the same name. There Dr. Pratt and one or two others secured +apartments, which was a troublesome business, for every room in the +hotel seemed to be occupied by a Baron, a Prince, a Duke, or some high +officer of King William's household. I have heard that in the Hôtel des +Réservoirs alone there were four or five such magnates, among them +Prince Pless, and that Prince of Hohenzollern whose candidature for the +Crown of Spain was the pretext on which Louis Napoléon had declared war. +This latter I used to see constantly about the Conciergerie of the +hotel,--a gentlemanly, gay, and handsome youth, wearing the uniform of +the White Hussars, and certainly the last man in the world one would +picture to oneself as having originated this tremendous conflict. + +Staying at the same hotel were two American Generals of great, but +unlike celebrity,--Sheridan, the famous cavalry hero, and Burnside, who +lost the battle of Fredericksburg. They made most friendly advances +towards the Americans of our Staff; but their attentions were received +by the latter with the utmost indifference, as they might have +anticipated; for our men, with the exception of Hayden, were +Southerners, and hated the ground these Yankees trod upon. Nigger +Charlie, whom their efforts had made a freeman, gnashed his teeth at +Sheridan when that General condescended to notice him. It was an honour +of which the darkie felt by no means proud. I may here state that no one +who has not lived for some time among a number of Southerners can +realise how bitter was their hatred in those years towards the North. So +great was it, indeed, that, when they could avoid it, they would not +even eat at the same table, or have any social intercourse with them. I +must add my suspicion that this was strictly true only in the case of +men like my _confrères_, who had been large slave-owners and landed +proprietors; and who, having been completely ruined by the war, had gone +into voluntary exile. On such as these the indulgent policy of the +United States Government, after the ruin of the Southern cause, had no +power to efface the memory of what they had lost. Wherever one travelled +in Europe twenty years ago, one still found Southern exiles, as deeply +imbued with hatred of the Yankee as if their subjugation had taken place +only the day before. But that feeling was not likely to outlive them. +And I am told that the gentlemen of Virginia and South Carolina have +acquiesced now in the abolition of slavery, against which they fought so +fiercely and to such little purpose, although we have just been +witnessing the renewal of their efforts to disfranchise the coloured +voters, and restore the local and State government to their own class. + +But I am wandering from my subject. As I have already said, our chief's +private wish was, if possible, to get into Paris; and, with this object +in view, Dr. Pratt held a long consultation with Colonel Lloyd Lindsay, +R.A., president of the English Society, from whom we now awaited our +orders. He declared the project impossible, and placed our contingent at +the service of Prince Pless, Inspector-General of the German Ambulance +Corps, who told us that we were wanted very badly indeed at Orleans, +where there had been some days' severe fighting, with great loss on +both sides. The town was full of wounded, and the medical staff quite +insufficient to take charge of them. + +Ostensibly, therefore, under the direction of Colonel Lloyd Lindsay and +the English Society, but, as a matter of fact, under German orders, we +had henceforth to carry on our mission. This change of control was +disagreeable to us; but there was no help for it. We had been at first +exclusively in the service of the French, but were always international; +and we could not, in honour or conscience, refuse to enlist in the +service of the Germans. As it had been rumoured about Versailles that we +wanted to get into Paris, there was felt a certain amount of suspicion +regarding our neutrality; and to have hesitated at this moment would +have been fatal to our usefulness in the forthcoming campaigns. We made +preparations to start as soon as might be. Colonel Lloyd Lindsay +objected to our present Ambulance uniforms, and thought them too French. +The Francs-Tireurs who had captured us, it will not be forgotten, had +taken them to be Prussian. At his suggestion, we were to wear the +undress uniform of the Royal Artillery while attached to the German +Field Hospital Service; and a supply was ordered immediately from +London. We received them, and wore them until we left Orleans. Such were +the circumstances under which our transfer from the French to the +Germans was effected. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE PRUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS IN VERSAILLES.--A POLISH LADY.--THE BURNING OF +ST. CLOUD.--GERMAN PRINCES.--BY ÉTAMPES AND THE BATTLEFIELD OF CHEVILLY +TO ORLEANS. + + +As Dr. Pratt had arrangements to make for our transit, and stores to lay +in, and as our horses sorely required rest, our departure was delayed +for two days, during which I had ample opportunity of seeing everything +that was worth while at Versailles. My quarters were comfortable; and I +ought not to pass over the circumstances which enabled me to come by +them. + +A Polish lady of great wealth, Madame Urbonouski, who lived in the Rue +des Réservoirs, hearing that our Ambulance corps had entered Versailles, +came out in person and accosted Dr. Mackellar; telling him that it would +give her much pleasure if he and two others of his companions would +accept the use of her house and the hospitality of her table, whilst +they were staying in the city. So generous an offer could not be +refused. Mackellar, Hayden, and myself were only too well pleased to +accept such agreeable lodgings. Our apartments were exquisitely +furnished, and provided with all manner of luxuries, to which the sorry +plight wherein we had come from Rouen hardly allowed us to do justice. +Nothing could exceed Madame Urbonouski's kind attention during the +couple of days that we lodged under her roof. Provisions were scarce and +costly; but that did not prevent her from giving us the best of +everything to eat, and the choicest of wines at dinner. Before I left, +my hostess, understanding that I was an Irishman, and being well aware +of the sympathies which have existed between her own nation and Ireland +(countries alike in their religious history and their long disasters), +insisted that, if ever I returned to Versailles, I should pay a fresh +visit to the Rue des Réservoirs. I promised, and should have been glad +to have kept my word. But I did not see Madame Urbonouski a second time, +nor do I know if she is still living. + +On the day after our arrival every one was talking of the burning of St. +Cloud, which occurred the previous evening. It was the unhappy result of +that fighting which we had witnessed, and, thanks to the shells from +Mont Valérien, had as good as shared in, on the 13th. Next morning we +visited the Château of Versailles, and saw the picture galleries and the +Chapel Royal. Here, too, the tokens of war made themselves conspicuous +elsewhere than in the smoky battle pieces which stared at us from the +walls. All the galleries on the ground floor had been turned into a +Hospital, and were filled with wounded Germans. And a first-class +Hospital they made,--commodious and airy, the arrangement and general +organisation as nearly perfect as possible. But on the well-tended grass +plots in front of the Palace, I saw numbers of the King's horses +exercised, where, but a short time previously, it had been almost a +crime to set foot. + +I must not speak of the Grand and Little Trianon, the trim walks, or the +fountain which I beheld playing into the basin of Neptune. It was all +new and delightful to a raw youth, whose reading of French history had +been neither extensive nor profound. Mackellar and I took a drive +through the Park, out of Versailles, and enjoyed a distant view of Paris +from certain heights whence now and then we could hear the booming of +cannon as the forts discharged their thunder. On our homeward journey we +met the old King driving in an open landau. He was accompanied by the +German Chancellor. When I saw him another time, General von Moltke was +in the carriage. Thus I had now set eyes on the man at Sedan who had +lost one Empire, and on those who were destined, in the halls of Louis +XIV., to set up another ere six months should have passed. + +But, indeed, it would seem that half the inhabitants of Versailles +consisted of Princes, Dukes, Barons, and commanding officers. I counted +nine of these notables at the Hôtel des Réservoirs; yet some were such +shabby-looking specimens of their class, that for the time they +extinguished in me the respect which I had supposed myself to entertain +for Royalty and its surroundings. A Prince, a Duke, or a General who +walked about the streets munching alternately a piece of raw ham or +sausage from one hand, and a junk of bread from the other, was not +exactly one's idea of feudal, or even German dignity, and modern +civilisation. Yet such were the manners of not a few whose high-sounding +names read well in the "Gazette". + +I have been offered a share of these rude repasts, and, famished as I +might be at the time, my self-respect, nay, my very appetite, revolted; +and it was not without an effort that I was able politely to decline. +The proverb runs, "A la guerre comme à la guerre". I do not mean to +imply that in a campaign the decencies of life can be always observed; +but there is such a thing as a gentlemanly bearing, and, out of that +great assembly which boasted of the oldest German blood in its members, +I saw few that came up to the standard which English officers are +expected to fulfil, as they do with the rarest exception. + +I must confess that, when I looked at several of our _attachés_ in the +German Court, and contrasted them with their perhaps more intellectual, +and certainly more uncouth and burly, cousins from across the Rhine, and +from the Mark of Brandenburg, I could not help feeling proud of that +sister country which gave them birth. But, alas! when we compare, not +the officers and men individually, but the English army with the German, +we can no longer boast: our methods of training, until lately, have been +old-fashioned; our military science lags behind; and our neglect of the +training, to which all young men in town and village might, with the +greatest advantage, be submitted, is, I venture to think, no less +shortsighted than imbecile. + +On the evening of the 15th, I saw 12,000 men marched through Versailles. +These were new levies from Germany, coming to reinforce the army of +investment around Paris; and a splendid body of men they looked. The +general topic of conversation now was the fighting about Orleans, the +taking of that town, and the defeat of the Army of the Loire, news of +which had just reached us. Fresh combats in the neighbourhood were +expected, and Dr. Pratt made all ready to start on the morrow. At +Versailles it seemed to be the general opinion that Paris could not long +hold out; and, with its capitulation, the war must end. + +On the same night, we had orders to report ourselves next morning at +headquarters, and to be ready to start at a moment's notice. + +October 16th was Sunday. I was up at cockcrow, heard Mass at the Grande +Église, and bade good-bye to my amiable hostess. Our staff was assembled +at headquarters, in the midst of the Princes, Barons, Dukes, and the +rest whom I have already mentioned. When everything was ready, and the +waggons and stores had got into line, those who had horses rode forward, +while we others drove in the comfortable private omnibus we +had--borrowed, I suppose, is the word,--at Mantes. Our departure created +a little stir in the town. As for Prince Pless, he made himself +agreeable to all of us, and was even so thoughtful as to give us a +supply of cigars. + +Moving along in procession we made somewhat of a display. From the +foremost of our Ambulance waggons floated the flags of England and +America on the breeze. Just as we arrived at the broad avenue in front +of the Mairie, which is the way out of the town, a Prussian regiment +passed us in full marching order. As they approached, we heard orders +passed along among officers and under officers, in loud harsh tones, +with the result that, as each Company went by, it presented arms, our +chief and those who rode with him returning the salute. + +We were soon clear of Versailles and on the way to Longumeau, at which +place, after a pleasant journey, we arrived towards evening, and +secured quarters for the night. Before we were in the town very long, it +appeared that our arrival had created a commotion among the Prussian +authorities, who had no knowledge as to what we were, and whither we +were going. On these points several of us were questioned repeatedly by +the German officers. This was the case. Our chief, finding Longumeau +such a trifling village, did not think it necessary to report himself to +the Commandant. That such was not this dignitary's opinion we soon +discovered by his coming down to the hotel where we had put up, and +storming in most vociferous and unparliamentary language at all and +sundry, but especially at Dr. Pratt, for not reporting to him as soon as +we were in his jurisdiction. + +However, the matter was made straight by the production of the Doctor's +credentials, signed by the authorities at Versailles, upon which our +boisterous little friend, who wore a uniform of rusty gold lace, fell +into a surly silence. Before it became dusk, I went out with Dr. May to +buy such odds and ends of eatables as might eke out what was provided +for dinner. We went into a store, which was crowded with German +soldiers. While I was waiting to be served, I watched the different +purchases that were being made. One of our Teutons was buying butter, +old and rank, another lard, another candles, another fat pork or bacon. +All were investing their groschen and small change in something or other +greasy. One of these fellows took a piece of butter in his fingers, +weighing about half a pound, and then asked the price of it; but while +the poor French shopkeeper was looking in another direction, the hero +slipped out and decamped to his quarters. I felt inclined to follow him +up, but judged it wiser to control my indignation, as I had to do many a +time before and afterwards. Within an hour from our arrival, the +townspeople learned on what errand we were going, and became, in +consequence, most polite and communicative. One of the most respectable +among the bourgeois went so far as to ask us into his house to tea and +supper. + +Some four of us accepted the invitation. We slipped across the street, +after dark, to our good friend's abode, and spent a pleasant evening +over an excellent cup of coffee, with fair bread and butter. No one, who +has not served during a campaign, can conceive how impossible it is to +get anything like a comfortable meal, or to procure good and eatable +bread, not to mention good butter, which was a rarity indeed. And I am +afraid the same must be said of beef and mutton,--in fact, of all the +ordinary articles of consumption. + +Next morning we made an early start. Our road still lay through a finely +wooded country, each side lined with cherry, apple, and pear trees, to +the fruit of which we helped ourselves abundantly. The weather continued +open. And, as before, we had to keep a sharp look-out for the +Francs-Tireurs, rumours of whose wanton doings were rife amongst the +peasants, who bore them a cordial hatred. + +About midday, we arrived at the little town of Arpajon, where we made +our luncheon. What struck us, in passing through the hamlets and +villages on our route, was the utterly deserted and forlorn aspect of +their houses, streets, and public places. The country seemed to have +become a wilderness, so far as inhabitants were concerned. + +Early in the afternoon we reached Étampes, a clean little town, with +wide boulevards, and a prettily planted square. Curious to tell, we did +not find a single German in occupation, and had no difficulty in getting +quarters. I took a stroll through the town with Mackellar and Warren. +The first building which drew our attention was the parish church, +standing in the principal street, and not inelegant. We entered, +expecting to see everything in that state of gaudy neatness which is +characteristic of French country churches; but what was our horror to +find the air laden with a foul odour, and the floors of the aisle and +transept littered with straw! It was evident that a troop of cavalry +horses had been quartered here, some having been tied to the benches, +which supplied the place of mangers, and others secured to the railings +of the side-chapel. + +It was also plain that the stalls in the Sanctuary had been used in like +manner, judging from the amount of stable débris that lay about on all +sides; many of the benches, too, had been broken up, and fires lighted +with them in different parts of the church. The steps and the altar +showed signs of having been used for the purposes of eating and sleeping +upon them. At the foot of the altar, which was flashy and splendid, lay +upon straw a ham bone picked clean. All this was very revolting. +Hitherto, we had indeed seen the churches in and around Sedan and +Versailles turned into hospitals; but no one will describe that as an +improper use of them. It was quite another thing to make of the +Sanctuary a noisome den. + +On quitting the desecrated church, we crossed the railway to the old +Château, which stands on the hill above Étampes. It is a place of +historic associations, but the Prussians had ransacked it, and all was +confusion within. When we came back it was reported to our chief that +the mayor had made some objection about giving fodder to our horses; so +that my friend Hayden was forthwith deputed to call on him and put the +matter straight. To him the mayor abruptly reiterated his objection, +little knowing the character of the man whom he had to deal with. Hayden +resorted to his store of strong terms, and warned him, with the +audacity of a Yankee, that if the provender was not forthcoming and sent +in before night, he would have his worship publicly hanged next morning +from one of the trees in his own garden. Panic-stricken at the energy +with which Hayden announced his doom upon the morrow, the poor man, +without more ado, gave orders to have the fodder and corn delivered at +once, which was accordingly done. + +There was something not a little daring in this procedure of Hayden's, +though nothing, perhaps, really courageous; for M. le Maire had no +soldiers, and not so much as a gendarme in the town at his command. +Hence his instantaneous surrender. We had a great laugh over the whole +affair. + +Next morning we resumed our march, and pushed on briskly, for we now +heard, from two Ambulance couriers who came against us, that fighting +was going on about Orleans, and that our services were much needed in +that town. + +As the day advanced, we could distinctly hear the ceaseless booming of +cannon many miles ahead. Towards evening, when we had passed by Artenay, +we found the road and the plain on both sides covered with the débris of +a battle. Numbers of torn uniforms, knapsacks, arms, accoutrements, dead +horses, and newly-made graves,--all were tokens that the neighbourhood +had lately seen severe fighting. An unexploded shell lay beside the +road, but we avoided touching it. Many of the trees were severed midway +up their trunks, and nearly all had small branches broken here and +there, showing that the fighting was not confined to artillery. Some of +the tree trunks were grooved in a most curious manner, evidently by +shell or shot. + +During the whole of this day, 18th October, we pushed on as fast as we +could, arriving late at the village of Chevilly. We heard from the +Mayor, who kindly gave us quarters for the night, that a fierce and +bloody battle had been fought both in and around the village during the +previous week. His little flower-garden had been the scene of an +infantry charge; and I marked by the trampled and uprooted plants, and +the scattered earth, the very spot where several deadly struggles had +taken place. The ground was furrowed, and the branches of the trees +broken by bombshells. Our hostess, who had retreated with her husband +into a cellar during the fighting, gave me a vivid description of the +affair. The whole village was a heap of ruins. But I shall remember the +poor lady and her kind husband, who gave us so hospitable a welcome, +despite the agitation which their late experience and the spoiling of +their dwelling place had caused them. + +It was a problem what would become of the inhabitants in these country +districts, where the Prussians (as my host and hostess informed me) had +eaten up their meat, bread, and vegetables, had carried off their +cattle, their hay, straw and corn, and in many instances had finished +up, when they thought the people had balked them of supplies, by burning +the houses over the heads of the Frenchmen. Such things, we were +assured, had come to pass round Orleans. On several occasions since +leaving Longumeau, we had encountered waggon-loads of women and +children, who told us piteous tales how their houses had been destroyed, +and themselves obliged to fly; and, perhaps, the saddest part of their +story was, that when we asked whither they were going, they seemed, in +some instances, not to have the faintest idea. They were wanderers on +the face of the earth, and dazed by the calamities which had fallen on +them so unexpectedly. + +We left Chevilly for Orleans on the morning of the 19th. Our road still +lay through the heart of the battlefield; and innumerable horses, +knapsacks, broken muskets, and military trappings of all sorts, were +lying about on every side. The frequent graves told their own monotonous +tale. It had become a strange and painful journey; but our adventures +were not yet over. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +ENTERING TO THE SOUND OF CANNON.--66 QUAI DU CHÂTELET ASSIGNED TO US, +ALSO THE RAILWAY TERMINUS.--DESCRIPTION OF OUR NEW QUARTERS. + + +About midday we entered Orleans by the Faubourg Bannier. All this time +the cannon had been actively engaged at the other side of the town in +the direction of Châteaudun, and, as we passed in, we met several +companies of German regiments marching along some by-roads towards the +quarter whence the sound of firing came, doubtless with the intention of +joining in the fray. Orleans had fallen into the hands of the Bavarians; +but at present the garrison was small, for all the available troops had +been sent to the front, where they were now pursuing the Army of the +Loire in its retreat upon Tours. In passing through the Faubourg +Bannier, we saw convincing proofs of a severe and very recent conflict. +Whole lines of houses were burned to the ground, while others had been +partially demolished by shell, or had their doors and windows riddled. +Many of the doors bore marks of having been broken through by the +crowbar, or the hatchet of the sapper. In the streets the litter of the +bloody battle which had been fought in the previous week, lay scattered +about; and, judging from appearances, the street fighting must have been +a very hot affair indeed. + +[Illustration: F.S. Weller.] + +[Illustration: + + REFERENCE. + + 1. _S^t. Paterne._ C.2. + 2. _Cathedral._ F.4. + 3. _Hôtel de Ville._ E.4. + 4. _Museum._ E.5. + 5. _Hôtel Cabul & Hist^l. Mus^m._ D.5. + 6. _Notre Dame de Recouvrance._ C.5. + 7. _S^t. Aignan._ H.6. + 8. _S^t. Euverte._ H.4. + 9. _S^t. Pierre._ E.4. + 10. _House of Agnès Sorel._ D.5. + 11. _House of François I._ C.5. + 12. _S^t. Paul._ C.5. + + Hôtels. + a. _d'Orléans._ D.2. + b. _d'Aignan._ C.1. + c. _du Loiret._ D.3. + + ORLÉANS. + + _London; John Murray, Albemarle Street._ + _F. S. Weller._] + +We reported ourselves at once to the Commandant; for I need hardly say, +that during the time of war, this is the first thing to be done by every +sort of men entering a town, be they Regiment, Ambulance Corps, +Couriers, or any persons whatsoever. Even a stranger whose business is +not well known is at once taken by the Military Police before the +General Commandant, and required to give a full account of himself; +which if he cannot do to that officer's satisfaction, he is placed under +police supervision, and compelled to report himself every morning at +headquarters. This regulation I mention, because a certain auxiliary +member of our staff was compelled to do the like, on account of his +speaking unguardedly of the position of the forces to some of the +townsfolk. + +Our Ambulance train came to a standstill in the Place Bannier, while Dr. +Pratt was making his report, and getting our quarters assigned to us. In +the centre of the Place stood a large drinking fountain, around which +were congregated a troop of horses, jostling each other in their anxiety +to get at the water. They appeared so fatigued, that I judged they must +have returned quite lately from the field. While our Ambulance was +awaiting the return of Dr. Pratt, Mackellar and I strolled round +leisurely. The excitement of the people was at this period remarkable; +for they imagined that, in spite of all their recent reverses, the Army +of the Loire, which was still fighting at a short distance outside the +city, would beat the Germans back, and again occupy the place. + +Hundreds of men, women, and children flocked about the bridge of the +Loire, and kept a steady look-out down the river, in the direction of +the fighting. But their expression was that of scared sheep; and when we +ventured to ask one intelligent-looking young fellow why he was not +fighting, and driving the invader from his country, he answered, "Sir, +we have no arms, and no leaders". It was manifest that they did not +think, as others in the like circumstances have done, of improvising +either. + +The beautiful statue of Jeanne d'Arc, which seemed to be gazing on the +battle from afar, had been entwined with wreaths and garlands, placed +there by townsfolk who desired thus to win her prayers for the success +of their army. + +Soon after, we were informed that Nos. 66 and 68 Quai du Châtelet, on +the bank of the Loire, had been allotted to us as our quarters. On +arriving there we found two very spacious and elegant houses, commanding +a beautiful view of the city opposite, as well as of the river, and the +two famous bridges, which are among the finest monuments of the Imperial +rule. Up to this date, the larger of the two houses, No. 66, had been +unoccupied; and the owner, probably not knowing that we had a billet +from the Commandant, was at first unwilling to let us take up the whole +house. He showed a sullen countenance, and was proceeding to lock up his +best suite of apartments, when our chief informed him quietly that if he +gave any further trouble, and did not at once surrender the keys of +every door in the house, he, Dr. Pratt, would convert the whole of his +charming mansion into a hospital, and make an operation theatre of his +drawing-room. This was a stern, but necessary, warning, which cleared up +the situation. Monsieur yielded to _force majeure_ thus vigorously +threatened, and ever after behaved towards us with the civility which in +the French nature is inherent, and which our mission at Orleans might +fairly be said to demand. + +Our chief had many interviews with the authorities on the two days +succeeding our arrival. The question was, whether we should take on +ourselves only the duties of a stationary Hospital, or follow in the +track of the army. A middle course was fixed upon. We were to have a +Hospital in town, and, when required, were to take the field with the +German Ambulance Corps. Our services were gladly accepted by the +Surgeon-General, and two large Hospitals were at once handed over to +us; the first--a sick and fever Hospital--containing 150 men; the +second, consisting of the railway terminus, with its waiting and +refreshment rooms, stores and offices, in which lay 65 wounded; and +there were beds to accommodate 150 more. We received, therewith, +Hospital plant, and a staff of trained military infirmarians. We were +also given a liberal supply of provisions, which were dealt out to us +and our wounded by requisition. On the morning of the 21st, +Surgeon-General Dr. Von Nussbaum was present at the chemin de fer +d'Orléans to make us acquainted with the former staff, who were now +handing over their charge to us. Our installation was a very formal +proceeding. The German Guard turned out, and saluted as we passed in. + +This was the beginning of our labours at Orleans. As I have stated, it +was at the railway terminus, which had been converted into a Hospital by +the Prussians the day after they took possession of the town. + +Entering from the Place in front of the station into the principal +waiting-room, we passed through two lines of soldiers, drawn up at +attention, and out on the platform. There were no carriages within the +precincts of the terminus, but some dreary-looking trucks might be seen +scattered about on the sidings, and, except a few men on guard at the +coal depôt, there was not a human being within sight. + +The terminus was covered, and of great extent. All the buildings +connected with it were spacious, and fitted up in the ordinary way. We +made ourselves at home immediately in the first-class waiting-room. Its +sofas were placed back to back in the centre; and there were lines of +beds at each side, every bed occupied by a wounded man. The second- and +third-class _salles d'attente_ were arranged in like manner, and as full +as they could hold. + +The next room was the Bureau des Inspecteurs, or the office of the +railway directors. Here also there was a single row of wounded. + +In the buffet there were double rows, and, as it was very spacious, the +numbers it accommodated were proportionately great. In the ticket office +were kept all the medical and surgical stores and requisites. In the +telegraph office was the operation theatre, and in the station-master's +private bureau the instruments to serve it were kept; there the surgeon +on night duty remained during the period of his watch. In this room +there was always a good fire, and outside the door paced up and down a +German sentinel on guard. + +At the other side of the platform, approached by the level crossing, we +found the goods department, and the carriage, waggon, and engine depôt, +which latter, in its general appearance, was nothing more or less than +an immense shed, with open archways at both ends. In this most airy +apartment lay, also, numbers of wounded. + +When we pointed to several large holes in the roof (which had been made +by falling shells a few days previously), and then to the open archways, +suggesting to our friends that they were, perhaps, a degree too airy to +be beneficial, Prof. Nussbaum informed us that the wounded in this place +got better more rapidly than those in the Salles, who were kept warm, +and completely protected from the weather. + +We remained there nearly two hours, seeing the more interesting cases +dressed, and then looked on at an operation by Nussbaum. As several of +the parcel and lamp offices were also occupied by wounded, it may be +conceived that the whole mass of buildings around the platforms made a +very extensive hospital. It was a curious and novel sight, and for a +long time afterwards I never entered a large terminus of the kind +without speculating on the numbers of wounded that it would accommodate. + +We were received very kindly by our German friends; and before evening +were in charge of the whole place, having an efficient staff of nurses +to assist us, and to look after the wants of our invalids. + +As we had now enjoyed a considerable experience in the working of a +military field-hospital, it took us but a few hours to get into the +routine; and the Germans were evidently pleased at seeing how briskly we +fell into line, and took up from them the whole management. + +With regard to the Barrack across the river, which was full of sick and +fever patients, it had been, I say, assigned to us; but we never +actually took it over. The German surgeons who were in charge had to +join their field-hospital, which was about to move in the track of the +army. Nor did the Bavarians possess any medical reserve in Orleans at +this time, so that we came to their assistance at a juncture when we +were much needed; and they showed themselves extremely grateful. When, +however, they were on the point of delivering up the second hospital to +us, their orders to move were rescinded; and we were saved, thereby, an +amount of labour and responsibility, to which our limited staff would +have been altogether unequal. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +ASSISTANT SURGEON.--IMPRESSIONS OF THE GERMAN CHARACTER.--THE ARMY AND +ITS DISCIPLINE.--STATE OF SIEGE.--VON DER TANN'S PROCLAMATION.--LEOPOLD +SCHRENK. + + +I was now promoted to be Assistant Surgeon by our chief, and was given +charge of seventeen patients, under Dr. Mackellar. As much of the +doctor's time was employed in registering and taking notes of the cases +in Hospital, except when he performed operations, I was virtually in +sole charge of my section, though under his supervision. + +We breakfasted at 7·30, dined at 12·30, and supped at 6·30; all our +meals were abundantly furnished at our quarters in the Quai du Châtelet. + +With such hard work in hand, there was certainly need of substantial +food, or we could never have got through it. Every day brought us fresh +batches of wounded, and with them news of fresh encounters, and +skirmishes in the field. + +On 23rd October, I had to perform my first amputation. It was the +removal of a portion of a foot, which had been crushed by a waggon +wheel. The patient, I should explain, lay in a private house, at the +rear of the Quai du Châtelet. Dr. Mackellar, who had kindly given me the +operation, and Jean the Turco, assisted me. But when I had made the +first incision, Jean bolted out of the room, and then tumbled downstairs +in a faint. + +I went on with my task; but no sooner was it completed, than we were +both taken aback on finding that my subject had been given an overdose +of chloroform: his face was livid; and it seemed that he had already +ceased to breathe. In a moment, we flung the windows and door open, and +were slapping him with cold wet towels, and using artificial +respiration. + +To my great relief, in a few seconds the poor man breathed freely again, +and before long came back to himself. He made a very prompt recovery; +was convalescent, and able to hobble about on crutches in a fortnight, +and had still a useful limb. + +My patients increased daily, until from seventeen they became double +that number. And at this time it was my duty to stay up every fifth +night. + +Three or four days now passed away in constant hard work, part of which +consisted in rearranging and cleaning up the whole Hospital, which our +predecessors had left in anything but an orderly state. + +Later on, when I had time to go out, I saw numbers of the Bavarian +troops returning from the recent fighting,--dirty, foot-sore, and jaded; +they reminded me, in fact, more of French than of German soldiers. The +campaign seemed to be taking an unfavourable turn for them. +Occasionally, in the evening, the bands played in the Place Martroi, +where the German officers and men were wont to assemble to smoke and +chat. This was one of their customs at home which they had imported into +France; and by no means a disagreeable one. I heartily enjoyed the +musical treat which they gave; but I liked still better to listen while +whole companies were singing glees in perfect harmony, during their +bivouac under the trees on the Boulevards. There we saw them awaiting +the assignment of their quarters with stolid patience, and cooking their +food in cauldrons over wood fires, all to this delightful accompaniment, +which showed them at their best. + +All the German soldiers had a knowledge of music, and more than half +were fairly well trained to sing. Nearly all the Infantry regiments in +Orleans at this time were Bavarians; but several detachments of the +Prussian Cavalry regiments were likewise quartered in the town. I could +never have imagined such a variety of uniforms and colours as I have +seen among the hosts of the Emperor William. Let me recall a few of +them. + +There were Bismarck's Cuirassiers, in scarlet and gold; a gorgeous +uniform, the undress of which (pure white) is, I think, no less +becoming. Then there were the Black Brunswickers, whose uniform is like +that worn by the Royal Irish Constabulary, but who wear on their shakos +an emblem representing a death's head and cross bones. Again, besides +the dark blue with red facings of the Prussian Infantry, and the +Bavarian light blue with green facings, I could count up Hussars of all +colours, red, black, and white, light blue, dark blue and gold, and the +Würtemburg green. The German soldiers are certainly a magnificent body +of men; and, although at the bottom of my heart my sympathies and +affections are altogether with the French, despite their shortcomings, I +am bound to declare the superiority of their adversaries, as men of fine +physique and manly bearing, and of cool undaunted courage; and I need +not repeat how admirable is the discipline under which they have been +brought to such perfection. + +In 1870, the French did not realise that they had to deal with an army +the rank and file of which not only was composed of the muscle and sinew +of the German people, but included their best brains also. Perhaps the +more observant of the French writers, such as the late M. Renan, or +George Sand, might have summed up the war as a contest of science +against civilisation. Certain it is, that the highly wrought +intelligence of the invaders was a force against which the Republic and +the Empire alike contended in vain. The general run of soldiers from +beyond the Rhine were well educated, and few, indeed, were unable to +read and write. Those few might be found among the Bavarians--in my +judgment, a slow, dull race, yet accustomed to fight in a dogged +fashion, who neither went into action with the dash and ardour, nor ran +away with the alacrity, of Frenchmen. Their movements were on system, +and according to rule: they fought because they were bidden to fight, +and mowed down the enemy, not from hatred of them, but because such were +their orders; and, if they did not take to flight, it was in the same +spirit of passive obedience. + +I should give the result of my impressions, therefore, somewhat as +follows: Take no notice of a German soldier, and do not molest or +interfere with him, especially when he is carrying out the orders of his +superiors, and he will be as harmless as a child, and as easily pleased. +But if, on the other hand, you do meddle with him, and stir up his rage +on any pretext, his revenge will be no less prompt than terrible. In the +battlefield, when once he is excited, he will use his bayonet and musket +as a Zulu his assegai, or an Indian his tomahawk. + +As for his manners, they are, at the best of times, uncouth, not to say +detestable, and when at meals, disgusting. He is an enormous eater, +caring not so much about the quality of what he devours, so long as +quantity is provided; and though he drinks an amount of beer that would +make any other European helplessly intoxicated, he is seldom drunk. +Nothing irritates him like hunger and thirst; in which circumstance he +furnishes the most unpleasing contrast to a French soldier,--always +patient, and commonly cheerful under such privations. When suffering in +this way, physically (which seldom occurred under the admirable +organisation of the German commissariat), he would pillage and plunder +all before him to get food or beer. For such depredations, when caught, +he was mercilessly punished. And the German soldier submits impassively +to this treatment at the hands of his officer, as if he were a dog, +without seeming to resent it. I have seen officers and their subalterns +on the quays of Orleans strike their men repeatedly, and on parade drill +make their recruits dress in line, with the flat of their +broad-swords,--a disgraceful procedure, to which neither an English nor +a French lad would submit. All these features of the German system, as +brutal as it has proved effective, I observed, long after I had seen +them at Orleans, in the vivacious and sparkling pages of _Barry Lyndon_. +So little does the world change in a hundred and thirty years! + +For some days no one but the military had appeared in the streets. All +the shop windows in the town were closed, all business suspended; and +the place, in these circumstances, had anything but a lively aspect. The +Commandant, however, issued an order to all shopkeepers, obliging them, +under pain of severe punishment, to take down their shutters, and open +their establishments. In accordance with this regulation, on a certain +day, before the appointed hour, down came all the shutters; but the +display of goods in the windows amused me very much. In one, exhibiting +a frontage of perhaps twenty feet or more, where silks, satins, and the +most costly stuffs were usually spread out, now appeared in a tasteful +arrangement several pieces of glazed calico, which were, it seemed, the +only goods one could purchase in that establishment. Another equally +large shop in the Rue Royale, a hardware house, exhibited as its stock +in trade some dozen or so of rusty kettles, saucepans, and gridirons. In +like manner did nearly all the other shopkeepers. + +The pastrycooks, however, drove a roaring trade; their counters were +crowded at all hours of the day with the conquering heroes, for Germans +eat sweetmeats and confectionery as a cow munches young clover in the +month of May. But the owners of these establishments were not at all +particular as to the quality of the articles they provided. I once +walked into such a place, and was about to eat of some tempting-looking +things in the way of tarts, when the man behind the counter recognised +me, for we were acquaintances, and whispered that he would give me in a +moment something more agreeable, instead of those greasy things, +pointing to what was before him, which were made only for Prussians. I +ought to remark on the characteristic way in which Frenchmen, who are +the most ignorant people in the world with regard to foreigners and +their languages, called every stranger a Prussian, no matter of what +nation he might be. + +Meanwhile Orleans continued in a state of siege, and strict watch was +kept on every one who moved about during the daytime. After dark no one +could walk abroad without being liable to be shot down by the sentries, +who were placed at every hundred yards along the streets, unless he +carried a lighted lantern. I took great pleasure in listening to the +bugles sounding the order for citizens to retire indoors at nine +o'clock. Standing four abreast at the top of each street, the musicians +sounded their call, which was a most plaintive and melodious strain. + +Before going on with my narrative, I ought not to omit the curious +proclamation, still on the walls of Orleans, which the Bavarian General, +Von der Tann, had put forth after his capture of the city, October 13. +It ran as follows:-- + + "FRENCH CITIZENS! + + "As I desire, so much as in me lies, to alleviate the burden of + the population now suffering from the evils of war, I appeal to + your good sense, and trust that the sincerity with which I + address you will open your eyes to the real state of affairs; + and will persuade you to take your stand with the party of + reason and peace. + + "Your late Government declared war against Germany. Never was + there a declaration more frivolous. Nor could the German armies + do otherwise than reply by passing the frontier. + + "They won victory after victory; and your own army, deluded upon + system, and demoralised, was all but annihilated. + + "Another Government has arisen. We hoped that it would make + peace. It has done no such thing. And why? Because it feared for + its own existence; and, pretending that the German conditions + were impossible, it has chosen to continue a war, the outcome of + which cannot fail to be the ruin of France. + + "Now, what are the conditions which they call impossible? + + "They are the restoration of those provinces that belonged to + Germany, and in which the German language still prevails in town + and country; in other words, of Alsace and the German Lorraine. + + "Is this proposal too much? + + "What conditions would a victorious France have exacted? + + "You have been told that the purpose of the German armies is to + degrade France. That is simply a falsehood, invented to stir up + and excite the masses. + + "On the contrary, it is your Government which, by its conduct, + is forcibly drawing on the German battalions into the heart of + the country, and is leading up to the ruin which it will + accomplish if it persists in itself degrading that fair France, + which might have proved to be the warmest friend of the nation + it has driven into hostilities. + + "Orleans, 13th Oct., 1870. + "BARON DE TANN, + "General of Infantry." + +The olive-branch of this good General of Infantry, held out at the point +of the sword to a people than whom a more touchy or sensitive does not +exist, was hardly intended to produce an effect. Orleans was eagerly +waiting all through that month and down to the 10th November, in the +feverish expectation of succour from without, which would rid them of M. +de Tann and his proclamations. + +But day passed after day, until the monotony of our routine was broken +by the astounding news, long foreseen, yet, when it came, overpowering, +of the capitulation of Metz, with Bazaine, 3 Marshals, 66 Generals, 3000 +cannon, and 173,000 men. It was the greatest surrender in +history,--perhaps, the most flagrant act of treason. + +Accounts given by the wounded stragglers, whom we daily received into +our Hospital, told us that a desultory warfare, but no regular fighting, +was going on between the opposing armies in our front. On one day, about +November 3, two Bavarians were admitted, rather severely wounded. They +related that in the direction of Blois, a party of skirmishers, with +which they were serving, came upon, and surprised, a body of French, of +whom, after a desperate fight, they captured two only, but left forty +dead on the field. This, they stated, had taken place eight hours' +distance (_i.e._, 24 miles) from Orleans. A few days later, I received +three others, who had been engaged in a similar small skirmish with the +rear guard of the enemy. All three, by an odd coincidence, were wounded +in the upper extremity. One Hussar had received a bayonet-thrust through +the upper and fleshy part of his arm; but, with a beaming smile, he +related how he had cleft the Frenchman's head in two, while his opponent +was in the act of making his thrust. The other two had bullet wounds in +their arms, evidently received at close quarters. + +On another day, two men were brought in, who had been shot by a couple +of Francs-Tireurs. These latter wore no uniform, and had coolly potted +them from behind a hedge. Yet, as the following notice from General +Wittich announced,--and it was a sample of others posted up throughout +the country,--all such civilian aggressors were liable to the extreme +penalty. "I declare to the inhabitants," so ran this document, "that all +persons, not being soldiers, who shall be taken bearing arms against the +German troops, or committing other acts of hostility or treason, will be +irrevocably put to death. Only those will be considered as military who +wear uniforms, or who are recognisable at rifle distance by distinctions +not separable from the clothes which they have on." + +In the general arrangement of our Hospital, and particularly in the +nursing department, we were greatly assisted by a most generous and +kind-hearted little Bavarian, named Leopold Schrenk, Captain in a +Regiment of the Line. He used to come every day when off duty, and work +in our Hospital, ready to help all round, but was of especial service in +looking after the patients' rations. I have seen him making the beds of +my wounded men, and washing their faces. This devotion to his suffering +and wounded fellow-countrymen was admirable; but he displayed a hatred +for all Frenchmen and Roman Catholics, and he detested priests, in a way +which I could never account for, as it was very unusual among South +Germans. However, he behaved like a staunch patriot, and was a favourite +with us all. When I parted from him he gave me his address and his +photograph. + +Some ladies who belonged to Orleans also came and distributed soup to +the wounded; among them one who was by birth from Ireland, Madame +O'Hanlon. Actuated solely by motives of charity, they ministered alike +to Prussians and French, with equal kindness and attention. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +CASES AND PATIENTS.--MARTIN DILGER.--HEAVY LOSSES.--FRENCH IRRELIGION +CONTRASTED WITH GERMAN PIETY. + + +As it is my object to exclude as much as possible professional details +of my labours at the bedside, description of wounds, and the like, I +shall again merely mention particulars of a few cases, in order to give +my reader a general idea of the nature of the wounds received by +soldiers in battle. + +Take No. 6, for instance, as I find it in my notes. It was a very bad +case. A German soldier of the Line had received a bullet wound behind +and below the calf of his leg, which passed up, without touching the +bone, behind his knee joint, beneath the muscles of the thigh to the +joint of the hip. Having pursued this most extraordinary course, it +lodged so deep beneath the muscles that neither the German doctors nor +ourselves, to whom the case was handed over, could find the exact +position of the bullet; yet I laid open its track in four or five +places. Despite all treatment, he died eventually of blood-poisoning. On +making a post-mortem examination, I traced the bullet actually into the +abdomen, and still was unable to find it, although certain of its +general position. These particulars I mention to show the unaccountable +course a bullet may take after entering an extremity. There were dozens +of similar curious cases, for which this may suffice as an example. + +In another instance the bullet, having entered the right thigh and +fractured the bone, carried along with it, impacted in its centre, a +splinter of this bone, and pieces of the tunic and lining, as well as of +trousers and shirt. It then entered the left thigh, lodging close to the +skin on the outer side, from which I extracted the different fragments +in the order just described. + +By this time we had evacuated the large shed, which was now only +occupied by those who suffered from pyæmia, or blood-poisoning. All the +rest had comfortable quarters in different portions of the building; but +these unfortunates were doomed to remain in the shed, though exposed to +the biting frost and bleak winds of November. The simple reason was that +their presence under the same roof with their comrades would mean +certain death to all. When they had contracted this dread disease, which +they chiefly did by infection, their only chance,--and a poor one it +proved,--was to be placed in a current of fresh air. Hence their removal +to this shed was commonly but their first step to the deadhouse. + +This plague of the Field Hospital made great havoc amongst our men +during the month of November in Orleans, as it had done at Sedan in +September. The only instance of recovery after it, which came under my +notice during the whole campaign, was that of the Bavarian named Martin +Dilger; and his was of a very bad type. His thigh had been amputated; +and, when the symptoms set in, I sent him out to the shed, where he +quickly became as bad as his comrades. I attended him several times +every day; but he speedily grew worse, until at last, his case seemed +more desperate than all the others. The soft parts sloughed, leaving the +thigh-bone protruding; while the patient was almost comatose, and had +that violent hiccough which is generally, in such cases, the forerunner +of death. Several of my fellow-surgeons, moved by feelings of humanity, +advised me not to put him to the useless pain and annoyance of dressing +his stump, since he was _in articulo mortis_, and his recovery beyond +the range of possibility. However, I resolved that while he lived, I +would do as much for him as possible; and I continued to dress his +wounds. + +Dilger had prolonged and repeated rigors, followed by profuse +perspiration, and was generally of a bluish livid colour,--all symptoms +of most deadly omen. I gave him as much brandy as he could take, and +chloral every two hours, for the hiccough, which was so violent that it +shook not only his whole frame, but the bed on which he lay. Yet, in a +few days these rigors subsided; he opened his eyes, and became +conscious. In the face of such a decided improvement, I ventured the +opinion that he would recover. He was now taking immense quantities of +brandy, which was supplied from the stores, and broth which I had made +for him in the town. Under this treatment his wounds took on a healthy +action, his pulse and temperature came down, and rational speech +returned, instead of his low muttering delirium; my colleagues now +admitted that his recovery was possible. I suffered him to remain in the +shed, as I felt that his safety depended upon having him there. Some +suggested his removal into a warm comfortable room in the town. Indeed, +it was with difficulty that I turned a deaf ear to these suggestions, +and overcame my own inclinations, when, on going to visit him on a cold +November night, I heard the wind whistling through that goods store in +the most melancholy manner, and the rain coming pitter-patter through +the holes in the roof. Nevertheless, in this cave of Æolus he outlived +all the others, and found himself at last its sole occupant. + +This was my first case of pyæmia at Orleans, but it was to be quickly +followed by many more. A Black Hussar, in the first-class waiting-room, +developed it in a most virulent form, and died in twenty-four hours. +That frightened me very much, and I trembled for the safety of the rest. +So I had my wards washed out with a strong solution of carbolic acid +immediately. What made me still more apprehensive was the awful fact +that, out of seventeen patients in a neighbouring ward, all hitherto +going on favourably, fourteen died in a very short time of this dreadful +scourge. In spite of my precautions, I found a few days subsequently +that one of my patients had severe rigors, followed by perspiration; and +bitter was my disappointment to see a case which had been going on +splendidly, almost even to complete success, suddenly turn to the bad in +a few hours. I had my man at once removed to the shed, and, as I well +remember, on a biting November night; but I had no choice. I would have +put him out on the road-side, rather than have allowed him to sow the +seeds of inevitable death amongst the rest of my patients. + +The poor fellow had now plenty of company in his dismal quarters, for my +colleagues had sent just as many out there as I had. + +Not three days afterwards, a bright, handsome, fair-haired lad of about +twenty, with a quick, piercing eye, and manly countenance, showed also +the dreaded premonitory symptoms. I said nothing to him, but asked the +Hospital sergeant to get two of his men and have him removed on a +stretcher to the deadhouse. Such I can only call the place from which +none that entered it came out alive, except in the single instance I +have quoted. Shall I ever forget the moment when the _infirmiers_ came, +and that poor young lad, looking me wistfully in the face, read his doom +in my silence? He knew what it meant. He had seen his comrades go, and +had learned their fate, which was so soon to be his own. A few days +later, I lost a fourth,--a good, pious fellow, who was continually +telling his beads. His name was Johann Krum, particulars of whose case +have been already given. He was a man that never smiled; and when I +discovered that he had left a wife and three children at home, I pitied +him greatly. + +I am thankful to say that this was the last of my patients who succumbed +to pyæmia. Any others whom I lost died from shock, hemorrhage, or the +severity of their wounds. + +The days went on, until we had reached the second week of November. +Skirmishes with the enemy,--that is to say, with the French, who were +advancing upon Orleans,--now became an everyday occurrence; and the +number of wounded that came straggling in meant a very considerable loss +to the Bavarians. + +About this time, Dr. Pratt made a journey to Versailles, in quest of +stores and money, leaving Dr. Tilghman in command. Inspector-General +Nussbaum made several visits to our Hospital, and expressed himself +greatly pleased with the way in which it was conducted. The truth was +that nobody could teach our veteran Americans anything new in the +management of a Field Hospital. They had all served their time during +the four years of the American War, and under a system of military +medical organisation which, as all authorities acknowledge, they had +brought to perfection. This was the secret of the undoubtedly successful +career of our Ambulance. And I must not omit to observe that it was they +who introduced the anterior suspension splint for fractures and wounds +of the joints, which we were the means of having adopted in many of the +German Hospitals. + +To turn for a moment, before the Germans evacuate Orleans, to a subject +on which their presence and behaviour often set me thinking. It was a +fine sight when the Bavarians heard Mass in the great Cathedral, to mark +them fully equipped in heavy marching order, as they stood in close +military array in every available portion of the church, with sabres +drawn, glittering helmets, and waving plumes. The officers, too, stood +with drawn swords during Mass; and at the Elevation they gave, in their +deep sonorous tones, the word to present arms. Altogether the spectacle, +though not calculated to inspire devotion, was most impressive. + +The Bavarians are, as a rule, good Catholics, and large numbers of them +were to be seen at daily Mass, reading their prayers attentively, and +going up to receive Communion. In the Hospitals also, they showed the +same devout temper. Their Chaplains were zealous men, always at work +among them, sharing their fatigues, and seeing that they attended to +their religious duties. One of the infirmarians in the ward next to me, +a common soldier, was in Holy Orders, though not yet a priest; and a +more saintly young fellow I never met. He was light-hearted and merry, +had a pleasant word for every one, and fulfilled punctiliously the +duties devolving upon him as a soldier, and as a minister of religion. +In this matter, as in other things of less importance, the Bavarians +struck me as very unlike the French. When you saw a French soldier in +church (which was but seldom), he never seemed to utter a prayer. And I +feel bound to set down my experience, that so long as I was among them, +I never noticed a French soldier with a prayer-book; nor did I ever hear +one pray when dying. Others may have been more fortunate; but such was +the fact in my case, and I think it deplorable. But the average French +citizen appears to think nothing at all of religion. + +Far otherwise was it with the Bavarians. And I have seen large numbers, +also, of the Prussians and North Germans, who belonged to the +Evangelical or other Churches, reading their prayer-books and their +Bibles in the Hospitals, and praying earnestly as a matter of course. +These manifestly had religious convictions; they served God with zeal +and courage according to their lights. But in France the decadence of +religion had been complete. No wonder, therefore, if she has fallen. +Such, indeed, was the judgment of Europe a few months later, when the +Commune, breaking out like a volcano, startled men from the Voltairean +lightness which, during too many years of frivolity and thoughtlessness, +had been the fashion. For a moment all were agreed in proclaiming the +necessity of a return to the beliefs and practices of their Christian +forefathers,--was it, perchance, too late? + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +FALL OF METZ ANNOUNCED.--THE BAVARIANS EVACUATE ORLEANS.--OUR DIFFICULT +POSITION.--WE ARE TOLD OFF TO THE BATTLEFIELD.--THE ENGAGEMENT AND +VICTORY OF THE FRENCH. + + +On 28th Oct. the inhabitants of Orleans had read with dismay and +amazement the official report, printed and posted up as a placard on +their walls, of the surrender of Bazaine with his army, and the +capitulation of Metz. The majority were of opinion that the Marshal was +nothing but a traitor. Many, nevertheless, whom I met, scorned to +entertain such an opinion; whilst others went so far as to declare that +the whole thing was a German lie. + +But to return to the subject of our Hospital. The wounded, as I have +already stated, came straggling in by twos and threes, bringing with +them reports of numerous skirmishes, which, according to their accounts, +invariably terminated in victory for the Germans. On the 6th and 7th +November, large caravans of wounded came into Orleans; and we now became +aware, through information gained from them, that the great Army of the +Loire, so much vaunted by the French, and which up to this moment we +thought had existed only in the imagination of the townsfolk, was no +myth, but a reality; while these convoys of wounded were the result of +something far more serious than skirmishes between the outposts. + +With all this there was very little excitement in the town; and the +evening of the 8th arrived without anything happening to disturb the +ordinary routine of our Hospital work. About eight o'clock our Chief was +summoned to the headquarters of the Bavarian Commandant. Here he was +privately informed that the troops were going to evacuate Orleans that +very night; that there would most likely be a general engagement on the +morrow outside the town; and that, as they would be obliged to withdraw +their Field Hospital corps and their surgeons, they laid upon our +Ambulance the task of looking after all the wounded in their absence, +and thus formally delivered them over to our charge. + +When we heard of this most unexpected move, we were, as may be supposed, +not a little excited. We could hardly believe that such a thing had +happened to the ever-victorious armies of the Fatherland as a set-back, +compelling them to give up this important position; and to describe our +state of mind during that night would be difficult. I had gone to the +Hospital about seven o'clock to see some patients, and all seemed quiet +and peaceable. Now, I could not help thinking that it would be a +sterling proof of the admirable organisation and discipline of an army +amounting to 15,000 men, if, at a couple of hours' notice, it could +evacuate, during the dead of the night, a large town like Orleans, +carrying away arms, ammunition, and a heavy train of guns, without the +knowledge of any but a few among the citizens. Some must have had their +suspicions aroused by the preparations which were already being made in +the Parks. But, until the appointed moment, when the bugle sounded, and +the whole garrison turned out to join their regiments, by far the +greater proportion of the inhabitants suspected nothing. Eleven o'clock +P.M. was the hour appointed to commence the evacuation. + +At half-past ten I took my stand at the door of 64 Quai du Châtelet; and +as the clock tolled eleven, I saw the sentries on the bridges leaving +their posts and filing off in the direction of the Place Martroi. +Presently, battalion after battalion marched past, on their way from the +quarters in the side streets which adjoined the Quai. To our great grief +we found that our infirmarians were also ordered out, leaving not a soul +in charge of the Hospital, except the two surgeons on duty and their +assistants. These had to minister, as best they could, to the wants of +the poor deserted patients. The truth was that the Germans could not +spare a single man, and were compelled to take them along with the Army. + +Some days before this, the bridge next us had been mined, and the powder +laid; we expected that it would be blown up during the night. As this +bridge was no more than a hundred yards from my bedroom window, I +retired to rest with such pleasant anticipations as may be supposed. +But, in spite of the excitement, I was quite overcome by fatigue, having +been at work all that day, and on duty the previous night; so that, in +my drowsy mood, I seemed to care little whether the bridge or myself +took an aerial flight. Next morning I repaired to the Hospital at six to +look after my wounded. On my way through the town I was astonished to +meet several pickets marching along the streets; but not another +soldier, save a few sentries, was now in the place; the latter being +left, as I afterwards heard, merely to keep up appearances. Everything +that they did not want to carry away with them the Germans put into a +luggage train, which started from the platform of our Hospital during +the night. + +Great excitement now prevailed among the townspeople, and they moved +about the streets in crowds. All this time a heavy cannonade was going +on at the North-West side, in the direction of Orme; and the din and +roll of battle apprised us of the fact that a hot engagement was being +carried on not far off. Multitudes surged up on the bridge, and kept +their gaze fixed in the direction of the fighting, which was indicated, +not only by the booming of cannon, but by the wreaths of smoke which we +could see many miles away, ascending in the still air. All these +spectators chattered and gesticulated vehemently; nor could anything +exceed their emotion. They ran about shaking each other by the hands in +a fever of excitement, as the hour of their deliverance drew on apace. +Once again I saw wreaths of _immortelles_ placed upon the statue of the +Heroic Maid, which stands with drawn sword by the river. + +When we had got through our Hospital work, we received orders to prepare +for an expedition to the field of battle. It had been determined, +however, that, in any circumstances, we should return to the Hospital +that night, and take up our medical duties again. + +It was only now that we realised the awkwardness of our situation. Bound +to stand our ground, no matter who might be victorious (though none of +us anticipated the defeat of the Germans), the possibility of a French +victory and a fresh occupation of Orleans by the latter, filled us with +disquietude. We were under the direction of the foreigners, identified +with their cause, receiving our orders from them. Our sympathies were +supposed to be Prussian, while our Hospital and ourselves had been +maintained by requisitions on the town. Hence the question arose, what +kind of treatment should we receive at the hands of our new masters, +when the last of the Germans had quitted Orleans? Would they, in the +flush and the tumult of victory, overlook the fact that we were +neutrals, engaged simply in alleviating the horrors of war? It seemed +not to be impossible, so far as the population was concerned. But again, +would the French military admit of our claims to be an International +Ambulance? or take us prisoners and send us beyond the frontier? for +they could not detain us under the Convention of Geneva. Such were our +speculations when we left the town about 9 A.M. in our Ambulance +waggons, and with our flags flying. Drs. Parker and Warren were left +behind in charge of the Hospital. We took the road to Coulmiers, where +the firing was heaviest, and from which place it appeared to be rapidly +extending northwards. + +As we passed along, the crowd on the bridge gave us a friendly cheer, +and I cannot recall a salutation that caused us more pleasure. The town +was still in the possession of the Germans, although their only +representatives were an under officer and a handful of men on sentry +duty, who could at any moment have been easily overpowered by the mob. +As our conveyances rolled through the gate of the Faubourg St. Jean, +leading out into the open country, we were surprised to find a solitary +German on guard, who saluted us as we passed. Probably he was even then +convinced of his approaching fate; but he knew his duty too well to +abandon his post. There, as Dr. Warren afterwards told us, he remained +until the French came and relieved him of his guard for ever. + +In half an hour from our exit, we came up with a Bavarian battalion, +consisting of a regiment of 2000 men, about 300 cavalry, and a battery +of guns. Many of the officers were old friends of ours, and received us +very kindly. They were short of surgeons, and prevailed on us to stay +with them; saying that every minute they expected to be called into +action, and to receive their orders to advance. Our position, at this +time, was close in the rear of the fighting Bavarian army, and within +sight of the field of battle. + +Thus it was that we were placed on the high road, upon a little rising +ground which commanded a view of the country between Baccon and +Coulmiers. Thence we saw that a fierce battle was raging, a host of +above 60,000 Frenchmen giving fight to perhaps some 15,000 Bavarians. +The result of so uneven a match became evident very early in the day. A +short time after noon, the South Germans had retreated from their +position in the woods and village in front of us, and the French were +appearing in force on the ground that their opponents had occupied an +hour previously. + +The firing was now vigorous and incessant: the din and roar of battle +were something tremendous; and the French bombshells fell short of us +only by a few hundred yards. Our party, which was halting in ambush, and +as yet unperceived by the enemy, every moment expected the order to +advance. For ourselves the suspense was most painful, and yet we had to +remain there stationary for as much as an hour. During all this time the +men were in their ranks, ready for action. In that vast concourse not a +word was spoken: all appeared sullen and out of spirits; but that +sullenness was usual with them. Some, overcome by fatigue and +hunger--for they had not tasted anything but the bread which they +carried since the previous night--slept soundly just as they were, +leaning back on their knapsacks. While these slept, the others watched +their comrades being picked off on the plain below, apparently without +the smallest concern or excitement. Thus did they placidly view the +course of the battle, awaiting their turn to join in the fray, and add +to the number of the dead or dying. + +About three o'clock the artillery fire slackened, and we joined in the +general backward movement which took place along the whole line. The +rattle of musketry resounded on every side of us, and was kept up +without intermission. The Bavarians, though fighting hard, were now +rapidly losing ground; and the French were not only advancing as fast as +they gave way, but threatening to close in upon them all round. They +were likewise striving to outflank them on the right; so that, by +half-past three, the German soldiers found themselves compelled to +retreat, though fighting still, lest the enemy should effect this +object. Thus, with the Loire at our back, we had only a narrow strip of +country between us and Orleans, by which to make good our escape. The +French, who swarmed along in every direction, fought desperately; and, +in particular, one regiment of Chasseurs à Pieds and Gardes Mobiles made +a most brilliant charge against the trained Bavarian veterans, who were +occupying in force the heights of Renardier. From this place they +dislodged the Teutons, who had then to join our force in the general +retreat. + +By four o'clock on this autumnal day it was quite dark. The firing +gradually ceased, and the French remained in possession of all they had +captured. Now on the Bavarian side there was a general order given to +retreat; it was obeyed with alacrity. We followed the defeated army for +some distance; but when we learned that Étampes was their destination, +and that the German troops were utterly to abandon Orleans, we parted +company with them; for under any circumstances, and at all risks, we +were bound to return to our Hospital. From the first sound of the +retreat, which was carried out in quite an orderly but still in a +precipitate manner, we expected every moment to hear the French Cavalry +coming down upon us. It had been rumoured that they were present in +great force. This pleasant expectation compelled us to hasten our steps, +but neither we nor (as it turned out afterwards) any of the German +troops experienced the least molestation in our rapid retreat. What was +the explanation of so remarkable a pause in pursuit, considering that +General d'Aureilles de Paladine had a host of mounted men at his +command? We were told by the French that it was the result of +interference on the part of M. Léon Gambetta, who forbade Paladine to +follow up his victory. M. Gambetta suspected that the flight of the +Bavarians was a ruse to entice the French into a trap. He dreamed that +they had an auxiliary force somewhere in the neighbourhood, which might +surround the Army of the Loire, and bring about its irreparable ruin. +Whatever may have been the reason, certain it is that the Bavarians were +saved from annihilation. They retreated that night in perfect safety, +and were joined next day by the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. They had +allowed the French to gain a victory, which proved to be their first and +last in this sanguinary contest. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AFTER THE BATTLE.--ORLEANS FROM WITHOUT AND WITHIN.--THE MOB AND THE +AMBULANCE.--THE BAVARIAN GIANT. + + +Our duty was now to return to the battlefield, and render all the +assistance we could to the wounded, so forthwith we retraced our steps; +and, though our day's experience, owing to circumstances over which we +had no control, had not been very fruitful of work, it was fraught with +much strain and anxiety. The night was dark, but we had no difficulty in +making out our way, the numerous camp fires in front serving us as +beacons. We pushed on to the scene of the day's conflict, Tilghman and +Sherwell riding ahead, to see that the route was clear. + +One part of the road had a shrubbery at the left hand side; and, just as +we came to the corner of it, we perceived a figure standing amongst the +bushes. As we approached, the man stepped forward, and the light of our +waggon lamps revealed the uniform of a French soldier. He challenged, +and brought us to a halt. The difficulty of our situation was now +apparent. We were about to enter the French lines, having served the +Germans all day in a medico-military capacity, and having come from +their headquarters at Orleans. + +A patrol on outpost duty quickly appeared on the scene, and we were +detained some time until an officer was brought up. Having questioned us +about all these particulars, and heard our replies, he informed us that +it would be necessary to conduct us to headquarters, and take us into +the presence of the General, before he could permit us to go on our way. +At the same time he showed us the utmost courtesy. We were now +surrounded by a strong escort, and had no choice but to follow. We soon +came in sight of the French camp, and as we passed by the rows of +cheerful blazing fires, around which were clustered, in merry groups, +the victors of the day, the ring of their mirth and revelry contrasted +with the deep gloom which had hung both upon ourselves and our German +colleagues since morning. + +This great army was reckoned at 100,000 men, who now lay in the open +plain under canvas. We passed along through several regiments of the +Line, of Turcos, Zouaves, and Gardes Mobiles, all in excellent trim, and +as jolly and pleasant as possible. They did not at all appear to be the +undisciplined rabble which the Germans had represented to us. A rare +opportunity was now given of contrasting the relative strength of these +opposing armies; but on this subject no inquiries were made. On the +contrary, we received orders not to exchange a word on the matter. + +Singing, eating, and drinking, appeared to be everywhere the business of +the night. Presently we came to a halt before M. de Paladine's tent; and +our chief, Dr. Tilghman, was conducted alone into his presence. The +doctor told him exactly what our position was; and how we had left our +quarters at Orleans to come and assist the wounded on the battlefield. +Our duty had been to pick up any that had escaped the notice of the +military surgeons, and to get them into the neighbouring houses. But, +said Dr. Tilghman, we were bound to return to Orleans next day, and +resume charge of our wounded. This was a difficult matter to settle; +for, as the French had not followed up their victory, they were still +under the impression that Orleans was in German hands, nor could we +undeceive them. The question was, would it be safe to let us go back +when we had been through the camp of the French, and had made +observations on their position? Upon this head Dr. Tilghman speedily +received a satisfactory answer. General de Paladine observed courteously +that, in dealing with us, he had to deal with English and American +gentlemen, who had already given abundant proof of their honour and the +integrity of their word. In short, when Dr. Tilghman had shown all his +papers, and the testimonials of past services rendered to the French, +the old General was profuse in his acknowledgments, being evidently in +high good humour over his day's success. + +When the interview came to an end, the members of the 5th Ambulance +received us most cordially, and invited us to mess with them. But, after +some deliberation, Dr. Tilghman, thanking them for their kindness, and +deeming our position an awkward one, determined immediately to retrace +his steps to Orleans, from whence he could, on the following day, send +waggons to take as many of the wounded as possible into the town. He had +good reasons for thus acting, and without waiting for a morsel of bread +or a glass of wine, we moved out of the camp on our way homewards. + +In a large space, near the General's quarters, lay the bodies of several +Bavarians--perhaps a dozen, some of whom had their faces turned up as +they were lying, and looked very ghastly. Outside the camp, the ground +was strewn, in some places quite thickly, with the Bavarian soldiers who +had fallen on that day, which had proved so disastrous to their arms. +The sight, though no longer strange, was all the same a sad one to us, +for we had begun to look upon the wearers of the light blue uniform with +friendly fellow-feeling, and we seemed (so fast does the time run in a +campaign) to have been long associated with them. I shall not here +describe the battlefield, since my view of it, by the light of our lamps +and of the moon (for a beautiful moon arose just in time to show us the +way home), was, of necessity, rather limited. But, in any case, I doubt +the possibility of depicting, as they really present themselves, the +details of a battlefield. Who can do justice to the heartrending scenes +of warfare as carried on with modern weapons, the chief excellence of +which seems to consist in the degree of mutilation which they can +inflict on the bodies of those against whom they are directed? + +Before relating our entrance into Orleans, I will give Warren and +Parker's account of what had happened in the town after our departure. + +As the day advanced, and rumours were spread of a French victory, the +excitement of the townsfolk knew no bounds. They rushed frantically +about in all directions, but did not dare to interfere with the few +soldiers on guard at the gates of the Mairie and at the Hospital. + +In the afternoon, however, when it became generally known that the +Germans were retreating, not towards the town but in the direction of +Étampes, the populace became most riotous, and from the manner in which +they menaced the unfortunate guards, it was plain that their lives were +in great danger. At our Hospital, indeed, where there were ten men on +guard over some Ambulance waggons at the door, the mob met with a stern +opposition. The German soldiers stood together, with their swords drawn, +and, bidding defiance to the crowd, were determined not to budge an +inch, but rather to die than relinquish the charge assigned to them. + +These brave fellows, who stood so resolutely by their post, would most +assuredly have met with a violent death at the hands of the Orleaners, +had not the Mayor sent out a _Parlementaire_, accompanied by a body of +the Gendarmerie of the town, and requested them, in the name of the +Government of National Defence, to lay down their arms. This they did +willingly, as they saw the danger of their position, and so they were +taken off as prisoners to the Mairie. A great crowd followed, howling +and yelling in the most disgraceful manner during the whole journey. + +Just about the time when the sentries were removed, the blue blouses +rushed into our Hospital and seized all the rifles which they could lay +hands on. The wards and other offices of the railway terminus now +presented a scene of unutterable confusion. Drs. Warren and Parker, like +true Britons, in spite of all this, remained at their posts; they +refused to allow any of the mob to enter our store-rooms, or private +Bureaux, and, although repeatedly threatened, would not submit to the +intrusion. But their demeanour was so calm and steady that they +experienced no rough usage. Their situation during that tumultuous day +was certainly far from enviable. In the forenoon, several officers who +had been wounded, and were in consequence left behind, came to our men +entreating them to keep their swords for them, or else to let them hide +them in our store-rooms. This request we were bound to refuse; but they +succeeded in putting their weapons away among some bedding, which was +lying in the waggon sheds at the terminus. + +A very amusing incident occurred at this time. There was a young +Bavarian officer, the tallest man I have ever seen except one (who was, +of course, an Irishman), who had been slightly wounded in the hand. For +this reason he had been left on duty in the town, and not seeing any way +of escape, slipped into our Hospital in the afternoon; but, finding that +the mob was becoming riotous and might at any moment discover him, he +divested himself of his helmet, cuirass, and uniform--he belonged to the +household cavalry--which Drs. Warren and Parker consented to stow away +in a corner. But in vain did they search for a bed long enough to cover +the prostrate form of their giant; and it was only by stratagem that +they succeeded at last in concealing him. The young man spoke English +well, and was evidently by birth a gentleman. I cannot recall his name. +Hardly was he settled in his hiding-place when, as Dr. Warren told us, +some of the mob rushed wildly through the Hospital; whereupon the doctor +sat down leisurely on the bed beneath which our hero lay half smothered. +When the tumult had somewhat subsided, and darkness set in, our brave +cuirassier, bruised and sore from the hard boards, at length was allowed +to creep out. + +He now donned a suit of peasant's clothes, or rather two suits, for it +took all that to cover him, and even then, as the Irish proverb has it, +he looked "like a crane in a crate". All this notwithstanding, he +appeared in his disguise every inch a soldier, and a German to boot. For +a heavy bribe he procured a donkey cart, in which he seated himself, +with legs crossed on some bundles of fuel, and a carter's bullock whip +in his hand, and thus set out on his perilous journey. Having arrived +safely outside the town, he took to his heels, and by-and-by chartering +an old worthless animal from a peasant, reached the German headquarters +in Étampes. It will be of interest to state that, subsequently, at the +retaking of Orleans, this officer was one of the first to greet us on +entering the town; and his satisfaction at recovering his helmet, +cuirass, and accoutrements was unbounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +OUR AMBULANCE RETURNS.--ENTRY OF THE FRENCH.--THEIR DISHEVELLED +APPEARANCE AND DISARRAY.--WE ARE SENT OUT OF THE RAILWAY STATION. + + +Now that I have given a rough sketch of some of the experiences of Drs. +Parker and Warren, to whom I am indebted for the foregoing particulars, +I must return to our Ambulance cortège, which I left in the moonlight +making its way back to Orleans at the dead of the night. + +About an hour after our interview with the General we found ourselves in +the open country, whence we could see the glare in the sky thrown up by +the numerous fires in the French camp which we had just quitted. The +early part of the night had been bright and fine, but ere long we had to +encounter a storm of wind, hail, and rain. For some time we had much +difficulty in picking our way, as the roads were narrow and winding, as +well as rugged. Calling at the few peasants' houses which we passed, in +order to get directions, we found the inhabitants in a frenzy of fear, +and either unwilling or incapable of assisting us. We learned, +subsequently, from the owner of Château Renardier, that they took us for +Prussians, and our French _infirmiers_ for spies. When we had gone past +these scattered dwellings, we came at length on the broad _route +Impériale_, which we needed only to pursue in order to arrive at our +journey's end. Frequent were our surmises as to whether the French or +the Germans, or either, were in occupation of Orleans. After what had +happened that day, and especially as the Army of the Loire seemed to be +making no effort to advance, we could none of us tell what the case +within the city might be. We drew near anxiously, but observed that no +pickets had been set, nor were we challenged by outposts or sentries. +This led us to imagine that the place was no longer in the occupation of +the Germans; for otherwise we never should have come thus far without +being halted by their numerous sentinels. Outposts, we knew, would have +been planted along the roads for miles outside the town by them; whereas +experience told us that the present state of things was not in the least +incompatible with a French occupation, and with French military tactics. + +We passed on unmolested until we got to the same gates by which we had +come out that morning. Then, at last, as we entered, the challenge came, +and we were brought to a standstill. We all now tried to catch a +glimpse of the sentry in the darkness; we advanced slowly, and our lamps +revealed a slight, well-built man, in a grey tweed uniform and tan +leather leggings, with a Tyrolese, or kind of wide-awake hat, surmounted +by a feather, set on the side of his head. Clearly this was no German. +With his rifle slung across his shoulder in the most nonchalant manner, +he put his questions to us. Who were we, whence had we come, and whither +were we going? Having satisfied himself upon these points, he leisurely +blew his whistle, and quickly brought to his side about half a dozen men +similarly clad, accoutred and armed. One of these turned out to be an +Englishman, who conversed freely with us, and was most polite, giving +our chief the password. He informed us that they were a body of +Francs-Tireurs, who had come from the country across the Loire, and had +occupied the town a few hours before nightfall. They numbered only a +hundred, and with the exception of a company of Gardes Mobiles, there +were no regulars in the town. On the way to our quarters we were several +times challenged by pickets patrolling the streets, but giving the +password we were allowed to go forward, and so reached our quarters, +thoroughly worn out, at three in the morning. + +Dr. Sherwell and Mr. Adams were immediately sent to the Hospital to +relieve Parker and Warren, who came back to the Quai du Châtelet and +reported the thrilling incidents which had happened while we were away, +some of which I have endeavoured to set down above. We were given only a +brief interval for sleep. At an early hour we had to be up and about the +Hospital, dressing and attending to the wounded, who had suffered +considerably in our absence, not so much from lack of surgical aid, as +from want of food and drink. For all the military nurses had been drawn +away; and the onerous task of giving them food and looking after them +had devolved on Parker and Warren, a duty which, in spite of all +difficulties, they did their utmost to fulfil. Much credit is due to +these gentlemen for their brave and noble conduct upon that memorable +day. By their coolness and determination they made all safe for their +helpless patients, and protected them from the violence, which might +easily have gone to great excess, of the rabble of Orleans. + +About ten o'clock on the morning of the 10th, Mackellar, Wallace, and +our acting chief, Dr. Tilghman, went out with their waggons to the +battlefield about Coulmiers and Baccon, and picking up some thirty-three +badly-wounded men brought them into the city. We were much distressed to +hear from them, how, on going over the battlefield, one of the first +bodies which met their gaze was that of a young Bavarian surgeon, who +used to work with us at the railway terminus when we first came. The +poor fellow lay on his back, his face turned up, stripped of his boots +and trousers, which no doubt had been appropriated by some plundering +Frenchman, who was in need of both. It is incidents like this which +bring home to one the horror and the waste of war. + +That same morning, when business required me to go through the town, I +was astonished to see the motley collection of French soldiery which had +flocked in from all quarters. It was not their numbers which surprised +me,--I had set eyes on the Grande Armée of Sedan,--but the variety of +uniforms, and the quaint unmilitary get-up of the individuals who +composed this array of M. Gambetta's. Many in the first regiment that +passed along seemed to be half in German and half in French costume. One +fellow had put on a pair of Bavarian trousers and boots, another had a +complete French costume all but his helmet, another German sidearms and +belt, or a French uniform and a Bavarian plume. The trousers and boots +of the enemy appeared, however, to be in greatest demand. Fully one +third of the new-comers were raw recruits, and little more than boys. To +complete the incongruity of the scene a large _American_ flag was borne +upon a staff as the standard of this regiment, having the words +"Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" stamped on pennants which hung from each +corner. + +One could not help smiling as one watched this miscellaneous rag-tag +collection marching past. We asked one fellow where they were going; he +answered gravely, "To Paris, in order to crush (_écraser_) the Germans". +After these came a regiment of poorly clad boys, looking cold and weary, +as well as homesick. Some of the latter had wooden shoes, in which they +clogged lamely along the pavements, in a slouching style that was by no +means soldierlike. Then followed, by way of a redeeming feature, one of +the regiments of the Line, in which every man bore himself splendidly. +After these, we remarked companies of Francs-Tireurs, and detachments of +the Garde Mobile, who marched along in the haphazard manner of civilians +during a public procession. One youth, possibly a half-witted fellow, or +a volunteer who had joined _en route_, made me laugh heartily. He was +dressed in full Bavarian costume, plume and all, and marched along +bearing a most impassive countenance, quite unaware of the ridiculous +figure he was cutting, in a uniform that was much too big for him, and +in a helmet and plume which no doubt became their original broad-faced +owner, but certainly never were meant to adorn the head of a thin and +sharp-featured Frenchman. How it came about that these fellows were +permitted by their officers, for very shame, to make such a spectacle of +themselves, I did not understand, until an intelligent townsman let me +into the secret of the soldiers' wardrobe, by assuring me that the +men's boots and clothes were made for sale rather than use, and were +all thoroughly rotten. + +The excitement and enthusiasm of the townspeople were, as I need hardly +say, beyond description. They rushed about shaking each other by the +hands, and swearing to do terrible things on the Prussians, when their +troops had once got into Germany. + +Early in the afternoon, during the entry of the French divisions, no +less amusement than bustle was created at our quarters on the Quai du +Châtelet, by our Turco Jean rushing wildly up the town, in his white +apron and cap, with a rifle in his hand, to meet the regiment of his +fellow-Turcos, which, as some one had told him, was among the arrivals. +He went as on wings to the Place Martroi, and finding that such was +indeed the case, threw himself into the embraces of his companions. +These were also in a fever of excitement. They crowded round the statue +of Joan of Arc, and waving turbans on the points of their bayonets, +yelled as loudly as their throats would suffer them: "Vive l'Empereur! A +bas la République!" Had they been natives they might have been shot for +sedition. In this little episode Jean cut the most ludicrous figure, +entering into the demonstration heart and soul; for like every Turco, he +dearly loved his Imperial master. Even now, when all was over, the Turco +was still his devotedly attached friend, and scorned to conceal his +loyalty towards the man for whom he had fought with such valour and +desperation. It may perhaps be asked whether to introduce these Algerian +barbarians into civilised warfare was not as great a crime as the +employment, during the last century, of Red Indians by the English and +French in North America. Their appearance at the statue of the Maid was +certainly in a high degree picturesque. + +I am, of course, incapable of describing the varied scenes of excitement +which greeted the soldiers on every side. How long would such an army +keep its hold on Orleans, I asked myself as I moved about, bewildered by +the seething crowds. Not long, it seemed to me. When later in the day, +every café was crowded with soldiers, they appeared to be feasting +freely in order to make up for past short commons. All seemed +thoughtless, gay, and oblivious of danger. Nor did they care one jot, +apparently, what had become of the Germans. Truly, these French are an +astonishing people! + +In my short walk from the Quai du Châtelet I could not have seen less +than ten thousand men, and again I was struck by the contrast between +the soldiers of the two nations. In the stunted and undeveloped make of +these youthful French levies, any observant spectator, though not a +physician, might have beheld the offspring of parents who had overtaxed +their vital energies by dissipation and luxury. Physical degeneration +had set in among the inhabitants, not of the large towns only,--such as +Marseilles, Lyons, and Paris, or Roubaix and St. Étienne,--but in the +rural parts of the country likewise, ever since the days of the +Revolution. Napoléon's wars had consumed the men of France during his +twenty campaigns. But that was not all. I have spoken of the decay of +religion; it was a patent fact; and, with religion, morality had seen +its own influence decline. Legal restrictions on the disposal of +property had given strength to the system, whereby married persons +limited their families according to their means and social position. +That is the undoubted cause of the estrangement between the average +layman and the Catholic clergy that has so long prevailed; for against +this system the clergy have set their faces, as they were bound to do. +With such parents, and especially when their fathers set them the +example, it was not to be wondered at if the growing lads had put away +religion at an early age, and so lost the moral restraint which would +have enabled them to turn out valiant men, sound in mind as in body, and +a match for any Germans. Their sunken eyes and pinched faces, their +whole bearing, indeed, told a very different tale. We were looking on, +in those unhappy days, at the wreck of a population which, in shame and +defeat, was paying the penalty of laws not to be broken with impunity. + +So much for the rank and file. As regards the singular want of courage +no less than competency among their officers, it may with truth be +affirmed that one of the main factors, in addition to those already +mentioned, was the total neglect of early training, and the absence of +that physical education which tends to a manly development. This system, +which characterises public school life in England and Germany, and which +results for the most part in a straightforward character, and an +undaunted temper, had not then been introduced into France. It is now +not unknown there, and will perhaps change the disposition of the coming +generations. Many tokens there are to prove that such a change is +greatly needed. + +Towards evening equal confusion and consternation was caused by our +receiving an order from the French Commandant to evacuate the railway +station in two days. We were told that we must by that time have all our +wounded taken away. Dr. Tilghman protested that we could not complete +the evacuation of the buildings in less than four days, and we were +allowed the time required, but informed that as traffic would recommence +immediately, our business was at once to clear out of the +stationmaster's and superintendent's offices, which we did forthwith. + +On the next morning, the 11th, a long train full of people arrived on +the platform. They were the first passengers we had seen since our +coming to the place. The change now suddenly wrought was wonderful. +Where up to this we had been masters, and where the profound silence had +for a long time been broken only by the chat of the medical staff, or by +the groans and cries of the wounded, we were now jostled about on a +densely crowded platform, and could hardly hear our own voices, so great +were the din and clamour of passengers endeavouring to secure seats in +an outgoing train, or to get their luggage from the one which had just +arrived. I enjoyed the novelty of the thing much, although the shrieking +of railway whistles, and the hissing of the steam-engines were no +pleasant sounds to have continuously in one's ears. + +While we remained, I saw numbers of French soldiers going round to the +beds of our wounded Germans and shaking hands with them. These friendly +enemies tried to convey their meaning by signs and gesticulations; they +gave away their tobacco; arranged the beds; and did many other little +acts of kindness, which were received with no less good will by the +Germans. It was a pretty sight. On one matter French and Bavarians +seemed of one opinion, which the latter expressed in their quaint phrase +of "Bismarck Caput". "Caput," that strong man armed undoubtedly had +proved himself to be. + +It was whilst standing on the platform awaiting the arrival of a train +when I had finished my Hospital work, that I saw the new Dictator, M. +Léon Gambetta. I knew him at once from the description that had been +given me. He was speaking in low, earnest tones to an elderly gentleman, +a member of the Provisional Government, and when I had surveyed his by +no means elegant form, and caught from beneath a pair of prominent and +bushy eyebrows several glances of his dark piercing eyes, I came to the +conclusion that his appearance was not at all prepossessing. His +military discernment on the day of Coulmiers, which had saved the +Bavarian army from total ruin, I have mentioned in its place. I never +saw him again. + +Our chief was now busily engaged looking out for a building, public or +private, in which we could establish our Hospital. After much +difficulty, a large and spacious mansion, belonging to a gentleman named +D'Allaine, was placed by him at our disposal, and thither we determined +to transport our wounded as soon as practicable. The house was situated +off the Place du Grand Marché, behind the Quai du Châtelet;--that being +the old market-place, and one of the most ancient parts of the town. It +had one great advantage; it was only a few minutes' walk from our +quarters. The authorities also put at our disposal the Caserne St. +Charles, a large building across the river. We despatched the greater +part of our invalids into that caserne at once. + +The first man to be sent out of the railway station in order to make +room for the traffic was Martin Dilger, the surviving tenant of the +goods-shed, to whose successful battle for life I have already alluded. +His almost miraculous recovery made him better known to my colleagues +than all the rest; and though I had upwards of twenty at that time under +my charge, he commonly went by the name of "Ryan's man". I had taken +particular care of his food, getting him meat, wine, and fruit as I +could, and even that great rarity, a chicken, which latter was not easy +to come at, especially if there happened to be Turcos about, for at +stealing poultry these Africans are worse than foxes. Dilger was quite +strong and merry when I removed him to D'Allaine's house. He showed his +delight and gratitude in every possible way, often alluding to his +condition when in the shed at the railway station; and he had a somewhat +German habit of making me laugh by hiccoughing in order to recall to me +that painful symptom from which he had suffered. He has since written to +me several times, and I will give a specimen of his letters in due +course. The poor fellow had left at home a wife and children, which was +no slight addition to his other troubles. + +As great numbers of wounded were being brought into the town, and it was +difficult to find accommodation for them, we hastened to get the Caserne +St. Charles ready, and received into it a large batch of them. These +were principally Germans, sent to us by reason of our previous +association with their armies. When we had got everything here into +working order, conceive our amazement and wrath on hearing that Dr. +Tilghman had been told immediately to evacuate the Barracks! Room was to +be made for the Foreign Legion. There was no alternative; remonstrance +would have been waste of time; and we put our hand to this fresh and +most provoking move. While it was being carried out, as the wounded must +be taken to our Hospital at D'Allaine's, Dr. Parker and I were busily +employed in transporting them across the town, using for this purpose +every available conveyance. Thus we were compelled by the French +authorities to take out of their beds, as best we could, men in dire +agony, some even at the door of death, and all severely wounded. + +I could not recall without pain the details of the scenes which +accompanied their transportation. As I have said, their wounds were all +of the gravest character; some were mortal, the majority were +amputations, and the remainder compound fractures, or severe lacerated +shell wounds. To shake the bed of many of these patients, or even to +move them gently, was to cause them acute suffering. One may imagine the +agony of these brave fellows when they were hauled out on their +mattresses and put, two or three together, into a cart or waggon, which, +no matter how carefully driven, had to jostle them along the weary +streets to their place of destination. + +I went successively into several of the waggons where some of the worst +cases were, and did all in my power to mitigate their dreadful pains; +but, in spite of everything I could do, they moaned most piteously as +the wheels bumped over any roughness in the pavement. I thought a bullet +through the heart was preferable to such agony as they endured. Even to +look on at it was too much. + +About 18th November, we had completely evacuated the Station. The last +batch consisted of those who had been lying in the refreshment rooms, +and, as these apartments were not required by the railway officials, +they did not oblige us to remove our wounded in such precipitous haste. +Every day fresh supplies of wounded were being brought in; and not only +every available nook and corner in our Hospital was occupied, but also +many of the neighbouring houses. It was, however, expressly forbidden by +the public authorities that any house should harbour the military, +whether wounded or not, unless a declaration of their presence had been +made, and leave obtained. + +Our work was now very heavy and our energies tasked to the utmost. +Besides the evil of overcrowding, we had to contend against the +innumerable difficulties consequent on our having been ordered about +from one place to another without notice, or sufficient time to make +preparations for departure. Then upon getting into our new quarters we +had to re-establish our culinary and commissariat departments, on which +everything depended, as well as to re-organise the system of Hospital +management, and put the whole into working order. Until this was +effected (which would take about a week) our whole day's work was +nothing but a scramble from morning till night. Our chief was completely +distracted from constantly receiving orders to have certain things done, +and then (as in the case of the Caserne St. Charles) just when he had +accomplished them, and was settled down, getting fresh orders +countermanding the first. All this was thoroughly French,--at least, it +was quite in accordance with our experience of their system. + +For the first few days after the return of the French, the revelry and +rejoicings of the townspeople were excessive. From the appearance of the +streets, the bustle, and the dense crowds, one would have thought that +some great festival was being celebrated. It was astonishing to hear +these people talk and boast of their glorious victory of Coulmiers--the +first they had gained, and, as it was to prove, also the last. But it +would sadden the heart of any lover of France to witness these +frivolities, these humiliating follies of her vain-glorious and +light-hearted citizens, who never seemed to think seriously of anything, +no matter how grave the issue. + +Soon, however, the bustle in the streets subsided, and the military +became comparatively few in number; many had gone to the front. But +there was an evident intention of making a stand at Orleans, should the +main body of the army be compelled to fall back again. I saw hundreds of +men hard at work erecting barricades and earthworks across the +faubourgs; while trenches and rifle pits were cut in all directions +through the vineyards which lay about the suburbs of the town. An order +was issued by the Commandant to leave the tall vine stakes standing, so +that they might hinder the progress of the enemy, should they re-invest +the place. If I may be allowed to anticipate, these very stakes were a +most serious impediment to their own retreat before the Germans during +the following month. Wherever they are abundant in vine-growing +districts they make the country impervious both to cavalry and +artillery, and form a splendid ambuscade for infantry troops in action. +But the disadvantages of them from another point of view seem to have +been overlooked. + +It was a source of deep regret to me, during this campaign, that I was +not better posted on military matters; for, had I been acquainted even +with the rudiments of war tactics, the numerous and important military +operations which were carried on immediately under my observation would +have been intelligible to me without the aid of an expert, and that +blank which now must be left in this slight record might have been +filled up with many most interesting details. + +The few convalescents who had acted as our _infirmiers_ and attendants, +and with whom we had been working the Hospital since the evening of the +8th,--at which time, as the reader will not have forgotten, all our +regular nurses and _infirmiers_ were drawn away for active service--were +now sent off to Pau as prisoners of war. This we thought unwise and +intolerable; but it was done in spite of remonstrances on our part that +such dealing was nothing less than a violation of the Geneva Convention. +What did we get in their place? Simply a scratch company of French +_infirmiers_, whom we had much difficulty in knocking into shape, and +whom we found by no means so ready to submit to discipline as had been +their German predecessors. One of the new arrivals was a little fellow +named Jack, by birth a native of Flanders, but who had been all his life +on board a ship in the British Merchant Service, and who had had the +top of a finger shot off. He had joined the Foreign Legion, not, as he +told us, from any liking for war or for France, but in order to be with +an old companion who had joined that corps. He was quite a little dwarf, +and unsuited to hospital work; but his superiors, deeming him, I +daresay, no great ornament to his regiment, had handed him over to us as +an _infirmier_. Besides his native language, he spoke English, French, +and German fluently, and professed to be able to converse in Spanish and +Italian. This might have been of service to us in an emergency; but the +following anecdote will show what a treasure we had got in our Fleming. + +One night Dr. Mackellar and I were on duty with Jack when a case of +extensive contusion (with compound fracture of the leg) began to bleed; +and Mackellar came to the conclusion that immediate amputation was the +only course possible. We therefore set about removing the limb. Dr. +Mackellar operated, and I assisted and gave chloroform, while Jack was +to hand the sponges, carbolised water and other requisites. In the +middle of the operation, our good dwarf, getting nervous at a sight to +which he was so little accustomed, lost his self-control and while +endeavouring to effect a retreat, fell on his head to the ground in a +swoon. I am afraid we both laughed at the prostrate brave, who was a +regular lion in his own opinion. Left to ourselves to do the work, we +had some difficulty in finishing the operation satisfactorily. But that +was the last occasion on which Jack figured as an assistant in the +operation room. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +AMERICAN FRANCS-TIREURS.--PONTOON BRIDGE OVER THE LOIRE.--FRENCH +CARELESSNESS.--SOLITARY DEATHS OF THE WOUNDED. + + +About this time a small regiment of American volunteers, in Franc-Tireur +uniform, passed through Orleans on their way to the front. Their Colonel +called on us, and offered a place as assistant surgeon to any who might +be willing to join. Had I been at liberty, the spirit of adventure would +assuredly have prompted me to accept his offer, and he pressed me hard +to do so; but the required permission was wanting. These men, I +afterwards heard, joined General Bourbaki, and having been driven over +the Swiss frontier, were detained as prisoners of war. + +About the 20th November Dr. Pratt returned, bringing with him two +gentlemen, Mr. Olive and Mr. Wombwell, who were to take charge of the +commissariat and store department. They had been in London, and brought +a large supply of stores. They, like Hayden and myself, had been taken +by Francs-Tireurs, not once, however, but twice, and only the French +passport which Dr. Pratt held ever since his departure from Paris, +prevented them from being shot out of hand as Prussian spies. + +A work of great interest was being carried on by the garrison within +sight of our windows on the Quai. It was the construction of a pontoon +bridge across the Loire, for the more speedy passage of troops. The +Germans, some weeks previously, at the time we arrived in Orleans, had +attempted a similar bridge; but before they had half finished it, a +flood came one night and swept the whole thing away, to the intense +amusement and delight of the Orleaners. The pontoon bridge which the +French now constructed, showed not only the perfection to which military +engineering had been brought, but also the acquaintance which the +natives possessed with the sudden and violent floods which were wont +unexpectedly to swell the current of that great river, causing its +waters to rise in a few hours so as to overflow its banks and flood the +adjoining country. The bridge was composed, not of pontoon boats, but of +large barges, which had been used on the river for the freight of +merchandise. These were connected with one another by pine trees, which +themselves had been lashed together by spars. A rough idea of the size +of the bridge will be given if I state that it took thirty-three such +barges to make its length, and that they were about ten feet apart. + +Active preparations were now being made on all sides for a determined +stand. Every one said that ere many days were over, the enemy would be +once more upon them, but they reckoned that an engagement, though sure +to be bloody and desperate, would end in a decisive victory for the +French army. Such was the gossip of the town, and of officers in the +cafés whom I fell in with. + +Another event, of even greater interest than the construction of the +bridge, was the entrance, one frosty morning, of a body of marine +infantry, bearing with them four gunboats placed on long timber waggons, +each drawn by eight horses. It is not easy to describe how very novel +and curious an appearance this flotilla on dry land presented as it +passed slowly down the Rue Royale, each gunboat fully rigged, and +carrying on board its bright brass cannons which glistened in the sun. + +As I happened to have half an hour to spare, I followed the marines, +curious to see what would become of this extraordinary naval procession. + +The limber waggons with their cross beams, on which the keels of the +boats rested, took up nearly the entire breadth of the street. When they +arrived on the Quai du Châtelet, I found myself one of a large crowd +that had been drawn there by the same motive, and we wondered much how +these unwieldy things could be launched. It was surprising with what +facility this was done by comparatively few hands; but, presently, when +our interest in the performance had yielded to admiration, we saw the +last of the gunboats turn upside down as soon as it was in the water, +flinging cannon, men, and everything on board into the Loire. The danger +seemed not so great as it might have been, and we were much amused. +There followed universal scramble of excited Frenchmen to haul their +comrades out of the stream; but their whole idea of assisting the +struggling men was to gesticulate frantically at them, and at their +neighbours on shore, and to maul one another in a fashion as ludicrous +as it was unseasonable. Some of the marines, however, let down a boat +and brought their comrades on shore. But it was not until next day that +they were able to right the gunboat, and they never fished up the cannon +and other materials which had sunk with it. + +I often watched these diminutive men-of-war as they cruised about at a +great speed, for they were driven by steam, with their guns as bright as +gold, and the tricolour flying from their sterns. + +On the banks of the river opposite our quarters, there were several +cannon placed on the footpath with a sentry on each. And speaking of +sentries, I am reminded how great was the difference between the French +and the German method of occupying a town in time of war. When the +Germans were at Orleans, they set a sentry at every street corner, +several at either end of the bridges, one in every public square, and +one at the door of every person at all distinguished. A stranger would +be challenged at every couple of hundred yards, nor could he pass along +anywhere unobserved. Not so was it with the French. During their stay we +seldom came across a sentry, and, when we did, he took no more notice of +those who passed by, or of what went on in his neighbourhood, than if he +had been at a review. + +Again, during the French occupation, we missed the noise and rattle of +the many hours of morning drill in which our Germans troops were daily +practised, no matter how long had been their previous marches, or how +severe the hardships they had undergone. During the weeks which the +French spent in Orleans I never once saw their soldiers at drill. When +they came into the town they simply threw their arms into a corner in +their quarters, and left them there until they were again on the move. +That such was the case I have personal reason to know; for in a house +where I was attending a wounded man, I saw such a collection of arms, +and they remained untouched till the regiment to which their owners +belonged took its departure. + +But this was only in keeping with all that I had seen of the discipline +and internal _régime_ of their armies. A significant token of their +ignorance with regard to the country in which they were fighting was +that, immediately on entering Orleans, they requisitioned, by public +placards, all maps of the surrounding districts which might be in the +hands of the inhabitants, ordering them to be delivered up forthwith to +the military commandant. Thus did their organisation prove itself in +every detail either deficient or slovenly. And on all sides there was +accumulating evidence of something radically unsound in the army as in +the people. + +About November 22, the Inspector-General of French Ambulances called to +see us formally at the railway station with Messieurs Crémieux and +Bezoin, two active members of the Provisional Government. With all three +we shook hands solemnly, and received their thanks for the assistance we +had rendered to the French wounded. They signified to our chief that +France would be in a position, by-and-by, to make some public +recognition of our services; and after the exchange of other compliments +bade us a cordial farewell. + +In the midst of the excitement and bustle, consequent on the fact that +Orleans was now the headquarters of the Army of the Loire, we continued +our daily labour at the bedsides of the wounded, caring little about +what was happening outside our own sphere of work. Many of our wounded +were scattered through the town; and these, comfortably established in +private houses, we visited every day. As already stated, after leaving +the terminus we took up our quarters at M. d'Allaine's in the old +market-place. Here we set up our Hospital exclusively for German +wounded, as, in the circumstances under which we found ourselves in the +town during the French occupation, and taking into consideration the +nature of our mission there, we considered the care of the wounded whom +the Germans had left to us as our primary duty. For this reason we kept +them together as much as possible, that they might not fall into other +and less attentive hands; and when we had done our duty by them, we +bestowed such time as we could spare upon any French wounded that came +under our charge. + +At this time our position in Orleans was extremely critical. All knew +that we had been in the service of the Germans, and that they had looked +upon us as part and parcel of their medical army corps; and we could +hear many a subdued expletive when we passed along the streets. It was, +however, most likely for this reason that no one dared to molest us. +They had learned by a bitter experience how inevitable was the +Prussians' day of retribution, and they knew with what severity the +invaders punished any outrage on their friends. + +Now it was that Colonel Reilly, Captain Frazer and Colonel Hozier +arrived in Orleans with the headquarters of General d'Aureilles de +Paladine, as _attachés_ to the Foreign Embassy. They came several times +to mess, and spent their evenings with us,--pleasant jovial men, and as +brave as they were agreeable. Nothing could be more welcome, when one +was fagged and worn out after a long day's work among the wounded, than +to turn in to a comfortable dinner with nearly a score of good-natured +fellows, who vied with one another in making the evening pass pleasantly +for all. Never a wrangle, never a hasty or bickering word was exchanged; +never did an unkind remark or an ungenerous act mar that friendly +harmony which existed among the Ambulance corps then working unitedly +under the banners of England and America. + +I often look back with feelings of satisfaction to the cheery circle we +used to form when mess was over, seated round a large wood fire; and I +can still see the grinning face of "Nigger Charlie" as he entered the +room, bearing in his hand a large wash-hand basin of steaming punch with +a dash of brandy and port in it, flavoured with spices and lemon, which +we could pronounce with a good conscience to be all it seemed. + +Our work was taxing and incessant, but nothing is too hard if one goes +at it with a will. Yet my advice to anybody who has a soft drop in him, +and who contemplates entering upon a campaign, would be that he had +better stay at home. + +One of our party was a good musician, and every evening entertained us +by playing on a piano which we borrowed from a merchant, as the Scotch +would call him, in the town. This was a grand resource after supper when +we all came together. And so much for our leisure hours. + +In the daily routine of professional work at this time I have nothing +out of the way to chronicle. There was one case, however, the +particulars of which might be interesting. The patient's name was Karl +Melchers, a young artilleryman, who had been shot in the leg at the end +of October, and whose thigh was subsequently amputated at the railway +station. He had been transferred then to M. d'Allaine's, where, to my +grief, he showed symptoms of approaching pyæmia. Reluctantly, but +forthwith, I determined that he must be put out of the Hospital; and I +took peremptory orders from my chief to that effect. + +Now the difficulty was to find a place where I could lodge poor +Melchers. I tried at the neighbouring houses, but all that were not +occupied by invalids were full of the rank and file of the army now +billeted through the town. Not a nook could I discover anywhere. In the +yard, however, there was an empty stable, and into this I had no choice +but to have Melchers conveyed. In order to give the place a less dreary +appearance--it was dismal enough--I procured some straw, and had it laid +on the pavement. He was then brought down on his mattress, and I never +shall forget the poor fellow's face when he caught the first glimpse of +those new quarters which he felt that he should not long occupy. + +When he found himself laid on the straw, alone, and separated from his +companions perhaps for ever, the utter desolation of his fate dawned +upon him, and he sobbed audibly. Yet he was a fine brave young fellow, +with piercing black eyes, dark hair and whiskers, and a very high +forehead. We were the best of friends; and I did all in my power, little +enough as it was, to comfort him. I persuaded one of our nursing +sisters, a native of Luxemburg, who belonged to the convent of Notre +Dame de Recouvrance, to sit beside him on the straw, and talk to him for +a while. However, both Soeur Berthe and I had soon to go about our own +business, and leave him to himself. Day after day he complained bitterly +of being where he was, in the damp and cold, but there was no help for +it; his presence in the neighbourhood of any other wounded must have +meant the death of many, if not of all. Once he called the sister and me +to his bedside, and said: "My end is now not far off; I should die happy +had I but one half-hour with my comrades, behind my gun, with a thousand +Frenchmen in front of me". + +Another day and this poor fellow, after having bidden us a touching +farewell,--for he knew that we could not help his unhappy +position,--died in a manner and in a place that I should not have liked +his poor old mother away across the Rhine to have seen. Yet melancholy +as were the circumstances attending the death of this dauntless soldier, +still more pitiable was the fate of many others as brave as he, who were +condemned to drag out the last few hours of their existence on some +bleak and lonely hillside, or in the thick brushwood skirting some +silent forest, or in the swampy sedge beside some rivulet. Such +tragedies were not uncommon during that stern winter which was now +setting in, as I can but too surely bear witness. + +Always we were expecting to hear of an engagement taking place in our +neighbourhood; but none happened until Thursday, the 24th November, when +we learned from the military in command that hostilities had begun in +the direction of Neuville. During the evening of this day, some of us +were told off for field service, and made preparations to depart. I was +among the number. + +It gave me, I must confess, no small pleasure to be chosen to go to the +front. There is a fascination in the excitement of the battlefield; and, +even in its horrors and imminent deadly perils, a seduction, which one +cannot easily resist. A life of campaigning seems to bring out what +moralists would perhaps term a diseased hankering after its +uncertainties and adventures. But in the case of the Ambulance officer +this not altogether human quality is liable to be merged in one more +useful. He is in the field not to give wounds, but to heal them, and to +assuage the suffering that makes war so detestable in one aspect, so +heroic in another. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +TO THE FRONT.--TURCO AND ZOUAVE ENCAMPMENTS.--SKIRMISHING.--FALSE +NEWS.--THE SHAM FIGHT AT NEUVILLE.--RETURN TO THE CITY. + + +On the evening of the 24th, our chief reported himself to the General +Commandant, and asked for a "_Feuille de route_," and "_Laissez +passer_," which were freely granted, together with instructions to push +on as far as Neuville at once; for no doubt our services would be +required there before many hours. Already we could hear the cannon +booming in the distance, which satisfied us that this speculation was +correct. Early next morning we started with our omnibus and train of +waggons, leaving the town by the Faubourg Bannier. Every man carried +with him all the portable necessaries, consisting of bandages, +chloroform, morphia, lint, tourniquets, and instruments. When we were +clear of the town, a good insight into the doings of the French during +the past few weeks was permitted us. We saw how they had executed their +plan for the fortification of Orleans, and had made an entrenched camp +round about it, with ninety-five naval guns manned by the seamen from +Cherbourg. + +At regular intervals the road was intersected by trenches of great depth +and width, running parallel to each other, and extending for miles round +the town. They had been driven alike through the woods, the open +country, and the vineyards. The cuttings which were thus made in the +road had been filled with bundles of twigs and birch tops, packed +together and covered with sods, so as to admit of one waggon crossing +them. + +It surprised me that our horses' feet did not go through; but I remarked +that the bundles on the top were made of fine slender maple tops. The +sensation experienced when crossing these elastic surfaces was very +peculiar. The omnibuses and waggons sprang up and down, and rocked from +side to side, as if they had been on india-rubber, until I thought we +should be upset; but we were perfectly safe, and the materials proved +admirably suited for their purpose. They had, of course, the advantage +of being easily removed on the shortest notice. The covering of sods was +nothing to speak of, and had by this time resolved itself into a mere +crust. + +The trenches, however, were not by any means so numerous as the shallow +rifle pits and earthworks, which, taking a zigzag course, intersected +one another, and seemed to form a network in every direction. It was +clear to us that the deep trenches were intended to arrest the progress +of artillery and cavalry, while the pits and mounds were for sheltering +advancing infantry. All this pointed to the determination of the French +to make a resolute stand at Orleans; but we all agreed that we should +yet see the Germans making use of those very trenches to defeat the army +which had constructed them. And so it turned out. + +On our journey we passed through the forest near Orleans, where one +portion of the French army had recently encamped. They had cut avenues +through the trees, and crossed them again at right angles by others. At +each side of these were erected little huts, made of branches set +upright in the ground, and interwoven with smaller branches and twigs, +while a rough thatch of broom and birch tops covered them. This gave the +whole the appearance of an Indian village. + +Some of the huts were large and commodious, and if not perfectly strong, +made a comfortable shelter against the blast. When inhabited, one could +well imagine what a picturesque appearance they must have presented, as +seen at night by the blaze of the camp fires. We were told that here had +been the quarters of some of the troops from Algiers. The French always +kept these wild fellows as much as possible by themselves, and away from +the towns, where they are apt to become unmanageable. + +Some miles further on, in the middle of an open country, we met an +encampment of Zouaves. The ground was all converted into a heavy slush, +for it had been raining; and these unlucky men, stationed here during +the past four days, were under orders to move on to the front in the +morning. As a group of them stood beside a fire near the road, I was +struck with their jaded and draggled appearance. Half famished, and up +to their ankles in mud, they gave little earnest of the spirit with +which they would go into action on the morrow. Numbers of them were +moving about, carrying wood and water, while others were cooking their +victuals. I felt much amused at the manner in which some of them +performed their morning ablutions. Two fellows whom I noticed were +kneeling on a board, washing their faces in some dirty water that had +lodged in a waggon track. There were Turcos among them;--one a dark, +fierce-looking brigand, who stalked up with an old barn-door cock in his +hand and a turkey under his arm, jabbering to each of his victims a +jargon, which they probably did not understand, though they fluttered +and screamed in answer to him. These feathered captives were, no doubt, +the result of a visit to some old dame's farmyard; for Turcos never pass +through a country without stealing all the poultry and eggs they can lay +hands on. Such is the "loot" on which they set value. + +Further on, we marched through several hamlets which were almost +entirely deserted, as were, indeed, most of the farmhouses. Presently, +one of the sentinels at an outpost challenged us, and in half an hour we +found ourselves at our destination. Neuville is a tidy village situated +on the north-east of Orleans, which can boast its little square and town +hall, or Mairie, and presented the clean and neat appearance of which I +have so often spoken when describing the hamlets I came upon in my +French travels. It lies on the outskirts of the forest of Orleans, and +has a small but decent church at one end, and a fine corn market at the +other. Its central square now afforded a most lively scene, being +covered with tents from which the French soldiery were swarming out; and +by their excited manner and,--even for them,--unusual volubility, it was +not difficult to guess that some event of the gravest importance was +threatening. + +We reported ourselves to the Commandant, who looked at our papers, was +made aware of our business and destination, and assigned us quarters. +This gentleman, who was most courteous and communicative, informed us +that there had been a battle on the day previously, in which the +Prussians were repulsed, and that, although the engagement had been long +and hotly contested, the losses on the French side were trivial; while +those of the Germans, if not heavy, were yet not inconsiderable. We +also learned that a few small skirmishes had taken place during the +early part of the day, and that the cannon which we heard were further +up the French lines to our right. The Commandant said that for the +wounded at Neuville he had ample provision in his military surgeons; but +added that he expected an engagement on the morrow, when our services +would probably be useful. + +Such appear to have been the facts. Yet, a few days afterwards, the +French journals gave a glowing account of an engagement which had taken +place on that very day, and in which a large number of Prussians were +killed, with the loss of only one Garde Mobile and half a dozen wounded +on the French side. Well and good, if the papers had confined themselves +to the doings of the 24th, when there was really some brisk fighting, +and some cannonading too, as I can testify; for I saw where a bombshell +had entered the mayor's house, and, having passed through the roof, had +burst inside, knocking in the ceiling of the sitting-room, and riddling +the partition walls so that one could see into the adjoining chamber. +But all beyond this was exaggeration or fable. + +I remarked that many of the houses in Neuville had received the like +treatment, and that, here and there, doors, windows, and sashes had been +smashed by fragments of shells. Presently, while wending our way through +the camp to our quarters, we fell in with a young corporal, who was of +English descent on the mother's side. He had known Dr. May in Paris, +spoke English fluently, and showed much refinement and intelligence. He +told us that, on the day before, some thousand and odd Frenchmen had +defeated in a pitched battle four thousand Prussians; but as the French +had had fresh reinforcements that morning, they were now on a more equal +footing with the enemy, and could muster, at least, three thousand men. +About the movements or position of the other side no one seemed to have +precise information, which rather astonished us, since they talked so +confidently. + +When we had put up in a little tavern, situated in a by-lane, and as +clean and comfortable as we could expect in time of war, we went out +again to see what was going forward. On one side to the north of the +village, our friends had constructed rifle pits, mounds, and trenches +just as at Orleans, but on a smaller scale. + +We directed our steps to the church, and found there several score or so +of wounded, the greater number of whom were German. These latter were in +charge of a very uncommunicative young surgeon of their own, who, +although I have no desire to misjudge him, did not seem to be very +deeply concerned about his patients. They were all gravely wounded, and +lay on the flags, with but a scanty supply of straw beneath them, +having neither blankets nor anything else to cover them, except their +overcoats. Many were in a dying condition, their limbs mangled by +fragments of shells, or traversed by bullets in some vital part. Two of +them assured me that their wounds had not been dressed since they were +brought in from the battlefield, and that the bullets were still +unextracted; but this may have happened from want of Hospital plant and +material. We had, however, the gratification of seeing the few out of +that dying multitude who could bear removal, transported to our depôt at +Orleans; while the rest were left under the charge of their German +doctor, let us hope to die in peace. + +Some lay in the sanctuary of the church beside the altar; others made +use of the steps to support their aching heads; and we noticed others +again who were writhing on the ground in the agony of death. + +But war had imposed its burden on us, and we took an early rest in order +to be fresh for our work next morning. Dr. May was told off to rise at +three, and ascertain when we might be expected to be up and moving. The +morning came; but no firing had as yet begun, and Dr. May let us lie +until seven. When we came down, the village presented a very different +aspect from that of yesterday. Not a civilian was to be seen in the +streets. A regiment silently drawn up was in the centre of the square. +Every man stood in his place, with his hand on his rifle, and ready to +begin at a moment's notice. Our forces at this point consisted of a +regiment of marine infantry, a couple of regiments of the Line, a few +hundred cavalry, and three batteries. + +We took our position on the _route Impériale_, immediately outside the +town, from which place one could observe how the forces were disposed, +and the relation which we bore to the enemy. There was a forest in front +of Neuville, some few thousand yards away from the earthworks, and in +and beside this wood the Prussians held their ground. The French +infantry were drawn up within and in front, as well as on the left of +the town; while the artillery had taken up their position on a small +hill to the right, from which they could rake the plain before them, +should the Prussians give them battle. In the rear of the artillery, and +away from the town, were placed the cavalry. + +Now, when I talk of the infantry being drawn up, be it understood that +they were not ranged in lines on the open plain, as the uninitiated +might suppose,--far from it,--for, positively, on looking over the +country, it was hard to make out their presence. The French forces were +scattered about in farmyards; behind woods, orchards, and hedges; and +close to the houses themselves. + +The early part of the morning had been wet, but it was now quite fine; +and my reader can imagine with what burning anxiety we kept our eyes on +the plain before us, and with a fixed gaze waited for the moment when +the familiar rattle at the outposts should declare that hostilities had +begun. + +Time passed, and no wounded were coming in. Some of us walked about +unheeded, observing all we thought of interest. The Prussians were not +visible, and we were moving along the road, when we saw the outposts +engaged at two different points, as we judged by the smoke and the +sounds of musketry. + +We now retreated to our lines, feeling sure that this was the +commencement of a hot day's work. However, it turned out otherwise; for +after a considerable amount of shifting their position on the part of +the infantry, and the advancing of a few companies, there was very +little firing on either side save that which was kept up between the +outposts; and they, in the end, got tired of firing in the air in the +direction of one another. I should say, from the distance they were +apart, that they might have gone on firing till the day of judgment, and +done no execution on their respective enemies. In a little time two +companies went forward and exchanged a few volleys with the Prussians, +whereupon the latter retired altogether from the scene. Thus ended the +battle of the 25th, without a drop of blood being shed or a single man +being wounded. + +Now, it may appear strange that I should have travelled into the details +of so bloodless an engagement; but my reason for doing so is simply +this, that a few days later, when perusing one of the French journals, I +lighted on a glowing report of three brilliant victories which had been +gained at Neuville by the French, on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of +November, with all particulars at length. + +The comments on the battle of the 24th, as I have said, were +exaggerated; but in describing the two days subsequent, my newspaper +stated that, after a determined resistance of many hours, the Prussians +were completely routed, and had left eighty prisoners in the hands of +the French, with a quantity of baggage and waggons. I have given the +circumstances of this notable victory of the 25th, and the reader may +draw his own conclusion. So much for French journalism, which, to my +thinking, was not wholly guiltless of many of the disasters that befell +the French arms. The facts I have related speak for themselves; they +furnish, however, an example of the mania, which, at this period, seized +the French press, and led them persistently to falsify the news from the +seat of war. Not only did they strain every effort to blindfold their +own people, and screen the truth from them,--which was that they were +being hopelessly beaten,--but they did their best to persuade the world +that they were winning, and that their ultimate success was certain. + +These bare-faced falsehoods, which delayed negotiations, and put off the +treaty of peace until the country was exhausted, could be matched only +by a story which I heard long afterwards. An acquaintance of ours, who +was staying at Tours in 1880, used to relate how his French host was in +the habit of saying, when they fell to talking about old times, +_"Franchement, nous avons vaincu dans cette guerre, mais les gens ne +veulent pas le reconnaître"_. No, I say, they hardly could! + +We returned to Orleans on the night of Saturday, the 26th, and next day, +during a leisure half-hour, I wrote home rather a tame account of these +glorious French victories. + +Wonderful (I used to think), how easy it is to revive by abundant +palaver the drooping spirits of the French! Not two months ago they had +looked upon their prospects, if not with despair, yet with the most +gloomy forebodings; but to-day, elated by a few slight successes, they +were swaggering about the streets, boasting of what France had done in +generations past, and of what she would do in the future. It was no +uncommon thing to hear them in the cafés talking of the requisitions +they would make when they had raised the siege of Paris, and were +marching through Germany, about which they knew little more than they +did of the interior of China. Nor would it have been safe to hint, at +this period, that any Germans would still remain on French territory by +that day six weeks. + +It was amusing, if also, perhaps, exasperating, to hear them run on in +this fashion; for we non-combatants all expected that ere many days we +should see the German sentinels again at our Hospital gates. For +ourselves, we were still branded by public opinion as Germans, and had +nothing to protect us save our calling, and the flag which hung out all +through, over our door on the Quai du Châtelet. Hence we were careful +how we moved about after nightfall, lest we might come into collision +with the soldiery, or such of the townsfolk as might have been disposed +to interfere with us. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +BATTLE OF PATAY.--THE FRENCH RETREAT.--KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.--THE BATTLE +CONTINUED.--ATTACK ON ORLEANS BY THE GERMANS.--BURNING OF THE PONTOON +BRIDGE. + + +Time went by in the ordinary routine of Hospital work, until the 1st +December, when the news of a successful sortie from Paris, made by +Trochu and Ducrot, put the whole town into a fever of excitement. Report +said that the Army of Paris was already approaching Étampes. + +Next day, 2nd December, we heard heavy firing going on all along the +lines, so far as we could judge, from Neuville and Chevilly on the +right, to Patay on the left. A severe frost had set in during the past +fortnight, and there had been a heavy fall of snow during the last few +days. The ground was hard, and the air clear, so that the roar of the +guns thundered in our ears as if they had been only a few furlongs +instead of eight miles away. Of course, it was devoutly held by the +Orleaners that Trochu was fighting his way through the Prussian lines, +and would be in Orleans to-morrow. + +We, however, guessed what the real state of things was. During the last +week we had obtained permission from the French authorities to have the +old Church of St. Euverte, in the Rue St. Aignan, fitted up as a +Hospital, and the Mayor had provided about 300 beds with their bedding. +We had been actively employed the past three days in transferring our +wounded from D'Allaine's to our new abode; and by the evening of the 3rd +all our arrangements were made to receive the wounded. The cooking +department was seen to by an energetic Frenchman, M. Bonjour, whose +services throughout our stay at Orleans can never be forgotten by us. + +Towards the evening of that same day, the firing became fierce and +continual; it appeared to come nearer than it had been in the morning. +Both sides had heavy guns, eighteen and twenty-four pounders, hard at +work. Nor were the mitrailleuses inactive. It was not until long after +dark that the cannonading ceased. As may be supposed, no one knew, +though every one pretended to know, the result of this long engagement. +Some I heard saying that Prince Frederick Charles had been taken +prisoner with 20,000 men; while others ventilated equally foolish +reports. But ere long convoys of wounded arrived, and we soon had no +doubt as to what had happened. The French were evidently getting the +worst of it. + +Next day, the 4th December, a furious cannonade raged outside the town, +making a most terrific din, though still several miles away. It told us +that the French were making a determined stand. Early in the morning our +Ambulance, minus Tilghman, Mackellar, Hayden and myself, quitted +Orleans, and went on to the battlefield. We four were left behind to +receive the wounded, as well as to look after those who were already on +our hands. I had been under orders to go; but Dr. Warren, who was +burning to be in the thick of it, asked me to effect an exchange with +him; and I consented to the arrangement, subject to the necessary +permission of our chief. My friend had never been among the bullets; and +great was his anxiety to receive what Louis Napoléon called in a famous +despatch, the "baptism of fire". As I had a great deal of useful work to +do, I was quite willing to stay. After my late experience, curiosity +alone, without the call of duty, never would prompt me to go again into +a battlefield; but I had had my baptism. As regards the success of this +expedition, I may add that, when they arrived on the scene of action, +they found the French were fighting in retreat, and there was no +possibility of establishing a temporary field Hospital. They had, +therefore, to content themselves with bringing home as many of the +wounded as they could accommodate in their waggons. + +The description which they gave of the slaughter was fearful. The +Prussian artillery had raked the French lines through and through before +their eyes; and Dr. Warren confessed to me that, short as was the time +they had been on the battlefield, he had seen sights so horrible that +the recollection of them would haunt him till his dying day. + +Long before the return of our comrades, we became aware that the French +must be fighting in retreat, by the extended convoys of provision and +baggage waggons, that streamed down the Rue Royale and across the Loire. +For upwards of ten hours the baggage, provision, and ammunition train of +the French army continued to pour across that bridge in unbroken +succession. It was a sight to fill one with amazement; one could hardly +believe that it was not all a dream. + +In the middle of the day, while going to see some of my wounded who were +quartered in a neighbouring street, I met a convoy of Prussian prisoners +being hurried along by a detachment of marines. They must have been some +time in the hands of the French, for they looked thin and worn; and it +made my blood boil to see the malignant delight which beamed in the +faces of the townsfolk as they scanned these famished and half-frozen +wretches passing along. + +But an hour later, I witnessed in the Rue Jeanne d'Arc a scene, the +novelty of which, to my mind, was without a parallel. Moving down the +street towards me at a slow hand-gallop,--almost at a walking +pace,--came a troop of African cavalry, from the borders of the Sahara. +I don't know that anything had ever excited in me so much curiosity as +did the sight of these Spahis; and a more strange and wild-looking +collection of men and beasts it would be impossible to conceive. They +halted opposite the Cathedral, so that I had ample time to take stock of +them. The townspeople displayed as much astonishment as I did, and +flocked after them in crowds, just as if they had been the outriders of +some great circus. + +They were tall, fine-looking men, with bronzed faces, but of various +tints, some light, some almost black, some handsome, others +square-faced, and, one had almost said, ugly. There were those among +them who had well-chiselled features, with dark eyes, and so piercing a +look as to give one the idea that they could see right through one. +Their outer dress consisted of long-flowing mantles in white flannel, +which trailed along the ground when they dismounted, and were fastened +over one shoulder, somewhat after the fashion of the Roman toga. This +garment, however, had attached to it a hood and a short cape. On their +heads I saw what appeared to be a high coil of whitewashed rope, +entangled in the hair, which, so far as I could judge, they wore long. +This coil was looped up about their head-dress like the ordinary +turban. The hood, of which I have spoken, was partly drawn up over the +turban or coil, just far enough to catch the apex, and the whole +appeared as if each man carried on his head a small turret. Add to these +details, a lean, ugly, big-boned, square-hipped, straight-shouldered +Arab horse, with a wooden frame set on a large pad for a saddle, and +having a high piece going up behind, so as to reach half-way up the +rider's back. The whole thing looked more like a diminutive chair than a +saddle. The girths by which it was secured passed round saddle, horse +and all. Wooden shoes came out at each side, with strips of hide for +stirrups; there was a strong crupper behind, and blinkers were set on +the bridles of untanned leather. It was, I think, the oddest specimen of +an equestrian turn-out that ever showed on a European battlefield. + +These men are supposed to be about the best riders in the world. As they +moved on, I remarked that they all rocked in their saddles in the most +curious fashion, and thrust out their toes in tailorlike style. They +each carried a musket about the length of one's arm, a brace of pistols, +and a sword, which did not look like a sword, it was so much bent. Yet +this is their favourite weapon. I could well imagine an enemy being +taken aback when he approached these mysterious foes, and beheld their +grim dark faces peering through a small loophole at the top of a tower +of white flannel. They certainly had more the resemblance of cowled +monks than of a troop of cavalry, and might have been introduced by Sir +Walter Scott in _Ivanhoe_, as Moslem Knights Templars. + +When I had seen this curious sight, I went on my way to look after a +captain of the Garde Mobile, who was shot through the foot, and a young +corporal of the Line, shot through the left lung. The latter was a very +bad case, not likely to recover; the ball had descended in the cavity of +the chest, and the air which the poor lad was breathing entered and +escaped through the perforation. Presently, a boy of about sixteen came +in, the friend and companion of the dying corporal. He had but a few +minutes to remain, and in this short time he learned from me that his +friend's wound was mortal, and that he must now bid him a hasty +farewell. The parting scene between them was most touching, for they +were attached comrades. + +Among the number brought in to-day by our ambulance was one who came +under my charge, and whose case was of interest by reason of his tender +years. He was a fine lad, only seventeen, and had served in the Garde +Mobile. He had been shot through the leg; but the principal cause of his +lamentation was not his wound; it was that he had not fired a shot the +whole day, nor even so much as got a chance of bowling over a German, +though all the while shells and bullets were falling about him like +rain, and dealt wholesale destruction on his company. The account which +he gave of the fighting outside was terrible; it seemed to have made a +deep impression on his imagination, yet did not in the least take from +his courage. He told me he had not eaten for twenty-four hours. How, I +often said to myself, could soldiers fight, who were habitually +suffering from hunger, cold, and fatigue, like these poor fellows? + +All this time the ground literally shook from the conflict which was +going on outside the town. I think that, as an artillery fight, it was +second only to Sedan. + +It had been freezing very hard every night, and snow was lying deep on +the ground. + +If people at home (and there are some who talk much around their +comfortable fires about going to war on every paltry provocation) could +have seen the waggon-loads of half-frozen wounded which were brought in +to us on the night of the 4th, and those again who lay outside the town +without assistance, their wounds uncared for, and exposed to the +bitterly cold night air, how soon they would change their idle tone! how +they would loathe and abominate the very name of war! + +I can understand that men find a pleasure in studying the art of +fighting, as they do in playing a game of chess; and I have allowed in +my own case the fascination which even its horrid reality is capable of +exercising over one. But for the man who deems it a pleasure and a glory +to use the science of war as a weapon wherewith to annihilate thousands +of human beings, for the delusion called "prestige," or in the game of +politics, I would have him to know that it is a foul and monstrous +thing, full of hideous suffering, cruelty, and injustice, with nothing +to redeem it, save the courage whereby such miseries are endured. + +However, let me go on with my proper theme. Immediately the darkness set +in on the 3rd, the cannonading ceased. This night we snatched but a few +hours' sleep; for, at the first dawn of daylight, a repetition of +yesterday's performance began with redoubled vigour. From the belfry +tower of our church, during the past two days, we had been able to get a +fair idea how the battle was going. It commanded a fine view of the +country around. But now that the Germans had driven the French back on +the outskirts of the town we could see much more of the contest. Early +on the 4th we beheld the whole cavalry, numbering about 3000 men, come +down the Rue Royale and pass over the bridge on the Quai du +Châtelet,--some at a swinging trot, others at a gallop. It was a rare +sight, for here were represented men of every regiment in +France--Cuirassiers, Lancers, Chasseurs d'Afrique and the rest. This +host of armed men and horses, extending as far as the eye could reach +(which was certainly half a mile), formed a _coup d'oeil_ not easily +forgotten; and the clatter they made on the pavement, during their +stampede, was loud enough to have been heard far outside the town. + +Towards evening I availed myself of a few minutes' leisure to ascend the +church tower and watch the battle, which still continued. The roar of +the fighting, which was now going on in the vineyards and entrenchments +at the end of the Faubourg Bannier, baffles description. The heavy +French marine guns were all going simultaneously, while on each side of +the town the infantry also were in close conflict. Quite near us, at the +end of our own Faubourg St. Vincent, just where the convent stood in +which Miss Pearson and Miss McLoughlin were at work, the fighting seemed +heaviest. On some portion of the ground that was not so thickly covered +with vineyards, the dead were strewn in heaps, many being the victims of +their own mitrailleuses which the Germans had captured, and were now +using with more precision and deadly effect than their original +possessors. But all this time, the French, though retreating, kept up a +continuous and well-directed fire upon the advancing Prussians, whose +losses, as we afterwards discovered, were quite as great as those of the +vanquished. + +This they attributed themselves to the great tact and ability which the +French marines displayed in the management of their heavy guns. But for +these, indeed, as I have heard the French say, it would have been +difficult, if not impossible, for them to have covered the retreat of +their army. + +The sun shone brilliantly that afternoon of the 4th, and the arms and +accoutrements of the contending forces were flashing brightly, as they +moved about among the vineyards. In the distance we could see in several +places the field-artillery galloping along in different directions, +wheeling round suddenly, and stopping, when the little puffs of smoke +told us their reason for doing so. But these reports were lost in the +general tumult of the battle. One or two more repetitions of these +little puffs, then a limber-up, and a dash ahead as before in their +onward course, only to repeat the same manoeuvres further on; such were +the tactics which, as from a box at the theatre, we repeatedly noticed, +standing in the belfry of Ste. Euverte. + +And here I may mention an incident witnessed by Drs. May and Tilghman. +There was a hot contest being waged close to the Hospital, among the +double rows of trees on the Boulevard St. Vincent, when, in the midst of +the confusion, a young lieutenant of the Line was seen stepping out from +a house just beside the church. He had gone but a few paces, when a +young girl rushed out after him and took a last embrace, after which he +moved quickly out of her sight. But evidently he was not yet out of the +mind of the young girl; for she stood as if rooted to the spot, gazing +after her lover, heedless of the bullets which were whistling past, and +of the storm of the battle raging round her. In another moment, May and +Tilghman realised her frightful situation. May sprang over the paling +which was between them, but arrived only in time to receive her bleeding +and senseless into his arms. A spent bullet had struck her between the +angle of the eye and the cheek bone, and had stripped back the soft +parts of the side of the face as far as the ear, with a portion of the +scalp. + +The wound, though not so very dangerous,--for the bone of the head was +only grazed and not broken,--was, nevertheless, an ugly one. The girl +was at once taken into her own house, where May and Tilghman skilfully +adjusted the torn portions of the scalp by a neat operation, bestowing +on the case every attention in their power. It will doubtless be +gratifying to my reader when I tell him that this girl made a splendid +recovery. I had the privilege of watching her convalescence in the +absence of Dr. May. Nor was she much disfigured; for, in consequence of +the prompt treatment, the parts united admirably, leaving an almost +imperceptible scar, which was, however, sufficiently well marked to +remind her of that romantic, but perilous, moment at Orleans. Love is +proverbially blind. In this case, love was blind and deaf too. + +I was kept hard at work in the Hospital, and could steal only a moment +to observe the stirring scenes which were going on around. Each +new-comer brought with him, in addition to his own sad story, a list of +harrowing details from the day's battlefield. But things were all going +one way. Early in the afternoon, the main body of the French army had +fallen back upon the town. The Germans had gained possession of the two +principal approaches of the Faubourgs Bannier and St. Vincent, and had +already demolished numerous buildings on the outskirts. They did not, +however, shell the town itself, as we feared they were on the point of +doing; and when night set in, there was a temporary armistice. Both +sides, by mutual consent, desisted, on the understanding that the +bridges were not to be blown up. + +Now it was that the whole French army commenced their hurried march +across the Loire, by the pontoon bridge, and the two permanent ones. It +was a bright, still, moonlight night, and nothing was to be heard but +the trampling of feet, as that mighty host hurried along. I stood at the +corner of the Quai du Châtelet and watched them. Some of the regiments, +which had happened to lag behind, doubled down the Rue Royale, but they +marched over the pontoons at the regulation pace. + +Not a word was spoken,--an unusual state of things among Frenchmen,--and +all, as they well might, seemed dispirited. Some of the men had no arms; +many had lost their képis; and all showed visible signs of having lately +seen hard times. Tired, at length, of watching them pass in that +unbroken stream, I went to my quarters at No. 64 on the Quai hard by. + +I had hardly entered, when my attention was called by the tramp of feet +on the pavement outside the open window. On looking out, I beheld what +appeared to be the remains of several regiments. Most of them were +without arms, and all went limping along, evidently quite foot-sore, +while numbers were slightly wounded, to judge from various bandages, +which they displayed round their heads, legs, and arms. They looked more +like a procession of invalids out for a walk, than soldiers still +capable of fighting. The poor fellows were dead beat, and did not so +much march as shuffle along, some in a tottering condition, and lagging +behind the rest, having evidently done as much as was in their power. + +But what was my rage and indignation, when a captain, in the rear, who +carried in his hand not a sword, but a thick cane, belaboured with it, +again and again, any unfortunate who did not keep up with the rest! One +of these poor fellows made a sign to me for something to drink. Swiftly +as possible, I seized a large can of water which stood beside the +window, and poured it slowly on the footway. Several that were near put +their mouths under the little jet, and then began a sort of scramble for +what one of them told me he had not tasted during fourteen hours. But +their gallant leader, having dealt half a dozen blows at random with his +stick among this thirsty crowd, dispersed them, indulging the while in +strong language, and gesticulated at me in the most excited manner. +However, the frame of mind I was in--to say nothing of my safe +position--made me equal to the occasion. I complimented him on the able +style in which _Monsieur le Maréchal_ used his _bâton_; and he slunk +away, muttering curses, as he did so, at me and his men. + +This piece of excitement over, I went to the pontoon bridge, where the +stream of soldiers continued to pour across. Although I had been on duty +the previous night and all that day, I could not but stay up to watch +this historic and interesting spectacle,--the retreat of 200,000 men, +composing the whole Army of the Loire, across that river. It was now +nearly eleven o'clock, and they had been passing for hours. But the +living current flowed on unceasingly during the night, until the last of +the troops were over. When this had been accomplished, then the silence +of the frosty scene was broken by the sound of hammers, hatchets, and +saws; and the air resounded with the hacking and the chopping of the +sappers, who were busily engaged cutting the moorings and the cross +planks, while others set fire to the bridge in about a dozen places. +Just at the same hour, there was a great tramp and rattle of horses and +waggons over the permanent bridge to our right, caused by a number of +batteries of artillery, which galloped furiously onwards in headlong +career. They were the last of the fugitive army. The battle of Patay had +been lost and won. + +Now the Loire was much flooded, and the blocks of ice borne down in the +current were very large, so that when the different sections of the +bridge were cut loose,--and, later on, when they became again +subdivided, as well as during the process of freeing themselves,--the +grating, groaning, creaking, and crashing of one against the other, and +also against the great blocks of ice, was unlike any other sound I ever +heard. Moreover, every raft of boats and planks formed the base of a +pillar of fire, which brilliantly illuminated the snow-covered slopes, +the trees, and the ice-bound banks of the river,--reflecting in the +water above and below us, as if in a looking-glass, the arches and the +battlements of two of the finest bridges in France, which now stood out, +in all their architectural beauty, relieved against the pitchy darkness +of the night. + +As each of these burning sections of the pontoon became disconnected +from its fellow, it turned round on its own axis, and staggered about in +the river for a short time, until finally, having arrived in mid stream, +it swept down with the current,--making a loud grating noise as it +struck the ice blocks,--and at last with a tremendous crash was hurled +against the mighty granite bulwarks of the bridge. There it either +became a total wreck, or, being broken up into fragments, swirled hither +and thither till it passed out of view. It was a strange and magnificent +spectacle, unequalled by anything I have seen before or since, in the +combination of light and dark, the enormous power displayed, and the +gigantic ruin upon the waters. + +When I was taking a last look at all this before retiring to rest, a +number of soldiers came up, intending to cross over; but they found the +bridge demolished, and themselves cut off from retreat. + +These, I heard afterwards, were some few hundred men, inclusive of the +Foreign Legion, who formed the rear guard of the army, and had got lost +in the darkness. They neglected to avail themselves of the railway +bridge nearest them, which, like that in our neighbourhood, was also, +during this night, taken and guarded by the Prussians. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +FIGHTING IN THE STREETS.--THE TOWN CARRIED BY ASSAULT.--NARROW +ESCAPES.--THE RED PRINCE ENTERS WITH HIS WHOLE ARMY. + + +Overcome by fatigue and excitement, I had thrown myself on my bed just +as I was, and never stirred until daylight, when Warren awoke me with +the news that fighting was going on in the streets. I rubbed my eyes and +went to the window, when, to my utter astonishment, I beheld six +Prussians confronting about fifteen Frenchmen. They had come upon the +latter by surprise round a corner, and the French looked at first as if +they were going to fire; but, on seeing a large body of Prussians +advancing under cover of the trees, they lowered their rifles, and +coolly stacked their arms not twenty paces from my window. The six +Germans, meanwhile, quietly stood round them with fixed bayonets. In +another minute they were walking off up a by-street as prisoners. + +All this came upon a man who had been just awakened rather by surprise; +but, when I heard some desultory firing in different parts of the town, +I made up my mind that we were to have hot work in the streets. Having +performed a hasty toilette, I sallied forth, eager not to lose the sight +of what was going on. I had not proceeded many yards up the Quai, when I +perceived a body of Prussians stationed near the bridge at the end of +the Rue Royale. Seeing these drawn up in battle array, and finding +myself the only person on the Quai du Châtelet, I paused for a moment or +two, and looked down in the other direction towards the railway bridge. +There I beheld a goodly number of Frenchmen, ranged over against the +church of St. Aignan at the other extremity of the Quai. Thinking that +this looked like business I remarked to Dr. Warren that we were in an +awkward position, and had better retire. The words were no sooner out of +my mouth, and we had only just stepped back into the hall, when a volley +of bullets whizzed along by us in the direction of a French officer, who +was galloping across the bridge at that moment. Some of the balls must +have gone very close to him, for he ducked his head repeatedly behind +his horse's neck and redoubled his speed. Shot after shot went after him +until he lay quite flat on his saddle. How he rushed the guard on the +bridge was a mystery I could never solve; but that he did escape I can +certify. + +This was the signal for a general fusilade. The Germans at the end of +the Rue Royale, advancing on the bridge, knelt down behind the parapets, +so that we could see nothing but the spikes of their helmets and the +muzzles of their rifles which glittered in the morning sun. The French +answered from behind the trees on the Quai, and from the corners of the +by-streets. We now perceived that a company of Prussians were advancing +in single file down the Quai towards us, and were entering the houses. +This was more than we could stand. So slipping out of No. 64 up the +nearest lane, we ran out by the rear into our headquarters at No. 66. + +Here we found Dr. Parker, who had just been out in another part of the +town, but was very nearly seeing and experiencing more than he had +bargained for. In going up a side street off the Rue Bourgogne, he found +a sharp cross-fire opened from each end of the street, and as the +bullets struck the wall beside him, he had to take refuge in the +doorways, in order to escape them. The company of Prussians, to whom I +have already referred, were still advancing slowly in our direction; and +a brisk return fire was kept up by a small knot of French at the other +end. + +The manner of the Prussian advance was peculiar. First went four +sappers, who in one second broke through each of the doors which did not +happen to be open. These carried hatchets, handsaws, jemmies, and +crowbars; and it was marvellous how short a time they took to enter, and +how they made the timber fly like match-wood. Our gate was thrown open, +and in due course a number of men filed in one by one from the next +house. Three of them went through the form of searching the place, while +the remainder, about a dozen in number, were ordered out, two by two, to +kneel on the footway and fire at the enemy. When they had done so, they +withdrew until their turn came round again. The house was speedily +filled with smoke, for the soldiers crouched close into the wall, and +remained almost inside the porch. + +The necessity of this proceeding was soon apparent. For in another +minute bullets came hitting the wall beside the door, and sent the +plaster flying into my eyes, while I was craning my neck round the jamb +of the open door to see what was going on. Luckily, they glanced off the +flags a couple of feet away from where I stood. + +The leaden pipe, which ran down beside the entrance, was now riddled in +various places; our old English flag, which hung down over the door from +a long pole above the window, was likewise torn; but I have it in my +possession yet. + +We were at the highest pitch of excitement while all this was going on. +Prompted by curiosity, I went upstairs, and looking out from one of the +windows, saw standing in the middle of the street, exposed to all the +fire, a German Captain of the Line, coolly giving, or rather shouting, +his orders to the various non-commissioned officers and soldiers, who +lined the walls or manned the doorways above and below us. I expected +every moment to see him fall. Amongst the French, who were replying +persistently from their position at the end of the Quai, I espied one +Zouave in particular, who fired five or six shots at this officer. I +felt satisfied that it was at him he aimed, for he singled himself out +from his comrades, and crept on his hands and knees to the middle of the +roadway, taking a deliberate shot, and we could not perceive that there +was any one else in the direct line of his fire. When the Zouave had +discharged about the sixth shot, a ball from the Prussians tumbled him +over on his back with his legs in the air; but for all that, he was not +killed, as he scrambled away with the aid of a companion. A thud and a +splutter of the plaster on the wall just beside me, suggested the +advisability of curtailing my observations; so I shifted my quarters to +the hall below, where I found Dr. Parker giving some of the Prussians a +nip of brandy,--in order, as he jocosely remarked, to put a twist in +their powder. I knelt down behind one of the men at the doorway, as he +was taking aim at the Frenchmen, and looked over the sight to see where +his game lay. He fired, and, as he did so, a ball struck the pavement +above five yards from where he and I were kneeling. + +It was a regular business of sharp-shooting; for a head, or a head and +a pair of shoulders, were all we could see of the enemy. + +In the midst of the practice great commotion was caused by an old woman +appearing on the Quai. For a few seconds firing was suspended; an +officer came out into the middle of the street and made signs to her to +retire, which the ancient dame speedily did. What she meant by coming +out thus, it would be vain to conjecture, unless she was stone deaf. She +was clearly no Jeanne d'Arc. + +In a short time the French, seeing that they had no hope of making good +their retreat across the bridge, ceased firing. A flag of truce went to +them from the Mairie, stating that the town had been in possession of +the Germans since midnight; and they had better yield. They laid down +their arms; and the town of Orleans, as we had all along anticipated, +was once more in the hands of the Prussians. It was eight o'clock in the +morning of 5th December. An hour passed, and the Prussians came marching +in, the bands playing their most lively strains; and we found ourselves +among our old acquaintance. + +The first step which the invaders took was to get together all their +prisoners, numbering 10,000, and shut them up in the Cathedral. + +Of course, the minute we were free to do so, we all got off to our work +at Ste. Euverte, where we already found many of our old friends awaiting +us. + +The little Captain Schrenk was there; also the young ecclesiastic of +whom I have spoken; and, later on in the day, the giant cuirassier +stalked in, gorgeously arrayed in scarlet and gold, and seeking for his +hidden cuirass. They shook hands with us over and over again, exhibiting +unmistakable satisfaction and pleasure at finding we were still at our +posts, and safe and sound. Surgeon-General Von Nussbaum paid us a visit, +and complimented us on the manner in which we had stood by their wounded +during the French occupation. In fact, congratulations rained down on +all sides; and from this time forward the Germans looked upon us as +their staunch and trusty friends, giving us notice that in due time our +services would be officially remembered. The wounded now began to pour +into the town, and our Hospital church was quickly crowded, together +with every house in the vicinity. + +At eleven a.m. we went to our quarters for breakfast; but hearing that +the entry of Prince Frederick Charles's troops had commenced, I snatched +a few mouthfuls, and hurried off to witness the scene from a window in +M. Proust's house, No. 12 Rue Royale, with which I was to be more +intimately acquainted ere I left Orleans. + +The troops entered with bayonets set, flags flying, bands playing, and +all the pomp and circumstance which are usual on such occasions, and the +air resounded with a storm of military music. It was noteworthy, +indeed, to see that host pass by, consisting of 130,000 as fine-looking +men as any country in the world could produce; and what was most +astonishing about them was the neatness and cleanliness of their dress, +the brightness of their arms and accoutrements, and their general +well-dressed appearance, reminding me more of our handful of soldiers at +home, as they marched past the Lord Lieutenant in the Phoenix Park on a +field day, than of an army that had been fighting all the past week, and +had endured the privations and hardships of a six months' campaign. + +The sun shone through the frosty air, and, as the mist had now cleared +off, the helmets and bayonets of that mighty array flashed and glistened +everywhere. While these sturdy, well-built and well-fed fellows passed +on, I compared them mentally with the regiments I had seen straggling +onward to the bridge. The difference spoke eloquently in favour of that +elaborate and admirable scheme of military organisation which had +brought them to such a degree of perfection. It also elicited from a +British officer who was with me at the time, a remark that, unless we +ourselves take up some more comprehensive system of organising our +forces, we shall be thrashed by this ambitious race of soldiers the +first time we come into conflict with them. Nay, more, it is possible +that they might invade and overrun England in a short campaign, should +they ever become as great adepts in the art of war on the high seas as +they are on land. + +Many of the German officers whom I have met were of opinion that such an +enterprise was not beyond the scope of German ambition and German +energy. More than once I heard them anticipating that the result of +their victorious career would be to bring all the nations of Europe +under the wing of their Imperial eagle. And though willing to allow that +England would be the last to come in, since without a mighty fleet they +could not get at her, yet she too must share the fate of her neighbours. +It amused,--perhaps it angered us,--to find these highly intellectual +men of the world holding such views, gravely arguing among themselves +and with us, that such would be the inevitable result of a united +Germany, and that all she wanted to annex Europe, and carry out the +ideas of Alexander the First of Russia, was a little time, and a +favourable opportunity. + +The army of Prince Frederick Charles, now marching through Orleans, was +on its road to Blois, and in pursuit of General Chanzy. Turning from +this splendid sight, I went back to St. Euverte; and there spent the +remainder of that day--and a long day it was--in assisting at the +operation-table, and dressing and attending to the wounded who were +brought to us in crowds. As we had only accommodation for 250, we were +obliged to send out into the houses of the Rue de St. Aignan all who +were not seriously wounded; after which we still found it necessary to +lay a number of those who were gravely wounded on the floor, with straw +under them. These latter were not at all so badly off, when we consider +that some half score waggon-loads of men had to remain out in the frost +and snow for a whole night and part of the next day, so greatly did the +demand exceed the supply of accommodation in Orleans just then. To add +to their misfortune--and I am speaking literally of hundreds,--there +followed a great scarcity of bread, which was felt chiefly by the civil +population, and by those quartered on them. It did not affect the +garrison in the least; for their commissariat never failed. + +An army entering thus, devours, like a swarm of locusts, in a few hours +everything that is eatable in a town, and leaves the inhabitants nothing +but what they can supply from their secret stores--which, however, they +always manage to reserve. The condition of chronic hunger, from which +the inhabitants of Orleans suffered for several weeks at this period, +was truly distressing to witness. + +By noon on the 6th of December, all was quiet again, the garrison had +been billeted in their quarters, the sentries were at their accustomed +posts, and everything in Orleans betokened the return of the old +orderly _régime_, to which we had been so long accustomed. There was an +entire absence of that wild disorder, and noisy confusion, which had +lasted, not for hours but for days, after the French took possession of +the town, and which I have endeavoured to describe, but have not +adequately depicted in the words at my command. And thus began the +second German occupation of Orleans. + + + + +Chapter XXIV. + +DESECRATION OF THE CATHEDRAL.--MY FIRST CAPITAL OPERATION.--MORE +FIGHTING.--WOUNDED BAVARIANS. + + +Soon after the mayor had issued his parlementaire, all the French +prisoners, to the number, as I have said, of 10,000, were marched into +the Cathedral, where they were confined until such time as preparations +could be made for their transport into Germany. + +As the weather was bitterly cold, the prisoners--it will be remembered +that they were French and Catholic--began at once to break up the chairs +and benches with which to make fires. These they kindled at the base of +the great stone pillars for which the Cathedral is celebrated. Towards +evening, as I happened to pass that way, I saw the men and lads warming +themselves at these great blazing fires, that lighted up the whole +edifice, the roof of which, however, could scarcely be seen through the +wreaths of thick smoke that formed a dense cloud overhead. It was an +ungodly spectacle, the more so that many of the men sang and joked, +while one amused himself at the organ. + +I confess the scene was very disagreeable to me. Every now and then one +of these fellows would lay hold of a chair, and with one blow shatter it +in pieces against the tiles or the nearest pillar, and then cast the +fragments into the blaze. There they sat, smoking, eating, and +drinking,--what little they could get to eat and drink,--cursing +Bismarck and the Emperor, and rehearsing that oft-told preposterous lie, +how universal treachery was the cause of their presence there that +night. I stood for some time looking on at a display which, if curious, +was still more revolting. The stalls of the Sanctuary, which I had seen +a few days previously graced by the canons and other dignitaries who +surrounded Monseigneur Dupanloup, during the pomp and splendour of the +Episcopal ceremonies, and at High Mass, were now filled with the vilest +of the French soldiery, some of whom lolled about at their leisure and +conversed together, while others, overcome by hunger and fatigue, were +lying fast asleep all over the church. On the steps of the High Altar +fellows were stretched out in deep slumber, and not one appeared to +regard the nature of the place in which they were quartered. The lines +of fires down each side of the building, the din and the confusion to +which this herd of men gave rise, and the manner in which they seemed to +be swarming about all parts of the Cathedral, as the light of the fires +glanced on them, made an extraordinary combination, and one might have +fancied that the age of Gil Blas had returned in the nineteenth century. + +For two days the Cathedral was possessed by this motley congregation; +then the prisoners were sent off in batches by train from Orleans, and +we were glad to get rid of them. Their destination, as usual, was over +the Rhine. + +I met one of these convoys on their way to the station. They were +marched, or rather driven along, before half a dozen mounted troopers; +and when any straggled or fell behind, these put spurs to their chargers +and rode in amongst their captives, in some instances trampling them +under the horses' feet, and lashing them with their riding whips in the +most wanton manner. The sight was enough to make one's blood boil. Had +any one told me of such a thing, I should have received his statement +with caution, if not with distrust; but I relate that of which I was +myself an eye-witness. When I had cooled down a little, I consoled +myself with the idea that such was the treatment which these very +Germans received at the hands of their own officers and under-officers, +while going through their training and their drill, as I have already +testified from personal observation. They gave the French, therefore, +only what they had been treated to themselves. + +During the whole of the 6th and 7th, and the intervening night, we were +hard at work in the Hospital, the greater part of our time being taken +up at the operation table. I may here mention a fact, which is highly +interesting to me, _viz._, that now, by permission of our chief, I +performed my first capital operation, in a case of compound comminuted +fracture of the bone of the arm, which I had to amputate below the +shoulder. Nor were the circumstances of the place in which I went +through my task, of a common sort. It was Sunday morning; and the +operation table stood in a side chapel, at the foot of the Lady Altar, +not many yards from the Shrine of Ste. Euverte. But although one's first +impressions might be that such work, on such a spot, was a profanation, +yet on second thoughts it will not appear so. The deed, though +sanguinary, was not cruel; and where should the wounded find refuge if +not under the sacred roof? + +On the evening of the 7th, we received intelligence that the Germans had +come up with the French army; that fighting had begun; and that a +general engagement was expected. Accordingly, Dr. Tilghman, with May and +Mackellar, started with a supply of surgical appliances and waggons for +bringing the wounded off the field. + +I was set down for work at the Hospital, and did not go with them. But +Dr. Tilghman subsequently gave me a full account of the whole affair, +and described the carnage as very great. The town of Beaugency and the +neighbouring villages were literally crammed with wounded; and they had +hardly any one to look after them, and but very little to eat. In fact, +so scarce were provisions that many sank from privation alone, +aggravated, indeed, by the bitter cold, which just at this time was +intense. He mentioned, among other ghastly details, that owing to the +hard frost, the bodies of the slain were glued to the ground, while +their clothes were so hard and stiff that it was impossible to move the +dead from where they lay. + +Dr. Tilghman returned on the 10th with his _confrères_, bringing some +waggon-loads of wounded. That the fighting about Beaugency had been +severe I could discern from the appearance of all that was left of the +Bavarian army, which returned to Orleans about the 14th. Jaded and +fatigued, spattered with mud, with their uniforms in some instances +torn, and their plumes lost, they trudged sulkily and silently into the +town. About 8000 of all ranks had survived of the 30,000 men that left +Germany. They, too, like the French, were a contrast to their North +German brethren in arms. But, as usual, they had been set in the +forefront of the hottest battle; they had everywhere borne the brunt +against vastly superior forces; and had in the end conquered, though at +the expense of half their numbers. From the beginning of the war this +had been the inevitable fate of the Bavarians; they were butchered to +make the new German Empire. + +In return for these heroic services, the Prussians affected to look down +on them; they snubbed them openly; and took pains to hinder rather than +to cultivate a friendly feeling between themselves and their Southern +allies. I have seen quarrels take place in private houses where +Prussians and Bavarians were billeted together, simply because my lords +of Brandenburg disdained to share their quarters with King Ludwig's men. +Such bickerings went from words to blows, in which the hearty ill-will +of both branches of the great Teutonic race to one another became only +too visible. + +In the week which followed the battle of Beaugency, nothing happened +worthy of special record; we were always at work from daylight to dark, +and fresh convoys of wounded were brought in daily from that +neighbourhood. When one has such an absorbing subject of interest as the +routine of an Ambulance, from its very nature, and especially after a +severe engagement, the days pass like hours. So it was with us; for, +except an occasional few minutes which we spent in listening to the +splendid military bands that performed every day in the Place Jeanne +d'Arc, we had little to divert our minds from our business. There is, +however, a matter of interest connected with the battle of Beaugency +that I will ask leave to set down here. + +The 11th Prussian infantry regiment, serving under the Red Prince, +had suffered severely, and were nearly decimated on the 8th December. +Six of these men came under my care. One of them gave me the following +history of a most dangerous bullet wound, which he had received +through the upper arm. His name was Henry Schroeder, under-officer +(_Unter-officier_) in that regiment, and he spoke French fluently and +English intelligibly. He was advancing with his company along the skirts +of a wood, in the face of a most murderous fire from the French, and his +men were falling on all sides, when he perceived two of these, whom he +knew to be rascals, edging away from the rest into the wood, with the +clear intent of shirking their duty, and endeavouring to screen +themselves from the fire. + +He sent a soldier to them with this message, that he would have them +shot forthwith, unless they returned to their places. Not many minutes +had elapsed, when, in the confusion and heat of a charge, as they were +bursting along in the open, he received a bullet from behind which +felled him to the earth. A single glance made him aware that these two +miscreants were at his back, but were now hard at work against the +enemy. + +This poor fellow, of whom we shall hear more later on, eventually +succumbed, at home in Hamburg, to his wounds. He died with the firm +conviction that it was one of these two villains who had shot him, +though, of course, no one could prove it against the man. + +Just about this time it happened that I got permission from Dr. May to +amputate a thigh midway between the hip and the knee. As I was on the +point of making the first incision, who should walk up to the operation +table but Professor Langenbeck, of Berlin? This great person had come +into the Hospital to glance at our surgical work, and to observe the +manner in which we treated his Imperial master's subjects. For a moment, +the presence of perhaps the greatest military surgeon living, and the +father of German field surgery, made me very uncomfortable. However, I +regained my self-possession pretty quickly, and was fortunate enough to +get through the operation without a hitch or misadventure, receiving at +the end a gracious bow, and a "_Sehr schön, mein Herr_," from the old +veteran, who diligently smoked a cigar all the while. I need hardly add +that my _confrères_ had a great laugh over the incident, and at my +sudden exhibition of panic, which they assured me was quite evident. + +In our Hospital we made, as far as possible, an equal division of +labour, by allowing to each man so many beds. Though I was only an +assistant surgeon by promotion, I had practically the position of +surgeon and not assistant, having the sole charge of my division, which +consisted of all the beds between the pillars and the wall down the +middle aisle of the Church, and numbered about thirty-three. It must be +remembered that these beds were occupied by none but the gravely +wounded, and that we had under our charge numbers of others, placed out +in private houses through the town, along with those who were billeted +in the houses just outside the Church. These last were under the same +management as those in Ste. Euverte itself. + +About the 18th December an incident occurred which caused some stir +among our circle. Mr. Frederick Wombwell, who had started the previous +day for Versailles to bring back medical stores, arrived with the +intelligence that Dr. Pratt and Captain Hozier had been arrested in +Étampes. It seems that they had met Captain Keith Fraser and the +correspondent of the _Illustrated London News_, as also the +correspondent of the _Pall Mall Gazette_, on their way to Versailles, +and that whole party fraternised and dined together at the hotel. The +Prussian Commandant's suspicions were aroused by this convivial meeting +of foreigners, and he promptly placed them under arrest. Captain Hozier +and Dr. Pratt, after a day's detention, were allowed to return to +Orleans; but Captain Fraser and his two companions were sent on to +Versailles under a heavy escort of dragoons, at which place they were +liberated without delay. + +Just about this time, also, there was much excitement caused by the +arrival from Kiel of two hundred sailors to man the gunboats on the +Loire, which had been captured from the French. These bearded tars were +fine, burly fellows, and to judge by their rollicking spirits seemed to +enjoy the prospect of the job before them. + +Another week elapsed in the old routine, without any stirring events +having come to pass, and we found ourselves on the eve of Christmas, but +with nothing to remind us of its approach, save the snow, which lay more +than a foot deep on the ground, and the intense cold of the weather. It +was freezing so hard, both in and out of doors, that the water in the +jug and basin of my bedroom became almost a solid mass. + +The manner in which we spent Christmas Day may be described in five +words,--it was all hard work. Nevertheless, we contrived in the +afternoon to have a good dinner, and a little jollification over a +blazing fire in our quarters on the Quai. The custom of Midnight Mass, +so impressive in Catholic countries, had been this year abrogated by the +Bishop's order. And there was no religious service for our wounded, +though all had been arranged with a view to it. I ought not to omit the +reason, which was hardly, in my judgment, a sound one. The hour fixed +for Mass was 7 A.M. It came to pass, however, that when in the morning +the old Curé learned that the Protestant Chaplain had been before him, +and had preached a sermon to his Protestant brethren from the pulpit, he +straightway refused to begin his own service. I confess I was much +scandalised at this unreasonable exhibition of bigotry. Under the +circumstances, I hold, the Protestant Chaplain only did what it was +perfectly right and proper that he should do. And I expressed that +opinion pretty strongly to the Sisters of Charity, and the Curé himself, +who was referred to me as the only Roman Catholic on the staff. + +However, we dressed the Church with holly and ivy, and had a Christmas +tree in the middle decorated with ribbons. We likewise gave each man a +flannel shirt and a pair of drawers, which were looked upon by them as +most appropriate and acceptable Christmas boxes. + +Friends have asked me since how much I saw of that famous Bishop +Dupanloup, and what was his line of conduct during the German +occupation. I can but reply, that I never saw him in the city. All the +while he remained shut up in his palace, the greater part of which had +been converted into ambulance wards, despite a vehement protest from the +cathedral chapter. But their protest did not avail; and when the very +churches had to serve as hospitals for the wounded, and accommodation +was everywhere less than sufficient, I do not know that even a Bishop's +palace could have been exempted from so plain a duty of love and +compassion towards the suffering, whether friends or foes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +CHRISTMAS DAY AT STE. EUVERTE.--GOING THE ROUNDS.--YOUNG +HEROES.--ARRIVALS DURING THE NIGHT.--A GLIMPSE OF THE DEAD-HOUSE. + + +I have not, so far, given a description of our new Hospital, nor any +particulars in connection with individual cases; and I cannot do better +than submit to my reader a revised copy of some notes I made while on +duty that Christmas night. These may furnish a tolerable idea of the +nature of our work, and of such reflections as the time and place +suggested to me. + +The Church of Ste. Euverte at Orleans is a fine old Gothic building, in +the style of the twelfth century. Its exterior would present few +interesting details, except for the crumbling granite walls, and the +ancient carved portals, on which the hand of time may be plainly traced. +The interior also is devoid of ornament; but the rich stained glass in +the windows is not likely to be equalled by any attempt of our modern +artists in the same line. + +The nave is about 300 feet long, and broad in proportion, while the +plain vaulted roof springs lightly from the massive pillars which +support it. The High Altar is of granite, as well as those in the +chapels, and they in nowise relieve the cold stern appearance of the +building. It had now become the third Hospital which we of the +Anglo-American Ambulance had set up in this hotly-contested city. + +It was late on Christmas Eve that I repaired to the Church, and took my +turn of night duty. The night was bitterly cold. It had been freezing +for weeks, and the snow lay deep and crisp underfoot. Let me describe +what followed in the present tense. + +As I approach the long narrow street, at the end of which the gloomy +mass of buildings can be seen through the darkness, I hear the steady +pace of the Prussian sentinel who keeps guard before the gate. The dim +light of a lantern hanging above the door shows my uniform as I pass, +and the soldier, checking his half-uttered "Halt!" salutes. The door is +opened by a Zouave, who also salutes; but this time in French fashion. +He is an old Mexican campaigner, and wears, among other decorations, the +war-medal given by his now deposed Sovereign, who is spending Christmas +at Wilhelmshöhe, a broken exile. He swings open the heavy, studded oak +door, and I enter. I pause for a moment to contemplate a scene, the +misery and pain of which none could realise who have not beheld it. + +Along the central aisle, to the right and left, are double rows of +beds, each with its suffering occupant. On every pillar hangs a lamp, +one to every four beds. Precisely the same arrangement has been made +along the side aisles. + +Between every fourth and fifth pillar a stove is burning, with the +bright and cheery blaze of a wood fire. Thus a dim light is cast over +the beds of the patients, but not sufficient to penetrate the gloom of +the lofty roof. Impressive as the sight is taken as a whole, the deep +interest which it excites is heightened by the thought that every one of +those 300 beds bears its wounded sufferer, and that each sufferer could +tell his own long history of privation and pain. + +Assuredly the saddest congregation that this old Church has ever held! +Around the stoves are huddled knots of soldiers, French and German, +whose common affliction has changed bitter foes into sympathising +friends. These are men whose wounds are comparatively light; and who, +poor fellows, for five or six days have not enjoyed the privilege of a +bed. They lie in all postures around the fires, trying to sleep,--a +difficult task with a broken arm, wrist, or rib, or with severe flesh +wounds; and they have no covering of any kind, and only a little straw +and the hard flags to rest upon. + +Passing along the lines of beds are Sisters of Charity, who administer +every comfort they can, arrange the patients' beds, smoothe their +pillows, and whisper words of solace and consolation. In the stillness +of the Christmas night the tones of agony and suffering echo through the +Church, which for centuries has resounded at that hour with the grand +and solemn music of the Midnight Mass. What a comment on the words of +the "_Gloria in Excelsis_," in which these Christians say they believe! +"_Et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis._" Man, I cannot but observe +to myself, thou art as much a scandal as a mystery to the reflecting +mind! + +I begin my rounds, visiting first the more urgent cases. To some of the +greatest sufferers I give morphia in pills, or else introduce it in +solution under the skin, by means of a syringe with a sharp perforated +needle affixed. The effect is wonderful. In a few minutes they are out +of pain, and fall asleep quietly. In this manner I am compelled to +silence those whose groans would disturb the other patients. I now go on +in succession, stopping at every bed to satisfy myself as to the +condition of its occupant, giving medicines when required, arranging +bandages here and there, and soothing with hypnotics those whose wounds +prevent their sleeping. + +This done, I repair to the sacristy, which serves the purpose of a +surgery and a waiting-room, and read before the fire for an hour, when I +return to the Church to see that all is right, and that the infirmarians +are awake and at their posts. As I stand in the Sanctuary and listen, I +can hear the heavy tread of the watchers pacing to and fro: nothing +else, save the heavy breathing of the sleepers. What a change in less +than two hours! The cries of pain are silenced, and the restless day of +suffering is succeeded by a night of calm repose;--a pleasant sight for +the surgeon, and one which is entirely due to that friend of humanity, +so long as rightly administered,--the drug opium. To be prepared, +however, for emergencies, I return to my room, and lay out my +instruments so as to be ready for an operation if necessary; secondary +hemorrhage, and such-like mishaps, being of frequent occurrence. + +Were such an accident to take place, I have but to send for my "sleeping +partner," Dr. May, whose quarters are next door; and who is only bound +to be present when sent for by the responsible officer on duty for the +night. Thus as the hours advance, and my previous hard day's work begins +to tell upon me, I grow sleepier every moment, and am soon nodding in my +chair before the fire. But I have scarcely become unconscious when I am +roused by an _infirmier_, who tells me that two men are awake and in +their intense agony are creating a disturbance. I rub my eyes, shake +myself together, and proceed to see them. + +The first I come to is a young Prussian artillery volunteer. He is only +sixteen, a mere boy, with large blue eyes, fair soft complexion, and +fair hair, and, though stoutly built, has very white and delicate +hands. His graceful and engaging manner, and his developed mind, show +that he is of a good German family. Yet he is but a private soldier. +What has induced him to leave his home and country at such an age? Two +reasons alone,--hatred of the French, and a thirst for glory. Poor boy! +his leg has been shattered by the fragment of a shell. His large tearful +eyes turn to me as I approach his bed, and a kind smile comes over his +face, so pale and worn with suffering. He takes my hand, and begins his +sad story,--of a kind familiar enough by this time. He tells me that the +pain from his wounds has become insupportable; that he can neither eat +nor sleep; that every day makes him thinner and weaker; and that he +thinks he shall not last long. With as favourable a forecast as I can +muster up, I try to cheer him, and give the poor fellow hopes which I +fear can never be realised. I bid him go to sleep. I give him some +morphia to help that consummation, wish him good-night, and leave him. + +My next patient is a subject of special interest to me. I received him +some weeks ago into my ward, suffering from a comminuted fracture of the +leg; in other words, the limb was very badly crushed. He gave me to +understand that he came of a respectable and wealthy family in +Wiesbaden. He was the only son of his mother, and the last of his name; +and in saving his life, I should save his mother's too, for he believed +that she would not survive him. + +Never did I see a man cling more passionately to life, and never had one +stronger motives for so doing; but never again did I see a man so ill +and yet so incredulous of his danger. Now in the stillness of this +Christmas night I come to his bedside to see him die. For days and +nights I have helped him all in my power; I have denied him nothing that +I could give him; and he has always been so gentle and affectionate that +every trouble I took for him was truly a pleasure. He speaks French and +English fluently, is a graduate of the University of Bonn, and is young +and good-looking. All through his illness he has had one thought in his +mind, and that was his mother. He now complains of excessive weariness +and pains in every part of his body. He is an Evangelical, and at my +request the clergyman had visited him late that evening. I speak to him +in a low voice, and tell him that I fear he is not better. It appears +that his last efforts at speaking have been too much for him; he is now +too weak and prostrate to do more than gasp out something about his +mother, home, and Fatherland. Now his lips quiver, now they cease to +move, and a cold sweat stands out in large beads over his face. I +smoothe his pillow and wipe his forehead, as I had often done before. + +This makes him alive to the fact that I am in my old place at his +bedside. He takes my hand, presses it feebly in his, looks earnestly +into my face, and becomes again unconscious. By this time several of the +Sisters and one or two of the infirmarians have assembled around the bed +of the dying man. For some minutes the brave fellow remains motionless; +his breathing becomes shorter and shorter; when suddenly he starts +convulsively forward, and makes an effort as it were to rise; his eyes, +which are now fixed and glassy, stare out with a vacant expression, and +he falls back heavily a corpse. As we gaze for a second, the old tower +clock strikes the hour, the sentinel on watch cries out in reply to the +challenge of his superior officer who is on his rounds, "One o'clock and +all's well". Yes--all is well,--only a poor soldier has given up his +life into the hands of his Maker, for his country's cause. One more +German mother has lost her son,--one more German heart is desolate. + +Not many minutes elapse before the fair youth of yesterday is lifted on +a _brancard_, or stretcher, and conveyed to the dead-house. Here the +bearers tumble the body on the cold shiny floor and leave it until +morning, when the mayor's cart will convey it and the other lifeless +remains in that ghastly chamber, to the brink of a deep pit at the back +of the church, and into that they will be roughly heaved. A little +quicklime will be thrown in, then a little earth; and the burial +ceremony is over. Thus the scene closes for this brave lad, who was my +friend as well as my patient. "_Dulce et decorum est_," wrote Horace. +Here is the reality of that boast. + +Having seen that all is quiet again, I return to my fireside in the +sacristy. When I am once more in my cosy chair, the details of what I +have witnessed,--to such scenes,--alas, I am now accustomed,--pass from +my thoughts, and are replaced by others of a different and more +agreeable nature. The little bunch of holly which is set above the +Tabernacle on the High Altar reminds me that it is Christmas morning; +the glow of the burning wood brings before me the recollection of that +bright fireside at home across the water; and as my eyelids gradually +close, many a well-known and much loved face appears before me as if to +cheer me in this solitude. + +I have slept thus for nearly two hours, when my pleasant dreams are put +to flight for the second time by the infirmarian of the watch, who tells +me in an excited manner that a young Bavarian soldier is bleeding +profusely from the mouth, and cannot live if I delay many minutes. I +despatch a messenger in haste to call Dr. May; and another second takes +me to the bedside of the dying man. + +This patient, a young Bavarian, has been shot through the open mouth. +Curiously enough, the ball had traversed the substance of the tongue +from apex to base, and had buried itself in the back of the throat, from +which position it has hitherto been impossible to get it removed. + +At once I compress the common artery of the neck with my thumbs, and +while thus supporting him, kneeling up behind him in bed, I am able for +the time being almost to stop the blood completely. But when I look into +the basin that is placed beside me on a stool, I perceive to my horror +that it is half full of what appears to be pure blood. I now ask the +infirmarian why he had not made me aware of the fact, and called me +sooner. He answers that some five minutes previously the sick man had +sat up in bed, and had been, as he thought, very sick in his stomach. By +the extremely faint light he had not perceived that what the sick man +was ejecting was blood. Immediately upon discovering the true state of +things, he had come for me. + +In a few minutes Dr. May arrives; but he and I are both too late. The +man becomes ghastly pale, and writhes as if in a fit, then he is still +for an instant, and sinks heavily and without life into my arms. + +A momentary feeling of sadness comes upon me, while I gaze on the +remains of that unhappy young man, the victim of such an awful, such an +unnatural death! But I must quickly repress my feelings; I have to see +that these sleepy fellows remove the body, change the bedding, and +clean the blood from the floor, so as to make way for another, who will +at once occupy the place that has been thus left empty. + +This done, I pass round to the bedside of the young soldier whom it will +be remembered that I visited first. His dreams of glory are now at an +end; for he sleeps the sleep that knows no waking. Doubtless his spirit +is at peace. What would his mother feel did she know that her son had +died this lonely death in a dreary place, with no hand save mine, that +of a stranger, to wipe his brow! When he, too, has been consigned to the +dead-house, I return as before to the sacristy, where I take another +interval of rest. + +Between four and five o'clock the infirmarian awakes me for the third +time, to say that there is a waggon at the gate with three wounded who +are begging earnestly to be admitted. I have only two vacant beds; the +third was occupied already by a bad case which had been lifted from the +floor. I order two of the arrivals to be brought in. Upon examination I +find that both have been badly frost-bitten in the feet. One, indeed, +showed me half his foot almost black and simply rotting off. Their tale +was a fearful one. They had been wounded,--one in the hip, and the other +in the fleshy part of the thigh--in a skirmish about a fortnight before, +near Beaugency. Overcome by loss of blood, each had dragged himself +into a thicket--for the spot was a lonely one in the open country; and +there they had remained in terrible frost and snow, during the whole +night and part of the next morning. Some peasants discovered them, and +they were removed to a cottage several miles distant. Here they had +remained until now without surgical treatment; and hence their miserable +condition. + +Their sufferings are not to be described; and I administer at once a +hypodermic injection of morphia, which gives them speedy relief. Then I +go to see the remaining occupant of the cart. By a gleam of the lantern +I perceive that his leg is badly fractured; and the blood which oozes +through the bandages, and trickles down the mutilated remains of his +trousers, indicates that matters have not been improved by an eighteen +miles' journey over rugged country roads. The sight of this famished and +half-frozen unfortunate, whose agony is increased by the bitter cold of +the winter night, and his pitiful supplication to be let in, determine +me at once to make out a place for him. This is the work of a minute; +for I know of a comparatively light-wounded fellow whom I can dislodge +from his bed, although he is sound asleep and does not want to be +stirred. The garments of the new-comer are, some stripped, some cut off +him; and he is put into the bed which is still warm from its late +occupant. A hot bowl of bouillon is swallowed down with avidity; to the +fracture I adjust a temporary splint, for he is much too weak to undergo +an operation. A sleeping draught is given, and I leave him to enjoy some +hours' repose. + +Once more I satisfy myself that all is right, the fires burning up, and +the men on duty at their posts; and as I yawn, and stretch my weary +limbs in the arm-chair again, I find it difficult to imagine that it is +Christmas Day. + +Another walk round the Hospital, and dawn is here at last. Soon after I +repair to a neighbouring house, where I address myself to a large bowl +of café-au-lait, and a loaf of bread, with some Liebig's extract of +meat. This accomplished, I return and find our staff assembled, making +ready for the day's work. I give in my report to the chief, and +immediately set about attending to my own wounded. + +I never felt the long watch in the least irksome, nor did the others. At +ten I assist my seniors during two amputations and a resection. One of +the amputations is our arrival of the night, who last occupied the +waggon: a consultation has just decided the fate of his limb. + +The operations being over, I return to my men, and work away, with the +assistance of two male nurses and Soeur Berthe. The Sister is a native +of Luxemburg, as bright and active as possible, and my great mainstay. +At three my work is finished, and in our house on the Quai I get a good +substantial dinner. But I must still go back to Ste. Euverte, and wait +the expiration of my term of duty. + +On looking into the dead-house to make sure that my poor friends of the +night, with their companions, had been committed to the grave by the +Mayor's officials, I perceive that one is still unburied, probably +because the dead-cart was full. It is the young soldier, on whose sad +end I have dwelt, I hope not too insistently. I felt very sorry for him. +Our affection in that short space had grown to be that of brothers; for +we were, after all, only boys together. I shall miss him even in the +stir and excitement of these unruly times. But I can do no more. Dr. +Mackellar comes to take my place, and my watch is at an end. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +VISITORS.--NEW YEAR IN HOSPITAL.--THE CHURCH EVACUATED.--I GET +FURLOUGH,--AND CATCH A NIGHT-GLIMPSE OF PARIS. + + +Christmas week passed away, and we had anything but a pleasant time of +it. The frost and cold were so intense that it was with much difficulty +we could keep ourselves sufficiently warm to enable us to do our work. +About this time we had several visitors at our quarters. They were +Captain Brackenbury, of the Royal Artillery, Prussian Military Attaché; +Captain Frazer, also of the Artillery; and Colonel Reilly, French +Military Attaché,--the last of whom had been captured in Orleans on the +morning of 7th December, by the Prussians, and kept there ever since. He +was now ordered with an escort of Uhlans to the frontier. We had a great +laugh when he walked into our place on that unlucky 7th; and related +how, on awaking, he found to his surprise that the town was in the +possession of the Germans. It was certainly not pleasant for him. + +We had also with us Major de Haveland, a knight of Malta, and, as I was +informed, the only English member of that order. It is well known, +however, that the knights of St. John are divided in their obedience; +and I do not believe that the Grand-Master, who lives in Rome, would +recognise many who in England are spoken of as Maltese Knights. The +major, I presume, was of the Roman Obedience. Two members of the press +were our guests, Mr. Mejonelle of the _Daily Telegraph_ and Mr. Holt +White of the _Pall Mall Gazette._ The former, who was an artist, made +sketches also for the _Graphic._ He has given a representation of Ste. +Euverte, in which several of us figure. The day I was showing him round, +there was a dead soldier laid out on the High Altar, wrapped up in his +sheet, with nothing but his head and toes to be seen. He had been taken +out of one of the beds beside the Altar immediately after his death, so +as to make room for a fresh occupant, and merely laid there while the +infirmarians were arranging the bed. The sight struck our guest +forcibly, as it could not fail to do; it was most uncanny. + +These gentlemen expressed their satisfaction at the way in which +everything was carried out at Ste. Euverte, and the clean and decent +condition in which we kept the Hospital, despite the presence of almost +every circumstance which could militate against cleanliness and order. + +Another couple of days, and we found ourselves celebrating the +obsequies of the old year, and welcoming, after the fashion of heathens, +the advent of the new, by partaking of the unlimited supply of rum +punch, which nigger Charlie served up. I have already praised it. + +On the evening of New Year we dined together, and toasted not only our +noble selves, but our respective countries, homes and friends; +endeavouring to feel as happy as possible in the midst of occupations +which demanded good spirits as the best way of keeping up our health and +courage. It would be unfair to nigger Charlie if I forgot his most +eloquent and humorous oration, delivered in choice Virginian or negro +dialect, in reply to the toast of his health which Colonel Hozier +proposed. The most remarkable portion of it was, perhaps, that in which +Charlie exulted over the former wealth and greatness of Dr. Pratt's +family, as large slave-owners! What could a Declaration of Independence +do for such feudal enthusiasm as this? + +The weather continued bitterly cold; and Henry Schroeder, the +sub-lieutenant whom I mentioned as having been shot at Beaugency by one +of his own men, asked me as a favour to find quarters for him in some +private house in the town. After much trouble I heard, by accident, that +at the convent of Notre Dame des Récouvrances, the superior, Mère +Pauline, desired much that the cloisters, dormitories and schoolrooms +which the convent possessed, should be occupied by our Ambulance. The +Sisters were afraid lest the Germans should establish in their house an +Ambulance of their own, to which the nuns highly objected. + +But the fact that Mère Pauline was an Englishwoman, in great measure +accounted for her anxiety to have us. I need hardly say that I did not +want much pressing; at once I had Schroeder, Rüdiger, and four or five +others, removed into their new quarters, and took formal possession in +the name of the Ambulance. + +Here, in good beds and warm rooms, with every care and attention paid to +them, and good food to eat, they were very snug and comfortable--a +pleasing contrast to the cold, dreary church which they had just left. I +appointed one nurse, Soeur Léopoldine, to look after these men, whose +number, in a few days, I increased to ten, so that I had quite a +hospital there, though on a small scale. + +The patient named Rüdiger, a young fellow of seventeen, and a volunteer, +whose leg was fractured, became a particular favourite with his nurse +and with Mère Pauline. He had not a hair on his face, which was of a +ruddy hue, and wore a perpetual smile. He spent his time mostly in +learning the French Grammar, a task in which he was helped by Soeur +Léopoldine during her spare moments. Most of the others were Bavarians, +and, I must say, a sleepy uninteresting lot. + +Schroeder was the son of a wealthy tobacco and wine merchant in Hamburg. +He had one brother, who was captain in an infantry regiment. Their +mother was still living. He told me with pride that he had supplied +Bismarck with many a cigar; and promised me a case of them and a barrel +of oysters, when he returned. Poor fellow, he little knew what was +coming; for at this time he was comparatively strong, and, in the +opinion of many, out of danger. But, from my conversations with him, I +learned that his family history was very bad; and from the first had +grave misgivings about his case, which, however, it was my duty to +disguise from him. When, occasionally, without being able to help it, I +looked serious, he used only to laugh, and chaff me, singing, in the +most comical way possible, the well-known English ditty, "Champagne +Charley is my name". I liked Schroeder. + +I now put two of my men from Ste. Euverte into No. 44 Rue de Bourdon +Blanc. They were Martin Dilger, my old patient--the survivor of the +railway-shed--and Jacob Venheiser. There they received the kindest care +and attention from their good host and hostess, M. and Madame B----. + +By 4th January I had removed all my worst cases into private quarters in +the town; leaving only about a dozen in the church, all of which were +now on the high road to convalescence, and fit to be removed to Germany +by the next ambulance train. On this happy disposal of my patients I had +greatly to congratulate myself; for just now pyæmia and hospital +gangrene of the worst type, showed themselves in the church; and we knew +from our experiences at Sedan and the railway station how sure they were +to be attended by terrible results, where such a number of wounded were +kept together. + +And so it proved now. In a few days, blood-poisoning made great havoc +among the men, and its victims lay piled one above another in the +dead-house,--truly a sorry sight for those who had spent so much care on +them! We determined at once to evacuate the church; for even the +convalescent were not safe from this dread malady, which some of the +savants in our profession tell us is preventable; such, however, is not +my experience. Disinfectants and carbolic-acid dressings were used +unsparingly. Fresh air, as I have said, is of paramount importance in +the management of this disease; and it must come to the patient in a +continuous current,--moreover, to be effective, it must be dry air, +while about the patient it requires to be warm, or at least the patient +himself must be warm, and at no time suffer a chill. Every day the +members of our staff eagerly sought new quarters for their wounded in +the private houses of the town, which was now not a difficult task, the +garrison not being very large, for Orleans had ceased to be that +theatre of war which heretofore it had been. + +As time rolled on, and fresh arrivals did not come in, we had more +leisure. And well for me that it happened so! I had begun to find the +work tell upon my health, and now a little relaxation was as necessary +as it was agreeable. + +During all this time no startling event happened, save an attempt that +was made by some demented person at Orleans to assassinate a Prussian +soldier. For this offence a fine of 600,000 francs was levied on the +town; and to show the amount of trade which was carried on by the French +with the invaders, out of this sum imposed, 400,000 francs were paid +down in Prussian money. The fine was demanded on the 16th, and paid up +fully on the 23rd of December. + +Now, as I was daily beginning to feel more and more exhausted, and +feared my health was becoming undermined, I determined to seek leave of +absence for a few weeks. Dr. Tilghman, who was again _locum tenens_ +during Dr. Pratt's absence on business for ten days, knew how much I +wanted a change, and did not hesitate to give me leave, under condition +that I would report myself again before that day month. A matter of +urgent private business obliged Dr. Sherwell to start for Hamburg on the +next day, and I resolved to get ready that evening, 7th Jan., 1871. + +I went with Dr. Fritz to the Commandant of the place and the Head +Military Surgeon, from whom I obtained sick passes all through France +and Germany, and Railway and Hotel billets free. The Northern parts were +still in the hands of the French, so that I had no chance of getting +home in that direction. I handed over my cases to the care of Dr. +Parker, who, with his usual good nature, promised to give them his best +attention in my absence. I made as little as possible of my departure to +them, merely saying that I should be back at the end of some days. + +At six o'clock next morning Dr. Sherwell and I were at the Railway +Station, where we found that a train full of wounded was to be put under +our charge as far as Corbeil. Our way of getting on was a novel one, for +we were to be drawn by horses the whole distance. After much confusion +and waiting we started. The entire train was composed of goods trucks, +in which the wounded were laid on straw, using their rugs to cover them. +There were many officers among them who took pot luck with the men, for +there was no special accommodation. Every three trucks were drawn by +four horses, and thus it was that we took the train to Corbeil,--a +distance of some fifty miles. + +The morning was bitterly cold, and a dense fog hung about, which made it +hard for us to keep ourselves warm; but matters mended when we came to +Artenay, where hot soup and bread were awaiting us. + +In one of the trucks sat Martin Dilger and one or two other of my +patients, all in high spirits at the thought of getting back to the +Fatherland, though minus a limb each. In another carriage we had a +company of soldiers as an escort to the cavalcade, and these made +themselves useful when required. + +Thus we went along at a snail's pace; but Sherwell and I got out now and +then, and ran ahead of the train to warm ourselves, for the weather did +not mend, and many of our charges suffered severely from it. During the +journey I fell into conversation with the sergeant of our guard, a mere +lad, like so many others, and a volunteer. He spoke English well, with +hardly any accent, and had lived and studied in London during the past +two years, hence his knowledge of the language. He had been at +Gravelotte, of which tremendous affair he gave me a most interesting +account. + +He was a gentle youth, with a soft musical voice, and plainly of +position, as well as education. He said that he had been recommended for +the Iron Cross. Here was the third volunteer I had met under the age of +twenty, and all three were of good social standing. + +There was one old wounded colonel who had a large flask bottle of +chartreuse, with which he repeatedly plied Sherwell and me during the +journey. I think we neither of us disliked it just then. The next stop +we made was at Étampes, where we remained half an hour to have some hot +coffee served out. At dusk we had got as far as Juviose, where we +changed lines, and in due time arrived at Corbeil about 8 P.M. Our +convoy excited notice and wonder among the country people in the +districts which we passed, and in many places they came out in crowds to +see us go along. When we arrived at Corbeil, we called on the +Etappen-commandant, got our passes checked, and went to the major for +our billet and rations,--in other words, our requisition for board and +lodging, which he gave us on a very snug well-furnished little house in +a central part of the town. Having dined off a piece of coarse beef and +some bread and beer, we strolled out for a short time. Next morning we +were up betimes, and went out to see the town, which is a quaint old +place. We stood on the ruins of the bridge, which we had crossed over on +piles and planks, in the parts where it had been damaged by the French +explosion. It formed a pretty sight when seen at a little distance. + +What struck me most about the place was that all the trade of the town +seemed to be in the hands of German sutlers, principally Jews, who had +followed in the footsteps of the army. Few of the inhabitants kept +establishments open for the sale of merchandise. In one of these shops +where we turned in to buy some trifles, we met a friendly German +civilian, who told us that our best route eastwards was by Lagny, beyond +Paris,--a station some forty miles from Corbeil--which was in direct +railway communication with the Rhine. He added that a convoy of +provision was to leave at noon for that place, and advised us to secure +a seat in one of the waggons. Accordingly, we found out the conductor, +promised him a couple of thalers for the lift, and secured places in one +of the least uncomfortable of these vans. It was, by the way, of very +simple construction. The body, made of osier-work and tapering to a +point, rested on a heavy beam which ran lengthwise, and which rested, in +turn, on the pair of axles, the upper part being supported by stays +which went from the main ribs of the boxes of the wheels; in short, the +whole resembled a boat resting on a piece of timber, which again found +support on the axles. Then there were twists of osiers overhead, covered +with canvas which made the thing like a gipsy's tent. + +In this queer turn-out we started from Corbeil, drawn by two Dutch +ponies; but, though our horses were fresh and spirited, our progress was +very slow, the ground being as slippery as ice. Just before nightfall it +began to snow hard, and when we came to the hamlet of Brie, our +conductor would go no further. The roughing on his horses' shoes was +worn, and it would be too dangerous for us to travel at night on such +unendurable roads. + +We got down, therefore, rather unwillingly, with our traps in our hands; +and going about in quest of lodgings for the night, as fortune would +have it, we espied at the further end of the village a line of waggons +similar to that which we had just left. Upon hailing the conductor, we +found that they also were for Lagny, and starting at once; so that again +we took our seats, this time in a waggon load of hay, which helped to +keep us warm, or, at all events, prevented us from being thoroughly +frozen. It was snowing fast, and by now was quite dark. We thought the +cold fearful. As we went along the horses seemed to take it in turns to +fall; but sometimes our ponies would be down together; happily, they +were not encumbered with harness, and soon righted themselves. Yet, once +or twice it took the united ingenuity of us all to extricate them from +the rope-traces, in which their legs had become entangled. + +We had a lantern hung out over the front of our waggon, by the dim light +of which we were barely able to see the road before us. In time, to our +great relief, the snow-storm, which had lasted for hours, cleared up. We +had been afraid that our steeds would either miss the road, or tumble us +into a ditch. At one place I got out, and trudged through the snow for a +couple of miles. There was a part of this road turning round the crest +of a hill, from which we could see the flashes from the forts round +Paris, and hear the booming of the cannon distinctly. Several times I +saw the little thin streak of sparks rising into the sky, which the fuse +of the bombshells threw out on their journey, while sudden flashes in +the air, followed by a loud report, signified that a shell had +prematurely burst. + +It was a splendid sight, and resolving to get the best view possible, I +climbed into an apple tree by the way side, where, kneeling on a huge +bunch of mistletoe, I could see every few minutes a shot directed from +the forts and one in reply, each leaving its comet-like train of fire +behind it. Though the besiegers and the besieged were many miles +distant, I could hardly realise that they were not close at hand. So +little, at the time, did I comprehend the magnitude of the siege guns, +and the remoteness at which they could be heard. Much as I should have +liked to linger on the scene, I could not tarry; I had to come down from +my apple tree, and trot along until I had rejoined my waggon. Such was +my second glimpse, and that at night, of the siege of Paris. My first, +if the reader has not forgotten it, showed me the assault which ended in +the burning of St. Cloud. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +TRAVELLING IN FROST.--AMMUNITION TRAIN IN DIFFICULTIES.--FERRIÈRES.--THE +CAMP OF CHÂLONS.--HOW GERMAN OFFICERS TREAT JEWS. + + +The snow-storm had given over, but it was freezing hard, and the road +was now almost impassable. Our horses were constantly falling, and we +were getting on very slowly indeed. At last we came to the hamlet of +Chivry,--it does not deserve the name of a village. We could see no inn; +it was stark midnight; and, except a lonely candle in one small cottage, +there was not a light in the place. At the cottage, therefore, we +knocked. A regular parley ensued; and after much explanation and fair +promises, the door was opened by an old woman, who admitted us into a +warm room, as clean and neat as any room could be, though everything +testified that the owners were in humble circumstances. The only other +inmate of the house, an old man, was in bed. All we asked was a cup of +coffee, and a mattress to lie upon, both of which our hostess readily +provided. As to eatables, we had brought a loaf of bread with us, which +we finished without delay, then took a pull at our flasks, and so made +a meal which for my part I relished as much as any I had ever eaten. + +Next, divesting ourselves of our outer clothing, we threw ourselves on +our mattresses, and slept a deep and refreshing sleep until seven next +morning, when we made the acquaintance of a well in the yard, at which +we performed our ablutions, after the manner of professional tramps. +This done, we notified to the old lady that we were still hungry, and +asked her to get us some bread and meat. She replied civilly that she +had neither the one nor the other;--an unpleasant piece of news, for we +were famished. I enlarged to her on our inward sufferings, and at the +same time slipped four francs into her hand, bidding her get as good a +meal as she could, and as soon as possible. + +This douceur had its effect. Madame, or "la bourgeoise," as +country-folks say, disappeared, only to return with a loaf of fresh +bread, though a few minutes before I had been assured by a peasant that +none was to be had for love or money. The truth was, that we were taken +for Prussians, and treated accordingly. After a while, the dame +announced that breakfast was ready, mentioning that she had a pot of +stewed rabbit for us, which we set about demolishing with the loaf of +new bread. As we sat devouring, neither of us spoke; but morsel after +morsel of the rabbit disappeared, and we eyed one another +significantly, for the same horrid suspicion was passing through our +minds, that this white, insipid stuff was not rabbit at all, though what +it might be we could not guess. Our natural history declared it to be +cat, but we could not tell, nor did we much care. However, I inquired +afterwards whether rabbits existed in the neighbourhood, and was assured +that never a one dwelt within ten miles of it. + +Just as we were wishing ourselves at Lagny, who should pass through with +his waggon, but the driver of the convoy with whom we had started from +Corbeil? An accident to his waggon had delayed him on the road, which +was a great piece of luck for us; and we thanked our hostess at once for +her equivocal, but nourishing breakfast, put our traps in the buggy, and +drove off. It was the 10th of January. We found it still very difficult +to travel, but lest our driver should pull up as he did before, we plied +him with brandy and liqueur out of a stone jar, that I had bought at +Orleans. In consequence, he was in the best of humour all through the +journey, and not in the least disconcerted when the horses fell or +stumbled about. + +Some miles of our route lay through the Forest of Champigny; but here +the road was impassable, for it had thawed during the small hours and +frozen again, making the causeway one solid sheet of ice. Wherever we +could we travelled along the edges; but it was dreadfully slow work, and +the horses themselves, poor beasts, were afraid. While we were loitering +at this funeral pace, I witnessed a sight that I never shall forget. We +fell in with an ammunition train, about half a mile in length, conveying +war material of all kinds to the positions before Paris. Our own waggon +we had to draw in among the trees for safety, as the horses were falling +every minute; and now when we looked along the line, we could see as +many as ten horses on the ground at once. Sometimes two of the animals +would slip down side by side, and fall again and again whenever they +attempted to pull on their traces. Nay, more, I saw a team of four +horses all come down simultaneously, not once, but twice. No +description, indeed, could exaggerate the confusion of the +scene,--drivers shouting, waggons slipping, and horses falling in all +directions; while the more their guides interfered the more they fell, +until the poor brutes became so terrified, that they trembled all over +from fright. + +The ground was amazingly hard. In one place I saw a heavy ammunition +waggon drawn by four horses, when coming down a slight incline, slip +five or six yards along the road, and then glide off into the ditch, +without a single wheel having turned on its axle. As it was now evident +that they could not proceed through the Forest without inflicting grave +and perhaps fatal injuries on their cattle, the men began to pick out +the middle of the road where the horses trod, and strewed along it coal +dust, which they carried with them on purpose. This made the road +sufficiently passable to allow of the train to advance. But, meanwhile, +it was about two hours before we of the convoy could move, though when +we did we rattled on at a spanking pace. From time to time we met +numbers of newly organised cavalry,--with droves of horses led by +halters; and of these steeds I was ready to lay any odds that some were +Irish bred. Men and horses were on their way to the front to replace the +maimed, killed, and wounded, and to contribute themselves to a similar +contingent. + +Early in the afternoon we came to Ferrières, where having dined, so to +call it, we paid a visit to the splendid château of M. de Rothschild. +Unheeded and unhindered, we roamed through this lovely demesne, +marvelling at the beauty of house and grounds which, as all the world +knows, would not disgrace the abode of royalty. The mansion of cut +stone, the terraces with their marble statues, the flower-gardens, +shrubberies, stables,--these last, a wonder in themselves,--all were in +perfect preservation. Not a stick or a stone in the whole place had been +touched by the Prussians, nor did a soldier set foot in it. Such was the +good pleasure of William I. who had taken up his quarters here, such +the reverence paid to the kings of finance by the House of Hohenzollern! + +We started again on our journey, but had proceeded only half a mile, +when we fell in with a train of siege guns, some of them drawn by six +horses. They were on the road to Paris, and would do service there. I +remarked that some of the smaller guns were of brass, and shone in the +sun like gold. + +The country we passed through was charmingly wooded, and looked pretty +enough in its garment of snow. It was night when we arrived at Lagny. On +demanding our billet, we were directed to the sick officers' quarters, +in the upper portion of the station house, where we should find plenty +of room. There we came upon two of our friends who had been quartered at +Orleans. They, also, were on their way out of France, and we engaged to +make a party of it. At four o'clock next morning a couple of soldiers +called us, and at five we started. There were several officers in the +carriage, from whom Sherwell and I received every civility. Passing +Meaux we arrived at Épernay, and later on traversed the great camp at +Châlons, which now presented a vast and beaten plain of enormous extent. +By way of Vitry and Chaumont we came on to Toul and Nancy, of the +fortifications round both of which we got an excellent view, in +particular at Nancy, where we halted for some time, and were able to +look about us. + +None of these places, however, was of so much interest to me as the +little town of Lunéville. I knew nothing of the famous treaty concluded +there by the First Consul, and had never heard of the Court of King +Stanislaus, or of Voltaire and Madame la Marquise du Châtelet, in +connection with it; I simply admired the view. Lunéville is situated on +a hill, with some of its fortifications overlooking a steep precipice +which serves as a natural protection for perhaps a third of its extent. +From the railway which runs along the flat country, below the town, it +appeared to be an impregnable stronghold; for where nature's protecting +barriers were wanting, there were huge embankments, deep fosses, and +steep artificial declivities. A picturesque place too. The face of the +cliff and the old turreted walls were covered with ivy, a broad stream +ran beneath the hill, which on the lowest slope was well wooded all +round,--and now imagine all this clad in new-fallen snow, and you will +have as lovely a scene as I remember. + +Close to the town we passed a bridge which had been blown up, but was +now reconstructed on timber piles. It had been destroyed, not by the +regular army, but by a band of Francs-Tireurs. This I learned from one +of the officers who knew all about the place. + +I had seen Ferrières, the palace of a Frankfort Jew, with admiration, +all the more that it had been respected as a sanctuary by orders from +the Prussians. Yet it was during this same journey that I witnessed an +incident in which a Jew was the hero or the victim, that filled me with +astonishment, as it may do my readers who happen not to be acquainted +with the ways of the Fatherland. I had frequently heard the Jews spoken +of by my German friends in language of supreme contempt; but never did I +realise the depth of that feeling until now. + +In the railway compartment in which I travelled, all were German +officers except myself and one civilian. The latter had got in at a +wayside station, and sat at the furthest corner opposite me. My +companions began without delay to banter and tease him unmercifully, all +the while addressing him as Lemann. He was a small stunted person, in +make and features an Israelite, and not more than twenty-five. The +behaviour of his fellow-travellers seemed to give him no concern; as +they fired off at him their sneering jests, he scanned them with his +sharp eyes, but did not move a muscle. + +I inquired of the officer next me, who spoke English well, how it came +to pass that they knew this stranger's name. He explained that Lemann +was the common term for a Jew in their language, going on to describe +how much the sons of Jacob were detested throughout Germany; and for +his part he thought they were a vile horde, who laid hands on everything +they could seize, in a way which we English were incapable of fancying. +The officers, he added, were all getting down to have some beer at the +next station, and by way of illustration he would show me what manner of +men these Jews were; and as he said the words, he took off his hairy +fur-lined gloves, and threw them across the carriage to our man in the +corner, remarking, "There, Lemann! it is a cold day". The Jew picked up +the gloves eagerly, which he had missed on the catch, and pulled them +on. When we were nearing the station, the officer who had thrown the +gloves at him, took off his fur rug, and flung that also to the Jew. +Once more he accepted the insulting present, and quickly rolled the rug +about him. Finally, a third threw off his military cloak, and slung it +on the Jew's back as he was passing out. This, again, the wretched +creature put on; and their absence at the buffet left him for the next +ten minutes in peace. + +Presently the horn sounded, and our Germans came back. One seized his +rug, another his cloak, and finally, my first acquaintance recovered his +gloves by one unceremonious tug from Lemann's meekly outstretched +fingers. My own face, I think, must have flushed with indignation; but +the others only laughed at my superfluous display of feeling; and +Lemann, shrugging his shoulders,--but only because of the sudden change +of temperature when his wraps were pulled away,--took out of his pocket +a little book with red print, which he began to read backwards, and, +turning up the sleeve of his coat, began to unwind a long cord which was +coiled round his wrist and forearm as far as the elbow. Every now and +then he would stop the unwinding, and pray with a fervour quite +remarkable, then unwind his cord again, and so on till the whole was +undone. For a time the officers resumed their jeering; but, seeing that +it was like so much water on a stone, they turned the conversation, and +allowed the unhappy Jew to continue his devotions unmolested till he got +out at Strasburg. + +What would these officers have done, had they travelled in the same +railway carriage with M. de Rothschild? + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +STRASBURG AFTER THE SIEGE.--ALONG THE RHINE.--HOME, AND BACK AGAIN TO +VERSAILLES.--CAPTAIN BRACKENBURY.--I LOSE MY PAPERS AND HAVE TO GET +FRESH ONES. + + +At half-past nine we arrived at Strasburg, and were all billeted +together in the most central part of the town, at a grand hotel, where +we had the best of living and accommodation. There were about thirty +officers quartered there, with whom we messed. I strolled out in the +evening through some of the busiest streets. They were brilliantly +lighted up; the shops were open, and as much bustle and business seemed +to be going on, as if we were in the heart of a peaceable country, and +no siege of Strasburg had just taken place. + +However, before long I learned that a large section of the inhabitants +looked upon the Germans with anything but friendly feelings. + +Next morning, 12th January, we went out, six in number, to see the town. +We visited the fine old Cathedral, and hung about it for an hour, +examining every detail so far as time permitted. One of the chief +attractions was its famous clock, which I was quite ready to admire; +but the complicated details, and curious performances of this wonderful +timepiece are too well known to need description. When Sherwell and I +parted from our companions, we went to visit the ruins of the great +Library and the Theatre, both of which were burned to the ground during +the siege. + +Our dinner in the evening was splendidly served, in the French style, +and with abundance of wines. + +Next morning Sherwell, myself, and two of our old travelling companions +chartered a spacious waggonette, in which we set out, determined to see +all that we could in and around Strasburg. We first drove through that +part of the town which was destroyed by the besiegers,--a dreary but +most interesting excursion. So far as I could judge, about one fifth of +the suburbs had been ruined. When I say ruined, I don't mean simply made +roofless and windowless,--that might have happened in a huge +conflagration; but that whole streets were reduced to long heaps of +stones, with a few yards' interval between, which marked where the +roadway had formerly passed. Nothing could have given a more vivid idea +of the effects of a bombardment now-a-days. Even where the demolition +was not so complete, and where portions only of the house had been +carried away, the sight was appalling. Some of the furniture still +remained in its place on the half-shattered floors, being too high to +reach easily, or not worth the trouble and danger of removing it. + +Here was a second edition of Bazeilles, on a far more extensive scale. I +believe one of the best accounts of what took place during the siege is +to be read in Auerbach's novel on the subject, called _Waldfried_. + +Having wandered for a couple of hours through the ruins, we drove +outside the town. Then we alighted, and one of our party, a captain of +artillery who had been through the siege, acted as our guide, and made +all the particulars clear to us. Walking along the fortifications, we +arrived at the immense breach in the parapet which sealed the fate of +Strasburg. It was of great extent, and already hundreds of men were at +work repairing it;--but in the interests of Germany, not of France, from +whose dominion the city had passed, for who knows how many years? +Further on we saw a second breach, not so wide as the other. We now +proceeded a considerable distance along the parallels and rifle pits, +and visited the captured French lunettes, which seemed to be matters of +intense interest to my military friends. A curious fact I learned about +this siege was, that of the garrison in the town a comparatively smaller +number were killed than of civilians, who met their death in the streets +by the bursting of shells. This I was told by several who had been +present, and who were likely to be well-informed. + +When we had explored the various evidences of the mining operations +during this memorable blockade, it was almost evening. We returned to +our hotel, overcome with admiration at the skill of those who had not +only devised, but successfully carried through, these intricate plans +for approaching, storming, and capturing a stronghold with such mighty +defences. Assuredly, the campaigns of 1870, in the open, and about the +historic fortresses of France, afford examples of science, courage, and +endurance which it will not be easy to match, and may be impossible to +surpass, in the future. + +On the 14th, I was up early, went out to make some purchases, came home, +packed up, and set off from the station. We crossed the Rhine on the +beautiful bridge to Kehl, took our seats in a fresh train, and started +northwards. We went by Karlsruhe and Heidelberg, at the latter of which +places we halted twenty minutes; and soon after leaving it we found +ourselves in a hop-growing district, where there was nothing to be seen +but hop-stacks; we passed, also, through extensive vineyards: but, as +yet, had only an occasional glimpse of the Rhine in the distance. + +During part of our journey, we skirted round steep mountain barriers, +which, at times, towered above us with their impenetrable masses of +fir-trees, at others, being thickly sprinkled with snow and tipped with +hoar-frost, shone resplendent in the sunlight, as if silver dust had +been shaken all over them, while here and there peeped out the +snow-capped towers of some old castle or baronial hall. I do not pretend +that these hills would have looked anything wonderful, had they not been +covered with snow, and had not the pellicles of ice, formed on the fir +trees by a thick fog the night before, first run into tears, and then +been frozen hard, covering the trees with brilliants which sparkled in +the sun. These decorations, indeed, gave them an air of fairyland. + +On arriving at Darmstadt I took leave of Sherwell and my +fellow-travellers, who were going on to Hamburg, and took the train to +Mayence. It was very late when I got there, and I stayed the night at +the Railway Hotel; for, having a sick officer's pass, I could break my +journey where I pleased, which was a great convenience, besides being a +cheap mode of travelling. I had practically nothing to pay; my +sufficient warrant was the pass, stamped with the royal seal, which I +exhibited to inquiring officials. + +Mayence is not interesting. I went on next morning as early as I could, +had to wait at Coblentz and Bonn to allow some special military trains +to pass, and did not get into Cologne till the afternoon. The Rhine +scenery, which one gets at times from the train, is very fine; but +somehow this was the grand disappointment of my journey. It did not come +up to my expectations; and I felt far more delight on viewing the +unrivalled beauties of our own Killarney, and of the river Blackwater. +But I had not yet gone up the Rhine in a steamboat, which is quite +another expedition than the one I was taking just then. + +From Cologne, which I explored in a few hours, I travelled by Aix la +Chapelle to Liège. At the Hôtel de l'Europe my quarters seemed +comfortable; but I had no longer a free billet, and might consider +myself to be now in the enemy's country. + +It was the 16th, and I went off to call on my friend Vercourt, with whom +I spent the forenoon. Then by Ostend, London, and Holyhead, I prosecuted +my journey, and arrived in Dublin on the morning of the 19th, and at +home at Scarteen on the 22nd. + +My furlough was made out for a month: but eight days after my arrival, a +telegram came from Dr. Pratt, saying:-- + +"I return to-morrow; go to Versailles as soon as possible, find out +Ambulance, and join it". + +I had no alternative but to pack up and start next day, which I did by +the morning train on Jan. 31st. On reaching London, I called at the +English Society's rooms in Trafalgar Square, and reported myself to +Colonel Lloyd Lindsay. Mr. Pearce, the secretary, made me known to +Captain Burgess; and I met there my _confrère_, Dr. Frank, who greeted +me cordially, and sent many affectionate messages to his former +colleagues. It will be remembered that Dr. Frank was chief of that +section of our Ambulance which had a hospital at Balan and Bazeilles, +and which afterwards established itself at Épernay, where it worked for +some months before disbanding. + +Having got all requisite papers and certificates of identification, I +started from London Bridge for Newhaven. As I was taking my ticket I met +Captain Brackenbury, who told me that he also was going to Versailles to +rejoin the headquarters of the Crown Prince, that he had a private +carriage at Dieppe, was going to drive all the way, and would willingly +give me a seat. This kind offer I gladly accepted, and was delighted to +have so entertaining and accomplished a host on my journey. At Newhaven, +as we were crossing by night, we turned at once into our berths, and +slept until called by the steward in sight of Dieppe. + +Going up on deck I found it was a lovely morning, warm and genial, and +very unlike the weather we had been enduring of late. As we approached +Dieppe in the morning sun, we could see the glistening bayonets of the +ubiquitous Prussian sentries. They were pacing to and fro on the pier, +in what appeared to us an aggressive, not to say, menacing fashion. I +confess the sight startled me: we had the vision of England still in +our eyes, and these ambitious warriors seemed too dangerously near. I +felt that I should have liked to take them by the collar, and pitch them +into the sea. I could not help saying to Capt. Brackenbury that I felt +inclined to ask them what they were peering at across the Channel. + +But, as he dryly remarked, their answer might be that they were peering +at a little island fortress on the high seas:--a mere speck in creation +when compared to the great German Empire which had just been proclaimed +at Versailles. He was in the right of it; and we had already held +conversations on this subject at Orleans, which I should like to set +down, were not my space fast running out. + +The carriage in which we travelled from Dieppe was a large and +comfortable sort of landau, from which we could view the country at our +ease. + +The weather was now mild and bright, the snow had disappeared, and our +journey became a pleasure. But when travelling between Mantes and St. +Germain, as I was getting out of the carriage to walk up a steep hill, I +had the misfortune to lose out of my overcoat pocket all my passes, +letters of identification and the other documents I carried with me. At +the gates of the Forest of St. Germain, a Prussian non-commissioned +officer stepped out, and demanded our papers. I was minus every +document which would have accounted satisfactorily for my being there; +and I should certainly have been arrested and sent off to the Commandant +of Versailles under an escort, had not Capt. Brackenbury assured the +officer on duty that he had seen the papers in question. I had, as it +happened, shown them to him that very morning. This satisfied the guard, +and I was allowed to pass; but I need hardly say that I was supremely +uncomfortable at the case I was in, and thought my journeys along the +valley of the Seine were always doomed to misfortune. Last time the +Francs-Tireurs had arrested me; now it was the turn of the Prussians. + +When we reached St. Germain, we dined, in spite of my lost papers, and +visited the Palace and the Bois, from the terrace of which there is such +a glorious view, away to Mont Valérien and one or two other of the +forts. As we were looking about us, there was quite a stir, bordering on +excitement among the soldiers. King William, now the Emperor of Germany, +and the Crown Prince, were expected every moment from Versailles, and +the road was lined with infantry and cavalry to receive them. But we +waited an hour, and his Imperial Majesty did not arrive, so we resumed +our journey to Versailles. + +There I left Capt. Brackenbury at a private house, where he and Dr. +Russell, the _Times_ correspondent, put up; and thanking him for his +great kindness I bade him good-bye. This was the last time I saw him. It +would be difficult to do justice to the character of this noble soldier; +a more generous heart or more gracious disposition, I never had the +privilege of knowing. + +My business now was to search for lodgings, I could no longer +requisition one at the Mayor's, since I had lost all my papers. Having +secured a niche, I resolved to call at the Hôtel des Réservoirs, where I +knew I should find Prince Pless, or some one who would recognise me, and +get me these important testimonials. By way of introduction I looked in +at the office of the Military Ambulance stores, and inquired whether all +those belonging to the Anglo-American Corps had been taken to Orleans or +not. This was a happy thought; for they informed me that all the +particulars I required would be given by Major de Haveland in the Rue +des Réservoirs,--the Maltese knight to whom I have referred as visiting +us at Ste. Euverte. This was what I wanted. I called at once on the +Major, and he undertook to see the commandant of the place, and explain +the whole matter. Thus, thanks to his kind attention, I was given the +necessary papers next day, and that evening I chartered a car to +Étampes, from which place I could get to Orleans by train. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +IN ORLEANS ONCE MORE.--PEACE IS SIGNED.--AN EASY TIME.--SENDING AWAY THE +CONVALESCENTS.--THE AMBULANCE BROKEN UP. + + +I had to bribe the driver whom I thus engaged with an extra napoleon, so +afraid was he that his trap and horse would be seized; but when I showed +him my German papers he knew that he was safe. Accordingly, I started +before daylight, and after a pleasant journey arrived at Étampes in the +evening, soon enough to escape an awful downpour of rain, and to catch +the night train to Orleans. + +The train was crowded with peasants, some of whom had no tickets, and it +was amusing to watch the stratagems which they adopted in order to hide +themselves from the German guard. This fellow was much too good-humoured +and indifferent to pretend to see them, though all the while knowing +their whereabouts, as I could tell by the twinkle in his eye when their +crouching forms betrayed them. It was nothing to him, and he left them +under the delusion that they had got to the blind side of their +Prussian,--a parable which might serve to describe the whole French +tactics during the war! + +When I arrived at Orleans it was nearly midnight, and as there were no +vehicles at the terminus, I had to tramp across the town to the Quai du +Châtelet, where the door was opened to me by our faithful Turco Jean. +This barbarian, becoming excited at seeing an old friend, shrieked with +delight, and gave utterance to much unintelligible jargon, accompanied +by low bows, reverences, or salaams, all which, I believe, is the +orthodox method of greeting adopted by Mohammedans. + +As I entered our general sitting-room, I heard a ringing cheer from my +_confrères_, who, in this most cordial manner, welcomed me back. I +confess that I felt pleased and proud at this spontaneous outburst of +kindly feeling. + +Nigger Charlie, who had been grinning from ear to ear for the past ten +minutes, now disappeared, and after the lapse of a quarter of an hour, +came back, bearing in his hands the historic bowl of punch. That was his +salaam,--not unkindly meant either. + +Next morning I went to see my patients in the Convent of Notre Dame des +Récouvrances. Mère Pauline, Soeur Léopoldine, and the other sisters +welcomed me into the wards, and Henry Schroeder cried so heartily that I +had to put it down to the weakness from which he was suffering. Young +Rüdiger cheered, Kirkhof clapped his hands, and all my patients looked +pleased,--which things I mention as giving me a real gratification in +themselves, and showing what rewards a doctor who tries to do his duty +may expect. + +I went on to see other patients, among whom were two in the Rue de +Bourdon Blanc. One of these had had his knee joint resected, an +operation in which both ends of the bones of the leg and thigh, which +enter into the formation of the knee joint, were removed, the limb +remaining otherwise intact. It was at this period rather a rare +operation, and was performed by Dr. Nussbaum of Munich, who then handed +the invalid into my care. The limb was swung in an anterior +suspension-splint, which was Dr. May's improvement on the American +splint by Smyth. This was a case in which Dr. Nussbaum felt deeply +interested, and he inquired of me repeatedly as to its progress. + +After one or two days I fell again into the routine, and was running +along smoothly in the old groove, which I had left for so short but +eventful a period. Several weeks now passed away without anything worthy +to chronicle, if I may judge from the blank in my notes. The work had +become easier, and my patients, though scattered about the town, had +become fewer and less troublesome to manage as they approached +convalescence. + +We had now much time to ourselves. The armistice continued, and no fresh +supplies of wounded came in. Yet, we did not feel sure that hostilities +would not recommence, until on the afternoon of the 26th of February, +news reached us that peace was signed. Yes, peace was signed! The joyful +tidings spread quickly through the town, and exclamations and prayers of +joy and gratitude were on every tongue; nor was it easy to discern +whether the townsfolk or the garrison were filled with greater gladness +at the news. Indeed, the change that came over the face of the town in +an hour was marvellous. Civilians rushed about the streets shaking hands +in the most frantic style with those German soldiers who had hitherto +been their deadly enemies, while the soldiers cordially returned these +friendly advances on the part of their vanquished foes. As the evening +drew near, the cheering and confusion increased, and the streets became +crowded with a mixed assembly of soldiers and inhabitants. Nor did the +authorities appear to object; nay, all the military bands in the town +turned out, and marched up and down the principal streets, playing +popular French airs, and even the "Marseillaise". + +It was amusing as well as touching to see these mighty processions, the +bands in front, and long lines of French and Prussians linked arm in +arm, marching some fourteen abreast, and keeping time with the music. +Thus in one hour did the memory of yesterday seem quite obliterated. +While I was following one of the bands, and listening to the stirring +airs which they were playing, I descried a white figure among the crowd, +and what was my astonishment to find that this was Nigger Charlie! Still +in his white kitchen-suit, with white sleeves and a paper cap, he was +carrying on all kinds of antics, and grinning for the amusement of the +juveniles who crowded after the procession. + +Our duties now became so light that I was able to do all my work in a +couple of hours, and generally had the rest of the day to myself. This +time I employed in making excursions on horseback and on foot, to all +the places of interest in the adjoining country. I could always get a +mount from the ambulance equerry when I wished for one. As March came +on, the weather grew fine, and I rode out to Gien, Chevilly, Patay, and +Coulmiers; but Olivet and its neighbourhood, and the picturesque Source +du Loiret, were especially my attraction. Dr. Warren, who, like me, +preferred walking to riding, often accompanied me on these excursions. + +But time rolled on, and we found ourselves in March, with March weather +accompanying it. I now met Miss Pearson and Miss McLoughlin, who gave me +a stirring account of themselves and their doings during the battles +outside Orleans; for the convent, full of wounded, of which they were +in charge, was situated in the suburbs. The adventures undergone and the +work accomplished by these energetic English ladies have been admirably +described in the volume which relates their experiences during the +Campaigns of 1870 and 1871. Too much praise cannot be given for the +untiring zeal and heroic self-sacrifice which they always displayed in +the discharge of their mission, under circumstances which were +constantly most trying. + +On the 3rd, Dr. Pratt, who had some time back returned from headquarters +at Versailles, announced to us that our mission was over, and he must +now disband us. We agreed, however, not to separate until we got to +Paris, for which place we were to start in a few days. There we should +meet Dr. Duplessy, and the heads of the French Ambulance, into whose +hands we could deliver the horses, waggons, and _infirmiers_ that we had +originally received from them in the Palais de l'Industrie. We wished, +also, in the presence of the above-named gentleman, to give an account +of our stewardship, so far as the care of the French wounded in our +charge was concerned. Accordingly, every preparation was made to start. +I sent away the wounded that were on my hands, including poor Henry +Schroeder, who said, that since I must leave, he would leave too. I had +the poor fellow conveyed through town to his railway carriage in a +sedan chair. When we parted he shed bitter tears. + +I had grave misgivings for the ultimate success of his case, for his arm +was suppurating profusely; and he had that delusive hectic freshness of +appearance, which I had now learnt was so untoward a symptom. Afterwards +I had the pain of hearing from his brother that my forebodings were +verified, and that Henry died soon after his return home. + +On the 4th of March, we had finished nearly all our preparations; and +our kind host Proust seemed inconsolable at losing Warren and myself, +towards both of whom he had evinced a parental affection. But my time to +leave Orleans was not yet come. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +I FALL ILL OF FEVER.--GERMANS LEAVE ORLEANS.--MY BROTHER ARRIVES FROM +HOME.--END OF MY EXPERIENCES AS A FIELD SURGEON. + + +One bright evening, as I was out walking on the bank of the Loire, I had +felt a dead dull pain at the back of my head and in my back. On my +return the pain became so intense that I was obliged to go straight to +bed. All night and next day I felt very unwell, and Dr. Bouglet was sent +for. He pronounced me to be in fever, of what kind he could not exactly +tell; but as small-pox was prevalent in Orleans, he feared it might be +that. Subsequently he came to the conclusion that it was low fever of a +typhoid sort. + +On the 6th, I felt very ill indeed, and beyond a dim recollection of +saying good-bye to my _confrères_, and the consciousness that my old +friends Warren and Hayden were continually at my bedside, I can recall +but little of what passed around me for the next fortnight. + +In a few days all the members of the Anglo-American Ambulance, who had +been my friends and companions throughout this adventurous campaign, +were off to Paris. So there was I in No. 12 Rue Royale, away from home, +and prostrated by a dangerous illness. To those who read this, it may +appear that I was alone and friendless. But it was not so. For no +father's care could have been more tender, no mother's solicitude more +lavish, than that bestowed upon me by M. and Madame Proust, on the one +hand, and, on the other, by my guardian angel and nurse, Soeur Berthe, +from Notre Dame des Récouvrances. + +During five long weeks, this indefatigable woman never left my bedside +day or night, save for an interval of an hour or so. She had been +working under me in the Hospitals, attending the wounded for many +months; and to her valuable and skilful aid I owe any success which may +have attended my efforts on behalf of the patients in those wards. Now +this good sister saw me, a stranger, but a fellow-labourer in the same +cause, struck down at the end of the campaign; and she bestowed upon me, +as she was wont to bestow upon them, with that grace of manner and +beaming kindness which characterised all she undertook, the same devoted +attentions. It was a privilege to be ill in her hands. I learned much +from her; and I should be ungrateful indeed, were I to forget the +lessons which her refinement, self-sacrifice, and unwearied good temper +printed on my mind and heart during those weeks. + +Dr. Bouglet came and went, sometimes making a second visit the same day. +Evidently he thought my case a serious one. At the end of about ten days +from the beginning of my illness, I became so stupid and lethargic that +I remembered nothing for the next fortnight, save that during one of my +lucid intervals I saw Hayden, Parker, and Warren at my bedside, the +first two having come from Paris for the express purpose of seeing me. +Warren stayed until I was getting better, and wrote home for me. He +finished his letter, but almost failed in getting the address from me, +so weak was my mind at the time. Hayden, on being questioned by one of +the townspeople as to the chances of my recovery, answered, that it was +all up with me. Soeur Berthe, likewise, wrote to Scarteen in my name; +but I could do nothing of the kind myself. + +About the fourth week I had completely regained consciousness, and was +daily getting stronger; but that was not saying much, for I could +neither turn in bed, nor lift an arm. I was simply skin and bone, and +used to wonder how my knuckles did not come through the skin. When I +looked at my limbs, I began to cry like a child, and this loss of +control over my feelings was particularly distressing to me. They never +let me see myself in the mirror until I was far advanced on the road to +recovery; and then I beheld what looked more like a corpse than my +living self, and was much taken aback. When allowed to speak, many hours +were spent in pleasant conversation with Madame and M. Proust, and with +Soeur Berthe, who was always an interesting and lively companion. She +used to pray with me, read to me, both serious and amusing books, and +instruct me in the secrets of the science of which she was mistress. She +would bring me flowers and fruit according to my fancy. And so the weeks +passed by, and, with the assistance of such good friends, they were +pleasant enough. + +Before my brain got quite clear, I used to imagine that I saw numbers of +my friends at home, and was talking with them. Nor were the persons +phantoms. For I spoke to those who happened to be paying me a visit to +see how I was going on. Upon discovering my mistake, I felt it bitterly, +but was soon put into good humour again by Soeur Berthe. I have not yet +said much of my hostess Madame Proust; not because she was wanting in +any way,--far from it, indeed. That kind lady put her house and all +therein at my disposal, and was a most agreeable and sympathetic friend. +Occasionally, after returning from her walk in the town, she would tell +me of the people who were inquiring for me, which was an equal pleasure +and help to a convalescent. + +Just about this stage of my illness the Germans evacuated Orleans. I +can remember well hearing the last of their bands playing in one +direction; while the French were advancing in the other. This was +succeeded after a while by frantic cheering, by the din of music, and +the tramp of soldiery,--a tramp which I knew to be very different from +the measured tread that I had heard an hour previously. And so had come +and gone the second German occupation of Orleans,--an epoch in the life +of those who took any share in it which is indelibly stamped on their +memories. + +As time wore on I was removed to the arm-chair by the open window, where +I used to remain for several hours every day, when the weather +permitted, propped up with pillows and covered against the cold. Many of +the passers-by seemed to think me worth looking at, for quite a number +stopped in very French fashion to stare up at me. This was only +curiosity, and by no means rudeness. At last I was able to go out, or +rather to hobble out; and for the first few days had enough to do to +keep on my legs while shaking hands with the many kind and friendly +townspeople who came forward to greet me. I would go into one shop and +rest there for a few minutes, and then move a few doors further on. Thus +I spent some hours every day. Many of our old Ambulance friends and +acquaintances came also to pay me a visit. There was no end, I may truly +say, to the kindness I met with on all sides. + +One day I went to the Church of St. Aignan, which is at the end of the +Quai du Châtelet, to hear a grand High Mass, offered up for the +regeneration of France, which was attended by the _élite_ of Orleans. I +settled myself in a chair at the end of the church, and presently the +ceremonies began by a procession. As it passed me a priest stepped out +of the ranks, and, taking me by the arm, led me up the church, and, to +my great confusion, showed me into one of the stalls in the Sanctuary. I +never saw the priest before or since. + +When I look back on those days of trial and sickness, and how I lay on +that bed unable to stir hand or foot, I remember what a longing came +over me for the sight of one familiar face, though but for a few +minutes. One was still in one's youth; and I fancied, whilst my head was +buried in the pillow, that if I could but speak just a few words to my +mother, or to some one at home, it would be enough to cure me. Until +then, I never knew how much I loved my native land, or realised my +heart's deep devotion to that little spot called home, and to all those +dear friends about it. + +Little by little I came round. I used to drive out with M. Proust to his +lovely little country house near Olivet, and visited the camellia houses +and orange groves, all of which were under glass, at the great château +there. But during my convalescence, the event of the day was the +morning post, which brought my letters and newspapers, every line of +which I read and re-read with the greatest avidity, until I knew them by +heart. One letter in particular, from a great friend of mine, was so +amusing, and had such a reviving effect on me, that I read it certainly +a score of times, and I laughed as much the last time as the first. + +I was strictly prohibited by the doctor from writing; but in spite of +his orders I coaxed Soeur Berthe to let me have pen and ink. Her +consternation was great when she saw me fainting from the exertion. One +letter I wrote to my mother while my hand was held on the paper, placed +on a desk before me; so that I had only, as it were, to form the +characters. I used to write a sentence or two every day, and so put them +together bit by bit. I compiled several commonplace and uninteresting +productions, and sent them home in great glee at the success of my +performance. I could not guess how startled they would be at receiving +these curious epistles, some of which afterwards came back into my +hands. They resolved to send my brother Arthur to fetch me home; and he +travelled immediately to Orleans, where he received a hearty welcome +from M. and Madame Proust and my other friends. + +I insert as an Appendix, from the journal which my brother kept, the +impressions made on us both by a visit we paid to the field of +Coulmiers. + +It was my last view of the scenes in which I had taken part. + +My brother arrived on 8th April, and on the 21st we bade farewell to our +home in the Rue Royale, and the friends who had made it such, and set +out on our journey to Ireland. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +AN APPENDIX.--M. AND MADAME COLOMBIER.--VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELD OF +COULMIERS.--THE SOLE FRENCH VICTORY.--CONCLUSION. + +(_From Arthur Ryan's Diary, Wednesday, 19th April._) + + +Our déjeûner had not long been over when a carriage drove up, and +Charlie bade me prepare for a drive with some friends into the country. +We wished M. and Madame Proust good-bye for the day, and stepped into +the carriage, where our new host and hostess were awaiting us. M. and +Madame Colombier welcomed me cordially as the brother of their friend, +and I was not long in their company before I knew how truly they had +been such to him. M. Colombier had been a Papal Zouave, but, on the +outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war, had joined the ranks of his +countrymen. A middle-aged man with a frank warm manner, and evidently +very proud of his wife,--as well he might be. I have seen but little of +men or women; but I fancy that many years of experience may fail to +remove Madame Colombier from the place she gained that day in my +estimation. She was a heroine, and, what is still rarer, a humble +heroine. Being a Canadian she spoke English very fairly; and as we drove +along she told us many stories of her war experiences, and with so much +gaiety that I felt it hard to believe those experiences had been so +often bitter ones to her and her husband. Privations, loss of property, +personal danger, all were related as if she were inventing and not +recording; all were jested about whenever they affected only herself. +But when she spoke of the sufferings of others, of her husband's danger, +of the poor soldiers whom she had lodged and tended to the last, then +her woman's heart revealed itself, and showed that though gay it was +tender, though buoyant it was thoroughly unselfish; and, through all, +she seemed so perfectly unconscious of any merit on her part, that one +would have thought that her services had been remunerative or a part of +her ordinary duty, instead of absorbing as they did the great part of +what the war had left them. + +A shower came on, and to my surprise Madame Colombier unpinned her warm +shawl, and insisted in wrapping Charlie up in it, lest in his weak state +he should take cold. "This is my campaigning dress," said she, as I +expressed my fears as to the insufficiency of her black silk dress in +the teeth of the driving rain; but little she seemed to care, her only +anxiety being to shield the "poor invalid" from the storm. + +After what seemed a short drive, we were so pleasant together, we came +to the battlefield of Coulmiers. On each side of the road the ground was +littered with the débris of camp fires, and with the straw that had +served to keep some of the soldiers off the frosty ground, as they slept +after their fight. Deep ruts--ploughed by the wheels of the guns, cut up +the roads and fields; but beyond these marks, and the general bare, +down-trodden look of the ground, nothing remained to speak of the +terrible battle that had so lately covered these fields with the dead +and dying. But as we drove into the Château Renardier, M. Colombier's +country place, the sad remembrances of war were multiplied ten-fold. The +great trees on each side of the drive were riven in all directions, by +the shot and shells; and I remarked several thick firs cut clean in two +by what was evidently a single shot. + +But here we are at the Château. It was a large house, in the regular +French style, prettily situated in the midst of a well-planted lawn. It +was not, however, at the architecture of the house, nor at the beauties +of the lawn, that I looked, as I drove up. No: what riveted my gaze was +the number of round holes that perforated the front in every direction. +The shells had done their work well; shattered windows and pierced walls +were sorry sights for M. Colombier to show his guests; and little more +could be seen of the Château Renardier on the front side. As we +entered, and passed from room to room, we began to realise the full +extent of the damage. Deep stains of blood were on the dark oak floors, +which in many places had been splintered by the bursting shells. Madame +Colombier took us to her boudoir. Panelled in gold and white, it must +have been a lovely room--but now it was a wreck. Right through the +mirrors had the splintered shells crashed; in one corner of the rich +ceiling the sky was visible through a large shot hole,--"and here," said +our hostess, "here they used to skin their sheep"; and she pointed to +the chandelier, which had sadly suffered from its unwonted use, and +beneath which the floor was stained, this time not with human gore. +"This is my room," said M. Colombier, as he showed us into the billiard +room. The slate table was cracked in two, and on the tattered green +cloth lay the remains of the oats which had fed the horses; for that +room had served as a stable. + +We passed into the garden. It had been the scene of a French bayonet +charge; and little shape remained, or sign of garden beauty, save that +in one trampled bed, we found some plants of the lily of the valley +sprouting to the early spring sunshine. Deep in the gravel walks, and +through the once well-trimmed turf, had the wheels of the guns sunk, as +the Prussians made their hasty retreat before the victorious French; +and it must have been some consolation to the fair owner of this +desolated garden, to think that it was the scene of the solitary French +victory in that disastrous war. + +In the front garden every vine was dead, cut from the wall. For the wall +had served as a shelter for the German soldiers, and was pierced all +along for rifle rests, and by every hole was a heap of empty cartridge +cases. The greenhouse and conservatories,--who shall tell their ruin? +Glass is a poor protection against artillery, and the fierce frost had +completed the work. There were the plants all arranged on their stands; +there stood the orange trees--all were dead and brown--not a twig was +alive. I thought of my mother and her flowers, as Madame Colombier +turned with a sigh from her ruined conservatory, and walked back through +the melancholy garden. But she was gay enough, though her husband seemed +to feel deeply the destruction of his lovely home. He had been married +but five years, and had spent much money in making this a happy spot for +his wife and children--and now, the wreck! But even M. Colombier laughed +with us when we came to the piles of empty bottles that lay in the yard; +they were all that was left of two well-filled cellars. The French +soldiers had celebrated their victory at the expense of the master of +the Château Renardier. + +In the coach-house were Madame Colombier's two broughams; they had been +used in the battle as temporary fortifications, and were literally +riddled with bullets. We walked to the fish pond--a piece of ornamental +water in the lawn. It had been netted, and not a fish was left. I +stumbled on something under the trees by its brink. It was a Prussian +cavalry saddle, not a comfortable-looking thing, thought I, as I +surveyed the angular hide-covered wood,--but certainly economical when +it is so easily lost. But evening was coming on; so having had lunch in +the Château (the strangest ruin I ever picnicked in), we bade adieu to +Renardier, and drove back to Orleans. + +M. Colombier's house there had, like his country château, been used +during the war as a little hospital; and Charlie told me, as he waited +in the drawing-room before dinner, how many wounded and dying inmates +that room lately had. + +Dinner was served in an ante-room, for which Madame Colombier made her +apologies, as her dining-room was occupied--by whom we presently saw. +Having dined heartily, and been highly amused by the penalties with +which the children threatened the Prussians,--such as feeding them on +poisonous mushrooms, wood, and such like, I was surprised by Madame +Colombier taking out a cigar case, handing it round, and helping +herself. "Necessity has made me a smoker," she laughingly observed, as +she saw my ill-concealed wonder; and if any lady would condemn my +hostess for her cigar, let her follow Madame Colombier as she slips +quietly out; and see for herself how false is that delicacy which would +place a difficulty in the way of true and heroic Christian charity. We +were not long before we followed our hostess. We found her in her +dining-room, which had been fitted up as a temporary hospital. There she +was tending the wound of her last patient, with a skill which was the +result of long and hard-earned experience. And here we will leave Madame +Colombier, with the firm trust that her unselfish charity and +unostentatious heroism will not go unrewarded before Him, who has +promised to repay a cup of cold water given for His sake. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + +A quarter of a century has elapsed since the occurrence of the events +which I have described. When I view the scenes of those eventful days +through this long vista, and when sometimes for a moment one particular +picture of hospital or camp life presents itself before my mind, I start +as if awakened from a troubled dream, to find there still the shape and +form of fact. + +The years have come and gone, and with them have passed away many of the +principal actors in that great drama. + +Wilhelm, Napoléon, Moltke, the Crown Prince, the Red Prince, Gambetta, +d'Aureille de Paladine, Bazaine, MacMahon, have disappeared from the +stage. + +Modern surgery and medicine have lost some of their ablest pioneers in +Langenbeck, Nussbaum, Esmark and Marion Sims; and I personally have to +mourn for many who were kindly and helpful to me in those days, amongst +them M. and Madame Proust and General Charles Brackenbury. + +I have often wished to revisit Sedan and Orleans; but the desire to make +the most of a somewhat limited holiday-time, and to gain fresh +experiences, has always led me to new districts and countries previously +unknown to me, and I have never had my wish fulfilled. I am glad to say, +however, that I never quite lost sight of my old friends M. and Madame +Proust, and a visit from their nephew revived all the old associations +and remembrances afresh. + +It may interest my readers to hear something of our ambulance surgeons. +Sir William MacCormac, who succeeded Marion Sims at Sedan, is now one of +the greatest living authorities on military surgery and gunshot wounds. +His colleague Dr. Mackellar is distinguished on the staff of St. +Thomas's Hospital, and Dr. Parker is an eminent London specialist. The +others, scattered over the face of the globe, I have lost sight of, but +would fain hope one day to meet some of them again. + +One object I have had in view in publishing these notes may be worthy of +mention. + +As I have tried to write down exactly what I witnessed, they may help to +afford some idea of what war really means,--war as a hard practical +fact--stripped of all the glamour, and poetry, and pride of conquest, +that are so attractive when seen in history. + +Even from my own observations I could gather that all is not victory to +the victors themselves. + +When the German soldiery learnt that Louis Napoléon was present in the +trap at Sedan, there broke out among them the wildest exhibition of +delight; for they believed--wrongly as it came to pass--that his capture +would end the war and enable them to go back to their homes. And when +peace was finally proclaimed, the Germans in Orleans were no less +demonstrative and enthusiastic than the French, whose cup of suffering +had been filled to overflowing. + +Now-a-days there is perhaps a tendency to undervalue this aspect of the +case. People talk very lightly of the great European war that is said to +be inevitable. It can do no harm to measure as far as possible what such +a war may mean. + +Those who count the cost in advance are far more likely to be able to +meet it, should the necessity arise, and to bear themselves resolutely +and bravely to the end, whatever the event, than those who rush blindly +forward, depending mainly on enthusiasm for organisation, and on the +reputation of the past to achieve victories in the future. That seems to +be the great lesson taught by the war of 1870 and 1871. + +There never was, perhaps, a more flagrant instance of disregard for that +wise Shakesperian saying familiar to us all:-- + + "Beware + Of entrance to a quarrel: but, being in, + Bear it that the opposed may beware of thee". + +However, my readers will probably be disposed to form their own opinions +on these subjects, and will have far more attractive material elsewhere +on which to found them. + +Before concluding, I think I am not out of order in mentioning a notable +occurrence which took place during the year 1895, and which to my mind +affords a favourable augury for the future of France. I mean the +celebration at Orleans, with all the pomp and ceremony due to the +occasion, of the festival of Jeanne d'Arc. From the general enthusiasm +then displayed by the French people, I cannot help thinking that greater +things and brighter hopes are in store for that beautiful country, the +fortunes of which have ever been as dramatic in their circumstances as +they are interesting in themselves. + +Finally, I wish here to record, if I may, my own admiration, sympathy +and delight in the bright and genial character of the French, and to +bear witness that as this feeling was at first so it is now; nor do I +think it will ever change. + +My task is finished. Though the re-writing of these notes has been a +source of great pleasure to me, bringing back as it does old memories +and picturesque scenes so vividly, yet I lay aside the unaccustomed pen +with--perhaps not unnaturally--some little sense of relief, trusting to +the indulgence of my readers that they will overlook the blemishes +incidental to a first literary performance. And thus I bid them +farewell. + + +THE END. + + + + +[Illustration: PART OF FRANCE +To illustrate the journey of D^r. Ryan from Sedan to Orleans, 1870-1. +London, John Murray, Albemarle St. +Edw^d. Weller] + + + + + INDEX. + + A. + + Ambulance, Anglo-American: staff, 27; + labours at Sedan, 47-59, 79; + routine, 71; + discipline, 73; + additional staff, 89; + number of operations, 93; + use of antiseptics, 96; + transferred to German side, 108, 143; + fresh arrangements, 115; + leaves Sedan, 116; + at Orleans, 160 to end; + routine there, 166; + at battle of Coulmiers, 194-207; + evacuates terminus, 215; + given French _infirmiers_, 223; + visited by M. Crémieux, 231; + critical position, 232; + at battle of Neuville, 242, _seq._; + at Patay, 253; + at Beaugency, 283; + disbanded, 343. + + Ambulance, Belgian, 21. + + Ambulance, French, 16; + want of discipline, 82, 103, 114; + broken up, 121. + + Ambulance, German: treatment of French wounded, 81; + at Floing, 107; + amputation, Dr. Ryan's first, 166. + + Antiseptic treatment, 96. + + Ardennes, Forest, 113. + + Arlon, 115. + + Arpajon, 153. + + Artenay, 154. + + Asfeld, Caserne d', 39-49, 59. + + + B. + + Bavarians: cavalry, 140; + occupy Orleans, 176; + fighting there, 176; + their religious behaviour, 185; + losses, 189; + evacuate Orleans, 190; + at Coulmiers, 195; + retreat, 196; + leave dead on field, 200; + at Beaugency, 285; + despised by Prussians, 284. + + Bayonne, Père, 43, 94. + + Bazeilles, burning of, 53, 56, 85; + visit to, 87. + + Beaugency, battle, 282, _seq._ + + Beaumont, village, 35. + + Beck, 89, 107. + + Berthe, Soeur, 235, 303, 348, 351. + + Bilotte, Intendant Militaire, at Sedan, 72. + + Bismarck, Count, 83, 147, 217. + + "Black and Tans," the, 113. + + Blood poisoning, 91; + open-air treatment, 108; + at Orleans, 179, 183, 310. + + Bonjour, M., 252. + + Bouglet, Dr., 345, seq. + + Bouillon, town and castle, 112, 117. + + Bourbaki, General, 226. + + Brackenbury, Captain C., 115, 121, 334-337. + + Brussels, 5, 8, 118, 120. + + Burnside, General, 142. + + + C. + + Cahirmee, Horse Fair, 119. + + Carignan, village, 22. + + Caserne d'Asfeld, 39, _seq._, 49, 59. + + Caserne St. Charles, at Orleans, 217-219. + + Cases, remarkable, 179, and _passim_. + + Cathedral, Orleans, desecrated, 280. + + Charlie, Nigger, 61, 94, 142, 233, 307, 339, 342. + + Château Bellevue, 83, 114. + + Château Mouville, 56. + + Château Renardier, 196, 207, 354. + + Châtelet, Marquise de, 324. + + Châtelet, Quai du, 160 to end. + + Cavalry, African, 255. + + Cavalry, Bavarian, 140. + + Chevilly, village, 56; + battle, 251, _seq._ + + Chivry, 318. + + Chizelles, Vicomte de, 32. + + Churches desecrated, 153. + + Colombier, M. and Mme., 353, _seq._ + + _Conscrit, Le_, incident resembling, 99. + + Corbeil, 312, 314. + + Coulmiers, battle, 191, 193, 209; + visit to field, 353 _seq._ + + Crémieux, M., 231. + + + D. + + D'Allaine, M., 217. + + _Débâcle, La_, accuracy of, 57. + + D'Iges, Isle of, 75, _seq._ + + Dilger, Martin, 181, 218, 309, 313. + + Donchery, village, 41. + + Douai, General, killed, 100. + + Douzy, village, burning of, 42. + + Ducrot, General, 48, 251. + + Dupanloup, Bishop, 289. + + + E. + + Étampes, 154, 197, 338. + + Eugénie, Empress, 17. + + Euverte, Ste., Church of, 252, 273, _seq._; + evacuated, 310. + + + F. + + Failly de, General, 34. + + Flavigny, Count de, 29. + + Floing, Plain of, 39. + + Francs-Tireurs, 126, 177. + + Francs-Tireurs, American, 226. + + Frank, Dr., 26, 35, 55, 56, 115. + + Frazer, Captain, 232, 287. + + Frederick Charles, Prince, enters Orleans, 274-276. + + French: commissariat breaks down, 34; + Marines, 46; + also at Orleans, 228; + bravery at Patay, 261; + prisoners, 75; + wounded, 81; + miserable clothing, 212; + want of physique, 214; + imaginary victories, 248. + + Frénois, village, 40, 83. + + Fritz, Dr., 312. + + Fugitive peasants, 157. + + + G. + + Gaillon, 124. + + Gambetta, M., 197, 217. + + Garde Nationale, 23. + + Garenne, Bois de, 53, 64, 67. + + Geneva Convention, 223. + + German: ambition, 276; + treatment of French prisoners, 281; + character and manners, 170; + piety, 185. + + Giant, a Bavarian, 204, 274. + + Glenbane, 132. + + Gravelotte, battle of, 312. + + Gunboats on Loire, 229. + + + H. + + Haveland, Major de, 305, 337. + + Hayden, Frank, 37, 60, 74, 77, 83, 112, 345, 347. + + Hewitt, Dr., 43, 68, 115, 118, 125, 145, 154. + + Hohenzollern, Prince of, 141. + + Holt White, Mr., 306. + + Horses, suffering of, 48, 74. + + Hospital: at Sedan, 39, 52-116; + at Balan, 56; + at Orleans railway, 162; + invaded by townsfolk, 202; + au Grand Marché, 217; + at Caserne St. Charles, 2, 8; + at Ste. Euverte, 273-310. + + Hozier, Colonel, 232, 287, 307. + + + I. + + _Illustrated London News_, 89. + + Isle d'Iges, 75, _seq._ + + + J. + + Jean the Turco, 116, 167, 339. + + Jeanne d'Arc, 160, 192. + + Jews, 314. + + Journalism, French, 248. + + + L. + + Labouchère, M., 19, 21, 25. + + Lagny, 315, 323. + + Langenbeck, Prof., 286. + + Léopoldine, Soeur, 308, 339. + + Lévy, M. Michel, 14. + + Libramont, 118. + + Lille, 122. + + Lloyd-Lindsay, Col., 27, 143, 333. + + Loire, Army of the, 158, 254, 263. + + Lundon, Mr. W., 132. + + + M. + + MacCormac, Dr. (now Sir W.), at Sedan, 47, 68, 70, 90, 97, 111, 115. + + Mackellar, Dr., 89, 145, 209, 224, 282. + + MacMahon, Marshal, 31, 83. + + Madeleine, La, 16, 28. + + Manners, French, 161; + German, 148, 172. + + Mantes, 135, 138. + + Maps, requisitioned, 231. + + Marfée, Heights, 35, 41, _seq._ + + Marly, 140. + + May, Dr., 36, 47, 49, 71, 97, 99, 114, 245, 282, 340. + + McLoughlin, Miss, 89, 260. + + Mejonelle, Mr., 306. + + Melun, Vicomte de, 4, 8, 15, 16, 18, 20. + + Metz, 22; + surrendered, 176, 188. + + Meuse, river, 37; + bridge over, 84. + + Mézières, village, burnt, 139. + + Moltke, General, 147. + + Monod, M. Chaplain, 94. + + Mont Valérien, 140. + + Mouzon, village, 38. + + + N. + + Napoléon III., 33, 38, 83. + + Neuville, 236; + fighting at, 243, 251. + + Nicholl, Dr., 47, 115. + + Nihil, T., Fenian exile, 131. + + Nussbaum, Prof., 162, 340. + + + O. + + O'Hanlon, Mme., 178. + + Olivet, 350. + + Orleans: march to, 154; + entering, 158; + in Quai du Châtelet, 160, _seq._; + at railway, 162-215; + Place Martroi, 168; + state of siege, 172; + shop windows, 172; + Bavarians evacuate, 190; + hospital invaded, 203; + ambulance returns, 207; + French enter, 210; + French Marines arrive, 228; + Ste. Euverte, 252; + French retreat upon, 254; + German assault, 263; + street fighting, 269; + surrendered, 270; + Red Prince enters, 274; + chronic hunger, 277; + prisoners in cathedral, 279; + Christmas Day at, 292; + fined 600,000 francs, 311; + evacuated by Germans, 349. + + Ostend, 4, 333. + + + P. + + Paladine, General de, 197, _seq._ + + Paris, 11-25; + siege of, 317. + + Parker, Dr., 95, 107, 115, 193, 202, 270, 312, 343, 347. + + Patay, battle, 251-260. + + Pauline, Mère, 307, 339. + + Peace, signed, 341. + + Pearson, Miss, 89, 260, 347. + + Peasants, 134. + + Peyen, Louis, 99, 101. + + Poniatowsky, Princess, 26. + + Pontoon bridge over Meuse, 84; + over Loire, 277; + burnt, 266. + + Pratt, Dr., 95, 115, 120, 137, 141, 151, 158, 161, 184, 226, 287, + 311, 343. + + Prince Frederick Charles, 276. + + Prince of Hohenzollern, 141. + + Prince Pless, 141-3, 337. + + Prisoners at Orleans, 279. + + Property, rights of, in war, 137. + + Proust, M. and Mme., 274, 346-350, _seq._ + + Prussians, 35, 41, 123, 140, 276, 349. + + + R. + + Raucourt, village, 35. + + Reilly, Colonel, 232. + + Renardier, Château de, 196, 207, 354. + + Rouen, 123. + + Rüdiger, 308. + + Russell, Dr., of the Times, 45. + + Ryan, Arthur (now Canon), 352; + diary, 353, _seq._ + + Ryan, Dr. C. E., leaves Dublin, 3; + at Paris, 10-30; + joins Anglo-Americans, 27; + arrives at Sedan, 31; + first sight of Germans, 35; + during 1st Sept., 1870, 43-59; + goes over battlefield, 61, _seq._; + at Isle d'Iges, 75; + visits Bazeilles, 86; + work in Caserne, 102; + rides to Bouillon, 112; + leaves Sedan, 116; + goes to Brussels, 118; + to Rouen, 123; + in Seine Valley, 125; + captured by Francs-Tireurs, 126; + to Mantes, 134; + sees fighting from Marly, 140; + at Versailles, 141-150; + marches to Orleans by Étampes, 153-160; + enters to sound of cannon, 157; + remarkable cases, 179; + at battle of Chevilly, 195; + visits that field, 352, _seq._; + in French camp, 199; + back to Orléans, 207; + sees French enter, 213; + at Neuville, 242; + sees battle of Patay, 259; + and French retreat across Loire, 264; + and burning of bridge, 266; + during assault on Orleans, 271; + sees entry of Red Prince, 274; + at Ste. Euverte, 252-310; + night duties, 292, _seq._; + leaves Orleans on furlough, 312; + journeys home by Lagny, Strasburg, etc., 315-332; + recalled, 333; + loses papers in Seine Valley, 335; + at Versailles, 336; + in Orleans again, 339; + falls ill of typhoid fever, 345; + recovers and leaves Orleans, 351. + + + S. + + Sailors, French, 46, 228, 261; + German, 288. + + Schrenk, Captain, 177. + + Schroeder, Henry, 274, 285, 307, 343. + + Sedan, arrival at, 31; + no surgeons or medical appliances, 38; + defences, 39; + battle, 43-53, _seq._; + number of wounded, 53; + field after the battle, 62-65; + operations in hospital, 70, _seq._, 93; + inhabitants shut up, 85; + captured guns in Park, 101; + ambulance leaves, 116. + + Seine Valley, 124, 336. + + Sentinels, French, 207; + German, 230. + + Sheridan, General, 142. + + Sherwell, Dr., 89, 208, 311. + + Sims, Dr. Marion, 27, 28, 31, 70, 73, 94. + + Sims, Harry, 27. + + Soissons, 30. + + Soldiers' burials, 62. + + Southern exiles, 142. + + St. Aignan, Church, 350. + + St. Aubin, Louis, 45, 96, _seq._, 116. + + St. Cloud, burnt, 146. + + St. Germain, 139; + forest of, 336. + + St. Pierre, village, 124. + + Ste. Euverte, 252, 273, 276, 291, 306, 310. + + Steel, General, 10. + + Strasburg, 328-330. + + + T. + + Tann, Von der, his proclamation 174. + + Tilghman, Dr., 27, 36, 47, 184, 200, 209, 282. + + Torcy, gate of Sedan, 32. + + Trochu, General, 251. + + Turcos, 51, 212, 240. + + + U. + + Uniforms, German, 169. + + Urbonouski, Mme., 145. + + + V. + + Vercourt, M. de, 4, 330. + + Verdière, M. le, 20. + + Versailles, 145; + the Château a hospital, 147, 287, 337. + + + W. + + Walsh, Dr., 2. + + Warren, Dr., 89, 105, 193, 202, 253, 269, 342, 345, 347. + + Webb, Dr., 70. + + Weissenburg, battle of, 1, 50. + + William I., king and emperor, 147, 323. + + Wimpffen, General de, 34, 48. + + Wörth, 1, 50. + + Wounded, number at Sedan, 53; + in hospital, 70-93. + + Wyman, Dr., 115. + + + Z. + + Zouaves, 241. + + Zouave, Well of the, 90. + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + +Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritical markings were +corrected, although "Orleans" appeared frequently without the +accent aigu and was not modified. + +Hyphen removed: "bomb[-]shells" (p. 317), "towns[-]people" (p. 152). + +The following words appear both with and without hyphens and have not +been changed: "dead-house", "side-arms", "station-master's". + +P. 217: "Coulmier" changed to "Coulmiers". + +P. 229: "univeral" changed to "universal" (universal scramble of excited +Frenchmen). + +P. 248: "befel" changed to "befell" (befell the French arms). + +Index: +Many page numbers seem to be wrong but have been left as printed. +Entry "Madelieie" changed to "Madeleine". +Entry "Nihill" changed to "Nihil". +Entries moved to their correct alphabetical positions: +"Frénois, village" +"Hayden, Frank" +"Loire, Army of the" + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41689 *** |