The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-20 00:00:00

'A SOLDIER'S LETTER.

The Lasts printi an interesting letter from Colonel
A. Bocher, of the 3rd Zonaves, dated from Saverne
the day after the bAttle of Reichshoffen. It is ad-
dres•ed to hi, broth'. :

'Lot us thank God, for he saved me yes'erday from the
most awful dangers that a soldier can encounter. IS Is a
miracle that I am alive, without a scratch and in perfect
health. But my heart is broken—my heart is bursting ; my
poor oilleers, my poor sohliers ! I cannot ten you of al I
have lost; It would pain me too much. At a future tune
p.m shall know the names of those whom you were acquainted
with, whom you loved, but whim you will Dever are
again. Noble fellows ! none ! herons! Of 65 officers, 17
are wounded, dead, or missing In the meriting, at half-
put seven, they were full of life, strength, end span ;
at two, most were me more. The unfortuhate Lieutenant-
Colonel Deshortier was wounded at my side by a bill
',tint blank In the idelomen. I was just able to shake
his hand and bid him geed bye as they curried him
off. Lie will proiriely die this evening in the hoods of the
Pruseians The two commanders, Clmrtnes and Pallier, were
killed 'Emitted (the third chef de bataillore is dead, if he
is not &prisoner. Saint Statuette was so ha •ly would, if that
I have little hope of him. By great exertion I had him re-
moved to an ambulance. A ball went through his breast
He rose spit nditl. Pierron woo killed outright. Alas ! alas !
it is better to tell you of the survivors—teose who are here
with nie—flerve, et Mac, Puymorin, Revile a'Aiguillm.
All the rest are In the hands of God. The same tale
at my sub pincers The three adjutants, almost all
my serge altente•trs, dead. Of my poor sapper. !
so goote no true, there are five left. Tiquet and Selomoa
"to were with the baggage, have been sabred or made pri-
soners My horses must have Men aeptured teem. My poor !
bleak horse was killed under St. Mare, ti whom I lent hint,
his owe having been killed before Of all' possessed I have
only what is Oil my batty and %fr. in nay pocket. All my
bageage, that of the Marshal himself, and of tile whole army
was taken in the evening. I have no boner any thing.
But what of that, when, with a full heat and tears
In my eyes, I think of those I have lost? We fought
like lions-35.000 against 100,000, who Ithiehed op by
surrounding its on all aides. General Colson killed,
Robert de Vogue killed, Alfred de Graruont, the
Duke's 'Tether, wfth his left arm carried away. The
otter corps Warta, did not suffer as much as we hut almost
as much. Marshal eineMahon wae admirable; he did all
that was posse to for man to do, but he wee uot In atrehgth
to reeist 10e,0“0 men, with artillery three times as nunuroits
as his own. Still we most have worked fright 01 havoc amonmtt
the enemy, sod that be doubt is the remoa ehy he did not
pursue us more vigorously. If he del it would have been a
terrible d emitter. As it war, it was only too great. Tee fight
begau at half-past seven In the morning, slier a night of
pelting rain, which Clllle down upon us, witineut tent*, with-
out fires, anti in the mud. Tae day before we accomplished
70 kilometres in It hours. The distance front the field
of battle to Savertte Is fully 36 kilometres. We made th .t
distance in the night, kite mane, without resting or sleeping.
"Hum I let Africa I have not changed linen or clothes.
If you saw me you would not recognise me. I have net
washed or shaved for five days. Imu tanned ;I am hideous.
If you knew how little I care for all this; how I thank God,
and how I would thank him still more ii he had spared my
poor frienee. Air ! war is too terrtele a scourge. We noct
! have a compelled feet I have with me but 511 or 600
Z mattes, without sacks, without tents, without diode, and
without provisions. But they have their arms, and
they do not complain. Deprived of officers and subalterns,
It would be Impossible to lead us to battle. It is
probable that we shall be ordered to Strasburg to re-
cruit ourselves. The cashewx of the regiment and the
accounts have been taken. We have, in fact, to be re.consti-
tuted as • regiment. If they do not make me a general, I
shall be idlowed some rest with the remnant of my brava
Z 'eaves. Colonel Gentile of the Turcos, aid his lieutenant-
colonel, also escaped by a miracle. The Marshal was most
kind to me, he slink me by the hand, and made all kinds of
compliments. lie must be very utihappy, but tins not dis-
couraged. In the entire came far we are a league from
Saverne, I could thei only this sheet of piper and pencil;
but I do not write very much at my ease, stretched
en the grass, where I shall spent' the night. Saint-Sam
veer has been attended to, lamented awl admired by all.
God grant that he may recover, but his wound is very serious.
His suffering is ;rightful—horrible. My unfortuoate Lieu-
tenant-Colenel Deehortles had strange meseetiments. M.
G mein will prepare Its daughter ; he will write that his
wound is severe, but that see must not despair. Unhappily
I can give no further deteile, as thie lamented friend was
taken by the eitemy with the %hole anibulace I have ben
told that Colonel K rice .d Ids henteuant.colonel have been
seriously wounded and made prisoners What Noel ! whet
team l what mourning ! and yet 'Ur merely the beginning !"