The Express.
London, England, 1864-04-01 00:00:00

THE WAR IN DENMARK.

(nom OCR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)
SONDEBBORG, PARCH 26.

Yesterday was probably viewed as a holiday by
theenemy. It is certain that he remained very quiet,
sending only an occasional shell from Broagerland,
and making no approach towards the redoubts on
their land side. This morning, however, to prove
that we are still at war, a brisk cannonade has been
kept up, in which, for a wonder, the Danes took
part. They were able to burst several shells over
the Prussian batteries, although without any appa-
rent effect, but such a power of reaching their
enemies will greatly encourage the troops if
• a more serious attack should be made. Every-
thing goes on as though General Gerlach
:had not heard a whisper of conference or
armistice. Fresh works are being thrown
up to command the Alsaund, streets are busily
enlarged, houses that might do harm by
burning taken down, and the town is becoming
daily better prepared for whatever may happen.
Yet under all this activity, with Prussian artillery
roaring the whole forenoon, and whilst their quar-
ters at Sonderborg are actually in range of Broager-
land, neither l eople nor soldiers seem to believe
that anything more will be done.
They enjoy life as best they can, the soldiers
lounging about with those inseparable china pipes
which comfort them in dreary winter time ; the
i people buying and selling—for never was trade so
flourishing—making a rich harvest out of innumer-
ablelodgers, and in spare moments falling back upon
the society of other china-bowled pipes, even larger
than the military pattern. Food seems plentiful, and
prices not unduly high ; so that altogether, for a born-
, herded place, Sonderborg is wonderfullyprosperons.
Of course at any moment all these pleasant visions
jmay fade before the first half-hour's firing of the
terrible rifled cannon at Broager, but it is evidently
thought here that such fire will not be re-opened.
The Prussians just did enough to show how much
was in their power, and then forbore. Perhaps the
I absurdity of burning a town which they have nomi-
nally come to liberate, struck Dome more logical
head among them. At Fredericia no mercy has
I been evinced, for there the enemy set it on fire
before running away, and it will be lucky if German
scruples of any sort preserve King Christian's loyal
subjects in Alsen from destruction. But what,
meanwhile, are the men doing whose duty keeps
them on DybbOl-hill, repairing its earthworks, or
guarding against surprise 1 I wished to see how
, things were being managed in our front, so
visited the redoubts by night, when fewer
shells are likely to disturb one's explorations.
I A sentry stopped me on the bridge, read my pass
from the general in command, and stood aside
politely when satisfied that all was correct. The
cantonment, so noisy by day, bad not now a sound
to tell that hundreds were resting in those long
sheds, or white, ghost-like tents. It was presently
much darker, for clouds drifted rapidly across the
moon, and I stumbled over swore of soldiers buried in
straw, with hard breathing issuing therefrom which
declared them to be very soundly asleep. Dybbol.
hill was also perfectly silent, with its tall wind-
: mill standing in bold relief against a patch of
clear sky.
The shadowy outline of redoubt No. seon
became visible not far ahead, and more sleepers in
straw were disturbed, most unintentionally, by my
blundering intrusion. An officer's sword clinks
sharply as he springs up, and, " Who goes there 1"
is answered by the production of that talisman
pass card with a great red seal. Then comes the
vigilantly guarded drawbridge, where again my
card is required, and I enter what the Danes style
" the coffin." Such a strange scene this much
battered fort presents ! Its interior completely
torn up, the central block-house, where so many
poor fellows perished last week, pounded out of
shape, everything around bearing signs of the
Prussian bombardment. Working parties are
engaged in clearing away rubbish, or with busy
spades they make good their damaged traverses.
Broken gun-carriages have to be replaced, the
bomb-proof magazines kept carefully in order, a
thousand small injuries repaired before to-morrow.
It is neoeseary to toil all night, and one party
relieves another when the first can no longer stand
through fatigue. Here are crouching figures upon
!the parapet who watch intently for a German shell.