New Orleans daily crescent., 1859-06-30
The Place of Terror.
STORY OF NAPOLEON $ WARS IN GERMAN

One afternoon in February, 1857, an aged man,
with an irongrey beard, sitting in the corner of
coteehouse at Lyons reading the newspaper. He
appeared to be only passing away the time, for he
glanced with Indifference at its pages, and nothing
excited bis attention. All at once, however, his fea-
lures became rigid, his eyes we're eagerly fixed on
one passage, and his whole frame showed deep emo
ton. Soon afterwards he laid the paper slowly down
the table, and leaned back, absorbed in thought.
Once his eyes seemed wet with tears, although his
sodier-like appearance showed that he had expert
enced much in the course of his life and had been
unaccustomed to betray any sign of feeling. Then
rising, he seemed to have taken up his resolution.
He left the coffeehouse walked down the street. and
entered the counting of FRIEND After short
greeting, he said hastily: You have business con-
nections with Leipzig are you going thither soon,
or do you shortly expect any one to come from that
place?''
"I shall not go to Germany before the summer,
but expect some gentlemen from Leipzig to be here
in the course of a little time.n
81 should be much obliged by your informing me
of the arrival of of these gentlemen. have jHst
read something in newspaper which has called up
of the most terrible episodes in my soldier life
There must be man now living in Leipzig who
played conspicuous part in that scene. should
like to know whether this really is the case, that
may ask him to give me some further account of that
event and its consequences"
The manufacturer promised to give him the de-
sired information. After fortnight, the old gentle
man repeated his visit to ascertain whether any one
were come from Leipzig. !" have not time to wait
long," said he am eighty years Of age and must
be ready for death at any time, and shall meet it
more calmly If have good account from Leipzig
at last commercial traveller from Leipzig visited
the manufacturer, Monsieur Louis B., Of Lyons
He was informed that old military man earnestly
wished to speak to him. Accordingly, he called on
the old gentleman. The latter, George Antoine Au-
gustin Govean, retired officer in the French army
| told him that he had read an account. translated
from the Augsburg Gazette, into French paper, of
the simple but affecting celebration of the ftieth
niversary of the 10th of October, 1906 in the village
of Presnitz, near Naumburg, in Saxony He related
further, that he had had great share in the fright
full events which had taken place there on the 18th of
October, 1906 which had given rise to that anniyer
| sary; and that, consequently, he wished to know
how the inhabitants had Jared since that time, and
whether the young man who had spoken bravely in
favor of his fellow t0wnsmen was really the superin-
| tendent G rossman, and no other.
1t was finally agreed to write down these questions,
to lay them before Grossman, and to request him to
| write an answer.
| Grossman joyfuly gave circumstantial reply, and
this letter Of his to Lyons, bearing date April 9Th
| 1857, was the last he ever wrote. The letter Of
thanks which Govean wrote in return arrived when
Grossman was on his dying bed, and he was only
able to be made very mperfectly acquainted with its
contents. From this letter of Govean, and the
pamphlet on the Burning of Presnitz," published
by Grossman in 1910, the following account is drawn
On the day after the battle of Jena, Wednesday
the 18th of October 1906, many of the French soldi
cry were securing the country robbing and demand
ing money Between the village of Ranschurtz ani
o new inn, in the hollow Of the road, some of thu
marauders were overtaken by the enraged peasantr.
and murdered
At the same moment a French baggage-wagol
came by, with feeble escort. As soon as thes
soldiers saw what had happened to their comrades
fearing similar fate they cut the traces of the wagon
left it sticking in the road, and fed to relate wha
had happened, Every early in the morning Of tn
10th October,' relates Goveau, Guigner de Revt
sent for me. He was commandant of the Third reg
ment of the Line, in which was captain of gren;
diers, and which was then qnartered at Naumburs
He showed me an order from Marshal Davoust,
surround the village of PriesnitZ, and as some Frene
soldiers had been murdered there, to shoot all the
habitants, with the exception of women and cfildre
and to burn their houses to the ground.
The commandunt was in the highest state of e
Q citement at this cruel order He threw his sabre
, the ground, and exclaimed Have I lived to n
present age to see such horrors and to be entrustt
+ with their executionE He declared that he won
rather break his sword to pieces, t,aan burthen h
conscience with such bloody deeds. and tarnish Il
French arms with such barbarty.n
II was difficult for Capt Goyean to pacify his bra
n conmandant, and to convince bim that it would
giving bad example of insubyrdination, if he dar
TO oppose so plain commana. With heavy heal
D. Guigner at last gave the order to march back
f. Priesnitz The village %as surrounded. Those
4 the villagers who were able, concealed themselves
ls escaped In moment, however, the soldiers were
2 the houses All whom they met were driven out
y the village, just as they no one knew whit
or wherefore Gfossman, who was in the house OF
father, the pastor, was among the inhabitants W
o. were driven out. He understood French, aud cot
A ageDusly approached the commandant, to ask b
what thef had done, aud what destiny awaited the
k In answer, he received written proclamation to u
effect, "The Inhabitants OF the village Of - ha