The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-02-24
A TRUE STORY.
ny pAYARp TAYLOR.

OF an entirely local nature, and might have
passed unohservcd and unknown to all, ex-
cept the immediate vicinity, but for its con-
ncctiOn with the battlo which fifty years
and one day before, annihalatcd the power
of Prussia Anaccount of it, however, was
published in most of the German ncwspa-
pCrs, and this circumstance, the sequel of
the story am about to relate. was brought
on. At the timc the celebration took place,
| was residing at Gotla, not moro than fifty
miles from the spot, aud received the story
almost in the words of the chief actor in it.
| am sorry his name and that of tho village
have escaped my Itsmory. All other par
ticulars made tool oldeep an impression upon
me to be easily f6fEottcn.
We must first go hack to the 18th of Octo-
Der, 1906 On that day the windy uplands
northeast of Jena, witnessed tho brief but
terrible combat, which resulted in tho trium-
phaut entry of the French army into Berlin
eleven days attcrward- during which timo
Prussia had lost 10000 men, G5 standards
and coo cannon. \ portion of tho French
army was enCampcd on the battlefield or
luartered in villages around. The poor in.
habitants, overwhelmed by this sudden ava.
lanchc ofwar upon their quiet tIiolds-whero,
for a hundred years or moro, they had rcapcd
their harVcSts IL pcaCe--submittcd in nelp-
less apathy while their houses and barns
were plundcrcd by the lawless soldiCrly
Tho battle was over, but there was no lull
III the blast of ruin. Through the clouds of
cannon smoke which settled into the bosom
of the deep valleys, as the raw October
evening came on, wcro heard in all dircc-
tions, shricks of fear, yels of rage or tri-
umph, aud cries of pain and lamentation.
Davoust-tho " Butcher of Hamburg" as
tho Germans called him--tonk up his quar-
ters for the night in ono OF the most COM
Portable and convenient houses which could
Ie found in the field of slaughter. Here he
rapidly issued orders for the disposition of
tho forces under his command, gave dircC-
tions for the morrow, and received reports
from his adiutants. llo had taken his cloak,
and was about retiring into an inner cham
Der for repose, when an officer entcreI-
Pardon me, General" he said, but there
is n case which requires attention. The
German cmaiHe must bo taught to respect
us. Ten soldiers of Company of the
Fourth Infantry, who quartercd themselves
| in the village of Waldorf, Qct us say), have
been driven away by the people, and two
or three of them are severely injured"
Davoust's cold eye glttcred, and his
moustachc curled lko the lip of mastii,
as he turned and halted II moment at the
| door OF the bedroom. Send a lieutenant
ana twenty men to the village, pick out ten
OF the vagabonds and shoot them down !"
was tue brlct order. Where is Waldorf"
he added, turning to one of those useful
creatures who are always willing to act as
guides aud interpreters for the enemy in
| their own land.
There is village called Upper Wal
dorf, which lies near the head of a small
valley to the lett; Middle Waldorf is on
the other side of the hill, and Lower Wal
dorf about a half an hours distance
| beyond"
The marshal, not caring to annoy himself
! by more minute inquiries, went to bed. If
| ten ton were shot that was sufficient.
Tho next morning, at sunrise, Lieutenant
Lamotte, with twenty men, marched over
the trampled hills to seek Waldorf. 1t was
disagrecable business, and the sooner il
was over the better. On reaching the
ridge which overlooked the intersection of
two or three valleys, more than one village
was visible through the cold fog now be-
ginning to rise. "QUi est IVahlof?" in
quired the officer of tho man whom ho had
impressed by tho way. "DdS," answered
the man, "iSA obcr JVahiolf," pointing to
|
in frtnen minutes more the Frcnchman
marched into the little hamlet.
Hating in an open space between tho
church and the two principal beer houses
| the officer summoned the inhabitants to-
gether. The whole village was already
awake, for few had slept during the night
| Their ears were still stunned by the thun.
ders of yesterday, and visions of burning
| nil ctil
| At the command of the Lieutenant, the sol
dicrs seized all the male inhabitants and
| forcibly placed them in a line before him.
| The women and children waited near in
| terrible anxiety, for no one understood the
! words that were spoken, and these ominous
preparations led them to imagine the
worst.
At this juncture, the son Of the village
pastor appeared upon the scene. lIc was
young man of twenty, who was studying
| theology in order to become his father 3
successor, and fortunately had some knowl-
edge of French. Tho appearance of things,
without the cries and entrcaties of the ter
riied people, told him that his help was
wanted. lie Immediately addressed him
self to Lieutenant LamOtte, and begged for
an explanation of the proceedings.
al am ordered to punish this village" an
swercd the latter, " for your treatment of
our soldiers last night. The marshal orders
that ten of you must be shot. The only
| thing that car do is, to allow you TO draw
lots among yourselves, or to point out those
concerned in the outrage"
But" continued the young man, your
general has been misinlormed. No French
soldiers have visited our village before you
| We have truly been in great fear and anx-
iety the whole night but tho valley is deep
and the village is partly concealed from
view by the woods on the side, There are
also the villages of Middle and Lower Wal
lorf, which lie further down the open val
! ley, you can soon satisfy yourself sir, that
this village is entirely innocent and en-
treat you not TO shed the blood of our
harmless people
"There is no time for investigation" said
the officer. 81 was ordered to proceed Ia
Waldorf and | am guided hither. will
wait till you make your choice of ten men
to be sacrificed, but have no authority &c
! do more
By this time the people had learned the
fate in store for them. The women in tears
and appealing gestures crowded around the
officer, begging him to spare their husbands
and sons-the men stood silent, with blood
less faces and dumb, imploring eyes. The
scene was evidently painful, both to the Of
fcer and soldiers, accustomed to the unme;
ciful code of war. They were anXious 20
put an end TO it aud leave /; but the clergy
mans son, inspired with the belief that the
fate of ten men rested upon his efforts, con
tuucd TO urge his plea with zeal and clo-
qucuce that would not be sol aside. Lieut.
/ IamOttc struggled awhile between his sense