The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-07-16

which 1 now write Landau is n fortified city,
covering an area Of from two to three square
mhes. The fortress was carefully planned and
oulit oy the great French military engineer of
the days OF LOUIS QUAToRzE-the celebrated VAu-
DAN-and has always been considered ono Of his
masterpieces. The place is very strong, and its
possessor closes this narrow valley between the
Rhine and the Vosges mountains Vogesen, the
Germans call them) against any hostile move
ment up or down on this side of the Rhine
Landau is very compactly built as you may
suppose, when tell you that it has population
OF some $4,000, and peace establishment of in
fantry, cheodurlegers and artillery, from three to
Six thousand, and large part of the ground occu-
pied by the works of the fort. 1t is enclosed with
triple line of ramparts and fosses of very formi-
dable proportions. Two gates form the only
means of ingress or egress to the city; and these
are closed at 0 P. M. every night during winter.
and 10 in the summer. A small river, the Queich,
runs through the midst of the CITY, and on the ap-
proach OF an enemy the great fosses round the
town are filed with water from this river The
triple gates Zone in each rampart) have draw
bridges on the outside. which are taken ND eyery
night. ALI this is the regular routine, even in
peace times.
When the fortress WAS completed, the Grand
Mondrque had his defiant motto placed on tbs
gates; and there it stands in antique letters cut
in stone: "Nec pluri6us impas" Little did he
think how soon these samo bastions would stand
as threatening watchdogs, to keep out his coun-
trymen, for whom he had built this stronghold.
By the arrangement Of 1915, Landau, being situa-
ted In Bavarian territory, WAS intrusted by the
the German Confederation to the King of Bavaria,
and has been garrsoned by them ever since; un-
like Mentz, Rastadt, and some other Federal
fortresses: which have always been occupied by
Federal troops, usually Prussian and Austrian.
Within the last thirty years twin fortress has
been built few miles from Landau, at little
town called Germersheim, situated immediately
on the Rhine, few mites from Carlsruhe, the
capital OF Baden, on the opposite shore. With
these two forts, properly garrisoned, the Palati-
nate is toleraby safe from French invasion ON the
Alsacan side There is, however, a back door
open on the western side, opposite Lorraine,
where the French town OF saargemund is within
a few miles Of the old and famous Paatine town
of Deux Points (z,oeibrucken). Being very
mountainous country, the road leading through
frequent defles, it is eaey defensible by COM
paratively small force.
1t would seem gratuitous in me to enter into all
these particulars, seeing that France occupies
neutral position in this war, and has again and
again disavowed all intention OF annexing these
Rhine provinces But it is very evident that Ma
PoLEoN's asseverations are not credited neither
by the people nor by their ruler, who have better
means Of knowing the designs Of the Court of the
Tuileries. In proof of the latter, would state
that Bavaria has not called out the Land,oehr in
this CIRCLE nor has any extra levy Of troops been
made here. This looks certainly as if either the
Bavarian or the Federal Government, or both per-
haps, were doubtful about NAPoLEoN's intentions,
and thought it just we'll to be prepared here in
case OF an emergency. The good people here feel
this as slight, and deputations have actually
gone to Munich to demonstrate with the King for
80 marked an exception in their case. IF there ia
any fighting, they insist on having their share.
They are afraid of any imputation their loyalty
and stoutly protest against il.
Now all this is very hard on the French, 1
think, seeing everything is perfectly quiet on
the frontier. No preparations made along the
Rhine no corps Of observation, and the reiterated
official declarations in favor Of peace ard nell
trality.
My letter is getting too long, 30 I must stop.
and tell you more about the people and the coun-
try in my next. send this ola Havre, as all the
other avenues are blockaded.
II any Of your readers should find fault with my
letters, because they give 80 little war intelligence,
please tell them that am not military corres-
pondent; and in fact know but little about mill
tary sffairs,-my tastes being altogether pacific
Besides, Messrs. Editors you will please recollect
that 1 was to be at liberty to choose my own sub
jects, and write what and when chose
MERCATOR