The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-08


An officer who has recently been In the Prussian
camps before The besiegcd stronghold Of Metz writes
thus:-
1 have just returned from another visit to the
trenches; all seems quiet, have been Informed
that nothing oI any consequence mas occurred the
last lew Gays. we could observe the French still
basny engaged IN lornymg their stronghold. the
weather, am glad 10 say, has become much better,
the OutpOsts, wlo are exposed to the climate and
are under arms night and day TO show you how
c.ose the French and PrusSian outposts are to
another the officer at the outpost informed me that
the greatest length VI time ne had between getting
his men together and The French making q night
s0rtie would pe 1--we minutes. You Will see, there
fore, now tAey must he on the alert, and what ltle
rest there Is ~ be obtained during The three nights
alter which they are rcievsd-Lhat they are guard
III 30 Responsible position. To day arrived there
just rs the men were cooking their dinners, con.
Aistng oil potatoes vegetables ana bacon. They an
seemed exceedingly healthy and merry, and seyera.
VI them lau9ningiy remarked 10 one another, what
would tier PRISONERS gve-wuo were only q lew
hundred YARDS dlstane--JO have sucn ggcle?chG
meal.
WHAT UHLAN LOOKS LIKE.
After leaving this outpost came across uhlan
b,vouac, and VIII now try and describe one OF these
mon-the dread OF the French peasantry. Before
dong 80 l must, however, clear lhcm Of the dread
full atrocities they arc said to have committed. AS
you are well aware, they are always the precursors
OF the Prusslan army. They go frequently as far as
twenty or Thirty miles In advance OF the army, and
Of course OH entering town village il they meet
with resistance. they must harsh measures. Not
unireqnently one or more OF the uhans meet their
death either treacherousy olherwse; however
tins seldom lmpcdea their progress, for II out or
TWO comes BACK sound they have gained their OBJ
)ect which Is reconnaissance OF the country.
GhlAn Is about the best mounted cavalry man In
the service; the average weight OF
man with MS accoutrenients is about i6)
pounds. German. Inc horse appointments are
very similar 10 those OF our own cavalry-. e.. they
have the ordinary cavalry saddle and bride. BuJ
me manner oi pacAlnk away unian's kit Is dEfe-
rent FIRST oil all, they nave but wallet which
bag, which looks like wallet; In this they STOW
away PAR OF boots and brushes, &c, for cleaning
their Announcements. Below the saddle there Is an
ordinary saddie cl0Jn Then across the saddie--on
which the man sts-is MS whole Kit, which cunslsts
OF Lair or canvas tr0uscrs loose canvas Jacket
and Two pair OF stocalngs, packed carefully away III
rolled up and placed at the back OF the saddle. they
carry TWO corn sacks, containing SIX pounds OF corn
In each on either sac OF The cloak ana mess TIN
encased in leather Strapped on to the back OF
the saddle. over Oil tins comes the silatraque.
The lance Is CLUMSY looking weapon weigh
lug four and nalf pounds. The mans
dress IS sllar 70 our lancers, with the exception
the oyeras, Out5 having leather, the Prlissians
wearing boots. they seem never In the way nor
out OF Tic way. Ii they crowd road they clear it
too. They come In from outposs thirty miles ahead
and bring information which Is news 10 all. Some.
however do not in; Tor, am sorry TO say, the
French pedsaDtry have taken up arms IN reply
the levy uasse, and IRE on the Prtissian Officers
and outposts rcckessly aL night. Depend upon IL
mus VIII lead TO tciiibe rcprisals, ana you must not
De shocked IL you hear or some great vengeance be-
ing wreaked Oh French village The Prllssians
cannot, Tor their own safety, allow tnelr solitary
guards In charge OF iooi wagons to be ''potted att
III this Cowardly manner. People, they say, may
take up arms in defence OF their country; but when
they take 10 irlng on solitary stragglers, who In the
nelu tney could not lace, u becomes guerilla war
1are, IN which the french will most assuredly get
She worst.