The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-09-18
Anecdotes Of the Camp.

A correspondent communicates tne ioi-
lowing. to the London press The first is
letter from young soldier to his sister,
religious in Paris, and dated Camp of
Chalons, August Is, 1870:
NV dear Sister-Your letter has given
me much pleasure. You ask If have kept
tho scapuler you gave me; yes, DC assured,
it has not parted from me since the DAY
that took it before leaving to join the
army! It is impossible to describe how we
were received at Nancy; or the interest we
excited there. The townspeople gave us
Everything we required, the good priests
distributed medals, and gave US tobacco
and money. But now we are at the camp,
and it is no longer the same thing. Our
poor comrades arrive one after the other
overcome by hunger and thirst, and ia
tigue, and here, alas we are in want OF
everything. We are sometimes three days
without food. One must be here to see in
order to believe. Let us hope that there
will be an end to this, for never has the
army suffered as it suffers now. am
on duty, dear sister, and cannot write at
greater length. Our brother Peter should
be on the frontier, and daily look to
being sent forward to join him. But all is
good Mother, who hope will watch over
u.s., Adieu! dear sister, and fail not to
pray for your loving brother"
! Receiving Confessions on the Field.-A
priest, who had volunteereds2or the camp,
being one day in the suburbs of Metz, three
soldiers left their company and threw
snes Mens in ss curs aesr sotS
friends, the church is but twenty steps pff."
"But,, exclaimed they, we have not five
minutes. 1T is in this place we must make
our confession;" and they fell on their
knees at the foot of the Father. Well,
here if you wish, but separately" No,
M Eothar. thera ia NOT time. and besides.
we have all committed much the same
SINS" One thereupon began his confession,
whilst the others or their parts affirmed or
denied, or corrected the statement as re-
garded themselves, sometimes adding
sin which he omitted. 1t was soon over, the
absolution given, and they received the Fa-
TIERS blessing, before fastening with full
speed to rejoin their regiment. Another
time, the Father says that, being near a
regiment ABOUT to be engaged, 500 men
fell on their knees before him, begging for
dissolution i'm articulo morris.
The Marquise d'A-- has two nephews
in the war. She .aves theu with mother
tenderness, prays 70. them by might and
, day. Whenever she has news, we are sure
to see her arrive and relate with Deam-
, ing face some new proof of the care COO
takes of them. The youngest, George de
| Ma pupil from St. Cyr, ~ years OF
, age) was in the heat of the engagement at
Wissem bourg. In a few lines pencliled to
his aunt on a visiting card after the battle,
he says: "All righr-safe and sound
: thanks to my scapular and medal, which
have once more preserved me, and in the
J. midst of great danger. My helmet and
cuirasse pierced by know not how many
balls-one ball scorched and grazed the
: temple No news of Louis-(his cousin,
| God knows what has become of him." A
i letter received a few days later from Louis
/ IA, dated FROM a town in Prussia.
V where he was retained prisoner of war, re-
c lieved his pious aunt from her anxiety. he
II related to her how, at the beginning of the
. engagement, the horse he was so fond o.
. had been killed under him. After looking
= about he found one without rider, leapet
: into the saddle, and with the help of lii
! spurs was again in the ranks of his regi
a ment. A ball shot off his helmet and ht
h continued fighting bareheaded. But very
v soon ball struck his horse in the hear
' and killed it on the spot. AS lie was look
il ing about in search of another horse b
: perceived the Colonel of his regiment, tt
e whom he was warmly attached, stretched
q on the ground apparently DYING. He rush
l. ed to him, knelt to embrace him once again
d and had just received his last dying breatl
,. when the Prussians surrounded him ant
d took him prisoner. "There he is, safe i
r, prison." said the Marquise, "and l mus
II confess I'm not sorry for it,"