The New York herald., 1870-12-19
LIFE AMONG THE FRANCS-TIREURS
The Campaign in Gem
trail Franco.
Across the Country-Dangers-Fired On-Among
the Francs-Tireurs-Who They Are aad
What They Are : With Gsribaldis
Army-Talk with q Garibaldiau Off,
cer-Sentimsnt Of the People Of
Lyons-Ihe Desire for Peace.
SrRAsB0URG, Province Of Alsace, /
Mo-, rp-p

STRASB0URG, Province OF Alsace,
Nov. ~ 1870 !
have Just reached here from an unavodably pro.
tracted tour In Central France after the rudest war
experience have yet encountered since hostltles
commenced. contact Of over two weeks duration
with rancs-tireurs-surprses arrests, endless de-
lays, execraDle wet weather, not to mention other
ao"certes OF lie IN hostile country-w0uld by this
Time have made me aware that correspondence
mission In search Of the news warlike OF the day
Ierces him to allght on anything but beds OF roses
had not known that little item before.
LIFE AMONG THE FRAScs-TIREURs
Is rather dangerous kind OF lile by the way; for
asyou have heard, these patriotic gentry Iust now
swarm IN every section Of France, giving extreme
concern and harassment to the Prussian lines and
detachments, and earnest anxiety to all civilians
whose object Is TO travel IN France at TINS critical
juncturc. This is the second trip and the second
section OF The country in which had the lot to
meet with the small armies OF the republic, and to
incur narrow escapes from their skirmishng opera.
tons; but OF course 1t happens that am In their
way, not they In mine-they trying to defend
their native soil, whereas mere takers and writers
cannst complain If their errand OF picking up the
details OF the war they meet with innumerable
vexations and get run over rough sAod now and
then, as have been, although without any malice
prepense on the part Of the excited warriors.
THE FRENCH LINES NEAR LYONS.
sent you several notes written by the wayslde;
but am In ignorance whether YOU ever received
them, for they were mailed by hand. Having ar
rived on the main line OF communication between
the Rhine and Paris, l ascertained that the CON-
mand OF Prince Frederick Charles had actually
started from the neghborhood OF Metz and that his
Royal Highness, now Marshal OF Prussia had set
out, with his headquarters, to reinforce General
War1 rfa rnv au1f
Lyons, 1t being aimed TO crush resistance In that
stronghold before 1t could bud, ripen and produce
fruit d la Pdristeaae. With the view to get up at
the front OF the projected siege operations time to
witness the first preparations and engagements, L
determined TO push on ahead with the vanguard Of
Prince Frederlcks army, composed OF werder's
men, leaving tie heavy columns TO come up with
their bulky ambulances in the usual less rapid man.
ner. That was
.uE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
when left to go forward, aud the one on whicn /
based my movements. need scarcely add Just here
that by the time was at my end OF the rope, or
almost jam up on Lyons, the Princes army was no.
where in my rear but had changed front to its right
nank and oslique from Tr0yes via Fontaincblcau
towards Orleans, In consequence Of the victory
gained by General Paadines at Bacon the 9th inst
The Prince divided his $4,000 men in three corps
dIu tiiCm ScpdEttcy Dy lOT.cu marches
the most threatened direction with the usual Prus-
sian energy and decision; aud, perhaps bet0re you
receive tins letter, you VIII have heard that he has
given the hand TO Won der Tam and shattered the
French.
PRINCE FREDERICK CHARLES ARMY.
His troops, am convinced, are capable or giving
severe shocK TO any force they may encounter;
and am disposed to believe, even from what hear
from the French themselves, that neither the
mobllierS nor the national guardsmen anywhere Car
Withstand nm. AT present writ ng we do not heal
that the Prince has been engaged. nope to bt
by the despatch OF King Wiiiam of the 18th inst
that the whole French army mad been defeated at
to very small skirmsh which took place at tnat
point. BY the way, that village very near TO
Versailles to be occupied by French armed force;
ana hear that versailles got considerable scare
for It's new royalty
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
moved down across country anu BY the nearest
routes to the neighbOrhood OF DJOn and Besancon.
IL was along this part OF my travels tnat encoun-
tered the detachlpents OF Francs-tireurs In their
q Prussian to fire upon al almost every step. They
were constantly causing alarms, ana once again,
while going along the main route peacefully, my
march was suddenly arrested by dropping fire d.
rectcd from out thick wood upon the soldiers, OF
whose perils had to take that share falling to me
from being In their company. Fortunately, the
soldiers were sufficiently numeroust to beat the wood
IN every direction, and to prevent very long con.
tnuance OF the fire, which, while 1t lasted, consisted
A SHOWER OF BULLETS,
rather thicker and heavier tnan agreeable. Without
any damages but with loud 0aths from the soldiers,
the free shooters TOOK TO their heels and out OF
sight and hearing In q trice. They numbered about
twenty or thirty as far as could be made out; they
nred very eXcltedly and hastily, but yet we had
their balls whZzing about our ears audoly enough,
some striking at q proximity OF few feet from us.
selves lucky with such a narrow escape. Ths
soldiers OF course. fired back wildly the first
pulse; but they soon went into the wood to search
4 hair tny rhnnf h0vu Ard
ing them. Such Is the
RISK OF MARCHING ON FRENCH ROUTES
people OF the country give very lively feeling OF
security for continuing the march. But we were in
the midst OF them, ana going forward was not
worse than going back, even SupDosing that OBJ
Jectve points had not lain in the front. part OF
the way proceeded without the accompaniment OF
troops, and tnen again, was beset by the inevi-
ring the delay caused must say that when was
brought into contact with the men OF the blue
blouses,
AMONG THE FRANCs.TIREURS,
] had not to complain OF their treatment after they
had ascertained my nationality and had secured
proof OF the peaceful mission upon which dared TO
be roaming about their sacred soil They were lively
always after that, and chatted freely, being very
anxious TO hear the news IN general, end Of the
whereabouts Of their enemy's columns In particular.
Such questions had to be on my guard to avoid,
for several good reasons, and they were never rude
in pressing them after my stating Squarely the posi-
tion In which was placed. they seemed intelligent;
most OF them, with good manners, were ignorant, /
lVuIu vi drt vi ICduuIB hilu WIltLuS VIII pro-
priety or improperly There is the victory which
France Will have to ga-education Of all her chill
dren, before she can ever be again strong.l Some
oil the men wore fanclful Uniform or some token
OF the sign military; but most or those met alone
on the road were isolated cases In blue bouses.
bearing arms IN their hands. They belonged to the
working classes, but there was no other work but
10 hunt Prussians and no emperor to prevent their
having weapons.
SPIRIT UNDAUNrED.
Many such did pass, well as villages, where
the inhabitants were on the qut Utue for The in-
vaders, and where all the edtables and drinkable5
were lar from being exhausted. In FACT, found
That the nearer 1 reached towards the South,
towards Lyons, the more plentiful We're provisions,
the more prosperous the LOOK the less damage and
frghtlu appearance OF war Few Invaders
were the cause oft ALL The whole region travelled
over seemed q land OF plenty-of wine iruit bread
and NEATLY the side OF desolated East France and
the battered envir0ns OF Paris and Nersallles-so
late my soJourning places. Wherever | came across
the uetachmentS OF German troops Oh the wayside
or stopping IN the villages there was sure to dis
cover them ieasiIng-not lasting or merely gnaw-
Ing a bone, but living of such fat or the
land as they had not since their entry on
French SOIL Lyons and South France justly looked
forward To by the Teutons beng the happy land OF