New-York tribune., 1870-12-12
THE HORRORS OF WAR.
FRENCH GUERRILLAs-sUMMARY JUSTICE


lPROH OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
HEADQUARTERS OF THE GRAND DUKE OF
MECKLENBURG, AT IA LOUIE, Nov. 2l.-Headquarters
were yesterday moved to Diy, but the French having
fed rapidly before the advancing columns Of the Ger
mans headquarters were broken up quite early this
morning, and we commenced the march for this place,
which situated the Hume, about two miles south
west Of Digny. At 10 o'clock In the mOrning we
heard heavy cannonadng, and, going in the direction,
found that the 22d Infantry Division had cncOunteredthe
French in the mountains al the village Of COulOnges.
heavy fire the result, and the engagement became
general I'm the mountains between the two roads. use
the word engagement for the affair hardly be termed
a battle The French troops Of the most irregular
kind, chiefly boys from Il 10 16 years Of age or
old men. The uniform generally consisted of red
strap sewed the shoulder, be II coat or
the common peasants blouse, and red stripe
sewcd the pantaloOns Different military caps ap-
peared to have been sparngy distributed among them,
but most Of them wore their own common hats. They
were ell wei armed with Chassep5ts, but uns,illed in
their use. One boy who taken prisoner told me he
did not know how discharge his gun. This band had
torn up the road and otherwise ODstucted by cutting
down trees. As the Germans approached they dis
charged VOey from behind these works and scattered
pe neil TO safe distance, when they re-dischargcd
their pieces and broke before. believe they had no
artillery At La Aadcaine about 500 Of them, after hav
ing run from their breasworks, took shelter in the
houses and fred upon the advancing Germans from the
windows About II Of them taken prisoners; saw
the rest Of them throwway their guns and run as fast
possible many the that were thrown away gave
evidence of having been discharged at ALL The in
habitane Of the town took pleasure in searching out
these men and delivering them To the Germans.
The Germans themselves appear to have become feT0-
cious from this kind of warfare. AT one time saw three
wretched boys and old man who had been found with
arms in their hands. and the soldiers at whose
head they marched testified their pleasure in
81. 4ff.1 tha fpp
were ali to be shot ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS heard platoon
firing and the screams the victims. and confess that
10 me the sickeniHP although have be
come toeTaby hardened by many battles An officer Of
the L8nceIs told me that be lad hcsrd heavy muskery
fire clump Of trees, and astonshed 10 find that
IL from single old man. asked them what they
did with him. Il sent lieutenant with four men TO
him. aud then -" and he made significant sign Of
the LauceTs iahninC Tic man with laBccs / after
ward learned OF this incident 1t appears
that when the Lancers came up with the man lie was
lying his back the ground, and although one OF
them had lcrcd hin through with his lance in such
way that took to withdraw H. he had strength
enough 10 discharge his p'co and Nil one OF The Lanccs
ara after the eu, enan had shot Lin through The boatt
with Ls pistol, he discharged Lis gun. and
required three shots 10 kill lin. The Germans ~
said before are rapidly becoming nrutazcd from Ibis
hind Of work At DreuA, on the lIth, 10 quarter were
shown and the wounded Freedmen were stabbed
with tlc hayoLct
on the richt the French were driven toa distance Of
about five miles The canuouadiue having ceased howcy
els about o'clock On The left the firing did not cease
Until after O'Clock, when the French had been driven
ou' Of sight and tle Germans had advanced 10 near No
gent The loss % tue Germans j. ncOusdeTahl-l pre-
sume not killed and wounded hui that OF the
French must be much greater ncudinga great number Of
prisoners The BavIans in the whole day.
TO those unacquanted with the character o the Bayaan
troops il will he matter Of surprise that they 20
badly beaten by these irregular troops at Orleans on the
eth, for they badly boaeu There great deal Of
the brute IN the common BaNariaH soldier. III every
town that they enter they pilHfe, IlundcI, and ruth
lessy destroy Their last act o. this character AT
Dicny. So long they know that there Trus,ian to
support them they hglt with brutal force, but where
they are LETT 10 themselves they have not Tncicnt
moral courage 10 carry them through and 10 ,li fast
H. la, ascrInpo fLp. IL ,eteal a Orleans