The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-08-10
GREENVILLE.
The War.

Weissenburg is small but strongly
fortified town on the French side Of the
little river Lauter, about ten miles from
the point where it empties into the
Rhine. 1t is connected by rail with the
German fortress of Landau, about fifteen
miles to tho North eastward, and with
the French town of Haguenau, about
tho same distance to the South westward.
Haguenau is on the railroad from Stras-
burg by way of Bitche (where the Prus-
SLAMS sumo days ago destroyed viaduct)
to Saarbruck. The Prussian victory, nc
cording to present appearances, makes
o bad break in the French front, and, in
connection with the subsequent dalnuge
to tho railroad South of Weissenburg,
mrl1cs French advance towards Landau
much moro difficult.
Tho destruction of the viaduct at
Bitcho had already broken the more
Northerly land somewhat longer) line of
railway communication between Stras-
burg and Metz. The present position of
tho German forces threatens that line in
another point near Haguenau. The
moro Southerly line of communication is
still safe. The French seem to have at
tached more Importance to Weissenburg
than the Prussians did to Saarbruck, and
defended it heroically. 'Valuing it SO
much as they did, it seems remarkable
that they did not value it more, and
make themselves stronger there.
Tho region around Weissenburg has
seen some hard fighting in old days be-
tween the same nations which nre now
arrayed upon its soil. Just beyond the
town, on the French side, stretches the
considerable forest of Hagnenau, and
| INN o. II fo11, Il Al
now crumbling embankments of the once
famous Zines of Weissenburg, erected
by Marshal Villars in another war of
"the Spanish succession" century and
a half ago. The town itself is small
place. with picturesque old German ca
thedrnl, and some six thousand Qnict
German inhabitants.
Besides the Zouavcs, tho French army
contains the following special corps:
HE ZEPuYRs.-They resemble the
Zonaves III their uniforms, arms, and
equipment, and their organization and
drill are almost the same; but while the
Lonnvcs are proud corps, and believe
in military honor, such is by no means
the case with the Zephyrs. They are
simply corps of culprits and Jail
If 4 soldier of the French army commits
n vulgar and dishonoring crime, that is,
if he robs, steals, cheats, or proves to be
n coward, he is condemned to serve on
the galleys, but if he only commits what
might be termed genteel crime, that is,
if he commits manslaughter, or ravishes
woman, or is insubordinate then he is
condemned to serve in the corps of the
Zephyrs. They are permanently sta.
toned in Africa, and the discipline
among these rather dangerous and des-
perate characters is terribly severe. Eve
ry officer has the right to kill Zephyr
on the spot, should lie show the least sign
OF insubordination, and to this circum-
stance they owe their name, which they
adopted themselves, to express thereby
OF how little valuo their lives are, which
at any time might die out like zephyr.
Their official appellation is Corps of Pun
lshment, and they now number Sc
veral thousand men. They paint them
selves with blue ink all over their bodies
IN the most fantastical manner, and even
the hardest punishment could not put
stop to this singular amusement, to which
they seem to have taken because they are
not permitted to have cats, and get no
pay. When General Pelissier was offer
ed tho command in the Crimen, ho nc
ccpted it only upon the condition that
e.,
and if they should behave we'll, they were
to be parloncd and permitted to return
to their regiments. They were sent
there, and their success WAS complete.
In the battle near Tactics, the Rus
slams had formed q square which the Sar-
dinian cavalry had vainly attacked, when
General Bosquet, who then commanded
them, advanced the Zephyrs Some
English officers requested him not to
sacrifice his mon uselessly, but General
Bosquet made them speec which COM
menced, 'You sons of hell, and closed
with forward to the attack" With
war-cry, Viua la Mort, instead of Viua
E1Enpe''em. they swept into and over the
husslan bayonets like whirlwind and
soon their yataghans had made such ter
rible havoc in the Russian lines, that the
most mo desperate exertions of the Russian
officers were unable to avert defeat.
THE CHAssEURs D 'AFR1QUE. These are
cavalry corps consisting of four regi-
ments They carry long rifle, two re-
volvers, and sword and are all mounted
on select horses of the best Barbary
blood. Their continuous service in