The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-08-22

Is enormous. i nave to-day counted
four trains of more than fifty cars
each, crammed with soldiers. The
cars ere usually covered with boughs
and flowers, and notices signiiylDg
death to the French and confusion to
all hostile powers are posted on the
doors. The Frankfort Populace Is
very enthusiastic, and not single dis.
affected voice has been heard. All
are united in wishing a speedy victory
for Prussia.
Even the bankers are jabilanf, and
since the South German alliance, Pro-
fess great hopes of success. The pa "a,
varians and Baden men are nearly all
sent north to Schleswig Holstein ana
the northern vulnerable points q
Prussia. Since it was announced
,boS the French feet was moving
northward. the concentration OF
icons on the Baltic coast has been
t--omendous. Never was a county s
frontier better protected than is Prus-
| sia's at this moment. The frankfort
merchants and bankers are giving
huge sums to support the army. and
are turning all the available buildings
into hospitals There was regular
panic here at first, especially among
strangers. Over FIVE thousand fed
precipitately from Homburg, where
they would have been safe in any
oaae. scattering their baggage along
the route. and some. says hotel pro-
nrietor there, forgetting TO pay their
bills. All theatres and concerts here
are closed for the season. There was
tolk of suspendipg the Bourse, but
Frankfort financial pride rebelled.
| Too is devoted to prayer land FAST
| ing In some cases. throughout the
country. By order of the King, and
nearly the whole population has been
thropeing the churches all the morn
ing. The hotels are empty and deso-
late. I have not encountered an En-
elishman or American, save at Hon
burg, since ] left Coblentz. After US
comes the news that boats from Hol-
land have been stopped just above
Ehrenbreitstein, because they were
carrying stores for French troops
therefore our river communication
will probably be stopped.
MAYENcE AND ITS FoRTIFIcATIoNs.
1 left Mayence last evening with
the intention of pushing forward to
Darmstadt, Carsrulhe and Heidel-
burg-a territory of much interest at
present-but found it radically i'm
possible. A civilian cannot even gel
near the stations. Travellers who
came in that way last night deny che
reports that you will hear about the
mutiny of one or two Baden regiments
The little Duchy goessheart and hand
| against France, and would shoot her
/ own mutineers, even if the Prussians
did not. The journey from Mayence
leaves the town in view for a long
distance. As I learned that Marshal
Bazaine has been delegated by Napo-
leon to reduce this fortifcation, and
| imagine that il will be the scene of a
famous battle, | will describe it some
what more at length than in my last
letter. You are aware that it is called
the key of Germany" and it is just
" entitled to that name. The Duo de
Charters (tho members of the Orleans
family who was in our war;, and who
knows something about fortihcauons
says "Mayence is one of those rare
strongholds which. by their geopraph-
ical position, by their importance
and developement, can preserve al
their ancient startegic valor, even In
times of modern warfare. Mayence,
or Mainz German spelling), presents
from the distance the form of a bend
ed bow, of which the Rhine is the
string. On the side of the river OPP
posite the town are strong eaTthworks,
succeed by fertile and broad fields,
with golden wheat flashing in the sun
light, and large trees bending under
the weight OF the slow ripening fruit.
High up in the towns centre Is
sues the dull greyish red tower OF
the Cathedral landmark for many
miles away. The city is surrounded
with double wall. outside which q
system of detached earthworks from
third. The bitches are immense
formidable even Ia these times
and on many a blackened wall one
can trace the marks of the chisel
which has erased the arms of con.
quered master of the town. Most of
the forts, which, attached to the body
of the town, form the walls, have
been built since the French reyolu-
tion. A brief review of all the APP
proaches to the venerable town will
show what ta7k Bazaine has before
him.
Coming toward the town in the
same direction as does Father Rhine
that is, from Stras5ourg, Kehl,
Mannheim. and the other important
stations just now so strongly garri-
soned, one enters the little village of
Weissenau, which caps a sugar loaf
hill close to the river bank. A very
advantageous point between Weis-
senau and the fort called Saint
Charles has been taken adYan-
tage of within a few years to
command the navigation of both the
Rhine and the Main. A little far
Their on fine plateau runs southwark,
leaving the city gradually, aud this
| governs the whole place. The north
ern portion Of this plain has located
upon 1t the new quarter of the city,
and is surmounted by Forts Saint
Elizabeth, Saint Philip and Saint Jo-
seph. This last series of works
comes forward just to the edge of
the plateau, which then descends
gently towards Lahlbach. a little
town, with a peaceful rivulet running
through it. From Fort Saint Joseph
extends long line of new redoubts
They crown the nights in the direc.
ton of the route toward France, and
then bend away to the east to finally
join the works at Weissenau. Contin
Jung the journey around the town, one
comes next to a large plain, in the
centre OF which is the village of Mar
Ieuoorn; the main road cuts the vii.
lage IN two parts. On its left. but a
considerable distance, there is anothel
series of elevated plateaus; between
these and Fort Saint Joseph extend,
large and deep valley; in the mids
of it is the large thriving town n
Bretzenheim. Farther away Won "a,
see the church towers of Drals an,