The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-12-09

, to do and plenty to eat. The news is also
: in general circulation that in the vicinity
, of Metz the mortality of the sick numbers
$50 per day, including the Prussian hospi-
tai, camp, &c, which I can correctly con-
tradict as | was one of party of seven
surgeons whose duty it was to travel from
town to town, hospital to hospital, and
from camp to camp, to perform such oper-
ations as were found necessary. For over
two months, l had, of course, an extraordi
nary opportunity of knowing better. We
have been to upwards of fifty towns in
Prussia and France, I have no where found
the number of deaths to exceed an average
OF twenty per day. have been informed
that it has been stated in the American
papers, that several surgeons have died with
typhus fever, which am sorry to say is
correct, but so far have heard ONO Amer
leans. Now for Metz. As was told that
a cup of coffee, bread and butter cost So
my friend DIR. Dillman, of Philadelphia,
and provided ourselves each with good
supply of food and wine for the trip, as the
water was unfit to drink.
arrived at 10 o'clock at night, Dr. Dill
man stopping at Falkenberg to look after
some wounded soldiers. The gates were
i closed and was told it would be impossi-
BILE to enter the city until next morning.
| walked around until 1 o'clock at night,
trying to find some place to sleep. Final
| ly, went to the commentaries office and
told him that l was q surgeon and should
like to have quarters for the night. He
very kindly had car unlocked, and grant.
ed me permission to sleep in it, regretting
his inability to supply me with covering,
and very considerably placing guard in
front of the door so that I should not be
disturbed. took a loaf of bread which
had, for a pillow, and slept soundly. At
o'clock next morning entered the CITY,
IN company with Leopold Delleyie. the
great Hamburg banker; went to the Hotel
Du Grande Balloon, and asked for break
fast. we were very promptly told that it
was questionable to eat before 10 o'clock,
and that we could get nothing but coffee,
which was served to us in large sized wine
glasses: drew forth my pillow and Mr.. D,
Hamburg sausage, which was his pillow
the previous night, and between us we
made a good breakfast. We had to pay
tor the coffee sum equivalent to 35 cents
American money for each glass. We were
joined by A. VIM. Livingston, an Eng
lish nobleman, and we three went off on
sightseeing. We first went to the city
square, in the centre ofwhich is a monument,
and gigantic statue with drawn sword,
erected to the memory of Marshal Ney. In
this square there were more than three hun
dred captured cars, and some five hundred
tents, tllled with some twenty thousand
sick and wouded French soldiers, and near
by barracks and tents filled with some ten
thousand sick and wounded Prussians
Metz is strongly fortified, SO much so
that all the soldiers combined in the world
could never take it, if defended with the
same number of Americans that it con-
tanned of French soldiers, provided they
had food enough for the siege. At all
events they would have fought their way
out or died in the attempt. Never would
an American General surrender an army of
100000 men. Metz stands at the conhu-
ence of the Moselle and Mouse rivers. At
ter the rivers join, they equally divide and
form large island, on which the city
stands, and below the city the low country,
for three miles around, is entirely under
water, with very strongly fortified pail
SADIE at its outer border, and another half
the distance to the city. Three canals
T filled with water also cncirclc the city,
having a breadth Of 100 feet, and quay
wall 80 high and six feet thick, with each
guarded by drawbridge and iron gates
, about q foot thick. In these canals and
! adjacent waters can be seen the carcasses
of many a horse and mule.
! was out on the field when Bazaine had
his forces concentrated some two miles
southeast of Metz, on the Thionville road.
was told that on this field alone $4,000
horses and mules were killed, and nearly all
ofthem used for food. Two miles from the
city, on this road stood, two months ago
} q fine village of 1000 inhabitants, and now
not single wall stands, the stones having
: been removed for the Notifications. | saw
many beautiful evergreens and flower gar
dens. On the south side the country fol
miles around is a scene ofdesolation. Not
a single house stands in the town of Belle.
vue, three miles from Metz. The walls OF
its ancient cathedral, with everything, burn.
ed to the ground, even the tombstones OF
the slumbering dead broken off. Six
months ago this town contained 10000 in
habitants.
Metz is very imposing town, said tc
g contain, at this time, over 100000 inhab
, itants. Its streets are adorned with arohi
t lecture, and many bearing statues Of diff
I ferent kinds. Its cathedral out-rivals thu
l most lauded perfection of American art
Q 1t was commenced in the 18th century ano
s is not yet finished; it is said that it never
can be finished. Its sanctuary is inlaiC
with gold 1t has life-like statues adorn
Y ing every part. With the lights shining
1 brightly, the sounds Of the organ vibrat
/ ing through its massive pillars. it is almos
Y impossible for human nature to describe
:, its grandeur. The cathedral will easily
: seat 1000 people. was told twelve six
/ horse teams could easily drive in and on
t again without any trouble. From side tt
t side it is over 400 it. and from front to bach
:. 800 feet Its tower is 373 feet high. M,
L second day in the city | assembled to it
c lofty peak, up winding passage eight
r cen inches wide, with steps six inches high
1t was the most tiresome task l have hao
: for many years. Its top affords a CRANE
= view for miles around The exterior o
It the whole building is adorned with sta
|, tues of all kinds of animals and men,
t Among its massive adornments pigeons in
v Vulnerable find dwelling places. 1t is thu
4 greatest mass of Gothic architecture hav,
}, seen yet, in the four kingdoms or seven ma
J. tons through which have lately travel
: led. Also the Tower de Belle Vue is
IS grand affair, $50 feet high. The admit
O lance to either costs two pennies.
e., 80 10,