The New York herald., 1870-09-19
lot them treasure up revenge for hrty years; let
what come viii, we shall always be able to protect

|
Prussian Uhlaus Visitors by tho Way
How King Williams Army In Pioneered--
! German scouts-Scones at u French Farm
! HOnse-Fiight Of the Cematry People
! Shooting "a Pris0ner--The Prussians Make
Themselves at HOme-Furewell un An
Client Chafenu.
TRoYEs, DEPARTMENT OF AUBK, FRANCE,
August 3D. 1870.
! dare say you viii be very much surprised at my
whereabouts when you receive this letter. Obliged
to leave Magey after all. turned my back npon
that place only three days ago, and made what u
now very formidable journey, that Is the two
leagues to Troyes. You can't think how sorry was
to leave Magey rather the little bit Of village
about half league south Of it. where have spent
the greater part OF the last twenty years..
must tell you what at length 0vcrcame my de-
termination to stick my dear old chatean, where
for SO many years had acted Lady BOnntiful TO my
friends the peasants. We had all been very un-
easy for some days past, hearing terrible OF
the Prussian scouts, and my Old servants kept
bringing Inc dismal tales or fire and pillage, with
hints broad as they were long about the necessity
OF night Indeed, my good Old Madeleine took upon
herself TO assure me that the enemy was cannioas-
tic In his habits. My flend,n said !, f he can eat
me let him. 1 shall have the consolation or know.
ing, at any rate, that he Will make very bad din.
ner." AS to the villagers, they were as frightened
as any poor creatures could be- and only thinking OF
packing or with all convenient inconvenient speed
1t was In vain visited one cottage after another,
using the very best arguments to convince them they
had better stay III you give the soldiers what You
have in the way of food and so forth, they will bc
contented and go on, very likely quietly; but If you
leave yonr houses they will destroy everything SO
told them and over again; but they did not by
any means believe it. The village was quickly de-
serted 10y all who were able to go; still, with my
customary courage, stayed. The Prussians are
fine set OF fellows and will never hurt an Old woman
like me-" thought /.
HOW THEY CANE-rHE UHLANS.
However, it was with a feeling OF trepidatiOn
stronger than can describe, that one evening" two
days after our peasant exodus, heard some rlfes
fired much nearer our place than liked. did not
call out, frightened as l was, for felt sure
the servants would come rushing In, screaming
without that, and they did. "MadameI Madame Les
Prussiensl Les Prussensl" all that intelli-
gibe, and Immediately the confusion was augmented
by the breathess arrival Of some villagers, who
clattered In their wooden shoes without any cere
mony, and they were frightened that they fright
ened us more, and my little poodle Mimi, added bis
mite to the general disturbance by barking till his
eyes almost started out OF his head. Through 1t ALL
as leaned out of the window, heard shots again,
good many and very near.
Just then saw my little gooseherd tearing up the
long white road from the village to the chateau as
fast as mis- thin brown legs would carry him. |
called to him to make haste (which was unneces-
sary injunctionl in minnie two he rushed IN
and suddenly cOapslng stood painting at
''Have you seen any thingf DO you know anythingY'
kept asking and he speechless. only nodded his
head TIL at length ne gasped out, "Les Prussiens
Madame" "~hat is III What is the 1ghiAig
Where are theyr"
BY degrees he got breath enough to tell that he
had seen party of horsenen In the Prusslan gray
and white lighting with some gendarmes close to
a little wood at the end OF the village There were
a good many Prusslans and but u lew gendarmes.
..tsray and white-they are Uhlans proDably.n ex-
claimed, and my poor companions gave simulta-
neous cry OF distress, for these celebrated troops
are looked upon with all almost superstitl0us horror
by the peasantry.
Meanwhile the firing ceased, and soon on the long
white road was seen cloud OF dust out OF which a
small body OF horsemen appeared Wecould family
hear Them singing some Prussian war song as they
came; and now We had no more shrieks from our
party-they were scared Into silence.
Half way between the village and the chateau the
hOlsemen halted ana appeared TO wait Tor some
more, who must have been searching the cottages,
and who presently came trotting up When tney
had fallen into their places the whole party came
quickly UP 10 the chateau
AT THE DOOR,
Now don't imagine thai my chateau Ia anything
Ike the caStles OF old times. IL has no deicnces,
trance i described In "ied Riding HOOD is ali that
you lind there YOu I'LL up the latch and walk ill.,
That is precisely wnat large number Of Messienrs les
UElanS did his occasion. | heard good deal
more pokns and pryng about my plates down stairs
than at al relished But one must put up with
things in war Tine Presently several D: them ran
up stairs with a heavy tread, like 50 many command
ants Of 'Don Giovanni coming 10 supper. Ia they
come without ceremony My French gnests shranK
Into the opposite corners Of the room, and adj
vanced 10 meet the Prussllns with what little dlgni
ty could muster at pinch. ! cant say irey ap.
struck with them. when found myself thus FOR the
first time lace to face with the renowned uhlans.
They were way worn and dusty. and the new uni
forms, which understand they received at the be-
ginning Of the war, were already much the worse
Tor wear Still they were fine looking men. and the
coDlman ling officer, their colonel returned my
greeting though somewhat harshly and coldIy.
Without waiting for them to speak ] mustered up
nv long unused German and placed al their disposal
anything my mousse contained
HELP YOURSELF.
Very generous on my part, when could not help
their helping themselves Calling Madeleine to Iol
low me conducted them myself to the larder the
woU CGaa emo and Without thanks AS to my
wine l could not imagine at first what g0od the
quantity they took could be to tnem as they could
not lake 1t with them IN their baresses. was told
afterwards they gave some to their horses. l am
sure the poor brutes wanted something, for OF all
the skinny Roslnantes you ever saw they were the
worst
They now looked about them to see If there were
any firearms or other weapons. Fancy In my house
'.No no. said. somewhat eXasperated, 81 could
not sleep with Gun IN my house; should be afraid
OF iis gong Of unexpectedly" "Even If were not
loaded, madam" the colonel inquired, with grim
smile. .These might be used as arms he continued,
taking down an old Turkish scmitar, and couteau-
! ue-cHdSSe arranged ike ~ trophy uuucr SOIc SbiE
anters III my han. He threw them to a soldier, who
broke them to pieces 81 must also take possession"
| he said ol the wagon see in your yard" merely
bowed urbaney. lie seized my poor old gray pony
too, but my enreaties and the obvious lact that lie
only went on three legs, and very little upon them,
! procured ills liberation TbcfCUlonel refused my
polite offer OF further houseroom and staberoom
saying he preferred 10 bivouac IN the neares! ied
! most ready IN OF sudden surprise; but tney
| should require the villagers TO supply them plen
! fully with straw, and then they beook themselves
| into a Ged close TO my house on the west.
Hnrn ha MAD 10 "a Crp1 wifi m w rt,n
| among other things, and snpped and sang ana
loyed themselves, apparently quite at home, though
! they were in France.
A NIGHT SCENE.
/ The night was line ana clear and the sight OF the
soldiers IN the field Thought very strlking The
fire blaZed up high and red and cOored the trees
| near. making all the distance look blackcr and
shadier. The men round the red light grouped IN Il
| thousand picturesque attitudes, the weary horses
resting, and In the middle distance little sullcn
! group OF Observation-Disclosures, guarded-it was y
sight ~ be mentally photographed by any observer.
SUPPER.
had not looked long when Madeleine came tear