Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-02-08
WITH THE PRUSSIANS.
Scene After n Fight.
From all the Year Round

1t was a bright October day, no clou
obscnred the clear blue sky. and We
sa1lles looked her best as she basked i
the sun. To be sure, the black an
white flag of Germany foated ovel
head, and park of Prussian field al
tillery filled the Place d,Armes but th
good people of Versailles had lon
been accustomed to such sights, an,
although many mournful look wa
cast at the sombre flag, and many
sigh was given for the time when th
gay trl-color should once more take it
proper place, the good townspeopl
knew their interests too well to shov
any signs of hostility to the foreigners
lt was past noon, and the grandees O.
the German army, after lunching a
the Hotel des Reservoirs, were tran
gully enjoying their cigars. Prince
Hohenzollern had mounted his blacl
charger; the Prince of Wurtembure
stood beside his spotless snow-white
Arab, buttoning his glove preparatory
to start; the very wind seemed to
pause and listen.
The frightfuI roar of heavy gun
broke the spell. At the first discharge
I held my breath. The little butcher
boy with his basket stood suddenly
still, and, with head forward, in an at
t1tude of the utmost attention, listened.
Young ladies, starting for walk in the
palace gardens, stood irresolute as to
whether they should proceed. Their
minds were soon made up, however. as
the heavy "boom, boom'' broke the
tranquility again and again, while little
white clouds, marking the descent of
bursting shells foated away over the
trees. Hark what is that distant
trumpet note2 It comes nearer. the
bugler stops exactly opposite me, and
putting the brass trumpet to his lips,
blows the warning note of danger. A
minutes pause, then his message seem
ed TO work like electricity The grandees
threw away their choice cigars, buckled
their long swords tightly round their
waists; some returned to the reservoirs
to drink last stlrrup cup; others
mounted their steeds, and darted off to
head their regiments; afew stood still,
to listen to the heavy thuds of the
great guns from Fort Valerien, or to
grasp some friends hand preparatory
to a parting which, perhaps, would be
for ever.
The Place d'Armes was Instantly
alive with a swarming mass. Soldiers
poured into it from all sides. Each
man knew where his division, his regi
ment, his company stood; there was
no noise, no confusion Each man was
IN his place, not one seemed missing.
Fix bayonets u "March - And the
serried ranks of mighty Prussia, with
their helmets, bayonets and shining ac
re rrIlS
rays, their standards unrolled and their
drums beating the advance, marched
with firm step, to meet, in many cases.
an agonizing death. There was no
flnchlng, no bravado: each seemed i'm
pressed with the sort of work he had to
do, and seemed to have made up his
mind to it; the frightened lip and the
fixed eye were all that told their reso-
luton. The townspeople shud-
dered as they passed; and many
fair French girl turned pale as
she, no doubt, thought of Francois,
who had only left her side three months
ago, and would now have to meet these |
dreaded " Prussians -" Then came the |
field artillery. Each gun followed by |
It's eight artillerymen, six sturdy horses |
trotted the cannon along; then rode |
by the cavalry, the dreaded Uhlans in
the van, and following in their wake |
the dashlng dragons and the ponder
Gus cuirassiers. One splendid looking
landwehr officer caught my eve as he
passed. [ had often noticed him be-
fore he had face on which calm |
courage was indelibly stamped, and his |
form was herculean. To-day his bright
glance was, for some reason, dimmed |
by sorrow. know not what emotion
brought it there I felt drawn to him
lrresistibly. I followed him with nv
eyes till his black helmet had faded in /
the distance.
THE BATTLE.
The town cleared rapidly of troops
only guard was left at the palace, and /
a few plckets piled their long needle
guns before the gates of the town.
There was buzz in the crowd which
lines the ST. German road. which
hushed suddenly at the sight of a small
cavalcade of Uhlans On they came.
with lances erect, their little black and
white pennons futtering in the breeze:
then appeared a large open chaise
drawn by four horses. The King and
General Moltke were inside, grave and
engaged III earnest conversation: they
scarcely noticed passing salutes Fol L
lowing the carriage came the Kings
staff, composed of officers dressed in all
the varied costumes of the great army.
Next rode the grooms, each leading an
extra horse, and squadron of Uhlans
brought up the rear. Again the crowd (
became excited, and as thesound of bat
tie seemed approaching cries of g esVivela
France" and "a bas les Prussiens, - :
echoed through the streets and
avenues, but again the storm lulled.
as another body of horsemen ap-
peared over the brow of the hill. 1t
was the Crown Prince and his staff {
They rode quickly by [ followed, as t
5wo Of the officers were friends of mine. {
md beckoned me to accompany them. {
We galoped to spot whence we could t
zee the battle spread out like a map. t
dassed on the slope of Mont Valerien c
TODD large body of twelve thousand '
Frenchi They stood immediately un- /
Ier the guns of the fort and were flank v
d on their left by two or three compact
'ut smaller clumps of troops. In front
t these, at the bottom of the green Il
lope, IN southwesterly direction, the t
french attacked with great spirit the u
me regiments of the ninth and tenth S
russian divisions. The Prussian out C
osts and advance posts We're driven in o
n the main body, and the French tao T.
les seemed directed against the village n
t Bougival, which lies close to the o
elne. Between this and Garches, y
Inch is situated on the other side of L
hls tongue OF land, and also near the d
LVerI the sloPlng plain is dotted by .
7oods, which extend for a considerable u
lstance back towards Vaucresson. ii
q these woods the Prr1ssians N
eood to meet the French onset. The Sc
~ nSe' : was made in curious but plucky VI
'ay oown the slope: before the skir-
hishers rS came two field pieces and a :.
these dashed at a gallop ts f