The Opelousas courier., 1871-03-25

The following are extracts from a pri
vatc letter received fr"m Montreux, anG
Published in the London Standard:
We are all greatly Interested about the
poor French soldiers Who fled for rcf,,ge
= across the Swiss frontier when surround
ed by the Prussiaus. They are the re-
::;;;rs of Ponrki's army, and are pour
Ire ~ thousands along the different
routes through the Jura into Switzer rland
We are told there are about 5000 here
all in the most ahject. miserable condi-
ton Imaginable. The Swiss have of
course, disarmed them, ard. in assert of
way, made them prisoners, and they are
hclng port.oned ont to every cantbn
those vino were to be placed in Chillou
G.d not arrive until Saturday evening.
I:.a.T we've obliged to walk all the WY
from L"usanne, as the railway companiea
Won.d rot allow them to 20 in the trains
because they were 81 dirty. We Lear
from all quarters. They had to mar rch
shoeless aud stockingl.,Ss through the
snow (Which has been very deer all about
h.re) with hardly any clothing to prot..ct
them against the biting cold. Many of
them fell down dead in the streets of Pon-
tartar from exhaustion and want uI fobs..
Late on Saturday evening. February 1,
WE oecame aware Of a great comnotion,
ana on looking out we saw a black mnes
OF human beings marching past on The
lower road. There We're few carts and
carriages for Those who wer" not able, to
walk, and through the Stiffness of the
night we heard a hollow cough, which is
what go many had SO badly in Lausan ne
nurse and the servants ran down tomcet
Them ard walked will, th",H to Chi|Ion
mere were great many of tAc Swiss
with them, too. The: got into talk with
several cftse poor soldiers, who told them
mat Tor three weeks they had been OBJ
lsed TO sleep. if sleep were possible un-
oer such circumstances, on snow. with
nothing to cover them, and filc only,
as great luxury, when they could find
little stray wood. For three successive
"ayS they were. fighting in snow mp T."
1ae'r 1i walsts-they in the plain and the
finsslans on the surrounding hills
without any munition whatever, and 20
arms ,I save their ;,ayone,s; and, to crown .
ALL 10 strengthen them for their hard
WORK, they had the bountiful supply Of
."o biscuits for their Subsistence for two
uaEs' with DO generals, NIL disorsAn-
lzeo and in confusion. they naturally
asked what could they do-obey the or
ders they received, and rush headlong
on the swords of their enemies? II was
aespelate work, they tried it for short
','he 1, in vain. and then preferred crossing
.he frontier and leaving the PrussianS
~ ~ undlsputcd possession Of the field.
They will be we'll cared for here every
nnc has stores of warm clothing ana food
,, 10Y them, only waiting TO he distributed.
The Swiss are coming ont well. especi pity
'ne old woman. who the other II Ght'
'ent up box full Of Stockings, all new
md made of beautifully warm wool, and
various other articles. which papa val
les at over fifty francs. On Sunday
morning she went down to Chillon and ,
ave every soldier handkerchief and I
ONE sugar candy for his cough. Papa !
ND some other gentlemen got up su' :
cription for them, and went around ~
very one in the place. He has been
wonderfully successful. IN three days
hey collected nearly 1900 francs. I
h'nk it shows how kind hearted and
generous people are.