The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-03-15
Bourbaki's Defeat-Horrible
Suffering Of French Soldiers.

Bourbaki's Defeat-Horrible
Suffering Of French Soldiers.
The following are extracts from
private letter received from
Montreau$. and published in the
London Standard
We are all greatly interested
about the poor French soldiers
who fed for refuge across the
Swiss frontier when surrounded by
the Prussians. They are the re-
mains of Bourbaki's army, and are
pouring by thousands along the
different routes through the Jura
into Switzerland. We are told
there are about 5000 here, all in
the most abject, miserable condi-
tion imaginable. The Swiss have,
Of course, disarmed them, and, in
. sort Of way, made them prison
ers, and they are being poltioned
out to every canton. Those who
were to be placed in ChilIon did
not arrive until Saturday evening.
They were obliged to walk all the
way from Lausanne, rs the railway
companies would not allow them
to 20 in the trains because they
were SO dirty. We heard the
most heart rending accounts Of
them from all quarters. They
had to march shoelcss and stock
ingless through the snow (Which
has been very deep all about hcrc)
with hardly any clothing to pro-
tect them against the biting cold.
Many Of them fell down dead in
the strce,s Of Pontarlicr from cx-
haustion and want Of food. Late
On Saturday evening, February 4,
we became aware OF a grea! COM
motion, and on looking out We saw
a black mass of human beings
marching past on the lower road.
! There were a few carts and car
riages for those who were not able
to walk, and through the stiffness
of the night we heard a hollow
cough, which is what so many had
80 badly in Lausanne. Nurse and
the servants ran down to meet
them, and walked with them to
Chillon. There were . great
many Of the Swiss with them too.
They got into talk with several
Of the poor soldiers, who tod them
that for three weeks they: had
been obliged TO sleep, if sleep were
possible under such circumstances,
on snow, with nothing to cover
them, and fire only as great
luxury, when they could find a
little stray wood. For three sue
cessive days they were fighting in
snow up to their waists-they in the
plain and the Prussians on the
surrounding hiIls-without any
munition whatever, and no. arms
save their bayone.s and, to
crown them all, to strengthen
| them for their hard work., they
had the bountifulsupr} of two'bis-
cu;ts for their subsistence for two
days. With no generals, all disot-
gauizcd and in confusion, they nat
turally asked what could they-do
obey the orders they received and
rush headlong on to the swords Of
their enemies? 1t was desperate
work they trieditfor a short time in
vain, and then preferred crossing
the frontier and leaving the Prus-
SLAMS in undisputcd possession OF
the field. They will be we'll cared
for here; everyone has. stores OF
warm clothing and food for them,
only waiting to be distributed.
The Swiss are coming out well,
especially one old woman. who the
other nightse upa box full ofstock-
ings, all new and made Of bcanti-
fully warm wool; with various
other articles; which papa values
at over fifty francs. On. Sunday
morning she went down to" "Chiilon
and gave every soldier a handker.
chief and some sugar candy: for
his cough. Papa and some other
gentlemen SO. up a subscription
for them, and went round to every
one in the place. lis has been
wonderfully successful. In three
days they collected nearly 1900
francs. I think it shows how
kindhearted and generous people
are.