The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-03-11
THE FLIGHT INTO SWITZERLAND
The Wrecks of Bourbaki's Army.

correspondence Of the London Tlmes.l
On Wednesday morning, February /, the
Swiss heard that $4,000 French had crossed
the border during the night. The possibility
of such an event had been foreseen, but 1t had
been thought more probable that the retreat
inr force would have been driven into Besan-
con to help in the reduction of that place, as
Bazaine's soldiers had been in the case of i'm
prennable Metz But how much anxiety was
felt rs To whether The French would yield their
arms. whether the Swiss would FIRE upon them
if they refused. whether the Prussians would
pursue, or whether in many ways Switzerland
might MOI Ind herself very awkwardly situ-
ated.
The arrival Of atroop Of French cavalry on
the following afternoon put an end to all sur
musings. and explained mich that we had be-
fore Thought very wonderful. The horses
seemed scarcely abet to stand. They were I'M
der-sized and half famished. Their legs were
knotted and swollen; their tails and names
often rotted away; the long shaggy hair OF
their ungroomed coats matted with dirt. The
riders were warmly clothed in large over
coats, and what seems to be nearly universal
among officers and men Of oil arms, the broad
peaked cap. 1t was the general opinion among
ihe lockers Oh that ten well mounted heavy
cayalrymen would have ridden over the
whole two hundred. On inquiry found these
were really old soldiers, and next day rec
ognized the uniform. often seen IN Paris oi
the Gendarmerle, only without the traditional
ihrpe.cornered hat. During Friday and Sa-
turday Infantry poured into the town, the In
teryais between the arrival OF the large bodies
being filled by stragglers In every stage Oh eS-
hauslion. They came slowly in, shutf1ng
along, with hanging heads, sunken cheeks and
starting eyes. Such q multitude OF lamshed,
weary, footsore, ragged and slckly human be-
inns was surely never gathered together.
Those unable to march came in by train.
Shall / be accused OF eXaggeration If | at
tempt to describe their condition? have
seen Door in London and begyars In Egypt,
hut never such wholesale misery as was here.
Hundreds of poor fellows, their uniforms torn
TO rags, lnped pass. The feet and hands oil
nearly all were frost bitten. causing the Sreal,
est pain On many q face lnciplent fever had
bqunr its ravages: many would never march
again. In ali, The sllrunk features and crouch
lnm ralt told OF gnawing hunger. while the
drep cough and hOarse voice bore witness 10
long nights spent on snow and frozen ground.
Some had tied bits OF wood under their oare
feet to protect them from the stones;
others wore wooden sab6ts; hundreds had
no socks, and when they had they were mere.
" of thin cotton; others, who appeared well
shod, would show soleess or heeless boot,
the exposed part OF the foot, once frozen, be-
inc now q wound crusted with dirt. For
weeks none had washed or changed their
clothes, or removed their boots. Nothing but
hurried march and countermarch. Thelr
hands were blacker than any Africans. Some
had lost their tOes; the limbs OF others were
so frozen that every movement was agony:
The men stated that for three days they had
had neither food nor fodder served out TO
them, and that before that they often got only
one Loaf between eight men.
But let me turn from this Illuminating view
of the civilization OF the nineteenth century to
what we may we'll be proud OF in our times
As the long columns toll Wearily through the
villages, defiling from the Jura passes chok-
ed deep with snow-upon tile Lake OF Geneva,
the inhabitants everywhere turned out lite
rally "their all" to supply their wants. AS
regiment after regiment of totterinS stary-
ing men passed into this town, 1t was
Sight to make strong man weep to see
rich and poor, young and old, distributing
to their necessities; while rugged, hard.
il.iuyored faces broke out in sunny smiles,
Us though ministering angels had met lhen
amid scenes of death and murder. Here
were market women, who on other days are
wont 10 hagge over centlme, eagerly emp
tying their stalls; there were people rushing
into shops, and returning laden with loares,
ticuarly ragged might be seen carrying some
article OF clothing just received, or glimpse
might oe caught Of the grateful look oil Joy.
more than reward TO the gyer, as some poor
fellow with torn feet got pair Of warm socks.
The poorest women came out with sleamlns
cans Of tea and coffee, and almost every mouse
was ready with soup.
There is also much to the credit Of the men.
They had, all tired as they were, brought in
| their blankets, knapsacks and other kit:
None asked for anything what was Offered
they took, eagerly, but not greedlly. never
saw il man try To get more than his one cigal
or roll, though in the press and hurry it
would have been easy for him 10 snatch sew
era. 1t was also remarkable that, as rule,
none would take till actually held out TO him
individually. One case was especially sad. A
fine legion OF volunteers had begun campaign
full of hope on the 9Th of January oil selt-sup-
porting men; On the 7th OF February they were
nf Cinrt. their