New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-03-05
SWITZERLAND.
Horrible Suffering Of the Soldiers OF
BOurbaki's Army - Dropping Down
Dead from Exhaustion and Want Of
F0Od-Sleeping In snow.

Horrible Suffering Of the Soldiers Of
BOurbaki's Army - Dropping Down
Dead from Exhaustion and Want Of
FoOd-Sleeping In snow.
| The following are extracts from a private
| letter received from Montreux, and pub
lished in the London Standard:
| We are all greatly interested about the
| poor French soldiers who fled for refuge
across the Swiss frontier when surrounded
| by the Prussians They are the remains OF
Bonrbaki's army. and are pouring by thou
sands along the different routes through
the Jura into Switzerland. We are told
| there are about eight thousand here, and in
the most ahi-ct miserable condition imagin-
| able. The Swiss have. of course disarmed
them, and, i'll a sort OF way, made them
prisoners, and they are being portiOned out
to every canton.
Those who were to be placed in Chillon did
not arrive until Saturday evening. They
were obliged to walk all the way from Lau-
same, as the railway companies would not
allow them i, 60 in the trains because they
were SO dirty. We heard the most heart
rending accounts of them from all quarters;
they had to march shOeless and stockingless
through the snow. (which has been very
deep all about here) with hardly any
clothing to protect them against the biting
cold. Many of them fell down dead
in the streets Of POntsrlier from exhaus.
ton and want of food. Late on Saturday
evening. February 4, we became aware Of
great cOmmotion, and on looking out
we saw black mass of human beings
marching past on the lower road.
There were few carts and carriages 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
SO badly in Lausanne. Nurse and the
servants ran down to meet them and walked
with them TO Chillon. There were great
many Swiss with them. too. They got into
talk with several of the poor soldiers. who
told them 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 a great
luxury, when they could find IA little stray
wood.
For three successive DAYS they were fight
ing in snow up to their waists-they in the
plain. and the Prussians on the surround
ing hils-without any ammunition at all,
and no arms save their bayOnets: and, to
crown all. to strengthen them for their hard
work, they had the bountiful supply of two
biscuits for their subsistence for two days
With no generals. all disorganized and in
confusion. they naturally asked what could
they dO-obey the orders they received and
run headlong on to the swords OF the enc
INES. II was desperate work; they tried it
for a short time in vain. and then preferred
crossing the frontier and leaving the Prus-
slams i'll undSputct possession OF the field
They VIII be well cared for here. every
one las 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 night sent up
a box full of stockings all new and made OF
beautifully warm wool, with various other
articles. which papa values at over fifty
francs On Sunday morning she went down
to ChillOn. and gave every soldier q hand
kerche1 and some sugar candy for his cough.
Papa and some other gentlemen got up
subscription for them, ant went round to
every one i'll the place. He has been won
derfully successful. In three days they col
lected nearly 1900 francs. think it shows
how kind hearted and generous people are