The New York herald., 1871-02-07
OUTSIDE PARIS BEFORE SURRENDER.
Looking Down ON the City from the
Heights Of Montmorency.
STORMY NIGHT BEFORE PARIS.
AT the Outposts With the Senti-
nels---Approaching Danger
a NIGHT SOESTIE

VERSAILLES, Jan, a. 1871.
There is something particularly rrghtful In fight
ing by night. Mud, 10 not comnit myself by
saying that everybody would like nghung by day
light, but fewer still would relish it in the dark.
There are plenty OF people doubt not who would
take exception at this little remark, ana rank the
remarker as something little boder than an arrant
coward But the objector is PROBABLY comfortable in
his char by his fire. He may be reading his paper
with MS fragrant grog beside nIm reposlng his Slip
pered feet upon his own particular hearth. Under
these circumstances he Is quite disqualified FOR under
standing what say, but let HIM step out as far
Versailles one ftAese caiy nights and he may ma
his comprehensions quickened. Les him join the
Parlsans with starvation behind them and the Ger
man batteries before the roar OF the eannonade in
his ears, the cold nipptug his hands and
feet and cruelty maltreatlng his nose, sense
of utter emptiness gripping bis-yell let me
express myself gently ana say his insides;
the knowledge upon blm that II he falls he Will be
trampled INTO the mud and forgotten, that nus name
Will be unmentioned In the annals OF the war, that
all his agones Will only make him miserable Attle
&c.n in the Inst OF losses he VIII be one OF the rank
and hle missing. Tan p,s only ''mssing" in the
battalion; but OH how missed at haae Take All
this INTO consideration, my friend by the
fire, and own that sortie from Paris
on a wmter's night The jolliest thing in the
world for 10 undertake; taat, In short an OBJ
lection TO 1t does not involve that "reduct,s al"
what is vugarly termed "lunk,n which II seems AT
first to imply
A NIGHT SCENE BEFORE PARIS.
"The bomDardment was heavy and con,inuous,v
say the kilograms, "wth their dreadful columns; it
continued during the night.n WoulJ you IKE 10
see what sort OF scene that impiesy Follow me in
the spirit to the heights before Montmorency the
evening Of January 49, 1871. (And let assure you
TO take the journey in the spirit than
In the body just now.) Here we are IN
the midst OF the desolaton and the desc
lated looking down upon the doomed city. When
you stand here in bright sunshine you can dlstn-
gulsh the towers Oh Aotre Dainc-but not tonight.
The evening darkness has lallen thick ana fast,
drowning the Instance IN great deiuge OF SHADOW,
absorbing ali color from The landscape; the last low
line OF light has long since laded from the sky; but
overhead Inc frosty stars are already twm6ltng,
looking down from SO lar away. They are ike the
thoughts OF home to many brave heart here,
bright and friendly, but with such an immense
space vi darkness IN between. What can we see Of
Parlss Only a heavier darkness IN the dark land
scape ana IN one corner yellow urld glow Ike the
coppery sunset on u stormy day. There Is "a iire
there, how kindled we cannot say; at the mo-
ment there IS no nring near us, but Ia
the distance there IS sti tnat heavy thunder--"no-
thing but thunder" The sound comes from the
west, and Is only a SUCCESSION Of o,aet doar rom
| yaleria, Hark Now comes BOOM from tue
north Of the city, almost beneath Us. IL Is tnat VI
! cous La Blcne, forever irylng to make breaches
| We are going to have a stormy ngnt. In other
places night means time to go 10 ocd and be ON
Iortabie here II means time 70 gel np and be sno
/ Qul vlvEg
Take the wings OF the wind--the dreary, sad
voiced night wind that Is blowing-and pass round
descend from our hiils Only gray-coatei sentinel,
my friend, who would Challenge you las; enodgh II
you were here IN the nesn us well as ia The
| spirit lie passes US looking ike a wreath OF gray
mist out there is no light on Earth heaven but
your own particular sweetheart IN the midst OF the
soldiers you would not knew which 10 kiss. What
Is ne dong nows Happening upon another senii-
ne may be, and exchanging little civlllties in the
i form OF tobacco aud The national 'wurstn moi the
worst thing tney get TO eatl. SO we pass on. Who
comes creeping this way, wan and weary, through
tile darknessf II Is some Door starving deserter,
seeking mercy and ylctuals. He Is chalien ged
and stopped. Come on, nungfy deseriers are no
| rarity; you need not stay ana see. There are more
whose home has been devoufed by The war fends,
coming up 10 implorc Charity OF The ioe. Never
mind; come on.
The night Is growing older and colder; the stars
are clustering more brightly above us. We are at
the south vi the town-yonIer Is Fort Issy, sllenced
supposed 10 be only haDitatlon OF the dead Close
beside 1t are Meudsn ana the German battery at Cla
mari. Away on the right as we stand facing Issy
loom, dark and threatening, yanyres and Mont
rouge, with the two hostile batteries facing them
L'Glay Bourg la Refine and IhaJon. Hark to The
laundering round the corner; that Is the cannonad
| ing III the bend OF The ~arne. And now the heavy
heath our rect With Hash ana roar enough for twenty
thunderstorns out bursts The fury OF the strife again
See how these ghastly fireworks throw ont the ir
| Jeu de d0lletu, instead OF ajeu de Jote! How the
balls whz through the air, seeming to cut 1t as n t
were something thick! Everywhere The night Is lull
OF death. No snout OF war neard, no command, no
sound OF human striving only the fire. only the can
non only the shatterng shock. Awful it is to see
| and hear this manmade earthquake and tempest
| Who says that King Wilhelln Is ruler heret There
is another monarch tonight. Very busy are the
mat wears the crown. The real ruler is King
| Death.
\ WATCHING IN THE FOG.
| But how Is this? deeper shade OF darkness Is
gathering over the night; the stars are lost, even
IDe nash of the firing scarcely be seen. 1t is II
deep waters were rising above our heads The fog is
upon u.s. dense and sombre; the ring sackens as TIE
| dimness grows. Now, then, look out for squalls
| A sortie Is expected; the Germans are everywhere
on the aert thousands ot trying to pierce the
darkness; thousands of eager eyes ready to catch
the first sound Of the advance on the south OF the
| city, between SceauX ana Villejulf they on the
look out especially for the enemy but none appears
ON the other end. the headquarters OF the Crown
Prince oI saxony, they are ali alive tonight. They
i have some troublesome neighborS In the shape or
Franc reurs who are apt TO dash out when they are
| little expected ana less wanted. LOOK ut this CON-
pany OF wearmed steady looking soldiers. They are
two battaiIons OF the Queen Elzaneth regiment, Ike
| the rest oil us, watching through the mist.
NIGHT SORTiE.
/ There is a great stirring now in the French lines
! a great but silent movement towards lie Bourgef,
that the saXons guard. LOOK out, you Queen Eliza
beth men, Tor they are coming straight down upon
youl NOW IL considerable body Vi French troops has
passed out irom Drdncy, advancing ata steady pace.
/ Right down they come upon the Saxon oufposts,
and then the queens men see them and the word Is
/ irel Fierce fighting ensueS the French are within
| Il hundred yards or tie enemy, and n violent mus
| kerry lire ratteS nom Slue 10 SIl FRENCH
would press forward, but the Saxon fire is deadly.
! The Parisians hestile; their fire slackens;
! uney retire into the distant darkness.
But they have not bid final good ngnt-lt is not to
rest that they have gone. Another eforG Is 10 be
| MADE at once; and once more they make rusn out
/ OF Drancy, But the SaXonS are ready Tor them and
! Jney have to meet an enemy sheltered and sup
ported by his batteries wnile they have no shelter
but the dark. They come out boldly but their
| rades fail around them. They falter again. Their
i officers spring forward resolute!y, wave them ON,
impIore them to follow. Their voices resound
| through the night; are heard above the cannon
! roar, shouting "En draht Pour rantour de Diet
| drdntP' IL Is IN vain; the case Is
| perate one; the retreat has already begun,