Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-11


the column" and New York will emulate the
example of her sister states. Is there anything
else you want done, Mr. Schell?
LiebHr's Campaign Against Napoleon.
In 1927 / arrived in New York on the same
dav, and put my foot on land in the same hour
June 20) that in 1915 ball Frustrated me-
Some time ago you asked me 10 give you a
sketch of my adventures in that Waterloo bat
tie. determined TO comply with your wish,
and searched among my papers for a copy which
my mother gave me once of my own letter, the
first was able TO write after the eyentful day of
battle. did not succeed in finding it, but here
is the sketch.
"Boys, clear your rifles" said my old and
venerable father, entering my room, where
was just studying Loder's Anatomical Tables,
che is loose again-Napoleon- has returned
from Elba."
My heart beat high; it was glorious news for
a boy of sixteen (really in his sixteenth year,
who had often heard with silent envy the ac-
count of the campaigns of 1S13-14 from the lips
of his two brothers, both of whom had marched
in 1913, in common with most young men of
good family, as volunteer rihemen, and returned
as wounded officers. One of these, cured of his
wounds, rejoined his regiment; another of my
brothers and myself followed the call of govern
ment to enter the army as volunteers, though
our age would have exempted US from all obi
cation.
Which regiment should we choose? Of course
one which was garrisoned near the euemy's
frontier, so that we should be sure not to have
peaceable campaign in distant reserve. There
was regiment among the troops near the from
tier of France which enjoyed a particularly
high and just reputation; its name was
Goldberg" bestowed in honor of its valiant
defence of the fortress of Colberg in the
year 1SO6-the only Prussian fortified place
at that wretched time which did not sur
uras roI Of
brave and sturdy Pomeranians, a short broad
Shouldered, healthy race; in more than twenty
ranged" engagements during the campaign of
1S13-14 had they shown themselves worthy of
their honorable name. My brother and myself
selected this regiment When the day of the en-.
istment of the volunteers arrived, we went to
my father and said: "Well then, we are going;
is it with your consent" GO to your mother"
he replied We went to her; our hearts were
full, she had suffered so much during the first
campaign. With a halfchoked voice, | said !:
Mother, we are going to be enroled-shal
weP She fell into our arms, that noble woman,
and sobbed aloud. "GoP was all her bleeding
heart allowed her to utter; and had she been the
mother Of twenty sons, she would have sent them
all. We had to wait from ten to one o'clock be-
fore we could get chance to have our names
taken down, the throng was so great.
In the beginning OF May we were marched
from Berlin to our regiment. My father accom-
panied us to the place of rendezvous When the
bUgle called us to the lines we looked for him TO
take the last leave; he had stolen himself away.
A great many people accompanied us out of the
city; the beautiful Brandenburg gate was soon
behind us; we began to sing. looked but for
ward, happy that it was now my lot to bear
arms in defence of my country. On the 10Th
we crossed the Rhine; on the 18th of May we
passed in review before Prince Butcher in Ma
muir. On the 26th we marched to a village
called VoStin and Incorporated with our regi.
ii nj bal G,1t
rade with the regiment, and the colonel declared
that we had the bearing of old soldiers; he was
satisfied with us. We longed to be nut TO the
test saw on that day, for the first time, the
woman who was a sergeant in our regiment,
and distinguished herself so much that she
could boast OF three orders on her gown when,
after the peace, she was married in Berlin to
another sergeant. In a second regiment of our
brigade was another girl serving as a soldier.
but she was very different from our sergeant.
Her sex was discovered by mere accident; she
mad marched instead of her brother that he
might support their aged parents.
We marched TO Longuevie, seven leagues
from Brussels. On the 9th we received lead to
cast our balls-the rifles being of different cali
Der, for each man had equipped himself 1t is
one OF the most peculiar situations q man of
rejecting mind can be in, when he casts his
bullets for battles near at hand. In the evening
| was lying with two comrades, one of whom
was Jew, in hay loft; the crazy roof allowed
us to see the brilliant stars. We spoke of home.
My father" said one, told me he was sure he
would not see me again, though he never tried
to keep me; | feel as if | should fall" A ball
entered his forehead in the first battle and killed
him on the spot The second, the Jew, said.
Nobody has foretold my death, yet | believe [
shall remain on the field" He fell at nv side
in the battle of Ligny, before he had fired a
shot, the ball cutting his throat. "And l." said
!, shall be brushed, but think shall return
homo tlnnnh wit nbol 81: M
strangely every prophecy of that night was full
filed.
On the morning of the 18th the generoIe was
beaten; hostilities had begun on the 14th. We
marched the whole day and the whole night; in
the morning we hrrived not far from the battle
field of Ligny and halted Before us was ris-
Ing ground on which we saw iunumerabe troops
ascending from the plain, with flying colors and
| music playing. 1t was a sight the soldier likes
| TO look at. | cannot say, with Napoleon, that
| the earth seemed proud to carry so many brave
men; but we were proud to belong to these
brave and calm masses. Orders Tor charging
were given; the pressure OF the coming battle
was felt more and more. Some soldiers who
carried cards in tn Fir knapsackS threw them
away, believing that they bring bad luck | had
never played cards and carried none; but this
poor instance Of timid superstition disguised me
so that purposely picked up a pack and put it
IN my knapsack. Our whole company consisted
of very young men, nearly all lads, who were
impatient for battle and asked a thousand
questions, in their excitement, of the old, well
seasoned sergeant major, who had been given TO
us from the regiment. His imperturbable calm
ness, which neither betrayed fear nor excited
courage, but took the battle like a muster,
amused us much.
We now marched again up the slOping plain,
and by one O'Clock in the afternoon arrived on
the battle ground. Fortune held US first on n
harassing reserve; the French field pieces PLAYED
har NM ne gioIl - q
several men out of our column. We were com.
manded to lie down, and | piqued myself on
making no motion when balls or shells were fy.
ing over us. Behind us stood some cavalry.
One of their officers had been a near neighbor
10 us in Berlin; he rode up to me and asked me
to write home should he fall; he would do as
much for me should be shot down. He soon
after fell. We longed most heartily to be led
into the FIRE, when our officer, well tried sol.
der, spoke these few words: "My friends, it is
easier 10 fight than to stand inactive exposed to
fire. You are tried first by the severest test;
show then that you can be as calm as the oldest
soldiers. My honor depends upon your conduct
Look at me, and promise you you shall not
have bad example" At length about two
O'Clock, our column was ordered TO drive the
enemy out of the left side of the village Our
colonel rode up to us and said "Riflemen, You
are young, ! am afraid too ardent; calmness
makes the solder-hold yourselves in order"
than he turned round; "MarchP and the dull
hal-mufied drum from within the deep column
was heard beating delicious music. When the
bugle gave signal to halt we were in front of
the village OF Ligny. The signal was then given
for the rlfemcn TO march out to the right and
left OF the column, and TO attack. Our order
now led us entirely beyond proper linn
IT'S the section to which ! belonged ran
madly, without firing, toward the enemy,
who retreated, My "hind man" fell;
rushed on, hearing well, but not needing,
the urgent calls Of our old sergeant. The village
was interseeted with thick hedges, from behind
which the grenaders fred upon us, but we
drove them from one to the other. 1, forgetting
altogether to fire, and whatI ought 10 have
done, tore the red plume fiom one Of the grena.
der bear caps, and swinging it over my head,
calling trnmphanty TO my comrades. At length
we arrived at a road crossing the village length.
wise, and the sergeant major had now succeeded
in his attempt to bring us somewhat back TO our
reason. There was house, around the corner
Of which he suspected some French lay "Be
cautious" said he TO me- until the others are
up,"-but stepped round where grenadier
stood about fifteen PAGES from me; he aimed at
me. My antagonists ball grazed my hair on