The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-27
AMYSTERY CLEARED UP.
The Champion Bushwhacker OF 'n0
Franoo-Prussian War.

The Champion Bushwhacker OF tho
Franoo-Prussian War.
The last number OF the Revue des DeuA
Mondes has an article which gives his true
place In history to brave man, whose career
has, hitherto, been misrepresented. Tn's 10
Sergeant Hoff, a veteran OF the Franco-prns'
sian war, who, after having been idollzed oy
Frenchmen for his exploits against their
enemies. was afterwards execrated as sup
posed Prussian spy. 1t turns out that, thoush
long believed TO have been killed as traitor
nv the franc-tireurs OF the Seine, he was tnen
a nrisouer in the hands of the Germans, VINO
were Ignorant oil bis Identity, although they
had set price upon his head. The veteran
soldler, who did his country such gooa ser
vice and incurred 80 much danger ana suner'
Ing on her behalf, !s now poor and disaoleo'
INIT there Is little doubt that the appeal oil nib
bioqrapher will result in, at least. placing hlm
above want. The record of his lie Is inter-
eating, apart from Its adventurous e4-
periences, as showing the brutal character OF
he acts which, In war, gain fame ior lhelr
perpetrslor, whose patriotism, 10 sucn cases.
covers multitude efsins.
Wnen the war between Germany and France
brore eu,. Hoff, who was originally an ASA
tian plasterpr, was o sergeant at belle-lsie-eu-
Mer Though conscripted In 1856 he had seen
nu active service during all those years: Inc
news that his father had been taken pIlsouei
and shot by the Prussians roused seotinenss .,S
of the deepest hatred and revenge IN tne slln.
nile Alsalian soldier, and led him 10 VolunC' er
to ioin Ihe army which was then encamptd al
ChsIons. The letter containing the report Oh MS
s,,her,s death afterward proved TO nave Deen
frandnlent. He was at Rheims alter SEDAN,
and had narrow escape rom tue frESslaus'
who entered the Lown Just after ne ana nis COLI
panIons lett It, The completion ol .ne InVest-
of wrpakiDg bin vengeance upon the frus:
siana An Paris soon rang win tne lame Of
Tho ,mnlacable. ubiquitous fraDo'tireur, VINO
creeping stealthily along the rlgnt oanh Oh tne
Mare. picked off the German senllnels Dy
dav with his unerrlng rife. and at night Spill
open their heads with oloW OF ms SABRE. ne
al wavs led the way In the most dangerous ex-
nadiiions. as his knowledge OF German en-
anIed MIN to deceive unsuspecling senlrles.
70 tho MWer da ?n-who goes there OF the
,,vord hs would give friendly reply, and
,hen before The man could advance 10 the
darkness Of the night to scan tne lntruoer ne
was killed by a bow OF saore.
The number aud success Of tnese eKPioits
anon made his fame known all over Paris.
The newspapers were full OF his daring deeds.
f. ctsrylewers sought him out, and told the
s,oTv of his life The chop windows were
decRed with his portrait. The government
cave him the highest reward OF Freach sol.
3ier. and the ooveted Gross OF the Legion,
which olazed on his breast, wac at once
recognition OF his past and stimulus 10 in-
inre achievemente. The most brilliant OF bis
exploits, some OF which recall those Of Coolies
and Curllus, was the driving OF Prussian
outpost from the lie DIES Loups. Doubt-
less. there was good deal oil exaggeratlon
IN the accounts of what he did, and
perhaps the report OF his having killed
thirty Prussians in one DAY with his own
hand must be taken cum gTano saels;
Sill, after making these allowances, enough
was left TO entiile him to the admiration ot
his couptrymen. aud 1t was strange mis-
chance that caused q change In their feelings
towards him. His sudden dtsappearnce
while his tame was at Its helgth, leo the
mercurial Parlslaus TO believe mat ne was
Prussian spy. This accounted Tor tne sue
cessiul answers Whlcn NC ';Iue w .ns ,r,.,, v,a
leppes of The BavArlan and saxon sentrles.
Il was now believed that the whole thing was
a ruse In the interest OF The invaders. They
h ad sent Hoff, whose real name was HentZel,
and who was lieutenant In the BiVarlan
cavalry, into the French lines to collect ana
convey intelligence oil the situation 70 lhelr
own, The helmets and needie-guns which he
exhibited to the Parlslans as evidence OF mis-
deadly dealings with their enemies were OF
course easily procured. By enabling HIN TO
carry out his plan Of espionage, they were
mosi efficient means Of deception. There was,
however, some consolation 10 showing una!
Lhe suy was no louger able TO DO mischief.
He had been shot Dy company OF franc
tireurs, and the very spot where his eXecu-
lion took place was pointed out. Ia the siI-
mary retribnLion which had been dealt out 10
MIN the Parlsians forgot their modification al
oeing vIctimized by his lreachery. Even at
| thie late day the belief that the simple ASA
| tiau soldier was an astute and wicked traitor
stilI exists among Frencnmen, and the writer
| in the Revue des DeuX Mondes has done good
service In attempting 10 dispe ii.
The Story Of the sequel 10 his disappearance
| Ia almest as curious as that Invented to &C.
count for 1t. H. was really Captured by ihe
Prussians, and TO avci' vengeance COP.
cealed his Identity uLusi L, name OF WolH.
| In this way he managed to escape detecllon
| BY the German authorities, notwlihstunding
| the fact that some OF his nelghbors knew who
he was. While ln Cologne he was shown
copy of the Independence Beige. In which he
was described as Prussian spy. The ac-
count filed him with rage, and he came near
venting IL upon some Of the enemies whom he
\ had 30 successfully deceived. fortunately
| for his own life, as well as that OF others, ne
restra, ned himself; but 1t was not I'LL the con-
clnsion of peace that he WAS enabled 10 deny
the story which hsd been circulated against
him in the Paris papers. He was with The
troops of Theirs In their capture oil Paris from
tha Communists, and then received the
wounds which have disabled MIN. There can
be llttledUubt that the appeal of Ills Dog
raph.r, NJ. Lous.Lande, will De successful In
nsnalt of the veteran soldier who, although
carving on offensive operations 10 rather a
savage method, Was Justified alike by his
mutives and the usages OF modern warfare in
the way in which he courageously encounter
ed danger In the cause Of bis country.