, 1873-02-24

SERGEANT ROFF.
Ono of the 1uorocs of tEao E'rnnco-f1ck-
M1nn WAr.

lann wnr.
A French journal says that tho namo of Ser
geant Hoff, was familior to most Frenchmon
and to many foreigners during tho eiogo Of
Paris. He was one Of thoae Franc-Tireurs
whose exploits against the enemy formed tho
daily theme Of tho press, aud in Paris, ontaido
tho walls 9f which his hardy ventures lures. Teio n
the order Of the day for his yalor and SUCCESS.
On tho 10th Of Noyombor, had ho not killed
with his own hand more than thirty Prussians
At Ohampigny Hoft suddenly disappeared, and
thore was no trace Of him loft. A journal took
up tho case, informed itsof Of tho facts; tho
revelations wero overwhelming. The famous
aergonnt was no otllor than q spy; his true name
WAS Hont7el; ho was First Lioutonant in reg
iment Of Dayarian chaasours. Ills exploits SO
OF his reputation he freely passed the French
Lines and among his comrndest md thon betray~
cd the passwords. and plans to tho enemy, TO-
turning with fictitious trophies of rifles and lel-
companions Of hia trays who protested against
these ca1umnieB thoY wero not credited, and
tho cry 30 much thon in use was onco more
raised: Nous sonln,cs t,'ahis!
had been taken prisoner by tho Prussans mud
aent into Germany, aud had changed his name,
so as to avert tho consequences Of prlco which
had been sot upon his lead by tho Prussans,
whose cars d recital Of his exploits had reached.
After four months Of captivity he returned to
oeiyod wound whe,, it antored Paris, which has
sinee disabled him. Transferred to Mount
.Valorion, where he awaits tho settlement Of Ills
pension, ho related many Of tho episodes Of hia
oycutful career during tho siege to contributor
to the Repue des DeA1-lfondes, who liarratos
them in q recent number Of that periodical.
Hoff ia an Aaatian by BIRTH, about 30 years Of
middle haght WITH good gnrst end all
army in 1866, but until tho last war he had seen
no active service. When 1t broke out he was
Sergeant instructor at Dolle-Isle-on-Mer, where
the Twonty-afth Regimcnt Of the Line was sta
August he received letter informing him that
bis father had bocn captured and shot by tho
PruasianB. It turned out eventually that this
was not true, but the supposed cruelty Of his
foos ermea him with ..tI bitter hatred against
question with him, impolling him to ayongo. as
lie thought, the death Of his father.
Among Lis oxploita was ono which occurred
during tile first days Of the siege, whom tho
Tronoh, as is known, did not pass outside tho
limo of forts, aud tho enemy had not noarly nd
yauced to the limita which they occupied after
wards. Tho Seventh Regiment WIS thon sta
toned in advance, Of VincennoB, but did not
occupy Nogent. During the night the prussian
village, and as thoy passed. ct rapld gallop the
moonlight threw thoir shadows on the walls.
Impatiout to be at work, Hon addressed himsolt
to hia ehiofa and With tho utn9ss nstt difficulty get
follows, atartod at nghtfall, and turning. the
village lay In ambush in o ditch along
tho course Of the Marine, In front OF, tho
first houses IN Dry, For four long hours
they waited. All at onco dataohmont OF cava!
~ made its Appoarance upon tho hoIae.tracs
800, smoking carelossfy and clatting without
least apprehension Of danger, Thls was the
critical nomont. At given signal tho fifteen
riies woro leyelcd aud fired. Surprised within,
tho marrow space botwoen tho rlvor and the
neighhoring enclosures, tho deriIians could
neither advance nor retreat tho horses reared,
tho ridors woro dlBmounted, aud all was confu'
sion; whilst constant fire poured in upon
thoui. At length, sono Of the onemy'a infa,ltr,
made their appearance from tho honaos
Of nry, aud began to reply to tho tlre
whilst at the came timo some slott
cAmo from their loft. Dreading that hif
position would bo turned, Itofr gave the ordo'
The next morning, according to their custom
tile Germans had removed thor. dead al,t
wounded, hut fifty dead horses sttll ron'ainet
IIofr used tho groatcst care in organizing h
expeditions, aud ofteu exposed his Own life 20
fore rlslting that Of d oonlrntit. lilo stnrtet
forth on his explorations i'll the dusk, crawling
ditch, aud he ayaled himaelf Of ovory lndtca
tion, In lrokon branches, tracks upon ~
! lorbago, &C., which could reveal to him th
prcseneo of Ills foo. llo th,a aplaFoa.ehod til
| enemy'a linoa at his leiaure bonsottnaca u
was overheard. !" Her dai" cried tho bont'
language, aud tho "gooa friond'" wcnld 500
emorge from ILLS concealtnont, md With a eingl
blow Of his sabre split his holnlet and skull, IL
| these sabre strokoH mako 40 noBe.
I! Sometimes. 1t ie true. things did not}go