The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-05-23
SERGEANT HoFF:
AN EPISODE OF THE sEIGE
OF PARIS.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH ny
PRoF. JOHN y. TARRANT.



Until this time and although he en-.
loyed a sort Of Independence in his
movements. HOa had always remained
attached TO his regiment, receiving or
ders from his officers. As mark Of
distinguished honor the minister IN Ia
king leave Of him, gave him permission
10 be no longer subject to the orders Of
any one and TO select twelve men subject
10 hrs orders alone. This was the very
thing Hof wanted. Now entirely un.
inipeied in all his movements, he re-
doubled the boldness Of his enterprises.
remained out of tbe camps, passing back
and forth across the Prussian lines with
out cessation. He always carried with
him the Adjutant Generals pass. Peas
ants acquainted with every byway and
every turn Of the rOad. guided him
wherever he wished to 60. One Of these.
Merville. stone mason, a shrewd and
intelligent fellow. was 10 the service Of
General Exea. Let ample justice be
done to these poor eOmpagHards-and
there are q few still left-who sought 10
make themselves useful and patriotic cit
izens. by acting as guides or As spies,
and wAo readily aud bravely risked their
lives in this sphere Of duty, where no
glory. but that of duty to country, could
BE- the motive. Here indeed the danger
and the risk was far greater than that
eucountered by the ordinary soldier.
They had 10 beware Of Prussians, but
much more was it necessary 10 beware
Of the French HaiiOa0i guards and indie
pendeut corps, who in their too ardent
real indiscriminately shot friend and foe.
One day when he was examining the
plaster quarries beyond Nogcni, to as
sure himself that they had not been
mined. Merville accidently encountered
some francs tireius reconnoitering. His
blue blouse. cap and basket filled with
Vegetables, rendered him an object Of
suspicion and he was arrested. He pro.
tested against his arrest in the name Of
General Exea, and told them where they
might find his concealed papers, not far
from there, IN a certain field and under
a large rock, but they would listen to
nothing. They had already compelled
him to get down upon his knees, and
were making ready to shoot him on the
spot. when one Of the band suddeHly be-
came scrupulOus. Aher few moments
reflection, they raised him up, tied his
arms and hurried him away to fort MOI
sy. Remaining here five days he was
sent back. They were deceived, but du-
ring this time our Generals had no spies.
Guided by Merville, HoR advanced
as far as ths first houses Of Neatly eur
Marns. Having made thorough re-
oonnoisance Of the number Of the enemy,
their positions and their works, he de-
termiBed to make bold strike. This
charming country is admirably fitted for
sirategetic surprises in war, as il Is thick
ly covered with thickets and green he'd
ges. Through the midst Of il and lined
with magnificent trees, runs the Stras-
bOurg road, connecting Neuilly and the
Grande Rae. Here is the site ofa church,
built in the style of the thirteenth centu-
ry. In case Of sortie our artillery
would have been stopped in their first
steps. brced TO take across the fields, but
the enemy had not foreseen all. Along
the bitches on both sides Of the Stras-
bOurg road, Hoa caused his troop to ad-
vance. Very soon he reached the Gran-
de Rue. a few shots were exchanged,
three or four men fell on the Prussian
side and the rest Aed.
The 6ght was renewed near the church,
but only for moment So completely
were they taken by surprise, that sever
al persons gathered in the old village
oais. were amusing themselves in play
ing billiards, and had barely time TO e.
cape through the garden. leaving the
balls upon the floor. In the charch,
where the enemy had established a cav
airy post, the altar was defaced, the glass
was broken and the sacerd0tal vestments
torn in pieces and scattered upon the
ground. The sergeants first thought was
TO ring the bell and alarm the fugitives,
but the rope was not 10 be found. Hoh
Immediately took the necessary steps
and ordered two men 10 CLUB up into
the bslffy, others TO watch the road TO-
wards Mile -Eyrard, and the rest TO
scatter about in the most exposed pla-
co...
Eothing however wus really accom-
plished. Towards the left, sheltered by
a row Of trees, from which il would be
difficult to dislOdge them, the Prus-
slams had their reserves. Hoh was at-
tasksl by them, and with such violence