The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1873-05-16


was sesa alone. revolver IN band. walk.
ing the rounds at the risk Of being shot.
The strictsst discipline obtained
among the companions Of HoG He al.
ways took care himself in strong Ian.
gusge 10 warn them thus:
"You are to 60 with me, and the first
one that sleeps on his post or retreats
without my order. will blow bic brains
out. II you, too. find ne neglecting my
duty. yun are to do tho same 10 me-"
Each man, az well ss himself carried
naked sabre without any scabbard, 90
as 10 avoid that continual rattling Of iron
which has 20 Ohsn betrayed the presence
Of our soldiers, even when atar Of
Every man having q cold, was uphssi-
tatingly discharged and sent back to the
hospital, for II . franetisllr even coughs
In few yards of the enemy whom he Is
about TO surprise, everything is lost. He
forbade their smoking, tor the light Of .
pipe would be target for . shot, and he
also prohibited their carrying the least
article away from any house. Nogent,
at that time. was entirely deserted. and,
ss was the case with all the villages
around Paris, the inhabitants at the firsf
announcement of . seige. had departed,
leaving behind their linen and furniture,
but HOf and hi men gave themselvs no
concern about these things. their thoughts
being 50 much engaged with the Prus-
slams that they hardly took time %
sleep.
Here We must chronicle one Of those
deeds Of arms which do most honor to
the courage and intrepidity Of the ser.
gant Near Nogeut. the bed Of the
Marne h cut BY two long islands covered
with trees and bushes. Every Parisian
knows them we'll The first Is the Isle
des Loups which terminates in sharp
point. where the viaduct is supported
upon its two principal arches. The
other Is called the Isle des MOulins.
Both were At that time in possession Of
the Prussisns. Hoff had already been
exploring the bank for several days. He
had noticed down the river q sand bank
covered with scdge and near II httle boat
He swan down TO il noiselessly. loosened
the boat with difficulty. then gathered
two or three men as good swimmers as
himself In the night, one Of them
dived under the water at the lower end
Of the llss des Loups, to fasten a rope
BY which they were TO propel the boat.
They had no oars for the least noise with
them would have ruined everything. An
entire day was consumed in making
these preparations. From the midst
Of the rushes in which they were hidden,
our men could zee the snemy's sentinels,
quietly walking guard arm in hand
Taking advantage of moment when
his back was turned. they jumped into
the boat. The sentinel perceived them,
but too late, fired his gun and ran. At
the same time q squad Of fifteen men, in
the shelter Of the arches Of the viaduct
crossed the MArne in boat and scattered
over the island. More than three hun
dred afterwards joined them. The Prus-
slams had fed.
Hardly become master Of the place,
with that promptness which constitutes In
war half ofuooess, Hotf occupied himself
in preventing an offensive return Of the
enemy. Firing was kept up on the left.
In few minute, trenches were dug and
breastworks thrown up. The sergeant
himself stationed his men and 10 his old
friends he assigned the most dangerous
petitions. At the extremity Of the Isle
des LOups, on that aide next the Isle des
Moulins, stands gigantic oak whose
trunk formed Of three stems in
clines over the water. Here was Bar
baix' post. A singular character was
this Barbaix. Small In size, hump
backed, neck stretched out. always NUT
tering. with the gait Of a wild boar.
His comrades had surnamed him Le
Rouge on account Of the color Of his
beard He was q brave fellow, especial
ly when enraged against the Germans.
Lying like a serpent al full length along
his tree. between the sky and water, hs
continued firing all night. About thirty
PAGES In front, the Prussians had senti-
mel also behind a tree. The two men
kept their gaze fixed upon each other.
When one ventured to move, or would
show his arm or head, the other would
fire. The bark Of the tree was literally
hacked to pieces by balls, but Barbaix,
more skillfal, was not even touched.
while twice PrussiAn was shot and i'm
mediatsly replaced, In the morning
when the reliefgoard came 70 relisye Le
Rouge, he would not be relieved and
demanded that he might remain to kill a
third man. .nnr
In the meanwhile the Germsns were
disturbed by this unexpected attack.
They believed an assault on Nogent was
being prepared. During the whole
night could be heard in the distance the
rumbling of their caissOns and their car
reAges. and the next day, there could be
seen with a feld-glass batteries already
posted on the heights Of chenueyiere.
Al this time We had hardly strength on
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