The New York herald., 1873-10-31


i was at the telegraph once before six, and
Knocked up the good natured man and his wiie
though knew they had been worried almost into
brain fever the DAY before by the anxious cor
respondents Of the London papers. But tney os sos
out OF their beds cheerfully enough, ana the nise
words which were dashed from Verdun by wire
this morning made up the telegram TO the NEW
ga. M.-The last field post OF the Germans gal
loped away with letters and dispatches Ior tne
the statue s Of Chevers, " which ii stands In the
market place, is provided with nag and string
to pull It, that no tune may be lost when tne signai
for reJoic ngs Is rung out from the cathedrai De-
FRY. Meantime company Of Germany infantry Is
forming IN the neighborhood.
At house overlooking the bridge OF Sc. GT0x
and q sluggish branch OF the Meuse is little boy
OF six years old, up Detimes and standing az win
dow, dressed ike q tricolored nag. He Is quite
framed in with MOVERS, and looks like picture.
Beneath hlm is an angler fishing for perch. and un-
moved by the excitement OF his fellow citizens.
Everybody else Is In ieyersh haste TO see the last
OF the invading hosts. The very handbills on the
walls are prjntedi in the national colors OF red,
At elO A. M the German officers begin to cluster
round the CAFE Labordere In full uniform,
ready Tor cof1ee-perhaps for a little brandy.
jocular. The beautifui old town Is coming
out into the DAYLIGHT gorgeous as nose
gay though the SKY and lowering
snaven, and one or two dozen truculent fellows
who appear to need strong police; but there are
no gendarmes ABOUT. The calm before the storm,
or rather that chill quiet which comes just before
da wn, Is the only thing which can be compared
with the hushed stiffness OF Verdun. hear good
bys between some lovers and the sharp tongues
OF French girls, some OF whom tand these are the
pretuesD are dressed In the costume OF Alsace-
Lorraine. But they are all OF the poorer classes.
The well-to-do citizens renamed within their
houses, and all their doors were closed. There
was strange unwonted silence IN the best streets.
1t had been very wet Tor the last week, the sky
seemed stll TO augur heavy roads for the German
march. But as the drums begin to be heard tne sun
steals coyly out and gives a sort OF hall promise
OF a fine day. at s the sun OF Austerlitz about to
shine again over France :" SAYS 2 Frenchmaa
engaged in the national occupation OF flirting and
though thoughts. = y WIN n'''0''' p0'"' "DN si'A'
.Mais mon Daur, replies the young lady who is
helping HIM, getter up OF hne linen, or
UEE BLANCEIssEUsE DE FIN;
1--WE shall not see it clearly till they are gone"
Indeed the sun wlthdraws from the scene after
brief and unsuccessful FIRST appearance.
At A. M. the artillery and ammunition wagons
are Gown n rp sne are srnna and
in excellent condition. so are the men, having both
thriven exceedingly upon French corn and wine.
Across the drawpridge OF the fortress Is seen
dark mass OF blue uniforms, and the sun coming
out again throws q capricious glitter upon their
arms.
7:05 A. M.-Two ron-commissioned artillery
officers upon stout, well-br0ken horses, ride up TO
q grogshop on the esplanade Tor schndps, which
is glass OF brandy. An active French waiter
jumps up to serve them, with "Ta, neSSteurS,n
for the verdun waters have learned their in, German
in fragments and IL Is necessary to be still civil TO
German non-commissioned officers.
"GLUECKLICHE REISEW
says the waiter when the Germans nave drunk
their stirrup cup. "A pleasant journey to you, my
lords.n The words are not unkindly said.
The scene upon the esplanade is interesting and
picturesque as the German troops are mastering
there below is the valley Of the Meuse, slowly
awaking beneath the daylight. write these notes
to ceaseess accompanimens Of rolling Wheels rs
command sounding hOarse and distant from the
citadel. Upon side path near me is child's go
' 4io c A. MM"Rechts, W xa-a-a-rscnin is the first
distinct .ary order which breaks upon my ears,
and then harsh crles OF command succeed each
other rapidly 1t is the garrison artillery coming
out OF the citadel
7:l5 A. M.-The field officers sit like statues upon
their horses sword in hand, as their troops file
steadily through the fortress gates The first in
antry which iOrms into line upon the esplanade Is
f:2O 4. M.-Bands OF music are heard family
from within the citadel and distant barracks
Presently they sound nearer, and on come the
spiked helmets in serried masses, and the drums
and fifes speak out IN streams OF martial melody.
There is q thunder crash OF military music, which
@ black @ eagle, surmounting the standard Of the gal
liant Sixtytourth, comes IN sight.
moss famous OF that ss snsng Twelith brigade
wnh y sun " purao the sSSs
sion Buddenbrock and was commanded by Colonel
Bismarck. 1t came irst INTO action when Budden-
brooks division, which was at the lett OF Stulpna
gels, received orders at ten A. NJ on the 10th Au-
gust 1870. to strike into the hot fight Tor vionve.
The attack was begun by the artillery OF the divi
sion concentrated into large group OF guns, which
vomited black death upon the enemy but the
which was known as the regiment OF Prince Fred.
erlck Charles. The regimental commander was
Colonel Won Butler. gentleman gen OF British origin,
attack was concentric. The first battalion Of the
Sixty-fourth went along the main clsdussee for
battalion took IL on the SOUTH and on the LETT the
fusleer battalion went against the northern front
was one OF the first who iell and the slaughter Of
the Prusslan troops all around him was terrible.
Colonel wunsch led the iusileers. and the fighting
was heaviest on the north. The village was ulti-
mately taken and the French driven out.
7:25 A. M.-General Linsingen, mounted upon
tail bay horse, rides on TO the ground looking very
fresh and hearty. He first came into notice at the
memorable attack made by the Prusslan Guards
most stupendous slaughter OF modern times, 5000
men going down in less than ten minutes. This
wholesale butchery was occasIoned by the close
artillery and small arms II has since furnished
one OF the strongest arguments Tor the open
Sy the prussans % and all EUroeean easions
Colonel Won Linangen took distinguished
part In the assault. and led the fusleers Of the
Third regiment, who followed him on through
hail storm Of bullets. Linsingen and his adjutant,
young Rhelnbaben. were both wounded. Major
Won kotz had his morse shot under him. and, while
trying to extricate himself, had his head blown OF
by a french SHE'LL
1880 A. M.-Tne French gendarmes have formed
One band alter another now comes into hearing,
ana the air is all ablaze with martial sounds,
dmOuH WulCu tue KTduu Olu dIT VI ''uel uen
deutschen vaterland" SO Iamiliar during the war.
Is predominant.
1885 A. M.-There is deep pause and hush in
the PruSsian ranks Tor some minutes after the
music ceases, and perhaps some brave hearts are
silently Offering up thanks to Heaven for the issue
OF that mOmentOus struggle which Is now over.
Presently the silence is stirred rather than broken
by the murmur Of the crowd now gathering, and
fifty street boys make their presence felt being
unwillingly escorted by French police. Meantime
Captain Mettral, OF the French gendarmes, at
tended by Prusslan orderly, canters across the
open space and through the open gates OF the cita
del. disappearing beyond as though swallowed up
BY that open-mOutheu mass OF masonry, and again
the silence OF expectation reigns over all.
7:40 A. M.-Prussan officers move about on
horseback, salutng each other first with military
precision, then shaking hands, and the crowd OF
slghtseers grows larger; but II Is not dense, and
there are no weildressed French people in 1t. The
Prussian troops show marvellous line as the word
Of command is ever and anon given out TO them in
cultural tones, not unlike the grinding OF coffee
mill working rapidly, tor every 0fi1cer and nom
commissioned ofhcer repeats it. photographer
appears on the ground, under permission from
oil an fhnri itv N