Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-08-26
Who Was Hermann (?

THE grand celebration at Detmold, Ger
many, last Monday, was not only fitting
tribute to the first Teutonic hero who
made an indelible mark upon history, but
testified also to the fidelity with which the
children of the Fatherland cling to the
memory Of those whose courage and pa
tr1otism have contributed to the nations
freedom and prosperity.
To the vast majority of readers-Ger-
many excepted-the name of Hermann
has no significance. In truth, that name
does not appear in other than German an
nails, while every student is familiar with
the parsonage to whom it refers under his
Roman ignation-Arminius The son
OF Sigimer, chief of the Cuerusci, he was
born in the year Is B. c., and while still
mere youth was sent to Rome as hos
tage. 1t is supposed that his rare abilities
attracted the notice Of the Government,
| for hereceived an education at the States
expense, and at the proper age was given
subordinate position in the Roman army
Here he acquitted himself so CALAMITY that
into the class of equities. But, though
Roman citizen and officer, Arminius was
| always intensely German at heart, and
waited patiently for the time when he
| might strike an effective blow in behalf of
his country's liberties. The time came
sooner than he anticipated. Aboutthe year
8 the Emperor Augustus sent Publius
! Quintilius Varus to take command of
the army in Germany, with instructions to
| Introduce there the regular administra-
ton OF a Roman province. This change
of laws, coupled with injudicious zeal
of the new ruler, produced widespread
dissatisfaction which soon eliminated in
open revolt. A leader for the disaffected
tribes was found in the person of Armin
JUS, whose military skill and knowledge
of the enemy's tactics speedily bore
bloody fruit Varus advanced into the re-
| bellious region at the head of three legions
about $4,000 infantry and 900 cavalry
and the usual number of auXiliaries; the
whole force amounting perhaps to 10000
or $4,000 men. After proceeding to the
formed an intrenched camp, in accordance
with the invariable custom of Roman
Generals of that era. Had he remained
in this camp he would have been safe, but,
being tempted out By false information
conveyed to him by the spies of Armin-
Jus, he again set forward through a
broken and thickly-wooded country pc
culiarly adapted for ambuscades. The
soldiers, suspecting no danger, marched
in loose order and encountered by heavy
baggage trains and embarrassed by a
| large number of women and children;
while Varus and his officers appear to
have totally neglected all the usual pre-
cautions and INDUCED in the fatal mis-
take of despising the foe who had
so frequently fled in dismay before
the world-conquering eagles. This
carelessness and contempt were fear
fully expiated. AS the army was
slowly moving through a dense forest it
was suddenly attacked in front and on
both TANKS, but managed to beat back the
Germans until nightfall, when rude
Romans emerged from this slender forti
fcation and resumed their march, assaulted
at every step by the swarming enemy, and
unable from the nature of the ground to
| force a fight on equal terms. This guerrilla
| warfare continued two days-Varus en-
deavoring to cut his way through to the
fortress of Also, on the river Lippe-but
at point near what is now called KreutZ-
berg, the main German army under Ar
minus stood in the path, and the battle
henceforth became slaughter. When the
Roman commander saw that all was lost
he committed suicide, and, as no quarter
was given hardly solitary man was left
| to tell the tale. 1t is said that for months
| after the dismal news reached Rome Au
| gustus would rise from his bed at the dead
of night and pace the room in terrible ex-
| element, exclaiming continually: "Oh,
| Quintilius Varus, give me back my le-
| gions!"
| This victory won for Arminius the title
of Deiiverer of Germany" but he was
subsequently thrice defeated by Germani-
Gus, his wife captured, and he himself
was finally assassinated by one of his own
countrymen, A. D. 19.-St. LOUIS RepltbLi-
can.
Ben Franklin said he could tell nice
woman by the way she kneaded her