The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-01-19
THREE BLUE HUSSARS.
THE PRUsslAN cAvALRYMEN WHO
WERE FIRST TO ENTER PARIS.

:
THE PRusslAN CAvALRYMEN WHO
WE'RE FIRST TO ENTER PARIS.
A Curious Incident Which Might Have
Prolonged the Franco-Prussian War.
Interview with One of the Daring Adj
vance Guards-A Possibility.
Among the many who read with inter-
est the review of Mr.. E. B. Washburne's
last literary work, "Recollections of q
Minister to France" was Mr.. Albert ID.
Levinger, prominent gentleman who is
now staying in this city. In the review
special reference was made to the singular
fact that Paris after the Franco-Prussian
war was first entered by three hussars,
and not, as is generally supposed, by 3d.
600 Prussian troops in body. This curl
Gus incident, which proved to be of but
minor Importance, but which might have
ended the armistice and prolonged the
war, seems to have escaped all other his
torianS but Mr.. Washburne. Evidently
unaware of the circumstances attending
this singular and hitherto unexplained epi-
sode Mr.. Washburne dismisses it in
paragraph and Incorrectly illustrates the
blue horsemen as emerging from the
Arc de Triomphe. In the review 1t was
said that the treaty of peace provided for
the admission on March 1, 1871, of 30, 900
Prussians into the capital. But they did
not all come together.
On the contrary, Paris may be said to
have been taken possession of, strange as
it may appear, by three blue hussars. On
the morning of March 8, at 8 o'clock, they
rode in at the Porte Maillot, proceeded up
the avenue of the Grand Army and
walked their horses slowly down the
magnificent avenue of the Champs Elysees
with carbines cooked and finger upon the
trigger, three horsemen, the sole heralds
or representatives of the tremendous con-
quering host that had overthrown France.
One of these hussars was Mr.. Levinger,
chen cadet sergeant in the Thirteenth
Blue Hussars. The second was Baron
Won Jageman, lieutenant in the same
regiment, and the third was private, who
acted as orderly. Your correspondent,
learning of Mr.. Levfnger's connection
with the affair, sought an interview, in
the course of which Mr.. Levinger said:
ION March l the second, third and
fourth squadrons Of my regiment left
Versailles about 4 O'Clock in the morning.
The troops which were to enter Paris had
left the night before and were quartered
near the Longchamps, so as to be fresh the
next morning for the review and the en-
try of Paris. To let as many corps as
possible enter the city among the stip-
ulated 30, 900 men only the first battalion
of each infantry regiment and the first
squadron Of each cavalry regiment were
selected to compose the occupying force.
When we reached tho Longchamps the Of
the emperor would review the troops and
tentats or any attempt upon his life.
eve were ordered to ride patrouilles to
the Notifications of Paris, and not to al.
low any civilian, whosoever he might be,
to remain in the Bots de Boulogne. I
rode the first patrouille, and found several
people occupying houses in the Bots, but
they left when ordered them to 60 into
the city. Resuming my ride to the forti-
fications arrived at the gate and halted
my men. Without giving the matter a
second thought rode over the bridge and
stood in Paris, the first Prussian to enter
the city. A few people who were there
shouted, THE Prussiansp but they made
no hostile demonstrations, and, after look
ing around, rode out and Joined my
men, When returned told my friend.
Baron Won Jagemen, that I had been IL
Paris.
"'You are only Joking he replied.
81 assured him that had really been
within the Notifications. He was man
who was fond of adventure, and he imme
diately proposed another trip. assented,
and we selected an orderly to go with us.
His name, think, was Kaiser. When
we entered Paris the streets were well
nigh deserted. We walked our horses up
one of the principal avenues. On the left
we noticed hospital, in front of which
were many wounded soldiers. We very
properly saluted, but they sullenly declined
to return it. We rode along until we
reached the Arc de Triomphe. At the
sight of that magnificent pile our hearts
swelled with pride, and Jageman and
elasped hands with much emotion at being
the first Prussians in Paris.
'"The Arc de Triomphe was closed with
heavy chains and deep bitches were dug
before it, so that we could not pass
through it, and by doing so painfully
wound French national pride. Crowds Of
people assembled at the Arc, and when
they saw us approaching they shouted,
tAssassinsl Prussiansp and crowded us so
closely that I drew my saber in anticipa.
ton of an attack.
"sFor Gods sake, Levinger,' said Jage-
man, don't get in a row. Let us return.
If it become known that we entered Paris
against orders we will be court martialed.
1t does not matter SO much to you, for
you will leave the army after the war, but
it will ruin my military career
ho1 Inn fix1oN r.,
ride as far as the Notifications only, and,
seeing the wisdom of his counsel, as
sented. We turned around and rode to
the gate of the Bots de Boulogne. When
we entered the Bots we met Director of
Field Police Stieber and about 100 men.
We told him where we had been, and he
asked in establishment: what did you seer
What did they say to your
Some threw little mud at US and we
were paid few compliments replied.
One of Director Stieber's officers wanted
to go in with the director, but the latter
replied that he preferred to wait until q
regiment could accompany him. We re-
Joined our regiment. The emperor ar
rived shortly, and, after reviewing the
troops, returned to Versailles, while the
30, O00selected men marched into Paris
"We said nothing about our adventure
for fear of being court martialed. In the
rapidly changing panorama Of events
which were crowded into that spring we
did not realize what we had done. have
since thought, however, that if we had
got into fight with the sansculottes in the
streets and been killed the result might
have been serious. The Paris mob was
ready for any kind Of violence, as the ter
rible commune subsequently showed, and
the Prussians were in no mood for trifing
Baron Won Jageman is still in the regular
army and in the same regiment of which
King Humbert Of Italy is honorary coll