The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-05
MURAT HALSTEAO DESCRIBES THE
OLD FIELD MARSHAL.

was a remarkable one. first guessed the
presence of the king from the peculiar hats
with oilcloth coverings of his Positions,
and also the shining face of black serv-
ant who was very distinguished man.
Three carriages stood near. Bismarck
had blanket spread on the ground, and
was lying on it so quietly that possibly he
was sleeping The staff officers seemed to
be all tall men, and handsome, and was
especially struck by the symmetry of their
legs and the beauty of their boots There
were many dead horses about. They had
been exposed to the hot sun two days and
spoiled the air
A furlong away was a hillside covered
with litter / could not for while make
out. There was a resemblance in it to
flock of sheep or cattle The objects were
dead men, and burial party were digging
trench 60 bury them. The fresh killing
was going on little way off.
Why the French did not shell the hill
where we were l do not comprehend, I'M
less it was that the superiority of the Ger
man artillery was so great that the French
guns were reserved for close work. That
which seemed on the spot unaccountable
was that there should be clear space, an
actual solitude, not a straggler or Inessen-
ger, between the kings headquarters and
the army, and for two hours, while the
thunders of the engagement literally shook
the hills, there was no communication
whatever by wire or signal or orderly be-
tween the army and its king and chieftain.
NO EXCITEMENT.
Indeed, there did not seem to be much
al xoA
movements indicating excitement, no GEES
ticulations or animated conversation. There
was much greater composure of manner
than one sees in company of serious spec
tators at horse race. l recall clearly, as
if the battle had happened yesterday, three
erect figures-thoseo of the king and Moltke
and Sheridan. The latter was the shortest
man on the ground, and his United States
uniform was weather beaten. The king
was standing quietly, and seemed at inter
walls to be asking questions of those who
probably knew the ground.
Moltke was a few PAGES from the kings
right hand and in front, and wore a helmet
and long light blue overcoat buttoned
from throat TO waist. In his left hand he
held field glass, through which he occa-
sionally studied the tremendous scene.
Only once did he approach the king to say
something. did not have view of his
full front face, but saw the parchment
cheek and familiar profile quite distinctly,
and have been reminded of the outline Of
his face by that of General Sherman.
1t seemed very queer that the commander
of 100000 men in a battle where as many
soldiers fell in one day as in the three days
fighting at Gettysburg, should have to all
appearances so little to do with them, and
no directions to give as the gigantic strug-
gle progressed. The explanation is plainly
in Moltke's method of making war. He
was working out problem, that of sepa-
rating the French armies, the object of the
combat on hand being to drive Bazaine
into Metz. Ali the orders had been issued,
and each corps knew its duty fully.
ON THE HILL.
The hours during which I was near
Moltke on this day of his grandest battle
were from 11:30 until nearly 3, and this
was the time in which the Germans were
developing their attack on the left, or
north. The Germans had performed the
flank march and were facing toward their
own country, and the French fought with
their faces turned to Paris. The French
position was admirably chosen and tena-
ciouslv held. The Germans had one thing
to do-attack the whole line strenuously
and develop their superior numbers TO
crush the right flank of their enemy.
The fatal error of Bazaine was in not put
ting the French imperial guard on that
flank.
The long pause on the elevation Of the
German royal headquarters isolated from
the fighting forces, though near them, was
to await the extension Of the lines north
WARD to overlap the French formation,
but of course ! did not know what was
going on under my eyes, and seventeen
years later, visiting the ground, could
not find the hill where the king had waited
so long, With the armies gone, the peace
full harvested felds-a few peoples glow
ing in the stubble-were utterly unfagnil !
lar, and the many monuments over the |
fallen brave did not do much in explaining
positions / do not wonder the French
long for the province of Lorraine. II is a
most beautiful country, and what the I
French remember most bitterly Of Moltke /
is that he insisted upon taking Metz as /
well as StTasburg.
AFTER THE BATTLE
About O'Clock OF the Grayelotte after I
noon a messenger came AT good speed, but |
not in hot haste, 10 Moltke with an en-
velope. and in a few minutes the whole 1
company, with the exception OF Mr.. Con |
way and myself and the kings servants 4
and drivers. mounted their, horses and rode /
forward, the tall, slight form OF Moltke !
leaning forward on the kings right. Biz 4
msrck riding humping trotter IN the .