Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-06-19

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 furong away was 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 a burial party were digging |
a trench to bury them. The fresh killing |
was going on little way off.
Why the French did not shell the hill
where we were | do not comprehend, un-
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 a clear space, an
actual solitude, not straggler or messen-
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
going on at headquarters. There were no
movements indicating excitement, no gees
ticulations or animated conversation. There
was much greater composure OF manner
than one sees in a company OF serious spec
tators at a horse race. | recall clearly, as
/ n the battle had happened yesterday, three
erect figures-those 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 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 a 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.
II seemed very queer that the commander
of $4,000 men in a battle where as many
, soldiers fell in one day as in the three days
fighting at Gettysburg, should have to al
! appearances so little to do with them, anc
no directions TO give as the gigantic strue
gle progressed. The explanation is plainl,
In Moltke's method Of making war. HI
was working out a problem, that OF sepa
rating the French armies, the object OF tn
combat on hand being TO drive Bazsin
into Metz All the orders had been issued
p and each corps knew its duty fully.
The hours during which | was nea
Moltke on this day Of his grandest battl
were from il:3O until nearly 3, and thi
was the time in which the Germans wer
developing their attack on the left, o
north. The Germans had performed tn
flank march and were facing toward thei
own country, and the French fought wit
] their faces turned 10 Paris. The Frenc
q position was admirably chosen and tens
% ciously held. The Germans had one thin
A 10 do-attack the Who line strenuousl
. and develop their superior numbers .
' crush the right flank OF their enemy
' The fatal error Of Bazaine was In not put
ting the French imperial guard on tina
flank.
The long pause on the elevation Of th
German royal headquarters, isolated from
the fighting forces, though near them, wa
= to await the extension OF the lines north
ward 10 overlap the French formation
:, but Of course | did not know what wa
y going on under my eyes, and seventeen
70 years later visiting the ground, j coul
10 not find the hill where the king had waite
so long. With the armies gone, the peace
full harvested helds-e few peoples glow
p ing in the stubble-were utterly unfami
y lar, and the many monuments over th
mn fallen brave did not do much in explainin
To positions. | do not wonder the Frenc
long for the province of Lorraine. IL is
q most beautiful country, and what I'll
of French remember most bitterly OF Moltk
Is is that he insisted upon taking Metz
IS, well as Strasburg.
e. AFTER THE nArrLE.
~ About 3 o'clock OF the Gravelotte afte
~ noon a messenger came at good speed, b'
not In hot haste, to Moltke with an O
velope. and In a few minutes the who
ar company, with the exception OF Mr.. Co
way and myself and the kings servan
and drivers, mounted their horses and TO
forward, tho tall, slight form OF Mott
At leaning forward on the kings right. Ii
ay marck riding humping trotAer In I
OF rear. They raised good deal Of a clio
themselves, through which their helm,
tic glistencd rs they moved down the hill. n
nd, soon the smoke and dust swallowed tn,
up and | saw the king and field marshal
ne mora
nj. IL has seemed to me there might app
ST. in this sketch something of the true o
lines, however vaguely and out OF prop
an. ton. drawn in his period OF greatest act
ma isy and glory, Of the faithful and grand
lar servant aud soldier Of his country who
passed away.
an, II should be added that the young Z
mr. p<,ror does not exaggcrate when he 81
led Moltks WAS equal In the field to an ar
corps. The German soldiers regarded b
sdy A. infNllsble As a good and great old faith
he was . comfort 20 them. Under
Law command they were safe. that Ia, q
: i would not be driven to die In vain Il
am impossible 20 overcstimSte the value
90 this cpundlcSs confidence Of sn army In
rs- leader. - Murat Hsiste~d in Ctncinr
Conmercil Gazette.