Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-08-05
Fighting the Amazons.

Much has been added to the litera-
ture of the soldiers sufferings in war
by the recent expedition of conquest
on the part of the French against Dsho-
mey, an Independent and warlike
kingdom of Western Africa. Gen.
Dodds, the French commander, took
the straightest course with his expedi-
tion to Abomey, the capital. He wns
met by the Dahomeyans with 3
splendid and desperate resistance, in
VIII ch the famous corps of Amazons,
or women soldiers, of the King Of Da-
honey held prominent part. Tho
assaulting French did not spare these
feminine warriors. A letter from the
expedition written to the Paris Jour
nal des Debats contains this note:
1--WE were In the midst of m expanse
of tall grass, SO high that a man ON
horse back could not be seen in the
midst of it. This made US the victims
of countless ambushes and surprises.
But our Lebel guns made havoc among
the Dahomeyans. Many 4 brave
Amazon paid with her life the penalty
of her warlike ardor.
AT first we were filed with pity
when we came upon the bodies of these
women warriors, slain by our hands.
women! But they wero furious Great
ures, and we knew what fate was in
reserve for us If we fell into their
hands. The struggle for life came to
mean more than considerations of gal
lantry."
The courageous Amazons left tho
Frenchmen no rest, harrassing them
dav and night The early engage
ments of the campaign thinnod the
ranks OF the famous corps terribly. but
they fought on with Increasing des-
peration.
I'VE had routed the Dahomsyans,"
the same writer records, land expected
no further serious resistance; but IL
was at Koto, where we encountered
the remnant of the AmaZons, that We
met the most terrible slaughter. They
left us no respite"
Near Koto the French were unable
for long time to obtain water, and
suffered intensely from thirst. A
Captain of cavalry volunteered to
undertake., with squad Of men, .
dangerous expedition in search of
water, and Gen. Dodds accepted tho
offer.
That night of the 10th OF October
writes an officer 10 another French
journal, II shall remember all my
life. No one slept in the tent where
we were piled up together, painting.
From time 10 time licked the metal
haadie oi my revolver, to produce Ia
my mouth and throat an illusion Of
GOODNESS and thirst-slaking.
AT about o'clock in the morning
| heard hubbub over toward the
cavalry quarters. 1t must be Capt.
Cremicu-Foa coming back with water!
Seizing coffee-pot, hid 1t under my
coat like thief. and crept over to the
cavalry. l was on good terms with .
Lieutenant there. Cremieu-Foa had
really come; and got of the Lieu,en-
ant-blessings on him forever!-about
quart of muddy wafer in my coffee
pot
Back to tho tent I went with It,
and we rationed 1t out drop by drop.
Each one of us got about \ mouthful Of
this mirc. How delicious 1t seemed!
but about an hour later terrible
rainstorm burst upon us; and then we
had water orgy. Everything that
would hold water-bottles, Gala ba shes,
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Set out, and all
We're filed in less than sixty minutes.
II think that on the day that fol-
lowed drank about twenty quarts Of
water"