The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-09-20

many of our patrols and advance
guards. Guerrillas are considered
and treated as murderers by all
nations. After much harm had been
done to our corps by franc-tireurs, we
received strict orders to shoot on the
spot every man caught with arms in
his possession; or who was found in a
house out of which shots had been fred
at our forces. In those days l spoke
French very 1uently, and for that
reason was generally deputized to lead
foraging parties, which frequently
brought me in contact with franc
tireurs, and the unpleasant duty of
ordering executions had often de-
volved on me.
One morning came with five of my
men to small hamlet called
Villeneuve, and after being assured
by the mayor that no armed men were
concealed in any of the houses we
Went about our business of
requisitioning oats and hay, in ex.
change of which L gave receipt,
which was afterwards honored by the
French government. had taken the
precaution to compel the mayor to
accompany us. The last house we
came to was solid stone building,
standing alone in vegetable garden.
When we came near to the house, over
dozen shots were fired at us, wound
of us were hit more or less by small
shot. The many shots fred indicated
that would not be able to take the
house by assault with my remaining
three men, SO l sent one man back to
camp for reinforcements, while we
other three rode around the house in
a large circle, to make sure that
nobody could escape. In about an
hour my sergeant and thirty-eight men
came to my assistance. At first the
franc-tireurs in the house showed
fight and fred several volleys; but sur
rendered when they saw us approach
ing under cover of three wagon loads
of hay, which we would have used to
set the house on fire. We captured
seven men, fourteen rifles and shot
guns, and lot of women and children,
but these latter we did not bother
with. The seven men and the mayor
I ordered to be placed against stone
wall, each to be shot by the carbines
Of three dragons.
i As usual on such occasions, the
women and children fell on their knees,
and with many lamentations begged
for mercy for their husbands and
fathers; without avail, for no discre-
tion was left to me in such matters.
On this particular occasion, I was as
sured by one woman with two children
that her husband had come into the
: house by mere accident while before,
, and was innocent of shooting or any
other evil intent. AS this story was
, corroborated by all the other prisoners,
1 gladly allowed the man to depart;
but the other six and the mayor were
shot. To make the matter short:
} Half an hour after had came back to
T camp and sent in my written report,
was placed under arrest and sum-
moned before a court-martial which
, sentenced me to fourteen days house
: arrest for having exceeded my author
t ity and having acted contrary to or
q ders. I was told expressly that the
{ court considered my offense mere
/ error of judgment, as 1 had reported
. the matter myself. If I had not done
q so, and the court should have learned
. of the affair thru one of the pri-
Yates, they would have been obliged to
i send me to a fortress for three months.
g AS we were on the march, the house
r arrest could not be strictly executed;
q but 1 had to ride without my sabre in
the rear of the regiment, where, how
l ever, almost constantly enjoyed the
t company of my fellow officers. The
matter was, withall, very annoying to
:. me; but l felt particularly morti-
:. fed the next morning, when we were
: informed by two of our spies, that the
y man [ saved from execution, was the
: ringleader of dangerous band of
7! franc-tireurs, and that the story of his
- innocence was concocted affair. 1t
= taught me we'll deserved Iessonl /
: will add that all punishments are
% meted out according to rank. was q
IS second lieutenant at the time. Had ]
&c been corporal, my punishment would
! have been lighter; but proportions
2 ately heavier had been q captain OF