Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-11
IN FIELD IN oxoN RUN COUNTRY.

Joinville, the Duke of Chartres and the
Count of Paris.
In Washington I met Gen. Butterfeld.
chief of staff of the Army of the Po-
tomac. who was there on leave, and
from him I learned how l might reach
the army.
Thereupon secured an outfit for my
self with the greatest possible dispatch.
Among other things I got uniform
adapted to the climate Of America, though
somewhat contrary to the regulations
laid down for such apparel in Prussia.
discarded the Russian epaulets which we
Prussians wore in those days, and in
place Of the stiff, gold -embroidered. black
silk collar of our uniform I donned a
light rundown collar, on which / had
sewed the star denoting my rank of first
lieutenant. I learned afterward that. ow-
ing to this Transformation, which gave
my outfit a certain similarity to that of
an American lieutenant general, I was
America did l expect such rapid promo
ton!
Then l secured good horse from Col.
Won Radowitz. who had formerly held
that rank in the Prussian cavalry guards,
and who had entered the army of the
United States after leaving the service
of Prussia He was the main purveyor
Of horses to the United States govern
ment, and was said to have amassed a
handsome fortune in this way.
Instead of the ordinary English saddle
/ chose an American wooden saddle such
as was used by the American soldiers.
These saddles were SO eXcellently made
as to cause scarcely any discomfort. The
stirrups were of thick wood, like those
in Mexico with leather covering over
the front part. They had the double adj
vantage of protecting the foot from cold
and preventing twigs from getting caught
in the stirrup during ride through un-
derbrush. Later on / turned over this
saddle to the PruSsian ministry of war
for experiments, which were quite sue
cessful.
1 went down the Potomac on q small
steamboat to where the army was sta
toned. On board there was a gay
company bound to visit relatives and
friends In the army over Sunday-to
my mind strange kind OF outing.
But social life, as l had already
learned in Washington. was little dis
turbed by the war. This was probably
due to the fact that the army had been
raised by enlistment and not by draft
ing. Dancing and general gayety on
the steamboat were interrupted only
when we met a steamboat covered with
Grape that was carrying men who had
been killed in battle back to Washington.
Our river journey ceased at Aqua
creek. from which point a narrow-gauge
military railway took US to Falmouth,
near the armyS general headquarters.
We rode open nat cans, seated on
the edge and swinging our legs over the
side.
Headquarters was gigantic cluster
of tents. standing in long rows in the
midst of a clearing. To find my way
about in the midst of this chaos of
tents-concerning which I shall have
more to say later-struck me as far from
easy. l felt by no means at home there,
especially as my servant was not to ar
rive until the next day with my baggage,
my horse and a second mount furnished
to me by the government. I had a let
ter of introduction to the commander
of the army, Gen. Hooker, which / was
to deliver to him in person, but, as he
had gone to Washington over Sunday
could not present my credentials, and
found the greatest difficulty in getting
shelter and food. especially as my Eng
nsh in those days was very meager.
eventually Swede, Capt Eosencranz,
who spoke good German, took me into
his tent.
The romance of war was brought home
to me ON the very first day of my pres
ence with the army, for. toward even
ing, the roar of cannon sounded from the
Rappahannock, and a Russian, Capt
Rasderishin, urged me to ride with him
in that direction. That was an impress