The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-02-13
A DUKES REVENGE
1t Gave to Germany Her Most
Distinguished Regiment.
THE DEATHS HEAD HUSSARS.

William OF Brunswick, Napoleon's
Ceadly Foe, the Famous Body of
Cavalry Fought Its Way to Renown.
The curt refusal of Napoleon |. TO |
allow Frederick William, duke of
Brunswick, 70 bury the body OF his
exied father in his native land inspir-
ed the organization OF the Deaths |
Head hussars, the most famous regi-
ment in the present German army.
Deeply moved by the ungracious act |
of the despotic Napoleon, Frederick
William, after his first paroxysm OF
indignation and rage had subsidized.
vowed eternal vengeance against the
| French conqueror, and until the day
| Of his death. which was June 10. 1915,
| on the field of Quatre Bras, he was
| Napoleon's most implacable foe in all
! the German states.
Brunswick being barred to him by
the victories Of the relentless French
invader. Duke Frederick William re-
| paired TO Bohemia after his fathers
death. He was without funds, but
through the efforts of his sister, then
princess of Wales, English funds found
their way TO him, and he was enabled
TO set on foot the plans he had formed
to revenge himself upon his enemy.
All Germany was then under Napo-
Icons foot. His armies had swept away
all opposition. Prussia, Brunswick,
Bavaria, Saxony. all the states were
mere yassals of France. But though
conquered or subjugated their hatred
OF the oppreSSor was intense, and I'M
derneath the surface a fire of hatred
Smoldered. which the duke helped to
) fan into the blaze that eventually sent
Bonaparte TO ST. Helena.
The duke announced himself as Ma
poleon's foe. Men floclled TO his stand
, ard. He organized and equipped 1000
cavalrymen and, in memory OF his
2 father, clothed them in black. A silver
skull and crossbones adorned their
hussar headdress, and the silver lace
c slashings of the jackets We're placed TO
resemble the ribs of a skeleton.
3 1.-The Black Brunswickers" they were
called. With the gallant duke at their
head they began n guerrilla warfare
that was continual worry TO tht
French armies. Won Stein. Scharn
horst and others gave them secret en-
couragement.
Through SAx0ny, IIesse and Hanover
L. the troopers gobbled up and put TO tht
$ sword French detachments. Recruit;
. f1ocked to them. 1t Berneck the duke
d gave battle to the French General Ju
1t not and whipped him. All German!
70 thrilled at the romantic accounts O
W the daring of the terrible Black Hus
SaFS."
4 Saxon army was whipped ut Iii
~ tau and another force at Halberstadt
80 4 regiment had grown into an army
- the only one Napoieons troops coul
nv not corner and whip. The duchy {
IN Brunswick was invaded and th
on French garrison alarmed Leipzig We
or surprised and captured.
M Until the battle Of Wagram the duk
ar. and his hussars rode over Germany Z
ed Will That victory gave Napoleon MOI
Itc time to devote TO them. and the dub
~ was forced to fee to England. But Il
IL BLACK Hussars with the death
os. head on their caps, continued the wa
fare in scattered bands. They we
re- welded into brigade in 1914 and. rs
lea part of a division in the allied arm
ex commanded by the Duke of Brunswic
ate rode into Paris after Napoleon's dow
to fall.
nro They fought again during the hu
w. w dred Days. The Duke OF Brunswi
ne did not live to see NapoIeons compile
ia humiliation. He died on the field
for battle while trying TO rally some l
one crtlits who started Il stampede ut t
itv first French fire.
The fame Of the husSars had reach
ose such point that the organization "
ov- continued in the Prussian army. 4
ter day its colonel is the crown prince
MI Germany, and among its officers 6
"Ii princes OF Il dozen rei9ning Germ
~ families.
ana The regiment presents splendid ;
hat pearance on parade, its pcturesq
re- uniform. of which the skull and Gro
sion bones ON the headdress are the M
striking attractions. imparting to
ing dashlng cavalrymen a sinister {
startling effect-Knnsas City Times