NOTES ON THE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 759, 28 October 1870, Page 2

NOTES ON THE WAR.

The following notes are collected from various sources ; chiefly from the special correspondence of the Times:— The French papers have narrated the meeting of Changamier with the Emperor Napoleon, and few can help being touched by the description of the old general of 78 years of age tendering his advice and his sword when his country is in danger to the man whom politically and privately he must hitherto have viewed with intense dislike. Changarnier was one of the officers of the old Algerian army ; he had seen the French eagles pushed forward from the seacoast to the oases of the Sahara ; he had served as a comrade of the Princes of the House of Orleans, and with Lamorici&re and Cavaignac had won his fame in the campaign against Abd-el-Kader. It is curious and instructive to look back on the early life of bo excellent an officer, and to notice how the qualities which he displayed when in high command were equally remarkable when in charge of small bodies of trops. It was in 1835, thirty-five years ago, when Abd-el-Kader was yet only the chief of a few Arabs, that Ghangarnier took part in the expedition against Mascara. The French arms had been successful ; but, unprovided with the requisite supplies, the troops were forced to retreat over a barren and mountainous country to Oran! Each soldier had been served out with rations for the march, holding a small sack of rice in reserve. Provisions failed, and recourse was had to the reserve supply ; but the troops, young, unused to war, and thoughtless of the future, had squandered all their rations, including the bag of rice. One battalion only bad preserved theirs intact, and this was the 2nd Leger, commanded by Captain Cbangarnier, who thus showed that he knew how to command men, and how to preserve discipline under circumstances which test to the utmost the military qualities of soldiers. Again, in 1836, when the French army under Marshal Clauzel had failed in iti attack on Constantine, when, pressed by the garrison from the city, harassed by the Arab horsemen of the surrounding country, perishing from cold and hunger, the remnants of the expeditionary force were retreating towards Bone, Changamier distinguished himself. He commanded the rearguard which had been thrown out in skirmishing order, and which was composed of the remnants, 250 men, of the same 2d Leger. The Arab horsemen had already charged them, and had sabred many, when Changamier formed square. The Mahomedan cavalry, excited by the slaughter of the Christians, and holding in disdain so small a body, swooped down on them, looking for an easy conquest, Cbangarnier waited until they had approached within 25 yards of the face of the square, and, then, calling to his men, said, "You see those fellows there, they are 6000, we are 250, so the aides are about equal. Vive la Roil Fire 1" The man fired steadily, the front if the facep of the square was strewed thickly with men and. honer dying or

dead. The battalion collected its wounded, and, baring given so severe a lesson to the enemy, pursued its retreat unmolested. After this action Changarnier's name stood high in the estimation of the Algerian army, and he rose by successive Bteps until in 1848 he commanded the troops in Algeria. Few of bis old comrades now remain. Cavaignao died in 1857, Lamoriciere in 18G5. Montauhan, Count de Palikao still serves, although at present in a civil capacity, while the Princes of the house of Orleans, whose names were equally known and respected in the old Algerian army, in vain solicit at thiß crisis of their country's fate permission to draw their swords in her defence and again to cast in their lot with their comrades of former wars. Whatever may be the result of the present awful struggle, Changarnier's name will be respected throughout the French service, and his career will be quoted as an example of the gallantry and soldierly qualities of the old Algerian army. A correspondent of the Times tells the following :— You have thus classified war mci». dents, according to their general importance and interest, as — 1, those worthy of mention in a telegram; 2, those worthy of mention in a despatch; 3, those worthy of mention in tho letter of a correspondent at the seat of war. Besides these there are a class of incidents which relate to individual cases of suffering, which may be termed family incidents. It is by dwelling on incidents such as those that Messrs Erkmann-Cbatrian have endeavoured to work in the cause of peace, and they are not less instructive, but perhaps even more calculated to bring home to the English apprehension the sad realities of war than more general descriptions of carnage ; for "every battle of the warrior is and must be with confused noise and garments rolled in blood." Such an incident is that of the death of Count Paul de Leussa with his wife and many of his servants in defence of the Chateau de Reichshoffen, and it seems in accordance with the spirit of the article which I have mentioned to direct, for a moment, attention to that incident. Reichshoffen is a small town in the Vosges, close to Woerth, of about 3000 inhabitants and the chateau stands just outside the town. It is a house of considerable size, and contains some excellent pictures, the stables were well filled, the grounds extensive ; a shady avenue 1 of trees leads to the home-farm, beyond this is the brewery, and beyond the landscape slopes up to the woods which form the chasse of the chateau. De Leusse was a younger son of the Marquis de Leusse. He went early into the naval service, was decorated with the Order of the Legion of Honour for a special act of bravery before he was 19 years old, and served during the Crimean war. After the war he married} left the navy, and went to reside at Reichshoffen. His family consisted, last year, of his wife's mother, his wife, four or five children, and numerous servants. The latter, both in the house and at the home-farm, were treated with a kindness and familiarity which united them by sympathy and common interests with the family ; and, indeed, a more perfect picture of domestic happiness than that exhibited at the Chateau of Reichshoffen it would be difficult to find. De Leusse himself was a very energetic man, and the neighbourhood, aa well as his own property profited by his exertions. He did everything in his power to improve his estate, imported horses from foreign countries, served as maire of the town, took an active interest in all questions of education, was well-informed on all points of trade and fiaance, and worked and expressed his intention to make bis sons work so as, in an age of progress, to be able to live at Reichshoffen in. the style which had long been usual to the family. Last year he was elected deputy for the Haut Rhin. Let me add that in the recollection of any friend that visited the chateau the pioture presented by this scene of comfort, kindness, industry, and happiness must ever be enlightened add beautified by the glow resulting from the remembrance of the cordial hospitality of its gallant master and the exquisite refinement of the ladies who graced his home. All these, the fruits, the blessings of peace, are no more. De Leusse was resolute, as well as brave and energetic, and is said to have announced his intention of defending the chateau, if attacked, to the last. His resolve was not surprising, for he passionately loved his home, and the hatred he expressed for the Prussians was intense. It appears that he has kept his word, for, according to the latest intelligence, he is believed to haVe fallen in defending his house on the afternoon of the battle of Woerth. His wife and several of his servants are stated to have perished with him ; this might well be, for all his servants loved the place and the man, and there was about Madame de Leusse, besides her fair face and gentle manners, that which might well induce those who knew her to believe that, when the occasion came, she wonld prove a heroine, and "true till death." This is one of the family incidents of the war. Letters from officers taking part in the battle of Wcerth are now. filling the German papers. The heat of the day wsb intolerable. The village of Froschweiler was carried by a fierce hand-to-hand encounter, the houses being stormed one by one, the doors burst open by the butt ends of the guns, and many prisoners made — Zouaves andTurcos: 'The assaulting parties of Wurtemberg and Prussian troops, fighting their way from opposite sides, met in the centre of the village, at the foot of the church tower. The letters from which these notes are taken were written by one of the superior officers in the Wurtemberg corps. He adds-:— "Briefly, our entire fight consisted of a continuous movement st v distance of 1800 paces, always, under mar(lerous fire. But our fellows drove steadily forward ; their elan bore them along. They deserve the highest praise. The Crown Prince, as our brigade gathered together, rode up and expressed his acknowledgements in manly words. Had our brigade had with it some cavalry we should hare captured the mitrailleuse batterifs.!' A correspondent of tile CarUruhe ZtUurtj girw •»' in-.

cident:— "ln a bop plantation lay a company of- the 95th Regiment and some pioneers of the 11th Battalion,, the latter armed with the short- barrelled needle-gun. The lieutenant-commander of these last was described to me as a man of dauntless bravery and coolness, and some of his men related to me with admiration how shortly before they had to cross an unsheltered tract under a hail of,bullets, and as they involuntarily ran, crouching and ducking down, he stalked along majestically and bolt upright. To these troops, covered by the hops and tree trunks, presently approached, in gentle trot, a splendid and perfectly fresh regiment of Cuirassiers. Until within a distance of 50 paces, when the French word of command to push forward was called out, our men held the French to be Bavarians. No further doubt was possible, and for the moment our position seemed a; fearful one—it looked like madness to withstand these masses of cavalry, charging with uplifted sabres — fine, stately, and for the most part gigantic- figures, for a few infantry to withstand ; and so our fellows turned to the right-about, to retire as fast as possible. But our pioneer lieutenant stood firm and cried out,' Children, are you going to leave me here alone ? ' And his brave fellows instantly stood still, the infantry also, and at a few steps' distance fired rapid volleys. The regiment was hurled away as if by an earthquake, wiped out like a pencil-stroke with indiarubber. The few who charged through were shot down by other troops. About 200, including the colonel and other officers, were made prisoners." In the destruction of the cuirassier regiments the Ooburg Gotha regiment greatly distinguished itself. The Duke Ernest, who rode throughout the day by the side of the Crown Prince, witnessed their bravery, and gallopping up to them, expressed his pride and gratitude at their gallant conduct. The French regiments of the centre fought under cover, and several Prussian regiments opposed to them were so galled by their fire that they bad to fall batk to reform. Fresh troops at once took their place in the line of fire, and no sooner did the French quit their shelter to take a more forward position than they were driven back. The 4-pound batteries of the Prussians brought up to the front at full gallop silenced several of the mitrailleuses. A successful flank attack on the right was made by the Wiirtemberg Division by order of the Crown Prince, supported by fresh Prussian and Bavarian troops. This, though gallantly withstood for some time, broke down the resistance of the French army, and a hurried retreat ensued. The ground seems to have been very unfavourable for the employment of cavalry on either side. * < " One is never tired, says the same correspondent, of the rich woodland scenery here (the passes of the Vosges). The road sides are bordered by fruit, damson and apple, trees laden with produce, and birch and beech woods of vast extent Burround the cultivated patches. Ihe road winds upwards always through this wooded region, and when we ccc how all the natural defences of the routes have been abandoned by such a people as the French it causes us to reflect on the real value of those hedgerows lined by volunteers on which so much stress is laid by some persons in case of an invasion of England. The road wound through several hamlets and villages, the names of which I cannot find on my maps. At twelve o'clock there was a halt by a wood to rest the infantry, and to allow the Prince and Staff to take whatever lunch they carried with them in their holsters. It was only for half an hour. As the march was- resumed the road presented many signa of the passage of troops, and frequent trnins belonging to the sth Army Corps were met with. Soon we came upon carts laden with " Biscuit de Marseille," and cases of provisions marked " Strasbourg," abandoned by the French, and by way of ornament several horses had their heads decorated with the red worsted epaulets of the French infantry. The telegraph corps were also busy at work setting up a field telegraph, which will be finished to head-quarters to-night, and there is also a corps of railway engineers and artificers to repair damages, and make the enemy's rails available, which makes one think uniform gauge is. not always to be desired. > A turn in a beautiful road, bordered by the most charming sylvan scenery, brought "La Petite Pierre " (Liitzelstein) in view. It stands on a projecting spur of the mountain,- and commands the road to the east and west, but it is itself commanded by higher ground, and would scarcely be tenable even against fieldguns. There is an old redoubt or crownwork over the town proper, provided with fosse and drawbridge, which was intended as a sort of citadel. On the top of this .waved the German flag, and two helmeted, sentries paced the parapets,: in strong ,. relief: against the skyline. Outside the town there was a considerable gathering, of troops, with baggage, &c, and as they saw the Prince they all gave a cheer like a sharp thundering. His Highneis and StaJC entered the tnmble-down town, where old signs of the Fleur-de-Lys, Taureau, and Coutonne hung over the windowrfuH of Prussian soldiers, passed the Poßtes Fran gaises/ passed the . "Gendarmerie Tmpejiale," and went oh at a canter into the fort, if it can be called so, where the words " too late," fa&l in campaigns, were written everywhere in an unfinished stockade, an unmounted cohorn, derricks for mounting guns, wood for platforms, &c, as if it had quite suddenly occurred to the French that it would b« well to look after the passes of the Vosges. There is no .view, except of a lovely strath and wooded hill-side, from the Fort of La Petite Pierre, but when the march was continued for half-an-hour or less further on it was evident that we were descending, although Still on high ground. There, far away, on T our right and in front, lay the rolling land, not of Altace, but of veritable France. Lavallee was right when he wrote that " the tetfparlfef ltomxtne of the Saar,

and Saarlous itself, being in possession of the Germans, the frontier of France between Strasburg and Metz is open.',' His idea that the Vosges might be turned by the way of Mayence and Saarlouis is not being acted on by the Crown Prince, at alt. events, for his Royal Highness's army has been forced into the passes by the necessity of giving the First Army ground to deploy upon. We made a most interesting march to-day, inasmuch as- we crossed the boundary on to French ground. It was curious to see on the side of the roads the camp fires that had been left by the foe, the ashes of which could scarcely have been cold, with here and there an odd shako, or kepi, thrown on one side in their somewhat hasty retreat after Forbach. A little further and in the far distance could be descried the solitary vedette ; a little way further, anrl we baa freßh intelligence of the foe — broken telegraphs, &c. We traversed many miles amid the most lovely scenery, and soon came to some fallen trees and broken roads, evidences of where the enemy had intentions of making a stand had such been necessary. Very soon our own troops were seen, marching from every road on to the one road which was their culminating point. Masses of infantry and columns of artillery were passed in detail till we reached Saargeraund, which is a French town, and which the the French had left only 12 hours before it was transferred to the troops of King William. A certain young lieutenant of the Brunswick Hussars had orders to patrol towards the town with only a couple of his men. As he approached it, to his astonishment, he saw no signs of French troops in it ; and, with the audacity of youth be cantered into it with his two Hussars clattering after him. He reined up opposite the market place, demanding the nearest way to the burgomaster's house, which was pointed out to him ; but in the meantime a crowd had collected, who began to show somewhat hostile indications. He had his revolver in his hand, and one of the peasants, with more courage than his neighbours, said, ".What's. the good of that ? He dare not fire at us," " Daren't I?" replied the Hussar, levelling his pistol and firing over the man's head, which, I need not ! say, so intimidated the valorous townsfolk that they instantly cheered him, which was, of course,' tantamount to running away. He then proceeded to the burgomaster nnd demanded quarters for two infantry regiments and a battery of artillery, which he expected would shortly enter the town. This being accorded, he sent one of his Hussars back to his regiment, about five miles off, with the intelligence that the town was empty, and in two hours afterwards the Brunswick Hussars, trotting into the place, proclaimed it a captured town. The lieuten ant in question, quite a boy, Herr von Ksenig by name, was for two hours entirely at the mercy of 1000 inhabitants at the very least. When we arrived we found the town — or, rather, I should say, the hospitals, of which I cannot speak too highly— full of French soldiers wounded at For bach. They were treated with the greatest kindness, as may be supposed,- and had all, more or less, suffered from wounds inflicted above the waistbelt, which speaks volumes for the precision of the Prussian troops. Some had hands shot away, some scalp wounds, some were shot through the stomach, and one poor fellow was dying whilst I was . there from a ball through the lungs. It was quite touching to see these poor fellows waited upon by the Sisters of Mercy, who, with their black robes and their white crosses, seemed indeed ministering angels from Heaven. Of all horrors attendant on so great a horror as war nothing strikes the observer so much as a hospital. There all the enthusiasm is hushed, there none of the glories of a victory are evident—nothing but the poor tool gasping out his remaining moments in this world, and, from inanition, incapable of thinking of the next. I rode over to Saarbruck to-day, about eight miles from this place, to view the battlefield. If any of my readers happen to know Aldershott as well as I do, they will recollect a certain height called Csesar's Camp the scene of many a mimic combat. Well, that is as like the hill which on the great day was three times stormed before it could be wrested from the French as I can describe it — with, be it understood, not quite so bluff a summit, and here and there a tree on it. This centre hill was flanked on either side a little to its rear, by two others, thickly overed by fir trees. In short, a stronger position for a Division to take up it is impossible to. imagine. In front of these hills are open plains for at least a quarter of a mile, which the Prussians had to traverse under fire before they could' come to the charge. To give you an idea of the steepness of the absolute hill itielr, I can only say that I was obliged to dismount and lead my horse up it. The whole ground for a mile in circumference was strewed with knapsacks, pouches, helmets, rifles, kepis, and the thousand and one accoutrements that complete a soldier's kit. As I arrived a party of countrymen were disinterring the body of a captain in the Prussian army, under the superintendence of the clergyman of Saarbruck, to whom bis sorrowing relatives had written, begging that his body might be sent home to them. Three French officers were found to have been interred with him, whose picturesque appearance even four days in the earth had hardly destroyed. Poor fellows, they were gently laid back in their last reating-place, and the little cross, with" Three brave French officers reßt here " inscribed on it in pencil, was utuck again at the head of the grave ; and so we left them. Among the French who fell into the handß of the Prussians after the battle of Woerth were two correspondents of the Paris press, M. Henri Chabrillart, of the Figaro, and M. Cardon.of the Gaulois. Each of these gentlemen has published an account of his adventures. At Soulz they were brought into the presence of the Crown Prince, and the interview is thus described bj M. Chabrillart:—"l confess lam very much embtr-

rassed. If I draw a flattering portrait of the Prince it will be said that I am sold to the Prussians ; if I draw an unfavourable picture of him to gratify any malevolent passion I shall be guilty of ini'ustiee and falsehood. I am a reporter, which means a kind of photographer. I shall therefore simply and truly state what I saw and what was said. Those who may be dissatisfied with my account must deal with the Prince themselves. It is not my fault that he is human. Would to Heaven that all Germans were like him ; but, unfortunately, it is not so. Prince Frederick William, heir to the Crown of Prussia, is a man of tall sta'ure, thin, with a calm and placid countenance, but in the curve of his aquiline nose and his dilating nostrils there are evidences of energy, while the rapidity of his glance convinces you of his decision. A full fair beard softens the somewhat stern expression of his features. He has great simplicity of manner, and affects rather a kind or bourgeois style of speaking, thinking, and general behaviour. He was dressed in a black tunic with red collar and facings, without any embroidery or gold braid, upon the shoulder a small epaulet to indicate his rank, but no other distinguishing ornament. He wore a small black cap bordered with red, and the whole uniform was severely simple. He speaks French with great purity, without foreign accent beyond a alight German intonation and occasional hesitation at certain words. 'Do you speak German, sir ?' said he to me. 4 No, Prince, not sufficiently.' 'I am sorry f.-r it, as otherwise you would have heard in what manner our troops speak of yours, and in whut eatcem they hold them.' ' I thank you very much for that opinion.' ' Oh, it is qu'te deserved. We have all admired the tenacity and the courage which have been evinced by even the humblest of your soldiers.' Then, with much delicate consideration, and almost making excuses for mentioning the facts to us, he told us that they hat taken between 3000 and 4000 prisoners, 30 guns, six mitrailleuses, and two eagles. ' Among the prisoners,' said he, •is General Raoult. I went this morning to see him at Reichshofen, where he lies wounded, his hip and thigh being broken ; I fear that he is now dying. He is a brave officer, and he has given me some addresses in Paris to which he wishes letters to be sent.' 'But Prince,' I observed, • the other prisoners also have families.' • I have thought of that. I have had them supplied with writing materials ; the letters will be sent unsealed to our Consul at Geneva, who will forward them to France.' ' Prince, we thank you on behalf of the mothers whose grief you are about to assuage.' 'I do not like war, gentlemen. If I should reign I would never make it. Now, despite my love of peace, this is the third campaign that I have been compelled to make. I went over the battlefield yesterday. It was frightful. If it only depended upon myself this war would end here. It is your Ministers and the Emperor who would have it, it was not we who wanted it. And yet the Emperor has been very good to me and very kind to my wife. The last time that I caw him was at the Tuileries on the 12th of January, when he said to me, " You know that I have found a new Minister." That was this M. OUivier, who now makes this war against us.' 'It is terrible, indeed; and I think your artillery is very formidable.' • No, Sir, it is not superior to yours, but we make different use of it from what you do, placing it more freely with the advanced posts. Your aim is very good — too good, indeed; for we have lost, I think, more than you have. I have regiments, which have lost 29 or 30 officers. But we have taken prisoners, and that restores our advantage.' 'Ad enormous advantage, for you know well what you had before you yesterday.' ' Nearly 40,000 men, the Corps of Marshal M'Mahon, and a division of the 7th Corps. I did not intend to attack, wishing only to make a reconnaisance in force, but one ia not always able to put an end to a fight when once it has begun. It was fortunate for us on the whole, as he would doubtless have received reinforcements, and we should have had still harder work next day.' ' Prince, it seems to me that you are very well informed concerning our army.' ' One must be so,' said he smiling. ' But,' said I, wilfully committing an error, ' it was your entire army which was engaged, 250,000 men at least.' 1 Not so many — 180,000 men. They all fought well, but if the Bavarians had marched as well as our men we should have had it all over by noon inßtead of fighting until after six o'clock. I should not give battle to your army unless I was superior in number— otherwise I would prefer to retire.' 'You have one great advantage, Prince, in the precision of the movement of your troops. From the tower of Woerth we admired, though with the grief caused by witnessing your success, the tw.i flanking movements which you effected upon our positions.' ( The hills of Freischweller are real fortifications, and I did not care to attack them directly. By turning them I lost fewer men.' 'We are very much obliged, Prince, for the few minutes you have been pleased to devote to us, but we do not see with you the Duke of Coburg, whom we desire to thank, for it was he who saved us yesterday, and, notwithstanding his many anxieties, he has not forgotten the promise which he made to speak to you about üb.' 'I will perform your commission.' *We now ask that we may be .taken back to the advanced posts.' ' I see no objection ; " and then, having courteously saluted us, he withdrew."