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WITH AN AMBULANCE DURING THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND ADVENTURES WITH BOTH ARMIES 1870-1871
WITH AN AMBULANCE DURING THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND ADVENTURES WITH BOTH ARMIES 1870-1871
By CHARLES E. RYAN, F.R.C.S.I., M.R.C.P.I. KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF LOUIS II, OF BAVARIA WITH PORTRAIT AND MAPS NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 153-157 FIFTH AVENUE 1896 ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRESS. TO JAMES TALBOT POWER, MY OLD FRIEND AND SCHOOLFELLOW, I DEDICATE THE FOLLOWING PAGES....
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PREFACE.
PREFACE.
Ere I attempt to set before the public this slight record of my experiences during the Franco-German War, I must first disclaim all pretence to literary merit. It was written in 1873, and is simply an embodiment of a series of notes or jottings, taken during the war in my spare moments, together with the contents of a number of descriptive letters to my friends. They were written solely for them, and nothing was farther from my mind at the time than the idea of publication. Thus, they remained i
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CHAPTER I. FROM DUBLIN TO PARIS VIA BRUSSELS.—THE WAR FEVER.—LEVIES TO THE FRONT.
CHAPTER I. FROM DUBLIN TO PARIS VIA BRUSSELS.—THE WAR FEVER.—LEVIES TO THE FRONT.
The first question friends will naturally ask is, how I came to think of going abroad to take part in the struggle between France and Germany, what prompted me to do so, and by what combination of circumstances my hastily arranged plans were realised. These points I will endeavour to explain. From the outset of the war I took a deep interest in the destinies of France, and warmly sympathised with her in her affliction. I longed earnestly to be of some service to her; indeed, my enthusiasm was so
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CHAPTER II. I JOIN THE ANGLO-AMERICAN AMBULANCE.—M. DE FLAVIGNY'S SPEECH.—TO MÉZIÈRES AND SEDAN.
CHAPTER II. I JOIN THE ANGLO-AMERICAN AMBULANCE.—M. DE FLAVIGNY'S SPEECH.—TO MÉZIÈRES AND SEDAN.
August 25th I went to my official quarters full of hope, but found that nothing further had been decided. M. Labouchère told me that I was certain of a place in a French Ambulance, and presented my testimonials and papers to the chief of the 8th Ambulance, who disappeared with them into the committee room, promising to send me an answer at once. This he never did, though I waited his reply for some hours, until hunger compelled me to go in search of dinner, which I found in the Boulevard St. Mic
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CHAPTER III. AT SEDAN.—THE EMPEROR IN TRANSIT.—OUR FIRST RETREAT BEFORE THE PRUSSIANS.—THE CASERNE D'ARSFELD.
CHAPTER III. AT SEDAN.—THE EMPEROR IN TRANSIT.—OUR FIRST RETREAT BEFORE THE PRUSSIANS.—THE CASERNE D'ARSFELD.
On the 30th of August we got orders through the Courrier des Ambulances , the Vicomte de Chizelles, to proceed at once to Carignan, where hard fighting had been going on, and where, we were told, the field had been won by the French. Accordingly at noon the whole ambulance moved out of the town, by the Torcy gate to the railway station, a few hundred yards outside the ramparts, whence a special train was to have carried us on to the field of our labours. Through some mismanagement on the part of
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CHAPTER IV. THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER, 1870.—EXPERIENCES AT THE CASERNE.—WOUNDED HORSES.—THE FRENCH RETREAT BECOMES A STAMPEDE.—SOLDIERS DESPAIR.
CHAPTER IV. THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER, 1870.—EXPERIENCES AT THE CASERNE.—WOUNDED HORSES.—THE FRENCH RETREAT BECOMES A STAMPEDE.—SOLDIERS DESPAIR.
Full of strange forebodings, I retired to the guard-room at the end of the building which overlooked the town, where Père Bayonne, our Dominican chaplain, Hewitt, and myself had our stretchers. Tired out, I slept as soundly as if nothing had happened, or was to happen. But about a quarter to five on the following morning,—that historic Thursday, the 1st of September,—Père Bayonne and I were aroused by the strange and terrible sound of roaring cannon. We heard the shells whizzing continually, and
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CHAPTER V. THE BURNING OF BAZEILLES.—WORTHLESS FRENCH OFFICERS.—A WALK ABOUT SEDAN.—IN THE VALLEY.
CHAPTER V. THE BURNING OF BAZEILLES.—WORTHLESS FRENCH OFFICERS.—A WALK ABOUT SEDAN.—IN THE VALLEY.
To our labours in the Hospitals I shall presently return. On the 31st, Drs. Frank and Blewitt had established a branch hospital at Balan, and during that day and 1st September, had rendered assistance, both there and at Bazeilles, to those who were wounded in the street-fighting or injured by the flames. Dr. Blewitt informed me that at one time, the house in which they were treating a large number of wounded had its windows and doors so riddled with bullets, that, in order to escape with their l
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CHAPTER VI. WORK IN THE HOSPITAL.—THE ISLE OF IGES.—MY ARAB HORSE.—PRISONERS SENT INTO GERMANY.
CHAPTER VI. WORK IN THE HOSPITAL.—THE ISLE OF IGES.—MY ARAB HORSE.—PRISONERS SENT INTO GERMANY.
I do not intend entering here into full details of our work during this eventful period. But, to give unprofessional readers some idea of its nature and extent, I may state, that after the battles of August 31st, and 1st September, we had 72 amputations of upper and lower extremities, the great majority of which operations were performed by Dr. MacCormac. Besides these, there were scores of equal magnitude—ligatures of arteries of the neck, arm, and thigh,—and a host of operations, which, in com
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CHAPTER VII. MORE WOUNDED.—SIGHTS AFTER THE BATTLE.—A COUNTRY RAMBLE.—HEAVY HOSPITAL TASKS.—L'EAU DE ZOUAVE.
CHAPTER VII. MORE WOUNDED.—SIGHTS AFTER THE BATTLE.—A COUNTRY RAMBLE.—HEAVY HOSPITAL TASKS.—L'EAU DE ZOUAVE.
Every day Sedan became more and more crowded with the soldiers who were hurt; and on the 12th we found ourselves so much pressed for room that we had to put up thirty-six auxiliary tents, which, for this humane purpose, we had stolen from the French. The first contingent arrived from the neighbourhood of Bazeilles. When they came in we saw that the poor fellows were in a bad way, many still groaning from the pain of their wounds, which had been much increased by their being jolted about in waggo
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CHAPTER VIII. TWO THOUSAND PATIENTS.—NIGGER CHARLIE.—LOUIS ST. AUBIN, CHASSEUR D'AFRIQUE.—THE BOY PEYEN.—GUNS CAPTURED IN THE TOWN.
CHAPTER VIII. TWO THOUSAND PATIENTS.—NIGGER CHARLIE.—LOUIS ST. AUBIN, CHASSEUR D'AFRIQUE.—THE BOY PEYEN.—GUNS CAPTURED IN THE TOWN.
THE number of wounded in the care of our Ambulance was at this time, roughly speaking, about 500. There were 218 in the Caserne; each of the thirty-three tents held 4 patients, and Dr. Frank had in his Hospital 150 Bavarians. This will make the total given above a fairly accurate estimate. During and after the battles of the 31st August, and the 1st September, the number of men whose wounds we dressed and attended to, without receiving them into the Hospital, was calculated by us at about 2000.
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CHAPTER IX. SUSPICIOUS PRUSSIANS.—THE ILLUSTRIOUS STROMEYER.—OPEN-AIR TREATMENT.—NEUTRALITY BECOMES DIFFICULT.—DR. SIMS LEAVES US.—UNDER ARREST.—FAREWELL TO SEDAN.
CHAPTER IX. SUSPICIOUS PRUSSIANS.—THE ILLUSTRIOUS STROMEYER.—OPEN-AIR TREATMENT.—NEUTRALITY BECOMES DIFFICULT.—DR. SIMS LEAVES US.—UNDER ARREST.—FAREWELL TO SEDAN.
I forgot to mention a curious story told me by a French soldier, who had a bullet wound through his arm. To account for it, he said that it had been received from the pistol of a Prussian horseman, to whom he was in the act of handing a piece of bread, which the fellow had asked of him. Could this be true? It seems to me incredible, and, for the honour of our common humanity, I hope was false. A strange encounter which one of our new arrivals, Dr. Warren, had with two Prussian sentinels caused s
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CHAPTER X. RISKY TRAVELLING.—AT BRUSSELS.—FRENCH AMBULANCE BREAKS DOWN COMPLETELY.—WE START AGAIN FOR PARIS.
CHAPTER X. RISKY TRAVELLING.—AT BRUSSELS.—FRENCH AMBULANCE BREAKS DOWN COMPLETELY.—WE START AGAIN FOR PARIS.
Dr. Pratt was of opinion that, if the Germans did not require our services, they might perhaps allow us to get into Paris, where, as it was rumoured, medical men were scarce. With this object in view, we had determined to go round by Belgium, and now made for Bouillon, the nearest frontier town. It was a lovely evening when we arrived. As we came near the custom-house—" la Douane ," the meaning of which I now understood—we were in a state of trepidation lest, on the waggons being overhauled, our
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CHAPTER XI. AT ROUEN.—ON THE ROAD TO PARIS.—IN THE WOODS AMONG THE FRANCS-TIREURS.—TAKEN FOR SPIES.—A REFUGEE FENIAN.—TO MANTES.
CHAPTER XI. AT ROUEN.—ON THE ROAD TO PARIS.—IN THE WOODS AMONG THE FRANCS-TIREURS.—TAKEN FOR SPIES.—A REFUGEE FENIAN.—TO MANTES.
We arrived in Rouen at four o'clock in the afternoon of the 9th, and found the town full of Gardes Mobiles, who were marching about in civilian dress, but armed to the teeth. Our few hours of sight-seeing next day were not long in coming to an end; but on going to the Railway Terminus, we heard that a telegram had just been received, saying that the Prussians had torn up the line to Paris, and we could travel no further. However, in a couple of hours, we succeeded in chartering an engine,—four w
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CHAPTER XII. A TOWN CAPTURED BY FIVE UHLANS.—MANTES TO VERSAILLES.—WE ARE ANNEXED BY THE GERMANS.—GENERAL SHERIDAN AND NIGGER CHARLIE.—SOUTHERN EXILES.
CHAPTER XII. A TOWN CAPTURED BY FIVE UHLANS.—MANTES TO VERSAILLES.—WE ARE ANNEXED BY THE GERMANS.—GENERAL SHERIDAN AND NIGGER CHARLIE.—SOUTHERN EXILES.
Our horses being fatigued from the long journeys and heavy roads, we made but slow progress. On coming to Mantes we put up for the night at the Hôtel de France. This famous town is a wonder of cleanliness, with streets as tidy as they are kept in Holland, and not a disagreeable nook anywhere. Much consternation had been caused the day before, by five Uhlans coming into the market-place with a train of waggons, and carrying off all the corn and fodder they wanted for the troops about Versailles.
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CHAPTER XIII. THE PRUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS IN VERSAILLES.—A POLISH LADY.—THE BURNING OF ST. CLOUD.—GERMAN PRINCES.—BY ÉTAMPES AND THE BATTLEFIELD OF CHEVILLY TO ORLEANS.
CHAPTER XIII. THE PRUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS IN VERSAILLES.—A POLISH LADY.—THE BURNING OF ST. CLOUD.—GERMAN PRINCES.—BY ÉTAMPES AND THE BATTLEFIELD OF CHEVILLY TO ORLEANS.
As Dr. Pratt had arrangements to make for our transit, and stores to lay in, and as our horses sorely required rest, our departure was delayed for two days, during which I had ample opportunity of seeing everything that was worth while at Versailles. My quarters were comfortable; and I ought not to pass over the circumstances which enabled me to come by them. A Polish lady of great wealth, Madame Urbonouski, who lived in the Rue des Réservoirs, hearing that our Ambulance corps had entered Versai
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CHAPTER XIV. ENTERING TO THE SOUND OF CANNON.—66 QUAI DU CHÂTELET ASSIGNED TO US, ALSO THE RAILWAY TERMINUS.—DESCRIPTION OF OUR NEW QUARTERS.
CHAPTER XIV. ENTERING TO THE SOUND OF CANNON.—66 QUAI DU CHÂTELET ASSIGNED TO US, ALSO THE RAILWAY TERMINUS.—DESCRIPTION OF OUR NEW QUARTERS.
About midday we entered Orleans by the Faubourg Bannier. All this time the cannon had been actively engaged at the other side of the town in the direction of Châteaudun, and, as we passed in, we met several companies of German regiments marching along some by-roads towards the quarter whence the sound of firing came, doubtless with the intention of joining in the fray. Orleans had fallen into the hands of the Bavarians; but at present the garrison was small, for all the available troops had been
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CHAPTER XV. ASSISTANT SURGEON.—IMPRESSIONS OF THE GERMAN CHARACTER.—THE ARMY AND ITS DISCIPLINE.—STATE OF SIEGE.—VON DER TANN'S PROCLAMATION.—LEOPOLD SCHRENK.
CHAPTER XV. ASSISTANT SURGEON.—IMPRESSIONS OF THE GERMAN CHARACTER.—THE ARMY AND ITS DISCIPLINE.—STATE OF SIEGE.—VON DER TANN'S PROCLAMATION.—LEOPOLD SCHRENK.
I was now promoted to be Assistant Surgeon by our chief, and was given charge of seventeen patients, under Dr. Mackellar. As much of the doctor's time was employed in registering and taking notes of the cases in Hospital, except when he performed operations, I was virtually in sole charge of my section, though under his supervision. We breakfasted at 7·30, dined at 12·30, and supped at 6·30; all our meals were abundantly furnished at our quarters in the Quai du Châtelet. With such hard work in h
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CHAPTER XVI. CASES AND PATIENTS.—MARTIN DILGER.—HEAVY LOSSES.—FRENCH IRRELIGION CONTRASTED WITH GERMAN PIETY.
CHAPTER XVI. CASES AND PATIENTS.—MARTIN DILGER.—HEAVY LOSSES.—FRENCH IRRELIGION CONTRASTED WITH GERMAN PIETY.
As it is my object to exclude as much as possible professional details of my labours at the bedside, description of wounds, and the like, I shall again merely mention particulars of a few cases, in order to give my reader a general idea of the nature of the wounds received by soldiers in battle. Take No. 6, for instance, as I find it in my notes. It was a very bad case. A German soldier of the Line had received a bullet wound behind and below the calf of his leg, which passed up, without touchin
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CHAPTER XVII. FALL OF METZ ANNOUNCED.—THE BAVARIANS EVACUATE ORLEANS.—OUR DIFFICULT POSITION.—WE ARE TOLD OFF TO THE BATTLEFIELD.—THE ENGAGEMENT AND VICTORY OF THE FRENCH.
CHAPTER XVII. FALL OF METZ ANNOUNCED.—THE BAVARIANS EVACUATE ORLEANS.—OUR DIFFICULT POSITION.—WE ARE TOLD OFF TO THE BATTLEFIELD.—THE ENGAGEMENT AND VICTORY OF THE FRENCH.
On 28th Oct. the inhabitants of Orleans had read with dismay and amazement the official report, printed and posted up as a placard on their walls, of the surrender of Bazaine with his army, and the capitulation of Metz. The majority were of opinion that the Marshal was nothing but a traitor. Many, nevertheless, whom I met, scorned to entertain such an opinion; whilst others went so far as to declare that the whole thing was a German lie. But to return to the subject of our Hospital. The wounded,
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CHAPTER XVIII. AFTER THE BATTLE.—ORLEANS FROM WITHOUT AND WITHIN.—THE MOB AND THE AMBULANCE.—THE BAVARIAN GIANT.
CHAPTER XVIII. AFTER THE BATTLE.—ORLEANS FROM WITHOUT AND WITHIN.—THE MOB AND THE AMBULANCE.—THE BAVARIAN GIANT.
Our duty was now to return to the battlefield, and render all the assistance we could to the wounded, so forthwith we retraced our steps; and, though our day's experience, owing to circumstances over which we had no control, had not been very fruitful of work, it was fraught with much strain and anxiety. The night was dark, but we had no difficulty in making out our way, the numerous camp fires in front serving us as beacons. We pushed on to the scene of the day's conflict, Tilghman and Sherwell
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CHAPTER XIX. OUR AMBULANCE RETURNS.—ENTRY OF THE FRENCH.—THEIR DISHEVELLED APPEARANCE AND DISARRAY.—WE ARE SENT OUT OF THE RAILWAY STATION.
CHAPTER XIX. OUR AMBULANCE RETURNS.—ENTRY OF THE FRENCH.—THEIR DISHEVELLED APPEARANCE AND DISARRAY.—WE ARE SENT OUT OF THE RAILWAY STATION.
Now that I have given a rough sketch of some of the experiences of Drs. Parker and Warren, to whom I am indebted for the foregoing particulars, I must return to our Ambulance cortège, which I left in the moonlight making its way back to Orleans at the dead of the night. About an hour after our interview with the General we found ourselves in the open country, whence we could see the glare in the sky thrown up by the numerous fires in the French camp which we had just quitted. The early part of t
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CHAPTER XX. AMERICAN FRANCS-TIREURS.—PONTOON BRIDGE OVER THE LOIRE.—FRENCH CARELESSNESS.—SOLITARY DEATHS OF THE WOUNDED.
CHAPTER XX. AMERICAN FRANCS-TIREURS.—PONTOON BRIDGE OVER THE LOIRE.—FRENCH CARELESSNESS.—SOLITARY DEATHS OF THE WOUNDED.
About this time a small regiment of American volunteers, in Franc-Tireur uniform, passed through Orleans on their way to the front. Their Colonel called on us, and offered a place as assistant surgeon to any who might be willing to join. Had I been at liberty, the spirit of adventure would assuredly have prompted me to accept his offer, and he pressed me hard to do so; but the required permission was wanting. These men, I afterwards heard, joined General Bourbaki, and having been driven over the
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CHAPTER XXI. TO THE FRONT.—TURCO AND ZOUAVE ENCAMPMENTS.—SKIRMISHING.—FALSE NEWS.—THE SHAM FIGHT AT NEUVILLE.—RETURN TO THE CITY.
CHAPTER XXI. TO THE FRONT.—TURCO AND ZOUAVE ENCAMPMENTS.—SKIRMISHING.—FALSE NEWS.—THE SHAM FIGHT AT NEUVILLE.—RETURN TO THE CITY.
On the evening of the 24th, our chief reported himself to the General Commandant, and asked for a " Feuille de route ," and " Laissez passer ," which were freely granted, together with instructions to push on as far as Neuville at once; for no doubt our services would be required there before many hours. Already we could hear the cannon booming in the distance, which satisfied us that this speculation was correct. Early next morning we started with our omnibus and train of waggons, leaving the t
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CHAPTER XXII. BATTLE OF PATAY.—THE FRENCH RETREAT.—KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.—THE BATTLE CONTINUED.—ATTACK ON ORLEANS BY THE GERMANS.—BURNING OF THE PONTOON BRIDGE.
CHAPTER XXII. BATTLE OF PATAY.—THE FRENCH RETREAT.—KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.—THE BATTLE CONTINUED.—ATTACK ON ORLEANS BY THE GERMANS.—BURNING OF THE PONTOON BRIDGE.
Time went by in the ordinary routine of Hospital work, until the 1st December, when the news of a successful sortie from Paris, made by Trochu and Ducrot, put the whole town into a fever of excitement. Report said that the Army of Paris was already approaching Étampes. Next day, 2nd December, we heard heavy firing going on all along the lines, so far as we could judge, from Neuville and Chevilly on the right, to Patay on the left. A severe frost had set in during the past fortnight, and there ha
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CHAPTER XXIII. FIGHTING IN THE STREETS.—THE TOWN CARRIED BY ASSAULT.—NARROW ESCAPES.—THE RED PRINCE ENTERS WITH HIS WHOLE ARMY.
CHAPTER XXIII. FIGHTING IN THE STREETS.—THE TOWN CARRIED BY ASSAULT.—NARROW ESCAPES.—THE RED PRINCE ENTERS WITH HIS WHOLE ARMY.
Overcome by fatigue and excitement, I had thrown myself on my bed just as I was, and never stirred until daylight, when Warren awoke me with the news that fighting was going on in the streets. I rubbed my eyes and went to the window, when, to my utter astonishment, I beheld six Prussians confronting about fifteen Frenchmen. They had come upon the latter by surprise round a corner, and the French looked at first as if they were going to fire; but, on seeing a large body of Prussians advancing und
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CHAPTER XXIV. DESECRATION OF THE CATHEDRAL.—MY FIRST CAPITAL OPERATION.—MORE FIGHTING.—WOUNDED BAVARIANS.
CHAPTER XXIV. DESECRATION OF THE CATHEDRAL.—MY FIRST CAPITAL OPERATION.—MORE FIGHTING.—WOUNDED BAVARIANS.
Soon after the mayor had issued his parlementaire, all the French prisoners, to the number, as I have said, of 10,000, were marched into the Cathedral, where they were confined until such time as preparations could be made for their transport into Germany. As the weather was bitterly cold, the prisoners—it will be remembered that they were French and Catholic—began at once to break up the chairs and benches with which to make fires. These they kindled at the base of the great stone pillars for w
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CHAPTER XXV. CHRISTMAS DAY AT STE. EUVERTE.—GOING THE ROUNDS.—YOUNG HEROES.—ARRIVALS DURING THE NIGHT.—A GLIMPSE OF THE DEAD-HOUSE.
CHAPTER XXV. CHRISTMAS DAY AT STE. EUVERTE.—GOING THE ROUNDS.—YOUNG HEROES.—ARRIVALS DURING THE NIGHT.—A GLIMPSE OF THE DEAD-HOUSE.
I have not, so far, given a description of our new Hospital, nor any particulars in connection with individual cases; and I cannot do better than submit to my reader a revised copy of some notes I made while on duty that Christmas night. These may furnish a tolerable idea of the nature of our work, and of such reflections as the time and place suggested to me. The Church of Ste. Euverte at Orleans is a fine old Gothic building, in the style of the twelfth century. Its exterior would present few
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CHAPTER XXVI. VISITORS.—NEW YEAR IN HOSPITAL.—THE CHURCH EVACUATED.—I GET FURLOUGH,—AND CATCH A NIGHT-GLIMPSE OF PARIS.
CHAPTER XXVI. VISITORS.—NEW YEAR IN HOSPITAL.—THE CHURCH EVACUATED.—I GET FURLOUGH,—AND CATCH A NIGHT-GLIMPSE OF PARIS.
Christmas week passed away, and we had anything but a pleasant time of it. The frost and cold were so intense that it was with much difficulty we could keep ourselves sufficiently warm to enable us to do our work. About this time we had several visitors at our quarters. They were Captain Brackenbury, of the Royal Artillery, Prussian Military Attaché; Captain Frazer, also of the Artillery; and Colonel Reilly, French Military Attaché,—the last of whom had been captured in Orleans on the morning of
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CHAPTER XXVII. TRAVELLING IN FROST.—AMMUNITION TRAIN IN DIFFICULTIES.—FERRIÈRES.—THE CAMP OF CHÂLONS.—HOW GERMAN OFFICERS TREAT JEWS.
CHAPTER XXVII. TRAVELLING IN FROST.—AMMUNITION TRAIN IN DIFFICULTIES.—FERRIÈRES.—THE CAMP OF CHÂLONS.—HOW GERMAN OFFICERS TREAT JEWS.
The snow-storm had given over, but it was freezing hard, and the road was now almost impassable. Our horses were constantly falling, and we were getting on very slowly indeed. At last we came to the hamlet of Chivry,—it does not deserve the name of a village. We could see no inn; it was stark midnight; and, except a lonely candle in one small cottage, there was not a light in the place. At the cottage, therefore, we knocked. A regular parley ensued; and after much explanation and fair promises,
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CHAPTER XXVIII. STRASBURG AFTER THE SIEGE.—ALONG THE RHINE.—HOME, AND BACK AGAIN TO VERSAILLES.—CAPTAIN BRACKENBURY.—I LOSE MY PAPERS AND HAVE TO GET FRESH ONES.
CHAPTER XXVIII. STRASBURG AFTER THE SIEGE.—ALONG THE RHINE.—HOME, AND BACK AGAIN TO VERSAILLES.—CAPTAIN BRACKENBURY.—I LOSE MY PAPERS AND HAVE TO GET FRESH ONES.
At half-past nine we arrived at Strasburg, and were all billeted together in the most central part of the town, at a grand hotel, where we had the best of living and accommodation. There were about thirty officers quartered there, with whom we messed. I strolled out in the evening through some of the busiest streets. They were brilliantly lighted up; the shops were open, and as much bustle and business seemed to be going on, as if we were in the heart of a peaceable country, and no siege of Stra
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CHAPTER XXIX. IN ORLEANS ONCE MORE.—PEACE IS SIGNED.—AN EASY TIME.—SENDING AWAY THE CONVALESCENTS.—THE AMBULANCE BROKEN UP.
CHAPTER XXIX. IN ORLEANS ONCE MORE.—PEACE IS SIGNED.—AN EASY TIME.—SENDING AWAY THE CONVALESCENTS.—THE AMBULANCE BROKEN UP.
I had to bribe the driver whom I thus engaged with an extra napoleon, so afraid was he that his trap and horse would be seized; but when I showed him my German papers he knew that he was safe. Accordingly, I started before daylight, and after a pleasant journey arrived at Étampes in the evening, soon enough to escape an awful downpour of rain, and to catch the night train to Orleans. The train was crowded with peasants, some of whom had no tickets, and it was amusing to watch the stratagems whic
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CHAPTER XXX. I FALL ILL OF FEVER.—GERMANS LEAVE ORLEANS.—MY BROTHER ARRIVES FROM HOME.—END OF MY EXPERIENCES AS A FIELD SURGEON.
CHAPTER XXX. I FALL ILL OF FEVER.—GERMANS LEAVE ORLEANS.—MY BROTHER ARRIVES FROM HOME.—END OF MY EXPERIENCES AS A FIELD SURGEON.
One bright evening, as I was out walking on the bank of the Loire, I had felt a dead dull pain at the back of my head and in my back. On my return the pain became so intense that I was obliged to go straight to bed. All night and next day I felt very unwell, and Dr. Bouglet was sent for. He pronounced me to be in fever, of what kind he could not exactly tell; but as small-pox was prevalent in Orleans, he feared it might be that. Subsequently he came to the conclusion that it was low fever of a t
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CHAPTER XXXI. AN APPENDIX.—M. AND MADAME COLOMBIER.—VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELD OF COULMIERS.—THE SOLE FRENCH VICTORY.—CONCLUSION.
CHAPTER XXXI. AN APPENDIX.—M. AND MADAME COLOMBIER.—VISIT TO THE BATTLEFIELD OF COULMIERS.—THE SOLE FRENCH VICTORY.—CONCLUSION.
Our déjeûner had not long been over when a carriage drove up, and Charlie bade me prepare for a drive with some friends into the country. We wished M. and Madame Proust good-bye for the day, and stepped into the carriage, where our new host and hostess were awaiting us. M. and Madame Colombier welcomed me cordially as the brother of their friend, and I was not long in their company before I knew how truly they had been such to him. M. Colombier had been a Papal Zouave, but, on the outbreak of th
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EPILOGUE.
EPILOGUE.
A quarter of a century has elapsed since the occurrence of the events which I have described. When I view the scenes of those eventful days through this long vista, and when sometimes for a moment one particular picture of hospital or camp life presents itself before my mind, I start as if awakened from a troubled dream, to find there still the shape and form of fact. The years have come and gone, and with them have passed away many of the principal actors in that great drama. Wilhelm, Napoléon,
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