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KTRWAN, LATH CAPTAIN Cd.MMANDING THE IlJiSIl OlNTlNflKNT DURFNt; THK WAR OF 1870-71 ; FORMERLY I.IIiUT. I{. M. 44th ROVAI. GLAMORGANSHIRK LIGHT INFANTRY. 1 102 9353 01 CO I MOXTRKAL: * DAWSON BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS. 1878. -- \t>L Entkkki. Acromnsv. to A< Tout de suite, tout de suite."— Tours. — The Bavarians. — Bourses. — The retreating Army of the Loire. — Our reception at the Cathedral. — A Visit to the Arsenal, — Our First Death 43 CHAPTER VI. In the Field.— Our Colonel.— ' La Irish Conipaj;nie.'— Our Commandant.— The Regiment Ftranger. — En Route. News from Home.— Lieut. MiAlevev. — -Flirting again.''— The Rifle 8liot.— The StorV of Henri.— " Ireland I Ireland ! Where is Ireland"? ' qs CHAITKIl VII. Lifut. McAlovey'g Story of tho Mtxicun f'limpai^'n. — Tlio lliRtory of a D«!Kcrt«'r. — Captuin Mason. — Tluj Spaliirt Uhlan rriBouers. — CapUiiii CN-tcboIo. — Death on tlio Sahara 88 CHAPTER VIII. Sunset. — No Shoes. — Timt»thy Marks. — " Qui, qiii, Who's there?" — (loiiig into Action. — ''Vive hi liCgioii." — " A'm avant mes En/ants, en avant^ — A I'olt-H idea of Love. — Tired. — Sergeant Carey 103 CHAPTER IX. Ett Siibdery. — A Noble Conscript. — McAlevey's Wit. — Doctor Macken. — The Wounded. — Hospital Studies. — BourgcB again 122 CHAPTER X. How we fared. — How the War progressed. — A Cross by the W.iy-side. — How Men are punished on the March 137 CHAPTER XI. " r>y gad, it's cowld, sir.'' — "A man to bo shot, sir." — A Military Execution. — Around the Bivouac. — Bourgts again 147 CHAPTER XII. Off for Vierzon. — Chrihtmas Eve. — What we suffered from the Cold. — The Fleur-de-lis. — Franc-tireurs. — Sergeant Donnellan. — A Patrol, with an Adventure 160 CHAPTER XIII. Skirmishing. — Joyous anticipations. — Colonel Mclver again. " Dog of a European." — Away for the East. — We are ordered to go with Bourbaki. — Around the Camp Fire. — Another Mexican Story. — The Fight at Cameron. — La Afuaique de la Guerre. — Up to the Front again. — The Dead at Saiute Marie. — The Story of the Franc-tireur . . l74 M. I I a.— Tho on tho Who'« lOII. ideii of JicH. — )y th« from rt'Jint CIIAI'TKU XIV. En mule fur tho Field -My ronvorBution with Sorff.ant J).>nne)ian.--.v Zcahiu.l.-Thc li^^ht at liu«Hv.^a Ai O ood Man Kone.'-Tlie liod Farm.-Stiii Fijrht peau Uanc^—Tlm armistice socnco nothor ting. — — •' Drapeau llanc, Dra- 244 CHAPTKU XVIII. Peace^Orders.-Working with the Eugineers.-My Trip to I3esaneon.-Com,.lime,.ts of the I're.ss.-What oir Colonel thought.-Our Time expires -We prefer to the Communists.— Home. Thk End. 267 SO] lis his frc (lal inij cor COl! III! "II Th( eno pi'i: liad cou ma I LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE : REMINISCENCES OF THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR. CIIAPTEII T. '' I )id you lioar tlic news ?" " What UQws ?'' we eiiquiml in a breath. '' The Emperor and his army have been taken pri- sonersof war!" exelaimed our informant, looking at lis with a pair of eyes somewhat dihitcd, while, with his fingers, he played with a newspaper still damp from the press. " Impossible !' we answered, showing by our incre- ilulity the bent of our sympathies. But our vis-a-vis Avas demonstratively certain, and he tossed off a cool ing draught by way of codicil to his information. My companion looked as grave as if he 'i had suddenly come under the influence of some neighbouring Sciuiro Ilumphrey, while he, in turn, assured me that I looked " the picture of seriousness tempered with surprise." The paper was eagerly taken hold of, and sure enough, '' the Emperor and his army had been taken prisoners of war." The news was astounding! Wo had heard it in tho beautiful vale of Clara, in the county Wicklow. My companion and myself were making a knapsack tour from Arklow to Dublin, LA COMPAQ' y IE IRLAXDAISE. t.liroui,^li the lovely viilu of Avoca, the Alpine vale of Gleiimalurc, tlic scenic beauties of the vale of Clara, lioun'lwood, the Devil's Glen, Powcrscourt, and Dub- lin. AVe were Bittinir in front of Jordan's hotel at '.-) Glendalough %vhen we heard the unwelcome intelli- gence of the disaster at 8edan. It was a beautiful day in September, 1870. The ruins of those early records of Christian piety and architectural beauty, the Seven Churches and the IJound Tower, were close at hand. " Glendiilongh whose gloomy shore tSkylark never warbles o'er," was within rifle shot ; and St. Kevin's Church " topped the neighbouring liill." It was, I remember, Sundaj'. ^Rfy friend and I had just returned from mass. He was a Protestant and a divinity student as well. He was, too, a Trinity man, and was as free from all religious animosities as a Christian gentlenuin should be. He i8 now in holy orders, and winning for himself a brilliant reputation in Bury, England. But he was a thorough Irish gontlenum, with strong Franco-Irish sympathies, and we often ])assed the time away by bril- liant speculations of the j)robable humiliation that awaited the troops of the " Vaterland " at the hands of the gallant soldiers of the Arm6e Francaise. Although of diii'erent religions we were constant companions and the best of friends. We could always hit oil' our diflPor- ences to what Barney Blinds called '-a hair." We jointly agreed thai, there icere more beautiful " spots " in " the wide world" than what the Beranger of Ireland called *'Tho vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet;" that tho brave clans of the O'Byrnes had good vantage to vale of f Chira, d Jhih- lotel at intelli- ouutiful jc curly beauty, TO close ' topped Sunday. lie wart He was, eligious je. He mself a was a C'O-Irisli by bril- m that ands of though ns and 1' differ- jointly "tlie called meet;" 'antage n LA COMPA GNTE Hi LA NDA ISE. 3 ground in Glenmaluro when they were fighting against the onslaught of the troops of the Pale, and wo had historical dissertations upon the state of society when saintly men were allowe confessed that we knew nothing al>out it. 31y friencon a weelv 'MacMalion c in dani;-or on. Paris idar troops tiio spirit ic had been was fondly the eoun- ieliind tlio ilh niucli lere. The had made )r the ill- lar soldier es, a reve- ller newly ' LA COMPAGXIE IRLAyDAISK. . 5 raised levies to resist tlio most perfeetlv or"-anized army tlio world had over seen. In Ireland sympathy for France arose into an impassioned cry. Tiie French Consul in Dublin was serenaded, and •• killimr a Hessian lor yourself" became once more a househoM word. Then the idea of an Irish Ambulance was orii^nnated. .Money was to be liad in abundance, and a number of qualitied doctors, M-ith all, and, indeed, more than necessary, appliances, Avere soon pi-epared to start lor Havre, under the emblematic flay a handful of British troops, heat the legionsof Xapolcon, led as they were by the tirst captains of the age. So did the Swiss, from their mountain fastnesses, drive out the Austrians in 1400; and again, the raw levies of the Carolinas, assisted by Tvoehambcau ami the French troops, eom])elled Cornwallis and 1(>.000 English soldiers to surrender as prisoners of Avar. Ihit the conditions of war have changed since then. AVar is nowascientitic game, at which the expert alone can succeed. The a)^])liances of modern Avarfare have forever destroyed the hopes of irregular tro()i)s. unless under conditions singulai-ly favourable to the irregulars, or where the geographical conformation of the country renders it necessary for the regular troops to adopt irregular warfare, as in New Zealand, for instance. The '* majesty of an armed nation" is a thing of the past, so far at least as its prowess is concerned, wdien directed against the trained levies of a great military power. Nor do I fully accept the opinion of some eminent writers, that old soldiers are not so good as young ones. There were men in Franco who bolie\ ed that the Hmi of the raw levies then beimr ti-aine I. v,-ouM more than match thail toldl thatl doni wh«i LA coMi'Aayii-: inLAyDAisi:. 9 OS. Tho n.sablc to minute whole, ^vhelmod ho ovor- rapoleon •<>ni tho that the • Iful of as thoy c Swiss, istrians I'olinas, troops, 1 id's to ions of icntitic The t roycd litions re the iers it oguhir njosty far at gainst Tor do (•iters, rhero f tho natch that of the roii;uhir li-ooj)s. I was more tlian oneo told that Neyackiiowledge*!, alter the battle of Lutzen, that with hisCJrcnadiersof the(iiiard lie could not liave done what was accomplished by his youtiiful conscripts, who were led five times, ultimately witli success, to the cai)tureof tho salient points, which the older and more experienced men would have ,i;-ivcn up as hopeless after the second attempt. But all this was not so ajiparenl to cooler heads. People who were not blinde«l by national animosity, took a ditfercnt view of the situa- tion. rrenchmen appeared to have fori^otten tho p^ood old maxim of Sallust, which taught that before entering upon action, there was need of deliberation, and having deliberated, a necessity of speedy execution. But all mv work was vet before me. 1 had vet to to ^t the fiincerity of tho men who pledged their word in Ire- land, that " the imminent breach and deadly peril " of a soldier's life Avas more congenial to their nature thtm the more humanitai'ian occupation of promenading improvised ambulances, administering balm, and dis- pensing comforts to tho sick atid wounded soldiers of France. 1 had to find out tho whereaboutsof tho Irish Ambulance, and then to see if the men would turn their backs upon a fair fight, or think that distance lends enchantment, and courage, to what theatrical p('<)ple call "the pomp and circumstances of glorious war." Pressing on to the Lij('6(\ where the Ambulaneo was quartered, I obtained my tirst impression of the dis- ci'plineand conduct of the raw levies by the loose and irregular formation of some of the Garde JVationale, who were hurrying through tho streets in the direction of the railway. They were equipped as if for active 10 A.i <'(jm/'A(;.\//: ii;i..\M)MSh:. HonMc'o. and woro sinLcini? the Mtr.^cHhusc with a vii^^our, and iiulood with a touch of real fcolinir, Avliich French- men generally conLi-ivo to cultivate in the patriotic chants. l>iit they "were a motley crow, armed with old flint-lockH, converted to the percussion principle or» the Tablet Hy:=!tcm, hndly dressed, loosely directed, and in some cases with the entire hi-ead contents (>r tl'.elr haversacks, jocularly stuck on the tops ol" the ad with despondin<^ significance, while 1 heard him almost inaudibly mutter, ^^ La pauvre Franci." liut I should press on to the Ljiecc. Passing along the spacious PUuw Xapolcon TIT., with its public gardens and luuulsome edifices; o-i through some narrow streets by open spaces where di-ill instructors were teaching the bourgeoisie some of the mysteries of a soldier's trade, I was attracted to a piece of waste ground, where I saw a man with r. wooden log instruct- ing a full company of tho r/VzrJt^AT/^'onrt/c in the manual of arms. He appeared to be a welbknown character, for no notice was taken of his peculiar appearance; and the way he handled his gun was sufficient proof that the medals he wore upon his expansive breast wcrl the uniil 1 lA COMPAfjyiK /ULAXDMS/:. 11 a vi^,^()ur, li Ffvrich- p.'itriotio lie I "witli inc'ipleon | (liroctLMl, ntentfi of 59 of the Ivo. Tl le Lcnod hy 'e Xatlon- raiico"' — tic chief ray h'o\n reliodiiiij^ fs of the >f whom ponding m lit tor, g along public h somo tractors cries of f waste istruct- niaiiual iracter, nranco ; l^roof breast wore won in actual, and not in mimic, warfare. But the Lyc6e wan lieforo me, and the unsight !y but familiar uniform of the men of the Irisli Ambulance now and again passed me on the way. To the people tiicy were objects of interest, and indeed, their lino proportions might compare favorably with tho natives of the coun- try they had come to aid. But I soon reached my destination, where the red-cross banner waved its peaceful folds over the entrance to the Lyc6e^ and where an Aml>ulanco man paced under the portico of the gate in tho capacity of a sentry. It was, after all, a pleasant sight to witness tho ardour with which tho .Vnibulance men entered upon their duties, and tho pride, too, they took in their charitable occupation. But the plot thickened, or more correctly, the I'vcnts which military men in Ireland iiad anticipated, actually occurrey intuition. Jfe can learn as mueli drill in one month as scmieotlKM* men can in two; at least that is my exj)erience in tlie Eni^dish service, where, as a stri])linL? lieutenant. 1 lii-st Icarnefl the mysteries of that aci-ohatic ])erlormanc(^ — the /^ooso- stop. The decorum the li'ish volunteers observed that Sunday in Havre was a ])recursor of their good conduct on many a hard, trying;; day afterwards, and I could not but feel ])i-oud of the soldierly gait and erect cari'iage of the men, who, as yet, scarcely knew their facings. On my part I studiously avoided asking any man to volunteer. Imt J welconu-d all who did so on their own responsibility. Tlierc Avas no pressure, not even a request, all were free, and the men had the option of accepting military .service, take tlieir chance of being selected for the Ambulance, or return to Irehmd. Dr. JJaxter selected the best of the men wlio remained after the volunteering for the army had been completed, and between us we had tlie cream of the corps, as each set about liis own way of carving his destiny. I bade Dr. Baxter and his friends good-bye, gave a word or two of command, ami we were away for Caeh. On the M'ay we were intercepted by the municipal authorities, the Commandant of the troops, and th^ LA COMPAdNlE lltLAynMSE. \\\ r for tlic •cxistonoo I'inined to SiMiduy '. ill front fell otr in A\\\) with )Ui* Ii'isli- I loarn as II ill tn'o; I Horvioo, niod tlio H' ^ooso- obsorvccl leir good dM, and I ind erect (?w their vinjr an}' lid HO on lire, not e option of being kI. Dr. ed after 'ted, and each set gavo a brCaieh. iinieipal ind th^ offieera of tlio National (iiiard. Altout one tlioiisand of tlie troops were ilrawn up in three si«it'.s ot'a sipiare. the ]ri^il vohmteerH oeeii}>ying the fourth .side. The tri- eolour was fluttering above our heads, and th*' insj»ir- iting MarsfiUaitiC was being phiyed by the i»aiid, as the 3[ayor advanced, and in tlie name of France, " (hanked us for the course we had taken." After all, I thought that tlie gift of the Anibuhmce to France was very like Count Fresco's gift to the organ-grindci-'s inotikey " in the sacred name of humanity," while our gill was in the name of synij)athy and the bond of atl'ection. Then the Commandant spoke, and in tones which al- ways distinguish the cultivated man of travel. Cnlilco some of his friends, he did not insist upon forcing his well-shaved cheek into grating contact with my own, for which small mercy I was duly thankful. A nd then the parting — such " sweet .sori'ow '' — canu' at last. AVc had about a mile to walk to the station. The rain fell in torrents. There was to have been a demonstration in our honour, but the rain quenched the desire of our hospitable friends. Like every other country, France had men wdio "would themselves liave been soldiers only for that villainous saltpetre," and I rejoiced that I escaped their attentions. The train was crowded with troops hurrying to the front. The Irish volun- teers, drenched with rain, crowded int<^ compart- ments 8et apart for themselves, Avere .soon bowling away to seek the bubble reputation, or wdiat Mark Mickle called "a gold chain or a wooden leg, you know." For my own part, during the ten hours' drive from Havre to Caen, I was as comfortable as I would have been in a trip from Dublin to my native heath in 14 LA COMPAGMH inLAXDAISE. Giihvay; l»ut the men, who were to l^e I lie rank and tile, several of whom were gentlemen ]>y birth, education, Hocial position and means. — crowded, nay, packed, into third-class r.-iilway carriages, with steaming clothes, — they ('X])erienced the realities of campaigning soon cnougli to test the metal of them Al. ]]ut the spirit of the times was — " lilais a la puerro, - Commc a la guerre." Tlic train sped onwards through Itouen, witli all its majestic buildings, its antique structures, and its ecclesiastical and civil architecture of the ]\riddle Ages. Uouen did not then appear to liave deserved the name of the Manchester of France, but I saw its busy thoroughfares at other times, when thi^ industrious people were crowding like ants passing to and fro. And there was that magnificent Gotliic cathedral, with its profuse decorations, its gorgeous facade, somewhat confused, pei'haps, but splendid for all that. The night passed slowly away. It was dai-k and dam]). The rain pattered against the glass, and, now 'and again, the wind, weird monitor for many a gaHant heart, moaned a requiem over the corpses which the lantern reverJed outside the city, where there liad that day been a figlit. The siglit aroused us all. The train moved slowly. Tlie Germans were in the neighbourhood. Tlio l)odies of their dead lay close to the track. The burial parties were scattered about, and gave to the scene all the grim realities of war. Most of my mew had never seen those tliTngs before, and if brave liearts quailed a little at the sight, it was but the shock which most men experience when for the first time the}' tstand face to face with deatli. rank ami l>y birth. rdod, na}-, ^cs, will) realities il of tlicin :en, witli 1 met arcs. e of the r to liave ranee, )»ut when the )as.sing to it (rothie gorii^eous .Mid id for was dark and, now a gallant ;s which re thei-e 1 lis all. e in the close to 1 about, of war. before, it was v'hcn for CHAPTER TIT. « Her matchless sons, whoso valour still remains On French records of twenty long campaigns." Bowling away over the fertile plains of Normandy, we at last entered Caen about 8 a.m. AVe left Havre M'ith 6dat ; we entered Caen under a cloud. Wo were very plaiidy told that the ju^ople of Caen had liad onouirh of " zo Irlandaise." We were covered with confusion. I was reminded of the hon mot of Talley- i-and. who said that soldiers were called '* military " hei-ausc they were not *• civil." The people of Caen ;r.>]»earcd to think that Talleyrand said that in antici- jiation of our advent into their city. Some of the men must, I fear, have sworn '* profoundly " at the manner in which thev were received. ]5ut it was no't for long. We changed all that when we got into work- ing order, W'hich did not take us long. Uniforms were distributed, the guard placed, orderly-room established, officers appointed, and we had six hours' hard work at drill every day. Out of one hundred men and four olllcers I scarcely think that there w^as a man under tive feet eight, and Achilles, clad in the divine armour of Vulcan, could look no more haughty than these Irish volunteers when arrayed in the neat kepis and becoming uniforms of the I'rench regular army. Our friends at home soon heard of our progress, and fr(»m the old land encouraging reports were constantly reaching us. What a pity speculation is such a sorry 16 LA COM /'A own: TRLAyOAISE. Jade ! If ox])C('lations weiv roulizod, we were destined to cinl>laz()n our names on the scroll of Franco-Irish history. "We were to emulate the deeds of the Sarsfields, the Clares, the O'Xeills, the Dillons, and tho Burkes, of tho Old Jirigade. AVc were destined to carve our way to ^lory, as our fathers did at Cremona, Ciiarlovoix, Heidelberg, Urgul, Marsiglia, Fontenoy, Ypres and Valency. So we were told, and so it was not to be. Accident verv often makes the hero, and the special accident by which we were to become immoi-tal did not offer, and so wo were obliged to be content with the satisfaction of simply doing our duty, no more, and I hope no less. But things were chang- ing for the better in Caen. As tho people learned to understand us, they learned to like us. They found out that "zo Irlandaise " was not such a bad fellow after all. Complimentary notices appeared in the jxipers; the men were sought after, the officers were cntertai'ied, and tho people became profuse in their hospitality. The Bulletin de la Guerre paid us the following compliment: The Irish Volunteers. — Last Saturday we saw with deep emo- tion tlie Irish volunteers marcliing through our streets, and heard their deep voices singing their national songs. IIow well the .self-contained attitude of those young men became their martial bearing. They have taught a lesson to our public-house brag, garts, whom we saw a few days ago going to have themselves transformed into soldiers. We blush to think that those noble strangers place at the service of I'rance a courage and a devotion which many of her own children have not shown. Other papers followed suit, and altogether, our time passed creditably and 2)leasantly in tho "City of Churches.' We frequently encountered that not lA COMPAOyiE IliLAyDAISK. It icstinod co-Irish rsfields, Burke?, ) carve •emona, ntenoy, ) it was gro, and become id to be ur duty, D cliaiig- iriied to sy found d fellow in the era were in their |l us the [lecp emo- land heard |v well the ir martial lUse brag- liexnselvcs lOse noble devotion )ur time Hty of lat not * ■■.« alarming enemy an "imaginary foe" on ilie race- course, and iti mimic combat fought for tlio possession of a bridge whicli spanned a stream close at hand. In our marches to the country the peasants, with feet enclosed in the hereditary sahot, listened in wc tdor- ment to tho singing of the men. \\\ Caen every hat flew off as wo passed, ladies waved their handkerchiefs, and honours were paid to all ranks-, hy the community at large. All went well with us while all was disastrous to Franco. "Metz has capitulated!' was on ever3dH)dy"s lips on the evening of October the 27th, and the last hope of France appeared to vanish with the news. It is not my purpose hero to pretend to analyze the stra- tegy of some of tho ablest captains of the age. It is a sorry impudence that presumes to openly censure the military conduct of such men as the hero of tho Mala- kotf and tho victor of Magenta, or to accept results without enquiring into tho cause of the ruiti of tho conqueror of Mexico. There may be more things in the philoscnhy of those men than is dreamt of by their censors. There are some men so wise in their own conceits that the labours of a lifetime are, according to them, acquired in an hour. There is so much '* after- wisdom" in the world that fools pronounce opinions where, previously, wise men would fear to tread. There are, in my humble oi)inion, one or two moves on the gigantic chess-board of tho campaign on the French frontier, wdiich justities the supposition that Prince Frederick Charles was a better strategist than JJazaine, and that MaeMahon was out-generalled by the I'rown Prince of Prussia. But the one broad and sig- 18 LA COMFWGNIE IRLANDAISE. nificant fact is, that tlie organization of tlio one army wai5 ovorwliclniing in the multitude of its resources, while the organization of the other was disastrously/" deficient. The officers of the German armies wore better educated, the training of the men was more in accordance with the experience of modern warfare, and above all, the supplies for the army in the field "were so regulated that failure was almost impossible. It was not the French army nor the French com- manders that failed, but it was the self-confident •opinion of Marshal Leboeuf on the one hand and of the French Intendance on the other. No troops ever fought more heroically than the French Army of the Rhine. Overwhelmed by num- bers, demoralized by insufficient supplies, the fearful havoc they made in the ranks of their enemies attested the valour of their race, and that they were of the same family as the men of Jena, Friedland, Austerlitz, Moscow, Italy, and the Crimea. At the commencement of the war the French army "was nominally G50,000 men, or an available soldier to one-fifty-eight of the population, wdiile the numbered force of Germany was 1,183,000 men. But experience 3:)rove8 that nominal muster-rolls are deceptive. At the commencement of the Italian war, France had on l)apcr G30,000 men, but only 230,000 could be brought to Italy, and but 107,000 were placed in line at Solfe- rino. But I digress. Dijon was occupied by the Germans on the 29th, — and just one small success before Paris, at La Bourget, was the one item to the valour of France during the disastrous week that closed the month of October. As the hordes of Attila LA COMPAQ NIE JRLANDAISE. 19 and Tamerlaiu' carried destruction on their way, ho did the armies of Germany carry ruin and deca}' into the fertile fields of sunny France. Tlic House of Branden- burgh had extended its dominion, and the ^lachiavellian pohcy of Prussia in tlic violated Treaty of Gastein, in its premeditated attack upon Austria, and in its policy to Hanover, had once more triumphed, and this time had altered, or at least retarded, the destiny of a natioir. The acme of glory and dominion which had been reached by Charles Y.. was left in the shade by the conquests of King William. At this period the fortunes of France a])peared to be at their lowest ebb. The people had become somewhat apathetic, and if some one in the trust and confidence of the nation had counselled submission, France w^ould have accepted defeat and would have succumbed to the invisible hand of Fate. But a contrary spirit soon animated the people of France. Gambetta aroused the nation to a spirit of resistance, and the cry of ^^ guerre a Voutrance ! ^' was quickly echoed throughout the land. "Whatever the world may think of Gambetta's political creed, it must admit that it was he, and he alone, who aroused the peoj^le of France to a vigorous defence, when her repeated disasters liad almost crushed even the martial spirit of her w^arlike race. A levy en masse was j-jroclaimed, and every unmarried man between the ages of eighteen and forty-eight wm declared liable to serve in the ranks of the army. From all corners of Calvados the conscripts assembled in Caen, and our quarters became crammed w^th young men who were being formed into regiments of Gardes Mobiles — the militia of the country. 20 LA COMPAGXIR IRLANDAISE. But to my iiarrativo. Time wan wearing on and fitrangc cvcnt.s were occurring around us. As poverty is said to bring ntrango bed-follows, so does soldiering bring us in contact with strange comj^aniohs indeed. Soldiers of fortune are said to be found everywhere. These men call themselves "citizens of the world," and France found a good number of them in the ranks of her armies in 1870 and 18*71. One day, while I was standing in the barrack square watching the sergeant- major drilling my company, I noticed a tall, military-' looking gentleman coming through the gate. Although' unknown to us all, the sentry saluted, conscious that no one but a soldier ever yet carried himself with such dignified, but yet easy, grace, as did the tall gentleman that attracted my attention. 11m physique was magni- ficent. He had the torso of the Farnese Hercules, and it would take the pen of Theophilo Gautier to do justice to the divinity of his form. He looked about thirty-eight or forty years of age, was closely shaved, except his upper lip, where a small but highly culti- vated moustache did not prevent the pearly teeth underneath from being seen. He wore a tight-fitting frock-coat, and he carried himself with a quiet, yet conscious, assurance that he looked every inch a sol- dier. Making straight for where 1 stood, when near enough, he to(>k off his hat and said, "You are Captain Kirwan, 1 jtresume?" I answered "Yes," and he immediately handed me a letter of introduction from an old friend, with whom I had spent many a hard day's toil upon the banks of the Waikato, in New Zealand. He introduced "Colonel Henry Mclver, formerly major in the army of the Southern States LA COMPAONIE lULAXDAISE. 21 nnd afterwards coloiiol of cavalry in the service of tlie Khedive of Egypt." My ideal was realized; Henry Mclver was what lie looked to be — a beau sabreur — a man who had served nnder ten flags and fought under nine. He is one of the military marvels of the age. I heard his liistory afterwards at my quarters, wliere ho came to spend a quiet evening with myself, my subs, and the doctor. He commenced life, he told me, as a cadet in the East India Company's service — served through the Mutiny; went to the Southern States, served four years, and became major of cavalry; then went to Cuba, where lie was taken prisoner; escaped to New York, and went to Crete, where he joined the insurgents, and was decorated ; from there to South America, where he raised a volun- teer regiment at Buenos Ayres ; from there to Mexico, where he served against Maximilian; from there to Egypt, where he became colonel of cavalry, and now he was on his way to Tours to offer his services to the government of the French llepublic. Ho was commu- nicative, if he thought you understood liim, but he was never a braggart. During the evening, when cigars iwere out, and a bowl of punch lay steaming upon the table, Mclver enlv.rtained us with many a stirring event by flood and field. With the incidents of American warfare ho thought the world was too f imiliar, to trace the record of his services under the *■ bonny blue flag that bore the silver star." But he told us much about Cuba, and his experience while he was serving in the ranks of the insurgent forces. "You must know," said he, "that, above all places where I have served, T prefer Cuba to them all. Yes, oo LA COMPAQ N IE IltLANDAISE. Cuba is indeed the Queen of the Antilles, and all my sympathies have been, and still are, in the cause of 'Cuba Libre.' By nature I am a lover of liberty," he continued, " and wlien I left New York for Havana it was because of my desire to assist in the good cause of Cuban independence. That was in January, last year, and in December my sands had almost run." "How was that. Colonel ?' I enquired, anxiou-i to hear some of the history of this singular man. "Well, I'll tell you," said Mclver, sipping at his punch. " When I joined Cespedes, I easily obtained a command. At that time one-half of the island was in possession of the patriots, — and, as Cuba is larger than Ireland, you can understand that supplies of all kinds* except arms and ammunition, were abundant. I was glad to bo in harness again, and among the beautiful Montanos del Cobre I was happier than when i was promenading the boulevai'ds of New York or Paris. The primeval beauty of the Cuban forests are remark- able, while the tropical abundance, farinacious roots, yams and sweet potatoes provided us with subsistence at the worst of times. The giant mahogany trees, the numerous palms, Avith vines of immense growth encircling their trunks with parasitical embrace ; the alimentary plants in prodigal profusion, pine apple, sweet and bitter yuca — with all these surroundings, yon may be sure, wo did not starve amidst these forests. Well, the usual work of guerilla warfare was carried on. I had often found myself in the ' immi-^ nent breach and deadly peril,' but 'the devil takes care of his own,' they say, and, for a surety, I must be one of his favourites. I remember, on May-day^ I A rOMPAOXW IRLAyDAlSE. 23 1860, I was ordered to approach Havana, in order to arre«t and to decimate a company of men who had (liHgraced tliemselves some time previous!. It was early morning when 1 started. I had one companion, an officer of distinction in the insurrectionary force**. As the corps we were to arrest was principally com- posed of foreigners, I was intrusted with the principal mission. My companion was merely to assist mo in my efforts to subdue the few natives who formed part of the corps we went to decimate. While speaking to my companion of the unpleasant task I had to perform, he replied : " ' Oh, it is nothing. I was decimated myself not long ago. Cespedes is strict, and he ordered it. They commenced by surrounding and disarming us ; then, if any officers were found in the riUmber, their names were proclaimed aloud, or they were degraded. Then the ranks were broken, and wo were aligned in single tile, each man taking his place according to chance. A sergeant, drawn by lot and 1)1 ind folded, then approached the line, and, starting from the tirst man he chanced to touch, without including him, counted off ten, twenty, thirty, until ho reached the end of the line, when he continued in the other direction, commencing again with the man he first touched, and if that poor fellow happened to be the tenth, or twentieth, or thirtieth, psit ! his doom was clear.' " Great heavens ! thought I," said Mclver, '' how 'terribly cool he takes it I " * While the counting went on,' continued my com- 'p'anioh, * a roll of the drums accompanied each tenth man as he stepped out ; he was led to the edge of the 24 LA COMPAGNIE lltLANDAISE. Ircnclj '>t l''>i' I'J^ ^ravo, n Bufllcicnt Jimount of load lo(l<^o(l in liis head or hroast, and lii.s aftair was ended. Vou 800 that mucli time is not lost, and the business oven hooomes am^I^sin*^ Homctimos, for every man's pride is up, and ho chats, Jokes, laujnrhg^ appoints a rendezvous undcT <^r()und a year, a montli, or perhaps oidy u day off, — and all the while (he regimental band resales you with the merriest i-iem stamping angrily upon the grouncK ^"»1>'«»^'' " IIo took up his musket ■' Meanwhile a party of .non was silently ,lie«inc i trench to o.u- left, about two hundrcl paces f™uh! Come — attention, firin<" ^nrfvi' smM ^\.^n i aTT^ 11 , ^»J.^p«uiy! said the Corporal. " Nino slips wore successively drawn, so that the s„ ponse continued to the end. The tentl. ho hold up ihe Sergeant Gasparini !' spite of Jns proud endeavours to restrain them dropped on his gray moustache. " ' Here, take this for thy trouble, my boy,' ho said giving the dnimmcr his silver watch; then, dashing 30 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. tho tears from his eyes shamofaeodly, with a steady step marclied to tho edge of the trench. *' * Ready !' cried the Corporal. *' ' Aim ! Fire !' cried Gapparini. " A flash and report followed, and the old sergeant fell dead on his face in the trench, w^here he was pushed to tho place where he was to rest. " The drawing continued from eleven to nineteen. Twenty reached, my companion took tho slip, lifted it above liis head, and sobbed, rather than spoke, in his endeavours to conceal his emotion : " ' The Sergeant-major Miemo !' " He was tho best instructed under-officer, perhaps, in the regiment ; calm, knowing well his duties, labo- rious — so useful, in fact, in the humble post he held that his superiors, through pure selfishness, had never proposed him for promotion. *' ' Ah ! poor Gasparini,' he cried, with a sort of mournful merriment ; ' if to-daj^ is tlie day of the old growlers, it is also the day of sergeants.' *' lie crossed himself devoutly-, and walked to tho trench, his hands in his pockets, bent one knee to the earth, and gave the word ' Fire !' " Wo heard a report ; Miemo, his head shattered by tho bullets, rolled like a lump of lead into the trench. '"Will those beggarly 'S )aniards never appear?' said I to my comi)anion, t.sido. ' I have had more than enough of this.' *^ 'Ilush !' he replied. ' You do not know them yet as well as I, who have been fighting them for some .time. I have just discoverr^l a whole detachment in LA COMPAGNIE Hi L AND A IS E, 31 ,lio the ho tho declivity yonder before us. They are climbing along above us, po as to attack us in front and on both flanks at once. I have counted two liundred muskota and carbines. We will have hot enougli work in a few minutes.' " ' God grant it ! Continue, but more slowly, so that wo need not kill any more.' '• Slowly, however, as ho proceeded to tear up the names drawn, slowly as the drawing went on, number thirty at length came forth. He lifted it up to read the name, but remained for an instant silent. '• * Who? wdio?' resounded on all sides. " ' To the devil with it ! Lot wiiom it concerns road it,' cried my com2")anion, flinging it upon the ground. '* ' I will wager it is I,' said the Lieutenant, sj^ring- ing forward to pick it up. * Yes, it is, indeed. The Lieutenant Polidoro !' '• ' Did you not make a mistake ?' asked 1. ' I think it is only twenty-nine.' *' ' Yes, yes. Colonel, it is only twenty-nine,' cried a soldier. * Don't, for heaven's sake, decimate an officer.' " ' Do you take mo for a fool ?' shouted Polidoro. *I counted them, and it is thirty. Come, come! Every ono in his turn ! Xo joking ! Your liand, Colonel ! You forgive me ?' " lie had scarcely spoken when a signal shot waa heard from tho mountain, and following upon it two fierce blazes of fire crashed on our right and left, and concealed orr assailants in their thick smoke. "It was indeed the Spaniards, who had filed toward tlio mountain. Learning that a company of Cubans was near, they halted on their way in the hope of cajituring us. 32 LA COMPAGNIE IHLANDAISE. ' At tlie crawli of the discharge, Polidoro sprang- forward like a lion. The smell of battle seemed to intoxicate him. llis eyes flashed lire, and his lace glowed with ardour. His w^as a true warrior soul. " ' Colonel,' said he, ' it is through my fault that the company is brought into this danger; let it be mine to extricate it. Give me twenty men. I know the country round, and this morning I discovered a little by-path opening on a level space, from which we can turn the enemy's right. You attack him in front, and in les* than a quarter of an hour all that rabble will be cut to ])iece8 or dispersed. If I remain alive, I will return and place myself at your disposal.' " If you return alive," I replied, '* Cespedes will tlecide upon your case. Here is your sword, Polidoro, but be not rash ; Cespedes will not deprive himself, for any whim, of an officer with such a future as youra before him." ** ' I have no future. Colonel,' he returned, gloomily. ' I do not deceive myself with false hopes. Preferment is closed against me. I will die, at least, with honour, for Cuha Libre, and bear with me the regret of my chief " Five men for the advance and fifteen more for the Lieutenant," I cried out. '* * All right. Colonel. You hold the centre and I the right, deployed as skirmishers — is that it ?' " Eight •' The Spanish commander, not having perceived our movement, and there being only lifty men at most before him, pressed contidently forward, never doubt- ing that he could easily com2)el us to lay down our arms. We waited until part of his men had reached LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. 33 .1 I lost ibt- )ur led the foot of the mountain, and then wo fell upon them in solid column ; some of the men, being em})lo;''ed as skirmisherH, attacked and drove back their left, and Polidoro, having gained his position, forced their right to retreat, nhooting down all who had not rejoined I ho main bod}-. Suddenly I heard the drums beat the charge Ijchind me. It was a company led byCespedea himself, who, fearing that I might be unable to enforce discipline, had come to my assistance. " The Spaniard is brave, obstinate, and sober ; inured to privations and fatigues. lie will tight long and well behind a rock or wall, but in the open field he generally lacks steadiness, and is easily discouraged if he meets an unforeseen resistance in an attack. He will disband, to meet his fellows at some other point and plan somo new surprise — the only species of warfare he conducts well. This, indeed, is the result of that provincial spirit of independence, of that character of individuality, which so deeply penetrates the masses, and forms the distinguishing characteristic of the nation. '* The panic soon became general, and the village was filled with wounded and dead. "Those who fled from the lire of one party of our men were received on the bayonets of another, finding no outlet through which to make their escape ; about a hundred of the Spaniards, however, succeeded in forcing their way, scattering as they went, and giving us a few parting shots. All the rest were taken. Ces- pedes forced his way to us, pitilessly shooting down all who refused to yield. He soon joined us, and cast hia eyes towards the open trench " ' Aha 1' he cried, darting a look of intelligence to 34 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. mo ; ' you arc cautious, Colonel. You would not havo the enemy know the number of 3'our deacl. How many ?' ankcd he, in a low tone. " Two, General ; the lot unfortunately fell upon Sergeants GaH))arini and Miemo." " Cespodes could not restrain a gebture of vexation. '' ' And Polidoro T " My General, lie escaped well ! wo were Just going to shoot him when the Hkirmiwh commenced. ]Io if< now upon the mountain, where I can vouch ho gave us some famous lielp." '' ' IIo is here,' said my companion, ' and in a sad condition. Here are his men bringing him in upon their muskets.' " When he reached us, Polidoro raised his head, not without great pain, and lifting his still bantering glance to the face of Cespedes, who stood grave and motionless, he said, with an attempt at his old gaiety: " ' Hit, General, Jiit ! 1 am sony, my General, that you can no longer break or even put me under arrest.' " ' I wilt have chance enough to do both yet,' replied Cespedes, with an aiTected roughness which betrayed his anxiety to encourago the wounded soldici*. "'Oh, General! my account is closed this time,' returned Polidoro. ' Six bullets through the body, and two of them, at least, through the lungs. 'Tis enough for one, General.' " * Sancta Maria, mater Dei,' he continued, in a tone still tinged with a sort of sorrowful gaiety, ^ ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc ct in hora mortis nostrac. Amen.' " Cespedes threw himself fi-om his horse, and pressed a flask of brandy to the lips of the wounded lieutenant, LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. So? ho 3d holding him up in his arms for a moment to help him to swallow a few dropi^. " ' IIow kind you arc to me ! You seem to think that, in spite of my follies, I was not so bad an officer, after all. Keep, I pray you, my General, my sword in remembrance of me ; only unfasten the sword-knot, and give it to Colonel ^fclver.' " A fit of coughing interrupted him, and then a bloody irothing appeared upon his lips. His features were pinched with ])ain — he gasped — his eyes grew glassy, and after a few slight convulsions, all that remained of Polidoro fell back in the General's arms. " Cospedes took the lieutenant's sv/ord, pulled the knot oft' and hastily handeil it to me ; then springing into tho saddle he rode off at full gallop, without speaking a word or even turning liis head. " I have done," said Mclver, " but the recollection; of that event forms one of tho little chapters in my» life which, somehow, appears hard to forget even for a day. Since then some months have passed — I havo; become a soldier of fortune — but that event is always^ crowding upon my memory Avherever I go.'' *' But, Colonel," said one of my lieutenants, — McEvilly — ''how was it that your wands were nearly run in Cuba, as you told us ?" " Oh, that is another long story — too long to tell to-night ; but wo shall meet again, and then, perhaps, you may hear it." Shortly afterwards, Mclver left us for the night, having impressed us all as being a man of resoluto purpose, but of kind disposition — a gentleman in (quarters, a lion in the field. CIIAPTEK IV. It was the end of September. Paris was besieged, and the ill-conditioned garrison had made ineffectual sorties around the heights at Yillejuif, and obtained some small successes at Bracy and St. Denis. Metz was in the grip of the Germans, and its garrison had commenced to eat horse-flesh. Toul had surrendered with 109 oflicers, 22-40 men, and many guns. I saw the fortress afterwards. It had a double escarpment with full bastions, and was well casemated. There was no glacis, but a double moat, each ditch being about thirty feet wide all around the fortress. It was defended by seventy-five guns. All the troops of the invasion not engaged in the sieges of Paris and Metz were around the town. It suffered terribly from the bombardment. Things looked worse than they did at Sedan, but not so bad as at Bazeilles. The Gothic Church of St. Gengoult was in ruins, although the ancient cathedral was comparatively safe. The invest- ment of Paris had been completed, and the only means of communication was by balloons. An army of 350,000 Germans was around the besieged city, while other large German detachments moved through France towards Rouen, Amiens, Tours and Lyons. Around Versailles, tlie begrimmed walls of once beautiful chateaux stood silent sentinels of the devastations of war. Then Strasburg fell on the 27th, and a now German army was free to operate along the LA COMPAONIE IRLANDAISE. 37 Vosges. Nearly every house had been pierced with a shot, but the magnilicent cathedral was almost uninjured. History liad repeated itself, and Stras- burg was once more at the mercy of its foof>. Sacked by the Komans, pillaged by the Ilunn, seized by the ^fermans, captured by the French, Catholic and Protestant in turn, the history of Strasburg was a chequered one. But if France was almost ^u-ostrato the German trooi)s liad suffered severely. V)\) to this time 1600 officers and 38,000 men had been killed and wounded, wliile France had lost in prisoners one marshal, thirty-nine generals, 3577 officers, 123,700 privates, 10,280 horses, at least fifty eagles, 102 mitrailleuses, 887 Held and fortress guns, magazines, &c., &c. But the spirit of the nation was not dead yet, and the people were resolved to try a hopeless struggle for the mastery. Every day recruits came crowding into Caen, while we expected " the route " -every hour. The routine of barrack life was becoming monoto- nous, and the possibility of returning to Ireland without having emelled German powder was not of the most pleasing description. Drill continued with unabated ardour, and the spare hours on Sundays were occupied by making excursions into the country, where the most ignorant of the peasantry speculated on the nationality of the men, and, when discovered, wondered in " what portion of France Ireland was situated." Every Sunday morning, however, the company was marched to church, the Protestants pairing off to attend their own place of worship, while we attended the Church of St. 38 /.A COMPAONIE lit LAND AISE. Etiennc, with its Gotliic fa(;adcs and its historicai rcool lections of William the Conqueror of England, by whom it was finished in 1077. " Would you like to see the grave of the groat departed, Monsieur?" said the church beadle to me after mass one Sunday. I re])lied in the affirmative, and following my guide, ho pointed to a plain grey marble slab in the ])avcment before the high altar, j;nd said that that teas the grave of William the Conqueror. There was an emphasis on the word was that caught my attention ; and upon enquiring if the remains had been removed, I heard that the grave liad been for a long time empty, and that one thigh bone was all that was left of the once hauglity subjugator of the Saxon race. " You SCO, Monsieur le Capitaine/' said the beadle, pointing to the slab, " the grave w^as broken open, and tlio b'-'autiful monument erected over it was destroyed by the Huguenots in 1562, — the bones were Bcattored and lost without record, at the same time; while the Hevolutionists of 1793 again violated the grave, when the last remnant of William the Con- queror — the thigh bone — disappeared with the rest." My guide was redolent with stories about the Nor- mans and the conquests, and conducted me as far as the door of the church, while he pointed out the varied objects of interest around the Gothic cathedral. Before the door the company had already fallen in, and a crowd of Frenchmen had collected around the, Spot. From some source or other, the hat was sent around, and the passing members of the congregation were a2)pealed to by some enthusiasts from among LA COMPAQ N IE IRLANDAISE. 39 themselves for a subscription for the Irish Tohinteers. Before the company could be numbered off and removed from the ground, a demonstrative-looking but respectful Frenchman came and offered mo the contents of his hat, which I, however, firmly but respectfully declined. '' The j)eopIe are so much charmed with the Irish Volunteers, Monsieur le Capi- taine," he said, " that we wish to give them some recognition of our esteem. And," he added, holding the hat up to me with about eighty or ninety franca Imddled into its capacious crown, " if you will accept this little offering to buy tobacco for your men, we ^hall take it as a special favour." At first I was disposed to be rude to the man who addressed mo, and treat the matter as conveying a possUile insult to the men. But the anxious expression on the countenance of the man who held the hat, and the interested and sympathetic look upon the faces of the people who had contributed the money, assured me that it was given in good faith, and with a desire to contribute to the comfort of the Irish soldiers. This tempered my refusal of the money, but I once more firmly declined to accept the gift, — at which there w^as some dissatisfaction and more disappointment amongst the sympathetic sub- Bcribers. The company was marched away, and still the man almost apologetically followed me, and repeated his assui'anco that no offence was meant to les braves Irlandais. In France each department looks after its own conscripts, and the people of Caen were anxious to adopt us as their children. The compliments were flattering, but I was obdurate, 40 LA COMPAOyiE IRLANDAISE, and not until wo ^ot near our quartorH did tho gentle- man leave mo, diHaj)pointed hut not defeated. From a few individuals the collection extended over tho town until tho promoters were assured, in tones of iinswcrved determination, that the Irish Voliml would accept no favours, noi' ask any exceptional treatment, beyond what was given to any simple soldier of tho Line. This crowned our triumph in Caen. Henceforth we were tho heroes v)f the hour, and tho peo2)le were extravagant in the excess of their laudations. But tho fortunes of Franco had changed for tho better in the early days of November, and we were impatiently expecting tho route. No recruits arrived for the expected Irish regiment, and ■"'o should bo content to tako tho field as we were- Irish company, just 100 men, all told. A ray of hu^ broke tliroigh tho pall-liko disasters of Franco in the early part of November. It was the liey-day of her chivalrous resistance. D'Aurelles do Paladino had converted tho loose mass of llegulars, Garde Mobiles and Franc-tireurs into shape and consistency. lie had proved Ivimself at least a man with capacity for organization ; and when ho recaptured Orleans, and a portion of tho army under his command won tho victory at Coulmiers, every tongue in Franco was echoing his praises. Chevially p.nd Arteney added to tho rejoicings of the nation, and the cry of ^^ guerre co Voutrance " was again taken up by tho press and tho people of tho countr3^ Tho excitement in Fr'^nco at this period was more intense than it had been since the caj^itulation of Sedan, and all Europe held its' I A COMI'AGMi: Hi LA y DA IS K. 41* In'cath wIkmi Baocoii wiih onrriod by the French on the 11th of Novemboi* aiul tho Army of the Loire wan dcchired to bo in full march to tlio relief of PariH. It was then D'Aurelles do Paladino undoubtedly failed, and lost n brilliant opportunity of assisting, if not of relievini:^^ the garrison of Paris. Yon Worder was jtushing (iaribaKli towards Lyons and the east, ManteullVl was moving upon Aniiont* on the north, tho (Jrand Duke of Mecklenl)erg was marching towards Lo Mans on tho west, and Prince Frederick-Charles was sweoping down with 100,000 Tcterans fresh from the glories of Motz. And yet France M-as detiant. Jiefore dying, tho nation resolved t<^ make {mother eti'ort. Gambetta issued these ringing words to the troops : — " To the Army of the Loire : '< Your couragooua effu h recall victory to our cauHO. France owes her first ray of hoi). ^^ you, and I offer you tho public praise and gratitndo for your reward. Recovering etrength with discipline, you liave retaken Orleans, inaugurating a glorious ioflfensive. You are on tho road to Paris, which awaits you! Our honour hangs on your loosening tho grasp of tlieso barba- rians, llodoublo your constancy and ardour, and you will overcome your enemies' superiority in cannon with French ^laii and patriotic fury. So will the Republic issue victorious from the struggle." In tho moantimo the days passed licavily with us all. AVe were impatient to be in tho field. Our neighbours, tho Franc-tirews, had already gone, and .the municipal authorities gave them a brilliant ovation as tliey were departing. And then our turn came ! There were two or three fiilso starts, but 42 LA COMPAQ NIE IliLANDAlSE. orders came at last, and on the IGth of November — a month all but one day from our arrival in Caen — we "were to leave for Bourges, one of the great military .irsenals in the centre of France. It was a joyous morning as the men fell in to take their departure^ The few who had friends among the townspeople had already bidden them adieu. I had made the rounds of my hospitable entertainers in Cuen, and all was ready for the start. The sun burst through a bank of clouds and shed its brilliant rays upon the jaunty hepis of the Irish soldiers, while they stood in line Avith raidcs as carefully 'dressed" as if they were prej^aring for a field-day. Around the gate through which we were to pass out of the barracks, the people of the town had assembled in goodly numbers, while the Mobiles, who occupied the remainder of the barracks, drew up to give us a farewell salutation. The Sergeant-major reported *' all ready;" a few words of command followed, the Irish A''olunteers faced the entrance of the barracks, and in another moment they were stepping out towards the gate. Then a cheer which ehook the very buttresses of the old building rose from the ranks, Avas caught and repeated by the MoHles, was taken up by the i)cople outside, passed en to the ladies who stood on the balconies on our way, and swelled through the usually quiet streets of Caen. '• Vive, vive I'lrlande," shouted a thousand friendly Frenchmen. '* Vive, vive les Irlandais,'* jsaluted the ladies from the windows. " Vive, vive les Volontaires," shouted the assembled multitude who awaited our departure at the railway. Then the bugles blew, the whistle shrieked, the spacious station LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. 43 was filled with the cheers of the Irish soldiers, and we were off. CHAPTER y. Away once more over the historic plains of Nor- mandy, and the " road of iron " points straight for the Loire. At all the intermediate stations, soldiers of every arm of the service crowded the platforms, hurrying to their various destinations. Ladies promenaded the spaces in front of the carriages, anxiously looking out for the '' sick or wounded," and when found, administered to their wants with pious solicitude. At every station there appeared to be an organized system of relief for the victims of the war, or for such as the chances de la guerre had aflSiicted. On through Argentin and Alen9on, the inland Belftist of France, and at about 4 p.m. wo crowded into Le Mans, with all its picturesque interest, its marks of antiquity, its walls, its churches, and its active industry. Amongat tho multiplicity of uniforms which caught the eye within the Hpacious station of Le Mans, the picturesque uniform of the Pontifical Zouaves attracted attention. Their loose grey costume, so elegantly made ; their liandsomo gaiters, their bare necks and soldierly grace, made them in my eyes the best-looking, and as events proved, amongst the best of tho bravest sons of Prance. Their heroic conduct at Orleans had already gained respect for the once-despised soldats du Pape, and afterwards their valour at Patay and Le 44 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. Mans covered them with glory, — and, at tho end of the war, to bo a Zouave Pontifical was to bo distin- guished for steady discii-)lino and splendid valour. Tho brilliant bearing and silent devotion of these lieroic men won for them tho respect of their enemies. At Loigny, out of 350 men they left 207 dead and dying upon the field of battle. At Le Mans, some time after I saw them, they wore told by General Crougard : — " Zouaves, you are heroes ; to-day you Iiave saved tho army." Of six captains, on that day four were killed. And when in August, 18^1, they Avere disbanded, the Minister of War said in his order of tho day : — " The army thanks you, by my voice." Significant and glorious words. I often regretted that circumstances did not throw our lot in with tho gallant Pontifical Zouaves, although wo had been assured that wc were to bo attached to a corps not less distinguished, the Foreign Kegiment, which was so fearfully decimated at the first battle of Orleans, when, out of 1500 men, thoy lost 1000 in one day's fighting. But the road was blocked, and we had a few hours to cultivate the acquaintance of tho Ponti- fical Zouaves, and to see what was to bo seen in Lo Mans. The men had an opportunity of obtaining any luxury within the reach of their miserable pay, and of adding a few cakes or an orange to tho scanty contents of their haversacks. Confined in a square, a crowd of the curious soon gathered around Ics Irian- dais, — and more than one of tho bourgeois asked me if there was anything they could do for tho men, T would have been ghul indeed if some one more gener- ous than the rest had given acceptable refreshments LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. 42^ a to the men without consulting mc, but I was often reluctantly compelled to say that " the Boldiers had all they required." Our stay in Le Mans enabled mo to see the town, and examine the splendid cathedral, with its magnificent choir, which is said to bo tho finest in France. Along the streets, and in all tho open spaces, men dressed in the semi-uniform usual amongst tho Garde JSationale hurried to and fro, and impressed me with the conviction that they were as useless as they were unornamental. Near tho railway station, however, I came upon a battery of artillery and two mitrailleuse guns, the working of which an artillery officer close by kindly showed me how to perform. *' You see, mons/ewr," said the artillery officer, when the hood was taken olf the gun, " the mitrailleuse is a combination of many guns in one — a number of barrels in one tube ; the trajectory is wonderfully flat, and it can discharge 300 balls a minute at a range of ITOO or 1800 metres." " But have not the Germans a mitrailleuse also ?" 1 asked of my informant. " Oh, yes," he replied, " the Kugelspritzen. I think it is an American gun, which was called the Gatling, and was adoptetl by the Germans at tho commencement of tho war. Our gun," he added, placing his hand somewhat atiectionately upon the jpiece, much as a jockey would upon the neck of favourite racer, " is thought to be an improve- ment on that. In the Gatling gun I saw in Paris there were ten barrels, made something like this, to revolve around a central axis, parallel to tho 46 LA COMPAQ N IE IRLANDAISE. boro!^, l>y means of a hand-crank. As each barrel comes into position, a self-primed metal-case cartridge is pushed into its breech by a jilunger, and is held there until exploded by the tiring-jiin. The cartridges fall by their own gravity through a hopper as fast as they can be supplied by hand, and the barrels arc brought successively into position as fast as they can bo turned by the crank." " Do you think the Gatling superior to the Mon- tigny?" I asked, seeing that I had an officer of tho regular artillery to speak to, and from whom I might expect a full account of the various weapons then in use. *' Yes," ho answered, " tho results of the experi- ments I saw conducted were in favour of the Gatling. The Montigny has thirty-seven ban-els, and yet it has neither tho precision nor tho rapidity of tho Gatling." *'But tho Germans have tho superiority in field artillery," I said, half questioning, Iialf assuring tho artillery officer beside me. Just then the buglers blew tho "fall in," and I was compelled to jjart with my informant. lie, however, introduced mo to the captain of a battery, who was going to Tours, and I willingly accepted his companionshij) on tho route, as I was anxious to gain some more information about guns and gunnery on our way to tho south. As I moved towards tho railway I met Sergeant Terence Byrne, who was evidently amused at some occurrence that had taken place. His usually calm and amiable countenance was beaming with j^leasurablo excitement, and upon enquiring tho cause, he told mo Ihat one of tho men had obtained permission to leave LA COMPAGNIE lULANDAISE. 4Y the Bqiiaro, and liad asked liini what '' Give mo Bomo more sugar " was in French. " I," continued Sergeant Byrne, " told him, and as I underntand tlio man soon afterwards went into one of the cafes you must have passed, and asked for a ' tassc' of coffee. As usual, the waiter brought two or three small pieces of sugar upon a miniature dish or saucer, and placed them before the eweet-toothed Irishman, who was however dissatisfied with the quantity, and then put his ' give mo some more sugar ' into requisition. The gar(;on was hurried at the time, and replied ' Tout de suite, Monsieur, tout de suite.' This, the Irishman only partially heard, and he bawled out that it was not ' too sweet, nor half sweet enough,' forgetting that he might as well be speaking Sanscrit to a ISTewcastle 'pit man' as English to a French waiter. It required all my authority," con- tinued Sergeant Byrne, " t<) quiet the indignant Irishman, who, in the Qni\f courteously admitted hia error, and parted on the best of terms with the surprised (jargon.'' In all probability the poor Frenchman has often since bothered his brains in vain endeavours to guess the cause of the Irishman's indignation, and '• tout de suite, tout de suite,'' became a standard joke amongst the Irish soldiers for many a long day afterwards, and with the victim himself, when the sergeant told him that it meant, "just now, just now." But wo were soon in the railway carriages again, and as the train moved out of Le Marii at G p.m. mutual cheers passed between the Pontifical Zouavos and the Irish Volunteers. I vras glad to tind that my acquaintance, the artillery officei*, who was going to 1 1 : I II I I t i 48 ZA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. Tours, was seated beside me. and with Lieutenants Cotter and M'Alevey, and Dr. ^Macken, had the carriage to ourselves. The train rattled on for *' Black Angers," as the once capital of Anjou was called. My compaijnon de voyage, the artillery officer, was instructively communicative, and upon my enquiring if it was true tliat the Prussian artillery was so much superior to our own, he gave mo a lengthened dissertation uj)on the various claims of the breech and muzzle loading guns. " You see," ho said, placing the under portion of the forefinger of his right hand upon the under portion of the forefinger of his left hand, and using them as a kind of mechaliical lever to impress the force of his reasoning the more effectually ui)on one's memory, "th(> Prussian artillery is entirely breech-loading, while ours is as entirely muzzle-loading. But I do not think it is on that account that the Prussians are superior. It is principally their greater weight, and consequent longer; range, that has given the Germans the advantage in all our artillery duels. They have managed to use heavier guns than ours, but I am still of opinion, that for field artillery, or indeed for all artillery, that muzzle-loaders are the best. There is a powerful simplicity in the solid gun, which appears, as far as artillery science yet enables us to judge, incompatible with a breech-loader. At Sedan, however, our artillery practically ceased to exist before the close of the fight. The fact is, the Germans seldom engage our infantrj'" before they try to crush us with a shower of projectiles. And now things aro woi*se, when the majority of our artillery is manned LA COMPAOyiU lliLANDAL'^i:. 49 by Jllobiles, who only shoot tho cannon, -svliilo the Germans aim. On tho march the (Jennan infantry generally nkirt the roads in .small parties close togcthci", leaving the liiglnvay for the artillery and baggage wagons — an order analogous to that of a battalion in battle. The method is more fatiguing., but the march is etl'ectcd at once, time is gained, ansur. ]l':c too were placcH as.socialc(l willi Mary (^ucrn of ScotR, and lior jshort-lived Inisbafid Fi'ancis. Jl was hero that (lie Saracens wore overwlielnied \)y (.liarlos Martel in 732, and llie lido of Mosiuni triumphs Avas forever niel, C'heeivcd, and overcome. Jjike all French towns, Tours luxs its cathedral. It was commenced in 1150 and linished in 1550. Tours luid often been the rclugo of royalty, and it was soon to become the refui,^> of the chiefs of the Republic. Tho town was crowded with troops of all arms, and detachments of Franc- .^ireurs guarded some Bavarians inside the station, who Lad boon taken prisoners at Orleans. These prisoners "boro themselves with the ease of true soldiers, and impressed one favourably as they stood in groups around tho room allotted to themselves. There were two officers, one of whom M'as mortally wounded, lie had a bayonet wound in the stomach, the weapon nearly penetrating through tho back. His agony must have been intense. A French doctor was bending over the prostrate man, while his companion in arms soothed tho rough pillow on whicli his liciul rested, as gently as a woman. Now and again an agonizing groan would break from Ids lips, and fixing Ins eyes upon tho uniforms of tho Frenchmen around, ho appeared to stifle tho pain he w^as enduring, before Ills foes. His companion, rough-visaged and one- armed, a colonel in rank, decorated with the Iron Cross, and bearing upon his person all tho evidences of military distinction, failed to hide the tears that xan down liis •sveathor beaten face when his young £i*iend whispered something into his car. I heard tho LA COM PAG y IE IRLAXDAISU. 63 Ktory of that 3'oiini^' mairn life in .1 few hours nflor, when liis houI had i^oiio before liis Cioil, and wlien (he grave had necui-od its victofv. It was the oUl slory — love, niavriagc, a yoiini,' family, war, and tiien — deatli. And this was the end of his dream of the '' pomp and eireumstanee of glorious war." This wa^i liie end for him, but not for those he left in despair. Ifcre was death, iJicre was worse than death — life witiiout the husband, the father, and the friend. No *' stoi'ied ui-n or monumental bust" could '' back to its mansion call " the happiness whieh that young wife onee experienced, and, as the old Colonel recited tO' me tluit tale of Rori-ow, I could not contain an expression of legret, and it required all my strength to use the then hackneyed jdirase, " Mais u la guerre, Comme ii la guerre." But 7 a.m. came at last, the Ti-isli Yolunteers filei.1 into the train, and we were soon bowling along through the vineyards of Cher. Yierzon with its associations of Kichard I., of England, and of the Black Prince, who pillaged the town in the middle of the fourteenth century, was soon passed, and then wo> quickly rattled into Bourges, our destination for the time being. To fall in on the platform, and under tho direction of a soldier "who undertook our escort, to move on through the town, with a few idlers upon our flanks, vaguely guessing as to what part of the habit, able earth we came from, occupied but a short time. The worthy official whose duty it was to provide for our Bubsistence and quarters, appeared troubled at our I) (I 1 1 i J J '1 ^ ^ 54 LA COMPAQ NIh' IliLAyOAISE. arrival, annds as to thoir enemies." IJ i; 56 LA CUMPAGNIE IIILANDAISE. " Yea," said Dr. Slacken, '• the aphorism of Hichelieu, that— ' III the lexicon ol youth, There is no such word st tlickerini^ eftbrt of a lire in the throes of death. " Yes, that 'ill come to pass," said Timothy Marks^ who joined the sliiverin,£^ P'iii'» "when the Millennium, r have heard preached of, comes showcrinijj milk, honey, liappiness, and whiskey on our lieads." " AV^hat is the Millennium, Marks," said a broad- shouldered Tip])erary man, Timothy Larkin, as lio seriously scanned the countenance of the quizzical Marks. "The Millennium? Is it chaffin*^ mo you arc Tiarkin," replied Marks, half doubtingl}-. " AVell, at all events, the Millennium is the time when the lion is <;oing to lie down in peace and harmony with the lamb." " Then, bedad, I think we will liavo the ice cream from the cows before that ; for I suspect when the lion comes to move, the lamb would be missing," replied Larkin, with the self-satisfied expression of a man who had placed a period to all discussion upon a doubtful question. I paused beside the door sufficiently long to hear just that one repartee from amidst the men who thronged the frail shelter, and then as I turned to leave for my lodgings in the town, the sergeant of the week, Frank Byrne, stood before me with the melancholy intelligence that one of the company, Laurence Breen, liad that day died of small-pox. 1) I" T 64 LA COMPAGMi: IRLAyUAlSE. The ilrst of the Ii'i>!i Voliintoors luul diod for Franco ! If Luuronco lirecn had fallon amidst tlio "pomp and circumstances of f^lorious war;" if ho luid died wliilo facinjjc the foe in the intoxicatinic whij-1 of battle, lio could not have rondei'od uj) Ids life more truly for I'^ranco than lie did in the small-pox ward of the hospital at Bounces. There is, indeed, a savaijjo, but still human, satisfaction, in selling life so dearly, that oven in defeat, it makes tlio enemy purchase a (^admean ti-iuniph. l)tit the sacrifice is all the same ; and tho rccoi'd of the "diod in hospital," is not, or at least should not be, a less brilliant or less melancholy roll, than the list of " killed and woundel;iI,LEY ToiiTKUd. Away ovx'i' tlio dreary road.s wliicli skirt tlic river Cher. Away to now hcciic?} and to now asHOciatioiif. Dead and dying lior.scH occasionally dot the way, while groups of famished soldiers hacked at the still warm carcases with ravenous haste. The (j[iiiverin«^ flesh of poor Dobbin was hoing hewn into patches by the hungry soldiers of the army of the Loii-e. The flesh on tlie hind quarters of the dead horses was in nearly every case cut from the bones, and from out the steaming kettles which were everywhere visible, the savoury odour of hashed cheval flavored the sharp keen air. The troops were encamped on either side of the road, and the small dirty weather-beaten tents skirted our route deep into the woods beyond; columns of smoke from 20,000 camp fires darkened the utmos- phere, and hung like a i)all over the encampment. The voice of 100,000 men raised around the place a noise such as an angry sea makes^ as it rolls in crested violence against the shore. But our Brigade was at the furthest end of the encampment. On to La Chapelle through broken fields, and thousands of tentes cVabris where the bronzed countenances of the /.A rnMIWnyil-: inLAypAisi: n? liardy soldiers, looked witli compassion upon tlio clean <^Milers, })olisJied accoiitronionts, and shining appm-- (cMianc'Ci of tho Irish A'oiiinteers. TIuto Avas 80ino- thing stirring and s[>K'ndidly iral in the a])pearanee of tho soldiers, between whoso line« avo hurried on to find our own ]5rigade. At last our eds, and a look of cleanli- ness about all the culinary appointments, gave an air of comfort and thrift iness to the kitchen. There was, how^ever, another i-oom, where eveiything was more handsomely arranged, and ponderous curtains, sha- dowed a bed which looked deep enough te swallow our little Commandant, hoy ond h'lH de]){h in feathers. All those things were new to us, but they wore familiar to our host. Wo improved tho occasion by finding out our position in the regiment. " You see," said the little man, looking at us with tho air of an experienced soldier, '• there are five battalions 'I . I I t I i| 1) 70 I A COM P. 1 axii: 1 1: i . i .v/). i ;>'/7. in our iT^'imont but oiil_y the 1>(, 2ii(l, and 5lh, arc in Franco, tho oilier two are still in Al^'iers, bceausc ilio men hcin^- ])rinei])ally com|)Oso(l ol'd'ernians, tlic CJov- ernment avouM not trust tlieni iiere.' To an iiKjuiry of mine, W\q Commandant told nio that there were eiicht eompanios in eaeh oattali. n, and that on a!i averai:;c, tlie number of men ran,i;'ed from a minimum of 80 to a maximum of KIO. This gave tho eommander of a battalion in the {''reneh army more men than tlie Colonel of an I']nglish Jiei;inu'nt. Then Ktorics of battles, lost and won, ])assed around, and our first niL;'ht in the lield passed comfortably for all. At hist we left our entertainei", in order to seek our quartci's. This was a somewhat difficult task. ^riie ni«j;ht was as dai-k as Erebus, and it was not without some difficulty that we succeeded in naviga- ting our way among the numerous baggage-waggons; at last, however, our quarters were reached. Four of us were to occupy two beds in an upper chamber of a dilapidated inn, tho umler portion of which was cram- med with Jfohilcs, stretched out u]>on the boards in all conceivabk attitudes, from the •• spread eagle," to the '"teaspoon." A sickly tallow candle illuminated our quarters, and just made its lilthy beds pei'ceptiblo to the eye. McAlcvey rolled over tho scanty blankets, and handling the ] illow, swore that it was a most un- nightly '' knapsrck for a soldier." And then he rolled the iK^d ch^thes over his head, and very soon a vigorous snore announced \at ho was in dreamland. Mr. Cotter extinguished the light, and all was quiet, save, indeed, what some (rcrmun author calls '* the artillery of Bleep." J. A COM PA GNIE J'tLAyO. 1 AV/;. 71 The rcrciUe Avas Rouiiok aitoi^ether in holiday attire after theii* first niii^ht iijion tlie slimy soil near St. Chapelle. The stains of the campailight. Somehow, I I'ave wav to the refui^eof thou«i;ht — reverie LA COMPAGME IJiLAXDAISE. —that 13tli of December, 1870. I thought not of home, but of friends ; not of heart lis, but hearts ; not of places so much as of people, and had gone into tho reminiscences of tho past, when that villainous rcicimental bui^lo went olf again. "That's for the sergeant of the week," said Lieut- cnant Cotter, counting the three notes at the end of the call. Away down the battalion a m^ mur of voices wa^ heard, and camo nearer, until at last it reached the head of tho Irish company. Ah ! there was tho cx2>lanation, as tho sergeant of tho week appeared with a bundle of letters and papers under his arm. ^'Billets, billets'' shouted the Frenchmen; "letters, letters," said the Irishmen, and soon the sergeant was surrounded with a hundred eager faces, each hoping, yet almost dreading, for news from the dear old land. Then followed tho oft-told tale — " Mother's dead, Ivatty's married, or Jimmy's gone away," or perhaps tho affectionate little colleen, Avho had sworn lidelity and love, had ceased to entertain any recollection but ''rcmemberance" of tho past, had forgotten her pledge, and told the lover that he should forget it too. Somehow I fancy that soldiering developcs all the sentiment of our nature. In his natural state man is essentially a sentimental being. It is our civilization that makes us cynics : it is our refinement that develops tho criticism of doubt. But war against his kind la certainly not opposed to the instincts of man, and ho becoraoa less artificial when engaged in the l>loody game. Thore may be nothing of sentimental romauco in sleeping in a scooped-out snow-drift, living on half i; k 1 I I) t4 r.A coMPAcxii-: ihlandaise. i-ations, oi- luarcliiiiL;- with ])lccding feet and broken hhocs over the jaerhaps the letter marked Convent des Ursulines, ThUdonck, Wespelaer, Behjique^*^ and signed, "Ever your fond sisters," caused me to feel a little queer about the region of the heart, and if a moist eye be a coward's hign,then was I a coward. If I brooded over the past^ if I treasured the affection of those wliose letter I received, thought of their future if the chances of war went against me, was it a crime if I left my companion and wished to bo alono? J know it is customary LA COMPAGyiE IlU.AXDAmE. 75 ..1 this cjTiieal i\\fo to sncoi* at this sort of i\\\u^ as "sentimental trash"; hut everyone to his taste, and according to his experience. For me, I just noAV lemcmber some of the best men I ever knew, and they were not quite free from this feeling. But, to come to the practical, just allow me to put my letter safely into the most secure part of my port ef cut Ik, to draw the elastic band carefully around it, safe, but ready when I am again in the humour for indulging in a little "sentimental trash." ''Ten sous on this," said the sergeant of the week, holding a w^ell thumbed letter in his hand ; "Timothy Marks," repeated the sergeant, reading the name of the soldier to whom it was addressed. "That's me," said Timothy Marks; " but where am I to get ten sous? Is it to save i*^ on a sou a day I am ? 8ure a month's pay wouldn't pay toll for a ramrod." "Marks," said Lieutenant Cotter, "I'll liave to put you under ar''ost if 3^ou use such language." "I can't help it, sir," seriously replied Timothy Marks. " I haven't broken fast to-day, except with a mouthful of bad coffee and a hard biscuit, my feet are almost to ttie ground, and you see my uniforn) in rags; and then to want icn sous for my letter! I can't help it, sir! I can't help it I" I was glad to see Lieutenant Cotter tolerate the poor fellow's plea, and I was. also, pleased to see Timothy Marks receive his letter, and ravenously devour its contents. " Sac-a-dos ! '' " Sac-a-dos ! " rang out the regimental bugle; "Sac-a-dos !'^ shouted the sons-o^cier. ^'Sac-a- » J ft k I, 76 LA COMPAQ y IE IRLANDAISE. dosr echoed throughout the line. The usual hurry followed; the al>(jiieme7it was taken up, the command "en route* given, and away we bhuftled, somewhere, anywhere, but out of St. Eustace. The people of the village appeared to take neither interest in, nor notice of, our departure, but just asVe were passing the skirt of the village I saw Lieutenant M'Alevey waiting for the company, a handsome geranium stuck in the button-hole of his tunic, and he just in the act of waving a salute to a rather pretty girl, who smiled at him from an adjoining window. "Plirting again, M'Alevey?" said I, as he smilingly walked beside me, liis usually neatly curled mous^ tachios a little out of order. ''Oh, no, captain ! only preaching patriotism to that lady you saw in the window — a sweet girl, with all the passionate idealism of St. Teresa." " Whew !" whistled a newcomer behind us. "M'Alevey, you'll die a monk or a teetotaller as sure as fate, if you pull through this campaign." "You are quite wrong. Doctor," coolly replied M'Alevey, addressing Dr. Macken, who had just joined us on tl'.o march , •• I'm too ardent a spirit to bo cither.'/ M'Alevey was tlie soul of humour. I had often to beg of him to leave me, for his companionship meant a round of laughter, which became painful from its constancy. „ Sunshine or shower, feast or famine, M'Alevey was always the same jovial, joyous fun- maker; occasionally flirting, but ever the essence of wit, good humor, and joviality. His jokes generally went the round of the regiment, and ^I'Alevey had LA COMPAGyiE lliLAyDAISE. n ts (i become noted for saying the best things of the day. In appearance he was every inch a soldier, his tall well- knit figure was set off by the medal he wore for the Mexican Expedition. If there was an evidence of vanity at all, perhaps it was in the twist of his mous- tachios, which ho as care. ally trimmed in the field as in quarters. To lighten a march or cheer away enmii, M'Alevey was the best hand I ever met, and, in consequence, his companionship was courted by every officer in the regiment. lie was, however, too much the cavaliei-. A pretty face was irresistible to M'Alevey. If he had lived in the time of Charles I., the days of '' jicrsonal allegiance," abundance of sack, and unlimited license to woo and win the daughters of the Eoimdheads, M'Alevev would have been a paragon of perfection. His wit, his jovial humour, and his innocent amours, would have made him beloved of all the beloved. But the march from St. Eustace to Mehun on the thirteenth of December, 1870, went on. Past trampled gardens, deserted homes, and occasionally the debris of war material on the road. Sometimes a wearied soldier would fall out and throw himself exhausted upon the snow or mud that lined the route. Sometimes a horse, worn with exhaustion, would be unyoked from the baggage-train, and shot upon the side of the road, and as we looked behind perhaps some famished dogs might bo seen prowling around its still warm carcass. Occasionally the ">S*rtc- a-terre'^ would sound, and then the troops were, as usual, busy bandaging ugly sores, searching for a mouthful of water, or catching a moment's repose. Just before the sun was about to leave us, wo pulled . ) ft k t' I ! 78 LA ('OMPAa.Mi: IliLAXDMSi:. \\\) l)0.si(le an irivitijig lookiiu^ field, wlioro Iho w.irmth of lliodccp soil hud ejiuso(l the snow to molt from off its surface. The '^^dc-a-terrc'' had mounded fully quai'tcr of an hour, and a few adventurous spirits ■were busy makini^ colfee. They had set themselves industriously to work the moment thev arrived. Two or thieo had i^ono for wood, some for M-atcr, and others were busy lii^hting the fire. All went merry as a marriai^e bell, the water was just boilinji;, the soldier who undertook the ]tart of cook liad ])Oured the eoll'ee upon the bubblinii; li(piid, when ^'Sac-ados,'' ^^ Sac-a-dos," nhrieked the bugle. '' Sac-a-dos," shouted the sovs- officicrs. Consternation followed amon_i:;st tlie anxious men who surrounded the kettle full of boiling water. Timothy Marks made use of some sentence which invoked the character of the prince of Pandemonium, while all the time he looked as ferocious as an irritated bull-dog. '^ Fall in !" shouted Sergeant Carey. Around the fire, whore all was harmony a moment before, all was turmoil now. Some were for canying the cottee, others were for spilling it on the ground; a high word or two passed. "Fall in!" again sternly spoke the sergeant, in lauguago that showed he was not to bo tampered with ; away wo rattled, and the disputed coffee was consumed — I know not how. I thought I heard Timothy Marks's voice once or twice a little too high, and then I thought I heard the corjioral of his squad say a word that silenced him for the while. "This is the kind of work that makes one think of A.t (OMI'AGyiL' IRLAyDMSE. 70 the comfort.s of homo, tjqttaiu," said M'Alcvoy, comiii' up and walkinic Ixvsidc mo aiK HI) >oak i I liT more ecriously than 1 luul heard liim lor t?onio time. ., ''M'Alevey," said J, a little surprised at the tone of his eonvcrsatiim, ''arc vou bccomini^ toiieiied with homc-siekncss ?'' "1 don't know that," repeated the lieutenant, " hut I wan thinkini^ of a family party seated around the family table, tlio ancestral Bible beini^ read l)y the eldest-born, and the old man occasionally enlivenini^ the scene by rockini^ on the cat's tail." I saw M'Alevey was in one of his humours, anpot. ■'Yoii'ro always lookirii^ at the ]>laek Hide of the moon, Tim," said a ^ood-natured youii;^ Dublin ina!i— OBnen. "How do you know ])ut wo nhall have those rolls for supper to-ni^ht, nicely buttered, and t-risped before a goi\i^eous fire." ^* Begone, you omadhaun," 8aid Timothy !^^arks, tasting a look of scorn upon Ids inexi)ericneed com* panion, "Yes, indeed, it's butter you want on rolls; bad luck to them, the only roll you'll get for supper il bo a roll in the mud.'* And, indeed, so it was. The mud, or clay, adhered in huge flakes, as large as snow" slioes, to our boots, and rendered walking "no small joke," as I heard Bomebody beside mo say. The sergeant-major ^vas, liowever, equal to all emergencies, and was one of the first tc give a silvery lining to the darkened prospect. " Come, Tim, my man, there is no help for it ; you must oiiiV make tho best of a ])ad l>ai'gain," said Sergeant Carey, going up to Timothy Marks, who was surveying what he called the "cut of Iiis gib" with the air of a man who was not quite satisfied with his measurement. "No, I suppose not, sergeant," said Timothy Marks, shaking his head; "there's nothin' for it! nothiii' for it 1 There is a big town within lialf a mile of us, the Prussians will be slecpin' in it before a week, an' their own soldiers are left to waddle in the dirt, like eels in a mud-hole ; an' then they expect men to march and to fight for them ; the omadhauns." 6 V n IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / o mp- w- €j>.r y ^ ^ I I 1.0 I.I IIIM |!"|M llliM ^ ^5 12.0 1.8 1.25 1.4 1.6 — ^ 6" ► p> <^ n ^\ 'e: c* '^ / o 7W Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 4^ & 4-' «>- ?, 6^ 4> ^m LA COMI'AGXIE IRLANDAISE. ill I III At lirst I feared tliiit the remarks of Tim )thy !Mark8 miii;lit create dissatisfaction amoni<;st tlie men, but I soon discovered tliat they re^*ai'ded him as a good-natured gi'umhler, and then I let liim have liis say. Old boldicrs are ahva^'s hard to ])lease, and Timothy Marks wa8 no exception to tlie nile. As for the rest, there was not a Avord of cc^mphiint; llie sergeants made the best selections they could of i)laces, consistent with \.\\q aVujnement of the company, and the men went to work, pitching tents, gathering wood, or, carrying water, while the guard for the faisccaux was being told off for the night. The scanty rations of the soldiers had been consumed in the morning, and were it not for a little help from the companies' jiursc — the ordinaire — tiie soldiers of the Tj-ish com^^any would have been foodless. Just as everything Avas in ordei-, ]\I'Alevey came and took me by the arm, and gave the comTorting news that the ollicers might sleep in Mehun. Just then a rifle shot rang out sharp, clear, and shrill uj)on the frozen atmosphero. '•' That's from your company," I said to CAq^tain Ceresole, Avho Avas just passing mo at the time. '' I sup])Osc some poor devil has been putting an end to liimself. It h.'is hapjiened scA^eral times before, and all because of la inisere,'' said the captain, giving the least shrug to his shoulders, and moving toAvards the Bcenc of the disaster. J)r. ]\Iacken, Avho happened to be passing at the time, came Avitli us, and there, Buro enough, Avab a soldier lying in such a nnumor as to convince us that it Avas a case of suicide. The doctor pronounced life to be extinct, the ball from the LA COMPAQ:; IE IRLANDAISE. 83 riifisscpot having passed through the brain, and .slightly wounded a maii wlio was engaged as the cuisinier for liis guard, a liundred yards away. ^' Captain," said Lieutenant Cotter, who was attracted to the spot hy the discharge, '• isn't that the man we saw bandaging his feet at 8t. Eustace ? Roe how the shoe is tied, and I think 1 recognize the features, too." ''I believe you're right, Cotter; it is the same. Was he one of your men, Ccresole ?" I asked. " Yes, poor fellow, he was," replied Captain Ceresole, " and I regret this XQvy much, jl/bn Dieu, what will his mother do? Here, sergeant, search his pockets. Give me those papers ; thanks ! Throw liis blanket over his face, place a guuj-d upon the body, and tell the sergcant-mnjor to report it to iho adju- tant." And the captain walked away, opening a letter directed to himself by the *' foot-sore French- ]uan." " Capitiiinc,-' l)C{;an the letter, " yoa know me, Henri ; when you get this I will be dead. You know I have tried to do my duty, looking for my only reward in your recognition of my willingness to obey. For your kindness to mo I give you my dying thanks : you havt- been a generous commander and a kind superior. When you could, consistent with your duty, you gave me all the indulgence in your power, liut, capitaiue, I am afraid of life. T cannot live any longer in the agony I am now suffering. You may think I am not worse than other men ; perhaps I am not, but I must be of weaker mind, or phy.sique, for I would rather die than live in torture. You will find that the bone protrudes through the flesh on my toes, eaten off with frost, and the doctor has refused to allow me to go to hospital. I cannot march, and it is better to die. I have, however, one fi4 LA COMPAGyiE IRLAyDAISE. ■'il III III ui III 'ii .III) 'ili .i! request to ask of you. My poor mother nursed yuu Avhen you- were a boy — tell her I fell in action ; if I thought you ^vould not do this, I would die unhappy ; hut I am sure you will, so I will die eacily. («ood-by, eapitaine. Adieu. '• IIemu ." "Poor Henri," isaid CercKole, with a touch, of real feeling perceptible in Iub tones. It was all I heard but it was enough, and 1 left Ceresole, as I knew ho wished to be, alone. A parting instruction to Scrg. Carey, then M'Alevey, Cotter, the doctor, and myself waded through streams of water, dodged through baggage-waggons and gun- carriages, and at last entered the boundary of one of the dirtiest places in which it has ever been my lot to pass througli. Mehun, oh ! may I never look ujion your like again ! M'Alevey was u capital hand at scouting out lodgings. He knc^'' exactly by the conduct of the people who answered his query, "Have you room for four officers," Wiiether he would persevere or not. If it w^as a lady who showed the slightest evidence of good temper, M'Alcvey Avould interest her with his cO'wersation, make her laugh with his witticism, iirid the chances were ten to one that lie would succeed in finding a bed where dozens had failed before. " There's no use going there, M'Alevey, the Com- mandant has just been trying," said I, as M'Alevey left my side and wjilkcd over towards a little house that stood in from the road. There was a peculiar twinkle in M'Alevcy's eye, he gave the least curl to liis moustache, and knocked at the door. From the moment the door opened and a handsome dai'k-haired girl stood in the passage, I made certain that LA COMPAOMI'J f/iLAXDAfSL:. 85 l)Uld om- ir rt lat vie lis 'he •eti lat MAlevey would Kuccccd, and suecced he did. T could see the stern look ishe assumed for the moment relax, then a smile traced an expression upon her features, and before many seconds I saw the lieutenant raise his kepi as his fair vis-a-vis ran off to ask her father if he could make any kind of a shake-down ? AVith the young lady's father M'Alovey was equally successful ; and a few rugs placed upon the boards, beside a gorgeous fire, made us comfortable for the night. Our host treated us with marked kindness when he heard we were Irish Volunteers. IFo was singularly intelligent for liis class, and understood that Ire- land was washed by the Atlantic. To men who went to France full of sympathy for her misfortunes, and who liad thrown tlicir lives into the contest — we who conjured up the history of the past — the stories of the Old Brigade — of Clare at Ilamillies — of that licroic dash on the slopes above Fontenoy — of the stand at Cremona, or of the efforts of our fathers at Ypres, where the ramparts yielded to the charge of the Irisli Volunteers and covered them with gloiy — to us who remembered all thcsC; who treasured them as gems in the history of our people — and who expected similar recollection of them by the French — it was often mortifying to hear some mawkish Fi-enchman ask — ^^ Ireland f Ireland f Where is Ireland f" But our host was an intelligent man in his way. He had a vague idea that Ireland was somewhere on the west coast of England, and made an amusing effort to trace its geographical position with the point of M'Alevey's walking-cane. He Jippearod to think that Ireland was, geographically, a hump f ) •^ } * I f; !! r ) *'- r ' J ^ i i 4 80 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDATSE. Mil •Ml, '!ti! 111 upon Ihc shoulders of (Jreat Britain, and the poor man looked ainazin<^ly satisfied as M'Alcvoy acquiesced, or at least licsitated to contradict lii.s charminfl: innocence. But niv niischicvoiiH lieutenant had liiH eycH in other qua'ters. ]\r'Alevoy could not be quiet in the presence ol' a woman — be she lady or simple maid — without paying her courteous attention. ile made us all iaugh ''rings round," and the little clock beside the bed marked 1 a.m. before the old mjin, or jierhaps the old man's daughter, could be induced to say " good night." Our toilets wore a little troublesome that night — that is, we took off our great coats and long l)Oots, and, wrapped in our blankets, for a short time wo watched the flames lick up the logs of wood that were abundantly heaped upon the hearth, the heat from which sent the flush of comfort through our veins ; while fatigue, that best of nai'ootics, soon made us fall fast asleep. h 'II' ll Hi full CIIAPTEI^ Yir. T>y foreifjn hands thy dying eyes wore closed, By fun ign hands thy decent liml)S composed ; lly hnmble hands thy humble grave adorned, By Btrungers honoured and by strangers mourned. The HUH was about peeping- over tho south-eastern lK>rizoii, or, in tho words of M'Alevcy, had " struck a liglit," the following morning, when a vigorous shako by soniel)ody caused me to awake. Looking around I saw M'Alevcy engaged in an interesting conversation with our host's daughter, while I hoard him adv^oeating tiio relative beeomingness of short dresses and high- heeled boots. Andy, my orderly, had, by some peculiar power of his own, a power he was fond of calling tho " instinct of rason," ferreted out my where- abouts, and lie appeared to be seriously engaged at bayonet exercise with somebody who had sought refuge in tho flue, but, as ho readily explained, ho was only removing something that stopped the free passage of tho smoke through the chimney. Lieu- tenant Cotter was still quiet, but his nasal thunder grated harshly upon the delicate utterances of M'Ale- vcy, who appeared to bo now using such language to his vis-a-vis, as Pope might put into the mouth of Abelard when addressing Ileloise. To Lieutenant M'Alovev I was often as obnoxious as a fat man is to the occupants of an omnibus, or as a tall man is in a crowd on :■. procession day, and I fear the recording h ' I r i 88 LA COMPAGNTn lULANDAISE. 'H.I ill! .!l ! 'Ill ,"i III I '111 '111 III' li!! uiigcl liiul no prayer to register for his orderly, who had so imcoremoniou.sly awaked mo from my bhimbers. Crasli ! crasli ! down came the sheet of iron with wlilt'h Andy liad too successfully played, and carried along with it a cloud of soot, which enveloped the poor fellow from head to foot, causing liim to spit and splutter like a monkey after a dose of snulf. Andy gave a spring to the rear that an athlete might anwy^ and upset a marmite. .vhich was tilled with watei*, over the beardless face of the sleeping sous-h'cutcnant. ]\['Alevcy sprang into the hall, kicking up his heels like a well-trained circus-horse, while the half-drowned Cotter was calling for the assistance of the half choked Andy. M'Alevey kept crowing away in the hall just by way of illustrating that lie, at least, was " out of the wood," while 1 succeeded in covering my head with my blanket to ward off the soot, and rolled away from the pools of water that were forming around mo. The situation was however, quickly understood, and as Andy was engaged in removing the soot from his * person, M'Alevey put his head in at the door, and congratulated him upon his successful attempt at a reveille Just then the proprietor of the house appeared upon the scene and invited us to another room, where wo were safe. The room was neatly furnished, the breakfast was clioico and ample, and M'Alcvey and the dauglitcr of our hostess were wickedly flirting across the table. It was liard to make him serious when a pretty fiice was attracting his attention, but our host was liimself an old soldier and had closed a record of fifteen years in Mexico, where LA COMPAOyiE iniAXDAISE. 80 ho was badly woimded. In spito of Iniusclf ^M'Alevey was drawn into the mcslios of a conversation with our host, but for a tiino it was of a halting gait, and the efforts the lieutenant made to turn the conversation towards the pretty girl before liim were as awkward as they were amusing. But it was no use ! The medal ho wore for the ^lexican campaign was too great a tcm])tati()Ji Ibi- the old man and we outsiders soon found ourselv'es listening to a liurried medley of names in which Pueblo, Vera Cruz, Aztecs and Maximilian were liberally interspersed. They were fighting their battles over again. M'Alevey first and then the other told some exciting event of the luxurious land. "Ah" said our host, between sips of hi:i vui onUntvre, '' ah, my campaign in Mexico was for mo the most successful of all the campaigns I went through, for there I received my medal militaire,^' and ho proudly touched the ribbon which is, next to the Leyicn d'homieur, the most prized decoration in France. " Did you ever hear of Docir?" asked M'Alevoy of our host. " Oh, the traitor, yes, of course. What an odd story the events of his treachery is; do you remember them ? " ho in turn enquired. '' Well, yes," said M'Alevrjy, '• [ knew the fellow well. lie was one of tho best companions I ever met, but a consummate villain for all that." " Tell us what he did M'Alevey " I said. " Well it is not a long story. Captain, but it is true. Our friend here knows that it is no ' old soldier's yarn/ but a solid fact. I'll tell you," he said, fixing himself IT k. it 1 I i; !' I I 90 LA COMPAOyiE IRLAXDAISE. "II ; "It; !i!i "!| C'Ozily in his chair and appcariiii^ to forget tlio pretty eyes that were adiniriiigly watching him, *' hut will you allow mo niadcinoisclle/' ho said holding a cigar. in his fingers. " Oh certainly," both father and daughter replied. "I smoko a good deal," said tho oM man, and immediately accepted a cigar from ^['Alevey, who appeared to settle to the story of " Docir." "At tho time wo landed in Vera Cru/. T was a corporal in tho very regiment, to whicli wo are now attached, tho Regiment Etranger, I Ava-i one day passing along tho streets wondering at tho singular appearance of everything I saw. A lovely harl)Our, the castlo of St. Joan d'UUoa in the offing, the houses built of coral I'ay, tho flat roofs with water tanks on top and tho heat, all made mo curious and as lazy as [ could bo consistent with my duty. T had t\V() men with mo doing some fatigue work, and upon turning ono of tho corners of a street I met an old companion named Docir. IIo was dressed in civilian's costume, but I recognised him at once ami arrested him as a deserter. ** * For what ? ' ho asked in astonishment when I arrested him. ** ' For desertion,' T replied, ' como Docir, you know mo well. My namo is ;^['Alevey of tho Regiment Etranger, and your name is Louis Docir who deserted from tho regiment. '* ' You are wrong ' Docir said to mo, ' I bought my discharge before I left Algeria, and you are taking unnecessary trouble,' he confidently answered. •* Eui it was no use. I saw an uneasiness in his L[ COMPAGNin lULANDAlSi:. 01 pvctty lit will I cigtxi*- oplied. 11, and y, who was a irc now •no day inijciilar ai-bour, 1 houses anks on VAy ar^ t v'o men iirning ipanion ostumo, ni a -A a when I II know Cfjiment leserted jht my taking action Avhon lie found that I was detormine, drawn by himself. "The Colonel placed Docir under arrest, rejiorted the matter to General Douay, the same who fell at. Wissembourg, and lie pardoned l)o('ii-." "Yes, I remember," said our liost, "but ■what a rufTian lie tii , but go on Lieutenant," he said, checking himself in his denunciation, "go on, I'll only spoil the story if I interfere." "AVell," f^^idd ]\['Alevey, " Docir was set to -work with the engineers. The officers frequently consulted him ; all had confidence in his honesty, and the siege Avas 2)ushcd on briskly; the day of assault was fixed, and the town was to be attacked at the points indicated by Docir. "At last the morning fixed for the assault arrived. Our regiment was to lead the attack. I remember we {ill paraded about 3 a.m., rolls were called, and jncn spoke with bated breath. The troo^xs were all ready, and the desperate anxiety which men H i II tl ) k^<« Di LA COMPAONIE IRLANDATSE. Mill! ^;lt|i % ■I(!i '■■Hi m •iiiii fill! ■ml, mill m\ mil experience l>eforo a battle, took posHession of us all. Every moment wo expected to hear the bugles sound the advance. 3vich one felt that once more every minute mi.i^ht bo Ids last. It would i.>e better to move, we all thoui^ht, than to stand there. Then. officers rode quickly about, double sentries were posted all around, there was something Avrong, and yet we knew not what. All orders were countermanded — Docir was missing again. Here was a m^'stery. The plots and plans of the lirst fortnight were come to naught. Everything was changed ; the manner of attack was entirely altered. This took some time, and before our i)lans were completed, the town quietly sur- rendered. Docir was eaj)tured, and this time made no nttemi)t to disguise his villainv. He wa« as stubborn as a mule. Had Oaxaca been attacked at the points indicated by the ruffian, we would all have been blown into the air. The ground was mined, and Docir, Avo found, was the concocter of the treacherous deed. He Avas a Colonel in the Mexican Army, and the story lie told about (ionzalve was untrue, for we found that his wounds were received fighting against us at Ocatalane." ''But that is not all,'" said our host to ]\J'Alevey, as he appeared to have linished. ''No, no," said M'Alevey, looking slightly confused, for in ti'uth he had had a word or two with the host's daughter, and was commencing to wander; "no, no, that is not all : Docir was sent to Pueblo, and it looks so like romance, that I fear you, Captain," he said looking at me, " may doubt it, but I assure you it is true, ho escaped again." ■ i. LA coMPAnyii: julandaise. 05 *' Yes," Raid our liobt, '• and cscajicd wlicn he waa thaint'd too." - " Yes, when he was chained," re-echoed M'Alevey. ''It certainly does look odd," I said. '• AVell, I assure you it is true. Then a reward of 500 piastres was offered for his recapture, and he was caught by some of the free shooters belonging to the famous Colonel Dupau. lie was then tried, found giiily, and sentenced to be shot. The prison in whicli he was kejit was an old convent behind the Cathedral. AVhile awaiting execution, Pueblo was visited by a terrible earthquake which knocked down the side wall of the prison in which he was kept, and he was once more free, lie was again recaptured, but not befoi'o the end of a week. This time lie was guarded so that escape was impossible. At last the day fixed for his execution arrived, lie walked from the prison ill the middle of the troops, smoking a cigar ; the distance was hiilf a mile. We liad to pass through the principal streets of the city, and I saw Jiim several times kiss his hand and i-aise Jiis hepi to Ihe ladies in their balconies. When M'o arrived at /he Place St. Jos(5, the place of execution, he asked to bo shot standing, not to liave his eyes bandaged, nor his luxnda tied. All these requests were I'efused. Major Holland, lu'othcr to the (ieneral who now commands at Pesangon, read the ecnlence, and tears of generous regret ran down Ids face as lie finis-hed the fatal document. The troojis formed three sides of a square, Pocir took his i)lace in front of the firing party. A volley — and liis soul had gone before his God." * ■ Hi, 0(] LA COMPAGXJE JULAyDAJSE. "lillii '■:iiii; ■ "Mil Mlllli ■in«i 'ill! '..ilti; irili! 'illil.. limn mill " The Major might have reserved liis tears " said our host when M'Alevey had fiuiyhed. ""Well," replied the Lieutenant, " ,I)oeir was in many rcspeets a superior man. lie had been an officer in the Austrian army, but had to i-esign because lie killed another officer in a duel. ]Io was brilliantly educated, and possessed many of the qualities which arc calculated to elevate a man far above his fellows." Just then the sergeant of the week came with some instructions, and after a few words of hurried farewell wc bade good-bye to our host, a lingering look from M'Alevey towards his pretty daughter, and then we were otf to camp. On our way wo were joined by Captain Ceresolo. lie was an old soldier — had seen service in the Crimea^ Italy, Africa and Mexico. lie could not believe that France was beaten, but he did believe that France was sold. Of this ho was fond of expressing a decided opinion. En route wc were joined by Captain Mason and some officers of the regiment, with whom we got into con- versation about military events in general. At that moment some Spaliis cantered by, their white burnouses flowing gracefully over the quarters of their Arab steeds. They looked as if they had copied their ideas of a uniform from a chapter in the Bible. Mason gave us a long description of their habits when in their native wilds. Their nomadic lite, their hospitality, and their sociid customs. The few of them I met with were singularly reserved, and all po£6C8sed that self control Avhich is characteristic of their race. Mason was loud in their praises, and LA COMPAGME IRLANDAISE. 97 said hat white f tl .•01 leir )iea I Bible, when their of lew id all tic of aiu lauded their devotion to France with Roldierly fervour. "When Mason bad disposed of the Spaliis, he went info culoi^ciiims. "You know Fouch<5 sent the Dul^e of "Wellington, Xapoleon'a plan of AVaterloo," he added, with a (glance wliicli I interpreted to mean as being a period to hii arr^ument. "T!io Fi'onch w^ill never forget that affair," said M-Alcvc}', rolling up a cigarette, and lighting a match on i\iG roughed side of a tin box. " But, apart from that, everything in the army appears * topsy-turvy,' as wo c.'iy in I:-eland. Yon liavo no statistics of any c::pcricncc, indeed your entire staff appears, like cvcrylhiiig cbe, to bo improvised for the occasion. Your ailille: y is badly served; your cavalry do not know how t) riJo, an I appear only to hold on their horccj becauGO it ii ' regulation ' to do so." "T!iat i3 not the worst," said Ceresole, pointing to Bomo f.imij.hod Goldiors who were sitting near us ; " to lo fjodlejs and choelcss, and crushed down Avith abominably heavy knapsacks; our commissariat broken up; the morale of the troops destroyed by continual dcfea'", and then treachery with all, that is what beats uj and gives us the finishing stroke. But whal-'j this?" he addeJ, looking along our lino of route to a cluster of men coming towards us. "I dccdaro they a:*o p-ijoncrs, and Uhlans, too." Immediately after wo caw twenty or thirty dis- moun'.el Uhlans, escorted by some Franc-tlrcurs, coming towards w-. Tho Uldans walked with the sti'ido of wj!!-t;'aine 1 mon. Thoy carried themselves a? p • )'.! lly a; it' t\\yf e :pj;;!:o I t) b3 tho recipients of an ovation, or to he:u' t!io stirring words of " Wacht 08 LA rOMPAOyiE IRLANDAI^E. •111 ;if: III ■'!!! •11) !l!!! ■i!ii, f ''lit I mill am Khcui" grcotiii^i; their cars. Tlierc was a hauteur about their bearing that was almost dolianl in its dash. They were, too, men of much muscular development, and kept the step and their dressing in singular contrast to their escorl. Their outfit was warm and Borviceable, and there was neither the trace of want of food nor depression in their countenances. They were, in every respect, good-looking soldiers. To the alarmed senses of the IVencli peasantry all German cavalry men were alike — Uhlans. Dragoons and Hussars, they did not count, all were Uhlans, whoso audacity and bearing too often, indeed, caused alarm and terror. The Uhlan proper is an ordinary lancer, taking the title from their Polish originals. They are, too, heavy cavalry, and may be fairly spoken of as big men on big horses. They carry beside their lances, a sword and ])istol, and are distinguishable by a lancer-cap called " Chapkey." The German Hussars and Dragoons, however, do similar duty with the Uhlans, and arc recognisable by their fur caps and lielmets. In the field the armies are surrounded by a perfect web of mounted men, through which no epy can penetrate without great personal danger. Their cavahy, too, penetrate an enemy's country in all directions, miles in advance of the main body, often in twos and fours, and keep up a well connected lino of communication with the trooj^s behind. Unlike the French, the German cavalry is not loaded down with dead weight, which, as every rider knows, is what kills the horses. A light schrabraque goes over tho horse's back, and a pair of shoes, a comb, a brush, an extra shirt, and a pair of stockings make up tho ! I i ;| ;1 ■1, LA COMPAGMIJ lIlLAyDAISE. equipment of the German eavahy men. Kor have they any dismounted men in the German cavalry. Every man is liable for outpost duty or the shock of a charge. "There is no ref,nmont in the French army those fellows hate or dread so much as they do us," said Captain Ceresole, as ho walked by my side, at the same time casting a signilicant glance at the captured Uhlans. "Why," I asked, "surely the lleyimcnt TJf ranger is no better than any other regiment in the army; or can it be considered as such ?" " Yes," replied Ceresole, " it is, even by French- men themselves admitted to be one of their crack regiments." "Not even excepting the Zouaves or Turcos?" " Not even excepting the Zouaves or Turcos. Prince Frederick Charles, in his 'Art of Fighting in the French Army,' admits that the Foreign liegiment is the most formidable corps in the French service. You see we have all the dare-devils of Europe in our ranks. The highest testimony of our worth is that we arc always placed in the post of honour, and you'll SCO when more fighting is to be done, if wo arc not placed in front, as wo were at Orleans, where we lost 1,000 men in six hours' work. It has given the colics some dclat, too, that nearly all the great commanders of the day graduated in our rank ; Bazaino, Floury, Bourbaki, and MacMahon included." " Yes ; but your African experience is not calculated to develop the capacity of generals for command, an inuch as it is to encourage young troops to stanti fire," >w." 100 LA COM PAG N IE IRLANDAISE. ■m •lllllll! ■lilt: ill ■,:i|iitl Hi;: • 111). iillH Iltlttti iiniiiM imiiii luT'gcd. '' In Africa you move in small bodies, your warfare in entirely guerilla in its effects. You require no strategy, and Lut little tactics to overcome the untrained Arabs. "Very true," replied Ccresole, "it is a better field for the rank and file, than for officers in command. Campaigning in Africa is, in every essential, different to what it is here. You nee in Africa wo march in squares, for those wiry Arabs are likely to attack us at any moment. At night the videttes and sentries arc continually harrasscd by the insurgents. It is a frequent occurrence for an Arab to steal through the short underwood like a veritable snake, and, watching his opportunity, spring on the startled sentry, and,' before he can make any alarm, the keen laiifc of his active a&saihmt has despatched him." " That should induce caution, and develop that sense of keenness without which videttes and sent- ries are always liable to fall into snares." " So it does ; and if you saw, Capitaine, how quickl}' the Begiment Etrangcr can turn out in the middle of the night to the cry of aux amies, you would see that all their African experience is not quite lost on them. But," he added, somewhat sorrowfully, " we have no licgimcnt Etranger now. Those men of yours," said he, " are now almost the only foreigners in the regiment — Orleans did for the rest." " But is it true what I hear about your marches in Africa being so harassing ?" I asked, desirous of finding' out all I could about a country in which our regiment had seen so much service. ** Perfectly," replied Ceresole. "It often happens. LA COMPAQ mi: IllLAXDAISlJ. 101 icns. on the mareli that mon fall bchiiil as you sco tliom do hero every hour. But their doom i.j sealed. It is certain death to lag behind in Africa, for tlio enemy is cvor hovering around our flanks ready to murder every man who falls to the rear. You know an Arab never thinks a man dead until lie cuts his heay that orb which obeyed His word when He said — " Let there be light." Tho Alps arc "grand;" Niagara is "sul)lime;" the Rhino and Killarney arc "beautiful;" but sunrise or sunset is alone "magnificent." It is but holding " a glim- mering taj^er to the sun" to make even the semblanco of a comparison. Look up, and draw upon your fancy ; see those fleecy castles in the air, changing" in char- acter and formation before the attacks of those beleaguered clouds which dash in firm resolve against the buttresses of the structure. Cannot your fancy 104 lA ( OMI'AOM/: inLAM)MSi:. I! Fco the coinljat liotwoon tlio liostilo iniisscs deepen, 1111(1 the clouds Jiround (iiii!;(>d willi (ho Mood of the dyin^ day! Jt is dayli^^lit l>iittliii«^ with dnrkncsfl. The rainbow's hues f(^i-in hiil ji fiJuUional portion of the many-coloured dy^a^ which, for u lleetin;,^ moment, Flam]) Ihcir impress uj)on tlie hhaded Hplendour of the cloiidH, and yet all these colours hai-moniso so beauti- fully that Ai't becomes but a poor copyist of glorious Nature. ]5ut night trium])hc(I! The moon hei-aldod the victory of Ei-ebus, and the sun nank below Iho liorizon, bathed in a sea of gloiy, and the last ray of daylight, with sickly glare, followed in its wake, faithful to the end. Then the moon '' solo arbitrcss of the night," shone forth in all its borrowed splen- dour. Along the tops of the dcep-.sct l)rush in our immediate front the moonbeams ])layed in fancied gambols, Avliile the entire plain around was bathed in a flood of genial brightness. The numberless littlo tcntes (Vahri covered hill ii:.:d dale, while the occasional challenge of a Bentinel sounded clear and sharp upon the now still atmospher(?. The star-spangled heavens added lustre to the brilliant canopy above, and a path of light traverses the surfacG of a f-inall lake close by, and seems to penetrate into its dai-k', nufathomed caves. The firmament overhead is familiar to the gaze, and impresses a feeling of boundles-s imjncnsity on the mind. Nearly all these familiiir stars above arc visible in lloh' Ireland; and looking up, I be- thought me of that passage in the Old Testament, which asks : " Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion ?" Pitiable, indeed, is that j)Oor pensioner on the bounties of an LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. 105 honr, whoao heart is callous to tho calls of faith, or who cannot think with Vounii:, that "by night an nthciRt luilf boliovcs a God." To a Koldior, too, this feeling is keenly perceptible. AVhen active life stands Htill, and the wearied troops hink upon their nlimy bed, and make a pause in their career — a pause which may be prophetic of their end ; when " Night from her ebon throne, in rayless majesty stretches forth her leaden sceptre o'er the slumbering world," there is a depth of thought, an ocean of faith bef)ro tho sentinel as he gazes in respectful awe at tho majesty of Nature. Look at tho order of that vaulted dome, hung with crape for the departed day; look fi-om out of tho nar- row heart of man's experience ; take one broad, groat view of Nature as it is ; look away from the pretentious littleness of humanity, into tho mj-stcrious ocean of space, and say if you can " there is no God;" or will you not rather think with Burns that "an atheist laugh is a 2->oor exchange for a Diety ollcnded." But let us descend to mother earth again, and soo how fares tho men of La Compagnie Irlandaise, The fires wore growing dull, and already somo weary soldiers sought the shelter of their miserable coverings, where they were expected to rest and bo thankful. Tho clayey soil had been, for miles round, torn up by passing troops as they converged in all directions upon tho principal route, beside which wo had encamped. The army had departed again, and there were but a few thousand troops behind — perhaps ten thousand in all — awaiting orders for the morrow. As I passed along the line where the Irish company was encamped, tho moon's rays wqvq sufficiently bril- lOfi A.i anirAoyiE inLAyoMSE, 'Ml .1111 Kllllii, liant to enublo nio to sco tlieinJuslrious, patoliiiif^ torn garments, or artistically sewing the fsoles oi' thoir phoes to the decayini^ ui)perH with jjieccs of whip-cord; othors woi'o stretched uj)on the muddy earth with jiothini; but their miserable blankets around tlicm. " One of the men wislies to nee j'ou, sir," said ono of tlio seri^eants at my side. The poor fellow who desired to see mo was bare- footed, and Ids feet were blucish-red, while he limped over to us, the very picture of misery. He S2)oko in word-j of manly l»oarin^, hesitating; to blame, v.illing to cndui'c all that mortal man could, but yet declaring Ids inability to march unless lie could be provided Avith shoes. Just then, man Colonel was passing, his little grey Aral) sticking fetlock deep in the clayey soil, and I brought the barefooted Irishman over and pointed out his lamentable condition. He was a kind old soul too. JIo visibly shivered when he saw the l)itiable state of the young man, and, while professing his regret, asked what could he do? There were no shoes in store, there were none at Mehun — not n pair ! Thousands of men were not much better, but if ho could liold out for the next march, perhaps at St. Florcnt we might find something that would at least keep his feet from the ground. ]t was poor en- couragement to the perishing young man, for whom, however, avo succeeded in buying a pair of shoes at a prico which would certainly suggest the jn'actical illustration of there being '' nothing like leather." Night had now fairly set in, and the few officers iu camp returned to Mehun — wc to our old quarters, which our host of the ^^^'^^'^^io^^'^ evening had r.A COM PA (7X11: IlilAyDAISK. 107 reserved for our special ucconimodation. (otter had to find shelter in Avhat his Bonior lieutenant called a "joint ])roprietor.s' erstahlisinnent" — i.e., a lM(ehe!''rt shop. J]ut it was the same old stoiy "with M'Alevey, eraelvini^ jolces, telling j-icli stories of his African and Mexican cxj)erience, and making lauichter a fatifi;ue rather than a recreation. Of 31arslial Mac.Mahon he had much to say. The now celei)rated ^larshal was, for an African ollicei', a ri^id disciplinarian. One time on parade ho had occasion to reprimand a captnin, whose temper ^ot the Inciter of his jud^^nent, and ho snapped his revolver at ^lacMahon's head. Tiie ])istol fortunately missed fire, the cajUain was immediately arrested, and the colonel turning to the Commandant^ said, "Give tiiat nuin liftecn days mile de jwUee for havind then the various pctite-postes were pointed out. the command handed over, and the old guard relieved, leaving us to occupy the ground. The enemy's cavalry had been seen not far otr during the day, and the prospect of a brush had infused a little csjyrit into the men. But the drizzling rain had soaked into their garments, damped their ardour, and left them cowci-ing at their posts. The pitching of tents was forbidden, the lighting of fires would not be allowed, even if it wore possible, and rolled up in their blankets, four feet by two, the soldiers shrank behind some low ditches, or lay in batches upon the open licld, while the rain fell upon their half numb forms. For my own part I was comfortable. A little hut close by aflordea excellent shelter, and the props that supported .the vines soon made the »place as snug as a nut-shell. 'The isergent-fmirrier, ^M'Crossin, shared my sholtoi*, LA COMPAQ X IE I It LAN DA IS E. 100 while an orderly attended to a fry for a late meal. But the rain still poured upor» the men, and must havo thawed the spirit of the best of them. It is not fu^ht- ing, but the elements, that soldiers fear. The ring of a rifle has no terror in a soldier's ear, but it is the drenching rain, the benumbing frost, and hx ini'sere that breaks a soldier's spirit, and makes him indifferent to life, almost anxious foi* death. Edmund Burke said, indeed, that '' every day wo live w^ill convince thinking men that there are evils to which the cala- mities of war are blessings." AVell, perhaps there are ; but they are not phj'sical evils. To give such new miseries to the world would be like cutting the volumes of the S^'bil. If Edmund Burke felt a cam- paign he might alter his theory, for practice is the best of teachers. There was not, indeed, more dis- comfort than men could expect amongst the soldiers of La Campajnie Irlandaise up to the present, but the shadow of the future was even more terrible than the Bufferings of the present, and, as time proved, be- came daily more severe. AVe were but young in our experience that night upon grand guard. But custom is indeed second nature. Even under drenching rain, the soldiers of the Irish company sought forgetfulness in repose. Sleep overcomes all men. Alexander the Great slept on the field of Arbcla, and Napoleon, if my memoiy is not coquettish, upon that of Austerlitz, and evciy schoolboy knows that Homer, in his *' Iliad," elegantly represents sleep as overcoming all men, and even the gods, except Jupiter alone. The Irish soldiers succumbed then to what the gods could not resist, and under the dow^n-pour the men slept, if no LA COMPAGME TRLANDAI&E. Hi ill! He: l'4- i t not comfortably nor soundly, at least so well that they were unconscious of the outer world. But the sentries here were all alive to the importance of being on the qui vive. It was often a matter of considerable trouble to teach some of the soldiers of Za Com- pagnie Irlandaisc'' the necessary challenge and counter- challenge in French. Some of the men honestly con- fessed that it '' bothered them entirely." Amongst the latter there was one giant Cork " boy,"' whose rotundity had been sadly diminished since he became a soldi ei*. lie was fond of showing his companions his gradual decay as he would clutch his great-coat in folds, and a2^pealingly say, while he gave an ominous shako of his head, that he was '' going, going, going." lie had the form and build of a huge man, but he was as simple as a child, could cry for a lost companion, or lose his life for a friend. But Timothy Larkin had, like everybody else, to do his sentry go, although ho could not master his ralUmcnt. I was told a good story of this man-child. Tim was a factionnaire on one of the outposts, to which an unfortunate French peasant too nearly approached. Tim made a vigorous iittempt at the ^'qui vive,'' which in cooler moments he could, no doubt, have remembered, but the excite- ment of the instant drove everything out of Tim's head but his native brogue. " Qui, qui, qui — who's there?"' challenged Tim, bringing hi;^ Chassepot promptly to the charge. To this there was no reply, the poor Frenchman standing as still as St. Paul when ho was afflicted with the loss of speech. " Qui, qui — what's tI.ore ?" again demanded the per- LA COM TAG ME IRLAyDAISt:. Ill Tim, T.) losa per- sistent Tim. To the Frenchman the mixed jargon was confounding, and, as he afterwards cxphiined, he thought somehow that he had strayed into the German lines. ' Qw, who's there — what's there ?" roared the now aroused sentry, at the same time fixing a cartridge in his gun. The peasant heard the *' click," as the fjardi*. viobile of the chasscpot was drawn back to open tho breech, and, in the descriptive words of Timothy him- self, "the Frencher bolted." But he wasn't quick 3nough for Tim, who was by his side in a second, and almost transfixed him with his bayonet, when the terrified peasant throw himself into a lialf melted snowdrift, and lay on his back, kicking up his heels, like a fly pierced Avith a needle. The sentry was in no good humour, for he believed that he had surely caught a German spy, and, while he shouted for th« *' corporal of the guard," he kept tickling the French- man with the point of his bayonet, and swearing that if he attempted to stir '* one inch" he would " skiver" him. The peasant roared, the sentinel shouted, the whole post was under arms, when Tim was found by the corporal of a French post close by, wdio arrested the peasant, ami clajipcd Timothy on the back, telling him that he was " very good soldat ; very good TrUindaheS . But at midnight the rain passed away, and the wind carried dark masses of clouds across the pale surface of the moon. At regular intervals the lieu- tenants and sous-lieutenants reported to me the inci- dents of the rounds, and, just as I was about to stretch upon the damp hearth of the hut, a messenger arrived 1 J I I ■ i! IVA LA COMPAQ mS IRLANDAISE. «^' Ik t m » t in haste from the camp, with orders to return at onco. In with petife-postes ; there is surely something in the wind now ! Back to Mchun, where tlie troops were all awake and under arms, while along the road lead- ing in the direction of Bourges a stream of soldiers was passing. Our own regiment was filing into the road as wo arrived. " Did you see that, Captain," said Br. Macken, look- ing away to the north-east; " it was like the flash of a gun. There it is again," lie added, as something like a flash appeared through the gloom. ^ It is only the aurora," I replied. "Going into action," said one of the captains — Laberge — as his company filed past, " Wo shall see what your Irish boys will do now." " All right," I replied; "we'll be with the crowd somewhere." In the meantime, we had some sick, and it was arranged that they should stop behind and go to hos- pital at Mehun. One poor fellow named Eustace was very bad with small-pox, and had to rough it upon the earth, the fever eating into his veins with deadly effect. In all, there were five or six knocked up by the trials they had already gone through ; but " going into action" acted miraculously upon their fevered minds. " Pat," said Eustace to his companions, " I'm better, thanks be to God, I can march finely this morning; is this inij rifle? ho said, looking at the beautiful weapon with something of lire in his eyes. " Maybo I'll hear it ring at rale work at last." " Eustace, m}^ man, you must remain behind " said I. LA COMPAOyiE IltLANDAISE. 113 " Sure I'm better, Captain, thanks bo to God," said the poor follow, endeavourini^ to put his rillo on his Bhouldcr. While he held the weapon on the ground it acted as a support, but when he attempted to put it on his shoulder the support was withdrawn, and he would have fallen were it not for one of his compan- ions who supported him. But there it was again ; another flash and a rumble. And we moved away, this time to meet the enemy. It was about 2 a.m. when Ave started, ana we plodded for two hours, the booming of the cannon becoming niore distinct as we sped along. We had marched about eight miles, and. then an occasional shell flew around our ears, and at last we were under fire. The country was undulating, and we could see nothing except an occasional flash, either from small arms or field pieces. Wo moved along behind a ridge that protected us from the flying projectiles, and we soon found our- selves in the neighbourhood of St. Florent, where some Gardes Mobiles were holding a detachment of Bavarians in check, awaiting our arrival. The news soon spread. The people of the town, or village, were all astir and. we were received with cries of "Vivo la Legion ; Vive la Legion." This was the name originally given, to the " Foreign Ecgiment." It used to bo " Foreign Legion," now it is " Foreign Regiment." The shouts refreshed us all, and wo moved quickly through the town, u]) to the placo where the Mobiles were stationed. W^e then learned the situation. There were, it was supposed, about 3,000 Bavarians, with eight guns in our front, whilo there were about the same number o£ Mobiles. 8 te 114 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. t Ik It If X m m to meet them. The jiosition was singuhuly I'avouiing ublo for (lefense. A stream, narrow but deep, ran upon both Hides of our position, beyond whicli, liowever, we had pLiced detachments to prevent an attempt to ph'iy upon our flanks. It was not yet day when we I'eceived the order to advance, and it so liappencd that it was the turn of La Conipagnie lrlandaiiaiil, • and perliaps lie may make some iinjiresyion upon the crowd," and noon Carey was stepping towards tho stores with determined strides, and a countenance which bore tlie impress of ''do or die" upon its every lineament. I watched him as ho was about to enter the door, alread}- blocked with equally eager but less persistent men, as Carey, followed by his fatigue ])art3'^, pushed liis way through the throng. " La Compagnie Irlandaise, La Compagnie L'landaise, make way, make way," and soon the surprised throng of Frenchmen caught the spirit of the words, and generously replied, " Malco way, maivO way for La Compagnie Jiiandaisc,'" and Carey quickly returned with rations to the hungry and famished soldiers of his company. CHAPTER IX. " He jests at scars, that never felt u wound." "La Compagnie Irlandaise " was billeted at tho chateau of La Subderv. The handsome buildin'^ stood in the centre of a clump of trees, surrounded by open meadow and pasture lands. It was the residence of one of the noblesse of France, and its turrcted angles topped the neighbouring timber, and stood out sharji, clear, and bold against the moonlit atmosphere LA COMPAOXFE IRLAyDAlSB. 123 I open ie of nglos harp, hhere beyond. Thei'o was, indeed, no ^-^vincely dcmcsno, nor deer-park, nor artiliclal ponds, to show the lordly rank of the proprietor, — such things arc almost nnknown in democratic France — but there wan the usual courtly tone about tho surroundings that in itself stamped tho chateau as the property and resi- dence of a man of rank. But tho family had gone : " The son and heir to tho ^var, messieurs, as a simple soldier, and we hear that lie has been promoted to bo sergeant for distinguished conduct at tho battle of Orleans," said tho aged caretaker avIio guarded tho place and pi-operty of tlio proprietor. Hero "svas one sample, at; leasl, of the ennobling spirit of patriotic love. Here Avas tho otdy son of a long lino of /jo^^csse, tho heir to what in J'l'ance is a princely fortune — £5,000 per annum — the littlo king of a littlo princi- pality, renouncing all, and, in tlie ranks of tho Gardes Mobile, standing shoulder to shoulder, a private, with tho ^>r/_ysa/is and hourgeoisie of his native locality. France, so '' fruitful in brave wits," gave the best and bravest of her sons to her country. France, ''tho land of scholars, and the nurse of arms," with all her Avild, passionate faults, stood as one man under tho tricolor, even when amidst tho darkest passages of that eventful war thei-e was no I'ift in the cloud of her uninterrupted disaster. The patriotism of the Frencli, at this period at least, is almost unsurpassed either in modern or ancient history. Communists, liepul)- lieans. Imperialists, Legitimists, and Orleanists — all, as one man, renounced party, and allowed their dill'er- onccs to stand in abej^anco until they had either sunk or swam together. When it is considered that politi- 124 LA COMPAQ^ IE IRLANDAISE. %. E •t !, in fc. cal antagonism in Franco is a passion — that political faith is too often the only creed of one or more sections of the people — that they regard the triumph of their party "vvith a political madness — it is no trifling Facrifiee to lenoiinco all these and stand slioulder to shoulder in the ranks of the common service, for the common cause. This is patriotism of the highest type, and deserves the highest commcn- dalion. But there is a sad yet glorious history of the career of the young Frenchman under the shadow of Avhose ancestral home "\ve slept the sleep that fatigue induces — the sleep of regenei-ating rest. Poor fellow, he fell durinii: the jrallant retreat of C'hanz"v' towards Le Mans. I afterwards heard the story of his death, around which there was something of romantic interest. '' It Avas on the margin of a wood, mon Capitaine," said my informant ; " the Bavarians were pressing hard upon our flank, with their accustomed tactics — for one of the first features of their military code is, ' gain the flank of your enemy upon every possible occasion.' At this time young Monsieur La Fonte was sous-lieutenant, and during the day his captain and his lieutenant had been put hors de combat. His company was covering the retreat, and lie lialted his men under cover of the timber to check the Bavarian advance. To him the whistle of the bullets Avas but as sweet music in his ears, for he was a true soldier — a worthy scion of that ancient lino. But the enemy j^i'^^'^i^cd closer ; La Fonte gave the order to fix bayonets, and just as the Bavarians wore about to carry the wood, ho at the head of the Mobiles of La Subdery met them in their advance, foot to foot, LA COMPAQ y IE IRLANDAISE. 125 Iho WHS line, the Iwcrc )bilcs Ifoot, bayonet to bayonet, eye to eye, and -was himself first to sprinf^ upon his man. But," ho adtlcd, looking BOiTowAilly upon the snow-covered ground, " the villainous steel of a German cochon entered his heart, and sent his soul to his Maker." But all this was an after-event. That night, at the chateau of La 8ub- dery, wo had joyous anticipations of a few days' rest. Take a peep into the hay-lot"t to which the Irish Eoldiers had been told off, see how happily the wearied men stretch out upon the heaps of straw that abundantly cover the flooi*. You can read fatigue in the listless and wearied motions of the men as thoy sink into the yielding piles. Packs and belts hang from the wooden pegs that protrude through the wall, wliile the rifles are piled with scrupulous care in the corners of the room. Sleep appears to have already overtaken the majority of the men, while a few whoso duty it is to cook the food of their respective squads are making vigorous attempts to light tires in tho courtj^ard of the chateau. The clothes of all are soiled and torn, while blistered and bandaged feet tell a talo of sullering. But " Who breathes must suffer, who thinks must mourn, And he alone is hless'd who ne'er was born." Tho caretaker, too, had his tale of sorrow. His son had fallen a victim to fell disease, and died in hospital. "He was all I had to look to in this world, monsieur, my only boy, his mother's darling, his sister's hope. But there is no time for vain regret. Tho bustle of a soldier's life gives sorrow to the winds. Eest^ and bo thankful. Ecst upon a veritable bed, with luxurious feathers and handsome counterpanes, and fatigue 12G LA COMPAQ Nil: IRLANDAISE. r ■ i I * i to lull you to refreshini^- ylcop. How invitingly (lid the soft bcdn wink beneath the exhaustetl frames of those who could secure tlie comforts of that abode! How refreshing it was to takeoff the boots from the wearied and blistered foai, and then, when partly imdressedj to sink into a refreshing slumber upon the yielding feathers! Men, after all, must cxpej'ience hardships to appreciate even primitive civilization. Sleep u])on the stony surface of Ji ploughed field in winter-time, have the frost eating into your bones and benumbing 3'our limbs, bo hungry for the time, let cold, famine, and la misere obtain full control over your system, and just get one night's repose upon a yielding bed of an}' material, and if you do not enjoy it I am no reader of human nature, nor experienced in the same. And then fancy, after all your pleasant thoughts — after your ha])py and refreshing rest in prospective — fancy to be rudely shaken out of your slumbers, after four hours' sleep, and hear that the regiment was ali-eady awaj'! It was a discordant sound that was uttered into my ear that morning when some one shrieked: — "Captain, captain, the 'March' of the regiment has sounded ; the battalion is under arms , the enemy is in the neighbourhood I" Then a scene of bustle and confusion followed. But it was only for ji fcAv minutes, and we soon burst Mway, over ploughed lands and vineyards, on to St. Plorent again, where the waters of tlie Ouron course through the usually quiet thoroughfares, and where wo were destined to have two days' happy and refreshing repose. It was Sunday, too, and tho LA COMPAGNIE inLAXDAISE. 127 Angelm l.»ell sounded beautifully soft upon tho calm, still ail*. AVhcn wo halted for a moment at tho outgkii'ts of tho village, I remember falling away into ono of my dreamy mood.-*, and Inimming a familiar air about ''Sweet bells of music stealing round about mo as I lay," when M'Alevoy came to my sido and asked if I could'nt " whistle a jig for a change." " M'Alcvoy, you're a hair-brained fellow,"' I an- swered, amused at his importunities. ^^U getting bald is an evidence, I certainly am, Captain," he replied, tracing his lingers around tho upper portion of his scalp. '' As I told you — marked for tho cloister, M'Alevcy." "No; I have, as Kuess charges me with, an insano desire to pay for a woman's board, and if I pull through the war, I have made up my mind to do so," said tho Lieutenant, once more i^lacing Iiis hand upon tho well-polished regimental buttons of his great-coat. ** You are incorriucible." "No, Captain, you don't understand mo, that's all. You see with all our boasted civilization and progress, man neither knows himself nor liis neighbours. Wo have never gotten beyond tho idea of 'instinct ' for tho soul power of animals, nor can we, with all our sciences and refinement, solve tho problem of * why a spaniel Avags its tail, or what a lobster thinks.' " " Philosophical, .by Jove. Why, man, your attain- ments are as varied as Crichton's," broke in tho Doctor; "but," he added, " what is to be " — "To be!" replied M'Alovc}', without giving tho Doctor time to complete the sentence, "why it's a verb of course." J I I « i ) 128 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. % lit t t r ii: I < " Oil, nonsense, M'Alevcy, you'll never be easy, until you clou sucUcloth, ami a>lics," replied tlio Doctoi*, moving towaids an officer, the purple lacings of whose Bingle-breasted tunic, pronounced him to be a doctor too, and both immediately returned and asked me to accompany them to a church which stood before us, and over the door of which the red-cross flag waved its international emblem in peaceful and charitable assurance. " Sccovrs aux blesses " was writ- ten in large characters upon a white flag, and maimed and disabled soldiers loitered around the entrance, their pale and emaciated countenances, broken limbs, empty sleeves, and ugly gashes, too plainly telling the oi'igin of their troubles. Sisters of Mercy pro- menaded the sj^acious aisles of the church, and hung, with tender solicitude, over the hard-breathing eoldiers, who whispered their wishes into their care. The seats had all been removed, and the men wore arranged in rows, from the door to the altar, and the beautifullly clean coverings that wero ])laced upon the straw, wore heie and there dotted with blood Btains. There were no bedsteads, but there was a delicacy in the careful folds of the counterpanes, and neatness in the improvised regularity with which the wounded men were surrounded. The flrst bed Dr. Macken visited was that of a Franc-tireur who had been shot through the body, the bullet having Btruck him in the chest, about four inches above the heartland passed out of his back a little to the left of the spine. The poor fellow underwent the changes of his bandages and syringing of the ghastly wound in his back with the greatest fortitude, only moaning o upon blood vas a ■!, and ■h the i Di-. lo had laving o tho 10 left angcs vound LA COM PAG N IE IRLAXDAISE. 123 onco slightly as the frc\sh ]'luj;s of lint were applied and strapped on. For him n-i well as for tho next four men who underwent inspection tiiere was no hope of recovery. 'They are all dead men," said tho doctor, as lio passed them by. Four out of tive of thcni were shot through tho lungs — one of them as handsome a 3'oung fellow as over I set eyes on. Not u man flinched or swooned whilst under tho sui'geon's Laru.i, although tho agon}'- of being moved must have K;on feari'ul iti oveiy case. But tho stoutest case of Kcif-commund I witnessed throughout my visits to tho hospital-church at La Subdery was shown by a young man of the Breton Gardes M biles. IIo w^as a stal- wart, broad-chested, beardless lad, with large rough- hewn features, and great muscular development. Ho had onlyjust been brought in, with a territic hole under liis right shoulder, plugged up by the lield-surgeon after ho had lost a great quantity of blood, and this w\as his first inspection since his ariival. He sat up in his bed quite steadil}'- whilst his wound wan being uncovered, and never shiunk forward onco from the doctor's touch. "lias tho bullet been taken out, my man," said Dr. Macken, looking at tho jagged edges of tho wound with hi 4 eyes half shut, as if to concentrate his sight an, indeed, to be got at with tho probe — so there was nothing for it Init to cut down to it from tho other side. Tho operation, which was splendidly cxccuteulsc, looking eteadily into the patient's eyes just for a minute, and then the hand is gently placed upon the bed-covering, the head is allowed to fall upon the pillow; the priest and nun join their voices in prayer — the soldier is dead. In the whole history of human charity there is no more touching picture than the tender compassion, the anxious hope, and the pious care of holy people over the bed of a dying human being. The soidiei' dies for honour or glory, and risks life and limb foi* visionary dreams of triumphs in the future; but the priest, or Sister of Mercy who renounce much of the ;) 11 1 1 t i 132 LA COMPACMi: inLAMKMSi:. ill it! t t ft:. t «r. r ■r I i i it lb comfoi-ts of the world, wlio cim hope (or no earthly lionour, who can Jinticipate no earthly reward, and who hravo death in the hos]>i(aI, is to my mind, poHse.sscd of :i higher de^^rec of true courage, than the man wlio, it may he, dies \n action. One in mental, the other i« too often physical courage alone. One in true heroism, the other may or may not possess that virtue. Put I am philosopliizing again ! I had had enough of tiie church Iiospital, and left my medical friends to contiruie their charitable Avork while I walked out of the ])iace into the now busy thoroughfare of St. Florent. Heic, as elsewhere Sergeant Carey was omnipresent, doing as much Bervice as an orderly- room full of ordinary men. His splendid figure might be seen /darting hero and there with rapid but dignified ease. When I came to the door, his liand- Some face, illuminated with a smile, beamed upon me, and I felt the ellect of the influence which Ids generous voice cast upon my mind. 1 knew there Avas some- thing unusual the matter as lie advaru-ed towards me Jiolditig a fowl in his hand. He got tho bird as a i:)resent from a woman whom he had just befriended, and he came uptomcw^ith the jocular but Avell-remem- bered remark, while lie saluted with soldierly grace : " Well, Captain, luck has favored me for once. Here I am getting a beautiful and a delicate dinner for nothing, when the order of events has been to have nothing for dinner;" and lie walked away to attend to some matter of detail, leaving mo full of admiration for his irrepressible humour and inde- fatigable power of endurance. earthly rtl, and T mind, lian tlio mental, One in ;ss tliat cnou;L!;Ii ends to \ out of of St. cy was )rderly- figure pid but H liand- )on me, 3nerons 8ome- dn me as a nded, emcm- lec : once. 1 inner oen to ^'A^ to "ail of 1 inde- ei LX (VMPAGX//: IliLAyDMSi:. 133 Our two days at St. Florcnt wore jjleasantly away. TTho usual routine of a soldier's duty was not inter- rupted l)y anythiui; which left its impress on my memory. Gamhotta had indeed come to St. Floi'ont, and was closeted with the muniei])al oflieials and the militaiy chiefs for a short time on the tirst day, and then we once moi'o ])araded to take our depai'turo again for Bourges, which wo now l)egan to loolc upon as a kind of liome. It was a lovely day as wo stood In lino in front of our comfortable (quarters awaiting the word which was to give us the route. The sun's rays shone with brilliant signillcance upon tho rifles of the men, whoso weather-bii;iton countenances, liardy expressions, and tattered raiment, pronounced tho dangers and tho trials they had already surmounted, J>ut wo were away at last — away over tho uninterest- ing countiy watered l)y the Oiiron — away to J'ourges Avith its happy associations and pleasant reminiscences of days gone by. I was thinking of our chances, and speculating upon our hopes, as wo trudged along the road, through tho flat and unbroken countiy around, when tho tail towers of tho catliedi-al of Bourgos again stood out against tho cloudless sky. Tho gi-and old structure, with its dceply-rccossed portals, its bas-reliefs, its rows of niches, its florid x^ormau ornaments, its unsightly flying buttresses, its beautifully painted windows, and its happy associations, was once more in view. Beneath its veiy shadow, almost under tho protection of its wings, lived tho dearest and most friendly- of our many friends in France. "We wci-o suro of at least a hearty wdcome just within tho 3 J i I I I t t ) i 134 f.A (OMPAONIE JHLANDAISn, to t r L I I t ■ k i; limitH (»f that ^i,i!;an(ic Hhadow-niakinf]^ Btruoturo, Yes, there iH Homethiii^ in the words of Robert jilair, " fricndsliip is the cement of the soul; the Kweet'nor of life." It is Boinethini^ to know that a /^cir 's weh'onie awuit.s tlie weary and tlio foot-sore; is Hornet ill iig to feel u eonseioiis morntor drawing the sentiments of th(» heart towjirds the ahodo of kind friends, where kindred sjnrits meet with kindred longings. Jt is something to ktiow that i!\ the desert of the heart there is one oasis to whicli tlio weary tiiird'ier may turn with hopeful longings, and bask beneatii the protecting sluide of friendship's tree. If only for a moment, it is Hijmetliing to know that, even in the great distance, beyond the seas if you like, thei'e is one hand that would like to grasp your 'n in joyous welcome. Part with friends, go on a * ]»aign, hold your life in your hands, antl return, even lor an hour, and if you do not feel as genuine pleasure as mortal can experience, I am much In error. But Bourges was still beforo us. The country was flat and undrained, and the prospect of a comfortless night broke down the spirits of the men. Marks and Bomo others were still barefooted. The pebbles, which were abundantly strewn along our route, created sores, and the frost ate holes, into many a brave fellow^'s foot. Sergeant Terence Byrne marched at the head of the comjian}^, his honest countenance reflecting the char' actcr of as bravo a man, and as gentle a Christian, as ever wore a side-arm or nursed a stricken enemy. There was indeed no regularity in the steps of the soldiers as they shuifled along, they were marching a volonid. LA COM r AG y IE JliLAyDAISL!. 'uotuvo. t iJlair, 'oot'nei' OH' 'S c; iH inuj tl»e )f kind vindi'cd ) desert weary d bask •CO. If it, even u like, ur n a n, even leasuro ly was brtlefss ks and which sores, 's foot, of the char' iaii, as niemy. of the rchincj But there was irrepresNihlo mirth hUU in the ranks of y>f( Coinpaijnle Irlandaisc, Sei'/,^eant Carey woukl lia\e his joke in spite of frost or famine. Once as the weakly wore vainly endeavourini; to keep \\\\ with the raj) Id mardiing, I heard him renionstralin^*, a"<^r ks inJialitants de Bourges. En 1356." I 1^ LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE, 143 '' Vive la France;' said Captain Ccrcsolc, coming to our side and HaliUing tlio cross, or perhaps tho inscription, that appealed to his Boldicr heart. " Vive la France et VIrlande;' said M'Alcvey, turn- ing to tho new arrival, and doffing his kejn witli courteous salutation. _ _' " Tho English bit the dust here," said Ceresole, look- ing around tho hard, flat country, "and by my soul, a lino placo it was for a rout. How our cavalry must have ridden the islanders down over thoso unshel- tered lands. Of course, all your men arc somewhat unfriendly in their temper to the English ?" he added, looking at me through his blue coloured spoL.acles. " No," I answered, " they arc not. They may object to British rule over Ireland, but they do not object to British connection with Ireland." I thought Cerc- Bole's remarks unfair, but just then the sac-a-dos sounded — packs on — and wo left tho scene without entering into further discussion. But Bourges is now before us, and wo quickly make tho outer earthworks of the town. Fatigue parties are still busy, making trenches, building traverses, eloping counter-scai'ps, working at gabions, erecting barricades, or arranging sand-bags. There is bustlo about the arsenal, and tho military workshops have the appearance of being in a fever of business. But wc press on through the town, and once more enter tho open country beyond. The constant passage of artillery, military trains and soldiers have made deej) i'uts in tho road, and there is mud everywhere. The Irish soldiers look hardened, and have tho appearance of work in their dress, which is now commc a la 141 lA COM PAG y IE IliLANDAISE. C •i to t ft! c to r. K. c I i « ( n 1 guerre. All Avas not iudood bmooth Bailing in the ranks of L all this time. The night l)eforo lio had, for safety's sake, k^ft Bomo ehi])H just within my tent, and I eould see him now vainly cnch'avouring to liglit a tiro, and oeeasion- aliy halllcd and vexed at his unsueeess. (Justs of wind, dodging around the eanip, hknv sti'oan^s of smoko into his woll-l)ronzed faee, and more than oiu'O made liim retreat with weeping oycs, and tem])t tho poor fellow into a half-ehoked utterance whi(di lie was never tauglit under Ihe sliadow of his native (laltees. Andrew, or '' Andy," as liis companions used to call him. did liowevcr succeed in his task, and soon ho left tho fire to take care of itself, and hidon in hand, ran off for water, wliieh T had the diseomtiture of seeing smotliered in smoke, hy tho accidental turning of the villainous log which formed part of the support upon which the hilon rested. '* Andv, vou have done it this time," 8aiut ho applied himself to resume his task, which resulted this time in success, and soon a sickly fire, more smoke than blaze, rewarded his forty minutes' la hour. *'IIerc, try a pull at this," I said, calling him into the tent for a sip at tho contents of a brandy-flask which I had accommodatingly at hand. " That's fine, sir," ^verc the first words ho said, when he recovered from tho gasping sensation which ifl I J J I 150 LA COMPaONIE IRLANDAISE. C Ik r c iif e I * novices in the art of drinking from a flask expe- rience. " My throat was like the crust on the inside of a chimney, sir," and away ho went to gropo amongst tins and little bags for cotlce and sugar, for chunks of dirty beef and lard, to prepare the morning meal before we were again en route. But the camp was all alive now, and just as I threw over the blankets, which were barely enough to keep the heat from escaping, Sergeant Carey popped his head in at the door with liis usual " good morning. Captain." To me it was always a 2)leasuro to see Sergeant Carey, for his was the very soul of a soldier. It has been my lot to meet many men to whom in periods of trial I surrendered all the friend- ship of which my natui-e was capable, but never did I meet the equal of this incomparable man. > irmly- v^erted after, I had ution Iraost cool will 3Tidcr- " not . : It was customary, I heard, for the regiment to march past the executed man in single file, but we were quickly taken away after the sergeant of the firing party had given the coup de grace. " Oj^eu columns of companies," ^^par leflanc droit, droit T'' and the long thin line of red-breeched soldiers was gaily marching back to camp again. Of the dead man w© thought no more. " Cover his bones over witli stones, lie is only a soldier whom nobody owns. * His grave was dug, and before the sun had climbed the skirt of timber which lay behind our encampment, he would bo buried in the graveyard of the handsome little church that topped the neighbouring hill upon which Bressy was built. But the day was well advanced — the steel-grey clouds away upon the south-eastern horizon were fringed with streaks of silvery daylight. Magpies, ia ominous numbers, j^erched about the deserted encami> ment to pick the scanty remnants of the soldiers' spare repast ; villagers strolled about the place, and slid along the frozen ground in their canoe-like sahotSy pitying and praying, but selling their confitures all the time. The tents were struck, and hidons and marmites were everywhere in requisition, and emitted steam from onion soup or garlic. The famished soldiers were vainly trying to " manufacture " a morning meal. As wo drew near the place where our tents liad stood, I saw all in preparation for the baggage- waggon. Andy looked radiant at his success in the cuisine. Breakfast ready; never mind the sinewy i) J 1 1 I i i :!:; IT' ftr f I K to « I I * 15G LA COMPAQ ML' 1 11 LAN DA IS E. Btoalv, nor 1)0 too fastidious as to its Inio, a ravunous apjictito makes all the ditrercncc in the M'orld. "Where is Lieutenant M'Alevey, Andy?" I asked ; wondering at what delayed my lieutenant from hit* meal. "Begorra, I don't know, sir; hut I think lie is in that direction," replied tlie mischievous Ainly, casting a danfi:crously-knowing look towards tho right of our battalion. And sure enough. Lieutenant M'Alevc}' was in Ihat direction cracking jokes wilh a j)retty vh-andicre, whom he compelled to laughingly retreat from llic storm of his witticisms. Hut .M'Aleveywas noon hy our side, endeavouring to lix a sinewy steak upon tho jwint of an improvised fork. AVc were joined hy 3Ir. Colter and Dr. Macken, and notwithstanding tho toughness of the beef, succeeded in appeasing our voracious appetites with its savoury morsels. Hunger is indeed tho best of all sauces. Physiologists say that a variety of food is good for man; if that be so, soldiers in the Fjvnch army nn a campaign are not provided with all that is boneticial or best for their creature comlbrts. Jjut it is wonder- ful how even the most fastidious epicures, who perliaps abused innocent (jar^'ons, and swore at tlic favourite cooks of their metropolis, how they (juickly accommodate themselves to tho necessities of the times, and devour horse steak with all tho relish of a gourmaird. Latterly the French military authorities have I believe increased the quantity of rations which was allowed to tho French soldiers during the late war. Frenchmen, as a rule, are very poor eaters. LA COMPAGNW IRLAXDAISE. 15T onous iskcil ; >m luH ) is in •astiug ol* our in ihat mdicre, )in ib.c Don I'V KUl tllO cn, and cocdod ivourv saucoB. »()al; don' into ^ Doctor, don' I run the graves of the contemporaries of that time. We'll guess the rest about the golden age of Latin poetry,' but in the meantime, allow us to consume our 2:)ortion of this ancient cheval without sprinkling it with the dust of Virgil or of Livy." "But," remonstrated ])r. Slacken, "I wasv about to draw a comparison unfavourable to your ^chivalrous self" "Impossible," rejilicd M'Alcvey, "I am the Bayard of modern warfare," just then the " fall in " sounded, "we took our place in line and wo were off again. In our turn we led the battalion, and when the Commandant ])laced himself at the head of La Compag- nie Irlandalse we saw that wo were to march by the left, and it was our place to l)e first away. Back to Bourges again — back over the same road which we had traversed the day before. The day was tine, and the march uninterrupted with any peculiar incident beyond the one common to all marches — blistered feet, men falling away, some sinking on the road, some groaning with pain, dead and dying horses, broken boots, and hungry men with empty haversacks. Behind us the road was dotted with soldiers who had fallen out of the ranks, and who lay upon heaps of stones or logs of wood — perhaps to die. Gambetta's decrees about courts- martial had been found a failure — they were not _practicable. And so the day wore on, — and it was i LA COMPAOyiE IRLAXDMSE. 159 of Iho urably m into We'll poetry,' portion ith the bout to valrous Eiiyard oundcd, in. lien the Compag' by the 3ivck to icli we IT [•iipted ommon Y^ Bome n, dead [y men id was ranks, 'ood — courts- re not it was well into the evenini^, darkness had settled over tho fertile soil, wlieu in tho distance the lights from Bourses attracted our attention, looking like fire-flies in the dark, inhospitable night. Another hour brought us to tho town, and then wo wheeled into u field, through which a small stream coui*sed merrily along, but where the soil was reeking with wet, and yet where we liad to make our bivouac for one night more. My tent, however, was nowhere to bo found — there was something wrong with tho oflicers* baggage. Andy, poor fellow, had succumbed to la miscre, and liad AiUen out on tho march, so Sergeant Carey undertook tho task of liunting up the officers' baggage. For fully an liour lio floundered about tho carts, i)aying no attention to remonstrances of tho sentries, pushing his way where less bold men would hesitate to enter. lie was indeed a wonderful man, ho could do what ho liked in the regiment: liis commanding form and vigorous mind overawed the privates and sous-qfficiers, while his magnificent beard and soldierly bearing secui'od for liim tho good wishes of every officer in tho regiment. Althouirh an humble man, I hope it may bo my lot to meet again in lifo so true a friend, so tender-hearted a man, and so chivalrous a soldier. Eut it was no use ; even Sergeant Carey failed, and wo wore comj^elled to huddle into a nook at tho suburbs of tho town, whero Ave had the comfort of what M'Alovey called "tho soft side of a deal board." > Ml m t It KL ». It Ui I I ■ ( CIIAPTEPv XI T. "At Cliristmas play and mako good theer, For Christmas tonuvs but once a year.'' SlUESPEARB. Witliercd, indeed, was llio "garland of war" for Franco in llio last days of December, 1870. Even ho2)o luid almost fled. Like Francis I., when ho wrote from the Imperial camp, near Pavia, Franco as ODG man might say "All is lost, save honour.'' Tho garrison in Paris was nearly starving, Lo Mans had fallen, Tours had been captured, and Bourges might bo occupied any day. In tho north, Havre was threatened, and tho poor levies of CJeneral Gougard in Normandy could mako but a sorry resistance against the veteran soldiers of the lied Prince. In the east, Von Wcrder was pressing the siege of Belfort with persistent, and indeed, gallant valour, wiiich the littlo garrison as gallantly w^ithstood. In tho army tho French officers looked upon the war as virtually over, and fov a while, I thought that Xa Gompagnie Irland. aise woidd sorvo its term and return to Ireland with- out any more service. Next day avo were oft' for Vierzon. On the way M^Alevey came and walked beside mo and said " Captain, do you know it is Christmas Eve," his usually nicrry-looking face wearing a somewliat sad expression ; and indeed so it was, Christmas Eve, 1870. f ZA COMPAQ yiE IRLANDAISE. 101 e Avas i^ard ill a considerable altitude. It was just such a i)lace as would induce an enemy to lie in wait for their foes. The corporal and two men marched in front, while Donnellan and I with the remainder were about tit'ty yards behind. Suddenly the little advance guard halted, and over the snow-beaten route we could just trace their figures sliding olV into the ditch beside the road. There was something in the wind, and the corporal in advance, with laudable foresight, made no indication of his 8usj)icion, knowing that we could see his movements. "There is something up, Donnellan," I said, "move over under the ditch — silence — hush;" ami just then a low wdiistle sounded away over our heads, and appeared to come fi'om the airy eminence wiiicli nearly overhung the road. The whistle was scarcely audible, and were it not for the raritied state ot the atmosphere, would have been altogether uii'seard, and yet I was certain it could not have been more ihan two hundred or three hundred yards from where wo were. " Did you hear that, Donnellan," I said in a whisper, as the men crouched low under the ditch, " move the garde mobile of your rifles vtry gently, don't make & LA COM PAG MK IRLAyDAISE. 171 noise or they may hear tlio click, steady, bush !" and the men had put a cartridge into tlie breech of their rifles with as little noise as it M-as possible to make. "There is a valuable invention open to some one of mechanical brains, Captain," i-nid iJonncllan. "if they can make a rifle come to full cock, Avlthout causing that tell-tale 'click.'" "Yes, there is; Imt here, Donnellan, take one of the men, and move quietly to where the corporal is, and see what is the matter," and soon I saw the party return along tlie bush, moving as stealthily as a cat about to pounce upon its prey. Just then the low, guarded whistle, again sounded upon our ears. Our position was anything but a comfortable one; a mile from camp, in a narrow defile which might be occupied by the enemy, who Avere at that moment, perhaps, surrounding ns. I gave the order to retire, keeping close under the thick-set bush, and almost hugging its thorny branches, as we stole under its welcome shelter Every step was taken with caution, and just as we were about to pass into the open country beyond, a shot from a rifle woke the stillness of the morning with its ominous sound. In an instant my little command were upon their knees, and not till then did I order to "fix bayonets," expecting every moment to hear the rush of cavalry, or th^ tramp of infantry, in front or besidi' us. We Avere well sheltered in our rear, and could inflict some punish- ment upon an enemy advancing along the open road. Then another shot came in our immediate front, and another, and then a small volley hissed through the trees around us, an I » "I I I ■"i 174 LA roMPAay/:: niLASUAis/:. ■r. C to d e ». K III K I t ■ I k "Not Imv, my loi'd, Imt lunnble," M'li.s Iho quiet rojoindci', and ji truer wonl never osoaped the lip.s of u man. Terence Byrne was humble, but lie was u.s mucdi inculpable of "lowness" an was his lordly censor. In Xrt Cornpcujnic Irhmdnise thei'e were .several well- known Fenians, and their i^encral conduct, their love of ordei', their hii^h sense of duty, their unfaltering fidelity, tlieir .steady zeal and their chivalrou.s coui'a<^e, won from me, and every officer of the battalion, tlio highest praise. Fate, in its unwavering course, ordained that two, at least, of those men should not die a soldier's death, and Ser^^eanls Carey and Byrne returned after the war to sleep in (Ilasnevin ; but the memory of their unassuming conduct, of their indefatigable zeal, and of their splendid courage, has left a retrospective shadow of generous recollection ever present with their names. Men can disagree with those who join such conspiracies, but yet they can do simple justice to their memories. CHAPTER XIII. "For I am as a weed Flung from the rock on Ocean's foam to Pail, Where'er the surge may sweep, the tempest's breath prevail." SnApSPKAKK. AVo loitered at Vierzon until the 4th of January. "We had our grand guards to mount, our reconnoitring to perform, and our picquet duty to do. The weather, however, became fine, and duty became a plea.sure. The Uhlans of Prince Frederick-Charles were feeling lA CO MPA O'Ml-: I li LA SDA ISH. 175 quiet lip.s ol' was U.4 ■ censor, al woU- L'ir lovo altering 'oura/^e, ion, tlio course, )ul(l not 1 Byrne Init the f their »go, has •llection li.sagree hey can vail." JPKAKK. , muary. loitring cather, easure. feeling their way around our position, and the necessity of being constantly on the qxd vive made outpost duty A desirable pastime. There in nothing in warfare so ])leasant as skirmishing. Admitting that llobbes was right, and that " every creature lives in a state of war by nature," and that man merely tones the desire for blood into what is called "civilized warfare," there is a pard(mablc pride in dodging from bush to brake, and picking olf one's enemies at a respectable distance. I know of nothing so pleasant, if indeed there bo anything pleasant in Avar, unless it be u skirmish. You are posted behind a rock, or you ai'o sheltered under a slight inequality in the ground, an occasional bullet whistles ppst your head, and then you venture to j)eep out and send an occasional bullet in reply, and if your man is tumbled, the pleasure is all the keener. Nay, you feel a sense of joy when the poor wretch tlirows up his arms, and you are relieved from watching the place that sheltered him. In after life you may now and again think over some widowed home, where the name of "father" is murmured by prattling babes, whom your liandiwork has left upon tho cold charity of the world ; or your fancy may occasionally run riot with your feelings, as you picture a sorrowful mother, weeping in agonized suspense for the boy that your hand has sent to his last account. But at the time, just w hen you watch the effect of your shot, and see the successful result, and perhaps hear the dying shout of tho stricken man, there is a positive feeling of satisfaction takes possession of your senses. In fact a man never feels himself a true soldier until he \\i\A 1 J 4 lit i U4 IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MTS^ V / O {•/ %,. ^,. %' y 1.0 I.I 1.25 fM IliilM "IM IIIII2.2 iiM 40 2.0 .8 JA ill 1.6 Vi <^ /^ 'el ^^^ //a o / Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14S80 (716)872-4503 ■^ iV iJon, Dole, Besan^on, Baume-les-Dames, and on through the beautiful valleys of tlie Yosges, where the overhanging mountains lean with threaten- ing grace over the road nnderncath. But on still, and then our destinatiori — Clarval — was reached. The liouses were somewhat Swiss in their construction, and oil lamps Vt^ere susjionded on ropes, which stretched from house to house across the narrow streets. It was 8 p.m., and wg wheeled into a field ; the men lit fires to cook their food, while wo 2)i'C23ared to be again awav for the fi'ont at midnii::ht. " Well, Captain," said Dr. Macken, as we sat around the bivouac, the light from the fire throwing a lurid gleam upon the features of M'Alevey antl Cottei-, who were engaged consuming some tough beefsteak, "Well, Captain, we shall soon be into it again; 1 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. 181 I round lurid .^otter, ain; I hear wo aro to march for Montbclliard at 12 o'clock to-night, and tliat wo aro Buro to rcliovo BcUbrt, and then cany the war into Germany. But, Mac, what'n the matter witli you, old ])oy?" continued the Doctor, secinuj M'Alovcy somewhat dull. '' AVell, Doctor, I was just thinking of a circumstance that happened in 1863, wdien I was in Mexico, and when I lost the dearest of my comrades; and who knows," he continued, " wliethcr we four shall ever see another night together in this world ?" "Oh, never mind the future, but tell us about the past — this comrade of youi's; who was he, and where and how did it ail occur ?" "Oh, I'll tell 5^ou some other time," said M'Alevey, sip2')ing hi.-i coftoe, and carefully wiping all traces of it from his ever-neat moustaches. " Tell us, Mac ; perhaps your prediction may bo fulfilled, and you may not have an opportunity again — so out with it," rei)lied the Doctor, as he laid his tin cup upon a log of wood, lit a cigar, and composed himself in anticipation of M'Alevoy's story. " Well, I'll tell you," said M'Alcvey, '-just hand mo a cigar, Doctor — thanks ; a match — thanks, encore. Now listen, and I ])ledgo you my word every syllable of what I am going to tell you is true, — and if you take the trouble of consulting the regimental book for the first quarter of 1803, you will iind it recorded therein. " On the 9th of February, 18G3, the 2nd Bigiment Etranger embarked on board the Wagram man-of-war at Mers-el-Kibor for Mexico. The inhabitants of Oran turned out en masse to see the troops embark— ;) I A%* 182 LA rOMIWaNlM IliLANDAISE. k I C r ». s c I i IL t not that tlic sight was in any way novel to tlio good people of Oran, for it wan the tliird time in lc88 than ton yeans thoy had eccn the same regiment cmbai'k- ing at the same place for the Crimean and Italian campaigns. Thei'c were no loud hurrahs or vicaSy cither by the troops or people, but there was a good deal of fervent hand-shaking, and kissing and sobbing between the young fellows of the regiment and the mesdomoiselles and seiioritas, just by way of showing that no ill feeling existed. At 6 o'clock p.m. the St. Louis and Wajram got under weigh, and next day wo passed close under the frowning guns of Gibraltar. "Of the voyage out I need say nothing, except that we touched at Madeira and Martinique. Never can [ forget the beauty of the scene which met my view when I went on deck one morning, and found the ship at anchor in the beautiful harbour of Funchal. The sun iuid just risen, and shed a flood of golden light on the gentle hills and gardens with which the town is surrounded. Not a breath disturbed the deep calm of the broad Atlantic, which lay like a huge mirror beneath our ship. Not a cloud o'ercast tlic beauty of the sky. Earth, ocean, sky — all three seemed wedded in one eternal bond of love, peace, and beauty. On a black, rocky precipice, surrounded by the ocean, stood Chateau Loo, with its grim old cannon scowling envy, as it were, at the natural beauties of the place. It looked that morning, I thought, like some monster that had suddenly risen from his ocean cave, and forgot to return ; or like some hideous goblin that had unexpectedly burst in on a scene of fairy enchant- ment. iVt noon T was granted permission to go on LA COMPAOyiE IHLAyDAISE. 183 nhore. Tho town, wlion you en tor it, is not xory hund.somo ; indeed the only thing in it worth weeing is tho Franciscan Convent, which contains a chambei-, the Avails and ceiling of which ai-e covered wdth human skulls and thigh bones, the relics of holy men wlio have died on tho island. To Madeira the climate is every- thing; the icy cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer are here unknown, for spring and autumn reign continually, and produce fruits and flowers throughout the year. The hedges are formed of myrtle, rose, jasmine, and honeysuckle, while tho most delicate flowers which are nursed in our green houses at home grow hero in wild abundance. " About tho 10th of April, we dropped anchor under the guns of St. Juan d'UUoa, and for the iirst time cast eyes on Vera Cruz, ^Mexico, and in my f)pinion a more God-forsaken looking place there is not in the world. The tow^n is built on an arid plain, and the whole coast as far as the eye can see, presents nothing but barren sand liills to the view, with here and there a patch of grovelling brushwood, that but helj^s to make sterility conspicuous. For in the distance behind the town rises the mighty Mount Orizaba, with its crown of eternal snow. At a short distance from our ship lay a small island of white sand, utterly devoid of vegetation. It seemed a complete forest of wooden crosses ; when I enquired as to the meaning of these crosses, I was told that the place was used as a cemetery for sailors who died of yellow fever ; while to crown the misery and desolation that seemed everywhere to reign, the bay and beach was strewn with the hulls and masts of seventeen large shii)s, that had been wrecked a year ) J '1 a I J i 181 LA COMPAQ y IE lliLANDAISE. K k r k f ■ I * ( li i or two previous, during agjilo from tho north. On the morning of tho 11th, tho rogimcnt disemburlcotl, and at evening parade tho coh)ncl informed U8 in a bril- liant Hpeech, that the regiment would have the honour of protecting the comniunieatioiiH and escorting con- voyH between Puebla and Vera Cruz. Now of all tho fatiguing and disagreeable duties which a soldier has to perform in campaign, that of escorting convoys of war material and provisions, is by far the most disa- greeable and fatiguing. If the roads are good and diy, you are smothered with dust, and tho pace is killing; if they are bad ard wot, you are bosj^attered with mud and fdth, and owing to tho slow pace, will perhaps be marching half the night. To this hour I shudder, when I think of the misery and hardships I sulfered in La Torre Chaudo. I] very day there was a down- j^our of rain, and such rain, you would think tho very sluices of the heavens had been opened. Suddenly tho rain would cease, and then the sun would shine out with such rays of boiling heat, that I luivc more than onco seen soldiers drop dead by the side of tho waggons. In Afi'ica wo were burnt brown, roasted if you will, but it was a dry, healthy heat. In La Torre Chaudo, wo were boiled, steamed as it were, in a pestilential vapour. Tho earth is literally teeming with insect life, and night and day there is a continual buzz, and whistling that almost drives you mad; lift the first stone you sec on the wayside and you Avill find beneath it either scorpions, or enormous centipedes, or coral snakes. At night the air swarms with fire-flies and mosquitoes ; sleep you cannot, you dose away the night in a broken nightmare, and when the first streak of ! lA COMVAayiE IHLAyVM^E. 185 u will, luudo, enlial insect z, and first ncath coral 33 and night ak of dawn appears, you are awalxonod with screaming and yelling, as if ten thousand devils had broken into the camp; snatehing yonv gun you hurry out of your tent, and find the eamp surrounded l»y a cloud of green ])arrots, that shout and scream the louder, when they sec your red cap and breeches. Dut to my story. The first battalion to whicli 1 belonged, was echeloned in detatchments of two and three companies, on the road between Vera Cruz, and Chicehuite. Now you must not imagine that Cliicehuite is either a town or a village, for there is not a human habitation within many miles of it. It is a huge mountain, at the base of which there runs a raj)id river, and over which the road to Mexico passes. In a military point of view the position was a very important one, and was strongly guarded. I was lying in iny tent one evening in May, with my hands rolled in a handkerchief, and smoking like a steam engine to keep the mosquitoes from my fiice, when my friend Sergeant Morzikio entered, lie was about twenty years of ago, tall, well built, and considered the handsomest man in the regiment. "'Where the deuce are you going so late?' said I to him, for he was in marching costume. "'Just come to say good-bye, Mac, the mail has arrived at Vera Cruz with important despatches for headquarters, and my company is going to meet it, as large bands of guerillas have been seen lately near Cameron. So good-bye, old fellow,' said he, shaking me warmly by the hand, and turning, he hurried rapidly down the mountain. " That was the last time I ever saw mv friend alive ; 1 ■ J ■ ■i ,1 M 1 J ti u 41 ■■ I 18(5 Li VOMPAGNIE lUrANDMSE. « 1 ■ K I I { k — for two ycarfl we Imd lived in tlio closcHt friendship, and durini^ all that time lio had boon my camanvle de camarades. I3y birlh lio was a Polo, and had been educated for the Church, but preferring tho moro active life of a soldier, had joined tho Legion to try and win his baton. Next cvcninj^ about tho samo hour that 1 had bid my friend farewell, I was half way up tho mountain, parrot Hhootinpr, and luid Just 8at down to rest myself and enjoy the fine view of tho country which tho place commanded, when suddenly I heard tho clear sharp note of tho trumpet sounding tho generate. Starting to my f(>of, F listened wi.th breathless attention, and in a moment after, tho chorus was taken up by a dozen others, bo that tho entire mountain echoed with tho alarming cry. Seizing my gun I ran furiously down tho mountain, and found tho troops already utider arms. I had barely joined my company when the trumpets sounded tho regimental march, and off wo went, whither I did not yet know. As soon as wo were fairly started, I turned to tho person next mo and asked tho cause of alarm. By him T was informed that tho company that had set out tho niglit before to moot tho mail, had been surrounded at Cameron by guerillas, and had been engaged all day. " * God grant,' said I, that wo may not bo too lato to assist the poor fellows,' and a shudder passed through my body when I thought of my friend Morzikio. Tho distance from Chicehuito to Cameron is thirty- five English miles. Wo marched all night, and at four o'clock in tho morning halted and made coffee, and when the sun had well risen, started once more idwhip, rcvle de li been ) nioro to try ) same as half ad just ' of tlio iddonly lundin^ 'd will I or, the hut the g t'ly- )untain, I had ounded I did irted, I auso of mpany mail, IS, and Into to rough rzikie. thirt}"- aiid at coffee, more h L.[ rOMJ'Ah'Mf-J IIlLAyDMSK. 187 on our weary march. AViihin a mile of Cameron wo came on the first token of the tragedy that had recently taken ])la('e. Heated under a tree, stark naked, and almost dead with losa of blood and thirst, wo found the druninier of the unfortunate company; n bullet had gone through his chest and luit a', his back, and three of his lingers had been cho|)peC3 for rer the Yd and 1 baiid- tch the alk the y some ere not anging 1. For ho ono in the thsome lower it not eds of down ic of Iveakly \ipagnie lost to there lous to The easily ; but han i^ LA COMPAGNIE IltLAyDAISE. 193 by nature a coward. The fear of death is natui-al to all men. The man who says " I fear not" is a hypo- crite, a coward, or a fool. It is not courage, but a high sense of honour that makes good soldiers. Physical 1}', ono man may be braver than another man, but it is a deep sense of responsibility and keenness of honour that keeps him longest at a post of danger. The man who "fears not death" is incap- able of command, and can never bo anything moro than a butcher in v^arfare. There is nothing in nature more contemptible than a man whoso inditfer- ence to life verges into bravoism, mere animal courage — devoid of honour and stripped of every vestige of sense of dut}'. Baj^ard and Ney were the tenderest and most chivalrous of men. Napoleon and the infidel Frederick the Great w^ere as gentle in garrison as they were gallant in the field. But the day advanced. The road lay through an undulating country, and the stripes of evergreen timber traversed the snow-covered ground like threads of emerald over a bridal veil — while the men ploughed their way along, sometimes climbing up the slippery sides of a hill, and then sliding into the valley below. Occasionally, a soldier would slip and fall, and thei the stereotyped jokes about " minding the pieces," and other popular phrases, were sure to bo repeated by some of the less quick-witted of the men. The sun was almost in the meridum when the spire of the village church of Arcey suddenly appeai-ed above some trees that stood before us. It seemed to bring a feeling of security to all. It was Sundav, too — the day upon which the 13 I 1 1 ) J 1 t » 'I J 191 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAL'^E. % ft t c It I ( ^ti«ii bloodiest records of liuman s*i'ire ai'c ni:ukud upon the pages of warfare ; and who knew but wo were marc'hinic to anotlicr combat lliat would live in hi.story to add one more recoi-d to the bloody calendar? AYo knew that 100,000 men were in our front, and out of that number Deuth could reap a Bufficiont harvest to immortalise the dav. The village was soon gained, and as we reached its high position the booming of the guns became more constant and somewhat louder. Beside the route the old people of the village knelt in prayer, and, like Moses upon the rock of Iloreb, they asked Ilira to bless the effort of our arms. The Angelus bell was sounding as wo hurried on, and mass was being cele- brated for the repose of the souls that had that day fiillen in action. Tho little boys who stood besido the road looked vaguely into our faces, with, I opine, a suspicion that they should one day bo followers in our wake. The effect was singularly humanizing. For tho moment it took some of the rough edges off tho brutal part of our nature, that had been developed, and almost cultivated, by the hardships of the campaign. I could pity tho sceptical mind that was not moved by the pious, but still almost antithetical contrast, of religion and war. But we made our destination for tho night; and frost-bitten, hungry, and haggard, tho men had to find cold comfort in a bed of mud, and a cup of coffee with a little sea biscuit as their only food. Tho captain-adjutant-major appeared to have selected tho dirtiest place around the village for our encampment, or rather for our halting-j^lace for tho night, and for no other reason than the highly objec- LA COMPAGMJJ IRLANDAISE. 105 cl upon were live in bloody in our reap Ji . The t3 bigli more Hito the lul, like Ilira to boll wai4 iiig celc- Lhat day esido the opine, a rs in our For tho le brutal (cd, and mpaign. t moved trast, of tion for ard, the d, and a eir only to have for our for tho |ly objec- tionable one, that thousands of troops had been there before us, and had converted it into a mud hole. Tents were not allowed to be pitcdied, and the troops unrolled their four-feet-by-two bhmkets and tent patches, and lay in heaps upon the slimy earth, cowering and tjhivering' like a drove of pigs huddled in a market- pen. But the play was going on in our imme- diate front now. On our j'ight a stripe of timber stretched away over the adjoining slopes of the Yosges, and on our left an open country undulated towards the scene of the combat. Sheltered behind a friendly swell in the ground, and placed in position, a brigade of our troops was observable from Avhere wo lay, and which must have been tho j-ear o-uard of the army engaged, for towards dusk they advanced beyond the rise, and disappeared into tho gentle sloping valley beyond. Away upon the left a batteiy of artilleiy was belching in tho direction of the village of Mont- belliard, and as it too pressed forward, with its regiment of Mobiles behind, tirailleurs in front, and cavalry upon its flank, the joyous news came in : " une grande victoire V *' une grande victoire /" I was look- ing through a field-glass and was trying to take in the position of our troops, when the focus rested on the battery that was playing upon the left of tlio position, and while looking at the gunners working the pieces, a concussion shell burst amidst the battery, and some men fell as if struck by tho pieces. " Distance lens enchantment to the view," said the ready-witted M'Alevey, coming to my side. I handed him the glass, and turned to make arrangements for the night. Tho fourrier-sergent (M'Crossin) was, as usual, foraging for provisions over the village. ) I I I m n a 4 f '« J i 9 m \ 196 LA COMPAGyiE IRLANDAISE. *8 fit it c ' mm Tho village cliiirch ut Siiiiito Marie, the place where wo liad halted, was crowded with dead. ^['Alevey^ tho Doctor, Mr. Cotter, and myself, went over to see tho victims of tho war, as they lay cold and rigid in all the quiet philosophy of death. Their faded honours were for ever gone. Grim and ghastly they looked, with tho clothes torn from that portion of tlio wound where tho "fell sergeant, strict in his arrest," had entered. I rememher a somewhat unpleasant sensation possessing my mind as I. looked on tho array of dead within tho village church at Sainto Marie, when M'Alevey, who stood hy my side, broke tho silence, and almost inaudibly said : " Straightened by circumstances," as Iio looked down at tho dead bodies that were heaped upon the spacious floor. " M'Alevey, you're mad to joke upon such a subject," said Cotter, aliecting to bo shocked at tho utterance — just as a music master might bo annoyed at the grinding of a street barrel-organ. "Not at all, sir; not at all. I'm only a little insane u])on the jest question ; will you try a pinch of enuff?" and ]\r'Alevey oflercd tho acceptable powder to myself and the now appeased Cotter. " There's a beauty," said M'Alevey, pointing to a hideous-looking German, whoso clothes were opened at tho breast. A largo hole, around which tho clotted blood had hardened, was observable, just over the region of tho heart. IIo w^as dressed in tho blue uniform of tho Prussian line, and could not have been long dead, for tho plain, largo flat buttons, common looked as •my they had only LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. 107 where Uevey, to Bce il rit'id I* faded ly they I of the arrest," )leasant on the Sainte 3, broke looked poll the BUCh Jl at the niioyed a little binch of powder bir to a, opened clotted ver the Ihe blue Ivc been [ommoii hriished that mornint,'. Beside liini lay a j-outhful Franc- tireur who miiHt liavo been an Adonis in life. The contrast was from tiio hideous to the handsome. " Jlon capifaine," said a young man at our side, who was dressed in a uiiifoi'in that corresponded witii that of the dead free-shooter. "This was my companion; lie was killed l)y that ugly CJerman, and I killed him," he added, pointing again to the hideous-Ioolving Prussian soldier before us. '• AVhen ?" I asked, interested in the story. "This morning, mo7i capitainc, near the ditch you may see running eastward from the skirt of tho village, as we wei-o pushing on tho flank of tho enemy, who occupied the ])lace." "Did you know liini long," asked Lieutenant M'Alevey. " Yes, yes, man lieutenant ^'^ replied tho young soldier; "we were reared together, went to school together, fought together, and I wouldn't care if we had died together." There was a seriousness in the young man's words that interested us all, and M'Alevey drew from him a story, of which, as well as I remember, tho following is the substance: — Pierre and Jacques Vileroy were cousins, and had been piously instructed, when boys, under the guid- ance of an uncle, who was a curi in one of tho quiet villages that lay beside the Doubs. They had boon educated together, and that mutual friendship common enough in boys, had grown into a feeling of brotherly love. They w^ere of a common ago, — and by a Btrange fatality the only cross in life thoy over had was, that they had both become attached to I 1 f I J J ) J « a i a 4 I 198 LA COMPAGME IRLANDAISE. m ( k the one girl. It must have been a boyish h:>vo, for ncither the dead iVee-shooter, Pierre, nor his living cousin and companion of yesterday could have been more than nineteen or twenty years of ago. At the outbreak of tlio "war they joined a company of J'Vanc- lireurs that liad been raised in their de]>artmcnt — " only forty kilometres fi'om where wo are,'' said the young man, pointing in the direction of his homo. Since then they had been in six lights, and upon one occasion the dead Franc-tireur had (saved the life of the young man that now mourned over Ids corpse. " Wo had begun to feel the recklessness "which, 1 suppose, is consequent upon a continued escape from danger, — and when, this morning, we wero ordered to dislodgo the Germans from their position behind the ditch, wo imprudently chai'ged over a narrow iicld tliat separated us from the enemy ; many of our comrades fell, but Pierro and I pressed on, he, being the quickest runner, keeping ahead of me, and had crossed tho ditch while 1 was still ten yards behind it. I Baw liim stop and take aim at a German who- was running before him, and who fell dead ; then this soldier turned upon Pierre, their bayonets crossed, I stopped and took aim, shot him through the heart, but not before lie had run his bayonet through the bowels of my bravo cousin," and the poor fellow wept tears of pious friendship as he looked down upon all that remained of his friend, *' Come," said M'Alevey, vividly affected by the simple story of the free-shooter, " let us go;" and the Doctor and I followed him out of the church and sought the shelter of our quarters, where our LA COMPAQ ME IliLAyDAlSE. 199 ■c, I'or living ) been ki the Franc- iciil — lid the home. )n one life of L'orpse. liieh, 1 from )rdered behind narrow of our , being- nd had behind an whO' en Ihi!? ssed, I b.eart, i^h the ^v wept pon all Iby the Iind tlie •h and ■•e our orderlies had dressed and pre])ai-ed a couple of fowls to help to appease our voracious appetites. " Here's to the old land !" Baid Dr. ^[acken, holding up a cup of wine, after M'e had devoured the fowl, and liad taken the bones by both ends. "The old land!" repeated all, and once again cupg clashed to the fervid prayer of *' God ^avc Ireland !" "And the girls we left behind lis!" chimed in M'Alevey, looking as full of merriment, and seem- ingly as secure in the possession of n ^vhole skin in the work before us, as if ho was to be a spectator, and not a combatant, in the expected di-ama of to-morrow. AVe were snugly housed in a deserted cabin, with our companions of the regiment crowded into the adjoining rooms, and chatting gaily about our successes. A knock is given at the door, ^I'Alevey invites the person outside to " come in." ** Orders, sir," said the sergeant of the week, handing over an order from the Brigadier: •' Officiers, sous officiers^ et soldats: " The general commanding tlie Ist Brigade of the 2n(l Division 15lh Corps, late Army of the Loire, has to eongratidate tlicCth Battalion and that portion of the 2nd Battalion, and La Compagnie Irlandaise of the Regiment Etranger, now in Sainte Marie, with the spirited energy they Lave shown under the privations through which they have passed, and the order and discipline that tln>y have observed under the trials of the last ten days. Tlie general commanding cannot ppeak too highly of the admirahle conduet of both officers and soldiers, and the manner in which they have borne the hardships of the campaign, assures Lira that tho officers and soldiers cf the 2nd and 5th Battalions, with La Compagnte Irlandaise, will to-morrow equal tho gallantry of the J I ] i ) J , .a i.M » M -9 M I, '■« I sa 200 /..I lOMIwaMi: IHLAMKMSE. fe F II ■ kt I I I ■ ( i 1st raltiiliiiii iiiid tliiit pniiiun of tlif 2ii(l in our front, who have thiHiliiy <()v»'ittl tlitiusilvcH witli glory. " Sii;iu«l, .1. IlKVAUD, •' (leneral ile lin'i/ade.'' " Bi'avo, l)rav()," said hi-. MacUcn, as he (•in])li(Ml llio conli'iitH of liis ('U|). '' Bravo, bravo," said M'Aitvcy, as lie si!j:nirK'aiitiy Iui'iuhI arouiir and distress, lU'foro Decay's clVaciiiK liii^'erH Have Kwei)ttho lin.H wliere l..-auty lingerH— " TiiK (liAotrn. ''Come, urouso tl.oo, urouso tIu»o, n,v hviiw Ii-isli boy..' suid M'Alovoy, Iho f..ll„win- mornin- at 4 a.m., accompanyino- the inviiatinn will, no' ironllo prcsuro of Jus J.and. -fho mon arc falling. i„ nnfron'''^ ^veJiuvc only time to roll up our blankets ''Has anybody l.oon )ioiv?" I asked. " Ves, Sern^eant J-Vanlc Jiyrne. Come, iWlor; eome. Cotter — . ' ' Miinh to tho Laltle-fu'Id, Tlio foo is now Ix'forc! us,'" und M'Alevoy made one of his ridieuloiis attcmnts to Hing a ditty. ^ It was not ve,y cold, l>ut the muni) sleepy and half-dead fechng one has when turnini,^ out so early after a fati<,niing march the day before, was not casifyr shaken off. Our blankets were soon rolled up eollur fashion, and slun^ coolly and as erect as il' ho was a movini^ landmark'. Wo wore ascondini^ a slight riso in the ground at the time, and the ranks woro more than usually open, which accounts for the ball passing through without injuring any of the men. The CJeneral quickly changed his position, while our fmo old Colonol, always on horseback, clicckod tho Commandant for ordering the " double." Eefore us lay a wood, upon which tho left of the lino was to rest, and once up to tho place wo woro once more face to face with tho foe. About two hundred yards in our direct front lay one of our own batteries, behind which tho first and second lino of battle was formed, and to both of wliich wo wore drawn up in a parallel lino. Not a German was to bo seen, but their ugly concussion eholls burst in and around the battery, and sent their Bplinters quite thick enough about our cars. It was miserable work, standing behind our guns coolly looking at danger without any of tho excitement which turns it into a desire for blood. But it was a lesson in training the troops to coolness under fire. Tho shells burst before us, wo knew that each flew into many particles, fl^'ing off as if socking a victim ; and then to stand stone still, not a muscle moving, to hold tho breath, ox-pocting every second to get a blow, and then to draw a long sigh of relief when the pieces " bir-r-cd " past and left you untouched, was a some- what trying task. With the old shell there was often time to avoid tho danger l)y lying upon the ground LA COMPAQ NIE IRLAXDArSF!. 211 • \ bosido uistique,'' conduct 10 was n, li^lit riso 31-0 moro 11 ])assing ^vliilo our ickod tlio ore us lay I rest, and CO to face )ur direct diicli tho id to botli p. Not a )ncussion cut their Tt was coolly ;citement It it was a idcr firo. acli flow victim ; loving, to t a blow, le pieces a Home- as often ground while tho fuse burned out and tho shell bui-st, tho pieces Hying upwards and around. But witli the breech or segment shell the pieces Hy 1o tho front, and must act as a powerful propeller upon retreating troops. James Grant, in his ''(onstablo of France," tells of tho aged Conde do Fuentes who charged at the hoad of tho infantry at the battle of Rocroi, in the year 1(J43, seated in an arm chair, and f often thought that tho feeling of men standing behind a battery with ordered arm;?, while the enemy's shell is playing about their ears, must bo somewhat akin to the feelings of tlie men who carried the chair in which the Conde do Fuentes was seated. It may have been very fine for the Conde, but I could pity the men. But thero was no help lor it, thero we were, and there we should remain; and somo of tho officers of the regiment smoked their cigars, stood before their men. and let it rain away. "First blood, ca2)tain," said Sergeant Terenco Byrne. I turned around and saw the blood trickling from the fixce of Corporal Paul Cullen, who was just grazed by a splinter hitting the malar bone. Towards two o'clock tho firing slackened in our front, and orders came for the Il6(jiment Etranger to occupy th© wood uj^on which tho left of La Compagnic Irlandaise rested. The Irish Company alono was to cover 200 yards of tho front ; tho place was pointed out by tho Commandant, and we moved to take up our new position. Wo came however in view of the Gorman batteries, and had no sooner entered the bush, than a hell of firo broke around our cars. The shells fell at the rate of about one every second, crushing, bursting, » J 11 II 1| <■ J A % ill •>1 .> ^ 1 apj l.l COMPAllXIF. Iltr.ANn.llSK. c Ik le I fet e ■ c I ■ ( i ' aw will uiul (earini^ everything in their course, the uplinters throwing tlie snow into our faces as wo crouched low behind the shelter of tho Avood, or Kcnding "limbs" of small trees upon our backs as wo lay full length upon tho earth. ('ontrary to expectation, no attack was made upon our position — nor wei'o wo called upon to attack, as we had been told in the morning. News had arrived during tlio day that VillerHexcl was not carried, and that Bourbaki with his left wing of tho Ann^e de VEst was in lull retreat towards tho Swiss frontier. Bay- light merged into dusk, and dusk lapsed into night, before the cannon from tho enemy's batteries ceased to play upon our position. A few of our men were wounded — none seriously; and as tho last shot from the German position passed over our heads, many of the ofTicers bade ^^ bon soir^' to the flying shell that, like tho herald of the close of tho strife, was sent miles over our position. The work had ceased for tho day. Beyond tho open space that divided us from tho enemy, tho fires from their bivouac illumined the night with their livid glare, "while tho stars up above, with their glittering eyes, Uept watch while tho army was sleeping." Beside our position, 'i horso that had been killed during tho day, and which had been partly devoured by tho famished soldiers, aiforded a substantial meal to such of tho men as were not too choice in their food, and to tho medical students of the company an opportunity of exercising their skill in cutting sections from it- quarters. Tho dew fell heavily upon the wearied troops, and tho thin foliage of January afforded but poor protection Hplintors K'liod low limbs" of igtli upon ijulo upon jittac'k, as ad aiTived rried, anxercising* tera. The and the hrotection LA COM PAG ME lltLAyDAISi:, 213 against llie damp, cold air, loaded with jtain-creating moisture. A sickly fire, more smoUe than flame, struggled through a few logs, hosido which some of us. stretched upon twigs ])ulled from the l>rancheH of the Ij'ccs, in vain ti-icd to court n few minutes of repose. Thei-e was no moon, an« m m J ii m 214 A.l COM I' Ad y IE lliLAynAISE. t Ik •r K f I e k c f ( I 'Ml .. iJ.;.ll, ' ,,1,1111.1 ''fei 111111)1 Iain, IJatc'lies of Hhivi-rlnf^ soldiers stood around the embers of (lie liall-lnirncd 1(>«^'h of wood. The chill north-cast wind ])cnctra(cd to tlic marrow of tlio famislu'ut as obedience i.-. the first duty of a soldier, we took up our position, and then pointed out to our Commandant the uselessness of exposing tho men in so dangerous a i)lace, where a single shell would sweep through the com})any from Hank to flank, — and the Commandant allowed mo to remove the company to a place of comparative bccui'ily, under the slope of a hill, about 100 yards to 1) in II II .il .1 » m tii m III III HI ill 111 ill in ■II !| .1 ^11 2in LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDArSi:. t ■r It 9 t I C IK ft f ft ■ IB I I ( I k iiwlliM tlio viglit of Avlicrc ^vo tlicn stood. Here wo liaff wc went, the Irish Company loading the way. AVo passed in rear of the exposed battery, behind which we had stood in the morning, and then skirted a wood that lay before us, kcC2")ing well under the shadow of the trees. Inside the wood a road, or rather a footjiath, ran in a jiarallel lino to the course we were walking along its outer edge, and why the movement Avas made in full view of the German lines, instead of moving under cover of the trees, I never could ui.derstand. But whatever was the cause, many a life was lost by the cxposui'o. I often think it a pity that ofiicers are not in some degree more resjionsible for useless blood- shod, whether caused by incapacity, indiflorencc, or neglect. Sir Charles Napier said that an incajiable general was a murderer. But the enemy appeared to allow us to march on until about 2000 of us wore fairly exposed to their lire, and then they brought a couple of batteries to play upon our line, and oiJenod upon us simidtanoously, throwing their shells amongst the men with procioion, and driving some of the soldiers like crushed frogs against the trees besitlo which they walked. Then the Command- ant indeed shouted, '* To the wood, to the wood." I stood beside an opening in the timber while I allowed LA COMPAdiVIh' JRLANDAISE. ?\1 Ave ]ialiots the Germans retired under cover of their batteries, while scarcely a head was teen where we expected to Beo thousands. The enemy wanted to find out whether we still occupied the position in front of Montbclliard in force. They expected, or Icnew, that the main army was in retreat, and thought to drive us into confusion by forcing all from the field. The aflair, however, coat both sides a few lives, and in the wood around and on the open plain before us, many fresh dark motionless objects were dotting the patches of still unmelted snow, or lying half covered LA COMPAQ y IE JliLAXDAISE. 210 ing of 1 House n the )klity. I, and mine. H few their we d to front new, t to field. nd in e us, ; the ered in the pools of water. Shortly afterwards a regiment of Chasseiirs-a-pied of our division, worked bravely up to within three hundred yards of the enemy's lines, suffered severely in their trial, and retreated minus h -f their number. The object of the movement was a feint too, and probably im])ressed the enemy with the belief that avo were still in force, and even medi- tated becoming the aggressors. In the meantime the battalion had not come off unscathed. A dreary ])rocession was flowing from the ranks, as man after man was carried to the i-ear, amongst the rest one or two of the men of my own Company. The Commandant sent round for the list of casualties, and for the names of such men as liad distinguished themselves during the day, but as we^ liad not been closely engaged, 1 had no names to recommend for the military medal — the soldier's reward for distinguished conduct in the field. 1 could, indeed, have named half-a-dozen men who well merited such a high distinction for their gallant coolness under a withering flre, and for the exampio of sang froid they showed to soldiers for the second time in action. But I hoped for a better opportunity^, as I saw that there were men around me who would encounter any danger at my command. There was a cool stern purpose in their conduct; a calm easy determination in their countenances, that spoke of a resolve to do their duty to the letter. In the meantime the first battalion of our regiment had been engaged in the attack upon the Chateau of Montbelliard, and had been beaten off with much slaughter, only 300 i-cturning out of 700 of our own m 81 ;8' II «i ill II II rossing aHSurancc that the Chateau could not bo carried without a more vigorous honibardmcnt than liad yet been ecriously attempted. '•What'H that?" I asked of Lieutenant Kuess, who liad just returned from the attack u])on the Chateau, as I ])erceivcd a hole in his l>lanket that looked as if it liad ])een made by a rifle ball. The lieutenant looked suspiciously at the sjiot, unrolled Ids blanket, and tlicro llirough tlie coat, Just under ihe region of the heart a similar hole liad been made through the tunic, which was qulckl}' opened, then the waistcoat, and thei'O lodged in his watch a flattened bullet had smashed the w^orks, and lay between Ihc cases. " Vive la chance," said the lieutenant. " Saved in the nick of time," said M'Alevey at our ■jside, wlio had come while the Frenchman was searching for the bullet. Another officer had the skirtof his tunic torn off by a piece of a shell, a third had a bullet lodged in liis tightly-folded blaidcet, a fourth had iho galonon his kcjn cut l>y a ritle bullet, while a fifth, all of the one bat- talion, had had a l)all flattened against a five-franc piece that was in his waistcoat pocket. But it was all " vice la chance.'' Four officers had been killed in the attack. AH the while the shells kept tumbling in and about our position, occasionally killing a soldier or two, and w^ounding several others. Sometimes a sound, just such as a mallard makes with its wings, when alight- ing near u pool, would be heard above, as the heel of a shell flew through the damp cold atmosphere. Eut night was beginning to fall upon the scene. If there be limits to luiman misery they were LA COMPAQ y 11-: inLANDAISE. 221 just ight- of u r.ut kvere reached on the night of the 17th January, 1S71. The entire phiin was a glu^antic pond — water, water every- where. The troops had been on foot an hour beforo the earliest streaks of dawu, and were worn out witli cold, famine, and misery. The higliest quality a soldier can possess is that of a hardy and obedient campai^cner, for in action every man must do some share of the tighting, undergo some share of the danger, without necessarily possessing any other qualilication but that of brute courage. To bo sure, some poet sings that bravery " is the brightest virtue, and most ennobles a man."' It may be so, but it alone is not at all times the best test of the highest typo of a soldiei*. '* AYell, here's to try the efficacy of the cold water cure, said M'Alevey, as ho rolled himself in his blanket and stretched out upon the slimy ground, sinking into its embrace as etfectually as if ho lay upon a bed of feathers. There was no food, unless indeed, some of the men had a morsel of biscuit, which in many cases it was impossible to gnaw. Eefore us lay a farm-house^ into which the officers crowded in heaps, amongst the rest T)v. Macken and our colonel. Besido us an oM well gaped through the ground, from which the only hedge ujjon the plateau ran up to the house in front of us. About a dozen tires blazed over the plain, around which the officers of the various regiments stood and talked over the haps and mishaps of the day. The troops lay half buried in the melted snow, the wet eating into their bones, and making many a brave soul wish for that sleep that knows no waking. About us lay the bodies of the few men who in the sheltered place had been killed during the last two days, acting iil Hi 111 Hi HI HI tually cut oif our retreat and brought us up like a beast at bay. The dropping tire was for sometime sus- tained on both sides, each aiming at where the flash of their enemy's guns indicated their presence. At this time the Germans could not have been more than fifty 3^ards in our direct front. Meanwhile the fire grew hotter as the enemy closed in upon us. Their figures were distinguishable, and as I was unsupported I ordered the men to fall back, firing as they retired. While we were moving away I heard the stock of a rifle come into contact with somebody's head, and this was quickly followed by a low, hissing order of " keep up to your work, you dog." As I turned arountl to ascertain the cause I could trace the dim outline of Sergeant Carey's well-proportioned form, standing over the jirostrato figure of a fallen man. The stricken soldier was tumbled into one of the many thorny bushes with which the wood Avas abundantly dotted, and the effovts lie made to save himself from the effects of the thorns were amusingly d 'amatic. A revolver at his liead quickly brought him up to toe 236 LA COMPAGNIE IliLANDAlSE. i hi w f K: C ft. ■ I I ( t I :ijr 'ill; 'I, m m\ «» the lino with his companions, by whom he was after- wards known under a soubriquet not complimentary But as there — to his courage. " Is no flock howsoever watched or tended, But ono dead lamb is there, — 80 is there always to be found one truant in a school, one coward in a company. Few indeed of the Irish soldiers ever stooj^ed " to waste a coward thought on life ' when in action, but fewer still ever boasted of indifference about the dread uncertainty. True couni^o fears, but still faces the dreaded portal of eternity. " 'Tis not the bravo man that feels no fear. For that were stupid and irrational, But he whose noble soul that fear subdue?, And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from." But the unfortunate wretch was punished with sufficient vigour to convince him that obedience to orders was in his case the better part of valour. Carey stood over him like a chained lion, and never parted from his side until he saw him blazing away at Avhere the continuous firing from the enemy's rifles indicated their presence. It w\as still quite dark, our battalion had gone, and the Irish Company, then reduced to about sixty-five rifles, was still behind upon the field of Montbelliard. It was evident the Germans hesitated to advance in the dark ; they were not in sufficient force to press U3 that morning. Yon Werder had already accomplished one of the most brilliant feats in the history of mili- tary warfare. He had succeeded in doing at Belfort LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. 237 aa after- mentary I school, ho Irish )ught on wasted of couni^o nity. )m." ed with ieiice to valour. Dn, and blazing enemy's )ne, and xty-five bcUiard. ance in press us iplished of mili- Belfort what Napoleon the First failed to do at Mantua. Von Worder had, witli 45,000 men, held a position between the army of Baurbaki, numbering at least 100,000 men on one side, and had held in check the garrison of Belfort on the other. Like an old British Regi- ment in Egypt, Von Werder had i:)laccd hiy troops back to back, and succeeded with less than half the force of the attacking troops in beating otf both. But it was not so much the men, as the means that accom- plished this brilliant result. Individually the French- man is equal to any soldier in the world ; in dash, in esprit, in gallant daring, in 6lan, in all that constitutes courage and entcrj "ise, the Frenchman has no superior. In chivalrous conduct ho even surpasses the man who stands to-day before the world as his conqueror. But shoeless, foodless, almost nude, with the clothes hang- ing in tattered fragments from their persons, the raw levies of Mobiles wore unequal to the task of endurance which a demoralized latendance asked them to encoun- ter. It was even more than the troops of the i-egular army could bear. But day would soon be breaking, and we stole away while it was still dark, leaving the ghastly field behind, and taking the route indicated by our Commandant, But while yet in danger of attack, the men being out in skirmishing order, and making for the road, while wo occasionally halted expecting to see again the dark blue uniforms of the German soldiers bursting through tho gloom, a voice which I thought a familiar one, called out — in French of course — " Is that tho Rijiment Etran'jer ? " For the instant I thought it might be a ruse de guerre of tho enemy, and the men were down upon their kneoa, 238 LA COMPAQ N IE IRLANDAISE. f mil' fct »' 'iilli u V $ f I .M. K: Ml ) r f V M ,<^ e 'HI i. m\ ■ •811 IE: itli K mi 1 1 Ml III I 1 9 ( 1 ■ # 1 illlti ii :j j ^— *4iii . M '••» miiif every finger was upon a trigger, awaiting the order to fire, when the familiar voice Bounded .'.gain, there was no mistaking its ow^ner, it was our gallant old Colonel, whom wo liad left behind. Just then the carliewt streaks of the coming day pierced the .sombre envelope above, and I could trace deep thought upon the face of the tine old man as he came and walked beside me. lie was visibly allccted by some incident, and I anxiously asked him if he had been wounded. "No, no, Captaine'' he replied with a tone of sorrow which even perplexed me more, and then turning )ii8 handsome, battle-scarred face towards me, lie continued: "I told your Commandant that I should i"emain behind with your company, Capitaine, and be the last away, and I tried to take a few hours' rest at the farm-house, which has been our lieadquarters for the last three days. You might liave seen that it was not more than five hundred yards from the German lines, but so sheltered by the inequalities of ground as to be safe from the enemy's artillery. Well, you remember the officer you relieved yesterday on tirailleury "Yes, mon Colonel," I answered, " Trucho, or as wo christened him, ' Garde la bombe.' " " Well, when we were attacked this morning, another officer and myself rushed from the house — the enemy was within twenty yards of us, but we tried to escape nevertheless, and as our figures were visible against the snow, the Germans fired at us, and I am here." " And the other officer, 7non Colonel" I said, now susj^ecting the truth, while the colonel shook his head, uttered the simple word ^Tu6/ mentioned a name, it was 'Trucho, poor, brave, much regretted ' Garde la bombe.' " order to wQYO was Colonel, earliest onvclopo the face )Bido me. ;, aud I )f sorrow •ning )iis mtiniicd: n behind st away, m-house, ist three lot more ines, but be safe ibor the or as wo another enemy o escape against ere." lid, now lis head, e, it was mombe: " LA COMPAQ JS IE IliLANDAISF. 239 Food less, and in many cases shoeless, wo com- menced that disastrous retreat. The country around was devastated. Horseflesh had been for some days our onlv subsistence; neitlier bread nor wine could be had for any price. The woods and fields around Montbelliard were strewn with corpses, and every house had its wounded soldier. Eroken waggons, dismounted guns, dead and dying horses hacked to pieces by the passing troops, were eveiywhere to bo seen. For about haif-a-mile the dead men were as thick as berries, and not a few wounded, crawled into the shelter of the ditch, which, in too many cases, they probably never left alive. As if conscious of their approaching fate and our own position, they looked wildly at us as we passed along. Their distended countenances told of the mental agony they were enduring. The route we had passed four days ago full of hope and dreams of victory, wo now re-passod, dispirited, and almost demoralized. Beneath us the little village of Dung nestled upon the border of a stream, and, as Ave crossed the bridge, we took up position to dispute the passage of the stream. The enemy shelled tho woods behind us with their usual Their cclaireurs exchanged shots v?ith us vigour. from the belt of timber that skirted the upper bank of the rising ground beyond the little river. Our colonel was still with us. The river was only fordablo in one or two places, and if attacked we were to check their advance, AVe had an excellent position. The general of our division — Rebillard — left two mitrail- leuses and two six-pounders to help in the defence of the stream, and said hf; entrusted them in our keeping 240 LA COMPAGNIE UiLA^'DAISE. C Ik ■' tt w t \ ? k f ft ■ « I I I ( k I iliilll' '"Hi Hlllll '■ilH|. '■Ill •■"111, "!i!l. »iiii„ (II tiij knowing that wo would dcfeiul them "a la mort." It was u glorious day. Tlio gcniul almoaphcro had already commenced to feel the reviving power of the new 3"ear'8 Hun. A^^uch of the frost had gone, and tho air was warmer. Tiie viUago of Dung where we halted, had a population of 381 souls, and the majority of tho villagers took refuge iii tho woods and in the cellars, when they saw that we were proj^arcd to dispute the possession of the place with the advancing foe. A small i!in stood beside tho place allotted to La Compagnie Irkmdalse, the door stood invitingly open, and 1 entered to try and buy or beg a drink of wine. " Kot a carafon, Capitaine,'' said the old man, who floundered about apparently in a state of mental tor- ture, his deep set eyes and flurried countcnanco betraying the emotions ho failed to express. " Every- thing I liavc in tho world," continued the proprietor, " I buried under the three crosses you see outside tho garden, and which I intend to make those piggish Germans believe have been erected over the remains of some soldiers who have been killed in the great battles of tho last three days." *'AVo may bo hero an liour yet," I replied, "and you can make a harvest if you unearth your treasure and sell it to the oflScers, at your own price. I'll take twenty trancs' worth for my own company to begin with." **No, no," hurriedly answered tho old man. "!N"o, no ; there, there, mon Dieu, mon Dleu, wo shall be all killed," he almost screamed as a shell burst before tho door, and I harried out of the house expecting evovy minute to see the enemy burst through the timber in LA COMPAONIE IRLANDAJSE. 241 wtr It eio had r of the and tho e halted, y of tho ceUars, ;puto tho 0. )d to La ;ly open, : of ^vine. nun, who entul tor- mtenanco <' Evcry- roprietor, itsido tho |o piggish remains the great ied, "and Y treasure I'll take to begin In. "Kg, lall be all leforc tho ing every timber in. our front. But tho Gcrmanri were hIow, very slow that morning. Had they pressed us in force, thou- Banda of the dispirited troops would have fallen into their hands. However, as events proved, they liad a better game on hands, and they left us to continue our disastrous retreat. I think it was on tho first day of our retreat that poor Sergeant DonnoUan camo to mo and declared he could go no further, lie was worn to a skeleton. Ilia giant and splendidly proportioned figure was attenuated, and his handsome face was shri veiled, while his eyes protruded with a ravenous-looking expression. Dr. Macken had already told mo that ho feared it was all up with Donnellan. Hardened as men's hearts become in a rough campaign, I was moved to compassion by. the wretched jilight that gallant Irishman was in, as ho stood before me during a short halt, and with soldierly grace, and ever prompt respect, brought his rifle to the " advance," and declared that he "could go no further." He had, as was customary, made a hole in his blanket, through which he put his head, and tho folds of tho shoddy covering fell over liis shoulders, and gave him some little protection from the weathei*. "Come, Donnellan, make another effort," I said, as he eat upon tho bank beside the road, and I saw that tho troops were about to move on again. " Come, old fellow, try again, just one more halt, and I'll do my beat in tho meantime to get you a lift." "It is no use, Captain," he answered, every place is full, there is not tho ghost of a chance of getting on either a mule or anything else, and I may as well givd 16 nq 040 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. f C k f ft. ■ ftt III, 11 ^ » t ' ' III ^K^lrflfil ''•Mllfi up hero," niul !»(> lield out liis hand to mo in firm roholve. "Won't you write to my motho;-, Captain," ho eontinui'd, after a moment'H ])aiise. Just tlien 1 Faw a man taken out of one of the chairs, wliich wan farried l>y the mules, and it was evident from the way tho soldier was handled, that he was dead. I ruslied over, and I'ortunately stumhled aci-oss Dr. Macken, throui^h wliose aid I Bueeeedetl in getting Donnel'an into the vacant seat. ]]ut he dkl not appear to mind mueii whether he went or not, and as ho waw Btrappeil in the place, and looked around with an expression which I interpreted to have a grave misgiving, whether or not he would ever Fee the morrow's tsun. But the "fall in" was sounded, and the command "en route'* given, and we were away once more. I remember turning round to see if 1 could distinguish tho gallant sergeant amidst the ruck of carts, and waggons, and mule teams, and I remember waving him an adieu, which he courteously returned. Poor fellow ! 1 never saw him again, and he must Iiavo died of exhaustion, or rapid consumption, brought on by hardshii)s. Jlvery man in the C/omjmny had respect for Donnellan. He was the beau-ideal of a chivalroua man. He was a Bayard in his way, and what was left of La Com^iagni -. j regretted the loss of his soldierly ■ pei' 11 into one of my dreamy moods, a o iii, ed ong, and if I specu- lated upon how a poor lady in Galwiiy would bear tho ead tidings of her son's fine, and found time amidst tho trials of that retreat, to tender a sympa '(ic feeling •of respect for lier sorrow, it was but tb latural out- pour of my respect towards a man who. I was proud LA COMPAOyrE iniASDAlSE. 243 I in firm Juptain," it then I hich wiw . tlio way I ruwhcd Mae ken, )()inicl'an f to niiiul 8triipiH ill!: "Inn,, k-^-^^ Jiiiiiili, hands of an able commander the garrison could have- Beriously imjoedcd the German advance, and saved the French troops. But Manteuffel measured liis man IIo left a small force to look after Dijon, ami hurried on himself to overwhelm the dispirited and defeated French. He succeeded to the letter. lie blocked the retreat to Lyons, and forced tho famished soldiery of tho Eepublic into neutral territory, and tho 20th and 21st corps were huddled jiell-mell across tho border. But our turn was coming. Von AVerder was too much weakened to follow us with vigour, for he should still press on tho siege of Belfort, the gallant little garrison of which held out with persistent vigour. For four days, however, that desperate retreat was continued. The men were falling away in batches, but the Irish Comjiany held together with much perseverance. Their distinct nationality induced the men to keep intact. If they fell out they would be more completely lost than a Frenchman. But my pen fails to describe tho hardships of that retreat. It was simply horrible. I would not like to see an Irish dog- endure as much again. Men will, of course, risk life and limb for the bubble reputation, but to endure all the hardships of a winter-running campai(^n in a cold climate, is an undertaking which every man should well consider, before voluntarily encountering. An officer can always make ends meet, but for the rank and file, it is another affair. It would damp the ardour of many a would-be hero if he could have seen the Irish Company on their retreat from Montbelliard, or if some enterprising photographer had taken iv /.A COMPAQ N IE IRLANDAISE. 245 ould have- saved the his man tul hurried I defeated locked the soldieiy of the 20th cross the r was too he should haiit little it vigour. >treat was II batches, ith much duced the would be lit my pen t. It was Irish dog !, risk life jnduro all 1 in a cold an should ing. An the rank damp the have seen itbelliard, taken jv proof of the shoeless, foodless, and starved creatures they at that time were, as they shuffled on, over hill and dale, on the 20th of January, ISTl. CHAPTER XVI r. " suftering, ead humanity 1 O ye afflicted ones, who lie Steeped to the lijis in misery, Longing, and yet afraid to die, Tatient, though sorely tried ! " LONOFEriLOW. In the meantime the disasters which befel the armies of Franco were iri-epai-able. The army of Bourbaki had })con destroyed, and Paris was giving indications of the coming surrender. A sortie on the 19th of January jiad been repulsed. Montretout was captured by a gallant effort of the besieged, but had to oe abandoned. General Faidherbe was defeated at St. (^hientin on the same day, and all hopes of relieving I Paris from the north was at an end. The war was practically over, and Fj-ance was subdued. There might still, indeed, be some desultory fightiiig in positions fjivourable for defence, some more blood might ilow from the already bleeding combatants, but organized resistance was at an end, and the nation recognized the fact. There were, indeed, a few men insane enough t. think that France might still fight on, but these were interested speculators, who traded upon the blood of their countrymen. Men who wit- ■■IP 246 LA COM PAG N IE IRLANDAISE. c k i ■ to I I ( k k 'iilil' 11 •iii , •iiii ii'r ,:* lit Da lllli*: Bllllli Wlllttf: neBsed and ciicouiitered the hardHliips of the campaign knew that the game was up. For U8, we might be compelled to fight again, but already Bpeculations were rife as to an armistice, which wo knew was but the prelude of a necessary and humiliating peace. As wo reti-eated through the beautiful country watered by the Doubs, over hill and through dale, in wet and cold, dropping with fatigue, and exhausted by sufter- ing, I could not help speculating that to man alone is left a power of endurance which the beasts of the field could scarcely endure. Eut wo had four hard days on that desperate retreat — days of famine, of cold, of hunger, and of danger ; fi-om early dawn until long after dark, it was a trial of speed, and then but little repose could bo found on the slimy soil, torn uj) with thousands of horses and waggons, and the tramp of tens of thousands of men. Every wdiere w^e had to rileep was converted into an ocean of mud ; and yet men will live on, except hero and there scattered amongst the regiments, some unfortunate ends his career by sending a bullet through his distracted brain. But the retreat continued through Roulens and Baume-les-Dames, and on the night of the fourth (lay our advance guard was working through a defile in the Vosges, about eight miles from Besan^on, and just beside the little village of Busy, when the aston- ished soldiers were stopped by the German challenge " Wer-da-is ? " sounding upon their ears. We were surrounded ! I think that was on the 23rd of January, and I well remember how indifferently the troops accepted the challenge, as most of us would rather fight than march any further. Ou that day we had been campaign might be eculations V was but )eaco. As y watered II wet and by sufter- m alone is )f the field •d days on f cold, of until long I but little 1 up with tramp of vc had to ; and yet scattered ! ends his distracted Roulens le fourth a defile lingon, and he aston- challengo We were January, he troops ither fight had been LA COMPAGNfE IRLANDAISE. 24T on foot from six in the morning until nine in the evening, marching at a break-neck ])acc, and it was without exception the most harassing day we had ppent in France. " We art in for it again, Captain," said Sergeant Carey, coming and standing by my side, his iron frame, of all the men of La Com-pagnie Irlandaise, presenting the least trace of the misery he had endured. " And I am glad of it," he continued, '* this retreating makes a man hungry, and 1 should like to exchange haversacks and boots with some of these friendly Germans before us." Carey's boots were indeed a study in their way; Originally they vvei-e too small for him, and he was compelled to squeeze his feet into their narrow limits Without socks, and being incessantly on the march, he was unable to guard against painful and ugly sores M'hich formed upon his feet in consequence. Then he resorted to the expedient of cutting the shoes in order to remove the pressure, and give him case. The frost penetrated the sores, caused them to fester, and protrude out of the limits of the orifice, and ultimately to i^resent a sight from whicii cvt.n har- dened soldiers turned in pity. On one occasion he attempted to take his shoes olf, and .ho efibrts he made would have killed manv a loss determined man. At last, however, he succeeded, but as lie often told me, '*I looked down, sir, and saw my feet swelling so quickly, that unless I put my shoes on at oacb, I would have to go barefooted." But he had io cut his shoes in order to get them on, and they becoixx^ even worse than before. Yet Carey was as full of lite and 248 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. IT 11 9 r II » c '■ ' <^ ! f "l. '■ Jl i i a ii; ; Jili *'* tr raerrimont as ever, and as he bustled about executing some orders for the bettor disposition of tl o Company, no trace of the agony he was endui'ing waa visible in his soldierly bearing. That night we bivouacked behind the shelter of a friondlj^ wall. It was bitterly cold. M'Alevey was trying .o be gay, and almost failed. lie had been hit with the splinter of a shell, and the wound had lamed him a little. But ho did nco mind it. Mr. Cotter was on duty, and the Doctor^ M'Alevoy, with myself, huddled together under an auherge made of a few twigs, with a piece of canvas thrown over it. The Doctor had finished telling us about a i^oor wretch that had carried the heel of a shell, a piece of iron about three pounds weight, in his stomach, for half an hour, in intense agony, and pictured the piteous appeals cf the pooi* fellow as he begged the Doctor to kill him. lie had just finished, when he turned somewhat abruptly towards me : "But stay," he said, looking at a ' green stone' that hung from my watch-chain ; " I often noticed this jieculiar oblong stone j^ou wear, Captain ; what is it?" " It is a ' green etone,' " I replied. " I got it in Kew Zealand^ where it is highly prized by the natives. I bought it from a chief named ' Ashapenny ' " " Ashapenny," quizzically repeated the doctor. " Yes, Ashapenny," I replied. By the way, my first meeting with Ashapenny was rather an odd one. It was at a place called Waiukue, at the head of the Manukau harbour. " Orderly, pile on a few raoro logs/ broke in • P LA CQMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. 249 :ecuting >mpany, I visible ter of a vey was boon hit id lamed •. Cotter L myself, )f a few it. The r wretch of iron for half ) piteou-j )octor to ^ turned Id stone' noticed |u ; what jot it in natives. tor. ray, ray )dd one. ll of the roko in M'Alevey. " We arc going to have a yarn from tho Captain. ISow then spin away." " I assure you," I expostulated. " Of course, you assure us. Never mind. I'll bo dumb," and he made a motion of semi-somnolcncc. *' I assure you," I repeated, '• that every word of what I am going to tell you is true. It is nothing marvelous, and not half as remarkable as tho events w^hich are every day occurring around it. But to my story. In 18()4 1 was in New Zealand, and in tho Christmas of that year I found myself at the place I previously mentioned, the village of Waiukue, at tho head of tho Manukau harbour. There were only five or six houses in the village at that time, and a block house into which it was customarv to assemble tho people of the neighbourhood when the Maories were around. The country w\as undulating, liberally inter- Bi^ersed with w^ood and water, and dotted here and there Avith a homestead. The AVaikato campaign was then nearly over, but the natives were still trouble- some, and they kej)t the Waiukuc Yol'inteers con- stantly on the move. They had been quartered in tho block house for a day or two, when one morning I saw an old friend named Dunn coming towards me, and holding out his hand in joyous salutation. Dunn had been in the 63rd, and was then commanding a company of volunteers that he brought from Australia. He was always a wag, when in the service and when out of it, and he is a wag to-day. After we had run through our catalogue of enquiries about old friends and the disasters which had befallen some of them, wo saw a majestic-looking native coming towards us. lie 250 LA COM PAG ME riiLAXDArSE. c Hi V t I ■ IT ' Jt i- ' i. ' til •t, i Hft}!; "" lliiiil; "BitlfL was dressed half savaji;o, half European. His gai'inont was a white shirt, which descended below his knees. Around liis waist ho woi*o a sergeant's sasli, and around his neck he iuid a black silk necktie, carelessly tied under the chin. His face was deeply tattooed, and the dark blue curvatures traced deep channel-» along his swarthy countenance. His head was sur- mounted witli dyed flax, and in his hair he wore an eagle's feather. lie wore boots, but his legs and arms were bare, while a matting of bird's feathers was lied over his left shoulder, and fell to his knees. " ' Now, Kirwan,' said Dunn, as the Maori ap- proached, ' do you know any of the language, eh ?' " Not a word," I replied. "'Well, then, bid this fellow 'good morning' by paying 'Ilerekawa, mongo, mongo, typho.' ' " The Maori was by this time within speaking dis- tance, and was about to pass quietly upon his way, for he was of a friendly tribe, when I saluted with my * Herekawa, mongo, mongo, typho,' and I shall never forget the stern and scornful glance the native quickly turned upon mo, while Dunn burst out laughing, and I saw at a glance that I had been sold. The Maori passed on, and were it not for *auld acquaintance' sake I would have reported the circumstance. But Dunn was too good a fellow to quarrel with, and just to tease mo the more it was an hour before he told me that I had said ' Go aAvay, you black devil.' '* 'It was not right,' indignantly ejaculated M'Alevey. "Well, Dunn made up for it afterwards Dy inducing that same Maori, who was the chief Ashapennj^, to sell LA COMPAGME IRLANDAISE. 251 mo this green stone, for which I paid ji num of money in excess of its value. " ' Was that long after,' asked my second lieutenant. *' On the first occasion of my visit to the native vil- lage," I answered. " the natives wore having a hakari or banquet, and we were invited to bo present. Around the village square pyramidal towers, having an eleva- tion of fifty feet, extended for fully a mile towards the bolt of encircling evergreens which hemmed in the semicircle of cultivated land, and each of those towers were filled with articles of food in preparation for this great hakai-i. Sweet ]iotatoes, taros, maize, forn-root, potted birds, dried n^h, Icaraka berries, and other things were in store. The landscape was not soft or gay, but w\as grand and sombre. The trees were ever- greens, and the palm-like ferns, the nikaw, and the obscure green flowers of the cryptogamic ferns, grow- ing in profuse abundance, gave a somo'iir.t tropical appearance to the luxuriant vegetation. It was, as I told you, Christmas, and the beautiful ])ohutukana was covered w4th scarlet flowers, and the melancholy bimu looked beautiful. The celebrated kauri was thickly intermingled with less valuable trees, and the milky-coloured gum oozed fi'om its sides and enriched the already rich soil around its base. I could see that the natives were preparing for the war dance, as well as for the hakari, and I gladly availed myself of a seat from Avhich I could get a good view of the mad frolic that was to take place. "We were hospitably received, although Ashapenny did not come near us. Yet two of the chiefs of the village held the head ot each of our horsea as we dismounted, and this wa-s 252 LA COMPACT IE lULAyUAISR. IE' It 9 t \ e. la ^ Jl" -I I ifi '111, coiisidorcd tho liighest comi)linient llioy could pay us. Suddenly tho men forming llio circle of sitting Maorics started to their feet. For the moment I tlioiiijfht that "WO had ])cen betrayed, and my companion, Dunn, and myself drew our I'cvolvers, Imt we were laughed at for our alarm. After running about twenty yards, the mass of men, perhaps four hundred in all, placed themselves in lines, ten or even twenty deep. Then, with weapons in their hands, each man elevated his right leg and right side of the body. "You laugh M'Alevey," I broke in, as my lieuten- ant held his sides and roared, "but 'tis true as holy writ." "Then, like a flash of lightning, they jumped two feet from the ground, brandishing and cleaving the air with their weapons — either white pine spear, hocroa, violin-shaped patu, or the favourite adze-like toki, yelling a loud chorus the while. Every muscle quivered during the exciting work; tho gaping mouths, inflated nostrils, distorted faces, out-hanging tongues, and fixed staring eyes, too truly told of the success of tho maddening work. The fury of tho demon appeared to possess them all. Again and again the wild work was repeated. A dance of the Inferno could not be more demoniacal. The maddened men, inciting each other, to perserve order in the host, sang a sort of war song, which might be thus translated : « Hug close, Au, an, Fling out [meaning the legs], Au, au. I^A COMPAuyiE niLANDAISE. 253 Thrit may flee Awuy tljc seal To a distance In order to gazo This way, . Yes, ycB, yes.'' "And the dancers became so frantic in their wild miKlcicninir work tl^if ftTr«» k \ , ' .„.™.f ,1, ' " ^^^''^Pi'""/ couM not ...I est Iho passionate \ The outer fence was only hix feet high, and was con:-,tructcd of lighter material. Between the two there was a dry ditch. Exaggerated wooden figures of men. with gaping mouths and out- hanging tongues, were stuck in the fences, and gave a fotish appearance to tlie entire stockade. At eacli corner stages weic erected for the sentinels, and the keen-eyed Maorics walked iip and down with a slinging gait, yet carefully trained senses of sight and sound. Suspended by cords from an elevated stago hung a wooden gong twelve feet long, somewhat canoe-shaped, and, when struck with a wooden mallet, it emitted a sound which may be heard twenty miles off in still weather. But the other pah was of modern construction. It c(jmmanded an angle made by two bush tracks, and a rifle-pit five feet deep surrounded the structure. A bell sujiplied the place of a gong, and loop-holes and flanking angles show that it was con- structed by men of modei*n experience, or warriors of wisdom. The joints of the stockade were closer, and had evidently been turned out by some weapons or instruments made by civilized men. " That night, however, wo slept in the Maori village, LA COM PAG ME fliLANDAISE. 255 illage, and early next morning started for "Waiukuo. Our route lay through a thick belt of timber, and as it was summer time wo enjoyed the early rido in tlio iirst flush of daybreak. " There was a pleasure in treading those j)athless woods, whore generations of noblo trees were seen decaying, and fresh generations rising up around tho moss-covered trunks of fallen ])atriarchH. There was a profound silence reigning in those regions which produced a pleasing gloom on the mind, and the sur- rounding scenery displayed, better than the most classic architecture, tho grandeur of repose. Sound tliero was none, save now and again the shrill screech of a parrot pierced tho still air, or some giant tree, bend- ing beneath tho weight of ages as it sank to death wailing its agony in its fall. Around the graves of generations of trees tho air was hushed into stillness, while the tops of the living generations were agitated with gentle gales from the South Pacific Ocean. " In the forest man is never alone. It is upon tho prairie, with a vast oceanless desert, without a land- mark or a bound, it is there a man feels as if the world does not belong to him nor he to the world. But there, in the depth of a New Zealand forest, there was a com- munion of pious thoughts, every flower had its lesson, every stream and every bower had its story, every herb which we pressed beneath our feet, if rightly understood, ajipealed by some magic of its own ' to Hope, to Holiness, and God.' The sun's rays only here and there penetrated the dense foliage, except upon the margin of the rivers which traversed the soft, green landscape beyond. Numerous cicadse made loud 256 LA COMPAOyiE lliLAyDMSE. I k I I I: % n f ft ■ b ;!i jr '•II it ''ii It ^""^^B 'is ■"11 w» ami iiRcssiuit grating houikIs upon the cur, unci the owU and buts still (luttorod ubout our heads in close but unlioedod j^roxirnity us wo rodo ulong. "The morning Hiin hud ulrcudy fringod the horizon bof'ore wo wero yoi half way to Wuiukuo. Tho sky was bcuutil'ully dotted with elouds of varied hue, blending into each other with that artistic tinish which nature alone can produce. It appeared like waves of gold, green, and purple, rolling with easy and gentle swells into scarlet, orange and blue. A storm cloud had just passed away, and, ' like a hooded friar, told its beads in drops of rain.' '* Dunn was full of information, lie had been some years in tho colony, and he passed the time in telling me of eventful times of flood and field through which ho had passed, lie had been at the Rangatere Pah, whore our troops suffered so terribly from the fusilade of the entrenched Maories. lie told mo how Maui, tho native chief, first fished tho island from the ocean ; how ho caught the sun and boat it for scorching up tho grass ; of the ' hougi, or meeting of friends, who salute by rubbing noses " But there is nothing odd in that, for the Greeks of old saluted by pressing their chins together ; the Turks Join the ibrehead and eyes ; the Moors kiss beards ; the Arabs, the eyes ; and Joab saluted Amasa by holding his beard and kissing. lie told me of the Maori gods Atua, and the gods of the forests, and of the birds, Tone Mathuta, of the wonderful lake district around Eotorua and llotomahana, where magnificent geysers abound and terraces are formed by the silicious deposits from tho boiling water; of the 'runongos' or assem- ', and the l3 ill clodo 10 horizon Tlio eicy iriod hue, linh which ko waves easy and A storm )ded friar, been some in tolling igh which itere Pali, 10 fusilade ,ow Maui, he ocean ; rolling up ends, who Greeks of he Turks irds ; the holding aori gods le birds, around geysers deposits \Y assem- LA COMPAOKIE IRLANDAISE. 257 hlies; and when a good Iiour liad passed the block house at AYaiiikuo was in view, and we wore soon within its walls." "'I expected some hairbrojuith escapes every moment,' said M'Alevey, when I had linishod, ' and I am disgusted accordingly. Throw on some more timber, orderly, while I retire thankful, but not satis- fied with your story, Captain. You might luivo killed n Maori or two, just to season the events you are after relating.' " "Good night," I answered, anxious to escape to my tent, where I found a luxurious bed of leaves, upon "which was placed my sheepskin bag^ into which I quickly thrust mysell' and, after t porting batteries on the other side. Openings were left to allow the retreating troops to file through with guns and carriages without confusion, and the parapets were so disposed as to flank those openings effectually. But retreat for them did not become necessary. They had the game in their own hands. They played the attack, we the defence. Bussy was 17 258 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. c \i «k* " sr It » it t II \ A r jl C !t to Jl t ^■■M f t it • I'M It 1141 « Kit ii«l 1 1 1 J ( 3 * IdBIt K •4 •^-c hastily barricaded; tho houses wore crenelated, ban» quettes were made, and cur mountain-pieces so dis^ posed as to defend those parts most favourable to aq advance of the enemy. Yet everything was bungled. 1 was commanded to occupy a position which was contrary to all military j ale. The Irish Company was to hold the "last ditch." After the village was won by the enemy we were to stand behind the last brick edifice in the place, and there to check their ad- vance, in order to enable the battalion to escape over the fields to our rear. Behind our position there was a stretch of unbroken ground, across which we would be compelled to fly. There was no nheltcr on our way. If tho enemy won our position, which we regarded as a matter of certainty, they would have picked us off at their leisure as we were making across the open space behind us. Nor was there any disposition made to cover us, either with artillery or musketry fire. Once the village was won, the Ger- mans could lino the outer works, fire from the houses with security to themselves, but certainly with dis- comfiture to us. But it wiis not so to be. The blunder was averted. The order was countermanded, for wo wore wanted in the front. The musketry fire was meantime rolling along the lino, while wo tra- versed the streets of Bussy, moving towards the other end of tho village where our troops were engaged. In our direct front not hi no" could be seen of tho t, omy but the smoko from their small arms, and which was tho only mark for our troops to aim at. It was a game of " hide ard seek." Our men fired at where they thought the Germans were, or where the LA COMPAGNTE IRLAXDAISE. 259 tod, ban* 3 80 disr lo to au bungled. lich was Company ago waH tho last their ad- ipo over 10 re was e would • on our liich we lid have making ere any llcry or he Ger- houses ith dis- The iianded, try fire rvo tra- e other 1 gaged. of the HkS, and aim at. fired at )re the e emokc from their guns indicated their poi^ition. Occa-. eionally, indeed, a soldier more impruclent than bin companions, would expose his person, and receive half-a-dozen bullets thi'ough his body as a recompense for his hardihood. But tire answered fire, and tho leaden shower battered against tho wall, or buried itself in the ditches, behind which our troops were sheltered. The bullets fell thick and fast around the men, when, with their accustomed tactics, the enemy sought to gain our flank, and compel us to retire. At this time our line extended over the hill ujwn our left, where some chasseurs a-pied were engaged in defending the wood through which the enemy threat- ened our flank. Between us there was an open space, across wiiich no enemy could piudently attempt to move, and we retreated through the village and sought the hills, which skirted the village on flank and rear. The (rermans had driven us out of Bussy. "VVe now made for the high ground behind the village. The Irish Company was sheltered behind an "aubcrge," when General Eebillard i-ode along the jiost, escorted by a troop of lancers, while he endeavoured to map out our new line before tho enemy too closely pressed upon our position. ''AVhat regiment are you ?" the General demanded, pulling up before our post, looking inditlerently at tho guard that had turned out to do him honoui*. "Za Compagnie Irlandaise, lUgiment Et ranger, mon General,'' I answered. "Ah," I have heard of you replied the General, with an approving smile, while he more keenly looked at tho line of Irishmen who stood before him, and ;i 260 LA COMPAQ y IE IRLANDAI^E. K I c f ■ I I I ■ ( I '1 "9 .IJ* (>' welcome Irish cheer caused our French companies to Htare in amazement at what they, no doubt, considered the frantic conduct of the Irisli soldiers. But the enemy were drawing their lines still closer upon our position. They knew they had us tra2-)])ed, yet they even more effectually guarded every outlet by which wo could escape. Our division had retired- under the guns of the fortress and the outlying forts of BcKan^on. We were still the rear-guard of the army. To us was left the honour of checking l!ie German advance. Even the other two battalions of our regiment had retired and left us up nearest the enemy's lines. The country was admirably adapted for defensive operations. Belts of timber cut the hills into divisions, and gave good cover to our troops. Before us the Boubs still murmureu on its way, until its waters met the more turbid current of the Rhone. Upon a rocky eminence, in our dii-ect front, the shell of what was once a baronial castle stood out sharp and clear against the cloudless sky. The people ii the neighbourhood told weird stories about the Chateau and its once powerful inhabitants. Time was when the jDroprietors of this once strong dvrelling exacted black mail from the travellers throng- the valley of the Yosgcs, and gnomes and ghosts of defunct cavaliers, it was said still trod the deserted chambers of the ruined building. Along the outer boundary of the Htructure, might still be seen the si)irits of the departed dead, moving with majestic 7nicn through the ampl}' wainscotted hall which so often echoed to the tread of a hundred gentlemanly desperadoes. The form of a female, too, was — . LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. 261 anies to isidercd U closer rapped, Y outlet retired 1^ forts of the ing ^!ie lions of rest the adapted he hills troojjs. ly, until Rhone. le shell . sharp ople ii the Time relllng the efunct inibers ary of of the rough )ed to adoes. ut "At twilight seen to glide, vSmiling o'er the fatal tide" of the river that still kept coursing on, ever on, to the sea. To the country people around the old castle was a tabooed spot, not to be desecrated by the foot of man. Immediately opposite the ruined castle, but divided by a deep ravine, through which the German commanders advanced their men, the enemy had a post of observa- tion, which tooK, in a range of our new position, and enabled them to distribute their troops, so as to elfect- ually block us under the guns of Besangon. The German outposts pressed us on all sides. For some days we occupied a wood in front of the German outposts. The foliage of the trees was strewn upon the ground, and formed a gorgeous bed for all that remained of the wearied soldiers of the Armie de VEst. As usual we lined the skirt of the timber, in OJ'der to give a clear sweep for our guns in the event of attack. But reaction set in again. The rattle of musketry no longer kept the men from droopiiig with exhaustion. Sergeant M'Crossin became emaciated. T scarcely ever saw such a deplorable and famine-stricken man. His eyes protruded from their sockets, while the bones nearly cut through the remnant of flesh that was left ujion his face and person. lie was tottering with weakness, and at last his limbs refused to obey the effort of his will, lie was, too, afflicted with smallpox. Yet, even then, under the damp air of January, stretched upon the moisture preserving leaves of pine trees, almost naked, with "famine" written upon every lineament of his features, the bravo fellow refused to go to hospital becau^^e we were likely to bo engaged 262 LA COMPAGNIE TRLANDAISE. i m K K ( 6 t: IS c e i t I I ( I t i| ^■^^HJW V\ •Hi any moment. I had to command him to leave the field, and as his emaciated figure disappeared behind the thickly matted sai^lings which abundantly inter- laced our encampment, I thought I had seen the last of my fourricr-sergcnt. " Another good man gone," said Mr. M'Alevey, when M'Crossin and liis escort had disappeared. " Poor fellow, it is hardly possible that he can pull through, for he is already half dead ; but mats a la guerre, comme a la guerre,'^ and the lieutenant gave an additional twist to liis well trimmed moustache, lit a cigarette, and was soon enveloped in a cloud of smoke. In the meantime the enemy had beer, feeling our position on all sides. They pressed our outposts, and their advance-guards had continual encounters with our troops. The rattle of musketry was rolling along our entire front. They still hesitated to occupy, although they had compelled us to retire from, Bussy. The slopes of the hill, the edges of the timber, the sheltered ditches, every available and protected position was occupied by our men, while the Germans tried on all sides to outflank our lines, or to drive the flanks in confusion in upon the centre. There was, indeed, but little or no exposure on cither side, but the Germans were manauivring through every inch of ground before us. For five or six days we lay in the same position. Our grand guard and the outjwsts of the enemy were constantly engaged. Our men had meantime become still more reduced in numbers. La Compagnie Trlandaise could only muster fifty- live rifles under the trees in front of the German position before Bussy. The casualties fro'm the bullets of the LA COM PA Oy IE IRLANDAISE. 263 ^ave tho behind ly intor- thc last J, when '' Poor h rough ;^ e, comme iditional garotte, ing our )8ts, and rs with ig along |0cciip7, Bussy. imber, otected ermans ive tho was, 0, but T inch lay in itposts r men tnbcrs. ty-tive )sition of the enemy were few, but famine liad reduced our ranks to nearly half its original ntrength. But the end came at last ! Our troops retired closer still to tho fortifications. Behind our position every hill had suddenly been capped with field works. To onr battalion was left tho honour of being tho last to retire. AVo were still left nearest tho German lines. Tho wood was vacated, and a commanding position taken upon tho summit of a hill about four hundred yards in our rear. Wo had lost our Commandant the day after Montbelliard, and our new Chief was more strict in his attention to the letter of military law. Our new post commanded tho vdlago of Bussy, and our outposts occupied tho adjoining wood. But tho duty was severe. It was a continual round of grand guard and picket, picket and grand-guard. Every morning, an hour before daybreak, tho battalion turned out and formed in front of our position, pre- pared for an attack. Even tho poor comfort of a night's uninterrupted repose upon the damp soil was denied the men. Humours of an armistice had reached lis, and the fall of Paris was generally believed. In other parts of Franco tho Celt and tho Teuton faced each other in grim quietude, the hush of arms was stilled, tho shock of battle was over, the record of blood was nearly full. Peace, at least for a while, settled upon the unliappy homesteads of France, and the armistice brought mingled feelings of joy and sorrow to every creature's heart. But it was not so for us. We were to fight on. The Germans refused to grant us the luxury of an armistice ; they thought we should bo destroyed. Three days after the ring of 261 LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. i Ik: t! c kt I I K I C I 'I 'I I J' ( a Hi ''.^•"•' ^"*** I tho riHo hnd ooasod in oilier parts of Franco, tho troop:-} of Muiiteutt'el again advanced to tho attack upon our position. I think it waH on tho 2nd of Fel)ruary that wo woro aroused from our comparative lethargy, by the shout of "rtw.r arines ! mix amies l'' ringing along our line. Tho ring of a i-it1o always rouses the latent spirit of soldiers. The men who, after the long and trying marches which followetl their retreat from Montbel- Hard, were scarcely able to draw their M'oary limbg along, suddenly became jx^ssesscd of an ilan which nothing but being face to face with tho foo could inspire. On this day, however, we were destined to 800 this 6lan fully developed. Before our position a line of tirailleurs was irregularly, and as I thought, imprudently disposed in an open space, which couM be enfiladed from a position which could be easily carried by tho enemy. Our left was protected by a country-house called the "Eed Fai-m," while on our right a battery of six-pounders gave some security to our position in that direction. A battery of mountain pieces crowned tho height upon which tho main portion of tho battalion Avas posted, and tho Irish Company was placed behind i well-protected swell in the ground. Out of our entire division the 5th batta- lion of tho Regiment Etranger was still nearest tho enemy's line. Tho Uhlans scoured the neighbourhood, and came with gallant impudence within two hundred yardsof our lines. They had to feel tho way for the attacking force. From out some well-sheltered bushes, however, into which many of our skirmishers had made their way, inco, tho \ck upon wo woro he shout our line. spirit of 1 trying MontbcN ly limb^ m which )e could itined to osition a thought, ch couM )e easily ted by a on our urity to ountain main e Irish well in 1 batta- st tho I came 5 of our force. into y way, LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. 265 a smart fusilado was opened on tho advancing horse- men, saddles wore emptied, and the remainder turned and fled, madly pressing on each other as they scampered away. But they advanced again with recruited ..inks, and cautiously moved in dotachmentH towards every place likely to conceal our men. They rode with easy grace, and sat their horses like true soldiers. But many a bravo fellow for tho last timo spurred his charger onwards, as from out tho sheltered elopes of bush and brake our men sent volley after volley into tho advancing squadrons. Horses and riders rolled uj^on the earth, saddles were emptied, and riderless steeds rushed frantically over the plain sniffing tho air with wide distended nostrils. Then the small arms came into play, and the mnsique de la guerre was for a while merrily sustained. In tho meantime our left was threatened and wo were compelled to change the position of our troops in that direction to meet the tactics of tho enemy. Tho field guns of tho Germans had by this timo come into position. Our pieces wore admirably dis])0scd upon an elevated platform beside tho ^'Ued Farm," and as the head of the enemy's infantry column wound its way through the streets of Bussy, making towards our lines, tho first obus was sent upon its mission. It was a splendid shot! Tho shell cut a clear and well- defined lane through the German lines and caused a gap in their ranks. They were evidently unprepared for such good practice, but they quickly closed up, " Each stepping where his comrade stood, The instaut tliat he fell." 2GG LA COMPAOyiE IRLANDAISE. m K I \ c f t K IB I I ( k k 1 J| I' J \ vm iiti| 1 i They then advanced rapidly in open order, to gain some cover in their front the while. AV'o had meanwhile become engaged, as the enemy pressed closer upon our position. The rattle of small arms was by this time vigorously sustained on both sides. The Germans liesitatcd to advance across the open space that divided them from our lines, while wo were satisfied with holding our own without attempting to dislodge the foe, while they tried to gain our flank upon the left, they were met by a well-directed fire from the shelter of a friendly ditch which checked their advance and left us staring at one another in grim and anxious determination. The groans of the wounded were already audible amidst the din of the combat, when suddenly from out the w^ood upon our right a troop of the enemy's dragoons charged upon our line of tirailleurs and threatened to ride over them. But our men quickly rallied by fours and successfully resisted the onslaught, while the number of dismounted troopers told how steadily the men of the Jiigiment Etranger had done their work. But the enemy still pressed upon us. They won position after position in sjiite of all our eiTorts. The plain still divided us. One portion of the open space was not more than one hundred yards across, and it was supposed that it was at that point they would in all probability attempt to cross in order to carry our post at the point of the bayonet. Wo were not mistaken in our conjecture. Another and a more formidable attempt to turn our left flank was an indi- cation of their intention, and just as they made some slight advance to success uprn our left, the troops in LA COMPAONIE IRLANDAISE. 26T I gain some meanwhile oser upon as by this ic Germans lat divided isfied with slodge the :>n the left, the Bhelter Ivance and id anxious [ided were ibat, when , a troop of r line of . But our ly resisted ismounted Il^giment hey won |jrts. The pen space ss, and it w^ould in carry our Avcro not |l a more ,s an indi- ade some troops in front ruslied out from under the shelter of the trees and made straight for our lines. It was a wild, exciting* moment. Many a gallant fellow bit the dust in that short run. Tiieir officers led them on with chivalrous daring, and again that stirring " Vor- warts, vorwarts," sounded upon our ears. Again, too, we heard the exciting command, "rt la bayonet, a la bayonet.'" We all jumped to our feet, the bayonets of the French and Germans glittered in the sunshine, and in another instant would have been reeking with each other's blood. But the record was full, the cup had overflown. AVith a singular and, indeed melo-dramatic effect, a horseman bearing a white flag, was seen riding furiously towards the combatant lines. It was a message of peace ! Every lip uttered the ciy of ^' Drapeau btanc, drapeau blanc."' The shout was carried alone the line^ the combat ceased, and then louder than ever was licard the thankful sentence " Drapeau blanc, drapeau blanch All eyes were tui-ned towards th ) trooper and his white flag. " Cessez le feu, cessez h feu,'' rang out the bugles, " Cessez lefeu, cessez lefeu," shouted the officers in command, and in a few minutes the strife had ceased, the harvest of death was at an end, and the white flag with all its peaceful significance waved above the victor and the vanquished, And the troops were thankful. They may have experienced the sad reflections of a lost cause, but there was that sudden release from danger which pleases all men. To a soldiei there is nothing so pleasant as the feelings he exf)eriences after a fight m which he has done his duty. 208 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. 11 t t C r r. kc i> : 1 H Soon uftorwiirds, however, there was a parlementaire, nrul then wo lioard that the armistice had boon ox- tended to us, and we mi/;ht rest in peace. *' Well, Caintaitic," said our Commandant to mo during the evening, " the war is j^robably over, and to our battalion remains the lionor of having fired what was probably the last shot. When you return to Ireland it may bo something to remember." And so it is! We cannot Ibrgct that if wo were late in the field wo wore last out of it, and wo treasure it as ono of tho most satisfactory of our reminiscences that wo hoard tho last shot and saw tho last Germans fall during tho FrancoCJerman war of 1870 and 1871. CHAPTER XA^ir. •• In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility." SlIAKSPEARB. Tha beginning of February, 1871, brought mingled feelings of joy and sorrow into the homes of tho people of France. Around many a hearthstone national humi- liation must have been more than compensated for by tho assurance that tho darling son or brother had sur- vived the bloody campaign, while many a home was shadowed over by the dim, cold shade of death. Yes, the love of kind is, in the old at least, stronger than tho love of country. There are few Spartan mothers, although there may bo many Spartan sons, in those days. Preach as we may about devotion to country, let the manhood of a nation pronounce as it will it« lii LA COMPAGNIE IliLANDAISE. 269 lementaire, boon ox- mo during tid to our what waa to Ireland so it is! lO field we )no of the wo hoard uring the iPEAUK. niingiod 10 people iial liumi- ed for by had sur- omo was l1i. Yes, or than mothers, in those country, t will its 3 willingness to pacrilico life in its country's cause, yet the parents of that nation's manhood would, unlike the Spartan mothers, rather see their sons return tiith- out their shielJs than upon them. As we grow old that patriotic fire which animated us in our youth gives way to a more temperate spirit; we may still be truly patriotic, but it is a patriotism of a dilferent stamp from the sacrificing and generous impulse which possessed us in our youth. Passion gives way to reason, and the liero of the past becomes the cau- tious counsellor of the present. The old are seldom brave. Even Napoleon, the man who, as a youth, was the first to cross the bloody bridge of Lodi, when his grenadiers hesitated to advance, was, in his latter days, not free from the imputation of being careful to preserve his anatomy entire. As we advance in life the love of existence and the cares and respon- sibilities of age in a great measure deaden all other feelings. The thousands of associations and family ties which age conjures up and creates, make it harder for the old to leave the Avorld than for the youth whose ties are but the creation of yesterday, and whose plans or prospects in the future are in all cases but indifferently arranged. The youthful soldier, full of patriotism, alive with animation, Tin 1 buoyed up by the hope of returning to the paternal roof with all his new-born honours thick upon his head, falls, and there is an end to all his greatness; but the parents survive but to sanctify his death, and to carry along "svith them the sorrowing recollection of his end. Yes. they are the real victims of the war ! Amidst the excitement of a campaign soldiers have little time for [MAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 I.I 1.25 m 11^ III 25 2.0 1.8 JA 111.6 V] 0% (? O >m / # ;■> /^/ 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 Wk-ST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 i\ i> ^r ^ w. o^" ^ 2-70 LA COMPAGNTE TRLAXDAISE. i 1 ^ u B 1 r 1 % [ K ■ e t t. f > f t t I 1 1 1 ( d 1 im t Ik i reflection, while their parents and relatives think of nothing but the dangers which are attendant upon the war, and ai-e f'oi*ever Rpeculating and praying for the absent oiics. But the armistice enabled all to «ipeculate on meeting old friends again, and an order froi the General of our division soon after released many of the soldiers from theii- engagement, and brought with it associations of lost companions and the recollections of a lost cause. <'ARxMY OF THE EAST. "divisional o u d e h . '' Officers, Kon-commissioncd Officers, and Soldiers: " A decision of the Administration obliges many amongst you to return liome. Before their departure, I am anxious to express to them the deep regret I feel at parting with them. " If, since Coulmiers, success has not followed our arms, you have not the less continued to show an example of courage, discipline and devotion. During the retreat upon Orleans, in presence of a great force, the Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps dis- tinguished itself by courage and coolness while defending Arteney, Chevilly, and afterwards the heights of Montjoie, on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of December. ** Your conduct in the East does you the highest honor You have bivouacked on the snow when the thermometer marked fifteen degrees below zero, often without fire, and sometimes without provisions, in •consequence of the unavoidable delay of the convoys. ' At Mont-Che via (Montbelliard), you stood up i )B think of ndant upon praying for iblcd all to d an order ;er released cmcnt, and )anions and Hers : lig"os many • departure, ■egret I feel allowed our show an n. During ^reat force, ^ Corj)s dis- ness while ■wards the nd 4th of he highest r when the zero, often jvisions, in le convoys, stood up LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. 271 T)ravcly for three days under the murderous firo of a powerful artillery. '' You fought before Bussy to cover the fatal move- ment of the army upon Pontarlier, '' During the armistice you cut out a new line of defence before Besan(jon to supplement the insufficient ibrtifications of that place. " Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Soldiers of the Second Division : '• I shall ever remember, with pride and happiness, that I have had the honour of marching with you against the enemy for a period of five months. " Under the grievous circumstances in which our country is plac(5d, endeavour to maintain order, and guard the national dignity in presence of the foreigner who is to occuj^y our soil until we can take revenge. ''(Signed), '• Eebillard, " General of Division. *' General Hoadiiuartcrs, Borne, (near Besan^on), "March Otii, 1871." . Day by da}- it was evident that the armistice brought joy to the troops. Za Compagnic Irlandaise was still quartered at the Red Farm, and were able at last to rest and bo thankful. The weather became warm, and t le sun, as if in gladdened splendour, shone with redoubled vigour. The troops occupied their time when off duty by sewing their tattered gar- ments and putting their worn and dilapidated kits in order. Books were posted, accoutrements polished, and all the appurtenances of camp life underwent a 272 LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. C fe I I. c ■ IB I I ( I t J 1 C ) I :.« Jl • '« m I i vigorous overliaiiling. Tlie men were looking thcm- Hclves again, and their home-bound I'aneies ran riot in Hpeculation. Everywhere around us the Hword was turned into tlie ploughsliare ; the cavalry horses were working on the farms and preparing the produc- tive soil for another crop of cei-eals or grapes. Yet the men were not idle all the time. Every hill around Besangon was converteil into a fortresi^. Eatigue pai-ties were constanth^ at work, and the Irish Holdiers had some good opportunities of learning the mysteries of the sappers' art. Walls and trenches were made, barricades and banquettes were consti-ucted in the villages of the neighbourhood, and the troops in general were preparing for a renewal of hostilities which Ave all knew would not occur. How- ever, the Irish soldiers soon became expert with the pick and shovel. It was an agreeable change; constructing lunettes, redoubts, bastions and demi- bastions, curtains, gorges and ritle-pits, was, after all, better than the misery which was attendant upon our experience under Bourbaki. Gabions for revetments, mantlets for guns, platforms for gun carriages, fascines sunken and hah sunken, and all the methods of defence against vertical, direct, ricochet, or oblique tire, were carefully attended to and anxiously learned by the men of La Compagnle Irlandaise. Sergeant Carey was at home in his new vocation, and was forever wander- ing amongst the works, and asking pertinent ques- tions from the engineers. At last, however, we were relieved, and were to takeuj) our quarters at a deserted chateau near the village of Pugy, about five miles from Eesangon, where we still pursued our occupation ■i ZA COM PAG y IE IliLAyDAISE. 273 assisting tlic g^nie. The officers were still comme a la fjuerrc. Their uniform Avas torn and soiled, and oooa- ^lonally was not quite a la miUtaite, at least in the dandified opinion of those carpet lieroes, the (larde Nationale. J remembei- once Iiaving run the gaunt- let of Chrfs de Battalion, colonels and generals, and ultimately succeeded in getting a ],ass to Besan- ?on, and entered its historic gate in all the dishabille of my campaign dress. My tunic Avas i)atched and Koiled, my kepi was battered and dirtv, and my trousers were covered witli mud stains. I must have cut a sorry figure, and the interest which some members of the Garde Rationale took in my costume caused an occasional suspicion on my part that my clothes were, perhaps, coming to pieces. But it was not so, and 1 was able to see tlie town without havin^ recourse to a tailor for assistance. Dr. Macken acconf- panied me, and he, with philanthropic longing, visited the hospitals, which were crowded with sick and wounded. I, however, went the round of the town and was interested in hearing the military history of the place, of being tola that it was in the neighbour- hood Caesar defeated Ariovistus, that Louis XIV took the town in IGOO, and that it was successfully delbnded against the Allies in 1814. There were, of course iussy members of the Garde Xationale, the fireside champions of the Republic, who would insist on seeino- my papers when they heard my foreign accent. There were, as an equal matter of course, the strutting officers of the same useless body, covered with hice, and tread- •"- ''- earth with an air that Avould it take Theophile to do justice to. The divinity of such a form 18 Gauti 2T4 LA CO M PAG N IE IRLANDALSE. i 1) kt ■ 11 It :; I \% t 1 a: i 1 C 1 II i r. m f '1 1 J ft r'l b !« « iJ ^ IMI 1 1 1 1 J ( ^ 1 lafll i could only be Bucccssfiilly trentod by a master hand. Then there were the neat Frencli girls, dressed with that exquisite taste which one hardly ever sees out of La Belle France. But above all there was an excellent dinner at i ca/^, which Dr. Macken and myself enjoyed with voracious relish. After all. true enjoyment consists in sudden release from pain. There is no pleasure so exquisitely fine as that which enables us to contrast the two extremes, while enjoying tho better — contentment, that parent of delight and 2:)hysical comfort on the one hand, and famine, frost and misery upon the other. Besangon, liowever, was, like all French towns at that period, in mourning. The authorities had don- ned sackcloth, preached peace, and talked of revenge. The carpet heroes were loud in their protestations of treachery, and even swore that Bourbaki attempted liis own life, because he was discovered in the fact of selling liis country. AVhile I vv-andered about the town, I had a thousand speculations to make, and as evening was throwing its giant shadow upon the battlements which capped the hills around me, I made towards the gate, passed out of the town, and took tho road for Pi-gy. I remember it was a glorious day. The Boubs coursed merrily along beside the road I traversed, and on every side the fortress-crowned hills looked defiantly upon the many passages below. It was, indeed, a place worth fighting for, and I returned to our quarters impressed with tho assurance that France, -with all its faults, was still flowing with milk and honey. But time passed quickly in our comfortable quarters LA COMPAGyiE IRLANDAISE. 275 Hi the Chateau at Pugy. Occasionally some misdo- moanant from the lUgiment Etrangcr waa whot in the grey of the morning, and it became quite a study to see how men of various mental culture met their fate. Then, too, the melancholy ordeal of selling the effects of officers that had been killed, caused some painful recollections, and set many a brain wandering over l^ast scenes and past associations. Then came a part- ing dinner from the officers of the battalion to the officers of La Comjmgnie Irlandaise, all of whom had fortunately pulled through the campaign with whole «kins. Then there were two inspections, a change of quarters, and we once moi-e found ourselves near the " I?ed Farm," and could see the very spot where the last shot w^as fired. Our new post was at a cross road, iind disbanded Mobiles and Franc-tireurs passed every hour of the day, in groups. They were going home, and sang patriotic chants, by way of individual joy at tie fact. They wished to appear soriy, but were really glad. They swore vengeance, rnd indulged in the telegraphy of the arms, but they were merry all the time, and were evidently picturing the welcome which awaited them at the threshold of their homes. I remember one poor fellow who attracted my atten- tion on one of those occasions. He was a young man, and carried himself with a quiet hauteur which com- manded respect by its easy force. A simple gold band which ran obliquely across the cuff of his tunic, pro- claimed his rank to be that of a sergeant, and as one arm was in a sling, it told its own tale without any varnish. There was something in the bearing of this sergeant that attracted my attention, and as he stood 270 LA COM PA a y IK IRLANDAISE. w I 6 II i I ,m M ' I I before mo, liis atliliulo and iniuiuor forced mo to- regard him as a man of Rupcrior culture. Ilis Btory, as I afterwards heai-d from himself, was a simplo one, common enough to the hoiih of France at that date. lie was the son of a nohle in Alsace. Ilis father's chateau liad been bombarded and razed to the ground. Ilis mother died, Ids only brother was killed, and lie was tlien wending his way to Switzerland, wliere his lieart-broken and ruined paient liad taken up Ids temporary abode. " But Ave will always be French, mon Capitaine," he said, addressing me ; " it is impossible that Alsace can be made to accei^t the government of Germany. We are French in character, in idea, in habit, and above all in symj^athy. As for mo and my poor old father, we return to Alsace only to dispose of the remnant of our estates, and then we shall start for Algeria, where we shall await the hour of reckoning with the victors of to-day." It was a common enough story of the time, but w\as rendered doubly interesting by the method of its telling, and the quiet and gentlemanly manner of the sergeant. But days passed on with the usual routine of military duties, and military promenades, and we had on one occasion the poor satisfaction of marching into the village of Bussy, from which the enemy had been induced to retire. The men were once m.ore clean, and had the luxury of indulging in a vigorous applica- tion of soap and water every morning. Days passed on in a monotony that became a pleasure, owing to the recent hardships we had passed through. For four months the men had not had a change of uni- forms, and it requires no student of entomology to LA COMPAOME IRLANDAISE. 277 TUO to 5 Btory, simple at that 0. Ilia il to the s killed, zcrland, d taken vays be ne ; '•' it •ept the aracter, As for ICC only then we he hour t was a ondered ng, and rgcant. nil i tar y on one nto the 1 been clean, ipplica- passed ^^ing to For of uni- ogy to picture the state of their clothing. But all this was rapidly changing. Needles and thread wu'ie every- where at play, and working became a regular duty, while an occasional inspection of the kits rendered competition in cleanliness a healthy and soldierly . pastime. About this time the journals ii\ Besan9on sounded our praises, and elevated us upon a kind of chivalrous platform for the admiration of the bour- geoisie of the town. They claimed us as brothers and as friends, said we wore tine fellows generally, and swore undying attachment to what they variously called "Catholic Ireland" and "Green Erin." La Franche Covit4 is one of the most influential jour- nals in that part of France, and one morning we were flattered by noticing the following paragraph in our favour : — "Amongst the volunteers who have come from all parts of Europe to place their swords at the service of France, when she was invaded, and her independ- ence threatened, we cannot forget the Irish Company, which formed j^art of the army of the East. Ofiicers and soldiers, sons of green Erin, they remembered in the hour of our danger the ties of strong sympathy which have for a long time united Ireland and France. Having been the first to come to us, they are the last to leave us, after having borne a brilliant part in the difl'erent combats of the East. At Montbelliard they were the last to leave the field of battle. At Bussy they were complimented by General Ilebillard. In the name of our poor France, thaidvs, once more thanks to our Irish brothers, we shall take care faith- fully to remember their courage and their devotion." 2V8 LA rOMPAaSIi: inhANDMSE. c ;> Ik; » 11 ;) [ « t 1 k e ■ fet I I ( I I I « 1 i«l Oilier journals wore equally coinplimeiifary, and HhowcM'od ])raisos ii|)ori oui" heads Avlth jirodiH-al profusion. But all this had its results. Visitors occasionally enquired ior our whereabouts, an the French Achilles, as Yauban called Belfort, had done its duty nobly, and if the Intendance had been equal to the occasion, Belfort would have formed a LA coMj'A'jyn: lULAyDArsK. 210 bfiso of operatioiiB foi* the army of tl»c Kawt, whicli mi^ht have jL^ivcii a new com})lcxion to tho cainiKiinju, Ik'lfort opoiiH the road to Paris, ovcrawen Lyons. thrcatcriH and neutral izoH Straybui'^^, and turns the entire lino of fortresses construeted to ^uard tlie fron- tier. So wrote tlie ^re.it engineer of Louis Xi \'., and 10 tho experienee of tlio Franco-German war proved it to 1)0. Then there was a further extensiini of the armiHtic'o for two days, and on tho 28ih March, the preliminaries of peace were a<^reed to, and the national pride of La (irandc Nation was trailing in tho dust. Our time was drawini;: to a close. Wo were volun- icerfi pour la (lured de la (J aerrc, but the colonel gener- ously asked us to remain in tho sorvlee, all ranks holding their posilion. I declined, and Mr. Cotter was the only ono who accepted Borvice. For my own part, I was much pleased at tho unanimous tletcrmin- ation of tho men to return to lrelan« i 1 * I'M always ^ivo our Bympathy wlion Franco goes to war, but many of these Iriwh soldiers liavo professions to follow, and tlion there is no glory in your African campaign to compcnsato for its trials and its hard- ships." " All, Capltainc, I fear Franco will not he ahlo to fight (Jermany for many a long year to come. Throe million and a half of our people taken from us, an enormous indemnit}', twice as much in itself as it cost England for tlio two years war in the Crimea, and then our own debts contracted for the war, owv 'prestige gone, our national pride humiliated. M\^ Capitaine,'' continued the old man, visibly eHectcd by the picture ho had created; "do not mind the cries of revenge you hear, wo are not able for the Germans at pr'escnt ; but,'' ho added, straightening himself in his chair, an k 1 C ,4 f « * ■ I'l kt 1 3 I I strange attractive force which guides the feelings in its narrow channel, soon claimed and obtained entire possession over my mind, and I gave way to the coming liappiness which anticipation brought upuii its liopeful passage. I reached Besan^on about noon. j\ir. M'Alevey was to follow with the company the next morning, while I saw the Intendance, and tried to make preparation for our conveyance by rail if possible. No convey- ance was to be had for love or monev. Here was another dilemma. There were about twenty sick, and it was impossible that they could march to Dole or Dijon, a distance of eighty kilometres. I spent two days vainly endeavouring to induce the authorities to make some effort to enable me to keep the company intact ; but it was all in vain. The Cicneral appeared to have an electric battery at the end of his feet and liands when I made the request, and declared that it was ''impossible — impossible," while he demonstrated Ids w^ords by shrugging his shoulders, extending his hands, arching his eyebrows, and indulging in theatri- cal grimaces that would do justice to a circus clown. The Intendance was, indeed, civil ; he even took pains to try and see us provided foi*. lie gave mo an order to the station-master, to try and have our sick con- veyed by rail, but all was useless, and the sick had to be left behind. I think it w\as on the 30th of March we left Besanjon for Dijon. The reviving sun of Spring made our route pleasant enough, and we. trudged along in our own time. The villages along our way were occupied by German troops, and I had a few opportunities of LA COMPAONIE IRLANDAISE. 283 feelings in incd entire way to the lit \\\)o\\ its Alevey was linL!:, while )repartition ^o convev- Here was y siek, and to Dole or Bpeiit two Ihoi-itios to 3 company 1 appeared s feet and ed that it nonstrated ending his in theatri- iis clown. ook pains an order sick con- iek had to Besanfon our route our own upied by inities of inspecting the drill and bearing of the soldiers of the Vaterland. It w\as marvellous to mark their precision on parade, as it was magnificent to observe their promptitude and soldierly bearing. Their movements were as mechanically true as the beating of a chrono- meter. Accustomed as I had been to drill with some of the crack regiments in the Englif^h service, I never saw anything so precise in all its minutest details, as the movement of a Prussian regiment on parade. More than once I saw several thousr.nd men drawn up in columns of companies, and in the manual and platoon the entire mass moved as if they were auto- matons, working by the electric influence of the officers in command. Xot a boot was placed one inch beyond another, nor a rifle was a fraction out of its direct angle. To mo it appeared surprising that such perfection could bo attained. I had indeed tried, and I think succeeded, in making La Compagnie Irlandaise as well drilled as any company in the li^gi- ment Etrangcr. They marched as well, manoeuvred ^\ well, and went through their formations, in general, with as much regularity and order as their French companions in arms. I took a natural pride in seeing them as good a company as any in the regiment, and was more than a dozen times comp inienttd by French otHcers on the fact. But they bore but a poor com- parison to the clock-like precision of the German troops. Without being stiff or rigid, still the Ger- mans wero perfect in their movements, and. inspired mo witli a degree of respect, which I confess never to have experienced when looking at the best troops of the French line. The kits of the Germans were well 284 LA COMPAOyii: IRLANDAISE. « :) Ik.- n :> t. 9 J I i t i r 1 C ) k 1 r. .« f "• » 1 I 1 I; '« I J k i« 1 1 1 1 J ( > 1 i« ' 1 provided, and their comfortable bootn, warm elothinc^, well filled haversacks, wonderful organization, and general healthy appearance, told the ])lain unvarnished tale of their successes. Everywhere tr^-^ies of the war were evident. Rude crosses marked the scene of many a combat, where Frank and Teuton closed in the embrace of death. Here and there some companion of the slain had carved the name or names of the occupants of the earth beneath, upon the wooden monuments, while rude, and sometimes creditable epitaphs, told the sim2:)le story of a lifetime. All the villages and towns along our route were occupied by the Germans, little j;ef/fe-/»osft'6' dotted the country at every point likely to afford shel cer and protection to the invaders. To men wearing the uniform of the French regular army,both officers and soldiers of the enemy, were marked in their respect, and I Avell remember the surprise it caused mo when marching along a road, cut into deep furrows by the numerous Avaggons that had passed over it, and meeting three Saxon officers who Avei-e promenading quietly before their quarters, they saluted me with military and, indeed, courteous promptitude, which I endeavoured as courteously to return. Victors, how- ever, can afford to be civil, and they were even so to the privates and non-commissioned officers of the regular army. To the Mobiles and Franc-tireurs, however, there was no such respect shewn, and yet I re- member when passing through Dole, a town of 4,000 inhabitants, romantically situated in a narrow rocky gorge, seeing the band of a Prussian regiment turn from their direct front, and play for a passing rcgi- LA COMPAGyiE IRLANDAISE. 2^^ (1 clothing, at ion, and nvarnibhed ^nt. Rudo [bat, where ! of death. I slain had uits of the while rude, imple story i along our jyetite-2)ostes y to afibrd len wearing I officers and leir respect, }d me when )ws by the er it, and i-omenading d me with le, wdiich I ctorH, how- evon so to rs of the anc-tireurs, [ind yet I re- ivn of 4,000 rrow rocky liment turn ,ssing regi- ment of Mobiles as they marched sans amies inco the town. Here, too, I had a little rencontre with the Prussian guard. I had jiicked up an old Prussian gun at Montbelliard, and wished to take it to Ireland as a souvenir of the war. It was one of the old pattern, and had in all probability seen service in the war of 186G. It was a heavy, cumbersome, long, unwieldy weapon. It was nearly double the weight of a Chasse- pot, and the escape of gas from the breech was so great that provision was made on the stock, by its peculiar formation, to rest on the thigh, from which position the gun was often fired. I found it, too, a convenient way for punishing m 7'oi(te. There are always some misdemeanant men in a com])any, and " carrying the field-piece " became a recognized means of punishment on the line of march. When I entered Dole, the patrol demanded the gun, and against all my remonstrance took it and the man who carried it to the guard room. A crowd collected, the townspeople became excited, a row appeared to Ite brewing, when again I had an oiDportunilj- of wit- nessing the promptitude of the Prussian military system. In one minute every post in the town was under arms, and the spiked helmets of the German troops inspired a feeling of awe, which sub- dued the effervescent outburst of the bourgeoisie, and at once threw oil on the troubled waters. However, I succeeded in bringing the gun with me. "It is contrary to regulations, Capitaine,'' said the captain of the guard, " we are not to allow any guns through our lines; and you know," he said almost apologetically, " that orders must be obeyed." I, of 286 LA COMPAGNIE IRLANDAISE. J'> r 1. ■ It It I C ) \m "■ ij J if « 1 J I course, acquiesced in this determination to cany out his instructions to the letter, but on pointing out an injury the gun had received which rendered it useless as a firearm, I succeeded in setting at rest his troubled spirit, and was allowed to bring my trophy along with me, the Prussian, however, merely asking me for my name and the regiment to which I belonged, as a guarantee, and then with courteous salutation bidding mo ^'hon voyaged If I um to confine mj^self to personal experience, I must confess I found the Germans both courteous and civil, and conducting tliemselves towards the inhabitants with dignified and soldierly reserve. I have no doubt but cases of in- dividual hardships did occur; I have no doubt but ruffians committed outrage, and robbers plundered property, when removed from the surveillance of their officers, but I did not see it, nor do I think, Avith a few notorious exceptions, that the conduct of the German troops in France, was more severe than would be the conduct of a French army in Germanj-. Napoleon the Great's march through the Yaterland was not unmarked by that severity, which is to a great extent, necessary in a country fanatically hostile to the in- vading force. The first duty of a General is to protect the lives of his own men, and in France this was impossible without resorting to measures which, with a few disgraceful exceptions, I think were justifi- able. But it was Germans, Germans everywhere. Dijon, with all its old associations, where the Dukes of Burgundy lorded over the adjacent country, was full of the enemy ; all along the road to Paris villages were ruined, every house appeared to be crenellated, LA COMPAGyiE lULANDAISE. 287 to carry out iting out an ed it useless his troubled •oj)hy along asking mo . I belonged, IS salutation nfine myself I found the conducting lignificd and cases of in- doubt but •8 plundered ance of their c, with a few the German •vould bo the Napoleon id was not l^reat extent, le to the in- s to protect Ice this was *vhich, with ^vere justifi- I very whore, the Dukes luntry, was ris villages crenellated, while the tottering walls of many a hoiTKvstcad, which I could see from out the window of the railway carriage, told of ruin and of woe. For the time being the Germans lorded it with erect lieads yet calm de- meanour. There were few swaggerers, and it was only Avhen I arrived in Paris, that I saw the spirit of rowdyism, when I was surrounded and taken prisoner by a Communist guard, first as a German spy, and then charged with tlie obnoxious crime of being an officer of the Armee lUguUere. The gallant champions of Liberty, Equaiit}', and Fraternity, thought my uniform a matter of susjncion, and brought me a pri- soner before the officer of the guard, who hesitated to dispose of me, and sent me on to the Commandant. lie, too, give me a further promenade, and I was sent under recruited escort to the general in command of tho district, and was ushered into his august presence with little ceremony, and with less respect. I regret I forget this fellow's name, or that I cannot put my hand upon the official laissez 2^(^sser which he ulti- mately gave me. lie was not, however, a distingu^ looking individual. His subordinates treated him with a familiarity which was generally communistic in its way. However, he overhauled my papei's, and when satisfied with my character, generously invited me io accept service under his filthy-looking rag. "I will give you command of a regiment this very day, Capitaine," he urged, moving towards the chimneypiece, on which several black bottles labeled "cognac" were standing in quiet anticipation of having their contents emptied by the General and his Btaff. No doubt he wished to soften my obdurato 288 LA COMPAONW IRLANDAISE. m II I R e ■ b I I I I ( I t :> \ ] I J J ■ 1 3 3 heart, as ho invited mo to some of the bratuly and helped himself after a fashion I had very Roldom ^jocn practised in I'^'anee — a flowing bumju^i*. "It is not my allair," I replied; ''against the Germans I may be again at the Fcrvice of France, but a foreigner has no right to interfere in the domestic affairs of another nation." "Ah, you arc mistaken, Capitainc'' rei^lied the General, as I hit upon one of the favourite arguments of the heroos of the Commune. " Ours is the cause of humanity,"' lie continued, as ho helped himself to convenient sips at the contents of the glass, " wishing to establish a fraternity of nations to elevate the poor, and to curtail the power of the rich. Law, sir, should protect the weak, tho strong can generally' protect themselves. Legislation in the past has been made by one section of society, to the discomfiture and degradation of tho other. Come," he continued, ex- tending his hand towards me, '' come and Join us, and be one of the regenerators of tho human race.'' But it was no use, and my unsympathetic nature could not appreciate the utopia the ardent brain of the General, assisted by ardent spirits, had conjured up. At last ho gave mo a laisscz jiasscr, and even provided an escort to fco mo safe at the station, giving me, how- ever, a ]iarting instruction to quit Paris at once. I did so! It was not safe for any one wearing tho uniform of the Armic lidguliere to bo found strolling about the streets, and I took the first train for Havre. At Havre, there was, as usual in all French towns at that period, tho hum of " encore la guerre.'' Eevenge appeared to have entered the hearts of all the people ' LA COMPAQ NIE lULANDAISE. 289 [)riiii(ly and eldom isecn ifijainst the France, but lO domestic eplied the arguments he cause of himself to 1, " wishing to the poor, ■, sir, should illy protect been made Inliture and inued, ex- oin us, and [ice.'' But e could not 10 General, At last ovidcd an ;]^ me, how- t once, I aring the I strolling )r Havre. ch towns Revenge he people in the town. The soldiers alone were silent, and more than once I was forced to notice the contemptuous sneer that passed over the face of some man, who bore the traces of the campaign upon his person^ when listening to the flippant bombast of a bour- geois, or a National (iuardsman. In the cafis^ in the streets, in the theatres, it was all the same.; the cry of ^^ encore la guerre^^ was repeated everywhere. Even the Mobiles occasionally indulged in the predic- tion. Men, whose term of service had been made up behind the fortifications, were above all others, the most uncompromising heroes, the most determined advocates for another war. The fire-side heroes of the Republic — the darlings of the Commune, were one and all loud in their determination, to see the issue out with the German " hordes," at no distant date. These men, however, knew little of French military organi- zation, and they knew less of German administrative power. But I found that each political party blamed every other party with being the cause of the disasters. The Legitimists " saw it all from the commencement." " It was impossible that the Imperialists could succeed." The exit of the Emperor was, in their opinion, a just (UnoHment to his entry. tSedan was the retribution for tlie coxip-ditat. But Henri Cinq, the legitimate claimant to the throne of his ancestors, w^ould restore the faded honours of France, and once more burnish her worn and battered armour. So argued the Legi- timists, w^ho generally accompanied their opinion by a virtuous denunciation of everything that was not tempered to their political tastes. The Republicans were even more boisterous. They were mej'ely biding 290 LA COMPA'iMi: IRLANDAISE. ) 1 > fe w f C * f t • I I 1 J !« i i mm -4 their time, just waitinij^ to conBolidato thoir j'jolicy, and then the manhood of the nation would settle accounts with the " harbai-ians" of the North. When the political ntructuro of ''not I the king, but wo the people," wan once fairly upon its legs, the Ee- publicans were to seriously set about another war, and the result would assuredly be to march across the Rhine, to the victorious shout of *' <\ Berlin, a Berlin " But this was all swagger. Tt was the ett'ort of a foolish bravoism, wliich would not acknowledge itself worsted, " No matter fr(^m what cause, France has been beaten," Marsha IMacMahon said to me months afterwards, when I. had the honour of an interview with the illustrious chief; ho acknowledged openly and faii'ly, that France had been liumiliated, and ho is too much the soldier, too open and too chivalrous, not to can- didly admit what is patent to the whole world. But the gentlemen of the garrison towns would scarcely admit the fact. It was a mere temporary depression, in tlicir opinion, and a few nvjuths would make matters right again. To men mnnoved by prejudices, even Hope ap])eared to have Rcil from Franco, for military, social, and political lil'e, were in a state of chaos. ' . ■ '. It was refreshing, indeed, iiinongst the crowd of swaggering bullies, to meet an occasional soldier, men who had seen service in the field, amidst the frost, the famine, and the hardships of a mid-winter campaign, and to hear them speak in terms of immeasurable dis- gust of the bravache gentry with whom they came into contact. Even the Garabaldini were not free from the Jbraggart spirit of the day. They contrasted most LA COMl'AOyiE lULANDAISE. 291 unfavouralily \\\{\\ iho unaRsnming piou-phu of the .French line. I mot unc of their captains in Havre, who, if all liis words Avero to bo accredited, liad performed prodigies of valour. lie told such stories of haii'brcadth escapes hy flood and field that 1 was induced to believe that the toga of Jack Falstail' had fallen upon his shoulders. •' Gara- baldians never run, sir"' he said to me, with the air of a Don Quixote, while lie strutted about with measured strides and a swaggering gait. Meanwhile the Government generously gave each man a month's pay and a free pass to his destination. The Irish soldiers had , already dcjiarted for Dublin, via Liverpool, and on the Gth of April I left Havre, via Southampton, for London. The distant liij-hts of Za Belle France faded in the gloom as wo spun on across the channel, and more than once I cor.jured np many happy associa- tions which had sprung into existence during my six months' campaign in the country. Yee., Franco is tho premier country of the world. "With all her faults she has her virtues. Monarchv has not made her sycophantic ; Imperialism has not made her unchival- rous ; nor has Republicanism made her nncourteous. "VYliere will you meet with the easy courtesy, the refined tone, the generous impulse, the chivalrous conduct, which is so universal in France. Nor do I believe that France was the aggressor in that disas- trous war. She was not the aggressor when Denmark was assailed and dismembered by those '' peaceful Germans." She was not the aggressor when those " peaceful Germans " planned and worked out the campaign of 18GG against Austria, and which resulted 292 LA COMPAQ NIK IRLANDAISE. ( ;> ki K 1 ) r \% \ ' 1 e 1 ? ) Ir 1 C i« » 1 ft I li « 1 J i« 1 1 1 1 ( > 1 i«i in the Bubjugiition of tho Union States of Germany. She was not tiio aggressor when Prussia forced the South German States to accept a military convention, which was secretly convened in contravention to the articles of the Treaty of Prague. Fj-anco was not the aggressor when those *' peaceful Germans " set at nought the same treaty with reference to the Danish population of Holland. She was not the aggressor when Bismarck, in conspiracy with Prim, sought the elevation to the Spanish throne of a scion of the house of Ilohenzollern. The sin of France has ever been that she was, and is, too chivalrous. In her the oppressed nationalities of the world liavo over found a champion. Instinctively she loans to the weak. Her virtues more than counterbalance her faults. France lias ever been the pioneer of civilization in Europe, the home of sages, and the cradle of chivalry. Today, the kingly grace of the court of Louis XIV. sits as easily upon the republican ouvrier as it does upon the coronotcd brows of the long line oi noblesse who look at you out of their gilded frames on the walls of the picture gallery in Ycrsailles. When France found herself thrown from the pinnacle of military fame, pushed from the pedestal of her great- ness into the mire of degeneracy, it was natural that some burst of indignation and threats of revenge should sweep like an avalanche over the country. At such a time all due allowance must be made for a nation of chivalrous men. But take her all in all and nowhere will you find that courteous civility which is equally perceptible beneath the blouse of a labourer or LA COMPAQ NIE IRLANDAISE. 293 Germany, forced the jonvontion, ition to the vas not the is" set at he Danish aggressor sought the ' the house ever been 1 her the over found the weak, icr faults, lization in ■ chivalry, ^ouis XIV. as it does of noblesse les on the 3. When nnacle of her great- Ltural that f revenge ntry. At ado for a in all and '" which is bourer or the fine cloth of a homme distingui whose home is France. From Havre to London, thence to Dublin, only took a couple of days. The people expected our arrival, and as the boat approached the wharf, 1 saw flags fluttering in the morning air, and I hoard the strains of joyous music floating on the breeze. Wo approached still nearer, and a joyous Irish cheer echoed from the crowds of friends who thronged the quay. Again and again the welcome was repeated; again mid again wo acknowledged the friendly Habitations, and in a few minutes I once more stood upon the soil of my native land. NOMINAL ROLL or THE IRISn COMPANY c h B It * t s It c fe r. f » i Taken at thk " Rkd Farm," on thk 21tii Janlaiiv, 1871. J ' m ' i NO. HANK AND NAMK. RKMAUKS. •1 Captain M. W. Kirwuu Duty — wounded first day at Montbelliard. 1 Lieutenant F. M'Alevey Du,mu,tahn nt th. IM F„n„, Jan. 2A, 1871. NO. 13 14 15 16 17 •18 10 20 21 22 23 24 2.j 2G I 27 I 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 30 37 38 39 40 41 IIA.NK AMI N.VMK. KKMAUK.S. Cajiora 1 Ililiaty MUn inott ratrickCiorniau It. M.ihoiiy Michael CJalvhi DfiiiicI M'i;v,,3' Taul (Julk'u <. Thoiims Dcliuiy Cr. Maluii.slii Soldat ?.Iu.hael i5iiin " Tliomas iJaiinun " James iliirry " Jo«cp]i Deglny u <. u il u tl u James Boul^'cr Jam.s K. J5()urko i'atruk Jioyle riiilij) JJnujii^au i'atrick JJrieu Jvaurencc i>reen C. B. I>rennan Aiuhx'W Caldwell John Carey John Chifl'ey James CliiiLli Andrew Carroll Wm. J. Clinton George Colcmau Timothy Conroy " John Conway " Michael Coyno Duty. Duty. Duty — wounded fuKt day at Montb(;lliard. Duty. Duty. Duty — wounded first day at Montl)eiliartl. Duly. Shot second diiy iit Mont- bell iar.i. Duty. Hospital (frostbitten). Hospital. l{ei)oiti'd missing second day at Monlbelliard, liMiied up in Switzerland Duty. Dutv. DtitV. Dutv. Dnt>. Died at lioinges (small- ])ox). Shot at Orleans. Duty. Duty. Dut>. Hospital (small-pox). Shot first morning of tbo retreat. Hospital. Duty. Ambulance— .wounded at IVIontbelliard, second dav. Duty'. Hospital (wounded). APPENDIX. Nominal Roll of the Irish Compnny, taken at the Red Farm, Jan. 24, 1871. I } K 9 t I r k c f :j if ) I a # I m J t I J 1 NO. 42 RANK ANn NAMR. REMARKS. Soldat John Croniii Amhulance (frosthitten). 43 li Philip C. Cruto Shot second day at Mout- helliard. 44 K Kearn Delany Duty. 45 (( l^ernard Dullaghan Duty. 46 (( Wm. J. Dwycr 1 n hospital — w o u n d e d third day at Monthelliard 47 « James Eustace Hospital (small-pox). 48 (« Matthew French Keported shot third day at Monthelliard. 49 K John Foran Staff employ (Tours). 50 a Daniel Oilfedder Duty. 51 (( George Graham Duty. 52 i( William Grace Duty. 53 u Peter Griffin Duty. 54 II Edward Ilayden Ambulance (frostbitten). 65 i( Gerald Howard Missing second day at Monthelliard — turned up in Switzerland. 56 11 Denis Hayes Duty. 57 n William Moey Duty. 58 It James Hyland Duty. 59 11 William Kelley Missing second day at Monthelliard. 60 (( George Kennedy do. 61 u Thomas Knowles Duty. 62 u Timothy Larkin Duty. 63 (1 Michael Lyman Duty. 64 (1 James Madden HoLpital (frostbitten). 65 u George Malono Missing — wound«'d third day at Monthelliard. 66 (1 Patrick Manning Duty. 67 II Timothy Marks Wounded — second day at BuBsy 68 II Thomas Marum Duty. 69 i< John Meehan Hospital (wounded). 70 II William Millar Missing — reported shot second day at Mont- helliard. rm, Jan. 24, 1871. RKS. frostbitten), lay at Mout- -wounded Montbelliard ill-pox). ; third day at •d. : Tours). rostbitten). nd day at i — turned irland. 'itten), nd<'d third •elliard. cond day led). rted shot at Mont- APP/:.Y/ffx, Nonu.a! ,„U of th. In,, Co,n,an,, u„. n ,„ ,,,. ,,,, r„nn,J... ,4. 1871. 7: 73 74 70 77 78 79 80 81 82 .S3 84 85 80 87 88 89 90 91 9:i 93 94 95 90 RANK AND NAME. Soldat Owen Muldoon Ji'lin Myers Gerald Nolnu Charles Mordall " Fran, is O'ljrieii " Jolin ()|!ri.u " Jli( iiani ()'|',rieu K li (t Li li a 'V Li U Tiniotliy O'Connor E. OKeeCc C. O'Doljerty K. J. O'l [anion James OWcjH Jercniiah O'XcilJ I'atri( k O'Keiily Geor^^' l'(.|)(; James Q-iinn D. Sean Jan Patriek Sheehan James Sniidi James .Siiielillb James WalsJi A. Underwood Joiin Malony Wm. 11. Ilaii-liton I James M'Kennu i M. OToole. ! in:.MAUKs. I Duty. I In hosi)itul (iro8tbitt(!U). •Missing' second day a( Monti>elliard. I Missjn!.( iirst day at Mc.nf- belliard. do. Duty. Duty. I lfusi)ital. Duty. j I^lissing second dny. do. Diitv. ' Duty. Hospital, wounded at i^.nssv Duly—wounded, lieporttd shot sceond day at Montbolliard. Duty. Aniliuluncc. I>iity. Duty. Shot at St. Florenf. Hospital. Duly. Duty. Duty. Note— Tlu lU L MilUaire. INOTE— Hie names markid witli an asterisk ( * ^ u-,.,- . ..«.<.■, of Honour, and ti,o«.. with a , „. ..ccivo ,1,„ .,/„/„, THE END.