personal memoirs-2-第43章

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a　fresh　breeze　blowing　（else　the　smoke　from　a　battle　between　four

hundred　thousand　men　would　have　obstructed　the　view　altogether）；　the

spectacle　presented　Was　of　unsurpassed　magnificence　and　sublimity。

The　German　artillery　opened　the　battle；　and　while　the　air　was　filled

with　shot　and　shell　from　hundreds　of　guns　along　their　entire　line；

the　German　centre　and　left；　in　rather　open　order；　moved　out　to　the

attack；　and　as　they　went　forward　the　reserves；　in　close　column；　took

up　positions　within　supporting　distances；　yet　far　enough　back　to　be

out　of　range。



The　French　artillery　and　mitrailleuses　responded　vigorously　to　the

Krupps；　and　with　deadly　effect；　but　as　far　as　we　could　see　the　German

left　continued　its　advance；　and　staff…officers　came　up　frequently　to

report　that　all　was　going　on　well　at　points　hidden　from　our　view

These　reports　were　always　made　to　the　King　first；　and　whenever

anybody　arrived　with　tidings　of　the　fight　we　clustered　around　to　hear

the　news；　General　Von　Moltke　unfolding　a　map　meanwhile；　and

explaining　the　situation。　　This　done；　the　chief　of　the　staff；　while

awaiting　the　next　report；　would　either　return　to　a　seat　that　had　been

made　for　him　with　some　knapsacks；　or　would　occupy　the　time　walking

about；　kicking　clods　of　dirt　or　small　stones　here　and　there；　his

hands　clasped　behind　his　back；　his　face　pale　and　thoughtful。　　He　was

then　nearly　seventy　years　old；　but　because　of　his　emaciated　figure；

the　deep　wrinkles　in　his　face；　and　the　crow's…feet　about　his　eyes；　he

looked　even　older；　his　appearance　being　suggestive　of　the　practice　of

church　asceticisms　rather　than　of　his　well…known　ardent　devotion　to

the　military　profession。



By　the　middle　of　the　afternoon　the　steady　progress　of　the　German　left

and　centre　had　driven　the　French　from　their　more　advanced　positions

from　behind　stone　walls　and　hedges；　through　valleys　and　hamlets；　in

the　direction　of　Metz；　but　as　yet　the　German　right　had　accomplished

little　　except　to　get　possession　of　the　village　of　Gravelotte；

forcing　the　French　across　the　deep　ravine　I　have　mentioned；　which

runs　north　and　south　a　little　distance　east　of　ihe　town。



But　it　was　now　time　for　the　German　right　to　move　in　earnest　to　carry

the　Rozerieulles　ridge；　on　which　crest　the　French　had　evidently

decided　to　make　an　obstinate　fight　to　cover　their　withdrawal　to　Metz。

As　the　Germans　moved　to　the　attack　here；　the　French　fire　became　heavy

and　destructive；　so　much　so；　indeed；　as　to　cause　General　Von

Steinmetz　to　order　some　cavalry　belonging　to　the　right　wing　to　make　a

charge。　　Crossing　the　ravine　before　described；　this　body　of　horse

swept　up　the　slope　beyond；　the　front　ranks　urged　forward　by　the

momentum　from　behind。　　The　French　were　posted　along　a　sunken　road；

behind　stone　walls　and　houses；　and　as　the　German　cavalry　neared　these

obstructions　it　received　a　dreadful　fire　without　the　least　chance　of

returning　it；　though　still　pushed　on　till　the　front　ranks　were

crowded　into　the　deep　cut　of　the　road。　　Here　the　slaughter　was

terrible；　for　the　horsemen　could　make　no　further　headway；　and　because

of　the　blockade　behind；　of　dead　and　wounded　men　and　animals；　an

orderly　retreat　was　impossible；　and　disaster　inevitable。



About　the　time　the　charge　was　ordered；　the　phase　of　the　battle　was

such　that　the　King　concluded　to　move　his　headquarters　into　the

village　of　Gravelotte；　and　just　after　getting　there；　we　first　learned

fully　of　the　disastrous　result　of　the　charge　which　had　been　entered

upon　with　such　spirit；　and　so　much　indignation　was　expressed　against

Steinmetz；　who；　it　was　claimed；　had　made　an　unnecessary　sacrifice　of

his　cavalry；　that　I　thought　he　would　be　relieved　on　the　spot；　though

this　was　not　done。



Followed　by　a　large　staff；　General　Steinmetz　appeared　in　the　village

presently；　and　approached　the　King。　　When　near；　he　bowed　with　great

respect；　and　I　then　saw　that　he　was　a　very　old　man　though　his

soldierly　figure；　bronzed　face；　and　shortcropped　hair　gave　some

evidence　of　vigor　still。　　When　the　King　spoke　to　him　I　was　not　close

enough　to　learn　what　was　said；　but　his　Majesty's　manner　was

expressive　of　kindly　feeling；　and　the　fact　that　in　a　few　moments　the

veteran　general　returned　to　the　command　of　his　troops；　indicated

that；　for　the　present　at　least；　his　fault　had　been　overlooked。



The　King　then　moved　out　of　the　village；　and　just　a　little　to　the　east

and　north　of　it　the　headquarters　were　located　on　high；　open　ground；

whence　we　could　observe　the　right　of　the　German　infantry　advancing　up

the　eastern　face　of　the　ravine。　　The　advance；　though　slow　and

irregular；　resulted　in　gradually　gaining　ground；　the　French　resisting

stoutly　with　a　stubborn　musketry　fire　all　along　the　slopes。　　Their

artillery　was　silent；　however；　and　from　this　fact　the　German

artillery　officers　grew　jubilant；　confidently　asserting　that　their

Krupp　guns　had　dismounted　the　French　batteries　and　knocked　their

mitrailleuses　to　pieces。　　I　did　not　indulge　in　this　confidence；

however；　for；　with　the　excellent　field…glass　I　had；　I　could

distinctly　see　long　columns　of　French　troops　moving　to　their　right；

for　the　apparent　purpose　of　making　a　vigorous　fight　on　that　flank；

and　I　thought　it　more　than　likely　that　their　artillery　would　be　heard

from　before　the　Germans　could　gain　the　coveted　ridge。



The　Germans　labored　up　the　glacis　slowly　at　the　most　exposed　places；

now　crawling　on　their　bellies；　now　creeping　on　hands　and　knees；　but；

in　the　main；　moving　with　erect　and　steady　bearing。　　As　they

approached　within　short　range；　they　suddenly　found　that　the　French

artillery　and　mitrallleuses　had　by　no　means　been　silencedabout　two

hundred　pieces　opening　on　them　with　fearful　effect；　while　at　the　same

time　the　whole　crest　blazed　with　a　deadly　fire　from　the　Chassepot

rifles。　　Resistance　like　this　was　so　unexpected　by　the　Germans　that

it　dismayed　them；　and　first　wavering　a　moment；　then　becoming　panic…

stricken；　they　broke　and　fled；　infantry；　cavalry；　and　artillery

coming　down　the　slope　without　any　pretence　of　formation；　the　French

hotly　following　and　pouring　in　a　heavy　and　constant　fire　as　the

fugitives　fled　back　across　the　ravine　toward　Gravelotte。　　With　this

the　battle　on　the　right　had　now　assumed　a　most　serious　aspect；　and

the　indications　were　that　the　French　would　attack　the　heights　of

Gravelotte；　but　the　Pomeranian　corps　coming　on　the　field　at　this

crisis；　was　led　into　action　by　Von　Moltke；　himself；　and　shortly　after

the　day　was　decided　in　favor　of　the　Germans。



When　the　French　guns　opened　fire；　it　was　discovered　that　the　King's

position　was　within　easy　range；　many　of　the　shells　falling　near

enough　to　make　the　place　extremely　uncomfortable；　so　it　was　suggested

that　he　go　to　a　less　exposed　point。　　At　first　he　refused　to　listen　to

this　wise　counsel；　but　yielded　finallyleaving　the　ground　with

reluctance；　howeverand　went　back　toward　Rezonville。　　I　waited　for

Count　Bismarck；　who　did　not　go　immediately　with　the　King；　but

remained　at　Gravelotte；　looking　after　some　of　the　escort　who　had　been

wounded。　　When　he　had　arranged　for　their　care；　we　set　out　to　rejoin

the　King；　and　before　going　far；　overtook　his　Majesty；　who　had　stopped

on　the　Chalons　road；　and　was　surrounded　by　a　throng　of　fugitives；

whom　he　was　berating　in　German　so　energetic　as　to　remind　me　forcibly

of　the　〃Dutch〃　swearing　that　I　used　to　hear　in　my　boyhood　in　Ohio。

The　dressing　down　finished　to　his　satisfaction；　the　King　resumed　his

course　toward　Re'zonville；　halting；　however；　to　rebuke　in　the　same

emphatic　style　every　group　of　runaways　he　overtook。



Passing　through　Rezonville；　we　halted　just　beyond　the　village；　there

a　fire　was　built；　and　the　King；　his　brother；　Prince　Frederick

Charles；　and　Von　Roon　were　provided　with　rather　uncomfortable　seats

about　it；　made　by　resting　the　ends　of　a　short　ladder　on　a　couple　of

boxes。　　With　much　anxiety　and　not　a　little　depression　of　spirits　news

from　the　battle…field　was　now　awaited；　but　the　suspense　did　not　last

long；　for　presently　came　the　cheering　intelligence　that　the　French

were　retiring；　being　forced　back　by　the　Pomeranian　corps；　and　some　of

the　lately　broken　right　wing　organizations；　that　had　been　rallied　on

the　heights　of　Gravelotte。　　The　lost　ground　being　thus　regained；　and

the　French　having　been　beaten　on　their　right；　it　was　not　long　before

word　came　that　Bazaine's　army　was　falling　back　to　Metz；　leaving　the

entire　battle…field　in　possession　of　the　Germans。



During　the　excitement　of　the　day　I　had　not　much　felt　the　want　of

either　food　or　water；　but　now　that　all　was　over　I　was　nearly

exhausted；　having　had　neither　since　early　morning。　　Indeed；　all　of

the　party　were　in　like　straits；　the　immense　armies　had　not　only　eaten

up　nearly　everything　in　the　country；　but　had　drunk　all　the　wells　dry；

too；　and　there　seemed　no　relief　for　us　till；　luckily；　a　squad　of

soldiers　came　along　the　road　with　a　small　cask　of　wine　in　a　cart。

One　of　the　staff…officers　instantly　appropriated　the　keg；　and

proceeded　to　share　his　prize　most　generously。　　Never　had　I　tasted

anything　so　refreshing　and　delicious；　but　as　the　wine　was　the

ordinary　sour　stuff　drunk　by　the　peasantry　of　northern　France；　my

appreciation　must　be　ascribed　to　my　famished　condition　rather　than　to

any　virtues　of　the　beverage　itself。



After　I　had　thus　quenched　my　thirst　the　King's；　brother　called　me

aside；　and　drawing　from　his　coat…tail　pocket　a　piece　of　stale　black

bread；　divided　it　with　me；　and　while　munching　on　this　the　Prince

began　talking　of　his　sonGeneral　Prince　Frederick　Charles；　popularly

called　the　Red　Princewho　was　in　command　of　the　Second　Army　in　this

battlethe　German　left　wing。　　In　recounting　his　son's　professional

career　the　old　man's　face　was　aglow　with　enthusiasm；　and　not　without

good　cause；　for　in　the　war　between　Prussia　and　Austria　in　1866；　as

well　as　in　the　present　campaign；　the　Red　Prince　had　displayed　the

highest　order　of　military　genius。



The　headquarters　now　became　the　scene　of　much　bustle；　despatches

announcing　the　victory　being　sent　in　all　directions。　　The　first　one

transmitted　was　to　the　Queen；　the　King　directing　Count　Bismarck　to

prepare　it　for　his　signature；　then　followed　others　of　a　more　official

character；　and　while　these　matters　were　being　attended　to　I　thought　I

would　ride　into　the　village　to　find；　if　possible；　some　water　for　my

horse。　　Just　as　I　entered　the　chief　street；　however；　I　was　suddenly

halted　by　a　squad　of　soldiers；　who；　taking　me　for　a　French　officer

（my　coat　and　forage　cap　resembling　those　of　the　French）；　leveled

their　pieces　at　me。　　They　were　greatly　excited；　so　much　so；　indeed；

that　I　thought　my　hour　had　come；　for　they　could　not　understand

English；　and　I　could　not　speak　German；　and　dare　not　utter

explanations　in　French。　　Fortunately　a　few　disconnected　German　words

came　to　me　in　the　emergency。　　With　these　I　managed　to　delay　my

execution；　and　one　of　the　party　ventured　to　come　up　to　examine　the

〃suspec