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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
〃suspect〃 more closely。 The first thing he did was to take off my
cap； and looking it over carefully； his eyes rested on the three
stars above the visor； and； pointing to them； he emphatically
pronounced me French。 Then of course they all became excited again；
more so than before； even； for they thought I was trying to practice
a ruse； and I question whether I should have lived to recount the
adventure had not an officer belonging to the King's headquarters
been passing by just then； when； hearing the threatenings and
imprecations； he rode up to learn the cause of the hubbub； and
immediately recognized and released me。 When he told my wrathy
captors who I was； they were much mortified of course； and made the
most profuse apologies； promising that no such mistake should occur
again； and so on； but not feeling wholly reassured； for my uniform
was still liable to mislead； I was careful to return to headquarters
in company with my deliverer。 There I related what had occurred； and
after a good laugh all round； the King provided me with a pass which
he said would preclude any such mishap in the future； and would also
permit me to go wherever I pleaseda favor rarely bestowed。
CHAPTER XVII
SEARCHING FOR QUARTERSHUNTING UP PROVISIONSA SLENDER BREAKFAST
GOING OVER THE BATTLEFIELDTHE GERMAN ARTILLERYA GROUP OF WOUNDED…
…DINING WITH THE KINGON THE MARCHTHE BAVARIANSKIRSCHWASSER
URGING ON THE TROOPS。
While I was absent； as related in the preceding chapter； it had been
decided that the King's quarters should be established for the night
in the village of Rezonville； and as it would be very difficult； at
such a late hour； to billet the whole party regularly； Count Bismarck
and I went off to look for shelter for ourselves。 Remembering that I
had seen； when seeking to water my horse； a partly burned barn with
some fresh…looking hay in it； I suggested that we lodge there。 He
too thought it would answer our purpose； but on reaching it we found
the unburned part of the barn filled with wounded； and this
necessitating a further search we continued on through the village in
quest of some house not yet converted into a hospital。 Such；
however； seemed impossible to come upon； so at last the Count fixed
on one whose upper floor； we learned； was unoccupied； though the
lower one was covered with wounded。
Mounting a creaky ladderthere was no stairwayto the upper story；
we found a good…sized room with three large beds； one of which the
Chancellor assigned to the Duke of Mecklenburg and aide； and another
to Count Bismarck…Bohlen and me； reserving the remaining one for
himself。 Each bed； as is common in Germany and northern France； was
provided with a feather tick； but the night being warm； these spreads
were thrown off； and discovering that they would make a comfortable
shakedown on the floor； I slept there leaving Bismarck…Bohlen
unembarrassed by companionshipat least of a human kind。
At daylight I awoke； and seeing that Count Bismarck was already
dressed and about to go down the ladder； I felt obliged to follow his
example； so I too turned out； and shortly descended to the ground
floor； the only delays of the toilet being those incident to
dressing； for there were no conveniences for morning ablutions。 Just
outside the door I met the Count； who； proudly exhibiting a couple of
eggs he had bought from the woman of the house； invited me to
breakfast with him； provided we could beg some coffee from the king's
escort。 Putting the eggs under my charge； with many injunctions as
to their safe…keeping； he went off to forage for the coffee； and
presently returned； having been moderately successful。 One egg
apiece was hardly enough； however； to appease the craving of two
strong men ravenous from long fasting。 Indeed； it seemed only to
whet the appetite； and we both set out on an eager expedition for
more food。 Before going far I had the good luck