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whet the appetite； and we both set out on an eager expedition for
more food。 Before going far I had the good luck to meet a sutler's
wagon； and though its stock was about all sold； there were still left
four large bologna sausages； which I promptly purchasedpaying a
round sum for them tooand hastening back found the Count already
returned； though without bringing anything at all to eat； but he had
secured a couple of bottles of brandy； and with a little of thisit
was excellent； tooand the sausages； the slim ration of eggs and
coffee was amply reinforced。
Breakfast over； the Chancellor invited me to accompany him in a ride
to the battle…field； and I gladly accepted； as I very much desired to
pass over the ground in front of Gravelotte； particularly so to see
whether the Krupp guns had really done the execution that was claimed
for them by the German artillery officers。 Going directly through
the village of Gravelotte； following the causeway over which the
German cavalry had passed to make its courageous but futile charge；
we soon reached the ground where the fighting had been the most
severe。 Here the field was literally covered with evidences of the
terrible strife； the dead and wounded strewn thick on every side。
In the sunken road the carnage had been awful； men and horses having
been slaughtered there by hundreds； helpless before the murderous
fire delivered from behind a high stone wall impracticable to mounted
troops。 The sight was sickening to an extreme； and we were not slow
to direct our course elsewhere； going up the glacis toward the French
line； the open ground over which we crossed being covered with
thousands of helmets； that had been thrown off by the Germans during
the fight and were still dotting the field； though details of
soldiers from the organizations which had been engaged here were
about to begin to gather up their abandoned headgear。
When we got inside the French works； I was astonished to observe how
little harm had been done the defenses by the German artillery； for
although I had not that serene faith in the effectiveness of their
guns held by German artillerists generally； yet I thought their
terrific cannonade must have left marked results。 All I could
perceive； however； was a disabled gun； a broken mitrailleuse； and two
badly damaged caissons。
Everything else； except a little ammunition in the trenches； had been
carried away； and it was plain to see； from the good shape in which
the French left wing had retired to Metz； that its retreat had been
predetermined by the disasters to the right wing。
By this hour the German cavalry having been thrown out to the front
well over toward Metz； we； following it to get a look at the city；
rode to a neighboring summit； supposing it would be a safe point of
observation； but we shortly realized the contrary； for scarcely had
we reached the crest when some of the French pickets； lying concealed
about six hundred yards off； opened fire； making it so very hot for
us that； hugging the necks of our horses； we incontinently fled。
Observing what had taken place； a troop of German cavalry charged the
French outpost and drove it far enough away to make safe our return；
and we resumed possession of the point； but only to discover that the
country to the east was so broken and hilly that no satisfactory view
of Metz could be had。
Returning to Gravelotte； we next visited that part of the battlefield
to the northeast of the village； and before long Count Bismarck
discovered in a remote place about twenty men dreadfully wounded。
These poor fellows had had no attention whatever； having been
overlooked by the hospital corps； and their condition was most
pitiful。 Yet there was one very handsome man in the groupa captain
of artillerywho； though shot through the right breast； was
talkative and cheerful； and felt sure of getting well。 Pointing；
however； to a comrade lying near； also shot in the breast； he
significantly shook his head； it was easy to see on this man's face
the signsof fast approaching death。
An orderly was at once despatched for a surgeon； Bismarck and I doing
what we could meanwhile to alleviate the intense sufferings of the
maimed men； bringing them water and administering a little brandy；
for the Count still had with him some of the morning's supply。 When
the surgeons came； we transferred the wounded to their care； and
making our way to Rezonville； there took the Count's carriage to
rejoin the King's headquarters； which in the mean time had been moved
to Pont…a…Mousson。 Our route led through the village of Gorze； and
here we found the streets so obstructed with wagons that I feared it
would take us the rest of the day to get through； for the teamsters
would not pay the slightest heed to the cries of our postilions。 The
Count was equal to the emergency； however； for； taking a pistol from
behind his cushion； and bidding me keep my seat； he jumped out and
quickly began to clear the street effectively； ordering wagons to the
right and left。 Marching in front of the carriage and making way for
us till we were well through the blockade； he then resumed his seat；
remarking； 〃This is not a very dignified business for the Chancellor
of the German Confederation； but it's the only way to get through。〃
At Pont…a…Mousson I was rejoined by my aide； General Forsyth； and for
the next two days our attention was almost wholly devoted to securing
means of transportation。 This was most difficult to obtain； but as I
did not wish to impose on the kindness of the Chancellor longer； we
persevered till； finally； with the help of Count Bismarck…Bohlen； we
managed to get tolerably well equipped with a saddle…horse apiece；
and a two…horse carriage。 Here also； on the afternoon of August 21；
I had the pleasure of dining with the King。 The dinner was a simple
one； consisting of soup； a joint； and two or three vegetables； the
wines vin ordinaire and Burgundy。 There were a good many persons of
high rank present； none of whom spoke English； however； except
Bismarck； who sat next the King and acted as interpreter when his
Majesty conversed with me。 Little was said of the events taking
place around us； but the King made many inquiries concerning the war
of the rebellion； particularly with reference to Grant's campaign at
Vicksburg； suggested； perhaps； by the fact that there； and in the
recent movements of the German army； had been applied many similar
principles of military science。
The French army under Marshal Bazaine having retired into the
fortifications of Metz； that stronghold was speedily invested by
Prince Frederick Charles。 Meantime the Third Army； under the Crown
Prince of Prussiawhich； after having fought and won the battle of
Worth； had been observing the army of Marshal MacMahon during and
after the battle of Gravelottewas moving toward Paris by way of
Nancy； in conjunction with an army called the Fourth； which had been
organized from the troops previously engaged around Metz； and on the
22d was directed toward Bar…le…Duc under the command of the Crown
Prince of Saxony。 In consequence of these operations the King
decided to move to Commercy； which place we reached by carriage；
traveling on a broad macadamized road lined on both sides with
poplar…trees； and our course leading through a most beautiful country
thickly dotted with prosperous…looking villages。
On reaching Commercy； Forsyth and I found that quarters had been
already selected for us； and our names written on the door with chalk
the quartermaster charged with the billeting of the officers at
headquarters having started out in advance to perform this duty and
make all needful preparations for the King before he arrived； which
course was usually pursued thereafter； whenever the royal
headquarters took up a new location。
Forsyth and I were lodged with the notary of the village； who over
and over again referred to his good fortune in not having to
entertain any of the Germans。 He treated us most hospitably； and
next morning； on departing； we offered compensation by tendering a
sumabout what our bill would have been at a good hotelto be used
for the 〃benefit of the wounded or the Church。〃 Under this
stipulation the notary accepted； and we followed that plan of paying
for food and lodging afterward； whenever quartered in private houses。
The next day I set out in advance of the headquarters； and reached
Bar…le…Duc about noon； passing on the way the Bavarian contingent of
the Crown Prince's army。 These Bavarians were trim…looking soldiers；
dressed in neat uniforms of light blue； they looked healthy and
strong； but seemed of shorter stature than the North Germans I had
seen in the armies of Prince Frederick Charles and General von
Steinmetz。 When； later in the day the King arrived； a guard for him
was detailed from this Bavarian contingent； a stroke of policy no
doubt； for th