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frank； free way be plainly showed his light…heartedness and
gratification at success。 That which for years his genius had been
planning and striving forpermanent unification of the German
States； had been accomplished by the war。 It had welded them
together in a compact Empire which no power in Europe could disrupt；
and as such a union was the aim of Bismarck's life； he surely had a
right to feel jubilant。
Thanks to the courtesies extended me； I had been able to observe the
principal battles； and study many of the minor details of a war
between two of the greatest military nations of the world； and to
examine critically the methods followed abroad for subsisting；
equipping； and manoeuvring vast bodies of men during a stupendous；
campaign。 Of course I found a great deal to interest and instruct
me； yet nowadays war is pretty much the same everywhere； and this one
offered no marked exception to my previous experiences。 The methods
pursued on the march were the same as we would employ； with one most
important exception。 Owing to the density of population throughout
France it was always practicable for the Germans to quarter their
troops in villages； requiring the inhabitants to subsist both
officers and men。 Hence there was no necessity for camp and garrison
equipage； nor enormous provision trains； and the armies were
unencumbered by these impedimenta； indispensable when operating in a
poor and sparsely settled country。 As I have said before； the only
trains were those for ammunition； pontoon…boats； and the field
telegraph； and all these were managed by special corps。 If
transportation was needed for other purposes； it was obtained by
requisition from the invaded country； just as food and forage were
secured。 Great celerity of combination was therefore possible； the
columns moving in compact order； and as all the roads were broad and
macadamized； there was little or nothing to delay or obstruct the
march of the Germans； except when their enemy offered resistance； but
even this was generally slight and not very frequent； for the French
were discouraged by disaster from the very outset of the campaign
The earlier advantages gained bythe Germans may be ascribed to the
strikingly prompt mobilization of their armies； one of the most
noticeable features of their perfect military system； devised by
almost autocratic power； their later successes were greatly aided by
the blunders of the French； whose stupendous errors materially
shortened the war； though even if prolonged it could； in my opinion；
have had ultimately no other termination。
As I have previously stated； the first of these blunders was the
acceptance of battle by MacMahon at Worth； the second in attaching
too much importance to the fortified position of Metz； resulting in
three battles Colombey； Mars…la…Tour； and Gravelotteall of which
were lost； and the third； the absurd movement of MacMahon along the
Belgian frontier to relieve Metz； the responsibility for which； I am
glad to say； does not belong to him。
With the hemming in of Bazaine at Metz and the capture of MacMahon's
army at Sedan the crisis of the war was passed； and the Germans
practically the victors。 The taking of Paris was but a sentiment
the money levy could have been made and the Rhine provinces held
without molesting that city； and only the political influences
consequent upon the changes in the French Government caused peace to
be deferred。
I did not have much opportunity to observe the German cavalry； either
on the march or in battle。 The only time I saw any of it engaged was
in the unfortunate charge at Gravelotte。 That proved its mettle good
and discipline fair； but answered no other purpose。 Such of it as
was not attached to the infantry was organized in divisions； and
operated in accordance with the old idea of covering the front and
flanks of the army； a duty which it thoroughly performed。 But thus
directed it was in no sense an independent corps； and hence cannot
be； said to have accomplished anything in the campaign； or have had a
weight or influence at all proportionate to its strength。 The method
of its employment seemed to me a mistake； for； being numerically
superior to the French cavalry； had it been massed and manoeuvred
independently of the infantry； it could easily have broken up the
French communications； and done much other work of weighty influence
in the prosecution of the war。
The infantry was as fine as I ever saw； the men young and hardy in
appearance； and marching always with an elastic stride。 The infantry
regiment； however； I thought too largetoo many men for a colonel to
command unless he has the staff of a generalbut this objection may
be counterbalanced by the advantages resulting from associating
together thus intimately the men from the same district； or county as
we would call it； the celerity of mobilization； and； in truth； the
very foundation of the German system； being based on this local or
territorial scheme of recruiting。
There was no delay when the call sounded for the march； all turned
out promptly； and while on the road there was very little straggling；
only the sick falling out。 But on such fine； smooth roads； and with
success animating the men from the day they struck the first blow； it
could hardly be expected that the columns would not keep well closed
up。 Then； too； it must be borne in mind that； as already stated；
'campaigning' in Francethat is； the marching； camping； and
subsisting of an armyis an easy matter； very unlike anything we；
had during the war of the rebellion。 To repeat： the country is rich；
beautiful； and densely populated； subsistence abundant； and the
roadsall macadamized highways； thus the conditions； are altogether
different from those existing with us。 I think that under the same
circumstances our troops would have done as well as the Germans；
marched as admirably； made combinations as quickly and accurately；；
and fought with as much success。 I can but leave to conjecture how。
the Germans would have got along on bottomless roadsoften none at
allthrough the swamps and quicksands of northern Virginia； from；
the Wilderness to Petersburg； and from Chattanooga to Atlanta and the
sea。
Following the operations of the German armies from the battle of
Gravelotte to the siege of Paris； I may； in conclusion； say that I
saw no new military principles developed； whether of strategy or
grand tactics； the movements of the different armies and corps being
dictated and governed by the same general laws that have so long
obtained； simplicity of combination and manoeuvre； and the
concentration of a numerically superior force at the vital point。
After my brief trip to Versailles； I remained in Paris till the
latter part of March。 In company with Mr。 Washburn； I visited the
fortifications for the defense of the city； and found them to be
exceptionally heavy； so strong； indeed； that it would have been very
hard to carry the place by a general assault。 The Germans； knowing
the character of the works； had refrained from the sacrifice of life
that such an attempt must entail； though they well knew that many of
the forts were manned by unseasoned soldiers。 With only a combat
here and there； to tighten their lines or repulse a sortie； they
wisely preferred to wait till starvation should do the work with
little loss and absolute certainty。
The Germans were withdrawn from Paris on the 3d of March； and no
sooner were they gone than factional quarrels； which had been going
on at intervals ever since the flight of the Empress and the fall of
her regency on the 4th of September； were renewed with revolutionary
methods that eventually brought about the Commune。 Having witnessed
one or two of these outbreaks； and concluding that while such
turbulence reigned in the city it would be of little profit for me to
tarry there； I decided to devote the rest of the time I could be away
from home to travel in England； Ireland； and Scotland。 My journeys
through those countries were full of pleasure and instruction； but as
nothing I saw or did was markedly different from what has been so
often described by others； I will save the reader this part of my
experience。 I returned to America in the fall； having been absent a
little more than a year； and although I saw much abroad of absorbing
interest； both professional and general； yet I came back to my native
land with even a greater love for her； and with increased admiration
for her institutions。
End