history of the war - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1871 Excerpt: ...with such accuracy that but fourteen of the wagons succeeded in reaching Metz. night the feldwacht goes forward to the post occupied during the day by the farthest outlying sentry. Here it breaks right and left into small pickets, leaving a strong nucleus in the centre. The front, at a distance of 200 or 300 yards, is continually traversed by cavalry patrols, who often ride right in among the sleeping Frenchmen, whose system of night vigilance is not at all what it should be. Then there is a pistol shot and round of bootless chassepot firing in the dark--the daring Uhlan dashes out through the red legs, back to his supports. Talking of chassepots, I may mention that the Prussian forepost troops are now extensively armed with these weapons, to enable them to cope on equal terms with the French Tirailleurs. Of the 2nd Battalion of the 4th Regiment seventy-five men are so armed, or rather seventyfive chassepots are in use, and are transferred from feldwacht to feldwacht, as the changes of guard are made. One whole regiment (the 35th) is armed with the chassepot. This settles the question as to the relative merits of the chassepot and the needle-gun in the eyes of the Prussians. Immediately after the war, I doubt not there will be a general conversion--the operation will not be difficult."--Correspondence of the London Daily News, There was no effort to " harass the enemy " in this affair, as the whole of the French plan of operations had been changed by the receipt of the following dispatch from the Emperor, written on the 23d: u I received your dispatch of the 19th instant at Kheims. I am moving in the direction of Montmedy, and will be on the line of the river Aisne the day after to-morrow. I shall act according to circumstances in trying to c...