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twg_000012930400 | victory," Captain Barclay said; "even if they were armed--and where are the arms, for a levy en masse, to come from? If Bazaine be beaten, the only hope of France is for all the troops who remain to fall back under the guns of the forts of Paris; and for France to enter upon an immense guerrilla war. For hosts | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930401 | of skirmishers to hang upon their flanks and rear; cutting every road, destroying every bridge, checking the movements of every detached body, and so actually starving them out, on the ground which they occupy. "This, however, will demand an immense amount of pluck, of endurance, of perseverance, of sacrifice, and of patriotism. The question is, does France possess these qualities?" | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930402 | "Surely, Richard, you cannot doubt the patriotism of the French," Mrs. Barclay said, a little reproachfully. "My dear Melanie," her husband said, "I am sorry to say that I very greatly doubt the patriotism of the French. They are--more than any people, more even than the English, whom they laugh at as a nation of shopkeepers--a money-making race. The bourgeoise | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930403 | class, the shopkeepers, the small proprietors, are selfish in the extreme. They think only of their money, their business, and their comforts. The lower class are perhaps better, but their first thoughts will be how the war will affect themselves and, unless there is some chance of the enemy approaching their homes, driving off their cattle, and plundering their cottages, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930404 | they will look on with a very calm eye at the general ruin. "I believe, remember, that those who will be called out will go and, if affairs go as I fear that they will do, every man under fifty years old in France will have to go out; but it is not enough to go out. For a war | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930405 | like this, it will require desperate courage and endurance, and an absolute disregard of life; to counterbalance the disadvantages of want of discipline, want of arms, want of artillery, and want of organization I may be wrong--I hope that I am so--but time will show." "And do you think that there is any chance of their coming down here, as | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930406 | well as of going to Paris, papa?" Percy asked. "That would depend upon the length of the resistance, Percy. If France holds out, and refuses to grant any terms which the Prussians might try to impose upon them, they may overrun half the country and, as this town is directly upon their way for Lyons--the second town of France--they are | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930407 | exceedingly likely to come this way." "Well, if they do, papa," Ralph said, with heightened color, "I feel sure that every man who can carry a gun will go out, and that every home will be defended." "We shall see, Ralph," Captain Barclay said, "we shall see." Another pause, and then came the news of that terrible three days' fighting--on | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930408 | the 14th, 16th, and 18th--near Metz; when Bazaine, his retreat towards Paris cut off, vainly tried to force his way through the Prussian army and, failing, fell back into Metz. Even now, when the position was well-nigh desperate--with the only great army remaining shut up and surrounded; and with nothing save the fragment of MacMahon's division, with a few other | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930409 | regiments, collected in haste, and the new levies, encamped at Chalons, between the victorious enemy and the capital--the people of France were scarcely awake to the urgency of the position. The Government concealed at least a portion of the truth, and the people were only too ready to be deceived. In Dijon, however, the facts were better known, and more | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930410 | understood. The Swiss newspapers, containing the Prussian official telegrams and accounts, arrived daily; and those who received them speedily spread the news through the town. The consternation was great, and general, but there was no sign of despair. Those of the Mobiles who were armed and equipped were sent off, at once, to Chalons. At every corner of the street | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930411 | were placards, calling out the Mobiles and soldiers who had served their time; and, although not yet called to arms, the national guard drilled in the Place d'Armes, morning and evening. "You will allow, Richard, that you were mistaken as to the patriotism of the people," Mrs. Barclay said, one evening, to her husband. "Everyone is rushing to arms." "They | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930412 | are coming out better than I had expected, Melanie; but at the same time, you will observe that they have no choice in the matter. The Mobiles are called out, and have to go. All who can raise the most frivolous pretext for exemption do so. There is a perfect rush of young men to the Prefecture, to obtain places | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930413 | in the clothing, medical, arming, and equipping departments; in any sort of service, in fact, which will exempt its holder from taking up arms. "At the same time, there is a great deal of true, earnest patriotism. Many married men, with families, have volunteered; and those belonging to the categories called out do go, as you say, cheerfully, if not | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930414 | willingly and, once enrolled, appear determined to do their duty. "France will need all the patriotism, and all the devotion of her people to get through the present crisis. There is no saying how it will end. I have no hope, whatever, that MacMahon's new army can arrest the march of the enemy; and his true course is to fall | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930415 | back upon Paris. Our chance, here, of remaining free from a visit of the enemy depends entirely upon the length of time which Strasburg and Metz hold out. Bazaine may be able to cut his way out but, at any rate, he is likely to remain where he is, for some little time, under the walls of Metz; for he | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930416 | occupies the attention of a considerably larger force than that which he commands. "The vital point, at present, is to cut the roads behind the Germans. If it were not for this cork leg of mine, Melanie, I would try and raise a small guerrilla corps, and set out on my own account. I have lived here for seventeen years, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930417 | now, and the French fought by our side, in the Crimea. Could I do so, I should certainly fight for France, now. It is clearly the duty of anyone who can carry a musket to go out." Just at this moment the door opened, and Ralph and Percy entered hastily. They both looked excited, but serious. "What is it, boys?" | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930418 | "Papa," Ralph said, "there is a notice up, signed by your friend Captain Tempe. He calls for a hundred volunteers, to join a corps of franc tireurs--a sort of guerrillas, I believe--to go out to harass the Germans, and cut their communication. Those who can are to provide their own arms and equipments. A meeting is to be held, tonight, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930419 | for subscribing the money for those who cannot afford to do so. "We have come to ask you to let us join, papa. Louis and Philippe have just gone to ask uncle's leave." Captain Barclay listened in silence, with a very grave face. Their mother sat down in a chair, with a white face. "Oh, my boys, you are too | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930420 | young," she gasped out. "We are stronger, mamma, than a great many of the men who have been called out; and taller and stouter, in every way. We can walk better than the greater portion of them. We are accustomed to exercise and fatigue. We are far more fit to be soldiers than many young men who have gone from | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930421 | here. You said yourself, mamma, that everyone who could carry a gun ought to go out." "But you are not French, boys," Mrs. Barclay said, piteously. "We are half French, mamma. Not legally, but it has been home to us, since we were born and, even if you had not been French, we ought to fight for her." Mrs. Barclay | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930422 | looked at her husband for assistance, but Captain Barclay had leaned his face in his hands, and said nothing. "Ah, Ralph; but Percy at least, he is only fifteen." "I am nearly as big, nearly as strong as Ralph, mamma. Besides, would it not be better to have two of us? If one is ill or--or wounded--the other could look | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930423 | after him, you know. "Mamma, dearest, we have talked it over, and we think we ought to go. We are very strong for our ages; and it is strength, not years, which matters. Mamma, you said a Frenchwoman should not grudge those she loves to France; and that if France was invaded all, even the women, should go out." Mrs. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930424 | Barclay was silent. She could not speak. She was so deadly pale, and her face had such an expression of misery, that the boys felt their resolution wavering. Captain Barclay looked up. "Boys," he said, very gravely, "I have one question to ask; which you will answer me truly, upon your faith and honor Do you wish to go merely--or | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930425 | principally--from a desire to see the excitement and the adventure of a guerrilla war; or do you go out because you desire earnestly to do your best, to defend the country in which you were born, and lived? Are you prepared to suffer any hardship and, if it is the will of God, to die for her?" "We are, papa," | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930426 | both boys said. And Ralph went on: "When we first talked over the possibility of everyone being called out--and of our going, too--we did look upon it as a case of fun and excitement; but when the chance really came, we saw how serious it was. We knew how much it would cost you, and dear mamma; and we would | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930427 | not have asked you, had we not felt that we ought to go, even if we knew we should be killed." "In that case, boys," Captain Barclay said, solemnly, rising and laying one hand on the shoulder of each of his sons, "in that case, I say no more. You are a soldier's sons, and your example may do good. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930428 | It is your duty, and that of everyone, to fight for his country. I give you my full consent to go. I should not have advised it. At your age, there was no absolute duty. Still, if you feel it so, I will not stand in your way. "Go then, my boys, and may God watch over you, and keep | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930429 | you, and send you safe home again." So saying, he kissed them both on the forehead, and walked from the room without saying another word. Then the boys turned to their mother, who was crying silently and, falling upon her neck, they kissed her and cried with her. It was understood that her consent was given, with their father's. Milly, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930430 | coming in and hearing what was the matter, sat down in sudden grief and astonishment on the nearest chair, and cried bitterly. It was a sad half hour, and the boys were almost inclined to regret that they had asked for leave to go. However, there was no drawing back now and, when they left their mother, they went on | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930431 | to tell their cousins that they were going. They found Louis and Philippe in a state of great disappointment, because their father had altogether refused to listen to their entreaties. Upon hearing, however, that Ralph and Percy were going, they gained fresh hope; for they said, if English boys could go and fight for France, it was shameful that French | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930432 | boys should stay at home, in idleness. Captain Barclay, after giving permission to his sons to go as franc tireurs, first went for a walk by himself, to think over the consequences of his decision. He then went down into Dijon, and called upon Captain Tempe. The commander of the proposed corps had served for many years in the Zouaves, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930433 | and was known to be an able and energetic officer. He had left the service, five or six years previously, upon his marriage. He lived a short distance, only, from Captain Barclay; and a warm friendship had sprung up between them. Upon Captain Barclay telling him why he had come to see him, Captain Tempe expressed his satisfaction at the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930434 | decision of the young Barclays. "I have already the names of one or two lads little, if any, older than your eldest boy," he said; "and although the other is certainly very young yet, as he is very stout and strong for his age, I have no doubt he will bear the fatigue as well as many of the men." | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930435 | "I wish I could go with you," Captain Barclay said. "I wish you could, indeed," Captain Tempe replied, warmly; "but with your leg you never could keep up, on foot; and a horse would be out of the question, among the forests of the Vosges mountains. "You might, however--if you will--be of great use in assisting me to drill and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930436 | discipline my recruits, before starting." "That I will do, with pleasure," Captain Barclay said. "I had been thinking of offering my services, in that way, to the municipality; as very few of the officers of the Mobiles, still less of the national guard, know their duty. As it is, I will devote myself to your corps, till they march. "In | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930437 | the first place, how strong do you mean them to be?" "One strong company, say one hundred and twenty men," Captain Tempe answered. "More than that would be too unwieldy for guerrilla work. I would rather have twenty less, than more; indeed, I should be quite satisfied with a hundred. If I find that volunteers come in, in greater numbers | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930438 | than I can accept, I shall advise them to get up other, similar corps. There ought to be scores of small parties, hanging upon the rear and flank of the enemy, and interrupting his communication." "How do you think of arming them?" "Either with chassepots, or with your English rifles. It is of no use applying to Government. They will | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930439 | not be able to arm the Mobiles, for months; to say nothing of the national guard. We must buy the rifles in England, or Belgium. It will be difficult to get chassepots; so I think the best plan will be to decide, at once, upon your Sniders." "I know a gentleman who is connected with these matters, in England; and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930440 | will, if you like, send out an order at once for, say, eleven dozen Sniders; to be forwarded via Rouen, and thence by rail." "I should be very glad if you would do so," Captain Tempe said. "I have no doubt about getting that number of recruits, easily enough. I have had a good many calls already, this morning; and | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930441 | several thousand francs of subscription have been promised. In another three or four days, the money will be ready; so if you write to your friends, to make an agreement with a manufacturer, I can give you the money by the time his answer arrives. When the guns arrive, those who can pay for them will do so, and the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930442 | rest will be paid for by the subscriptions. "Of course, we shall want them complete with bayonets. If, at the same time, you can order ammunition--say, two hundred rounds for each rifle--it would be, perhaps, a saving of time; as the Government may not be able to supply any, at first. However, after the meeting, this evening, I shall see | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930443 | how the subscriptions come in; and we can settle on these points, tomorrow. The municipality will help, I have no doubt." "What is your idea as to equipment, Tempe?" "As light as possible. Nothing destroys the go of men more than to be obliged to carry heavy weights on their shoulders. We shall be essentially guerrillas Our attacks, to be | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930444 | successful, must be surprises. Speed, therefore, and the power to march long distances, are the first of essentials. "I do not propose to carry knapsacks--mere haversacks, bags capable of containing a spare shirt, a couple of pairs of socks, and three days' biscuits. Each man must also carry a spare pair of boots, strapped to his belt, behind. A thick | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930445 | blanket--with a hole cut for the head, so as to make a cloak by day, a cover by night--will be carried, rolled up over one shoulder like a scarf; and each man should carry a light, waterproof coat. "I do not propose to take even tents d'abri. They add considerably to the weight and, unless when we are actually engaged | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930446 | in expeditions, we shall make our headquarters at some village; when the men can be dispersed among the cottages, or sleep in stables, or barns. When on expeditions, they must sleep in the open air." "I quite approve of your plan," Captain Barclay said. "Exclusive of his rifle and ammunition, the weight need not be above fifteen pounds a man | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930447 | and, with this, they ought to be able to march, and fight, with comfort. The way your soldiers march out, laden like beasts of burden, is absurd. It is impossible for men either to march, or fight, with a heavy load upon their backs. "Have you thought about uniform?" "No, I have not settled at all. I thought of letting | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930448 | the men fix upon one of their own choice." "Do nothing of the sort," Captain Barclay said. "The men will only think of what is most becoming, or picturesque. You cannot do better than fix upon some good, serviceable uniform of a dark-grayish color; something similar to that of some of our English Volunteer Corps. I will give you a | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930449 | drawing of it. "Let the tunics be made of a thick and good cloth. Let the men have short trousers--or, as we call them, knickerbockers--with leather gaiters and lace boots. The shoes of your soldier are altogether a mistake. I will bring you a sketch, tomorrow; and you will see that it is neat, as well as serviceable." "Thank you. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930450 | "By the way, I suppose that you have no objection to my mentioning, at the meeting this evening, that your sons have joined? If there should be any inclination to hang back--which I hope there will not be--the fact that your boys have joined may decide many who would otherwise hesitate." "Certainly. "I will not detain you longer, at present. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930451 | I shall see you in a day or two, and any assistance which I can give is at your service." "Thanks very much. I only wish that you could go with us. "Goodbye. Tell the boys that their names are down, and that we shall begin drill in a day or two." : Death To The Spy! The next morning | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930452 | Madame Duburg arrived, at ten o'clock; an hour at which she had never, as far as Mrs. Barclay knew, turned out of her house since her marriage. She was actually walking fast, too. It was evident that something serious was the matter. Mrs. Barclay was in the garden, and her visitor came straight out from the house to her. "Is | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930453 | anything the matter?" was Mrs. Barclay's first question. "Yes, a great deal is the matter," Madame Duburg began, vehemently. "You and your English husband are mad. Your wretched boys are mad. They have made my sons mad, also; and--my faith--I believe that my husband will catch it. It is enough to make me, also, mad." Notwithstanding the trouble in which | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930454 | Mrs. Barclay was, at the resolution of her sons, she could scarcely help smiling at the excitement of Madame Duburg; the cause of which she at once guessed. However, she asked, with an air of astonishment: "My dear sister-in-law, what can you be talking about?" "I know what I say," Madame Duburg continued. "I always said that you were mad, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930455 | you and your husband, to let your boys go about and play, and tear and bruise themselves like wild Indians. I always knew that harm would come of it, when I saw my boys come in hot--oh, so unpleasantly hot, to look at--but I did not think of such harm as this. My faith, it is incredible. When I heard | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930456 | that you were to marry yourself to an Englishman, I said at once: "'It is bad, harm will come of it. These English are islanders. They are eccentric. They are mad. They sell their wives in the market, with a cord round their neck.'" "My dear sister-in-law," Mrs. Barclay interrupted, "I have so often assured you that that absurd statement | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930457 | was entirely false; and due only to the absolute ignorance, of our nation, of everything outside itself." "I have heard it often," Madame Duburg went on, positively. "They are a nation of singularities. I doubt not that it is true, he has hidden the truth from you. True or false, I care not. They are mad. For this I care | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930458 | not. My faith, I have not married an Englishman. Why, then, should I care for the madness of this nation of islanders? "This I said, when I heard that you were to marry an Englishman. Could I imagine that I, also, was to become a victim? Could I suppose that my husband--a man sensible in most things--would also become mad; | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930459 | that my boys would grow up like young savages, and would offer themselves to go out to sleep without beds, to catch colds, to have red noses and coughs, perhaps even--my faith--to be killed by the balls of German pigs? My word of honor, I ask myself: "'Am I living in France? Am I asleep? Am I dreaming? Am I, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930460 | too, mad?' "I said to myself: "'I shall go to my sister-in-law, and I will demand of her, is it possible that these things are true?'" "If you mean by all this, sister-in-law, is it true that I have consented to my boys going out to fight for France, it is quite true," Mrs. Barclay said, quietly. Madame Duburg sat | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930461 | down upon a garden seat, raised her hands, and nodded her head slowly and solemnly. "She says it is true, she actually says that it is true." "Why should they not go?" Mrs. Barclay continued, quietly. "They are strong enough to carry arms, and why should they not go out to defend their country? In a short time, it is | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930462 | likely that everyone who can carry arms will have to go. I shall miss them sorely, it is a terrible trial; but other women have to see their sons go out, why should not I?" "Because there is no occasion for it, at all," Madame Duburg said, angrily; "because they are boys and not men, because their father is English; | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930463 | and stupid men like my husband will say, if these young English boys go, it will be a shame upon us for our own to remain behind. "What, I ask you, is the use of being well off? What is the use of paying taxes for an army, if our boys must fight? It is absurd, it is against reason, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930464 | it is atrocious." Madame Duburg's anger and remonstrance were, alike, lost upon Mrs. Barclay; and she cut her visitor short. "My dear sister-in-law, it is of no use arguing or talking. I consider, rightly or wrongly, that the claims of our country stand before our private convenience, or inconvenience. If I were a man, I should certainly go out to | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930465 | fight; why should not my boys do so, if they choose? At any rate, I have given my consent, and it is too late to draw back, even if I wished to do so--which I say, frankly, that I do not." Madame Duburg took her departure, much offended and, late in the evening, her husband came in and had a | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930466 | long talk with Captain Barclay. The following morning Louis and Philippe came in--in a high state of delight--to say that their father had, that morning, given his consent to their going. In three days after the opening of the list, a hundred and twenty men had inscribed their names; and Captain Tempe refused to admit more. Numbers were, he argued, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930467 | a source of weakness rather than of strength, when the men were almost entirely ignorant of drill. For sudden attacks, for night marches, for attacks upon convoys, number is less needed than dash and speed. Among large bodies discipline cannot be kept up, except by immense severity upon the part of the officers; or by the existence of that feeling | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930468 | of discipline and obedience, among the men, which is gained only by long custom to military habits. Besides which, the difficulty of obtaining provisions for a large body of men would be enormous. Indeed, Captain Tempe determined to organize even this small corps into four companies, each of thirty men; to act under one head, and to join together upon | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930469 | all occasions of important expeditions; but at other times to be divided among villages, at such distance as would enable them to watch a large extent of country, each company sending out scouts and outposts in its own neighborhood. By far the larger proportion of those who joined were either proprietors, or the sons of proprietors, in and around Dijon. | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930470 | At that time Government had made no arrangement, whatever, concerning franc tireurs; and no pay was, therefore, available. The invitation was, therefore, especially to those willing and able to go out upon their own account, and at their own expense. Other recruits had been invited but, as these could join the regular forces and receive pay, and other advantages, the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930471 | number who sent in their names was small. The men who did so were, for the most part, picked men; foresters, wood cutters, and others who preferred the certainty of active and stirring service, among the franc tireurs, to the pay and comparative monotony of the regular service. There were some forty of these men among the corps, the rest | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930472 | being all able to provide at least their outfit. Subscriptions had come in rapidly and, in a week, an ample sum was collected to arm and equip all those not able to do so for themselves; and to form a military chest sufficient to pay for the food of the whole corps, in the field, for some time. When the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930473 | list of volunteers was complete, a meeting was held at which, for the first time, the future comrades met. Besides Ralph and Percy, and their cousins, there were six or eight others of their school friends, all lads of about sixteen. It was an important moment in their lives, when they then felt themselves--if not actually men--at least, as going | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930474 | to do the work of men. Upon the table in the room in which the meeting was held was a document, which each in turn was to sign and, behind this, Captain Tempe took his seat. As many of those present knew each other, there was a considerable buzz and talk in the room, until Captain Tempe tapped the table | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930475 | for silence, and then rose to speak. "My friends," he began, "--for I cannot call you comrades, until you have formally entered your names--before you irrevocably commit yourselves to this affair, I wish you each to know exactly what it is that we are going to do. This will be no holiday expedition. I can promise all who go with | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930476 | me plenty of excitement, and a great deal of fighting; but I can also promise them, with equal certainty, an immense deal of suffering--an amount of hardship and privation of which, at present, few here have any idea, whatever. The winter is fast coming on, and winter in the Vosges mountains is no trifle. Let no one, then, put down | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930477 | his name here who is not prepared to suffer every hardship which it is well possible to suffer. "As to the danger, I say nothing. You are Frenchmen; and have come forward to die, if needs be, for your country." Here the speaker was interrupted by loud cheering, and cries of "Vive la France!" "Next, as to discipline. This is | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930478 | an extremely important point. In our absence from military stations, it is essential that we, ourselves, should keep and enforce the strictest discipline. I have this morning received from General Palikao--under whom I served, for many years--an answer to an application I wrote to him, a week since. He highly approves of my plan of cutting the roads behind the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930479 | Prussians, and only wishes that he had a hundred small corps out upon the same errand. He has already received other proposals of the same nature. He enclosed, with his letter, my formal appointment as Commandant of the Corps of Franc Tireurs of Dijon; with full military authority, and power." Great cheering again broke out. "This power, in case of | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930480 | need, I warn you that I shall use unhesitatingly. Discipline, in a corps like ours, is everything. There must be no murmuring, under hardships; no hesitation in obeying any order, however unpleasant. Prompt, willing, cheerful obedience when at work; a warm friendship, and perfect good fellowship at other times: this is my programme." The speaker was again interrupted with hearty | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930481 | cheering. "I intend to divide the corps into four companies, each of thirty men. Each company will have an officer; and will, at times, act independently of each other. I have deliberated whether it is best to allow each company to choose its own officer, or whether to nominate them myself. I have determined to adopt the latter course. You | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930482 | can hardly be such good judges, as to the qualities required by officers during an expedition like the present, as I am; and as I know every man here, and as I shall have the opportunity of seeing more of each man, during the three weeks which we shall spend here upon drill, I shall then choose an officer for | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930483 | each company; but I will leave it to each company to decide whether to accept my choice, or not. There may be points in a man's character which may make him unpopular. "Now, as to drill. We have three weeks before us. Not long enough to make men good soldiers; but amply sufficient--with hard work--to make them good skirmishers. I | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930484 | have already arranged with four men who have served as non-commissioned officers in the army, one of whom will take each company. "Captain Barclay--who is well known to most of you--has kindly offered to give musketry instruction, for four hours each morning. Ten men of each company will go, each morning for a week, to drill at the range; so | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930485 | that, in three weeks, each man will have had a week's instruction. The hours will be from seven to eleven. The others will drill during the same hours. "All will drill together, in the afternoon, from three to six. The officer commanding the troops, here, has promised us the loan of a hundred and twenty old guns, which are in | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930486 | store; and also of twenty chassepots for rifle practice. "That is all I have to say. All who are ready and willing to enter, upon these terms, can now sign their names. Those who are not perfectly sure of their own willingness can draw back, before it is too late." When the cheering ceased, each man came forward and signed | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930487 | his name. "The first parade will take place, at seven tomorrow morning, in the Place d'Armes. A suit of uniform, complete, will be exhibited here at twelve o'clock. A man has offered to supply them, at contract prices; but any who prefer it can have it made by their own tailor. "Now, good night, boys." "Vive les franc tireurs du | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930488 | Dijon!" "Vive la France!" and, with a cheer, the men separated. The next morning the corps met, and were divided into companies. The division was alphabetical, and the young Barclays and Duburgs were all in the first company. This was a matter of great pleasure to them, as they had been afraid that they might have been separated. The following | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930489 | day, drill began in earnest and, accustomed as the boys were to exercise, they found seven hours a day hard work of it. Still, they felt it very much less than many of the young men who, for years, had done little but lounge in cafes, or stroll at the promenade. All, however, stuck to their work and, as their | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930490 | hearts were in it, it was surprising how quickly they picked up the rudiments of drill. Fortunately, they were not required to learn anything beyond the management of their firearms, the simplest movements, and the duty of skirmishers; as all complicated maneuvers would have been useless, in a small corps whose duties would be confined entirely to skirmishing. With this | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930491 | branch of their work, Captain Tempe was determined that they should be thoroughly acquainted, and they were taught how to use cover of all kinds with advantage; how to defend a building, crenelate a wall, fell trees to form an obstacle across roads, or a breastwork in front of them; and how to throw themselves into square, rapidly, to repel | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930492 | cavalry. Captain Barclay was indefatigable as a musketry instructor and, with the aid of a few friends, got up a subscription which was spent in a number of small prizes, so as to give the men as much interest as possible in their work. Captain Tempe impressed most strenuously, upon the men, the extreme importance of proficiency in shooting; as | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930493 | it was upon the accuracy and deadliness of their fire that they would have to rely, to enable them to contend with superior forces in the combats they would have to go through; and each man would probably have frequently to depend, for his life, upon the accuracy of his fire. The original plan--of instructing a third of the men, | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930494 | each week, in musketry--was abandoned; and the parties were changed each day, in order to enable all to advance at an equal rate. Besides, their ammunition was supplied; so that those who chose to do so could practice shooting, for their own amusement, between their morning and afternoon drill. The Barclays were constant in their attendance at the shooting ground; | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930495 | and the steady hand and eye which cricket, fencing, and other exercises had given them now stood them in good stead for, by the end of the time, they became as good marksmen as any in the corps. They still lived at home, as did all those members of the corps whose residences were in and around Dijon. For those | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930496 | who lived too far away to come in and out every day to drill, a large empty barn was taken, and fitted up as a temporary barracks. The time did not pass away without great excitement for, as the end of August drew on, everyone was watching, in deep anxiety, for the news of a battle near Chalons--where MacMahon had | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930497 | been organizing a fresh army. Then came the news that the camp at Chalons was broken up, and that MacMahon was marching to the relief of Bazaine. Two or three days of anxious expectation followed; and then--on the 3rd of September--came the news, through Switzerland, of the utter defeat and surrender of the French army, at Sedan. At first, the | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930498 | news seemed too terrible to be true. People seemed stunned at the thought of a hundred thousand Frenchmen laying down their arms. Two days later came the news of the revolution in Paris. This excited various emotions among the people; but the prevailing idea seemed to be that--now there was a republic--past disasters would be retrieved. "What do you think | 60 | gutenberg |
twg_000012930499 | of the news, papa?" the boys asked as, drill over, they hurried up to talk the matter over with their father. "With any other people, I should consider it to be the most unfortunate event which could have possibly occurred," Captain Barclay said. "A change of Government--involving a change of officials throughout all the departments, and a perfect upset of | 60 | gutenberg |
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