E601 H691877A ( t c ) i

CAMP COURT AND SIEGE

A NARRATIVE OF PERSONAL ADVENTURE AND
OBSERVATION DURING TWO WARS
1861-1865 1870-1871

By WICKHAM HOFFMAN
ASSISTANT ADJ.- BEN. U. S. VOLS. AND SECRETARY TJ. S. LEGATION AT PARIS

NEW YORK
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS
PBAJIHII SQUARE
13V 7

Entered according to Act of Congress, iu the year 1STT, by
HARPER & BROTHERS,
In the Ofiicc of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

Pebtcation.

TO

The Hon. E. B. WASHBUENE,
MINISTER OF TIIEv U. S. AT PARIS,
THESE PAGES ARE CORDIALLY DEDICATED,
IN ADMIRATION OF THE STERLING QUALITIES OF MANHOOD
DISPLAYED BY HIM DURING THE DARK DAYS OF THE SIEGE
AND COMMUNE, AND IN" RECOLLECTION OF MANY
PLEASANT HOURS PASSED TOGETHER DURING
AN OFFICIAL CONNECTION OF
NEARLY SIX YEARS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Hatteras. — "Black Drink." — Fortress Monroe. — General Butler. —
Small-pox. — " L'Isle des Chats." — Lightning. — Farragut. — Troops
land. — Surrender of Forts  Pa"-e 1 1
CHAPTER II.
New Orleans. — Custom-house. — Union Prisoners. — The Calaboose. —
"Them Lincolnites." — The St. Charles.— " Grape-vine Telegraph."
—New Orleans Shop-keepers. — Butler and Soule. — The Fourth
Wisconsin. — A New Orleans Mob. — Yellow Fever  23
CHAPTER III.
Vicksburg.— River on Fire.— Baton Rouge.— Start again for Vicks-
burg.— The Hartford.— -The Canal.— Farragut.— Captain Craven.—
The Arkansas.— Major Boardman.— The Arkansas runs the Gaunt
let. — Malaria  35
CHAPTER IV.
Sickness. — Battle of Baton Rouge. — Death of "Williams.  " Fix Bay
onets !"— Thomas Williams.— His Body.— General T. W. Sherman.
— Butler relieved. — General Orders, \o. 10. — Mr. Adams and Lord
Palmerston. — Butler's Style  47

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V.
T. W. Sherman. — Contrabands. — Defenses of New Orleans. — Ex
change of Prisoners. — Amenities in War. — Port Hudson. — Recon-
noissauce in Force. — The Fleet. — Our Left. — Assault of May 27th.
— Sherman wounded. — Port Hudson surrenders  Page 59
CHAPTER VI.
Major-general Franklin. — Sabine Pass. — Collision at Sea. — March
through Louisiana. — Rebel Correspondence. — "The Gypsy's Was
sail." — Rebel Women.— Rebel roctry.— A Skirmish.— Salt Island.
— Winter Climate. — Banks's Capua. — Major Joseph Bailey  71
CHAPTER VII.
Mistakes. — Affair at Mansfield. — Peach Hill.— Freaks of the Imagi
nation. — After Peach Hill. — General William Dwight. — Retreat to
Pleasant Hill.— Pleasant Hill.— General Dick Taylor. — Taylor ami
the King of Denmark. — An Incident  87
CHAPTER VIII.
Low Water. — The Fleet in Danger. — We fall back upon Alexandria.
 Things look Gloomy. — Bailey builds a Dam in ten Days. — Saves
the Fleet. — A Skirmish.— Smith defeats Polignac. — Unpopularity
of Foreign Officers. — A Novel Bridge. — Leave of Absence. — A
Year in Virginia. — Am ordered again to New Orleans  98

CHAPTER IX.
Visit to Grant's Head-quarters. — His Anecdotes of Army Life.—
Banks relieved.— Can by in Command.— Bailey at Mobile.— Death of
Bailey.— Canby as a Civil Governor.— Confiscated Property.— Pro
poses to rebuild Levees.— Is stopped by Sheridan.— Canby appeals.

CONTENTS.

— Is sustained, but too late. — Levees destroyed by Floods. — Conflict
of Jurisdiction. — Action of President Johnson. — Sheridan abolishes
Canby's Provost Marshal's Department. — Canby asks to be recalled.
— Is ordered to Washington. — To Galveston. — To Richmond. — To
Charleston. — Is murdered by the Modocs. — His Character. Page 105

CHAPTER X.
The Writer appointed Assistant Secretary of Legation to Paris. — Pre
sented to the Emperor. — Court Balls. — Diplomatic Dress. — Opening
of Corps Legislatif. — Opening of Parliament. — King of the Belgians.
— Emperor of Austria. — King of Prussia. — Queen Augusta. — Em
peror Alexander. — Attempt to assassinate him. — Ball at Russian
Embassy. — Resignation of General Dix  1 1 '.)
CHAPTER XI.
Washhurno appointed Minister. — Declaration of War. — Thiers op
poses it. — The United States asked to protect Germans in France.
— Fish's Instructions. — Assent of French Government given. —
Paris in War-paint. — The Emperor opposed to War. — Not a Free
Agent. — His Entourage. — Marshal Le Bceuf  134
CHAPTER XII.
Germans forbidden to leave Paris. — Afterward expelled. — Large
Number in Paris. — Americans in Europe. — Emperor's Staff an In
cumbrance. — French Generals. — Their Rivalries. — False News from
the Front. — Effect in Paris.— Reaction. — Expulsion of Germans. —
Sad Scenes. — Washburne's Action. — Diplomatic Service.— Battle of
Sedan. — Sheridan at Sedan  14."i

CHAPTER XIII.
Revolution of September 4th, 1870. — Paris <•» /-\'/,. — Flight of tin
Empress. — Saved by Foreigners. — Escapes in an English Yacht.—

CONTENTS.

Government of National Defense.— Trochu at its Head.— Jules Si
mon.— United States recognizes Republic— Washburne's Address —
Favrc's Answer,— Efforts for Peacc.-John L. O'Sullivan. Page 159
CHAPTER XIV.
Belleville Demonstrates.— Radical Clubs.— Their Blasphemy and Vio
lence—Unreasonable Suspicion.— Outrages.— Diplomatic Corps.—
Some of them leave Paris.— Meeting of the Corps.— Votes not to
Leave— Embassadors and Ministers.— Right of Correspondence in
a Besieged Place.— Commencement of Siege, September 19th.— Be
siegers and Besieged.— Advantages of Besieged  170
CHAPTER XV.
Balloons.— Large Number dispatched.— Small Number lost.— Worth.
— Carrier - pigeons. — Their Failure. — Their Instincts. — Times
"Agony Column."— Correspondence.— Letters to Besieged.— Count
Solms.— Our Dispatch-bag.— Moltke complains that it is abused.—
Washburne's Answer.— Bismarck's Reply  .182
CHAPTER XVI,
Burnside's Peace Mission. — Sent in by Bismarck.— Interview with
Trochu. — The Sympathetic Tear. - Question of Revictualment. —
Failure of Negotiations. — Point of Vanity. — Flags of Truce —
French accused of Violation of Parole. — Question of the Francs-
Tireurs. — Foreigners refused Permission to leave Paris.— Wash-
burne insists.— Permission granted.— Departure of Americans.—
Scenes at Creteil  lg(.

CHAPTER XVII.
Mob seize Hotel de Ville. — "Thanksgiving" in Paris. — Prices of
Food.— Paris Rats.— Menagerie Meat.— Horse-meat.— Eatable only
as Mince. — Government Interference. — Sorties.— Are Failures.—

CONTENTS.

Le Bourget taken by French. — Retaken by Prussians, — French
Naval Officers. — Belleville National Guard. — Their Poetry. — Blun-
dering. — Sheridan's Opinion of German Army  Page 207

CHAPTER XVIII.
The National Guard. — Its Composition. — The American Ambulance.
— Its Organization. — Its Success. — Dr. Swinburne, Chief Surgeon.
— The Tent System. — Small Mortality. — Poor Germans in Paris. —
Bombardment by Germans. — Wantonness of Artillery-men. — Bad
News from the Loire. — " Le Plan Trochu." — St. Genevieve to ap
pear. — Vinoy takes Command. — Paris surrenders. — Bourbaki de
feated. — Attempts Suicide  221
CHAPTER XIX.
Election in France. — Terms of Peace. — Germans enter Paris. — Their
Martial Appearance. — American Apartments occupied. — Wash-
burne remonstrates. — Attitude of Parisians. — The Germans evac
uate Paris. — Victualing the City. — Aid from England and the
United States. — Its Distribution. — Sisters of Charity  234

CHAPTER XX.
The Commune. — Murder of French Generals. — The National Guard of
Order. — It disbands. — The Reasons.— Flight of the Government to
Versailles. — Thiers. — Attempts to reorganize National Guard. — An
American arrested by Commune. — Legation intervenes. — His Dis
charge. — His Treatment. — Reign of King Mob. — "Demonstration*
Pacijiqucs." — Absurd Decrees of the Commune. — Destruction of the
Vendome Column  . 243

CHAPTER XXI.

Diplomatic Corps moves to Versailles. -
Life at Versailles. — German Princes.- 1"

- Journey there and back. —
-Battle at Clamart. — Unbur-

CONTENTS.

ied Insurgents. — Bitterness of Class Hatred.— Its Probable Causes.
— United States Post-office at Versailles. — The Archbishop of Par
is. — Attempts to save his Life. — Washburne's Kindness to him.
— Blanqui. — Archbishop murdered. — Ultramontanism. — Bombard
ment by Government.— My Apartment struck.— Capricious Effects
of Shells.— Injury to Arch of Triumph. — Bass-reliefs of Peace and
Wiu"  Page 256

CHAPTER XXII.
Reign of Terror.— Family Quarrels.— The Alsacians, etc., claim Ger
man Nationality. — They leave Paris on our Passes. — Prisoners of
Commune. — Priests and Nuns.— Fragments of Shells. — "Articles
de Paris."— Fearful Bombardment of "Point du Jour."— Arrest of
Cluseret. — Commune Proclamations. — Capture of Paris. — Troops
enter by Undefended Gate. — Their Slow Advance. — Fight at the
Tuileries Gardens. — Communist Women. — Capture of Barricades. —
Cruelties of the Troops. — " Petroleuses." — Absurd Stories about
them. — Public Buildings fired. — Destruction of Tuileries, etc., etc.
— Narrow Escape of Louvre. — Treatment of Communist Prisoners.
— Presents from Emperor of Germany  271

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER I.
Hattcras.-r-" Black Drink." — Fortress Monroe. — General Butler. —
Small-pOx. — " L'Isle des Chats." — Lightning. — Farragut. — Troops
laud. — Surrender of Forts.
In February, 1862, the writer of the following
pages, an officer on the staff of Brigadier -general
Thomaa Williams, was stationed at Hatteras. Of all
forlorn stations to which the folly aud wickedness
of the Rebellion condemned our officers, Hatteras
was the most foiiorn. It blows a gale of wind half
the time. The tide runs through the inlet at the
rate of five miles an hour. It was impossible to un
load the stores for Burnside's expedition during
more than three days of the week. After an easter
ly blow — and there are enough of them — the waters
are so piled up in the shallow sounds between Hat
teras and the Main, that the tide ebbs without inter
mission for twenty-four hours.

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

The history of Hatteras is curious. There can
be little doubt that English navigators penetrated
into those waters long before the Pilgrims landed at
Plymouth. But the colony was not a success. Of
the colonists some returned to England; others died
of want. The present inhabitants of the island are
a sickly, puny race, the descendants of English con
victs. When Great Britain broke up her penal set
tlement at the Bermudas, she transported the most
hardened convicts to Van Diemens Land; those who
had been convicted of minor offenses, she turned
loose upon our coast. Here they intermarried; for
the inhabitants of the Main look down upon them as
an inferior race, and will have no social intercourse
with them. The effect of these intermarriages is
seen in the degeneracy of the race.
Until within a few years their principal occupation
was wrecking. Hatteras lies on the direct route of
vessels bound from the West Indies to Baltimore,
Philadelphia, and New York. The plan adopted by
these guileless natives to aid the storm in insuring
a wreck was simple, but effective. There is a halt
wild pony bred upon the island called "marsh pony."
One of these animals was caught, a leg tied up Ra-
rcy fashion, a lantern slung to his neck, and the ani-

' BLACK DRINK.'

!3

mal driven along the beach on a stormy night. The
effect was that of a vessel riding at anchor. Other
vessels approached, and were soon unpleasantly aware
of the difference between a ship and a marsh pony.
The dwellings bear witness to the occupation of
their owners. The fences are constructed of ships'
knees and planks. In their parlors you may see on
one side a rough board door, on the other an exqui
sitely finished rose-wood or mahogany cabin door,
with silver or porcelain knobs. Contrast' reigns ev
erywhere. But the place is not without its attractions to the
botanist. A wild vine, of uncommon strength and
toughness, grows abundantly, and is used in the
place of rope. The iron -tree, hard enough to turn
the edge of the axe, and heavy as the metal from
which it takes its name, is found in abundance, and
the tea-tree, from whose leaves the inhabitants draw
their tea when the 'season has been a bad one for
wrecks. This tea-tree furnishes the " black drink,"
which the Florida Indians drank to make themselves
invulnerable. They drank it with due religious cer
emonies till it nauseated them, when it was supposed
to have produced the desired effect. What a pity
that we can not associate some such charmino- super-

14

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

stition with the maladie de inert It would so com
fort us in our affliction I
But we were not to stay long on this enchanted
isle. Butler had organized his expedition against
New Orleans, and it was now ready to sail. He had
applied for Thomas Williams, who had been strongly
recommended to him by Weitzel, Kenzel, and other
regular officers of his staff. Early in March we re
ceived orders to report to Butler at Fortress M onroe.
We took one of those rolling tubs they call "propel
lers," Avhich did the service between the fortress and
Hatteras for the Quartermaster's Department ; and,
after nearly rolling over two or three times, we reach
ed Old Point. Here we found the immense steamer
the Constitution, loaded with three regiments, ready
to sail. Williams had hoped to have two or three
days to run North and see his wife and children,
whom he had not seen for months. But with him
considerations of duty were before all others. He
thought that three regiments should be commanded
by a brigadier, and he determined to sail at once.
It was a disappointment to us all. To him the loss
was irreparable. He never saw his family again.
It has always appeared to me that General Butler
has not received the credit to which he is entitled

GENERAL BUTLER.

15

for the capture of New Orleans. Without him New
Orleans would not have been taken in 1862, and a
blow inflicted upon the Confederacy, which the Lon
don Times characterized as the heaviest it had yet
received — "almost decisive." The writer has no
sympathy with General Butler's extreme views, and
no admiration for his proteges ; but he was cognizant
of the New Orleans expedition from its inception,
he accompanied it on the day it set sail, he landed
with it in New Orleans, he remained in that city or
its neighborhood during the whole of Butler's com
mand ; and a sense of justice compels him to say that
Butler originated the expedition, that he carried it
through, under great and unexpected difficulties,
that he brought it to a successful termination, and
that his government of the city at that time, and un
der the peculiar circumstances, was simply admirable.
It is not perhaps generally known that it was But
ler who urged this enterprise upon the President.
He was answered that no troops could be spared ;
'M'Clellan wanted them all for his advance upon
Richmond. Butler thereupon offered to raise the
troops himself, provided the Government would
give him three old regiments. The President con
sented. The troops were raised in New England,

i6

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

and three old regiments — the Fourth Wisconsin,
the Sixth Michigan, and the Twenty -first Indiana
— designated to accompany them. At the last mo
ment M'Clellan opposed the departure of the West
ern troops, and even applied for the " New England
Division." It was with some difficulty that, appeal
ing to the President, and reminding him of his
promise, Butler was able to carry out the design for
which the troops had been raised.
We sailed from Old Point on the 6th of March
Avith the three regiments I have named. We num
bered three thousand souls in all on board. If any
thing were wanting at this day to prove the effica
cy of vaccination, our experience on board that ship
is sufficient. We took from the hospital a man who
had been ill with the small-pox. He was supposed
to be cured. Two days out, his disease broke out
again. The men among whom he lay were packed
as close as herring in a barrel, yet but one took the
disease. They had all been vaccinated within sixty
days. I commend this fact to the attention of those
parish authorities in England who still obstinately
refuse to enforce the Vaccination Act.
Five days brought us, in perfect health, to Ship
Island. Here was another Hatteras, with a milder

"ISLE OF CATS."

17

climate, and no "black drink;" a low, sandy island
in the Gulf, off Mobile. This part of the Gulf of
Mexico was discovered and settled by the French.
They landed on Ship Island, and called it "L'Isle
des Chats," from the large number of raccoons they
found there. Not being personally acquainted with
that typical American, they took him for a species of
cat, and named the island accordingly. From Ship
Island and the adjacent coast, which they settled, the
French entered Lake Borgne and Lake Poutchar-
train, and so up the Amite River in their boats.
They dragged their boats across the short distance
which separates the upper waters of the Amite from
the Mississippi, embarked upon the " Father of Wa
ters," and sailed down the stream. Here they play
ed a trick upon John Bull ; for, meeting an En
glish fleet coming up, the first vessels that ever en
tered the mouths of the Mississippi, they boarded
them, claimed to be prior discoverers, and averred
that they had left their ships above. There exist
ed in those days an understanding among maritime
nations that one should not interfere with the prior
discoveries of another. The English thereupon turn
ed, and the spot, a short distance below New Orleans,
is to this day called " English Turn."

iS

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

We remained at the "Isle of Cats" about six
weeks — the life monotonous enough. The beach
offered a great variety of shell-fish, devil-fish, horse
shoes, and sea-horses. An odd thing was the abun
dance of fresh, pure water. Dig a hole two feet
deep anywhere in the sand on that low island, ris
ing scarcely five feet above the sea, and in two hours
it was filled with fresh water. After using it a
week, it became brackish; when all it was necessary
to do was to dig another hole.
When on Ship Island, I witnessed a curious freak
of lightning. One night we had a terrible thunder
storm, such as one sees only in those southern lati
tudes. In a large circular tent, used as a guard-tent,
eight prisoners were lying asleep, side by side. The
sentry stood leaning against the tent pole, the butt
of the musket on the ground, the bayonet against
his shoulder. The lightning struck the tent -pole,
leaped to the bayonet, followed down the ban-el,
tearing the stock to splinters, but only slightly stun
ning the sentry. Thence it passed along the ground,
struck the first prisoner, killing him ; passed through
the six inside men without injury to them ; and off
by the eighth man, killing him.
Finally, the expedition was complete. Stores,

FARRAGUT.

19

guns, horses, all had arrived. Butler became impa
tient for the action of the navy. He went to the
South-west Pass, where Farragut's fleet was lying,
and urged his advance. Farragut replied that he
had no coal. Butler answered that he would give
him what he wanted, and sent him fifteen hundred
tons. He had had the foresight to ballast his sail
ing ships with coal, and so had an ample supply. A
week passed, and still the ships did not ascend the
river. Again Butler went to the Pass, and again
Farragut said that he had not coal enough — that
once past the forts, he might be detained on the
river, and that it would be madness to make the at
tempt unless every ship were filled up with coal.
Once again Butler came to his aid, and gave him
three thousand tons. We wrere naturally surprised
that so vital an expedition should be neglected by
the Navy Department. The opinion was pretty
general among us that the expedition was not a fa
vorite with the Department, and that they did not
anticipate any great success from it. They were
quite as surprised as the rest of the world when
Farragut accomplished his great feat.
At length all was ready. The troops were em
barked, and lay off the mouth of the river, waiting

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

for the action of the fleet. Farragut, after an idle
bombardment of three days by the mortar-boats,
Avhich he told us he had no confidence in, but which
he submitted to in deference to the opinions of the
Department and of Porter (the firing ceased, by-the-
way, when it had set fire to the wooden barracks in
Fort Jackson, and might have done some good if
continued), burst through the defenses, silenced the
forts, and ascended the river. It is not my prov
ince to describe this remarkable exploit. Its effect
was magical. An exaggerated idea prevailed at that
time of the immense superiority of land batteries
over ships. One gun on shore, it was said, was equal
to a whole ship's battery. The very small results ob
tained by the united English and French fleets dur
ing the Crimean Avar were quoted in proof. Those
magnificent squadrons effected scarcely any thing,
for the capture of Bomarsund was child's play to
them. The English naval officers, proud of their
service and its glorious history, were delighted to
find that, when daringly led, ships could1 still do
something against land batteries, and all England
rang with Farragut's exploit.
The part played by the army in this affair Avas mi
nor, but still important. Our engineer officers, who

SURRENDER OF FORTS.

had assisted in building forts St. Philip and Jack
son, knew the ground well. Under their guidance
we embarked, first in light-draught gun-boats, then
in barges, and made our Avay through the shalloAv
waters of the Gulf, and up the bayou, till Ave landed
at Quarantine, betAveen Fort St. Philip and the city,
cutting off all communication betAveen them. As, in
the stillness of an April evening, Ave made our slow
way up the bayou amidst a tropical vegetation, fes
toons of moss hanging from the trees and drooping
into the water, with the chance of being fired on at
any moment from the dark swamp on either side,
the effect upon the imagination was striking, and the
scene one not easily forgotten.
Farragut had passed up the river, but the forts
still held out, and the great body of the troops AA'as
beloAV them. When, however, they found them
selves cut off from any chance of succor, the men in
Fort St. Philip mutinied, tied their officers to the
guns, and surrendered. Fort Jackson folloAved the
example. No doubt our turning movement had has
tened their surrender by some days. I once suggest
ed to Butler that we had hastened it by a Aveek. "A
month, a month, sir," he replied.
It Avas here they told us that the United States

22

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

flag had been hauled doAvn from the Mint by a mob
headed by that scoundrel Mumford, and dragged
through the mud. I heard Butler swear by all that
Avas sacred, that if he caught Mumford, and did not
hang him, might he be hanged himself. He caught
him, and he kept his oath. There never was a wiser
act. It quieted New Orleans like a charm. The
mob, Avho had assembled at the galloAvs fully expect
ing to hear a pardon read at the last moment, and
prepared to create a riot if he Avere pardoned, slunk
home like Avhipped curs.

NEW ORLEANS.

23

CHAPTER II.
New Orleans. — Custom-house. — Union Prisoners. — The Calaboose. —
" Them Lincolnites." — The St. Charles. — " Grape-vine Telegraph."
— New Orleans Shop-keepers. — Butler and Soule. — The Fourth
Wisconsin. — A New Orleans Mob. — Yellow Fever.
On the evening of the 1st of May, 1862, the lead
ing transports anchored off the city. Butler sent for
Williams, and ordered him to land at once. Wil
liams, like the thorough soldier he Avas, proposed to
wait till morning, when he Avould have daylight for
the movement, and when the other transports, with
our most reliable troops, Avould be up. " No, sir,"
said Butler, "this is the 1st of May, and on this day
we must occupy NeAV Orleans, and the first regiment
to land must be a Massachusetts regiment." So the
orders were issued, and in half an hour the Thirty-
first Massachusetts Volunteers and the Sixth Massa
chusetts Battery set foot in NeAV Orleans.
As we commenced our march, Williams saAV the
steamer Diana coming up Avith six companies of the
Fourth Wisconsin. He ordered a halt, and sent me

24

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

with instructions for them to land at once, and fall
into the rear of the column. I passed through the
mob without difficulty, gave the orders, and Ave re
sumed our inarch. The general had directed that
our route should be along the levee, where our right
was protected by the gun-boats. Presently Ave found
that the head of the column was turning up Julia
Street. Williams sent to know why the change had
been made. The answer came back that Butler Avas
there, and had given orders to pass in front of the
St. Charles Hotel, Avhile the band played " Yankee
Doodle," and " Picayune Butler's come to ToAvn," if
they kneAv it. They did not knoAV it, unfortunately,
so we had one unbroken strain of the martial air of
" Yankee Doodle " all the Avay.
Arrived at the Custom-house late in the evening,
avc found the doors closed and locked. Williams
said to me, " What would you do ?" " Break the
doors open," I replied. The general, avIio could not
easily get rid of his old, regular-army habits, ordered
" Sappers and miners to the front." No doubt the
sappers and miners thus invoked would have speed
ily appeared had Ave had any, but two volunteer reg
iments and a battery of light artillery Avere the ex
tent of our force that night. I turned to the adju-

THE CUSTOM-HOUSE.

= 5

tant of the Fourth Wisconsin, and asked if he had any
axes in his regiment. He at once ordered up two
or three men. We found the Aveakest-looking door,
and attacked it. As Ave Avere battering it in, the ma
jor of the Thirty-first came up, and took an axe from
one of the men. Inserting the edge in the crack
near the lock, he pried it gently, and the door flew
open. I said, "Major, you seem to understand this
sort of thing." He replied, " Oh ! this isn't the first
door I have broken open, by a long shot. I was once
foreman of a fire-company in Buffalo."
We entered the building with great caution, for
the report had been spread that it was mined. The
men of the Fourth Wisconsin had candles in their
knapsacks; they always had every thing, those fel
lows ! We soon found the meter, turned the gas on,
and then proceeded to make ourselves comfortable
for the night. I established myself in the postmas
ter's private room — the Post-office was in the Cus
tom-house— Avith his table for my bed, and a package
of rebel documents for a pillow. I do not remem
ber what my dreams were that night. We took the
letters from the boxes to preserve them, and piled
them in a corner of my room. They Avere all sub
sequently delivered to their respective addresses.
2

26

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

Pretty Avell tired out Avith the labor and excite
ment of the day, I Avas just making myself tolerably
comfortable for the night, when the officer of the
day, reported that a woman urgently desired to see
the general on a matter of life or death. She was
admitted. She told us that her husband was a
Union man, that he had been arrested that day and
committed to the " Calaboose," and that his life was
in danger. The general said to her, " My good wom
an, I will see to it in the morning." " Oh, sir," she
replied, "in the morning he will be dead! They
will poison him." We did not believe much in the
poison story, but it was evident that she did. Wil
liams turned to me, and said, " Captain, have you a
mind to look into this?" Of course I was ready,
and ordering out a company of the Fourth Wis
consin, and asking Major Boardman, a daring offi
cer of that regiment, to accompany me, I started for
the Calaboose, guided by the woman. The streets
Avere utterly deserted. Nothing was heard but the
measured tramp of the troops as we marched along.
Arrived at the Calaboose, I ordered the man I Avas
in search of to be brought out. I questioned him,
questioned the clerk and the jailer, became satisfied
that he was arrested for political reasons alone, or-

UNION PRISONERS.

27

dered his release, and took him with me to the Cus
tom-house, for he Avas afraid to return home. Being
on the spot, it occurred to me that it Avould be as
AA'ell to sec if there were other 2^olitical prisoners in
the prison. I had the books brought, and examined
the entries. At last I thought I had discovered an
other victim. The entry read, " Committed as a sus
picious character, and for holding communication AA-ith
Picayune Butler's troops." I ordered the man before
me. The jailer took down a huge bunch of keys,
and I heard door after door creaking on its hinges.
At last the man was brought out. I think I never
saAv a more villainous countenance. I asked him
what he was committed for ? He evidently did not
recognize the Federal uniform, but took me for a
Confederate officer, and replied that he Avas arrested
for talking to " them Lincolnites." I told the jail
er that I did not want that man — that he might lock
him up again.
Having commenced the search for political prison
ers, I thought it well to make thorough Avork of it ;
so I inquired if there were other prisons in the city.
There was one in the French quarter, nearly two
miles off; so Ave pursued our Aveary and solitary
tramp through the city. My men evidently did not

28

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

relish it. The prison was quiet, locked up for the
naght. We hammered away at the door till we got
the officers up; went in, examined the books, found
no entries of commitments except for crime; put
the officers on their written oaths that no one Avas
confined there except for crime; and so returned to
our Post-office beds.
The next clay was a busy one. Early in the
morning I went to the St. Charles Hotel to make
arrangements for lodging the general and his staff
With some difficulty I got in. In the rotunda of
that fine building sat about a dozen rebels, looking
as black as a thunder - cloud. I inquired for the
proprietor or clerk in charge, and a young man step
ped forward : " Impossible to accommodate us ; hotel
closed ; no servants in the house." I said, "At all
events, I will see your rooms." Going into one of
them, he closed the door and whispered, " It would
be as much as my life is worth, sir, to offer to ac
commodate you here. I saw a man knifed on Canal
Street yesterday for asking a naval officer the time
of day. But if you choose to send troops and open
the hotel by force, why, Ave will do our best to make
you comfortable." Returning to the rotunda, I
found Lieutenant Biddle, who had accompanied me

NEW ORLEANS SHOP-KEEPERS.

29

— one of the general's aids — engaged in a hot dis
cussion with our rebel friends. I asked him " What
use in discussing these matters 3" and, turning to the
rebs, with appropriate gesture said, " We've got you,
and we mean to hold you." " That's the talk," they
replied ; " we understand that? They told us that
the rebel army was in sight of Washington, and that
John Magruder's guns commanded the Capitol.
Why they picked out Magruder particularly, I can
not say. This news had come by telegraph. We
used to call the rebel telegraphic lines " the grape
vine telegraph," for their telegrams were generally
circulated with the bottle after dinner.
The shop-keepers in NeAV Orleans, when we first
landed there, Avere generally of the opinion of my
friend the hotel -clerk. A naval officer came to us
one morning at the Custom-house, and said that the
commodore wanted a map of the river ; that he had
seen the very thing, but that the shop-keeper refused
to sell it, intimating, hoAvever, that if he were com
pelled to sell it, why then, of course, he couldn't help
himself. We ordered out a sergeant and ten men.
The officer got his map, and paid for it.
But Butler Avas not the man to be tliAvarted in
this way. Finding this parti pris on the part of

3°

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

the shop-keepers, he issued an order that all shops
must be opened on a certain day, or that he should
put soldiers in, and sell the goods for account "of
Avhom it might concern." On the day appointed
they were all opened. So, too, with the newspapers.
They refused to print his proclamation. An order
came to us to detail half a dozen printers, and send
them under a staff officer to the office of the True
Delta, and print the proclamation. We soon found
the men. From a telegraph - operator to a printer,
bakers, engine-drivers, carpenters, and coopers, we
had representatives of all the trades. This was in
the early days of the war. Afterward the men
were of an inferior class. The proclamation was
printed, and the men then amused themselves by
getting out the paper. Next morning it appeared
as usual; this Avas enough. The editor soon came
to terms, and the other journals followed suit.
On the 2d of May Butler landed and took quar
ters at the St. Charles. There has been much idle
gossip about attempts to assassinate him, and his
fears of it. In regard to the latter, he landed in
New Orleans, and drove a mile to his hotel, with
one staff officer, and one armed orderly only on the
box. When his Avife arrived in the city, he rode

BUTLER AND SOULE.

with one orderly to the levee, and there, surrounded
by the crowd, awaited her landing. As regards the
former, we never heard of any Avell - authenticated
attempt to assassinate him, and I doubt if any was
ever made.
That afternoon Butler summoned the municipal
authorities before him to treat of the formal sur
render of the city. They came to the St. Charles,
accompanied by Pierre Sonle as their counsel. A
mob collected about the hotel, and became tur
bulent. Butler was. unprotected, and sent to the
Custom-house for a company of "Massachusetts"
troops. The only Massachusetts troops there Avere
the Thirty -first, a newly raised regiment. They
afterward became excellent soldiers, but at that time
they Avere very young and very green. It so hap
pened, too, that the only company available Avas
composed of the youngest men of the regiment.
They were ordered out. The officer in charge did
not knoAV the Avay to the St. Charles. No guide
was at hand, so I volunteered to accompany them.
We drew the troops up on Common Street, and I
entered the hotel to report them to Butler. I found
him engaged in a most animated discussion Avith
Soule. Both Avere able and eloquent men, but

32

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

Butler undoubtedly got the better of the argument.
Perhaps the fact that he had thirteen thousand bay
onets to back his opinions gave point to his remarks.
Interrupting his discourse for a moment only he
said "Draw the men up round the hotel, sir; 'and
* the mob make the slightest disturbance, fire on
them on the spot," and went on with the discussion
Eeturning to the street, I found the mob apostro
phizing my youthful eoldiers with( (<Does
mother know you're out ?» and like popular wit It
struck me that the inquiry was Avell addressed. I
felt disposed to ask the same question. I reported
the matter to Williams, and he thought that it would
be well to counteract the effect. That evenino- he
sent the band of the Fourth Wisconsin to play in
front of the St. Charles, Avith the whole regiment
tall, stalwart fellows, as an escort. In a few minutes
the mob had slunk away. An officer heard one
ffatnm say to another, "Those are Western men
and they say they do fight like h  » One of the'
officers told me that his men's fingers itched to fire
I suppose that all mobs are alike, but certainly the
New Orleans mob was as cowardly as it was brutal
When we first occupied the Custom-house, they col
lected about us, and annoyed our sentries seriously

A NEW ORLEANS MOB.

33

The orders were to take no notice of Avhat was said,
but to permit no overt act. I Avas sitting one day in
my office, the general out, Avhen Captain Bailey, the
officer avIio distinguished himself so much af terAvard
in building the Red River dam — and a gallant fel
low he was — rushed in, and said, "Are Ave to stand
this ?" I said, " What's the matter, Bailey ?" He re
plied that " One of those d — d scoundrels has taken
his quid from his mouth, and throAvn it into the sen
try's face." I said, " No ; I don't think that we are
to stand that : that seems to me an ' overt act.' Ar
rest him." Bailey rushed out, called to the guard to
follow him, and, jumping into the crowd, seized the
fellow by the collar, and jerked him into the lines.
The guard came up and secured him. The mob fell
back and scattered, and never troubled us from that
day. The fellow went literally doAvn upon his
knees, and begged to be let off. We kept him lock
ed up that night, and the next day discharged him.
He laid it all to bad Avhisky.
As the course of this narrative will soon carry the
writer from New Orleans into the interior, he takes
this opportunity to say that he has often been as
sured by the rebel inhabitants, men and women of
position and character, that never had NeAV Orleans
9*

34

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

been so well governed, so clean, so orderly, and so
healthy, as it was under Butler. IIe soon got rid of
the "Plug-uglies" and other ruffian bands: some
he sent to Fort Jackson, and others into the Confed
eracy. There was no yellow fever in New Orleans
while we held it, showing as plainly as possible that
its prevalence or its absence is simply a question of
quarantine. (Butler had sworn he would hang the
health officer if the fever got up.) Before we ar
rived there, the "back door," as it was called- the
lake entrance to the city-was always open, and for
five hundred dollars any vessel could come up. In
1861, when our blockade commenced, and during the
whole of our occupation, yellow fever was unknown.
In 1866 we turned the city over to the civil author
ities. That autumn there were a few straggling
cases, and the following summer the fever was viru
lent.

VICKSBURG.

35

CHAPTER III.
Vicksburg. — River on Fire. — Baton Rouge. — Start again for Aricks-
burg. — The Hartford. — The Canal. — Farragut. — Captain Craven. —
The Arkansas. — Major Boardman. — The Arkansas runs the Gaunt
let. — Malaria.
Admiral Faeeagtjt was anxious, after the capture
of NeAV Orleans, to proceed at once against Mobile.
I heard him say that, in the panic excited by the
capture of NeAV Orleans, Mobile would fall an easy
prey. The Government, however, for political as
well as military reasons, was anxious to open the
Mississippi. Farragut was ordered against Vicks
burg, and Williams, Avith two regiments and a bat
tery, Avas sent to accompany and support him.
When one reflects upon the great strength of Vicks
burg, and the immense resources it aftenvard took
to capture it, it seems rather absurd to have sent us
against it Avith two regiments and a battery. The
excursion, however, if it is to be looked upon in this
light, AA^as delightful. We had tAvo fine river boats.
The plantations along the banks Avere in the highest
state of cultivation; the young cane, a few inches

36

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

above the ground, of the most lovely green. Indeed,
I know no more beautiful green than that of the
young sugar-cane. Our flag had not been seen in
those parts for over a year, and the joy of the ne
groes when they had an opportunity to exhibit it
without fear of their overseers was quite touching.
The river Avas very high, and as we floated along
Ave were far above the level of the plantations, and
looked down upon the negroes at Avork, and into the
open windows of the houses. The effect of this to
one unused to it — the water above the land — was
very striking. Natchez, a toAvn beautifully situated
on a high bluff, was gay with the inhabitants who
had turned out to see us. The ladies, Avith their
silk dresses and bright parasols, and the negro Avom-
en, with their gaudy colors, orange especially, which
they affect so much, and which, by-the-way, can be
seen at a greater distance than any other color I
knoAV of.
One often hears of "setting a river on fire," met
aphorically speaking: I have seen it done literally.
The Confederate authorities had issued orders to
burn the cotton along the banks to prevent its fall
ing into our hands. But as the patriotism of the
owners naturally enough needed stimulating, vigi-

HOLDING A COUNCIL.

37

lance committees were organized, generally of those
planters whose cotton Avas safe at a distance. These
men preceded us as Ave ascended the river; and
burned their neighbors' cotton Avith relentless patri
otism. The burning material Avas throAvn into the
stream, and floated on the surface a long time before
it was extinguished. At night it was a very beauti
ful sight to see the apparently flaming water. We
had to exercise some care to steer clear of the burn
ing masses.
Arrived opposite Vicksburg, we boarded the flag
ship to consult for combined operations. We found
Farragut holding a council of his captains, consider
ing the feasibility of passing the batteries of Vicks
burg as he had passed the forts. We apologized for
our intrusion, and Avere about to Avithdraw, when he
begged us to stay, and, turning to Williams, he said,
" General, my officers oppose my running by Vicks
burg as impracticable. Only one supports me. So
I must give it up for the present. In ten days they
will all be of my opinion ; and then the difficulties
Avill be much greater than they are noAV." It turned
out as he had said. In a feAV days they Avere nearly
all of his opinion, and he did it.
But Ave found no dry place for the soles of our

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

feet. "The water was doAvn," as the Scotchmen
say (down from the hills), and the Avhole Louisiana
side of the river was flooded. It would have been
madness to land on the Vicksburg side with two
regiments only. Nothing could be done, and we
returned to Baton Rouge, where, finding a healthy
and important position, a United States arsenal, and
Union men who claimed our protection, Williams
determined to remain and await orders.
Here cotton Avas offered us, delivered on the levee,
at three cents a pound. It was selling at one dollar
in Ncav York. I spoke to Williams about it, and he
said that there AA'as no law against any officer specula
ting in cotton or other products of the country (one
was subsequently passed), but that he would not have
any thing to do Avith it, and advised me not to. I
folloAved his advice and example. A subsequent
post-commander did not. He made eighty thousand
dollars out of cotton, and then went home and was
made a brigadier-general ; I never knew why.
But the Government Avas determined to open the
river at all hazards. Farragut was re -enforced.
Butler Avas ordered to send all the troops he could
spare. Davis Avas ordered doAvn with the Upper
Mississippi fleet. Early in June Ave started again

THE "HARTFORD."

39

for Vicksburg, Avith six regiments and tAVO batteries.
It was a martial and beautiful sight to see the long
line of gun-boats and transports folloAving each other
in Indian file at regular intervals. Navy and army
boats combined, we numbered about twenty sail —
if I may apply that word to steamers. On our way
up, the flag -ship, the famous Hartford, was nearly
lost. She grounded on a bank in the middle of the
river, and with a falling stream. Of course there
was the usual talk about a rebel pilot ; but no vessel
with the draught of the Hartford, a sloop-of-war, had
ever before ventured to ascend above New Orleans.
The navy worked hard all the afternoon to release
her, but in vain. The hawsers parted like pack
thread. I was on board Avhen a grizzled quarter
master, the very type of an old man-of-Avarsman,
came up to the commodore on the quarter-deck, and,
pulling his forelock, reported that there was a six-
inch hawser in the hold. Farragut ordered it up at
once. Tavo of our army transports, the most power
ful, were lashed together, the hawser passed round
them, and slackened. They then started with a jerk.
The Hartford set her machinery in motion, the gun
boat lashed along-side started hers, and the old ship
came off, and was SAvept down with the current. It

40

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

required some seamanship to disentangle all these
vessels. We found that the waters had subsided since our
last visit to Vicksburg, and so landed at Young's
Point, opposite the town. Some years previously
there had been a dispute between the State authori
ties of Louisiana and of Mississippi, and the Legisla
ture of the former had taken steps to turn the river,
and cut off Vicksburg by digging a canal across the
peninsula opposite. This we knew, and decided to
renew the attempt. We soon found traces of the
engineers' work. The trees were cut down in a
straight line across the Point. Here we set to work.
Troops were sent to the different plantations both
up and down the river, and the negroes pressed into
the service. It was curious to observe the difference
of opinion among the old river captains as to the fea
sibility of our plan. Some were sure that the river
would run through the cut; others swore that it
would not, and could not be made to. The matter
was soon settled by the river itself; for it suddenly
rose one night, filled up our ditch, undermined the
banks, and in a few hours destroyed our labor of
days. A somewhat careful observation of the Mis
sissippi since has satisfied me that if a canal he cut

FARRAGUT.

41

where the stream impinges upon the bank, it will
take to it as naturally as a duck does to Avater. But
Avhen the current strikes the opposite bank, as it
does at Young's Point, you can not force it from
its course. Had we attempted our canal some miles
farther up, Avhere the current strikes the right bank,
Ave should have succeeded. Grant, the next year,
renewed our ditch-digging experiment in the same
place, and with infinitely greater resources, but with
no better success.
Farragut had now made his preparations to run
by the batteries. He divided his squadron into three
divisions, accompanying the second division himself.
The third was under command of Captain Craven, of
the Brooklyn. We stationed Nim's light battery —
and a good battery it Avas — on the point directly op
posite Vicksburg, to assist in silencing the fire of one
of the most poAverful of the shore batteries. Very
early in the morning Farragut got under way ;
two of his divisions passed, completely silencing the
rebel batteries. The third division did not attempt
the passage. This led to an angry correspondence
between the commodore and Craven, and resulted in
Craven's being relieved, and ordered to report to
Washington. There was a great difference of opin-

42

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

ion among naval officers as to Craven's conduct.
He Avas as brave an officer as lived. He contended
that it Avas then broad daylight, that the gunners on
shore had returned to their guns, and that his feeble
squadron Avould have been exposed to the whole fire
of the enemy, without any adequate object to be
gained in return. Farragut replied that his orders
were to pass, and that he should have done it at all
hazards. And noAV an incident occurred which mortified
the commodore deeply. His powerful fleet, re-en
forced by Davis, lay above Vicksburg. The weather
Avas intensely hot, and the commodore, contrary to
his oAvn judgment, as he told Williams, but on the
urgent request of his officers, had permitted the fires
to be extinguished. Early one morning we had sent
a steamboat with a party up the river to press ne
groes into our canal Avork. Suddenly a powerful
iron -clad, flying the Confederate colors, appeared
coming out of the Yazoo River There Avas noth
ing for our unarmed little boat to do but to run for
it. The Arkansas opened from her bow-guns, and
the first shell, falling among the men drawn up on
deck, killed the captain of the company, and killed
or Avounded ten men. It is so rarely that a shell

THE "ARKANSAS."

43

commits such havoc, that I mention it as an un
common occurrence.
The firing attracted the attention of the fleet, and
they beat to quarters. But there Avas no time to get
up steam. The Arkansas passed through them all
almost unscathed, receiving and returning their fire.
The shells broke against her iron sides Avithout in
flicting injury. The only hurt she received was
from the Richmond. Alden kept his guns loaded
with poAvder only, prepared to use shell or shot as
circumstances might require. He loaded with solid
shot, and gave her a broadside as she passed. This
did her some damage, but nothing serious.
In the mean time the alarm was given to the trans
ports. Farragut had sent us an officer to say that
the Arkansas was coming, that he should stop her if
he could, but that he feared that he could not. The
troops were got under arms, and our tAVO batteries
ordered to the levee. A staff officer said to General
Williams, " General, don't let us be caught here like
rats in a trap ; let us attempt something, even if we
fail." "What would you do?" said the general.
" Take the Laurel Hill, put some picked men on
board of her, and let us ram the rebel. We may
not sink her, but Ave may disable or delay her, and

44

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

help the gun-boats to capture her." " A good idea,"
said the general; "send for Major Boardman."
Boardman, the daring officer to whom I have before
referred, had been brought up as a midshipman. He
was knoAvn in China as the "American devil," from
a wild exploit there in scaling the walls of Canton
one dark night when the gates were closed ; climbing
them Avith the help of his dagger only, making holes
in the masonry for his hands and feet. He Avas aft-
envard killed by guerrillas, having become colonel
of his regiment. Boardman came ; the Laurel Hill
was cleared; twenty volunteers from the Fourth
Wisconsin Avere put on board, and steam got up.
The captain refused to go, and another transport
captain was put in command. We should have at
tempted something, perhaps failed ; but I think one
or other of us would have been sunk. But our prep
arations were all in vain. The Arkansas had had
enough of it for that day. She rounded to, and took
refuge under the guns of Vicksburg.
Reporting this incident to Butler subsequently, he
said, " You Avould have sunk her, sir ; you Avould
have sunk her."
Farragut, as I have said, was deeply mortified.
He gave orders at once to get up steam, and pre-

THE "ARKANSAS" BURNED.

45

pared to run the batteries again, determined to de
stroy the rebel ram at all hazards. He had resolved
to ram her with the Hartford as she lay under the
guns of Vicksburg. It was Avith great difficulty he
was dissuaded from doing so, and only upon the
promise of Alden that he would do it for him in the
Richmond. Farragut, in his impulsive way, seized
Alden's hand, "Will you do this for me, Alden?
will you do it?" The rapidity of the current, the
unusual darkness of the night, and the absence of
lights on the Arkansas and on shore, prevented the
execution of the plan. To finish with the Arkansas,
she afterward came down the river to assist in the
attack on Baton Rouge. Part of her machinery gave
out; she turned and attempted to return to Vicks
burg, Avas pursued by our gun -boats, run ashore,
abandoned, and burned.
The rebels never had any luck with their gun
boats. They always came to grief. They were
badly built, badly manned, or badly commanded.
The Louisiana, the Arkansas, the Manassas, the
Tennessee, the Albemarle— great things were ex
pected of them all, and they did nothing.
But we were as far from the capture of Vicks
burg as ever. Fever attacked our men in those

46

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

fatal swamps, and they became thoroughly discour
aged. The sick-list was fearful. Of a battery of
eighty men, twenty only were fit for duty. The
Western troops, and they were our best, Avere home
sick. Lying upon the banks of the Mississippi,
with transports above Vicksburg convenient for
embarkation, they longed for home. The colonels
came to Williams, and suggested a retreat up the
river, to join Halleck's command. Williams held a
council of war. He asked me to attend it. The
colonels gave their opinions, some in favor of, and
others against, the proposed retreat. When it came
to my turn, I spoke strongly against it. I urged
that we had no right to abandon our comrades at
New Orleans; that it might lead to the recapture
of that city; that if our transports were destroyed,
we should at least attempt to get back by land. I
do not suppose that Williams ever entertained the
least idea of retreating up the river, but thought it
due to his officers to hear what they had to say in
favor of it. The plan was abandoned.

SICKNESS.

47

CHAPTER IV.
Sickness.— Battle of Baton Rouge. — Death of Williams. — "Fix Bay
onets I" — Thomas AVilllams. — His Body. — General T. AV. Sherman.
— Butler relieved. — General Orders, No. 10. — Mr. Adams and Lord
ralmcrston.— Butler's Style.
Of the events Avhich immediately folloAved the
council of war referred to in the last chapter, the
Avriter knows only by report. He was prostrated
with fever, taken to a house on shore, moved back
to head - quarters boat, put on board a gun -boat,
and sent to NeAV Orleans. Farragut, with his usual
kindness, offered to take him on board the Hartford,
give him the fleet-captain's cabin, and have the fleet-
surgeon attend him. But Williams declined the
offer. Farragut then offered to send him to New
Orleans in a gun- boat. This Williams accepted.
The writer was taken to New Orleans, sent to mil
itary hospital, an assistant-surgeon's room given up
to him, and every care lavished upon him ; for one
of Williams's staff — poor De Kay — wounded in a
skirmish, had died in hospital. Butler had con-

48

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

ceived the idea — erroneous, I am sure— that he had
been neglected by the surgeons. When I was
brought doAvn he sent them Avord that if another of
Williams's staff died there, they would hear from
him. I did not die.
Meantime, unable to effect any thing against
Vicksburg, Avith more than half his men on the sick-
list, Williams returned to Baton Rouge. The rebel
authorities, Avith spies everyAvhere, heard of the con
dition of our forces, and determined to attack them.
Early one foggy morning twelve thousand men, un
der Breckenridge, attacked our three or four thou
sand men fit for duty. But they did not catch
Williams napping. He had heard of the intended
movement, and was prepared to meet it. Our forces
increased, too, like magic. Sick men in hospital,
avIio thought that the}' could not stir hand or foot,
found themselves wonderfully better the moment
there Avas a prospect of a fight. Happily a thick
mist prevailed. Happily, too, they first attacked
the Twenty-first Indiana, one of our stanchest regi
ments, holding the centre of the position. This fine
regiment was armed Avith breech loaders, the only
ones in the Gulf. Lying on the ground, they could
see the legs of the rebels below the mist, and fire

DEATH OF WILLIAMS.

49

Avith a steady aim upon them, themselves unseen.
On the right the Thirtieth Massachusetts was en
gaged, but not hotly. The left Avas but slightly
pressed. Williams had carefully reconnoitred the
ground the afternoon before, and marked out his
different positions. As the battle progressed, he fell
back upon his second position, contracting his lines.
As it grew hotter, he issued orders to fall back upon
the third position. As he gave the order, the lieu
tenant-colonel of the TAventy-first, Colonel Keith, as
plucky a little feiloAV as lived, came to him and said,
" For God's sake, general, don't order us to fall back !
We'll hold this position against the whole d — d rebel
army." "Do your men feel that Avay, colonel?'' re
plied Williams ; and turning to the regiment, he said,
" Fix bayonets !" As he uttered these Avords, he Avas
shot through the heart. The men fixed bayonets,
charged, and the rebels gave Avay. But there was
no one competent to take command. The Fourth
Wisconsin, on our left, Avaited in vain for the orders
Williams had promised them, eager to advance, for
he had meant that this regiment should take the
rebels in flank. The victory was Avon, but its fruits
Avere not gathered.
I think that grander words were never uttered by
o
O

5°

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

a commander on the field of battle as he received
his death - Avound than these words of Williams's.
"Fix bayonets!" means business, and in this in
stance they meant victory.
Thomas Williams Avas a noble fellow. Had he
lived, he would have been one of the great generals
of our Avar. Butler told the writer that, had Wil
liams survived Baton Rouge, it was his intention to
have turned over the whole military command to
him, and confined himself to civil matters. The
" General Order " he issued on Williams's death is a
model of classic and pathetic English. It is quoted
as such by Richard Grant White in his "Miscella
ny." I give it entire, for it can not be too widely
circulated, both on account of its style and its sub
ject. " Head-quarters, Department of the Gulf,
"New Orleans, August 7th, 1862.
" General Orders, No. 56 :
" The commanding general announces to the
Army of the Gulf the sad event of the death of
Brigadier -general Thomas Williams, commanding
Second Brigade, in camp at Baton Rouge.
" The victorious achievement, the repulse of the di
vision of Major-general Breckenridge by the troops
led on by General Williams, and the destruction of
the mail-clad Arkansas by Captain Porter, of the

THOMAS WILLIAMS.

5i

navy, is made sorroAvful by the fall of our brave,
gallant, and successful fellow-soldier..
" General Williams graduated at West Point in
1837; at once joined the Fourth Artillery in Flor
ida, where he served with distinction ; was thrice
breveted for gallant and meritorious services in
Mexico as a member of General Scott's staff. His
life was that of a soldier devoted to his country's
service. His country mourns in sympathy AA'ith his
Avife and children, noAV that country's care and pre
cious charge.
" We, his companions in arms, Avho had learned to
love him, Aveep the true friend, the gallant gentle
man, the brave soldier, the accomplished officer, the'
pure patriot and victorious hero, and the devoted
Christian. All, and more, Avent out when Williams
died. By a singular felicity, the manner of his death
illustrated each of these generous qualities.
" The chivalric American gentleman, he gave up
the vantage of the cover of the houses of the city,
forming his lines in the open field, lest the Avomen
and children of his enemies should be hurt in the
fight. "A good general, he made his dispositions and pre
pared for battle at the break of day, when he met
his foe !
"A brave soldier, he received the death-shot lead
ing his men !
"A patriot hero, he Avas fighting the battle of

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

toryC!OUnt17' and di6d aS Went UP the clleei< of vic-
"A Christian, he sleeps in the hope of a blessed
Redeemer! "His virtues Ave can not exceed; his example we
may emulate, and, mourning his death, we pray
' May our last end be like his.'
" The customary tribute of mourning will be worn
by the officers in the department.
" By command of Major-general Butler.
" R. T. Davis, Captain and A. A. A. G."
Williams was an original thinker. He had some
rather striking ideas about the male portion of the
human race. He held that all men were by nature
cruel, barbarous, and coarse, and were only kept in
order by the influence of women— their wives, moth
ers, and sisters. "Look at those men," he would
say. "At home they arc respectable, law-abiding
citizens. It's the women who make them so. Here
they rob hen-roosts, and do things they would be
ashamed to do at home. There is but one thing
will take the place of their women's influence, and
that is discipline ; and I'll give them enough of it."
I used to think his views greatly exaggerated, but I
'•ante to be very much of his opinion before the war
Avas over.

WILLIAMS'S BODY.

S3

A curious thing happened to his body. It Avas
sent down in a transport Avith Avounded soldiers.
She came in collision with the gunboat Oneida com
ing up, and Avas sunk. Various accounts were given
of the collision. It Avas of course reported that the
rebel pilot of the transport had intentionally run
into the gun -boat. I think this improbable, for I
have observed that rebel pilots value their lives as
much as other people. Captain (aftenvard Admiral)
Lee lay by the wreck, and picked up the wounded :
none Avere lost. Shortly afterward Gun-boat No. 1,
commanded by Crosby, a great friend of Williams,
came up. Lee transferred the men to her, ordered
her to New Orleans, and himself proceeded to Ba
ton Rouge. Crosby heard that Williams's body
was on board. He spent several hours in search
ing for it, but without success. He reluctantly con
cluded to abandon the search. Some hours later
in the day, and several miles from the scene of the
disaster, a piece of the wreck Avas seen floating-
down the current, with a box upon it. A boat was
lowered, and the box was picked up. It turned out
to be the coffin containing the body. His portman
teau too floated ashore, fell into honest hands, and
was returned to me bv a jrentleman of the coast.

54

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

It had been General Butler's intention, on my re
covery, to give me command of the Second Louisi
ana, a regiment he Avas raising in Ncav Orleans, most
ly from disbanded and rebel soldiers. My recovery
Avas so long delayed, however, that he was compelled
to fill the vacancy othenvise. Shortly afterward
General T. W. Sherman was ordered to New Or
leans, and I Avas assigned to duty on his staff. He
Avas sent to Carondelet to take charge of the post
at the Parapet, and of all the northern approaches
to New Orleans. This Avas done under orders from
Washington ; but of this Sherman Avas not aware, for
no copy of the orders had been sent him. He never
Iuicav to Avhat an important command it Avas the in
tention of the Government to assign him till some
years later, when the writer, having become Adju
tant-general of the Department of the Gulf, found
the orders in the archives of the Department.
But the days of Butler's command were brought
to a close. Banks arrived with re-enforcements, and
exhibited his orders to take command of the Depart
ment. No one Avas more surprised than Butler.
He had supposed that Banks's expedition was direct
ed against Texas. His recall seemed ungrateful on
the part of the Government, for it was to him that

BUTLER RELIEVED.

55

the capture of New Orleans at that early date was
principally due. It is probable that the consuls in
that city had complained of him, and our Govern
ment, thinking it all-important to give no cause of
complaint to foreign governments, Great Britain and
France especially, recalled him.
As General Butler will not again appear in these
pages, I can not close this part of my narrative with
out endeavoring to do him justice in regard to one
or two points on which he has been attacked. The
silver-spoon story is simply absurd. Butler confis
cated and used certain table-silver. When Banks re
lieved him, he turned it over to him. When a hoAvl
<was made about it toward the close of the Avar, and
the Government referred the papers to Butler, for a
report, he simply forwarded a copy of Banks's quar
ter-master's receipt. I was amused once at hearing
that inimitable lecturer, Artemus Ward, get off a joke
upon this subject in New Orleans. He was describ
ing the Mormons, and a tea-party at Brigham Young's,
and said that Brigham Young probably had a larger
tea-service than any one in the world, " except," said
he, and then paused as if to reflect-" except, per
haps, General Butler." Imagine the effect upon a
New Orleans audience. It is perhaps needless to

56

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

observe that Butler was not at that time in com
mand. The only charge against Butler Avhich was never
thoroughly disproved was that he permitted those
about him to speculate, to the neglect of their duties
and to the injury of our cause and good name. He
must have been aAvare of these speculations, and
have shut his eyes to them. But that he himself
profited pecuniarily by them, I do not believe.
The famous General Orders, No. 10, " The Wom
an's Order," Avas issued while I Avas in New Orleans,
and excited much and unfavorable comment. But
ler ordered that ladies insulting United States offi
cers should be treated " as Avomcn of the town plying
their trade." Strong, his adjutant -general, remon
strated, and begged him to alter it. He said that
he meant simply that they should be arrested and
punished according to the municipal laAV of the city,
i. <?., confined for one night and fined five dollars.
Strong replied, " Why not say so, then ?" But But
ler has much of the vanity of authorship. He was
pleased with the turn of the phrase, thought it hap
py, and refused to surrender it.
In tin's connection, when in London, I heard an
anecdote of Mr. Adams and Lord Palmerston which

BUTLER'S STYLE.

57

is not generally known. It was not often that any
one got the better of old "Pam," but Mr. Adams
did. When Butler's order reached England, Lord
Palmerston was the head of the Government; Lord
John Russell was Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs. Lord Palmerston wrote to Mr. Adams to
know if the order as printed in the London papers
was authentic. Mr. Adams asked if he inquired of
ficially or privately. Lord Palmerston replied rath
er evasively. Mr. Adams insisted. Lord Palmer
ston answered that if Mr. Adams must know, he
begged him to understand that he inquired officially.
Mr. Adams had the correspondence carefully cop
ied in Moral's best handwriting, and inclosed it to
Lord John with a note inquiring, who was Her
Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs ; was
it Lord Palmerston, or was it Lord John ? A quick
reply came from Lord John, asking him to do noth
ing further in the matter till he heard from him
again. The next day a note was received from
Lord Palmerston withdrawing the correspondence.
I have given two specimens of Butler's style.
Here is another, and of a different character. At
the request of a naval officer in high command, Far
ragut applied to Butler for steamboats to tow the
3*

53

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

mortar vessels to Vicksburg. Butler replied that
he regretted that he had none to spare. The of
ficer answered that if Butler would prevent his
brother from sending quinine and other contraband
stores into the Confederacy, there would be boats
enough. This came to Butler's ears. He answered.
After giving a list of his boats, and stating their dif
ferent employments, he proceeded substantially as
follows. I quote from memory. "Now, there are
two kinds of lying. The first is Avhen a man delib
erately states what he knoAvs to be false. The sec
ond is when he states what is really false, but what
at the time he believes to be true. For instance,
when Captain  reports that the ram Louisiana,
came down upon his gun -boats, and a desperate
fight ensued, he stated Avhat is in point of fact false;
for the Louisiana Avas bloAvn up and abandoned,
and Avas drifting Avith the current, as is proved by
the report of the rebel commander, Duncan: but
Captain  believed it to be true, and acted ac
cordingly ; for he retreated to the mouth of the
river, leaving the transports to their fate."

GENERAL SHERMAN.

59

CHAPTER V.
T. W. Sherman. — Contrabands. — Defenses of New Orleans. — Ex
change pi Prisoners.— Amenities in AVar.— Port Hudson.— Recou-
noissance in Force.— The Fleet.— Our Left.— Assault of May 27th.
 Sherman wounded. — Port Hudson surrenders.
The autumn of 1862 passed Avithout any special
incident. Sherman rebuilt the levees near Carroll-
ton, repaired and shortened the Parapet, pushed his
forces to the north, and occupied and fortified Man-
chac Pass. All these Avorks were constructed by
Captain Bailey, to whom I have already alluded,
and of Avhom I shall have much to say hereafter;
for he played a most important and conspicuous part
in the Louisiana campaigns. At Manchac he con
structed a hijou of a Avork built of mud and clam
shells. He had the most remarkable faculty of mak
ing the negroes Avork. I have seen the old inhab
itants of the coast (French cote, bank of the river)
stopping to gaze Avith surprise at the "niggers"
trundling their AvheelbarroAvs filled Avith earth on the
double-quick. Such a sight Avas never before seen

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

" L°mSlimn' and Pro^7 "ever will be again
Sherman Avas the first officer, too, to enroll the
blacks, set them to work, and pay them wage, He
was no professed friend of the negro, but he did
-ore practically for their welfare to make them use
ful, and save them from vagabondage, than Phelps
01 any other violent abolitionist, who said that the
aves had done enough work in their day, and so
table Every negro who came within our lines-
and there were hundreds of them-was cnrolIed
on the quartermaster's books, clothed, fed, and paid
-ages, the price of his olothing bei ^J^
The men worked well. They Avere proud of being
paid like Avhite men. to
hater in the season, Sherman sent out successful
expeditions into the enemy's territory. One to Pon-
e ntoula destroyed a quantity of rebel government
stores; another, across Lake Pontchartrain, captured
« valuable steamer. Sherman employed an admira
ble spy, the best in the Department. As a rule, both
Sutler s and Banks's spies Avere a poor lot, constant
ly getting up cock-and-bull stories to magnify their
-vn importance, and thus misled their employers
Sherman s spy was a woman. Her information al-

DEFENSES OF NEW ORLEANS.

61

ways turned out to be reliable, and, Avhat is perhaps
a little remarkable, was never exaggerated.
Butler had noAV left the Department, and Banks
was in command. About this time Holly Springs
was occupied by Van Dorn, and our depots burned,
Grant falling back. The attack upon Vicksburg, too,
from the Yazoo River had failed. Banks's spies ex
aggerated these checks greatly, and reported that the
enemy was in full march upou NeAV Orleans. There
was something of a stampede among us. A neAV
command was created, called the " Defenses of New
Orleans," and given to Sherman. In a fortnight the
face of these defenses Avas vastly changed. When
he took command, the city Avas undefended to the
east and south. In a few days the rebel works Avere
rebuilt, guns mounted, light batteries stationed near
the Avorks, each supported by a regiment of infantry.
Ncav Orleans, Avith our gun-boats holding the river
and lake, was impregnable.
No commanding officer in our army was more
thorough in his work than Sherman. I remember
an instance of this in an exchange of prisoners Avhich
took place under his orders. The arrangements
Avere admirable. We Avere notified that a schooner
Avith United States soldiers on board lay at Lakeport,

62

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

on Lake Pontchartrain. Within an hour of receiving
the report I was on my way to effect the exchange.
I was accompanied by our quartermaster, to insure
prompt transportation to New Orleans; by our com
missary, to see that the men were fed, for our pris
oners were always brought in with very insufficient
supplies, the rebel officers assuring us that they had
not food to give them; and by our surgeon, to give
immediate medical assistance to those requiring it.
Sherman told me to give the rebel officers in charge
a breakfast or dinner, and offered to pay his share.
We reached Lakeport about sunset. I went on
board at once, and made arrangements for the ex
change at six o'clock in the morning. I inquired of
the men if they had had any thing to eat. "Noth
ing since morning." The officer in charge explained
that they had been delayed by head-Avinds ; but they
were always delayed by head-winds. Wo sent food
on board that night. At six in the morning the
schooner was Avarped along-side of the pier. A train
was run doAvn, a line of sentries posted across the
pier, and no stranger permitted to approach. The
roll was called, and as each man answered to his
name, lie stepped ashore and entered the train.
Meantime I had ordered down a breakfast from the

EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.

63

famous French restaurant at Lakeport; and while
the necessary arrangements Avere being completed by
the quartermaster, avc gave the Confederate officers
a breakfast. It Avas easy to see, from the manner
in which they attacked it. that they did not fare so
sumptuously every day. Colonel Szymanski, who
commanded, an intelligent and gentlemanly officer,
asked permission to buy the remnants from the res
taurant for lunch and dinner on the return voyage.
The train Avas now ready, the schooner set sail, and
we started for NeAV Orleans. On our arrival, Ave
bought out a baker's shop and one or tAvo orange-
women. It Avas a long time since the prisoners had
tasted Avhite bread. They formed, and marched to
the barracks. Before noon that day they Avere in
comfortable quarters, and seated at a bountiful din
ner, prepared in advance for them. This Avas Sher
man's organization. I had an opportunity to con
trast it, not long after, with an exchange effected un
der direct orders from head-quarters. The contrast
was not in Banks's favor.
On this occasion I had gone doAATi as a spectator,
and to see if I could be of use. I was going on
board the cartel, Avhen I Avas stopped by a lady avIio
asked me to take a young girl on board to see her

64

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

brother. Of course I was compelled to refuse. She
then asked if I would not tell her brother that she
was on the end of the pier, that they might at least
see each other. This I promised to do. On board
I found a number of sailors, part of the crew of the
Mississippi, which had been recently lost at Port
Hudson. As usual, they had had nothing to eat
since the previous evenino-
Before leaving the vessel, I inquired for Lieuten
ant Adams. They told me that he was in "that
boat," pointing to one, having pulled ashore, hoping
to see his sister. As I approached the shore I met
his boat returning ; I stopped it, and asked him if he
had seen his sister. He had not. I told him to get
in with me, and I would take him to her. He did
so, and I pulled to within a few yards of the spot
where she was standing. Scarcely a word passed
between them, for both were sobbing. We remain
ed there about three minutes, and then pulled back.
We Avere all touched, officers and men, by this little
display of the home affections in the midst of Avar.
I think it did us all good.
General Banks was not pleased when he heard of
this incident. Perhaps it was reported to him in
correctly. But Sherman thought that I had done

PORT HUDSON.

65

right. I always found that our regular officers
Avere more anxious to soften the rigors of war, and
to avoid all unnecessary severity, than our volunteers.
On our march through Louisiana under Franklin, a
strong provost guard preceded the column, whose
duty it was to protect persons and property from
stragglers till the army had passed. If planters in
the neighborhood applied for a guard, it Avas always
furnished. On one occasion such a guard was capt
ured by guerrillas. General Franklin wrote at once
to General Taylor, protesting against the capture of
these men as contrary to all the hows of civilized
warfare. Taylor promptly released them, and sent
them back to our lines. General Lee did the same
in Virginia.
And so the Avinter wore through, and the spring
came. Banks made a successful expedition to Alex
andria, winning the battle of Irish Bend. I am the
more particular to record this, as his reputation as a
commander rests rather upon his success in retreat
than in advance. And the month of May found us
before Port Hudson.
Vicksburg is situated eight hundred miles above
Noav Orleans. In all this distance there are but five
commanding positions, and all these on the left or

66

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

east bank of the river. It was very important to
the rebels to fortify a point beloAv the mouth of the
Red River, in order that their boats might bring
forward the immense supplies furnished by Louisi
ana, Texas, and Arkansas. They selected Port Hud
son, a miserable little village not far below the Red
River, and fortified it strongly. Sherman had seen
the importance of attacking this place when the
works Avere commenced, but Butler told him, very
truly, that he had not troops enough in the Depart
ment to justify the attempt.
I think that it was the 24th of May when we
closed in upon Port Hudson. Sherman's command
held the left. He had a front of three miles, en
tirely too much for one division. The country
AA'as a terra incognita to us, and Ave had to feel our
Avay. Of course there was much reconnoitring to
be clone — exciting and interesting work — but not
particularly safe or comfortable. Sherman did
much of this himself. He had a pleasant Avay of
riding up in full sight of the enemy's batteries, ac
companied by his staff. Here he held us while he
criticised the manner in which the enemy got his
guns ready to open on us. Presently a shell would
Avhiz over our heads, followed by another someAvhat

RECONNOISSANCE IN FORCE.

67

nearer. Sherman would then quietly remark, " They
are getting the range now : you had better scatter."
As a rule we did not wait for a second order.
I remember his sending out a party one day to
reconnoitre to our extreme left, and connect with
the fleet, which lay below Port Hudson. We knew
it was someAvhere there; but how far off it lay, or
Avhat was the character of the country between us,
we did not know. A company of cavalry reconnoi
tring in the morning had been driven in. Sherman
determined to make a reconnoissance in force. He
sent out the cavalry again, and supported it with a
regiment of infantry. I asked permission to accom
pany them. He gave it, and added, " By - the - way,
captain, when you are over there, just ride up and
draw their fire, and see where their guns are. They
won't hit you." I rode up and drew their fire, and
they did not hit me ; but I don't recommend the
experiment to any of my friends.
This reconnoissance was successful. We passed
through a thickly wooded country, intersected by
small streams, for about two miles, when wo emerged
upon the open in full view of the works of Port
Hudson. This avc had to cross, exposed to their
fire. We thus gained the road, running along the

68

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

top of the bluff ; and, following this, we came in
view of the fleet. Our arrival produced a sensation.
They had been looking out for us for two or three
days. The men SAvarmed up the rigging and on to
the yards. Fifty telescopes were leveled at us; and
as we galloped down the bluff and along the levee to
the ships, cheer after cheer went up from the fleet.
We went onboard the nearest gun -boat, and got
some bread -and -cheese and Bass— which tasted re
markably good, by -the -way. I staid but a little
while, for I was anxious about my men. On our
homeward march the enemy opened on us, and Ave
lost two or three men. I felt saddened at the loss
of any men Avhile in some measure under my com
mand, and reported this loss first to the general. I
was much comforted Avhen he replied, " Lose men!
of course you lost men. Reconnoissances in force
ahvays lose men !"
A feAv weeks previous to my visit to the fleet,
Farragut had attempted to run by Port Hudson,'
Avith a vieAV to communicate with Porter at Vicks
burg, but more especially to blockade the mouth of
the Red River. This, though the least known of his
great exploits, was probably the most perilous and
the least successful. But two vessels passed the bat-

OUR LEFT.

69

teries — his oAAm, the old Hartford, as a matter of
course, and the gun -boat that Avas lashed to her.
Several were driven back disabled, and that fine
ship, the Mississipj)i, got aground and Avas lost.
The Hartford and her consort, hoAvever, did good
sendee, preventing all rebel vessels from sliOAving
themselves upon the river betAveen Port Hudson
and Vicksburg.
While on board the gun-boat, I remarked to her
captain that I was surprised that General Banks did
not make his assault upon our left, where Ave could
have the aid of the fleet, instead of on the right, as he
evidently proposed to do. The remark was repeat
ed to Farragut, avIio mentioned it to Banks. A day
or tAvo after the failure of our assault of the 27th of
May, I Avas surprised by a summons to head-quar
ters, and still more surprised Avhen I Avas asked Avhat
was my plan for taking Port Hudson. My plan Avas
simply to utilize our principal fleet instead of ignor
ing it. Sherman, avIio, after his recovery from his
wound received a feAv days later, visited the place
after its fall, and carefully examined the ground,
told me that the assault should undoubtedly have
been made on our left, not only on account of the
fleet, but on account of the character of the around.

7°

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

We afterward erected batteries here within a very
short distance of the enemy's, and commanding
them ; and Ave dug up to their very citadel. Had
another assault been ordered, as it seemed at one
time probable, it would have been made here, and
would probably have been a repetition, on a small
scale, of the affair of the Malakoff. There Avas an
other advantage on this flank. Had we effected
a lodgment even with a small force, we could have
maintained our position in the angle between the
parapet and the river until re-enforcements reached
us. At the points selected for the assault of the
27th of May— had Ave succeeded in getting in— we
should have found ourselves exposed to attacks in
front and on both flanks, and should probably have
been driven out again.
The siege of Port Hudson was tedious and bloody.
Banks ordered an assault. It was made, and result
ed in a miserable repulse. He Avas asked why as
sault Avhen the place must inevitably be starved out
in a few weeks. He replied, "The people of the
North demand blood, sir." Sherman led the assault
in person, at the head of the Sixth Michigan regi
ment ; ISailey headed the negroes, with plank and
other materials to fill up the fosse. I had heard bo-

ASSAULT OF MAY 27.

71

fore of negroes turning Avhite from fright, and did
not believe it ; but it is literally true. The men ad
vanced within a few yards of the works, but could
effect no lodgment. There never Avas a more useless
waste of hfe. Sherman lost his leg, and his horse
Avas killed under him ; one staff officer and his horse
were killed; an orderly was killed; another staff
officer was Avounded, and his horse killed ; and an
other orderly had his horse killed. This is a pretty
bloody ten minutes' work for a general and his staff.
The staff officer who was Avounded was Badeau,
our consul-general at London, and author of that
model military history, the first volume of the " Life
of Grant."
Fortunately, probably, for me, I had been sent
with orders to Sherman's other brigade, to support
the attack by an assault on the left. It Avas hot
enough Avhcre I Avas. The shells shrieked over my
head, and a round shot rolled playfully betAveen my
horse's legs. But it Avas nothing like the "hell of
fire " to Avhich Sherman Avas exposed.
Sherman having been sent to NeAV Orleans, to hos
pital, General William Dwight took command of the
division. After a Avhilc another assault Avas made:
it was as fruitless as the first. But the enemv Avas

72

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

now getting short of provisions. They lived mostly
on Indian corn. Many deserters came to us, mostly
Louisianians, for the " Wrackensackers " (Arkansas
men) and the Texans rarely deserted. These made
up the garrison. They reported great want in the
place; and, what Avas far better proof — for it will
not do to trust implicitly to deserters' stories— their
gums showed the Avant of proper food. The end
was approaching. On the 4th of duly Vicksburg
surrendered. Our outposts communicated this intel
ligence to the rebel outposts, and chaffed them about
it. The neAvs Avas reported to Gardiner. He sent a
flag to Banks to inquire if it Avere true. Banks re
plied that it Avas, and Port Hudson surrendered.
It Avas curious to observe the sort of entente cor-
diale Avhich the soldiers on both sides established
during the siege. When they Avere tired of trying
to pick each other off through the loop-holes, one of
them would tie a white handkerchief to his bayonet,
and Avave it above the parapet. Pretty soon a hand
kerchief, or its equivalent— for the rebs did not in
dulge in useless luxuries— Avould be seen waving on
the other side. This meant truce. In a moment
the men Avould SAvarm out on both sides, sitting with
their legs dangling over the parapet, chaffing each

TACIT TRUCE.

73

other, and sometimes Avith pretty rough Avit. They
Avere as safe as if a regular flag Avere out. No man
dared to violate this tacit truce. If he had done so,
his own comrades Avould have dealt roughly with
him. After a Avhile, on one side or the other, some
one Avould cry out, " Get under cover now, Johnnie,"
or " Look out noAV, Yank ; Ave are going to fire," and
the fire Avould recommence.
Active military operations Avere noAV suspended,
and I obtained leave of absence. But it Avas re
voked ; for General William B. Franklin had ar
rived in the Department, and I Avas assigned to his
staff. I naturally felt disappointed at losing my
leave, but I Avas subsequently glad that it had so
happened ; for it led to my promotion, and to the
establishment of friendly and pleasant relations
Avhich have survived the AArar. 4.

74

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER VI.
Major-general Franklin. _ Sabine Pass. - Collision at Sea. -March
through Louisiana.— Rebel Correspondence.— " The Gypsy's AVas-
sail."_Rebel Women—Rebel Poetry— A Skirmish.-Salt Island.
-Winter Climate— Banks's Capua— Major Joseph Bailey.
Early in the fall of 1S63, Major-general Franklin
was put in command of the military part of an expe
dition which had been planned against Sabine Pass,
on the coast of Texas. The arrangement was for
the navy to enter the port at night, get in the rear
of the work, and capture it ; Avhereupon the troops
were to land, garrison the place, and hold it as a base
for future operations in Texas. The plan failed.
The expected signals were not displayed. The gun
boats made the attempt in broad daylight, got
aground in the shallow and winding channel, and
were captured. Many of the sailors jumped over
board, swam ashore, ran down through the marsh,
and were picked up by our boats. The plan had
failed, and there Avas nothing for the troops to do
but to return.

COLLISION AT SEA.

75

That night we had a collision between one of our
large sea -going steamers and our light river boat
used for head - quarters. Our side was apparently
smashed in. A panic seized the creAv ; captain, pilot,
engineer, hands, all rushed for the steamer. Most
of our head - quarters company and officers follow
ed the example. I was reading in the cabin Avhen
the collision occurred. The crash and the cries at
tracted my attention. I Avent upon deck, and tried
for a moment to restore order, but in vain. The
soldiers on the steamer shouted, " Come on board !
come on board! You're sinking! there's a great
hole in your side!" The waves dashed our little
boat against the sides of the steamer, and the light
plank of the wheel-house Avas grinding and crashing.
I can easily understand how contagious is a panic.
It was with a great effort I could restrain myself
from folloAving the example set me. I knew, how
ever, that my place Avas with the general, and I- went
in search of him. I found him on the hurricane-
deck, seated on the sky -light, quietly smoking his
cigar. I said, " General, are you not going to leave
her?" "I don't believe she'll sink," he replied.
"But she is an abandoned ship, sir; every one lias
left her." "Have they? are vou sure?" "I'll

76

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

make sure," I replied ; and, going to the Avheel-house,
found it deserted. Then I looked into the engine-
room — I remember the engine looked so grim and
stiff in its solitude. Franklin then consented to go.
We found a quiet place aft where there was no con
fusion ; and as the Avaves tossed up our light vessel
to a level with the steamer, he sprung upon lier
deck. As soon as he had jumped, I attempted to
folloAv, but the vessel Avas not tossed high enough.
So I Avatched my chance, and plunged head foremost
into a port - hole, Avhere friendly hands caught me,
and prevented my falling on the deck.
But, our little steamer Avould not sink. Franklin
at once ordered out the boats, secured the captain
and creAV, and returned on board. We found that
the outer shell of the boat Avas crushed in, and that
she Avas leaking badly; but the inner ceiling Avas
unhurt. We easily kept her free with the pumps
until avc had repaired damages. I do not think that
the general ever quite forgave me for persuading
him to leave her.
As avc had failed by sea, avc next tried the land,
and Avith better success. We marched to Opelousas,
driving the rebels before us. A pleasant incident
happened on this march, one of those trifles Avhich

REBEL CORRESPONDENCE.

77

soften the horrors of war. I had known at New
Orleans a charming rebel Creole Avhose husband Avas
a general in the Confederate army. I had had an
opportunity to render the family some trifling serv
ice. One day Ave intercepted a courier bearing a
letter from General  to General Miles, com
manding the district. He Avrote that he had fallen
upon the rear of our column and picked up a num
ber of stragglers, and that he should send them next
day to head-quarters. Of course Ave laid our plans,
captured the escort, and recaptured our OAvn men.
With the general's assent, I sent the letter to the
lady in question, Avith a line to the effect that she
probably had not seen her husband's handAvriting
for some time, and might be gratified to learn from
the inclosed letter that he Avas avoII. She Avould re
gret to learn, hoAvever, that our men had been retak
en and the escort captured ; that I should spare no
pains to capture the general himself, and send him
to his wife ; and that if he kneAV what fate was in
store for him, I was sure that he would make but a
feeble resistance. She replied in the same spirit,
that with such generous enemies Avar lost half its
terrors. Under Franklin nothing was loft undone that

7»

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

could properly be done to soften the rigors of war
to non-combatants. Often have his staff officers
spent Aveary hours over intercepted correspondence.
It was our duty to examine the correspondence in
search of intelligence that might be useful to us ; but
it Avas no part of our duty carefully to reseal those
letters Avhich were purely on domestic or personal
matters, re-inclose the hundred odd little souvenirs
they contained, and send them under a flag to the
rebel lines. And yet Ave did this repeatedly. I
Avonder if the rebels ever did as much for us any
where in the Confederacy !
Speaking of intercepted letters, I remember that
at Ncav Orleans avc once seized a bag as it was about
to cross the lake. Among other letters, it contained
one from a young lady to her brother-in-law in Mo
bile. I have rarely seen a cleverer production. She
gave an account, Avith great glee, of a trick she had
played upon a Boston neAvspaper, perhaps the " Re
spectable Daily." She Avrote that she had sent them
a poem called " The Gypsy's Wassail," the original
in Sanscrit, the translation of course in English, and
all that AVas patriotic and loyal. " Now, the San
scrit," she Avrote, "Avas English Avritten backward,
and read as folloAvs :

"THE GYPSY'S WASSAIL."

79

" ' God bless our brave Confederates, Lord !
Leo, Johnson, Smith, and Beauregard !
Help Jackson, Smith, and Johnson Joe,
To give them fits in Dixie, oh !' "
The Boston neAvspaper fell into the trap, and
published this " beautiful and patriotic poem, by our
talented contributor." But in a feAv days some sharp
felloAV found out the trick and exposed it.
The letter was signed "Anna" simply, and no
clue to the author Avas given. Anna thought that
she was safe. She forgot that in the same bag Avas
a letter from her sister to her husband, with signa
ture and address, in which she said, "Anna writes
you one of her amusing letters." So I had discoArer-
ed who Miss Anna Avas, and Avrote her accordingly.
I told her that her letter had fallen into the hands of
one of those " Yankee " officers Avhom she saAV fit to
abuse, and avIio Avas so pleased Avith its AA'it that he
should take great pleasure in forwarding it to its
destination ; that in return he had only to ask that
Avhen the author of "The Gypsy's Wassail" favored
the expectant Avorld with another poem, he might be
honored with an early copy. Anna must have been
rather surprised.
As may be supposed, there Avere constant trials of

So

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

writ betAveen the rebels and ourselves, in which we
sometimes came off second best. But they had their
Avomen to help them, Avhich gave them an immense
advantage, for in such matters one woman is worth
a " Avilderness " of men. I recollect one day we sent
a steamboat full of rebel officers, exchanged prison
ers, into the Confederacy. They were generally ac
companied by their wives and children. Our officers
noticed the most extraordinary number of dolls on
board — every child had a doll — but they had no sus
picions. A lady told me afterward that every doll
AA-as filled with quinine. The saAvdust was taken out
and quinine substituted. Depend upon it that fe
male Avit devised that trick.
They attacked us in poetry too, generally written
by young ladies, and some of it decidedly clever.
Strong, Butler's ad jutant - general, had stopped the
service in one of the Episcopal churches, because the
clergyman prayed for Jeff Davis instead of for the
"President of the United States." This furnished
a theme for some bitter stanzas. Banks had sent a
light battery to drive among a croAvd of women and
children collected on the levee to see their friends
off, and disperse them. This furnished a fruitful
theme for the rebel muse.

A SKIRMISH.

81

To return to our Opelousas campaign.
We folloAved the course of the Teche for several
days through a lovely country, the "Garden of
Louisiana," and it deserves its name. The names in
this part of the country are French. I remember
Ave had a skirmish at a place called " Carrion-croAV-
Bayou." It struck me as an odd name to give
to a stream. I made inquiries, and found that a
Frenchman had settled upon its banks, named Car-
ran Cro.
Our march to Opelousas AATas without striking in
cident. The Confederates once or twice came into
position, as if to dispute our progress, but they al-
Avays gave AA'ay. Our return, hoAvever, AA'as more
eventful. The rebels attacked an outlying brigade,
and caught it napping. It occupied a strong posi
tion, and could easily have beaten cavalry off, the
only force by Avhich it was attacked. Tavo regiments,
hoAvever, Avere seized with a panic, and surrendered
Avithout firing a shot. The alarm Avas given to the
main body, and re-enforcements quickly arrived, and
drove off the rebels ; but they carried off many pris
oners. Not long afterward Ave turned the tables
upon them. They encamped a regiment of Texas
cavalry at a beautiful spot near Iberville, called
4*

82

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

" Camp Pratt." Franklin organized an attack upon
them. One night he sent our cavalry to make a
Avide detour upon the prairie and get into their rear.
Then he attacked them in front with infantry. They
mounted and fled in disorder, and fell, nearly to a
man, into the hands of our cavalry. It was a Avell-
organized and well-conducted expedition, and reflect
ed credit upon Lee, avIio commanded the cavalry, and
upon Cameron, avIio commanded the infantry. Tra
dition says that Dick Taylor, who commanded in
that part of Louisiana, SAVore " like our army in Flan
ders " Avhen he heard of it.
There is a very curious salt island near Iberville,
Avell Avorth a visit, in a scientific point of view.
Franklin Avanted very much to explore it, but he did
not Avish to take an army as an escort, and he said it
Avould be too absurd if he were captured on such an
expedition. It Avould not have been quite so absurd
for me, hoAvever ; so I Avent, accompanied by Colonel
Professor OAven, of the Indiana University, and ath-
unteers, and Avith our head-quarters cavalry company
as an escort. The island lies in the Gulf, and is per
haps half a mile in diameter. In the centre is a hol-
Ioav about a hundred yards across, which has all the
appearance of an extinct crater. Here, a few inches

WINTER CLIMATE.

S3

below the surface, lies the salt, in an almost perfect
state of purity. For years our Southern brethren,
avIio do not shine as inventors, sunk wells, pumped
up the Avater, evaporated it, and so made their salt.
At last it occurred to some one more clever than his
neighbors, "Why not blast out the salt itself ?" And
so it was done. It seems scarcely possible, and yet
I was credibly assured that so scarce Avas salt in the
Confederacy, that Avagons came all the Avay from
Charleston, Avere loaded with salt, and returned to
that city. It must have been a journey of months.
We wintered at Franklin, preparing for a spring
campaign to the Red River. The climate of Loui
siana is delicious in winter. I have tried both the
South of France and Italy, but Iuioav no climate
equal to that of Louisiana. The summer, en revanche,
is intensely hot, and lasts from May to October, the
thermometer ranging from 80° at night to 96° in the
day-time. Yet the heat is not stifling. You feel
no particular inconvenience from it at the time ; but
two seasons affect the nervous system seriously, and
a white man must from time to time get the North
ern or the sea-air. Happily the sea-coast is of easy
access from Ncav Orleans.
But Avhile our command Avas under canvas, and

84

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

preparing for the approaching campaign, the cavalry
Avas being mounted and drilled amidst the allure
ments of a large city. Why Banks did not send it to
Thibodeaux, or to some other post where the prairie
gave admirable opportunities for cavalry exercise, is
a question which was often asked, but to which no
satisfactory ansAver has ever been given. Farragut
said that he feared that New Orleans would prove
Banks's Capua. One of the consequences, as regards
the cavalry, Avas, that they started upon the campaign
Avith " impedimenta " enough for an army. Cross
ing a ford one day, Franklin spied a country cart
draAvn by a mule, containing bedding, trunks, and a
negro Avoman. He sent the corps inspector to see to
Avhom it belonged. It turned out to be the property
of a sergeant of a cavalry regiment. Needless to say
that the cart Avent no farther. After the rebels had
captured their Champagne, sardines, and potted an
chovies, at Sabine Cross Roads, they became excel
lent cavalry.
And noAV, fortunately for the navy, Bailey joined
our staff. He had done such good work at Port
Hudson — built half our Avorks, got out a steamboat
that lay high and dry in the mud, etc., etc. — that
Banks had promoted him to be colonel of the reg-

MAJOR JOSEPH BAILEY.

85

hnent, over the head of the lieutenant - colonel.
Banks had no right to do this. In so doing, he had
usurped the prerogative of the Governor of Wiscon
sin ; and the governor, as might be expected, resent
ed it. Of course the governor Avas sustained by the
War Department. Bailey was, naturally enough,
annoyed and mortified, and AATote to me that he
should leave the service ; indeed, he supposed that
he was already out of it, for he had been mustered
out as major when he Avas mustered in as colonel ;
and noAV he had been mustered out as colonel. I
wrote to him not to go off at half-cock, to AA*rite
to the governor and ask in Avhat capacity he rec
ognized him, and then to the adjutant-general and
ask the same question. He Avas ansAvered by the
governor that he recognized him as lieutenant-col
onel, and by the Government that they recognized
him still as major. He then Avrote me that he
would gladly remain in the service if I could get
him on Franklin's staff, but that, under the circum
stances, he could not return to his regiment. I
spoke to the general upon the subject, and mention
ed all that he had done under Sherman at Port
Hudson and elseAvhere. The general applied for
him; he Avas ordered to report to us, and Avas an-

S6

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

nounced as "Military Engineer of the Nineteenth
Army Corps." Thus it happened that Bailey was
Avith us when his regiment Avas not, and the fleet
on the Red River consequently saved from destruc
tion or capture.

MISTAKES.

87

CHAPTER VII.
Mistakes.— Affair at Mansfield.— Peach Hill.— Freaks of the Imagi
nation.— After Peach Hill.— General AVilliam 0 wight. —Retreat to
Pleasant Hill.— Pleasant Hill.— General Dick Taylor.— Taylor and
the King of Denmark. — An Incident.
I think it was on the 20th of March that Ave left
for the Red River. We marched the whole distance,
arriving at Natchitoches about the 3d of April.
From Alexandria to Natchitoches AAre folloAved the
Red River. Here began our mistakes. Banks ar
rived from NeAV Orleans, and ordered us to take the
inland road to Shreveport. Franklin suggested the
river road, Avhere the army and the fleet could ren
der mutual support. Banks said no ; that the oth
er Avas the shorter route. It Avas the shorter in dis
tance, but for the greater part of the Avay it Avas a
narroAV wood road, unfitted for the march of troops
and the movement of artillery and wagons. We
marched tAvo or three days without interruption.
Lee, who commanded the caATdry in adA^ance, had
often applied for a. brigade of infantry to support

88

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

him. Franklin had always declined to separate his
infantry, answering that if Lee found the enemy too
strong for him, to fall back, and we would come
up with the Avhole infantry force and disperse them.
On the evening of the 6th of April, I think it Avas,
Banks came up at Pleasant Hill, and assumed com
mand. The next day we were beaten; for that
evening Lee again applied for his infantry, and got
them. Franklin sent in a Avritten remonstrance
against the danger of separating the infantry, and
having it beaten in detail. He Avas disregarded;
and Ave marched to certain defeat.
The battle of Sabine Forks— Mansfield, the rebels
call it; and as they Avon it, they have a right to
name it — scarcely rises to the dignity of a battle.
We had our cavalry and one brigade of infantry
only engaged. We lost heavily, however, in guns
and wagons, for the Avagon-train of the cavalry fol-
loAved close upon its heels, and blocked up the nar-
roAv road, so that the guns could not be got off.
When Franklin heard from Banks that the cavalry
and infantry brigade were seriously engaged, and
that he must send re - enforcements, he at once or
dered Emory up Avith the First Division of the Nine
teenth Corps, and then rode fonvard himself to the

FRANKLIN RETREA TS.

89

scene of action. Here he ,'lost his horse and was
wounded in the leg, while one of our staff officers
was killed. When our cavalry and brigade Avere
finally defeated, the rebels advanced upon us. It
was a striking and beautiful sight to see a column
of their best infantry — the "Crescent City Regi
ment," I think it Avas — marching steadily doAvn
the road upon us, while their skirmishers swarmed
through the Avoods and cotton fields. The column
offered so beautiful a mark for a shell or two, that
the general rode up to a retreating gun, and tried
hard to get it into position, but the stampede Avas
too general, and we had to look to our own safety.
When he found how things were likely to turn out,
Franklin had sent an aid-de-camp to Emory with or
ders to select a good position, come into line, and
check the advancing enemy. Meantime, Ave re
treated, abandoning the road — it was too blocked up
— and taking to the woods and across the cotton
fields, not knowing our whereabouts, or AA'hether we
should land in the rebel lines or in our own. At
length we caught sight of Emory's red division flag,
and a joyful sight it Avas. We soon reached it, and
found that " Bold Emory " had chosen an excellent
position on the summit of a gentle eminence, called

9°

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

Peach Hill, and had already got his men into line.
His division had behaved admirably. In face of
cavalry and infantry retreating in disorder— and
every officer knoAvs Iioav contagious is a panic— the
First Division of the Nineteenth Army Corps stead
ily advanced, not a man falling out, fell into line,
and quietly aAvaited the enemy. They did not keep
us waiting long. In less than half an hour after
Ave had joined the division, they appeared, march
ing steadily to the attack. But they were received
with a fusillade they had not counted upon, and re
treated in confusion. Again they attempted an at
tack on our right, but with no better success. They
Avere definitively repulsed.
In this skirmish Franklin had another horse killed
under him, shot in the shoulder, for the enemy's fire
was very sharp for a few minutes. I offered him
my horse, but he refused it. The captain of our
head-quarters cavalry company offered him his, and
he accepted it. The captain dismounted a private.
I saw here a striking instance of the effect pro
duced by the imagination when exalted by the ex
citement of battle. A staff officer by my side drop
ped his bridle, threAV up his arms, and said, " I am
hit." I helped him from his horse. He said, "My

AFTER PEACH HILL.

91

boot is full of blood." We; sent him to the ambu
lance. I said ±0 myself, " Good-bye to  I shall
go to his funeral to-monw." Next day he appear
ed at head- quarters as wellas ever. He had been
struck by a spent ball. It had broken the skin and
drawn a few drops of blood, but inflicted no serious
injury. At Port Hudson I saw the same effect pro
duced by a spent ball. A man came limping off the
field supported by two others. He said his leg was
broken. The surgeon was rather surprised to find
no hole in his stocking. Cutting ii off, hoAvever, he
found a black-and-blue mark on the leg — nothing
more. The chaplain was reading to him, and the
man Avas pale as death. I comforted him by tellino-
1 • ¦'to
him to send the stocking to his sAveetheart as a trophy.
As we lay on our arms that night at Peach Hill
without fire, for Ave Avere permitted to light none,
lest Ave should reA-eal our small numbers to the ene
my, we could hear distinctly the yells of the rebels
as they found a fresh " cache " of the good things
of the cavalry. It Avas very aggravating. They got
our head-quarters ambulance too, but there was pre
cious little in it. Expecting to bivouac, Ave had
thrown a feAv things hastily into it. All they got
of mine was a tooth-brush. I comforted myself

92

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

Avith the reflection that they would not know what
use to put it to.
Banks uoav sent for Franklin, and communicated
to him his intention to remain on the battle-field all
night, and renew the fight in the morning. Frank
lin represented that Ave had six thousand men at
most, and' the rebels thirteen thousand. Banks re
plied that A. J. Smith Avould be up. (Smith Avas
thirteen miles in the rear, Avith eight thousand men.)
" But. Iioav is he to get up, sir ? The road is block
ed up Avith the retreating troops and Avagons, and
is but a path, after all. He can't get up." " Oh !
he'll be up— he'll be up ;" and the intervieAV ended.
On his return to head-quarters, partly under a tree
and partly on a rail fence, Franklin told me what
had happened.
General William Dwight, of Boston, commanded
the First Brigade of Emory's division. I knew
DAvight avcII, for he had succeeded Sherman in com
mand of our division at Port Hudson. I had recom
mended him highly to Franklin, Avhen he Avas offer
ed his choice of tAvo or three generals for commands
in the Nineteenth Corps, as an officer who could be
thoroughly relied upon in an emergency. Dwight
had said to me, "Major, if Franklin ever wants

PLEASANT HILL.

93

Banks to do any thing, and he won't do it, do you
come to me." I thought that the time had arrived
to go to him; so I found my way through the dark
ness. "Well, general, Ave' ve got to stay here all
night, and fight it out to-morrow." Dwight, who is
quick as a flash, and whose own soldierly instinct
told him what ought to be done, said at once, "Does
Franklin think Banks ought to fall back upon A. J.
Smith?" "Yes, he does." "Then I'll be d— d if
he sha'n't do it. Wait here a minute." Dwight
disappeared in the darkness. In ten minutes he re
turned and said, "It's all right;, the order is given."
That night Ave fell back upon Pleasant Hill,
Dwight bringing up the rear Avith his brigade.
Franklin asked him if he could hold his position till
half -past ten. "Till morning," he replied, "if you
say so."
At Pleasant Hill avc found General Smith Avith
his "gorillas," as they Avere profanely called.
Smith's command boasted that they had been in
many a fight, and had never been defeated. I be
lieve it was a true boast. It ay as partly luck, partly
their own courage, and partly the skill Avith Avhich
they Avere handled. They Avere a rough lot, but
good soldiers. I have seen them straggling along.

94

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

one Avith a chicken hung to his bayonet, another
with a pig on his back ; turkeys, ducks, any thing of
the kind came handy to them. The alarm sounded,
and in an instant every man was in the ranks, silent,
Avatchful, orderly, the very models of good soldiers.
The battle Avhich iioav ensued at Pleasant Hill
formed no exception to the rule which Smith's corps
had established. The rebels, too, had been re -en
forced, and attacked us in the afternoon with great
spirit. But they soon found the difference between
an affair with a single brigade of infantry, and one
with three divisions fully prepared and admirably
handled ; for Franklin and Smith had made all the
dispositions. They drove in the left of our first line,
Avhere Ave had a Five Points NeAV York regiment
(rowdies, by-the-Avay, ahvays make the poorest
troops) ; but they could make no impression on the
second line, composed of Smith's "gorillas," and
Avere beaten off Avith considerable loss.
General Dick Taylor, son of the President, com
manded the rebel army in these engagements, and
received much credit, and deservedly, for the man
ner in Avhich he had defeated us at Mansfield. It
Avas reported that General Smith, who commanded
the Trans -Mississippi Department of the Confed-

GENERAL DICK TAYLOR.

95

eracy, found fault with Taylor for attacking us, as
he had intended to draw us on to Shreveport, and
there, with the help of Magruder from Texas, and
Price from Arkansas, overwhelm us disastrously.
Perhaps it was as well that Ave had it out at Mans
field. As regards the affair at Pleasant Hill, it Avas
a mistake of the rebels. They Avere not strong
enough to attack us in position. Taylor has since
said that the attack was against his better judgment,
but that the officers who had come up the night be
fore Avanted their share of glory. Perhaps, too, they
had tasted the cavalry Champagne, and liked the
brand. They might not have been quite so eager
for the fray had they known what force they had
to deal with at Mansfield, and Avhat lay before them
at Pleasant Hill.
The writer has since met General Taylor in Lon
don, and a most agreeable companion he is. He is
a great favorite in court circles, largely for his own
merits, but partly as " Prince Dick." In monarch
ical countries they can not divest themselves of the
idea that our presidents are monarchs, and their
children princes. "Prince John," "Prince Dick,"
"Prince Fred," all received quasi-royal honors. At
Constantinople, Avhen Fred Grant was with Sherman,

96

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

a lieutenant on his staff, it Avas to Grant that the
Sultan addressed his remarks. Grant tried to stop
it, but could not.
They tell an amusing story of Dick Taylor in
London. Taylor plays a good game of whist. The
King of Denmark Avas on a visit to his daughter,
and she sent for Taylor to make up a game with
her father. Taylor Avon largely, and laughingly
said to the king, " Your majesty can not find fault ;
I am only getting back those 'Sound Dues' my
country paid Denmark for so many years."
Banks uoav wanted to continue his oinvard march
to Shreveport, but A. J. Smith opposed it. He said
that he belonged to Sherman's command, and had
been lent to Banks for a season only ; that he was
under orders to return to Sherman by a certain day ;
that much time had been lost ; and that if he un
dertook the march to Shreveport, he could not re
turn by the date appointed. Our supplies, too, were
rather short, the cavalry having lost their wagon-
train. We fell back, therefore, upon Grand Ecore,
Avhcrc avc rejoined the fleet. And here a curious
incident occurred. An officer in high position came
to Franklin and said that the army Avas in a very
critical situation ; that it required generalship to ex-

AN INCIDENT.

97

tricate it ; that under Banks it Avould probably be
captured or destroyed ; and proposed to put Banks on
board of a 6teamer, and send him to New Orleans,
and that Franklin should take command. "And
my men, general," he said, ," will stand by you to
the last man." Of course Franklin treated it as a
joke, and laughed it off. But there can be no doubt
that the officer Avas in earnest.
General Banks did not command the confidence
of his troops, especially of the Western men. They
generally spoke of him as "Mr. Banks." It Avas a
great pity that his undoubted talent could not have
been utilized in the civil service. As it turned out,
he Avas perhaps the most striking instance in our
service of the grave, almost fatal, mistake Ave made
at* the beginning of the Avar. He had been a good
Speaker, so Ave made him a major-general ; he had
roused a certain interest in Massachusetts in her
militia, so Ave gave him command of armies, and
sent him out to meet trained soldiers like Stonewall
Jackson and Dick Taylor. The result Avas a fore
gone conclusion.

98

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER VIII.
Low Water. — The Fleet in Danger. — AVo fall back upon Alexandria.
— Things look Gloomy. — Bailey builds a Dam in ten Days. — Saves
the Fleet. — A Skirmish. — Smith defeats Polignac. — Unpopularity
of Foreign Officers. — A Novel Bridge. — Leave of Absence. — A
Year in Virginia. — Am ordered again to New Orleans.
The Red River had now fallen very low. The
gun -boats had great difficulty in descending the
stream. One chilly evening, as Ave stood round the
head-quarters camp-fire, Avord was brought us that
one of Porter's best iron-clads A\ras fast aground in
the stream, and that they had tried in vain to get
her off. 1 turned laughingly to Bailey, and said,
" Bailey, can't you build a dam and get her off ?"
alluding to what he had done at Port Hudson.
Bailey folloAved me to my tent and said, " Seriously,
major, I think I could get that ship off, and I should
like to try." I went immediately to the general,
and got a letter from him to Porter, and sent Bailey
to the grounded ship. She Avas built in compart
ments. He found them breaking in the partitions.

LOSS OF GUN-BOAT.

99

He remonstrated, and said, " Pump out one compart
ment, then shut it hermetically, and the confined air
will help to buoy up the ship." The navy men, nat
urally enough, resented the interference of an out
sider. Bailey gave Porter Franklin's letter. Porter
said, "Well, major, if you can dam better than I
can, you must be a good hand at it, for I have been
d — g all night." Bailey had not met Avith a very
encouraging reception. He was one of those seri
ous men, who, as Sydney Smith said, require a sur
gical operation to get a joke into their heads. He
returned to camp, and reported to me that Porter
had insulted him. " What did he say, Bailey ?" He
told me; whereupon I explained to him the joke,
and he Avas perfectly satisfied. " Oh, if that's Avhat
he meant, it's all right !" The ship Avas not got off.
She Avas bloAvn up and abandoned.
From Grand Ecore Ave fell back upon Alexandria.
Franklin Avas put in command of the moArement, and
Bailey selected our line of march. We started at
dark, and marched all night. But the Confederates
Avere on the watch. They threatened our rear, and
compelled us to halt, and deploy, while they hurried
a strong force to take position at Kane's Ferry.
Here we had a sharp skirmish. The position is a

100

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

A-ery strong one, the stream not being fordable at
the Ferry. We crossed tAvo brigades higher up.
Moving sIoayIv through the Avoods, for there were
no roads, they struck the rebels on the left flank,
and dislodged them. The fight was very sharp for a
time. Colonel Fessenden, afterward brigadier-gen
eral, commanding a Maine regiment, and gallantly
leading it, lost a leg in this affair.
But a severer trial aAvaited the fleet. About a
mile above Alexandria the river shoots over a rap
id, the Falls of Alexandria. On this shoal there
Avas about five feet of Avater, and the river Avas fall
ing. The boats drew from seven to nine feet. The
floods come doAvn -with great rapidity in the Red
River. One night's rain Avould have given the ships
plenty of water. TAventy-four hours' hard rain raises
it twenty feet. But the rain would not come.
Things looked gloomy enough for the fleet. Bailey
came to me and said that he could build a dam in
ten days, and get those ships out. The river was
six hundred and sixty -six feet Avide at the Falls.
Franklin sent me to Porter with the proposition.
Porter said that it Avas not Avorth Avhile — " It Avill
rain to-night or to-morrow." To-night and to-mor-
roAV came, and it did not rain, and still the river fell.

RED RIVER DAM.

101

Again Franklin sent me to Porter. I found him
umvell and despondent, " Tell General Franklin,"
he said, " that if he Avill build a dam or any thing
else, and get me out of this scrape, I'll be eternally
grateful to him." I returned to Franklin. " Now
go to Banks, and get his permission." I found
Banks closeted with General Hunter. It was re
ported that the Government had become anxious
about our command, and had sent Hunter doAvn to
examine and report upon our condition. I stated
what Avas proposed. Banks turned to Hunter and
said, " What do you think of it, general ?" Hunter
replied that he thought it impracticable, "But if
Franklin recommends it, try it ; for he is one of the
best engineers in the army." Banks said, " Tell the
general to give the necessary orders." The orders
were given. Maine and Wisconsin regiments, prin
cipally lumbermen, Avere detailed for the work. In
ten days the dam Avas built, the Avater rose, and the
fleet came over in safety.
The rebels made a great mistake in not interfer
ing Avith our work. Had they done so, they might
have embarrassed us seriously on the left bank of
the river, opposite Alexandria. But they never
fired a shot. We Avere told that they laughed at the

102

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

idea of damming the Red River, and said that we
might as avcII try to dam the Mississippi. We would
have done this, had it been necessary.
Bailey handled Avater as a lumberman handles his
axe. One of the gun-boats Avas aground, hanging by
the stern some little Avay above the Falls. They
tugged at her Avith all sorts of mechanical contriv-
ances, but in vain. In tAvo hours Bailey built a lit
tle " Aving-dam," he called it, turned the current un
der the stern of the vessel Avhere she hung, Avashcd
out the sand, and the ship floated off.
Porter told me that if Bailey got his fleet out he
Avould never rest till he was made a brigadier-gen
eral. He kept his Avord. The Government pro
moted him. The naval officers subscribed, and gave
him a sword of honor and a service of plate. He
deserved it all. -.
The fleet saved, we renewed our march to the
Mississippi. It Avas made without incident, except
that Smith defeated the rebels in a skinnish on the
Atchaf alaya. He practiced a ruse upon them : con
cealed a brigade in the deep dry ditches that inter
sect the sugar-fields there, then sent his skirmishers
out. The rebs drove them in and pursued them;
when up rose the men in the ditches, poured in a

BRIDGE OF STEAMBOATS.

i°3

deadly fire, and took tAvo hundred prisoners. We
were not again troubled by the enemy.
Prince Polignac commanded the rebels upon this
occasion. It was reported that he had come to Loui
siana expecting that the Confederacy would become
a monarchy ; and it probably would have done so,
had the Rebellion succeeded. I afterward heard that
his defeat was not very disagreeable to his brother
officers, for he was not popular with them. Indeed,
very feAv foreign officers were popular on either side.
Both Union and rebel officers Avere very much dis
posed to look upon it as a family quarrel, and want
ed no interference from outsiders.
We crossed the Atchafalaya by a novel bridge
constructed of steamboats. This, too, Avas Bailey's
work. He anchored them side by side, the bows
level with each other, and placed planks across them.
The whole army, with its baggage-wagons and artil
lery, crossed safely and rapidly. A steam -whistle
sounded, and in ten minutes the bridge had disap
peared, and every boat Avas under full headway to
its destination.
The writer's connection Avith the Department of
the Gulf now ceased for a year. He obtained leave
of absence, and Avcnt North. But he had scarcely

104

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

arrived there when Early made his daring march
upon Washington. My leave was revoked, and I
was ordered to report to Major-general Gillmore.
For a year I remained in Virginia, most of the time
in Norfolk, for Gillmore had been throAvn from his
horse, and was unable to take the field in command
of the Nineteenth Army Corps, as had been intend
ed, and I had been assigned to a different duty.
Early in the spring of 1865, on application of Briga
dier-general T. W. Sherman, I was ordered again to
NeAV Orleans.

AT GRANT'S HEAD-QUARTERS.

l°5

CHAPTER IX.
Visit to Grant's Head-quarters. — His Anecdotes of Army Life. —
Banks relieved. — Canby in Command. — Bailey at Mobile. — Death of
Bailey.— Canby as a Civil Governor.— Confiscated Property.— Pro
poses to rebuild Levees. — Is stopped by Sheridan. — Canby appeals.
— Is sustained, but too lata — Levees destroyed by Floods. — Conflict
of Jurisdiction. — Action of President Johnson. — Sheridan abolishes
Canby's Provost Marshal's Department. — Canby asks to be recalled.
— Is ordered to Washington. — To Galveston. — To Richmond. — To
Charleston. — Is murdered by the Modocs. — His Character.
Shortly after my arrival at the North, I paid a
visit of a feAv days to Colonel Badeau at Grant's
head-quarters at City Point. Badeau had been Avith
me on Sherman's staff. I staid at headquarters in a
tent reserved for guests, and messed Avith the general
and his staff. Grant has the reputation of being a
taciturn man, and he is generally so. But AA'hen
seated on a summer's evening under the awning in
front of his tent with his staff, and, perhaps, a few
friends about him, he took his share of the conver
sation. He Avas full of anecdote, especially of army
life. He talked very freely, not hesitating to express

io6

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

his opinions of men and things. Grant contended
that no commanding officer could succeed in the long
run, if he were not an honest and an honorable man.
He did not care Avhat Avere his talents, he was sure
to come to grief, and injure the cause sooner or later.
But Butler took different ground. He held that he
could appoint clever and energetic officers to com
mand, and benefit by their talents, while he could
prevent their dishonesty from injuring the cause.
Grant Avas undoubtedly riglit, and Butler wrong.
One evening, as Ave sat before his tent, Grant ob
served that he had that day sent orders to remove a
certain general from high command in the West. I
expressed my surprise, and said that I had always
understood, and from army men too, that the officer
in question Avas one of the best of our volunteer gen
erals. Grant took his cigar from his mouth, and re
marked, in his quiet Avay, " He's too much mixed up
Avith cotton."
Politics makes strange bed-fellows. What a pity
that President Grant Avas unable to carry into his
civil appointments the same admirable principle
upon Avhich General Grant acted so inflexibly and
so successfully in his military appointments 1 The
officer Avhoin he removed from command as "too

GENERAL JOSEPH BAILEY.

107

much mixed up with cotton " he soon after appoint
ed, under strong party pressure, to high civil office.
On my return to NeAV Orleans, I found that Banks
had been relieved, and Canby noAV commanded the
Department of the Gulf. He was absent, engaged
in the campaign against Mobile, Avhich resulted in
the capture of that city. Here Bailey again distin
guished himself. The bay was streAved with torpe
does. Bailey had no fear of torpedoes. He told
me that he had often navigated the Upper Missis
sippi when enormous cakes of ice, swept along by
the rapid current, threatened to destroy the boat, but
that it was easy enough by some mechanical contriv
ance to avoid them. He thought that torpedoes
might be treated in the same way. He showed his
faith by his Avorks. He took the quartermaster's
boats up without accident. The navy folloAved his
lead, and safely. But the Admiral, changing his
mind, ordered some of the boats back. In backing
doAvn, tAvo Avere blown up and sunk.
But the war was now near its close. Bailey Avas
shortly afterward mustered out of service, and return
ed to civil life. He removed from Wisconsin to
Missouri, and settled in one of the border counties.
Here he was elected sheriff. His end Avas a sad one.

ioS

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

With his usual daring, he attempted to arrest two
noted desperadoes, horse - thieves, single-handed.
They murdered him. He had not lived in vain.
He had rendered good service to his country.
To return to Louisiana. The writer was now pro
moted to General Canby's staff, and became adju
tant-general of the Department. Canby enjoyed the
full confidence of the Government, and most justly.
He had an exceedingly important command, extend
ing from St. Louis to the Gulf, and from Florida to
Texas. We had one hundred and eighty-seven thou
sand men upon our rolls. Canby was an excellent
military commander, but his forte lay in civil gov
ernment. Never Avas a Department better governed
than Avas Louisiana in his day. A kind-hearted, be
nevolent gentleman, he gave one half of his pay to
the rebel poor. Often have I seen his wife driving
about NeAV Orleans, accompanied by a Sister of Char
ity, dispensing his bounty. A clear-headed, just
man, he governed that turbulent city with Avisdom
and justice, and with unflinching firmness. There
Avere no riots in his day. More than once we Avere
told that a riot was planned for the next day. Can-
by sent for Sherman ; that night a battery Avould be
quietly marched up from Jackson Barracks, and sta-

CONFEDERATE PROPERTY.

109

tioned out of sight in a cotton-press. Very early in
the morning a company of cavalry picketed their
horses in Esplanade Street. The quiet citizens saw
nothing unusual, but the would-be rioters of course
knew Avhat had been done, and there Avas no riot.
Canby was relieved ; Sherman got leave of absence ;
and within a month a riot took place.
General Canby has saved millions of money to
the United States. In these days of barefaced raids
upon the Treasury, under color of bogus Southern
claims, Canby's foresight and care are brought out
in strong relief. When the war Avas ended, he re
turned .all confiscated rebel property to its OAvners,
but he took from them a release to the United States
for all claim for rent or damage during our occupa
tion. These men's mouths are hoav closed. The
only exception he made Avas made most reluctantly
under the orders of Sheridan. That great soldier
does not shine in civil government as he does in the
field. When he arrived in NeAV Orleans, he told
General Canby that he came there to take military
command ; that as for civil matters he kneAV nothing
about them, and left them all to Canlry. Before a
month had passed an order came that General Canbv
Avould please report Avhy he did not return the Me-

no

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

tairie Ridge Race-course to its owners. This course
Avas owned by gamblers. The gamblers of New Or
leans are an institution and a poAver in that city.
Canby replied Avith the indorsement, " Respectfully
returned Avith a copy of the order bearing date (a
month back) returning the Metairie Ridge Race
course to its OAvners on the usual conditions." The
order came back, " General Canby will return the
Metairie Ridge Race -course Avithout condition."
Canby felt deeply hurt. His carefully devised and
impartially executed plan to protect the Treasury
had been frustrated, and this in favor of a lot of
gamblers. I do not doubt that these men are now
before Congress as " loyal citizens," Avith their hum
ble petition for reimbursement for the occupation of
the race-course and the destruction of the fences.
Had Canby been permitted to have his own way,
the levees in Louisiana Avould have been rebuilt in
the fall of 1S65, millions of money saved to the
United States, and much suffering and vagabondage
among the inhabitants avoided. In 1862 Butler had
confiscated the crops on many abandoned estates.
This property, AA'hen sold, realized a fund which was
turned over to the successive Department command
ers, to be used for various public purposes. Banks

THE LEVEES.

ill

gave a monster concert, Avith artillery accompani
ments, out of it, and balls, to dance the fair Creoles
into loyalty. Canby proposed to rebuild the levees.
In his day the fund amounted to about eight hun
dred thousand dollars. He thought that this money,
raised in Louisiana, could Avith propriety be expend
ed in repairing the levees in Louisiana. He said ex
pressly that the rebels had no right to this expendi
ture — as they had soAvn, so must they reap ; but that
it was in the interest of the United States and of hu
manity that he proposed to rebuild the levees. That
if this were done, the people would be occupied, con
tented, and quiet, they Avould be no expense to the
Government, and their crops Avould add to the gen
eral Avealth of the country. That if it Avere not done,
the plantations Avould be overfloAved, the crops ru
ined, the inhabitants discontented, the value of the
crops lost to the country, and the United States com
pelled, as a matter of humanity, to issue rations to
the starving people. In the month of October, 1865,
every thing Avas ready, the unemployed negroes en
rolled, our negro regiments detailed, and the Avork
about to commence, when it Avas stopped by an order
from General Sheridan. Of course Sheridan did not
do this from any mere caprice. lie had his reasons.

112

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

and to his mind they Avere conclusive. But they
Avere purely technical and narrow. He said that the
fund referred to did not belong to the Department ;
that it belonged to the Treasury, or at least to the
Quartermaster-general, and could not be used with
out his assent. Canby was always most reluctant to
appeal from his superior officer to higher authority,
but he thought that in this instance the interests of
his Department, and those of the United States itself,
Avere too deeply involved for him to accept Sheri
dan's decision. He appealed to AVashington, and
Avas sustained. But the Government, instead of or
dering him to commence the work at once, sent out a
board of engineers — Barnard at the head — to survey
the levees, and agree upon plans for repairing them.
At length all these most unnecessary formalities were
got through Avith, and Canby Avas ordered to proceed
Avith the Avork. This Avas promptly done. But it
was uoav January, instead of October. In February
the Avater rose, and sAvept aAvay all that had been
done. All the evils predicted by Canby now came
upon the country. And not for that year only, but
for several succeeding years, the Government was
compelled to feed a suffering, discontented, and tur
bulent population.

CONFISCATED COTTON.

"3

Several nice and novel legal questions arose on the
termination of the Avar in reference to confiscated
property. These were determined by General Canby
so wisely and so justly that the Quartermaster-gen
eral not unfrequently sent to him for copies of his
orders as guides for the Department at Washington
in its own decisions. I recollect one question par
ticularly, which brought him into conflict Avith the
United States District Judge. It will be remember
ed that at the close of the Avar an immense quantity
of cotton Avas found stored in the by-ways of the Con
federacy, especially far up the Red River. Part of
this cotton was undoubtedly liable to confiscation,
but the greater part was not. Treasury agents
thronged all over the South. The character of these
men "left much to be desired," as the Frenchman
politely puts it. They Avere " on the make." Their
object was to prove all cotton liable to confiscation,
for the law gave them a large percentage of the pro
ceeds. The amount of perjury committed by these
men, and by the professional perjurers whom they
employed, Avas fearful. The effect Avas demoralizing
to the last degree, and exasperated the inhabitants ;
while it was the object of the Government, and the
earnest desire of the victorious North, to pacify the

114

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

South by dealing not only justly, but generously, by
it. Canby felt this, and Avith his usual sagacity and
foresight made a proposition to the Secretary of the
Treasury, Avhich, if adopted, would have saved the
Government millions in money, and more than mill
ions in peace and good-will. He proposed that ports
should be designated on the Mississippi for the re
ceipt of cotton; that every pound arriving there
should pay the Government twenty -five cents, or
fifty cents (any thing that the Government might
designate), and that no questions should be asked as
to its origin. Mr. M'Culloch replied that it was an
admirable plan, but that there were reasons why it
could not be adopted. The reason, I fear, was the
influence brought to bear at Washington by the nas
cent race of carpet-baggers. There Avas money in
the Treasury-agent system.
This system led, as I have said, to a collision be
tween the military and the judicial authorities in
New Orleans, which in any other hands than Can
by's might have been serious. M'Culloch wrote to
the general asking him to sustain his agents with the
military power in their seizure of cotton. Canby
of course replied that he would do so. Shortly aft
erward an agent applied to us for a military force.

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.

"5

He had seized a lot of cotton, and brought it to New
Orleans. The owner, an alleged Union man, had
applied to the United States District Court, and the
United States Marshal had been ordered to take pos
session of it. He attempted to do so, but Avas, of
course, repulsed by the military, the city being still
under martial laAV. The judge thereupon issued an
order for Canby to appear before him, and sIioav
cause Avhy he held the cotton against the process of
the court. The order Avas an impertinent one ; for
the judge kneAV well enough that the city was still
under martial law. The judge was that Durell who
af terAvard came to grief. But Canby always shoAved
the greatest respect to the judiciary. I remember,
as if it Avere yesterday, seeing him start for the
court-room at the appointed time, in full uniform,
accompanied by Major De Witt Clinton, his judge-
advocate. His return to the order of the court Avas
to my mind conclusive. He said, substantially, that
the United States District Court was a creation of
the law ; that it possessed precisely those poAvers
which had been conferred upon it by Congress, and
no others ; that if this cotton had been captured by
the navy on the high seas, he should have surren
dered it at once on the order of the judge, for the

n6

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

court was clothed Avith admiralty jurisdiction, but
that it had no military jurisdiction, and that he had
no right to surrender, and might be held responsi
ble for surrendering, powers which, under martial
law, were vested in him alone. The judge reserved
his decision. The claimant's laAvyers telegraphed to
the President ; and Johnson, who Avas then begin
ning to coquet Avith the Democrats, contrary to Stan
ton's advice, and without waiting for Canby's report,
ordered the cotton to be given up, to the general's
great satisfaction ; for it soiled the fingers of every
one Avho touched it.
General Canby had now been thwarted twice by
General Sheridan in purely civil matters - matters
belonging properly to the commander of the De
partment. He felt as if his usefulness were gone,
and prepared a letter to the Adjutant-general asking
to be relieved from his command, and ordered else
where. He showed me this letter. I felt that his
loss to the Department would be irreparable, and I
persuaded him to withhold it. But shortly after-
Avard Sheridan again interfered with the civil gov
ernment of the city, and this time by breaking up
the provost -marshal's department of General Can
by's own staff. It is a matter of great delicacy for

GENERAL CANBY.

117

one general to interfere with the staff of another.
Canby felt deeply hurt, and told me that he should
forAvard his letter to Washington. Of course I
could no longer object ; for it seemed to me that
self-respect left him no choice. He Avas relieved
at once, for he was all-powerful Avith Stanton, avIio
had the highest esteem and regard for him, and
unbounded confidence in his integrity and Avisdom.
He Avas made president of a most important board
on Avar claims, sitting at Washington. But shortly
aftei'Avard there was disturbance in Texas, and Can-
by Avas immediately sent there. Again, there was
disturbance in Virginia, and Canby was transferred
to Richmond. Then came difficulty in South Caro
lina, and at once Canby Avas ordered to Charleston.
Wherever he Avent, order and tranquillity followed
his footsteps.
This Avise, great, and good man lost his life mis
erably. He fell a victim to the Peace Commission.
He commanded the Department in which Captain
Jack and those wretched Modocs gave us so much
trouble. Although the force operating against the
Indians numbered but five hundred men, and the
Aveather was so severe that the ink froze in his tent,
Canby thought it his duty to go in person to the

nS

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

" Lava Beds." Here he was rapidly unearthing the
savages from " their caves and dens in the rocks,"
when the Peace Commission begged him to send
the Indians a flag of truce and invite them to a
"talk." He replied that it was useless; that he
knew the Indians far better than those gentlemen
could ; and that the best and most humane method
was to folloAV up his military advantages. They en
treated, and appealed to his love of peace. He yield
ed, Avent unarmed and without escort to the confer
ence, and was murdered by the savages. Thus died
one of the best, ablest, and purest men the war had
brought to the front.
The Avriter left Louisiana in June, 1866, and short
ly afterward, on his own request, was mustered out
of the service. He looks back with pleasure to
the years passed in that lovely and fruitful land.
He regrets the evil days which have fallen upon it,
and can not but think that the upright and honor
able men whom he knew there — and there are plenty
of them among its inhabitants— must regret the loss
of the rule of justice, law, order, and economy under
Canby, Avhen they contrast it with the infamous rule
of the carpet-baggers— fraud and corruption on one
side met by violence and intimidation on the other.

GENERAL DIX.

119

CHAPTER X.
The Writer appointed Assistant Secretary of Legation to Paris.— Pre
sented to the Emperor.— Court Balls.— Diplomatic Dress.— Opening
of Corps Legislatif.— Opening of Parliament.— King of the Belgians.
—Emperor of Austria.— King of Prussia.— Queen Augusta.— Em
peror Alexander.— Attempt to assassinate him.— Ball at Russian
Embassy. — Resignation of General Dix.
In October, 1866, at the request of General Canby,
Mr. SeAvard appointed the writer to be Assistant
Secretary of Legation at Paris. Johnson Avas then
President, but he very properly left all these minor
appointments in the State Department to its chief.
Frederic Seward told me that it Avas impossible to
have a better friend at their court than General Can-
by — " they always accepted his bills at sight."
General Dix had then been named Minister to
France, but had not sailed. Mr. BigeloAV still filled
the office. On presenting my credentials, he re
quested me to aAvait the arrival of the General before
entering upon my duties, that the proposed changes
might all be made at the same time.
Late in December General Dix arrived, and Avas

120

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

presented. Court carriages were sent for the min
ister, and he Avas accompanied by the secretaries of
legation, and by the " Introducteur des Ambassa-
dcurs " in gorgeous uniform. Those were the hal
cyon days of the diplomatic service, before Congress
had come to the conclusion that the safety of the
republic depended upon its foreign representatives
being dressed in swallow-tail coats. We Avere then
permitted to dress like other gentlemen of the diplo
matic corps in the same grade.
The Emperor Avas always happy in his reception of
the diploinates accredited to him. The custom was
to send in advance to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
a copy of the address to be delivered, that the Em
peror's reply might be prepared. These speeches,
under ordinary circumstances, might be stereotyped :
change the names, and one will ansAA-er for another.
After the formal addresses, an informal conversation
folloAved. General Dix then presented the secreta
ries. The Emperor spoke English very well, and
liked to ventilate it. He did not speak it perfectly,
hoAvever, as Avas claimed by his enthusiastic admirers.
He translated French into English, as Ave so often
translate English into French. He said, for instance,
to -Colonel Hay, " You have made ze Avar in se Uni-

COURT BALLS.

121

ted States ?" (" Vous avez fait la guerre ?") mean
ing, "Did you serve?" Hay was strongly tempted
to tell him that it Avas not he ; it was Jeff Davis.
After the presentation to the Emperor, we paid our
respects to the Empress. That charming and beau
tiful woman was then in the zenith of her beauty
and grace. She received us in her bonnet and Avalk-
ing-dress, as she had come from mass ; for in Catho
lic countries diplomatic presentations generally take
place on Sunday. Nor in Catholic countries only,
for in England the Prince of Wales sometimes re
ceives on that day. The Empress too speaks En
glish, and with less accent than the Emperor, though
not so fluently.
The imperial court in 186G-G7 was at the height
of its splendor. France Avas apparently prosperous
and poAverfnl, and Paris reigned the queen -city of
the world. All nations paid her Avilling tribute.
She Avas preparing for the Exhibition of 1SG7, the
most successful ever held, except our oavu at Phila
delphia. The Avinter Avas unusually gay, the palace
setting the example. A,s a rule, the Emperor gave
four grand balls during the season. They Avere very
magnificent, and would have boon very pleasant ex
cept for the great croAvd. But those balls Avere given
0

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

principally to the military, and the garrison of Paris
thronged them to the number of two or three thou
sand. Some of the subordinate officers were wholly
unused to any other society than that of the barracks,
and they brought their barrack manners with them,
croAvding, pushing, treading upon the ladies' dress
es, scratching their shoulders with their epaulets.
When the supper -room Avas opened, the Centgarde
on duty at the door had great difficulty in keeping
back the hungry crowd. Once they actually broke
through and rushed in. The sentries were there
upon doubled, but even then were compelled to
threaten to report the most prominent disturbers
to the Emperor. Every private in the Centgardes
ranked as an officer of the army.
It may interest some of my readers to knoAV Iioav
presentations were made at these balls. The United
States Minister was allowed to present tAventy-six
persons in all. They were selected generally upon
the principle of first come, first served ; but the mat
ter rested wholly in his discretion. No one had a
right to a presentation. Mr. SeAvard settled this in
a clear and positive dispatch to Mr. Dayton, and his
instructions now regulate the action of our ministers
in most of the courts of Europe. Occasionally Ave

PRESENTATIONS AT COURT.

123

asked for one or two extra presentations. The in
quiry was then generally made, " Is it a young and
pretty woman ?" If it Avere, there was no difficul
ty, for the Empress, like other ladies, was pleased to
have her balls set off Avith beautiful and Avell-dressed
Avomen. American ladies were ahvays well received
by her for this reason. Her balls were sometimes
called by the envious " bals americains."
The persons to be presented were arranged round
one of the rooms at the Tuileries. The Emperor
entered and passed down the line, each person being
named to him. He sometimes stopped, though rare
ly, and addressed a feAv words to one of the pres
entees. The Empress followed in the same manner.
She exacted that every lady should be in full eA'en-
ing dress, and if by chance one slipped in not decol-
letrc, the minister Avas pretty sure to hear of it. Gen
eral Dix Avas once asked to present a young lady
with her mother. He consented. She turned out
to be a child of fourteen. Before many days he
heard that the Empress had said that she did not
receive children.
But the Empress's Mondays, pet its hnuh's, Avere
charming. They were not unpleasantly croAvded,
and they Avere composed exclusively of people Avho

124

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

knoAV Iioav to behave themselves. Frequently they
were musical parties, and there one heard the best
musical talent of the Avorld. No money was paid to
the leading artists; for the theory is that the honor
of singing before the sovereign is sufficient; but a
bracelet or other piece of jeAvelry was sent to the
singer, and always of value, for the Emperor was
very generous — too much so for his own interests
and those of his family, as events have sIioavii.
The petits lundis were a paradise for our Amer
ican diplomates. There Ave wore our SAvalloAV - tail
coats, with black tights and silk stockings. The
most rabid anti-uniformist could not object, to that.
To wear SAvallow - tail at one of the bails, hoAvever,
was by no means a pleasant duty. After one or two
experiments our secretaries gave up going. The
French officers — not those of high rank, of course —
Avould stare Avith all the impertinence they could
muster, and take the opportunity to jostle them ac
cidentally in the croAvd. It was very different in
London. If one of us Avent to a ball at Buckingham
Palace in mufti, the page at the door simply asked,
"United States, sir?" and he passed in without dif
ficulty. Of course every one present noticed the
dress, but no one appeared to do so. They evident-

OPENING OF THE CORPS LEGISLATIF. 125

ly felt sorry for the poor devil Avho found himself
in such an awkAvard fix, and wished to make it as
easy for him as possible. French politeness did not
shine by the contrast.
Early in the Avinter the Emperor opened the Corps
Legislatif. In all constitutional monarchies this is
an occasion of great ceremony and splendor. A hall
in the Louvre was used for the purpose. All the
great bodies of state attended in their gorgeous uni
forms. Senators, deputies, judges, members of the
Academy and of the Institute, marshals, admirals
— every thing that France possessed of glorious in
arms, or eminent in literature, science, art, and states
manship, was congregated there. When all was
ready, the Empress, attended by the ladies of the im
perial family, and by her ladies in Avaiting, Avalked
up the Avhole length of the centre aisle to her seat
on the throne, amidst the indescribable enthusiasm
of the audience. Her beauty, her grace, and her
stately bearing carried the enthusiasm to its height.
You would have SAVorn that every man there was
ready to die for his sovereign. Within less than
four years she sought in vain for one of them to
stand by her in her hour of danger.
The opening of the Corps Legislatif. splendid and

126

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

interesting as it Avas, did not compare in either re
spect — in American eyes, at least — with the open
ing of Parhament by the Queen in person. She has
done this so rarely of late that, Avhen she does ap
pear, the interest and excitement in London are very
great. The ceremony takes place in the House of
Lords. The peers are in their robes of office, scarlet
and ermine. Each particular robe is ugly enough,
very much like red flannel and cat-skin ; but the ef
fect of all together is very fine. The peeresses are
in full dress. The diplomatic corps are present in
their rich uniforms. The princes enter and take
their seats as lords. That graceful and beautiful
woman, the Princess of Wales — perhaps the most
beautiful Avoman in England — and the Princess
Mary and the Duchess of Edinburgh, folloAV and
take their seats upon the wool -sack facing the
throne. When all is ready, the Queen, preceded by
the white rod and the black rod (they call them the
" sticks " in England), the lord chancellor and the
lord chamberlain, and all her high officers of state,
appears and seats herself upon the throne, the Prin
cess Louise and the Princess Beatrice supporting her
on either side. Short and stout as is the Queen,
she has the most graceful and stately walk perhaps

SOVEREIGNS VISITING EXHIBITION.

127

in Europe. It is a treat to see her move. Then the
lower doors are opened ; there is a rush and a scram
ble, and loud voices are heard, and the Commons of
England, headed by their Speaker, the very body for
whom all this show and state and splendor are got
up, croAvd into a narroAV space behind a railing, and
there stand Avhile the Queen reads her speech. It
seems strange, when one reflects that the Commons
really govern England, to see them shut out in the
cold as if they were not fit to associate with the dis
tinguished company present. When the speech is
finished, the Speaker boAvs, the Queen descends from
the throne, the Commons return to their House, and
the pageant is ended.
The Great Exhibition opened on the 1st of May,
1867. It Avas not nearly ready, but Avas opened
punctually to the day Avith all the well - arranged
ceremony for Avhich the French arc noted. The
sovereigns of Europe began to flock to Paris. " The
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein" was then in the full
tide of success at one of the theatres. It was odd
to note that among the first visits the great roy
alties paid (the Emperor of Russia and the King
of Prussia) was one to " The Grand Duchess."
The minor sovereigns, the kinglings, rarely went :

128

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

and when they did, they saAV nothing amusing
in it.
The diplomatic corps had admirable opportunities
to sec the different sovereigns visiting Paris. It is
the custom for a monarch to receive the diplomatic
corps accredited to the capital at which he is a guest.
We stood in a circle, and, while the royal visitor
talked to our own minister and to those near him on
cither side, Ave had excellent opportunities to study
his features, expression, and manners. The most
agreeable of them all, Avith an apt Avord for every
one, Avas the King of the Belgians. He had a great
deal to say to General Dix about Mr. Seward, Avhom
he had known, and the port of Antwerp as con
venient for American shipping. He spoke English
admirably. He was accompanied by the Queen, a
young and pretty woman, who, by-the-way, Avas the
only sovereign lady avIio came to the Exposition,
much to the Empress's disappointment, and some-
Avhat, it Avas said, to her mortification. Next in tact
to the King of the Belgians came the Emperor of
Austria, a small, well-made, military - looking man,
Avith most polished manners. He spoke to me — for
General Dix Avas then temporarily absent — of his
brother, the Emperor Maximilian, and expressed his

EMPEROR ALEXANDER.

129

gratitude to our Government for its efforts to save
his life. Later, while charge at London, I met the
Empress of Germany. She, too, has the gift of say
ing the right thing in the right place. I heard her
conversation with two or three of my colleagues who
stood near me. It was always happy. To me she
spoke of all that the Legation at Paris had done to
protect "mes pauvres Allemands dans ces tristes, ces
penibles circmstamesP She was glad to have the
opportunity to thank me in person, and wished me
to convey her thanks to Mr. Washburne.
But the chief guest, the man to Avhom all eyes
Avere turned, was the Emperor of Russia, a pale,
handsome, silent, gentlemanly -looking man. For
him reviews were held, gala operas given, and mag
nificent fetes at the Tuileries and at the Hotel de
Ville. I doubt if the Avorld ever saAV a more beau
tiful fete than that given to him by the Empress at
the Tuileries. It was summer, the month of June.
The" gardens of the palace Avere closed to the public.
The floAver-beds (the floAvers Avere then in full bloom)
were bordered with gas-jets, the trees were festoon
ed Avith variegated lamps, the fountains played, and
electric lights— blue, pink, and yelloAV— were thrown
alternately upon the sparkling Avaters. It Avas very
0*

130

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

beautiful. And when, at midnight, the Empress, ac
companied by a number of ladies, and by the Emper
ors and their suites, descended into the gardens, and
the electric light flashed on their bright dresses and
jewels, and brilliant uniforms, the effect was fairy
like. The review was next in order. Sixty thousand
men passed before the Emperors without check or
delay. The King of Prussia was present, accompa
nied by Bismarck and Moltke. Bismarck even then
attracted much attention. I have rarely seen a finer-
looking man. More than six feet high, large and
powerful in proportion, with a grand head well set
upon the shoulders, he looks like Agamemnon—
" king of men."
It Avas on the return from this review that the
Emperor of Russia was shot at by a Pole. Fortu
nately, he was not hit. The only creature hurt was
the horse of one of the equerries. The blood spurt
ed from a Avound in the animal's neck upon the Em
peror's second son, avIio was in the carriage with
him. The father's only thought was for his son;
and, leaning forward, he laid his hand tenderly upon
him Avhile ho anxiously inquired if he was Avounded.
It Avas reported that the- Emperor of the French

BALL AT THE RUSSIAN EMBASSY.

131

turned to his imperial guest, and said, " Sire, Ave have
been under fire together for the first time to-day ;"
to which the Emperor replied, Avith much solemnity
of manner, " Sire, Ave are in the hands of Provi
dence." That evening I saAV him at a ball at the Russian
embassy. It Avas very small, not more than two hun
dred persons present. He looked pale and distrait,
evidently anticipating, Avith some apprehension, the
effect to be produced in Russia, and upon her rela
tions Avith France, Avhen the neAvs should reach St.
Petersburg. Madame Haussmann, the Avife of the
Prefect of the Seine, a avcII- meaning woman, but
Avho did not shine precisely by her tact, Avas trying
to make conversation with him. He looked OArer
her head, as if he did not see her, and finally turned
upon his heel and left her. It aams not perhaps po
lite, but it Avas very natural. The Emperor and Em
press of the French made extraordinary exertions to
enliven the ball, but there Avas a perceptible oppres
sion in the air. The Avould-be assassin Avas not con
demned to death. Strange to say, a French jury
found " extenuating circumstances." But the French
sympathize strongly Avith the Poles ; and I doubt if,
under any circumstances, a French jury Avould con-

132

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

demn to death a Pole Avho had attempted to murder
a Russian. The Emperor of Russia is a man of the highest
sense of personal honor. When lately he sought an
intervieAv Avith the English embassador, and assured
him on his honor that he had no thought of con
quest, or any desire to occupy Constantinople, those
Avho know his character believed him implicitly. It
Avas reserved for certain ultra Tory journals in Lon
don to doubt his Avord. No language Avould be
strong enough for these journals to employ if a
Russian neAvspaper were to doubt the word of honor
of Lord Derby or any other prominent English gen
tleman. Happily, the Standard and its confreres
do not yet direct public opinion in England.
In the fall of 1867, the Exhibition closed with
great ceremony, and Paris settled down for a time
to the even tenor of its Avay. In 1868, General
Grant was elected President, and Avas inaugurated
in 1869. In the spring of this year General Dix
resigned. He preferred the comforts of his home,
Avith the society of his children and grandchildren,
to the attractions of the imperial court. No min
ister ever represented the United States Avith more
dignity than General Dix. A man of marked abil-

GENERAL DIX.

*33

ity, an accomplished scholar and gentleman, he pos
sessed precisely those qualities which are the most
highly prized at a court like that of France. The
ladies, too, of his family shone in their sphere ; a
matter of much greater importance than is generally
supposed in our country. The general has left a
very pleasant impression in France ; and not unfre
quently since the fall of the empire I have been
stopped in the street by some sad looking ex-official
with inquiries after his health.

134

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER XL
Washburne appointed Minister. — Declaration of War. — Thiers op
poses it. — The United States asked to protect Germans in France.
— Fish's Instructions. — Assent of French Government given. —
Paris in War-paint. — The Emperor opposed to War. — Not a Free
Agent. — His Entourage. — Marshal Le Boeuf.
In the month of May, 1869, Mr. Washburne ar
rived in France, and entered upon the duties of his
office. In the mean time I had been promoted, at the
request of General Dix, to be secretary of legation.
At Mr. Washburne's request, I Avas retained in that
position. Paris Avas uneasy and restless. Conspira
cies against the empire were rife. The Republicans,
as they called themselves— Radicals is a better name
for the majority of them — became bold and defiant.
France Avas jealous, too, of the renown acquired by
Prussia at SadoAva, She had been so accustomed to
consider herself, and to be considered, the first mili
tary poAver in the Avorld, that she coxxld not bear the
semblance of a rival near the throne. The Emperor
Avas suffering from the disease of Avhich he afterward
died, and no longer governed with " the hand of

DECLARATION OF WAR.

135

steel in the glove of silk " always needed in France.
The Church was alarmed at the rise of a great Prot
estant power, and the Empress sympathized Avith her
Church. In short, public sentiment had reached
such a pass in France, or rather in Paris, which is
France, that the Emperor Avas compelled to choose
betAveen Avar and revolution. He naturally chose
war. It was. definitely resolved upon on the 15th
July, 1870, but not officially declared until the 19th.
I Avas charge d'affaires, Mr. Washburne being absent
at Carlsbad.
On the 13th of July I went to the sitting of the
Corps Legislatif to learn what Avere the prospects of
Avar. In the tribune of the diplomatic corps I met
the Spanish Embassador. He told me that peace
Avas assured, as he had persuaded Prince Ilohenzol-
lern to decline the proffered croAvn of Spain, and that
noAV nothing-remained to fight about. On the 11th,
I Avent again. I found Lord Lyons there, and, fall
ing into conversation Avith him, he left the impres
sion upon my mind that there Avould be Avar, for the
proffered mediation of England had failed. Lord
Lyons had come to the sitting expecting to hear an
authoritative declaration by the GoATcrnment, and
this declaration he thought Avould be Avarlike. I at

r36

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

once telegraphed to Mr. Fish that the chances were
strongly in favor of war. This, and all our subse
quent telegrams in cipher, Avere delayed by the
French Government for twenty-four hours, probably
with a vieAV to decipher them. On the 15th I was
again at the seance, and heard the Avarlike decla
ration made by the Government, It was not the
formal declaration of war, but was ecpxivalent to it.
Thereupon Mr. Thiers rose, and attempted to address
the House in a speech deprecating hostilities. The
scene that folloAved was indescribable and most dis
graceful to any legislative body. The great mass of
the members sprung to their feet, pointed their fin
gers at the orator, yelled, and shouted "Traitre, trai-
tre ! Allez d Berlin /" The little man stood like a
rock, and Avhen the tumult had somewhat subsided,
I could hear his shrill, piping voice raised in solemn
Avaming against the step they were about to take.
The Government had stated that their embassador
had been insulted by the King of Prussia. Mr.
Thiers asked that the dispatches might be produced,
that the Assembly might judge for itself. This the
Government refused ; and, on a sIioav of hands, but
tAventy members — among Avhom Avere Favre, Arago,
Simon, Pelletan, and others, most of them afterward

UNITED STATES TO PROTECT GERMANS. 137

prominent in the Government of the National De
fense — voted Avith Thiers.
While the debate Avas proceeding I was called out
by the messenger of the Legation, Avith Avord that
the German Embassador was very anxious to see me.
As soon as the proceedings in the Corps Legislatif
were ended, I went to the German embassy. The
embassador told me that he had been instructed by
his Government to ask the United States Legation
at Paris to assume the protection of the North Ger
mans in France during the coming war. I saAV at
once the importance of this step, the compliment
paid us by a great power like Germany, and the ad
vantages to the country. I replied that I felt confi
dent that my Government Avould gladly assume the
charge ; that if there avc re no cable across the Atlan
tic, and it were necessary to say "Yes" or "No" at
once, I should say "Yes;" but as there AAras telegraph
ic communication, and I could receive an answer in
forty-eight hours, I must ask instructions from Mr.
Fish. He appeared to be disappointed, and inquired
Avhen I could give him an answer, as he must leave
Paris in tAvo days. He evidently desired the mat
ter to be settled before he left. I told him that 1
thought I should receive a reply within that time.

I3§

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

I Avent at once to the office, ana telegraphed Mr.
Fish as foUoAVS. This telegram, like the other, was
detained for tAventy-four hours by the French Gov
ernment. "Paris, July 16th, 1870.
"Fisn — Washington: — War is certain. Can I
take Prussian subjects in France under our protec
tion ? Have promised answer to-morrow.
" Hoffman."
On the 17th I received Mr. Fish's answer, as fol-
Ioavs : "Washington, July 16th, 1870.
"Protection of North Germans in French terri
tory by American representative can only be given
at request of North Germany, and with assent of
France. Examine request of Mr. Moustier of July
16th, 1867, to United States to protect French in
Mexico. Fisn."

On receipt of this instruction, I wrote at once to
the Duke do Gramont, to ask for the assent of the
French Government. My note was as follows :
" Legation of the United States,
Paris, July 17th, 1870.
" Sir, — I Avas requested by the embassador of the
North German Confederation, before his departure
from Paris, to take the North German subjects resid-

UNITED STATES PROTECTS GERMANS. 139
ing on French territory under the protection of this
Legation. To-day I am in receipt of a telegram from
my Government authorizing me to do so, provided
that it be done with the assent of his majesty's Gov
ernment. I have the honor to apply for this assent.
"I have the honor, etc., etc., etc.,
"Wickuam Hoffman.
" His Excellency the Duke de Gramont,
Etc., etc., etc."
The Duke de Gramont replied, on the 18th, that
the French Government gave its "entire assent,"
whereupon I telegraphed to Mr. Fish as f oIIoavs :
" Fish — Washington : — Consented to take North
Germans under protection on application of embas
sador, and Avith assent of France. * * * * Wash
burne returns immediately. Hoffman."'

I learned afterward that my note to the Duke de
Gramont produced quite a sensation in the Emper
or's cabinet. The French Government had already
requested the good offices of Great Britain to protect
French subjects in North Germany, and it had fully
expected that North Germany would make a similar
request. Speculation was therefore rife in official
circles as to what the action of Count Bismarck

140

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

meant. It was supposed that he anticipated a gen
eral European war, into which Great Britain Avould
necessarily be drawn; and preferred, therefore, to
ask the good offices of a power which under all cir
cumstances was likely to remain neutral.
The Duke de Gramont Avas then Minister of For
eign Affairs, and was supposed to have had much to
do Avith bringing on the Avar. The story Avas cur
rent in Paris that, when he was embassador at Vi
enna, Bismarck represented Prussia. They quarrel
ed, and Bismarck remarked of him, "C'est Vlwmme
le plus beta d Europe." He never forgave it. At
Vienna he naturally associated with the Viennese
aristocracy, who disliked the Prussians. From them
he got the idea that Austria Avould readily join
France in a Avar against Prussia, and so reported to
the Emperor. He took no note of the all-powerful
middle class, which rules in constitutional countries.
This class Avould not hear of becoming allies of
France in a Avar against Germany.
Late in the evening of the 18th of July, Mr. Wash
burne returned to Paris. He had been at Carlsbad
for his health, but on learning the probability of
hostilities, started at once on his return to his post.
We had telegraphed him, but he never received the

THE EMPEROR OPPOSED TO WAR.

141

telegram. Few private telegrams Avere forwarded at
all, and none with promptitude, in those days.
Paris now put on its Avar-paint. The streets Avere
gay Avith the pantalon rouge, and all day long the
French drum rat-a-tapped in the streets. The Mo
biles began to arrive, the National Guard to parade
— everyAvhere was heard the "Marseillaise." The
forbidden air was delightful to Parisian ears, because
it was forbidden. Long before the end of the siege
it was rarely heard. The Parisians could chant it as
they pleased, so it soon lost its attractions.
The war was popular in Paris. The journals
clamored for it, and the Adolent republican papers,
Avhatever they may now say to the contrary, Avere
among the most blatant. The Emperor, personally,
Avas opposed to Avar. lie Avas suffering from the
acute disease which afterward killed him, and was
naturally depressed and despondent. He Avould
gladly have avoided hostilities, but he was pushed
into them. They persuaded him, too, that the con
tinuance of his dynasty, the succession of his son, de
manded war ; and this was the one ruling motive
Avhich governed both his conduct and that of the
Empress. The Emperor Avas by no means the om
nipotent potentate he Avas popularly supposed to be.

I4z

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

He was scarcely a free agent. It was his misfortune
to be surrounded by a crowd of adventurers-French
carpet-baggers. The best men of France, the gentry
of the country, held aloof. The Emperor felt this,
and often tried to reconcile them. Had he reigned
ten years longer, I think that he would have suc
ceeded. There were signs of relenting. He was
consequently thrown, for his high officers of state,
upon a class of clever adventurers. Look at his last
cabinet before the Revolution of September. One
member Avas most unenviably known for the loot of
the Summer Palace at Pekin ; another is now in Ma-
zas, convicted of SAvindling; and a third, it was cur
rently reported in Paris, received one hundred thou
sand francs in the Transcontinental, Memphis, and
El Paso swindle ; and I have heard from high Prus
sian authority that when the gates of Paris were
opened after the siege, and the Germans sold flour
and cattle and sheep to meet the pressing necessi
ties of the starving Parisians, of a flock of three
thousand sheep not one was permitted to enter the
city till this gentleman had received two francs a
head. I have said that the Emperor was scarcely a free
agent. Here is an anecdote in point. Prince Met-

MARSIIAL LEBCEUF.

J43

ternich, the Austrian Embassador, returning from
Vienna, called to pay his respects at the palace. The
Emperor asked him Avhat military neAvs there Avas
in Austria. He replied that they were arming Avith
the Remington breech-loader. "The Remington,"
said the Emperor, " Avhat is that ? I thought I kneAv
all the principal breech-loaders, but I never heard of
that." Metternich explained. "Where is Reming
ton ?" said the Emperor. The Prince replied that he
happened to be in Paris. "I wish you would bring
him to me, and do you bring him yourself ; this Avill
insure my seeing him." Metternich brought him.
The Emperor examined l»s piece, and was much
pleased Avith it. He Avrote a note with his own hand
to the Minister of War, Le Bosuf, and told Reming
ton to take it,at once : of course he AA-as received Avith-
out delay. " So, my good friend, you have seen the
Emperor, have you ?" " Yes, sir, I had the honor to
see his Majesty." " Well, yon Avon't see him again :"
and he did not. This was the Avay the Emperor Avas
served. Le Bceuf was the capable and well-inform
ed Minister of War who stated in the Assembly that
France was thoroughly prepared for the field — " not
a button on a gaiter Avas Avanting." When the sad
truth became knoAvn, the French Avits said that his

144

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

statement was literally correct, for there Avas not a
gaiter in store.
But AA'hile the war was popular in Paris, it was not
so in the provinces. After the Revolution broke out,
the Provisional Government found in the Tuileries
a number of important historical documents, and
among them reports from the prefects of the dif
ferent departments on this subject. They breathed
one tone. The people wanted peace; but if they
Avere attacked, if the honor of France Avere at stake,
they Avere ready to fight. Considering the source
Avhenee this information came, from imperial pre
fects, creatures of the Government, there Avas no
mistaking the pacific feeling of the country.

LABORS OF THE LEGATION.

H5

CHAPTER XII.
Germans forbidden to leave Paris. — Afterward expelled. — Large
Number in Paris. — Americans in Europe. — Emperor's Staff an In
cumbrance. — French Generals. — Their Rivalries. — False News from
the Front. — Effect in Paris. — Reaction. — Expulsion of Germans. —
Sad Scenes. — AVashburne's Action. — Diplomatic Service. — Battle of
Sedan. — Sheridan at Sedan.
And noAV began our labors at the Legation, increas
ing from day to day, until we had thirteen distinct
nationalities under our charge, European and South
American. Nor Avas this all. The citizens of other
countries — countries Avhich had not formally asked
our protection — came to us for assistance. This Avas
particularly the case Avith Mexico and Roumania.
There Avas a large colony of Mexicans in Paris, and
Mexico had no representative in France. The diplo
matic relations which Avere suspended by the Mexi
can war are still unrenewed, notwithstanding the
friendly efforts of our Government. As regards
Roumania, its position is peculiar. Nominally it is
under the suzerainty of Turkey, and the Turk claims
to represent it abroad. Cut Roumania does not ac-
7

146

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

quiescc in this claim, and appoints its own agents,
avIio arc quasi- recognized by the powers to whom
they are accredited. There was a large number of
Roumanian students in Paris at the outbreak of the
Avar. These young men were left quite destitute
during the siege. The French Government behaved
very generously by them. At Mr. Washburne's sug
gestion, it made them a monthly allowance, sufficient
for their support.
The French Government had at first decided that
no German should leave France to return home.
The reason given for this harsh measure Avas that
every German Avas a soldier, and Avould go to swell
the enemy's ranks. It Avas very hard on the Ger
mans in France. They Avere throAvn out of employ
ment, insulted, liable to violence, and sometimes as
saulted, and, in addition to all this, Avere treated as
insoumis at home, and subject to severe punishment
for neglect of military duty. Mr. Washburne re
monstrated against this measure, and -wrote an able
dispatch to the Duke de Gramont, claiming the right
of the Germans, under all recognized international
laAV, to leave France if they wished to do so. It was
in vain. But hoav came a change of ministry. The
Prince de la Tour d'Auvcrgne became Minister of

GERMANS EXPELLED.

147

Foreign Affairs, and the Government took precisely
the opposite course, and decided to expel the Ger
mans. Again Mr. Washburne intervened, claiming
that this was as much a violation of international Low
as the other course. All he could obtain Avas, that
the decree should be executed Avith leniency, and
that liberal exceptions should be made in individ
ual cases of special hardship. But the French press
called for the expulsion of the Germans, and the
Corps Legislatif passed a resolution that they should
be expelled en masse.
As soon as the decree was published in the Jour
nal Officiel, and placarded on the walls of Paris, they
came in shoals to the Legation. From seven o'clock
in the morning till five in the afternoon, when avc
closed the office, they fairly besieged us. Five hun
dred often collected in the street at once. We Avere
compelled, though reluctantly, to ask for the aid of
the police, both as a protection to the Germans
themselves against the mob, and for our own con
venience. We had six gendarmes constantly on
duty. It was almost impossible to get up our own
stairs, and Americans avIio had business at the Lega
tion complained of the impossibility of getting in.
I found a side-entrance through a neighbor's apart-

148

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

ment, of Avhich I revealed the secret to some of my
countrymen. The French Government required that every Ger
man leaving Paris should be furnished Avith a pass
from us. At Mr. Washburne's request they dis
pensed Avith the police visa, and so simplified mat
ters. But there Avere forty thousand Germans in
Paris; of these about thirty thousand went away.
AlloAving three persons to each pass, for many had
families, we issued about three thousand passes in six
Aveeks. Many needed assistance to enable them to
leave Paris. The Prussian Government, with great
liberality, put fifty thousand thalers (thirty -seven
thousand five hundred dollars) at our disposition,
and this sum they afterAvard increased. We gave
those Avho needed them railroad tickets to the fron
tier of Germany and Belgium; there the German
Government took charge of them, or rather a chari
table organization under the presidency of the Em
press Augusta, who showed the most unwearying de
votion in good works during the whole Avar. Eight
or ten thousand remained in Paris during the siege.
Of those at least one-third came upon the Legation
for support, unAvillingly in most cases, and driven by
necessity.

THE EMPEROR'S STAFF.

149

But while the Germans thus thronged our office,
our oAvn countrymen Avere not wanting. In six
weeks we issued eleven hundred passports. AHoav-
ing an average of three persons to a passport, thirty-
three hundred Americans passed through Paris in
those six weeks. To these may be added another
thousand who had passports from the State Depart
ment. The question has often been asked me, Hoav
many Americans do you suppose are in Europe ? If
to the above forty-three hundred we add seventeen
hundred for those who remained quietly where the
war found them, or procured their passports at other
legations, Ave have six thousand souls. At that time
this was the average number of our people tempora
rily in Europe. There are feAver noAV.
On the 28th of July the Emperor started for the
seat of Avar. He took Avith him his Centgardes and
a numerous staff. Nothing can be worse for an
army than to be encumbered Avith a large head-quar
ters staff. It involves an immense amount of trans
portation, blocking up the roads, and interfering
Avith the march of the troops. Every thing must
give way to head - quarters trains, even supplies for
the soldiers and ammunition for the guns. This
naturally breeds discontent, and interferes AA'ith the

iS°

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

efficiency of the army. A staff should consist of the
feAvest possible number of working men, and they
should bo restricted, like the line, to a limited amount
of baggage. Sherman gave an example of what a
staff should be in this respect, on his famous march
to the sea.
Meantime rumors of disaster came thick and fast
from the front. The French had fought the battle
of Wissembourg Avith great gallantry, but they were
outnumbered and outgeneraled. Indeed, it Avas their
misfortune in this Avar to have no great generals. I
was reminded of our oAvn experience Avhen our Avar
broke out, and Avhen avc appointed to high command
men Avho had " the Spirit of the Lord, and a dispo
sition to storm Avorks," Avhich Mr. Stanton then de
clared to be all that Avas necessary. He lived to
change his mind, and to become one of the strongest
advocates of trained military talent. Happily for us,
the war lasted long enough to enable us to sift the
Avheat from the chaff. Its close found in high com
mand the Arery men best fitted to be there. The
good sense of our rulers and the tenacity of our peo
ple had enabled us to effect this vital change. The
French Avere not so fortunate. Their generals in
hiirh command AA'hen the Avar broke out Avere not

BITTER RIVALRIES.

IS*

equal to the situation, and their armies Avere defeated
and overAvhelmed before the officers of ability, avIio
Avere undoubtedly to be found among them, but in
inferior positions, had had the opportunity to show
what was in them. For the system of advancement
under the Empire was not calculated to bring the
best men to the front. I Avas told during the siege
by General Berthaut, now Minister of War, that an
officer who studied was looked upon as a republican,
and passed over. The road to promotion lay through
the cafe.
There Avere bitter rivalries, too, between the corps
commanders. It was stated, I do not know with
Avhat truth, that repeated messages failed to bring
up the supporting corps to MacMahon's assistance.
The same thing had happened at Solferino, Avhcrc,
as it Avas alleged, the battle Avas nearly lost, because
Canrobert would not support Niel. A challenge
passed between them, and nothing but the imper
ative intervention of the Emperor prevented the
scandal of a duel.
The defeat at Wissembourg was not published in
Paris till several hours after it had appeared in the
London morning papers. The press Avas muzzled.
The depression produced Avas very great. Certain

*52

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

Bourse operators took advantage of the inflamma
ble state of public opinion. One day a man in the
uniform of a Government courier rode up to the
Bourse, and, calling out his confederate, delivered a
dispatch purporting to come from the frpnt : " Great
victory ; total defeat of the Prussians ; capture of the
Crown Prince ; French army in full march for Ber
lin!" Up Avent stocks. The crowd shouted, sung,
Avept for joy, threw themselves into each other's
arms, embraced, and kissed. Popular actors and
singers Avere recognized as they drove through the
streets, stopped, and compelled to sing or recite the
" Marseillaise." Paris Avas drunk with joy. Then
came the reaction. The truth was soon known. As
they had been extreme in their joy, they were now
extreme in their grief. They were not only despond
ent, they Avere in despair. As the poor Empress said
at the time to Mr. Washburne, " They have no for-ti-
tude." The croAA'd collected in the streets, inveighed
against the Government, and, in a pouring rain,
marched to Ollivier's residence, in the Place Ven-
domc, and insisted upon his addressing them. Olli-
vier Avas then the head of the Government. He had
not much to say, but he was an eloquent speaker,
and partially pacified them.

EXPULSION OF GERMANS.

iS3

But the defeats of the French and their conse
quent exasperation reacted upon the Germans under
our protection. Employers discharged their Avork-
men ; those who Avould gladly have kept them dared
not. They lived in constant dread, and the num
ber of those thronging to the Legation to obtain the
means of departure increased daily. The suffering,
both moral and physical, was very great. It must
be borne in mind that many of these people had
been settled for years in Paris ; that they had mar
ried there; their children had been born and had
married there ; their property and their business in
terests all lay there. Yet they were pitilessly ex
pelled, and not only their business interests ruined,
but the dearest family ties dissevered. We have
heard much in history and romance of the expul
sion of the Moors from Spain, and of the Huguenots
from France, and our sympathies are deeply stirred
as we read of the misery endured by those poor ex
iles. I do not see why the expulsion of the Ger
mans does not rank with these touching episodes,
both in the suffering of the victims and the pathos
of their departure.
Of course the French Government did not expel
these poor people with the cmur leger. They had
7*

154

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

their reasons. They said that in case of siege there
would be additional mouths to feed, and that it
Avould be a constant source of danger to have so
many Germans residing in their midst. But at that
time a siege was not anticipated ; and, except in
this case, there surely could have been no danger in
their stay.
There were touching scenes at the Legation among
the Aveeping croAvd of Avomen. Some left children
and grandchildren married to Frenchmen. Some
Avere not in a fit condition to travel, but required the
comforts of a home, and tender care. A child was
born upon a bench in the street in front of the Le
gation. (It was suggested to name it after a distin
guished American diplomate.) Every thing that en
ergy and kindness of heart could do to facilitate the
departure of those poor people, and to mitigate its
severity, was done by our minister.
And here let me remark that no one could have
been better fitted for the difficult task he Avas sud
denly called upon to undertake than Mr. Washburne.
lie trusted to the dictates of a sound judgment, a
kind heart, and a fearless temperament ; and these
are pretty safe guides in the long run. Had he
been brought up in diplomacy, he would have hesi-

DIPLOMATIC SERVICE.

155

tatcd and read up for precedents Avhich did not ex
ist, and so let the propitious moment pass. The re
sult of my observation in Europe during ten years
of pretty active service is this: that while there
should be a permanent officer in every embassy — a
chancellier, as he is called in Paris — Avho can turn
promptly to any page of the archives, and is posted
in the history of the relations of the country in
which he resides Avith his oavii ; who knoAvs the
court ceremonial, and is intimate with the court offi
cials ; in short, " who knoAvs the ropes " — it is quite
as well that the head of the embassy should be a new
man. He will attach much less importance to trifles,
and act more fearlessly in emergencies. Great Brit
ain and France have pursued this plan in several
instances lately. The old diplomatcs grumble, but
it is clearly for the advantage of the country.
Ncavs of reverses iioav poured in upon us, until
they culminated in the great disaster of Sedan.
That this should have been so great a calamity —
a capitulation instead of a defeat — appears to have
been the fault of MacMahon. He Avas compelled by
imperative orders from Paris, and entirely against
his OAvn judgment, to go to the relief of Bazaine,
and to fight against overwhelming odds. But for

i5<5

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

the tactical disposition of his forces, by which they
were penned up in a culde-sac from which they had
no line of retreat, he, as commander-in-chief, is ap
parently responsible. But the French armies seem
from the beginning to have been badly organized,
badly led, and conscious that they were so, and dis
couraged accordingly. I have General Sheridan's au
thority for saying that the position of the French at
Sedan was a very strong one ; and Avhile it was inev
itable that they should be defeated by superior num
bers, they ought to have held their ground for three
days. I have no doubt that our troops under Sherh
dan Avould have done so. He spoke in the highest
terms of the gallantry of the French cavalry, Avhich
Avas sacrificed to encourage the infantry. The re
mark of a distinguished French general upon the
Charge of the Six Hundred, " O'est magnifique, mais
ce n 'est pas la guerre," would have applied equally
avcII to the charge of the cuirassiers at Sedan.
Sheridan accompanied the King's head - quarters.
We had asked officially, at the commencement of the
war, that he might be permitted to accompany the
French army, and been refused. The Emperor sub
sequently told Dr. Evans that he had never heard
of the application. General orders had been issued

GENERAL SHERIDAN.

157

that no foreign officer should go Avith the army; but
there was surely some difference betAveen the appli
cation of an officer for this permission on his OAvn
account, and the request of a friendly Government
that the Lieutenant-General of its armies might be
permitted to accompany the Emperor. The appli
cation probably never got beyond the chef du cabi
net of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. NoAvhere in
the Avorld is bureaucracy carried to the extent it is
in France. A minister can scarcely appoint a clerk
in his office. The chef du bureau is omnipotent in
his own department. The Republic promised to
change all this; but its ministers, after a gallant
effort, have fallen in the struggle, and things moA-e
on in the same old groove.
At the battle of Sedan, Sheridan stood near Count
Bismarck. ToAA-ard its close he shut up his glass,
and, turning to Bismarck, said, "The battle is Avon."
The Count replied that he should be glad to think
so, but saAV no signs of it yet. In a minute or two
more the French gave Avay. Turning his glass to-
Avard Sedan, Sheridan observed, "The Emperor is
there." Bismarck ansAA'ered that it could not be;
that the Emperor was not such a fool as to place
himself in that situation. Looking again, Sheridan

i58

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

said, " He is there, anyhoAV." He had draAvn his
conclusions from the immense staff he saw, and the
confusion reigning among them.
Sheridan was right. The Emperor and his staff
were prisoners of Avar. The Emperor had behaved
with the greatest personal courage, and subsequently,
when dissensions arose betAveen the French generals
as to who was responsible for the great disaster, he
behaved Avith the greatest generosity. But he should
not have been at Sedan. The post of usefulness and
of danger for him Avas at Paris, and not with the
army.

SEPTEMBER 4.

159

CHAPTER XIII.
Revolution of September 4th, 1870. — Paris en Fete. — Flight of the
Empress. — Saved by Foreigners. — Escapes in an English Yacht. —
Government of National Defense. — Trochu at its Head. — Jules
Simon. — United States recognizes Republic. — Washburne's Ad
dress. — Favre's Answer. — Efforts for Peace. — John L. O'Sullivan.
On Sunday, the 4th of September, 1870, Paris Avas
en fete. The Parisians had a new revolution, and
were delighted with it. The Avhole population had
turned out, men, Avomen, and children, in their holi
day clothes. They filled the beautiful Place de la
Concorde, the finest in the Avorld; they swarmed
across the bridge and into the Palais Bourbon, Avhere
the Corps Legislatif was in session. The soldiers
who guarded the imperial legislators melted aAvay,
the cocked hats of the truculent gendarmes vanished
miraculously. The Conscript Fathers did not exact
ly imitate the Roman Senators Avhen they too were
invaded by the Gauls, but disappeared as quickly
as the gendarmes. These were the gentlemen who
had howled for war, and called Mr. Thiers traitor
when he pleaded for peace. The people Avere gay,

i6o

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

good-humored, happy ; in short, it Avas a Sunday fete,
and in half an hour Paris, and consequently France,
Avas a republic.
From the Palais Bourbon the crowd Avent to the
Tuileries, Avhere the Empress was awaiting the prog
ress of events. There Avas no anger then felt to-
Avard her, and she was not in clanger ; but a mob,
and especially a French mob, is a capricious creature.
It may be in the gayest of humors; a trifle turns its
mood, and it becomes blood-thirsty as a tiger. The
Empress sent for Trochu, the Governor of Paris.
He had sworn on his faith as a soldier, a Cathohc,
and a Breton, to stand by her to the end. He kept
his word by sending an aid-de-camp to her assist
ance. Of all the creatures of the court Avhom the
favor of the Emperor had raised from obscurity, not
one came near her. Jerome Bonaparte— the Ameri
can Bonaparte— had been Governor of the Palace.
Fortunately he had been appointed to the command
of a regiment of cavalry ; for had he still been Goa--
crnor there Avould probably have been a fight, and
it Avas as Avell that there should be no bloodshed.
Happily for the Empress, tAvo foreigners remember
ed her. The Embassador of Austria and the Minis
ter of Italy Avent to her aid. They found every sign

FLIGHT OF THE EMPRESS.

161

of demoralization at the palace, the servants desert
ing, and pilfering as they went. They persuaded
her, much against her will, to fly. They traversed the
whole length of the Louvre to the door in the rear.
Metternich opened the door, but, seeing the crowd,
closed it again. " Ce n'est que I 'audace qui sauve,"
said the Empress, and ordered it opened. They
passed into the crowd. A gamin recognized her,
and cried, " L' Tmperatrice ! V Lmperatrice /" "I'll
teach you to cry ' Vive la PrusseP " said Nigra, and
pinched his ear till he hoAvled. Metternich Avent for
his carriage. While he Avas gone, a fiacre passed,
Nigra hailed it, and the Empress and Madame Le
Breton entered. It Avas agreed that they should
meet at the house of a noted Bonapartist. She
Avent there, and was refused admission. She Avent
to another; lie Avas out of toAvn. In this emergen
cy she thought of Dr. Evans, her American dentist,
and drove to his residence. He Avas expecting tAvo
American ladies on a visit to his family, and every
thing Avas prepared for them. When the servant
announced two ladies, the doctor was at dinner.
Excusing himself to his guests, he Avent out to re
ceive them, and found the Empress. The next day
he took her and Madame Le Breton in his carriage

162

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

to Trouville, on the coast, near Havre. There was a
sort of guard kept at the gates of Paris, though not
a very strict one. The doctor said, " You know me,
Dr. Evans. I am taking this poor lady to the asylum
here at Neuilly." They passed, and arrived safely at
Trouville, where the doctor's family were spending
the summer.
In the mean time a little English yacht of fifty
tons Avas lying in dock at Trouville. Her owner, Sir
John Burgoyne, great-nephew of General Burgoyne,
Avho commanded the British troops at Saratoga, had
intended to sail that day for England; but at the
suggestion of an American lady, a friend of his
wife's, had decided to remain another day, and make
an excursion to the ruins of the castle of William
the Conqueror. In the evening Dr. Evans went on
board, and stated avIio he was, and what he had come
for. As soon as he Avas satisfied that the Empress
was really at Trouville, Sir John said that ho
would gladly take her across the Channel, and it was
agreed that she should come on board in the morn
ing, Avhen the tide served. That evening the o-en-
darmes visited the yacht, for it was rumored that the
Empress was at Trouville. In the morning she came
on board, and the yacht sailed. The voyage was very

GENERAL TROCHU.

163

rough, and the little vessel was obliged to he to.
She arrived safely at Ryde, hoAvever, and the Em-
pi'css proceeded at once to Hastings, where she met
her son. Thus she had escaped by the aid exclu
sively of foreigners— an Austrian and an Italian, an
American and an Englishman.
The new Government, the "National Defense"
they called it — the French attach great impor
tance to names — Avas duly inaugurated at the Ho
tel de Ville. Had it not been inaugurated there, and
proclaimed from the historic Avindow, the Parisians
Avould scarcely have looked upon it as a legitimate
Government. General Trochu was placed at its
head, and Jules Favre made Minister of Foreign
Affairs. The appointment of Trochu was unfortu
nate. He Avas an honorable man, intelligent, a stu
dent, and a good military critic, but utterly valueless
in actiA^e service. He coddled the mob, treating
them as if they Avere the purest of patriots; AA'hereas
they were the marplots of the Defense. He Avas se
lected probably because he Avas the only Republican
among the French generals of prominence, and not
for any peculiar fitness for command in those troub
lous times.
Shortly after the inauguration of the Government

164

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

of the National Defense, Mr. Washburne had occa
sion to go to the Hotel de Ville. Jules Simon, now
Minister of the Interior, seized the opportunity to
make us an oration. What particular object he had
in vieAv, unless it Avere to convince the Minister of
the United States that Jules Simon was a great ora
tor, I have been unable to discover. If that was his
object, he succeeded. Whether it was worth while
to occupy his and our valuable time for this pur
pose only, may be doubted.
On the 7th of September came our instructions to
recognize the Republic if it seemed to us to be firm
ly established. Mr. Washburne sent me to make
an appointment Avith Jules Favre. It was made for
that afternoon. While Washburne prepared his ad
dress, I read up in the archives of the Legation to
learn AAdiat AA-as done under similar circumstances in
1848. I found that we had been the first to recog
nize the Republic at that date, but that Lamartine,
in his report, had taken no notice of the fact, for
fear, it Avas said, of Avounding the susceptibilities of
Great Britain. Washburne told me to mention this
circumstance to Favre: he did not intend that we
should be ignored a second time, if he could pre
vent it. I mentioned it to Favre, and he replied,

THE REPUBLIC RECOGNIZED.

165

substantially, that Great Britain had not treated
France so well that they need have any particular
anxiety about wounding her susceptibilities; and
added that Great Britain Avas noAV of very little
consequence. Mr. Washburne's address Avas an admirable docu
ment. Favre replied to it very happily. He said
that the recognition of the "young Republic" by
the United States was a " grand appui ;" that he
"felt gratitude and profound emotion." Jules Fa-
Are is a master of the French language. It is a
great treat to hear him, even in ordinary conversa
tion, roll out in a charming voice and impressive
manner the most perfectly harmonious Avords of
that beautiful language. French does not rise to
the sublimity of poetry. Shakspcare is absurd in
French. But for charm in conversation, and pre
cision in science, it is simply perfect.
The next day the intervicAV Avas reported in full
in the Offieiel. Washburne's address Avas very Avell
translated, except where he quoted from the Declara
tion of Independence, and spoke of the right of ev
ery man to " life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi
ness." Here the translator had made him say that
every man had a right "de vivre en travailhtnt ait

i66

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

bonheur de tons." Rather a liberal translation, and
thoroughly French both in language and sentiment.
But I have not remarked that the French Republic
ans labor more for the happiness of their neigh
bors than other nationalities, or than their oavh coun
trymen. If there be a political party in France
which does more in charities than another, it is the
Orleanist. Favre Avas very anxious that Mr. Washburne
should intervene to make peace. When he found
that under our instructions Ave could not join with
other European powers in political matters purely
European (advice left us by Washington, and wisely
followed by Mr. Fish), he begged Mr. Washburne to
intervene in his private capacity. But he replied
very sensibly that it was impossible for him to sepa
rate his private from his public capacity; he must
always be the Minister of the United States.
But what Washburne felt compelled to decline,
another American gentleman, Mr. O'Sullivan, for
merly our Minister at Lisbon, undertook. He asked
Mr. Washburne for a letter to Bismarck, but this he
did not feel authorized to give. He then begged for
a letter of introduction to Sheridan, who was at the
King's headquarters. This he received. Jules Fa-

EFFORTS FOR PEACE.

167

vre, who clutched eagerly at any thing that might
possibly lead to peace, gave him a safe-conduct, and
he started for the Prussian lines. But he never got
to head-quarters. That long-headed Bismarck had
anticipated some such outside benevolent efforts, and
had given orders to the outlying corps that if any
distinguished gentlemen came along desiring to make
peace, they should be treated Avith all possible court
esy, but not alloAved to approach head-quarters with-
out permission of the King. O'Sullivan Avas stop
ped, and his letter fonvarded to Sheridan. Bis
marck sent for the General, and asked if he kneAv
O'Sullivan. lie said he did not. He then asked if
he Avas anxious to see him. Sheridan replied that
he should bo happy to make his acquaintance, but
that he saAV no pressing haste in the matter. " Then
he sha'n't come," said Bismarck ; and O'SulliA'an re
turned to Paris. But the French did not treat him
so Avell as the Germans. As he approached Paris,
Avalking quietly along the high-road, a carpet-bag in
one hand and an umbrella in the other, a detachment
of the vigilant National Guard rushed across a field
and covered him Avith their loaded pieces. As he
made no resistance, they simply took from him his
bag and umbrella, and led him before their com-

1 68

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

mander blindfolded. That officer sent him under
guard to one of those wretched dens scooped out of
the barrier where they sometimes confined smug
glers temporarily, but which were oftener used for
more unsavory purposes. There they kept him all
night. In the morning Jules Favre sent to his as
sistance, and he was released.
O'Sullivan aftenvard left Paris in the general ex
odus of Americans. He went, as they did, to Ver
sailles; but he staid there some three Aveeks, talk
ing peace to the German princes quartered at the Ho
tel des Reservoirs, some of Avhom he had previously
known. Ho had a plan, not at all a bad one in it
self, but under the circumstances entirely impracti
cable. It was to neutralize a strip of territory lying
betAveen France and Germany, annex part of it to
Belgium, and part to SAvitzerland, and put it under
the protection of the Great PoAvers. One evening
O'Sullivan dined with the CroAvn Prince. He sat
next to Bismarck, and discoursed upon his pet neu
tral-strip theory. As they parted, Bismarck shook
his hand, and said that he Avas charmed to make his
acquaintance. " But, Mr. O'Sullivan, a curious thing
sometimes happens to me: I make the acquaintance
of a most agreeable gentleman in the afternoon, and

JOHN L. O'SULLIVAN.

169

in the evening I find myself reluctantly coinj)elled
to order him out of Versailles." O'Sullivan men
tioned this to friends he was visiting in the evening
but did not see its application to himself. They did,
however. He went to his hotel, and found a Prus
sian officer at his door Avith orders for him to leave
Versailles that night. He remonstrated, and it Avas
finally agreed that he should start at eight o'clock in
the morning. A sentry Avas placed at the bedroom
door, who thought that a proper discharge of his
duty required him to open it every five minutes
during the night, to make sure that his prisoner
had not escaped. Mrs. O'Sullivan did not quite ap
preciate the situation.

170

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER XIV.
Belleville Demonstrates.— Radical Clubs.— Their Blasphemy and Vio
lence. — Unreasonable Suspicion. — Outrages. — Diplomatic Corps.—
Some of them leave Paris. — Meeting of the Corps. — Votes not to
Leave. — Embassadors and Ministers.— Right of Correspondence in
a Besieged Place. — Commencement of Siege, September 19th.— Be
siegers and Besieged. — Advantages of Besieged.
Bellea'ille noAV began a series of patriotic demon
strations at the Legation, which soon became a nui
sance. AVhen I first heard the drum and fife com
ing up the Rue Chaillot, and several respectable-
looking citizens came in and inquired for Mr. Wash
burne, I was quite impressed Avith the interest of the
occasion. Washburne went out upon the balcony
and made them a speech, and thanked them for this
demonstration patriotique. But when they began
to come daily, and the rag, tag, and bobtail at that,
and day after day Washburne was called out to
thank them for this demonstration patriotique, I
got very heartily sick of it. We were too busy to
have our time Avasted in this way. But as the siege
progressed, and Ave did our duty in protecting the

CLUBS.

171

Germans, as we received neAvs from the outside
when others did not, and that news Avas uniformly
unfavorable to the French, the demonstrations pa-
triotiques ceased ; and it Avas only a fear of the laAv,
and that " divinity that doth hedge in a " diplomate,
that prevented our receiving a demonstration of a
very different sort,
For the clubs Avere now rampant, another bane of
the Defense. Had they been suppressed at the be
ginning, as they were at the end, of the siege by
General Vinoy, the result might have been differ
ent. Their orators advocated the wildest and most
destructive theories amidst the applause of a conge
nial audience. Blasphemy Avas received with special
favor. I remember once, however, the orator sea
soned his discourse too high even for that audience.
He said he "would like to scale heaven, and collar
[empoigner] the Deity." It Avas the day of balloons,
and a wag in the audience called out, " Why don't
you go up in a balloon?" This turned the laugh
upon the orator, and he disappeared, for in Paris
ridicule kills.
A curious and annoying feature in the Parisian
character during the war was the unreasoning and
unreasonable suspicion of the population. A gen-

H-

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

tlcman from Philadelphia interested in Fairmount
Park, which was then just opened, Avas struck with
the beauty of the gates at the entrance to the Bois
on the Avenue de l'Imperatricc — Avenue du Bois
de Boulogne they call it now, certainly not a change
for the better, for it was a beautiful avenue, appropri
ately named after a beautiful woman. Our Phila
delphia friend called his daughter's attention to the
gates, remarking that they Avould be appropriate at
Fairmount, and took out his note -book to sketch
them. He Avas at once surrounded by a mob, he and
his daughter arrested, and hurried before the Maire
of the arrondissement. They said he Avas a Prussian
spy, and Avas sketching the fortifications. He ex
plained avIio he was, and Avhat he was doing, and of
fered the draAving in proof. There were the gates
to speak for themselves, but this Avas no evidence to
them. Mr. Justice ShalloAV insisted that he must
be a spy. Happily for him, the mayor's clerk was a
sensible man, and spoke a little English, and through
his instrumentality our friend was discharged.
I have seen a mob collect about a gentleman who
took from his pocket a piece of paper and a pencil
to Avritc down an address. I knew an American
friend to be arrested, mistaken for Mr. Schneider,

SUSPICION.

173

formerly President of the Corps Legislatif. My
man Avas dark, and Schneider Avas fair; but that
made no difference. During the petroleum mad
ness, immediately after the suppression of the Com
mune, an American lady Avas folloAved to her homo
and very nearly maltreated because she had a bottle
of fieur (D orange in her hand, Avhich she had just
bought at the druggist's. Our vice-consul had red
curtains in his sitting-room. One evening he Avas
disagreeably surprised by a visit of armed National
Guards. They accused him of making signals to the
enemy. On seeing the red curtains, they became
satisfied. That a five -story house on the opposite
side of a narroAV street must effectually preclude his
lights from being seen at a distance, was no ansAver
to them. Mr. Washburne called the attention of the
French Government to this outrage ; but, as no
harm had been done, Ave could not folloAV the matter
up. Under our consular convention AAdth France, a
consul's house is inviolable ; but a vice - consul has
no official existence when the consul is present.
When he is absent, his deputy succeeds to his priv
ileges and immunities as consular representative of
the country.
Mr. Washburne Avas not the man to submit to anv

174

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

outrage upon German or American property. A
squad of National Guards entered and partially pil
laged the house of the German school-master Hedler,
where Washburne's son and other American boys
were at school. Our Minister was in arms at once.
The Government apologized, the battalion was pa
raded under arms, the Chief of Police made them a
speech, the guilty men were called out and punished,
and full damages were paid to Hedler, assessed to
Mr. Washburne's satisfaction.
To resume my narrative. On the 18th of Septem
ber, several of the principal members of the diplo
matic corps left Paris. Their departure gave rise to
a good deal of discussion, and much has been written
and said upon the subject. The diplomatic corps,
as a body, never left Paris. A few days before the
siege, Lord Lyons called upon Jules Favre. Favre
suggested that if the diplomatic corps wished to
leave Paris— and it was natural, that they should— he
was prepared to accompany them. Lord Lyons re
plied that he saw no necessity for departure at that
time. Favre thereupon said that, in this case, he
should stay too.
On the morning of the 18th, Prince Metternich,
the Austrian Embassador, came very early to the

DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

175

British Embassy, and said that he meant to go aAVay
that afternoon in company with the Turkish Embas
sador and the Italian Minister, and hoped that Lord
Lyons Avould accompany them. Lord Lyons replied
that he saw no necessity for haste, for Bismarck
would let them go at any time. Metternich answer
ed, " I don't Avant to ask any favors of Bismarck, and
my Government doesn't want me to." Lord Lyons
then finding that the Great Powers of Europe had
left, or were about to leave, Paris, consented to go
too, and called again upon Favre. But Favre told
him that he had then made his arrangements to stay ;
but that he should send Count Chaudordy to repre
sent his department at Tours.
As soon as it Avas knoAvn that the representatives
of several of the Great PoAvers had left Paris, a
meeting of the corps was called by the Nuncio, at
the request of several of its members. The question
Avas put, Shall the diplomatic corps leave Paris ? and
decided in the negative.
But the members departed one by one, till but a
few were left. Another meeting Avas then called,
and again it was decided not to leave Paris.
It is quite generally supposed that Mr. Washburne
was the only Minister avIio remained during the

176

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

whole siege. This is incorrect. There were six in
all— the representatives of Northern powers— Nor
way and Sweden, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Switz
erland, and the United States. In their relations to
the French Government, and in their correspondence
with Count Bismarck upon their right to communi
cate with their respective governments during the
siege, and to due notice in case of proposed bom
bardment, these gentlemen acted in unison as the
diplomatic corps at Paris.
The division of diplomatic representatives into
embassadors and ministers appears to me to be a
mistake. It is certainly pleasant for the embassa
dors. They have the right of direct communication
with the sovereign, for they are held to represent
the person of their own sovereign, which the minis
ters do not. At Paris, at the court festivities, they
occupied arm-chairs by the side of the Emperor
and Empress, while the ministers were seated on
benches in a loge. They had precedence on the re
ception-days of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. A
minister might have waited two hours ; an embassa
dor dropped in. and entered before him. Some of
them, like Lord Lyons, did not abuse this privilege.
He transacted his business as quickly as possible, and

RIGHT OF CORRESPONDENCE.

'77

gave place to another. The Turkish Embassador, on
the other hand, used to gossip by the hour. That he
kept a dozen of his colleagues waiting seemed rather
to please him. I once heard Lord Lyons remon
strate with him for doing so, and he giggled as if
he thought it rather a good joke. In Prussia this is
not permitted: first come, first served, is the rule at
Berlin, and it seems to me to be the just one. Mr.
Bancroft got this rule established, and deserves great
credit for the stout fight he made on the occasion.
Count Bismarck is stated to have said that if there
had been no embassadors, there Avould have been no
war ; for the French Government could not have in
vented the story that their Embassador had been in
sulted by the King. However this may be, there
can be no doubt that the system leads to the forma
tion of cliques, and, consequently, to separate action
by a clique instead of by the Avhole corps. This is
bad under any circumstances, but particularly un
fortunate in great emergencies.
In regard to the right of free communication with
their respective governments claimed by the diplo
matic corps at Paris, Count Bismarck refused to ac
cord it. He argued that if these gentlemen saw fit
to shut themselves up in a besieged place when thev

i78

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

could go away for the asking, and when the French
Government had made provision for this case by es
tablishing a branch of the Government at Tours,
they must take the consequences ; but as a favor he
would permit correspondence if it were left un
sealed. Of course the coips declined these terms.
To Mr. Washburne he wrote (and Bismarck "writes
and speaks- admirable English) that his position
as protector of the North Germans in France en
titled him to a different answer ; that as an evi
dence of his gratitude for the fidelity and energy
Avith which the duties of this position had been dis
charged, it had given him great pleasure to obtain
from the King permission for Mr. Washburne to re
ceive a sealed bag containing his dispatches and his
private correspondence as often as military necessi
ties Avould permit.
There has been much difference of opinion ex
pressed as to the right of a diplomatic body volun
tarily remaining in a besieged place to receive and
ansAver dispatches in sealed correspondence. Mr.
Washburne contended that they had such a right ;
and in this he Avas energetically supported by Mr.
Fish. I confess, however, that to ray mind the
right is by no means clear. To me Bismarck's ar-

RIGHT OF CORRESPONDENCE.

179

gument is unansAverable. " You see fit to stay Avhen
the Great Powers of Europe have gone, and when
the French Government has made arrangements for
the due discharge of your duties elseAvhere. By so
doing you gut yourselves in the position of other
inhabitants of the besieged place, and can claim no
privileges not accorded to them." In the case of Mr.
Washburne, charged with the protection of the Ger
mans at the request of the German Government it
self, the necessity for remaining at Paris may have
existed. At all events, if he thought that it did, it
did not lie in the mouth of that Government to say
that it did not. By choosing as their agent the rep
resentative of a friendly and independent power,
they left his judgment unfettered as to the manner
of discharging his duties. The same remark applies
to M. Kern, the Minister of SAvitzerland, avIio Avas
charged with the protection of the Bavarians and
the Badois. But as regards the other gentlemen, I
can not but agree with Count Bismarck. I was con
firmed in this view, after the siege was over, by Gen
eral Sheridan. Dining at my table one day in com
pany with Mr. Washburne, he said to him, " If I had
been in Moltke's place, you Avould not have had your

bag."

i8o

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

The siege commenced on the 19th of September.
For some days previous the streets of Paris had pre
sented an unwonted and curious appearance. They
Avere thronged with the quaintest-looking old carts,
farm-wagons, Noah's arks of every kind, loaded with
the furniture of the poor inhabitants of the neigh
borhood flying to Paris for safety. On the other
hand, the stations Avere thronged Avith the carriages
of the better classes leaving the city. The railroads
were so overworked that they finally refused to take
any baggage that could not be carried by the passen
ger himself. Imagine the painful situation of some
of our fair countryAvomen, Worth's admirers and pa-
¦ trons ! To have come to Paris amidst all the dan
gers of Avar to procure something to wear, to have
procured it, and then to be unable to carry it away !
But what Avill not Avoman's wit and energy do under
such circumstances? A clever and energetic friend
of mine hired a bateau -mouche, one of the little
steamers that ply on the Seine from one part of
Paris to another, and, embarking with her "impedi
menta," sailed triumphantly for Havre.
It had been agreed betAveen Mr. Washburne and
myself that if the diplomatic corps left Paris, and
he accompanied them, I should remain to take

BESIEGERS AND BESIEGED.

181

charge of the Legation, and look after American and
German property ; and he so reported to Mr. Fish.
I had quite a curiosity to be a besieged. I had been
a besieger at Port Hudson, and thought that I would
like to experience the other sensation. The sensa
tion is not an unpleasant one, especially in a city
like Paris. If you have been overworked and har
assed, the relief is very great. There is a calm, a
sort of Sunday rest, about it that is quite delightful.
In my experience the life of the besieged is alto
gether the most comfortable of the tAvo. You live
quietly in your own house, and with your own serv
ants ; and with a little forethought you may be am
ply provisioned. You sleep in your oavii room, in
stead of in a cold, damp, and muddy tent; and if
an eclat cT obits — as the French delicately call it —
strikes your house on one side, you move into the
other. There has been a great deal of fine r ritintr
about famous sieges, and the suffering anr Heroism
of the inhabitants. I imagine that there was not so
much suffering, after all, at Saragossa ; and that the
"Maid" and her companions in arms had plenty of
corn-meal and good mule-meat to eat — not a dis
agreeable or umvholesome diet for a Avhile !

182

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER XV.
Balloons.— Large Number dispatched.-Small Number lost.-Worth.
- Carrier - pigeons. - Their Failure. - Their Instincts. - Times
"Agony Columu."-Correspondence.-Letters to Besieged.-Count
Solms.-Our Dispateh-bag.-Moltke complains that it is abused.-
Washburne's Answer.— Bismarck's Reply.
-At the beginning of the siege, one of the absorb
ing topics of discussion among the Parisians was the
means of communication with the outer world. The
French had always had a fancy for ballooning, and
were probably in advance of the rest of the world in
this respect. They now applied their experience to
a practical use, and soon a service of mail balloons
was organized, starting from Paris twice a week.
At first they were dispatched in the afternoon, for
the all-sufficient reason that they ahvays had been
dispatched in the afternoon ; but soon they found
that the balloon did not rise quickly enough to es
cape the bullets of the Prussians encamped upon the
hills which surround Paris. So they changed the
hour of departure to one in the morning. When
daylight appeared they were beyond the Prussian

BALLOONS.

183

lines. Indeed, the speed of the balloon is sometimes
marvelous. Starting at one o'clock in the morning,
one of them fell into the sea off the coast of Holland
at daylight. The passengers were rescued by a fish
ing-smack. A second descended in Norway on the
very morning it left Paris. The officer of the Post-
office who Avas charged Avith the orgar .zation of
this service told me that, of ninety-seven balloons
that left Paris during the siege, ninety-four arrived
safely ; about equal to raihvay-trains in these latter
days. Tavo fell into the hands of the enemy, and
one Avas never heard of. It was supposed to have
drifted out to sea and been lost. A balloon Avas
seen off Eddystone Light-house. A few days after-
Avard a gentleman spending the Avinter at Torquay
received a letter from the rector at Land's End,
Cormvai}, stating that a number of letters had drift
ed ashore, supposed to have been lost from a balloon,
and among them Avas one addressed to him ; that it
had been dried, and on receipt of twopence it would
be sent him. It proved to be a balloon letter from
me, and is still preserved as a souvenir of the siege
and the sea.
Quite at the beginning of the siege a member of
my own family received a letter from me, dispatch-

184

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

cd by the first balloon Avhich left Paris. Its arrival
created quite a sensation in the little Welsh water
ing-place Avhere she Avas spending a part of the au
tumn. People stopped her in the street, and asked
to see the " balloon letter." The natives evidently
thought that it must have something of the balloon
about it.
I recollect Worth's coming to the Legation one
day— (and Avho does not know Worth ? He rules
the women throughout the civilized and toileted
Avorld ; and through the women he rules the men, or
their pockets at least). Worth Avas in great distress.
His nepheAV had gone out in a balloon and been capt
ured, and there Avere rumors that his life Avas in
danger. I promised to ascertain his fate, if possible,
and prepared a letter to Count Bismarck, which Mr.
Washburne signed. Bismarck replied most prompt
ly, as he ahvays did. And here let me state that
during the siege, at the request of anxious Avives and
parents, Ave often addressed inquiries to German
Head-quarters to ascertain the fate of a husband or
a son, and that these inquiries ahvays received the
promptest and kindest attention. To the inquiry
about young Worth, Bismarck replied that he had
been captured attempting to cross the Prussian lines

CARRIER-PIGEONS.

185

in a balloon ; that to cross the Prussian lines in the
air was like crossing them on the land ; and that the
person caught attempting it would be similarly pun
ished; that young Worth AA'as in prison, and-~"Tid
be kept there for a feAv months, to teach others not
to attempt the same thing ; but that no other harm
had happened, or Avould happen, to him. I sent for
Worth, and read him the letter. He was much re
lieved, and expressed himself very grateful. Some
years later a relative of mine took the material for
a dress to Worth, and asked him to make it up.
Think of the audacity of such a request! But
Worth did it. If gratitude is to be measured not
by the magnitude of the favor conferred, but by the
sacrifice made by him who confers it, then Worth's
gratitude stands out in unequaled grandeur.
But while with the help of balloons the Parisians
managed very Avell to send letters from Paris, it was
no easy task to receive them. The pigeon experi
ment proved a failure. No doubt pigeons can be
trained to do their work tolerably well, and the
French Government now has a large collection of
carriers at the Jardin d'Acclimatation. But during
the siege very feAv succeeded in reaching home. A
carrier will scarcely ever make a tAvo days' journey.

i86

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

If night overtakes him, he goes astray, misled per
haps by siren Avood - pigeons. In Avinter, too, the
days are short, siioav -storms blind him, and hawks
pounce upon him. One of the canards circulated in
Paris Avas that the Prussians trained hawks for this
purpose. The instinct of the animal, too, seems to
teach it to fly northward only. Two or three times
a carrier arrived safely, bringing with it one of those
marvels of scientific skill, a photographic letter.
The microscope revealed the contents of a good-sized
neAvspaper transferred to a scrap of paper that a pig
eon could carry under its Aving.
Some of the French residing in London took ad
vantage of the "agony column" of the Times to
send news to their friends. They had faith in the
ubiquity of the great journal, and their faith was re
warded. I doubt if you could so hedge in a city
that the Times would not penetrate it. Our Lega
tion in London sent it to us. I received one num
ber a week. In it I found multitudes oiprieres ad
dressed to Mr. Washburne, and some to myself, beg
ging us to inform Mr. So-and-so, or Madame Blank,
that their wife, or husband, or children, were at such
and such a place, and all well. When these mes
sages were purely personal, Ave delivered them. If

CORRESPONDENCE.

187

they were in cipher, or susceptible of a double mean
ing, we did not. I remember finding a message in
cipher, and addressed to the Minister of War. I not
only did not deliver it, but I burned it for fear that
the favor of receiving our letters and papers accord
ed us by the German Government might be abused.
About two days before the jour de Van, I received a
Times of December 23d, for the Germans purpose
ly delayed our bag, probably that the neAvs, should
it become knoAvn to the French Government, might
not be acted on by it, to the detriment of German
military operations. The "agony column" was full
of messages to besieged relatives. I thought that the
Parisians could receive no more acceptable presents
for their NeAV- year's -day, so I copied all the mes
sages which had addresses and sent them by mail.
But some had no addresses. Hoav the "writers ever
expected them to reach their destinations, I do not
understand. I copied them too, hoAvever, and sent
them to the Gaulois. On NeAv-year's morning that
journal published them. In a feAv days it received
grateful letters, thanking the editors warmly, and
offering to pay a share of the expense, " Avhich must
have been great." The Gaulois replied, declining
all payment, but modestly assuming great credit to

i88

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

itself for its " unparalleled enterprise," and assuring
its correspondents that it should continue to spare
no expense to procure them neAvs of their fami
lies. The Prussian officers, too, at head-quarters not un
frequently sent in letters, with the request that we
Avould distribute them. I remember once receiving
from Count Solms, Avho had been charge daffaires
at Paris after the departure of the Embassador, a
letter forwarded by him, without address, without
signature, and without elate. I waited a few days,
thinking that other letters might refer to it, and that
the owner Avould call and claim it. No one came.
As the difficulties increased, of course I was the
more determined to trace out the owner. Every
thing else failing, I read the letter, to try to obtain
a clue. Fortunately, I found the name of Mr. Hen
ri Blount. I kneAV Mr. Blount, and kneAV that his
father Avas in Paris. I wrote him, and told him the
circumstances. He replied that if I Avould trust him
Avith the letter, he thought that he could find the
OAvner. He took it to the Jockey Club at dinner
time, and asked if there Avas any gentleman there
Avhose name Avas Charles, and whose wife's name was
Anna. A gentleman immediately claimed it, but

CORRESPONDENCE.

189

after a glance reluctantly gave it up. Another
claimed it, and turned out to be the right man.
I had rather an amusing correspondence Avith
Count Solms in reference to this letter and other
matters. I give tAvo or three of the letters which
passed betAveen us, as shoAving that Ave contrived to
enjoy ourselves after a fashion in Paris, notAvith-
standing the rigors of the siege. I give the letters
as Avritten. One of them is, perhaps, better adapted
to the French language than to its more austere sis
ter English. "Paris, le 13 Decembre, 1870.
"Mon Cher Comte, — Votre lettre n'est pas vrai-
ment d'un " interet palpitant," mais vous etes bien
disciplines vous autres Prussiens, et j'adore la disci
pline. Nous voyons les resultats.
" Ndanmoins, il puisse ctre permis a un neutre de
vous remcrcier de vos anxietes a son egard. Mais
il ne meurt pas absolument de faim. J'ai dine, il y
a quatre jours, chez un restaurateur bien connu, en
compagnie de quatre jeunes gens que vous connaissez
bien. Nous avons mange un cochon-de-lait, un ca
nard roti, des truffes et du beurre frais. Ce n'est pas
la famine 9a — tout an-ose" de Chateau Margaux de '50.
Ne croyez pas que dans ces temps ci j'ai commande
un tel diner de Sybarite moi-meme. J'ai ete invite.
Voila pourquoi je ne puis rien vous dire de 1'addition.

190

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

" J'espere qu'on ne trouvera rien de compromet-
tant dans cette lettre excepte" pour le cochon-de-lait.
Lui il a ete bien compromis.
" Je suis toujours a vos ordres pour envoyer des
lettres de famille de vos amis.
" Votre devoue, etc., etc., etc.
" Comme je plains vous autres pauvres Prussiens
enfermes hors de Paris 1" " Versailles, le 17 Decembre, '70.
" Mon Cher Colonel,— Merci de votre amusante
lettre. Le menu qu'elle contenait m'a complement
tranquillise", et la solidite" de votre repas me fait es-
perer que vous jouissez encore des forces physiques
necessaires pour que je puisse me permettre de vous
prier de vouloir bien vous charger de la distribution
des lettres que j'ai l'honneur de vous envoyer ci-
joints. Mille amities de votre tres-discipline,
"F. Solms."

" Paris, le 25 Decembre, '70.
" Mon Cher Comte, — J'ai recu votre billet du 17
et je me suis hate* d'envoyer les lettres y incluses.
Quelques-unes j'ai livrees moi-meme; les autres je les
ai mises k la poste.
" Depuis le repas dont la solidite a tant frappe" vo
tre esprit, je suis heureux de vous dire que j'ai mange
quelques-uns encore plus solides. Que pensez-vons
de lard sale aux haricots — pas verts? Je me suis

CORRESPONDENCE.

191

trouve transporte aux premiers jours de notre petite
guerre en Kansas, au Grand-Ouest, il y a 16 ans.
" Nous avons une nouvelle idee a Paris, une idee
tout-a-fait parisienne. Conn aissez- vous la cause de
la guerre? Evidemment non. Eh bien, la Provi
dence a trouve que les vieilles races d'Europe com-
mencent a se degenerer. Elle ddsire les melanger un
pen. II y a probablement 350,000 soldats francais
prisonniers en Allemagne ; il y a peut-etre 600,000
soldats allemands sur le territoire francais. Vous
voyez, ou plutot vous verrez, les resultats. Voila
l'ide"e que j'ai entendu developpee avec beaucoup
d'eloquence par la belle marquise de  a une pe
tite soiree ou j'ai eu l'honneur d'assister il y a quel-
ques jours. Je la livre, gratuitement bien entendu,
au George Bancroft de l'avenir — ' La cause et les re
sultats de la guerre de 1870.'
" Vous voyez que nous tachons de nous amuser
encore a Paris.
" Agreez, etc., etc., etc."
To be in exclusive receipt of news during a siege
is gratifying to one's vanity, but it has its decidedly
disagreeable side. I doubt if the siege were to be
gin again if Mr. Washburne Avould accept a bag con
taining any thing but his official dispatches and his
family letters. If avc gave the Parisians news, they
said that we gave them only bad neAvs. If Ave Avith-

192

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

held it, they said that Ave AArere withholding the neAvs
of French victories. I speak of what Avas said in
the workmen's clubs, and by the inferior press ; the
better classes and the more respectable neAVspapers
found no fault. Then General Moltke complained
that avc abused our privilege. His scouts had in
tercepted a balloon letter, in which the writer 6poke
of the facility of receiving letters through the Lega
tion, and instructed her correspondent to Avrite under
cover to me. That clever writer, too, Labouchere,
" The Besieged Resident," told in the columns of
the Daily News Iioav small a matter it was to be
shut up in Paris. " Go to the Legation of the
United States on any day, and there you find the
latest London journals lying on the table." All this
Avas nuts to General Moltke, for he had opposed our
receiving our bag, but had been overruled by the
King on the request of Count Bismarck. Bismarck
Avrote to Mr. Washburne, calling his attention to
Moltke' s complaint. Washburne replied. After
stating the circumstances under which I had author
ized a letter to be sent under cover to me, for an
American lady Avhose daughter Avas sick with the
small-pox at Brussels, he proceeded to say that both
he and I had endeavored honorably to discharge our

WASHBURNE'S ANSWER.

*93

duties as neutrals ; that Ave had acted according to
the best of our judgments under this sense of duty ;
that we proposed to continue to act as avc had done ;
and that if the German authorities could not trust
us, they had better stop the bag altogether, Avith the
exception, of course, of the dispatches from our Gov
ernment. At the same time he sent back nearly five
hundred letters which had been sent us without au
thority, and Avhich had not been delivered, as the
best possible proof that he had not abused his priv
ilege. Washburne's letter concluded as folloAvs :
" Before closing this communication, I trust your
Excellency will pardon me a further observation.
For the period of six months I have been charged
with the delicate, laborious, and responsible duty of
protecting your countrymen in Paris. Of the man
ner in which these duties, having relation to both
belligerents, have been performed, I do not propose
to speak. I am content to abide by the record made
up in the State Department at Washington. But I
can state that there has never been a time when
these duties have involved giuver consequences and
responsibilities than at the present moment. As I
have expressed to you before, I have been astonished
at the number of Germans avIio, as it turns out, were
left in the city Avhen the gates Avere closed. HaA-ing
exhausted their last resources, and finding themselves
0

i54

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

iii a state of the most absolute destitution, they have
applied to me for protection and aid, Avhich I have
so far been enabled to extend to them from the
funds placed in my hands by the Royal Govern
ment. The number of these people amounts to-day
to two thousand three hundred and eighty-five ; and
it is certain, had there not been some one to protect
and aid them, many must have inevitably perished
of cold and starvation. My position in relation to
these people and to your Government is knoAvn to
the people of Paris, and as the siege Avears on, and
the exasperation is intensified, I noAV find myself ex
posed to the hostility of a certain portion of the pop
ulation of the city. While your military authorities
seem to be agitated by the gravest fears in relation
to my dispatch-bag, 1 am daily violently assailed by
a portion of the Paris press as a " Prussian represent
ative " and a " Prussian sympathizer ;" and a short
time since it was proposed in one of the clubs that I
should be hanged — rather a pleasant diversion in these
dreary days of siege through Avhich we are passing.
" I Avill only add that, so long as I am the diplo
matic representative of my country in Paris, I shall
discharge every duty, even to the end, and in the
face of every circumstance, that I OAve to my OAvn
Government, and every duty that I have by its di-
rection assumed toAvard the subjects of the North
German Confederation.
" I have the honor, etc., etc."

BISMARCK'S REPLY.

195

Bismarck replied with an apology. He said he
knew that the privilege accorded us had not been
abused, and he was satisfied that it Avould not be ;
that the military authorities had called his attention
to this matter, and that it Avas therefore his duty to
call Mr. Washburne's attention to it; that the bao-
would continue to be sent as usual ; and that he re
turned the five hundred letters, with full authority
to Mr. Washburne to deliver them if he saAv fit. I
heard afterward that Bismarck was delighted Avith
Washburne's letter, and took special pleasure in
sending a copy to General Moltke.

196

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER XVI.
Burnside's Peace Mission. — Sent in by Bismarck. — Interview with
Trochu. — The Sympathetic Tear. — Question of Bevictualment. —
Failure of Negotiations. — Point of Vanity. — Flags of Truce. —
French accused of Violation of Parole. — Question of the Francs-
Tireurs. — Foreigners refused Permission to leave Paris. — Wash
burne insists. — Permission granted. — Departure of Americans. —
Scenes at Crcteil.
Early in the month of October we Avere surprised
by a visit from General Burnside. lie happened to
be at Versailles, more from curiosity than any other
motive, Avherc, through General Sheridan, he became
quite intimate Avith Count Bismarck. Bismarck
asked him one day if he Avould like to go into Paris
on a peace mission. Lord Granville had been very
urgent Avith the King to grant the French an armis
tice, and had induced him to offer it, Avith a view to
an election. There would be no difficulty, Bismarck
said, on any point except that of revictualment.
This General Moltke Avould not hear of. Not an
ounce of food should enter Paris. "Noav," said Bis
marck, "that Government of the National Defense

BURNSIDE'S VISIT.

197

is not the wisest in the Avorld, but they are not such
d — d fools as to stand out on a point like that.
There will be an armistice, and an armistice means
peace. If there is peace, England AA'ill get the cred
it of it ; and as the United States represents us, I
would rather that you had the credit of it." Burn
side came in accordingly, accompanied by Mr. Paul
Forbes, who Avas promoted to the rank of aid-de
camp for the occasion, and dubbed a colonel. The
Prussians could not realize the idea of a general
traveling without his aid. A meeting Avas appointed
Avith Trochu, and I Avent as interpreter. His head
quarters were at the Louvre, in a large and conven
ient apartment, occupied, under the Empire, by M.
Rouher. Before Burnside had stated the object of
his visit, Trochu made us a speech. He spoke well
for nearly half an hour. He told us that France
had been very Avicked; that she had fallen away
from the true Cathohc faith; that infidelity and
skepticism Avere rampant in the land ; that the mis
fortunes which had come upon her were deserved ;
that they were visitations for the sins of the peo
ple ; but that, Avhen they had repented and humbled
themselves, he had faith that the punishment would
pass from them. He continued in this strain for

19S

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

full twenty minutes, speaking very eloquently ; then
pulled out his handkerchief, and saying, "Excuse
my emotion," he wept. After this he came to busi
ness. Burnside confined himself most conscientious
ly to the exact tenor of his message. Trochu made
repeated suggestions of such and such possibilities,
but Burnside refused to follow him. He knew
nothing but his instructions. As I had feared,
Trochu bristled up at the no-revictualment clause.
" Such a condition had never been heard of. From
the most remote antiquity, there had ahvays been
revictualment alloAved in case of armistice, so much
per head per diem." He gave us at that time no
positive ansAver, but said he Avould discuss the mat
ter Avith his colleagues. Negotiations failed upon
this very point. The French Government called it
a point of honor. It was rather a point of vanity.
We did not need the provisions, as the result showed
avc had food enough for three months. Yet, for that
barren privilege of bringing in food Avhich was not
needed, the Government of the National Defense
rejected the armistice. They could then have made
peace, Avith the loss of one province and two milliards.
They continued the Avar, and lost tAvo provinces and
five milliards (one thousand millions of dollars).

GENERAL TROCHU.

199

It must be remembered that the members of the
Government of the National Defense were self-ap
pointed. They were always preaching of their ear
nest desire to appeal to the people. Here was the
opportunity, and they rejected it. It is a pleasant
thing to appoint yourself and your particular friends
rulers of a great country like France, and one does
not readily resign the position. The people might
not re-appoint you.
As we left the Louvre, I said to Burnside, "If
France is to be saved, it will not be by that man."
" I don't know that— I don't know that," he replied.
He was evidently impressed by Trochu's eloquence
and emotion, and ready tear.
It has been stated that Bismarck refused to en
ter into negotiations with the Government of the
National Defense ; that he would not recognize its
self -assumed authority, and considered that there
was no evidence that it was recognized by the ma
jority of the French people ; for there were riots in
the great cities of the South, and disturbances in
Brittany. Bismarck recognized it or not, as suited
his policy, and that policy was exclusively the in
terests of Germany. Had Trochu waived the food
question, Bismarck would have promptly recognized

zoo

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

him and his colleagues, so far, at least, as to make
an armistice Avith them, as he afterward did.
Burnside returned that afternoon to Versailles. I
accompanied him as far as Sevres. Trochu sent a
carriage for us. It Avas odd to find one's self in one
of the old imperial barouches, drawn by the famous
post-horses of the Emperor. We drove through the
Bois by Rothschild's house, and so to the broken
bridge at Sevres. In the Bois desolation reigned.
The trees Avere cut down Avithin three hundred yards
of the ramparts, the roads torn up and torpedoes
planted in them. The swans had gone to feed the
hungry soldiers, and the ducks, to avoid the same
fate, kept Avisely out in the middle of the lake.
AYhen we had reached the bridge, a bugle sounded
on the French side, and a Avhitc flag Avas displayed.
It Avas soon answered from the German side, and a
similar flag Avas raised. At once the French troops
lounged from under cover, their hands in their pock
ets, and down to the Avater's edge. The Prussians
Avere kept concealed. They saw us, no doubt, but
not one of them Avas to be seen. Presently, a Prus
sian officer descended the street, folloAved by a flag-
bearer. He stalks across the bridge to the broken
arch, turns, takes the flag from the bearer, and

VIOLATION OF PAROLE.

201

plants the staff in the bridge, with an air as if to
say " Touch that, if you dare." The French soldiers
are evidently impressed. They mutter, " Void des
milUaires." The officer asks in French, "Are those
the American generals ?" " They are." " Then let
them pass." Burnside requests permission to take
Antoine with him, the messenger of the Legation.
"Is he an American?" "Yes." "Then he can
come, of course." The steam-launch puffs up, and
the party cross. I cross with them, but return at
once to the French side. The soldiers disappear,
the flag is lowered, and the firing recommences. I
have been rather minute in this description, as the
same ceremonies Avere observed tAvice a week, when
we sent and received our dispatch-bags.
The German Government complained on several
occasions of the violation of flags of truce. These
complaints were addressed to the French authorities
through us. Indeed, every communication address
ed to the French Government and its replies were
sent through the Legation. This kept us busy even
during the quiet days of the siege. The violation of
parole Avas another fruitful source of correspondence.
The Germans sent us a list of over twenty-five offi
cers, Avhom they alleged had broken their paroles.
9*

202

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

Ill some cases— that of General Ducrot, for instance
—there are two sides to the question. He claimed
that it Avas a legitimate escape, and the French press
was unanimously of his opinion. There was another
branch of correspondence that occupied a good deal
of our time. The two governments, to their credit
be it spoken, did not allow the war to interfere with
the administration of justice. Under their treaties
each Government Avas bound to serve upon its own
subjects all legal documents in civil suits emana
ting from the courts of the other. This was done
throughout the Avar, and they all passed through our
hands. There Avas, too, correspondence between the two
hostile governments upon other subjects. Among
them I recollect one in relation to the Francs-Tireurs.
The Germans treated these irregulars as guerrillas.
The French remonstrated. The Germans ansAvered
that they had no uniform ; that they wore the blue
blouse, Avhich is the national dress of the French
peasant; and that they ought to wear something
Avhich could be distinguished at rifle range. I do
not remember Iioav the matter was settled, but I be
lieve that the Francs-Tireurs gradually disappeared,
absorbed in the Mobiles.

PERMISSION TO LEAVE PARIS REFUSED. 203
Not long after Burnside's mission I paid a second
visit to Trochu. Mr. Washburne had applied to the
Germans for permission for Americans and other
foreigners to leave Paris. The King accorded it at
once. Any American could leave on Mr. Wash
burne's pass, any other foreigner on the same pass,
provided that his name had first been submitted to
and accepted by the German authorities. Having
obtained this concession, Mr. Washburne next applied
to the French Government for its permission. To his
surprise, it was refused. He could not understand
it. That the Germans should wish to keep in the
city a number of " useless mouths " to help consume
the provision, was natural, but that the French, who,
for the same reason, ought to have wished to get rid
of them, should refuse to let them go, was inconcehr-
able. But Washburne was not the man to sit doAvn
quietly under a refusal in a matter like this. He in
sisted that they must go, and should go. FaA're Avas
evidently on his side, and we had reason to believe
that he Avas backed by some, at least, of his colleagues.
Trochu opposed the departure for fear of the effect
upon Belleville. If I had not heard him say so, I
could not have believed it.
As Washburne insisted, and Favre was in favor

204

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

of the permission being given, an interview Avas ar
ranged Avith Trochu. The " Governor of Paris," as
he loved to call himself, made us another oration.
It Avas very much a rehash of the first. He then
stated that he had been unAvilling that the " stran
gers" should leave Paris; it looked like "rats de
serting the sinking ship ;" he feared the effect upon
Belleville. But out of regard for Mr. Washburne,
and in deference to the opinion of some of his col
leagues, he would noAV consent. He added that he
Avould send an aid-de-camp to Belleville, to spread
the report that it Avas the diplomatic corps leaving
the capital. I looked at him Avith astonishment.
That he should tell a lie Avas bad enough, but that
he should tell it out of fear of that "wretched mob
Avas a degree of Aveakncss I Avas not prepared for.
Permission having been given, no time was lost in
the preparations for departure. On the 24th of Oc
tober, forty -eight Americans and several Russians
Avent out by Creteil. A number of English started,
but Avere turned back. Their names had not been
.sent to Versailles in season. Permission was subse
quently received, and they left Paris a few days
later. We drove to the French outposts, and thence
sent forward the flag witli an officer of Trochu's

GERMAN SCOUTING.

205

staff, and Mr. Washburne's private secretary, Mr.
Albert Ward, Avho was charged with the necessary
arrangements on our side. While avc waited, a Ger
man picket of six men advanced toward us, dodo--
ing behind the trees, muskets cocked, and fingers on
trigger. I confess I was not much impressed Avith
this specimen of German scouting. It looked too
much like playing at North American Indian.
There were some tAventy traveling - carriages, open
and closed, filled Avith ladies, and piled up Avith bag
gage. The party had as little of a military look as
can avcII be imagined, and yet the picket advanced
as if they feared an ambush.
The necessary arrangements having been made,
Ave proceeded to the German outposts. Here the
Prussian officers verified the list, calling the roll
name by name, and taking every precaution to iden
tify the individuals. I heard afterward, hoAvever,
that a Frenchman of some prominence had escaped
disguised as a coachman.
I met here a young American, who was living not
far from Versailles, and avIio Avas knoAvn to Count
Bismarck. I gave him a couple of morning papers.
That evening he dined Avith Bismarck, and offered
to sell him the papers for a quart bottle of Cham-

206

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

pagne for the big one, and a pint bottle for the lit
tle one. Bismarck offered a quart bottle for both;-
but my American indignantly rejected the terms:
so Bismarck accepted his, and paid the bottle and a
half. I record this as perhaps the only diplomatic
triumph ever scored against Count de Bismarck.

MOB SEIZE HdTEL DE VILLE.

207

CHAPTER XVII.
Mob seize Hotel de Ville. — "Thanksgiving" in Paris. — Prices of
Food. — Paris Rats. — Menagerie Meat. — Horse-meat. — Eatable only
as Mince. — Government Interference. — Sorties. — Are Failures. 
Le Bourget taken by French. — Retaken by Prussians. — French
Naval Officers.— Belleville National Guard.— Their Poetry.— Blun
dering. — Sheridan's Opinion of German Army.
Late in October, M. Thiers came into Paris on a
peace mission, but met with no success. He brought
the news of the fall of Metz. There was great ex
citement in Paris. The mob collected, marched to
the Hotel de Ville, and took possession. They ar
rested several members of the Government, and shut
them up— others escaped. They then proceeded to
depose the Government, and to set up one of their
own. Ducrot begged Trochu to let him fire on the
mob ; he could disperse them, he said, in five min
utes. The Mobiles Avere eager to fire ; for the Mo
biles and the National Guard lived like cat and dog
together. Trochu would not consent. The insur
gents remained in possession of the Hotel de Ville
all that night, and the next day gradually melted

208

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

aAvay. It Avas one of those unfortunate mob tri
umphs Avhich contributed not a little to the success
of the Commune.
The siege found about tAvo hundred Americans
in Paris. I ought to say " citizens of the United
States ;" but Ave have taken to ourselves the broader
title, and in Europe it is generally accorded to us.
Of these tAvo hundred about fifty Avent away, and
about one hundred and fifty remained. The French
live from hand to mouth, buying only Avhat is nec
essary for the day, and laying no stores in. This
comes, I think, from their system of living in apart
ments, and the want of store-rooms. The Americans,
as a rule, laid in a stock of provisions. The grocers
of Paris had imported a large quantity of canned
food for the use of the colonic americaine, which was
then, and still is, a power in Paris. The greater part
of the colonic having gone, there remained a quantity
of canned vegetables, fruit, deviled ham and turkey,
oysters, lobsters, etc., etc., and, above all, hominy and
grits. The French knew nothing of these eatables
till late in the siege, Avhen they discovered their mer
its. In the mean time the Americans had bought
up nearly all there was on hand.
As Thanksgiving approached we determined to

PRICES OF FOOD.

209

celebrate it, notwithstanding our supposed forlorn
condition. Some thirty of us met at a restaurant on
the Boulevard, Avhere Ave feasted on the traditional
turkey, or, rather, on two of them, at twelve dollars
apiece. Under the circumstances, AA'e had quite an
Epicurean repast. Mr. Washburne presided, and
made a humorous speech, dwelling provokingly on
the good things our unbesieged countrymen were
then enjoying at home. Professor Shepherd, of
Chicago, was present, and made some clever and ap
propriate remarks. The Professor has Avritten one
of the most readable and reliable books upon the
siege I have met with.
Prices of food in Paris had now reached their
height. Turkeys, as I have said, sold at §12 apiece,
chickens at $6, cats $1.60, rats 15 cents, dogs from
80 cents up, according to size and fat. There Avas a
refinement in rats. They Avere knoAvn as the breAV-
ery rat and the seAver rat. The brewery rat Avas
naturally the most delicate titbit, and as the siege
progressed and but little food found its way into the
sewers, the sewer rats diminished wofully in num
bers, while their brethren of the brewery increased.
I knoAV of no better evidence of the severity of the
cold, and the scarcity of food during that Avinter,

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

than an incident that came under my own observa
tion. I Avas called by the concierge of the building
to look at the apartment of an American gentleman,
on the floor beloAV me. The rats had made their
Avay Avith great gymnastic agility into the kitchen ;
they had throAvn doAvn and broken two or three
dishes which the cook had imperfectly washed, and
on Avhich there remained a little grease. They had
then made their Avay into the salons and bedrooms,
had gnaAved and burrowed into the sofas and mat
tresses, and there several lay, dead of cold and
hunger. But there Avas no time in Paris when money
would not buy good food, though it could not buy
fuel, for that had been seized by the Government.
Very late in the siege a man brought to the Lega
tion a piece of filet de bccuf of six pounds, for Avhich
he asked four dollars a pound. Mr. Washburne and
I did not indulge in such luxuries, living principal
ly upon our national pork and beans, and the poetic
fish-ball. A young American happened to be in the
office, hoAvever, who took it at once, and paid his
twenty-four dollars.
In the suburbs of Paris food Avas more abundant.
I breakfasted in December with a French general,

FRENCH ARMY BREAKFASTS.

211

who commanded one of the outposts. We had beef,
eggs, ham, etc., and, from what I heard, I should say
that he and his staff breakfasted as avcII every day.
These noonday breakfasts, by-the-Avay, ruined the
French army. I reached my general's head-quarters
at half-past eleven. He and one of his staff Avere
smoking cigars and drinking absinthe. At tAvelve
we breakfasted bountifully, as I have said, and Avith
Champagne and other Avines, folloAved by coffee,
brandy, and more cigars. We got through break
fast about three o'clock. This was on an outpost,
in presence of the enemy. Had he attacked, what
Avould the general and his staff have been worth?
They AVero very far from being intoxicated, but cer
tainly their heads Avere not clear, or their judgments
sound. The Prussians soon learned the French habits, and
attacked them in the field Avhen they were making
their soup. The French soldiers could not catch up
their soup and pocket it, and eat it at their leisure.
They consequently lost not only their breakfasts,
but frequently their cooking utensils too. The Ger
mans, on the other hand, had a liberal ration of meat
(fieisch — Avhat a disagreeable Avord !) — one pound
and a half per diem. But, meat failing, they ahvays

212

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

had a German sausage and a piece of bread in their
haversacks, and could eat as they marched. Yet
such is the power of habit in France, and the
strength of tradition, that I suppose the French sol
dier Avill continue to all time to prepare his soup,
even at the expense of defeat.
Without stirring from Paris, I had the opportu
nity during the siege to taste as many varieties of
Avild meat as the greatest of travelers— as Humboldt
himself. It was found to be impossible to procure
food for the animals at the Jardin d'Acclimatation,
and they Avere sold and killed. They were bought
mostly by the enterprising English butcher of the
Avenue Fricdland. I indulged from time to time
in small portions of elephant, yak, camel, reindeer,
porcupine, etc., at an average rate of four dollars
a pound. Of all these, reindeer is the best; it
has a fine flavor of venison. Elephant is tolera
bly good. Some of my readers may remember the
charming twin elephants, Castor and Pollux, who
carried children round the Garden on their backs,
in 1807 to 1SG9. They were done to death Avith
chassepots— shot through the head. I eat a slice of
Castor. It Avas tolerably good only ; did very Avell
in time of siege. But all these meats are but poor

HORSE -MEAT.

213

substitutes for beef and mutton ; and Avhen travelers
tell us of the delights of elephant's trunk or buffa
lo's hump, depend upon it, it is the hunter's appetite
that gives the flavor.
The main -stay of the population, in the way of
fresh meat, was horse. These were requisitioned,
and every horseholder having more than one Avas
compelled to contribute toward feeding the popula
tion. The horses were liberally paid for, so much
per pound. Some individuals made a very good
thing out of it. They got in Avith the horse officials.
A fine animal, requisitioned from the OAvner, who
knew no better than to send it, appeared at the
shambles. One of these gentry, Avith the conniv
ance of the official in charge, Avould take him, and
substitute an old screAv of equal or greater Aveight.
I knoAV an American in Paris Avho is daily aggra
vated by seeing at the Bois a beautiful mare he once
owned, and Avhose loss lie had deeply deplored, but
had been comforted by the reflection that she had
perished to feed the starving Parisians.
The horse -meat Avas rationed and sold by the
Government at reasonable prices : nine ounces and
a half were alloAved per diem to each adult. There
is a. refinement in horse-meat, as in rats. A vomi"-

214

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

light-gray is tender and juicy. Black is the worst
color ; the meat is coarse and tough. But horse
flesh is poor stuff at best. It has a sweet, sickening
flavor. Some people spoke highly of it as soup ;
others Avhen marine. The only Avay I found it eat
able Avas as mince mixed Avith potato.
From horse-meat to beef is but a slight transition,
but one more easily made on paper than on the ta
ble in those days. The interference of the French
Government in almost every detail of private life
is something of which happily we know nothing in
this country. You can not cut down a tree on your
own land without its permission. During the siege
you could not kill your OAvn ox without leave from
the Minister of Commerce. If you had providently
laid in a larger supply of fuel than he thought you
needed, he took possession of it, and paid you Gov
ernment prices for what Avas then almost priceless.
An American lady resident in Paris had a cow.
The coav ran dry, and she Avanted to convert it into
beef. She came to the Legation to secure Mr.
Washburne's intervention to obtain for her permis
sion to kill her oavii cow. At first it was refused,
and it required no inconsiderable amount of diplo
matic correspondence and the Avaste of many pages

SORTIES.

"S

of good foolscap, with a large expenditure of red
tape and sealing-Avax, before the permission was ob
tained. I have said very little of the sorties from Paris.
The subject is not a pleasant one. There were five
hundred thousand armed men in Paris, and only
three hundred and fifty thousand outside. Yet but
one serious sortie Avas ever made. This was to the
south-east, under Ducrot ; and the fighting was ob
stinate, and lasted two days. Ducrot had published
a proclamation to the effect that he should come
back victorious, or be brought back dead. He was
defeated, but marched quietly back nevertheless.
We are unaccustomed among Anglo-Saxons to this
style of proclamation, and call it bombast. I am
told, hoAvever, by those better acquainted Avith the
French character than I am, that it has its effect
upon the French soldier, and is therefore allowable.
The garrison of Paris should haA^e made a sortie
every night, sometimes a thousand men, and some
times a hundred thousand, and in tAvo or three quar
ters at once. Their central position gave them ev
ery opportunity to do this to advantage. Had they
done so, they Avould soon have worn out the Ger
mans Avith constant alertes, and with comparative-

2l6

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

ly little fatigue to themselves. But this, too, was
mismanaged. They surprised and took Le Bourget,
a little village to the north-east. Of course we all
supposed that it would be strongly garrisoned, and
the garrison Avell supported. Not at all. Two days
later the Prussians retook it. The garrison made a
most gallant defense, but they were entirely unsup
ported. Not a regiment of the immense army in
Paris came to their assistance. No possible excuse
can be given for this abandonment.
The loss of Le Bourget produced great discontent
among the Parisians ; and Trochu was blamed, and
most justly. He made an effort to retake it, but in
vain. The sailors, under their gallant officers, made
a spirited assault, but were repulsed Avith great loss;
for they Avere not supported by the soldiers. The
officers made every effort to lead them on, but they
Avould not assault.
The French naval officers are a very superior class
of men. They compare most favorably with those
of any other nation. They are painstaking, intelli
gent, and Avell-in formed. Under their command the
sailors fought gallantly during the war, for there
Avas a large number of them detailed to the army,
as they had little to do at sea. They felt strongly

BLUNDERING.

217

the deterioration of their sister service, the army.
At Versailles I Avas once dining at a restaurant near
a naval officer. An army officer, accompanied by
two non-commissioned officers, entered, called loud
ly for dinner, and made a great disturbance. Thcv
Avere evidently the Avorse for liquor. I overheard
the naval officer muttering to himself, "Cette pauvre
armee francaise ! cette pauvre armeefran ca ise /"
There was ahvays blundering. They had shut up
a brigade of cavalry in Paris. Jerome Bonaparte,
who commanded one of the regiments, told me he
had no idea why he Avas ordered in, unless it AAras to
cat up his horses. This they proceeded to do so soon
as they were fairly trained, and so doubled in value.
Trochu organized a sortie to the north-Avest. Tavo
columns left Paris one night by different gates, and
Avere to take up their positions simultaneously and
attack at daylight. He forgot that one road crossed
the other, and that one column must necessarily halt
for the other to pass. Of course one of them ar
rived late on the ground, and the attack failed.
When a sortie was to he made, a flag was hoisted on
Mount Valerien. The Germans soon kneAV its mean
ing as well as the French, and prepared according! v.
An intended sortie Avas known at least twentA'-four
10

2l8

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

hours before it took place, and its chances discussed
on the boulevards. The National Guard, too, with
some honorable exceptions, would not fight. The
heroes of Belleville hoAvled to be led against the en
emy. They got as far as the barriers, and refused
to go farther. " They were enlisted to defend Paris,
and they Avould not go beyond the enceinte; the
Reactionists Avanted to get them out, that they might
deliver Paris over to the enemy." There Avas a pop
ular song they sung as they inarched through the
streets Avhich perfectly illustrates their sentiments
and character : " Nous partons, ons, ons,
Comme des moutons,
Coniinc des moutons,
Pour la bouchcrie, ric, ric.
" On nous massacra, ra, ra,
Comme des rats,
Comme des rats.
Comme Bismarck rira !

An officer commanding a fort applied for re-en
forcements to relieve his exhausted men. They
sent him a battalion of our Belleville gentlemen.
The next day he sent them back, saying they had

BLUNDERING.

219

been drunk and fought in the trenches all night, and
that he preferred to get along as Avell as he could
with his ovenvorked garrison.
Trochu planned a sortie to the south-east. It Avas
necessary to cross the Marne. The troops arrived
at the appointed hour, but the pontoons did not. A
whole day was lost, and the sortie Avas tme affaire
manquee. Outside, things were nearly as badly man
aged. No serious effort Avas ever made to cut the
German lines of communication. The railways to
the east were all-important to them, not so much for
provisions (for they drew these mostly from France),
but for ammunition. With the enormous guns in
use, the transportation of ammunition AA'as a serious
matter, taxing the railroad facilities of the Germans
to the uttermost. An interruption might have com
pelled them to raise the siege. Sheridan, who, be
ing at the King's head-quarters, and treated with the
greatest kindness and attention, naturally sympa
thized Avith the Germans, could not help exclaiming
that if he had been outside with thirty thousand cav
alry, he Avould have made the King * * * Well, it
is not worth Avhile to quote Sheridan's exact words ;
they Avere a little in the style of the commander of
the Imperial Guard at Waterloo ; but the substance

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

of them was, that an active officer with a good cav
alry force could have so broken up the communi
cations of the German army as to compel it to
raise the siege. For the Germans are not particular
ly handy at repairing a broken road or bridge ; and a
German general does not, as the rebel soldier said of
Sherman, carry a duplicate tunnel in his pocket.
As I am quoting Sheridan, let me here record his
opinion of the German army. He believed that they
were brave soldiers. They were well disciplined,
well led, and had every appearance of thorough sol
diers; but he could not say so positively, for, so far
as his observation went, they had never met with
any serious resistance. He looked upon the German
army as in no respect superior to one of our great
armies at the close of the war— the Army of the
Potomac, for instance— except as regards the staff.
That was far superior to ours, and to any staff in Eu
rope. Their field telegraph, too, excited his admira
tion. It had been borrowed from us, but improved.

NATIONAL GUARD.

221

CHAPTER XVIII.
The National Guard.— Its Composition.— The American Ambulance.
—Its Organization.— Its Success.— Dr. Swinburne, Chief Surgeon.
—The Tent System.— Small Mortality.— Poor Germans in Paris.—
Bombardment by Germans.— Wantonness of Artillery-men.— Bad
News from the Loire.— "Le Plan Trochu."— St. Genevieve to ap
pear.— Vinoy takes Command— Paris surrenders.— Bourbaki de
feated. — Attempts Suicide.
A gentleman of rank and great historic name, of
approved bravery, and who had seen service as an
officer in the French army, came one day to the
Legation in the uniform of a private. I asked him
Avhy he had enlisted, when he could so easily have
got a commission. He replied that it Avas true he
could easily have got a company in the National
Guard, but before he' could know his men, and they
could knoAV him, and he could drill and discipline
them, they would go into action. Then they would
inevitably run aAvay. If he ran Avith them, he Avould
be held responsible ; if he stood, he avouM be killed.
So he had decided to enlist as a private, to stand as
long as the rest stood, and to run aAvay Avhen they

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

ran. It struck me that this gentleman was wise in
his generation, but that it Avas not precisely in this
Avay that France Avas to be saved.
In speaking of the National Guard as I have done,
it is proper to state that I speak of the masses, the
Avorkmen of Paris, and the petite bourgeoisie of most
of the arrondissements. There were some few bat
talions that could be relied upon, some composed in
part of the " gentlemen of France ;" but they were
insufficient to leaven the Avhole lump. The masses,
those avIio dreAV a franc and a half per diem for
themselves, and seventy-five centimes for their wives,
or for the Avomen Avho lived with them — for the Gov
ernment of the National Defense had decided that
it was the same thing — were the turbulent, unruly,
unsoldierly mob I have described.
One of the most interesting and satisfactory feat
ures of the siege Avas the American ambulance.
Here Avere order, system, and discipline. It was lo
cated on vacant lots in the Avenue de l'Imperatrice.
It did better work than any other ambulance in
Paris ; and there were many of them. A number of
the Avcalthy people of the city gave up their hotels,
or parts of them, for this purpose. The Press organ
ized an admirable ambulance, copied as much from

AMERICAN AMBULANCE.

223

the American as circumstances would permit. The
Italians started one, and two or three other national
ities. But the American ambulance Avas the only
one organized upon tiie tent system, Avhich is un
questionably the true one. Fresh air and fresh Ava
ter are what is needed for the wounded. It is im
possible to get fresh air in a building, as you get it
in a tent. As Dr. SAvinburne expressed it, " The air
filters through the canvas."
At the Exposition of 1867 we had a remarkably
good exhibition of our ambulance system. It AA-as
due to the energy and liberality of Dr. Evans. At
the close of the exhibition he bought the whole col
lection ; and when the Avar broke out, he organized
an ambulance association, presented it with this mate
rial, and gave it ten thousand francs. Other Ameri
cans contributed, and the enterprise Avas launched.
Dr. Swinburne, a distinguished corps surgeon of our
army, and aftenvard Quarantine Officer at Staten
Island, happened toT'be in Paris, traveling for his
health and amusement. He gave up his trip, and
staid in the city, that he might be of service to the
wounded French. He deserves much credit for his
humanity. Dr. Johnson, a prominent American pln-
sician in Paris, took charge of the medical depart-

224

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

ment. Both of these gentlemen discharged their
duties with devotion and skill, and with remarkable
success, and without remuneration, except that they
Avere decorated by the French Government. For an
American residing at home a decoration is of very
little account. In France it is useful. It procures
him attention ou the railways and at the restaurants.
But it has been very much abused of late years.
There are about one hundred thousand decores in
France, so that they now say it is the correct thing
not to be decorated. I never heard of but one indi
vidual, hoAvever, Avho refused it, and that was from
political motives.
A number of American ladies and gentlemen who
remained in Paris offered their services in the ambu
lance, and Avere enrolled as volunteer nurses. Among
them Mr. Joseph K. Riggs Avas particularly conspic
uous by his skill and devotion. They Avent upon the
field after, or even during, an engagement and pick
ed up the Avounded. Indeed, there was quite a con
test among the ambulances to get possession of the
wounded • for Avhile the number of the sick in Paris
Avas very great, that of the wounded was compara
tively small. The medical director of General Du-
crot's corps became much interested in our ambu-

AMERICAN AMBULANCE.

225

lance. Ho turned over to Dr. SAvinburne the charm
ing house of M. Chevalier, the eminent French
writer on political economy, and then begged him
to take charge of the wounded of his corps. SAvin
burne used the house as a convalescent hospital AA'hen
his tents Avere full.
So successful was his treatment that of the ampu
tated only one in five died ; while at the great French
ambulance of the Grand Hotel four in five died.
The mortality there Avas fearful.
The apparatus for warming the tents was simple,
but most effective. It had grown up among our
soldiers during the war. A hole Avas made in the
ground outside of one end of a long tent, a stove
placed in it, and the pipe carried the whole length
of the tent in a trench. The result Avas that the
ground Avas thoroughly dried and warmed, and this
warmed the Avholo tent. I have knoAvn the ther
mometer outside to be at 2i)° Fahrenheit, Avhile in
the tents it stood at 55°. The doctor said that for
Avounded men well covered up in bed 55° AA-as bet
ter than 70°.
The men Avere Avell fed, and admirably cared for
generally. The French Government put the best
of their stores at the disposition of the ambulances,
10*

226

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

and treated them Avith the greatest liberality. There
Avas always plenty of canned fruit, jellies, etc., in
Paris, so valuable in sickness. The ladies bought
these, and brought them to the wounded. Tobacco
was provided in the same way for the convalescents.
The American ambulance Avas soon so well and so
favorably known, that I heard of French officers who
put cards in their pocket-books, on which they had
Avritten the request that if they were Avounded they
might be carried to V ambulance americaine.
The great drawback Ave had to contend Avith
Avas the impossibility of procuring neAV tents. Dr.
SAvinburne told me that at home they would have
been condemned after a month's use, and neAV ones
substituted. But in Europe the cloth is not to be
had. We use cotton cloth, the French use linen.
Cotton is lighter, is more porous in dry and fulls in
wet weather. The result is that the air filters
through it in the one case, and the Avater does not
penetrate it in the other. In the absence of neAV
canvas, the doctor thoroughly fumigated the old
from time to time. This ansAvered the purpose tol
erably well, but did not exhibit the tent system in
its perfection.
We had noAV reached the middle of January, and

POOR GERMANS.

227

the end of the siege Avas rapidly approaching. The
want of proper food, especially for young children,
Avas producing its necessary results ; and the death-
rate had risen from about eight hundred — which is
the average number of weekly deaths in Paris— to
four thousand, and this Avithout counting those in hos-
pital which may be set doAvn at one thousand more.
The number of poor Germans supported by the Lega
tion had also increased very greatly, and had risen to
tAventy-four hundred. We were compelled to hire
another room, Avhere the weekly alloAvance made
them was paid and duly entered in books kept for
this purpose ; for every penny expended was regu
larly entered and vouched for. The poor German
women were obliged to Avalk tAvo or three miles on
those cold Avinter days; for the Avorkmen's quarter is
far from that of the Champs Elysees. Mr. Wash
burne pitied these poor creatures, and gave them om
nibus tickets for the return trip. He bomriit a cask
of vin ordinaire, too, and gave a glass of Avarm
sweetened Avine to each of them. It did them infi
nite good.
Provisions Avere noAV running short; enough re
mained for a feAv days only. Even in this most
vital matter there Avas blundering. A gentleman

228

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

high placed in the office of the Minister of Com
merce, the ministere Avhich had charge of the sup
plies, told Mr. Washburne that there Avere provisions
in Paris to last till March. We could hardly credit
it, but it came to us from such high authority that
Ave Avere staggered. He spoke positively, and said
he had seen the figures. After the surrender this
gentleman met a mutual friend, and said, "I am
afraid your minister iinst, take me for either a liar
or a fool. I hope I am neither. The mistake Ave
made at the ministere happened in this way: the
minister appointed tAvo officers ; each was to take an
account of all the food in Paris, in order that one
account might control the other. When their state
ments came in, he added them together, but forgot
to divide them by tAvo."
Meantime Ave Avere being bombarded, but after a
A'ery mild fashion. I haA^e since talked Avith a Ger
man general Avho commanded at the quarter Avhence
most of the shells entered the city. He assured me
that there never Avas the slightest intention to bom
bard Paris. If there had been, it would have been
done in a very different style. The German batter
ies fired from a height upon a fort in the IioIIoav,
and their shells, flying high, entered Paris. Still,

BOMBARDMENT.

229

when nearly two hundred lives Avere lost, and shells
fell among us for nineteen days, peopde had a right to
say that they were bombarded, and no Parisian will
admit to this day that they Avere not. Artillery-men
of all nations become not only very careless, but
very wanton. The Germans Avere eager to hit some
thing, and the public buildings of the Latin Quarter
offered a tempting mark to the gunners. I Avas com
plaining to a French officer one day of the shameful
manner in which the French Government troops dur
ing the Commune bombarded the quarter of the
Champs Elysees, a quarter inhabited almost exclu
sively by friends of the Government, avIio were long
ing for the troops to come in. He told me that it
Avas clue to the Avantonness of the artillery-men, and
cited an instance Avhich came under his own observa-
tion. A gunner at Mount Valerien pointed out to
the captain of the gun a cart making its sIoav way
through the distant plain toAvard Paris, and exclaim
ed, " O, my officer ! see that cart carrying supplies
to the enemy." "Where, Avhere?" " There, near
that Avhite house." "Give it a shell." He fired,
missed half a dozen times, but finally hit. It turned
out to be the cart of a poor washer-AVoman, carrying
the Aveek's Avash to her customers.

230

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

A feAv days before the surrender bad news came
thick and fast. A sortie in the direction of Mount
Valdrien had been repulsed. Chanzy had been de
feated. All hope of aid from that quarter had van
ished, and but a feAv days' provisions remained.
Will it be believed that even then' Trochu " paltered
in a double sense" Avith the suffering people? He
published a proclamation in Avhich he said the " Gov
ernor of Paris Avould never surrender." The next
day he resigned, and appointed no successor. When,
three days later, the city surrendered there was no
Governor of Paris.
But even to the last moment there were people
Avho had confidence in Trochu's proclamation. The
Parisians are credulous, and readily believe what
they Avish to believe. Among the populace there
Avas ahvays a sort of half belief in the " Plan Tro
chu," AAdiich, as he often told us, Avhen all else failed,
Avas to save France. This plan ho kept mysteriously
to himself, or confided it only to a few bosom-friends.
But I had it from a source I thought entitled to be
lief, that Trochu confidently anticipated a miracle in
his favor in return for his devotion. St. Genevieve
Avas to appear and save Paris. It is almost impossi
ble to believe that, in the nineteenth century, and in

VINOY TAKES COMMAND.

231

that skeptical capital, a man of intelligence, cultiva
tion, and varied experience, could be found Avho be
lieved in a miraculous appearance of the saint ; but
Trochu Avas a strange compound of learning, ability,
weakness, and fanaticism, and I have little doubt
that he confidently anticipated the personal inter
vention of St. Genevieve to save her beloved city.
On the 24th of January, Vinoy took command.
He suppressed the clubs, seized the violent press,
and took other energetic measures. A mob attacked
Mazas, and released the prisoners. They then tried
the Hotel de Ville a second time ; but they had now
a different commander to deal Avith, and they were
beaten off Avith ease. Mr. Washburne and I hap
pened to be in the neighborhood of the Hotel de
Ville, and saAv something of this affair. We did not
stay to the end, hoAvever, for wo felt that it Avas
not the proper place for us, accredited as Ave Avere
to the Government the mob was attempting to over-
throAV. Had Vinoy or Ducrot been in command
from the beginning, the result might have been
different. There was no reason Avhy the National
Guard should not have made good soldiers ; but they
needed a discipline of iron. They Avere permitted
to choose their oAvn officers. This of itself Avas fatal.

232

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

In the beginning of our Avar in some of the States
the company officers Avere elected by the men. But
the men themselves were the first to see the folly of
this course, and petitioned that their officers might
be appointed by the Executive. Had the officers of
the National Guard been appointed by the Govern
ment, and when they halted at the barrier and re
fused to go farther, had a battery been ordered up,
and a dozen or so of them shot, "pour encourager les
autres," as the French said of Admiral Byng, they
might have given a very different account of them
selves in their combats Avith the Germans.
On the 27th of January, Avith seven days' provis
ions only in Paris, with every man, woman, and
child on the shortest possible allowance, the city sur
rendered. An armistice Avas agreed upon, which
Avas not, hoAvever, to apply to the armies of the East
operating toAvard Lyons. It is said that the French
commander in that quarter was not notified that the
armistice did not extend to him. He was attacked,
caught napping, and defeated.
If I recollect correctly, it was Bourbaki who was
defeated in the East. Bourbaki is the type of the
beau miliiaire of the French Empire. A dashing,
gallant soldier, he had distinguished himself and

BOURBAKI.

m

gained his promotion by scaling the walls of an
Arab toAvn at the head of his troops, armed Avith a
light riding -whip only. But these Avere not the
men then wanted at the head of the French ar
mies. When Bourbaki was defeated, and his army
in retreat, making its disorderly way to Switzerland,
and needing all its General's care and attention, he
attempted to commit suicide. In the German serv
ice he Avould undoubtedly haAre been tried for deser
tion. In France every thing is pardoned to a man
who acts under the influence of strong emotion ; and
Bourbaki Avas never even blamed for leaving his
army to its fate.

234

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER XIX.
Election in France.— Terms of Peace.— Germans enter Paris.— Their
Martial Appearance. — American Apartments occupied. — Wash
burne remonstrates.— Attitude of Parisians.— The Germans evac
uate Paris. — Victualing the City. —Aid from England and the
United States. — Its Distribution. — Sisters of Charity.
During the armistice an election took place. The
Assembly met at Bordeaux late in February, and
steps Avere taken toward peace. All sorts of rumors
Avere current as to the terms, and it was said that
they were so severe that France must fight on at all
hazards rather than accept them. Ten mlliards, it
Avas rumored, Avere to be paid (two thousand millions
of dollars). Alsace and Lorraine and a French col
ony Avere to be given up, and a number of French
men-of-Avar made over to Germany. The prelimina
ries Avere finally agreed upon : five milliards were to
be paid, and Alsace and Lorraine transferred. Ger
man troop? were to occupy Mount Valerien and to
enter Paris, and hold a part of it until peace Avas
definitively signed. The Crown Prince was reported
to have been opposed to the troops entering the cap-

GERMANS ENTER PARIS.

235

ital, as humiliating to the French, and not a military
necessity ; but he was overruled.
On the 1st of March I Avas aAvakened by military
music. I had not heard any for a loug time, the
French bands having been broken up. I hurried
out, and found that the Germans were entering
Paris. First came the traditional Uhlans. The safe
ty Avith which these troops rode in pairs through a
great part of France Avas a curious feature of the
Avar. They were followed by their supports. Then
came a mixed band of about one thousand troops,
representing all arms and the different German na
tionalities. They were sent as an advance-guard to
secure and prepare the quarters assigned the troops
by the maires. In the mean time, the Emperor was
holding a revieAV at Longchamps, on the very field
Avhere, three years and a half before, he had assisted
at the revieAV of sixty thousand French troops by the
Emperor Napoleon, and it Avas not until the after
noon that the main body, the Prussian Guard, the
Saxons, and the Bavarians, marched into the city.
They occupied the quarter of the Champs Elysees,
extending as far as the Place de la Concorde — in
all about one-eighth of Paris.
This Avas a busy day for me. Mr. Washhurno was

236

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

overrun with concierges and servants complaining
that the Prussians were occupying American apart
ments. I Avent to the mayor of the arrondissement.
He said that he had quartered the Germans impar
tially upon all the householders; that the French
laAv exempted apartments of an annual value of less
than one hundred dollars; that in his arrondisse
ment, as I kneAV, the apartments were either remark
ably good or remarkably poor ; that the good ones
Avere occupied principally by foreigners, and that the
poor ones Avere exempt. From the mayor I went
to the German commander occupying the house of
Queen Christine on the Champs Elysees, and Avas
told at his head -quarters that they had nothing to
say in the matter ; that they had requisitioned a cer
tain number of rooms from the French authorities,
and that they must go where those authorities sent
them, and had no right to go elsewhere ; that it Avas
then too late to make any change that day, but that
if Mr. Washburne Avould find them quarters else
where, they Avould cheerfully vacate all American
apartments the next day. In the mean time Wash
burne had been to Jules Favre. Favre told him
that there Avas every prospect that the terms of peace
Avould be accepted by the Assembly at Bordeaux

GERMAN OCCUPATION.

237

that evening, and that the Germans, in accordance
with the treaty, Avould leave Paris the next day.
They were accepted that evening; but Bismarck
Avished to give as many German troops as possible
an opportunity to enter Paris, and so refused to ac
cept the telegraphic announcement of the acceptance
of the treaty by the Assembly. The next day the
written official notice arrived, and the day after Paris
was evacuated. The Germans remained in Paris
three days. They did no harm. I heard of nothing
missing but a feAv blankets. By the terms of the
treaty thirty thousand Avere to occupy Paris. It Avas
rumored that the garrison Avas changed every night,
and that ninety thousand entered in all.
The attitude of the people of Paris toward the
conquerors Avas, upon the whole, excellent. They
staid aAvay from the occupied quarter, and minded
their oAvn business. In this quarter the shops were
all closed, except a feAv restaurants and cafes that the
Germans insisted should be opened. Some of these
cafes Avere afterward gutted by the mob, Avhich was
rather hard on the owners, as they had been compel
led to open them. But a mob is never just. Some
few of the populace fraternized with the invaders,
and were to be seen talking amicably with them ;

23S

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

and some of the rougher element attempted to cre
ate a disturbance, but were soon overaAved by the
great numbers and martial bearing of the conquerors.
While only thirty thousand were in Paris, there can
be little doubt that a hundred thousand were within
a half-hour's march, ready to enter to the assistance
of their comrades if needed. Indeed, I imagine that
all the troops aa'Iio passed in review before the Em
peror at Longchamps either occupied Paris, or were
bivouacked in the Bois during the three days of the
occupation. They had come in very quietly, and with military
precautions against surprise. They Avent out with a
flourish of trumpets. They had bivouacked in laro-e
numbers about the Arch, and their camp-fires lighted
up the inscriptions on that magnificent monument
recording the victories of French over German arms.
It certainly is most creditable to the conquerors that
they did the Arch no harm. Fcav nations would
have been so magnanimous. The weather was per
fect, the night mild and balmy, the moon nearly full,
and the beautiful German camp-congs, admirably
sung, resounded in the stillness of the hour till ten
o'clock struck, Avhen perfect silence reigned in the
camp. When the Germans entered Paris, they

VICTUALING PARIS.

239

marched round the Arch ; Avhen they Avent out they
took doAvn the chains Avhich inclose it, and eA'cry
regiment of infantry and cavalry, and every battery
of artillery passed directly under it, drums beating,
colors flying, and the men cheering as they passed.
They were gloriously repaid for the trials of the
campaign. Ten days passed after the surrender, and apparent
ly the French authorities had made no provision to
revictual Paris. There Avas no beef, to speak of, in
the city, and very little mutton. The bread remain
ed the same wretched dark stuff, one-third flour, two-
thirds pease, beans, oats, rice, straw— in fact, any ref
use. Delicious Avhite bread, fresh butter, and eggs
Avere to be bought of the German soldiers just be
yond the barriers; and any one avIio took the trouble,
and had the means, could procure these luxuries at
reasonable prices. The peasants sold them to the
German soldiers, and they were permitted to resell
them at a small profit. The first train of provisions
to enter Paris was sent by the citizens of London, to
their credit be it spoken. Will it be believed that
considerable difficulty was experienced in finding per
sons willing to take the trouble to distribute this
food gratuitously ? It Avas done to a very limited ex-

240

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

tent at the inairies. The great dry-goods establish
ment of the Bon Marche distributed a portion ; but
much was stored in the Halles de l'Abondance for
Avant of distribution, and burned up Avhen that estab
lishment Avas destroyed during the Commune. I re
member hearing a Chauvin of the Assembly at Ver
sailles pitch into the English for coming over after
the Commune to visit Paris in her desolation. He
was ansAvered by Jules Favre, as happily as truly,
that " the English, before they organized their
trains of pleasure, had organized their trains of re
lief." In this connection let me state that more than tAvo
millions of dollars Avere sent from the United States.
At least tAvo cargoes of provisions arrived at Havre,
our Government supplying the vessels. No one
could be found to distribute the supplies. The
French are so government-ridden that they are un
able to take the initiative in any thing for them
selves. 1 have seen a strong, bold man, a guide in
the Pyrenees, stand Avringing his hands and crying,
Avhile his house Avas on fire, Avaiting for the soldiers
to come and save his furniture and put out the
flames. One of flic shiploads of provisions I speak
of avus sent to London, sold there, and the proceeds

RELIEF FROM THE UNITED STATES. 241

distributed to the poor of France. Part of the relief
sent was distributed through the Government, but
experience showed this method to be sIoav — there Avas
too much red-tape about it. The funds were finally
placed in the hands of American ladies and gentle
men residing at Paris and Versailles, AA'hose knoAvl-
edge of France and acquaintance with French people
gave them the means of making a judicious distribu
tion. A part was expended by a committee of ladies,
of which Madame MacMahon Avas the President;
something was placed at the disposal of the Countess
of Paris, out of regard for her husband, who had
served in our army during the Avar ; and a very large
portion was distributed through the Sisters of Char
ity. Nothing could be more judicious, and at the
same time more thoroughly business-like, than the
manner in which these admirable Avomen disposed
of the money intrusted to them, rendering a A-oucher
for every franc they expended. One felt that every
penny in their hands had been placed Avhere it Avas
most needed, and would do most good.
Mr. Washburne left Paris early in February for
Brussels, Avhere his family were residing, and where,
by - the - Avay, a very large number of our Parisian
Americans had taken refuge. But he came back in
11

242

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

a Aveek, feeling quite poorly. He had been so over
run Avith visitors making inquiries or asking favors,
that he had had no rest, and so returned to the lately
beleaguered city for a little quiet. I remained until
the Germans had made their triumphal entry, and
their more triumphal departure, and then got leave
and Avent to London to join my family.

THE COMMUNE.

-'43

CHAPTER XX.
The Commune. — Murder of French Generals. — The National Guard of
Order. — It disbands. — The Reasons. — Flight of the Government to
Versailles. — Thiers. — Attempts to reorganize National Guard. — An
American arrested by Commune. — Legation intervenes. — His Dis
charge. — His Treatment. — Reign of King Mob. — "Demonstrations
Pacifiqucs." — Absurd Decrees of the Commune. — Destruction of the
Vendome Column.
But it has rarely been my lot, in the course of my
official life, to enjoy an uninterrupted leave of ab
sence. The present Avas no exception. I AA'as scarce
ly fairly installed in England, and fighting " my bat
tles o'er again," and showing " how fields Avere " lost,
when there came a telegram from Mr. Washburne
telling me that there were disturbances in Paris, and
that I must return immediately. Some of the Na
tional Guard of the Belleville and Montmartre quar
ters had taken advantage of the confusion reigning
immediately after the surrender, and seized seA-eral
field-guns and mitrailleuses, and carried them off to
their fastnesses on Montmartre. They noAV refused
to surrender them ; and when the Government at-

244

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

tempted to take them, the troops fraternized Avith
the mob, and deserted their generals, Lecompte and
Thomas, AA'hom the Communists f ortliAvith shot. It
Avas said that Count Bismarck had urged the disarm
ing of the National Guard at the time of the sur
render. Trochu's Government had refused. They
must have bitterly regretted it afterward.
On my return I entered Paris by the Gare St.
Lazare. That usually peaceful temple of traffic was
thronged by Gardes Nationaux — "The National
Guard of Order," they called themselves, or were
called, to distinguish them from the Communists.
These gentlemen appeared to be enjoying them
selves. They Avere comfortably housed in the build
ing, and lounged and chatted there, not without fre
quent visits to the neighboring cafes. I found that
they held the Grand Hotel, and the new Opera-
house, both strong positions, and within easy sup
porting distance of each other. They also held the
Bourse, the Bank of France, the "Finances," and
many other " coigncs of vantage." But " coignes of
vantage " arc of very little use when the heart to de
fend them is lacking. In a very few days these
men. outnumbering the Communists two or three to
one, backed by the poAver of the Government and

MY BARBER.

24S

the wealth of Paris, and by the moral support of the
Germans and of the civilized AA'orld, had disband
ed, taken refuge in flight, and left their families, and
their property, and their beautiful city to the tender
mercies of the mob.
It was a matter of the utmost astonishment to me,
and to every one Avith whom I conversed, that the
National Guard of Order should have behaved as
they did. I never understood it till I talked with
my barber just after his battalion had disbanded, and
before he had escaped to London. They got tired
of sleeping away from their families, getting their
meals irregularly, and having to pay restaurant-
prices for them. They Avere in a state 'of disgust,
too, Avith the Government, who refused to pass an
act to relieve them from their rents accrued during
the siege. My barber Avas an excellent representa
tive of his class, the petite bourgeoisie ; a AA'ell-to-do
man, employing tAvo apprentices, making a good
livelihood, and laying by something for a dot for his
children — economical, intelligent, sober. He belong
ed to the most respectable battalion in the city, that
of the quarter of the " Finances." I expressed my
surprise at their disbanding. He said that the Goa--
ermnent Avould do nothing for them, so they Avould

246

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

do nothing for the Government : it might put doAvn
the emeute itself. So they abandoned their proper
ty and their homes and theii* idolized Paris, shut up
their shops, and ran aAvay.
The relations between the Government and the
governed in France are difficult for an American to
understand. In the United States and in England
the Government is our government, its interests are
our interests, and Ave stand by and defend it, not
only because it is our duty to do so, but because it is
ours. This feeling does not exist in France among
the masses, the petit commerce and the peasantry.
They look upon the Government as a foreign body
Avhich has somehoAV or other — it matters very little
Iioav — got possession of poAver. As long as it pre
serves order, prevents crime, insures prosperity, and
gratifies vanity by foreign conquests, it is firmly
seated; but the moment it ceases to be able to do
all this, let it go, and try another.
It is a strange notion of the duties of a Govern
ment that it must insure prosperity ; but it prevails
very generally among the masses in France, and is
not unknoAvn among the uneducated classes in other
countries. The theory of the Long Island fisher
man is more geneiv-iy acted upon than is aeknoAvl-

FLIGIIT OF THE GOVERNMENT.

247

edged: "He knew Governor Dix, and he liked
Governor Dix, but he hadn't averaged an eel to a
pot all summer; and he thought he Avould try a
new governor."
The conduct of the Government, or, rather, that
of M. Thiers — for at that time Thiers Avas the Gov
ernment, and he might have said with perfect truth,
" Detat c'est moi " — has been much and harshly criti
cised. Whether this criticism is just or not, depends
upon the loyalty or disloyalty of the troops. H they
were true to their colors and ready to fight the mob,
as they afterward did, there never Avas a more coav-
ardly and disgraceful surrender than the retreat to
Versailles, as unwise and unmilitary as it was coav- *
ardly, for it discouraged the respectable citizens, and
abandoned to the mob all the advantages of position,
immense Avar material, and the unbounded Avealth
of the capital. It Avas proceeding upon Artemus
Ward's military plan. Artemus said that if he Avere
in a city Avith fifty thousand men, besieged by an
enemy Avith fifty thousand men, he would open the
gates and march out, and let them march in, and then
besiege them. Artemus and M. Thiei"s appear to
haA'C studied in the same military school. But if, as
Thiers alleged, the army could not be relied upon.

248

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

but Avere ready to raise the butts of their muskets " en
air" and fraternize Avith the Communists, then there
never Avas a Aviser moA'ement: it was truly a "mas
terly retreat." Had what Thiers apprehended hap
pened, had the troops fraternized with the mob, a
movement which Avas only an insurrection — a bloody
one, it is true, bxxt confined to one city — would have
spread over France, and there Avould have been a
repetition, Avith aggravation, of all the horrors of the
first Revolution.
Before the National Guard of Order disbanded,
several Avell-intentioncd efforts were made by officers
of rank to effect an organization among the citizens
against the insurgents. Admiral de Saissy either
volunteered, or Avas sent by the Government, to take
command. He made his head-quarters at the Grand
Hotel, Avithin a stonc's-throAV of the Communists in
trenched in the Place Vendome. Here they were,
isolated, far from their supports at Belleville and
Montmartre. Why the Admiral did not place a bat
tery in position in the Tuileries Gardens, command
ing the Place Vendome by the Rue Castiglione, or
Avhy he did not simply starve the Communists out, I
never kneAV ; probably ho could not depend upon his
men. I am confirmed in this belief by a circum-

ARREST OF AN AMERICAN.

249

stance which happened within my own observation.
Two or three French gentlemen called at the Lega
tion one morning, to say that a young American
friend, a Mr. Delpit, of NeAV Orleans, had been ar
rested by the Communists, and Avas then a prisoner
in the Place Vendome, and Avould probably be drag
ged that day before a Communist court-martial, con
demned, and shot. Mr. Washburne Avas at Versailles.
I immediately sent his private secretary, an attache
of the Legation, furnished with all the necessary
documents, to his relief. In a very short time Mr.
M'Kean returned, after a most successful mission.
He had seen Delpit, he had seen the insurgent author
ities, and they had promised to discharge their pris
oner that very day. They did so. The next day he
came up to thank us for our prompt intervention in
his behalf, Avhich had undoubtedly saved his life. I
naturally asked him how he happened to be arrested.
He said that he had gone to see Admiral de Saissy,
whom he kneAV, at the Grand Hotel ; that the Ad
miral was very anxious to send a dispatch to a distant
part of the city ; that the Admiral's aid Avas ready
to start, but that there appeared to be a very unani
mous indisposition on the part of the officers of the
National Guard to accompany him ; that thereupon
11*

250

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

he volunteered. The Admiral jumped at the offer,
and said, "You Avill go, I knoAv; you are an Ameri
can; you are not afraid." A French commander
must have been very much provoked by the conduct
of the officers about him to use such language in
their presence. Delpit and the aid started, but had
gone but a little Avay, when they Avere surrounded
by a squad of the insurgents, Avho ordered them to
halt. Delpit dreAv his revolver, and threatened to
shoot, Avhile he told his companion to run. The aid
escaped. The insurgents leveled their pieces, and
Avere about to fire, Avhen Delpit, seeing that his com
panion had escaped, concluded that discretion Avas
the better part of valor, and surrendered. They dis
armed him, treating him very roughly, and one of
them — a negro — spat in his face. They shut him up
in a cellar in the Place Vendome, and it was likely
to go hard Avith him, Avhen M'Kean appeared upon
the scene. Delpit told me that when they found
that he Avas cared for by the Legation, their conduct
changed marvelously. They treated him with the
greatest respect, and the colored brother who had
spit in his face Avas particularly marked in his at
tentions. Delpit has since distinguished himself as
a. poet. His Avork on the siege of Paris Avas crowned

KING MOB.

251

by the Academy, and he is the author of a success
ful play, which means much in France.
But Admiral de Saissy had had enough of it. He
gave it up, and went back to Versailles. The Na
tional Guard of Order disbanded, and King Mob
reigned triumphant.
At first King Mob was a good-natured monarch.
He collected a lot of pitch-pine torches, and lighted
them on top of the Vendome Column. The effect
was good. He made bonfires, fired off guns, organ
ized processions, made speeches ; in fact, behaved like
any first-class American city on the Fourth of July.
This did not last long, hoAvever. The tiger soon
showed his claAvs. The party of order, having given
up their arms and disbanded, proceeded to organize
what they called a "demonstration paeifique" de
signed to produce a moral effect upon a horde of
savages. They paraded the streets in large numbers
unarmed. The first day's procession Avas rather a
success. It Avas a novelty, and took. The second
day's was not so successful. They marched up the
Rue de la Paix, intending, in the grandeur of their
moral strength, to pass straight through the Place
Vendome, the tiger's lair. The barricades avc re to
disappear at their approach, the insurgents Avere to

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

throAv themselves into their arms, and there was to
be one huge kiss of peace and reconciliation. Un
fortunately, things did not turn out as set down in
the bills. The barriers did not melt away, and the
insurgents refused to kiss and make friends. On the
contrary, they opened fire on the procession, and
several of its numbers were killed. It was a well-
meant effort, but Quixotic to the last degree.
And uoav the tiger had tasted blood, and his appe
tite grew by Avhat it fed on. But his rage increased
by degrees, advancing from one atrocity to another,
till it culminated in the slaughter of the hostages.
There Avas a mixture of the ridiculous with the
infamous in the early acts of the Commune. Its
members Avere very numerous ; so, for working pur
poses they appointed a " Committee of Public Safe
ty," which very soon belied its name. These men
appointed the ministers. To call a man "Minister
of War" Avas not democratic, so they called him "ci-
toyen dele que au Ministere de la Guerre" The title
of "General" they found inconsistent Avith the sim
plicity of republican institutions, and so suppressed
it. "Colonel" could pass muster, but "General"
Avas too aristocratic for their dainty ears. Then they
found that, like other mere mortals, they must live

DECREES OF COMMUNE.

253

and provide for their families. It Avas so much eas
ier to pillage a shop than to Avork ! The shop-keeper
should be proud to contribute to the well (ing of
the brave defenders of the Republic! Then they
published a decree seizing all the workshops, that
they might be occupied by Communist workmen on
the co-operative system. A jury Avas to be appoint
ed — by the Commune, of course — to assess the value
of the property, and compensation was to be made
to the OAvner. As a practical measure, this AA'as not
a success. The workmen found it pleasanter to play
soldier, and to take what they Avanted, than to work
even on the co-operative system. So the Avorkshops
generally remained in the hands of their OAvners.
Next they commenced the work of demolition, and
almost equaled the great Haussmann in this respect.
They pulled down the house of M. Thiers (the As
sembly has since built him a better one) ; and they
passed decrees to tear doAvn the houses of Jules Fa
vre and other members of the Government, and con
fiscate their property. Happily the patriots to AA'hom
the execution of these decrees was intrusted Avere
not perfectly immaculate; they could generally be
seen. In this Avay much less irreparable injury Avas
done than might have been expected.

2 54

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

One of their follies Avas the destruction of the
Colonne Vendome. An eminent artist — Courbet —
Avho Avas a member of the Commune, said that it
offended his artistic taste. Others of this band of
brothers said that it perpetuated the victory of war
over peace ; that it kept alive a feeling of triumph
in the conquerors and revenge in the conquered ;
that the peoples should be brothers, etc., etc. So
they pulled it doAvn ; and the present Government
fortliAvith rebuilt it, and the courts have condemned
M. Courbet to pay the expense.
When the Column Avas pulled down, all the shop-
AvindoAvs Avithin half a mile were pasted over with
strips of paper to prevent their being broken by
the shock. It fell, and people two hundred yards
off did not knoAV that any thing unusual had hap
pened. It Avas a question much discussed Iioav far
the prostrate Column would reach. Its length was
generally much overestimated. It was thought that
it Avould extend at least one hundred feet into the
Rue de la Paris. It did not enter the street, nor
even cross the Place Vendome. The bronze plates
Avere nearly all saved. Some few Avere disposed of
by the Communist soldiers. One Avas sold by a
sailor to a lady for five hundred francs. He after-

COLONNE VENDOME.

255

ward denounced her to the Government, and got five
hundred francs more for doing so. A profitable
transaction ! One was sold to an American, and
made the voyage to NeAV York, where it Avas found
by the French Consul, reclaimed, and returned to
Paris.

256

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

CHAPTER XXI.
Diplomatic Corps moves to Versailles. — Journey there and back.—
Life at Versailles.— German Princes.— Battle at Clamart.— Unbur-
icd Insurgents.— Bitterness of Class Hatred.— Its Probable Causes.
—United States Post-office at Versailles.— The Archbishop of Par-
;f , _ Attempts to save his Life. — AVashburne's Kindness to him.
— Blanqui.— Archbishop murdered. — XJltramontanism. — Bombard
ment by Government.— My Apartment struck.— Capricious Effects
of Shells.— Injury to Arch of Triumph— Bass-reliefs of Peace and
War. As soon as the Government had moved to Ver
sailles, the diplomatic corps followed. Mr. Wash
burne hired a large room in the Rue de Mademoiselle
(the sister of Louis XIV. — all Versailles bears the
impress of the reign of that monarch). This room
had to do for office, bedroom, and sitting-room ; for
Versailles Avas ciwded, and we were lucky to get
any thing so comfortable. As Ave had far more to
do at Paris than at Versailles, and Paris was then, as
ahvays, the seat of attraction, Mr. Washburne spent
four days of the week in that city, and three at Ver
sailles, and I alternated with him. We had passes
from both sides. I made the trip tAvice a week, and

ROUTE TO VERSAILLES.

257

sometimes under considerable difficulties. I have
traveled more than thirty miles to reach Paris from
Versailles, a distance of nine miles, partly in a dili
gence, partly on foot, partly in flat - boats to cross
the Seine Avhere the French had most unnecessarily
bloAvn up their oavh beautiful bridges, and partly by
rail. I suppose that I am better acquainted with the
westerly environs of Paris than any foreigner but a
medical student. Some of the drives in the months
of April and May, especially one by Sceaux and
Fontaine-les-Roses, and up the valley of the Bievre,
are very lovely.
But after a while we had a regular organized line
by St. Denis. The Germans occupied this town,
and insisted upon keeping open the railroad into
Paris, the Chemin de Fer du Nord. They said that
under the treaty they had a right to draw certain
supplies from France, and that Paris Avas the most
convenient place to draw them from, and from Paris
they meant to draAV them ; and that if the Commu
nists did not keep the Porte St. Denis open, they
Avould. The Commune always had a wholesome
fear of the Germans; this Avas all that restrained
them from even greater outrages than they perpetra
ted; and they hated the Germans less than they did

258

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

their oavii countrymen at Versailles. In going to
Versailles avc took the train to St. Denis ; there Ave
hired a carriage, or took the public conveyance, and
so drove to our destination, a trip of about three
hours in all : or Ave drove out by the Porte St. De
nis, and so all the way to Versailles. This Avas gen
erally my route, for a number of American and
French friends asked me to bring their horses and
carriages from the ill-fated city. If the Communist
officers at the gates were close observers, they must
have thought that I Avas the OAvner of one of the
largest and best-appointed stables in Paris.
There Avas very little to do at Versailles, and per
haps less to eat. The Government Avas there, and
the Assembly, and the Corps Diplomatique, and
consequently the croAvd of people Avho had business
with these bodies, thronged to that city. At the
restaurants it Avas a struggle to get any thing ; and
AA'hen you got it, it Avas not precisely in the Cafti
Ano-lais style. I found two or three pleasant Amer
ican families Avho had Avintered here very quietly
during the German occupation. They had had no
occasion to complain of their treatment. At the
Hotel de France I found Dr. Ilosmer, the intelligent
and cultivated principal correspondent of the Her-

BATTLE AT CLAM ART.

259

aid. That enterprising journal had its staff of cou
riers, who Avere ahvays at our service during those
days of irregular postal communication. At the Ho
tel des Reservoirs several German piinces, officers of
the army, Avere lodged — intelligent, agreeable, culti
vated gentlemen. They Avere only too glad to have
the pleasure of the society of American ladies, for
of course they could not visit the French; and no
class of men long for and appreciate ladies' society
like educated officers on campaign in an enemy's
country. They eagerly accepted invitations to dine
with my friends for a double reason, the pleasure
of their society, and that of a good dinner ; for the
French cook never could manage, though of course
he did his best, to cook a good dinner for the Ger
mans, and the landlord Avas ahvays just out of that
favorite brand of Champagne.
The day after my first arrival at Versailles I made
an excursion to the battle-field at Clamart, near
Meudon. The Communists had been defeated there
the day before. I had "assisted" at the battle from
the Paris side. In attempting to reach Versailles in
that direction, I found myself in the midst of the
insurgents, and under the fire of the troops. The
manner in Avhich the insurgents behaved had not

s6o

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

given me a very exalted idea of their soldierly qual
ities. It Avas all confusion, talking, drinking, and
panic. A mob of them surged up to the gate, and
demanded admission. It Avas refused, and they were
ordered back to their regiments. But the crowd in
creased, and became more clamorous. The princi
ples of fraternity forbade the guard to keep their
brethren out in the cold, where the naughty Versail-
lais might pounce upon them; so the draw -bridge
fell, the gates opened, and the ruiuiways entered.
When I visited the battle-field, many of the dead
still lay unburied, Avhile the soldiers lounged about
Avith their hands in those everlasting pockets, and
lookiug Avith the most perfect indifference upon
their dead countrymen. The class hatred which
exists in France is something Ave have no idea of,
and I trust that Ave never shall. It is bitter, relent
less, and cruel ; and is, no doubt, a sad legacy of the
bloody Revolution of 1789, and of the centuries of
oppression which preceded it. At the beginning of
the Avar the peasants in one of the villages not far
from Paris thrust a young nobleman into a ditch,
and there burned him to death with the stubble
from the fields. They had nothing particular against
him, except that he Avas a nobleman. In Paris the

POST-OFFICE.

201

mob threw the gendarmes, Avhen they caught them,
into the Seine, and Avhen they attempted to struggle
out upon the banks hacked off their hands. On the
battle-field I have referred to, the freres chretiens, a
most devoted and excellent body of men, were mov
ing about on their errands of mercy. Seeing these
miburied bodies, they Avent to the commanding offi
cer, and begged him to detail a party to bury them.
He did it to oblige them. As the soldiers lifted one
of the dead, a young American avIio accompanied me
said, " Why, he hasn't a bad face after all !" At once
the soldiers looked at him with suspicion, the officer
asked him who he was, and, upon being told, advised
him not to express any such sentiments again.
Our principal occupation at Versailles was keeping
a post-office for Americans in Paris. M. Rampont,
the direeteur de* pontes, had escaped, Avith all his
staff, and established the office at Versailles. The
archives of the bureau of the AA'enue Josephine
were placed in our Legation. The Communists Avere
angry enough to find themselves cut off from all
postal communication Avith the departments. It di
minished their chances of success. The only means
Americans had of communicating Avith their friends
in Paris Avas to send their letters to the care of the

262

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

Legation at Versailles. We have received as many
as fifty in one day. Two or three times a week Ave
took or sent them to Paris. They Avere there mailed
by the Legation, and distributed by the rebel post-
office. It cost Uncle Samuel a penny or two, but
he and his representatives at Washington did not
grumble. The only episode of interest that occurred at Ver
sailles Avas our attempt to save the life of the Arch
bishop of Paris. He had been arrested by the Com
mune, and held as a hostage for the release of some
of their oAvn rag, tag, and bobtail. One day the
Pope's Nuncio called to see Mr. Washburne. He
Avas in Paris. The Nonce thereupon explained his
business to me, and afterward 6ent two canons of the
Metropolitan Church to sec me. They came to beg
Mr. Washburne to do all in his power to save the life
of the Archbishop, which they considered to be in im
minent danger. They had already tried one or more
European embassies, but Avere met Avith the answer
that they could have nothing to do Avith the Com
mune. They handed me their papers, and I went at
once to Paris. Mr. Washburne took up the matter
Avith his accustomed energy and kindliness. Ho got
permission to see the prisoner. lie took him books

THE ARCHBISHOP.

2C3

and newspapers and old wine. He did all in Ids
power to negotiate an exchange with Blanqui, a vet
eran agitator held by the Government. The Com
mune consented, but the Versailles authorities would
not. M. Thiers consulted his ministers and his coun
cil of deputies. They were unanimously of opinion
that they could hold no dealings with the Commune.
It was then proposed to let Blanqui escape, and that
thereupon the Archbishop should escape too, and
that there need be no negotiations whatever. This
M. Thiers declined.
Matters were complicated by the conduct of the
Vicar-general Lagarde. He had been a prisoner
with the Archbishop, and had been released for the
purpose of bringing letters to Versailles with a view
to negotiate the proposed exchange, and on condi
tion that he should return. Once safely at Ver
sailles, he declined to go back. His pretext was that
M. Thiers's letter in reply to the Archbishop's was
sealed, and that he could not carry back a. sealed let
ter in reply to one unsealed. I remember the sad
and 1-es.gned, but not bitter tone, in which the Arch
bishop wrote of this desertion, and the exceeding
cautious lenns in which tl.c Pope's Nuncio referred
to it.

264

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

But Mr. Washburne's untiring efforts were in vain.
He had to contend with the vis inertia of French
bureaucracy, and he avIio can move this mass must
be ton times a Hercules.
The Archbishop was murdered ; but Blanqui,
whom the French Government held Avith so relent
less a grip, Avas condemned to a year or two's im
prisonment only.
I thought at that time, and think still, that no de
termined effort Avas made to save the Archbishop's
life, except by tAvo or three canons of his Church,
and by the Minister of the United States. The
French authorities certainly Avere lukeAvarm in the
matter. The Archbishop Avas a Gallican, a liberal
Catholic, notably so. Had he been an Ultramontane,
I think that the extreme Right of the Assembly —
the Legitimists — Avould have so exerted themselves
that his life Avould have been saved. M. Thiers oc
cupied a difficult position. lie Avas suspected by the
Legitimists of coquetting Avith the radicals, and of
having no serious intention of putting doAvn the in
surrection. The suspicion was, of course, unfound
ed ; but it may have prevented him from entering
upon those informal negotiations which Avould prob
ably have resulted in the release of the prisoner.

FORTIFICATIONS OF PARIS.

265

I once expressed these vieAvs to a lady in Paris,
herself a liberal Catholic. She Avould not admit
them to be true. Some Aveeks later, I met her again,
and she told 1110 that she believed that I Avas right:
that she had heard such sentiments expressed by Le
gitimist ladies, that she Avas satisfied that there Avas
an influential, if not a large, class of UI tramontanes, to
whom the death of the Archbishop Avas not unwelcome.
He has been succeeded by a noted Ultramontane.
Meantime the army Avas being rapidly reorganized.
The Imperial Guard, and other corps delite, had
returned from Germany, Avhere they had been pris
oners of war. Marshal MacMahon took command.
Why M. Thiers did not then assault the city, and
carry it, as he undoubtedly could have done, AA-as a
matter of surprise to every one, and especially to
those whose lives and property lay at the mercies of
the Commune. But Thiers had built the fortifica
tions of Paris. He looked upon them Avith a pater
nal eye. To him they Avere not like other men's
fortifications. They Avere impregnable to ordinary
assault, and could only be taken by regular ap
proaches. Hoav I Avished that Guizot had built
them ! We niight_havc been saved a month of dan
ger, loss, and intense anxiety. IS

266

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

On my Aveekly visit to Paris I had a better oppor
tunity to observe the progress of events than if I
had staid there Avithout interruption, while my resi
dence of three days gave me ample occasion to ap
preciate the full pleasures of the bombardment. It
must ahvays be a mystery why the French bombard
ed so persistently the quarter of the Arch of Tri
umph—the West End of Paris — the quarter where
nine out of ten of the inhabitants Avere knoAvn friends
of the Government. They had their regular hours
for this divertissement, for so they seemed to regard
it. They took a turn at it before breakfast, to give
them an appetite ; and at five o'clock in the morn
ing I Avas waked by the shells from Mont Valerien
bursting and crashing in the Place de l'Etoile.
About noon they Avent at it again, and when I Avent
home to breakfast {anglice lunch), I had to dodge
round corners, and take refuge behind stone col
umns. Then, just before sunset, they ahvays favored
us Avith an evening gun, for good-night. The days,
too, Avere so confoundedly long at that season of the
year — April and May — and the weather provok-
ingly fine. Hoav I longed for a delicious London
fog! i remember one day, as I dodged behind a stone

BOMBARDMENT.

267

pillar in the Rue de Presbourg to avoid a coining
shell, the concierge called me in. I Avent into his
loge, but declined to go into the cellar, Avhere his Avif e
and children had taken refuge. He had two logos,
and I strongly advised him to move into the unoccu
pied one as the safer of the tAvo, for I had observed
that the shells generally passed easily enough through
one stone wall, but Avere arrested by a second. He
took my advice. The next day a shell from one of
their evening guns fell into the AvindoAV of the loge
he had left, passed through the floor into the cellar,
and there exploded, and tore every thing to pieces.
My oavu apartment was struck eight times by
fragments of shells. Fortunately but one exploded
in the house, and that two stories above me. . It
shattered the room into Avhich it fell fearfully, but,
strange to say, did no damage in the adjoining
rooms. Happily the apartment Avas unoccupied.
The tenants, a few days before, had taken advantage
of a laAV of the Commune Avhich released all tenants
from their rent if they found it inconvenient to pay
it, and had decamped, furniture and all.
Mr. Washburne advised me to change my resi
dence, as it Avas not safe. But I felt that the dig
nity of the great American people Avould not permit

268

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

even one of its subordinate representatives to leave
the building Avhile a Frenchman remained in it.
Mr. Washburne's practice, too, was not in accordance
with his precepts. If Ave heard of any part of Paris
where shells were likely to burst and bullets to Avhis-
tle, Washburne was sure' to have important business
in that direction.
I was not in my house when the shell exploded.
I generally came home to dinner after dark. If
there is any thing thoroughly disagreeable, it is to
have shells tumbling and bursting about you Avhen
vou are at dinner. It is bad enough at breakfast,
but the dinner-hour should be sacred from vulgar
intrusion. I recollect one day after my midday breakfast, as
I left my house, I saAV a knot of men standing on the
corner of the Avenue de l'lmperatrice and the Rue
de Presbourg; I thought that I would go and see
Avhat Avas up. Mont Valerien was blazing aAvay at
a great rate. As I joined the group, one of them
said, " They'll fire at us soon, seeing half a dozen peo
ple here." He had hardly said so, Avhen there Avas
a flash, and a puff of smoke, and in a minute we
heard the huge shell hurtling through the air. It

:d

missed us. o

t course, and fell in the Tlace, and ex

BOMBARDMENT.

269

ploded. All these men were friends of the Govern
ment, and they Avere looking to Mont Valerien for
help, longing for the troops to come in. This AA'as
the protection the Government gave its friends,
"the protection which the vulture gi\res the lamb,
covering and devouring it."
About once a Aveek I Avas called in by some neigh
boring concierge to note the damage done by shells
in apartments belonging to Americans. Shells are
strangely capricious. One end of No. 8 Rue de
Presbourg, opposite my OAvn residence, Avas nearly
torn to pieces ; the other end Avas untouched. At
No. 12, shell after shell penetrated the kitchen de
partments, Avhile the salons were uninjured. I Avas
called to see the damage done to the premier of
No. 8, a beautiful apartment belonging to a NeAV
York lady. A shell had entered the salon and ex
ploded. I have never seen more thorough destruc
tion. The mirrors were shattered; the floors and
ceilings rent and gaping ; sofas, chairs, and tables up
set and broken. In the midst of all this destruction
stood a little table Avith a lady's work-basket upon it,
the needle in the Avork, the thimble and scissors on
the table, as if she had left them five minutes before
— the only objects unhurt in the room. It Avas a

270

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

touching souvenir of peaceful domestic life in the
midst of the worst ravages of war.
Mr. Washburne and Lord Lyons complained to
Jules Favre of this persistent bombardment, for the
property destroyed and the lives endangered Avere
largely American and English. He replied that it
AA'as " bad shooting," but he smiled as he said so, and
evidently did not believe it himself. It Avas sheer
wantonness, that irrepressible desire of artillery-men,
of which I have before spoken, to hit something —
an enemy if possible, a friend if no enemy offers.
It was singular that while so many shells fell in
the immediate neighborhood of the Arch of Triumph,
so little serious injury was done to it. I remarked a
curious circumstance in this connection. The bass-
reliefs on the arch facing the Avenue de la Grande
Armee arc Peace and War — on the right, as you
face the Arch, War; on the left, Peace. War was
very much injured ; Peace was scarcely touched.

REIGN OF TERROR.

371

CHAPTER XXII.
Beign of Terror. — Family Quarrels. — The Alsacians, etc., claim Ger
man Nationality. — They leave Paris on our Passes. — Prisoners of
Commune. — Priests and Nuns. — Fragments of Shells. — "Articles
de Paris." — Fearful Bombardment of "Point du Jour." — Arrest of
Cluseret. — Commune Proclamations. — Capture of Paris. — Troops
enter by Undefended Gate. — Their Slow Advance. — Fight at the
Tuileries Gardens. — Communist Women. — Capture of Barricades. —
Cruelties of the Troops. — " Petroleuses." — Absurd Stories about
them. — Public Buildings fired. — Destruction of Tuileries, etc., etc.
— Narrow F.scape of Louvre. — Treatment of Communist Prisoners.
— Presents from Emperor of Germany.
As time passed, the puerilities and atrocities of
the Commune kept equal pace. They had taken pos
session of the public buildings and raised the red
flag upon them, suppressing the tricolor. They hoav
passed a decree recpiiring every man to be provided
Avith a carte iVidcniite ; this, they said, Avas to pro
tect them against Government spies. They estab
lished a bureau of denunciation, Avhere any man Avho
had a grudge against his neighbor had simply to de
nounce him as a Versailles sympathizer, and he Avas
arrested. They closed the churches, or turned them

272

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

into clubs. They arrested the priests; they shut
up some of the convents, and imprisoned the nuns.
They confiscated the gold and silver church plate,
and turned it into coin. It Avas emphatically a
"Reign of Terror." It Avas estimated that within
a month after the outbreak of the Commune three
hundred thousand people left Paris.
In the clubs they denounced the Legation. They
said that Mr. Washburne Avas about to call in the
Germans at the request of the diplomatic corps.
They proposed to hang him, and to banish the rest
of us. In point of fact, I believe that Mr. Wash
burne could have called in the German army at any
time. He had only to report to General Manteuffel
that the lives of the Germans in Paris were in dan
ger, and that ho found himself unable to protect
them, and Manteuffel Avould have occupied Paris at
once. But Air. Washburne never entertained an
idea of doing this.
Then the Commune began to quarrel among
themselves. The Happy Family Avas at variance.
Strange as it may appear, at the beginning of the
affair, there Avere many earnest, honest fanatics in
Paris avIio joined the movement. The first demands
of the Commune under the influence of these men

ALSACIANS.

2 73

Were not unreasonable, in American eyes. They
asked that they might elect their OAvn prefect, and
that Paris should not be garrisoned by Government
soldiers. But events soon outstripped these men ;
and as they found the city given over to organized
pillage — the Committee of Public Safety meeting in
secret, instead of in the light of open day, as they had
promised, and the model republic of Avhich they had
dreamed as much a chimera as ever — they AvithdreAv
from the Government. Over tAventy of them with
drew in a body, and published their reasons for do
ing so. But the scoundrels who now directed the
movement "cared for none of these things." They
had used these poor enthusiasts while it suited their
purpose ; noAV they threAV them overboard, and re
plied to their manifesto by removing the Committee
of Public Safety as too mild, afllictcd with scruples,
and appointing one of a bloodier type, one of its
members a murderer.
During all this time the Legation Avas beset from
morning till night. The Alsacians and Lorrains re
siding in Paris, Avhom the treaty had made Ger
mans, but Avho Avere nevertheless permitted to choose
their nationality, had fully intended to opta- for
the French, and refused Avith indignation a Oerinan
12*

= 74

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

nationality. But AAdien they found that to remain
French condemned them to the National Guard,
Avhile to become German enabled them to leave Par
is, and return to their homes, they came in shoals to
the Legation to ask for German passports. It was
a reneAval of the days before the siege, the days of
the German expulsion. Much of Mr. Washburne's
time Avas taken up in visiting German prisoners, and
procuring their discharge, and sometimes that of
French priests and nuns. To procure the release of
Germans Avas no very difficult task, for the Com
mune, as I have said, had a Avholesome fear of the
Teuton, and "Civis Germanieus sum" Avas an open-
sesame to Communist prison-doors. But to release
the poor French nuns Avas a more difficult task. Mr.
Washburne effected it in many instances ; but it re
quired all his energy and decision.
And here I must remark Iioav much better and
more humane it Avas to do as Mr. Washburne did —
to hold such communication Avith the officials of the
Commune as Avas absolutely necessary, and so saAre
human life, and mitigate human suffering — than to
sit Avith folded arms, and say, " Really, I can have
nothing to do with those people," and so let fellow-
creatures suffer and perish.

ECLATS D'OBUS.

275

Where there is a will, there is generally a Avay.
Mr. Washburne Avas able to assist and protect indi
rectly many persons Avhom he could not claim as
American citizens or German subjects. We could
not give a United States passport to a Frenchman,
but we could make him a bearer of dispatches, give
him a courier's pass, and so get him safely out of
Paris. Colonel Bonaparte escaped in this AA'ay. He
was on the " Black List " of the Commune for arrest,
and arrest then meant death.
As the siege progressed, the bombardment became
more and more scA'ere. The beautiful avenue of
the Champs Elysecs AA'as like a city of the dead.
Not a living creature Avas to be seen upon it for
hours. From time to time a man Avould emerge
cautiously from a side street, gaze anxiously uj) the
avenue, then start on a run to cross it. But tiie
"insatiate thirst of gold" is stronger than the fear
of death ; and, at the worst of the bombardment,
men and boys Avere to be seen lurking near the Arch,
and darting upon an exploding shell to secure its
fragments Avhile they Avere still too hot to hold. A
large business Avas done in these fragments after the
siege, as Avell as in the unexploded shells. They
Avere sold as relics; and the Parisian shop-keepers

276

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

mounted them as clocks, fenders, inkstands, pen
holders, and other articles de .Paris.
A battery of immense strength was at length
erected at Montretout, near St. Cloud. It Avas prob
ably the most poAverful battery ever erected in the
Avorld. It opened upon the gate of the Point du
Jour, and in a few days the scene of devastation in
that quarter was fearful. Not a house Avas left
standing, scarcely a Avail. Bodies of soldiers of the
National Guard lay unburied among the ruins. The
fire Avas too hot for their comrades to approach
them. In the mean time dissension reigned among the
Communists. A ucav Committee of Public Safety
Avas appointed. They arrested Cluseret, their Min
ister of War, as they had already arrested Lullier.
They accused him of treason, and it would have
gone hard Avith him had the Commune continued
much longer in poAA'er. They said that " a hideous
plot had been discovered," but that the guilty Avere
known, and "their punishment should be exemplary
as their crime was unparalleled." They announced
that if the Commune fell, they Avould fire the city,
and iis beauty and its pride should be buried with
them. They Avrote forcibly, those felloAVs! "Had

CAPTURE OF PARIS.

277

they fought Avith as much vigor as they Avrote, the
world Avould at least have respected their courage,
instead of pronouncing them as eoAvardly as they
were cruel. But their career of crime and folly Avas
draAving to a close.
One day a citizen of Paris, a civil engineer, was
taking his afternoon Avalk. As he approached one
of the gates, not far from Auteuil, he Avas surprised
to find no National Guard on duty, lie kept on,
and came to the fortifications. There AA'as not a de
fender in sight, Avhile the French troops lay outside
under cover watching for some one to fire at. Why
they had not discovered the absence of the enemy
can only be accounted for by the general inefficien
cy into Avhich the French army had fallen. The
engineer raised his Avhite handkerchief 011 his cane,
and Avhen he saAV that it was observed, quietly walk
ed through the ruins of the work, crossed the fosse,
and asked the officer in command Avhy on earth he
did not come in ; there was a gate, and no one to de
fend it. It occurred to the officer that it might be
as Avell to do so ; that perhaps that was Avhat he Avas
there for: so. he marched in Avith his company,
and Paris Avas taken. It AA'as rather an anticlimax!
After a delay of months, and a fierce bombardment,

278

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

to enter Paris on the invitation of a citizen taking
his afternoon Avalk ! It AA'as never knoAvn Iioav that
gate came to be left unguarded. It was probably
owing to dissensions in the Commune. The battal
ion holding it had not been relieved, as they expect
ed to be ; so they voted that they would not stay
any longer, shouldered their muskets, and inarched
off. The troops entered on the 22d of May. Once
fairly in, the Avork Avas comparatively easy; but
they proceeded Avith great caution. It Avas said that
Gallifet urged that he should take his cavalry, and
scour the city. I believe that he could have done
it on that day, for the Communists Avere thoroughly
demoralized ; but it Avas thought to be too hazard
ous an operation for cavalry. The next morning the
troops advanced unopposed as far as the Place de la
Concorde. I have the Avord of an American friend,
Avhose apartment looked upon the Place, that the
strong barricade AAdiich connected the Rue St. Flo-
rentin with the Tuileries Gardens Avas then unde
fended, and that if the troops had advanced prompt
ly they could have carried it without resistance ; but
Avhile they sent forward their skirmishers, Avho found
no one to skirmish Avith, and advanced Avith the nt-

CAPTURE OF PARIS.

279

most caution, a battery, folloAved by a battalion of
the National Guard, galloped up from the Hotel de
Ville. The troops then began regular approaches.
They entered the adjoining houses, passing from
roof to roof, and occupying the upper AvindoAvs, till
finally they commanded the barricade, and fired
doAvn upon its defenders. They filled barrels with
sand, and rolled them toAvard the barrier. Each
barrel covered tAvo skirmishers, avIio alternately rolled
the barrel and picked off the defenders of the bar
ricade if they ventured to shoAv themselves. My in
formant saw a young and apparently good-looking
woman spring upon the barricade, a red flag in her
hand, and Avave it defiantly at the troops. She was
instantly shot dead. When the work Avas carried, an
old woman Avas led out to be shot. She was placed
with her back to the Avail of the Tuileries Gardens,
and, as the firing party leveled their pieces, she put
her fingers to her nose, and Avorked them after the
manner of the defiant in all ages, or, as Dickens ex
presses it, " as if she Avere grinding an imaginary
coffee-mill." Many of their strongest positions Avere abandoned
by the insurgents, having been turned by the troops.
Those that resisted fell one after the other, carried

280

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

in the Avay I have described. Indeed, I can see no
possibility of a barricade holding out unless the ad
jacent houses are held too. That at the head of the
Rue St. Florentin was of great strength, a regular
work ; for the Communists had several excellent
engineers in their ranks, graduates of the military
schools, men who had been disappointed under the
Government in not meeting Avith the promotion
they thought they deserved, and so joined the Com
mune. The ditch of the barricade St. Florentin Avas
about sixteen feet deep. It made a convenient bury-
ing-ground. The dead Communists, men and Avoin-
en, Avere huddled into it, quicklime added, and the
fosse filled up. As the pleasure -seeker enters the
Rue de Rivoli from the Place de la Concorde he
passes over the bodies of forty or fifty miserable
Avrctehfis — most of them scoundrels of the deepest
dye — but among them some -wild fanatics, and some
poor victims of the Commune, forced unwillingly
into its ranks.
Much must be pardoned to soldiers heated with
battle, and taught to believe every prisoner they
take an incarnate devil. But making all allowances,
there is no excuse for the wholesale butcheries com
mitted by the troops. A friend of mine saAva house

CRUELTIES OF TROOPS.

281

in the Boulevard Malesherbes visited by a squad of
soldiers. They asked the concierge if there were
any Communists concealed there. She ansAvered
that there Avere none. They searched the house, and
found one. They took him out and shot him, and
then shot her. One of the attaches of the Legation
saAV in the Avenue d'Autin the bodies of six chil
dren, the eldest apparently not over fourteen, shot to
death as petroleuses, suspected of carrying petrole
um to fire the houses. There Avas no trial of any
kind, no drum-head court-martial even, such as the
laAvs of civilized Avarfare require uiider all circum
stances. Any lieutenant ordered prisoners to be
shot as the fancy took him, and no questions AA'erc
asked. Many an innocent spectator perished in
those days. An English officer had a narrow escape.
Ho approached a croAvd of prisoners halted for a
moment on the Champs Elysecs ; and Avhen they
moved on, the guard roped him in with the rest, and
Avould not listen to a Avord of explanation. Happily
he was able to attract the attention of the Marquis
de Gallifet and explain his position. An officer of
high rank Avho was escorting a batch of prisoners to
Versailles is said to have halted in the Bois, ridden
down the column, picked out those AA'hose faces he

282

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

particularly disliked, and had them shot on the spot.
The number of lives taken after the defeat of the
Commune can never be accurately knoAvn ; but it
Avas generally computed at the time to exceed the
number of those lost in both sieges.
Petroleum next became the madness of the hour.
Every Avoman carrying a bottle was suspected of be
ing a petroleuse. The most absurd stories were told
of its destructive properties. Organized bands of
Avomen Avere said to be patrolling the streets armed
Avith bottles of petroleum. This they threw into the
cellar AvindoAvs, and then set fire to it. The win-
doAvs Avere barred, and the cellars in Paris are uni
versally built in stone and concrete. Hoav they ef
fected their purpose under these circumstances is not
readily seen. If this was their modus operandi, they
Avere the most inexpert incendiaries ever known.
The Commune should blush for itr pupils in crime.
I do not believe in the petroleum story, and I do not
think that one-third of the population believed in it.
Yet such Avas the power of suspicion in those days,
and such the distrust of one's neighbor, that every
staid and sober housekeeper bricked up his cellar
windows, and for Avceks in the beautiful summer
Avcathcr not an open AvindoAV was to be seen on the

INCENDIARISM.

283

lower stories. No doubt every second man thought
it a great piece of folly thus to shut out light and
air from his lower stories ; but if he had not done
as his neighbors did, he Avould have been denounced
by them as a petroleux.
The leaders of the Commune, as I have said, had
sworn that, if the city Avere taken, they Avould bloAv
up the public buildings, and bury every thing in a
common ruin. Happily, their good-Avill exceeded
their ability. They had no time to execute their
atrocious projects. They burned the Tuileries, the
Finances, the Hotel de Ville, the Comptes, the Ho
tel of the Legion of Honor, and a small portion of
the Palais Royal. The only irreparable loss Avas
that of the Hotel de Ville. The Finances, the
Comptes, and the Legion of Honor had no imper
ishable historical associations connected with them.
The Tuileries Avas an old and incoiiA'cnicnt building
The Emperor had already rebuilt it in part. Plans
for reconstructing the Avhole building had been pre
pared and still exist, and nothing but the want of
money had prevented their being carried into execu
tion long before.
I do not propose to dAvcll upon the horrors of the
nights of the 23d and 21th of May, when all Paris

284

CAMP, COURT, AND SIEGE.

appeared to be in flames. The vieAV from the high
ground upon Avhich the Legation stands was very
striking. A pall of smoke hung over the city by
day, and pillars of fire lighted it by night. One of
the most painful features of those days was the pro
longed suspense. We did not knoAV Avhich of the
magnificent monuments of Paris Avere in flames ; for
the troops permitted no approach, and the most
startling rumors Avere current. The Louvre was at
one time in danger, but happily escaped.
I pass over, too, the cruelties of the march of the
prisoners to Versailles, and the sufferings they there
endured. These things are written in the annals
of the times, and no good can be done by reviving
them. Beautiful France has been sorely tried Avith
revolutions. Let us hope that she has seen the last.
In the hotel of the German Embassy at Paris may
be seen several articles of value, mostly Sevres and
Dresden china, Avhich the German Government de
sires to present to Vir. Washburne, General Read,
and some feAv other officers of the United States, in
token of its gratitude for services rendered to Ger
man subjects during the Avar. These articles can not
he received Avithout the permission of Congress.
The House promptly passed the joint resolution.

PRESENTS FROM EMPEROR.

2§5

The Senate still hesitates. Mr. Fox, formerly Assist
ant Secretary of the Navy, and the officers Avho ac
companied him to Russia, were permitted to receive
such presents as " the Emperor might see fit to
give them." Are Air. Washburne and his subor
dinates, aa'Iio certainly rendered some services, and
suffered some hardships, less entitled to receive this
permission than Mr. Fox and his companions, avIio
took a monitor to Cronstadt ?

THE END.

GEORGE ELIOT'S NOVELS,

LIBRARY EDITION.
ADAM BEDE. Illustrated. 1 2 mo, Cloth, $1 50.
DANIEL DERONDA. 2 vols., nmo, Cloth, §3 00.
FELIX HOLT, THE RADICAL. Illustrated. 12010,
Cloth, $1 50.
MIDDLEMARCH. 2 vols., nmo, Cloth, $3 00.
ROMOLA. Illustrated, nmo, Cloth, $1 50.
SCENES OF CLERICAL LIFE, and SILAS MAR-
NER, The Weaver of Ravcloe. Illustrated. i2mo,
Cloth, $1 50.
THE MILL ON THE FLOSS. Illustrated. 12010,
Cloth, $1 50. 
IIarfer & Brothers also publish Cheaper Editions of George Eliot's
Novels, as follows :
DANIEL DERONDA. 8vo, Paper, $1 50.— FELIX HOLT. Svo,
Paper, 75 cents.— THE MILL ON THE FLOSS. Svo, Paper, 75
cents.— MIDDLEMARCH. 8vo, Paper, Si 50 ; Cloth, $2 00.—
ROMOLA. 8vo, Paper, 75 cents.— SCENES OF CLERICAL
LIFE. Svo, Paper, 75 cents.— SILAS MARNER. i2mo, Cloth,
75 cents. 
Few women — no living woman, indeed — have so ranch strength as "George
Eliot," and, more than that, she never allows it to degenerate into coarseness.
With all her so-called " masculine " vigor, she has a feminine tenderness, which
is nowhere shown more plainly than in her descriptions of children. ^-Boston
Transcript. She looks out npon the world with the most entire enjoyment of nil the good
that there is in it to enjoy, and with an enlarged compassion for all the ill that
there is in it to pity. Bat she never either wimpers over the sorrowful lot of
man, or snarls and chuckles over his follies and littlenesses and impotence. —
Saturday Rcvieio, London.
" George Eliot's " novels belong to the enduring literature of our country —
durable not for the fashionableness of its pattern, but for the texture of its 6tiiff.
— Examiner, London.
Poblisited by HARPER & BROTHERS, ISTeav York.
tET" Either of tltc above books sent bij mail, postatie prepaid, to any part of the Unit
ed Slates or Canada, on receipt of flte price.

WILKIE COLLINS'S NOVELS.

Harper's Popular Edition.
8vo, Paper.
ARMADALE. Illustrated. - .. - $1 oo.
ANTONINA.  50.
MAN AND WIFE. Illustrated. - - 1 00.
NO NAME. Illustrated. - - - - 1 00.
POOR MISS FINCH Illustrated. - 1 00.
THE LAW AND THE LADY. Ill's. - 75.
THE MOONSTONE. Illustrated. - - 1 00.
THE NEW MAGDALEN - - - - 50.
THE TWO DESTINIES. Ill's. - - - - 50.
THE WOMAN IN WHITE. Illustrated. 100.

Harper's Library Edition.
Illustrated. 12MO, Cloth, $i 50 per vol.
AFTER DARK AND OTHER STORIES.— ANTO
NINA.— ARMADALE.— BASIL.— HIDE-AND-
SEEK— MAN AND WIFE.— MY MISCELLA
NIES.— NO NAME.— POOR MISS FINCH.—
THE DEAD SECRET.— THE LAW AND THE
LADY.— THE MOONSTONE.— THE NEW
MAGDALEN— THE QUEEN OF HEARTS.—
THE TWO DESTINIES.— THE WOMAN IN
WHITE.

riilillslicd by HARPER & BROTHERS, New York.
fiTST" Hap.peh & np.nTHF.Hs iff// wnif either of the above volumes by mail, postage frt-
/¦t.-f/, to nay part of the Untied State* or Canada, on receipt of the price.

YALE UNIVERSITY

a39002__0_0250810Qb