It was thus that, little by little, in the midst of fighting, we passed
beyond Altkirch and reached the neighborhood of Mulhouse.
Our front was very extended. After the capture of Altkirch, the
order was received to march on Mulhouse, distant about twenty-five
kilometres. We had covered about half that distance when we came across
thirty wounded, including a lieutenant, who told us the following story:
"We numbered about two hundred and were advancing without the support
of artillery when, suddenly, we found ourselves face to face with four
German guns. They were so well hidden that we got within about six
hundred yards before we saw them. I ordered my men to take cover, and
hardly had they thrown themselves to the ground than the four guns were
fired. None of us were hit. Making a bound forward, I got my men to
take cover again, whereupon the four cannon spoke once more. This time
eight of my men were hit, including a sub-lieutenant, two sergeants,
and a corporal. Thus we progressed until we were within eighty yards
of the guns. Just as I was about to order a bayonet charge, sure of
capturing the battery, four detonations rang out afresh and I was
thrown to the ground. I must have fainted, though not for long--a
quarter of an hour, perhaps--for when I came to I saw my men retiring.
They were quite right in doing that, all the officers, with the
exception of a few corporals, having fallen.... Whilst I was examining
my wound, I heard the sound of marching behind me. It was the German
infantry, and as it swept by a soldier stopped and bent over me. I
feigned to be dead. He began by tearing my sword and revolver from me,
then he undid my puttees, and finally took off my boots. I was boiling
over with anger, uncertain as to what to do, whether to keep up the
pretence or show that I was merely wounded. When he had robbed me of
half my possessions, he decamped to rejoin his regiment. Heaving a sigh
of relief, I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, but in vain. Three
hours later I heard a sharp fusillade. I sat up and beheld the Germans
in retreat. My soldiers had found reinforcements and beaten the Boches
back. Several bullets fell near me. I thought that my last hour had
come when the Germans once more passed over me. But what a pleasure it
was to see them fleeing before our men!... Night began to come on; I
closed my eyes, and this time I slept."
The officer had been wounded by a shrapnel bullet, which had entered
his shoulder and descended almost to his elbow. He had fallen about
two in the afternoon. It was nine o'clock in the morning when we found
him, so he had remained without help on the field of battle for fully
nineteen hours.
Wounded men were picked up all along the way. We reached the walls
of Mulhouse without encountering any serious resistance. Cavalry was
sent on in advance to reconnoitre the town, and returned with the
information that Mulhouse was defenceless. We accordingly entered the
town, headed by the regimental band and cheered by the crowd. Our
troops encamped on the Place de la Mairie and other squares. Just as
they were about to requisition quarters for the night a sharp fusillade
came from several windows. It was thought, at first, that a number of
inhabitants had revolted, but the trouble spread and shots poured from
all the windows surrounding the squares where our men were stationed.
It was then discovered that the Germans were there in hiding, with
machine-guns and rifles. It was a veritable death-trap, and our men
were compelled to beat a hasty retreat, but not before more than
twenty-five thousand of them had fallen. The stretcher-men succeeded in
collecting a few of the wounded, but they had to abandon large numbers,
for the enemy was at hand and had already captured several ambulances.
This defeat did not succeed in demoralizing our brave soldiers, who
reformed a few kilometres from Mulhouse. Though they had to retreat,
they occasioned heavy losses to the Germans.