AFTER THE BATTLE.--ORLEANS FROM WITHOUT AND WITHIN.--THE MOB AND THE
AMBULANCE.--THE BAVARIAN GIANT.
Our duty was now to return to the battlefield, and render all the
assistance we could to the wounded, so forthwith we retraced our steps;
and, though our day's experience, owing to circumstances over which we
had no control, had not been very fruitful of work, it was fraught with
much strain and anxiety. The night was dark, but we had no difficulty in
making out our way, the numerous camp fires in front serving us as
beacons. We pushed on to the scene of the day's conflict, Tilghman and
Sherwell riding ahead, to see that the route was clear.
One part of the road had a shrubbery at the left hand side; and, just as
we came to the corner of it, we perceived a figure standing amongst the
bushes. As we approached, the man stepped forward, and the light of our
waggon lamps revealed the uniform of a French soldier. He challenged,
and brought us to a halt. The difficulty of our situation was now
apparent. We were about to enter the French lines, having served the
Germans all day in a medico-military capacity, and having come from
their headquarters at Orleans.
A patrol on outpost duty quickly appeared on the scene, and we were
detained some time until an officer was brought up. Having questioned us
about all these particulars, and heard our replies, he informed us that
it would be necessary to conduct us to headquarters, and take us into
the presence of the General, before he could permit us to go on our way.
At the same time he showed us the utmost courtesy. We were now
surrounded by a strong escort, and had no choice but to follow. We soon
came in sight of the French camp, and as we passed by the rows of
cheerful blazing fires, around which were clustered, in merry groups,
the victors of the day, the ring of their mirth and revelry contrasted
with the deep gloom which had hung both upon ourselves and our German
colleagues since morning.
This great army was reckoned at 100,000 men, who now lay in the open
plain under canvas. We passed along through several regiments of the
Line, of Turcos, Zouaves, and Gardes Mobiles, all in excellent trim, and
as jolly and pleasant as possible. They did not at all appear to be the
undisciplined rabble which the Germans had represented to us. A rare
opportunity was now given of contrasting the relative strength of these
opposing armies; but on this subject no inquiries were made. On the
contrary, we received orders not to exchange a word on the matter.
Singing, eating, and drinking, appeared to be everywhere the business of
the night. Presently we came to a halt before M. de Paladine's tent; and
our chief, Dr. Tilghman, was conducted alone into his presence. The
doctor told him exactly what our position was; and how we had left our
quarters at Orleans to come and assist the wounded on the battlefield.
Our duty had been to pick up any that had escaped the notice of the
military surgeons, and to get them into the neighbouring houses. But,
said Dr. Tilghman, we were bound to return to Orleans next day, and
resume charge of our wounded. This was a difficult matter to settle;
for, as the French had not followed up their victory, they were still
under the impression that Orleans was in German hands, nor could we
undeceive them. The question was, would it be safe to let us go back
when we had been through the camp of the French, and had made
observations on their position? Upon this head Dr. Tilghman speedily
received a satisfactory answer. General de Paladine observed courteously
that, in dealing with us, he had to deal with English and American
gentlemen, who had already given abundant proof of their honour and the
integrity of their word. In short, when Dr. Tilghman had shown all his
papers, and the testimonials of past services rendered to the French,
the old General was profuse in his acknowledgments, being evidently in
high good humour over his day's success.
When the interview came to an end, the members of the 5th Ambulance
received us most cordially, and invited us to mess with them. But, after
some deliberation, Dr. Tilghman, thanking them for their kindness, and
deeming our position an awkward one, determined immediately to retrace
his steps to Orleans, from whence he could, on the following day, send
waggons to take as many of the wounded as possible into the town. He had
good reasons for thus acting, and without waiting for a morsel of bread
or a glass of wine, we moved out of the camp on our way homewards.
In a large space, near the General's quarters, lay the bodies of several
Bavarians--perhaps a dozen, some of whom had their faces turned up as
they were lying, and looked very ghastly. Outside the camp, the ground
was strewn, in some places quite thickly, with the Bavarian soldiers who
had fallen on that day, which had proved so disastrous to their arms.
The sight, though no longer strange, was all the same a sad one to us,
for we had begun to look upon the wearers of the light blue uniform with
friendly fellow-feeling, and we seemed (so fast does the time run in a
campaign) to have been long associated with them. I shall not here
describe the battlefield, since my view of it, by the light of our lamps
and of the moon (for a beautiful moon arose just in time to show us the
way home), was, of necessity, rather limited. But, in any case, I doubt
the possibility of depicting, as they really present themselves, the
details of a battlefield. Who can do justice to the heartrending scenes
of warfare as carried on with modern weapons, the chief excellence of
which seems to consist in the degree of mutilation which they can
inflict on the bodies of those against whom they are directed?
Before relating our entrance into Orleans, I will give Warren and
Parker's account of what had happened in the town after our departure.
As the day advanced, and rumours were spread of a French victory, the
excitement of the townsfolk knew no bounds. They rushed frantically
about in all directions, but did not dare to interfere with the few
soldiers on guard at the gates of the Mairie and at the Hospital.
In the afternoon, however, when it became generally known that the
Germans were retreating, not towards the town but in the direction of
Étampes, the populace became most riotous, and from the manner in which
they menaced the unfortunate guards, it was plain that their lives were
in great danger. At our Hospital, indeed, where there were ten men on
guard over some Ambulance waggons at the door, the mob met with a stern
opposition. The German soldiers stood together, with their swords drawn,
and, bidding defiance to the crowd, were determined not to budge an
inch, but rather to die than relinquish the charge assigned to them.
These brave fellows, who stood so resolutely by their post, would most
assuredly have met with a violent death at the hands of the Orleaners,
had not the Mayor sent out a _Parlementaire_, accompanied by a body of
the Gendarmerie of the town, and requested them, in the name of the
Government of National Defence, to lay down their arms. This they did
willingly, as they saw the danger of their position, and so they were
taken off as prisoners to the Mairie. A great crowd followed, howling
and yelling in the most disgraceful manner during the whole journey.
Just about the time when the sentries were removed, the blue blouses
rushed into our Hospital and seized all the rifles which they could lay
hands on. The wards and other offices of the railway terminus now
presented a scene of unutterable confusion. Drs. Warren and Parker, like
true Britons, in spite of all this, remained at their posts; they
refused to allow any of the mob to enter our store-rooms, or private
Bureaux, and, although repeatedly threatened, would not submit to the
intrusion. But their demeanour was so calm and steady that they
experienced no rough usage. Their situation during that tumultuous day
was certainly far from enviable. In the forenoon, several officers who
had been wounded, and were in consequence left behind, came to our men
entreating them to keep their swords for them, or else to let them hide
them in our store-rooms. This request we were bound to refuse; but they
succeeded in putting their weapons away among some bedding, which was
lying in the waggon sheds at the terminus.
A very amusing incident occurred at this time. There was a young
Bavarian officer, the tallest man I have ever seen except one (who was,
of course, an Irishman), who had been slightly wounded in the hand. For
this reason he had been left on duty in the town, and not seeing any way
of escape, slipped into our Hospital in the afternoon; but, finding that
the mob was becoming riotous and might at any moment discover him, he
divested himself of his helmet, cuirass, and uniform--he belonged to the
household cavalry--which Drs. Warren and Parker consented to stow away
in a corner. But in vain did they search for a bed long enough to cover
the prostrate form of their giant; and it was only by stratagem that
they succeeded at last in concealing him. The young man spoke English
well, and was evidently by birth a gentleman. I cannot recall his name.
Hardly was he settled in his hiding-place when, as Dr. Warren told us,
some of the mob rushed wildly through the Hospital; whereupon the doctor
sat down leisurely on the bed beneath which our hero lay half smothered.
When the tumult had somewhat subsided, and darkness set in, our brave
cuirassier, bruised and sore from the hard boards, at length was allowed
to creep out.
He now donned a suit of peasant's clothes, or rather two suits, for it
took all that to cover him, and even then, as the Irish proverb has it,
he looked "like a crane in a crate". All this notwithstanding, he
appeared in his disguise every inch a soldier, and a German to boot. For
a heavy bribe he procured a donkey cart, in which he seated himself,
with legs crossed on some bundles of fuel, and a carter's bullock whip
in his hand, and thus set out on his perilous journey. Having arrived
safely outside the town, he took to his heels, and by-and-by chartering
an old worthless animal from a peasant, reached the German headquarters
in Étampes. It will be of interest to state that, subsequently, at the
retaking of Orleans, this officer was one of the first to greet us on
entering the town; and his satisfaction at recovering his helmet,
cuirass, and accoutrements was unbounded.