By the 12th a good number of 22nd Dragoons and some officers of the
regiment had rejoined at Verberie. We formed from this débris an almost
complete squadron under the command of Captain de Salverte, who had
succeeded in getting through the lines by skirting the forest.
I again found my officer, M. Chatelin, whom I had last seen in the
little clearing near Gilocourt, surrounded by lurking enemies, and
whom I had hardly dared hope to see again alive; also M. de Thézy, my
comrade Clère and others.
We were all sorry to hear that Lieutenant Roy had fallen on the field
of battle with several others, and that Major Jouillié had been taken
prisoner. As for Captain de Tarragon, it was stated that he might
have escaped on foot with his orderly and that he might be somewhere
in the neighbourhood with a contingent of escaped men, but any precise
information was wanting.
The night before I had slept in the drawing-room of the château
belonging to M. de Maindreville, the mayor. Its appearance merits some
brief description, so that those who are still in doubt as to the
savagery of the Germans may learn to what degree of bestiality and
ignominy they are capable of attaining.
This fine drawing-room was a veritable dung heap. The curtains were
torn, the small billiard-table lay upside down in the middle of the
room, a litter of rotting food covered the floor, the furniture
was in matchwood, the chairs were broken, the easy-chairs had had
their stuffing torn out of them and the glass of the cabinets was
smashed. One could see that all small objects had been carried off
and all others methodically broken. On the first floor the sight
was heart-breaking. Fine linen, trimmed with lace, was soiled with
excrement; excrement was everywhere, in the bath, on the sheets, on
the floor. They had vomited on the beds and urinated against the
walls; broken bottles had shed seas of red wine on the costly carpets.
An unnamable liquid was running down the staircase, obscene designs
were traced in charcoal on the wall-papers and filthy inscriptions
ornamented the walls.
I have told enough to give an idea of the degrading traces left by a
contemptible enemy. I have exaggerated nothing; if anything, I have
understated the truth.
And this is the people that wants to be the arbiter of culture and of
civilisation! May it stand for ever shamed and reduced to its true
level, which is below that of the brute beast.