In France with the Germans Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 Excerpt: ... around Paris, and sleep in the hut of a friendly officer, or share his soldier's dinner, or accompany him in some nightly patrol, if not afraid of a bullet or a cold. In this manner he might become, if he was in luck, eye witness to some sortie. Anyone who remained at Versailles had little chance, for when we heard of a sortie it was generally over, and if one lasted somewhat longer, and we might have, perhaps, reached the battle-field in time, it was impossible to procure a conveyance for any money, and our officer friends, who sometimes lent us their horses, required them for themselves. Though I had met everywhere from the Prussian officers of all degrees, with the most friendly reception, and I knew that even the highest persons would have granted me all facilities, perhaps more than any other correspondent, I could not conquer my repugnance to bother them with my personal requests. It was, however, necessary for me to procure a permit to visit the different parts of the army, and provided with a card from a friend of mine, who was one of the councillors of Count Bismark, I applied for such a pass to Lieutenant Colonel de Verdy du Vernois, of the great general staff, who procured for me a paper, headed, "Great Head-quarters of His Majesty the King, Chief of the General Staff of the Army," signed by the GENERAL MOLTKE. Quartermaster-General of the Army, Lieutenant General von Podbielski, "permitting Colonel de Corvin to stay within the precincts of the operating armies, and requesting all authorities not to lay any hindrance in his way." When I went to fetch this paper from Rue Neuve 39, the Bureau of the general staff, an orderly told me that Lieutenant-Colonel de Verdy was with "His Excellency," and I therefore waited in ...