86 COUP-DE-MAIN OF VON DER TANN ? S VOLUNTEERS. 



I received from head-quarters the communication 

 that the free-corps under the command of the Bavarian 

 Major von der Tann would attempt a night-attack on 

 the blockade-ship, and also the order to support this 

 undertaking with all the resources of the fort. Soon 

 after von der Tann. with his adjutant, a Count Bern- 

 storff, presented himself to me. and took Tip his quarters 

 in Friedrichsort. The free-corps collected at Holtenau, 

 where also the boat -squadron was organized, which 

 was to undertake the night -attack. The day before 

 a parade of the free-company took place in the fort- 

 yard, which did not inspire me with much confidence 

 in the success of the venturesome enterprise. The 

 men were not. perhaps, wanting in courage, but in 

 discipline and calm resolution. Von der Tann and his 

 adjutant endeavoured in vain to convert the wild con- 

 fusion into military order. 



The plan of the surprise proceeded from a man 

 who had formerly held some subordinate post in the 

 Danish marine. He was a Hercules, who had got his 

 huge limbs into a gold -embroidered admiral's uniform 

 of his own fancy, and incited the men with loud- 

 sounding voice to courageous deeds. Thus he asked 

 the fellows standing in rank and file, what they would 

 do when they had got on board and were confronted 

 by the Danes. One declared he would stab the nearest 

 man, another found it more fitting to knock him down, 

 and so on. The "Admiral" listened quietly, then 

 stretched himself to his full height and asked with 

 flashing eyes arid gestures appertaining thereto: "Do 



