22 Ten Years of my Life, 



period the principal point of attraction. This division was 

 commanded by General Louis ^l^lenker, wlio was then a great 

 favourite with all the authorities and the people. The ' Dutch ' 

 did not at that time take the position in America which they 

 now occupy. They were looked upon with a half-shrug of the 

 shoulders, and a not very flattering half-smile. True Yankees 

 despised them, and the military commanders were not much 

 inclined to allow them prominent places. When McDowell 

 was leading his armed mob towards Bull Run he placed the 

 German Division in the rear, far from the field of his supposed 

 glnry. When the panic commenced, which ' Bull Run Rus- 

 sell' has described too graphically and truly for 'the American 

 taste, the stolid Germans, and especially Blenker, could not 

 d'scover any sensible reason for runnmg away. He let the 

 panic-stricken Americans pass and stood his ground, waiting 

 for an attack. This did not take place, for though the much- 

 dreaded * Black Horse ' of the Confederates appeared in view, 

 they did not like the attitude of the ' Dutch ' and retired, 

 leaving behind some forsaken Union artillery, which was 

 quietly taken back by Colonel von Steinwehr of Blenker's divi- 

 sion. Washington was saved, saved by Blenker and these con- 

 founded Dutch ! 



The Americans exaggerate everything, and so it was in tliis 

 case. The danger had been too evident, and it served them 

 as a measure for Blenker's merit. The General himself did 

 not overrate it, but was sensible enough to profit by this tem- 

 porary tide of popular favour. President Lincoln, who under- 

 stood nothing of military matters, but much of the danger 

 which he escaped, felt extremely thankful towards the General 

 and the Germans, whom he already had good reason to like 

 well, as they had done a great deal to raise him to the place 

 which he occupied. McClellan, who liked the military chic of 

 Blenker and the discipline in his division, was very favourably 

 disposed towards him, and a frequent visitor in his hospitable 

 quarters, which made American generals jealous. 



The German division, consisting of about twelve thousand 

 men, had been renioved from the environs of Rodgers' Mills 

 to the Virginian side of the Potomac, and was encamped be- 

 tween that river and a place called Hunter's Chapel. 



It was a fine day when our party drove over the Potomac 

 Bridge, which at that time was for miles the only communica- 



