v^\i 



CHx^PTER XX. 



My preparations for the field — Miss Louisa Runkel — Leave-talcing in Ati- 

 holt — Prince Alfred and three sons in the war — Difficulties about a 

 horse — I try impossibilities — Make them possible — With General von 

 Steinmetz, chief of the first army — £n route — My defeat — Hermeskeil 

 — Treves — Disappointment — Saarlouis — Impiiident ducks — Henswei- 

 ler— ^Gloious news — In a brewery — Prince Adalbert of Prussia — Ars 

 Admiral on diy land — The distant thunder — Of Spichem— Saarbruck 

 — Meeting Corvin — Entering on my duties — The starving French 

 prisoners — Confusion — The battle-field — Arrival of the King -A raid 

 on the Royal kitchen — Carrying off my booty — Caught by his Majesty 

 — My confusion — In the Hospitals — The i8th of August — Fearful 

 dreams — Vague rumours — Starting for the front — Felix killed — 

 Florentine killed — How my husband died — letter of Rev. Mr. Farmet 

 — Letter of Salm's .seivant — My vow — Going on a sad eiTand — A 

 fearful night in Remilly — Ars sur-Moselle — A melancholy task — 

 ' Mother Simon ' — How I found my poor husband — Bringing home 

 the bodies — Funeral in Anholt — Last words of love. 



Time and occupation are the only effective remedies against 

 sorrow. I had no leisure to indulge in the 'luxury of grief 

 — which is, however, only a luxury for the weak. As I was 

 to go with the army also, or at least to follow it as close as 

 possible, I had to finish my preparations, and next to consult 

 with Professor Busch. Mrs. von Corvin and I left at nine 

 o'clock in the steamboat for Bonn, where we found Miss 

 Louisa Runkel, who was to accompany and remain with me 

 in the war. She had been recommended very highly by 

 Princess Wied, and after having seen her at Coblentz I 

 accepted her as a companion. She had also attended the hos- 

 pitals and learnt how to nurse the wounded, and was desirous 

 of going with me, because her two brothers were officers serv- 

 ing in the army of which Professor Busch was surgeon-general, 

 and of course she wanted to be as near to them as possible. 



