General iwi Steimnetz. 309 



I went on August i, to Coblentz, where Mr. von Pommer- 

 Esche gave me most readily a ticket of legitimation for Miss 

 Runkel. If I bad intended to go only as a simple nurse to 

 the war, I might have done so now ; but that was not my in- 

 tention. I wanted to be in a position to do more and to be 

 officially attached to the staff of the army like an officer. 

 Everybody to whom I spoke about it shrugged his shoulders 

 and declared such a thing to be impossible. It is however my 

 belief that the only way to success is not to believe in im- 

 possibilities, and further it is one of my practical rules, if I wish 

 a thing always to ask it directly from the highest authority. 



The highes. person in the army in which Dr. Busch was 

 surgeon-general was General von Steinmetz, its commander-in- 

 chief. He had been described to me as an extremely strict 

 and rough man, of whom everybody was afraid. My experi- 

 ence taught me that these rough men are frequently very rea- 

 sonable, and I was resolved to try m-y luck with the dreaded 

 general. 



Early in the morning I went to his head-quarters, where my 

 request io see the general ]eemed to create quite a conster- 

 nation. Not being frightened at all I insisted, and an officer, 

 though shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders, was in- 

 duced to take in mj- card, and co the surprise of everybody I 

 was admitted 



The commander di the Fir;^t Army, General von Steinmetz, 

 was a very kind little man with snow white hair, with large 

 blue eyes, and a look like that Oi the eagle. When we sat 

 down i commenced to explain what I wished, namely to be 

 ]jermitted to accompany the staff on horseback and to be al- 

 lowed forage and quarters for my horse and myself. I of course 

 supported my rather extraordinary request — almost unheard 

 of in a Prussian army — with all reasons and statements at my 

 disposition, and in the most wonderfully broken German. The 

 general did not say a word, but .uddenly rose and rang the 

 bell, — not to show me out as I leared for a moment, but to 

 send for his quarterma.ler- general. When that officer ap- 

 peared the general asked whether it was possible to grant my 

 request, and it was granted on the officer's declaration that it 

 certainly could be done if his Excellency would order it. 



Well, I had ray permission, but I had still no horse, and there 

 was not to be had a saddle-horse in the whole city. . The pro- 



