^GO Ten Years of my Life. 



Having asked the gallant commander of the 2nd army corps. 

 General von Fransecky, for his photograph for my album of 

 the war, I received trom him the tollowing letter, which I pub- 

 lish more on account of its 'distinguished amiable writer than 

 for my own satislaction : 



* The kind letter with which your Highness favoured me has been duly 

 received the day before yesterday here in Strasburg. where I have been 

 since a few days, in my new positioa as commanding general of the newly 

 formed 15th army corps. Thanking you for it very i. ^vtily I need not 

 add that its reception^ as a visible token of your continued fivour and 

 grace, makes me very happy. I have ^ften remembered 'he ime, in 

 which I saw your Highness work with such devo^■"^ and self-sacrificing, 

 with such eftective and beneficial activity for our s and wounded in the 

 hospitals and depots at Ars-sur-Moselle, and never ceased greatly admiring 

 and thanking you for it ; and I am sure that at home many grateful heartr, 

 will still reniember you for a long time afterwards, and proclaim your 

 praise thankfully and honouring you. None of *he many noble women, 

 who like you have undertaken to care for and nurse the wounded m the 

 field hospitals, have equalled you in zeal ; none have been able to surpass 

 you in success, — of this I have been a witness ! The reward of heaven 

 will and cannot fail you, and the dear gracious God who took from you 

 yoiu" husband will from henceforth let spring from those works of Christian 

 charity the richer blessings ! He will be your protector aiid comfortor, 

 when and where you should feel yourself alone ! ! 



* It was very amiable and gracious of you to follow M'ith your thoughts 

 myself and the Pomeranian Army Corps on the ways which fate led us ju^.t 

 before Paris, and then to the Swiss frontier, and that you bestowed your 

 sympathies and praise on the feats of arms of our soldiers, which were 

 favoured and rewarded with success by good iuck. Please to accept f^r 

 this likewise my heartfelt thanks. It is a fine reward • a soldier to hear 

 from the lips of a preiry and noble lady the acknowledgment of having 

 done his duty. And t/ici we have done all — but not morel 



' Understanding fully your griei in breaking up your h nn:^ in Coblsntz. 

 I sympathise with it liom the dep'h of my heart. In the liosom of your 

 relatives in Anholt I hope you wiJl find that rest and -comi ^t you req" -e 

 so much, after the hard times ygu had since the summer of la "• year, Also 

 your grief will be soothed there, where all feel it so deeply wi \ you I 



' Since your Highness has shown such iriendly mtere^t in my fortunes 

 during the war, I may suopose that my transfer from the 2nd to the 15th 

 Army Corps and its meaning will not have escaped "Our notice. His 

 Majesty the Emperor and King in placing me at the head of this new 

 army corps and these newly acquired countries, intended t-"> give me a 

 proof of his particular confidence, and in this expression I feel spurred on 

 anew to do everything in my power to make myseit worthy of this confi- 

 dence. The task which I found to be accompUshed here, is, however, 

 very difficult — and until now I do not see anvthing around ine but chaos ! 

 I feel, however, strong in my good will and confidence and re iance in 

 myself — and what is still the principal thing, in God. With His assistance 

 I hope to pull through ! 



