CHAP. XXX.] FRANCO-GERMAN WAR, 1870-1871. 



495 



FreiK^h in their outijoat service. It was either absolutely 

 neglected, as at Beaumont, or else so wretchedly 

 performed, that it wan a c(mimon thing during tht' 

 campaign for Fnaich troops to be surprised in their 

 encampments in broad daylight. The German cavalry 

 four years before had been opposed by the Austrian 

 horsemen, whose outpost work was also very inefl&ciently 

 performed. The Germans consequently gained more 

 boldness in carrying out their reconnoitring, and im- 

 mensely aided by the miserable incapacity of the French 

 light cavalry, in the minor operations of war, were able 

 to perform the most important services from the 

 commencement of hostilities by untiring watchfulness 

 and far-reaching reconnaissances in every direction. 



The impunity with which the German patrols were 

 permitted to roam through the enemy's country, and 

 even in rear of their lines, led to the boldest and most 

 adventurous rides on the part of very small bodies of 

 horsemen, who were able to gather and carry back the 

 most important information as to the enemy's position 

 and movements. The careful and diligent instruction 

 that had been given in peace time to the German 

 troopers in this most necessary duty was of great 

 service to them when called upon to act in earnest in 

 the field. 



On the night of the 23rd to the 24th July a 

 Prussian patrol of Uhlans penetrated the French lines 

 and blew up a viaduct of the French railway at 

 Saargemund, and from this time the Prussian cavalry 

 began to show their superiority. On the 26th July a 

 Wtirtemberg staff officer, Count Zeppelin, with a small 

 patrol of four officers and four privrtes, succeeded in 

 making his way through the French outposts near 

 Lauterburg, and rode for thirty-six hours through the 

 whole of that district. The party were surprised in 

 the Shirlen Hof, a small inn south of Woerth, and ten 

 miles in rear of the French outposts. Count Zeppelin 

 managed to escape, and carried back information of 

 great value in arranging for the advance of the Crown 

 Prince's army a few days after. 



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