90 
chamzy’s campaign. 
village actions and could not press on. The weather was deplorable— 
exceedingly cold, frosty, &c. The French proved themselves, under 
able guidance, exceedingly effective defenders of localities. I now quote 
from a German authority: “ Some people thought that the fights for 
localities, such as villages, farm-houses, &c., would be over with the 
introduction of breech-loaders ; they were mistaken. These fights were 
more numerous than ever, because skirmishing tactics entail the neces¬ 
sity of taking advantage of every accident of ground, great and small. 
In order to get full value out of the breech-loader, each army was led to 
attach great importance to the occupation of the boarders of woods 
and villages, which was doubtless right/"’ Therefore, the forest of 
Marchenoir and the neighbouring country, and all the little villages 
that you see scattered on the map from Marchenoir to Beaugency, were 
the scene of most obstinate and deadly combats from the 7th December 
to the 10th inclusive. Consequently the 13th and 1st Bavarian Corps 
advanced only slowly, but, of course, the right of Prince Frederick 
Charles’ Corps of the 2nd German Army gradually closed up. But 
this manoeuvre gave a chance to Bourbaki’s eastern corps, if they 
dared, to assume the offensive, and perhaps to get up towards Paris by 
way of Montargis and Auxerre and to cut the German communications 
and reduce the invader to desperation. I remember reading that 
France was to be the “ grave of Germany.” Bourbaki did not move ; 
he had not confidence in his material; he had not confidence in his 
troops; he had seen how they fought and he was afraid to risk a general 
action, as there were two other German corps now available since the 
siege of Metz, the 2nd and the 7th, who might have come and stopped 
his movement. In point of fact, they afterwards turned against Bour¬ 
baki and conduced to drive him into Switzerland. 1 But manifestly 
bringing the Germans west was a good piece of strategy on the part of 
Chanzy, and for that, if for nothing else, in such a crisis ho deserves 
credit. Nothing could be more obstinate or deadly than the fighting 
in this bit of ground between the forest of Marchenoir and Beaugency. 
I do not care much for dwelling upon pathetic descriptions; I never 
would dream of doing so to Volunteers or to people about to enlist; 
but as you have committed yourself definitely to the art of war it will 
not frighten you so much as it would some others: the scenes in 
Beaugency immediately after its capture were painfully memorable. 
The night was very starry and the rattle of the musketry never quite 
ceased. There was also a good deal of desultory firing about the streets 
by Prussian patrols, who sometimes caught sight of the uniforms of 
French soldiers who had brought in wounded comrades and were 
endeavouring to rejoin- their corps. The whole town was a vast hospital. 
Here the Temple of War had its second face like the Temple of Janus. 
There was only one doctor capable of performing amputations ! In 
the theatre alone were upwards of 200 desperately wounded men, 
forming a scene which those who speak lightly of war, or who hold in 
their hands the power of making it, should have witnessed. For many 
hours there was no medical man in the place. The cold was intense, 
1 Tho skilful use which. Manteuffel made of the 2nd and 7th Corps against Bourbaki's left flank 
apd rear ip the end of January 1871 is one of the most memorable episodes of military history, 
