Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 26, 2025
The noise was too great for the words to be heard and, with cries of "Death to the spy!" the men in front prepared for a rush. The leveled bayonets and drawn swords, however, for a moment checked their ardor; but those behind kept up the cry, and a serious conflict would have ensued, had not a party of five or six of the franc tireurs come along at the moment.
Ralph, his brother, and Tim Doyle were hurried into the wood by their guards but strict as is the discipline of the German army they could see that they disapproved, in the highest degree, of the conduct of their commanding officer. They were still near enough to see what was passing in the village. Not a man of the franc tireurs begged his life, but stood upright against the wall.
They will argue: "'If we make no resistance, the Prussians may plunder us, but at least our houses and our lives are safe; whereas if these franc tireurs are found to have been with us, or if they make any attack in our neighborhood, we are not only plundered, but burnt out, and shot! "Of course, we are always liable to treachery.
"If you're going out potting Germans," he said, "you'd better get yourself into a uniform as soon as you can. They have no mercy on franc tireurs." "I'll chance that. But you'll take me with you into the dome?" "What's your name?" "Pierre Louis Bougainville." "Bougainville! Bougainville! It sounds noble and also historical. I've read of it, but I don't recall where."
This was answered by the fire of the franc tireurs, who surrounded them. Five fell; and the others, surprised and panic stricken, threw down their arms. They were instantly secured, and the bridge was at once seized. The firing still continued in the village; but in another five minutes it ceased and, shortly afterwards, Louis Duburg ran up with the tidings that the village was taken.
While still in camp, the news of the fall of Sedan was received and the tireurs were hurried forward to the vicinity of Paris on which the Prussians were rapidly advancing. Their first engagement was at Creteil. They did skirmishing for the army of General Vinoy, who had about fifteen thousand men. This was on the 11th of Dec., 1870.
Upon arriving at the residence of their host, they were most kindly received by his wife and daughter; who, however, could not refrain from expressing their surprise at the youthfulness of their guests. "But these are mere boys!" the lady said to her husband, in German; "are all the franc tireurs like these?"
The few articles of bedding, blankets, etc. saved at the approach of the Prussians were spread on heaps of freshly-cut grass; and one of the oxen of the franc tireurs, which had arrived the day before, was killed and divided.
It would bring discredit upon the whole army to touch these prisoners of war. "In the other matter, I have nothing to say. The order has been published that franc tireurs, and peasants sheltering them, shall be shot; and it is not for me to discuss orders, but to obey them but this is a matter affecting all our honors."
By far the larger proportion of those who joined were either proprietors, or the sons of proprietors, in and around Dijon. At that time Government had made no arrangement, whatever, concerning franc tireurs; and no pay was, therefore, available. The invitation was, therefore, especially to those willing and able to go out upon their own account, and at their own expense.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking