y the survivors of Paul's company. On the 9th
of October the great battle of Orleans commenced, which lasted for two
days. The battle was a desperate one, and losses on both sides were
great. The enormous armies engaged in this battle, the marching and
counter-marching so rapid, and the deafening roar of the artillery, all
added to confuse Paul, and he did not know that the army was in retreat
until told by one of his companions. From that time until January, '71,
the Franc-tireurs were engaged in many skirmishes and harassed the enemy
whenever an opportunity presented itself. But they were slowly and
surely driven back by the great and well disciplined army of Germany
until they crossed the Seine and found themselves in the Department of
Seine Inferieure, that was then invaded by the advance corps of the
enemy. Notwithstanding all the scenes of carnage that Paul witnessed,
and the dangers surrounding them, he has remarked that those were the
happiest days of his life; free from all business troubles and with no
property on earth except that contained in his knapsack. The old spirit
of mischief that deeply imbued his nature was continually asserting
itself, and he was always happy, no matter how somber were his
surroundings. Notwithstanding all the dangers he had passed through, he
only received two slight wounds, which quickly healed on his healthy
body. In the part of France they were now encamped the peasants were
rich though very economical. They had a holy horror of the Franc-
tireurs, and when they heard of a company approaching, orders were given
to the sturdy servant girls to convey all poultry to a place of safety.
The place selected was generally the bedroom of the farm house, where
the fowls roosted in tranquility on the head and foot of the bed
while the disappointed Franc-tireurs searched in vain for material for
their soup. As before stated, when the Franc-tireurs camped, parties
were detailed to purchase provisions for the different messes. Two would
go after bread and beef, two after coffee, sugar, etc., and yet
another two after potatoes and vegetables. The last detail was always
the favorite of Paul and his friend Vodry, the pilot. The majority of
French peasants generally believed Americans were wild Indians. Paul and
his friend utilized this belief to their own advantage in this fashion:
Taking a sack with them they would depart for one of the surrounding
farm houses;