In the Field (1914-1915): The Impressions of an Officer of Light Cavalry

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command of it. The united regiments had been formed up under cover of a line of ridges, on the summit of which the watchful scouts stood out against the sky, looking north.

us in a resonant voice, full of unfamiliar vibrations. On hearing the first few sentences we drew closer around him as by

enemy's advance guard-had we not been told that we were going to retire to the Seine? And now in a few noble, simple words the Commander-in-Chief told us that th

The men exchanged jests and promises of fabulous exploits. They had already forgotten the fatigues of the fortnight's retre

id it

ment of the German armies, De F., more prosaic than the other, dreamt of Pantagruelian repasts liberally furnished with Rhine wines. O., a sub-lieutenant, just fresh from the Military College-which he had left with a No. 1, mind you-seemed like a young colt broken lo

Colonel want

went, leaving a general feeling of envy behind me. Here was I in the presence of the Colonel, who, with a map

will report to me on the road which leads straight from here to the village. The brigade will foll

terwards I was on th

ounted on his horse "Cabri," whose powerful haunches stood out above the tall oats. I had full confidence in his vigilance and his shrewdness. I knew his cl

nsiderable distance from one another. We had learnt by experience since the beginning of the campaign. We were on our guard now against Prussian bullet

ds, on a morning like this, with a gun under my arm, behind a good dog, in quest of partridge

breathed freely. We foresaw that the heat would be oppressive in a few hours' time, but the fresh air of the night still lingered, and bright pe

have not the skill to explain clearly what I feel by means of written words. A more prac

wanted to speak I certainly should not find the words I wanted. Perhaps it is that I simply want to shout, to cry "Hurrah!" again and a

the enemy. I should like to hear the whole army following my example behind me, to hear all the bands and all the

ay, had echoed with the innumerable noises made by an army in retreat. Thousands of cannon, limbers, and convoys had been passing along all the roads and

irred: the country seemed deserted; the fields

ground, and that all, officers and troopers alike, were impatient to rush upon my tracks to the attack. I knew that behind them, lying by sections in the plough-land, thousands and thousands of infantrymen had their eyes fixed in the directi

ath with, for the first time, the certainty of conquering; since for the first time the Commander-in-Chief had said that conquer they must. And not for an instant had I any fear of not being equal to my task. On the

below a ridge which we had just passed. I called out to Vercherin, who had begun to spur his horse towards the wood, to stop. I knew that numbers of men had fallen by having acted in this way-a way we have at man[oe]uvres, when the enemy

five little Chasseurs into the nearest copse! But I knew then that if it were occupied by the enemy their men would be lying d

the wind, Hungarian braiding, and sabretaches. It would be senseless to continue to be a horseman in order to fight men who are no longer cavalrymen and do not wish to be s

by sharpshooters too eager for a shot. My men were on the watch, crouching in attitudes that would have pleased Neuville, their carbines ready, looking with all their eyes and listening with all their ears. Nothin

h it as quickly as the horses' legs and the difficulties of the ground would allow. On arriving at the further side I was glad to see my four companions emerging, almost at the same moment, fro

re further off. I feared very much that this second barrier might be used by the enemy as a formidable line of defence, and on that account I ordered the

dvantage of this natural cover for getting my men forward without risking a shot. Then

of one's mission, the decisive point one has to reach, cost what it may; the point where one is almost sure to find the enemy in hiding, where one has a sus

age It was a very ordinary collection of houses, some of them big farms, others humble cottages. The tiled roofs formed a reddish mass, a

as the time of day when one usually sees housewives coming out of the cowsheds, with their sleeves tucked up and their feet in clogs, carrying pails full of fresh milk-the time when the heavy carts and reaping machines lumber slowly alo

the enemy. I could not distinguish any work of defence. There did not seem to be any barricade

ower was planted, roofed with slates; and this enhanced the likeness to a miniature donjon. The road we had followed, winding between the fields, passed, so far as we could judge, in front of its principal entrance. Opposite this entrance there was apparently anoth

fect than the din of battle. I was impressed with the idea that the two armies had withdrawn in oppos

nd bordered the road we were following up to about 100 yards from the outer wall. By slipping along from one tree to another he would be able

and I galloped up to him at once. He was as calm as usual, only his blue eyes were a

stack, it seemed to me ... I thought

oid. And, strange to say, our two horses, whose reins had been hanging loose on their necks, appeared to be suddenly seized with a simultaneous terror, and both at once turned right round. I mana

ng in the grass that lined the road leading to the farm or else behind the stacks, with the admirable discipline which makes them so formidable, they had carried out their orders. Not one of them had shown himself. The Hauptmann (captain) alone, no doubt, put up his head from time to time in order to judge the favourable moment for ordering them to fire. It was he, no doubt, very fortunate

d emerged from just before. The bullets accompanied us with their hateful hissing, which made us duck our head

ho showed an immoderate desire to put herself out of danger, I saw both horse and rider struggling for a moment on the ground, forming a confused mixtur

head. A bit stunned, he seemed to collect his ideas for an instant, and then I

, old fello

g broke

y up,

the report of a rifle volley lends to the legs of a dismounted trooper. Lema?tre came in to the shelter in the valley as soon as I did; and almost at the same time Finet, the sapper, brought in his old road-compa

truck him. The small hole could hardly be seen against

or us; I shall be

g, and I turned round towards my other troopers, whose horses were panting beh

r ...; it passed i

y a bullet. One half-inch more, and the good fellow's nose would have be

ng; ... but

grey mare, which he loved and cared for passionately. A bullet had pierced her thigh right through, and the blood had flowed down her leg. I calmed

ad been fired we were not allowed to come nearer. As soon as we appeared a violent fusillade burst from the outskirts of the village,

on one knee and on the other wrote my report for the Colonel, Vercherin and Finet, at an interval of 10

l, and quickly. I will w

ine and Lema?tre were posted, whilst Wattrelot went off at

n the ground and struggling feebly with death. His eyes were already d

friend when we are campaigning-the friend that serves us well to the very last, that saves us time and aga

h work or suffering under some hedgerow. He has a soldier's death. All we can do is to cut short his sufferings and send

ed convinced. He shook h

uch a fine creature! He jumped so well.... And his coat was always so beautiful;

es, yo

. And, besides, it means one trooper unmounted and the loss of a sword in battle. Lema?tre was right. "Ramier" was a good old servant, one of the ki

, and his eye, lighting up for a moment, seemed to reproach me. Paff! A short, sharp report, and "Ramier" quivered fo

giment with Corporal Madelaine, who was leading "Attraction," I went back to my observati

s, which made light patches upon the dark green of the thicket, and almost at the same moment a dull report resounded in the distance. A curious humming noise was heard above our heads, and a she

the Colonel. The battle

enemy were bursting in bouquets of fire. We paid no attention to them. Meeting some battalions of infantry on their way to reinforce the line, we were asked for news, and shouted: "Cour

lefield on every side, like torches set ablaze for our glory. All hearts were filled with joy. It hovered

the evening of