Part 93 (1/2)

Field-Marshal von Mullendorf, who was to accompany the troops, after being lifted on the left side of his charger, fell down on the other.]

CHAPTER LXII.

BEFORE THE BATTLE.

It was long after nightfall. A cold and dismal night. The mountains of the forests of Thuringia bordered the horizon with their snow-clad summits, and a piercing wind was howling over the heights and through the valleys.

The Prussian army seemed at length to have reached its destination, and here, on the hills and in the valleys of Jena and Auerstadt, the great conflict was to be decided, for the Prussian army was now confronting the legions of Napoleon.

The princ.i.p.al army, with the commander-in-chief, the Duke of Brunswick, the king, and the staff, was encamped at Auerstadt.

The second army, commanded by the Prince von Hohenlohe, was in the immediate neighborhood of Jena.

It was still firmly believed that Prussia would accomplish her great purpose, and defeat Napoleon. The disastrous skirmish of Saalfeld, and the death of Prince Louis Ferdinand, had made a bad impression, but not shaken the general confidence.

It is true, the Prussians were cold, for they had no cloaks; it is true, they were hungry, for, owing to the sudden lack of bread, they had received only half rations for the last few days; but their hearts were still undismayed, and they longed only for one thing--for the decisive struggle. The decision, at all events, could not but put an end to their hunger, either by death or by a victory, which would open to them large army magazines and supplies.

The Prussian troops encamped at Jena stood quietly before their tents and chatted about the hopes of the next day; they told each other that Bonaparte with his French, as soon as he had heard that the Prussians were already at Jena, had hastily left Weimar again and retreated toward Gera.

”Then it will be still longer before we get hold of the French,”

exclaimed several soldiers. ”We thought we had got him sure at last, and that he could not escape any more, and when he scented us, he again found a mouse-hole through which he might get away.”

”But we will close this mouse-hole for him, so that he cannot get out of it,” said a powerful voice behind them, and when the soldiers turned anxiously around, they beheld their general, the Prince von Hohenlohe, who, walking with his adjutants through the camp, just reached their tents.

The soldiers faced about and respectfully saluted the general, who kindly nodded to them.

”You would be glad then to meet the French soon?” he asked the soldiers, whose conversation he had overheard.

”Yes, we should be glad,” they exclaimed; ”it would be a holiday for us.”

”Well, it may happen very soon,” said the prince, smiling, and continued his walk.

”Long live the Prince von Hohenlohe!” shouted the soldiers. The prince walked on, everywhere greeting the soldiers and receiving their salutations; everywhere filling the men with exultation by promising them that they would soon have a battle and defeat the French.

Now he stopped in front of the grenadiers, who were drawn up in line before him.

”Boys,” he said, loudly and joyously, ”you will have to perform the heaviest part of the work. If need be, you must make a bayonet charge, and I know you will rout the enemy wherever you meet with him. I am sure you will do so!”

”Yes, we will!” shouted the grenadiers; ”most a.s.suredly we will! Would we had already got hold of the French!”

”We will soon enough,” exclaimed the prince; and when he then walked along the ranks, he asked a tall, broad-shouldered grenadier. ”Well, how many French soldiers will you take?”

”Five,” said the grenadier.

”And you?” said the prince, to another grenadier.

”Three,” he replied.