ne thought that he would be suffocated with such a burden. Then
there was the tight-fitting uniform, and such dog-day heat, that I many
times thought that I was going upon red hot coals; and if I opened the
breast of my coat to get a little air, steam came out as from a boiling
kettle. Often I had not a dry thread on my body, and almost fainted
from thirst.

"Thus we marched the first day, the 22nd of August, out of the
Koepeniker gate, and marched for four hours to the little town of
Koepenik, where from thirty to fifty of us were quartered on the
citizens, who were obliged to feed us for one groschen. _Potz plunder!_
how things did go on here! Ha! how we did eat! But only think how many
great hungry fellows we were! We were all calling out, 'Here, Canaille,
fetch us what you have in your most secret corner.' At night the rooms
were filled with straw; there we lay all in rows against the walls.
Truly a curious household! In every house there was an officer, to keep
good discipline, but they were often the worst.

"'Hitherto has the Lord helped!' These words were the first text of our
Chaplain at Pirna. Oh, yes, thought I, that He has, and will, I truly
hope, help me further to my Fatherland. For what are your wars to me?

"Meanwhile every morning we received orders to load quickly; this gave
rise among the old soldiers to the following talk: 'What shall we have
to-day? to-day certainly something is afoot!' Then we young ones
perspired at all pores if we marched by a bush or a wood, and had to be
on the alert. Then every one silently pricked up his ears, expecting
each moment a fiery hail and his death; and when we came again into the
open, looked right and left, how he could most conveniently escape; for
we had always the cuirassiers, dragoons, and other soldiers of the
enemy on both sides.

"At last on the 22nd September, the alarm was sounded, and we received
orders to break up. In a moment all were in motion; in a few minutes a
camp a mile in length--like the largest city--was broken up, and
_Allons_, march! Now we proceeded into the valley, made a bridge at
Pirna, and formed above the town, in front of the Saxon camp, in a
line, as if for running the gauntlet; of which the end reached the
Pirna gate, and through which the whole Saxon army in fours passed
having first laid down their arms; and one may imagine what mocking,
taunting words they must have heard during the whole long passage. Some
went sorrowfully w