From that moment the village of Dawendorff was won. Besides the two cannon, a military wagon, or caisson, as we have said, bearing the fleur-de-lis of France, had fallen into the hands of the victorious army.
The general, thinking that it might contain money belonging to the Prince de Condé, had given orders to have it opened in the presence of his staff.
Lieber arrived last. Followed by Abatucci's chasseurs, he had pursued the enemy for more than three miles, and had taken three hundred prisoners.
The day had been fortunate; they had slain about a thousand of the enemy, and upward of six hundred had been taken prisoner.
Larrey set Abatucci's dislocated shoulder.
The members of the staff being all present, they went down into the court and a locksmith was sent for. There was one near at hand, and he came shortly, bringing his instruments. In a moment the cover was raised; they found one of the compartments filled with long rolls like cartridges. They broke one and found that it contained gold. Each roll contained one hundred guineas—two thousand five hundred francs, stamped with the effigy of King George. There were three hundred and ten rolls, making in all seven hundred and seventy-five thousand francs.
"Faith!" said Pichegru, "this is wonderfully fortunate; we will use it to pay the soldiers. Are you there, Estève?"
Estève was the paymaster of the Army of the Rhine.
"Have you ascertained how much is due the men?"