MY first thought this morning was to find out what the light was that I saw last night. I recognized the tree from which it came, and discovered that several branches had been cut to make it easier to climb. At the very top an opening has been made where the light was evidently placed. The leaves just above are scorched. Underneath, a big branch, fastened across between two other branches, forms a platform. To whom can I report this discovery? There are no soldiers left in the neighborhood.
The booming of cannon kept up all night long, though it was not so loud as during the day. Before sunrise it began again in full force.
The same sights as yesterday.
The noise of the cannonade, though still very violent, seems to be shifting and going farther away. Can it be that our soldiers, after a hundred years, are going to repeat nearly in the same spot the strategy of Napoleon, who saved Paris by cutting off Blücher's army—that terrible Blücher, who likewise made his name a by-word by his vandalism? We have before us his worthy descendants—Von Kluck and Von Bülow. Nor will they break through. I feel more and more sure of it.
On our left are the army of Maunoury and the Moroccan troops; immediately behind us, the English Army under General French, and the French under General Franchet d'Espérey.
To-day I saw some Uhlans! They are beginning to venture out of their hiding-places, knowing that they can do so with perfect security. I met them on the road at noon. They had just been to Couilly to get their horses shod. Their uniforms look very much like those of the English, but are more greenish in tone.
They went along at a jog-trot, with their lances under their left arm, point downward. They passed by a few yards from me, intent on examining the château. Two or three of them glanced at me indifferently.
This patrol disappeared over the hill to the right of Quincy. Others (or else the same ones) were seen during the day at Huiry, where, with their staff maps spread out before them, they inquired the name of the commune where they were, and also asked for water for their horses.
This evening a patrol of the 3d Hussars is looking for them.