Whenever any such communications arrived there, they had
to be enlarged by means of a magic-lantern contrivance, in order that they
might be deciphered. Meantime, the aeronauts leaving the city conveyed
Government despatches as well as private correspondence, and in this wise
Trochu was able to inform Gambetta that the army of Paris intended to make
a great effort on November 29.
X
WITH THE "ARMY OF BRITTANY"
The German Advance Westward--Gambetta at Le Mans--The "Army of Brittany"
and Count de Keratry--The Camp of Conlie--The Breton Marching Division--
Keratry resigns--The Champigny Sortie from Paris--The dilatory D'Aurelle--
The pitiable 20th Army Corps--Battles of Beaune-la-Rolande and Loigny--
Loss of Orleans--D'Aurelle superseded by Chanzy--Chanzy's Slow Retreat--
The 21st Corps summoned to the Front--I march with the Breton Division--
Marchenoir and Freteval--Our Retreat--Our Rearguard Action at Droue--
Behaviour of the Inhabitants--We fight our Way from Fontenelle to Saint
Agil--Guns and Quagmires--Our Return to Le Mans--I proceed to Bennes and
Saint Malo.
After the Chateaudun affair the Germans secured possession of Chartres,
whence they proceeded to raid the department of the Eure.
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