Richard Steel Maurice

“ The pursuers rushed in, with some comrades picked up on the road, and demanded Johanna. Immense astonishment and protestations of utter ignorance of any such person.
“She came in here, I know!” said one of the gendarmes. “We’ll unearth her. Comrades, search the house.”
The men dispersed all over the farm, and searched it from top to bottom, without success. Nobody dreamt of the out-of-sight out-of-mind cellar trap, and Johanna was saved. ”

“ Once more the French re-occupied unfortunate Lüneburg, surrounding it with palisades, deepening the ditches, throwing up earth-works, and barricading the gates, as if they did not intend to be dislodged in a hurry. The invaders instituted a veritable Reign of Terror in the luckless town. One poor girl, suspected as a spy, was scourged to death in the market-place. All citizens and inhabitants thought to be disaffected were imprisoned or fined.
It may be supposed that under such harsh rule the part taken by Johanna Stegen in the repulse of the 2nd of April would not remain unpunished. ”

“ Cartridges! The word strikes out a thought, as flint brings sparks from steel. The very thing needed to carry on the fight. A supply here; a store in the barrels in the ditch; our men short of ammunition, retreating, beaten! Now to afford them help.
“Quick, Müller!” cried Johanna. “Fill my apron with cartridges. I’ve plenty more in front. Our men are coming that way. Oh! victory shall be ours yet!”
Fired by her enthusiasm, the old man tremulously filled Johanna’s apron with the precious load. ”

“ French cartridges, reported universally to contain poisoned bullets. The men abandoned their discovery in disgust, and the girl pursued her way. Upon the Kalkberg she found a veteran who had served in the Seven Years’ War, and was now living in Lüneburg. The old man lent Johanna his field-glass, and explained to her the object of the manœuvres they beheld. They saw Morand’s flying troops halted and led back to attack the New Gate; followed its gallant defence with lively interest; noticed with apprehension the Prussian fire slacken, and the French massing for assault. ”

“ As Johanna approached the New Gate, the firing showed her the engagement was still in progress. To observe it the better, she made for a slight elevation on the left, called the Kalkberg (lime-hill) within the barriers of the town. Upon her way hither she passed two men in a dry ditch prising off the heads of a number of barrels in the hope of booty. In its stead they find cartridges, and eke they swear. ”

“ A lady, known subsequently as Frau Scheinemann, served with Hellwig’s Hussars throughout the War of Liberation. A native of Stralsund, the wife of a ship-captain, made the campaign under the name of Karl Petersen, became a sergeant, was twice wounded, and decorated with the Iron Cross of the first class. ”

“ History tells of a girl of twenty one from Potsdam, Eleonora Prochaska, who joined the Lützow regiment of foot in the name of Renz, and fell bravely lighting in September 1813, in an engagement on the Göhrde. Dorothea Sawosch entered the West Prussian Landwehr cavalry, exchanged into the infantry after a fall from her horse, and served in its ranks until the close of the war. Charlotte Krüger fought in the Kolberg regiment, and gained promotion as a non-commissioned officer. ”