3-039-104 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Incident at the Battle of Le Mans, 1871. Franco-Prussian War. 'Among the sketches furnished by one of our Special Artists, who was in the west of France and in Brittany with the army of General Chanzy, we have made an Engraving from one, which ought not to be withheld from publication, because it is an example of the shocking character of the war, and of war in general; may it be long before any nation of civilised and. Christian Europe sees another like it! At the fiercely-contested battle of Le Mans, when the greater portion of the French army was in retreat, the Zouaves, joined with the remnant of the 16th Corps, made a gallant stand to protect the rear. It was at this moment that a young priest, who had just been appointed Chaplain or Almoner to the Pontifical Zouaves, was shot dead while administering the consolations of religion to a dying soldier. He fell backward with the crucifix in his hand, and his soul passed from the hideous turmoil of that day's slaughter. There is no reason to believe that any German arm was purposely raised against this innocent servant of the Church'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.