Nevertheless, about 200 men of all nationalities, drawn by the confidence such a leader alone could inspire, came of their own free will to place themselves under his orders. With these he organized the ’European Legion.’ It included the two divisions of the French corps, a Dutch corps, and a German corps. Everything General de Villebois asked for was promised, but nothing was carried out. His plan consisted primarily of raids like those which marked the War of Secession. On the 20th he addressed this stirring proclamation to us and to those who were scattered further afield: ’_To the Legionaries who have known me as their comrade:_ ’Officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers! I know you have not forgotten me, and that we understand each other, hence this appeal to you. ’We see around us a worthy people, who are threatened with the loss of their rights, their property, and their liberty, for the satisfaction of a handful of capitalists. ’The blood which flows in the veins of this people is partly French blood. France, therefore, owes them some manifestation of sympathy. ’You are men whose martial temperaments, to say nothing of the great obligations of nationality, have brought together under the banner of this people. May success and victory attend their flag! I know you as the ideal type of a corps made for attack, and ignorant of retreat.’ Influenced mainly by the unfriendly attitude of certain generals to whom his promotion had given umbrage, Villebois determined to strike a great blow in all haste. Without waiting to complete the organization of the Legion, he formed us into a corps of 100 men, which he made up by the addition of twenty-five Afrikanders, under Field-Cornet Coleman; and as soon as the cartload of dynamite he had been awaiting arrived, he set out on the 24th, at eight o’clock in the evening. His parting orders to me were to hold myself in readiness, with the rest of the men (about 100) and the new arrivals, for Saturday next, March 31, and to collect horses and provisions. On the 31st, he would come back and explain the second part of the operation he was then beginning. Absolute secrecy was preserved as to the object of his expedition. To Breda’s question as to the direction he proposed to take, he replied: ’To the right.’ Our poor General was very nervous. On March 23, the eve of his departure, he telegraphed to a wounded friend who was returning to France: ’You, at least, know your fate, whereas I am uncertain what lies before me!’ A dark presentiment, perhaps. In any case, what melancholy underlies that short phrase! I do not say _discouragement_, for there are some stout hearts who know not the feeling, and Villebois was of these.