Well-known figures and deeply regretted friends are evoked in these pages by their sorrowful comrades. These rapid sketches, written in campaign diaries by those who shared the same dangers and sacrificed everything to the same cause, have a special value. The modesty of the man who tells the story is still another homage rendered to the whole Corps, and it is to the Army, to the traditional, disciplined, national force, that our admiration goes out, when we read of the fine deeds described in this book. On reading it, the country will better understand the affection and respect it owes to the soldier from whom it may demand, some future day, all that those of our day have endured and given. In your former book, you retraced for us the early life of Leopold I., our first king. When I congratulated you on your conscientious work, in depicting for us the early days of the man who has very justly been called Leopold the Wise, I little thought that you would soon be the chronicler of the army of his grandson, acknowledged by the whole world, as the champion of loyalty and honour, the incarnation of an oppressed and valiant country. How times have changed since then! The horizon is brightening, though, and I hope that, in order to complete your work, you may be able to connect the past with the present and sketch for us the History of this gigantic struggle, in which the indomitable courage of the Belgians, led by Albert I., will have preserved, for our country, the Independence, and the Liberty that the political spirit of our fathers had won for it under the reign of Leopold. Accept, my dear friend, my best wishes, Broqueville. CONTENTS CHAPTER I PAGE The Defence of Vise 1 From the account given by Deputy Staff Major Collyns of the 12th Line Regiment. CHAPTER II The First German Flag Taken 10 From the account given by Deputy Staff Major Collyns of the 12th Line Regiment. CHAPTER III The Attack on the Offices of the 3rd Division 17 From accounts by General Major Stassin, Commanders Vincotte and Buisset, Captains Lhermite and Renard, Adjutant Burlet and Private Poncelet. CHAPTER IV The Sart-Tilman Combat 24 From an account given by Pere de Groote, Army Chaplain to the 1st Regiment of Unmounted Chasseurs, and completed by Major N---- of the 4th Regiment of Unmounted Chasseurs. CHAPTER V The Retreat of the 800 34 By Captain ---- of the 14th Line Regiment. CHAPTER VI Chaudfontaine 41 By Count Gaston de Ribaucourt, Sub-Lieutenant of the Heavy Howitzer Corps. CHAPTER VII Loncin Fort 51