Article #454-1 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Breitmann Ballads, by Charles Godfrey Leland

"The Prussian Uhlan of 1870 seems destined to fill in French<br />

legendary chronicle the place which, during the invasions of 1814

15, was occupied by the Cossack. He is a great traveller.
Nancy, Bar-le-Duc, Commercy, Rheims, Chalons, St. Dizier,
Chaumont, have all heard of him. The Uhlan makes himself quite
at home, and drops in, entirely in a friendly way, on mayors and
corporations, asking not only himself to dinner, but an
indefinite number of additional Uhlans, who, he says, may be
expected hourly. The Uhlan wears a blue uniform turned up with
yellow, and to the end of his lance is affixed a streamer
intimately resembling a very dirty white pocket-handkerchief.
Sometimes he hunts in couples, sometimes he goes in threes, and
sometimes in fives. When he lights upon a village, he holds it
to ransom; when he comes upon a city, he captures it, making it
literally the prisoner of his bow and his spear. A writer in
Blackwood's Magazine once drove the people of Lancashire to
madness by declaring that, in the Rebellion of 1745, Manchester
'was taken by a Scots sergeant and a wench;' but it is a
notorious fact that Nancy submitted without a murmur to five
Uhlans, and that Bar-le-Duc was occupied by two. When the Uhlan
arrives in a conquered city, he visits the mayor, and makes his
usual inordinate demands for meat, drink, and cigars. If his
demands are acceded to, he accepts everything with a grin. If he
is refused, he remarks, likewise with a grin, that he will come
again to-morrow with three thousand light horsemen, and he
gallops away; but in many cases he does not return. The secret
of the fellow's success lies mainly in his unblushing impudence,
his easy mendacity, and that intimate knowledge of every highway
and byway of the country which, thanks to the military
organisation of the Prussian army, he has acquired in the
regimental school. He gives himself out to be the precursor of
an imminently advancing army, when, after all, he is only a
boldly adventurous free-lance, who has ridden thirty miles across
country on the chance of picking up something in the way of
information or victuals. Only one more touch is needed to
complete the portrait of the Uhlan. His veritable name would
seem to be Hans Breitmann, and his vocation that of a 'bummer;'
and Breitmann, we learn from the preface to Mr. Leland's
wonderful ballad, had a prototype in a regiment of Pennsylvanian
cavalry by the name of Jost, whose proficiency in 'bumming,'
otherwise 'looting,' in swearing, fighting, and drinking lager
beer, raised him to a pitch of glory on the Federal side which
excited at once the envy and the admiration of the boldest
bush-whackers and the gauntest guerillas in the Confederate
host."
The present edition embraces all the Breitmann poems which
have as yet appeared; and the publisher trusts that in their
collected form they will be found much more attractive than in
scattered volumes. Many new lyrics, illustrating the hero's
travels in Europe, have been added, and these, it is believed,
are not inferior to their predecessors.

N. TRUBNER.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Breitmann Ballads by Charles Godfrey Leland**

This passage is a satirical and humorous description of the Prussian Uhlan (a type of light cavalry soldier) during the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71), framed through the lens of Hans Breitmann, a fictional German-American soldier whose exploits are chronicled in Leland’s Breitmann Ballads. The text blends historical observation, cultural stereotyping, and comic exaggeration to paint the Uhlan as a bold, cunning, and audacious figure—part soldier, part trickster, and part "bummer" (a slang term for a looter or forager).

Below is a breakdown of the excerpt’s context, themes, literary devices, and significance, with a focus on the text itself.

1. Context of the Excerpt

Historical Background

The passage refers to the Franco-Prussian War (1870–71), in which Prussia (led by Otto von Bismarck) decisively defeated France, leading to the fall of Napoleon III and the unification of Germany.
The Uhlans were Polish-style light cavalry used by the Prussian army, known for their speed, reconnaissance skills, and psychological warfare tactics (e.g., intimidating civilians with threats of larger forces).
The comparison to Cossacks (from the Napoleonic Wars, 1814–15) frames the Uhlans as the new bogeymen of French folklore—feared, mythologized, and resented.
The reference to Manchester being "taken by a Scots sergeant and a wench" (from the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745) is a humorous historical parallel, suggesting that small, audacious forces can cow entire cities through bluff and intimidation.

Literary Context: The Breitmann Ballads

Published between 1869–1871, Leland’s Breitmann Ballads were comic poems written in broken English-German dialect, satirizing German-American immigrants (particularly Pennsylvania Dutch soldiers) during the American Civil War.
Hans Breitmann is a fictional, larger-than-life soldier—a drunken, boastful, but oddly effective "bummer" (a term for soldiers who lived off the land, often by looting).
The Uhlan in this passage is compared to Breitmann, suggesting that the Prussian cavalryman is the European counterpart to the American Civil War’s rowdy, resourceful foragers.

2. Themes in the Excerpt

A. The Uhlan as a Trickster Figure

The Uhlan is depicted as a cunning, deceptive, and audacious soldier who exploits fear and bluff rather than brute force.
- "He gives himself out to be the precursor of an imminently advancing army, when, after all, he is only a boldly adventurous free-lance..."
- His success comes from "unblushing impudence" and "easy mendacity"—he lies shamelessly, threatening to return with 3,000 horsemen if his demands aren’t met, but often never returns.
This aligns with the trickster archetype—a figure who outsmarts rather than overpowers, using wit, deception, and psychological manipulation.

B. Military Occupation and Civilian Fear

The Uhlan terrorizes French towns not through large-scale violence but through intimidation and extortion.
- "When he lights upon a village, he holds it to ransom; when he comes upon a city, he captures it, making it literally the prisoner of his bow and his spear."
- His symbolic power (the dirty handkerchief on his lance) is more psychological than military—it signals occupation, humiliation, and the breakdown of order.
The passage highlights how war disrupts civilian life, turning mayors and corporations into helpless hosts for marauding soldiers.

C. The Myth vs. Reality of War

The Uhlan is both a real soldier and a legendary figure, much like the Cossacks of 1814–15.
- "The Prussian Uhlan of 1870 seems destined to fill in French legendary chronicle the place which... was occupied by the Cossack."
Leland blurs the line between history and myth, suggesting that war stories become exaggerated—small bands of Uhlans are remembered as conquering armies, just as Manchester was "taken by a Scots sergeant and a wench."
The humor lies in the disparity between the Uhlan’s actual numbers (two or five men) and the fear they inspire (entire cities surrendering).

D. The "Bummer" as a Universal Soldier Type

The passage equates the Uhlan with Hans Breitmann, a German-American "bummer" from the Civil War.
- "His veritable name would seem to be Hans Breitmann, and his vocation that of a 'bummer.'"
A "bummer" was a soldier who lived off civilian supplies, often through looting, begging, or intimidation—a parasitic but necessary part of warfare.
The comparison suggests that all armies have such figures—audacious, resourceful, and morally ambiguous—who thrive in chaos.

3. Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

A. Hyperbole & Exaggeration

The Uhlan’s mythic status is built through over-the-top descriptions:
- "Nancy submitted without a murmur to five Uhlans, and Bar-le-Duc was occupied by two."
- "He will come again to-morrow with three thousand light horsemen..."
The absurdity of tiny bands capturing cities underscores the psychological power of fear in war.

B. Irony & Satire

The passage mockingly praises the Uhlan’s "success", which is built on lies and bluffs rather than skill.
- "The secret of the fellow's success lies mainly in his unblushing impudence, his easy mendacity..."
The comparison to Breitmann is satirical—both are glorified looters, yet their exploits are treated as heroic in their respective cultures.

C. Historical & Literary Allusions

Cossacks (1814–15) vs. Uhlans (1870): Draws a parallel between two eras of invasion, suggesting that each war produces its own legendary marauders.
Manchester "taken by a Scots sergeant and a wench": A humorous historical reference (from Blackwood’s Magazine) that undercuts military grandeur—great cities fall to tiny, unlikely forces.
Breitmann as a "prototype" of Jost: Connects the Prussian Uhlan to American Civil War "bummers", implying that such soldiers exist in every conflict.

D. Dialect & Cultural Stereotyping

While the excerpt itself is in standard English, the Breitmann Ballads as a whole use German-American dialect for comic effect.
The Uhlan is stereotyped as a "Hans"—a generic German name, reinforcing the cultural caricature of Germans as bold, beer-loving, and slightly ridiculous.

E. Juxtaposition of Threat and Farce

The Uhlan is both menacing and absurd:
- Menacing: "he captures it, making it literally the prisoner of his bow and his spear."
- Absurd: "a streamer intimately resembling a very dirty white pocket-handkerchief."
This duality makes the passage darkly comedic—war is both terrifying and ridiculous.

4. Significance of the Passage

A. War as Psychological Warfare

The excerpt highlights how war is not just about battles but about fear, propaganda, and myth-making.
The Uhlan’s real power is in his reputation—his ability to make civilians believe he is more dangerous than he is.

B. The "Everyman Soldier" in Folklore

Figures like the Uhlan and Breitmann represent the common soldier as trickster—not a noble hero, but a survivor.
Their stories challenge romanticized notions of war, showing it as chaotic, opportunistic, and often absurd.

C. Cultural Memory & National Humiliation

For the French, the Uhlan becomes a symbol of defeat—a humiliating reminder of how easily their cities fell.
The passage captures the bitterness of occupation, where even a single soldier can dominate a town through sheer audacity.

D. The Universality of the "Bummer"

By linking the Prussian Uhlan to the American Breitmann, Leland suggests that every war has its "bummers"—soldiers who operate outside formal rules, living off the land and exploiting fear.
This demystifies war, showing it as not just a clash of armies, but a chaotic scramble for survival.

5. Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt from The Breitmann Ballads is more than just a humorous sketch—it is a sharp observation on war, fear, and myth-making. Through satire, exaggeration, and cultural stereotyping, Leland:

Demystifies military occupation, showing how small, audacious forces can terrorize entire populations.
Highlights the psychological dimension of war, where reputation and bluff are as powerful as guns.
Connects different wars and cultures, suggesting that the "bummer" is a universal figure in conflict.
Challenges romanticized war narratives, presenting soldiers as flawed, cunning, and sometimes ridiculous.

The Uhlan, like Breitmann, is both a joke and a nightmare—a comic figure who embodies the chaos and cruelty of war. In this way, Leland’s writing blends humor with biting social commentary, making the Breitmann Ballads a unique and enduring work of wartime satire.

Questions

Question 1

The passage’s portrayal of the Uhlan as a figure who "gives himself out to be the precursor of an imminently advancing army" when he is often "only a boldly adventurous free-lance" serves primarily to:

A. critique the strategic incompetence of the Prussian military command, which relies on deception rather than disciplined tactics.
B. illustrate the psychological resilience of French civilians, who resist intimidation despite overwhelming odds.
C. contrast the Uhlan’s individual audacity with the collective discipline of the Confederate guerillas mentioned later.
D. expose the absurdity of military mythmaking, where perceived power often eclipses actual strength.
E. argue that the Franco-Prussian War was decided by irregular warfare rather than conventional battles.

Question 2

The reference to Manchester being "taken by a Scots sergeant and a wench" functions in the passage as:

A. a historical correction to Blackwood’s Magazine, emphasizing the role of women in military conquests.
B. a satirical parallel that underscores how small, audacious forces can exploit psychological vulnerability to achieve disproportionate results.
C. an example of British military incompetence, contrasting with the Prussian Uhlan’s efficiency.
D. a literal comparison to prove that the Uhlans’ tactics were directly borrowed from 18th-century Scottish rebels.
E. a digression meant to appeal to British readers, diverting attention from the passage’s critique of Prussian militarism.

Question 3

The passage’s description of the Uhlan’s "streamer intimately resembling a very dirty white pocket-handkerchief" is most effectively interpreted as:

A. a realistic detail intended to ground the Uhlan’s portrayal in historical accuracy.
B. a symbol of the Uhlan’s personal hygiene, reinforcing the stereotype of Prussian soldiers as unkempt.
C. an ironic juxtaposition of the Uhlan’s menacing role with a mundane, almost comical object.
D. a metaphor for the moral stain of occupation, where even the tools of war are corrupted.
E. a device that undermines the Uhlan’s authority by associating his military regalia with domestic triviality.

Question 4

The claim that the Uhlan’s "veritable name would seem to be Hans Breitmann" primarily serves to:

A. assert a direct historical connection between Prussian cavalry and Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants.
B. suggest that the Uhlan’s exploits are fictional, much like the ballads about Breitmann.
C. collapse the distinction between the Prussian and American "bummer," framing both as archetypes of wartime opportunism.
D. imply that the Uhlan’s tactics were inspired by Breitmann’s legendary proficiency in looting.
E. ridicule the French for conflating a real military threat with a caricatured literary figure.

Question 5

The passage’s tone when describing the Uhlan’s interactions with French mayors and corporations is best characterized as:

A. admiring of the Uhlan’s resourcefulness in securing supplies under difficult conditions.
B. indignant at the French officials’ cowardice in submitting to such minor threats.
C. neutral, presenting the Uhlan’s tactics as a straightforward account of military occupation.
D. darkly comedic, blending amusement at the Uhlan’s audacity with a critique of the absurdity of war.
E. nostalgic for an era of chivalrous warfare, where soldiers adhered to a stricter code of honor.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: D

Why D is most correct: The passage emphasizes the disjunction between the Uhlan’s actual limited power (a lone or small group of soldiers) and the outsized fear he inspires—cities surrender to a handful of men who claim to represent an advancing army. This dynamic exposes how military legend and psychological intimidation often distort perceptions of strength, making perceived power more influential than real capacity. The Uhlan’s success is built on mythmaking, not tactical brilliance, which aligns with D’s focus on the absurdity of perceived vs. actual power.