Bob,

I found some similar commentary in Scharnhorst's letters home to his wife in 1793. Here are three interesting ones:

"Yesterday [4 May] five officers from the Guards wanted me to come by and visit them. I was unable to speak with them, as I was on my way to Mechelen, a large town 1.5 miles from here."

So these officers came searching for Scharnhorst:

"Yesterday morning [8 May], shortly after I had eaten, a party of guard officers whom I had passed on the way to Mechelen came by. Together we visited the local churches and monasteries, and saw the eleven guns captured from the French on the 2nd of May."

Lastly:

"Once [late July] I came upon a battery where the Austrian captain had asked about me. He knew of me because he had read my books. He was also a professor, as was the battery commander next to him. Together we laughed and drank some wine."

Imagine three professors meeting on a battlefield, reminiscing, and drinking some wine (and probably eating some cheese).

Take care and God bless!

Chuck White