The Young Franc Tireurs, and Their Adventures in the Franco-Prussian War

A band of young volunteers joins irregular militia during the Franco-Prussian War and undergoes rigorous training in marksmanship, fieldcraft, and village defence under their officers. The narrative follows their skirmishes, ambushes, sabotage, and defensive improvisations in mountains and towns, and recounts betrayals, desperate fights, perilous expeditions, daring escapes and a balloon voyage. Action episodes alternate with practical lessons in guerrilla tactics, showing the physical hardships, tactical resourcefulness, and personal courage of those involved, and ends with the survivors making their way home after a succession of hazardous exploits.