| James and Mary Ford, eds. Every Day in the Year. 1902. | | | | December 30 | | Blücher on the Rhine | | By August Kopisch (1799–1853) |
| | | | At a consultation of the officers of the Prussian army held Dec. 30, 1813, Blücher announced his determination to cross the Rhine into France. |
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’TWAS on the Rhine the armies lay; | |
| To France or not? Is’t yea or nay? | |
| They pondered long and pondered well. | |
| At length old Blücher broke the spell: | |
| “Bring here,” he said, “the map to me! | 5 |
| The road to France is straight and free; | |
| Where is the foe?” “The foe! why, here!” | |
| “We’ll beat him! Forward! Never fear! | |
| And where lies Paris?” “Paris? Here!” | |
| “We’ll take it! Forward! Never fear! | 10 |
| So throw the bridge across the Rhine. | |
| Methinks the Frenchman’s sparkling wine | |
| Will taste the best where grows the vine!” | | | |
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