As before stated, when the Franc-tireurs camped, parties
were detailed to purchase provisions for the different messes. Two would
go after bread and beef, two after coffee, sugar, etc., and yet
another two after potatoes and vegetables. The last detail was always
the favorite of Paul and his friend Vodry, the pilot. The majority of
French peasants generally believed Americans were wild Indians. Paul and
his friend utilized this belief to their own advantage in this fashion:
Taking a sack with them they would depart for one of the surrounding
farm houses; concocting a scheme on their way that invariably
met with success. Before reaching the house they separated, Vodry going
in advance with the sack. When he entered the kitchen of the spotlessly
clean Normandy farm house, he would politely remove his cap and in a
most courteous and insinuating manner inform the inmates that he was
from the Franc-tireur's camp, and came for the purpose of purchasing
some pommes de terre (potatoes). At the announcement that he was a
Franc-tireur, his reception was never cordial; but knowing that they
were compelled by the government to sell provisions to this branch of
the army, as a general thing they sullenly complied with the request.
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