text:  The colonel of dragoons in charge of the column had applied to the government for the means of carriage; they referred him to the municipality who referred him to the staff of the National Guard; who referred him to the subprefect; who referred him to his subordinate functionaries; who knew nothing on the subject; until the colonel indignant at the impertinences of office accidentally heard that the requisite conveyances were to be seen in front of the Hotel de Ville