New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-09

white duster on faggOt stick as nag OF
truce.
The messenger turned out to be French
colonel, como to ask the terms Of surren-
der After very short consultation be-
tween she King and General Moltke the
messenger was told that in matter so i'm
pOrtant as the surrender of at least SO,UJO
and an important fertilization it was neCes-
sarv to send an officer of high rank.
''You are therefore to return to Sedan
and tell the Governor of the town to report
himself immediately to the King of Prus
sia If he does not arrive in an hour our
guns will again open fire. You may tell
the eo,nmandant that there is no use of his
trying to obtain any other terms than un-
conditional surrender"
The Parementiare rode back with the
message. When he was fairly out of car
shot his mission was most eagerly can
yasseG.
At haIfpast six there arose sudden cry
among the members of the Kings staff,
"Der Kaisei ist da;" and then came loud
hlrrah.
Soon we began to look anxiously for the
second flag of truce. and in ten minutes
more General Reilly rode up with letter
for the King of Prussia.
AS soon as the French General was in
sight. the slender escort of cuirrassieurs
and Dragons we had with us was drawn up
In front of the escort was the staff. and
ten yards in front Of them again stood his
majesty, King William Of Prussia. to re-
ceive Reilly.
That officer, as VIC soon learned, was the
bearer Of an autograph letter from the En-
peror Napoleon to King William.
The Emperor of the French wrote:
''As can not die at the head OF my army,
lay NV sword at the feet OF your Majesty"
iVlf onl ynt Iin Il
thousands of his soldiers sword in hand
with his feet to the foe is not SO clear.
On receipt of this most astounding letter
there was brief consultation between the
king and crown prince, who had come over
from his hi! on the arrival Of the flag OF
truce, Count Bismarck, Generals Won Molthe
and Won Rooms.
After a few minutes conversation the
King sat down on a rush bottomed chair and
wrote q note on another chair, held as %
table by two aides-de-camp, to the Emperor.
begging him O'come the next morning 10
the King of Prussia's headquarters at Ven
dres.
While the note was being written. Count
Bismarck came up to Generals Sheridan
and Forsyth. and myself, and heartily
shook our hands.
Let me congratulate you most sincerely,
Count" said General Sheridan.
General Sheridan said: Il can only COM
pare the surrender OF Napoleon' to that OF
General Lee at Appomattox Courthouse.
When it came my turn to grasp the Chan
cellor's hand, could not help saying, after
/ had warmly congratulated him: You can
not but feel pride, Count Bismarck. IN
having contributed SO largely to the Win
ming to-day of victory"
..Oh. no, NV dear sir" was the mild an
swer, Il am no strategist. and have moth
ing 70 do1Xith the winningof battles. What
| AM pI of is that the BavarIsns, the
Saxons and the Wurtemburgers have not
only been on our side, but have had so
large share, the largest share in the glory
Of the day. That they are with Us, and not
against us. that is my doing
- [ DO not think the French will say now
that the South Germans will not fight for
our common tatherland."
/ asked his Excellency whether Louis was
taken with his papa, and was told that no
one knew. and think that no one cared
where the small young man was.
When the King had written his letter, he
himself handed it to General Reilly, who
stood barcheadeG 10 receive it. the Italian
and Crimean medals glittcring On his breast
IN the fading sunlight.
Queen Nictoria's ina re and superscrp-
ton have not often been seen on the uni
forms Of men surrenderin. without c0ndi-
tons
Al twenty minutes to eight General Reilly
left for the beleagured town, escorted bT
the Uhlans.
The duster which had served as flag of
truce was offered to me as a souvenir OF this
most memorable day. but il had a strong
resemblance to other busters, ana | declined
the prOtfcred article.
Then there was a general demand for
something to drink, and Count Bismdrcks
aid -de-cainp produced two bottles of Bel
gan beer One of them his EXceliencv
shared with General Sheridan, General For
syth and myself. saying that he drank to
the closer union Of the three great Teutolic
peoples.
A.. soon as General Reilly was gone was
anxious to be of to the Belgian frontier. III
the hope Of getting messages through. But
Count Bismarck's 5 aid-de-canlp assured NE
that | must wait until the next morning.
and even then must be careful NOT to fall into
The hands OF stray French soldiers. who
were known TO be dispersed IN ali directions
along the Belgian frontier. and 10 be little
better than bandits.
SO slept at the village Of Chcrang0. a
mile behind our post, throughout the day,
and after doing q little hunting Tor quarters:
actually got ii bed.
Early ne xt morning started for Belgium.
As rode along ] suddenly came first on Il
knot OF Chlans, then on two Slgeurs, IN the
green and gold Imperial livery.
Directly behind them came the travelling
carriage of his majesty, with Napoleon III
on his way to report himself a prisoner at
King Williams headquarters at Nendrcs,
little dirty village some eight nlien from
Sedan.