Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-09-16
RusseIps Account of the Surrender OF
Napoleon.

DIR. RUSSELL writes 10 tne LONDON
Times, under date of Sedan, September 3:
When the Emperor, who had passed
the weary hours Of the night, looked out
in the early morning, he beheld the for
est of steel and iron on the valley and
hill.tops, batteries posted on every emf
nence, cavalry in all the plains, and far as
his eye could reach, hosts of embattled
Germans. His decision was taken at last.
Attended by few of his staff on horse
back, His Majesty proceeded along the
road from Sedan in brougham. Count
Bismark was in bed at his quarters, at
Douchery an officer rushed in and an
nounced that the Emperor was coming to
meet him, and to see the King. Count
Bismark rose, dressed hastily, and has
tened to meet the Emperor. He was in
time to stop the cOTtege outside the town.
I was away on the field, and therefore
cannot, of my own personal knowledge,
state what occurred. AS His Majesty
alighted, hear that Bismark uncovered
his head and stood with cap in hand, and
on sign or request from the Emperor,
put it on. The Count replied :" Sire, l
receive your Majesty as would my own
royal master" There happened to be
near the place where the interview oc-
Cured, few hundred yards outside the
squalid town of Douchery, the humble
cottage of a hand-lo weaver, of whom
there are numbers around Sedan. Bis
mark led the way, and entered it. The
room was not inviting. The great Count
walked up stairs. The apartment was
filed by the hand-loom and appliances OF
the weaver; he descended and found
the Emperor sitting on stone outside.
Two chairs were brought out of the cot
tage. The Emperor sat down in one, Bis
mark took the other and placed it on His
Maiesty's left hand. The officers in at
tendance on their fallen master, lay down,
some distance away, upon small plat OF
grass, in front of the cottage. The con-
versation was strange one, and, as
Count Bismark has repeated it freely, or
the principal parts OF it, no doubt 1t will
be soon known, and remain forever as
historic The great point to be gained
was peace, but as far as His Majesty was
concerned no assurance of it could be OBJ
tanned by Bismark. The Emperor stated
that he had no power, could not negotiate
peace, and could not give orders to the
army nor Marshal Bazaine; the Empress
was Regent of France, and on her and
her Ministers must devolve the negotia-
tions. So Bismark thereupon remarked
that it was of no avail to hold any further
conversation on political matters with
His Majesty, and it would be OF no use to
see the King. The Emperor desired to
see the King in person, but Bismark de-
clared that it was not possible to accede
to Els Majesty's wishes until the capitula-
| tions had been signed. Then, as the con-
versation was becoming rather dangerous,
and as the situation was becoming difficult
on both sides, he ended it. The inter
view terminated. Count Bismark went
| to see the King. The Emperor withdrew
| TO consult his officers.
At 11:30 articles of capitulation were
signed as agreed upon by General
| Wimpffen and General Moltke, and be-
lieye Count Bismark took part in the de-
| liberations The terms are: Garrison
and army of Sedan to surrender as pris-
oners of war to be sent into Germany
| officers to be liberated on parole, not TO
serve again during the war; all horses,
guns and munitions of war to be given up.
The Emperor's detention in Germany is
understood to be part of the arrange
ment. About Q o'clock the King, with q
body guard and escort of Cuirassiers, at
tended by the Grown Prince and stall OF
general flcers, proceeded to the chateau
outside of Sedan, and received the EN-
peror, who came with his personal fol
lowers and staff, in charge of the escort
which ranged on the other side of the
avenue facing the Cuirassiers. The King
and captive retired into glass house ol
one of the saloons of the drawing room
floor, and they could be seen by the staff
outside, engaged in earnest dialogue
After the interview with the King the
Emperor had few moments conversation
during which he was much agitated, when
alluding to the manner of the King. His
great anxiety seemed to be not TO be ex,
hibited to his own soldiers. The result
was, however, that His Majesty, wishing
to avoid one mischief, was exposed u
great humiliation, for his course had to bt
altered to avoid Sedan, and thus he hat
to pass through the lines of the Prussiar
| orrnu