The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-05

his education far from complete although u may Oe
eaid with truth that he does but pursue It by taking
the field aud studying the art of war in practice
For the Emperor 1t is quite certain that there was no
choice but to go. In war time Napoleon must De
at the head Of his army he I'm perls It's discipline
and his own prestige.
On the both the Emperor issued proclama-
ton in which he formally assumed the chief
command. This document, which has now be-
come one of the curiosties of history, was a
imitation of the famous bulletins of
the first Napoleon, and read as follows
Poldiers-I come TO take my place at your head TO
defend the honor Of the soil of our country. You
20 to combat anst OF the best armed or Euro
mean peoples but other countries as valiant as this
have net been able to resist your valor. 1t VIII be
The war which now commences will be long and
hardly contested, for its theatre will be places
hedged IN by obstacles and bristlng with forresses
but pothing is beyond the perseverng efforts of the
soldiers of Africa, Italy, and Mexico
You will prove once more what the French army
is able to accomplish, animated by a sentiment Of
duty, maintained by discipline Influenced by love of
country. Whatever road we may take across our
frontiers will find upon 1t glorious traces OF
fathers, and will show ourselves worthy Of them.
All France follows you with ardent prayers, and
the eyes Of the universe are upon you Upon our
succt SO depends the fate OF liberty and civilization
Soldiers, let each one do his duty, and the God OF
Battles wifi be with us. NAPOLEON.
AT THE GENERAL Headquarters AT METZ, July 2s
On the I'd of August, when Frossard started
out from st. Avoid at the head of 80, 900 men,
to make an assault on the Prussian pickets sta
toned on the heights overlooking Saarbruck
Napoleon and the young Prince accompanied
the advance, and occupied position from
which they could see the smoke and hear the
roar of the artillery during the two hours
furious capnonade which placed seventy-two
Prussians hors de combat. With his own little
hand the young Prince turned the crank which
sent the contents of the first "bullet-squirt," as
the Prussians style the mitrailleuse, into the
ranks of the enemy; and after the mock battle
was over, the august father of the lad sent the
following touching telegram to his august
mother In Paris
Louis has received his baptism of FIRE. He was
admirably cool and little impressed division of
Frossards command carried the heights overlooking
the Saar. The PrusSians made brief resistance.
Louis and were in 'front.' where bullets fell about
us. Louis keeps hall he picked up. The soldiers
wept at his tranquility We lost an officer and ten
men. LNAP0LEoN.
The cannonadng commenced at II o'clock in
the morning. By in the afternoon it was over
and at 4 the Emperor and the tranquil infant
were back in their cozy quarters behind the
ramparts of Metz. From that day forward they
were not exposed to another baptism of fire.
Weissenburg, Woerth, and Forbach followed,
Nancy and Ponta-Mousson fell into the hands
of the enemy; Metz was no longer O comfort
able place for Imperial residence; and early on
the morning of Sunday, August IA, the Emperor
set out in advance of his beaten and bafied
army to seek safety at Chalons. 1t had been
reported, even from Paris, that special train
had carried the young Prince to Paris on the
evening of August z and from London that he
had arrived in that city on the 9th. But these
reports were unfOunded, and "Louis and T.
were still in company when the exodus from
Metz began, on the morning of Sunday, the 14th
A correspondent of the Dublin Irish Times thus
describes the adventures of the Imperial party,
and their narrow escape from falling into the
enemy's hands,
In the course of Sunday last the Prussians on
as it was understood, to Ohalons, made q dash In
the hope OF capturing his Majesty. 1t was about
to Longueville, where he put up at the house OF
Colonel Henoegn, his stan encamplng on the lawn.
Always captaily informed the Prnssians took it
Hiding themselves during the night In the little
thickets round the Chateau Prescat and the neigh.
boring farms, they sent squadron OF Uhans across
the railroad, while they opened fire on the viilagn OF
Moulins situated to the left OF Longuevile n order
to intercept all aid. Fortunately for the Emperor
the French engineers blew up the railway bridge
under this fire. and the Uhlans being cut of, and
finding strong & force at LongueylIle surrendered
the house Of farmer named Plaisant; Saturday,
four A. M, he got into an open chaise, with the
the most remote from the Mosee. AS the Prussian
gunners were already getting in motion, 1t was found
the guard and three regiments Of cavalry.
The Emperor passed through Conhans, break
tasted at Etain and entered verdun without further
molestaton. At this moment Marshal Bazaine was
engaged in checking the armies OF Prince Frederick
Charles and Marshal Stenmetz. staff officer gal
lOped into Verdun with the news OF the result but
tn Emperor had just left for Chalons with the Prince
| Imperial and hardly any escort
At the station he asked for train. "Sire," said
third-class carriage" II viii Content myself with
that" replied the Emperor, who took his seat on the
| hard board. refusing cushion from his c6rriaon
He asked for glass of wine, and the station mas
ter washed out the glass he had Just used at break
fast and gave the Emperor drink.
| The Prince Imperial, who was greatly fatigued
| demanded TO wash his hands and face, and per
formed his ablutions in the station masters glass
| using his pocket handkerchief for towel.
On the morning Of the 18th the Emperor reached
Chalons.
From Chalons "Louis and 1" appeared to hav
| journeyed leisurely to Rheims, where the.
were reported to have arrived on the Goth o
August. From that time forward the Empero
followed the army of MacMahon, declaring
when urged to return to the capital that h
would not do 30 alive unless il was at the hea
of victorious army. So far he has kept hi
word. On the oath the Imperial headquarters
following MacMahon's army, left Rheims, an
arrived at Rethsl, half way on the road to Me
zieres, early on the morning of the 25th. o
Sunday, the 2Sth, the Prince Imperial wa
pushed forward to Sedan, the Emperor followin
apparently on the next day. From that tim
forward it Is impossible to trace their move
ments. Several times the Emperor was reporte
at the point of death, and once or twice he wa
actually corpse but he revived sufficiently I
put in an appearance on the morning of Septem
Der 2, when he sent note to the King of Prus
sia, SAYING
|