The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-09-09
A FLAG OF TRUCE.

a nf10 O1 AROCEs
About 5 o'clock there was again a
sudden suspension of the cannonade
along the whole line. Many were the
specuIations as to the cause, but no.
body seemed to divine the truth. You
must judge of our surprise when, five
minutes later, we saw French officer
escorted by two Uhlans, coming at a
handsome trot up. the steep bride
path from Sedan to our post, one of
the Uhlans carrying a white buster
on faggot-stick as a flag of truce.
The messenger turned out to be a
French Colonel come to ask for terms
of surrender. After very short con-
sultation between the King and Gen.
Won Moltke, the messenger was told
by the General that, in q matter so
important as the surrender of at least
$4,000 men, and an important for
tress, it was necessary to send an Off
Ger of high rank. You are there
FORE" said the General, ito return to
Sedan and tell the Governor of that
town to report himself Immediately
to the King of Prussia. If he does
not arrive within an hour, our guns
will again open fire. You may tell
the commandant that there is no use
of his trying to obtain any other
The pdrlementdire rode back with this
message. When he was fairly out of
ear-shot his mission was most eagerly
canvassed.
At 6:30 there arose a sudden cry
among the members Of the Kings
staff-"Der Kaiser ist dat '-and then
LII L
to look anxiously for the arrival of
the second flag of truce. In ten min
utes more Gen. Reilly rode up with
letter for the King Of Prussia.
THE EMPERoR's SURRENDER.
As soon as the French General was
in sight, our slender escort OF cuiras-
siers and dragons was drawn up in
line, two deep. Behind the King, in
front of the escort, was the staff; and
ten yards In front of them again, stood
His Majesty, King William of Prus-
STA, ready to receive General Reilly.
That officer, as we soon learned, was
the Emperor Napoleon to King Will
liam. The Emperor of the French
wrote: AS cannot die at the head
of my army, l lay my sword at the
feet of your Majesty" [" Ne pouvant
pas nlourir Ia tete de mon drmee. .5e
Uiens metre mon epee aug pieds de
votre Majeste."
Why Napoleon III. could not die,
as did thousands of his soldiers, sword
in hand, with his face to the foe, is
not so clear.
On receipt of this most astounding
letter, there was brief consultation |
between the King, the Crown Prince,
who had come over from his hill on
the arrival of the flag Of truce, Count |
Bismarck, Gen. Won Moltke, and |
Gen; Won Room. After a few min |
utes conversation, the King sat |
down on a rush-bottomed chair. and |
wrote a note Con another chair held |
as table by two aide de- camp) To the |
Emperor, asking him to come next |
morning to the King of Prussia's
headquarters at VeRdresse.
CONGRATULATEs BISMARCK.
While the King was writing this
note Count Bismarck came up to |
Gems. Sheridan and Forsythe, and |
myself, and heartily shook our hands. |
" Let me congratulate you most sim |
C1SAJa OS0AbS SaA0 OGus Ou6IludQ. |
. can only compare the surrender of |
Napoleon to that of Gen. Lee at APP
Court House."
When it came my turn to grasp the
Chancellor's hand l could not help
saying, after | bad warmly congratu-
lated him:
/" You cannot but feel a pride Count
in having contributed so
largely to the winning of to-day's VIC
tory"
''Ohl no. my dear Sir" was the
mild answer; ] am no strategist. and
have nothing to do with the winning
IF battles. What I am proud of is
hat che Bavarians, the Saxons. and
he Wurtembergers have not only been
N our side. but have had so large a
hare-the largest share-in the glory
# the day; that they are with US, and
lot against US. That is my doing. I
Ion't think the French will say now
hat the South Germans will not fight
or our common Fatherland.
[ asked His Excellency whether !
louis was taken with his papa, aud