The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-09-15

ont OF the ground, ana push forward by help
OF every slight roughness or depression in
the surface of the hill. As fast as the French
went back these active enemies followed.
After the last desperate charge of the French
cavalry, Gen. Sheridan remarked to me that
he never saw anything so reckless, 50 utter
ly foolish, as that last charge. at was sheer
murder"
The Prnssians, after the French infantry
fell back, advanced rapdly-so rapidly that
the rctreating squadrons of French cavalry
being too closely pressed, turned suddenly
round and charged desperately once again.
But it was all no use The DAYS of breaking
squares are over. The thin blue line soon
stopped the Gallc onset.
II stlNhck me as most extraordinary that at
this point the French had
NEITHER ARTILLERY NOR MITRAILLEI SES,
especially the latter on the field to cover
their infantry The position was most i'm
portant one and certainly worth straining
every nerve TO defend. One thing was clear
enough, that the French infantry after once
meeting the Prussians declined to try conclu-
~ions with them again, and that the cavalry
were seeking to encourage them by their ex-
ample About o'clock still other reinforce
ments came to the Prussians over this long
disputed Hill between Torcy and Sedan to
there.
HAVOC AMONG THE BANARIANS.
All the time that this great conflict was
GONG on under Frtz's eyes, another was
fought not less severe and as murlerous for
the Bavarians as the one have attempted to
describe was for the French If there was a
want of mitraileuses on the hill above Torcy,
there was certainly no lack of them in the
Bazcille ravinc On that side there was for
more than an hour, one continuous roar of
musketry and mitraileuses. Two Bavarian
officers told me that the loss in their regi-
mcnts was terrific, and that it was the nit
raillenscs which made the havoc.
TIE FRENCH FALL BACK ON SEDAN.
Al : :O5 in the afternoon the French totally
abandoned the hill between Torcy and Sedan,
and fell back on the fauborg of Caval, Just
outside the ramparts of the town. CHOW
the battle is lost for the French" said Gen.
Sheridan, to the delight of the Prussan olli-
GERS One would almost have imagined that
the French had heard his words-they had
hardly been uttered when there came Il lull
in the firing all along the line, OF rather
circle; as such it had now become.
BELGIAN NEUTRALITY.
Count Bismarck chose that moment to
come and have 4 talk with his English and
American friends. | was anxious to know
what the Chancellor had done about the ne,,-
traity of Belgium, now threatened and my
curiosity was soon gratified. Il have toll
the Belgian Minister of War;" said Count
Bismarck, ''that so long as the Belgian troops
do their utmost TO disarm any number OF
French soldiers who may cross the frontier,
| will strictly respect the neutrality of Bel
@lum; but if on the contrary, the Belgians,
either through negligence OF inability, do
not dsalm and capture every man in French
uniform who sets his foot in their country,
we shall al once follow the enemy into nen-
trad territory with our troops, considering
that the French have been the first tG violate
the Belgian soil. ! have been down to have
a look at the Belgian troops near the from
tier" added Count Bismarck, ''and-I confess
they did not inspire me with a very high
opinion Of their martial ardor or dicipline
When they have their great coats on, one
can see great deal of palctot but hardly any
soldier"
BISMARCk'S FIRST MISTAKE.
asked His Excellency where he thought
the Emperor was Gin Sedan" ooh, no :"
was the reply; ''Napoleon is not very wise,
hnt he is not so foolish rs to put himself in
Sedan just now" For once in his life, Count
Bismarck was wrong.
AT . 40 the King came to the place where
! was Standing. He remarked that he
thought the French were about TO try to
break out lust beneath us in front Of the
Second Bavarisn Corps AT 3 80 Cen Sher-
idan told me thai Napoleon and Louis were
in Sedan.
BRAVERY OF THE BAVARIANS
AT 800 the Bavarians below us not only
contrivcd to Get themselves inside the FORTH
cations of Sedan, but to maintain themselves
here, working their way forward from house
~ house About A, there was great fight
ion the possession of The ridge above Bazcille
That carried, Sedan was swept on all sides
by the Prussian cannon. This point of van
tage was carried at A 40. When carried
there could no longer be a shade of doubt as
to the ultimate fate of Sedan.
A FLAG OF TRUCE
About 5 O'clock there was again a sudden
suspension of the cannonade along the whole
line. Many were the speculations as to the
cause. but nobody seemed to divine the truth
You must Judge OF our surprise when, five
minutes later, we saw French officer escort
cd by two l]hlans, coming at a handsome
trot up the steep bride path from Sedan to
our post, one of the thlans carrying a white
dnatcr on Il faggot-stck as a flag of truce
The messenger turned out to be French
colonel, come to ask for terms of surrender
Alter very short consultation between the
King and Gen. Won Motke, the messenger
was told by the General that in q matter so
important as the surrender of at least sc. 600
men. and an important fortress, it was
necessary to send an officer of high rank
ION are therefore," said the General, ssto
return to Sedan and tell the Governor of the
town to report himself Immediately to the
King OF Prussia. If he does not arrive with
IN an hour, our gums will again open fire
You may tell the commandment that there is
no use of his trying TO obtain any other
terms than unconditional surrenderT The
paremonlairc rode back with this message
When he was fairly out of ear-shot his mis-
~ion was most eagerly canvassed
AT + 80 there arose a sudden cry among
the members Of the Kings statl-.'Der
Kaiser iSt da and then came a loud
hulrah. Soon we began to look anxiously
for the arrival of the second flag of truce
In ten minutes more Gen. Reilly rode up
with a letter for the King of Prussia.
THE EMPEROE's SURRENDER.
As soon rs the French General was in
-ight, the slender escort OF cuirassiers and
Dragons we had with rs was drawn up in
line, two deep, Behind the King, in front
Of the escort, was the Staff; and ten yards
i'll front of them again, stood His Majesty,
King William of Prussia, ready to receive
Gen. Reilly That officer, as we soon Learn
la bno Of o,,4o late