The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-09-08
WAR ITEMS.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL wIMPFFEN,

General de Wimpifen, who surrendered
the Paris papers regarding his position at
the time of the surrender: In it he states
that he has recently arrived from Algeria,
and was Immediately ordered to a command
under Marshal Mac Mahon at Sedan. On his
arrival there he found MacMahon suffering
from severe wounds in his back and hip,
resulting from tic explosion Of shell,
fragments of which had struck him, incapa-
citating him from active directions of the
movements of his army. General Wimpffen
was thus compelled to assume command of
the army, which was already beaten.
Though ignorant Of the position, still he re-
fused to sign articles Of capitulation. :.
The Prussians produced Il map which
showed the position of the German troops
and batteries, and convinced him that the
destruction Of the French army was inevi-
table. Then only was the surrender con-
cluded.
SURRENDER OF TEE EMPEROR.
PARIS, September 5.-An officer; who at;
tempted to reach the army of Marshal
MacMahon: furnishes the following de-
tails to the Journals of the surrender of the
Emperor:
In the second. attack Of our armies we un-
derstand that all the positions of Marshal
MacMahon were turned, Bazeiles, Bouz,
Bolon, Villeris, Cernay, Givonne, La Cha
pelle, FleignuX, Saint Montge, and Vrignes
to the woods Of Douchery, formed an
eclipse of fire around Sedan, kept up by
100000 men before him, and seriously
wounded in the shoulder and groin, with
bombs bursting arolnd him, the Marshal
turned over his command to General Wimp=
fen. AS regards the Emperor, Mac Mahon's
corps covered him on the field Of battle, and
the walls of Sedan protected him for one
hour longer. Floing was the headquarters
of the King of Prussia, the Prince Royal,
and host of German princes and strangers.
These two points, Sedan and Floing, are at
distance of three kilometres one from the
other. We went through Serigny without
hindrance, but not without difficulty. at
Fleigny and st. Mango, five hundred metres
distant from Floing, the music OF the Prus-
sian bands mingled with the hurrahs of the
officers. The Prussian soldiers dishOnor the
Marsellaise our song of battle becomes, as
a provoking sarcasm, their hymn Of victory
Two shells shoot across the sky in the di-
rection of Sedan. The town will probably
be bombarded. A thick cloud OF smoke,
followed by flames, rises above the town,
where there are only women, wounded,
and exhausted troops.
uC Vi uolsbCo lHC w hilC Wv NlCS
an hour before sending his sword to King
William. AS a a souvenir of jena, his inn
placable adversary made him send his sword,
us Napoleon the L. sent his in other days, to
the King of Prussia, wishing to have the
man himself in the grasp OF his double files
of soldiers. King William desired, in his
turn, to have the Emperor Napoleon in bis
possession before ordering Sedan to be de-
stroyed. "One does not discuss with
sword" answered the King to those who
brought him the sword of Bonaparte: cit
should be broken. That is already done
with the man. | would have Napoleon
come here at the invitation of King Will
iam." He was escorted by cuirassiers.
Bismarck and Won Room were present.
a Prussian officer saw the Emperor on
Saturday at a college near the Prussian
Headquarters, with two Prussian cuiras-
siers guarding him. The Prince Imperial
is reported to have been seriously Ill at
Ayernes. On Friday morning the Emperor
rode from his place of detention to call on
the King as u visitor rather than as pri-
soner. His barouche was plloted by two
uhlans and surrounded by several French
generals, who were his only body-glard.
The Emperor smoked cigarette as he rode.
When the object of the French flag be-
came noised as the surrender OF the Empe-
ror the enthusiasm was more than the
French bearded fellows could bear. Discard
ing their weapons, they threw their arms
about the nearest necks and sat up the