Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-09-15

uniform who sets his foot iu their country
we shall at once follow the enemy into
neutral territory with our troops, consider
ing that the French have been the first to
violate the Belgian soil. have been down
to have look at the Belgian troops near
the frontier" added Count Bismarck, ''and
l confess they do not inspire me with a
very high opinion of their martial ardor or
discipline. When they have their great
coats on one can sec grelt deal OF pale
tot but hardly any soldier"
BIsMARCK's FIRST MISTAKE. M
1 asked His Exccllency where he
thought the Emperor was: I'm Sedan?"
''Ob, no !' was the reply; Napoleon is
not very wise, but he is not SO foolish as
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 Just beneath us, in front of
the Second Bavarian Corps. At 80
Gen. Sheridan told ME that Napoleon and
Louis were in Sedan.
BRAVERY OF THE BAvARIANS.
At 8 20 the Bavarians below us not
only contrived to get themselves inside
the Notifications of Sedan, but to maintain
themselves there, working their way for
ward from house to house. About 4,
there was great fight for the possession
of the ridge above Bazeille. That carried
Sedan was swept on all sides by the Prus-
sian cannon. This point of advantage was
carried at 40, When carried there
could no longer be shade of doubt as to
the ultimate fate of Sedan. a..
A FLAG OF TRUCE.
About 5 o'clock there was again sud-
den suspension of the cannonade along the
whole line. Many were the speculations
as to the cause, but nobody seemed to di-
vine the truth. Yen must Judge of our
surprise when, five minutes later, we saw
French officer escorted by two Uhlans,
coming at handsome trot up the steep
bridle-path from Sedan to our post, one of
the Uhlans. carrying white duster on
faggot-stick as flag of truce. The mes
senger turned out to be French colonel,
come to ask for terms of surrender. After
very short consultation between the
King and Gen. Won Moltke. the mcssen-
ger was told by the General that, in
matter so important as the surrender of
at least 10000 men, and an important
fortress. it was necessary to send an officer
of high rank. s'Tou are therefore," said
the General, ''to return to Sedan and tell
the Governor of the town to report HIM
self 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 terms than
unconditional surrender" The purlc-
mcntaire rode back with this message
When he was fairly out of car-shot his
mission was most eagerly canvassed.
At 80 there arose sudden cry
among tue members of the Kings staff
:" Der Kaiser ist dd P'-and then came a
loud hurrah. Soon we began to look
anxiously for the arrival of the second
flag of truce. In ten minutes more Gen.
Reilly rode up with letter for the
King of Prussia.
TIE EMPEROR's SURRENDER.
AS soon as the French General was in
sight, the slender escort of cuirassiers and
Dragons we had with us 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 Prussia. ready
to receive Gen. Reilly. That officer, as
we soon learned, was the bearer of an
autograph letter from the Emperor Napo-
leon to King William. The Emperor of
the French wrote: "As cannot die at
the head of my armv, l lay my sword at
the feet of your Majesty" "Ne poacant
pas nourir III tctc de MON armee, .je
Uiens acettre mon epcc d,c rieCls de cOtre
Mtjeste"
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 Molt-
Ike, and Gen. Won Room. After a few
minutes conversation, the King sat down
on a ush-bottomed chair, and wrote note
(on another chair held as table by two
aids-de-camp) to the Emperor. asking him
to come next morning to the King of Prus-
sia's headquarters at Vendresse.
SHERIDAN coNGRATULATEs BISMARCK
While the King was writing this note
Count Bismarck came up to Gems Sheri-
dan and Forsyth, and myself, and heartily
shook our hands. 'Let me congratulate
You most sincerely, Count" said Gen. Sher-
idan, Il can only compare the surrender
of Napoleon to that of Gen. Lee at Ap-
pomattox Court-House."
When it came my turn to grasp the
Cbancellor's hand / could not help saying,
after l had warmly congratulated him:
you cannot but feel pride, Count
Bismarck, in having contributed so largely
to the winning of to-day's victory"
"Oh no, my dear Sir" was the mild
answer; l am no strategist, and have no.
thing to do with the winning of battles
What am proud of is that the Bavarians,
the Saxons. and the Wurtembergers have
not only been on our side, but have had so
large sbare-the largest share-in the
glory of the day: that they are with us.
and not against us. Tint is my doing =
/ don't think the French will say now that
the South Germans will not fight for our
common Fatherland"
i asked His Excellency whether Louis
was taken with his papa, and was told that
no one knew; and | think that no one
much cared where that little man was.
When the King had written his letter,
he himself handed it to Gen. Reilly who
stood bareheaded to receive 1.-THE Italian
-. L.