The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-21

henslOn on the part OF the ot1cers OF those
whom they were to commands fear to en-
force the ordinary rules of discipline, lest the
soldier should become unmanageable alto
gether. The scene cannot be either ina
gined or described which occurred when the
army, or that uniformed rabble, had been
fairly driven in by the beaters, to be shot
down at will. The French artillery had prac-
tieally ceased to exist as protecting arm.
The guns on the works are ridiculous small
ordnance of the date of 1916, with few
heavy pieces here and there and Sedan, COM
manded completely from the south bank of
the Meuse, was to all intents and purposes an
open town, with the inconvenience of having
a walled enceSnte to embarrass the movements
of the troops. The Emperor retired, be-
lieve, within the place. but not, surely, fer
safety, but rather to escape from the surging
mass of impotent soldiery. There was rain
of Prussian and Bavarian bombs upon the
town, filled with terrified citizens who had
had no time to escape. The troops outside
had been fighting without food since the
morning, and there we're no resources within
the city to meet their wants. They were in
an angry and terrible mood, upbraiding their
officers, mutinous and every shell that fell
increased the evil of their spirit. To one of
many missiles was now reserved great mis-
sion. A shell fell into warehouse or manu-
factory in which was stored some infiamma-
BILE material. A vast volume of flame rushed
for moment into the air, and volume of
thick white smoke which lowered and spread
out so as to overshadow half the city gave
rise to the apprehension on one side and ex-
pectation on the other that some central
magazine had gone up. But no noise ensued.
Still, at the moment the resolve was taken
that Sedan and all that it contained should be
placed in the power of the victor, in the be-
lief that it was impossible to resist with any
prospect but that of ruin complete, however
lingering.
THE EMPEROR COULD NOT OPPOSE CoUNsELs
dictated by obvious prudence, nor could he
encourage the despair of brave men. A
white flag was called for, but none was forth
coming A lancers flag was raised aloft.
General Lauriston stood upon the battle
ments and waved it, while trumpeter
sounded, but in that internal din neither
sight nor sound attracted the besiegers, and
it was only when the gate was opened, after
attempts in which officers and men were
killed and wounded, that the Prussians
recognized the first omen of their stupendous
victory. The firing suddenly ceased after
the discharge of few dropping shots,
and then, as all along. the bloodstained
hills and valleys in which the smoke of bat
tie had been hanging the news, or rather
the instinct, prevailed that the enemy had
asked for terms, there rose, I am told, cheers
such as only can be given by triumphant
soldiery. Shakos and sabres rose in the air.
What an additional pang of agony that must
have been to the wounded French, who felt
that they had given their blood in vain, while
the Prussians beside them, manned as they
were, tried to swell with their feeble voices
the chorus of Joy! An officer related to me
that he saw huge Prussian who had been
| lying with his hand to his side in mortal
agony, rise suddenly to his feet as he COM
pretended the reason of the ringing voices,
utter loud hurrah, wave his hands on high,
and then, as the blood rushed from his
wound, fall dead across Frenchman.
The officer who came out eventually and
met General Moltke in consultation was, I
believe, General Reille, who was the officer
in attendance on the King when he was at
Compiegne. He was the bearer of an auto
graph letter from the Emperor addressed to
| his Majesty, and written in no agitated hand.
| You already know the terms-sM0n Fre7e-
| N'aydnt peut na0,trir q la tete de mon dT7nee,
.je dep0Se mon epee an pied de 00tre Majestic"
This letter was Immediately conveyed to the
King, who, with Count Bismarck, General
| Moltke, and his staff, were looking down
tinction of an empire. His Majesty's answer
was courteous and firm, and meantime General
| Wimpffen was informed that the terms offered
to the army was the surrender of the whole
force, guns, horses, and material, to the
Prussians. do not know whether the officers
were then exempted from general surrender,
but, any way, the French commander declared
he would sooner perish in the field than sign
such a disgraceful capitulation, and so the
sun went down in the west, lighting the path
of the King to Vendresse, through the most
| enthusiastic ovation from all the soldiery
along the road south of the Meuse. The
Crown Prince received q not less joyous
reception as he proceeded back to Chimery.
1t was known that the Emperor had absolute
| ly surrendered, and that the army was about
to capitulate. AS German soldier ex-
pressed it, "RaiSer captirt; Gsnaee capitu-
| krt" The street in the mean little village
in which the Prince lodged presented an ex-
traordinary spectacle. 1t was lined by SOL
diers holding lighted candles, which did not
flicker in the quiet air. 1t was almost dis
appointment to them when the Grown Prince
came unattended by the Emperor. And what
people these good French are to govern
The cottagers feigned to partake of the Joy
at the overthrow of their Imperial master.
They stuck lights in the window. My host,
an old soldier of Africa in Louis Philippes
time, who had often doubtless shouted sFVige
pEmpereitr!" too, begged of me to lend him
second candle to put in his window, for,
said he, "OeLa serG plus dsgae. 1t was late
WHEN THE CROWN PRINCE SAT DOWN TO DINNER,
and for the first time during the campaign
a toast was proposed by his Royal Highness,
'"The King and the Army" 1t was drunk in
| champagne-also an innovation at the royal
table-which was intended for the Emperor
Napoleon, and was captured with other stores
| by Prussian dragoon regiment and pre-
sented to the Crown Prince. Although the
army in general believed that peace was now
| he Drin % Oh