The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-10-05

Vindicntlon OF tho Enapcror-v-Deolarn.
saon OF His &Ae-de-CSsnH asa NelatFon
to tho Empsror's Conanct as ahe Easeia
OF Sedan. esZn
The 6ceouus which the Patrie has pub.
lished Of TIP last Incidents OF the bsssla
Of Sedan, ehd which It said il xeoeiyed
from an officer attached to the staff OF
Gen. Wimpffen. has put the conduct OF
the ex-Emperot OF the French in SO nm.
favorable light that one could only ex-
peot some denial OF the account on the
part or in the name OF the prisoner of
Wilhelmshohe. Subjoined is docu
ment which has been communicated to
US, its object being the refutation of the
account in the Patrie. We publish it in
a spirit of impartiality, and because
there arc some discussions from which
information may always be derived. As
to it's value and the degree of confidence
it merits, we will content ourselves with
remarking that it emanates from the
aides-de-camp who accompanied the
fallen sovereign at Wilhelmshohe, and
who bear testimony, in some degree for
themselves, while they think, no doubt
that they arc only bearing testimony in
favor of their accused leader. The fol-
lowing is the document in question:
Ihe letter which appeared in the Pa
trie, OF the 11th of September, and which
is attributed to an officer of the staff of
Gen. Wimpffen, duplicates in SO grave
and so unjust manner, the responsible
hty OF the Emperor in the catastrop he
of Sedan, that the officers who had the
honor to remain with his Majesty cam OF
allow such assertions to be made without
stating the true facts of the case. When
the different commanders of army CORPS
came to warn the Emperor that their
troops were repulsed dispersed, aud in
part driven back into the town, the EN-
peror sent to the Commander-iu.C Chief,
in order that he might ascertain from
them the actual situation. At the same
time. the Commander-in-C Chief sent to
the Emperor two officers of his staff wi tn
letter, in which he proposed to his
Majesty not to save tho army, but TO
save his person, by placing him in the
midst of strong column, with which
he said an attempt might be made to
reach Carignau. The Emperor refused
to sacrifice large number of soldiers in
order to save himself; 'bcsides," said
he, "Carignau is occupied by the Pr,ls-
slams; but if the general thinks he can
save some portion of the army. let hi IN
do So" Al the same time that the reply
of the Emperor renched the Com mantler-
Chief, the latter impaired to Gen Lee
Brun, tho commander of the Twelfth
Corps, his project to collect 1000 or
5000 men, to put himself Mt their hca Il,
and to make gap in the Prussian lines.
Gen. LeBrun answered him: "You will
cause 3,O0G more men to be killed, and
you will not succeed, but if you wish to
try, will willingly go there with you"
They left each other, and in less
than half m hour aftorward, General
Wimpffen was convinced that his attem pt
was impracticable, and no other course
was open to him except laying down
arms. Gen. Wimpffen went back to
Sedan. and considering that it was hard
for him, who had only taken the COM
mand ad interim, to affix his signature to
a capitulation, he sent his resignation to
the Emperor, in the following terms:
''S1RE: shall never forget the marks
of kindness which you have accorded to
me, and I should have been happy, for
| the sake both of France and of yourself,
to have been able to terminate to-day's
engagement by n glorious success. I
have not been able to bring about the
| result, and think I shall do well If
leave to others the duty Of leading our
armies.
Under these circumstances deem il
Wy ouIy w 1oS'Su my pOSt VI OOmInR u
der-in- Chief, and to ask that may be
allowed to retire. I am. &c,
''DE WIMPFFEN."
The Emperor refused to accept the
resignation. 1t was necessary, indeed
that he who had had the honor of the
command during the battle shonld se-
cure. as far rs possible, the safety of
what remained of the army. The Gen.
eral understood these reasons, and
withdrew his resignation. It was then
o'clock in the evening, and the firing
had ceased Mt nightfall It is entirely
false to sny that the General was oppos ed
by the Emperor in his ideas and in the
orders he was able to give, for his Majesty
only met him for moment on the field
of battle between 8 and 10 o'clock. The
General was coming from Balan. and
the Emperor asked him how the battle
was proceeding on that side. The Ge-
neral replied:
"Sire, things are going on as well as
possible, and we are gaining ground"
To tho observation which his Majesty