Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-09-05
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER S, 1870
TIE FRANCO PRUssIAN Wharf.-The news
f,onn Enrone nj the surrender of the Emperor

The FRANCO PRUssIAN Wharf.-The news
from Europe, OF the surrender of the Emperor
Napoleon and that portion of the French army
which had been under the command of Mar
shall MoMahon was published on Saturday,
since which, very little additional intelligence,
from the seat of war, has been received, and
the particulars of the great event are there
fore meagre. We appened summary Of the
dispatches published in the morning papers,
omiting the spectulations as idle.
The battles of Tuesday and Wednesday.
though marked by varying successes were SUB
stantial triumphs for the PrusslaDs who sue
ceeded in massiDg the greater portion OF their
forces between Sedan and Metz, thus COM
pletely destroying all hope, of junction be-
tween Mcmahon and Bazaine. The decisive
battle, was fought on Thurs day, when the do
feat of the French was complete. Some OF the
Bavarian troops captured part OF tho French
Notifications. and Sedan was etfeotualy sur
rounded. The French are said to have had in
action about l20 600 and tho Prussans 24O, DOC
men. The slaughter on both sides was very
great. General McMahon was among the
wounded. On Friday, the French General
Wimpfen was commissioned to conduct CAPT.
tulation. Under flag of truce he proceeded to
the Prussan headquarters and formally sur.
rendered the French army and the fortress OF
Sedan to King William. At the same time
General Wimpfen delivered letter to King
William from the Emperor, in which he sur.
rendered himself. being without a command &,
and witout prejudice to the Regency at Paris,
The Emperor, in his letter to King William.
is reported to have said: As I cannot die at
the head Of my army. l lay my sword at the
feet of your Majesty" He subsequently de
livered himself up 10 person: 1t is stated that
during the progress of Thursdays battle,
when the day had been quite decided against
the French, tho Emperor received message
from the front advising him to mako bis escape
into Belgium, but that he was too i'll to take
the journey. 1t is stated that the King vii
probably fix the residence of the impcria
prisoner at the Fortress of Magdeburg or the
residence of the Elector of Hesse Casscl.
General Failly was shot, according to one re-
port, by order of McMahon; another account
says by his own soldiers. 1t is reported that
Bazaine, who had met with repeated defeats
since Wednesday, surrendered after hearing Of
the cspitulation at Sedan, but this is not con
frmed. The Prince Imperial escaped into
Belgium Oh Wednesday, and was received al
the residence Of the Prince Of Chimney, in Hal
nault, and it was supposed he would proceed
thence to Paris. Prince Napoleon, who re-
fused when recalled to return to France from
Italy, has been stripped of his rank by th<
Empress. Taking the killed and wounded or
both sides, it is estimated that at least 300: 0OC
men have been placed hors du combat. The
French ministers have issued proclamation
announcing the disaster at Sedan, stating the
number of troops surrendered at forty thous-
and, and declaring that the reverse, cruel as it
is, will not shake their courage; that Paris is
in a complete state of defense; a new army
will be under the walls of Paris in few days
and that another army is forming on the bank:
of the Loire. The failure OF Bazaine to extri
cate himself from Metz after several heroic
attacks upon the Prussian lines, is acknowiedg
cd, and was announced unoficiay on Saturday
in tho French Chambers. In the Corps Leg
islatif Saturday sensation was produced by
Jules Favre, who made an assault upon the
imperial government aud a proposition to give
General Trochu extraordinary powers, agalns
which Count Paliakao protested.