The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-22


not yet learn the number OF this regiment
When the retreat Of the enemy At all points be-
flight and all, infantry cavary, and artillery
pressed into the town, and its Immediate vicinity
and when no indication yet presented itself of the
this hopeless position By capitulaton, nothing re-
mained but to lombard the town with the before
1a 1e re bs Daey to after IL naa IN c @
many burning villages over the whole battlefield
made terrible impression, ordered suspension
of the firing and sent Lieutenant Colonel Won Brou-
sart, of the general stan, with white nag, to pro-
pose the capitulaton OF the army and
ofIicer, who informed me that a
French parlementai-e with white flag had an.
Won Brousart was admitted, and on asking for the
Commander-in Chief he was unexpectedly led be-
fore the Emperor, who wished Immediately to hand
him letter for me. The Emperor asked what kind
Of proposal he brought, and being told summons
the surrender Of the army and fortress he replied
that he must refer on this point to General de
Wimpf1en, who had just assumed the command In
now send his Adjutant, General Reille, with the
letter to myself. 1t was ! O'Clock when Reille
vance; and it was first through him that l learned
with certainty the presence OF the Emperor. You
us, but particularly myself. Relic sprang from
his horse and gave me the letter Of the Emperor,
adding that he had no other commission; Before l
the first condition, that the army lay down its arms
The letter begins thus, 'N'Gyant pas pu nourir Ia
Uotre Mojeste, leaving all the rest to me.
My answer was that deplored the manner of our
sent with whom we might conclude the capituiation.
After had given the letter to General Ree spoke
30 this act ended gave Moltke powers to negot-
ate land directed Bismarck to remain behind in case
political questions should arise. then rode to my
carriage and drove here, greeted everywhere along
the road with the loud hurrahs of the troops who
tional hymn. 1t was deeply touching. Candles were
lighted everywhere, 80 that we were driven through
an impoverished Illumination. / arrived here at IL
O'Clock and drank with those about me to the pros
perity of an army which had accomplished such
As on the morning of the 2d 1 had received no
news from Moltke respecting the negotiations for
the capitulation which were to be carried on in
Donchery, drove to the battlefield, according to
agreement at O'Clock, and met Moltke, who was
coming to obtain my consent to the proposed captu
lation, and told me- at the same time that the EN-
peror had left Sedan at 5 O'Clock in the morning
and had come to Donchery. AS he wished to speak
co me, and as there was a chateau and park in the
neighborhood chose this for our meeting At 10
O'Clock reached the height before Sedan Moltke and
duly signed. At O'Clock started again with Fritz
escorted by the cavalry staff. alighted before the
chateau, where the Emperor came to meet me. His
visit lasted quarter Of an hour. We were both
much moved at meeting again under such circum-
stances. What my feelings were, considering that
had seen Napoleon only three years before at the
summit OF his power, is more than can describe.
s 1sd %ee b IRON %nos bore hast
The reception given me by the troops, the meeting
with the GUARDS, now decimated-al this cannot
describe to-day. was much touched with so many
proofs of love and devotion.
Now, farewell, with heart deeply moved at the
Another Account of the BattIe-DescrIption by
DISTINGUISHED Onicer.
The following description Of this great battle is
from the pen of distinguished general officer, who
was on the spot and both camps, and was in
communication both with the Emperor and the
King:-
1t is difficult to comprehend an event 80 extraor-
dinary as that which has just occurred under the
walls of Sedan, where an army, supported by for
tress, has been compelled to surrender without
knowing the consequences that have led to It, These
circumstances will endeavor to relate. After the
battle OF Mars la Tour, Marshal Bazaine, remaining
master of the field, was obliged to draw back to-
wards Metz for supplies OF food and ammunition.
But the Prussian army, largely reinforced, again
fell upon and after several fights glorious for the
French army, threatened to cut off its retreat.
Marshal MacMahon, whose army was in course
OF formation at the camp OF Chalons, resolved
to advance 10 the assistance of Marshal Bazane,
Character Of such an attempt in the presence of
the great force which under the Crown Prince was
ma par ana St1 which % could turn upon
'front.' yet he determined to proceed to the assist.
| from Rheims TO Rethel and thence to Stenay.
Upon arriving at Chene-le-Populeux he learnt that
the vanguard of the Crown Prince had been per-
were engaging the corps of General Douay and
| DeEFailly. He at once ordered a movement In re-
treat towards Mezieres for had he been cut Off from
| that town he would have no means of feeding his
army The movement had already commenced
| Paris which compelled him to persevere in march
| which ultimately became fatal to him. The
Gn'h ton had % already Crossed the Mense to Moa
| zon when the corps OF Generals De Faily and
| Douay, which remained upon the left bank
| after fight OF some duration Marshal MacMahon
| then recognized for the second time the extreme
difficulty OF his task in seeking to reach Metz, and
perceived the necessity OF abandoning the project
| He gave an order to fall back towards Sedan, and
although worn out with fatigue, the troops marched
portion OF the night OF the 3031st of August, and
upon arriving near sedanhe 18th Corps had to stand
an engagement the entire advantage OF which re-
| mained with 1t. But during that time the Prussan
| army effected the passage across the Meuse above
| and below Sedan and began to crown the heights
| which overlooked the town. II may not be unin-
teresng TO note here that Sedan is fortified place,
but commanded by hills and incapable of resist
| ing modern artillery. The approaches are un-
! defended by works or advanced forts, as at
Metz and many other places. Then, again, the ar
mament OF the place was very incomplete, and the
| On the next day. September 1, at O'Clock in the
morning the French army was attacked upon its
right and left simultaneously. The right of the posi-
ton was held by the corps Ducrot and Lebrun; the
| left by the corps De Wimpffen and Douay Marshal
MacMahon Immediately mounted his horse and rode
to the most advanced points of attack in order to
reconnoitre the positions. The Emperor, to whom
he had sent an intimatlon Of what was going also
mounted and left the town, when he met the Mar
wagon, wounded In the left thigh by the
bursting OF a shell. The command had been taken
by Gen. De Wimpffen, rs the senior. The fight was
energetically sustained for severa hours but to-
| wards 7. NJ the troops were repulsed and drew
back into the town, the streets OF which soon be-
| came encumbered with chariOts, artillery wagons
and infantry and cavalry soldiers, all in the greatest
confusion. The Emperor, repairing to the battle
field, went at first towards General Lebruns CORDS
at Balan, where the engagement was very warm,
and thence towards the centre, encouraging the
troops by his presence and displaying the greatest
GOODNESS amid the projectles which fell around him.
After remaining four hours on the field and after
trayersng the points where the danger was greatest
he returned to the town and reported to Marshal
MacMahon. Wishing afterwards to go out again,