The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-09
THE EnpERoa,s suRRpsnra

As soon as the FTench 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 sta6; and ten yards in front Of them
again, stood his Msjesty, King Willsm Of
Prussia, ready to recelve General BELLY. That
officer as we coon 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
your Majesty" ['sNe pouudrt pas mourn d Ia
pte de mon arn,ee, je vier,s metre mon epSc dr
pieds de uotre Majeste."]
Why Napoleon LII could not die, as did
thousaudE Of his soldiers, sword in hand, with
his tacs to the foe. is not so clear. ;-Sd
On the receipt Of this m ost 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, General Won Moltke and Gen.
eral Won Room. After few minutes CONVEX
sation, the King sat down on rush-bottomed
chair, and wrote o note ION another chair hell
as table by two aids-de-camp) to the Empe-
ror, asking him to come next m 1rniDg to the
KING OF Prussis's headquarters at Yendresse.
SHERIDAN ooNaRATuLATEs BIskARcK.
While the Klng was writing this note Count
Bismarck came up to General Sheridan and
Forsyth, and myself, and heartily shook our
hands. "Let me congratulate You most sim
cerely, Count" said General Sheridan. 'T can
only compare the surrender Of Napoleon to
that Of General Lee at Appomatto1 Court
house."
When it came my turn TO grasp the Chsncel-
lor's hand could not help saying, after had
warmly congratulated him:
"You cannot but feel q pride, Count Bis
marck in having contributed go largely to the
winning OF to.day's victory"
M mr. 1oor tho mild ouauvors
am no strategist, and have nothing to do with
the winning Of battles. What au proud OF is
that the Bavarians, the Sa1ons, and the Wur-
temburgers have not only been on our side,
out have had 30 large share-the largest
sbere-in the glory Of the day; that they ara
with US, and not against Us. That Is my doing.
don't think the French will say now that the
South Germans will not fight for our common
| Fathernnd."
asked his Excellency whether Louis was
taken with his papa, and was told that no one
knew; and think that no cne much cared
where that little man was.
When the King had written bis letter, he
himself handed it to General Reilly who stood
| bareheaded to receive 1.-THE Italian and
Crimean medals glittering on his breast 10 the
fading sunlight. Queen Victoria's image and
superscription have not often been seen on the
uniforms Of men surrendering without con-
ditious.
at TAU, General Reilly left 1or tpe peIe2Huer-
ed town, escorted by the Uhlans. Ihe duster
| which had served as flag Of truce vas offered
| 10 me as souvenir Of that memorable day;
but IT had strong resemblance to other dust
ers, and declined the profered relic.
DRINK TO UNITED GERMANY ~
Then there was general demand f,r some-.
thing to drink and Count BIsmarck's aid-de-
camp produced two bottles OF Belgian beer.
One of them his Excellency shared with Gea-
eral Sheridan, General Forsyth aud myself,
saying that he drank to the closer union Of the
three great Teutonl, peoples. As soon as Gem
eral Reilly was gone was most ANXIOUS to be-
off to the Belgian frontier. in the hope OF getting
mes .ages through; but Count Bismarck's MD
de-camp assured me that it was physically
impossible to 20 that night, and that l must
wait till morning, and eveo then must be care
ful not to fall into the hands OF stray French
| soldiers who were known to be dispersed IN ell
| directions along the Belgian frontier, and TO
be little batter than bandits. 30 / slept at
| the village OF Chevan2e, q mile behind our
post, after o little hunting for quarters, acsu-
ally getting bed. -,
THE IMPERIAL PRISONER.
| Next morning early, started for Belgium.
As I rode along suddenly came first on
knot Of UhIans; then on two lackeYs i'd the
green and gold Imperial livery. Directly be-
hind them came his Majesty Napoeo LII in
his travelling carriage, on his way to report
himself o prisoner at King Williams head
quarters at Vendresse, little dirty village
soma eigat miles from Sedan. .3r