Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-09-16
The Terrible Battle of Sedan.
A FRENCH ACCOUNT.

MacMahon's army at the time Of the
terrible battle and surrender at Sedan
THE FRENCH ROUTED.
To one entering town as | d, there
was no longer any battle to describe. 1t
was first retreat and too soon a rout.-
| thought myself lucky to get away from
the fed as did for an hour terward
the rout Of those forces that had been
rear by me was complete. Already
soldiers were crushing against each 9TH
er in the struggle to get inside the town.
Dismounted cavalry were trying to make
their way, some even by the ranparts,
leaping down from the counterscarp -
Others forcing their way in by the post
ern gates. From a nook of the ramparts
where | rested moment, l saw also
Cuirassiers jumping-horses and all
into the moat, the horses breaking their
legs and ribs. Men were scrambling
over each other There were officers of
all ranks-Colonels and even Generals,
in uniform which it was impossible to
mistake, mixed in this shameful melee
Behind all came guns with their heavy
carriages and powerful horses, forcing
their way into the throng, manning and
crushing the furgitives on foot.
TERRIBLE SCENES IN SEDAN,
To add to the confusion and horror,
the Prussian batteries had by this time
advanced within range, and the Prussian
shells began falling among thestruggling
masses of men. On the ramparts were
the national guards, manning the guns
of the town, and replying with more or
less effect to the nearest Prussian batter
les. 1t was scene horrible enough to
have suited the fancy of Gustave Dore
himself. l could form but one idea of
our unhappy army; that it was at the
bottom of a seething caldron.
| hurried back as best | could to my
hotel, following the narrow streets where
the shells were least likely to reach the
ground Wherever there was a square
or open place, came upon the bodies of
horses and men quite dead or still quiv-
ering, mown to pieces by bursting shells.
Reaching my hotel l found the street in
which it stood choked like the rest with
wagons, guns, horses and men. Most
luckily at this moment the Prussian fire
did not enfilade this street, for train of
eaissons filled with powder blocked the
whole way, itself unable to move back
ward or forward. There was every
chance that these caissons would explode
the town being then on fire in two places; !;
and began to think Sedan was place
more uncomfortable than even the bat
tle-f9ld over which victorious enemy
was swiftly advancing.
THE EMPEROR UNDER FIRE.
From friends whom found at the ho-
tel, learned that the Emperor, who had
started early in the morning for the
field of battle, had returned about the
same time that did, and passed through
the streets with his staff. One of my
friends was near him on the Place Tur-
enne when a shell fell under the Empe-
rors horse, and, bursting, killed the
horse of a general who was behind him.
He himself was untouched, and turned
around and smiled and though my
friend thought he saw tears in his eyes,
which he wiped away with his glove
Indeed he had cause enough for tears on
that fatal 1st of September.
Meantime, shells began to fall in the
direction of our street and hotel. We
all stood under the vaulted stone en-
trance, as the safest place We could find.
trembled on account of the caissons
still standing in the street, and filling all
the space from end to end. 1t was at
this time when we waited watching pain
fully for the shell which would have sent
us all together into another world, that
Gen. DeWimpffen came past, making
VAIN EFFORT
to rally and inspirit his flying troops
He shouted, 4" Tipe Ia France en- Auaat
! But there was no response. lie cried
out that Bazaine was taking the Prus'
slams in the rear. News which had been
current all the morning at intervals,
coming now from the mouth of Gen. De-
Wimpffen, seemed to be believed, and a
| few thousand men were rallied and fol-
lowed him out of the town. People be-
gan to have hope, and for one brief mo-
ment we believed the day might yet be
saved. Need | say that this intelligence
was a patriotic falsehood of brave Gen.
DeWimpfen? Mad with anguish, and in
| direct opposition to the EmpeIor's orders
he had resolved to rally what men he
could and make stand. He could not
! have known that he was bound in the
grasp of at least 100000 men.
DESPERATE soRTIE.
] The buple and the trumpet ring out