The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-04
A WEEK IN METZ.

Prince Radziw;lps imprisonment In Metz.
Prince Edmund RadZiwill, chaplain In the Prus
sian army, who was taken prisoner by the French
on the day before the battle OF Grayelotte and was
sent back By Bazaine week after III exchange for a
French prisoner, has forwarded account OF his
experiences at Metz to the Kyeuz Zeitling He says
that, after attending to the dead and wounded on
the held OF Rezonville he was about to return 10
Gore to get an ambulance wagon, when he was in
formed that there still remained the dead body OF
French general. The Prince upon this directed the
pod to be taken to Rezonville tor burial Here he
found three French gentlemen, who offered to take
the deceased general TO Metz in order that he might
he buried with military honors. Thinking these
gentlemen were surgeons and that they would come
back to the battle field, the Prince determined to
accompany them TO the French outposts. On arriv-
ing before the French lines. however, one
OF the Frenchmen said something to the
sentry, upon which the Prince was I'M
me lately arrested aud sent with an escort
OF four soldiers To an adjoining farm, where lie
passed the night. Next mornng tine day OF the bat
tie OF Graveoitel at eight O'Clock, he was sent 10
1he quarters OF General Lebnui, and thence 60 the
''elegant villa OF General B0urhak the commander
oil the imperial guard aJ PatteyIlle. The General,
who was IN full dress, was mounting his morse. and
seemed unconcerned ii he going on
paraae. The battle had already begun, ana he was
proceeding TO lake the command or his DIVISION.
Prince Radziwill was next taken through Tie vari.
Gus camps To the headquarters OF Marshal Ba2alne.
shall villa by the aldesde.camp OF the headquarer
stan, many OF whom were counts and barons or old
French families. Among them several spoke GER
man nuently, with scarcely any trace OF foreign
accent. One, who was cross-eXainning q prisoner,
seemed thoroughly acquainted win The composition
began. ito the Second Siiesiau." eleventh regl-
ment,r interrupted the prisoner. II know" pur-
sued the officer with a smile: 'thc Second
Silcsian regiment, number eleven: you are
Eiationed at Altoona and belong 10 the
Ninth army Prince RaazlWlll was ordered
by BazaiHc TO be confined In the house OF the priest
Rt Piaiieyllc, where he heard the guns during the
BATTLE but had no opportunity OF seeing anything,
The gendarmes not allowing him even TO walk cut
into tic garden. During his walk through The
various camps the Prince observed no signs OF
alarm disorder. The French perfectly quiet
and calm and seemed conilient OF victory. On the
following day he met several acquaintance VINO
ann tnat because his eyes were nos Dandagad wnen
nc passed through the lines ne must be treated =
prisoner. AT one O'Clock IN the day lie WAS taken
INTO ielZ by the Porte de France, and had an inter-
view win General de Coninieres The commandment
pf the fortress. The Latter od him ne could not be
Allowed TO leave Metz al present. but that
oe might reside III an hoIel and walk
about TIE streets OF the town II he gave MS
word OF honor that he would not attempt 10
Escape. The prevalent feeling of the population
Seemed 10 the Prince 10 be hatred OF the Prusslans
40 one seemed in the leest degree alarmed anxious,
Except perhaps. one or two generals. There
no fear or u siege a bGinbardmeDr. aud II was
stated that there were suffclent provisions in the
town 70 feed 1t Tor two or Three years fsic.j The
Prince adds that he did not see any signs OF want
either in the Iortress or In the town. In the hotel
at eleven A. M. and six J.. H. Tue only artsce
OF which there seemed TO be a scarcity was sugar;
two humps only were given 70 each person for HI,
black He instead OF his being allowed sugard
discretion formerly. The Prince visited the hos
pias, and found them In very satisfactory state,
though he was informed that more could have been
done with the enormous SUNS which had been placed
at the disposal OF the government ior this purpose.
On the esplanadea SORT Of drli ground, surrounded
BY beautiful gardens-there we're about forty large
tents IN which the ladies OF the town looked after
the wounded. The engineer barracks ana the mag
St.
were also converted INTO roomy and comfortable
hospitals. The Prince was liberated on the 9th OF
August. with seven officers and 734 men, IN ex-
change the same number OF prisoners on the
German SIDE