Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-01
Trochu,s Defence.

The following interesting facts, hitherto I'M
known, were brought forth recently by Gen.
Trochu in his account of the defence of Paris.
After referring to the accomplishment by the
Prussians of the turning movement, which he
dreaded and anticipated, Gen. Trochu said
"The following day, August nth, the en-
peror summoned the generals to a conference,
which attended. And here begins an unknown
chapter in the history of the siege of Paris. 1t
may be necessary to say that will not mention
a single fact for which / have not living wit
nesses or written proofs. There were present at
that conference the emperor, Prince Napoleon,
Marshal MacMahon, Gen. Bertault lin com
mand of the mobiles of the Seine) Gen.
Schmitz, (chief of the staff of the twelfth corps
and myself. think that while the conference
was in progress, Gen. de Courson (preiet du
Palais) came into the room and remained. The
emperor asked this little council of war what
they thought of the state of affairs, and what
was the best thing to be done. Unanimously,
and through the channel of Prince Napoleon
who spoke first with the greatest firmness, and
also through me, the council expressed itself in
the following textua terms: THE emperor has
abandoned the government by going to take
the command of the army at such distance.
His majesty has just abandoned the command
of the army, and given it up to Marshal Ba-
zaine. He is alone at the camp of Chalons with
out any army; de fdctO he has abdicated both
the government and the command. Unless his
majesty wishes TO abdicate altogether he
is bonnd to resume either the govern
ment or the command of the army
His majesty acknowledges that this
statement was in conformity with facts. The
council added that il did not think it possible
for the emperor to resume the command of the
army and therefore that the only course was to
resume with firm hand the reins of govern
ment. This view met with the emperoTs APP
zI,,N. d., 1.IaI hal -.
order that the emperor should resume the reins
Of power with safety, his intention should be
notified to the Partisan population by general
officer, who should precede him and take mill
tary and moral precautions TO prepare the pub
lie for his majestys arrival. Turning toward
me, the emperor asked me would | undertake
that mission. | replied: Sire, in the situation
so full of peril in which the country finds itself,
a revolution would hurl it into the abyss. All
that can be done to avoid revolution will do.
You ask me to go to Paris to announce your ar
rival, and to take the commandments.
will do all that, but on the clear understanding
that the army of Marshal MacMahOn will be-
come the army of relief for Paris, for we are
sure to be besieged.' The emperor acquiesced.
Marshal MacMahon had previously declared
that that was precisely the duty his army had
TO fulfill. This conference broke up at II 80,
after agreeing to a kind of convention couched
in these terms Gen. Trochu, appointed gov
ernor of Paris and commandments, will i'm
mediately start for Paris; he will precede the
emperor by a few hours. Marshal MacMahon
will march on Paris with his army
THAT night, conference.-the night from the nth
to the 1Sth-I arrived at the Tuileries, and wait
ed on the empress regent. / found her full of
irmness, full Of courage, but excited, and dis
trusting me. Sensation. General said her
majesty quote her words textually-'only the
emperor's enemies could have urged on him this
return to Paris. He would not reach the Tuil-
cries alive Madam | replied, am |, then,
one of the emperor's enemies? l. with Prince
erals who took part in the conference at ChalonS
contributed TO cause the return of the emperor
as an act of firmness and manhood, calculated
to prevent a revolution. / have accepted the
mission, full of danger for myself, and which
certainly my precedents did not enable me to
foresee, to come and notify the emperors return
to the population of Paris The army of Mar
shall MacMahon is marching on the capital, and
a government of defense is about to be formed
TO the country in the frightful crisis in which
it finds ITSELF No, general; the emperor shall
not come to Paris. He will remain at Chalons.'
But then, madam, the convention in virtue
or which have come here is no good. The
emperor sends me here to defend him, and he
does not follow meP you will defend Paris;
fulfill your mission without the emperor And,
in fact, gentlemen, | had long felt an ardent
desire to defend Paris. | was determined to
shrink from no sacrifice to do so. | therefore,
replied, Very well, madam. l will defend
Paris without the emperor; have brought with
me the proclamation in which | desire to make
known to the population that have been ap-
pointed governor and during
The siege. The proclamation begins thus: 'In
presence of the peril that threatens the country
the emperor has appointed me governor of the
capital in a state of siege" The empress here
interrupted me. General, the emperor's name
must not appear in proclamation like this
But madam, | represent the emperor. l said
that had come here TO defend him. | cannot
address the population of Paris without refer
ring to the emperor and saying that it is by his
orders | have undertaken the defence of the
capital" "No general; believe me. In the
present state of the public mind there would be
serious objections TO allow this reference to the
emperor The name was struck out"