, 1873-01-12

SEDAN AND CHISElHUR6T.
| Every incident connected with tho career ot
! Napoleon III. is now Of more than ordinary in
| terest. His death, which has followed 60 close
! ly his ruin at Sedan, which was lis Waterloo
will perhaps attract public attention moro gener.
ally to that crushing defeat, which cost him hif
throne, than to any other erent Of his lfo, For
tunately, volume haa just been published il
Paris, containing tho evidence given BY Marshal
MacMalon before Committee Of the
Assembly, SO that the public can now know
the real story Of that crowning dis
pretonsions. Tho record shows succession OF
blunders, dangerous conflicts Of authority, and
adverse influences working in every direction,
and clearly exhibits the great confusion which
had been caused in the French councils by the
unparalleled successes Of the Germans.
On the 18th of August, 1870, Marshal Mac
Arahon was appointed by the Emperor Com
mander of the Army at Chalons, under Bazaine,
who was Commando Chief. At the game
timo, 3 council was held, at which it WAS decided
Trochu should bo made Governor of Paria, and
tho Emperor should return there. The latter,
however, abandoned tho idea in Difference to tho
wishss Of the Emprcss> At this time, his opinion
was that MacMahon and his troops should
so to Paris but it ia stated that he made no in
torference with MacMahon's plans after he as
sumed command. z MacMahon, therefore, COM
menccd his plans to march towards Metz, to re-
lievo Bazaino, solely On his own responsibility.
On the 18th, he received q despatch from b.
zaine, saying that it was impossible for him to
direct his moTements, and that he must decide
for himself. On the goth, Macafahon found that
the Chalons position WAS untenable against the
advance Of the Prussian Prince Royal, and re-
tired to Rheims, where he intended to
wait until ho could learn which way
Baz9ine WIS attempting to escape. At
Conrcelles, near Rheims, he met Rouher who
advised him to march to the relief Of Bazaine,
but this MacMahon refused to do, as he hnd no
knowledge where Bazaine might DO, and stated
to Rother that on the. 23d ho should commence
his march toward Paris. On tho 22d, ho received
a despatch from Bazaine, stating that, to avoid
the Investment Of Metz, which must follow after
the bnttle Of GraTe1otte, he intended to move
northwardly and maze his escape by the way Of
Moatmedy. II he found this impossible. ho
would then retreat by way OF Sedan and Aezieres.
MacAalon answered ut once that ho was
at Rheims and would move in tho
direction Of Montmcdy without waiting to
hear further from Bazaine or. without con-
sulting any one. Some hours afterwards,
the Council at Pnris sent a despatch, to the En-
peror, desiring that MacAIahon should march to
the relief Of Dazaine, but neither tho Emperor
nor MacMahon gave it any attention: as tho
Inter had fully decided to march on Montmedy,
aud the Emperor had also decided not to inter
fere with his plans. Tho march was q very slow
one. On the evening OF the 29d, the day OF
starting, he found that two corps had started
With only one days provisions. a portion Of
his army, therefore. had to DO marched in
another direction for supplies. Meanwhile, the
two corps which had provisions, and had beon
pushed forward, we're attacked by the Germans
and forced back. In the midet Of this confusion
came q despatch that, on the 25th, :Bazaino was
still at Metz. On the heels Of this came
despatch from Paris that, unless Mac3Iahon
marched Immediately to tho relief Of Baznine,
revolution would break out in the city,
and adding that the position OF the Germans
WAS such that it, could bo done. Disap-
pointed in his expectations with regard to D.-
zaine; with revolution threatening in Paris;
still uncertain which way Bazaino would turn;
and NTH Napoleon BY his eide who seemed to
havo no iden OF any sort, AIac11ahon changed his
plans and onco more act ont for A1ontmedy. In
this emergency, rs in many others, where IN
actual danger stared him in the face, Napoleon !
WAS utterly unable to. meet and overcome it.
Compared with his Uncle, whose genius would
have risen equal to tho emergency, he well
me1ited the dcrisive appelletion Of Victor Hugo,
"Eapoleon the Little" He MAS 3 dumb
counsellor at time Of. the most imminent dan
ger, when the tolls Of the Germans were elowly
aud, .surely gathering about him The
latter were rapidly advancing. On
The 28th, MacAlahon learned that they had occu-
pied stenay, SO that lie hadto abandon the idea
Of marching on Montmedy, aud his hope Of sub
falling back on Paris il ho did not ef-
feet ajunction with Bszaine, began to grow dim.
BE was compelled; therefore, to cross the Meuse,
in order to get possession Of the bridges nearse-
ian These marches md countezmarchee, |
which were simply the last desperate !
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