River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-03-16
NAPOLEON AT SEDAN.
A Graphic Sketch OF she Closing Days
of the Second Empire.

u
of the Second Empire.
Lucy Ii. Hooper sends the following
translation of the last Of a series of ar
ticles by NJ. Jules Claretie, published in
the EUeRemeat, on "Alsace and Lorraine
in 1875" to Appteton'S Journal.
At the spot where Marshal MacMahon
was wounded at the commencement OF
the action, Nine. de MacMahon has
caused a stone to be set up. The place
is also marked by poplar tree, since be.
come celebrated under the name Of Mac.
Mahon's poplar. This solitary tree, ris.
ing from br:ek-feld, dominates all the
height.
The emperor came on horseback in
this direction, but he did not ascend the
crest wherein stands the poplar. At
the moment that his horse was
slowly climbing the hill, Que Of his
advance officers, proceeding him at a
gallop, fell mortally wounded.
"There is danger in that direction, >
then said Gen. dc Vassoigne to Napoleon.
The emperor answered not word, but
turned his horse, and, at walk, he re.
turned silent and overwhelmed, to Sc.
dan. He re-entered the town by the Ba.
Ian gate. At the moment that he passed
the Place Turenne, one Of the city drum.
mers recognized him and was about to
salute him. The emperor, perceiving his
design, made sign to him with his hand,
as if to say, sit is no longer worth
while
He directed his course toward the
S01ts-prefectare. The Germans had al.
ready commenced the bombardment. On
the bridge OF the Mouse, which was some
what encountered, q shell falling on the
vehicle of a wagner, cut the wagon in
two, and killed one OF the horses. Ma.
poleon, who until then had gone at walk
ut once struck spurs into his horse and
reached at gallop the sous pre- lecture,
which is at one side TO the right.
There has been preserved, and was
exhibited at the Louvre, in the ancient
Musee DIES SouyeTains, the table on which
Napoleon ]. had signed the abdcation of
Fontainebleau. II was pierced with lit
tie knilc.stabs multiplied with fury
by the vanquished uncle. At the sous.
prefecture the nephew covered with PIN
prcks, or rather with pen.prcks, a ma.
hogany table. ! have seen this drawing
room Of the capitulalion, and the clegan,
stages seemed very narrow for such a
tragedy.
The apartments Of the OuS.pre lecture
are proceeded by sort OF antechambcr
or hall, which extends from the entrance
door in the guise Of corridor. It was
there that the Cent guards were lodged
Trusses Of straw lad been spread down
for their use. While the battle contin.
ued, the emperor prOmcnaded there, 81.
lently smoking or rather feyerishIy light
ing cigarettes, which he would barely
put to his lips, aud then almost immedi.
ately throw away. Behind him an off.
Ger twas it not Gen. Casteland y passed
his time IN treading on the matches to
extinguish them, and to prevent their
setting fire TO the straw. Thus hours
passed
Gen. De WimpfTen has related that
when he presented himself at the sous.
prefecture that evening to settle the
terms OF capitulatiOn with the emperor
he found him in bed. The room wherein
slept that night he who had been Caesar,
is very simple chamber, with an acovc
hung with red curtains, What must his
dreams have been there! The room Of
the prince imperial was just next to il.
The son could hear the father speak or
sigh.
The emperor was SO much aeitated
on the night Of that fatal day of the
first Of September that having asked for
a candle, and the servant having brought
one lighted, he said to her:
"And the candle why have you not
lighted it p
She did not understand what he meant
~ tell you to light the candle"
"But sire ="
lie perceived his mistake and said
Pardon, mademoiselle,' and retired to
the room with the red curtains.
The morning Of the battle, passing
La Mariee with a melancholy air, he had
said TO a soldier Of the corps of Gen. lie.
brun: "1our regiment is not here, YOU
ought to be at Metz" lie thought also
that he was face 10 face with the ar.
my Of Prince Frederick Charles. Such
was the confusion Of his sick and troubled
brain.
The most striking spot. however. in this
mournlully celebrated corner Of Arden.
mes is the weayers house on the Donchery
road, the little house where Napoleon and
NJ. Bismarck had that famous interview
which proceeded the capitulation. aud
which, the chancellor Of William has De.
scribed in an autograph letter.
Small, one-story high only, with a mod.
est orchard behind, the house Of the
weaver is situated on the left Of high.
road coming from Sedan. whence one can
contemplate the immense panorama II
the enyirons Of the city, where the can.
non Of Bazane might perchance have
plowed path through the forces Of the
enemy had the commander Of the army Of