Year: 1870

regiment was terrific, and that it was the
mitraileuse which made the havoc.


At five minutes past two in the after
noon the French totally abandoned the
hill between Sedan and Tarey and fell
back on the Faubourg of Cavalvert, out
side the ramparts of the town.


"Now the battle is lost for the French, :"
said Gen. Sheridan, to the great delight
of the Prussian officers.


One would fancy that the French had
almost heard his words They had hard
ly been uttered when there came lull
in the firing all along the line, or rather
circle as it had now become. Count Bis
marck chose that moment to come and
have little talk with his English and
American friends.


was anxious to know what the FEEDER
al Chancellor had done about the threat
ened neutrality of Belgium, and my curl
osity was soon gratifed..


81 have told the Belgian Minister Of
War" said Count Bismarck, ''that 50
long as the Belgian troops do their utmost
to disarm any number of French soldiers
who may cross the frontier, | will strictly
respect the seutrality Of Belgium either
through negligence Or inability do no not
dis rm and capture every man in French
uniform who sets his foot in their country
we shall at once follow the enemy into
neutral territory with our troops, consider.
ing that the French have been the first tC
violate Belgian soil


| have been down to have look at the
Belgian troops near the frontier," added
Count Bismarck, "and | confess that
they do not inspire me with very higt
opinion of their martial ardor or discip
line. 1t is only when they have theiI
great coats on that one can see u great
deal Of paletot, but hardly any soldier
| asked His ExcelIency where he though
the Emperor was, in Sedan?


"Oh, no." was the reply. "Napoleor
is not very wise, but he is not quite Sc
foolish as to place himself in Sedan jus
now"


For once in his life Count Bismarck
was wrong.


At quarter to three O'Clock the King
came to where | was standing, sayin!
that he thought the French were going tt
break out just beneath US in front of thu
Second Bavarian Corps. At ten minute
to four Gen. Sheridan told me that Napol
con and Louis were in Sedan. AT twen
ty minutes past three the Bavarians be
low us not only continued to get inside
the Notifications Of Sedan, but to man
tain themselves there, working their wa,
forward from house to house. About tou
O'Clock there was great fight for thu
possession Of the ridge above Bazielics
and that done Sedan was swept on al
side ny the Prussian cannon


About five o'clock there was again ;
sudden suspension Of the cannonade alon!
the whole line. Many were the specula
tions as to the cause, but no one seemed
to divine the truth


You may judge Of our surprise, whel
four minutes later we saw a French off
Ger, attended by two Uhlans, coming at I
hard trot up the bridge path from Sedal
to our post, one of the Uhlans carrying
white duster on faggot stick as flag o
truce. The messenger tuned out TO b.
French Colonel who came 10 ask tn
terms of surrender.


After very short consultation be
tween the King and Gen. Won Moltke
the messenger was told that in matte
so important as the surrender of at leas
$4,000 men and an important fortress !
was necessary to send an officer Of highe
rank.


"You are therefore to return to SedaI
and tell the Governor Of the town to re
port himself Immediately to the King o
Prussia. IF he does not arrive in an hou
our guns will again open fire. You ma.
tell the commandant that there is no US
of his trying to obtain any other term
than unconditional surrender" fr


The Parlemcntaire rode back with th
message, and when he was fairly out O
earshot his mission was most eagerly can
vassed. a-.,.


At half past six there arose CRY a
mong the members Of the Kings staff
"Der Kaizer ist da," and then came
loud hurrah. Soon webegan to look anS
iously for tire second flag of truce, and !
ten minutes more Gen. Reilly rode u
with alctter for the King Of Prussia. A
soon as the French General was in sigt



the slender escort of cuirras'iers and dri
goons that we had with us with us wcr
drawn up 10 line, two deep, behind tn
King. In front of the escort was ii
staff, aud ten yards in front of them aga


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