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BAZEILLES, AUGUST 31 .
221
While King William was giving an order at Chenery that the
French should be pursued on the morrow into Belgium, if
they were not immediately disarmed by the Belgian authorities,
the Emperor was issuing a proclamation in Sedan, which was
posted on all the walls, saying, “ that he had confided the com¬
mand of the armies to the generals whom public opinion had
seemed to select as most capable of leading them, and that he
himself intended to fight as an officer, forgetting for a while
his position as sovereign.”
MacMahon, in making his retreat before the Saxon Prince,
coming upon a strong position, determined to make one more
stand for the Empire and for France. The French line was
south-east of Sedan. The right was in front of Bazeilles, and
the left ran away towards Bouillon, in front of Douzy. The
valleys of the Meuse and Chieres were in front of the French
line. On the right and left were massed regiments of all arms ;
but towards the left, on the second line, was a very large force
of heavy cavalry, dragoons, and cuirassiers.
The Saxon Crown Prince had pushed his batteries directly
opposite the French centre, on a plateau or table-land which
terminated abruptly, and made it a very strong position. For
some time the cannonading continued on both sides, the Prus¬
sians constantly reinforcing.
At two o’clock a force of Prussian infantry advanced across
the bridge in the village of Douzy, and immediately there began
a very sharp fusillade, lasting, however, not more than ten min¬
utes. The Prussians sprang forward in larger forces, but a
battery of six mitrailleuses advanced, and opened fire through
the trees. Six volleys came all at once. The Prussians fell
hurriedly back, leaving whole ranks behind, which had gone
down like those leaden soldiers which children play with.
At three o’clock the Saxon Crown Prirfce ordered an ad¬
vance of the Prussian left against the French right, to cut
off the French army from Sedan. This led to some terrible
fighting, where for hours the positions were lost and won, and
where each German wave rolled down the slopes only to give
place to a new and more formidable one.
THE BURNING OF BAZEILLES.
While the artillery fire is raging on both sides, a brigade of
Bavarians are ordered forward past the village of Bazeilles.
Shot and shell are falling thick and fast about them. Their
eyes are on the front, when in their rear flash goes a half dozen
222
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
muskets from a house, and two Bavarians drop dead. Their
comrades instantly face about to see the enemy. He is hidden
in the house. The Bavarians had been victims to civilian
treachery at Weisenburg, and filled with indignation they for¬
got the foe in front, and with a .shout and a rush broke the
doors open ; but the intending assassins had fled. The house
was set on fire, and the inhabitants opened a regular fusillade on
the Germans from every window. House after house was
burned. It was the madness of a mob. The innocent were
the victims. Frantic at seeing their homes in flames, men and
women united in massacring wounded Bavarian soldiers in the
street, and were to be seen lifting them up and throwing them
into the flames. Soon the whole village was in flames, and
2500 poor people are homeless. A thousand smoking ruins
and silent chimneys will tell a tale as sad as Pompeii, as mourn¬
ful as Gomorrah. The wrath of an army is the wrath of God.
There is no apology, for it is the fruit of war. It will be
pointed at as a barbarism. It was a barbarism ; all war is bar¬
barous. A thousand begrimed and silent chimneys stand in
Pennsylvania and Virginia, tombstones to our barbarism. I
pray God they may be the tombstones of war in America.*
Bazeilles is but the Harper’s Ferry and Chambersburg of the
present war.
THE BATTLE AGAIN.
FourP.M .—How different the picture on the French right!
The fighting was splendid ; for the fortunes of the hour seemed
to balance — now for France, now for Germany. The sun was
shining brightly, and everything was plainly visible. The glit¬
tering of weapons, the bright and showy colors of the French
uniforms, the white smoke curling under the blue sky, or linger¬
ing, vapor-like, beneath the trees, the crackling flames rising
from the burning village of Bazeilles — the whole scene formed a
spectacle which one seldom finds himself in a position to wit¬
ness.
Five P.M .—The Prussian fire becomes fiercer, the French right
is forced sullenly backward towards Sedan, and at dusk, with
the forked flames of Bazeilles as a beacon, they withdraw for
the night. The battle had swept along the whole line for hours,
until night declared again for German arms ; and MacMahon,
wounded and exhausted, retired within the fortifications of
Sedan, and turned his army over to Gen. Wimpffen, his second
in command.
* The author appends the sequel to the burning of Bazeilles and the bloody battles
about Sedan, as seen, bereft of war’s poetry and romance, ten days later.
BAZEILLES , AUGUST 31 .
223
TEN DAYS LATER.
BAZEILLES, September io. — Three or four miles from Douzy is a heap
of blackened timbers, bricks, and ashes. Here was the village of Bazeilles,
which was destroyed by the Prussians in the fight that preceded the capitu¬
lation of Sedan. When the French troops had been driven back from
their position outside the village, and were pursued into its streets, they got
into the houses, and fired on their foes from the windows and the roofs.
The Prussians could not drive them out ; and the Prussian commander, to
his eternal infamy, ordered his men to set fire, simultaneously, to every
house in the village. The fire spread witli almost lightning speed ; in ten
minutes the whole town was wrapped in sheets of flames, and hundreds of
families — fathers, mothers, and children —were
ROASTED TO DEATH,
while the combatants, encircled with fire, died fighting to the last. The
Germans did not escape from the destruction they brought upon the un¬
armed villagers: the fire spread so fiercely and suddenly, that they were
themselves hemmed in by flames, and many of them, especially those who
were wounded, were burned in the pyre they had kindled. I was told by
the cure of the village, who was himself saved only by an accident, that out
of a population of over 3000 souls, not more than a third were now living.
Hundreds were burned to death ; hundreds of others were slain by the
Prussians, who, maddened at their own desperate straits, attacked every one
they met ; and hundreds of others who sought refuge in the cellars of their
houses, perished there by suffocation. This is not a tale of the dark ages
I am telling you — it is the simple story of what took place in a pretty and
innocent French village, on Friday, the 22d of September, in this year of
grace and of modern civilization.
PESTILENCE HAS BROKEN OUT
in Sedan, and in the neighboring villages of Carignan and Douzy. Before
the German army moved away from Sedan, disease had begun to make
havoc in its ranks, and every day we hear from those who come hither from
the rear of the advancing forces, that dysentery and cholera hourly slay their
scores of victims. But the advancing army must be better off than those
they have left behind them. The pestilence was the inevitable consequence
of what happened after the battles. As usual, no report of the losses in
these engagements has yet been suffered to appear; but it is certain that
while the number of killed and wounded French was great, the losses of the
Prussians were hideous. Around Douzy and Carignan, however, the losses
were about equal, and here, for the second and third days after the battles,
the corpses lay in heaps. The Prussian grave-diggers use no ceremony in
their operations, but the dead were too many for them. The corpses, in
great numbers, remained unburied. They putrefied quickly, and the air be¬
came tainted with the fearful odor. The battles took place on Friday ; on
Monday the fields were still covered with unburied bodies of men and horses,
and the stench was intolerable. During Sunday and Monday, since the
dead could not be buried quickly enough, a new plan was adopted to dis¬
pose of them. They were consumed by fire. The plan adopted for the
accomplishment of this
WHOLESALE CREMATION
was curious. In various places in the field a deep trench in the form of a
cross was dug; afire was made in the centre of this trench, and the currents
of air coming from the four arms of the cross-shaped trench gave to the
224
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
flames a fierce intensity. Then upon the fierce fire were piled the bodies
of the dead, German and French together, and these were left to burn,
while the grave-diggers went on with their work of burying the other dead
in shallow pits, with only a few inches of earth thrown over them. For
the living it would have been far better had all the dead been burned ; for
from all these thousands of shallow graves a pestilential stench is now aris¬
ing, and filling the air with the seeds of death. I might fill columns with
descriptions of the awful scenes on this battle-field, which covers a space of
ten miles. Among the dead were many peasants, and even some women.
How they came to be among the soldiers, no one knows; but there were
their corpses.
SEDAN AND DEATH.
Sedan, Septemocr io. — Never before in the world's history has there
been seen such a butchery as went on during that great fight. I believe
it may also be affirmed, that never did a contest in arms result in such ter¬
rific consequences to the surviving combatants, and to the people whose
country has been made the scene of hostilities. For miles around Sedan
ONE SEES NOTHING BUT DESTRUCTION AND RUIN ; AND l-'ROM MORN¬
ING TILL FAR INTO THE NIGHT PROCESSIONS OF THE MAIMED AND
WOUNDED ARE PASSING FROM THE FRENCH FRONTIER INTO THE
neutral TERRITORY of Belgium. Sedan itself is one vast hospital, and
between that town and Bouillon, a distance of about ten English miles, there
is scarcely a church or a house from which the white flag with the red cross
is not waving, to make known that there are wounded inside.
Thursday, September i.— Last day of the battles near Se¬
dan. The French defeated, with great slaughter, after a bloody
battle. Bazaine also defeated near Metz, and forced to retire
into the fortress. 10,000 French driven through Mezieres into
Belgium, and disarmed. General De Failly wounded. Entire
French force surrenders with the Emperor.
SEDAN
THE WATERLOO OF THE SECOND EMPIRE.
THE KING’S DESPATCH TO QUEEN AUGUSTA.
Sedan, September 1, 3 o’clock p. m. — The battle has raged since half¬
past eight o’clock this morning. Our forces have advanced victoriously.
The Fourth, Fifth, and Seventh Corps and the Bavarians were engaged.
The enemy was almost entirely driven into the city.
William.
PRINCE GEORGE’S DESPATCH.
Great decisive victory at Sedan, wherein the Saxon (Twelfth) Corps has
played the prominent part. It has captured trophies and prisoners in
great numbers, but lost heavily.
George.
SEDAN ; THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER i.
225
FROM TIIE CROWN PRINCE OF SAXONY.
In a battle on September i, lasting twelve hours, the army of Mac-
Mahon has been destroyed by the army of the Crown Prince of Prussia
and my own. The Saxon (Twelfth) Corps has behaved splendidly.
George and myself are well. I do not know the losses as yet, but I do not
believe they are as great as on August 18.
Albert.
KING WILLIAM REPORTS THE BATTLE.
( Translation .)
Vendresse, south of Sedan, September 3, 1870.
To Queen Augusta :
You know from my three telegrams the whole extent of the
great historic event which has just happened. It is like a
dream, even when one has seen it hour by hour developing it¬
self. When I consider that after one great and successful war
1 could not expect more glorious things yet to happen during
my reign, and now behold this historical act accomplished, then
I bow before God, who alone has chosen me, my army, and my
allies, to perform what has happened, and has made us the in¬
struments of His will ; I can only look upon it in this light, and
in humility praise God’s guidance and grace.
Now let me briefly give you a picture of the battle and its
results.
TROOPS LOCATED.
On the evening of the 31st and the morning of the 1st the
army had moved in the positions assigned all around Sedan.
The Bavarians had the left wing at Bazeilles on the Meuse.
Next to them the Saxons in the direction of Moncelle and
Daigny; then the Guards still on the march in the direction of
Givonne ; and the Fifth and Eleventh Corps at St. Menges and
Fleigneux. The Meuse making here a sharp bend, no troops
were stationed from St. Menges as far as Donchery ; but the
latter place was held by the Wurtembergers, who at the same
time covered the rear against sorties from Mezieres. The cav¬
alry division under Count Stolberg, in the plain of Donchery,
formed the right wing. In the front toward Sedan were the re¬
mainder of the Bavarians.
THE BATTLE.
In spite of a dense fog, the fight commenced at Bazeilles, al¬
ready early in the morning, and gradually developed into a hot
engagement, in which house after house had to be taken, last-
10 *
226
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
ing almost the whole day, and the Erfurt Division, under Gen¬
eral Schoeler (in the reserve, Fourth Corps), had to come to
the assistance. When I arrived, at eight o’clock, at the front,
before Sedan, the great battery was just opening its fire on the
fortifications. A huge artillery combat ensued at all points,
which continued for hours, and during which, on our side,
ground was gradually gained. The villages mentioned were
taken. Very deep ravines covered with timber rendered the
advance of the infantry difficult, and favored the defence. The
villages of Illy and Floing were taken, and gradually the circle
of fire was drawn closer and closer around Sedan. It was a
grand sight from our position, on a dominating eminence be¬
hind that battery mentioned, to the right of the village of Fre-
nois, and forward above Pt. Forey.
The stubborn resistance of the enemy gradually slackened, as
we could see from the battalions in disorder, hastily retiring
from the woods and villages. The cavalry attempted to attack
some battalions of our Fifth Corps, which held out and bore
themselves splendidly. The cavalry dashed through the inter¬
vals between the battalions, then wheeled and returned the
same way, repeating it three times with different regiments, so
that the field was covered with dead men and horses. We could
see it all distinctly from our position. I have not yet been able
to learn the number of that brave regiment.
THE ROUT.
The retreat of the enemy in many places becoming a rout,
and all — infantry, cavalry, and artillery — crowding into the
town and the nearest surroundings, but still no indication ap¬
pearing of the disposition of the enemy to save himself from
this desperate condition by capitulation, nothing remained but
to order the town to be bombarded by the battery before men¬
tioned.
THE SURRENDER.
In less than twenty minutes it was burning in several
places; that, together with the many burning villages in the
whole radius of the battle, made an appalling impression, and I
ordered the firing to cease, and sent Lieutenant-Colonel Von
Bronsart, of the staff, with a white flag, as truce-bearer, offering
capitulation to the army and fortress. He was met by a Bava¬
rian officer, who reported that a French truce-bearer with a
white flag had appeared at the gate. Lieutenant-Colonel Von
Bronsart was admitted, and upon his inquiry for the General-in-
SEDAN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER i.
227
Chief, he was unexpectedly conducted before the Emperor, who
wanted at once to deliver him a letter addressed to me. When
upon inquiry by the Emperor what his orders were, the reply
was given : To summon army and fortress to surrender.
THE EMPEROR’S LETTER.
The Emperor directed Bronsart to address himself in the mat¬
ter to General De Wimpflfen, who had just assumed command in
place of MacMahon, wounded, and stated that he would send his
letter to me by Adjutant-General Reille. It was seven o’clock
when Reille and Bronsart came to me. You can imagine what
impression it made upon me especially, and upon all. Reille
dismounted, and delivered to me the letter of his Emperor, add¬
ing that he had no further orders. Before opening the letter I
said to him : “ But I demand as first condition, that the army
lay down their arms.” The letter commences thus : “ N'avant
pas pu mourir it la tete de mes troupes , je depose moil epee <1 Votre
Majcste ” (not having been able to die at the head of my troops,
I laydown my sword before your Majesty),— leaving every¬
thing further to my discretion.
THE KING’S REPLY.
My reply was, that I regretted the manner in which we had
mer, and requested that a plenipotentiary be sent, when the ca¬
pitulation could be concluded. I had given the letter to Gen¬
eral Reille. I spoke a few words to him as an old acquain¬
tance, and thus ended this act. I gave Moltke full powers to
treat, and directed Bismarck to remain behind, in case political
questions should come up, and then rode to my carriage, and
drove to this place.
JOY OF THE ARMY.
I was everywhere on the road saluted with thundering hur¬
rahs by the trains moving up, and soldiers were singing every¬
where the national hymn. It was sublime. Everywhere lights
had been lit, so that now and then we drove in the midst of an
improvised illumination. I arrived here at eleven o’clock, and
drank with my suite the welfare of the army that had accom¬
plished this great result. No report having reached me from
Moltke up to the morning of the second of the result of the ca¬
pitulation treaty which was to have been made in Donchery, I
drove, at eight o’clock, according to arrangement, to the battle¬
field, and there met Moltke, who came to get my consent to
228
THE FRANC O-PR US SIAN WAR.
the terms of capitulation proposed, and at the same time in¬
form me that the Emperor had left Sedan at five o’clock, and
had come to Donchery. As he wished to speak to me, I se¬
lected for our meeting a little castle with a park, which was
close by. At ten o’clock Moltke and Bismarck made their
appearance with the articles of capitulation, signed, and at one
o’clock I set out with Fritz, escorted by a cavalry guard.
THE KING AND THE EMPEROR.
I dismounted at the castle, and the Emperor came to meet me.
The interview lasted fifteen minutes. We were both deeply
moved at thus meeting again. What I felt, having seen Napo¬
leon three years ago in the very summit of his power, I cannot
describe.
After this interview, from half-past three to half-past eight
o’clock, I rode along the front of the whole army before Sedan.
The reception by the troops, the meeting with the decimated
Corps of Guards, all this I cannot describe to you to-day. I was
profoundly moved by so many tokens of love and devotion.
Now, good-by; with throbbing heart at the close of such a
letter.
Wilhelm.
THE BATTLE OF SEDAN.
(Translated from German Official Report.)
The Prussian Crown Prince invests the north of Sedan with
the Fifth and Eleventh Corps, and the Wiirtembergers, the
west with the Sixth in reserve, the south with the First and
Second Bavarian, while the Saxon Crown Prince, Albert, invests
the east with the Twelfth and Fourth Corps and the Guards
Corps, with the Fourth division of cavalry.
The Germans have 240,000 effective men, and 60,000 in re¬
serve.
The French have MacMahon’s First Corps (commanded by
General Ducrot); De Failly’s old Fifth Corps (commanded by
General De Failly until wounded); General Felix Douay’s
Seventh Corps ; and the Twelfth Corps (General Lebrun)—in all
about 110,000 effective men. The author gives a translation
of the Prussian official report, as sent to the War Office in
Berlin by the Prussian Secretary of War, Von Roon :
THE ORIGINAL PLAN.
It was originally intended to put off the decisive blow to
September 2. It seemed desirable to give a day’s rest to the
SEDAN, SEPTEMBER i.
229
Saxon army, which had undergone considerable fatigue in their
forced marches on the 30th and 31st. But when the King, be¬
tween five and six o’clock in the afternoon of the 31st, passed
Chenery on his way to Vendresse, he held a consultation with
the Crown Prince and Generals Moltke and Blumenthal, in
consequence of which he determined that .the attack of Sedan,
and the French lines between the Meuse and the Ardennes,
should be undertaken on the ensuing day. Toward one o’clock
in the morning of September 1, the Crown Prince of Saxony
received orders to advance. Fire was to be opened at five
A.M.
LINE OF BATTLE.
Our line of battle was formed in this wise : On our right we
had the army of the Crown Prince of Saxony. His van con¬
sisted of the Twelfth Corps d’Armee; next came the Fourth
and the Guards, the rear being brought up by the Fourth divi¬
sion of cavalry, with their back to Remilly. Those troops of
the Crown Prince of Saxony, still on the left bank of the Meuse,
crossed at Douzy. To the left of his army was stationed the
First Bavarian Corps, and behind this the Second. The Bava¬
rians threw their bridge opposite the village of Bazeilles. The
Eleventh Prussian Corps had placed its pontoons during the
night about one thousand paces below Donchery. A little to
the left crossed the Fifth Corps on another bridge, and still
further in the same direction, near the village of Dom-le-Mesnil,
the Wiirtembergers. The Sixth Corps, as a reserve, was sta¬
tioned between Attigny and Le Chene. To these troops were
opposed the corps of MacMahon, Failly, Canrobert, the rem¬
nants of Douay’s army, and the newly-formed Twelfth Corps
under General Lebrun. The centre of the French position was
the fortress of Sedan, their flanks extending from Givonne on
the left to Mezieres on the right. In the rear of the French
position were seen the spurs of the Ardennes.
CROWN PRINCE’S HEADQUARTERS.
The Crown Prince left Chenery in his carriage at four in the
morning. Having mounted his horse near Cheveuse, on the
road to Donchery, he took up his position on a hill projecting
over the valley of the Meuse, near the town of Donchery,
not far from a small mansion called Chateau-Donchery.
P'rom this point the whole array of the German army could be
surveyed, and the progress of the battle watched in all direc¬
tions.
230
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
SEDAN.
Sedan is situate at one of the finest points of the valley of the
Meuse. Hills crowned with forests rise in terraces on either
side of the river. On the right bank there is a narrow strip of
meadow-land by the water-side; on the left, a little to the left
of Sedan, is an open plain, with the town of Donchery pleas¬
antly situated in its centre. The plain is traversed by a slight
elevation. To the right the river Meuse makes a double curve,
enclosing a strip of land on which lies the village of Iges, with
Villette to the left, and Glaize to the right. Between Iges and
Sedan there is Floing, and further to the right Givonne on the
right bank. The main road between Donchery and Sedan pro¬
ceeds from a bridge at the former city, and half-way touches the
village of Frenoy. Bazeilles, which was opposite to the Bava¬
rians, is southwest of Sedan ; Douzy, where the Guards crossed,
is on the extreme right.
THE BATTLE BEGINS.
A dense fog covered the valley and the hills. Only at half¬
past seven in the morning, the sun broke through the clouds,
when the day became hot and sultry. The army of the Crown
Prince of Saxony began operations a little after five o’clock.
At half-past six a continuous cannonade was heard on our
right, somewhat in the rear of Sedan, indicating the left flank
of the enemy to have been attacked by our troops. But the
French were in excellent position on the hills, and could not
be so easily dislodged. While the fight was going on in this
locality, our left wing prepared to turn the other flank of the
enemy. The Eleventh Corps proceeded along the slight eleva¬
tion in the midst of the plain; the Fifth marched straight on to
get to the enemy’s rear. According to the plan of the battle,
these corps were eventually to effect a junction with our right
wing, and, entirely surrounding the enemy, to cut off his retreat
toward the Ardennes. The Wiirtembergers and the Fourth
Cavalry division, subsequently sent to their support, were to
protect the plain in case the enemy should push forward in this
direction, which, however, was not very probable, as he would
have found it difficult to cross the Meuse, and indeed, had him¬
self destroyed the railway bridge between Donchery and Sedan.
At a quarter past nine the Eleventh Corps d’Armee had so far
turned the enemy’s flank as to come close upon his position.
An increased fire of the batteries marked this moment. The
Saxons, who had designedly reserved their strength for this con-
SEDAN, SEPTEMBER i.
231
tingency, now attacked with an overpowering shock. Shortly
after the right wing of the French began to fall back, but only
to find themselves in the iron embrace of the two Prussian
corps in their rear. At the point where the Eleventh Corps
descended from the hills upon the surprised enemy the resist¬
ance of the French sensibly diminished since half-past ten. In
some places, especially at Iges and on the fields leading down
to Sedan, the fight assumed a desperate character. Being
chiefly attacked by artillery, the French sent their horse to
charge our guns in flank. The French cavalry made two bril¬
liant onslaughts, some regiments, and, above all, the Chasseurs
d’Afrique, behaving with the utmost gallantry. The infantry
gave way earlier, the number of those battalions which surren¬
dered without further resistance being considerable even before
twelve o’clock. In the meantime the Fifth Corps had per¬
formed the long distance to the extreme heights, and after a
sharp encounter succeeded in driving back the detachments
making for the Ardennes.
FRENCH ARTILLERY REPULSED.
Things now assumed a favorable aspect. At half-past twelve
it was announced that the French reserve artillery, which the
Emperor had opposed to our Fifth Corps, was repulsed, and
that only a few scattered bodies of infantry had effected their
retreat across the frontier. Flight being thus rendered impos¬
sible, we had to deal only with the central portion of the battle¬
field — the slight elevation crossing the plains, the hills stretch¬
ing from it to Sedan, and the fortress itself, which formed the
last refuge for the troops driven from the heights.
SURROUNDING SEDAN.
Since quarter of one, the fire of the Prussian batteries on the
right and left wing so rapidly approached one another, that it
was evident the enemy would soon be completely surrounded.
It was a grand sight to watch the sure and irresistible advance
of the Guards, marching on, on the left wing, partly behind,
and partly by the side of the Twelfth Corps d’Armee. Since
quarter past ten, the Guards, preceded by their artillery, had
been pushing toward the wood to the left of Sedan. By the
advancing smoke of their fire we noticed how fast they were
gaining ground.
They were effectively assisted by the Bavarians. After a
smart resistance by the French, the Bavarians had stormed
232
THE FRANCO-PR US STAN WAR.
Bazeilles, which was burned. They then took Balan, south¬
west of Sedan, where a narrow gorge gave them much trouble.
Toward noon they posted two batteries in a meadow to the left
of the road to Sedan. From this point they fired on Villette,
the spire of which was soon enveloped in flames. The French
artillery having been compelled to yield at this point likewise,
there was nothing to stop the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps
from pressing forward in ther gni|c Sicg!
3tu^fii|rUc|er SSeridjt iiber bie Itcbenjabe SlaloIcmfS uttb ber
Jinnee SDMabon’S."
The Herald rejoices at the speedy termination of the war,
and
The World alone has a word of sympathy for Napoleon.
LONDON PRESS.
The Pall Mall Gazette says :
“The news will be regarded as final. If the Emperor hopes, by a hastily patched-up
peace, to find means to transfer the throne to his son, it is the last and greatest delusion
of a life of delusions. He may find it easier to begin than to end war. Peace is by no
means yet certain. There is no Government to make peace. Imperialism is dead. The
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3.
255
substitute is Orleans or a Republic. It can hardly begin by a surrender. France has for
the first time to act. Her eyes are for the first time opened.”
The London Evening Standard says:
“ Sedan is the Emperor’s Waterloo. The Second Empire is now overthrown.” It dep¬
recates exultation, and expresses heartfelt sympathy with the fallen sovereign.
The Echo says:
“The Emperor’s last act does what is possible to redeem his fault. The author of the
war surrenders himself to the conqueror, admitting his own defeat, that he may help avert
that of France.”
FRENCH PRESS.
Le Messager Franco-Americain says, with a dreadful irony :
“The Empire ! Let us hope that the present is the last time we shall have to speak of
the detested thing. The empire has fallen. The empire has capitulated, but France is
erect. France never capitulates. Let the defenders of Bonapartism and his government
now behold their work and their triumphs. Let the poor dupes of the plebiscitic govern¬
ment and of imperial glory contemplate the abyss of shame in which they have plunged the
empire for three times in sixty years. If Bonaparte had the least wish to die, he had the
opportunity to do so while wearing his Caesarean toga. If the first Bonaparte had been
killed at Waterloo, his crimes would have been pardoned ; and if the second had follcAved
the example of the brave General Douay, and been killed by a Prussian ball, France
would have accepted the expiation. But, instead of this, he has surrendered his sword to
the King of Prussia, and yielded to the enemy'he had provoked, and capitulated the army
which accompanied him. Let not King William and Bismarck, with too much audacity,
gloat over their mastery of freedom. These men belong to the same band that Bonaparte
belongs to. They are enemies of each other, only as pirates and brigands are enemies of
each other.”
The Courier des Etats Unis sends up a wail of despair :
“The deed is done. France is broken-hearted. One month has sufficed to paralyze
her, if not to annihilate the living forces of the most grand and powerful people upon the
earth, and at the same time to displace the political axis of the earth. It is useless to dis¬
simulate. The army which has surrendered was the very flower of the military people.
MacMahon destroyed ! Bazaine powerless ! For the rest, France is but a huge mass,
fanatical and patriotic — ready enough to strike its head against the mouths of the Prussian
cannon. There is no more for us an army. The masses, now so full of faith, can do
nothing against military science, against discipline, against new armies. France has been
made to bleed, but she is not humiliated. Still she bears a proud front, and she can look
fiercely in the faces of her enemies and of the world. All her wounds have been received
in the front, and our soldiers are hailed as giants by the very troops before whose superior
numbers they have succumbed.”
THE GERMAN PRESS.
The New Yorker Journal says :
“Ours is the Rhine. For ever and ever will this German stream flow* quietly and unin¬
terruptedly between its splendid shores. The Latin world has gone down, and the Ger¬
manic ascends after a brief pause. The spectre of Caesar sinks in its open grave. The
peace-making German Emperor can say, “ The German Empire is peace,” and this now
will be the truth. Henceforth the people of the earth will be required no longer to spend
their means in heavy war budgets, but can devote themselves to the mission of cultivating
the laws of spiritual and material welfare. But the highest triumph is the German unity.
During the first excitement over the wanton attack the German States gave each other the
hand, and in a glorious war the new alliance was re-sealed. Forever and ever the dis¬
memberment and disagreement of past centuries is gone, and German Union is no longer
an imaginary phantom—a pious wish of honest patriots — but a glorious and powerful
reality.”
From the Staats Zeitung :
“At divers times the vox Jofiuli of Germany has uttered its warning to France, that
should Germany ever be forced to war against the French, she would never sheath her
sword until she had reconquered her old provinces of Lorraine and Alsace. The French
ridiculed this menace, and said that they would yet not only take the whole of the Rhen¬
ish provinces, but also divide Germany. But while the French were dreaming of the line
25G
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
of the Main, German Union has become a fact; and thanks to France, this German Union
is now enabled to revenge the wrongs of past centuries on France, but to obtain that posi¬
tion to which, by its brilliant spirit and power, it is entitled.”
From the Demokrat:
“ The question, whether, after the events of the 2d of September, peace will soon ensue,
can as yet not be answered. France’s best army is used up and disarmed, and the others
will soon, if they have not yet surrendered. But we are as yet without an answer to the
question. What will Paris say? Will she attempt resistance, or submit quiedy ? Will
she appeal to the once powerful word, Republic ? ”
THE CAPTIVE EMPEROR.
Donchery, Septejnber 3. — The Emperor, a prisoner of
war, passed through the streets to-day. It was raining in tor¬
rents. The cortege was preceded by a troop of black hussars
in full uniform, and uncloaked. Then came the brougham
with the Emperor. He was in the kepi undress uniform of a
lieutenant-general, with the star of the Legion of Honor on his
breast. His face looked exceedingly worn, with dark lines
under his eyes, which were observant of what was passing
around, for he saluted the Englishmen who ran out to see him,
and raised his hat. By his side sat a French officer, Achille
Murat. The imperial postilions wore the imperial cockade,
and looked as smart as if they were in the Bois, or en route for
St. Cloud. As the brougham stopped a moment, the people
caught sight of the captive Emperor’s face. He had his hand
to his moustache, which had the well-known points and waxed
ends. But there was no nervous twitching, and the emotion
which shook him for a moment when he was speaking to the
Crown Prince yesterday of the King’s manner, had passed
away. Then he brushed the tears from his eyes with the gloves
he had in one hand, and was overcome for several seconds.
No one cried “ God bless him ! ” no “ Vive L’Empereur ! ”
as was wont to greet his ears as he rode in state to the Bois de
Boulogne. It was like the journey of the first Napoleon to
Toulon, without the enthusiasm. The only sound was the
tramp of horses and the inopportune jingling of bells, of char-
a-bancs and horses ; but now and then a chorus was sung by
the Wurtembergers trudging through the mud, celebrating the
victory. Now the mimic “ Chant du depart" comes from a
neighboring hill, as full of dreadful irony as fell the strains of
“John Brown’s body” on the ears of General Lee at Appo¬
mattox :
“Tremblez cnncmis de la France,
Rois ivres de sang et d’orgueil;
Le peuple souverain s’avance ;
Tyrans, descendez au cercueil.”
THE CAPTIVE EMPEROR, SEPTEMBER 3.
257
Bouillon, September 3, P.M .—The Imperial train is pass¬
ing. The cortege is of great length. First comes the Emper¬
or’s own carriage, a travelling berlin ; then an open carriage;
after these two or three carriages something like prison vans,
all marked “ Maison Militaire de l’Empereur,” and containing
members of the staff. Numbers of horses follow, some mounted
by Imperial servants in liveries. The horses are magnificent
animals, over sixteen hands high. The postilions wear glazed
hats, gay coats, and scarlet waistcoats. There are relays of
horses for carriages, and hacks, saddle-horses, and chargers be¬
yond price.
At noon the Emperor alighted in Bouillon, and walked to
the hotel. The crowd of people was enormous, but was kept
off by the Belgian troops. French officers of high grade, among
them Prince Murat, strolled about. The Emperor appeared
at a window, and the crowd hurrahed. The French prisoners
were silent — they made no response. It was impossible to
find quarters and food at the hotel. The Emperor dined first,
then his suite, and the rest ate what they could get. About two
o’clock, the Emperor, accompanied by General Castelnau,
came to the door of the railway station. He seemed well, his
face showing no emotion. Though he leaned heavily on the
arm of the servant who led him out, he walked well. De¬
spatches were handed him, and he sat down out doors on the
platform, and wrote replies. He afterward paced up and down
the platform, smoking cigarettes. He returned to the waiting-
room, and read the Independance Beige until the special train
arrived, when he departed.
A friend condoling with the Emperor expressed the hope that
his popularity in Paris was not gone. The Emperor replied :
“ It matter not. I shall return there to exact a reck¬
oning, NOT TO GIVE ONE.”
EUGENIE’S FAREWELL WORDS.
The unhappy Empress, pale and quivering, receives the sad
news of Sedan. Beautiful becomes her bereavement when in
spirit she goes back again to that widowed mother in Madrid,
whom she had left seventeen years before, to become the Em¬
press of France. Before the last sad drop of the Imperial curtain
comes a beautiful benediction —the daughter to the mother !
Ma chere Mere : Paris, Sept . 4, 1870.
General Wimpffen, who had taken command after MacMahon had been wounded, has
capitulated, and the Emperor has been made prisoner. Alone and without command, he
has submitted to that which he could not avert. All day he was under fire. Courage,
dear mother; if France will, she can defend herself. I will do my duty.
Your unhappy daughter,
Madame la Comtesse de Montijo, Madrid. Eugenie.
VIVE LA REPUBLIQUE!
THE SYMPATHY OF THE WORLD CHANGES IN FAVOR OF
THE REPUBLIC.
Sunday, September 4. — The French Republic declared in
the Hotel de Ville. The dechea?ice of Napoleon III. pro¬
claimed. Gambetta declares the new Provisional Government.
Rochefort released from prison. Ovation to Victor Hugo.
The Tuileries invaded by the mob. Intense excitement in
Paris. American sympathy for the Republic. The Prussians
continue their march on Paris. The Empress Eugenie in
Brussels. The Emperor passes through Belgium a prisoner.
THE REVOLUTION (REMARK).
To-day the world is revolutionized. The Empire — the lie
which drenches France in blood, and sends a cry of death and
despair over the hills and valleys of central Europe — is dead /
The ugly form of Ciesarism goes out in darkness. The young
Republic is born, and proclaimed where, a month ago, stood
the proudest throne in Europe. The Republic is strength —
it is peace ! The voice of the young Republic, crying from the
tumultuous streets of Paris, rouses universal sympathy. The
world is changed. Yesterday it was the struggle of despotism
with despotism : to-day it is despotism, Herod-like, at the
throat of an infant Republic.
How America, who loved Hungary and Greece, and who
weeps, Government tied, for Cuba, stretches forth her hands to¬
day toward this young Republic ! Yesterday she sympathized
THE REPUBLIC , SEPTEMBER 4.
259
with Prussia — an insulted despotism : to-day she embraces the
mother of Lafayette. Ties of gratitude bind America to France.
France was her ally ; hatred for Napoleon made America for¬
get France.
Our country nursed her young Republic in 1848. We saw
it strangled in the coils of Caesarism in 1852. The surrender
of Napoleon III. frees the Republic, and the cry of the old
liberty of’48 comes over the Atlantic again.
The American people would be false to their noblest instincts, they would
belie all their generous utterances in the past, and prove recreant to the
honored principles of their fathers, if their hearts did not go out in fervent,
forward sympathy with a great, heroic nation, their ancient ally, who, in
this season of sudden humiliation and sore calamity, courageously holds aloft
the banner of free institutions, and places itself in the van of a great repub¬
lican movement in Europe. Providence has vouchsafed to France a great
opportunity, such as seldom occurs in the history of nations; and she has
had the wisdom to recognize and improve it. Out of the nettle, danger,
she magnanimously attempts to pluck the flower, freedom. Every true
American heart, every heart whose pulsations were ever quickened by the
spectacle of heroic efforts of patriotism blended with aspirations for liberty,
will wish well to France in this hour of trial, of hope, of transition, and
possibly of renewed conflict with the invader, who, after having bestowed
upon her this great opportunity, may interpose to crush the expanding blos¬
som in the bud.
The whole aspect of this wonderful, this terribly destructive war has sud¬
denly changed, as if by the stroke of an enchanter’s wand. Hitherto, it has
been a war against the French empire ; if it is continued, it will be a war
against the French people.
•
HOW THE REPUBLIC WAS DECLARED.
EXCITING SCENES IN PARIS.
Paris, Sunday morning , Sept. 4.
The Empire is dead, and the Republic has risen from the
ruins. The commotion commenced on Saturday. The news
of the Emperor’s surrender and the capitulation of MacMahon’s
army were made known to the Empress at seven o’clock in the
evening. She immediately retired into her apartment, and re¬
fused to received even intimate friends. Toward nine the broad
facts were known to a few persons only, but a general uneasi¬
ness prevailed, and angry groups assembled. At eleven o’clock
on Sunday, while the Mobiles, on their way to camp at Saint
Maur, accompanied by a small crowd, were proceeding up the
Boulevards toward the Bastille, they sung the Marseillaise, and
2G0
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
some shouted “ La Decheance.” This cry had been already
heard in other localities.
THE NEWS OUT.
The news was not generally known till after nine on Sunday
morning, when the Ministerial statement appeared on the walls
and in the morning papers. Soon immense excitement was ap¬
parent everywhere. By noon, the Place de la Concorde was
crowded, and the passage of the bridge interrupted to the public
by the police sergeants, gendarmerie on horseback, and the
troops on the bridge, and around the Chamber. Popular Deputies
were recognized, and met with acclamations and cries of “ La
Decheance ! ” and “Vive la Republique ! ” As the day wore on,
the crowds augmented. On the passage of companies of Na¬
tional Guards, the people shouted “ Vive National Guard ! ”
“ Vive la Republique ! ” and the Guards reciprocated.
THE CROWD OVERPOWERS ALL RESISTANCE.
At two p.m. the gates of the Tuileries garden were closed,
and had remained so since morning, watched by the Zouaves
and other detachments of the Imperial Guard. The people on
the outside were trying to shake the gates on the side of the
Place de la Concorde. At half-past tw r o, a rush was made by a
part of the crowd, headed by some of the National Guard. The
police sergeants and gendarmes made an armed demonstration
of resistance, but suddenly yielded, and the crowd rushed by,
shouting, “ La Decheance ” and “ Vive la Republique. 1 *’ People
fraternized with the gendarmes and troops, and these with the
National Guard.
THE MOB INVADES THE CORPS LEGISLATIF.
At an earlier hour in the Corps Legislatif, the Deputies were
returning to appoint a committee to consider the three proposals
submitted by Palikao, Thiers, and Favre. A company of Na¬
tional Guards having charge of the gates shouted “ La Deche¬
ance,” and as the Deputies passed, some few Nationals
mounted the steps of the Palace of the Corps Legislatif, and
signalled their comrades from the Pont de la Concorde. Pre¬
sently the latter rushed forward, followed by the crowd, all
classes intermixed, and shouting “ Vive la Republique ! ” Once
inside the palace gates, the people spread themselves all over
the building, except the hall where the sessions of the Deputies
are held. The next hall was occupied by troops, who frater¬
nized with the people.
REPUBLIC, PARIS , SEPTEMBER 4.
2G1
THE PEOPLE CRY “ DOWN WITH THE IMPERIALISTS ! ”
The Right, the friends of the Empire, are not allowed to
speak. The crowd hisses them down. Cretnieux, of the Left,
an influential young Republican, addresses the people. They
listen, but demand the withdrawal of the troops. Palikao, Im¬
perial Secretary of War, appears, and promises that the troops
shall be removed.
Schneider, led by two officers, crosses the court-yard, pale,
haggard, and with tears in his eyes. He disappears into the
hall where the sessions are held. Attempts are made to force
its doors. Gen. Motterouge orders the National Guards to de¬
fend the entry. There are loud cries of “Decheance” and
“Vive la Republique.”
THE CONSTERNATION OF SCHNEIDER.
In one of the galleries somebody begins a speech. A few
Deputies of the Right enter, but suddenly, as if panic-stricken,
they retreat precipitately.
Schneider, the strong friend of the Right and the Empire, now
appears. He attempts to speak against the decheance. The
crowd cry, “ Down, down I ” Schneider loses his nerve, and
seizing his hat, flies in fear from the Chamber and his Presiden¬
tial chair. Gambetta, the strong Republican, speaks. The peo¬
ple listen, for it is a voice from the Left. He says, “ Await the
arrival of the Representatives, and they will bring in the question
of decheance." (Enthusiastic applause.) “The majority must
proclaim the dechea?icel'
THE LEFT TO THE HOTEL DE VILLE.
It is now three o’clock. Suddenly a crowd of people rush into
the hall. The Deputies try to keep them back, but the hall is
entirely invaded. The President puts on his hat and leaves the
hall, declaring the session closed. As he quits his seat, National
Guards and people come crowding in. There are general cries
of “Vive la Republique.” The Deputies of the Left mix with
the people, and all cry, “To the Hotel de Ville ! ” Gambetta
and other Republican leaders leave the Chambers, and go in pro¬
cession down the Pont de la Concorde, followed by the
crowd.
Meanwhile, outside the Chambers, men climb up to the statue
of Law over the portal, and destroy the eagle which adorns
the baton in the hands of the image. Then it is itself destroyed
— the head first, then the arms. Gambetta and the procession
pass down the Quai des Tuileries. Soldiers applaud, and shout
282
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
with the crowd. A lieutenant-colonel cries “ Vive la Repub-
lique !” the procession stops, and fraternizes. The Turcos and
the Spahis at the barracks of the Quai d’Orsay wave their
turbans. The flag over the pavilion of the Tuileries is hauled
down. In front of the Prefecture there are cries of “ Down with
Pietri.” The Prefecture is closely shut.
THE REPUBLIC IS DECLARED.
Arrived in front of the Hotel de Ville, the crowd forces its
way in. Jules Favre and Jules Ferry go to the further end of
the great hall. Two Gardes Mobile, with drawn swords, clam¬
ber up the ornamental chimney, and seat themselves in the lap
of a marble nymph. Gambetta, Cremieux, and Keratry press
in, and take a place beside Favre, followed by Picard, Etienne
Arago, Glais-Bazoin, Schoelcher, and others. Gambetta, Crem¬
ieux, and Keratry are by themselves at the Mayor’s table.
Amid the tumult, Gambetta declares the Republic a fact, and
that E. Arago is appointed Mayor of Paris. The people shout
approval. The Bureau is constituted. Keratry is appointed
Prefect of Police. The Bureau retires to constitute a Provi¬
sional Government and Ministry. At four o’clock the Bureau
returns, and Gambetta declares the Provisional Government
constituted under the title of Government for the National De¬
fence, consisting of Arago, Cremieux, Favre, Simon, Gambetta,
Ferry, Glais-Bizoin, Garnier-Pages, Pelletan, and Picard.
ROCHEFORT.
The people shout Rochefort’s name, It is added amid accla¬
mation. The members of Government again retire. There is
a discussion whether the tricolor or the red flag is to be
adopted. Schoelcher says “ tricolor,” and it is adopted.
Suddenly a carriage arrives. A number of men are drawing
it. Crowds follow and accompany it. There are four persons
in the carriage. One is very pale. It is Rochefort. He has
just been liberated from Sainte-Pelagie prison. There are
enthusiastic shouts on his being recognized. He is borne into
the Hotel de Ville upon the shoulders of the people, who now
— men, women, and children — make their way into it. The
leaders of the new republic have already retired, but the people
visit all the apartments. The revolution is over. An empire
has fallen, and a republic has been reared in its stead, without
riot, without bloodshed. It has been done in an hour.
THE DEMONSTRATIONS AT THE TUILERIES.
It becomes known that the Emperor is deposed by the Cham-
PARIS, SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 4.
203
ber, and that the Republic is declared. The people rush upon
the police sergeants, and disarm them. One National Guard
has his head gashed with a sword, and is led away. The police
sergeants get off the best way they can. The people assail the
gates of the Tuileries. The guards, after a menace, consent to
a parley. The men clamber up and wrench off the eagles from
the gates. The gates are presently opened, and the people
flock in, going toward the palace. The flag is still flying from
the top of the Central Pavilion. The crowd approaches
the private garden. There is a detachment of troops there.
The officer is summoned to open the gates. He refuses, but
says he can let his men be replaced by the National Guard.
This is done, and the officer saves his honor. The people walk
in, and immediately invade the interior of the palace. The flag
is torn, and handed down. The Empress has left. The Mobiles
and people amuse themselves looking at the albums and the
Prince Imperial’s playthings. They notice that the draperies
of the windows are partly removed. The people write with
chalk, “ Death to thieves.” They respect property. Then the
Guards, National and Mobile, line the road which leads from
the Tuileries to the Carrousel. The people defile through, shout¬
ing, “This is our property,” and has volatile” (down with
the poultry). The mob write upon the walls, but disturb noth¬
ing. One chalks down this “stanza” :
“ Les deux Napoleons les gloires sont 6gales,
Quoiqu’ ayant pris les chemins inegaux ;
L’un de 1 ’Europe a pris les capitales,
L’autre au pays a prix les capitaux.”
DESERTED.
On the ground floor there is great disorder. The Empress
has just left. Somebody says “ The poor Empress. ! how her
friends have deserted her /” The Imperial apartments are filled
with empty trunks, work-boxes, and the Empress’s bed is un¬
made. The Emperor’s room is full of the Prince’s things. On
the sofa is a child’s sword, half unsheathed. On the floor,
buried in old newspapers, is a revolver case. Here are cigar
boxes, and vials of phosphate of iron.
IN THE PRINCE’S STUDY.
Lead soldiers are strewn over the carpet. An historical ex¬
ercise book lies open on the table. The last exercise written
by the Prince begins thus :
“Louis XV. Bourbon, Fleury (1723-1741). Regency resumed. Bourbon. 1723-1726.
Bourbon. — Madame dc Prie, Pzris-Duverttois \Duvernay was intended]. At home, cor-
264
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
ruption, stock-jobbing, frivolity, intolerance. Abroad, marriage of the King with Mario
Laczynska. Rupture with Spain, which country displays Austrian tendencies,” etc., etc.
A BREAKFAST INTERRUPTED.
In one room a breakfast is prepared. It is simple — only a
boiled egg, a little cheese, and some bread. In the Emperor’s
apartment, several maps of Prussia ; busts and statuettes of
the Imperial Prince; a great number of little painted figures,
representing Prussian soldiers and officers in uniform; also,
volumes with annotations. A repast is ordered in the kitchen
for the regulars. For the first time in eighteen years, the peo¬
ple go through every room in the Imperial Palace. They own
it under the Republic — and guard it as their own.
THE END OF THE DAY.
Even now (midnight) crowds of people are still on the Boule¬
vards, and there is still great commotion and excitement, but
no rioting. People look as though relieved of an immense load.
A large “ tree of liberty” is planted near the Bastile, and cov¬
ered with flags and flowers.
THE ROCHEFORT EPISODE
was as follows: A hundred of Rochefort’s constituents met,
by appointment, at three p. m., at the Great Market Hall. At
a given signal, the leader raised a cane with a flag attached to
it, and a shout, “To Sainte-Pelagie ! ” ascended. The group
was joined by other men, who up to that time had been lurking
in the immediate vicinity, making in all about 300 when they
reached the prison. There were three marines acting as sen¬
tries outside. One of them made believe to lower his bayonet.
It was raised by his comrade. The third followed his example.
The crowd took the guns and broke them, but fraternized with
the marines. There was no opposition from the wardens.
Rochefort’s cell doors were burst in, and he was taken out.
There was no coach at the door. A lady passing in one
got out of it, and made Rochefort get in. He was driven to the
Hotel de Ville, arriving there at five, and was carried in triumph
to the throne room, where, amid the shouts and congratulations
of friends, he learns that he is a member of the new Republi¬
can Government.
OVATION TO VICTOR HUGO.
There was a great ovation to Victor Hugo, and a torchlight
ovation to Thiers, whom some portion of the people desire to
see appointed Minister of Finance.
PARIS, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 .
265
A number of the Democratic leaders of Paris, including Victor
Hugo’s sons, M. Rochefort M. Glais-Bizoin, the venerable
Michelet, M. Laboulaye, and others, had assembled to meet the
exiled poet and patriot.
A hasty arch had been thrown up over the doorway of the
station, and wreathed with the flags of France, Italy, the United
States, Switzerland, and Spain. Much attention was excited by
the appearance among these standards of the flag of the Ger¬
man Republic of 1848.
M. HUGO’S SPEECH.
Citizens — I have come back from an exile of twenty years simultane¬
ously with the Republic. The Republic comes to defend in Paris the capital
of civilization. Paris must not be sullied by invasion ; for to invade Paris is
to invade liberty — it is to invade civilization. No such invasion shall
triumph. Paris will be saved by the union of all souls, all hearts, all arms
in her defence. The defeat of Paris means new hatreds, new resentments,
new barriers between people and people. Paris must be victorious in the
name of fraternity, for only by making the fraternity of all possible can the
liberty of all be gained.
THE AMERICAN FLAG.
Pointing to the American flag, Victor Hugo said, “That banner of
stars speaks to-day to Paris and to Franee, proclaiming the miracles of power
which are easy to a great people contending for a great principle — the lib¬
erty of every race, the fraternity of all.”
The speech was immensely cheered, and the speaker fairly
carried by the people to his carriage. He looks well, though
aged — his long locks gone, his dark beard white, his eyes full
of fire, his voice as firm as ever.
The Minister of the Interior proclaims the following at eight
P.M. :
PROCLAMATION OF DECHEANCE.
Republique Francaise, Ministere de l’Interieur.
The deckeance has been pronounced in the Corps Legislatif. The Repub¬
lic has been proclaimed at the Hotel de Ville. A government of national
defence, composed of eleven members, and all the Deputies of Paris, has
been constituted and ratified by popular acclamation. Their names are:
Emmanuel Arago, Cremieux, Jules Favre, Jules Ferry, Gambetta, Gar-
nier-Pages, Glais-Bizoin, Pellatan, Ernest Picard, Rochefort, Jules Simon.
Gen. Trochu will at the same time continue in the exercise of the powers
of Governor of Paris, and is appointed Minister of War in place of Gen.
Palikao.
Please placard immediately, and, if necessary, have proclaimed by the
public crier this declaration.
For the Government of National Defence. Leon Gambetta,
The Minister of the Interior.
Paris, the 4th day of September, 1870, at six o’clock p. m.
12
2G6
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
TO PREFECTS OF DEPARTMENTS.
Paris, Sept. 4, 1870.
Gen. Trochu, Governor of Paris, has been appointed member of the Gov¬
ernment of National Defence, installed at the Hotel de Ville. He takes
the portfolio of War, and his colleagues have conferred upon him the Presi¬
dency. Leon Gambetta.
The offices of the Provisional Government are distributed as follows:
Minister of Foreign Affairs — Jules Favre.
Minister of Justice — Isaac Cremieux.
Minister of the Interior — Leon Gambetta.
Minister of Finance — Ernest Picard.
Superintendent of Public Works- — Pierre Dorian.
Minister of Commerce — Joseph Magnin.
Superintendent of Public Instruction — -Jules Simon.
Minister of Marine — Martin Fourichon.
Minister of War — Louis Jules Trochu ; also, President of the Com¬
mittee.
Seals have been placed on the doors of the Corps Legislatif.
NEW YORK SALUTES THE REPUBLIC.
American flags were displayed on the City Hall in honor
of the proclamation of the French republic. In 1830 there
was the grandest procession ever witnessed in the city of
New York, in honor of the downfall of Charles the Tenth, and
the establishing of a republic in France. In 1848 there was a
remarkable display of bunting in honor of the formation of an¬
other republic in France. These demonstrations were wit¬
nessed by the present generation; but like the illusion of a
dream, or the mirage upon the desert or the ocean, republi¬
canism, as a power, was swept away from the soil of France be¬
fore the French people really had the opportunity to compre¬
hend the situation. Republicanism is the root of the political
policy of the French people, but, unfortunately, imperialism has
been the blossom and the fruit.
FLIGHT OF THE EMPRESS.
The deposition of the Napoleon dynasty was voted in the
Corps Legislatif about one o’clock on Sunday afternoon. At
two o’clock, M. Pietri — then Prefect of Police— rushed breath¬
lessly into the Empress’s apartments at the Tuileries with the
startling announcement and warning : “ The decheance has been
declared. I have not a moment to lose. Save your life, Ma¬
dame, as I am now hastening to save my own ! ” Then he dis¬
appeared — and with good reason too, for the Revolutionary
Government would give something to be able to lay hands
upon him now. The Empress found herself alone with her old
FLIGHT OF THE EMPRESS.
267
and trusty secretary and friend, Madame le Breton, and with
M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, who both earnestly urged her to fly
at once. ' But her high spirit made this a most unpalatable
counsel. It was a cowardice — une lacliete — to desert the
palace. She would rather be treated as was Marie Antoinette
by the mob, than seek safety in an unworthy flight. For a time,
all persuasion was useless; but at length Her Majesty’s mood
calmed, and she saw the utter uselessness of remaining.
Attended only by the two companions we have named, the
Empress fled through the long gallery of the Louvre ; but sud¬
denly her course was stopped short by a locked door. The lit¬
tle party could distinctly hear the shouts of the crowds who
were invading the private gardens of the Tuileries. M. de Les¬
seps, to gain time, proposed that he should go out on the ter¬
race and get the soldiers on guard to hold back the people for
a few minutes, while in addition he would delay the crowds by
addressing them. The resort to this expedient was not neces¬
sary. Madame le Breton found ihe key, opened the door that
had obstructed their progress, and gave egress to Her Majesty,
who, accompanied only by her tried friend, issued into the
street at the bottom of the Louvre. There they hurriedly en¬
tered a common fiacre , not without a risk of detection on the
spot, for a diminutive gamin de Paris , not more than twelve
years old, shouted, “ Vo i let 1' I mperatr ice ! ” Luckily, no one
about heard or heeded him ; and the cab got safely away with
the two ladies.
They drove to M. de Lessep’s house in the Boulevard de
Malesherbes, where the Empress sat until she was joined by M.
de Metternich, who did what he could to facilitate her depart¬
ure to a place of safety. Later in the evening, the Empress,
still accompanied by Madame le Breton, drove to the Gare du
Nord, escaped all detection — thanks to the thick veil which
she wore — and at seven o’clock rolled safe and unsuspected
away toward the Belgian frontier.
THE FLIGHT TO ENGLAND.
Morning found the flying Empress at Trouville, on the chan¬
nel, opposite England.
Sir John Burgoyne’s yacht was lying off Trouville, when a
Frenchman came on board, asking to be allowed to look over
an English yacht. Sir John, half suspecting him to be a French
spy, allowed him to look about. Soon after this visitor was
gone, two French gentlemen came on board with the same re¬
quest, and after asking many questions as to the sailing powers
2G8
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
of the Gazelle , begged to be allowed to speak to Sir John
alone.
“ What! M. de Lesseps ? ” exclaimed Sir John, the young
Crimean hero, when he recognized his old friend.
“Yes, yes, my dear Sir John, but don’t waste any time — will
you do me the greatest service I ever demanded of any human
being ?”
“ Name it,” said the gallant soldier.
“ Will you find me three places on your yacht for the pas¬
sage to England on Wednesday ? ”
“ Is that all?” said Sir John, laughing; “the places will be
ready for you.”
There was again a momentary pause, during which M. de
Lesseps fixedly regarded the young man.
“Do you know?” he asked rapidly, as if ashamed of the
doubt which had prompted his scrutiny — “ do you know whom
you will carry with you as my compag?io 7 i de voyage ?"
Sir John smiled, and shook his head.
“ Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of the French,” said M.
de Lesseps quietly.
The two men rose, and clasped hands. No word was spoken,
but they understood one another. M. de Lesseps was affected
to tears, and Sir John was scarcely less moved.
On Tuesday evening, Sept. 6, the Empress came on board
privately, and the yacht weighed anchor at once, and set sail
for Ryde. The Empress was wholly unprovided with luggage,
not having even a comb and brush, or a change of linen with
her. The crossing was very rough, the sea washing over the
deck, and the Empress was wayworn and exhausted when she
arrived at Ryde.
EUGENIE MEETS LOUIS.
Early on Thurday morning, the little vessel cut into Ryde,
and the Empress, taking a most affectionate leave of her gen¬
erous host, made her way to the York Hotel, where she partook
of breakfast. She then crossed by the ordinary steamer to
Portsmouth, where she immediately took train for Hastings, ar¬
riving there at about nine on Thursday night, September 8th.
Leaving the Empress at the depot , M. de Lesseps went to
the Hotel where the Prince Imperial had been directed to put
up. The Prince was there, and M. de Lesseps was just leeving
the house to tell the Empress, when a veiled figure rnshed past
him on the stairs.
It was the Empress, and before her astonished guide could
LIVES OF THE NEW MINISTRY.
269
restrain her either by voice or gesture, mother and son were
locked in a close and almost convulsive embrace.
“ Mon pauvre Louis! Mon pauvre Louis, maintenant je
n’ai que toi.”
“ And papa,” said the child ; and before he could continue, the
doors of the drawing-room were closed upon mother and son.
Words cannot convey the solemn tenderness of that meeting
between the ex-Empress and the child so lately the hope of
France!
Both mother and child looked fearfully worn and ill, the child
especially bearing evident traces of the effects of nervous ex¬
citement. His eyes, naturally large, appeared unusually so,
and they attracted the particular attention of the Empress, who
was observed to push back the hair from the boy’s forehead, and
after looking at him long and earnestly, to close each eyelid with
a kiss.
The scene proved too trying for the Empress. On Friday
she kept her room, and sent for the same physician who had
ministered to Louis Philippe on a similar occasion. On Sun¬
day the Empress appeared for the first time in public, at church.
As soon as her presence in England was known, the Queen
wrote an autograph letter to her, and the Prince of Wales pro¬
posed to pay her a visit. The Empress begged to be left in¬
cognito.
SKETCHES OF MEMBERS OF THE PROVISIONAL
GOVERNMENT.
The following are brief biographical sketches of the princi¬
pal members of the provisional government of France:
LEON GAMBETTA, MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR.
M. Gambetta was born at Cahors in 1838. He made little noise at
college, but was a hard worker, although he toiled after his own fashion and
when he pleased, agreeing but indifferently with his tutors, and regarded by
them as rather eccentric than intelligent. He was self-possessed and vehe¬
ment in tone, fond of solitude, fairly worshipping his own personal indepen¬
dence, but too precocious and too eminently gifted, perhaps, to be under¬
stood by his classmates. He came to Paris, went through his law studies
there, and entered the bar as the secretary of M. Cremieux, who gave him
his confidence, his friendship, called him his “son” upon all occasions, and
predicted for him a brilliant future.
Gambetta soon became known among knots of friends at lectures and at the bar. His
rapid advancement has surprised none who were acquainted with him, for his triumphs were
expected, and were looked upon by all as inevitable. Occasions for them were sure to
arise, and the greatest of these was the Baudin affair, when the Republicans of Paris gath¬
ered at the tomb of that orator and martyr of their cause. It was this striking incident
which prepared the way for Gambelta’s entrance to the Chamber, where his high tone, yet
270
THE FRAN CO-PR US SIAM WAR.
determined Liberalism, and his tact and eloquence combined as a debater, soon placed him
among its leading minds.
Let us glance at the physique of the man. His complexion is pallid, contrasting strongly
with very thick black hair and beard. He has a masculine and intellectual head, solidly
embedded in a stalwart pair of shoiilders. His bust is superb, and his frame thick-set and
muscular. His walk is brisk, yet firm, and his speech rapid and energetic. His voice,
which never seems to tire, is sometimes full of cadence, sometimes stunning in its intona¬
tions, and somewhat low, but always powerful. His countenance is a very attractive and
sympathetic combination of Italian delicacy — for he is of Genoese origin — and of Gascon
vigor, full of commingled thoughtfulness and audacity, frankness and haughtiness. His
nose is straight and regular, with strongly marked nostrils, broadly dilated. His mouth is
neatly cleft, with fair expansion, and is none the worse for a strongly disdainful lip, that is
sometimes brightened by a hearty laugh of Rabelaisian mirth. His arms are muscular, and
yet lengthened as though to clasp an adversary; and his hand is broad, firm, solid, and
seems made for energetic grasping and setting free by turns.
When Gambetta is in repose, the observer would say that he is just about to leap upward
or to take his flight in the air ; in other words, that he is going to speak. His large black eye
looks upward and far away into the distance. He then seems to be counting the “ black
spots ” on the horizon. Yet this does not prevent his scanning with sufficient accuracy the
minor questions that swarm below and on either side. His mind is versatile enough to
sweep in at one and the same moment the grandest topics and the most minute details.
He can soar aloft or creep belovv, and is just as much at home amid the intricacies of affairs
as on the loftier heights of politics.
Gambetta is, above all things, a popular orator and advocate, and it would be impossible
to find one more electrical or more vibratory in the shock and tremor of his words.
He lives in modest appartments on the fifth floor at No. 45 Rue Bonaparte. A few en¬
gravings, a good many books, a bust of Mirabeau, form about all the luxuries of these
quiet quarters, which have been occupied by the student, the lawyer, and the deputy in the
successive stages of his career. Such is, in brief, a hasty picture of the man whom the
grand events of the current year have made a conspicuous figure in French contemporan¬
eous history, and who is now called to the front in a decisive hour.
GABRIEL CLAUDE JULES FAVRE, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
The name of M. Favre heads the list of members composing the Provis¬
ional Government. This distinguished politician was born at Lyons on the
31st of March, 1809, his father being engaged in commercial pursuits.
Sent to Paris to receive his education, he was there studying law when the
revolution of 1830 broke out. In a letter published in the National on the
29th of July, he declared in favor of the abolition of monarchy and the crea¬
tion of a constitutional republic.
His views, however, were not adopted. Louis Philippe ascended the throne, and the
young Republican student immediately after engaged in the practice of law. Returning
to Lyons, almost his first public appearance at the bar was as counsel for the workingmen
charged with belonging to illegal associations. This affair was the signal for a bloody
struggle between the workingmen and the garrison, during which M. Favre narrowly es¬
caped death from a fire of musketry directed at him. In 1835 he defended the revolution¬
ists of April, and began his great speech with the defiant avowal, “ I am a Republican.”
As an orator as well as a revolutionist, he had by this time made a considerable reputation,
and was recognized as one of the heads of the Republican party of France.
Until 1848, M. Favre remained out of office, but still a never-ending thorn in the side of
the Government. The revolution of 1S48 succeeded as much under his leadership as under
that of any other man in France. He was at once appointed Secretary General of the
Ministry of the Interior, and as such wrote the famous circulars to the commissioners of the
Provisional Government instructing them how to exercise their almost unlimited powers.
Soon after he was elected a representative from the Department of the Loire, when he at once
resigned his office in the Ministry. During the same year he acted for a brief while as
Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and in this capacity supported the prosecution of
Louis Blanc and Caussidiere for the insurrection of June. Voting with the extreme Left, he
refused to vote the national thanks to General Cavaignac. Soon after he became an oppo¬
nent of Louis Napoleon, and bitterly denounced the expedition to Rome. He was re¬
elected to the Legislature from the Department of the Rhone, and, after the flight of
Ledru-Rollin, became the leader of the “ Mountain.” The coup d’etat of 1851 put an end
to the political career of M. Favre for six years. In 1857, however, he was elected to the
Corps Logislatif as an opposition member. As the ejefender of the conspirator Orsini, he
created a great sensation by his denunciations of tyrants. Since then he has remained a
member of the Corps, and been distinguished by his bitter hostility to the empire. He is a
LIVES OF THE NEW MINISTRY.
271
radical Republican, a brilliant orator, and an author of note. What his capacity as a states¬
man is, remains to be seen.
LOUIS JOSEPH ERNEST PICARD, MINISTER OF FINANCE.
M. Picard, who has just been appointed one of the Committee of Public
Defence and Minister of Finance, was born in Paris on the 24th of Decem¬
ber, 1821.
He is a strong Republican politician, and, like many others of the Parisian politicians
of the French capital, is a lawyer by profession, being called to the bar in 1844. He was
elected a member of the Corps L6gislatif for the Fifth Circonscription of the Department of
Seine in 1858, since which time he has been more or less actively engaged in politics.
JULES SIMON, MINISTER OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.
M. Simon is a native of Lorient, where he was born on the 31st of De¬
cember, 1814. He received a brilliant education, which was concluded at
the Normal School.
Selecting philosophy as his profession, he was employed in 1835 in teaching that science at
the Lyc6e de Caen, and subsequently at other places, gaining great reputation by his numer¬
ous lectures and writings. In 1845 he was decorated with the Legion of Honor. During
the following year he was an opposition candidate for the Chamber of Deputies, and was
beaten ; but in 1848, when he espoused the cause of the revolution, he was elected by the
same Department by 63,000 votes. In the Assembly he voted with the moderate Republi¬
cans. He was made a member of the Council of State in 1849. Refusing to give his con¬
sent to the coup d'etat, he was forced into temporary retirement, from which he emerged
when elected an opposition member to the Corps L6gislatif. He was known as one of the
most determined opponents of Louis Napoleon, but was not regarded as an extreme Repub¬
lican. As a philosopher, M. Simon has achieved a brilliant reputation. His published
works are quite voluminous, and rank with those of Cuvier and other eminent writers on
philosophy.
MAJOR-GENERAL TROCHU, MINISTER OF WAR.
This distinguished officer, who is now in command at Paris, bears the
reputation of being one of the ablest military men in Europe. He is fifty-
four years of age, having been born in 1816. He was educated at the mili¬
tary school of St. Cyr, where he displayed marked aptness and ability.
On graduating, he was commissioned a sub-lieutenant in the army, and was
soon after sent to Algeria. Here Lieutenant Trochu, as is the case witli
nearly all of the prominent generals of France, first saw military service.
In the numerous campaigns against the Arabs he greatly distinguished himself by his
skill and gallantry, and at the outbreak of the revolution of 1848 had risen to the rank of
major. Immediately after the re-establishment of the empire he was commissioned a col¬
onel, and for a time served on the staff of the Emperor Napoleon. During the war between
France and England on the one side, and Russia on the other. Colonel Trochu was sent to the
Crimea as the confidential agent of Napoleon He took part in all the military councils of
the allied commanders, and is said to have had more to do with determining the action of
the French army than either Marshal St. Arnaud or General Canrobert. For his services
he was promoted to the rank of general of brigade. The Italian campaign of 1859, report
has it, was planned by him and the late Marshal Niel. Its complete success is well known
to all students of history. Subsequently Trochu was made major-general. It is certain
that until i860 he was looked upon as a supporter and friend of Napoleon. Since then it
is claimed that there has been a coldness existing between the two, Trochu laboring under
the impression that he has been overslaughed by the Emperor, who has promoted inferior
officers over him. But it is not true that he was always an adherent of the Orleans dy¬
nasty. He may be now, and if he is, his partisanship dates since the Italian war. As regards
the present war, the General is not only reported to be a bitter enemy to Prussia and in
favor of it, but also to have prepared a plan of campaign, offensive and defensive, and if
these statements be true, we may depend that he will continue the struggle to the bitter
end. Trochu is a Liberal, and his sentiments in favor of parliamentary government have
long been known. He is not a Republican, however. Soon after the defeat of Marshal
MacMahon at Woerth, General Trochu was appointed Governor of Paris, a position he
still holds in connection with the office of Minister of War. Whether he will remain faith¬
ful to the Republic, now that one has been proclaimed, or intrigue for a restoration of the
monarchy, time alone can decide.
JULES GREVY, PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL.
M. Grevy was born at Mont-sous-Vandrez, in the Jura, in 1810. He
272
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
moved to Paris when a young man, studied law, and after his admission to
the bar became conspicuous on account of the radical sentiments he gave
expression to at every opportunity.
After the revolution of 1848, he was appointed a Commissioner of the Provisional Govern¬
ment in his Department, and exercised his powers with much discretion and moderation.
He was subsequently elected a member of the Constituent Assembly by a large majority,
and became Vice-President of the Assembly and a member of the Committee of Justice.
As a representative, he was noted for his conservative sentiments — although he generally
voted with the extreme Left — and for his eloquence as an orator. After the election of
Louis Napoleon, he went into opposition, and denounced the expedition to Rome. Re¬
elected to the Assembly, he remained faithful to the democracy, and opposed the coalition
between the Royalists and Bonapartists. The coup cTetat drove him from political life, to
which he returned last year, when he was elected to the Corps L6gislatif.
GARNIER-PAGES.
Louis Antoine Gamier-Pages was born in Marseilles on the 17th of July,
1803. The double name he bears is owing to the fact that his mother had
been twice married. When the revolution of 1830 broke out, Gamier-Pages
played his part, though an unimportant one, in and around the barricades
in the streets of Paris.
When quiet was restored, and the machinery of government was again in running order
in the French capital, Garnier-PagGs was returned as a deputy of the arrondissement of
Verneuil, and took his seat in the Chamber on the Liberal side. From the tenor of his
speeches and the course which he pursued, it was evident that he had given the subjects of
finance and commerce no small degree of attention. This was acknowledged on both
sides of the house, and his remarks on these important questions attracted considerable
attention. He became one of the leaders of the organization which was engaged in the
getting up of the banquets known as the reform banquets, which preceded the revolution
of 1848. His ability was at that time so recognized, that he was chosen Mayor of the city
of Paris, and discharged the duties of the office with such marked ability, that he was after¬
wards appointed Minister of Finance under the Provisional Government. In this more
delicate position he proved himself equal to the task. He introduced many important re¬
forms, and had also to deal with a financial crisis. The ability with which he handled this
latter duty again won for him an enviable confidence. A system of dock warrants and
bonded warehouses were among some of the reforms he introduced while acting in the
capacity of Finance Minister. In 1864 he was elected a member of the Executive Com¬
mission, and also of the Legislative Assembly. Though his career as a politician has been
an active one, extending at times through periods of wild excitement, he has found time to
devote some attention to literature. He has written a “ History of the Revolution of 1848,’*
a work of considerable merit.
HENRI ROCHEFORT.
Perhaps there is no man to-day living in France whose name is better
known than that of Henri Rochefort — certainly none in Parisian Republi¬
can circles. His well-known, outspoken, and determined hostility to Napo¬
leon III. involved him in many troubles. An intense Republican, he was
ready at all times to express with his tongue and with his pen sentiments
which less courageous men would hesitate to pronounce.
This proclivity on his part was the means of bringing him into collision with the Govern¬
ment, and as a consequence he was arrested and convicted, and the publication of his
journal, the Lanterney was suppressed by the Government. Rochefort, however, suc¬
ceeded in making his escape to Belgium, where he again entered upon the publication of
his notorious journal. Though proscribed in France, it found a ready sale, the very ban
of exclusion which was placed upon it by the Imperial Government doing more to increase
its popularity than to prevent its circulation. After a short exile the Emperor extended a
full pardon to the noisy journalist, and he returned to Paris. For a time he was the lion
of the hour ; but he gradually subsided into something like comparative quietness. Yet
occasionally he fell into his old habits. As the Lanterne could not be revived in Paris,
and as Rochefort could not do without a journal to ventilate his opinions, he commenced
the publication of the Marseillaise. In this paper he again attacked the Government, and
so bitter were his strictures on the Executive, indulging in personal slurs rather than dis¬
cussing the public management of affairs, that his paper was not only suspended, but he
himself was imprisoned. Last year, Rochefort was elected a member of the Corps LGgisla-
tif, but his career in that body is not remarkable for anything which can distinguish him
from any member of it possessed of ordinary ability.
MONDA Y, SEPTEMBER 5 .
273
PIERRE MAGNE.
It is proper here to notice Pierre Magne, the ex-Secretary of Finance, who
remains as good friend and sound adviser of the Republic. He was ap¬
pointed Minister of Finance on the overthrow of the Ollivier Ministry.
M. Magne was born at Perigoux, December 3, in the year 1806. He is a
self-made man, being of what is termed an “ obscure ” family.
In 1831 he was admitted as an avocat , or attorney, and was patronized by Marshal
Bugeaud. M. Fould noticed his peculiar ability, and soon afterwards took charge of his
political fortunes. He became a member both of the Constituent and Legislative Assem¬
blies, in which bodies he was recognized as a practical man, although not much of a debat¬
ing speech-maker. He retired to private life in 1848, but was recalled to official position as
Under Secretary of State for Finance in 1849. April 10, 1851, he was appointed Minister
of Public Works, in which office he was very successful during three or four years. He
was an able advocate of railroad extension in France, and during the interim inspected all
the main lines already laid down in the empire and in other countries of Europe, adopting
and suggesting improvements. From 1854 to i860 he held the portfolio of Finance. In
i860 he was nominated Minister without a portfolio, retired from the Cabinet in 1863, and
was named a Privy Councillor in April of the last-named year. He is a Senator, and was
commander of the Legion of Honor before he received the Grand Cross in 1854. M.
Magne originated and conducted most of Napoleon’s great loans. During his absence
from Paris at one period the Empress Eugenie visited him, and found him feeding a flock
of chickens.
ALEXANDRE GLAIS-BIZOIN.
This statesman, one of the Government of National Defence, was born in
Quintin, Cotes du Nord, on March 9, 1800. He was admitted to the bar
in 1822, and, at once entering into political life, associated himself with the
Liberals against the Restoration.
After the revolution of 1830, he was appointed Councillor-General of his Department, and
was subsequently elected a deputy for the arrondissement of Londdac, serving in this
capacity until 1848. He voted always with the extreme Left, signed the Compte Rendue
of 1832, and was conspicuous for his demand for the complete application of the principles
of 1789. He took an active part in the reform banquets, and aided in overthrowing the
Ministry of M. Guizot. After the revolution of 1848, he was elected to the Assembly, and
adhered to the extreme Left. On Louis Napoleon’s election to the Presidency he at once
went into opposition, and, being beaten for re-election, retired to private life. In 1863 he
was returned to the Corps L6gislatif as an opposition member, and was re-elected in 1869.
M. Glais-Bizoin is regarded as one of the most radical of French Republicans.
EUGENE PELLETAN.
M. Pelletan, who is a distinguished French writer and politician, was
born at Royan, Charente Inferieure, on the 26th of October, 1813.
He studied law in Paris, and was elected a member of the Corps L6gislatif in 1864. He
is the author of several works, some of which have attained a good place in French litera¬
ture.
Monday, September 5.— King William proposes to con¬
tinue the war. Great war excitement in Berlin. Napoleon a
prisoner at Wilhelmshohe. Mob continues in Paris. The
Crown Prince marching on Paris. The Republic proclaimed
in Lyons, Bordeaux, and Marseilles. The Republic addresses
the army.
BERLIN.
Berlin, September 5 (Official).
The Emperor Napoleon having declared that his captivity prevents him
12 *
274
THE FRANC O-PR US SIAN WAR.
from negotiating the peace, the French Government being at Paris, the war
will be continued.
MARCHING ON.
A private despatch from the King’s headquarters says the
Crown Prince resumed his march on Paris the morning after
the victory at Sedan. Camps were broken up, and heads of
columns in motion at daylight.
CONTINUED JOY IN BERLIN.
There is a mad, intense, fiery excitement of joy prevailing
everywhere, on all sides, in doors and out, in the Prussian
capital, caused by the wonderful developments which are tak¬
ing place momentarily! There are five hundred thousand per¬
sons in the streets of the city. There is a most magnificent
illumination in every dwelling, from the highest to the most
humble. Wherever an American flag is displayed , the proces¬
sions halt , and salute it with loudest cheers. The royal palace
is surrounded to its very doors with the joyous crowds. Queen
Augusta came out and saluted the people, but in doing so her
Majesty was so completely overcome by her feelings, that she
burst into tears.
PARIS MAD WITH MOBS.
Paris, September 5, 6.12 p.m. — The mobs continue to tear
down signs containing the Imperial arms and medals. In some
cases the people have climbed up the highest stories to tear
from the theatres the word “ Imperial.” Extreme care is
evinced to respect the arms of other nations. In one of the
streets a large crowd, upon the point of tearing down a repre¬
sentation of the American eagle, ascertained their mistake, and
shojited loudly , “ Vive Republique Americaine." The police are
no longer to be seen in the streets. The large bronze eagles
have been taken down from the new Opera House. Portraits
of the Emperor and Empress, seen in the Hotel de Ville ball¬
rooms, were thrown out of the windows, and the people trod
and danced upon the canvass.
“ Ati Eniperor dies , but does ?iot surrender ,” and “ A bas
lEmpire ! ” are heard ; while the people shout, “ Vive la Repub-
lique," “ Vive Rochefort ,” and throw a scarlet scarf around his
neck.
The following proclamation has been issued to the Garde
Nationale :
“ Those on whom your patriotism has just imposed the formidable mis¬
sion of defending the country, thank you for your brave devotion. To
your resolution is due the civic victory which has restored liberty to France.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5.
It has not cost a drop of blood. Personal power is no more. The na¬
tion entire resumes her rights and her arms. She rises ready to die in de¬
fence of the soil. You have given her back her soul, which despotism had
stifled. You will maintain with firmness the execution of the laws, and,
rivalling our noble army, you will show us together the road to victory.”
THE EMPEROR.
At two o’clock to-day, the Emperor passed through Co¬
logne without stopping, the engines having been changed out¬
side the city. The train consisted of ten cars. It left Ver-
viers at eleven o’clock this forenoon, and Aix-la-Chapelle at
noon. Another long train with the Imperial household pre¬
ceded it. The various railway stations were thronged with
crowds of people, who were curious to catch a glimpse of the
Emperor.
By the order of King William, two Chamberlains of the
Court of Prussia are in attendance upon the Emperor.
Wilhelmshohe, September 5.—The Imperial train reached
this station at thirty-five minutes past nine p.m., where the garrison
officers, General Plonske and resident officials of the province,
had assembled. The Emperor, on alighting, passed to Plonske’s
carriage, saluting the officers of the corps, who drew up with
presented arms. He looked serious, not crushed. There
were ,no signs of bloat or unhealthy embonpoint. He wore
the undress uniform of a general, with a riding cape of the Gar-
ibaldian pattern. The crowd was silent, respectful, and sympa¬
thetic.
Napoleon is accompained in his exile by General Castelnau,
the Prince de la Moskowa, and Counts de Genlis, de Waubert,
Reille, and Pajol, all of his personal staff.
Tuesday, September 6. —King William at Rheims. Bis¬
marck says the North German Confederation must have Stras-
burg and Metz. Jules Favre addresses the crowned heads.
The American Press declares for the Republic. The Crown
Prince addresses his army.
THE PRUSSIAN ARMY.
Rheims, September 6. — The King’s headquarters are estab¬
lished at Rheims until the 9th, to enable all the troops to
276
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
come up. Seven North German corps, beside two Bavarian
and the Wiirtemberg corps, are on the road, unhindered. The
German army, with the reserves are coming up, and will number
400,000 men.
BISMARCK SAYS
to-day, that “ Prussia will not interfere with France’s domestic
affairs.
“ Our people think we must have those German provinces France took
from us many years ago. We must, at least, render France powerless to
menace us by the same road. Metz and Strasburg we must have, and we
ask no more than is necessary to our own safety.
“We are a very patient people. They have been telling us that if we
would not fight, they would compel us. Well, we are like the father of a
family, who, after enduring many insults, at last determines to fight a duel,
only on condition that the combat shall be decisive and shall be final.”
PROCLAMATION OF THE CROWN PRINCE.
Soldiers : Through great victories of the armies, the hope of a glorious
peace has been won for the German people.
On the battle-fields of France, the nation has become conscious of its greatness and
union, and this gain, sanctified by the blood of many thousands of our warriors, we trust,
will keep its binding power for all future time. But to the enthusiastic outbursts and emo¬
tions of these weeks have come also feelings of deep sorrow. Many of the flower of our
youth, many of the leaders of our army, have fallen victims of the victory, and greater
still is the number of those who, from wounds, and excessive endurance and exertions, will
be unable in future to gain their livelihood by their own efforts. They, above all, and
those whom the dead have left behind them, and the living victims of the war, have a
claim to the gratitude of the nation. Whoever has shared the enthusiasm of this contest;
whoever, from the rising up of our whole people in their might, hopes for a new happy era
of peace, and in our victories and the defeat of our foes worships a judgment of God on
high, let him now prove his fidelity to the warriors of our people’s army, and their fami¬
lies Help from the State alone, however fully it may be given, will not suffice to support
the large number of invalids and their families, That help only affords what is absolutely
necessary, and unavoidably confined to general normal rules, and cannot attend to the
need and wants of the individual. Great efforts of voluntary help will be required this
time, for, huge as the successes have been, the losses of the war are enormous. In the
same way in which this war has created a uniform and united German army, in which sons
of all the German lands fought in brotherly emulation of bravery, the care for the invalids
and helpless whom the war leaves behind must become the common business of Germany,
the North and South of our Fatherland taking a like share in it. Former experience has
taught that it does not suffice with generous hearts to offer donations of money. Nay,
not less important and more difficult is the proper distribution thereof— the kind consider-
eration of personal circumstances, and, most important of all, the precaution that the
assistance rendered shall not weaken instead of strengthen the power to earn which may
still exist, and that it really prove beneficial for the life of those assisted. The “Victoria
National Invalid fund,” which was founded in 1868, throughout the largest part of Ger¬
many, having answered this purpose, and having been found effective in its organization,
I hereby authorize the executive manager of that fund to take in hand the organization
and management of an “Invalid Fund of Germany,” and to call for contributions and
the establishment of branches thereof. His Majesty, the King, commander-in-chief of
the German army, as in the years 1864 and 1866, has given me his consent to this patri¬
otic enterprise. This time it has been my good fortune to lead an army into the field, in
which the Bavarian, the Wurtemberger, and the Badenener have, fought side by side with
the Prussian, and I may address myself to the hearts of all Germans. May this work of
love be a common labor between us for our Fatherland, and may it be the introduction of
many united and blessed works of peace. Friedrich Wilhelm,
Crown Prince of Prussia.
Headquarters , R he inis, SeJ>t. 6, 1870.
PARIS, SEPTEMBER 6 .
277
REVOLUTION — PARIS.
The Revolution in France extends, and peacefully. In all
the important towns the Republic has been proclaimed amid
enthusiasm, not confusion; and the Imperial officials and
agents have retired, and the new administrators of the new
Government have taken their places, without collision or blood¬
shed. The Mayor has issued the following proclamation :
Hotel de Vili.e, Paris, Sept. 6 . — Citizens: I have been called by
the people and Government of the National Defence to the Mayoralty
of Paris. While waiting for you to be called to elect your municipality,
I take possession of this City Hall in the name of the Republic, which
was the scene of the patriotic events of 1794, 1830, and 1848. I speak
to you now as our fathers did in 1792. Citizens! The country is in dan¬
ger ; rally around this Parisian municipality, defended to-day from siege
by a soldier of the Republic. Vive la Republique !
Etienne Arago.
THE INTERNATIONAL WORKINGMEN’S SOCIETY,
in their address to the Social Democracy of Germany, says :
“ Prussia made war against the Emperor, not France, who now asks
the withdrawal of your armies ; otherwise it will be the universal duty of
Frenchmen to rise and re-enact the scenes of ’93. Frenchmen make no
peace with the enemy on their soil; but they are the friends and allies of
all free peoples. We protest against the intervention of the Powers, and
implore the Prussian forces to recross the Rhine. Let us, with grasped
hands, forget crimes prompted or perpetuated by despots. Let us form the
United States of Europe. Live the Universal Republic ! ”
THE MINISTRY TO THE ARMY !
To the Army: When a General compromises his command, he is re¬
lieved ; when a Government puts in peril, by its own weakness, the public
safety, it is set aside. This is just what France is doing in abolishing the
dynasty responsible for all our misfortunes. She has done boldly, in the
face of all the world, this great act of justice. She executes the decree
under which all your conscripts have been summoned, and in the same act
secures the public safety. To save itself, the nation needs now but to rise en
masse , and henceforth to count on two things only : Its own resolution,
which is invincible ; and your heroism, which has never had an equal, and
which, in the midst of unmerited reverses, has astonished the world. Ral¬
ly round the glorious symbol which eighty years ago drove back all Europe
before us. To-day, as at that time, the name of the Republic signifies the
intimate union of the army and the people for the defence of the coun-
try.
Minister of Foreign Affairs —Jules Favre.
Minister of Justice — Isaac Cremieux.
Minister of the Interior — Leon Gambetta.
Minister of Finance — Ernest Picard.
Superintendent of Public IVorks — Pierre Dorian.
Minister of Commerce — Joseph Magnin.
Superintendent of Public Instruction — Jules Simon.
Minister of Marine — Martin Fourichon.
Minister of lVa> -Louis Jules Trochu ; also President
of the Committee.
278
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
M. JULES FAVRE’S CIRCULAR TO THE WORLD.
PEACE-BUT NOT AN INCH OR A STONE TO PRUSSIA.
The Vice-President of the Republic, and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, issues this circular letter to French representatives to¬
day : — {see Bismarck's reply , Sept. 16.)
THE REPUBLIC A NECESSITY.
Sir —The events which have just taken place in Paris explain themselves
so well by the inexorable logic of facts, that it is useless to insist at length
on their meaning and bearing. In ceding to an irresistible impulse, -which
had been but too long restrained, the population of Paris has obeyed a
necessity superior to that of its own safety ; it did not wish to perish with
the criminal government which was leading France to her ruin ; it has not
pronounced the deposition of Napoleon III. and of his dynasty; it has
registered it in the name of right, justice, and public safety, and the sentence
was so well ratified beforehand by the conscience of all, that no one, even
among the most noisy defenders of the power that was falling, raised his
voice to uphold it.
THE CRIMINAL EMPIRE COLLAPSES.
It collapsed of itself under the weight of its faults , and amid the accla¬
mations of an immense people, without a single drop of blood being shed,
without any one individual being deprived of his personal liberty, and we
have been able to see — a thing unheard of in history— the citizens, upon
whom the popular voice conferred the perilous mandate to fight and to
conquer, not thinking for a moment of their political adversaries who, but
the day before, threatened them with execution. It is by refusing to their
adversaries the honor of being subject to any sort of repression that they
have shown them their blindness and their impotence. Order has not been
disturbed for a single moment. Our confidence in the wisdom and patriot¬
ism of the National Guard and of the whole population, permits us to affirm
that it will not be disturbed. Rescued from the shame and the danger of a
Government which has proved itself a traitor to all its duties, each one now
comprehends that the first act of the national sovereignty, at last recon¬
quered, must be one of self-control — the seeking of strength in respect for
right. Moreover, time must not be lost; the enemies are at our gates;
we have but one thought—namely, their expulsion from our territory.
But this obligation, which we resolutely accept, we did not impose upon
France. She would not be in her present position if our voice had been
listened to. We have energetically defended, even at the cost of our popu¬
larity, the policy of peace. We still maintain the same opinion with
increasing conviction. Our heart breaks at the sight of these human mas¬
sacres, wherein is sacrificed the flower of the two nations, that a little good
sense and a great deal of liberty would have preserved from such frightful
catastrophes. We cannot find any expression capable of rendering our
admiration for our heroic army, sacrificed by the incapacity of the supreme
commander, but showing itself greater in its defeats than in the most bril¬
liant victory ; for, in spite of the knowledge of faults which compromised
its safety, the army has immolated itself with sublime heroism in the face of
TILE REPUBLIC TO THE WORLD.
279
certain death, redeeming thus the honor of France from the stain cast
upon her by her Government. All honor to the army ! The nation looks
towards it with open arms. The Imperial power wished to divide them.
Misfortune and duty join them in a solemn embrace, sealed by patriotism
and liberty. This alliance renders us invincible. Ready for every emerg¬
ency, we look with calmness on the position of affairs, made what it is, not
by us, but by others. This position I will explain in a few words, and I
submit it to the judgment of my country and of Europe.
WE LOUDLY CONDEMNED THE WAR,
and, while protesting our respect for the rights of peoples, we asked that
Germany should be left mistresss of her own destinies. We wished that
liberty should be at the same time our common tie and our common shield.
We were convinced that these moral forces would forever insure peace, but
as a sanction, we claimed an arm for every citizen, a civil organization, and
the election of leaders. Then w'e should have remained invincible on our
own soil. The Government of the Emperor, which had long since separated
its interests from those of the country, opposed that policy.
We take it up, with the hope that, taught by experience, France will have
the wisdom to put it into practice. On his side, the King of Prussia de¬
clared that he made w r ar, not against France, but against the Imperial
dynasty. The dynasty has fallen to the ground. France rises, herself free.
Does the King of Prussia wish to continue an impious struggle, which will
be at least as fatal to him as to us ? Does he wish to give to the world of
the nineteenth century the cruel spectacle of two nations destroying one
another, and, in forgetfulness of humanity, reason, and science, heaping
corpse upon corpse and ruin upon ruin ? He is free to assume this respon¬
sibility in the face of the world and of history. It is a challenge ; we accept
it.
NOT A STONE, NOT AN INCH.
We will not cede cither an inch of our territory or a stone of our fort¬
resses. A shameful peace would mean a war of extermination at an
early date. We will only treat for a durable peace. In this our interest
is that of the whole of Europe, and we have reason to hope that, freed
from all dynastic considerations, the question will thus present itself before
the Cabinets of Europe. But should we be alone we shall not yield. We
have a resolute army, well-provisioned forts, a well-established enceinte,
and, above all, the breasts of 300,000 combatants, determined to hold out
to the last. When they piously lay crowns at the feet of the statue of
Strasburg, they do not obey merely an enthusiastic sentiment of admiration:
they adopt their heroic mot d’ordre; they swear to be worthy of their
brethren of Alsace, and to die as they have done. After the forts we have
the ramparts ; after the ramparts, we have the barricades. Paris can hold
out for three months, and conquer. Jf she succumbs, France will start up
at her appeal, and avenge her. France would continue the struggle, and
the aggressor would perish.
Such is, sir, what Europe must know. We have not accepted power
with any other object ; we will not keep it a moment if we should not find
the population of Paris and the whole of France decided to share our reso¬
lutions. I sum up these resolves briefly in the presence of God, who hears
me ; in the face of posterity, which shall judge us. We wish only for
peace, but if this disastrous war, which we liave condemend, is continued
2S0
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
against us, we shall do our duty to the last; and I have the firm confidence
that our cause, which is that of right and of justice, will triumph in the
end. It is in this manner that I invite you to explain the situation to the
Minister of the court to which you are accredited, and in whose hands you
will place a copy of this document.
Accept, sir, the expression of my high consideration.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs.
September 6, 1870. Jules Favre.
THE COSMOPOLITAN PRESS ON THE REPUBLIC.
The London Times and other morning papers accept the French revolu¬
tion with favor, as the clear expression of the national will. They antici¬
pate no disorder. The Times has every good wish for the French statesmen
now seeking to reestablish the Government and preserve order. It expects,
as a matter of course, that a new Constitution will be made.
The Pall Mall Gazette says the Prussians have utterly broken and de¬
feated the Emperor and France, and it would be creditable now to desist.
Only one or two strong frontier places, like Strasburg, should be retained as
guarantees.
THE AMERICAN PRESS.
The American Press is almost a unit in favor of the French
Republic. The Tribune calls upon King William to be liberal
with a suffering people, who had nothing to do with the Imperial
war. Manton Marble and George Wilkes are out in bold leaders
for the young Republic Scathing are the Philippics of George
Wilkes against the crowned heads, as they were against rebel¬
lion in ’62 ; but he does not lead Mr. Dana, the champion of
Cuba, who writes to a hundred and twenty thousand readers
every morning to stand by France and the new liberty.
Theodore Tilton, and George W. Smalley, who has heretofore
been a champion of insulted Prussia, have espoused the Repub¬
lican cause. Outside of the city, the young French Republic
can claim among her supporters, Mr. Charles F. Smith of the
Albany Evening Journal , Mr. Roberts of the Utica Herald ,
Mr. S. H. Gay of the Chicago Tribune , “Mack” of the Cin¬
cinnati Inquirer , and John Gano and Mr. Halsted of the
Commercial.
The Southern papers, the Louisville Journal , Memphis
Avalanche , and New Orleans Picayune, have no sympathy for
Prussia against the new Government of France.
Wednesday, September 7.—The Prussian march on Paris
obstructed. Order restored in Paris, and the city preparing for
defence. Garibaldi sustains the French Republic.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 .
281
PRUSSIAN ARMY.
Soissons, September 7. — The advance of the Crown Prince
is here to-day, consisting of the Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh, and two
Bavarian Corps. The Crown Prince of Saxony has the Fourth
and Twelfth Corps, with Saxon and Prussian Guards. The
French engineers are blowing up bridges, while the Prussian
advance are rebuilding them. The Prussian advance will cross
the Aisne to-morrow.
PARIS PREPARING FOR SIEGE.
Paris, September 7. — There seems to be but one patriotic
sentiment among the people — the defence of the nation. Or¬
ganization is quietly proceeding. The Moniteur says orders
have been given to barricade the streets, to render any assault
of the enemy more difficult. People are quitting the city with
the utmost haste, now that the Prussians have approached so
near. The city is very quiet. Singing in the streets has en¬
tirely stopped, and as the enemy draws near, the people evince
a quiet but firm determination to fight. There is great rejoic¬
ing at the practical removal of the rigid press censorship. War
news and details are now published without hindrance.
ARRIVAL OF TROOPS.
General Vinoy, with his entire force, arrived at Paris by
railroad at four o’clock yesterday afternoon. His division con¬
sisted of eleven trains of cavalry, thirteen trains of artillery, and
fourteen trains of infantry. The rolling stock of the Northern
and other railroads will be despatched immediately to the east¬
ward to bring back other troops. Trains are arriving hourly
with artillery, cavalry, and infantry from the front.
DESTRUCTION OF RAILROADS.
The French engineers are destroying the tunnels on the
railroad lines running east out of Paris.
GARIBALDI TO HIS FRIENDS.
To my Friends : — Yesterday I said to you, War to the end against Bonaparte ; I say
to-day that the French Republic must be sustained by all possible means. Invalid as I
am, I have offered my services to the Provisional Government of Paris, and I hope it will
not be impossible for me to fulfil a duty. Yes, fellow-citizens, we ought to regard it as a
sacred duty to succor our French brothers.
Our mission will not certainly consist in fighting our German brothers, who, in the hands
of Providence, have destroyed in the bud the germ of the tyranny which weighed on the
world ; but we shall go to sustain the only system which can assure the peace and pros¬
perity of nations.
I repeat, sustain by all possible ways the French Republic, which, rendered wise by the
lessons of the past, will always be one of the best columns of human regeneration.
Caprera t September 7, 1870. Garibaldi.
2S2
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
Thursday, September 8. — America and Spain recognize the
Republic of France. Joyful demonstrations at the announce¬
ment. The Orleans Princes requested by Jules Favre to leave
Paris. The Emperor is treated like a king at Wilhelmshohe.
The French fleet with the Republic.
AMERICA RECOGNIZES THE REPUBLIC.
Minister Washburne telegraphed to the Secretary of State on
Tuesday last that he had been officially informed of the forma¬
tion of a Republican government for France, the passage of the
decheance , etc. This despatch Secretary Fish sent to the Presi¬
dent at Long Branch, who at once ordered Secretary Fish to
instruct Minister Washburne to recognize the new Government,
and extend to them congratulations on the formation of a Re¬
public. Secretary Fish did so at once.
Minister Washburne communicated to Jules Favre the import
of the President’s instructions, to recognize the sister Republic
of France, with the congratulations, etc., in the following
note :
Sir : — I have received the communication which you did me the honor of addressing to
me on the 5th inst., in which you inform me that, in virtue of a resolution adopted by the
members of the Government of National Defence, the Department of Foreign Affairs has
been confided to you.
I have, in my turn, the satisfaction of announcing that I have received from my Govern¬
ment a telegram, by which I am instructed to recognize the present Government as that of
France. In consequence, 1 am ready to enter into relations with that Government, and to
treat with it on all the subjects that may concern me. In making this communication to
your Excellency, I beg you to accept for yourself and for the other Ministers the congratula¬
tions of the people of the United States ; they will have learnt with enthusiasm of the pro¬
clamation of the Republic in France without the slightest effusion of blood, and they will
associate themselves with heartfelt sympathy in the great movement which they hope and
trust will be productive of happy results for the French people and for the whole human
race.
Having enjoyed for nearly a century the numberless benefits of a Republican govern¬
ment, the people of the United States can only watch with the deepest interest the efforts
made by the French nation —with which they are connected by so many ties— to found
institutions of a nature to insure the general well-being of all.
-In terminating, I am anxious to assure your Excellency that I congratulate myself on
having, as intermediate between myself and the Ministry of the National Defence, a man
whose distinguished merit is so well apppreciated in my own country, and who has de¬
voted all the strength of his intelligence to the cause of liberty and free institutions.
Paris, September 8. Washburne.
On receipt of this letter of recognition, Favre was much moved.
He called immediately on the American Minister in person.
Grasping Mr. Washburne by the hand he exclaimed : “ I re¬
ceive the 7 iotification with gratitude a?idprofound emotion."
Minister Washburne telegraphed the President to-day, that
the officers of the Republic were overjoyed at the announce¬
ment.
AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC.
283
PRESIDENT GRANT AND THE REPUBLIC.
It is a matter of much national importance to state that the
President is now openly and avowedly for the maintenance of
the French Republic. He said to-day: “/ have hastened to
give the new Republic our moral support , and hope that before
the week is out she will not ?ieed anything further. I think
the Prussian King may be induced to stop fighting." He
talked freely to several gentlemen in favor of the Republic. In
his avowed support of the Republic he is warmly supported by
Secretaries Fish and Robeson.
THE REPUBLIC TO AMERICA.
The recognition of the French Republic by the American
Government led to an imposing demonstration. When the
crowd arrived in front of the Legation, several of its members
were chosen to convey to Mr. Washburne the expression of its
sentiments. Mr. Washburne listened with much emotion to
the following address delivered by M. Lucien :
. Sir : In the name of a greatnumber of citizens, certain of the approval
of and support by the entire nation, we come to beg you to testify to your
Government our gratitude for the spontaneity with which it has answered
the announcement of a French Republic. A great part of our thanks be¬
long to you also, Sir, for the generous expressions which your heart dic¬
tated when communicating to us the adhesion by your Government. We
did not expect less from that great and generous American nation, whose
aspirations and principles have always been in harmony with the ideas of
France. To-day America and France are sisters — sister Republics; that
is, sisters of Liberty. The ocean which separates us is less profound than
the sentiment which unites us. Long live the United States of A?ner-
ica.”
The Minister then appeared at the balcony, and said:
“I am moved by this demonstration. The Republic of the United
States has received with joy the advent of the French Republic. I will
convey the thanks you have given me to my Government, which I know
will be much pleased with this patriotic manifestation.”
Along the Boulevard to-night there were many shouts of
“ Vive les Etats Unis," and “ Vive l’Independance." The ac¬
tion of the United States Government is warmly commented
on in all parts of the city. Jules Favre called again to-day to
reiterate his thanks to the nation and to Mr. Washburne. La
France (newspaper) recalls the fact that in 1848 the United
States was the first country to recognize the French Republic,
and she is the first again in 1870.
The fournal de Paris says :
America has merited well of the civilized world for addressing France in
the hour of peril and misfortune words of consolation and hope. By recog-
284
THE FRANCO-PR US SIAN WAR.
nizing the French Republic, America opens the way of peace. It must be
that the people of this continent will follow her example.
SPAIN’S RECOGNITION.
A COMIC BLUNDER IN DIPLOMACY.
Spain recognizes the Republic, but all through a comical dip¬
lomatic blunder. Its ludicrous history is this: After the dec¬
laration of the Republic, Paris was in a whirlpool of excite¬
ment. ' Seiior Olozaga, the Spanish ambassador in Paris, was
enthusiastic with the rest. Being of a fiery temperament, he,
in great haste, telegraphed to Senor Sagasta, the Spanish Min¬
ister of State at Madrid, for instructions. Sagasta and Prim
flew to Mr. Layard, the English representative in Madrid, and
asked him to telegraph to England, to find out what the Cabi¬
net of St. James was to do. Mr. Layard telegraphed. Lord
Granville replied : “ Lord Lyotis has instructions to continue
officious relations , and not to show any official recognition." As
soon as Mr. Layard showed this reply to Seiior Sagasta, the
latter telegraphed to Senor Olozaga, in Paris, as follows :
“ Maintain ' officious ’ relations. Follow the conduct ob¬
served by Lord Lyons."
THE TELEGRAPH BLUNDERS AGAIN.
When this telegram (a cipher despatch) reached Senor Olo¬
zaga in Paris, the ‘•‘•officious" was changed to '■'•official." Sen¬
or Olozaga was delighted, and, thinking he was obeying in¬
structions, immediately drew up this hasty letter of recognition
to Jules Favre :
Paris, September 8. —Monsieur le Ministre : On the night of the 6th I received
your Excellency’s circular of the 5th ; I hastened to communicate it on the 7th by post to
my Government, giving them also an account of it by telegraph. Before I received your
circular the Minister of State in Madrid had sent me the necessary telegraphic instruc¬
tions to enter immediately into official relations with your Excellency, and he manifested
his desire to maintain the good relations which fortunately exist between Spain and
France. I believe it unnecessary to add, that all my efforts will, as ever, be employed that
these relations may be strengthened more and more, to the prosperity and advantage of
both nations. Yours, &c. Salustiano Olozaga.
Jules Favre replied as follows :
Senor Embassador : With lively satisfaction I have received the letter you did me the
honor to write me, announcing that the Minister of State of Spain had sent you by tele¬
graph the instructions necessary for you to enter upon official relations with the Govern¬
ment of the National Defence. Very precious is it tome to receive such a testimony of
friendship and confidence on the part of the representative of a country which has so re¬
cently taught us the road to liberty. By it I hope we shall jointly advance, and become
closely united by community of interests and of hopes. This hour, so cruel for France, is
precisely the time when with the greater evidence there is revealed the prudence of a policy
which unites in one common bond three veritably sister peoples, who, to recover their fam¬
ily titles, only waited the signal of liberty. Permit me, Seiior Embassador, to offer you,
both in my own name and in that of the individuals of this Government, the expression
of my high consideration, and of my complete affection. Yours, &c.
Jules Favre, Vice-President
of the Government, and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
THURSDAY , SEPTEMBER 8.
285
PARIS AFFAIRS.
Princes Joinville, d’Aumale and Chartres were in Paris.
They called on Minister Favre, and asked to share in the de¬
fence of Paris. M. Favre told them their presence might be
misunderstood, and appealing to their patriotism, requested
them to leave the city, which the Princes consented to do, and
they have since fulfilled their promise.
ELECTION PROCLAMATION.
Frenchmen : In proclaiming four days ago the Government of the National Defence,
we ourselves defined our mission. Power was lying in the dust. What had commenced
by a crime finished by a desertion. We simply grasped the helm which had escaped from
powerless hands. But Europe has need to be enlightened. It is necessary that she
should know by irrefragable testimonies that the entire country is with us. It is necessary
that the invader should meet on his route, not only the obstacle of an immense city re¬
solved to perish rather than yield, but an entire people, erect, organized, represented—an
Assembly, in short, which can carry into all places, and in spite of all disasters, the living
soul of the country.
Consequently, the Government of the National Defence decrees :
Art. i. The electoral colleges are convoked for Sunday, the 16th of October, for the
purpose of electing a National Constituent Assembly.
Art. 2. The elections will be held by collective voting, conformably to the law of the
15th of March, 1849.
Art. 3. The number of members of the Constituent Assembly will be 750.
Art. 4. The Minister of the Interior is charged with the execution of this decree.
Given at the Hotel de Ville of Paris, Sept. 8, 1870.
General Trochu.
Emmanuel Arago.
Cremieux.
Jules Favre.
Jules Ferry.
Gambetta.
Garnier-Pages.
Glais-Bizoin.
Pelletan.
E. Picard.
Rochefort.
Jules Simon.
The Minister of War, General Leflo.
The Interim Minister of Marine and
the Colonies, Rear-Admiral De Dom-
PIERRE d’HORNOY.
The Minister of Agriculture and Com¬
merce, M. Magnin, ex-Deputy.
The Minister of Public Works, M. Do¬
rian.
PROCLAMATION NO. TWO.
The Minister of the Interior has issued the following circu¬
lar to Prefects of Departments :
The enemy is advancing on Paris in three corps d’arm6e, one of which has arrived at
Soissons, in the Department of Aisne. The advance guard of this corps has summoned
Laon, which shuts its gates and resists.
The interruption of telegraphic communication with Epernay and Chateau Thierry indi¬
cates the presence of the enemy at those points. Communication continues with M6zi-
£res, Epinal, and Mulhouse. There is no news from Bazaine. The news of the death of
MacMahon has not been officially confirmed. At Paris, order is perfect. The inhabitants
received with warm demonstrations of confidence the assurances given by the Government
that the city is abundantly provisioned for two months.
The Prefect of the Rhone sends word that harmony has been established between him¬
self and the Committee which took the direction of affairs, and order prevails. M. Es-
quiros has arrived at Marseilles, where he is received with enthusiasm by the citizens.
286
THE FRAN CO-PR US SI AH WAR.
The work of revision is actively going on in all the Departments. The Garde Mobile
everywhere asks to be led to Paris. Many battalions are now here or on the march hither.
Gambetta.
GENERAL SHERIDAN
writes from Rheims as follows :
There seems to be but little of the war left except the siege of Paris,
and that will not save France. It is possible that French troops have not
done so well as I think they are capable of doing, on one or two occasions
which I witnessed, from the fact that the poor fellows found themselves so
badly handled by their commanders, that they could see no equivalent to be
obtained by sacrificing their lives. All nien like to have an equivalent for
their labor, and especially is it so with soldiers, who require success where
many lives are to be sacrificed. The French generalship put this out of
the question in every battle which I have witnessed.
THE FRENCH NAVY.
THE SQUADRON,
hitherto, has done nothing but blockade the coasts, a task involving num¬
berless difficulties. The plan of the campaign has not proved wise ; the
French chiefs either failed to define their intention clearly or to understand
the nature of the sea where the fleet was to operate.
The fleet has no base of operations ; no port of anchorage, except by retiring to neutral
waters. Not having seized, as it might have, some small undefended islands ofF the
coast of Schleswig, the squadron, in fact, never anchors, and is subject to continued sur¬
prises in the night from Prussian gunboats, which, coming out of harbors known only to
themselves, appear amid French vessels either to reconnoitre or to blow them up with tor¬
pedoes, as nearly happened in the roadstead of Dantzic, when Admiral Bouet anchored
under the very guns of the Fort.
The Prussian vessels being small and swift, risk little, but if successful might destroy a
French vessel. The squadron can only take in coal on an open sea, and in circumstances
of danger. A want is felt of suitable vessels for blockading purposes ; ironclads are too
slow, and of too great draft. Cruising proves most difficult and perilous.
Admiral Bouet has separated the squadron into two divisions. With the first he block¬
ades the shore from the Russian frontier to Rugen ; the second, under Admiral Dieu-
donn6, watches the coast from Rugen to North Schleswig. There has been no important
encounter hitherto with the Prussian fleet. Two vessels, the Ocean and the Flandre , are
about returning to France.
The news of MacMahon’s and the Emperor’s surrender is just received. The latter
causes little grief, for the fleet is not Bonapartist. After such events the squadron must
remain inactive ; but if the new Government resolves to continue the struggle, it will wage
pitiless war on the German coast.
Friday, September 9. —The siege of Strasburg is made a
scientific school for Prussian engineers. Houses in the “mili¬
tary zone ” of Paris to be destroyed. George Sand and Victor
Hugo address the Republic. Prussians advance on Paris.
PARIS.
The inhabitants of all houses within the “ military zone ” are
ordered to quit their habitations forthwith, as the houses are
now to be pulled down. The Prefect of Police orders all per¬
sons intending to leave Paris to go immediately.
LA ON, SEPTEMBER io.
2 S 7
VICTOR HUGO
writes to-day —
“You may take the fortress, you will find the rampart. You may take the rampart,
you will find the barricade. You may take the barricade, and then — who knows the
resources of patriotism in distress — you will find the sewers mines of powder, ready to
blow whole streets into the air. This will be the terrible sentence you must accept: To
take Paris stone by stone, to slaughter Europe on the spot, to kill France in detail : in
each street, in each house that great light must be extinguished soul by soul ! Germans,
hold back ! Paris is formidable. Think awhile before her walls. All transformations are
possible for her. Her indolence gives you the measure of her energy. She seems to
sleep. She will awaken. Her thought will leap from its scabbard li'ke a sword ; and this
city, which yesterday was Sybaris, to-morrow may be Saragossa.”
GEORGE SAND
salutes the new regime in the following words :
“The Republic ! She must have life in her, since she rises again from her ashes by the
voice of all, by a will of which she is worthy, without the spilling of blood, without fratri¬
cidal strife. Behold the third awakening: it is ideally beautiful! The third? say
rather the fourth ; for we must not forget that 1830 was republican at the beginning. We
have fought for her only to lose her. To-day she rises complete with a single word — Vive
la Fratice. This, then, is the normal state which the conscience of humanity desires.
This is the inevitable end of the prodigious toil of humanity. It is well. It is the law of
intelligence. The manliness of man can only develop in the air of freedom. Behold the
God of armies ! His name is country and liberty. Hail to the Republic ! Thou art in
good hands, and a great people is now marching under thy banner after a bloody expia¬
tion. Thy task is hard. But should it happen to thee to fall once more, thou wilt surely
rise again. The rights of man are imperishable.”
STRASBURG SCHOOL.
The operations against Strasburg are carried on Dy a slow
but sure rule. Gen. Loewensky (Gen. Von Woerder’s chief
of staff) recently said: “ We do not mean to press the siege
in an irregular way. It is a grand study for our scientific en¬
gineers, though a trifle stupid to those who do not understand
the refinements of the science of war.” He expressed the
opinion that it was a mathematical certainty that the place
would fall about the 24th inst. (It fell on the 27th.)
Gen. Ulirich, the heroic commandant of Strasburg, telegraphs
to the Ministry as follows :
Strasburg, Friday, September 9.—Affairs are in a deplorable con¬
dition, and are growing worse. The bombardment from the Prussian ad¬
vanced works is incessant and frightful. I hold out to the end.
Uhrich, .
the commandant of the City of Strasburg.
Saturday, September 10. — Laon surrenders. The citadel
blows up, killing fifty Prussians, 300 Gardes Mobile, and the
Duke William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The Emperor talks
with the children at Wilhelmshohe. Fr6re Hyacinthe thanks
Minister Washburne.
SURRENDER OF LAON.
Duke William of Mecklenburg’s official report says the
2S8
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN IVAR.
capitulation of Laon took place on the basis of that of Sedan
Arms to be laid down, the Gardes Mobile to be discharged on
parole, and the line infantry to go under escort to the city.
Many officers, including the French commander, remained in
the yard of the citadel. When the last man had passed the
citadel gate, two powerful detonations were heard in quick suc¬
cession. The powder magazine, shells, cartridges, and mine,
exploded, and all in the yard were buried under the ruins.
There was fearful destruction, and the losses cannot be ascer¬
tained.
THE EXPLOSION.
To the Queen: Rheims, September ir, ro p.m.
Sad news from Laon, where, after the capitulation and the entry of our
troops, the citadel blew up. Fifty of our men and 300 of the Gardes
Mobiles were killed, and many wounded.
The Duke William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin is among the latter.
“ Unquestionably the disaster is to be attributed to treachery.”
THE EMPEROR.
The Emperor at Wilhelmshohe enjoys entire freedom of
action ; walks or rides as he pleases. His chief companions
are Prince Moskowa and Prince Murat. He disregards the
stare of the curious people whom he encounters outside of the
gates. It is said he looks thirty years older than he did
in 1865, when the writer saw him. He is now bloated, bilious,
and yellow. His eyes are faint, tired, and expressionless; his
movements are slow, awkward, and mechanical, and his face
absolutely devoid of expression. “Apathy” describes his
appearance in one word. He retires late and rises early.
His chamber windows are lighted till long after midnight, and at half¬
past four in the morning the Emperor is seen walking in the garden. He
dresses plainly in black, and amuses himself a great deal by talking to the
school children, who gather around to see him.
retired to private life.
In the true sense of the word, Napoleon III. has retired into private
life ; he keeps his hours of rising, lunching, dining, walking, and sleeping
as regularly as an old pensioner at Greenwich. The day after his arrival
he was seen walking as early as half-past seven, and ever since he has stuck
to this customary walk on the gravel paths of the beautiful park.
noble guests.
At twelve o’clock to-day there arrived and drove up to the palace the
Duchess of Hamilton, who, having taken up her abode at the Grande Ho¬
tel Schombardt, called on her imprisoned cousin. She stayed in the palace
for quite an hour, when she was conducted back to her carriage by the
Emperor himself. On her driving off, Napoleon uncovered his head, ap¬
parently in some emotion.
THE EMPEROR , SEPTEMBER io.
2S9
AT DINNER.
At the Emperor’s dinner table there are assembled about twenty persons,
usually including the Governor of Cassel, Graf Monts. What feelings
must besiege the heart of this brave and gallant soldier, who only a short
time ago was decorated for his fifty years’ service, when he is dining on
the right of that man whose policy has demanded the life of his only son.
HE WALKS OUT.
The Emperor was, as usual, in his undress uniform — a black coat, red
trousers with black strips, and the red cap of a General, wearing on his
breast the grand cordon of the Legion of Honor, and four other orders. He
walked quite slowly, his step not reminding one in any way of that firmness
exhibited on the evening of his arrival. His hands were folded on his back,
and remained so until he returned to the palace, half an hour after his exit.
It ought to be remarked that Dr. Conneau did not leave his side, though
there was a continual change of the Generals on the other side.
AN EMPEROR STILL.
Beautiful Wilhelmshohe ! Sixty-six years ago, Napoleon’s gay Uncle
Jerome revelled in noisy festivities in this beautiful chateau. Did he not
astonish the ancient inhabitants by superseding its ancient name, and calling
it Napoleonshohe ?
There is a warm glow inside the splendid hall. Generals and gentlemen
of the royal household are standing ready to do the honors of the occasion.
They bow low, and are the most obedient servants of His Majesty. They
conduct His Majesty upstairs with the deference due to a Sovereign. They
take the commands of His Majesty, and will be happy to execute them.
Meanwhile attendants are bustling about outside, and everything is in
gala. Napoleon is received as a guest, not as a prisoner, by his generous
host. The entire palace is placed at his disposal. A numerous suite of
some forty persons, with a large retinue of servants, have followed him,
and will be likewise entertained by the King. He has brought eighty-five
horses and a variety of carriages — greater, almost, than can be stored in
the mews of the princely mansion. Royal valets de chambre and chefs de
cuisine have been sent down, and everything will be done to render his
stay as pleasant as possible. The movements of the Emperor are appar¬
ently without restraint, and if he chose he might drive about in the
grounds, see company in the evening, and close the day with a visit to His
Majesty’s Opera at Cassel. Such is the aspect royal imprisonment as¬
sumes in the courtesy of the present age. Times have changed since Mary
was locked up by Elizabeth, or, to quote a more analogous case, since the
youthful King of France was captured by the German Emperor Charles
V., on the battle-field of Pavia.
LOVELY SURROUNDINGS.
Beside the chateau stands the theatre built by Jerome Bonaparte when
King, and in which he himself used to act. Just behind it is the highest
fountain in Europe (except that at Chatsworth), which throws up its fairy
spray twelve inches in diameter and 180 feet high.
Farther up is an artificial waterfall, descending from a tall aqueduct over
beds of stone arranged in exquisite taste, and on Sundays and Wednesdays,
when the waters play, great crowds flock to see them.
The Aquatic Staircase and the Octagon Temple of the Winds, with the
Statue and other extravagances connected with it, are reported to have
13
290
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
employed 2000 men for fourteen years. When tlieir labors were com¬
pleted, the cost was found to be so enormous that the accounts were
burned, to destroy all records of it.
The Cascade of the Karlsburg, is another of the many wonders of the
place — a flight of stone steps, goo feet long, over which a stream of water
is at times permitted to fall. Half way up the stairs is the Giant
Euceladus, rudely represented lying on his back, with a mountain of rocks
heaped upon his breast. The artist intended a jet of water fifty feet
high should spout from his mouth, but none plays there now. The stair¬
case of this “Chateau d’Eau” is surmounted by an octagon building
1312 feet above the Fulda, surmounted by a pyramid serving as a pedes¬
tal to the colossal Hercules, thirty-one feet high, of beaten copper.
Nine persons, it is said, can stand at one time in the hollow of the club,
and enjoy a charming view out of a little window formed in it.
IN THE MIDST OF THE PARK
is a toy castle — “Luxemburg”—built to imitate a stronghold of the
middle ages, with draw-bridges, battlements, towers, and ditches. Among
the rusty suits in the armory is one which belonged to the great Conde.
There is also a very curious collection of drinking-glasses, a series of por¬
traits of the Tudors and Stewarts, and a library filled with romances alone.
FRERE (LATE PERE) HYACINTHE TO MINISTER WASHBURNE.
Sir : Detained in the country for more than a month by the state of my health, which
has suffered so many and cruel ordeals, I much regret that it is not in my power to
grasp the hand that has just written a letter so noble and sympathetic toward my
country.
That letter is a page in the history of liberty in the two worlds. It revives the recol¬
lections of Washington and Lafayette, and proves that if despotism had succeeded in
dividing two governments, liberty had not delayed an instant to unite two peoples.
Europe, where the blood of our defeated heroes has flowed, is still silent, but America,
despite the ocean which separates us, has made her voice heard. She affirms that
neither distance nor diversity of race will make strangers of nations which have the same
soul, and that she demands for her young sister that right which it appertains to her to
define, because she was the first to know how to practise it — the inalienable right to live
toiling for the happiness of all.
I am happy that such sentiments have found their official interpreter in one whom I
love and esteem so much, and I pray you to accept with the expression of my patriotic
gratitude the homage of my respectful and deep attachment.
Bouliac, September 10, 1870. Hyacinthe.
METZ.
Prince Frederick Charles, who fired a salute of 101 guns of shot and
shell upon it on Saturday last, the 10th of September, in honor of the
victory gained by the Prussians at Sedan, has commenced the work of
destruction. The whole of the troops now around Metz, amounting to
nearly 200,000 men, are under the entire command of Prince Frederick
Charles, Steinmetz having been relieved from the command of the First
Army, (First, Seventh, and Eighth Corps). They have at present no large
siege guns at Metz, they being all employed at Strasburg. The heaviest
guns used there at present are twelve-pounders. Bazaine is now thoroughly
hemmed in in his fortress, the Prussians having entirely surrounded it, and
opened rifle-pits. Two days ago Bazaine sent out of Metz all Prussian
prisoners that he had captured, and also all the wounded.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER io.
291
Sunday, September 11 . — The Prussian army advances.
Destruction of bridges by the French.
PRUSSIAN ARMY.
The Eastern Railway is still open to Nogelet, but the Prus¬
sians are at Chateau-Thierry, advancing on La Ferte sous
Jouarre. The rolling stock of the road is withdrawn as the
Prussians advance, and the bridges and culverts are destroyed
before the track is abandoned. The Prussian scouts are re¬
ported at Villiers, Acron, Verneuil, Chatillon, Montmesnil,
Vailly-sur-Aisne, Sezanne, and Lehauny. They maintain strict
discipline, and commit no depredations. The Prussian force
was at Compiegne on Saturday.
BISMARCK HAS SAID
that he will have such a tremendous force in France as will
crush resistance, and especially prevent everywhere the organi¬
zation of new forces. But for the national clamor for Alsace
and Lorraine, it is certain that Bismarck would be content with
Metz and Strasburg as national fortresses.
THE DUKE OF MECKLENBURG,
with the Seventh Division of the First and a division of the
Ninth Corps, heretofore in Schleswig-Holstein, and two divis¬
ions of reserves and landwehr, constituting the (Sixth) army
lately formed at Homburg in the Palatinate, is on the way to
invest Toul and Soissons.
Monday, September 12.— demonstration in Marseilles in
favor of the United States. Count Bismarck proposes to rec¬
ognize any de jure government in France. Russia and Austria
reject overtures in favor of the Republic.
HONOR TO THE UNITED STATES.
An imposing demonstration was made in Marseilles in honor
of the United States. Twenty thousand people assembled in
front of the American consulate, and the city authorities,
through M. Esquiros, presented an address to Milton M. Price,
the consul of the United States. Speeches were made, the
bands played the national airs of America and France, and the-
immense crowd cheered with great enthusiasm the consul and
the Government of the United States.
292
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
THE UHLANS ARRIVE.
The uhlans are at Nogent-sur-Marne, only five miles east of the city.
Orders have been given by the German commanders forbidding the destruc¬
tion of bridges behind the army, under dire penalties.
A large body of Prussian engineers is at Champigny, a few miles east of
Paris. The German cuirassiers are still before Soissons. Twenty-five
hundred Bavarians are at Vaucoulleurs.
The bridges at Corbeil and Creil were blown up by the French troops
on the approach of the Prussians.
Tuesday, September 13. — France desires peace. She makes
an offer through England, and is willing to dismantle Metz and
Strasburg, and pay Prussia the expenses of the war. Queen
Victoria hates the Republic, and instructs Gladstone to tell
Lyons not to sho*v the slightest recognition.
FRANCE FOR PEACE.
QUEEN VICTORIA OPPOSED TO THE REPUBLIC.
M. Thiers arrived in England to-day. He looks careworn
and ill, and shows a disinclination to conversation. He inti¬
mated that he knew no Republic — only the Government for the
defence of Paris. Thiers is not so good a Republican as Favre,
but he has the interest of France at heart. M. Thiers has the
proposition of the French Government to make peace with
Prussia, and asks England’s aid. Queen Victoria hates the Re¬
public. She sees in it the germ of the coming power which is
to overrun England. “ How sooti may not a Republic be de¬
clared in London, if we recognize this o?ie 1 ” she has said to
Gladstone. She has told Granville to tell Lyons, the English
ambassador in Paris, not to dignify the Republic by the slight¬
est recognition. Thus do the crowned heads hope to destroy
the wedge which will one day split monarchy and make a
wreck of thrones. Granville, in the kindness of his heart, first
felt a warm feeling for the new Government, but now he is as
cold as ice. Rumor says Gladstone has frozen Motley too.
It is strange how soon a few cold English dinners will freeze
the blood of a weak Republican. Sumner ought to be in Eng¬
land now. But men get conservative as. they get old, and you
will see Sumner and Wendell Phillips one day standing in Rev-
erdy Johnson’s shoes. How warm is Washburne to that Puri¬
tanical aristocrat, Motley!
FRANCE OFFERS FOR PEACE,
through M. Thiers, as follows :
“ Payment to Prussia of the war expenses; destruction of all the forts in
MONDAY , SEPTEMBER 14.
293
Alsace and Lorraine ; temporary occupation of Metz and Strasburg by the
German troops until the election of an authorized Government for France,
and the ratification of the treaty by the proper authorities.”
This is history: France asked Granville to be the means
of communication with Prussia. Granville said “Yes, if Glad¬
stone will let me.” The Queen and Gladstone said “ No," em¬
phatically.
Monday, September 14. — It is officially announced in Berlin
that the French Republic is a government de facto but not de
jure. The advance of the Prussian army reaches Paris.
French territory to be annexed to Germany.
THE REPUBLIC NOT DE JURE.
The following is officially announced in Berlin to-day:
“The National Defence Government in Paris, though existing de facto ,
is deemed of no validity de jure, and cannot and will not be treated with
when Paris is taken. The Senate and Corps Legislatif, with the Regency
— the Government de jure — can and will, it is expected, resume their ses¬
sions, and appoint a commission to accept terms of peace, and the Empress
can return. When peace is concluded, Napoleon will be released, and
France be left free to have an empire or such other government as its peo¬
ple want.”
FRENCH TERRITORY TO BE SEIZED.
The Prussian Government has formally notified Bavaria of its intention
to annex to Germany a portion of France as a military frontier.
This notification calls forth the opposition of many distin¬
guished German Democrats. Dr. Jacobi, of Kbnigsberg, has
been imprisoned for opposing the national will (Bismarck’s ?).
The cry of France begins to be, “ not one stone of our fortifi¬
cations, not one inch of our soil.”
The Frankfort Gazette is publishing a series of articles by Herr Carl
Vogt, the great German naturalist, against the annexation of Alsace
and Lorraine. Herr Vogt protests even against the annexation of such
places as Metz and Strasburg. He advocates the dismantling of all
fortifications between Paris and Berlin, if it be necessary, and the exaction
of a pecuniary indemnity ; but he implores the people of Germany to beware
of bringing down upon their country, in a moment of thoughtless military
intoxication, a league between France, Russia, Italy, and Austria, which
must end by obliterating not the unity only, but the very existence of the
German nationality.
Tuesday, September 15. — The forests about Paris fired by
the French. Gen. Uhrich telegraphs despairingly from Stras-
294
THE FRANCO-PRUSSTAN WAR.
burg. The Crown Prince passing to the south of Paris. Prus¬
sians within sight of Paris.
STRASBURG.
Gen. Uhrich sends this telegram to the Minister of War:
“Situation worse; bombardment without intermission; overwhelming
( foudrogante) artillery. I shall hold out to the last. How could I cross
the Rhine without a bridge and without a boat? Abandon this impracti¬
cable idea. An honorable but costly sortie this morning, and with no re¬
sult except the respect forced on the enemy.”
FRANCE BURNING.
Paris, September 15 {Evening). —For miles about Paris
the country is on fire, burning like an American prairie.
The forests of Maisons, Montmorency, St. Prix, and the woods
of St. Gratian, all in flames. Human ingenuity must have had
a hard struggle with the rain, in trying to set the trees ablaze.
But as science in our time is pretty nearly sold to the devil, the
tears which Heaven Avept are of no avail in saving the sylvan
beauties of the environs of Paris.
The Prussians were to make their appearance around Paris
to-day, and this is the fire which is to dart its flaming tongue
and frighten them away. Alas! I fear the damage is more
to France than to Prussia. The flames lick up many a pretty
chateau, and the begrimed walls of many an elegant villa will
be seen to-morrow.
The estimable M. de Villemessant, who for his health’s sake now
finds it expedient to remain in the country, and M. Emile de Girardin, who
was thought to be at Florence with his friends, but who is in the flesh at
Limoges with Ollivier and Plon Plon, must inevitably suffer from the vast
conflagration to the north of Paris. But who can pity them if their sump¬
tuous country-houses are licked up by the flames this moment raging round
these abodes of luxury ? They were the foremost men in supporting the
bands organized by M. Pietri to cry a Berlin last July.
“ The gods first make mad whom they would destroy.”
INTO THE CRUCIBLE OF FIRE,
it would seem, will be thrown the chateau of the Princess Mathilde. The
woods and copses of the St. Prix, St. Gratian, and Montmorency have been
fired by means of petroleum and gas tar, which it would have been danger¬
ous to have in a city that in a few days may be exposed to the terrific fire
of a bombardment. Dealers in these combustibles received notice a few
days back that they must surrender to the Committee of National Defence
what they could not take to a seaport out of the reach of Prussia.
GRAVE-YARDS BURNING.
The firing of that part of Bondy visible from Montmartre at eleven
o’clock last night was a still more awful spectacle. The trees were per¬
fectly dry, so that oil and petroleum, which were spilt about in the brush¬
wood, had no obstacle to contend with. Isolated columns of flame and
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16.
295
clouds of smoke suddenly rose, and, before half an hour, were lost in one
general blaze, which stood out like a fiery wall against the sky. In the
light of this vast furnace, hideous objects were last night rendered visible on
the Martyrs’ Hill — yawning graves, dug to hold three or four hundred per¬
sons, reminded the lookers-on of the impending destruction of human life.
LOOKING FOR THE ENEMY.
Paris, September 14. — Every hour the Prussians are ex¬
pected to come within gun-shot of the forts. If we are to judge
from appearances, the enthusiasm of the 200,000 National
Guards and Gardes Mobile, reviewed yesterday by Gen. Trochu,
indicates a determination on the part of these civic legions to
defend the city resolutely. The line extended from the Place
de la Bastille to the Triumphal Arch. The French engineers
have destroyed the bridge at Creil — an hour’s distance from
Paris by ordinary train — and since late last night, direct com¬
munication with England by the Northern line has been
stopped.
THE ENEMY IN SIGHT.
Paris ( Evening ). — About 600 Prussians appear at Cla-
mart (five miles south-west of Paris), within gunshot of the fort
of Vanvres. (See map p. 340.)
THEY CREEP-THE STEALTHY RABBITS-
under cover of the woods on the heights. These woods join
those of Versailles by those of Meudon, Sevres, and Viroilay,
and were too green to be more than imperfectly burned. The
advanced guard also signals Prussians at Creteil, within shot of
the fort of Charonne, and two and a half miles from Charenton.
Barricades were erected by the Mobiles there. The popula¬
tion is gone.
Friday, September 16.—Count Bismarck replies to Jules
Favre’s circular to the crowned heads. He declines to “mix
in the internal affairs of France,” but says, “ Prussia will demand
the price of her mighty effort.” Russia declines further media¬
tion. French strength in Paris, 268,000 : Prussian, 350,000.
PARIS FORTS, GUNS, AND MEN.
The forts around Paris contain the following number of guns:
Vincennes.118
Mont Val6rien. 7P
Aubervilliers. 66
St. Denis. 99
BicStre. 60
Issy. 64
29G
THE FRANCO-PR US SIAN WAR.
Ivry.
Nogent.....
Romainville.
Rosny.
Vanvres.
Noisy-le-Sec.
Montrouge..
70
55
49
56
45
57
43
Total...861
In this estimate neither the guns of the enceinte (interior) nor of the
redoubts of Joinville and Lagavelle are included. Heavy guns, having a
range of five miles, have been placed in position on the heights of Mont¬
martre. General Trochu has made good use of the short time he has been
in power in the way of improving the fortifications of Paris. Every com¬
manding spot in the environs has been crowned by a redoubt, all the ground
near being cleared so as to give full play to the artillery of the defenders.
A redoubt has been erected on the hill of Courbevoie, on the west of Paris.
The strength of the enceinte has been much increased.
IMPREGNABILITY.
Large earthen demilunes have been erected outside each gate, and the
covered way has been rendered a formidable impediment by means of pallis-
ades. At the foot of the glacis is a road made of planks studded with nails
three inches high. Beyond these again are three rows of wires two feet
from the ground and three feet apart. These successive obstacles, which
cannot be easily destroyed from a distance, will render it impossible to
attempt an assault until at least the foot of the glacis has been reached by
regular approaches. A second line of fortifications following the course of
the circular railway is in course of construction.
NUMBER OF MEN.
The number of men under arms, within the line of the forts at Paris, on
the 16th ult., is estimated as follows by the French:
Regular soldiers. 80,000
Sailors and marines. 20,000
Douaniers and gendarmes. 20,000
National Guards — including the
New battalions. 120,000
Parisian Gardes Mobile. 18,000
Provincial Mobiles. 180,000
Total.438,000
To estimate the effective force, throw out as useless 10,000 sailors and
marines, 10,000 gendarmes, 80,000 new battalion guards, 10,000 Pari¬
sian Gardes Mobiles, and 60,000 provincial Mobiles, and we have 268,000
men, which is about the fighting force. If the French have 438,000 men,
why not march out and attack the Prussians, who have only 350,000 men ?
BISMARCK’S CIRCULAR.
Count Von Bismarck to-day sends this circular letter to Ger-
m'an representatives abroad, in reply to M. Jules Favre’s circular
of the sixth. (See p. 278.)
Meaux, Friday, September 16, 1870. — Your Excellency is
familiar with the circular which M. Jules Favre has addressed
to the foreign representatives of France in the name of the men
FRIDAY , SEPTEMBER 16.
297
at present holding power in Paris, and who call themselves “ Le
Gouvernement de la Defense Nationale.”
I have learned simultaneously that M. Thiers has entered upon a confi¬
dential mission to the foreign courts, and I may presume that he will en¬
deavor on the one side to create a belief in the love for peace of the present
Parisian Government, and on the other side will request the intervention of
the Neutral Powers in favor of a peace which shall deprive Germany of the
fruits of her victories, and for the purpose of preventing every basis of peace
which would make the next attack of France on Germany more difficult.
FRANCE NOT SINCERE.
We cannot believe in the sincerity of the desire of the present Parisian
Government to make peace, so long as it continues by its language and its
acts at home to excite the passions of the people.
DON’T CARE WHO GOVERNS FRANCE.
We are far from any inclination to mix in the internal affairs of France.
It is immaterial to us what kind of a Government the French people shall
formally establish for themselves. The Government of the Emperor Na¬
poleon has hitherto been the only one recognized by us. Our conditions
of peace, with whatever Government, legislating for the purpose we may
have to negotiate with, are wholly independent of the question how or by
whom the French nation is governed. They are prescribed to us by the
nature of things, and by the law of self-defence against a violent and hos¬
tile neighbor.
WANTS STRASBURG AND METZ.
The unanimous voice of the Germanic Governments and the German peo¬
ple demands that Germany shall be protected by better boundaries than we
have hitherto had, against the dangers and violence we have experienced
from all French Governments for centuries. So long as France remains
in possession of Strasburg and Metz, so long is its offensive strategically
stronger than our defensive, so far as all South Germany and North Germa¬
ny on the left bank of the Rhine are concerned. Strasburg in the posses¬
sion of France is a gate wide open for attack on South Germany. In the
hands of Germany, Strasburg and Metz obtain a defensive character.
FRANCE ALWAYS THE AGGRESSOR.
In more than twenty wars we have never been the aggressors on France ;
and we demand of the latter nothing else than our safety in our own land,
so often threatened by it. France, on the other hand, will regard any peace
that may be made now as an armistice only, and, in order to avenge the
present defeat, will attack us in the same quarrelsome and wanton manner
as this year, as soon as it feels strong enough in its own resources or in for¬
eign alliances.
CRIPPLE FRANCE FOR LASTING PEACE.
In rendering it difficult for France, from whose initiative alone hitherto
the disturbances of Europe have resulted, to resume the offensive, we at the
same time act in the interest of Europe, which is that of peace.
GERMANY WANTS PEACE.
From Germany no disturbance of the European peace is to be feared.
Although France had been trying to force the war upon us for four years,
we, by our care, and by restraining the feelings of our national self-respect,
so incessantly outraged by France, had prevented its occurrence.
13 *
293
THE FRANCO-PRUSSTAN WAR.
FORTIFICATIONS AND TERRITORY.
We mean now for our future safety to demand the price of our mighty
efforts. We shall demand only that which we must have for our defence.
Nobody will be able to accuse us of want of moderation if we insist upon
this just and equitable demand.
Your Excellency will make these views your own, and advocate them in
discussions.
Bismarck.
Saturday, September 17. — The Czar of Russia shows his
personal sympathies, by bestowing the Cross of the Order of
St. George on the Crown Prince of Saxony and on the Prince
of Hesse. The fort of Vincennes is abandoned and destroyed
by the French. The blockade of the North Sea raised.
French scouts blow up the locks on the Marne, and stick the
Prussian siege guns in the mud. Herr Carl Vogt, and Dr. Jo¬
hann Jacobi, of Konigsberg, lead German Republicans in oppos¬
ing the acquisition of Alsace and Lorraine. Jacobi arrested.
PRUSSIA BECOMES VINDICTIVE.
This they say in Berlin to-day : The fact that Paris is suc¬
cessfully invested, and that all its communications are cut off,
seems to admit of no doubt, and if it is to fall, as it must, it had
better fall soon, and thus escape the dreadful fate of poor Stras-
burg. The King himself seems to look forward to an easy
capture, because he has actually summoned some of his old
companions in arms, who entered Paris with him in 1815, to
come to headquarters, and share with him in the impending tri¬
umphal entry, himself at the head of the victorious and con¬
quering hosts. Certainly he is having a surfeit of victory and
glory, and there are those who begin to believe that it would
have been better for the people of Germany not to have had so
much success.
PLYAING THE ROLE OF FRANCE.
They are showing signs of losing their better judgment and
their sense of right and justice under it, and of assuming the
very rble which France has played so long, and which they
themselves have so strongly and justly denounced.
“WHIP THE WORLD.”
Germany can whip the world now. What need we care for
others ? Such is the universal cry. If a wise and a good man
among them dares to raise his voice, and utter words of wisdom
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18.
299
and caution, as did Johann Jacobi at Konigsberg, the military
power lays hold of him, and drowns his voice behind prison
doors.
WEAK DESPOTISM.
The arrest of that unswerving and single-minded patriot, one
of the few, if not the only, consistent public men in Germany,
for no other crime than raising his voice for peace, for the Re¬
public in France, and against doing violence to the people of
Alsace and Lorraine, is an act unworthy of a great Govern¬
ment. Germany is to be united, but not to be free, it seems.
Sunday, September 18.—The Prussians appear on the heights
of Villejuif and Sceaux, in the environs of Paris. General
Vinoy attacks the Prussians at Creteil. The French retreat.
Foreign Ministers, except Washburne, leave Paris. The Prus¬
sians “feel" Forts Ivry and Charenton. The Liberte , Consti-
tutionnel, Gazette de France , and some other journals hereto¬
fore printed in Paris, are printed in Tours. The Corps Diplo¬
matique arrive in Tours.
WHAT WAR HAS DONE.
THE COMIC SIDE.
The war has undermined a good many errors. Before Sedan
the French looked down upon the Germans. They made fun
of German art, German music, and German philosophy. If
there was a mean thing in Paris, it was called German.
When the band squeaked in La Belle Helene , with what irony
Calcas exclaimed, “ C'est musique Allemande.” They spoke
about and got to look upon the German nation as Southerners
were taught to look upon Northerners, before our war destroyed
certain popular fallacies. The “ Yankee ” was found, after all,
to be the true man — the leader of American civilization.
Frenchmen have been puffed up and self-deceived. If the su¬
perior civilization of Prussia shall capture Paris, it will be a
good thing for the French nation. They will commence again.
Their eyes will be opened. The Mahonnnedan says “ Christian
dog ” so much, that he gets to believe it. A crusade now and
then would let a little truth into that Dead Sea of Eastern
error.
“A bas Bismarck” and “A Berlin” were easy to say. By
and by the French got to believe them. It would be well if
300
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
the French would believe their war songs too. The “ Chant du
Depart,” for example, is a song in which kings are attacked,
and not with sugar-plums. Take these lines :
“Tremblez, ennemis de la France,
Rois ivres de sang et d’orgueil ;
Le peuple souverain s’avance :
Tyrans, descendez au cercueil.”
Kings drunk with blood and pride are images not exactly to
the taste or adapted to the purposes of the Emperor. The
revolution and its songs are useful, when trimmed to the pat¬
tern of Imperial democracy, and thus the above lines do ser¬
vice now in the following disguise :
“Tremblez, ennemis de la France,
Tous, ivres de sang et d’orgueil;
Le peuple souverain s’avance :
Tombez, descendez au cercueil.”
The Zouaves sang when they marched out:
“ Bismarck, si tu continues,
De tous tes Prussiens n’en restera guere ;
Bismarck, si tu continues, ■
De tous tes Prussiens n’en restera plus.”
And this:
‘Quand t’es Franchise par le coeur,
Voudrais-tu devenir Prussienne?
Si tu veux rester Alsacienne,
Aime-moi, je serai vainqueur !
Gr&ce a toi, piquante Alsacienne,
La Prusse, ma parole d’honneur,
En verra d’un, drdP de couleur ! ”
The “ drol’ de couleur ” is that sallow tint of fear which is
known to Paris couturi^res as the Couleur Bismarck.
Alas ! the poor Zouaves were almost all captured at Weisen-
burg and Woerth. Turcos, Turcos , Turcos. It was. all Tur-
cos before the war. Nobody says Turcos in Paris now. The
mitrailleuse is almost dead too. The Turcos and mitrailleuses
were to kill Prussia, but the German King looks down on poor
Paris from the Imperial palace of St. Cloud. War has done
this.
SUDDEN CHANGES.
It is hard to keep up with the sudden changes in Paris.
Fifty persons were arrested one day for crying “ Vive la Re-
publique /” and sixty the very next day for crying “ Vive l Em-
pereur ! ” One hour it is “ up with the Imperial eagles,” and
the next the mob goes shouting, with a dreadful irony, “ h, bas
la volaille ”—“ down with the poultry."
The French do not know what they do want. They are
children. The balloon fever set the city in a frenzy one day.
It was so amusing that they forgot King William. Everybody
wanted to ride. Even Gambetta, the Minister of the Interior,
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.
301
took a diplomatic balloon ride over the walls toward Tours.
The bourgeoisie are too ignorant to care for results. Rather
than fight for Alsace and Lorraine, they would receive back
Napoleon from the Prussians, and look upon him as a saviour.
Ask a Frenchman what he thinks of Jules Favre’s proclama¬
tion to the crowned heads, and he will say, “ It is too long,
and not to the point.” The point should be all in a nutshell,
thus:
“ King William ! You said you fought against a man and not against the
people. The man is gone, and the people are ready to make a peace. If
you refuse reasonable terms, you are declaring fresh war, in which the sym¬
pathies of Europe must also be distributed afresh.”
ALL SAVE HONOR LOST !
M. Arthur de Boissieu, who, alluding to the famous despatch
of Francis I. : “ Tout est perdu hors thonneur ! ” remarks that
Napoleon III. at Sedan had lost every thing which the other had
saved at Pavia !
Monday, September 19. — The Prussian army reaches Paris
on the north. The Crown Prince passes the Seine at Ville-
neuve St. Georges, eight miles south of Paris, marches to the
south of the city, and defeats three divisions of French under
General Vinoy, near Sceaux. Immense Republican meeting
in London, to express sympathy with France. Bismarck talks
to Mr. Malet about having Metz.
PARIS.
THE BATTLE OF THE I9TH.
LOUIS BLANC WRITES :
“Paris, 19th.
“There has been fighting to-day all around Paris, with alternations of
success and disadvantage. The city is full of spirit, and yet calm. The
National Guard has shown itself resolute, and the Garde Mobile, coming
from all parts of the country, displays that careless gayety so characteristic
of the French.
“We are sad, yet hopeful. Do not suppose that we expect to escape the
consequences of a war into which we have been dragged in spite of our¬
selves. We desire peace on equitable and honorable conditions; if we can¬
not have that, we are ready to accept war to the knife.”
KING WILLIAM TELEGRAPHS.
To the Queen :
The French abandoned their position near Pierrefitte, north of Fort
St. Denis. At the same time the Prusso-Bavarian Corps, crossing the
Seine near Villeneuve, attacked three divisions under the command of
General Vinoy, on the heights of Sceaux, and captured seven guns and
many men. Fritz directed the movements. The weather is superb.
William.
302 the franco-prussian war.
(See map p. 340)
ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT SORTIE.
This most important battle of the 19th took place upon the
southern side of Paris. Here General Ducrot, who escaped
from Sedan, with 50,000 men fought the Crown Prince with
about the same number. The heights of Clamart and Meu-
don were the scene of the engagement. (See map , 25 th Sept.)
The weak point of Paris is in front of these two villages, and
they were for days, the objective point of a besieging army.
THE MISTAKE OF FRANCE
was in first permitting the Prussians to occupy these locations.
Not only this, but the Marne and Seine should also have been
defended. Once with Krupp’s guns planted behind earth¬
works at Clamart, and the brickwork of Issy and Vanvres will
fall like the walls of Sumpter , and then the long-range guns
will carry to Notre Dame. Then falls Paris. What wonder
that Ducrot made a heroic effort ? But before Clamart came
the Marne and Seine. History will ask, “ \$hy were not they
defended before ? ”
It was along the Seine that former besieging armies met
their severest trials, and more than one army has been nearly
decimated in crossing those two rivers. But these positions
were given up without a struggle, and the enemy made the pas¬
sage of the Seine without opposition. Once in possession of
the country about Juvisy, the way was open to the very forts
around Paris, and no engagement took place until the redoubt
of Chatillon was reached. This work was unfinished and only
partially mounted, for the guns were to have been taken out
two days ago, had not the bad weather stopped the work. As
it was, the guns were spiked and left.
General Trochu explains the abandoning of these positions
to the fact that the disasters of Woerth and Sedan had demoral¬
ized the French army to such an extent that it could only be
trusted behind breastworks. For this reason, Gen. Trochu re¬
luctantly gave up the defence of the Seine, and fell back to a
point within supporting distance of the forts.
THE BATTLE FOR THE LOST GROUND.
At the very last moment Gen. Ducrot arrived, having es¬
caped from the capitulation of Sedan. Gen. Trochu thought
that if the troops would follow any leader, it would be one fresh
from the smell of powder. It was then too late to defend the
river, but Gen. Ducrot thought that he could hold Chatillon
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.
303
and the wood of Meudon, at least for some days. A recon-
noissance, made on the evening of the 18th, showed that the
enemy had already entered the wood, and while one portion of
his force was pushing on toward Versailles, another had turned
face toward Clamart. Troops were being rapidly pushed
across the Seine, occupying positions near Juvisy, or were as
far up as Villejuif, and twenty thousand were already sheltered
in the wood beyond Chatillon. Gen. Ducrot decided to attack
them on the morning of the 19th. At five o’clock the fire was
opened. Before a Prussian was seen, the French began to fire
into the wood with small arms, and this fire was kept up
briskly as the force advanced, but without bringing a response.
Presently a wreath of smoke rose among the trees, and a well-
directed volley was poured into the advancing force. The
cavalry immediately turned, and, as it was forced to do, broke
through the infantry, leaving a bad impression upon the fresh
troops. At this time Gen. Vinoy occupied the extreme left
resting upon Fort Bicetre, his force stretching along the plateau
in front of Villejuif and his right resting upon Gen. Ducrot’s
left. The Second Zouaves was on the left of Ducrot’s divi¬
sion, a regiment greatly cut up in the battles with MacMahon,
and reorganized by incorporating young men from the city.
The enemy, still under cover of the wood, sent another volley
into this regiment, throwing it into the greatest confusion, and
another volley caused a complete panic. The Zouaves broke,
and in an utter rout, without having seen the head of a single
Prussian, and in a terrror-stricken panic, fled to the city. The
panic also spread to some regiments near, and, in utter confu¬
sion, some fifteen thousand men fled to the forts, to announce
that all was lost, and to say that the Prussians were close upon
them. It was a case of pure fright, and in vain the chagrined
officers tried to rally their men. Only a score or two responded,
and the retreat was sounded. This was taken up by other
regiments, and Gen. Ducrot, seeing his force leaving the field,
was forced to order a retreat behind the guns of the redoubt.
For the first time the enemy began to move, and, seeing that
he was being flanked, the guns of the redoubt were spiked, and
left to fall into the hands of the Prussians. The General and
his staff, or the few men that remained of it, were the last to
leave Chatillon.
THE FRENCH BULL RUN.
Meantime the fugitives had reached the city, and, throwing
the forts into a state of alarm, the draw-bridges were raised and
304
THE FRANC O-PR US SIAN WAR.
the men put in position to repel an assault; but as time went
on there was a large collection of fugitives without, and, as no
enemy appeared behind them, the bridges were again lowered.
Instead of arresting these men upon the spot, and of sending
them back under guard to find their arms, they were turned
loose into the city, to spread consternation there by their tales
of disaster and defeat. “We entered the fight this morning
116 strong,” said a frightened Zouave, “and we eight are all
who came out alive. We are the saved.” Saved by their
legs, as were all the rest, save two, that being the sum of their
casualties.
It was the old story of Bull Run repeated. Did not the au¬
thor meet a few straggling Ellsworth Zouaves at Alexandria,
after Bull Run, who had the same tale? “We are all that are
left of the Zouaves,” they said sadly. Again at Fort Runyon,
at the end of Long Bridge, were a hundred more. “The rest
are all dead,” they sighed. In Washington were still a few
hundred more of the survivors, while a few weeks afterwards
the regiment rendezvoused in New York 900 strong ! Brave
Zouaves !
THE BLAME.
But these raw French soldiers were not wholly at fault.
Doubtless the older Zouaves were demoralized by the terrific
battles before Sedan, and the new recruits had never before
been under fire. Fortunately for all, the panic was stopped
for a time by a brigade of Breton Mobiles, who could not be
induced to fly before they had seen the enemy, and it was with
some difficulty at last that their officers got these young men
away, when to fight longer would have been useless. But the
fact soon became apparent that an overwhelming force was
massing for an attack. From the first the French officers have
been surprised by the rapid marches of the Prussians, and by
the rapidity of their concentrations. Trusting to the reports
of the evening before, Gen. Ducrot still believed that he had
had to do with a force of the enemy twenty thousand strong,
and that he had the advantage of numbers; but during the
night the Prussians had been largely reinforced from the corps
of Gen. Vogel Von Falckenstein, which had crossed the Seine
at Villeneuve St. Georges, and made a forced march to the
wood of Meudon. It is probable that there were fifty thousand
men before Gen. Ducrot, and that 25,000 were engaged.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19.
305
EXCITEMENT IN THE CITY.
After these engagements the city was thrown into a great
state of excitement by the fuyards from the army, who dis¬
persed through the streets relating their false romances. Large
groups of citizens surrounded these men, and listened with
eager interest to their tales, while, in certain quarters already
designated, real panics were caused. As the fugitives grew
more numerous, the public began to understand the true state
of the case, and a feeling of indignation arose. Some men
were caught throwing their cartridges into the Seine. The
stories told by these men were numerous, and far from ingenious.
Some claimed to be the sole survivors of their regiments.
Others had used all their cartridges, but a far greater number
put themselves upon a high Republican sentiment, and said
that their officers were traitors, sold to the King of Prussia,
and whole regiments were about to be given up when the
treason was found out. This cry drew immediate sympathy,
and fora time the crowd cried, “ Death to all Bonapartists,” and
was loud in accusing of treason every man who had ever served
the Empire. Later in the evening, Gen. Ducrot’s force entered
the city, and the truth was known. Orders were given to ar¬
rest the fugitives, and the National Guard went about the
task. Gen. Trochu issued an order, threatening the punish¬
ment of death to any soldier who throws down his arms in
the face of the enemy. The same night countercharges
were made, and the report spread that the old Zouaves,
who had fought under the Empire, had really sold them¬
selves to the enemy.
RESULTS.
The results of the day show that Gen. Trochu was right
in his estimate of his men, for they would not stand against
the enemy in the field. The disgrace of the Zouaves has
had a good effect, however, and next time men will be more
careful how they leave the field before the enemy come in
sight. The position captured by the Prussians at Chatillon
is a very important one, and one which they will use to great
advantage as soon as heavy guns can be mounted upon the
redoubt.
THE STATUS OF PARIS TO-DAY.
With the defeat of the French at Chatillon, and the occu¬
pation of the redoubt there, the Prussians gained a very im-
306
THE FRA N C O-PR US SI AN WAR.
portant point. They now hold a height which dominates
Fort Vanvres, and at a distance of about (I believe) 3800
yards. From that point Fort Vanvres can be reduced in a
few hours. That battery is also only three and a half Eng¬
lish miles from Vaugirard, and fire can not only be opened
upon the main fortifications, but upon the city itself. Sup¬
posing that the troops are driven from Fort Vanvres, these
guns can then be pushed forward, and an effectual fire opened
upon the main works. No troops can be kept behind a
mass of stones while these terrible projectiles are crashing
against them ; but, as for the assault, when the breech is
made everything depends upon the spirit of the soldiers
within the walls. As for the people, they can do nothing
better than to give an example of coolness and bravery, for
it may as well be acknowledged at once, that, before organ¬
ized troops, an armed mob could render but little service, if
it did not really embarrass the defence.
THE PRUSSIAN ENTRY.
Paris walls are made of stone and mortar. They cannot
stand the fire from an earthwork. Delhi in India was
breeched with field howitzers in two hours. Sumpter fell with
one-half the firing which it took to reduce Fort Fisher.
America has demonstrated that no reliance is to be put in stone
and mortar. Stone and mortar fortifications will die with the
siege of Paris. There is a belief in Paris that the Prussians
will enter the city at their first serious attempt. Gen. Trochu
issues the following order relative to the fight of to-day (19th),
and prepares the army against future panics :
To the National Guard, the Garde Mobile , and the Troops in Garrison at Paris.
In the combat of yesterday, which lasted nearly the whole day, and in which our artil¬
lery, whose firmness cannot be too highly praised, has inflicted enormous losses on the
enemy, some incidents have occurred which it is necessary, in the interest of the great
cause which we defend in common, should be communicated to you.
An unjustifiable panic, which the efforts of an excellent chief of the corps and of his of¬
ficers were unable to prevent, seized the regiment of Zouaves which held our right wing.
From the commencement of the action the most part of the soldiers were thrown into dis¬
order, producing there the greatest alarm.
In order to excuse their conduct, these cowards have declared that they were being led
to certain destruction, although their effective was intact,_and they were without wounds ;
that they wanted cartouches, although they had not used those with which they were sup¬
plied, I have ascertained myself, from what they still have ; that they had been betrayed
by their chiefs, etc., etc. The truth is, that these unworthy fellows have compromised an
engagement, which, notwithstanding this panic, has produced considerable results due to
others, soldiers of the infantry joined to them.
Already the misfortunes which have happened to us in the commencement of the war
have caused to flow into Paris undisciplined and demoralized soldiers, who produce in¬
quietude and trouble, and escape, through circumstances, the authority of their chiefs and
all attempts at repression.
I am firmly resolved to put an end to such grave disorders. I command all the de¬
fenders of Paris to seize all men who, being regular soldiers or belonging to the Garde
LONDON, SEPTEMBER 19.
307
Mobile, are rolling about the town in a state of drunkenness, thus bringing scandal and
dishonor upon the uniform they wear.
The soldiers or Gardes Mobiles thus arrested will be conducted to the headquarters of
the place — 7 Place Vendome — the inhabitants arrested to the Prefecture of Police. They
will afterwards be brought before a council of war, which, sitting en permanence, will ad¬
judge the rigorous application of martial law.
Article 213 prescribes the punishment of death to every soldier who abandons his post in
presence of the enemy or of armed rebels.
Article 218 prescribes the punishment of death, with military degradation, to all sol¬
diers who refuse to obey when commanded to march upon the enemy.
Article 250 prescribes the punishment of death, with military degradation, to all who pil¬
lage food, merchandise, or effects, by soldiers in bands, either with arms or by open force,
or with violence towards the person.
Article 253 prescribes the punishment of death, with military degradation, to all soldiers
who destroy the means of defence, supplies of arms, victuals, or munitions of war, etc., etc.
It is as much the duty of the Government to defend Paris, which is just being subjected
to siege, as it is to maintain order. By the present arrangements, it associates in the ef¬
fort all men of heart and will, of which the number is great in the city.
The President of Government, Governor of Paris, General Trochu.
Paris, September 20.
THE REPUBLIC IN LONDON.
London, September 19. —The democratic demonstration of the people
of London to-night, in Trafalgar Square, is one of the greatest popular
assemblages ever seen in the British capital. For nearly two hours the
streets leading to Clerkenwell, Bethnal Green, and Holborn were alive with
the successive processions of the workingmen’s societies, and the demo¬
cratic associations of the metropolis.
The great wave that swept away the empire of France has reached Eng¬
land, and the throne of Queen Victoria totters to its fall.
In that great quadrangle at the base of Nelson’s column are 50,000
Republicans. Trafalgar Square is filled with Englishmen carrying the flags
of republican France and republican America, and the white flag of the
British republic that is to come, and shouting, as Englishmen and Ameri¬
cans only can shout, for “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity;” for the
French republic that is, and for the British republic that is to be.
The meeting was called to sustain the new Republic of France. So
eager were the people to respond to the notices of the meeting that had
been issued, that although the proceedings were announced to commence at
seven o’clock, the terrace in front of the National Gallery, and between
that building and Nelson’s Pillar, was filled at six o’clock, and when the
processions from different parts of the city arrived, the assemblage became
immense. These processions carried with them the American flag, the
French tricolor, and the British flag, with the union down and draped in
crape. Along their lines, also, were seen liberty-caps, borne on the ends
of spears, and, most significant of all, a pure white flag, with the word
“ republic”
emblazoned in gold letters on its folds.
DIPLOMACY.
Mr. Malet, Second English Secretary of Legation, reports to
Lord Granville the following conversation with Bismarck at
the King’s headquarters :
Malet asked “for France a Prussian ultimatum : ”
“ We must have Metz and Strasburg,” said Bismarck.
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
'308
“ Dismantled ? ” asked Malet.
“ No ! ” replied Bismarck, “ stronger than ever.”
“ Then, suppose the French Government finds your terms impossible ? ”
“ We shall invest and starve Paris ; if Chat does not succeed, we shall try
sharper means.”
“ Would you bombard the city ? ”
“ Certainly ; and burn it, if forced. The necessity is sad, but how is it
to be escaped? ”
Bismarck’s observations about Gladstone and Granville, and their timid
message-carrying, were the reverse of respectful, and he did not hesitate to
let it be seen that he cared nothing for the efforts of outsiders, and was re¬
solved to settle all questions with France alone.
MOTLEY’S OPINION.
Mr. Motley says:
“ The statement that Prussia refuses to treat, except with the Regency,
and intends to reinstate Napoleon as Emperor of France, is false. Prus¬
sia objects to recognizing the present Government, not because of the proc¬
lamation of the Republic, but on the ground that it is unauthorized, unsta¬
ble, and incapable of giving lasting guarantees.”
Tuesday, Sept. 20. — The Prussian army arrives at Versailles.
The Republic proclaims “ not an inch of territory ” to Prus¬
sia. The Italian army enters Rome. General R. Cadoma re¬
ceives from General Kanzler the surrender of the Papal
forces. Jules Favre is received by King William in Rothschild’s
chateau at Ferrieres. Prussian forces skirmish toward Fontaine¬
bleau, and press the fortifications of Paris—Forts Ivry and
Charenton.
PROCLAMATION OF THE REPUBLIC.
This important proclamation announcing the policy of France
appears to-day:
TO THE FRENCH PEOPLE.
A report has been in circulation that the Government of the National
Defence thinks of abandoning the policy for the carrying out of which it has
been placed in the post of honor and of peril.
This policy may be summed up in these words :
Not an inch of our territory , not a stone of our fortresses. The Govern¬
ment will maintain this policy to the end.
Given at the Hotel de Ville, the 20th of September, 1870.
General Trochu,
Emmanuel Arago,
Jules Favre,
SEPTEMBER 20. — VERSAILLES.
309
Jules Ferry,
Gambetta,
Garnier-Pages,
Pelletan,
Ernest Picard,
Rochefort,
Jules Simon,
The Minister of War, General Leflo ;
The Minister of Agriculture and Com¬
merce, M. Magnin ;
The Minister of Public Works, M. Do¬
rian.
THE MILITARY STATUS.
The influx of troops into France still continues. 650,000
men are already on French soil. The Crown Prince of Sax¬
ony on the north, and of Prussia on the south side of Paris,
hold the city in so tight a grip, that balloons and carrier-pigeons
are the sole means of communication with the outer world.
Between Paris the Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin com¬
mands a large force for the reduction of Toul and Soissons.
To the southeast, through the Gap of Belfort, 65,000 Prus¬
sians and Bavarians are streaming into France, threatening
Lyons and Dijon.
Prince Albert is moving towards Orleans on the south, and
a large Prussian force threatens Rouen on the north.
All telegraphic communication with Paris has ceased. The
Prussians have crossed the Seine at Choisy, near the confluence
of the Marne, and advanced toward Forts Ivry and Chatillon,
where skirmishes took place without serious loss on either side.
They now occupy Clamart, Meudon, Villeneuve, and Choisy-
le-Roi and Sceaux. The French have constructed earthworks
near St. Denis and Clamart.
A Prussian force has entered Fontainebleau, and made a re¬
quisition for 150,000 francs.
THE OCCUPATION OF VERSAILLES.
This morning an aide-de-camp of General Von Kirchbach, of
the Fifth Corps (army Crown Prince), followed by a Single cava¬
lier, presented himself before the municipal authorities of Ver¬
sailles. The aide-de-camp demanded a place for Prussian
wounded, and the keys of the stores for fodder. He then re¬
turned to General Kirchbach for consultation. At eleven a.m.
there arrived a captain of engineers, aide-de-camp also to
310
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
General Kirchbach. Two National Guards conducted him
to the municipality to receive the surrender of the city.
Fighting was now going on between General Vinoy and the
Prussians a little way to the right, beyond Sceaux, to the forest
of Meudon. M. Ranraud, the Mayor of Versailles, mounted a
stone before the gate of the Avenue of Paris, and read the whole
text of the capitulation, signed by himself and the delegate of
General Von Kirchbach :
ist. All property and every person will be respected, as well as all monuments and works
of art.
2d. The confederates shall occupy all the barracks with their soldiers, but the inhabit¬
ants must lodge the officers, and in case the barracks are insufficient, the soldiers also.
3d. The National Guards will remain armed, and in the common interest will be charged
with the duties of police inside the town, and in all the posts there situated. Only the
confederates will occupy, as they require, the gates of the barriers.
4th. There shall be no contribution in money, but the town must furnish, at the market
price, all that will be necessary to the armies passing through, as well as to those stationed
in Versailles.
5th. The same day the gates of the city shall be opened to the passage of the Fifth
Corps.
At a quarter past twelve, the Fifth Corps commences march¬
ing through Versailles, lasting until five o’clock in the evening.
General Kirchbach is installed at the Hotel des Reservoirs.
The artillery has bivouacked on the Place d’Armes, in the Bar¬
racks of the Avenue de Paris, and others have gone to the
Barracks of Saint Martin.
A CROWD OF ZOUAVE PRISONERS,
captured in the fight of yesterday, defile with the rest. The
crowd silently uncovered as they passed ; a few, however, raised
the cry “ Vive la France ! ” Another little incident — the first
aide-de-camp, with the flag of truce, of which I have already
spoken, was saluted as he passed along the Rue des Chantiers
by an individual who said to him : “ Vive la France ! ” The
officer replied : “ My friend, it is ‘ Vive la paix ! ’ that you ought
to cry.” As soon as the great defile had passed, the requisi¬
tions began ; twenty-six cattle were delivered by the town, ten
“pieces of wine,” etc., and all the forage of the war, worth
300,000 francs, which the military administration wished to
burn, and which the town bought in view of actual events.
KING WILLIAM’S HEADQUARTERS
will be motfed from FenRsres to Versailles, with his master,
Bismarck. We say his master, as it would have been said in
the past that Louis XIII. reigned under Richelieu. The Prus¬
sian army has tried to make a triumphal entry into the chief
place of Seine et Oise, in full dress, playing the national German
airs, as if for a parade. The Prussians are orderly. They are
gotten up for a grand review, with their mustaches waxed and
cleanly shaved faces.
SEPTEMBER 20. — R OME.
311
VERSAILLES.
The city of Versailles is fourteen miles from Paris, and is
the most charming spot in France. The author spent two days
in the chateau and about the grounds in 1867. It was the fete
day of Napoleon III. The magnificent fountains were illu¬
minated, and all Paris was out to see the gorgeous spectacle.
To call Wilhelmshohe the Versailles of Germany, is to make the
Emperor’s residence a place of fairy enchantment.
THE OCCUPATION OF ROME.
The occupation of Rome by the Italian troops of Victor
Emanuel, and the surrender of the forces of Pope Pio IX., is
a part of the present war. It was absence of French troops
which made the occupation possible. For years, Napoleon III.
has bolstered up the Pope against the people of Italy. The
author, who was a guest at the American College in Rome in
1867, can testify to the personal hatred of the Italian people
to Pope Pio IX. The Church got to be a despotism — the
Pope temporal King. Like Napoleon, he is in his chair days,
old and imbecile. Infallibility is the result of religious des¬
potism and imbecility.
THE ATTACK.
At five o’clock the Italian forces of General Cadorna opened
the attack. The Pope had about 15,000 soldiers, mostly par¬
doned convicts and foreigners hired to do his fighting.
An Italian battery was aimed to open a breach on the right
side of Porta Pia. General Ferrero’s artillery assaulted Porta
del Popolo (one of the principal gates of Rome), and Gen.
Angelini, who had come from Naples only a few hours before,
was opening breaches and doing hard work near St. Giovanni
and St. Lorenzo.
The fire had been going for several hours, and long columns
of black smoke rose in the blue sky. The breach was half
effected, when in the rear it was discovered that a house be¬
longing to the Bonapartes had taken fire.
ZOUAVE BAD FAITH.
At nine precisely, a bomb-shell fell on the roof of the St.
Agnese Church, smashed the ceiling, and fell into the church.
An order was immediately given to several soldiers to mount
to the top of the tower, and hoist the white flag of the Geneva
Convention. Several wounded men had already been brought
in. At half-past ten a strong fire of.musketry was heard.
312
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
The musketry fire ceased later, and the Pontifical Zouaves
hoisted a white flag. The thirty-fifth battalion of Bersaglieri
(sharpshooters) mounted the barricade, when the rascally
Zouaves fired again, killing on the spot Signor Patelieri, the ma¬
jor of the battalion. A feeling of furious indignation seized
every Italian soldier. Gen. Caseny, with his wounded arm, and
his Staff, marched in front, sword in hand, to the barricade. The
Fortieth and Forty-first Regiments of infantry followed. The first
officer who advanced was Signor Valuziari, who had been exiled
from Rome for eleven years, and was now rejoicing to see the
place of his nativity again. Just as he reached the top of the
barricade, he fell dead on the ground, struck by a bullet in the
forehead.
ROME SURRENDERS TO ITALY.
The soldiers mount the barricade with gayety and laughter.
The colonel of the regiment rides to the very top of the bar¬
ricade, appears to look proudly on his soldiers, and to care lit¬
tle for the bullets whistling about him. The troops have occu¬
pied the gates, the Papal artillery surrenders, and firing ceases.
On the left there is the tramp of horses, and a long row of car¬
riages in splendid livery appears. This is the Diplomatic Corps,
going in grand procession to the headquarters of Gen. Ca-
dorna, to treat for capitulation. The barricade is strewn with
wounded, and their comrades seize the opportunity to place
them on litters and convey them to the hospital. There is much
bloodshed, and the shrieks of the sufferers are appalling. Porta
Pia is in ruins, and covered with mattresses which had been
used as breastworks, and were now on fire. But hundreds of
exiles, with tears of joy in their eyes, were happy in the pro¬
spect of entering again their native city.
ZOUAVES SURRENDER.
At the Piazza del Coeli, the Italians received the surrender
of the Zouaves, and proceeded to the Piazza Colonna. The en¬
thusiasm of their reception at this point was astonishing. Old
men ran about with tears in their eyes, waving their hats and
their handkerchiefs. Windows were filled with ladies waving
tricolor flags and ribbons. The air was filled with cries of ex¬
ultation. And now the squadriglieri, for fear of being mas¬
sacred by the people, had intrenched themselves in the square
of the capitol. They had made a barricade of mattresses, and
had posted two pieces of artillery against the esplanade of the
Piazza del Coeli. The bottom of the esplanade was occupied
SEPTEMBER 20 .— ROME.
313
by bersaglieri, and the squadriglieri fired three times on them,
but doing no harm. A regiment of infantry arriving on the square
by back streets, had surprised the squadriglieri, and had made
them all prisoners.
ENTHUSIASM OF THE ROMANS.
The General commanding was actually besieged by men,
women, and children kissing his hands and the very legs of his
horse, and crying, “ Long live our liberators ! ” About fifty
men ran up the staircase of the capitol, broke open the doors,
ascended the towers, and hoisted the Italian flag. The event
foretold by Cavour, and which had influenced every act of the
Italian people for eleven years, was now fulfilled. Bells pealed.
The military band played the Royal march. Thousands of
people shouted, “ Long live Victor Emanuel.”
AN ILLUMINATION.
At nine p.m. the streets were brilliantly illuminated and
crowded with people. Bands of 200 or 300 persons with tri¬
color flags and torchlights paraded the streets. Every Roman
has one of the bersaglieri by the arm ; the women beg the
feathers of their hats, and kiss them. Old men and women are
seen embracing the soldiers of Italy, holding them tight by the
waist, and crying, “Don’t leave us.” The Corso looks like
a fairy scene, with thousands of colored lamps, and houses cov¬
ered with flags. Bengal fires illuminated the stately Coliseum,
and voices of men and women cried vivas in the midst of the
amphitheatre.
A PROCLAMATION TO THE ROMANS.
The following proclamation was posted up throughout the
city :
“ Romans ! The excellence of our right and the valor of our arms have
in a few hours brought me among you to restore to you liberty. Now
your destinies, those of the nation itself, lie in your own hands. Strong by
your sufferings, Italy will at least have the glory of solving that great prob¬
lem which has been so terrible a burden to modern society. Thanks, Ro¬
mans, also, in the name of the army, for the heartfelt reception you have
given us ! Continue to preserve, as you did to this day, public order, because
without it there is no liberty possible. Romans ! the morning of the 20th
September, 1870, makes a memorable epoch in history. Rome is again
restored, to be now and forever the great capital of a great nation. Long
live the King ! Long live Italy ! R. Cadorna.”
Gen. Cadorna addressed to the army an order of the day, in
which he expresses his high satisfaction for their conduct dur¬
ing the attack.
14
314
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
TERMS OF THE SURRENDER.
Capitulation for the Surrender of the City of Rome , stipulated between the Com¬
manding General of the Troops of His Majesty the King of Italy , and the Com¬
manding General of the Papal Troops , respectively represented by the wider-
signed :
Villa Albani, Sept. 20, 1870.
First: The City of Rome, except that part which is limited to the southern part of the
walls of the Sante Spirito, and comprehends Mount Vatican and the Castle of St. Angelo,
forming the so-called Leonine City, its complete armament, flags, arms, ammunition, and
stores. All the material belonging to the Government shall be consigned to the troops of
His Majesty the King of Italy.
Second: All the garrison of the city shall depart, receiving the honors of war, with flags,
arms, and baggage. After the honors shall have been rendered to them, they will laydown
flags and arms. The officers shall have a right to carry with them their swords, horses,
and anything belonging to them. The foreign troops shall leave first; the others will fol¬
low, in the order of battle, with the left in front. The garrison will leave to-morrow morn¬
ing at seven.
Third : The foreign troops shall be disbanded, and immediately sent back to their re¬
spective countries. They will leave to-morrow by railway. The Government has the right
of taking into consideration the rights of pension which tney might have stipulated with the
Papal Government.
Fourth : The Roman troops will be formed at a depot without arms. The Govern¬
ment will take into consideration their claims as to their future situation.
Fifth : The troops will be forwarded to-morrow to Civita Vecchia.
Sixth : A mixed commission will be appointed, formed of an officer of artillery, one of
the engineers, and a functionary of the Administration. The Commission will receive the
consignment referred to in the fixed article for the City of Rome.
F. Ranolta, Chief of Staff, Papal Army.
F. D. Princiano, Chief of Staff, Italian Army.
F. Cadorna, General Commanding Italian Army.
Seen, approved, and ratified by the General commanding Rome. Kanzler.
A TOUCHING SCENE.
The men who were wounded the other day were brought into the city
and carried to the hospital of San Giovanni. They were literally cov¬
ered over with flowers, and it was with the greatest difficulty that the am¬
bulances could advance, so great was the crowd. The people were shout¬
ing as loud as they possibly could, but when some one reminded them that
their cries would do the wounded men harm rather than good, perfect si¬
lence ensued in an instant, and all waved their hats and haiidkerchiefs
without zitterittg a word. The losses of the army are about 200 killed and
wounded. Before signing the capitulation, Gen. Cadorna asked Gen. Kanz¬
ler whether he believed that the 200 men left with the Pope would really
suffice to keep order. Gen. Kanzler’s answer was so positive, that the
terms were agreed to without any other observation.
RECEPTION OF THE LIBERATORS.
In the morning, Gen. Cadorna and his staff entered the city by the Porta
Pia. The balconies bent under the weight of so many people. The very
houses seemed to move, for the banners and the thousands of waving hand¬
kerchiefs hid every inch of wall and roof from sight. The soldiers seemed
delighted at the universal ovation. As they passed an imposing structure,
the soldiers nearest the crowd asked, in a hurry, “ What’s that?” “ Co-
lonna Trajana,” was the answer, and that name was repeated by each sol¬
dier with an air of admiration and astonishment. Gen. Cadorna alighted
at the Piazza Colonna. He witnessed from the balcony the defile of the
whole division, and then retired, but the cheers of the thousands who filled
the square compelled him to show himself to the people. Waving his
handkerchief, he cried:
FAVRE, BISMARCK, PEA QE.
315
“ LONG LIVE ROME, THE CAPITAL OF ITALY.”
It was the first time that such words had been pronounced by a person
of official station, and their reception by the people was indescribable.
THE PAPAL PRISONERS.
They were sixteen thousand in number, eight thousand of them good sol¬
diers, the other eight thousand worthless. The conduct of the men was
disgusting. Many of the Zouaves were quite drunk ; the officers had cigars
in their mouths, and as they passed Gen. Cadorna’s horse, they blew smoke
at him. The General was so indignant, that he called to one of them, and
said, “We render you the honors of arms, though you do not deserve it ;
but it is your duty to bow to a superior. Take off your hat, sir !” As
the French of the Legion of Antibes passed by, they looked up to the General
with a provoking air, and shouted, “A votes revoir, villains ! ” “ Italians,
a bientot! ” and similar cries.
POPULAR DEMONSTRATION AGAINST THE^OPE.'
After the Papal troops had left the Leonine city, in a few minutes the
space in front of the Vatican was full of people waving tricolored cockades,
who, looking up toward the Papal residence, began hissing and howling in a
frightful manner.
THE POPE BECAME ALARMED,
and sent immediately for Count Arnim. On the entrance of the Prussian
Minister, the Pope came forward and begged that he would go at once to
Gen. Cadorna, and ask him to send some troops to reestablish order. The
Pope, seeing no way to escape, wrote an autograph letter to Gen. Cadorna,
asking him to send the Italian soldiers to protect him from the populace.
Gen. Cadorna telegraphed to Florence for instructions, and the Pope’s de¬
mand was complied with.
A CONTRAST.
Can a state of things last long, in which liberty and civilization are di¬
vided from ignorance and despotism only by a river, so that while men enjoy
on this side all the blessings coming from an enlightened government, on
the other side men as patriotic as they must serve and suffer under Papal
rule; so that the soldiers of King Victor Emanuel in the morning defend
Italian independence and in the evening Papal tyranny?
ROYAL HONORS ACCORDED TO THE POPE.
The Pope desiring to drive through the city, Cadorna gave orders that
he should have the same honors paid to him as to the King, and the cardi¬
nals the same as those given to princes of the royal blood.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS FAIL. \S
Wednesday, Sept. 21. — Jules Favre returns to Paris from his
consultation with Bismarck, and reports that the King of Prus¬
sia “ requires the cession of Alsace atid Lorraine, and immedi¬
ate possession of Metz, Strasburg , and Mont Valerien."
M. Favre concedes on the part of France '•'■an indemnity
reimbursing Prussia for the cost of the war , the dismantling
316
THE FRANC O-PR US SIAN WAR.
of Metz and Strasburg and other fortifications , but not one
inch of French territory.”
The French Ministry proclaims war to the last extremity,
and says, “ Rather than give up French territory, Paris will
bury herself beneath her own ruins.”
Bismarck and Favre have a diplomatic dispute, and a ques¬
tion of veracity arises. The Crown Prince at Versailles.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
FAVRE AND BISMARCK MEET AND DISAGREE.
Lord Granville sought the interview between M. Favre,
the Vice-President of the Republic, and Minister of Foreign
Affairs, and Count Von Bismarck, to prevent further bloodshed.
Bismarck, believing France was crushed, asked exorbitant de¬
mands. Had his demands been within reason, France would
have accepted them, and there would have been peace in Eu¬
rope to-day. If France made the war, the verdict of humanity
is, that Prussia has continued it. History will dwell upon the
failure of M. Favre’s mission as a lamentable mistake in diplo¬
macy, and from yesterday the burden of war will be upon the
shoulders of Prussia.
Prussia may gain territory by a prolongation, of the warp but at
whafffrcost! The tb ixsi-^ f-Bismarc k is for te rritory — territ ory.
As yef; n b'*Europe an nation has dared to criticise tins desireT
E ngl ant! Ts "timid,.. Au&toalqs powerless, and Russia is'b usy with
her thoughts on Turkey and her eyes on the'Bosphorus'.
The first interview between Favre and Bismarck occurred
on the ioth of September at Rheims, which is thus described
by M. Favre in his report to his colleagues in Paris :
France having declared war in the beginning, our desire for peace did
not look plain to the world. Our situation was untenable. It permitted
the enemy to lay upon us the responsibility of continuing the struggle ; it
condemned us to ascertain her intentions for ourselves; it was nec¬
essary to escape from the position. I believed myself bound to obey
an imperious necessity. One time I told you of the agitation of my mind,
and I said that it would be at rest only when I had done everything that
was possible for man to do to bring this horrible war to an honorable con¬
clusion. Recalling the conversation which arose from this beginning, I
feared some objections, and I was decided. I wished, in meeting M. de
Bismarck, to be free from every engagement, in order to have the privilege
of not making any. I make these acknowledgments sincerely. I make
them to the country, in order to release you from a responsibility which I
alone assume. If my mission be a mistake, I alone must bear the penalty.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, SEPTEMBER 21.
317
THE JOURNEY TO THE PRUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS.
We moved toward the enemy by the Porte de Charenton. I suppress all
the details of this unhappy journey, which was full of interest, but the inci¬
dents of which would not be in their place in this report. Conducted to
Villeneuve-Saint-Georges, where was the General-in-Chief commanding
the Sixth Corps, I learned rather late in the afternoon that the headquar¬
ters were at Meaux. The General proposed to me to send an officer as
bearer of the following letter, which I had prepared for transmission to M.
de Bismarck :
M. le Comte —I have always believed, that, before undertaking serious hostilities
under the walls of Paris, it were possible that an honorable arrangement could be at¬
tempted. The person who had the honor of waiting on your Excellency two days ago
has made me gather from his words the expression on your part of a similar desire. I
have come to the avant-postes to put myself at the disposition of your Excellency. I ex¬
pect you will let me know how and where I can have the honor of conferring with you for
a few moments. — I have, etc.
Jules Favre.
We were separated by a distance of forty-eight kilometres. The next
morning, at six o’clock, I received a reply of which this is a copy :
I have not received the letter your Excellency has had the goodness to write to me,
and it will give me the greatest pleasure if you will come to see me to-morrow here at
Meaux. Prince Biron, the bearer of this, will see that your Excellency is conducted
across our lines.—I have, etc.
De Bismarck.
At nine o’clock the escort was ready, and I left with it. When we ar¬
rived near Meaux, about three in the afternoon, I was stopped by an
aide-de-camp, who told me that Count Bismarck had left Meaux with the
king, to go to Ferrieres for the night. I went back, and proceeded to a
farm which had been pillaged, as were all the houses which I passed on my
route. At the end of an hour M. de Bismarck joined me. It was diffi¬
cult for us to consult in such a place. One habitation — the Chateau de
la Haute Maison, belonging to the Count de Rillac — was in the vi¬
cinity, and we proceeded thither. Our conversation took place in a sa¬
loon, in which debris of all sorts was lying about.
THE DIPLOMATIC TALK.
I at once specified the object of my mission. Having made him acquain¬
ted, by my circular [ see Sept. 6. — p. 278], with the intentions of the French
Government, I wished to know those of the Prussian Minister. It seemed
to me inexcusable that two nations should, without previous explanations,
continue a terrible war, which would inflict deep suffering on the conquer¬
ors, notwithstanding the advantages they had gained. Caused by the
power of one man, this war had no longer a raiso?i d'etre when France
had become mistress of herself. I pledged myself for her love of peace,
but at the same time for her indomitable resolution not to accept any con¬
dition which should make that peace a brief and threatening truce. M. de
Bismarck said that if he believed such a peace was possible, he would sign it
at once. The Opposition had always condemned the war. But the power
which that Opposition represented was no longer anything but precarious.
If within a few days Paris were not taken, it would be overthrown by the
mob. I interrupted him to say that we had not a mere mob at Paris, but a
population which was intelligent and devoted, which knew our intentions,
and which would not make itself an accomplice of the enemy in obstructing
our defence.
FRANCE WILL NOT FORGET SEDAN.
As regarded our power, we were ready to place it in the hands of the
318
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
Assembly already convoked. “ This Assembly,” replied the Count, “will
have designs which nothing can make us foresee. But, if it obey the senti¬
ment of France, it will wish for war. You will no more forget the capitu¬
lation of Sedan than Waterloo, than Sadowa, which did not concern you.”
Then he insisted at length on the wish of France, the accomplishment of
which had been prevented, to attack Germany, and to take away a part
fo its territory. From the time of Louis XIV. to that of Napoleon III.
her tendencies had not changed, and when war was declared, the Corps
Legislatif had received the words of the Minister with acclamation. I
remarked to him that the majority of the Corps Legislatif had some weeks
before called out for peace ; that that majority, chosen by the monarch,
had believed itself bound to follow him blindly ; but that the nation, which
had been consulted twice, at the elections of 1869, and at the vote on the
plebiscite, had persistently clung to a policy of peace and liberty.
BISMARCK WANTS FRENCH TERRITORY, v
The conversation on this subject was prolonged — the Count maintaining
his opinion, whilst I defended mine ; and, as I pressed him strongly on
these conditions, he replied in effect, that the security of his country com¬
manded him to guard the territory which protected it. He repeated seve¬
ral times, “ Strasburg is the key of the house; I must have it.” I then
asked him to be more explicit. “ It is useless,” he replied, “ since we cannot
listen to you. It is a matter to arrange later.” I asked him to do it at
once. He said then that the two Departments of Bas Rhin and Haut Rhin,
a part of the Moselle, with Metz, Chateau-Salins, and Senones, were in¬
dispensable, and that he could not give them up in the negotiation. I then
remarked that the assent of the people of whom he was thus disposing was
more than doubtful, and that the public opinion of Europe would not be
satisfied with it. “ I know well,” he replied, “that they are not with us.
They will impose an unpleasant job on us, but we cannot suffer it. I am
sure that in a short time we shall have a new war with you. We wish to
make it with all our advantages.”
FAVRE PROTESTS.
I protested, as I should, against such solutions of the question. I said
that two important elements of the discussion had been forgotten: Europe,
which would find these proposals to be exorbitant, and oppose them ; then
the new right—the progress of civilization and manners — which was op¬
posed to such conditions. I added that, so far as we were concerned, we
would never accept them. We could, I stated, perish as a nation, but we
would not suffer dishonor; besides, the country alone was competent to
decide regarding a cession of territory. We have no doubt about its feel¬
ing, but we are willing to consult it. Opposite to it Prussia is arrayed ;
and, to be brief, it is clear that, influenced by the intoxication of victory,
she wishes for the destruction of France. The Count protested, taking his
position behind the absolute necessity of the national guarantee.
BISMARCK REJECTS AN ARMISTICE.
I continued : “If it is not an abuse of strength on your part — conceal¬
ing secret designs — let us summon the Assembly. We will resign into its
hands our powers. It will nominate a definitive Government, which will
consider your conditions.” “For the execution of this plan,” replied the
Count, “ an armistice would be necessary, and I do not wish for that at
any price.” The conversation took a turn even more and more painful.
Evening approached. I asked M. de Bismarck for a second interview at
WEDNESDAY ., SEPTEMBER 21 .
319
Ferriores, where he was going to stay for the night, and we left, each for
his own destination.
MIDNIGHT TALK.
We then pursued the discussion, which was prolonged until midnight. I
insisted particularly upon the necessity of summoning an Assembly. The
Count appeared to become convinced by degrees, and to return to the sub¬
ject of the armistice. I asked for fifteen days. We discussed the condi¬
tions. He expressed himself in a very qualified way, and reserved his priv¬
ilege of consulting the King. He consequently postponed our conversation
until the next day at eleven o’clock.
THE TALK ON THE I9TH.
I was at the Chateau de Ferrieres at eleven o’clock. The Count left the
King at 11.45, and I heard from him the conditions which were required
for an armistice. They were contained in a text written in the German
language, of which he gave me the sense verbally. (See Bismarck's reply
following. — Author. )
He demanded as a guarantee the occupation of Strasburg, of Toul, and
of Pfalzburg; and as to the demand of the previous evening, that the As¬
sembly should meet at Paris, he desired in that case to have added a fort
commanding the city — that of Mont Valerien, for instance. At this
point I interrupted him by saying, “ It will be much more simple to ask us
for Paris itself. How can you suppose a French Assembly can deliberate
under your cannon ? I have had the honor of telling you that I shall
faithfully transmit our interview to the Government; but I really do not
know that I dare tell them you have made to me such a proposition.”
“Let us seek another combination,” he replied. Then I spoke to him of
the Assembly meeting at Tours, and of no material guarantee being given
in the neighborhood of Paris. He then proposed to speak of this proposi¬
tion to the King, and, returning to the question of the occupation of Stras¬
burg, he added: “The city is about to fall into our hands—it is now
only a question of days; so I ask that the garrison should surrender them¬
selves prisoners of war.”
FAVRE MOVED BY GRIEF.
At those words I was moved by grief, and, rising, I said, “You forget
that you are speaking to a Frenchman, Count. To sacrifice an heroic
garrison — the admiration of ourselves and of the entire world — would be
a piece of cowardice ; and I do not promise that I shall not say you at¬
tempted to impose such a condition.” The Count replied that he had no
intention to wound me— that he only conformed to the laws of war ; and
that, if the King consented, that article might be modified. He then went
and saw the King, and, returning in a quarter of an hour, said His Majesty
accepted the proposition with regard to Tours, but insisted on the garrison
of Strasburg being retained as prisoners of war. My strength was now
exhausted, and for an instant 1 feared it would fail me altogether. I
turned to hide the emotion which nearly choked me, and, apologizing for
my involuntary weakness, I took my leave with these simple words: “I
was deceived. Count, in coming here; but I do not repent. I have suffered
sufficiently for my own excuse, and, moreover, I only came in deference to
a sense of duty. I will report to my Government all that you have told
me ; and if they think proper to send me back to you, however painful it
may be to my own feelings, I shall have the honor of seeing you again. I
am grateful to you for the kindness you have shown toward me; but I fear
320
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
there is no other means remaining than to let events take their course.
The population of Paris Is courageous, and resolved to make any sacrifice.
Their heroism may change the course of events. Even if you conquer, you
will not make them submit. All France entertains the same sentiments.
So long as we can find an element of resistance we will fight you. It will
be a struggle between two peoples, who ought rather to join hands. I hoped
for a different solution, and I do part deeply grieved, but, nevertheless, full
of hope.
Receive, my dear colleagues, the fraternal homage of my unalterable
devotion.
The Vice-President of the Government of National Defence, and
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Paris, Sept. 21 . (Signed) Jules Favre.
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT IN A FRENZY.
The report of M. Favre threw the Paris Government into a
frenzy. The Bismarck propositions were indignantly rejected,
and M. Favre immediately wrote the following note to the
Prussian headquarters : —
M. le Com pte — I have faithfully expressed to my colleagues in the Government of the
National Defence the declaration that your Excellency has been good enough to make to
me. I regret to have to make known to your Excellency that the Government has not
been able to accept your propositions. They will accept an armistice having for its object
the election and meeting of a National Assembly, but they cannot subscribe to the contin¬
gent conditions. As to myself, I can say with a clear conscience that I have done my
utmost to stop the effusion of blood, and to restore peace to two nations which would be so
much benefited by that blessing. I have only been stopped by an imperious duty, which
required me not to yield the honor of my country, which has determined energetically to
resist such a sacrifice. I and my colleagues associate ourselves without reserve in that
determination. God, our Judge, will decide on our destinies. I have faith in His Justice.
I have, etc.,
(Signed) Jules Favre.
September 21, 1870.
This circular of M. Favre to his colleagues, describing his
interview with Count Von Bismarck, brought out the following
reply from the Prussian Vice-Chancellor, who in the mean
time began to feel that his demands upon M. Favre were a
little exorbitant, and calculated to alienate the friends of
Prussia in Europe and America. The circular is addressed to
the North German ambassadors :
BISMARCK’S EXPLANATION.
Ferrieres, September 27. — The report addressed by M. Jules Favre
to his colleagues on the 21st instant, regarding the conversation he had with
me, induces me to make your Excellency a communication which will enable
you to form an accurate idea of the course these conversations took.
It must be acknowledged that, on the whole, M. Favre has endeavored
to render a correct account of what took place between us. If he has not
been always successful, it must be ascribed to the length of our conferences
and the peculiar circumstances under which they occurred. I must, how¬
ever, object to the entire tendency of his exposition, and insist on the fact
that the principal subject we had to discuss was not the conclusion of a
treaty of peace, but that of an armistice by which it was to be preceded.
PEACE NEGOTIATIONS , SEPTEMBER 21.
321
In regard to the demands we should advance, before signing a definite
treaty of peace, I expressly stated to M. Jules Favre that I declined to en¬
ter into the subject of the new frontier claimed by us till the principle of a
cession of territory had been openly acknowledged by France. In connec¬
tion with this declaration, the formation of a new Department of the Mo¬
selle, containing the circumscription of Saarburg, Chateau-Salins, Saarge-
mund, Metz, and Thionville, was mentioned by me as an arrangement in
consonance with our intentions ; but, at the same time, I in no way re¬
nounced our right to make additional stipulations in a treaty of peace, in
proportion to the sacrifices which should be imposed on us by lengthening
the war.
Strasburg, a place described by M. Favre as the key of the house— an
expression which left it still doubtful whether France was the house in ques¬
tion — was expressly declared by myself to be the key of our house, which
we therefore did not desire to leave in foreign hands.
“TAKE OUR GOLD, BUT LEAVE OUR COUNTRY.”
Our first conversation, in the castle of Haute Maison, near Montry, did
not go beyond an academical disquisition on the present and the past, the
pith and marrow of which were contained in a declaration on the part of
M. Favre of his readiness to yield tout I argent que nous avons, while he
refused to entertain the idea of a cession of territory. When I spoke of
such a cession as being indispensable, he declared that negotiations for
peace would have no prospect of suc'cess, and maintained that to part with
any portion of her territory would be humiliating and dishonoring for
France. I was not able to convince him that conditions, the fulfilment of
which France had obtained from Italy and demanded of Germany, without
having been at war with either of these countries — conditions which
France would no doubt have imposed on us had we been conquered, and
which had been the inevitable consequence of nearly every war, even in
modern times, would not be ignominious to a country which had succumbed
after a brave resistance ; and besides that, the honor of France was not
something essentially different from that of all other nations. I was
equally unsuccessful in persuading M. Favre that the restoration of Stras¬
burg no more implied dishonor than the cession of Landau or Saarlouis,
and that the violent and unjust conquests of Louis XIV. were not more
closely bound up with the honor of France than those of the first Republic
or the First Empire.
A QUESTION OF VERACITY.—AN ARMISTICE.
Our conferences took a more practical turn in Ferrieres, where we ex¬
clusively discussed the question of an armistice — a fact which refutes the
statement that I declared I would accept an armistice under no circum¬
stances whatever. The manner in which M. Favre represents me as saying
with reference to this and other questions : “ II faudrait un armistice et
je n'en veux d aucun prix ,” and other things of the same kind, obliges me
to rectify his statements, and add that in similar conversations I have never
made use, and never do employ such phraseology as that I personally wish
or require or approve of anything. I constantly speak of the intentions
and demands of the Government whose representative I am.
In this conversation both parties agreed in considering the necessity of
giving the French nation an opportunity of choosing who alone would be in
a position to grant the present Government powers sufficient to enable
them to conclude a peace sanctioned by international law, as the reason of
14 *
THE FRA HC O-PR US ST AN WAR.
2
an armistice. I called attention to the fact that an armistice was always
a military disadvantage for an army engaged in a victorious advance ; that,
in the present case, it was a most important gain in point of time for the
defence of France and the reorganization of her army ; and that we, there¬
fore, could not grant an armistice, unless military equivalents were offered.
As such I mentioned the surrender of the fortresses which impeded our
communications with Germany, for, as a truce would prolong the period
during which we had to support our army, concessions facilitating the trans¬
port of supplies must be the preliminary condition of granting it. Stras¬
burg, Toul, and some smaller places were the objects of this discussion.
With respect to Strasburg, I urged that since the glacis had been crowned,
its capture must shortly be expected, and we therefore thought the military
situation demanded the surrender of the garrison, while those who held the
other fortresses would be permitted to march out with the honors of war.
PARIS CONSIDERED.
Another difficult question referred to Paris. Since we had completely
surrounded the city we could only permit the admission of new supplies on
the condition that the new provisioning of the town did not weaken our own
military position, and protract the period necessary to reduce the city by
hunger. After consulting the military authorities, 1 accordingly offered, at
the command of his Majesty the King, the following alternatives with
respect to Paris : Either the position of Paris must be conceded to us by
the surrender of a commanding part of the fortifications, in which case we
are prepared to permit free intercourse with Paris, and not to hinder the
new provisioning of the city.
Or the position of Paris need not be conceded. In which case, however,
we could not consent to give up the investment, but must insist on the con¬
tinuation of the military status quo before that city as the basis of the
urmistice, as otherwise at the end of that period we should be opposed to
Paris being provisioned and armed anew.
M. Favre distinctly rejected the first alternative, containing the surrender
of a part of the fortifications of Paris, as well as the condition that the gar¬
rison of Strasburg should be made prisoners of war. On the other hand he
promised to consult his colleagues as to the second alternative, containing
the retention of the military status quo of Paris.
The programme which M. Favre took back with him to Paris as the
result of our conversation, and which has been discussed there accordingly,
did not contain anything whatever as to the terms of the future peace, but
only the granting of an armistice of from a fortnight or three weeks to pre¬
pare the way for the election of a National Assembly under the following
conditions:
I. The continuation of the status quo in and before Paris.
II. The continuation of hostilities in and around Metz for a certain
distance, the extent of which was still to be determined.
III. The surrender of Strasburg, the garrison of which were to be
made prisoners of war, and of Toul and Bitche, their garrisons being
permitted to march out with the honors of war.
I believe that our convictions that we made very conciliatory offers will
be shared by all neutral cabinets.
If the French Government has resolved not to use the opportunity offered
of proceeding to the election of a National Assembly, even within the parts
BISMARCK— FAVRE, SEPTEMBER 21.
323
of France occupied by us, it shows its resolution not to get rid of the diffi¬
culties which prevent the conclusion of a peace in accordance with interna¬
tional law, and not to listen to the public opinions of the French people.
That free and general elections would lead to results favorable to peace is
a conviction which forces itself upon us here, and which can hardly have
escaped those in power in Paris.
I take the liberty of requesting your Excellency to bring the present cir¬
cular to the notice of the Government to which you are accredited.
Von Bismarck.
NAPOLEON III. ESTIMATES THIERS, FAVRE, AND BISMARCK.
The ex-Emperor at Wilhelmshbhe gives the following estimate
of the three men who hold the diplomatic destinies of Europe
in their hands. Said the ex-Emperor to an English gentleman :
“ Jules Favre has not ability enough to conduct a discussion with the
Minister of King William, lie will wind him round his finger. I have
been quite duped by him — I, to whom everybody agrees in attributing
penetration and taciturnity. How, then, will it fair with M. Favre,
whose strength lies in his too great fluency of speech ? All these words
will be turned against him in the form of an agreement with his pacific in¬
tentions. M. Bismarck will throw the responsibility of a refusal on his
august Majesty. The talent of this diplomatist consists in his knowing how
to throw on others the responsibilities of resolutions that have been taken.
I was without this talent when at the Tuileries, and I paid dearly for this
defect. The Chancellor of the North is bent on making all Europe think
that it was the French people who demanded the war, whereas in reality it
was he and I who alike wished it. If I had been able to persuade the
French that they urged me to this war I should still be at Paris, or I could
have returned without fear. The contrary occurred, and my fall and the
capitulation of Sedan are the consequences of that failure.”
Shortly afterwards, speaking of M. Thiers, he said: “I was beaten at
Boulogne [see p. 85. — Author], because, in my simplicity at that time,
I confided in this Minister of Louis Philippe, who had promised me his
assistance, but only to drag me into the net. I troubled him in England.
He attracted me to Boulogne in order to confine me at Ham.”
“Count Bismarck,” the ex-Emperor said, in chnclusion, “is an able
man, but it is his audacity that makes him so. This is what distinguishes
him from Cavour, the greatest politician I have ever met. If Cavour had
been the Minister of King William, the German empire would have been
completed, and that without a shot.”
THE TOURS GOVERNMENT EXCITED.
The Tours branch of the French Government were as highly
exasperated at M. Favre’s report of Von Bismarck’s demands
as the officials in Paris, and the Ministry immediately issued the
following proclamation :
TO THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE.
Before the siege of Paris, Jules Favre desired to see Count Von Bis¬
marck, to know the intention of the enemy. The following is the declara¬
tion of the enemy :
324
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
Prussia wishes to continue the war in order to reduce France to a sec¬
ond-rate power. Prussia demands Alsace and Lorraine, as far as Metz, by
right of conquest. Prussia, before consenting to an armistice, demands the
rendition of Strasburg, Toul, and Mont Valerien. Paris is exasperated,
and will rather bury herself beneath her ruins. To such insolent preten¬
sions, we can respond but by resistance to the last extremity. France
accepts the struggle, and counts upon her children.
Tours, Sept. 24. Cremieux.
Glais-Bizoin.
Fourichon.
. . bismarck’s denial.
The Proclamation of the Tours Government brought out
the following denial from Count Bismarck, the chronology of
which would come on the 6th, but it is placed here the more
readily to explain events :
Ferrieres, Saturday , Oct. r, 1870.
From reports in the public journals it appears that the delegation of the
French Government in Tours have officially announced that I had declared
to M. Favre that Prussia would continue war in order to reduce France to
the condition of a Power of the second rank. Although such an expression
could only be intended to influence a circle unacquainted with the language
used in international negotiations, and ignorant of the geography of France,
still the circumstance that this official announcement bears the signatures of
Messrs. Cremieux, Glais-Bizoin, and Fourichon, gentlemen belonging to the
Government of a great European power, induces me to request your Excel¬
lency to put it in a proper light in your official intercourse.
In my interview with M. Favre, the question of peace was not formally
considered. At his repeated request I communicated to the French Minis¬
ter, in general outline, the same views which formed the principal topic of
the circular dated Meaux, September 16. [See page 296. — Author.]
Demands exceeding those therein contained have never yet in any way
beeii made by me.
The cession of Strasburg and Metz, which we seek, in territorial con¬
nection implies a reduction of French territory equal in area to the increase
through Savoy and Nice; while the population of these provinces obtained
from Italy has made that of France 750,000 larger. When it is considered
that France, according to the census of 1866, numbered 38,000,000 inhab¬
itants without Algiers, and with Algiers (now furnishing an essential part of
the French war forces), 42,000,000, it is palpable that a decrease of 750,000
changes nothing in the importance of France as against foreign countries,
while we leave to this great Empire the same elements of power, possession
whereof, in the Eastern and Italian wars, enabled it to exercise so decisive
an influence on the destinies of Europe.
These few points will suffice to successfully oppose the logic of facts to
the exaggeration of the proclamation of the 24th of last month. I only
add, that in communication with M. Favre I expressly directed his atten¬
tion to these views; and I need not assure your Excellency that I refrained
from every offensive allusion to the consequences of the present war in re¬
spect to the future position of France as a great power of the world.
Bismarck.
SEPTEMBER 21, BISMARCK— FAVRE.
325
BISMARCK NOT OPPOSED TO THE REPUBLIC.
VERSAILLES, October 6, I.30 p.m. — I do not hold the opinion that
the Republican institutions of France constitute danger for Germany, nor
have I, as asserted in a letter of the 17th ult., published in the London
Daily Telegraph, ever expressed sucju»view to Mr. Malet, or any other
person. Bismarck.
BISMARCK DEFINES PRUSSIA’S POSITION.
The following memorial, in regard to the fatal consequences
to which the population of Paris are exposed by a prolonged
resistance, has been sent by Count Bismarck to the Embassa¬
dor of North Germany :
The conditions of an armistice offered to M. Jules Favre, intended as
the basis for the reestablishment of order in France, have been rejected by
him and his colleagues. They thereby decree the continuance of a strug¬
gle which, according to the course of late events, appears without any chance
of success for the French people. Since then the prospects of France in this
war, so full of sacrifices, have still further declined. Toul and Strasburg
have fallen. Paris is closely surrounded, and German troops are advanc¬
ing by the Loire. The large forces heretofore engaged near the above fort¬
resses are now at the free disposal of the German commanders. The
country has to bear the consequences of a war & outrance decreed by the
French authorities in Paris. Its sacrifices will be unnecessarily increased,
and its social condition suffer a more and more dangerous decomposition.
The command of the German armies does not find itself in a situation to
counteract this ; but it perceives clearly the consequences of the resistance
chosen by the Powers in France, and feels compelled to call general atten¬
tion to one point, namely : the special condition of Paris.
The heaviest attacks heretofore made from this capital (on the 19th and
30th of September), in which the elite of the armies collected in that city
have not been able to throw back the first line of the besieging forces, led
to the conviction that the capital will fall sooner or later. If the time of
surrender is postponed by “The Provisional Government for the National
Defence” until the threatening want of provisions necessitates a capitula¬
tion, the most terrible results must follow.
The unwise destruction of railways, bridges, and canals within a certain
distance around Paris by the French has not been able to stop for one mo¬
ment the advance of the German armies. All communications by land or
water needed for military operations have been reestablished in a very short
time. These repairs naturally regard military interests exclusively, while
the other destructions, even after a capitulation, will prevent for a long
time the communication of the capital with the provinces. It will be an
absolute impossibility for the German commanders, when that case occurs,
to provide one single day’s rations for a population of nearly 2,000,000.
The environs of Baris, to the distance of several days’ journey, since all
stores there are necessarily required for the use of the German troops, will
then offer no resources, and will not permit the inhabitants of Paris to
evacuate by the roads into the country. The inevitable result would be the
starvation of hundreds of thousands.
The persons in power in France cannot fail to discern these consequences
as clearly as the German commanders, and since to the latter nothing is
326
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
left but to carry on the war proffered, the rulers of France are responsible
for forcing such extremes.
THE CROWN PRINCE IN FRONT OF PARIS.
The Crown Prince to-day visits the captured redoubt which
was carried yesterday while the Fifth Corps was taking posses¬
sion of Versailles. The view of Paris from this position, is
charming. In front is the Tuileries, with the Louvre behind it;
yonder is the dome of the Invalides, where Napoleon I. lies
buried.
After a long look at Paris and a careful examination of the
ground immediately before his troops, the Crown Prince re¬
turned to where the escort of lancers had halted, and quitting
the main chaussee, crossed some fields toward the edge of the
woods above Meudon. There were many traces of the battle of
the previous day, though it was evident that the fighting had not
been nearly so severe on the northern as on the southern side of
the road to Chatillon. Several dead horses lay in the track
of the French retreat, fearfully mangled by shell fire; and a
dead soldier could be seen here and there among the tops of
the beet-roots, his scarlet trousers contrasting vividly with the
prevailing color around him. At the edge of the wood there
had been a longer stand made by the French before they aban¬
doned altogether the high ground near Le Petit Bicetre. Many
men had fallen where the road dipped from the brow to the
slope of the hill, and many bodies were being collected for
burial, both from the open fields and from the wood itself.
A DUSTY RIDE.
Clouds of dust flew up along the road as the Prince trotted
toward Versailles. The staff became very dusty, or rather
much more dusty, for it had been in a similar atmosphere for
hours past. Now there was a Prussian battalion halted by the
wayside, and ringing cheers burst as His Highness was recog¬
nized by the troops.
THE CROWN PRINCE ENTERS VERSAILLES.
The royal cavalcade came to the gates of the town, and rode
along a paved street for some distance before reaching the Ave¬
nue de Paris. Thousands of the good people of Versailles
were assembled to witness the entry of the Crown Prince of
Prussia and his staff. No demonstration of any kind was
made ; the people accepted the event in logical silence. Loud
swelled the notes of the military band, drawn up to receive the
Prince. The Prussian anthem in Versailles ! The needle-gun
VERSAILLES, SEPTEMBER 21 .
327
in the Avenue of the “ Grand Monarque ! ” We are carried
back nearly sixty years, to the disasters of another French em¬
pire. Yes; there they are — the spiked helmets, and the
strong, sturdy wearers of the same. There is King William’s
only son, the commander of the Third German Army, the vic¬
tor of Weisenburg and Woerth, riding into the court-yard of the
Versailles Prefecture, to establish his headquarters at the Hamp¬
ton Court—the old Philadelphia State House of the French
capital. He does not enter the stately palace of the Bourbon
Kings, because that palace is used as a military hospital, and has
the red cross flag waving over it. But he has good quarters for
a fighting prince in the handsome Prefecture on the Avenue de
Paris, with his carriages drawn up in the court before the en¬
trance, ready to march at half an hour’s notice.
MORE TROOPS.
The Second and Third Corps from Prince Charles’ Metz army
are on their way to Paris. Prince Charles’ army before Metz
comprises the First army (Steinmetz) and the Second army con¬
solidated. Steinmetz is relieved from duty in the field, and ap¬
pointed to a semi-military position. No reasons are assigned
for the change; but it is well known in the Prussian army that
there is a difference of opinion between Prince Charles and
Steinmetz, the last mentioned being too hard a fighter, and not
relying enough on his artillery. “ Signal for close action,” the
motto of Farragut, has always been the ruling order of the “ Lion
of Skalitz.” Spicheren and Courcelles, bloody and glorious vic¬
tories, are the only charges against him. Prince Charles has
the First, Seventh, Eighth, and Tenth Corps ; the Eighteenth
Division of the Ninth Corps; the Twenty-fifth division of
Hesse-Darmstadt; the division of Gen. Kummer, composed of
regiments of the line, formerly the Mayence garrison, and not
technically connected with any corps ; and sundry landwehr
divisions — making the whole force 180,000.
Many Prussian and Bavarian troops are now armed with
captured chassepots. The reserve army forming in Berlin
is designated as the Thirteenth Corps, with marching orders
for the seat of war.
A large German force is already passing through Alsace to¬
ward Lyons.
SEPTEMBER 21 —PARIS PROCLAMATIONS.
To-day in Paris is the anniversary of the Proclamation of
the Great Republic, and Paris is in a very manifesting mood.
328
THE FRAN CO-PR US SI AN WAR.
Gambetta issues proclamations every half hour, calling upon
Parisians, as Minister Washburne says, “ in more or less flowery
language, to die for their country.” This is the last one issued :
“Citizens: This is the Twenty-first of September! On this day seventy-
eight years ago, our fathers founded the Republic, and took an oath to them¬
selves, in the teeth of the foreigner, whose presence polluted the sacred soil of
their country, to live free or die fighting. They kept their oath. They
conquered, and the Republic of 1792 has survived, in the memory of man¬
kind, as the symbol of national heroism and grandeur. The Government in¬
stalled at the Hotel de Ville, amidst enthusiastic cries of ‘ Vive la Republique !’
could not allow this great anniversary to pass, without hailing it as a great
example. Let the mighty impulse which animated our forefathers inspire
our souls, and we, too, shall conquer. This day let us honor our fathers’
memories; to-morrow let us, as they did, secure victory by facing death.
Vive la France! Vive la Republique ! ”
M. Arago, the Mayor, followed suit, heading his manifestoes
with the old rallying cry, “ Liberte, Egalite, Frater?iit'e." The
French are so constituted that they cannot really exist without
processions, bouquets to statues, and grand phrases.
The Parisians parade the streets like children, sometimes
weeping, and sometimes breaking out in patriotic lunacy. The
statue of Strasburg is covered with flowers. Among the patriotic
outbursts we have —
VICTOR HUGO’S PRIVATE PROCLAMATION.
“To the People :
“The Prussians have decreed that France shall be Germany and Germany Prussia. That
I, as a Lorrainer, am a German ; that the Nile, the Tiber, and the Seine are affluents of
the Sarre ; that the city which for centuries has irradiated the globe is superfluous, Berlin
henceforth being capable of answering every measure ; that Montaigne, Rabelais, Pascal,
Moliere, Diderot, Rousseau, Danton, and the French Revolution never existed ; that,
having Bismarck, we do not need Voltaire, but the universe belongs to the conquered of
Napoleon the Great and the conquerors of Napoleon the Little ; that henceforth thought,
conscience, poetry, art, will begin at Potsdam and finish at Spandau ; that, moreover, it is
not established that our existence is necessary; that we are Sodom and Gomorrah, and
they, the Prussians, are the fire of Heaven ; that it is time to put an end to this state of
things, and that henceforth the human race will be a power of the second order. This,
dearest Parisians, they are executing upon you. When they suppress Paris they mutilate
the world ; their attack is aimed urbi et orbi. Is such a future possible ? We answer
only by a smile.”
M. Victor Hugo proceeds to show the nature of this conflict :
“ It is the old one between the Archangel and another Dragon, and it will have the old
predestined end — Prussia will be overthrown. The war has hitherto only been a small
war — it is about to become grand.”
M. Victor Hugo calls to the Prussians to come forward like
men :
“No more forests, no more thick fogs, no more tortuous tactics, no more gliding along
in the dark. The strategy of the cat will not avail when you meet the lion. In vain you
will step softly. The very dead will hear you. Paris is watching you —the thunder in
her hand. Come out of the shadows ; advance, show yourselves. Your facile successes
are over, and you must fight foot to foot and hand to hand. You are about to meet a
great soldier, whose name was Gaul when you were the Borussians, and who calls himself
France now that you are Vandals. Miles Magnus said curses of France ; soldier of God
sa,id Shakespeare. We are going to put your General to the test, and shall see whether
your Moltke’s ability is really better than the crepitude of Le Boeuf.”
THURSDA Y, SEPTEMBER 22 .
329
M. Victor Hugo then discusses famine and bombardment as
means of reducing Paris, and proceeds :
“Attack Paris, then; blockade, bombard her. Try it; but while you are about to
unite will come snow, sleet, hail, rain, frost, ice. Paris will defend herself. Paris, which
has been accustomed to amuse mankind, will now terrify it. The world will be amazed
when it sees how grandly Paris can die. The Pantheon is already asking itself where
next it is to put the amount of power who are about to acquire a title to the shelter of its
dome. * O Paris ! thou hast crowned the statue of Strasburg with flowers ; history will
crown her with stains !* ”
Notwithstanding all this humbug, a large portion of them
7nean to fight it out. They have taken it into their heads that
Paris can be successfully defended, and if it be not, they are
determined that it shall not be their fault. It is intended to
keep well beneath the cover of the pits, not to risk engage¬
ments more than is necessary — gradually to convert the Garde
Nationale and the Garde Mobile into good soldiers, by accus¬
toming them to be under fire ; and then, if things go well, to
fall on one or other of the Prussian armies.
Thursday, Sept. 22. — Russia moves troops mysteriously
towards Turkey. The Czar moves to control the Black Sea
and the Dardanelles. Sorties from Paris and Metz.
SORTIE FROM PARIS.
The division of Gen. Mand Luy, at three o’clock this morn¬
ing, attached the heights at Villejuif, on the south of Paris, which
were occupied by the Prussians. The attack resulted in no ad¬
vantage. At the same time a force of French made a recon-
noissance, and drove the Prussians from the village of Drancy ;
and Gen. Bellamere, the commander of St. Denis, attacked the
Prussians in the village of Pierrefitte, the small detachment of
Prussians retiring. (See map, Sept. 25.)
METZ.
Another balloon from Marshal Bazaine’s headquarters at
Metz has fallen within the territory controlled by the French.
The balloon contained 137 letters. From these it seems
butcher’s meat is very dear at Metz, and the army is conse¬
quently eating horse-flesh. There is plenty of other provisions.
The Germans have armed the captured Lunettes, 52 and 53,
with mortars. Other batteries have been erected on the heights.
The German suffered a heavy loss at the capture of Lunette
No. 52. Among the killed was Gen. Quitzon.
330
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
A SORTIE.
The French have been in the habit of coming out of Metz
and of digging potatoes in the fields in the neighborhood of the
villages which form the suburbs of Metz ; to-day was the first
time they have been prevented, for no sooner did they make
their appearance than the Prussian outposts, who had been
previously strengthened, opened fire. The French then with¬
drew, but only for a few moments. In half an hour’s time the
French, much to the astonishment of the Prussians, opened a
smart fire from the earthwork of St. Privat. (See wap, p. 154.)
This work is situated about 3000 yards from the suburb of
Montigny, and 3500 yards from the village of Augny, occu¬
pied by the Prussians. Into this work the French had brought
some field artillery, and they opened a heavy fire upon the
village of Augny, the Prussian foreposts in that direction, and
also upon the village of Marly, to the left of Augny. While
this was going on, the enemy, evidently determined to have
potatoes, made an advance, supported by cavalry, in the neigh¬
borhood of Mercy le Haut, driving back the Prussian out¬
posts, and occupying that village and the village of Peltre,
both under protection of the guns of Quelen. They were,
however, after some sharp skirmishing, driven out, and, having
no doubt accomplished their object of foraging, they retired into
Metz by way of Le Sablon. The cordon is now to be drawn
tighter than ever ; the best shots are to be supplied with French
chassepots, and to do duty on the outposts close to the beleag¬
uered city.
RUSSIA AND TURKEY.
The news of the fall of Napoleon was received with great re¬
joicings by the Russians, among whom he has long been uni¬
versally detested. The Government, however, shows no dis¬
position to recognize the Republic. The Prussian party, which
consists of such influential men as Count Stackelberg, Baron
Meyendorff, and Gen. Milutyn, is led by no less a personage
than the Czarewitch.
When the Czar made the two Crown Princes members of the
Order of St. George, it was to show his sympathy out and out
for Prussia. The treaty of Paris was signed by Russia after the
Crimean war on compulsion. France was up then ; now she is
down ; and Russia desires to break it, and move her armies
again against the Sultan, to make a seaport for herself on the
south.
The author could see that it was the religion of Russia to go
RUSSIA— TURKEY, SEPTEMBER 22.
331
to the Mediteranean, when in Moscow in ’67. “ We must have
a front door. The back door, frozen up seven months in the
year, left us by Peter the Great, is not enough. It is the mani¬
fest destiny of Russia to go to the Mediterranean,” said the
Moscow Gazette in 1867.
THE TREATY RUSSIA WANTS ANNULLED.
This treaty was forced upon Russia by France and England
at the close of the Crimean war.
All the Russian newspapers are discussing the Eastern ques¬
tion, and urging the abrogation of the said treaty, which, the
St. Petersburg Diplomatist says, Gortschakoff has resolved to
speedily annul. The contracting Powers of this treaty were
France, England, Russia, Sardinia, and Turkey, and the follow¬
ing is a synopsis of the points of most interest in it at present:
Art. 9. Mentions that the Sultan grants reforms in regard to his Christian subjects.
Art. 11. The Black Sea is neutralized. While open to the mercantile marines of all
nations, its waters and ports are formally and in perpetuity interdicted to vessels of war,
whether belonging to nations haying territory bordering on it, or otherwise.
Art. 12. This article prescribes that all regulations respecting trade in the Black Sea
shall be conceived in a spirit favorable to the development of commercial transactions.
Art. 13. The Black Sea being neutralized by aforegoing provision, Russia and Turkey
engage neither to construct nor maintain any naval or military arsenal upon its coast.
Arts. 20 and 21 concede a portion of Russian territory, to be annexed to the Principality
of Moldavia.
Art. 22. The Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia are to enjoy under the suzerainty
of the Porte, and under the guarantee of the contracting Powers, the privileges and im¬
munities of which they are in possession. No exclusive protection shall be exercised over
them by any of the guaranteeing powers. There shall be no private right of interference
in their affairs.
Art. 23. The Sublime Porte guarantees to the aforesaid Principalities an independent
and national administration, as well as full liberty of worship, legislation, commerce, and
navigation.
Art. 28. The Principality of Servia will continue to be dependent upon the Sublime
Porte, and subject to stipulations nearly similar to those named for the other Principalities.
Art. 30. Russia and Turkey are to retain in their full integrity their possessions in
Asia to the same extent as before the war. Commissioners are to be appointed to settle
the boundaries.
THE RUSSIAN ARMY.
The land forces of Russia are formed of two descriptions of troops, dif¬
ferent from each other in many respects — the regular troops, properly so
called ; and the feudal militia of the Cossacks and similar tribes.
The nominal strength of the Russian army, according to the returns of the Ministry of
War, is as follows :
Regular A rmy.
Infantry.
Cavalry.
Artillery.
Engineers.
Peace-footing.
War-footing.
694,511
49.>83
48,773
16,203
Total.
. 457.875
808,670
A rmy 0/ First Reserve.
Troops of the line.
Garrison in regiments.
Garrison in battalions.
74,561
23.470
29,862
Total.
127,925
332
THE FRAN CO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
3. A rmy 0 f Second Reserve.
Troops of all arms.254,036 199,380
General total...812,096 1,135,975
Among the irregular troops of Russia, the most important are the Cossacks. The
country of the Don Cossacks contains from 600,000 to 700,000 inhabitants. In case of ne¬
cessity, every Cossack, from fifteen to sixty years, is bound to render military service.
The usual regular military force, however, consists of 54 cavalry regiments, each num¬
bering 1044 men, making a total of 56,376. The Cossacks are reckoned in round
numbers, as follows :
In Military
Heads. service.
On the Black Sea.125,000 18,000
Great Russian Cossacks on the Caucasian Line.150,000 18,000
Don Cossacks.440,000 66,000
Ural Cossacks. 50,000 8,000
Orenburg Cossacks. 60,000 10,000
Siberian Cossacks. 50,000 9,000
Total.875,000 129,000
Russia, as may be seen by the foregoing, controls in time of war an army of more than
1,000,000 soldiers, while she has a navy capable of obstructing commerce and inflicting
extensive injury on an enemy. The annual expenditure for the army is §80,000,000, and
for the navy $15,000,000.
THE NAVY.
According to an official report, the Russian fleet consisted last year of 290 steamers,
having 38,000 horse-power, with 2205 guns, besides 29 sailing vessels, with 65 guns. The
greater and more formidable part of this navy was stationed in the Baltic. The Black Sea
fleet numbered 43 ; the Caspian, 39 ; the Siberian or Pacific, 30 ; and the Lake Aral or
Turkestan squadron, n vessels. The rest of the ships were either stationed at Kronstadt
and Sweaborg, or engaged in cruising in European waters.
Included in the iron-clad fleet are three floating batteries of 14, 16, 27 guns respectively,
one frigate of 18 and one of 24 guns.
The largest of the iron-clads are two armed frigates, the Sevastopol and Pojarski. The
Sevastopol nearly equals the British iron-clads Black Prince and Warrior in her dimen¬
sions, and exceeds those of the French Gloire and Normandie.
The Imperial navy was manned at the beginning of 1868 by 60,230 sailors and marines,
under the command of 3791 officers, among whom are 119 admirals and generals.
THE TURKISH ARMY.
The military force of Turkey is divided into— 1st, the regular army,
called Nizam ; 2d, the reserve, or Redif; 3d, the contingents of auxiliaries;
and 4th, the irregular troops.
The regular native army consists of six corps, under command of a field marshal, with
their headquarters at Scutari, Constantinople, Monastir, Karbrout, Damascus, and Bag¬
dad. Each corps consists of two divisions, commanded by a General of division. The
corps comprises eleven regiments, namely : six regiments of foot, four of horse, and one
regiment of artillery.
In the last war with Russia the number of auxiliaries amounted to about 75,000 men,
namely, 30,000 from Bosnia and the Herzegovina, 20,000 from Upper Albania, and 25,000
from Egypt.
The total of the military forces of Turkey are officially estimated as follows :
Regiments.
War-footing.
Peace-footing.
Infantry.
.36
117,360
100,300
Cavalry.
. 24
22,416
17,280
Field artillery.
. 6
7,800
7,800
Artillery in fortresses.
. 4
5,200
5,200
Engineers.
1,600
1,600
Detached corps.
16,000
16,000
Total.
170,376
148,680
Reserve.
Auxiliaries.
Irregulars.
Total military strength.
. 459 .36°
TOUL, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23 .
333
The 87,000 irregular troops are calculated to consist of the following :
Kavas or gendarmes on foot.30,o'*©
Tartars. 5,000
Hungarian and Polish volunteers. 2,000
Moslem volunteers.50,000
Total of irregulars....87,000
The total strength of the Turkish army in the last war with Russia was 216,893, of
whom about half were of the reserve.
THE TURKISH FLEET.
The fleet of war of Turkey was composed, at the commencement of this year, of 163
vessels, carrying a total of 2283 guns and manned by 30,000 sailors and 4000 marine
troops. The largest iron-clad in the navy is the Osman Ghazy, armed with 24 guns.
The next two powerful vessels are clad in heavy armor of an average thickness of five and
a half inches, and carry four 12-tun rifle Armstrong guns in a central battery.
THE RUSSIAN FLEET NEAR CONSTANTINOPLE.
The Russian squadron, Admiral Boutaroff, has arrived in
Greek waters. The interpretation of the appearance of the
fleet is, that Russia is in no degree prepared for the rapid
course the Franco-German war has taken, and sees herself
obliged to do hurriedly now what she had hitherto determined
to accomplish at her own time and convenience — viz., a
strong demonstration of naval force before Constantinople,
while demanding a revision of the treaties of 1856, and a new
arrangement of the right of Russian war vessels to traverse the
Black Sea. As the possibility of a Congress is not altogether
excluded from men’s minds, this action on the part of Russia is
by no means unlikely.
Friday, September 23.— Surrender of Toul, with 109 officers,
2240 men, and 197 guns. Bloody sortie from Metz. The
Berlin war-office ships supplies to Paris for a protracted siege.
CAPTURE OF TOUL.
At the capitulation of Toul, 109 officers, 2240 privates, 120 horses, r
Garde Mobile (standard), 1 eagle, 197 bronze cannon, among which 48 are
rifled, 3000 muskets, 3000 sabres, 500 cuirasses, a very considerable quan¬
tity of ordnance, quartermaster, and commissary stores, fell into our hands.
Von Kreuski.
THE SIEGE.
The siege commenced on the 14th of August. On the r6th
an assault was repulsed. On the 23d of August a regular bom¬
bardment commenced, lasting one month.
The Bavarian railroad directors, who run the line from Weis-
enburg through Nancy to Paris, offered to build a branch road
around Toul in a fortnight; but Moltke said, “ No ; we shall
have Toul long before that time.” The straggling attack, how¬
ever, was of no avail. The fortress had a double escarpment
334
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
with full bastions, and was fully casemated. There was no
glacis, but a double moat, each ditch being thirty feet wide all
around the fortress. It was defended by seventy-five guns, of
which twenty-six were heavy rifled pieces from Strasburg,
brought thence while yet France intended an earnest defence
of Toul.
Within the last fortnight heavy siege guns, which had arrived
from Germany, were put in position on a spur of Mount St.
Michael on the north, on the heights opposite the Faubourg
St. Egare on the southwest, and at Dommartin-les-Toul on the
southeast.
THE SURRENDER.
Nothing serious was then attempted until last Friday, when
at daybreak a concentrated bombardment of the works was be¬
gun by twenty-four-pounder batteries of the Second and Fourth
Artillery regiments, supported by troops of the Thirty-fourth
Infantry brigade. All these form part of a new independent
command, under the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin,
embracing all the forces lying between the armies of Frederick
Charles and the Crown Prince ; that is, all the troops of the
invasion not engaged in the sieges of Metz and Paris.
The firing continued all Friday, with an active but very in¬
effective reply from the garrison. In the evening, the town
being on fire in twenty-three places, the pressure of the inhab¬
itants upon the commander induced him to hoist the white flag,
and offer to capitulate. The offer was immediately accepted
by Colonel Manteuffel, commanding the siege corps, and the
town was entered at seven p.m. The conditions of surrender
were precisely those of Sedan. A council of the Municipality,
held on Friday, decided not to favor a surrender ; but the urgent
representations of individuals who feared useless destruction
completely overcame the belligerent determination of the mili¬
tary and civil authorities.
HOW TOUL LOOKS.
Many houses are destroyed. The condition of things is
worse than at Sedan, but not so bad as at Bazeilles. The Gothic
chapel of St. Gengoult is almost ruined, but the ancient and
very imposing cathedral has only a window arch demolished
and its outside battered by a score of shells. The town and
environs have a picturesque appearance, and are built very
much in the old German style. There are but few wounded,
no sick, and but little disorder in Toul. Only two battalions
of the Nineteenth Infantry remain as garrison. The prisoners
PARIS, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 .
335
of the native Garde Mobile were released under parole not to
serve again during the war. Of the Garde Mobile 500 were
trained during the siege to serve the guns; they alone performed
the artillery service ; but in repulsing the assault of the 16th
ult., all the male inhabitants that could procure arms par¬
ticipated.
SORTIE FROM METZ.
At noon to-day (23d), the forts surrounding Metz opened a
tremendous cannonading, under cover of which the French
forces sallied forth in considerable strength on the Prussian
right, and immediately began a vigorous attack. The assault
was so impetuous and well-sustained, that the Prussians were
thrown entirely upon the defensive, and were, in fact, compelled
to take advantage of the woods to check the French advance.
From midday the battle raged until nearly seven o’clock in
the evening. At this hour the Germans were heavily rein¬
forced, when they promptly assumed the offensive, and ad¬
vanced upon the French. For a brief while the struggle was
quite fierce, but finally the forces of Bazaine were driven back
within their lines.
Sunday, September 25. — King William announces the com¬
plete investment of Paris. The only communication with the
French capital by balloons. Bazaine keeps Prince Charles en¬
gaged at Metz.
THE GERMAN ARMY AROUND PARIS.
The royal headquarters of the combined German armies,
and the temporary residence of the King of Prussia, with
Count Bismarck and General Moltke, are at Ferrieres (ten miles
east of Paris); the headquarters of the Crown Prince at Ver¬
sailles, eight miles southwest of Paris; and those of the Crown
Prince of Saxony at Grand Tremblay, ten miles northeast of
Paris. The two armies now form a cordon around Paris, the
strongest front being on the south and southeast. The advance
positions of army corps are as follows—the corps themselves
being about three miles in the rear of their advance positions
given in the map: — The Fifth Corps, the extreme left, ex¬
tends from Bougival, on the Seine, in front of Mont Valerien,
to Meudon, in front of Fort Issy. The Second Bavarian
continues the line in front from Fort Issy to Fort Vanvres, in
front of Clamart. The Sixth (Silesians) from Vanvres past
Chatillon, Montrouge, to Bicetre, in front of Villejuif; the
336
THE FRANCO-PR US SI AN IVAR.
Eleventh (Nassauers and Hessians) completing the line from
Fort Ivry to the Seine on the south-east, in front of Vitry.
The Wiirtemberg contingent, consisting of two divisions of
cavalry and a division of infantry, with a proportion of guns,
is stationed in the fork between the Seine and Marne. The
First Bavarian Corps is in reserve between the Second Bavarian
Grand Tremblay
Cr. Pr. Saxony Headquarters
PlERREFITTE *
Ch. Pr. Prussian Headquarters
Von Falckenstein Headq’rs
and Versailles. The army of the Crown Prince of Saxony,
now called the Army of the Marne, consists of the Twelfth
Corps, which joins the Wiirtembergers at Neuilly, on the Marne ;
the Guards in front of Rosny and Noisy, and the Fourth
Corps, completing the chain past Aubervillers beyond St.
Denis on the north. The cavalry connects the links between
the corps, making a continuous living wall of men from Bougi-
PARIS, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 25.
337
val on the Seine to the left front of Versailles, to St. Denis on
the north. Gen. Von Falckenstein (the Moltke of the Crown
Prince) is at Choisy-le-Roi, superintending the grand siege of
South Paris. The Prussians have seized a small hill be¬
tween Enghien and Argenteuil, from which they can shell the
advanced works of St. Denis. They have fortified this hill,
and will place about twenty siege guns in it as soon as they
come up. The French have already abandoned many of their
outworks near this fort, which were thrown up to guard the
passage of the Seine. All the bridges have been broken up
to the St. Germain railway bridge, which is still passable. The
wooden-topped bridge at St. Germain has been burned by the
French, and the Prussians have made a boat bridge near Port
Marly.
STRATEGY.
When the Prussian army of 350,000 arrived before Paris,
a division of counsel arose. Von Moltke was in favor of
immediate bombardment, while King William and the Grown
Prince were in favor of the starve-out process. The King’s
views were finally accepted. The Prussian army now sits be¬
fore Paris, only doing a moderate amount of digging, while
large Prussian detachments are moving through France towards
Rouen, Amiens, Tours, and Lyons. The Duke of Mecklen¬
burg, freed from Toul, is besieging Soissons. One by one the
French provincial towns arc surrendering to King William.
French recruiting is stopped, and the machinery of the French
Government is idle. The strategy of King William is to let
time decide the fate of Paris, while the army in detachments
demoralizes France as Sherman demoralized the South in his
“march to the sea.”
THE DAILY SKIRMISHING.
All along the chain is heard the rattling fire of the skirmish¬
ers, or the bursting shells as they hiss and explode in mid
air. Destroying war is everywhere. Follow a by-road and it
leads plump into a field where a battery is to be seen with its
guns unlimbered and pointed enemy-wards — precautions at
given points against sudden surprises on the part of the enemy.
Sentinels stand at all the cross-roads and at close intervals
along the routes converging on Paris, and they stand surveying
certain directions with fixed gaze. Those great routes are all
strongly barricaded with huge trees cut down from the way-
side, where they have towered aloft for many years ; and such
15
338
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
barricades have been prolonged and assisted on the flanks by
hastily built earthworks. The air is one of readiness.
THE GARDEN-A DESERT.
Did the reader ever pass over the aqueduct bridge from
Georgetown in war time? Go back to 1862, and see that
desolate country from Fort Corcoran, Fort Runyon, and the
old headquarters of Blenker, and around Fairfax Seminary, to
Alexandria. History repeats itself to-day in front of Paris.
Oh the scourge of an army of occupation ! Around beautiful
Versailles the fairy gardens are macadamized by the dress
parade, and sweeping lawns are cut by the zigzag paths of the
Prussian scouts. Begrimed walls of once beautiful chateaux
stand silent sentinels to the devastations of war. Houses
become suggestions of houses, windowless, doorless, deserted.
Hedges are browsed away, and become leafless and gray.
Soldiers who have followed our armies in Virginia can see this
zone deserted in front of Paris, and still alive with a strange,
moving mass of armed humanity. Luxuries have ceased. The
poultry have been massacred, and the cows have been butch¬
ered for beef. Within sight of the beautiful Louvre, with its
miles of marbles, and gems of art, not so much as a pin can be
bought. These are the facts which look down upon the once
lovely capitol of France — look down upon the column of July,
the tomb of the first Napoleon and his sublime '•'•arch of
triumph to the stars ! ”
VIEW FROM MEUDON.
How beautiful in all this desolation is the night view in front
of Paris. A thousand encampments with their illuminated
tents spread out to the right and the left, and a flood of light
radiates against the clouds till the sky is all aglow with mellow
light. At nine the lights of the soldiers go out, and at eleven
darkness draws a veil over the scene. Not yet. Away over
a zone of darkness Paris throws skyward a halo of light like
the milky way. Standing against the sky is the grand arch of
Napoleon, the Madaleine with its Greek inspiration, and the
dome of the Paris Pantheon, after which our capitol was de¬
signed. I pray God that an enemy may never look down upon
that capitol as 350,000 Prussians look down on Paris to-night.
SORTIE FROM METZ.
Bazaine shows great activity at Metz, and by his energetic
movements holds in front of him an army twice the size of his
own. Not knowing on what radius Bazaine may advance,
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Soldiers of the Confederate armies:
When, three months since, we took the field, I said God would be with
our just cause. That this confidence has been fully realized — witness
Woerth, Saarbriick, Metz, Sedan, Beaumont, Strasburg—-each a victory
for our arms. To you belong the merit and the glory. You have main¬
tained all the virtues which especially distinguish soldiers. With Metz, the
last army of the enemy is destroyed. I take this opportunity to thank you
all, from the General to the soldier. Whatever the future, I look forward
to it calmly, because I know that with such soldiers victory cannot fail. I
honor you all to-day, by appointing as Field-Marshals my son, the Crown
Prince of Prussia, and Prince Frederick Charles, who have repeatedly led
you to victory. William.
CONSTERNATION IN TOURS.
A profound impression was produced at Tours by the news
of Bazaine’s capitulation. The news was a bomb-shell in the
camp of the Army of the Loire, demoralizing the troops, and
creating a feeling of abject hopelessness. To revive the spirits
of the people, Gambetta, always sanguine and hopeful, issued
the following circular :
To Prefects of Departments : Tours, October -zZth, 1870.
I have received from all sides grave reports, the veracity of which, in
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 .
393
spite of all efforts, I cannot establish officially. It is said that Metz has
capitulated. If so, it is well that you have the opinion of the Government
on the matter. Such an event could but be the result of a crime, the
authors of which should be outlawed. Be convinced that, whatever may
arise, nothing can abate our courage in this epoch of rascally capitulations.
There exists one thing which neither can nor will capitulate, that is the
French Republic .”
Gambetta, Minister of the Interior.
M. Gambetta issues another proclamation to stimulate the
forlorn hope of the French Republic at Tours and Lyons, but
it falls almost without effect upon the troops. It is almost
the last call upon the patriotic, but demoralized armies of
France :
Soldiers —You have betrayed no dishonor. During three months, for¬
tune has been unfavorable to you, owing to incapacity and treachery. You
are now rid of unworthy chiefs. If you are prepared under proper guidance
to wipe away outrage, forward ! You no longer struggle for a despot, but
for a country, for houses burned, for families outraged. France is delivered
up to the fury of an implacable enemy. You have a sublime mission, requir¬
ing every sacrifice, to shame the calumniators who render the army responsi¬
ble for infamy. Your chiefs having justly incurred the stigma of treason at
Sedan and crime at Metz, I tell you to avenge your honor, which is that of
France. Your brothers in the Army of the Rhine already protest against the
cowardly attentat, and withdraw from the accursed capitulation. It is for
you to raise the standard of France, soiled by the last Bonaparte and his ac¬
complices, and recall victory. But practice republican virtues — discipline,
activity, and contempt for death. Bear in mind the danger of the country.
The time of treachery and weakness is past. The destiny of the country is
confirmed, you having restored France to serenity. Then be free and
peaceful citizens of the Republic. Gambetta.
THE FEELING IN BERLIN.
The feeling in the Prussian capital is happy indeed. Every
little German town has put out its colored light, and indulged
in a jollification in honor of the surrender of the “Virgin City.”
From Stuttgart, the court city of Wiirtemberg, the author’s sis¬
ter (Mrs. Wm. H. D.) writes of enthusiastic festivities. Every
house is illuminated, and a speedy peace is predicted. That
the French should talk of continuing the war, is beyond Prus¬
sian comprehension ; and the utmost contempt is felt for the
helpless party who would prolong the struggle.
Herr Wachenhusen comments in the Cologne Gazette on the
impossibility of reasoning with the Frencli :
They know that it is all up with them, and console themselves with the
belief that in five years they will revenge their shameful defeat; but in the
same breath they protest that they are not conquered, and are deceiving them¬
selves to the last with the absurdest reports of victory. The “genius of the
defence of Strasburg” is invoked by Gambetta. A patriot, but a fool, ex¬
pects by barricades to repel a million practised soldiers, and by a mob of
«7*
394
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
Mobiles and Francs-tireurs to annihilate the enemy in the provinces. The
townspeople and peasants, with their excitable temperament, are stirred up
by babblers and dreamers to deeds of so-called heroism ; and while a hand¬
ful of the enemy fall victims, the localities implicated are punished by de¬
struction or contributions. Emissaries and proclamations are sent about
inciting a guerilla war, directing people to assume to-day the Franc-tireur’s
blouse, to-morrow the peasant’s smock, so that they are to blame if peasants
and Francs-tireurs are fusiladed. The barricades and obstructions placed in
the roads are not, however, defended; and behind the costly railway bridges
and tunnels, which are shattered to pieces, there stood not one man to pre¬
vent the passage of the Moselle by the enemy on a bridge of boats. Will
the well-to-do effeminate Paris tradesman or the artisan display more
bravery than the army? Will he not throw away his musket as soon as
the first shells fall into the city, like the people of the large provincial
towns? To talk of dying under the ruins of Paris is the very fudge which
has talked France into destruction.
EXCITEMENT IN PARIS.
The news of the capitulation of Bazaine created intense ex¬
citement and dismay. Le Combat, Felix Pyat’s newspaper,
charged the Government with knowing the fact and withhold¬
ing it from the public. The citizens, incensed at this accusa¬
tion, destroyed all the copies of Pyat’s journal they could find,
and sought to arrest the editor. The Jourtial Officiel published
an indignant denial, the Government not deeming it possible
that Bazaine could betray his trust.
Sunday, Oct. 30. — General Werder occupies Dijon, after
the capture of the French position on the heights, by William
of Baden. M. Thiers, the French ambassador, has his first
peace interview with Bismarck at Versailles. The Republic
proclaims against the treachery of Bazaine. Von Moltke re¬
ceives the title of Count. England is distressed at the Russian
movement of troops towards Turkey.
KING WILLIAM TO THE QUEEN.
Versailles, Oct. 29, 1870.
The defeat of the two hostile armies which recently marched against
us, warrants me in conferring on our two commanders, Fritz and Frederick
Charles, the batons of Field-Marshal — the first instances of such appoint¬
ments in our family history.
William.
CAPTURE OF DIJON.
The Prussian forces under Gen. Werder capture Dijon to¬
day. The French forces under Garibaldi and General Ernest
make a weak fight, and retire towards Dole. William of Baden
THIERS—BISMARCK, OCTOBER 31 .
395
crossed the heights on which the French forces were posted.
Dijon is a city of 50,000 people, in the department of Cote
d’Or, one hundred and sixty miles southeast of Paris, and is
celebrated as being the birthplace of Bossuet. The Prussians
were twelve thousand strong, and were well provided with ar¬
tillery. They attacked the city at nine o’clock in the forenoon
of Sunday, and the bombardment was continued till nearly
nightfall. The town was not fortified, and the commander of
the French, not able to resist with his small force, was com¬
pelled to retreat.
Monday, Oct. 31. — Peace negotiations (commencing 31
Oct. and ending Nov. 5) between M. Thiers and Count Von
Bismarck fail. Bismarck will not allow the revictualling of
Paris. Radical revolution in Paris. Pyat and Flourens im¬
prison the members of the Government, and seize the Hotel de
Viile.
Napoleon issues a pamphlet on the conduct of the war up to
Sedan, throwing the blame of disaster upon the Ministry in
Paris.
THE REPUBLIC.
The Republic, in her dire distress, looks dismal enough.
While M. Thiers is negotiating for peace at Versailles with
Bismarck, the Tours Government issues the following to the
disheartened French people :
“Liberty— Equality — Fraternity.
“Proclamation to the French People.
“Frenchmen : — Raise your spirits and resolution to the fearful height
of the perils which have broken upon the country. It still depends on us to
mount above misfortune and show the world how great a people may be
who are resolved not to perish, and whose courage increases in the midst
of calamity.
“ Metz has capitulated. A General,upon whom France counted, even after
Mexico, has just taken away (vient d'enlever) from the country in its dan¬
ger more than a hundred thousand of its defenders. Marshal Bazaine has
betrayed us. He has made himself the agent of the Man of Sedan and the
accomplice of the invader ; and, regardless of the honor of the army of
which he had charge, he has surrendered, without even making a last effort,
a hundred and twenty thousand fighting men, twenty thousand wounded,
guns, cannon, colors, and the strongest citadel of France—Metz-Virgen ;
but for him, to the contamination of the foreigner, such a crime is above
even the punishments of Justice !
“ In the disasters of the country in less than five months 250,000 men
39C
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN IVAR.
have been delivered over to the enemy, a sinister sequel to the military coup
de main of December.
“ It is time for us to reassert ourselves, citizens, and under the aegis of the
Republic, which we have determined not to allow to capitulate, within or
without, to seek, in the extremity even of our misfortune, the renovation of
our political and social morality and manhood.
“ However tried by disaster, let us be found neither panic-stricken nor
hesitating. No illusion is now left. Let us no longer languish or grow weak,
and let us prove by our acts that we can ourselves maintain honor, independ¬
ence, integrity — all that makes a country proud and free.
‘ ‘ Long live the Republic, one and indivisible !
“ Cremieux.
“ Glais-Bazoin.
“ Gambetta.”
RADICAL REVOLUTION IN PARIS.
To-day, Oct. 31, has occurred in Paris one of those queer
revolutions, so incident to the French existence. While M.
Thiers was negotiating an armistice with Bismarck at Versailles,
the Republican Government, captured by a wild mob, were
held prisoners in the Hotel de Ville.
Rumors of the armistice, the Prussian recapture of La Bour-
gat, east of St. Denis, and the surrender of Metz, had created
intense agitation, and at 11 a. m. about 200 people assembled
in the Place de 1 ’Hotel de Ville. The members of the Govern¬
ment suspected the gathering storm, and the crowd was har¬
angued by M. Arago and M. Jules Favre, and finally by M.
Jules Simon; while other members, including Gen. Trochu,
Picard, and Ferry, remained in the Legislative Chamber. The
eloquence of Arago and the venerable presence of Favre
quieted the ciowd, which gave signs of dispersing; but at two
o’clock, Flourens, Blanqui, Pyat, and others of the factious
party, came at the head of their battalions, entered the Hotel
de Ville, and took forcible possession of the Council Chamber.
As soon as the Radical mob gained possession of the Hotel de
Ville, they organized a committee of defence, throwing their
bulletins from the windows to the excited crowd below. Their
proclamations were all different, showing no accord among
the rioters. Victor Hugo, Pyat, Ledru Rollin, Flourens, Louis
Blanc, Rochefort, and Dorian were among the persons named
as directors. The name of Rochefort was hooted, while Dorian
refused to have his name used. While these elections were
going on, Picard and Ferry managed to escape from the Coun¬
cil Chamber, and flew to sound the alarm, and organize the
Gardes Mobiles and the Gardes Nationales, for the relief of
their imprisoned colleagues. During the mock legislation of
PARIS MOBS, OCTOBER 31 .
397
the mob headed by Flourens, Gen. Trochu, Jules Simon, Jules
Favre, Gamier Pages, and Arago were held prisoners around
a large table, and were momentarily in fear of being assaulted.
Jules Simon attempted to speak, but was silenced by a brutal
wretch, who slapped him in the face. Gamier Pages then
rose and endeavored to speak, but, overcome with emotion, he
fainted away, fell on the floor, and was trampled on by insur¬
gents, who tore Gen. Trochu’s decorations from his breast.
The venerable appearance of M. Gamier Pages would have im¬
posed silence upon any but a ruffian set, respecting nothing.
The insurgents, to cries of “ Vive la Commune,” “ Decheance,”
“Down with Trochu,” greeted with cheers the proclamation of
acts from Blanqui and Flourens, while M. Pages was rescued,
and carried to a window under the care of Messrs. Favre and
Simon. Gen. Trochu retained his place in an arm-chair near
the table while all this indescribable tumult continued.
Pyat and Blanqui now sent emissaries to the Finance De¬
partment, demanding large sums of money to defray the ex¬
penses of the new Government. These emissaries M. Pic¬
ard arrested, and gained possession of the orders as evidence
against Pyat and Blanqui. Rochefort tried to address the mob
from without, but his voice was drowned by loud cries of
“Resistance d, ?nort," “No armistice,” and “Vive la Repub-
lique! ”
This imprisonment of the members of the Government last¬
ed until six o’clock in the evening, when M. Jules Ferry, who
had come to the Hotel de Ville with an immense force, demand¬
ed their release. A messenger went up to Flourens to demand
a reply. Ferry waited more than two hours for the return,
rather than execute any violent movement. In fact, it was
distinctly understood that at the sound of the first shot at the
place, Trochu, Favre, Simon, Arago, and Pages would be
instantly murdered. In the meantime, however, the National
Guard under Ferry had succeeded in pushing a mass of men
up the stairs and into the Council Hall. One of the officers
of the One Hundred and Sixth Battalion, a colossal fellow,
made a sign to Gen. Trochu, edged his way round the table,
and at a favorable moment, when protected by his men, seized
the General in his arms, lifted him out of his chair backward,
and without a word conveyed him down stairs. On the grand
stairway his kepi (fatigue cap) was recognized, and a miscreant
took deliberate aim at the General, fortunately missing him.
398
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN IVAR.
One of the men knocked off the General’s cap, replaced it by
his own, and thus saved him from further attempts.
As Trochu emerged from the rabble his staff greeted him,
and the crowd shouted with enthusiasm, while, bareheaded, he
faced the crowd, and addressed his rescuers as follows :
“ Citizens — I thank you from my heart for coming to our
rescue. Like you, we have but one great, controlling desire,
and that is to save the Republic by saving France. In four
hours you will meet in your local, distinct, and arrondissement
committees, and take measures to elect a chief magistrate for
this great city of Paris. Let us be united, and all will be well;
and let our rallying cry, now and hereafter, continue to be
‘ Vive La Fra?ice ! ’ ”
“ Down with the Commune,” shouted the people; and all
along the boulevards and in the Place de Vendome the death
of the Flourens Government was cried with enthusiasm. The
long roll of the drums soon drew the National Guard to the
Hotel in force, and the insurgents, finding themselves outwitted
and outnumbered, dispersed ; but it was not before three o’clock
in the morning that the fate of the Government of National
Defence was decided. Ferry and Picard acted gloriously; the
latter, a man of sixty years of age, showed all the fire and
energy of his more youthful coadjutors.
There is but one remark to make on this day’s proceedings.
This mob was in favor of no armistice. It was not a disloyal
mob, but a mob so loyal, that they looked upon such men as
Favre and Arago as lukewarm. They were like the aboli¬
tionists during our war —terribly loyal, and as radical as liberty
itself. Had this mob been anti-Republican, it would have sig¬
nified much ; as it was, it was simply hot-headed loyalty run
mad. It was not like the anti-war riot in New York, which set
up against the war and the Republic itself; but rather like a
brigade of Wendell Phillipses, enraged because McClellan did
not take Richmond, and because Lincoln delayed the procla¬
mation of liberty to the slave.
THE THIERS-BISMARCK ARMISTICE NEGOTIA¬
TIONS.
Since the M. Favre peace negotiation failure on the 21st of
September (see page 316), the war has been vigorously prose¬
cuted. The fall of Toul, Strasburg, and Metz, and the vigor¬
ous repulse of every French sortie from Paris, made it proper
and magnanimous in Prussia to treat for peace with France.
PEACE FAILURE, OCTOBER 31 .
390
The initiatory steps were taken at the suggestion of England,
Russia, Italy, and the other neutral powers. The Prussian
Minister at Brussels, the Prince de Croy, forwarded despatches,
on the 18th of October, to Count Von Bernstorff, the North
German representative to England, which caused the latter to
signify to Earl Granville the fact that Bismarck was not opposed
to further peace negotiations. Earl Granville at once proposed
a meeting between M. Thiers and Bismarck, the Prussian am¬
bassador sending the French ambassador, through General Von
der Tann at Orleans, a safe conduct from Tours to Versailles.
The Tours Government concurred, and on the 21st authorized
M. Thiers to undertake peace negotiations.
THIERS ARRIVES AT VERSAILLES.
On the 30th, after many delays, M. Thiers arrived at Ver¬
sailles, having made the trip from Tours in a carriage drawn by
Prussian artillery horses. Before treating with Bismarck, M.
Thiers proceeded to Paris, where he held consultations with
Trochu and the members of the Government, who expressed a
strong desire for peace.
This morning (Oct. 31st), M. Thiers arrived from Paris to
have an interview with Bismarck.
The Prussian Chancellor says in his report :
“This was the first time that a statesman enjoying such distinction and
importance as M. Thiers does, had accepted plenipotentiary powers at the
hands of the Paris Government. This fact induced me to hope that pro¬
posals would be submitted to us by him on the part of France, the accept¬
ance of which would be possible.”
“Bismarck opened the conference,” says M. Thiers, “by
remarking —
“ ‘ That the remains of the Government now at Cassel were the only one
recognized by Europe. That he, however, merely made the remark to estab¬
lish the diplomatic situation, having no intention to meddle with the inter¬
nal management of France.’ ”
To this M. Thiers immediately replied —
“ that the Government which precipated France into the abyss of a war so
foolishly resolved upon, had forever terminated its existence with its
fatal career at Sedan, and would be for France but a semblance of shame
and grief.”
The two diplomats now examined the following questions
of the armistice :
“ France, in case an armistice is' agreed upon, is to be furnished time for
the expression of her will as to the government she should choose to have;
entire freedom to be allowed for the elections during the armistice, and also
for the organization of the French armies ; lastly, the revictualling of the
besieged places, and especially of Paris, to be permitted.”
To the first of these questions, there was an immediate
400
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
agreement. The present de facto Government of France was
to hold an election, and become de jure , so as to be able to
guarantee the execution of a treaty of peace. The German
troops were toremain in the positions which they should occupy
on the day when the armistice should be signed. Even the
Metz troops, which were available for other operations, were
to remain in their present camp, while France would, by the
conclusion of an armistice, be enabled to develop its resources,
and to complete the organization of the army corps then form¬
ing, and, after the armistice, confront Prussia with organized
troops, which did not exist before signing the armistice.
THE QUESTION OF ALSACE.
In regard to Alsace, it was understood that the Prussians
would not insist on any stipulation which would call in question
the right of the claim of France to the German departments be¬
fore the conclusion of peace , and that Prussia would not make
or hold any of the inhabitants of these parts responsible for
their appearance in a French National Assembly as the con¬
stitutional representatives of their countrymen.
THE VICTUALLING OF PARIS CAUSES A RUPTURE.
Up to this time negotiations had gone on smoothly ; the two
diplomats, formerly warm friends, being in perfect harmony.
When the question of victualling Paris came up, Bismarck
desired to consult with Moltke, and withdrew from the inter¬
view. The next conference occurred on the 3d. In the mean¬
time, Bismarck had heard of the revolution of the Paris
“Reds” — Gustave Flourens, Hugo, Pyat, and others — and,
satisfied that Paris would soon fall through its own demoraliza¬
tion, Bismarck could not conceal his gratification on meeting
M. Thiers. As M. Thiers entered, Bismarck looked up from
his busy desk, and asked —
“ Ah ! M. Thiers, have you heard the news ? ”
M. Thiers. — “ No.”
Bismarck. ■—- “ Paris is in revolution, and a new Government is pro¬
claimed.”
M. Thiers. — “ If disorder for the moment has triumphed, the people’s
love of order and patriotism will soon restore quiet.”
The two diplomats now discussed the question of revictualling Paris,
when M. Thiers said:
“ In the name of my Government, I can accept no armistice which does
not provide for the reprovisioning of the citizens and garrison of the cap-
itol.”
Bismarck. —• “ But the military authority of Prussia will not consent to
the revictualling of Paris, unless a military equivalent is conceded in
return.”
M. Thiers. — “ What do you mean by this ? ”
THIERS—BISMARIC, NOVEMBER 1-6.
401
Bismarck. — “A fort — perhaps more than one.”
M. Thiers (excitedly).—“Paris you want? Paris—our force, our
hope — which you are not able to vanquish, after fifty days’ siege ? ”
M. Thiers continued, that he was not able to make any military offer in
return for the re-provisioning of Paris.
“ In this shape,” says Bismarck in his report, “ I had to submit the result
of our negotiations and conversation to his Majesty the King and his mili¬
tary advisers.
“ His Majesty was justly surprised at these exorbitant military claims by
Franee, and he was disappointed in his expectations as to the probable re¬
sult of the negotiations into which I had entered with M. Thiers. The in¬
credible demand that Prussia should give up the fruit of all the efforts
which she had made in the field during the past two months; surrender the
many advantages she had gained, and thus bring the situation back to the
condition which existed at the moment when the investment of Paris was
commenced, could only prove that in Paris they were merely looking for pre¬
texts to deny the French nation the right of holding the election, and that
they were not willing to give the people an opportunity to carry the voting
out without interruption.”
To this M. Thiers replies :
“ Arrived here, we could go no farther. I saw the military spirit all pow¬
erful in the Prussian resolution against the peace policy, and asked Bis¬
marck for leave to see M. Favre and advise with him. Bismarck charged
me to declare that he would not interfere with the elections, even if there
was no armistice, and would let Paris communicate with Tours on the
subject. The Government was informed of what had occurred, and they
desired me to break off the negotiations on the refusal of the revictualling,
and leave Versailles, which resolution I impartefl to Bismarck.”
In conclusion, Bismarck remarks :
“ The course of the negotiations with M. Thiers has impressed me with
the conviction, that the present rulers of France did not, from the very be¬
ginning, sincerely wish to hear the views of the French nation expressed
in a representative parliamentary body, constituted by a free and uncon¬
trolled election, and that just as little has been their intention to bring
about an armistice; but that they stipulated for a concession which they
knew from the first to be unacceptable, and that they only asked for these
conditions in order not to give to the neutral Powers, on whose support
they count, a direct refusal.
On the 6th, M. Thiers, having received the final negative of
Bismarck against the revictualling of Paris, retired to the out¬
posts, to consult with Jules Favre and General Trochu, who
by this time were frightened out of all idea of peace by the
Paris mob. The Prussian propositions were rejected, and M.
Thiers returned to Tours on the 7th.
THE CAUSE OF THE RUPTURE.
The cause of the rupture was the radical influence of a small
minority in Paris, who rose against the idea, seized the Govern¬
ment, and intimidated the Paris authorities into rejecting an
armistice which was fraught with good to France, and which
402
THE FRANCO-PR US SI AN WAR.
will stand an enduring monument to the magnanimity and chiv¬
alry of Prussia. M. Thiers was unfortunate in being the bear¬
er of the news of the sad surrender of Bazaine at Metz — a
fact which made his very entry into Paris unpopular with the
ignorant masses. A guard was even required for this grand
old man, venerable with fifty years, service for France, and he
finally left Paris, protected by an escort of cavalry. If Bismarck
overreached in his demand of Jules Favre on the 21st, he made
up the discrepancy by most mild and conciliatory demands
of M. Thiers. If the burden of war was then left upon the
shoulders of Prussia, it jiow hangs like a dead weight upon
the Republic. The Republic has rejected an honorable armis¬
tice. She fears to go before the people, for fear that in choosing
a new constituent assembly the present rulers shall lose their
power. By refusing to hold an election, the verdict goes to
the world, that they chose rather to stand de facto upon the re¬
sult of a coup d’etat than upon the de jure votes of the sov¬
ereign people. The “man of Sedan” fell from his high pin¬
nacle for no less a crime than this. Eighteen years of posses¬
sion crowned by a gilded plebiscite, could not varnish over this
first usurpation of power.
THE EMPEROR’S APOLOGY.
The captive Emperor issues an address to the French
people, giving the cause of disasters to France. Fie says
France was taken by surprise, and that he was startled by the
rapidity with which Prussia moved her troops. On the 14th
of July the Emperor had no idea that Steinmetz and Prince
Charles were in force around Metz. The Emperor tries to
shift the blame of the declaration of war upon the people whom
he represented, and refers to his manifesto (given at length on
page 67), and to the misgivings with which he listened to the
cry, “ On to Berlin ! ”
He says his plan was to mass 150,000 men at Metz, 100,000 at Stras-
burg, and 50,000 at Chalons, and to cross the Rhine near Haguenau with
a large force, in order to separate Southern Germany from the Northern
Confederation. He hoped to win the first great battle, and secure the
alliance of Austria and Italy with France in imposing neutrality on Bavaria,
Baden, and Wurtemberg. The defects in the French military system, and
the delay in bringing up men and material, defeated this plan. He enu¬
merates the difficulties encountered, but acquits the War Office of blame.
The Germans having had ample time to bring their forces into the field,
the French were outnumbered and put on the defensive. A new plan was
necessary, involving a retreat on Chalons. This the Regency disapproved
as discouraging to the public, and the Emperor was urged to resume the
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 .
40.3
offensive. Yielding his convictions, MacMahon’s advice and plan were
adopted. He alludes to his situation, after he had given up the command
of the army, and when his name and authority were ignored at Paris, as
exceedingly painful.
He acquiesced in the march for the relief of Metz, though conscious of
the danger of that enterprise.
The pamphlet closes with the declaration that the German successes are
due to superiority of numbers, improved artillery, rigorous discipline, re¬
spect for authority, and the military and patriotic spirit of the people, which
absorbs all other interests and opinions.
It censures the loose habits introduced by the African wars in which the
French regular troops have been engaged, which it enumerates as want of
discipline, lack of cohesion, absence of order, carelessness of bearing, and
the excess of luggage carried by the infantry. The efficiency of the army
was weakened, too, by the excesses of the opposition in the Corps Legisla-
tif and the Republican press, introducing into it a spirit of criticism and
insubordination.
The Emperor ends by this recommendation of Coesarism to France :
May our unhappy countrymen, now prisoners, profit during their sojourn
in Prussia by appreciating all which gives strength to the army — the
powers that be respected, the law obeyed, the military and patriotic spirit
dominating over all interests and opinions ! To sum up, the army always
reflects the state of society. When authority was exercised, France was
strong and respected, and the constitution of the army presented a re¬
markable solidity; but when excesses of the tribune and the press were
permitted, they enfeebled authority and introduced everywhere a spirit of
criticism and insubordination, and the army felt the effect of it. God
grant that the terrible drama now enacting may serve as a lesson for the
future, and that our country may rise again from the catastrophe which now
overwhelms her.
Wednesday, November 2.—- Garibaldi’s position at Dole be¬
comes untenable. The French have no enthusiasm for Gari¬
baldi, and secrete property and run away in a panic at every
approach of the Prussians. General Cambriels, commanding
the Department of the East, ignores Garibaldi. Neuf-Brisach,
south of Strasburg, on the Rhine, besieged. An insurrection
in Marseilles, and Alphonse Gent, Government administrator
of the city, wounded.. George Francis Train makes radical
Republican speeches in Lyons — is arrested, and incarcerated
in jail for one week, and then liberated by Gambetta.
Friday, November 4. — Provisions become very scarce in
Paris. The people eating cats, rats, and horse-flesh. General
D’Aurelles de Paladines appointed commander of the Army of,
404
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
the Loire. The fortress of Belfort, on the river Savoureuse,
30 miles west of Basle, besieged by General Treskovv with
40,000 Germans.
FAMINE IN PARIS.
While the besieging army outside of Paris is filled with joy
at the steady stream of victories, until the German camps be¬
come carnivals of song and festivity, a different scene is being
enacted within. Comedy changes to tragedy, and hunger
holds the largest place in the households of Paris. The saying
of the terribly earnest Victor Hugo, that “ Paris, which has
amused civilization, will now astonish the world,” begins to
prove true. Paris is heroic, and her very women and children
seem to be imbued with patriotic fortitude. The whole popu¬
lation is now on scant rations.
Beef and mutton are served out at the rate of 50 grammes
(or one ounce and two-thirds) per head. Horse is sold at if.
25c., per lb., ass and mule at 3f. per lb., and at these prices they
are in such demand that the supply at the public markets runs
short. Before the siege a good fat goose brought from 6 to 7
francs; at present the current price is from 25 francs to 30
francs ; chickens fetch from 14 to 15 francs ; a brace of pigeons
is considered cheap at 12 francs; turkey is a very scarce arti¬
cle ; there are none to be had at the markets — a few are to be
seen in poulterers’ shops. Ham is 8 francs per pound ; char¬
coal has risen to $100 per ton.
The following private letter from a lady of distinction gives
a succinct and graphic picture of daily life in the besieged
capital:
Paris, Sunday, Nov. 4, 1870.
My Dear-: I am quite well, and trust you all are, but I often feel
very anxious. Everything might happen, and I not know it. We have
had, as you know, great riots. I could not imagine what all the drum¬
beating meant in the night. We manage to live somehow. I made up
my mind at last yesterday to eat horse, and think I have got over my dis¬
quiet ; I was really too hungry. I can’t tell you how hungry we often are.
No butter (1 gf. a pound), cheese, or bacon to be had for money ; potatoes
getting rare, and from 4k 50c. to 8f. a bushel. Lots of coffee, but no
milk. I am favored by the milkman — only soon he will have to kill his
cows, as there is no forage. The fruiterer saved also a little oil for us.
We have four tins of beef-tea left, and more than half the ham Mr.-
sent, and have not touched the two tins of meat I bought; so you see I have
saved all I could. I fry the ham slice by slice, and save the grease to eat.
Our rations of meat for three days we always eat in one meal, and desire
more. I was two hours and a half getting my piece of meat (horse), and
very much pushed ; but it was nothing to the meat-crowd on Friday —■
STARVATION IN PARIS.
405
the barrier thrown down twice, and I very much hurt. I screamed awfully.
I don’t remember in the least how I was got out. The women are like
devils. I quite understand the scenes of the Revolution. Yesterday Mr.
-was there three hours; one of the guards was nearly killed, and carried
away on a stretcher. I don’t think I can go again ; but I had rather go
there than that we should have none ; for with bread and rice I am faint
from morning till night.
No one can imagine what the privation from meat, grease, and cheese
is, without they try. Donkey is from 4k to 6f. a pound. I wanted some,
but recoiled at the price. There are vegetables — very dear. No pulse
whatever. Few eggs, 6d. each; apples, 8d. each. I have bought a little
stove on which I cook, as there is no charcoal, and I think I have laid in
coal enough for the whole winter. The price keeps going up, of course,
and it is getting rare. There is very little gas now in Paris. Paris looks
puny now, I can assure you.
I am so glad my little baby is in England. I fear she would starve in
the arms of her mother here.
I pray God she is all right, and all of you. I hope you have had all my
other letters. I am very well, and my impression is that I am not a
woman, but a horse. I only require food, and then I am as well as possible.
I must say I devoutly hope for an armistice, but as yet, I think, no one
knows. E-has a beautiful uniform, which I hope will never be deterio¬
rated. There are quantities of things I might relate to you, but have no
room. Lightest letters go first. With love to all near you, your very
loving -
One of the cleverest letter-writers from Paris shows a fund of humor
when he writes:
I hope I shan’t utterly horrify you and henceforward become a social outlaw, if I con¬
fess to having this morning eaten at one of the best restaurants in Paris — rats. Two
months ago I should have been as much appalled at the bare idea of perpetrating such an
atrocity as, perhaps, any other civilized Englishman. But, first, one’s principles receive
a dangerous shock in eating horse; then you meet friends, ordinarily decent, respectable
people, who tell you that they have been avowedly eating cat; and that you have yourself
already been served in the same way if you have ever, at no matter what restaurant,
ordered rabbit. One’s gastronomic conscience gradually hardens, I suppose, in an at¬
mosphere of this kind ; and so, when this morning I met a friend on the Boulevards just
about breakfast time, who asked me to come with him to Hall’s, as he had there ordered
rats, instead of at once running away, or, perhaps, trying to knock him down, I agreed to
go and just look at them. They looked very good, served up in a salmi , with gravy and
toast, and my friend pronounced them ‘'excellent; ” and so I did eat, or rather taste, and
am obliged to confess that I should have no objection to repeat the experiment to-morrow.
The flesh was white and very delicate, like young rabbit, but with more flavor. We curi¬
ously inspected the bill to see whether the proprietor of the restaurant would venture to
give the dish its real name ; but there was only a significant blank space, and then if. 50c.
On being remonstrated with for this unbusiness-like method of procedure, he wanted to
write Salmi du Gibier , the word “rat” being quite impossible. As there were two rats
in the salmi , each cost about 7d., but bought wholesale (I am told that they are now ex¬
hibited publicly for sale in some shops) and cooked at home, they would, perhaps, be cheap
eating, even in time of siege ; only, unluckily, the poor people, who want them most, would
be the last to consent to touch them.
It is a question of the belly, nothing more. Our beef and mutton will be exhausted in a
fortnight, perhaps sooner. Will Paris feed on horse, of which there is abundance? I be¬
lieve it will, and those who, like myself, vow never to touch horse, will live on vegetables.
For me, I am Shadrach. You remember the story of the three children who would not in
captivity eat the flesh offered to idols, and fed on pulse. At the end of forty days they
were very fat. I think I could get up in Paris the Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego
Club. When the siege of Paris is over you will see us as fat as pigs on our diet of pulse,
peas, beans, and lentils.
Talking of pigs, let me end this letter with an anecdote. I took a friend to breakfast
403
THE FRAN CO-PR US SI AN IVAR.
with me yesterday morning at Brabant’s. On the bill of fare I found cochon dc lait.
Now, I have many weaknesses, but all are as nothing in comparison with my weakness
for sucking pig. 1 at once said, “ By all means, we shall have sucking pig.” But I called
back the waiter and asked him if it was a real sucking pig? He said, “ Truly.” Then l
said, “ A little pig?” He replied, “Surely.” Again Isaid, “A young pig?” But this
question floored him, and he hesitated. At last he confessed, “ It was a guinea-pig,—
cochi)i d'lride” Now, I ask you, are you equal to guinea-pig?
Sunday, November 6. — Garibaldi evacuates Dole and
moves to Autun, sixty miles to the east. Wurtemberg,
Baden, and Hesse-Darmstadt accept the North-German
constitution and enter the North-German confederation.
Fort Mortimer, one of the fortifications of Neuf Brisach,
destroyed by Prussian shells.
GARIBALDI.
For the last ten days, Garibaldi has held his army at Dole, in
front of General Werder, with the Fourteenth Prussian Corps at
Dijon and Vesoul, 5000 men of the former and 20,000 of the
latter. On the 4th, General Bossak, commanding Garibaldi’s
advance, ten miles north of Dole, fell back, his troops being
somewhat disorganized. On the 6th, Garibaldi received an
order from Gambetta to fall back to Autun. The same day a
detachment from General Werder attacked the French advance
a few miles north of Dole, on the Saone river, driving them
back. Menotti Garibaldi, with his brigade, joined his father
the same day south of Autun, while Ricciotti joined his father
on the north. Garibaldi made this movement to jeopardize
General Werder’s communication in his expected move on
Macon and Lyons. Autun is a small town of 12,000 inhabi¬
tants, at the foot of the Vosges, and forming the western apex
of a triangle with Dijon and Macon. It is a capital position,
from which Garibaldi intends to make a sortie, falling on the
German flank if they shall advance southward.
Tuesday, November , 8.—Verdun capitulates, with 4000
men, two generals, and 100 officers.
VERDUN.
Verdun is a first-class fortress, its ordinary war garrison con¬
sisting of 4200 men and 700 horses. It is considered as the
key to the Argonnes passes, which have long been in the pos¬
session of the Germans, but will now be more securely held, as
numerous Francs-tireurs, relying on the fortress, infest them.
Verdun is at present the terminus of the railway, which is to be
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9.
407
continued in a direct line from Rheims and Chalons to Metz,
but which will not be available for communication between Metz
and Paris, owing to its considerable distance from the former.
It has 18,000 inhabitants. The negotiations for its surrender
were opened on the 3d inst., and an eight-days armistice was
first concluded. The commandant, Baron Guerin de Walders-
bach, who had previously protested that he would hold out as
long as one stone remained on another, thought that after the
fall of Metz resistance was useless, as relief was out of the
question, while the besieging force might be largely strength¬
ened. The fortresses now held by the French in the north-east
are Meziferes, Montmedy, and Longwy, the latter provisioned
for a year. Verdun surrendered to General Von Gayl on the
eighth, with several weeks’ provisions. The town has been se¬
verely bombarded, the citadel suffering much from Prussian
shells. Manteuffel, with the First Corps of Steinmetz’ old army,
released from Metz, was already on the march to assist in its
reduction, but the soldiers divided themselves into Republican
and Imperial parties, when an internal quarrel ensued. Baron
Waldersbach goes a prisoner to Wilhelmshohe, and Manteuffel,
with Goeben, marches toward Amiens, in the north of France.
Wednesday, November 9. —Gortschakoffs letter abrogating
the treaty of Paris delivered in London, Vienna, Constantino¬
ple, Florence, and Tours. Immense excitement in England.
The press and people clamor for war, and Earl Granville writes
a threatening reply. A general European war threatened; but
Queen Victoria discountenances war measures, milder counsels
prevail, a congress of European powers convoked, and England
covers up a broken treaty and wounded honor with the smoke
of diplomacy. General Aurelles de Paladines defeats General
Von der Tann at Coulmiers, south-west of Orleans, near Mer,
capturing guns, ammunition, and prisoners. Von der Tann
makes a precipitate retreat through Orleans and Artenay to
Toury.
RUSSIA —PRUSSIA vs. TURKEY —ENGLAND.
THE BREAKING OF THE TREATY OF PARIS.
Preliminary to the breaking of the treaty of Paris (given page
331), Czar Alexander of Russia commenced cultivating friendly
403
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
relations with King William. This friendly diplomacy met with
great prejudice among the Russian masses, who are exceed¬
ingly jealous of Prussia, and who, as the author noticed in St.
Petersburg and Moscow, in 1867, never lose an opportunity
of showing their supreme contempt for the Germans. For
months in Moscow, in the Russo-Ainerican family of his cousin,
Robert Williams, the Russian railroad king, the author was
thrown constantly in the society of representative Russians.
They had one feeling — a hatred towards England and Prussia,
and one political belief—which was to break the treaty of
Paris and open up the Black Sea to the armed ships of Russia.
When a Cabinet Minister asked Nicholas about the expediency
of teaching German and English in the Russian school, he ex¬
claimed, “No, no ! teach them no English, but French and
American.” This hatred of Prussia is also indulged in by the
Czarewich, who married Dagmar of Denmark; and the work of
conciliating Prussia, as a necessary preliminary to the breaking
of the treaty of Paris, devolved entirely upon the far-seeing
Czar.
After the declaration of war by Napoleon on the 15th of July, Gortscha-
koff visited Berlin, and had several interviews with Bismarck and King Wil¬
liam before their departure for war. Gortschakoff then made known Rus¬
sia’s intention to remain neutral, and asked as her reward the acquiescence
of Prussia in the abrogation of those articles in the treaty of Paris which
forbid Russia from keeping a fleet in the Black Sea. This Bismarck se¬
cretly agreed to do, but it was then mutually understood that the agreement
should not be publicly promulgated until the conclusion of peace between
France and Prussia. This bargain enabled Prussia to place in the war the
two corps that had been left for the defence of the eastern province of Silesia.
Russia also agreed secretly to restrain any interference on the part of Austria,
and for this purpose mobilized her army toward the Austrian border.
To further conciliate King William, simultaneously with the mobilizing
of 300,000 Russian troops in Southern Russia, the Czar conferred upon the
Crown Princes of Prussia and Saxony the highest compliment of Russia —
the Order of St. George. Was it not significant of Queen Victoria’s kind
wishes towards Napoleon III., when she conferred upon him the “Order
of the Garter,” and received his Imperial kiss on the Windsor staircase?
That act did not signify more than this act of the Czar; for in the hall of
St. George, that magnificent white chamber in the Imperial palace of St.
Petersburg, only the especial friends of the Czar are allowed to banquet.
Following in quick succession, the same Order was conferred upon the Grand
Duke Mecklenburg-Schwerin ; while numerous letters from the Czar, con¬
gratulating King William on his victories over the French, won the concili¬
ation of the Prussian King. On the eve of the battle of Sedan a courier
arrived from the Czar, congratulating his Majesty on the victories before
Metz; adding, however, that he felt confident that Prussia would offer fair
terms of peace, and would not require any cession of territory from France.
After the victory of Sedan and the proclamation of a republic in Paris,
BREAKING THE TREA TV OF PARIS.
409
a second autograph letter came from the Czar, full of congratulations, but
repeating the remark as to territorial acquisitions, which might alter the
present position of the great Powers to the disadvantage of Russia.
The reply of King William was warm ; the old man’s heart was melted
into complacency, and henceforth the friendship of Russia and Prussia went
on increasing. Bismarck offered mild terms to Jules Favre and magnani¬
mous terms to M. Thiers ; while Count Von Moltke looked upon the mo¬
bilization of 500,000 Russian troops, showing his gratification in a smile.
GORTSCHAKOFF AND GRANVILLE.
Prussia was conciliated. If the rest of Europe could be induced to per¬
mit Russia to break the treaty of Paris, what chance would the 12,000,000
Turks stand against the 80,000,000 Russians ? The odious articles in the
treaty of Paris which are given in full on page 331, stipulate that, —
“The Black Sea shall only be entered by merchant vessels ; that no armed vessel, of what¬
ever nation, shall ever e?iter her waters ; and that Russia and Turkey shall not construct
any arsenal, naval or military, upon her shores.
The Russians claim that the treaty has been broken by the passage into the
Black Sea of the Turkish, English, and American frigates of war, and that
as one of the powers (France) which signed the treaty is not in a condition
to meet in a congress of nations to abrogate the same, that Russia will take
the initiative, and peacefully break it, by sending her squadron to winter
quarters through the Bosphorus.
These war frigates, over which Russia makes such a serious complaint,
were the pleasure ships of the Sultan, the royal ship of Prince Albert, the
pleasure ship of Lord Lytton, and the frigate “Franklin,” commanded by
the late Admiral Farragut.
Another article of the treaty of Paris stipulated that there should be no
union of the Danubian Principalities ; whereas Wallachiaand Moldavia have
made a political union, and elected Charles as Hospodar, and this ■with the
connivance of Turkey, and the silent consent of England, France, and
Austria.
After Russia had allowed these infringements to go on quietly for several
years, the present war made opportune the time for complaint and vigorous
action. So, on the 19th of October, Gortschakoff addressed to the Russian
Ambassador in London, for the benefit of Earl Granville, a letter setting
forth the Russian intention to break the treaty. In this letter, after going
over the ground complaining of the infringements on the treaty by other
powers, Gortschakoff summed up the Russian intentions. He says in sub¬
stance, “ a treaty broken in favor of other nations should not stand against
the interests of Russia ; that the treaty has not withstood the test of time,
and that Russia will not imperil her own security by keeping a treaty which
has not been kept article by article by other nations: ” therefore, —
“His Imperial Majesty can no longer consider himself bound by the obligations of the
treaty of 18th (30th) March, 1856, so far as these limit his right of sovereignty in the
Black Sea ; . that he loyally gives notice of this to the powers signing and guaran¬
teeing the genera 1 treaty, and that he restores to His Majesty the Sultan the full posses¬
sion of his right in this respect, as he equally reclaims his own for himself. ....
It is by no means the purpose of his Imperial Majesty to raise the Eastern question
upon this point. He has no other wish than the preservation and consolidation of peace.
He fully maintains his adhesion to the general principles of the treaty of 1856, which set¬
tled the position of Turkey in the European system. He is ready to confirm its general
stipulations or renew them or to substitute for them any other equitable arrangement which
may lie thought suitable to secure the repose of the East, and the European equilibrium.
His Majesty, however, is convinced that peace and equilibrium will have a stronger
guarantee when they shall have been placed on more just and solid bases than those re¬
sulting from a position which no great power could accept as a normal condition of ex¬
istence.”
18
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
410
This Russian note from Gortschakoff, written from Tzarskoe-Selo, Octo¬
ber 19th, was delivered simultaneously at London, Vienna, Constantinople,
Florence, and Tours, on Wednesday the 9th of November, creating a dip¬
lomatic stir throughout Europe. It was gravely written, to the point, and
meant business. Divested of its diplomatic language, the Czar’s note meant
this: You three strong powers strangled my father Nicholas after the
Critnea, and made him agree to a foolish, unjust thing — never again to go
in and out of his own front door. That front door is on the Black Sea,
while his bach door is on the Baltic, frozen top seven months in the year.
Now one of you villains is dead — that is, France, and I have bought the
other — Prussia, and I fear not the third — Great Britain, even though
she can summon those little Bluebeards, Italy and Austria, to help her.
/ defy you, and to-day I go in and out of my front door left me by my
father.
On the 20th of October Gortschakoff addressed another note to Baron
Brunnow, the Russian ambassador in London, couched in still stronger lan¬
guage, and throwing the blame of the first infringement of the treaty upon
the shoulders of England and the powers of Europe.
Thursday, November 10. — Earl Granville replies to Gort-
scbakoffs note.
On the 10th of November, Earl Granville delivered, through the Queen’s
messenger, Sir Andrew Buchanan, a firm reply to Gortschakofl’s two notes,
acknowledging the infringement by other powers against the treaty of Paris.
Earl Granville maintained that these infringements by other powers were no
excuse for Russia’s breaking the treaty; that the question was not as to its
justness or unjustness, but turned upon the issue of who has the power to
break a treaty. The Earl maintained that not one of the treaty-signing
powers had a right to break the treaty, but all the co-signers must agree
together. If treaties are to be interpreted and broken at the will of each
of the parties at discretion, the result will be the entire destruction of trea¬
ties in their essence. In a treaty each power surrenders a certain individ¬
ual free agency for the benefit of the rest, but by the doctrine of Russia
each power holds the right of the free interpretation of every article of a
treaty — bringing back the entire subject to its own control. Earl Gran¬
ville ended by saying:
“ I need scarcely say that Her Majesty’s Government have received this communication
with deep regret, because it opens a discussion which might unsettle the cordial under¬
standing it has been their earnest endeavor to maintain with the Russian Empire, and
for the above-mentioned reasons it is impossible for Her Majesty s Government to give
any sanction on their part to the course announced by Prince Gortscha/cojf. ”
The Earl maintained that any infraction of the treaty should have been
referred to the co-signers of the treaty for adjudication, and that such a
proceeding would have the result of preventing future complication, and
presented a very dangerous precedent as to the interpretation of interna¬
tional obligations.
PRUSSIA’S POSITION.
To the note of Gortschakoff, Bismarck’s reply was conciliatory. “Russia’s
claims are natural,” says the Chancellor ; “ and there should be an amicable
settlement of the treaty question. Prussia can see no cause for alarm on
the part of the co-signatory powers. Russia might have appealed to the
co-signatories for a revision of the treaty, but one of them has at present
TREATY OF PARIS BROKEN.
411
no organized government, and is unable to take part in any congress that
might have been proposed.
AUSTRIA’S POSITION.
Baron Von Beust, the Austrian Minister, has concurred since 1867 with
Russia in the belief that the treaty of Paris was unjust to Russia, but he
takes exceptions to the manner of abrogating it. He says “ had Russia
submitted the treaty to the co-signors for a revision, a favorable result
would have ensued His difference is only in form, but his letter to Gort-
schakoff is firm and pointed. He insists on the
“ force of the obligations contracted in 1856, which are not to be evaded or annulled. The
fact that Turkey can sustain a fleet where Russia cannot, is not sufficient for arbitrarily
dissolving the treaty. The action of Russia endangers all existing and future treaties.
Turkey is responsible for the union of the Principalities. Turkey asks that we shall not
give our sanction to a breach of the treaty. The mere holiday excursions of frigates into
the Black Sea, with princes on board, were perfectly harmless. Russia should have shown
her dissatisfaction, and spoken at the proper time. Austria deplores Russia’s determina¬
tion, and expresses her surprise at it. She points out to Russia the inevitable conse¬
quences of the step she has taken.
RUSSIA REPEATS HER DEMAND.
Earl Granville’s reply was received respectfully in St. Petersburg, the
Czar having already had assurances that the Prince of Wales, representing
the views of Queen Victoria, had represented to the Cabinet her disapproval
of the Earl’s previous hasty and warlike reply to Russia.
To Earl Granville’s letter written on the 10th of November, Gortschakoff
replied from the palace of Tzarskoe-Selo on the 20th. His tone was pacif¬
icatory, and he excused the action of Russia in breaking the treaty, on the
ground that “ the attempts made at different times to assemble the powers
in a general conference have invariably failed, and the prolongation of
the present crisis and the absence of a regular gover7iment in France
postponed the possibility of an agreement."
Gortschakoff still maintained that the abrogation of one article of the
treaty did not abrogate the whole treaty, and that Russia would be glad of
a peaceful adjustment of the matter, either by mutual explanations or by
a congress of the signing powers. Without backing down, the Russian
Premier, with Chesterfieldian diplomacy, poured oil on the troubled waters,
and the political heavens, so full of stormy war-clouds, became quiet and
serene. Milder counsels soothed the war feeling which ran high in England,
and a great treaty was broken without bloodshed. The breaking of this
treaty was a direct assault upon England, who first blustered, and then
quailed and surrendered a great principle, glad to have the disgrace covered
up in the smoke of diplomacy. A great amount of diplomatic smoke will
surround the breaking of this treaty. Gortschakoff will be prevailed upon
to withdraw his first note, and ‘all that for form’s sake; but in the mean
time Russia sails her iron-clads in and out of the Black Sea, and Ignatief, the
Russian ambassador, dines with the Sublime Porte, and convinces him by
diplomatic logic that Russia will give Turkey better guarantees than the
treaty of Paris. Luxemburg, Holland, Belgium, and Savoy, whose exist¬
ences depend upon treaties and guarantees from the great powers, now
tremble, not knowing when Bismarck, Von Beust, or Gortschakoff may take
a fancy to blot out their feeble existences. Beyond the smoke of the Black
Sea business, Bismarck already has his eye on trembling Luxemburg.
ROUMANIA BREAKS THE TREATY.
On the 25th of December, substantiating the logic of Earl Russell, the
Roumanian Government repudiated the treaty of Paris and declared its
412
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
independence. The Servians are also moving to establish an independent
kingdom, like Hungary. Thus Turkey loses her Danubian provinces,
Servia looks toward a Hungarian alliance, and the Roumanian Hospodar
(ruler) who is a Hohenzollern, related to King William, and a brother of
Leopold, the old Spanish throne aspirant, becomes an ally of the Czar of
Russia. In the mean time it becomes known that Russia has been prepar¬
ing since 1S63 to break the treaty of Paris — that she has been building a
substitute for Sevastopol, which could not be restored, according to the
treaty of Paris, as an arsenal. The site chosen for the new naval harbor
is the town of Poti, at the mouth of the river Rion, on the eastern coast of
the Black Sea, a few miles distant from the Turkish frontier, which separates
Circassia from the Russian province of Georgia. A railway has been con¬
structed from Poti to Tiflis and the Circassian Sea, down the valley of the
River Kur; and two million roubles have been expended by the Russian
Government on its docks and piers, making Poti capable of harboring a
large squadron of war ships.
Thursday, Nov. 10.—The battle of Coulmiers — the first
French victory. Von der Tann retreats, with loss of guns and
prisoners, to Toury. Paladines takes possession of Orleans.
Earl Granville writes his famous war letter to Gortschakoff.
General Treskow moves from Belfort to the assistance of Von
der Tann, leaving force large enough to besiege Belfort.
General Bressoles at Lyons orders the fortress to be pro¬
visioned for 70,000 men for two months.
THE BATTLE OF COULMIERS {NOV. io).
The defeat and flight of Motterouge’s command from Arte-
nay, and its disgraceful retreat across the Loire at Orleans on
the 1 ith of October, given on page 366, filled the Tours Govern¬
ment with grave apprehensions. The Republic was in danger
— the terrible Von der Tann seemed almost to reach out his
hands towards the Republican capital, and Southern France was
fired again to deeds of danger and patriotism. It was the old
terrible recoil of the North after Manassas, and a whole nation
seemed to spring forward to wipe out the stigma of Motte¬
rouge’s defeat. These were dark days for France. The mag¬
nificent army which moved out with a haughty Emperor had
surrendered at Sedan, and the proud Imperial Guard, with a
hundred and fifty thousand veterans, had surrendered at Metz.
Manteuffel was moving upon Amiens on the north, Werder
was pushing Garibaldi towards Lyons on the east; the Grand
Duke of Mecklenburg was marching towards Le Mans on
the west, and Prince Charles was sweeping down with an
COULMIERS — FIRST FRENCH VICTORY.
413
hundred thousand veterans fresh from the glories of Metz.
France was fated to show one of those sublime efforts by which
she has astonished more than once the centuries, and awed the
world to admiration. Thousands of her sons were ready to
fight — ready to die for France ; but where was the leader —
who the man to concentrate her dying energies ? From the red
furrows of battle sprang the young soldier of the Republic,
Aurelles de Paladines. Paladines is a natural Republican.
The Emperor lavished no honors upon him, but kept him
constantly in the background, while decorations and promo¬
tions were held out to Bazaine, Bourbaki, and De Failly, the
strong supporters of the Imperial regime. Born of the Re¬
public, the very presence of Aurelles de Paladines seemed to
organize victory from the military chaos left by Motterouge.
South of Orleans he immediately reorganized the defeated Army
of the Loire. Polh&s was placed in command of the Fifteenth
Corps, Lussac in command of the Sixteenth Corps, and Pallieres
in command of the Seventeenth Corps ; while General Fierck,
assisted by Keratry, that stanch Republican, who demanded the
abdication of the Emperor in August, organized the Army of
the West at Le Mans. Guns came from Tours and men flocked
from Southern France, until, as if by magic, Paladines had
80,000 men, well supplied with artillery. Von der Tann was
in front with about 25,000 men, but they were the First Bavarian
veterans, who had fought with the Crown Prince at Weisenburg,
destroyed MacMahon at Woerth, and formed the chain about
Sedan which captured an Emperor.
On the 5th of November, Paladines commenced the move¬
ment against Von der Tann in Orleans, which was to give the
first victory to France. General Lussac’s Sixteenth Corps was
advanced on the west of Orleans, threatening a flank move¬
ment across the Loire from Blois to Marchenoir, supported
by General Polhes’ Fifteenth Corps at Mer. Pallieres threat¬
ened Orleans in front from the south bank of the Loire, while a
force of 30,000 French marched up from Bourges to attack
Von der Tann from the east.
On the 8th there was an unusual commotion in Von der
Tann’s camp at Orleans, and a grave apprehension that Pala¬
dines was about to move Lussac and Polhes against the Ger¬
man rear, to cut off communication with the Paris army. The
whole German army, leaving only a regiment in Orleans, was
marched westward to ascertain the intentions of the French.
A Coulmiers between Orleans and Mer, on the morning of the
414
THE FRANCO-PR Ui> S'!AN WAR.
9th, the First Bavarian Corps, formerly with the Crown Prince,
encountered Polhes, Lussac, and Pallieres, eighty thousand
strong. Polhes immediately commenced the attack with large
masses of infantry, ninety guns, and seven regiments of cav¬
alry. Though outnumbered, it would not do for the heroes of
Woerth and Sedan to fall back without a fight; so all that
day the Bavarians withstood the shock of twice their number.
Four times Polhes advanced in fearful onslaught against the
sturdy Germans. Von der Tann should have retreated early in
the day, but it was a hard thing for men who carried Frosch-
weiler to turn their backs for the first time upon a victorious
foe. Surprised at his own success, the first hesitating advance of
Polhes became a bold and bloody attack. The French began
to fight again with something of hereditary renown. Suddenly
the Germans yielded up the glories of a dozen victories, and
after a bloodier day than Woerth or Sedan, night gave the
first French victory to Paladines and the Republic. The First
Bavarian Corps lost 70 officers and 3000 men, and the next
morning the Prussian ammunition train fell into the hands of the
French. In the midnight darkness Von der Tann fell back
to Orleans, his personal luggage and camp carriage falling into
the hands of the French. As the Germans fell back towards
Orleans, Cathelineau, with the troops from Bourges, supported
by Pallieres with the Seventeenth Corps, fell upon the retreat¬
ing Von der Tann. Strongly fortified positions were stormed
and captured by the French, and the Germans were compelled
to abandon to the French an immense amount of hospital
stores, with sick and wounded. The Anglo-American Ambu¬
lance Corps was also captured by Paladines. On the 10th,
Von der Tann made a stand at Baccon, a few miles north
of Orleans, beyond the forest of Cercottes, where another
sanguinary conflict ensued. Paladines’ victorious troops
stormed the German entrenched camp with a terrible impetu¬
osity, throwing the Bavarians into a precipitate retreat through
Artenay to Toury, where they were reinforced by the Sixth
Prussian army, 40,000 strong, under the Grand Duke Mecklen¬
burg, and the forces of Prince Ollrich, from Chartres. Their
decisive victories filled the French troops with joy. Cowed by
losing every battle since SaarbrUck, they had lost all hope.
Now, as they mounted guard around the captured caissons and
guns, they looked proud and cheerful, and a new “ fire was up
in the eye.” The victoiy of Paladines was complete, though
his forces, as heretofore has been the case with the Germans,
COULMIERS, NOVEMBER to.
415
three times outnumbered the enemy. General Paladines, on
taking possession of Orleans, issued the following order to his
troops: *■
Soldiers: Origans, Nov. iotk, 1870.
The action of yesterday was a glorious one for our army. Every po¬
sition of the enemy was vigorously carried, and the enemy is now retreat¬
ing. I have informed the Government of your conduct, and am instructed
to return to you their thanks for your victory. Amid the disasters in
which France is plunged, her eyes are upon you, and she counts upon your
courage. Let us all make every effort, in order that this hope may not
be mistaken. D’Aurelles de Paladines,
Commander-in-Chief.
General Paladines, in a dispatch to the Tours war minister,
says :
We have taken possession of the city of Orleans, after a fight which has
lasted two days. Our aggregate losses in killed and wounded do not reach
2000, while those of the enemy are much larger.
We have made more than 1000 prisoners thus far, and are continually
adding to them as we follow up the fleeing enemy. Among the property
captured are two cannon of the Prussian model, 20 ammunition-wagons,
and a great number of vans and provision-wagons. The hottest of the
fight took place around Coulmiers, on Wednesday, the 9th. Notwithstand¬
ing the bad weather and other unfavorable circumstances, the elan dis¬
played by the troops was remarkable.
The tidings of victory from the Army of the Loire roused
the wildest excitement throughout France. Great numbers of
troops were hurried up from the south to join Paladines in his
northward march for the relief of Paris, while Minister Gam-
betta issued these ringing words of hope to the first victorious
French army :
To the Army of the Loire :
Your courageous efforts recall victory to our cause. France owes her
first ray of hope to you, and I offer you the public praise and gratitude for
your reward. Recovering strength with discipline, you have retaken Or¬
leans, inaugurating a glorious offensive. You are on the road to Paris,
which awaits you ; our honor hangs on your loosening the grasp of these
barbarians ; redouble your constancy and ardor, and you will overcome
your enemies’ superiority in cannon with French elan and patriotic fury.
So will the Republic issue victorious from the struggle. Gambetta.
The victory of Paladines placed the German besieging army
in a grave situation. Prince Charles, marching from Metz by
way of Toul, Bar-le-Duc, Troyes, and Montargis, was urged to
quicken his march to the relief of Von der Tann, while King
William acknowledged defeat in the following dispatch :
To Queen Augusta: Versailles, November nth.
General Von der Tann yesterday retired from Orleans to Toury be¬
fore a superior force of the enemy. He fought the French, however, all
the way. He has already been reinforced by General Wittich and Prince
416
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
Ollrich. The latter came up from Chartres. The Duke of Mecklenburg-
Schwerin will also join his forces to those of Von der Tann to-day.
WILHELM
General Trochu received by carrier pigeon the following dis¬
patch of victory from Tours, which arrived the sjme evening
in Paris. As soon as the news was detached from the pigeon
it was published by Jules Favre, and placarded throughout
the city, causing immense enthusiasm :
Gambetta to Trochu : — The Army of the Loire, under the com¬
mand of General D’ Aurelles de Paladines, took possession of Orleans
yesterday, after a combat which lasted two days. Our losses in killed and
wounded do not reach two thousand men ; those of the enemy are much
greater. We have taken a thousand prisoners, and the number is being
augmented in the pursuit. We have taken two cannon of the Prussian
model, twenty-six caissons of munitions, and great quantities of wagons
and provisions. The principal action was concentrated around Coul-
miers on the 9th. The spirit of our troops was remarkable, in spite of the
bad weather.
Tours, Nov. ii, 1870.
Friday, November 11. — Capitulation of Neuf Brisach,
with 5000 men and 100 guns.
Saturday, November 12th. — General Paladines made gen¬
eralissimo of all the French armies outside of Paris, and Gen¬
eral Pallieres appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Army of
the Loire. Immense activity on the part of the French in pre¬
paring the campaign for the relief of Paris. Death of M. Pie-
tri, formerly Prefect of Police in Paris. x
PIETRI-OLLIVIER-GRAMONT-BENEDETTI.
These haters of the Republic seem to have dropped into
supreme contempt. Pietri, who, as chief of police in Paris
played the atrocious role of chief Imperial spy, causing igno¬
minious arrests and blind persecutions among the opponents of
the Empire, has expired in a retired town in Switzerland. 01 -
livier, the blind tool of Napoleon, but whose political head was
severed after Woerth, and his old shoes thrown to Palikao to
appease the wrath of Paris, has wandered into Italian obscu¬
rity ; and Gramont, who made the speech in the Chambers,
that waked the sleeping dogs of war, with as jaunty a noncha¬
lance as if he were betting a hat on a horse-race, is lost in the
London fogs. Baron Hausmann and Prince Napoleon have
become as mythical as Slidell and Benjamin after the end of
Appomattox; while Schneider, the old President of the Cham-
TUESDAY ,, NOVEMBER 15.
417
bers, who lost his hat getting out of the Chamber before the
coming men of September 4th, occupies a retired chamber in
Regent street. Benedetti, George Ripley’s “little red pepper¬
pot of a Corsican,” who stormed old King William at Ems, and
then wrote puzzling dispatches of war and beer and barrels of
treacherous Rhine wine to the Emperor, advises the surrender
of France in demoralized articles in “ The Situation ,” and
writes from London how he was opposed to the war which the
French people brought on, in spite of himself, Gramont, and a
blundering Emperor ! As ridiculous are these I-told-you-so
pretensions of broken-down Imperialists as would be a claim
on the part of Charles O’Connor that Sumner made him write
about “just, wise, and beneficent slavery,” and that all the
time he was in favor of Lincoln’s scheme of emancipation.
Tuesday, November 15. — Prince Charles’ advance arrives
to the relief of Von der Tann. Von der Tann marches west
to support Mecklenburg, while Prince Charles marches south,
threatening Paladines. Kerfitry advances towards Mecklen¬
burg at Dreux, to relieve Paris. Manteuffel moves towards
Amiens. Thionville burning. The Berlin banker Gutterbach
arrested for taking the French loan. Garibaldi falls back, and
Werder in force occupies Dole.
The treaty with the South German states Baden and Hesse
for the establishment of the German Bund, signed. Bavaria and
Wiirtemberg to sign on the 25th.
THE GREAT ARMIES MOVING.
After the fall of Metz the world looked for peace, but never
since the first gun at Saarbriick has such energy been shown by
both armies on the soil of unhappy France as to-day.
The Republic, born amid the convulsions of war and nursed
amid bloodshed and defeat, seemed almost to surrender to de¬
spair, but the victory of Paladines fired to a flame her expiring
hope. The vindictive power of the Prussian king was roused
to a terrible energy, and it was thought to strangle in one grand
sweeping German advance all the new armies of France.
France with her 40,000,000 was gaining ground, while united
Germany with her 39,000,000 could see only defeat in delay.
418
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
Trochu had reorganized his 320,000 effective men into three
grand armies, under command of Thomas, Ducrot, and Vinoy,
holding King William with 350,000 men around Paris. Gen¬
eral Ernest, with Garibaldi in advance at Chagny, and with
40,000 men at Macon, stood in front of Werder’s 55,000 at
Vesoul and Besangon. General Farre’s 30,000 at Amiens and
Faidherbe’s 20,000 at Lille were awaiting the arrival of Man-
teuffel’s 70,000 veterans from Metz, while Keratry’s 55,000 were
at Le Mans, in front of Mecklenburg’s 30,000 fresh from the
fall of Soissons, supported by Von der Tann’s 25,000 ; and Pala-
dines’ 180,000 were pressing up from Orleans to Artenay, against
Prince Charles’ 110,000 foot-sore veterans arriving to Von der
Tann’s relief from Metz.
The relative positions of the ten grand French and German
armies of 800,000 men, from the 15th to the 18th of November,
were about thus :
PARIS.
GERMANS, King William and Crown Prince . —The Guards, Prince Augustus ; Sec-
350,000. ond Corps, Fansecki ; Fourth Corps, Alvensleben ; Twelfth Corps, Prince
George of Saxony ; Wiirtembergers, Von Obernetz ; Eleventh Corps, Bose ;
Sixth Corps, Tumpling ; Fifth Coips, Kirchbach ; Second Bavarian ; Twen¬
ty-third and Twenty-fourth Divisions, Infantry ; Twelfth Corps, Artillery
(Twelfth Cavalry Division at Creil, to support Manteuffel).
FRENCH, Trochu, Governor of Paris, Commander-in-Chief; Gen. Schmitz as Chief
320,000 of the Staff, Gen. Foyer second. Chief of Artillery, Gen. Ginod ; Command-
(effectives.) ant-in-Chief of the Engineers, Gen. De Chaband la Tour ; Chief of the
Commissariat, Gen. Wolf.
First Army — Commanded by Gen. Clement Thomas, who also replaces
Gen. Tamisier as the Commander-in-Chief of the National Guard. Chief
of the Staff, Col. Montagut, 266 battalions National Guards. The Legion
of Cavalry is commanded by Col. Quiclet, and the Artillery by Col. Schael-
cher. In all about 100,000 effective men.
Second Army — Commanded by General Ducrot. Chief of Staff, Gen.
Appert; Second Chief, Lieut. - Col. Wamet; Commandant of Artillery,
Gen. Fr6bauer ; Chief of the Engineers, Gen. Tripier; General Wolf, Com¬
missariat of this Second Army. The First Corps is commanded by Gen.
Blanchard ; the artillery by D’Uberi. The First Division is under Gen.
De Malroy, the Second is commanded by Gen. De Mandluy, the Third by
Gen.-. Gen. Renault commands the Second Army Corps. The three
divisions are under the orders respectively of Gens. Susbielle, Birthant —
who has replaced Gen. De Bellemare at St. Denis — and De Maussion.
Gen. D’Exoa commands the Third Army Corps, and the First and Sec¬
ond Divisions have for chiefs Gen. De Bellemare and Gen. Mattat. This
corps also includes a division of Cavalryun der Gen. De Champ6ron. It con¬
sists of two brigades, and a regiment of mounted gendarmerie. In all about
150,000 men.
Third Army — Gen. Vinoy commanding. Consists of eight divisions, in¬
cluding one of cavalry, and seventeen brigades. Commanders of divisions,
Gens. Soumain, De Liniers, De Beaufort, Correard, D’Hugues, Vice-Admi¬
ral De la Ronciere, and Rear-Admiral Pothuan. In all about 70,000 men,
1000 guns.
North (A minis — Lille).
GERMANS, Gen. Manteuffel. — First Corps ; Eighth Corps, Goeben.
70,000.
FRENCH, Gen. Farre , Amiens.— Gen. Faidherbe, Twenty-second Corps, Lille.
50,000.
East ( Lyons — Dole).
GERMANS, Gen. Werdcr. — Fourteeutu. Corps. Schmeling at Dijon.
55,000.
THIERS— BISMARCK, OCTOBER 31.
419
FRENCH, General IVa Is in-Ester hazy at Lyons.—Army of the Vosges, Cambriels,
75,000. Garibaldi, Menotti, and Ricciotti at Autun.
West (Le Mans — Chartres).
GERMANS, Grand Duke Mecklenburg. —Thirteenth Corps, composed of the Seven-
45,000. teenth Infantry Division (Treskow), the Twenty-second (Wittich), and the
Fourth and Sixth Cavalry under Prince Albrecht at Chartres, — and sup¬
ported by the First Bavarian Corps under Von der Tann, at Etampes.
FRENCH, Gen. Jaures commanding, Twenty-First Corps — supported by Gen. Fierck
65,000. and K6ratry’s Brittany Corps.
South ( Artenay — Orleans).
GERMANS, Prince Frederick Charles — arriving from Troyes with Third Corps, Al-
110,000. vensleben (2d) ; Ninth Corps, Manstein; Tenth Corps, Voigts Rhetz (sup¬
ported by Von der Tann).
FRENCH, General Paladines, Commander-in-Chief of French armies outside of Paris.
150,000. Gen. Pallieres, Commander-in-Chief of Army of the Loire. Commander of
Corps — Fifteenth Corps, Polhes ; Sixteenth Corps, Chanzy ; Seventeenth
Corps, Sonis ; Eighteenth Corps, Bourbaki; Twentieth Corps, Crouzat.
Thursday, November 17. — The Grand Duke Mecklenburg-
Schwerin repulses Keratry’s 7000 Brittany Mobiles at Dreux,
while General Treskow captures the town. The Prussian bark
Hermann Helbmanns blown up by a French frigate off the
coast of Ireland. Amadeus, son of King Victor Emmanuel
II. of Italy, and Duke of Aosta, elected King of Spain by the
Spanish Cortes, in a vote 191 against 120.
Friday, November 18. — General Wittich’s division storms
and captures Chateau Neuf, driving back Keratry’s Brittany
Mobiles towards Le Mans.
BATTLE OF DREUX (Nov. 17-18).
For a week there has been great uneasiness felt by King
William lest the victorious army of Paladines should move
northward, and, reinforced by Keratry, attack the Paris besieg¬
ing army. Prince Charles, whose intention was to march to the
assistance of VVerder, was ordered to move forward in hot haste
with the Third, Ninth, and Tenth Corps to the relief of Von der
Tann, relieving Mecklenburg’s Thirteenth Corps and Prince
Albrecht’s cavalry.
The 16th of November found Prince Charles’ Tenth Corps at
Sens, following up the Third Corps at Nemours and the Ninth
at Etampes. While Paladines held Von der Tann and Prince
Charles in front, Keratry was ordered to penetrate the Prussi an
investing line about Paris; and at the same time Trochu, sup¬
ported by the fire from the forts south of Paris, was to co-operate
420
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
with Keratry marching to the relief of Paris. News of Keratry’s
movement was sent to Trochuby carrier pigeon, and to the im¬
patient Parisians Trochu had said, “ Wait—deliverance is at
hand — when you hear Paladines’ guns to the south, then the
garrison of Paris will march to battle.” The watchful eye of Von
Moltke, always cognizant of every French movement, through
his cunning spies, saw Keratry’s designs as soon as Trochu.
He immediately ordered the Second Corps (Fansecki) of Prince
Charles’ old Third Army to the support of the Sixth Corps (Tump-
ling), south of Paris, despatching Mecklenburg from Etampes
towards Dreux, with orders to attack any force approaching.
On the 17th, Keratry’s advance, 7000 Brittany Mobiles, reached
Dreux, followed by the marching columns of Fierck and Jaures
from Le Mans. The Bretons were met promptly by Mecklen¬
burg’s Seventeenth division (Treskow) at 2 p.m., the battle lasting
until night. Keratry’s raw levies could not stand the steady
fighting of the German veterans. The Seventeenth and Twenty-
second Prussian divisions stood like serried granite before the
French advances. At 5 p.m. on the 17th, Treskow advanced
impetuously forward with the Seventeenth division of the old
Fifth Corps, which had smelt powder at Woerth under the Crown
Prince. The Bretons now fell precipitately back upon Chat¬
eau Neuf, while Treskow swept the field, capturing two hundred
prisoners, and the town. The French lost 150 in killed and
wounded. On the 18th Mecklenburg made no advance, except
to clear the woods and hills beyond Chateau Neuf. On the 19th,
Wittich, with the Twenty-second division, advanced through
Chateau Neuf to Digny on the way to Chartres, capturing 119
Mobiles, while the whole French force retreated beyond Char¬
tres towards Chateaudun. Says an eye-witness :
The French troops were of the most irregular kind, many of them boys
from fourteen to sixteen years of age, who, though armed with the chasse-
pjts, did not know how to use them. They generally fought behind breast¬
works, but as the Germans advanced they discharged a few volleys and ran
away pell-mell to a safe distance, discharging and running as before. Five
hundred of these Mobiles ran from their breastworks at La Madelaine, took
shelter in a house and fired from the windows. About seventeen were taken
prisoners, when the rest threw away their guns and ran away. The Germans
have become ferocious from this kind of warfare. The French having no
uniform but a red strap sewed on the shoulder are treated as outlaws, and
shot down with impunity. These occurrences have become sickening. An
officer , of the lancers, narrating these engagements, said he had heard a
heavy musketry fire from a clump of trees, and Was astonished to find that
it came from a single old man.
“ What did you do with him,” said a bystander.
“ I sent a lieutenant with four men to him ; and then —and he made
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AMADEUS , KING OF SPAIN.
421
a significant sign of the lancers jabbing the man with lances. “ He was
lying on his back on the ground, and although one of them had bored him
through with his lance in such a way that it took two men to withdraw it,
he had strength enough to discharge his piece and kill one of the lancers,
and after the lieutenant had shot him through the breast with his pistol, he
once more discharged his gun, and it required three more shots to kill him.
The Germans are rapidly becoming brutalized from this kind of work. At
Dreux, on the 17th, no quarters was shown, and even the wounded French¬
men were stabbed with the bayonet.”
The Bavarians were in reserve the whole day. To those unacquainted
with the character of the Bavarian troops, it will be a matter of surprise that
they were so badly beaten by these irregular troops at Orleans on the gth.
There is a great deal of the brute in the common Bavarian soldier. In
every town that they enter they pillage, plunder, and ruthlessly destroy.
Their last act of this character was at Digny. So long as they know that
there are Prussians to support them, they fight with brutal force ; but where
they are left to themselves they have not sufficient moral courage to carry
them through, and to this fact is to be ascribed their defeat at Orleans.
The next day Mecklenburg advanced towards Le Mans,
while Prince Charles moved his army towards Beaune - la-
Rolande and Montargis, threatening a flank movement against
Paladines. In Paris, Trochu listened in vain for the glad
boom of Paladines’ guns. K^ratry thundered the attack, but
the sound of his artillery died away long before it reached Ver¬
sailles and the beleaguered capital forty miles away. So ended
the first attempt of the Republic to succor Paris. A load of
apprehension was lifted from the shoulders of King William,
while Trochu continued to feed the Parisians on the feeble
diet of hope. King William reports the victory at Dreux as
follows:
To Queen Augusta : Versailles, Nov. 18.
The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg yesterday repulsed the enemy along
the whole line, near Dreux. Gen. Treskow at the same time captured
Dreux. Many prisoners were taken. The enemy were pursued in the
direction of Le Mans. William.
AMADEUS, DUKE OF AOSTA.
Amadeus, elected King of Spain by the Spanish Cortes, to-day
comes into quiet possession of the throne aspired to by Prince
Leopold of Hohenzollern. At the same time, his father, Vic¬
tor Emmanuel II., becomes King of united Italy, wresting tem¬
porary power from Pope Pio IX. The King is fifty years old,
stout, and carries a red face, almost covered with an immense
mustache. Amadeus is a tall, slender, verdant-looking youth
of twenty-five.
Victor Emmanuel II., by his wife Adelaide of Austria, has
had six children; Clotilde Maria Theresa, born 1843, wife of
422
, THE FRANCO-PR US SIAN WAR
Prince Napoleon ; Humbert, Prince of Piedmont, born 1844;
Amadeus (King of Spain), born 1845 > Oddo Eugene, Duke
of Montferrat, born 1846 ; Maria Pia, born 1847, and Charles
Albert, Duke of Chablais, born 1851.
Amadeus accepts the Spanish crown at Milan on the 20th
of November, and is crowned at Madrid January 1st, after the
assassination of Marshal Prim, when he selects the following
cabinet:
Marshal Serrano.President of the Council.
Cristinos Martos.Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Juan Ulloa.Minister of Justice.
Rear-Admiral Beranger.Minister of Marine.
Praxedes M. Sagasta.Minister of the Interior.
Don Zorilla.Minister of Public Works.
Francisco Ayala.Minister of the Colonies.
What a commentary on the land of Ferdinand, the patron
of Columbus, and the glories of Charles the Vth! Spain has
become a nation of children, and now the descendants of Cer¬
vantes and Murrillo, led by Marshal Prim, carry the Spanish
crown on a begging trip to the verdant stripling of Milan.
What a commentary on twenty centuries of civilization!
With what disgust does a proud American democrat look upon
the ignorant vanities of the old world despotisms ! The new
House of Italy, which now rules Rome and Madrid, and casts
a covetous glance at stolen Savoy, promises to wield great
future influence on the destinies of Europe. It is now Italy
allied by ties of blood to Austria and Spain on the south,
with Prussia and Russia on the north, and poor France strug¬
gling between.
Saturday, November iqth. — Ricciotti Garibaldi surprises
750 Prussians at Chatillon, in the Department of the Vosges,
capturing 9 officers and 150 men. Prince Charles receives
orders to prepare for a grand movement towards the south of
France, for the purpose of flanking Tours and Le Mans.
RICCIOTTI GARIBAFDI’S RAID.
From Dole the Garibaldis (the General and his sons Men-
otti and Ricciotti) fell back to Autun. Here the General or¬
ganized a camp of about 8000 mixed troops. There were old
Garibaldians, Italian bandits, adventurers, rangers, and Francs-
tireurs. Such a motley crowd was never seen before, unless
it were in Jeff Thompson’s Arkansas camp in ’62. The work
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19 .
423
of this command was to continually hang on the flanks of the
organized Prussians under Von Werder at Dijon, and for this
purpose Ricciotti and Menotti have been kept constantly in
the saddle. On the 12th Ricciotti organized a new command
of about 800 rangers. Every man was full of dash, and as reck¬
less of danger as the raiders of Kilpatrick. Dangerous spirits
gathered around Ricciotti, without call, for they knew he
would lead them to successful adventure. On the 18th, Ric¬
ciotti started on his long raid in the rear of Von Werder.
From Autun he marched north 26 miles to Saulieu, then 25
miles north to the village of Motbard. Twenty-five miles far¬
ther north, at Chatillon, which is 50 miles north-west of Dijon,
were 700 Prussians, awaiting reinforcements from Chaumont.
With a dash the Garibaldians swept forward, and 5 o’clock on
the morning of the 19th found them in front of the sleeping
Prussian garrison. Ricciotti sent a company of 80 men to sur¬
round the Hotel of the Cote d’Or, and caught all the officers of
the staff in bed. Fancy the surprise, the scramble, the strug¬
gle. Every officer barricaded his door. In that hotel only
eight officers surrendered; two preferred to be shot. In an¬
other none would surrender; six were killed. Meanwhile the
other corps went from house to house, making prisoners wher¬
ever they could. Sometimes a band of Prussians resisted :
they were shot. While Ricciotti’s officers were consulting as
to whether they should attack, the news came that 1400 Prus¬
sians were arriving on the route to Chaumont. Ricciotti then
gave the order to collect prisoners, horses, and spoil. They
counted 100 dead on the Prussian side, among them one major
and two colonels, one the commander of the garrison of the
town, the other acting Prefect. They brought away 167 pris¬
oners (among them nine officers), 62 horses, four carriages full
of baggage, cases of cigars, papers, and quantities of rifles and
ammunition, and arrived at Motbard, with three dead and
twenty wounded, causing great enthusiasm, and an ovation
from the French people of the town. Garibaldi heard of the
success of the raid at Aignay-le-Duc, twenty-five miles north¬
west of Dijon, he having changed his quarters from Autun on
the 20th. An eye-witness who gave him the news of the vic¬
tory says :
I wish you could have seen his face, and the proud smile that danced in
his eyes. “ C'est tin joli petit coup de nolnv garc ( ou ,” was all he said.
Then he read the letters I brought, and wrote off a concise account of the
affair, recommending the prisoners to the generosity of the French, and
warning the enemy to beware how they bring upon themselves reprisals.
424
THE FRANC O-PR US SIAN WAR.
Some one said, “ I should think Ricciotti ought to be promoted.” “ Well,”
said the General, “I think we may make him major ; ” but a few lines he
wrote to his youngest son he addressed Captain, whereas the Francs-tireurs
have made him Colonel, and they have the right to name their officers.
Paladines’ victory over Von der Tann could not have raised
the hope of Tours more than this little coup of Ricciotti has
raised the expectations of the Garibaldians. For this success
the Tours government has made Ricciotti a “ Member of the
Legion of Honor.”
The past movements of General Von Werder have been as
follows : marched on Epinal, Oct. 12th; on Vesoul, Oct. 18th
— the French withdrawing to Besangon and the fortress of
Belfort. While General Werder was at Vesoul, General Cam-
briels made a threatening stand at Besangon, which place sur¬
rendered to General Werder on the 22d, Cambriels falling back
on Auxonne and Dijon, the former place being burned by the
Prussians, the flames lighting up the last steps of Werder 1 s suc¬
cessful advance from Strasburg, with the victorious Fourteenth
Corps.
For this French defeat Cambriels was released from his com¬
mand, to which General Ernest succeeded; while Garibaldi,
coming from Italy, was placed in command of the Francs-tireurs
in the Vosges, assisted by his sons Menotti and Ricciotti.
(See page 378.)
Sunday, November 20. — Amadeus, Duke of Aosta, accepts
the Spanish throne. Gortschakoff replies to Earl Granville’s
war letter. (See Nov. 10.)
Friday, November 25. — Thionville, seventeen miles north
of Metz, capitulates. The Germans set 4000 prisoners free.
Von Moltke, apprehensive of the vast numbers of Frenchmen
rushing to arms from the south, abandons his contemplated
southern movement, and concentrates the German armies
to the support of the army of Paris. Manteuffel with the
First Corps, and Goeben with the Eighth Corps, ordered to
be ready to support the besieging army.
SURRENDER *OF THIONVILLE (map, p. 65).
Thionville, a demolished city of 7000 people and 500 houses,
surrendered, not from starvation, but to escape the terrible
THIONVILLE, NOVEMBER 25.
425
Prussian bombardment. The inclosing fortifications are ex¬
ceedingly strong, but, owing to the absence of exterior forts
unlike Metz, the town was liable to a direct bombardment. On
the 7th and 8th of October, when Bazaine made his great sortie,
121 wagon loads of provisions destined for Metz, from the
French-sympathizing Luxemburgers, remained in Thionville,
furnishing the city with six months’ supply of food. This non-
observance of neutrality on the part of Luxemburg will not be
forgotten by the map-making Bismarck. On the 10th of Octo¬
ber came the German investing army, and Thionville was her¬
metically sealed. The surrender of Bazaine sent Zastrow and
the old Seventh Corps of Steinmetz, with 400 German guns,
to Thionville, whose fortifications were strongly defended with
380 French guns, from sixteen to twenty-four pounders. After
the 22d of November, the German fire became intense, the
average number of shots being seventeen per minute. On
Wednesday, the 23d, at n A.M., while the city was burning in
many places from the furious German fire, General Zastrow
demanded of the French commander the surrender of the town.
The French commandant replied :
“ So long as there remains one stone upon another, or one drop of French
blood, the city will not be surrendered ! ” — a reply sufficiently heroic, but,
unfortunately for its historic worth, not a stone of the fortifications was
disturbed, nor a drop of French blood wasted. On Thursday, at 6 o’clock
a.m., the French offered to surrender the city, on condition that the
Gardes Mobiles were allowed to go free. After two hours’ consideration
of this question, the Prussians answered with six hours’ bombardment.
Finally, the French displayed the white flag, and offered to surrender on
whatever conditions were granted them. At six p.M. of the 24th of No¬
vember, the capitulation was subscribed. It was stipulated that on the
morrow (the 25th), at nine o’clock, the Germans should enter the town.
The time of entrance was, however, at the request of the French com¬
mander, made two hours earlier, on account of the insubordination of his
troops, who were enraged at the surrender, and threatened even to explode
the magazine. There was no danger on the ramparts, as all the German
shells were directed against the city. The surrender was hastened by the
appearance near the ramparts of women and children, who upon their
knees besought the commander to submit, since all the cellars where they
had sought concealment and safety were overflowed with water, one or two
feet deep, on account of the rise of the Moselle. The whole number of
prisoners was 6000. Of these, the regular line troops — about 2000 in
all—were retained as prisoners. The remainder were taken to the first
station and set free. There are 107 buildings totally destroyed ; eighty-
three so badly injured that they will have to be torn down ; 250 houses will
have to be built anew from the first story. The material loss is reckoned
at $800,000, and the commercial loss at $4,000,000. Not one house is
left uninjured. During the fifty-three hours’ bombardment, the Prussians
poured into the city from 30,000 to 40,000 bombs of eighty pounds weight.
426
THE FRANC O-PR US SIAN WAR.
The leniency toward the Gardes Mobiles was on account of their speaking
the German tongue, and belonging in a district which the Prussians intend
to appropriate.
Saturday, November 26. — General von Werder defeats
Garibaldi near Presques, sixteen miles from Epinal. Generals
Keratry and Carre-Kerresouet resign at Camp Conlie, a few
miles north of Le Mans, and report to Tours. Keratry’s Bre¬
ton Guard turned over to General Jaures. All the Prussian
armies south and west of Paris commence advancing — Meck¬
lenburg towards Le Mans, Von der Tann towards Chateaudun,
and Prince Charles from Toury, Pithiviers, and Montargis to¬
wards Beaune-la-Rolande and Orleans. The Prussian Tenth
Corps (Voigts Rhetz) encounter the French, driving them to¬
wards Beaune-la-Rolande.
THE SKIRMISH AT PASQUES.
Garibaldi, emboldened by the success of Ricciotti at Chatil-
lon, ordered his other son, Menotti, to commence a farther
march in the rear of Von Werder. Menotti, in his movement
north along the Vosges, reached Pasques, about twelve miles
south of Epinal, late in the afternoon of the 26th. The
Prussian outposts were completely surprised, for no knowl¬
edge of Menotti’s rapid march had reached them, and they
were attacked with great impetuosity. The Prussians were
first compelled to fall back, but reinforcements coming up, the
Garibaldians were in turn repulsed in disorder. The next
morning General Werder ordered pursuit, overtaking the
Trench rear-guard, when another engagement ensued, in which
the Garibaldians lost 250 killed, wounded, and prisoners,
Menotti having about 2000 men under his command. The
last engagement occurred at Plombi^res, about sixteen miles
south of Epinal, and famous for its warm baths. This repulse
discouraged the Garibaldians, and for some time no more at¬
tempts were made against the Prussian rear.
Sunday, November 27. — Preparations for a grand battle at
Beaune-la-Rolande. Prince Charles and Paladines face to face,
skirmishing all along the line through Montargis, Pithiviers, and
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26.
427
Toury to Chateaudun. Trochu receives news of Paladines’
intended battle by carrier-pigeon. Immense movement of
troops in Paris. The forts commence a terrific cannonade.
Manteuffel skirmishing before Amiens. Von der Tann moves
towards Chateaudun and Mecklenburg threatens Le Mans.
PREPARING FOR BATTLE.
The great plain of Beuce, which spreads out between Toury
and Orleans, is macadamized by the tramp of 350,000 soldiers
manoeuvring for position. The coil of 150,000 Germans
slowly winds around the threatening French. Prince Charles’
veteran Third, Ninth, and Tenth lie coiled up at Montargis for
a dreadful spring, while Von der Tann quietly awaits at Toury,
inviting fonvard the unsuspecting Paladines drawn up in a grand
horse-shoe line in front of the Prussians, from Montargis through
Toury to Chateaudun. As if to spur the 200,000 French to
desperation, Mecklenburg, with his barbarous Bavarians, march¬
ed a week ago in reckless nonchalance southward, almost
within shot of the hot-headed Corsican, Gambetta, at Tours ;
while Manteuffel fired his first shot into the camp of General
Farre at Amiens, filling the region of Picardy with dismay and
demoralization. Then suddenly the whole German army with¬
drew towards Paris. To-morrow will be a day big with events
— events which will make a mark among the centuries, for the
three great battles of Beaune-la-Rolande, Amiens, and Paris
are to settle the weal or woe of the Republic and of France.
On the 24th, the German armies were stretched over sixty
miles of country, from Montargis to Le Mans ; but on the 25th
came orders for Mecklenburg and Von der Tann to fall back
to Prince Charles’ support. Von Moltke’s official report, dated
Versailles, November 6th, says :
Nearly the whole of the forces at the disposal of the French Govern¬
ment have been concentrated between Blois, Tours, and Orleans. If de¬
feated they will probably retreat to Lyons, which is strongly fortified and
provisioned.
All around Orleans the country people, instigated to fight by the
priests, who have been ordered by Bishop Dupanloup to preach a crusade,
have begun a guerilla warfare against the Germans.
Patrols are fired at from every building and every hedge. Officers
carrying orders are shot down by laborers, seemingly working in the fields,
but provided with rifles as well as spades. To avenge these assassinations,
all non-soldiers carrying arms are immediately executed. Not a few priests
are now awaiting trial. The towns of Sens and Nemours have been se-
42 S
THE FRANCO-PR US SIAN WAR.
vcrely punished for conniving at the surprise of Prussian detachments by
Francs-tireurs.
Monday, Nov. 28.— Prince Charles defeats Paladines and
the French Right at Beaune-la-Rolande, taking 1600 prisoners.
Manteuffel captures Amiens, the citadel, and 600 prisoners.
Tuesday, Nov. 29. — Generals Trochu, Ducrot, and Vinoy
commence their three-days sortie from Paris. Feint from St.
Denis, Mont Valerien, and Mont Avron, and attack in force
on Brie, Champigny, and Villiers.
Wednesday, Nov. 30. — Ducrot makes a bloody attack with
100,000 French on the Wiirtembergers and Saxons across the
Marne. The struggle for Villiers.
Thursday, Dec. 1. — General Chanzy defeats the Grand
Duke of Mecklenburg, and drives back the Bavarians from
Artenay towards Toury, capturing two guns and 300 prisoners.
The French and German armies around Paris rest to bury the
dead.
Friday, Dec. 2.—Mecklenburg defeats Chanzy and the
French Left, driving it south of Artenay, capturing eleven guns
and 700 prisoners. The left wing of the Army of the Loire
doubled up. Ducrot and Trochu continue the struggle around
Champigny, Villiers, and Brie, losing 1800 prisoners. The
French advance stopped, and Ducrot prepares to fall back to
Paris.
Saturday, Dec. 3. — The Army of the Loire broken into
three divisions, and driven by Prince Charles, Von der Tann,
and Mecklenburg into the intrenched camps of Orleans.
Trochu’s great sortie ceases, and the French army retire over
the Marne.
ORLEANS , NOVEMBER 28.
429
Bismarck declines farther neutrality towards Luxemburg,
and abrogates the treaty of London.
Sunday, Dec. 4. — Prince Charles defeats the Army of the
Loire, breaking it into three retreating divisions. Chanzy falls
back with the Left towards Tours, Pallieres falls back with the
Centre on Vierzon, and Bourbaki falls back with the Right on
Bourges. Gambetta escapes capture at La Chapelle. Prince
Charles captures seventy guns and 8000 prisoners.
Manteuffel defeats the French north-east of Rouen, capturing
400 prisoners. No fighting around Paris.
BATTLES IN FRONT OF ORLEANS, Nov. 28—Dec. 4.
On the 28th of November, commenced the gigantic wrestle
of the giants Paladines and Prince Charles, on the plain of
Beuce between Orleans and Paris. This immense plain spreads
away from Paris sixty miles to Orleans on the Loire, and is one
of the grandest battle-fields of Europe. The country is dotted
Avith innumerable little French villages, formerly filled Avith a
Avealthy and contented peasantry. On the left of this vast
prairie, looking southAvard, is the village of Beaune-la-Rolande,
snugly couched at the feet of a grand elevation. Beaune is the
strategetic key to the German Left, and no less a General than
Prince Charles held the sentinelship of the location. Paladines
looked cautiously at Beaune, and in its capture could see his army
already pushing fonvard to the Seine and Paris. He did not
think that a French repulse would bring down Prince Charles
Avith the bloody Third and Tenth upon Orleans. Paladines had
laid his plans Avith consummate strategy. His army had been
reorganized, new general appointed, and, flushed with his last
victory over Von der Tann, Iris hopes ran high indeed. The
Republic expected much of Paladines, and Paris looked only for
deliverance in success.
The French Centre, in front of Prince Charles, was commanded
by General Martin de Pallieres, with the old Fifteenth Corps of
Polhes; the Right-Centre, the Twentieth Corps, was commanded
by General Crouzat ; and the extreme Right, the Eighteenth
Corps, was commanded by General Bourbaki. The Left Centre,
the Sixteenth Corps, in front of the Grand Duke of Mecklen-
420
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN
burg, was* commanded by General Chanzy ; and on the extreme
left was the Seventeenth Corps, commanded by General Sonis.
The lines were about twenty miles long, extending from be¬
yond Beaune-la-Rolande past Pithiviers, to Artenay in these
relative positions :
Right. MECKLENBURG. Centre. BRINCE CHARLES. Left.
i Bay’s, Von der Tann’s 13 C. and 17 and 22 div’s. 9 Corps, 3 Corps, and 10 Corps.
# # # # # # # # # #
* * ^ [Battle-Field between.] # ^ #
*#########
Sonis, 17 C. Chanzy*s 16 C. Palli6res* 12 C. Crouzat’s 20 C. Bourbaki’s2o C.
Left. GEN. ATTREELES DE PAEADINES. Right.
Word had gone to Trochu that the Army of the Loire would
deliver the beleaguered capital, and while Trochu, Vinoy, and
Ducrot were moving to the bloody battle of the Marne, Pala-
dines advanced upon the German left at Beaune. It was a day
of battles, that 28th of November, and the day was freighted
with the destinies of men and nations. Reorganized, the army
of the Republic was to meet, face to face, the veterans of Metz ;
and Paladines, the hope and the right hand of the Republic, was
to meet Prince Charles, the strong arm of Prussia and the king.
BATTLE OF BEAUNE-LA-ROLANDE — Nov. 28.
Sixty thousand Frenchmen had been manoeuvring around
the little village of Beaune to fall upon Prince Charles.
All day long the 27th, Voigts Rhetz’s old Tenth Corps, which
stood the six-hours Balaklava assault at Mars-la-Tour, eyed in
sullen silence from the quiet village the threatening Twentieth
Corps, the Right Centre of Paladines’ army. The cattle from
the plains had vanished, the hamlets were deserted, and the
peasantry had fallen to the rear.
The sullen gloom about Beaune was the quiet which pre¬
cedes the shock of a great battle. During the forenoon of the
28th, scouts began to clatter back and forth from the fronts of
both armies, the pickets were strengthened into areconnoissance,
and on each side the artillery limbered up and galloped hither
and thither to good positions near the front. The strategy of
Prince Charles was to tempt Paladines forward towards Toury,
that the Prussian army might move by the flank on the enemy’s
rear, cutting him off from Orleans, and holding him in a vice
between Von der Tann, Mecklenburg, and his own army.
At two o’clock, Paladines’ first attack commenced. Covered
BE A UNE-LA-ROLANDE—NO VEMBER 28.
431
by artillery, the Twentieth French Corps made a terrific assault
upon Voigts Rhetz. The advance was close to the Prussians,
as the French artillery was of shorter range than the Prussian ;
and the last victory at Orleans had taught Paladines to move
his artillery within range. At three the fighting became
general around the village of Beaune, the French reinforcing
with portions of the Eighteenth and Fifteenth Corps, while
Voigts Rhetz was soon supported by the First and Fifth divi¬
sions of Alvensleben’s veteran Third Corps. The onslaught
of the French, who had regained something of their hereditary
eclat by their victory over Von der Tann, was fierce ; but the
steady fighting of Voigts Rhetz’s Hanoverians met every as¬
sault without flinching.
At five o’clock the French completely surrounded the village
of Beaune, and opening with close artillery, a steady rain of
iron hail poured upon and through the burning village. After
a long and bloody infantry assault, the French demanded its
surrender. It was refused, and again the battle grew hotter
than before. It was the last struggle of the day ; but the
50,000 French were met by fresh reinforcements from the
Prussian Third Corps and driven back.
The Prussian forces holding the village of Beaune had now
shot away all their ammunition. The situation was grave, in¬
deed. “ My children,” said the brave Colonel of the Sixteenth
Regiment to his ammunitionless men —
“We have been ordered by our Prince to hold this village at all hazards ; in our efforts
to do so we have run short of ammunition. This is a misfortune, but you must remember
that there is one sort of ammunition which never fails — our bayonets. You must now
trust to them. If the French attack the village, they must be driven back with the cold
steel; we have no other means of stopping them.”
The men answered this appeal with a cheer, and when or¬
dered to bring their arms to the charge, did so with a good will
which augured ill for the chances of the French should they
attempt to storm the village.
The attempt was not made, for the Third Corps had already
repulsed the advancing French, capturing 900 prisoners, and
leaving the ground thick with 2000 French and German killed
and wounded. The Prussians now advanced in force, covering
the field, while the French fell back, leaving to the heroic Voigts
Rhetz and Alvensleben the honor of bivouacking on the victo¬
rious battle-ground of Beaune. On the morrow, Paladines fell
back into his entrenched camps before Orleans. On the result
of this battle Gambetta was silent, while King William sent the
following despatch:
432
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
To the Queen : Tuesday, Nov. 29, 1870.
Frederick Charles reports the complete defeat of the Army of the Loire in
the battle of Monday, in which the French had the Twentieth Corps, prob¬
ably the Eighteenth, and portions of the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Corps,
engaged. A thousand French were found dead on the field, 4000 were
wounded, and 1600 taken prisoners. General Aurelles is reported to be
wounded. The German loss was 1000 ; among them few officers.
Wilhelm.
Thus ended the first effort of the Army of the Loire to succor
the beleaguered capital, and the hope of Paris was fated to
end in calamitous despair.
SKIRMISHING.
On the 29th both armies rested, Von der Tann occupying
the extreme right of the German line, which extended from in
front of Allaines to Nogent on the left, where the Third Corps
were encamped. For twenty miles north-east of Orleans, be¬
tween Nogent, Chateau Neuf, and Montargis, is an immense
forest, and Paladines moved his army towards the entrenched
camps at Artenay, fearing, in case of disaster, to be caught with
no chance to retreat. The 30th was spent by both Prince
Charles and Paladines in manoeuvring for position. Both
armies were concentrated, and ready to leap forward to battle.
Thursday, the 1st of December, found Paladines pressing
forward from Artenay, while Prince Charles was awaiting pa¬
tiently the results of Trochu’s attempt to escape from Paris.
The cavalry and Bavarian corps of Mecklenburg’s troops were
worn out with incessant marching. For days they had been
marching and scouting away off towards Le Mans and south
towards Tours. Ragged and shoeless, they were in no con¬
dition to fight. From the 9th of November to the 30th, the
restless spirit of Mecklenburg had been marching his men on
an average of 18 miles per day. He had been driving the
armed peasants and Bretons from Dreux and Chateau Neuf, and
menacing Tours from Vendome. Thursday found his weary
army and Von der Tann encamped on the same ground in front
of Artenay, from which he had withdrawn on the 14th of No¬
vember. The Bavarians occupied Mecklenburg’s right. While
the Duke was dining at the headquarters at Jeanville, a small
village between Artenay and Allaines, the French under Chanzy
were making a victorious attack on the Bavarians. The Bava¬
rians were outnumbered and driven back towards Toury, with
the loss of two cannon and a few hundred prisoners. It was
the report of this victory which electrified the Tours Govern¬
ment, and caused the Te Deums to be chanted in the French
BATTLE OF DECEMBER 2.
433
churches. All that night the Germans concentrated for the
attack on the morrow, while Chanzy sent a report of victory
from his headquarters at Patay.
BATTLE OF DECEMBER 2.
December 2d opened cold and frosty. Mecklenburg (or his
chief of staff, Gen. Stosch) had completed arrangements for the
day’s battle. At daylight the Duke with his staff dashed off
to the front. Twenty villages were passed before the battle¬
field was reached. The attack of Chanzy commenced at eight
o’clock. The first French onslaught was fierce and confident.
The worn-out Bavarians met them stoically and without flinch¬
ing. Chanzy pushed forward the entire Sixteenth French Corps
against the Bavarians, who were four times beaten £>ack, and at
last were unable to resist any longer, and their place had to be
supplied with the Seventy-fifth and Seventy-sixth Hanseatic
Regiments of the Seventeenth Division, who entered the fight
at about n o’clock. The fight gradually extended towards
the east, and at 2 o’clock the whole line, from beyond Artenay
to the Bavarian lines, was one continuous storm of shot and
shell. The French stood their ground bravely. The Germans,
weary and exhausted by long marches, made desperate efforts
to beat back the French, who were largely superior in numbers,
and had cannons, mitrailleuses, and chassepots.
The Seventeenth Division (Prussian) had not seen a serious
engagement before, and they did not fight like the veterans of
Woerth and Metz. All day long the battle raged. Hundreds
of houses were in flames from the bursting shells, and villages
burned, victims of shot and sword. As night approached, on
one side the moon shone brightly, and on the other the whole
horizon was illuminated by the glare of burning houses and vil¬
lages. The ground was very well adapted for cavalry charges,
and opposite Artenay the Fourth Cavalry Division was very
active. At one time along the road was to be seen a herd of
over 100 riderless horses, which galloped along in great terror,
most of them being very badly wounded, and covered with
blood. A whole cavalry regiment had been met by a deadly
mitrailleuse fire.
It was the death struggle of Chanzy and the French Left, the
Right having flinched and fallen before Prince Charles at Beaune.
The French do not yield with night, but as darkness comes
on, victory seems to hang on the side of the Republic. The
Bavarians, weary and decimated, cry loudly for Prince Charles,
19
434
THE FRAN CO-PR USSIAN WAR.
and tremble for the morrow. The battle is not ended. Von der
Tann is wounded. 3000 French and German wounded lay
upon the ground, and 1700 Frenchmen prisoners, and several
dismounted and broken cannons are filing to the rear. To¬
morrow will tell whether German tenacity or French elan shall
win the day; for to-night fate hangs breathless in the balance.
To show how uncertain is the result of a great battle, we give
the dispatches of Mecklenburg and Paladines, as night abruptly
ended the fight. Seldom is a great army conscious wheii it has
won a great victory. This was the case at the second battle of
Bull Run, when, if Lee had known the status of Pope’s army,
a cavalry charge might have pushed back the Union army upon
the capital in dismay. So at Gettysburg, when for twenty-four
hours the author saw Meade stand motionless, while Lee was
in precipitate retreat. The strategy of the German armies has
been to push forward after a battle, striking terror to a hesi¬
tating enemy. Had Meade done this at Gettysburg, thousands
instead of hundreds of prisoners would have fallen into his
hands at Falling Waters, where Lee fled across the Potomac.
On that night of the 2d of December, as the smoke cleared
away, Paladines, flushed with the hope of victory, wrote to the
Bishop of Orleans : “ We have had a series of successes. I do
not say victories ; I reserve that word for to-morrow.” Meck¬
lenburg, as full of hope, thus telegraphs to King William :
“This morning a battle commenced near Bazoches-les-Hautes [to the
north of Artenay], After a hot fight the Fifteenth Army French Corps was
defeated and driven back to Artenay, and the Sixteenth French Army Corps
driven beyond Loigny. Several hundred prisoners and eleven guns were
taken. The enemy’s loss is considerable. Our loss is unknown, but it is
much smaller than that of the enemy.”
BATTLE, DECEMBER 3.
Last night was a sleepless night for the two armies. All night
long the German artillery rumbled to the front, to be ready at
the first gleam of light to open on the French. Prince Charles
had pushed the Third and Tenth Corps along the forest of Cer-
cottes towards Chevilly, almost in the rear of Chanzy, severing
Bourbaki's corps, which had fallen back to the south-east,
towards Chateau Neuf. As the first ray of morning lighted up
the frosty battle-field, Paladines was startled to hear Prince
Charles pounding away on his right, between Chevilly and
Orleans ; while Mecklenburg and the revengeful Von der Tann
stood squarely in front. Soon the north wind wafted the
smoke of sixty German cannon into the faces of the French,
BATTLE OF DECEMBER 3.
425
and red streams of shells went whizzing over their heads or
ploughed the macadamized fields. Bourbaki had fallen back the
day before with a dogged sullenness, giving up inch by inch the
soil as purchased by the blood of the old Tenth Corps of Voigts
Rhetz. Voigts Rhetz kept his eye on Bourbaki, while Alvens-
leben, with the Third Corps, opened with Mecklenburg and
Von der Tann on Chanzy, in the triangle between Chevilly,
Artenay, and Patay. The French seemed dismayed at the un¬
expected boldness of the Germans, and the hazardous situation
of their army. Paladines had reserved “victory” for the
Bishop of Orleans to-day, but that message was fated to tell of
defeat. Chanzy sullenly fell back towards Orleans, abandoning
the field to Mecklenburg; while Voigts Rhetz, hanging on his
right flank, captured several hundred prisoners and eleven guns.
The day was a fighting retreat, and the Germans did not ad¬
vance, except against the savage fire of an army determined to
sell its position with the price of hundreds slaughtered. The
French army was doubled up.
The German advance was irresistible, and Paladines ordered
the Left and Centre, with the Sixteenth Corps of Chanzy, the
Seventeenth Corps of Sonis, and the Fifteenth Corps of Pallieres,
to fall back upon Orleans and the Twentieth and Eighteenth,
under Bourbaki, severed from the main army, retreated over the
Loire to the east of Orleans, near Chateau Neuf and Jargeau.
Everywhere the Germans pushed forward their victorious
columns with a dreadful rapidity, striking demoralization and
terror among the retreating French. Night found Paladines
across the Loire, surrounded by his sorrowful staff. Victory
had been wrested from him, and the defeat of a day had thrown
him from the high pinnacle of fame and trust to the low estate
of a vanquished General. That night he advised the Govern¬
ment of the necessity of evacuating Orleans, and retreating to
the left bank of the Loire. The Goverment, however, was of
opinion that it would be better to hold firm at Orleans; but
Gen. Paladines reiterating his views, the Government coincided,
and Orleans was eventually evacuated.
The defeat of Paladines and the Army of the Loire was thus
gently announced to the French people by Gambetta, who has
always shown himself a conspicuous mouth-piece to cover up
Republican disasters:
Citizens — The Army of the Loire has discontinued its forward move¬
ment owing to the resistance of the enemy, who has concentrated large
masses of troops between Pithiviers, Artenay, and Angerville. The army
436
THE FRANCO-PR US SIAN WAR.
occupies strongly intrenched positions, in which it will remain for the pres¬
ent, postponing its advance until a better opportunity is offered. In the
meanwhile Gen. Ducrot, with the army which he led out of Paris, is disen¬
gaged, and will be able to act more freely, not finding before him the
masses of the enemy which it was supposed were going to meet him, but
which are really retained north of Orleans. Gambetta.
BATTLE—DISASTER —EVACUATION OF
ORLEANS, Dec. 4.
Sunday morning, December 4, found the Army of the Loire
ready to break into three divisions. Bourbaki, with the right,
was already cut off by Prince Charles, and was retreating south¬
easterly, towards Bourges. Chanzy, with the Sixteenth and
Seventeenth Corps, was ready to commence his struggle north¬
westerly towards Blois and Tours, and Palli^res held Orleans
with the Fifteenth. At noon, Paladines telegraphed Gambetta
that he had changed his opinon, and would continue to hold
Orleans. The impetuous Gambetta instantly started for Or¬
leans. The train was ordered forward at lightning speed.
At La Chapelle, a few miles south-west of Orleans, the engineer
rang his bell in terror, and came to a sudden halt, while Meck¬
lenburg’s Fourth Cavalry fired a volley of bullets, filling the
War Secretary with fear and consternation. “What is that?”
exclaimed Gambetta ; and then again came a flash, — a crash,
and the Mecklenburg bullets tore through the car, while down
towards Gambetta’s carriage rushed the speechless railroad
official, with his eyes wide open. “All right, Henri! ” said the
Minister in affected composure ; “ back to Beaugency—quick ! ”
Like lightning buzzed the reversed wheels of the locomotive
on the icy track. The moment’s delay seemed an age, for in
front was a squadron of terrible uhlans, galloping at break¬
neck speed after the flying Minister. At first the uhlans gained
on the train and Gambetta fumbled nervously for his pistols,
but in a moment more the light train sped away, and the last
shots of the Prussians only brought a derisive screech from
the locomotive. At Beaugency, Gambetta found himself sur¬
rounded by an excited crowd. “What news,—where are the
rascals?” asked a dozen voices. “All is well” said the ever-
sanguine Minister— “it is all v-e-r-y well;— my mind is re¬
lieved ; my doubts are at rest. Our countrymen are defending
Orleans as becomes true Frenchmen. At La Chapelle I heard
the Orleans cannons, — I know we are victorious. 1 must now
get a carriage for the south road to Blois as soon as possible ;
there good news awaits me. Take courage, my friends,—
France shall yet be saved.” So saying, he darted into a car-
EVACUATION OF ORLEANS. — DEC. 4.
437
riage, and his horses were soon trotting over the frozen ground
towards Blois. On he flew, past the astonished villages. The
night was now dark, and the roads were as slippery as when
Dickens says:
“ There’s frost upon the pathway and there’s mud upon the track,
And the ice it isn’t water and the water isn’t free,
And you couldn’t say that anything is what it ought to be.”
No news ! On sped the Minister. Now a messenger arrives
on a panting horse with a dispatch. In a moment Gambetta
caught its contents. “Mon Dicn! it is all lost. Freycinet
says D’Aurelles has surrendered Orleans ! ” The Minister’s eyes
gleamed vengeance for a moment, and then hope seemed to
come. “ It is terrible,” he said, but the Army of the Loire is
still there; the Republic has yet 200,000 soldiers, well pro¬
vided with the material of war. No one shall doubt— we will
save the country yet.” Back flew Gambetta to Tours, where,
jaded and worn, in the early morning he found a despatch from
Palli&res announcing that Prince Charles had demanded the
evacuation of Orleans under a threat that he would bombard
the place, and that he had agreed, in the name of Paladines
to comply with the demand. Accordingly the marine batter¬
ies were spiked, the powder destroyed, and while Chanzy
marched towards Blois, pressed by Mecklenburg, Pallieres fell
back to the south side of the Loire, and then farther on, south¬
ward to Vierzon. Before the evacuation of the city Manstein’s
Ninth Corps of Prince Charles’ army assaulted and captured St.
Jean, a railroad station in the north suburb of Orleans, with
thirty guns and a thousand fleeing French ; while the Third and
Tenth Corps went after Bourbaki. Chanzy marched towards
Tours, followed by the restless Mecklenburg, and with the
Fourth and Sixth Cavalry everywhere hanging on his rear and
flank. Thus on the 4th of December, was the new Army of
the Loire, — the hope of the Republic, broken into three flee¬
ing divisions, and its commander, Paladines, .who gave the first
victory to the Republic, relieved, and, be it said to the shame
of France, disgraced. At midnight the Germans occupied
Orleans, from which Von der Tann had been driven on the
10th of November. The re-occupation of Orleans was thus
announced by King William :
To the Quf.en: Versailles, Sunday — midnight.
After two days’ battle, in which the army of the Grand Duke of Meck¬
lenburg was mainly engaged, Manstein’s Corps captured St. Jean, a railway
stationand suburb of Orleans. Thirty guns and 1000 prisoners were taken.
The Prussian loss was moderate ; Wrangel’s division suffered most.
43S
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
The Prussians found nine cannon and much ammunition on the field before
Amiens. Wilhelm.
To the Queen : Versailles, Dec. 5.
The city of Orleans was occupied by our forces last night, without being
stormed. The Third Corps took nine cannon and one mitrailleuse. The
Eighth Corps of the First Army, on the 4th inst. defeated the French in
several conflicts north-east of Rouen, taking one gun and 400 prisoners.
Our loss was only one killed and 40 wounded. We have taken 70 guns and
10,000 prisoners in three days. Wilhelm.
THE SPITE OF TOURS.
The excitement in Tours on the defeat of the army was in¬
tense. Paladines was blamed, abused, and finally relieved
from command, and ordered to duty at Cherbourg, with as
much vindictiveness as was displayed by Stanton when he
ordered Fremont to the “Mountain Department.” Chanzy,
with Voillemont as chief of staff, was placed in command of
the First Army, struggling towards Tours, while Bourbaki, with
Borel as chief of staff, was placed in command of the defeated
remnant at Bourges. Paladines refused to be “shelved” at
Cherbourg, choosing rather to retire broken-hearted to his
estate. Colomb succeeded Sonis, the captured commander
of the, Seventeenth Corps; Ballot was placed in immediate
command of Bourbaki’s old Eighteenth Corps, and Jaurezi-
bery succeeded to Chanzy’s Sixteenth Corps.
So ever with war. It makes and unmakes a good many
heroes. Much glittering tinsel becomes rubbish, and many un¬
fortunate uniforms slide from the red furrows of battle to quiet
nooks in domestic corners. Victory smiles and the world is
awed ; adversity frowns and back slide the heroes to their old
rostrums and nostrums, to their old bar-rooms and bars. How
many have sighed and died like Paladines, — how many have
wept like the First Napoleon at Toulon !
THE CAPTURE OF AMIENS {Nov. 28).
Simultaneous with the attack and defeat of Paladines at
Beaune-la-Rolande and the commencement of Ducrot’s great
sortie for the deliverance of Paris, Manteuffel, with the First
and Eighth Corps (Goeben’s) of Steinmetz’ old First Army, at¬
tacked the French under General Farre at Villers-Bretonneux,
ten miles south of Amiens.
The Mobiles made a weak defence, and though their force
numbered about 50,000, they could not stand before the vete¬
rans who stormed the heights of Spicheren and swept L’Admi-
rault and Frossard into Bellecroix after the battle of Pange.
The French camp was captured, the Mobiles making a hasty
CAPTURE OF AMIENS—NOV. 2S.
439
retreat, after a short and bloody fight; while Goeben, who de¬
feated Frossard at Spicheren, advanced upon the city. The
Prussian losses were 74 officers and 1300 privates.
On Monday the Prussians threw some companies of infantry
around the fortress, who quickly took possession of the houses
in the neighborhood, and, under this cover, fired on every man
who appeared on the ramparts. It was thus that the Captain
intrusted with the defence, formerly in the army, but actually be¬
longing to the artillery of the National Guard, was killed by a
ball through the lungs. He had refused to surrender. During
the night the Prussians placed eight batteries of artillery in
position, commanding the citadel from three sides; and the cit¬
izens passed a very uneasy time of it, expecting to be shelled
on all sides, with a great probability of being blown up in ad¬
dition, as the defenders had sworn to explode the magazine
rather than yield. However, soon negotiation was going on ;
the garrison was prepared to surrender if accorded the honors
of war,— a demand at which Gen. Von Goeben laughed ; finally
the white flag was run up, and the victors entered, taking 600
prisoners, half of whom were quite sufficient to defend the fort.
By the capitulation the Prussians were free to withdraw 6000
troops for operations against Rouen. The Prussians admit that
the fort could have kept them occupied for thirteen days, the
moat being very wide, and the walls, though only of brick, very
high. Even when the brick would have been knocked about, the
fallen earth would still form an incline very steep and difficult
for a storming party. Excepting the French commandant,
there were no killed or wounded on either side. Three civili¬
ans were wounded through their own imprudence, and a little
girl killed by a shell. Considering the densely populated dis¬
trict where the citadel is situated, it is surprising more damage
was not done.
The body of the commandant was handed over to his wife
and four children, and, in deference to the wishes of the peo¬
ple, was “ laid out ” in the chapel of the Hotel Dieu. The
deceased will go down to posterity as the bravest of the brave,
while the Prefect of Somme will be held in disgrace for aban¬
doning his post with the following selfish speech :
Citizens : The day of trial has arrived. In spite of all our efforts,
Amiens must fall into the enemy’s hands. The Army of the North is re¬
treating and the National Guards are disarming. 1 leave you, but will
soon return. Be calm, be confident. France will be saved.
After German occupancy an eye-witness wrote :
It is quite a pleasure to notice the changed aspect of Amiens since it
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
440
has been occupied. There is a quiet spirit of order everywhere pervading.
The inhabitants are beginning to reappear, having discovered that the end of
the world has not taken place. The conduct of the troops is most admir¬
able, and it is amusing to note their appearance of complete indifference to
the fact that they live among French people. Where they are billeted they
offer to assist the owner in all kinds of work. They are the most willing
of “aids.” The shops are reopening. After a while we shall become ac¬
customed to the invaders. As an example of how the French judge their
unwelcome visitors, a shopkeeper complained that the soldiers robbed him.
On being investigated, it appears a poor Saxon desired to buy a piece of
sponge, and offered to pay for it in thalers, which money was declined, with
a notice that it would never be taken in payment for French goods. The
soldier explained that he wanted the sponge, tendered ready money for it,
which, being refused, informed the shopkeeper he would retain the article.
After a week’s hard marching, and three days of fighting, coupled with the
small pittance a German soldier receives, the offer to pay under the circum¬
stances was creditable, and the marching away with the sponge no more
than poetic justice.
Manteuffel and Goeben both occupied the city in person,
and by their kind courtesy got to be looked upon as friends
rather than as invaders.
King William thus announced the capture of Amiens :
To Queen Augusta : Versailles, Nov. 29.
Yesterday General Manteuffel, with a portion of the First Army, de¬
feated the French a few miles south of Amiens. The French lost 1000 in
killed and wounded and 600 in prisoners. The Prussian loss was compara¬
tively unimportant. William.
The French field forces retired toward Arras and Lille on
the north, blowing up the bridge at Albert on the Amiens and
Lille Railroad; while Manteuffel received news of the threaten¬
ing battle before Paris, and orders to fall back towards the
French capital until after the result of the great battle should
be decided, and then to continue his march on Rouen. Man¬
teuffel detached a thousand men, who occupied Abbeville, an
important town at the mouth of the Somme, and another force
was sent to Albert. The result of Trochu’s great battle of the
29th resulted favorably to the Germans, and Manteuffel aban¬
doned the idea of succoring the besieging army. On the 3d,
Manteuffel left Amiens to a small force, and marched on Rouen
with the First and Eighth Corps of 70,000 men, capturing eight
guns and occupying that town on the 8th of December with
Goeben’s corps. Rouen, being at the head of ship navigation
on the Seine, is an important point for the shipment of supplies
by water from Prussian seaports to the invading army.
LUXEMBURG EXPLAINED.
To-day (Dec. 3d) Bismarck writes a letter withdrawing Prus¬
sian neutrality granted to Luxemburg on the 17th of July (p.
LUXEMBOURG EXPLAINED.
441
52), and reserving “the right to claim compensation from the
Duchy for losses sustained by Prussia on account of Luxem¬
burg’s non-observance of her neutrality.” Bismarck claims
that the Luxemburgers are responsible for the revictualling of
Thionville; for omitting to stop French refugees, which, to the
number of 2000 men were assisted through the resident French
consul to rejoin the French armies. This letter of the map¬
making Bismarck simply means that the little garden spot of
Luxemburg, a few miles north of Thionville and which almost
upset the peace of Europe in 1856, is to fall with Alsace and
Lorraine into the lap of Prussia; that treaties, unless backed
by bayonets, are valueless; and that the once sacred parch¬
ments on which were written the treaties of Paris and of Lon¬
don have dwindled into cigar-lighters for King William and the
Czar. This is a digest of Luxemburg’s history: In 1815
Belgium and Luxemburg were placed under the sovereignty of
Holland, and Luxemburg was also accorded a place in the Ger¬
manic Confederation. Luxemburg joined Belgium’s revolt
against Holland in 1830, and was only brought back to Hol¬
land and the Confederation in 1839, when the Great Powers
united in guaranteeing the independence of the Duchy. Thus
Luxemburg stood until after Sadowa in 1866, when Bismarck
and Napoleon both looked to its absorption. Napoleon now
secretly offered to buy the Duchy from the King of Holland,
also Grand Duke of Luxemburg. The bankrupt King was
about receiving Napoleon’s gold, when the terrible Bismarck
said no,— “ Prussia is not in a position to consent to the sepa¬
ration, under any form, of Luxemburg from Germany, or the
evacuation of the fortress.” This resolution was modified, and
at the conference which met in London, May 7th, 1867, all
parties — the Grand Duchy, Prussia, Austria, Russia, England,
France, Italy, Belgium, and Holland — signed the following
“ treaty of London : ”
Art. i. Affirms the rights of the King of Holland.
Art. 2. Enacts that Luxemburg shall be perpetually neutral, under the guarantee of
Austria, France, Great Britain, Prussia, and Russia.
Art. 3. Stipulates that the town of Luxemburg shall cease to be a fortified place.
Art. 4. The King of Prussia agrees to withdraw his troops.
Art. 5. The King of Holland agrees to demolish the fortress of Luxemburg, so far as
will comply with the intention of Art. 3.
Art. 6. Recognizes that the dissolution of the Germanic Confederation ** led to a rup¬
ture of the bonds which united the Duchy of Limburg collectively with the Grand Duchy
of Luxemburg.”
The fortress of Luxemburg was evacuated by the Prussians
and razed in 1867. Art. 2 of the treaty was declared by Eng¬
land and Russia to be a joint guarantee, and not an individual
19*
4-12
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN IVAR.
guarantee of neutrality. The situation is now changed. Na¬
poleon is a prisoner at Wilhelmshohe. France is almost at the
feet of the victorious Germans, and Bismarck quietly breaks
the treaty of London, keeping time to the symphony of Gort-
schakoff, who shatters the treaty of Paris. The next move of
Bismarck will be to tempt the King of Holland into “ turning
an honest penny ” by selling what he cannot defend, and whose
existence is only guaranteed with the power and integrity of
France. Austria is furious over the atrocious presumption of
Bismarck, and England, not yet convalescent from the diplo¬
matic stab of Gortschakoff, dare not stand by her contracts for
fear of setting a whole continent in a blaze, and seeks now to
cover up the dishonor of two broken treaties in diplomatic
smoke.
How must feel the blundering “ nephew of his uncle, who in¬
tended in July to push the French boundaries to the Rhine ” ?
In the meantime the bought-and-sold Luxemburgers cry out to
Prince Henry of Orange and King William of Holland, to
chase away the terrible Bismarck.
King William wrote a letter to Prince Henry of Luxemburg
on the ioth of January, advising the Luxemburgers to be prud¬
ent and cautious, and asserting that Prussia never intended to
attack the independence of the Duchy. Let the world watch,
and see how a King will keep his word.
Tuesday, November 29th. — Gen. Trochu makes his great
sortie from the south of Paris, towards Choisy-le-Roy, with
Ducrot south-east towards Creteil and Mont Mesly, and
Thomas north from St. Denis. A feint from Mont Valerien
towards Bezons.
THE BATTLE OF THE MARNE.
Gen. Trochu waited in vain with his unhappy army for the
hoped-for assistance from Paladines. The 28th was the day
which Gambetta had appointed, and sent by carrier pigeon
from Tours, as the day when the boom from Paladines’ guns
were to be heard in Paris. But alas for Paladines ! the Ger¬
man lines were not pierced, and the battle of Beaune threw his
army, defeated, broken, and demoralized, into the arms of
Orleans. The smoke was still hovering over the battle-fields of
Beaune and Amiens, when Trochu commenced the great and
final sortie for the relief of Paris. The preparations of Gen.
BATTLE OF THE MARNE.
443
Trochu were executed with deliberate care, for on this sortie
depended the fate of Paris and of France. This gigantic death-
struggle with the German hosts was fraught with solicitude, and
the eyes of a world were turned toward the heroic endeavors
of the army of the Republic. Trochu’s well-conceived plan was
to make feigned advances from Mont Valerien (see map, pp.
336 and 340) towards Bezons and Bougival on the West, from
P'ort Nogent towards Mont Avron on the East, and from St.
Denis on the North ; while the great sortie was to take place
on the South, towards Choisy-le-Roy, Mont Mesly, Bonneuil,
Champigny, Villiers, and Brie.
The First Army, General Thomas, was to hold Paris with the
National Guard.
The Third Army, General Vinoy, was to make the feint east,
west, and north, and towards Choisy-le-Roy and Chevilly
on the south.
The Second Army, General Ducrot, was to break through the
Prussian lines at Villiers, Champigny, and Brie.
THE COMMENCEMENT.
The sharp ears of the Prussian sentries on Meudon and
Chatillon heights caught the sound of French drum and cla¬
rion and artillery rumble at midnight. Von Moltke’s active
mind caught the omen, and immediately the telegraph to the
light and to the left warned the besieging army to be on their
guard. Had Von Moltke been permitted to look into Paris,
he would have seen a sight which would have called the old
Emperor trapper and the King to the front. The whole French
army was moving. The ge/ierale had been sounded at nine on
the evening of the 28th, and Paris was filled with caravans of
Mobiles and Nationals and batteries of artillery moving through
the city gates.
All Paris seemed to spring into a carnival of moving action.
Newsboys shouted, and in the dusky twilight the busy bill-
stickers bulletined the government proclamation of advance,
while the people, full of hope, seized and devoured these burn¬
ing words of Trochu :
Citizens of Paris, Soldiers of the National Guard and Army:
The policy of invasion and conquest means to complete its work. It has
introduced into Europe, it pretends to establish in France, the right of
brute force. Europe may submit in silence to this insult, but France means
to combat it, and our brethren call us to go beyond our walls for the last
struggle, despite all the blood spilt, and blood is going to flow again. Let
the responsibility be on them whose detestable ambition tramples under
444
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
foot the laws of modem civilization and of justice. Putting our trust in
God, let us march forward for our country.
General Trochu, Governor of Paris.
The Government of the National Defence fired the ardor of
the soldiers and quieted city discords in the following address :
Citizens : The effort is making which the honor and the safety of France
demanded. You waited for it with a patriotic impatience, which your mil¬
itary leaders had trouble to moderate. As determined as you to dislodge the
enemy from the lines in which he is entrenched, and to hasten to meet your
brethren of the provinces, it was their duty to prepare powerful means of at¬
tack. Those means are ready. Your leaders have begun the battle. Our
hearts are with them. All and every one of us are ready to follow them, and
like them, to pour out our blood for the deliverance of our country. This
critical hour, while they are nobly exposing their lives, we owe to them the
support of our firmness and our civic virtue. Whatever may be the vio¬
lence of the emotions which agitate us, let 11s have the courage to keep
calm. Whoever would foment the least disturbance in Paris, would betray
the cause of its defenders and serve the cause of Prussia. As the army
cannot conquer except by discipline, so neither can we resist except by
union and order. We reckon on success. We shall not allow ourselves
to be depressed by any reverse. Above all, let us seek our strength in the
unshaken resolution to destroy, as a germ of ignominious death, every
ferment of civil discord. Vive la France ! Vive la Republique !
Jules Favre, Vice-President of the Government; Emmanuel Arago, Jules
Ferry, Garnier-Pages, Eugene Pelletan, Ernest Picard, Jules Simon, mem¬
bers of the Government ; General Le Flo, Dorian, J. Magnin, Ministers;
Andre Lavertujon, F. Herold, A. Dreo, Durier, Secretaries of the Govern¬
ment.
Fifteen hundred guns about Paris had been belching forth a
terrific fire during the previous day, and the night had been
made lurid with a thousand bursting shells. It was a chain of
fire around the unhappy capital, and the deep boom from a
thousand cannon sounded like the roar of Omnipotence.
ON THE WEST.
In the early twilight, on the morning of the 29th, the Jiiger
outposts of Kirchbach, in front of Versailles, saw General de
Beaufort, of Vino/s army, debouching a division of French¬
men from behind Fort Mont Valerien, towards Bougival and the
heights of Malmaison, on the road to Versailles; while General
De Liniers pushed rapidly forward a supporting division towards
Bezon bridge, on the north-west. In both directions the
French attacked with seeming vigor, while the guns from Mont
Valerien covered them with a canopy of fire. Kirchbach now
ordered up several Fifth Corps field-batteries, and a large force
of line infantry, to support the Ja'ger companies now engaged.
The Prussians moved forward with a stern resolve, not knowing
but what the whole French army was in front, but making no
LAST SORTIE FROM PARIS.
445
response to the belching storm of shot and shell from the Seine
gunboats and Mont Valerien ; Kirchbach’s guns were shotted
with grape and canister, for an anticipated infantry assault, and
he was not to be deceived by a feint. Beaufort’s men made a
crude attempt to storm the Prussian works around Bougival and
Montretout, but the assault failed from lack of support, the
whole attack being a feint to cover the real attack of Ducrot
and Vinoy on the south. After it was thought that the feint
had drawn Von Moltke’s attention, and called reinforcements
from the investing Prussian corps on the south, Beaufort and
Liniers marched back again from Bougival and Bezons, and de¬
bouched behind the guns of Mont Valerien. During the feint,
the French officers exposed themselves to the Jager fire, and
many were killed or wounded during the skirmishing of the day.
ON THE NORTH.
Admiral Rondure had command of the sortie to the north,
from St. Denis, towards Epinay, Drancy, and Le Bourget. His
advance was met by Alvensleben’s Fourth Corps, and a portion
of the Saxon Guards under Prince Augustus of Wiirtemberg.
The result was a defeat of the French, who lost several hundred
prisoners; the Saxons losing twelve officers and one hundred
men.
ON THE EAST.
The plateau of Avron was occupied by the marines of Ad¬
miral Saisset, sustained by the divisions of D’Hugues and a
numerous long-range artillery, capable of menacing Chelles,
Neuilly, Noisy, Brie, and Villiers.
ducroTs and vinoy’s sortie on the south.
The great sortie was made on the south : Vinoy commanded
the Right, towards Choisy-le-Roy, Thiais, L’Hay, and Chevilly,
against Tumpling’s Sixth Prussian Corps; while Ducrot com¬
manded the Left, which crossed the Marne at Nogent, and at¬
tacked Champigny, Brie, and Villiers. About 9 o’clock on the
29th, twenty battalions under Vinoy marched from Villejuif
and L’Hay, and advanced upon the position of Tumpling’s
Sixth Corps.
The guns of a new work at Villejuif supported the attack by
an incessant fire, reaching mainly the right of the Second Bava¬
rian Corps, and inflicting slight losses. The beginning of the
movement on the part of the French was conducted with great
energy, but they speedily became discouraged under the sharp
fire of the besieging forces, who unmasked field-batteries which
immediately proved exceedingly annoying to the French.
446
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
Notwithstanding the great exertions of their officers, the at¬
tacking battalions were thrown into disorder. Their supports
failed to arrive. The affair was over in two hours. The esti¬
mated German loss is ioo, of whom 30 were Bavarians; the
rest Prussians of the Sixth Corps. The French loss was from
500 to 600, including 250 prisoners.
Vinoy was repulsed by Tumpling at n o’clock, who imme¬
diately telegraphed the result:
A great sortie has occurred. Vinoy moved out against the Sixth
Corps and the Wiirtembergers early in the morning, supported by a heavy
cannonade from Villejuif. The Sixth Corps repulsed the enemy at 11
o’clock, when they retired. Subsequently Ducrot attacked the Wiirtem-
bergers (General Von Oberwitz) near Mont Mesly, at 3 P. M. The Wiir-
tembergers had been reinforced by cavalry and artillery, and soon defeated
the French. The German losses were trifling.
As indicated in Tumpling’s dispatch, Vinoy attacked the
Wiirtembergers at Mont Mesly, between the Seine and Marne,
at 3 p. m. The French were soon repulsed, and Von Oberwitz
telegraphed the result to the King of Wiirtemberg:
“ The Second and Third Wiirtemberg Brigades, with the Seventh Prus¬
sian Brigade, have just defeated a sortie of the French under Ducrot, made
in the direction of Mont Mesly. After five hours’ fighting the Germans
took 300 prisoners. The German loss was as follows: six officers killed
and 34 wounded, and 700 rank and file killed and wounded.”
While Vinoy was being repulsed at Mont Mesly, Ducrot, with
the Third Army, crossed the Marne in front of Fort Nogent, and
engaged the Saxons and Wiirtembergers at Champigny, Villiers,
and Brie-sur-Marne. In this engagement, Ducrot captured two
guns and then retired from the advancing Saxons to the Marne,
now spanned by eight pontoon bridges. Prince George, who
commanded the Saxons, reported that:
The French were repulsed and driven over the heights between the two
villages, leaving behind hundreds of prisoners. The French attacking
force numbered 50,000. The loss of the Saxons was 12 officers and 100
privates.
As Ducrot and Vinoy withdrew, Fansecki moved towards
Mesly and Choisy-le-Roy with the Second Corps, to be pre¬
pared for another sortie. The German troops were greatly
elated at the prospect of active work ; the camps were noisy
with singing soldiers, and above the din the bands echoed the
music cf war. King William thus announces the day’s actions :
To the Queen : Versailles, Nov. 30 th.
The Sixth Corps yesterday repulsed a sortie of the French near L’Hay,
on the south of Paris. Over 100 French prisoners were taken, and several
hundred dead and wounded were left on the field. The French also made
sorties on the positions of the Wiirtembergers and Saxons at Bonneuil,
BATTLE OF WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30.
447
Champigny, and Villiers, to the east and south-east of Paris. The posi¬
tions were taken by the French, but were subsequently retaken by the Prus¬
sians. At the same time sorties were made at the north and west, and at
St. Denis against the Fourth Corps and the Guards.
The French were repulsed and driven back behind their works in all
cases. I remained at Versailles, as it was the central point.
Wilhelm.
THE BATTLE OF WEDNESDAY, Nov. 30 (map, p. 340).
The morning of Wednesday, the 30th, found Ducrot with his
army well under cover of Fort Nogent, and ready for a furious
assault. The Twelfth Saxons, commanded by Prince George,
occupied a curved line from Noisy-le-Grand, past Yilliers,
around the curve in the Marne to Ormesson, where they joined
the Wiirtembergers commanded by Oberwitz, who continued the
line in front of Bonneuil, supported by Fansecki’s Second Corps.
Ducrot held Brie and Champigny after yesterday’s battle. Brie,
Villiers, and Champigny form a little triangle, Villiers making
the projecting apex, held by the Saxons. In the morning the
Germans had decided to retake Champigny and Brie, while
Ducrot had decided to advance his forces to break the German
cordon and capture Villiers.
As Ducrot marched his 70,000 to battle that morning, he
fired his soldiers with the following stirring words :
Soldiers of the Second Army of Paris : The time has come to
break the iron circle which has cramped us too long, and threatens to stifle
us in a slow and painful agony ! The honor has devolved upon you of at¬
tempting this great work. I am certain you will prove yourselves worthy
of it. Its first steps, doubtless, will be difficult. We shall find implacable
enemies, made audacious and confident by too many successes. To prepare
the way for you, the foresight of our Commander-in-Chief has collected
above four hundred cannon, at least two-thirds of which are of the heaviest
calibre, which no physical object can resist ; and to dash into this breach
ye will be above 150,000 men, all well armed, thoroughly equipped, abun¬
dantly supplied with munitions, and, I hope, all animated with an irresist¬
ible ardor. Your success is certain if ye be victorious in this first period
of the contest, for the enemy has sent to the banks of Loire river his most
numerous and best soldiers. Therefore, courage and confidence ! Remem¬
ber that in this last struggle we are fighting for our honor, for our liberty,
for the security of our dear and unhappy country ; and if this thought be in¬
sufficient to inflame your hearts, think of your devastated fields, your ruined
families, your sobbing sisters, wives, and mothers. May these remembrances
make you share the thirst for vengeance, the pent-up fury which animates
me and fills you with contempt for danger ! As for myself, I am most de¬
termined. I swear to it before you, before the whole nation, to return no
more to Paris except dead or victorious. You may see me fall. You will
not see me retreat. Then do not pause in your onward march. Avenge
me. Forward, then ! Forward ! May God be our helper !
A. Ducrot.
44S
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
At daybreak Ducrot threw the First Corps (Blanchard) and
the Second Corps (Renault) across the Marne, between Join-
ville and Nogent. Eight concealed pontoon bridges carried
the French across. At nine o’clock 70,000 Frenchmen threw
themselves upon the villages of Champigny and Villiers ; while
D’Exea, with the Third Corps, advanced across the Marne
in front of Brie-sur-Marne and towards Neuilly. Bellemare’s
division occupied Brie, and united with Renault in seizing the
crest of the height in front of Villiers. Ninety thousand French¬
men were now in that little triangle of Brie, Villiers, and Cham¬
pigny not more than a mile square. Fort Nogent and Mont
Avron threw their shells thick and fast among the advancing
Germans, and they went hissing over and through the Saxon
ranks, causing a carnival of death and destruction. Outnum¬
bered, the Saxons were swept back from Brie towards Noisy,
while Blanchard’s right stood and died before the terrible Ger¬
man line at Champigny. Now came the terrible struggle of the
war. The Germans determined to take Champigny, and the
French determined upon the capture of Villiers. Blanchard’s
corps fought and lost in fearful numbers ; but the hundreds slain
were the price of victory ; for the end found the French Right in
victorious possession of Champigny, though subject to a terrible
shelling from the Prussian guns at Coeuilly and Chenevieres.
Blanchard now began to entrench at Champigny, when the Sax¬
ons made a furious assault from Villiers upon the troops of
Renault. Back and forth in front of Villiers swayed French
and Germans, each resolved on the possession of the town.
From twelve till two was a time of terrible slaughter, and the
terrible crest in front of Villiers was made thick with the dead
and dying. Here General Renault fell, severely wounded. The
impetuous French again and again rushed forward upon the
sullen Saxons, who only fell back or wavered to give room for
reinforcement. Noon, twilight, dusk came, but the fight only
ceased with the darkness. Night found Blanchard with his deci¬
mated corps in possession of Champigny, while the men of the
wounded Renault stood hopeless before the sturdy Saxon wall
in front of Villiers. Each army had been foiled. Each had
advanced in the morning to take a coveted position, and each
had failed in everything but heroic endeavors. On that awful
Wednesday night Blanchard slept amid a thousand dead at
Champigny, while the Saxons closed their eyes behind a wall of
dead and dying at Villiers. Terrible were the losses in this day’s
battle. The sad tale of Mars-la-Tour is but a faint echo of the
BATTLE OF THURSDAY, DECEMBER i.
449
dreadful shock of death which came to two armies in front of
Villiers. During the day Yinoy continued to make sorties
towards Choisy-le-Roy and Thiais, while Susbielle advanced
beyond Creteil, occupying Mesly until evening.
ON THE NORTH.
Admiral La Ronciere occupied Drancy from Fort Denis
while Ducrot was engaged on the south, and at two o’clock
the Admiral advanced with fresh Paris troops against the vil¬
lage of Epinay. Out burst the French from St. Denis at
double quick, while a gunboat coming down the stream, swept
the banks clear of German outposts, and landed a force at
Epinay, half surrounding the Seventy-first Prussian regiment.
The French force being overwhelming, the Germans fell
back, fighting, and evacuated the village, reinforcements arriv¬
ing near St. Gratien. The French then barricaded Epinay.
The Germans sent the whole Fifteenth Brigade and the Seventy-
first and Thirty-first Regiments — altogether six battalions — to
retake the village. Advancing rapidly, the French were driven
out. During the two hours the German lost was 200 men and
13 officers.
All day Fort Valerien kept up its dreadful thunder, and St.
Denis on the north answered in sullen roar the deep-toned
columbiads from Nogent and Noisy. Shells went crashing
into Argenteuil and Bezons. The French lined the bank of
the Seine with infantry, while the Germans kept up a faltering
fire in anticipation of a French attempt to restore the bridge
at Bezons. The double-crown of the North kept a stream
of shells pouring into Montmagny, while Fort de l’East and
Aubervillers paid their death compliments to Le Bourget and
Drancy.
Another demonstration took place in the direction of Le
Bourget, at a later hour. Dense columns of French troops
showed themselves on the plain in front of the fort of Auber¬
villers, and advanced steadily towards Le Bourget. But they
lost heart before they got nearer than the railway station, and
never came within range. Bourget, already pounded with shells,
was again bombarded.
THURSDAY’S BATTLE AND BURIALS.
While the four days’ battle is commencing against Paladines
on the south, both the French and German armies about Paris
rest from the terrible struggle of the previous day.
450
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
In the sullen silence of an armistice both armies filled the
plain between Brie, Champigny,* and Villiers with burial parties.
The casualties among officers had been great. The French
officers had exposed themselves to rally their men ; but they
were no more reckless of danger than the Germans. Thou¬
sands were buried 1 to-day, and the sickening sight was enough
“to glut ambition for a thousand years.” Yesterday it was
poetry — to-day among the harvest of death it is prose indeed.
In German council of war, Von Moltke decided that Brie
and Champigny must be retaken in the morning—that this
was essential to the success of the Paris investment. Little do
the thousands of living know that death awaits them in the
last struggle of the giants to-morrow.
FRIDAY’S BATTLE (DECEMBER 2).
If Wednesday’s battle was the Mars-la-Tour of Paris, Friday’s
struggle was the Gravelotte. The Saxons and Wiirtembergers
at mid-day left Trochu as closely besieged in Paris as was Ba-
zaine in Metz by the hermetical sealing of Prince Charles and
Steinmetz. The battle-ground was in the old triangle between
Brie, Villiers, and Champigny. When the curtain fell at the
end of the bloody drama of Wednesday, the Saxons stood fast in
Villiers in spite of all the French troops and forts could do to
dislodge them, and as firmly in the grasp of the French were
Brie and Champigny, under the guns of Fort Nogent.
THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
On the road that passes through Noisy, the south bank of
of the Marne is low, with a gradual rise, furrowed by inconsid¬
erable rectangular depressions. From Noisy to the southward,
toward Brie and athwart the thick part of the curve of the Marne,
is a broad, flat space, offering a favorable scope for military ev¬
olutions. From this plain toward Villiers there rises gradually
a low but shaggy elevation, covered chiefly with copse-woods
and vineyards. This elevation is not continuous to Villiers.
There are occasional depressions, debouchments of which cause
the trivial hollows that occur on the road to Noisy. The general
tendency is, nevertheless, upward, so that the tableland at the
back of which Villiers lies is higher than any ground between
it and the plain. The ridge, therefore, though hampered by
hedges and brushwood, would fotm no bad position for resist¬
ance to a force which, having deployed on the plain, should
attempt to carry it, if it were not swept by the direct fire from
Fort Nogent at easy range, and enfiladed at longer range, but
still effectively, by batteries on Mont Avron.
BATTLE OF FRIDAY ,, DECEMBER 2.
451
Brie divided with Noisy the attentions of the French batter¬
ies, and Brie is more open to attack. The 107th Regiment
had made a dash into Brie out of Rosny early in the morning.
Could they hold the place under such ding-dong pelting ? By
10 o’clock the question was resolved. First came a drove of
French prisoners, red-breeched regulars, up toward Noisy,
along the slight shelter afforded by the road; then Saxon sol¬
diers and more prisoners; and finally the bulk of the 107th, in
very open order, making the most of the few opportunities for
cover. The 107th, in a rapid rush in the morning, had sur¬
prised the occupants of Brie, some asleep, others drinking coffee.
There was a trifling resistance. Nearly 500 prisoners were
taken, including eight officers. The prisoners looked like sturdy
fellows, anything but ill-fed. They were hearty, and good to
fight. Said a sergeant cheerily, “ If any one indulges in the antici¬
pation of the speedy capitulation of Paris, he is extremely out
in his reckoning; food is plentiful.” He said with a laugh,
“ The programme is sorties every day, in every direction.”
The prisoners were escorted back to Chelles.
The reason for the Germans relinquishing Brie was that the
terrible persistent fire from the forts rendered it utterly unten¬
able. What this advantage represented was simply that Brie
gave the French a footing, so to speak, on the Saxon main¬
land, while Champigny formed a key to the peninsula of the
Marne. The object of the day on the side of the Germans
was to dislodge the French from Brie and Champigny. This
task fell to the lot of the Saxons, Wurtembergers, and a brigade
of the Second Corps.
As the French prisoners filed in from Brie, a dense column
of French infantry reinforcements, which had been bivouacked
under the wings of Fort Nogent, appeared in view. The spec¬
tacle sprang up by magic. Right and left, across the railway,
they formed, covered by the south guns of Nogent. Now they
stood fast, closing up as the fronts of battalions halted. Then
there was a slow movement forward as the head of the column
dipped out of sight between the village of Nogent and the river.
Then there seemed to be a final halt. The dense masses stood,
their bayonets glittering in the sun, as if the men had come out
for a spectacle. Presently the dense mass began to move
towards the river, in the direction of Brie. The river passed,
simultaneously the whole caravan sprang into life, and the
plains south of Brie swarmed with an army. Suddenly another
army deployed at double-quick from St. Maur, behind Cham-
452
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
pigny, and both armies made a wall of men across the neck of
the loop of the river. From Champigny, at 8 o’clock, the Wiir-
tembergers had driven the French after a desperate fight, only to
be repulsed in turn by the serried columns of another overpower¬
ing army. Back, pell-mell, fled the Wiirtemberg sharpshooters,
and Champigny was again in the hands of the French. The
impetuous red breeches did not stop here, but on they swept at
double-quick to the front of Villiers, the objective point of the
day’s attack. Forty thousand Frenchmen came with a shock
against Von Obernetz and his 2000 Wiitembergers at Villiers,
while 5000 French held Champigny. On the French left,
another column of 20,000 assaulted the Saxons under Prince
George at Brie, while Nogent rained a storm of projectiles over
the head of Villiers, and into the advancing Germans behind.
The French skirmishers were thrown out with as much regu¬
larity as if the day’s work had been but a peaceful parade.
The Germans were surprised at the magnitude of the French
evolutions, and soon made up their minds that Ducrot intended
not only to capture Villiers, but to sweep on to Noisy. Prep¬
aration was made to meet Ducrot in the open space between
Villiers and Noisy. On came the French. From behind Vil¬
liers several German regiments came out to the right of the
brow of the hill under the shell fire. As the French came up
the gentle acclivity, the guns of the forts continued playing with¬
out interruption. So narrow was the margin between the com¬
batants, that shells fell into the French ranks. Ten thousand
Saxons now opened the terrible assault. It was sharp and
bloody. The affair of Spicheren could not have been quicker
or bloodier. In front of the One Hundred and Eighth Prussian
regiment, two lieutenants shook hands with a hussar aid-de-
camp, who brought the order to advance, and then swept for¬
ward with their commands. On went divisions, brigades, and
regiments. French shells went crashing through the dense
columns of the advancing companies.
Now the battle-line forms — rear files close up at double-
quick, and in a twinkling, through the fifty yards of space, flies
a storm of bullets. Now comes the firing by volley — then
sharp firing by file. So close are the combatants that the field
becomes a field of horrible slaughter. The Saxons had fought
at Sedan, and the leaden hail had no terrors for them. De¬
cimated, but not defeated, the brave French broke and gave
ground, only to get back to the next dip of the ground, to let
the guns of the fort go to work again. The Saxons had to find
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2 .
453
what cover they might. They fought on after the French with
the bravery of veterans. What soldier thought of the rear in
the battles of the Wilderness? As all thought of the rear ended
at Gettysburg, so it ended with the Germans at Gravelotte.
The belching shells from Nogent put a stop to the Saxon
advance.
When the regiments came back — they had not been gone
twenty minutes — thirty-five officers out of the forty-five had
gone down. Neither of the blithe lieutenants were to the fore.
Now there came a lull in the musketry fire, as a few moments
before there had been a lull in the cannon. The Saxons could
not get their artillery into action with advantage. The ground
itself was unfavorable, while the fire from the forts speedily
silenced their field guns; therefore this great advantage was
lost to them.
THE LAST STRUGGLE.
All this took place before noon. After a little time the
artillery fire from the forts slackened considerably. The
French infantry made no demonstration.
On the German left about Champigny, General Vinoy was
engaged with the Wurtembergers, who, supported by Fansecki’s
Second Prussian Corps, repulsed every French advance. Fan-
secki had command of the German left, while Prince George
led the Saxons on the right.
About one o’clock the French made another advance, having
received considerable reinforcements. This onslaught swayed
the Saxons a little, and crouching back for a forward spring,
Trochu thought he was on the eve of victory, and immediately
telegraphed to Paris :
Battle-field, 1.45 p.m.— The Prussians with enormous forces attacked
the French position at daybreak to-day. The fighting has lasted more than
seven hours, and at the moment of sending off this report the enemy is giv¬
ing way along the whole line and once more abandoning the heights. I
have ridden along the line of skirmishers from Champigny to Brie, and have
been received with enthusiastic cheers by the troops. I expect that the
enemy will return to the attack, and that the battle will last all day.
The Saxons now sprang forward upon the French with a new
vim, but a different policy was this time adopted. It was plain
that the only escape from the thunderbolts of the forts lay in
getting at close quarters with the French infantry — unless, in¬
deed, a retrograde movement was to be made, and that was not
to be thought of. So when the French fell back, the Saxons
followed on, as if they would settle the question with the bay-
454
THE FRANCO-PR US SI AN WAR.
onet’s point. It was the old cry, “ Vorwarts, immer vorwarts ; ”
but the vorwarts was very slow.
For the next hour it was a sullen fight all along the line.
Both sides were decimated, and it was only a question of dog¬
ged grit. Germans tenacity prevailed, while from Fort Nogent,
across the Marne, at 5.30 p. m,. Trochu thus announced the
French defeat:
The second great battle which I expected has been more decisive than
its predecessor. The enemy attacked us at the reveille with fresh troops
and reserves. We have fought three hours to maintain our position, and
five hours to carry the positions of the enemy.
While the forts continued a furious cannonade into Cham-
pigny and Villers, the French slowly and stubbornly fell back
across the north side of the neck of land, the Saxons pushing
them hard. Now and then, as if exasperated at fate, the
French rallied only to meet the same steady fire. On this por¬
tion of the plain, south of Brie, there was a prolonged struggle.
The Saxons were striving to get at and cut the pontoon bridge ;
but this became an impossibility, when Fort Nogent went to
work again with the frightful accuracy of which the short range
admitted. The combatants parted about 3 o’clock, both sides
falling back. The fire of the fort continued some little time
longer.
THE END-LOSSES.
What is to be said of results ? Not much have the Saxons
gained. Was there much to gain ? The Wiirtembergers hold
one end of Champigny. Brie stands empty and desolate;
there were French in it this morning; later, there were Saxons.
That is all. But look at the bloody side of the picture.
The losses of the Germans during Wednesday’s and Friday’s
battles were 6500, as follows : The Saxons, 2000 ; the Second
Corps, 2800; the Wiirtembergers, 1700.
The French losses during the three days’ fighting were thus
reported by General Schmitz, General Trochu’s chief of staff:
,-Officers.-, ,-Soldiers.-.
Second Army.
Third Army. •..
Corps d’Arm6e of St. Denis.
Killed. Wounded. Killed. Wounded.
Total.
'42
936 4,680
Officers.
Soldiers.
ABSTRACT.
Killed.
Wounded.
342
4,680
Total.
5,022
Four regiments of the Saxon forces,
the 104 th
, 106th, 107th,
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5 .
455
and 108th, lost 15 officers killed and 63 wounded. The total
number of French prisoners taken was about 3000.
The total loss sustained by the Wiirtemberg troops in the
battle of the 2d inst. is officially reported to be 848 killed and
wounded.
Had it been possible for the Saxons to hold Brie, the French
advance would have been impossible; its flanking fire would
have prohibited breasting the slope toward Villiers.
At five, all was quiet except the sullen roar of the big guns
from Fort Nogent. Brie was abandoned by both sides, the
German line remained everywhere unbroken, and the French
behind a wall of sturdy Saxons, are hermetically sealed in Paris.
The official report of Trochu says:
Thursday was passed in burying the dead and succoring the wounded.
On Friday morning the Prussians attacked with great impetuosity the
French at Champigny and in front of Villiers. After seven hours’ fighting
the enemy failed to carry the positions of the French, and retreated, leaving
their dead and wounded on the field. Their losses were from 15,000 to
20,000. On Saturday the French recrossed the Marne and took up posi¬
tions. The enemy made no attempt to resist them.
General Ducrot greatly distinguished himself in the battle of Friday.
Among the killed is General Lacharier, and General Renault was badly
wounded.
After recrossing the Marne to the cover of the guns of
Nogent, General Trochu issued the following address to his
army:
Soldiers ! — After two days of glorious battles, you have recrossed the
Marne, having found that your efforts were fruitless. When the enemy has
not time to concentrate, or to prepare to continue the vain sacrifice of life,
let us renew the contest with increased animation, and raise our hearts to
the level of the sacrifice demanded by the holy cause, for which we must not
hesitate to sacrifice our lives.
Prince George, commanding the Saxons, telegraphs the King
of Saxony :
“ The enemy has retired behind the Marne, and other offen¬
sive operations on the part of the French are impossible. The
total loss of the Saxons in the late engagements is — officers,
76; rank and file, 2100.”
THE END OF THE SORTIE.
The Queen : Versailles, Dec. 4.
There was no fighting of moment yesterday at Paris. The French are
massing troops from Vincennes. During the fight of December 2d, the
French lost 1800 prisoners, including one general and 20 superior officers;
also, seven guns. Wilhelm.
Monday, December 5. — Bourbaki and Chanzy falling back
456
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
before Prince Charles and Mecklenburg. Von Moltke announ¬
ces the defeat of the Army of the Loire to General Trochu.
VON MOLTKE TO TROCHU.
The defeat of the Army of the Loire brought the following
Chesterfieldian note from Von Moltke to General Trochu :
Versailles, Dec. 5.
It may be useful to inform your Excellency, that the Army of the Loire
Was defeated near Orleans yesterday, and that that town is re-occupied by
the German troops. Should, however, your Excellency deem it expedient
to be convinced of the fact through one of your own officers, I will not
fail to provide him with a safe-conduct to come and return. Receive,
General, the expression of the high considerations with which I have the
honor to be, your very humble and obedient servant.
The Chief of the Staff, Count Moltke.
General Trochu, Governor of Paris.
On the receipt of this courteous note, several of the Paris
authorities were disposed to surrender, but the opinion of
Trochu prevailed, and the Governor promptly answered :
Paris, Dec. 6 .
Your Excellency thought it might be useful to inform me that the Army
of the Loire was defeated near Orleans, and that that town is re-occupied
by German troops.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of that communication,
which I do not think it expedient to verify through the means which your
Excellency suggests to me. Receive, General, the expression of the high
consideration with which I have the honor to be, your very humble and
very obedient servant.
The Governor of Paris, General Trochu.
To Count Von Moltke.
TOTAL LOSSES.
The losses by death in battle are always less than estimated on the field.
When a regiment of one thousand men loses fifty in killed, the regiment is
too demoralized and “cut up” to go into action without reformation.
Fifty killed in the American army meant 200 wounded and 300 demora¬
lized and frightened. The entire German losses up to this time, with the
exception of the recent killed in the Wiirtemberg and First and Second
Bavarian Corps, are as follows:
Killed and
Wounded. Missing;.
Generals. 12
Staff Officers. 206
Subalterns. 2,691
Ensigns. 9°9
Sergeants, &c. 5*384
Surgeons, &c. 100
Rank, and file. 53 * 54 *
25
i5
198
5
6,858
This gives a total loss of 2,935 officers and 67,012 men for the twelve Prussian army
corps, the landwehr, and the Baden division.
WEDNESDA V, DECEMBER 7 .
457
Wednesday, December 7. — Mecklenburg defeats the French
at Chambord with the Twenty-second Division, while the Bavari¬
ans skirmish to the west of Meung, capturing 260 prisoners and
a mitrailleuse. Prince Charles’ Third Corps defeats Bourbaki’s
rear-guard south of Gien.
CHANZY — MECKLENBURG.
After the evacuation of Orleans on the 4th, Mecklenburg
continued to push General Chanzy towards Tours, while Prince
Charles dispatched the Third Corps after the retreating army of
Bourbaki at Bourges. Every day Chanzy gave battle, but every
night his army bivouacked nearer Blois and Tours. On the
7th, the Seventeenth Division engaged Chanzy west of Meung,
in a severe encounter, of which King William says :
To the Queen : Versailles, Dec. 8 .
There was severe and successful fighting yesterday near Meung. More
resistance is expected there. One gun, several mitrailleuses, and 260 pris¬
oners were taken. The sanitary condition of the army in the field has taken
a very favorable turn.
This fight was by the Seventeenth Division, supported by the
First Bavarians. At the same time, the Ninth Corps of Prince
Charles’ army marched towards Chanzy’s rear from the pur¬
suit of Bourbaki on the south, and captured Chateau Cham¬
bord, nine miles from Blois.
Chambord was prepared for defence, and held by 600 French¬
men of the Fifteenth Corps, but instead of a fortress it proved
a trap. So bad were the dispositions of the French commander,
that the Germans completely surprised the place, and captured
the greater part of the men. Approaching the place at dusk,
the Ninth Corps, operating on the south of the Loire, drove
before them a batch of prisoners, and the deception was so
effective, that the Germans reached a striking point before a
shot was fired.
The only brave act on the part of the French was done by a
Mobile, who shouted to the sentinels, “ We are prisoners.
The German devils are behind.” He lost his life. His warn¬
ing was too late. Having thus readily gained the Chateau
Chambord, Manstein was in possession of a sort of back en¬
trance to Blois, where his appearance was expected hourly.
Opposite Blois, on the south side of the Loire, the little se.be. b
20
458
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
of Vienne is connected with the city by a splendid stone bridge.
A portion of the French troops and artillery had been fight¬
ing on the south side. They passed over the bridge on Friday
night, and the engineers immediately commenced destroying
one of the arches, but did not finish its destruction. Crowds
gathered to witness and to bewail this operation. They abused
the soldiers without stint. In fact, all the people of Blois
seemed to care for was the bridge. Meantime thousands of
half-clad soldiers stood shivering in the streets, while other
thousands, all wounded, were being carried to the railroad
station, where desperately working locomotives strove to con¬
vey them beyond reach of the Prussians.
Friday, Dec. 9. —The Tours Government moves to Bor¬
deaux. Gambetta goes to Blois. Continued fighting around
Beaugency and Blois. King William accepts the title of Em¬
peror Frederick William I. of Germany.
BATTLE OF BEAUGENCY.
On Friday evening the bridge south of Blois was cut, and the
French forces, consisting of Pallieres’ Fifteenth Corps and the
newly organized Twenty-first Corps, leaving a force in Blois,
moved northward towards Beaugency, occupied by the worn-
out forces of Mecklenburg. Chanzy, who had been fighting all
the day before near Beaugency, was still engaged in a terrific
encounter with the Grand Duke, supported by Voigts Rhetz
from Orleans, and a part of Manstein’s forces from Blois. This
was the last bloody fight of Chanzy during his retreat upon Le
Mans, and the Germans were left so crippled that he was al¬
lowed to continue his retreat almost unmolested. It was here
that the Bavarians first began to break, and show that demor¬
alization which ultimately compelled Mecklenburg to retire
towards Paris. Voigts Rhetz did not arrive from Orleans in
time to take part in the battle of the 8th, but the moral force
of his presence prevented a demoralized retreat on the part of
Mecklenburg on the succeeding day. Chanzy thus reports the
battle of Beaugency :
We were attacked all along the lines, from Meung to St. Laurent, last
night (8th). To-day the principal effort of the evening was at Beaugency.
The Germans were very strong at that place, having no less than eighty-six
cannon. Their forces consisted of two divisions of Bavarians, one division
of Prussians, 2000 cavalry, and strong reserves. They were under the
command of Prince Frederick Charles and the Duke of Mecklenburg. We
SATURDAY ,, DECEMBER io.
459
sleep to-night on the positions we had this morning. The prisoners taken
acknowledge that the Prussians suffered heavy losses. The battle lasted till
night. I have not yet received a complete list of our losses. We may be
attacked again to-morrow, but we are prepared to resist to the utmost.
Three French corps were engaged.
Saturday, December io.—On the morning of the ioth,
Gambetta arrived at Blois from Tours. The War Minister
ordered Chanzy to make another attack on Mecklenburg, and
the Bavarians were startled on being attacked by an enemy
whom they supposed to be on the retreat. It was the death-
struggle of the worn-out armies, but the Tenth Corps soon
came to the relief of Mecklenburg, by threatening the French
right towards Blois. The battle ended in Chanzy’s falling back
towards Blois. Though Mecklenburg was not defeated, he
had not the heart nor power to vigorously pursue the French.
Both sides claimed the victory, and Mecklenburg wrote :
The enemy violently attacked us to-day, but were victoriously repulsed
by the Seventeenth and Twenty-second Divisions, notwithstanding the
superiority of his officers. Our losses were smaller than yesterday. Beau-
gency was occupied on the 8th inst., and Vierzon to-day.
At noon the Fifteenth French Corps, which had been fighting
the Ninth Corps on the south side of the Loire, commenced re¬
tiring over the river, and through Blois, to the north. The river
here is about the size of the Hudson at Albany. In spite of the
protests of the citizens at Blois, the splendid bridge was blown
up, and the French defied the advancing Germans who were
in seemingly harmless positions on the south side of the river.
Though almost defeated themselves, the Bavarians again took
heart when they saw the French retreating, and soon the muz¬
zles of Manstein’s cannons frowned down on Blois from the
German camp. Boom went the Ninth Corps’ guns, and smash,
crash went the piercing shells into the belfry, and through the
spire of the magnificent Blois Cathedral. Now the shells go
bursting over and into the Blois barracks, situated on the ele¬
vated point to the north of the city. The trembling citizens
begged to surrender the town, for Manstein was now in front
of the suburb of Vienne, blazing away at anything like a French
uniform, utterly regardless of the city and its beautiful buildings.
The Mayor had held up the white Hag of surrender, when Gam¬
betta, covered with dust, arrived from Chanzy’s headquarters
outside of the city. The one-eyed Minister immediately broke
up the programme of surrender. The Prussians now saw that
only the gap in the bridge prevented their advance into Blois,
and they sent word to the Mayor, giving him twenty minutes in
4G0
THE FRANC O-FR US SI AN WAR.
which to make the bridge passable. The cut in the bridge was
but thirty feet wide, and there was plenty of timber at hand
long enough to span it. Had the answer been left to the
Mayor, the Prussians would have entered Blois the same
night.
But Gambetta had no idea of surrender, and crash went the
French answer over amongst the Germans. It was not “yes”
from the mouth of the Mayor, but “ no ” from the mouth of a
cannon, and a terrible “ no,” cast in the foundry at Toulouse.
The next day Gambetta returned to Tours, and telegraphed to
the Government at Bordeaux :
“I have returned to Tours, having left General Chanzy yesterday contin¬
uing his efforts to successfully defend the line of the Loire. I think the
situation so good that I may go to Bourges to see what can be done with
the Second Army.”
The next day the whole Army of the Loire retire northward,
when Voigts Rhetz occupied Blois, capturing a large amount
of provisions, and several hundred straggling deserters, while
Gambetta posted off to Bourges to re-organize Bourbaki’s
army.
BORDEAUX.
Bordeaux, the present seat of the Republican government, is
a charming city, full of cultivation and art, and is the second
seaport town in France. The river is wide at its mouth, the
quay three miles long, and lined with beautiful buildings. It is
the seat of the national court, of a university, and an academy.
The city is in communication with the Mediterranean by the river
Garonne and Canal du Midi. Its exports are wine, brandies,
and fruits, and chemical products. Two hundred thousand hogs¬
heads of wine — Medoc, Chateau Lafitte, Chateau Margeaux,
and other brands of claret and Burgundy — are exported annu¬
ally to the United States. Among the most remarkable public
edifices of Bordeaux are the remains of the palace of the Roman
Phnperor Gallinus, a circle capable of holding 15,000 people,
the Cathedral of St. Andre, and the Church of the Feuillants,
which contains the tomb of Montaigne. The city is fanned by
delightful sea-breezes, and to the tourist is one of the most
charming spots of Europe.
Tuesday, December 13. — The fortress of Pfalzburg, the
stronghold of the Vosges, surrenders with 52 officers, 1800
men, and 63 guns. Bourbaki marches eastward against Werder
at Dole and Besan£on. Chanzy retires northward towards Le
4 G 1
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13.
1
Mans, to receive the support of Jaures and the Army of the
West. Bourbaki goes to Bourges.
MOVEMENTS OF ARMIES.
Grand moves have been made on the checker board of
France within the last few days — moves which show the natu¬
ral buoyancy of the French people, and which initiate the new
species of strategy resolved upon by the French authorities.
That buoyancy is the perpetual habit of the French to make
almost instantaneous changes from defeat and despondency to
victory and hope; and the new French strategy is the deter¬
mination to offer no great battles, but to continually harass the
invading forces. Bourbaki, with the Eighteenth and Twentieth
Corps, leaves Bourges, and moves towards the valley of the
Rhone, to fall upon Werder, destroy the German communica¬
tions between Paris and Strasburg, and relieve the struggling
garrison of Belfort. Prince Charles ceases to march towards
Tours, and returns towards Paris, to cover the besieging army
from any attack from the French army at Le Mans. King
William telegraphs to-day to
Queen Augusta : Versailles, Dec. 13.
After four days’ fighting around Beaugency, the French retired to Blois,
Tours, and Le Mans. Their loss was severe. Many deserters came into
our lines here and at Rouen. William.
Every day the Germans are becoming less hopeful, and many
troops, especially the Bavarians, are demoralized and despondent.
Each defeat of the French has been thought to be the last, but
still the end does not come. “ What are we fighting for ? ” is
now often asked in Mecklenburg’s army ; while around Paris the
patience of the besieging army is exhausted. For ninety days
have the heroic French held out, and still no signs of the surrender
of Paris. Day by day the rations of the besieged have grown
plainer and scantier. Black bread has taken the place of white ;
and salt provisions, with horse, rats, and cats, are eaten by the
inhabitants, who defy the weary besiegers. Von Moltke has
placed no guns in position, because he has daily expected the
surrender of the capital. Now for the first time guns are to
be mounted for the reduction of Mont Avron, a redoubt to
the east of Paris, and about a mile from Nogent. This redoubt
threw many shots into the Prussian ranks during the fight at
Brie, Champigny, and Villiers on the 2d. After reducing
Avron, the German guns will open on Nogent and Rosny, and
against the forts on the south.
4 G 2
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
AMIENS — ROUEN — HAVRE.
After the capture of Amiens on the 28th of November, Man-
teuffel moved upon Rouen, which fell, with 400 prisoners and
ten guns, on the 4th of December. Rouen is at the head of
navigation on the Seine. From Rouen, Manteuffel turned his
attention towards the seaport of Havre, fortified by the sea
and harbor on three sides, and by strong fortifications on the
other. On the 8th of December, General Goeben, with the
Eighth Corps, took Dieppe, on the channel, about forty miles
to the east of Rouen, but soon abandoned it. On the 13th
General Goeben returned to Dieppe with 8000 men, which he
billeted upon the inhabitants. Of this occupation says an eye¬
witness :
The French, submit very patiently and submissively to the indignities of
the occupation, and the conduct of the Prussian troops is praiseworthy in
the extreme; they are as friendly and sociable as their position will permit
-— giving alms to the little beggars, dividing their rations of sausage and
biscuit with others, kissing their children, and doing all in their power to
make their unwelcome presence as little galling as possible.
Friday, December 16. — Prince Charles occupies Vendome,
driving Chanzy towards Le Mans with the loss of six guns.
Mecklenburg withdrawing to Chartres to cover Paris.
All the German Princes and the Hanse towns concur in be¬
stowing upon King William of Prussia the Imperial crown of
Germany, under the title of Frederick William I.
EMPEROR FREDERICK WILLIAM I.
The hope of Bismarck, and the prayer of Prussia for German
unity, is accomplished. First the South German states were
lukewarm, then the unbearable insult of Napoleon III. made
them allies against France. Once allies, fighting for the Ger¬
man Fatherland, and the tie of blood and language wove the
woof of German unity and friendship. The German nations
became one, and Frankfort, which so hated King William in
’67, now begs the honor of being made the place wherein is to
be held the crowning ceremony. That King William shall re¬
sume the title of Emperor of Germany, has been ratified by
Bavaria, Saxony, Wurtemberg, Hesse, Baden, and the free
cities of Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck, and Frankfort, and, sixty-
four years after Charlemagne, the Imperial crown falls upon
the white head of the capturer of Napoleon III. Germany is
EMPEROR FREDERICK WILLIAM I.
4G3
now great and powerful. Broken and divided in 1815, she fell
an easy prey to the first Napoleon; but the blood of 1870 has
healed her internal wounds, and made her one of the grandest
powers in the Old World despotisms.
The new German Empire will be composed of 25 States, of
which four are kingdoms, three free cities, and the remainder
grand duchies, duchies, and principalities. Its total area at
present is 204,700 square miles, or only two-thirds of the Ger¬
man Empire at the time of Frederick Barbarossa, and four-
fifths of the German Empire at the close of the last century,
and its population in 1867 amounted to 38,500,000. Both in
point of territory and population it would still be nearly equal
to France, which had 209,000 square miles and 38,100,000 in¬
habitants, not counting her colonies. The Constitution of the
new Empire will bear more resemblance to that of the United
States and Switzerland than with that of any other European
State. The Federal House of Representatives is elected by
universal suffrage, at the rate of one deputy for every 100,000
inhabitants ; while the Federal Council consists of the plenipo¬
tentiaries of the several States — not, however, as in the United
States and Switzerland, in equal numbers, but varying according
to the population of the several States. Prussia, however,
though she has more than one-half of the total population of
the Empire, has only seventeen out of about sixty votes.
German unity means power and grandeur, but does it mean
freedom and reform ? Will not the thousand petty princes
return from the war, where they have been bolstered up by
brave and talented chiefs of staff, and rule over the common
people with the hateful rod of a pedantic aristocracy ? Ger¬
many, I fear, is to be great, but not free. King William goes
not back to the desolate hearth of Germany as went Washing¬
ton to Mount Vernon, or Cincinnatus to his neglected fields.
Before him is the old desire of glorious conquest, and Luxem¬
burg and the old German provinces of Austria must come
back, or be deluged in blood. America can see no hope in all
this aggrandizement of power, all this gluttonous absorption.
Europe will not learn the lesson of Republicanism, but her free
city of Frankfort claims to crown an Emperor; and Spain, weak
with a blood-sucking nobility, carries her own cross, and jour¬
neys to Milan for a king !
CHANZY’S RETREAT.
From Blois, Chanzy moved his army northward towards
Vendome, threatening Mecklenburg’s right flank. On the 15th,
4G4
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
Prince Charles left his splendid Third Corps of Brandenbur-
gers to watch Bourbaki, and threw the Ninth and Tenth, with
Mecklenburg's army, upon Chanzy. The fight took place a
little north of VendSme, at Freteval, and lasted till the night of
the 15th, when Prince Charles held the town, and Chanzy fell
back towards General Jaures at Le Mans. On the evening of
the 16th, a council of war determined that the safety of
Chanzy’s army required a retreat upon Le Mans.
Sunday, December 18 th. — Gambetta sends dispatches from
Bourges to Trochu, by carrier pigeon. Prince Charles occu¬
pies Vendome, and Chanzy falls back on Le Mans. General
Werder occupies Nuits, twelve miles south of Dijon, defeating
General Creamer’s force of 15,000 men and eighteen guns.
The French loss was 1700 killed and wounded. Prince
William of Baden and General Glumer were wounded.
CHANZY’S RETREAT.
On the 17th, Prince Charles placed the Third Corps in
Beaugency, and ordered the Ninth and Tenth to march on
Vendome, while Von der Tann held the German left towards
Gien with a Bavarian battalion. On the 18th, Chanzy retreat¬
ing from Vendome, Prince Charles marched his army to
Orleans, to check an expected advance of Bourbaki. Ascer¬
taining that Bourbaki’s army was about moving towards Lyons,
Prince Charles marches towards Le Mans, and determines with
Mecklenburg to destroy the Army of the East.
PARIS AND GAMBETTA.
Gambetta found Bourbaki in a demoralized state, but he
immediately sent this carrier-pigeon dispatch, buoyant with
hope, to General Trochu in Paris :
Gambetta to Jules Favre and Trochu : Bourges, Decejnber 18.
I have been at Bourges for the last four days occupied with Bourbaki organizing the
three corps, Fifteenth, Eighteenth, and Nineteenth, of the First Army of the Loire, which,
owing to forced marches during frightful heavy weather since its evacuation of Orleans,
vrere in a bad state. The positions occupied by Bourbaki cover Nevers and Bourges.
The other part of the Army of the Loire, after the evacuation of Orleans, retreated on
Beaugency and Marchenoire, where they withstood all the efforts of Prince Frederick
Charles — thanks to the indomitable energy of General Chanzy, who appears to be the
real man-of-war brought forth by last events. This army, composed of the Fifteenth,
Seventeenth, and Twenty-first Corps, supported, according to the orders of General
Trochu, by all the forces of the west, executed an admirable retreat, causing terrible losses
to the Prussians. Chanzy prevented Prince Frederick Charles from executing a great
movement on the left bank of the Loire, and the Prince vainly attempted to cross the Loire
at Blois to Amboise, and menaced Tours. Chanzy is to-day in perfect security between
Vendome and Le Mans, ready to take the offensive so soon as his troops have had some
TOURS—DECEMBER 20 .
405
repose. These troops have not ceased to fight most admirably against superior forces from
the 30th of November to the 12th of December. You thus see that the Army of the Loire
is far from annihilated, as is represented by the Prussian falsehoods. It is separated into
two armies of equal force, ready to operate to the north of Paris, and the other to march on
the south. Faidherbe is in Bosworth, and it is thought that he has retaken La Fere, with
a great deal of ammunition, artillery, and provisions. But we are most anxious as to your
fate. It is now more than eight days since we have received any news from you, or by the
Prussians. The cable with England is interrupted. What ib going on? Deliver us from
these torments by sending balloon ; the winds are favorable, and will take it to Belgium.
The retreating movement of the Prussians is accentuated. They seem fatigued with the
continuance of the war. If we can hold out, and we can do so with energy, our triumph
is certain. According to the reports which reach me, the enemy have sustained enormous
losses, and they provision themselves with difficulty. But we must make up our minds to
make supreme sacrifices, not to complain, and to struggle till death. The most perfect
order reigns in the interior. The government and the National Defence Committee is
everywhere respected and obeyed.
(Signed) Gambetta.
This dispatch increased the despondency of Paris. The
Parisians on the 18th were reduced to black bread and horse¬
flesh, and two-thirds of the Paris cab horses had been eaten.
Market prices were as follows: Geese, 8of.; turkeys, ioo f.;
chickens, 25 f.; rabbits, 30 f. A Prussian bomb dropped in¬
side the capital near the Point du Tour, the first warning of
the coining bombardment; and the others went flying about
the Pantheon, Luxembourg, and Church of the Invalides.
Tuesday, December 20 th .—Tours captured by Voigts
Rhetz.
CAPTURE OF TOURS.
On the morning of Tuesday, December 20th, a division of
Voigts Rhetz’s Hanoverians encountered a division of the
Twenty-first French Corps a few miles north of Tours. The
Hanoverians opened with twenty-four guns, defeating the
French, and marching upon the city of Tours, the recent cap¬
ital of the Republic. Soon after Voigts Rhetz commenced
bombarding the city, the Mayor surrendered the town, which
was held for a few hours, when Voigts Rhetz received orders
from Prince Charles to march the Tenth Corps back to
Orleans, to watch the strategetic movement of Bourbaki.
Wednesday, December 21. — Trochu makes a sortie towards
La Bourget, and is repulsed by the Saxons.
TROCHU’S SORTIE.
A dispatch from Gambetta had prepared Trochu to expect
succor from the outside armies on the 21st. Bourbaki, who was
20 *
4GG
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
supposed to be marching against Werder in the valley of the
Rhone, was to make a rapid turn, and in connection with Faid-
herbe attack the invading Germans on the north of Paris.
Prince Charles discovered the intended movement, and im¬
mediately drew his army back on Orleans, to watch Bourbaki,
whose designs were thus frustrated. Early on the morning of
the 21 st, Vinoy advanced with 50,000 men toward La Bourget
east of St. Denis, while Ducrot fought a battle towards Gagny
and Bondy. The unfortunate village of Bourget had been
taken and retaken on a former occasion, and the place was
looked upon with anything but kindly eyes. When the Saxons
advanced to recapture it, a feeling of German hate caused its
destruction. It was found necessary to storm house by house.
At length a dwelling was reached, on the outside of which, in a
prominent position, was scrawled with charcoal and in German,
“The Prussians are dogs and cowards! We shall kill them
all! ” Then German ferocity showed itself. Scorning to fire
a single shot at the enemy intrenched behind this barricade,
the German soldiers broke open the doors and windows amid
the fire from within, and killed every Frenchman there found
with the butt ends of their rifles.
Ducrot was also compelled to retire with the loss of 900
prisoners, and, disappointed again, the army of Paris retired
behind the forts, while King William sent this dispatch :
To the Queen :
The French made a sortie in the direction of Staines and Bourget,
prompted by the mistaken idea that a French army of relief was approach¬
ing. Many French prisoners were taken in the assault on the Saxon
position. The sortie was easily repulsed. The cold is intense.
Wilhelm.
FRENCH HONOR.
Bismarck charges Generals Ducrot, Barral, and Cambriels
with having violated their paroles of honor. Trochu defends
Ducrot in a letter, in which he says:
“You gave your parole to surrender yourself as prisoner of war at
Pont-a-Mousson, and that was all. And there having made yourself offi¬
cially a prisoner, thus redeeming your parole, you conceived and executed,
in the face of great danger, a bold escape, by which you hoped to assist
Paris.”
FAIDHERBE AND MANTEUFFEL.
40 T
Friday, December 23. — General Manteuffel defeats General
Faidherbe near Amiens, driving him north toward Albert and
Arras, and capturing 1000 prisoners.
FAIDHERBE vs. MANTEUFFEL.
Faidherbe and Manteuffel fought a series of engagements, in
which both commanders claimed victories, but the fact that
after the smoke of battle had cleared away Manteuffel occu¬
pied the ground from which Faidherbe withdrew, leaves the ver¬
dict of history in favor of Manteuffel. On the 23d, Manteuffel,
leaving Goeben’s forces at Rouen and Dieppe to look after
Havre, arrived in front of Faidherbe, with about 40,000 men
among the surburban villages of Amiens. The conflicting re¬
ports are given to illustrate a future complaint of Faidherbe as
to German veracity. Faidherbe telegraphed :
“Manteuffel gave us battle on the 23d inst. near Amiens. The battle
lasted from eleven in the forenoon until six o’clock in the evening. For
the greater portion of the time it was an artillery duel, which was finally
terminated by a charge by the French infantry along the whole line. The
enemy were driven back, and the French troops remained masters of the
field.”
After sending this dispatch, Faidherbe retired northward to¬
wards Albert, and the following dispatch was sent by the King
to
Queen Augusta : Versailles Dec. 24.
Manteuffel won a victory on the 23d near Amiens, taking 1000 prisoners,
and commenced to pursue the French in the direction of Arras to-day.
William.
Subsequent events proved that Manteuffel won the victory,
though Faidherbe retreated in good order.
GEN. FAIDHERBE.
Louis Leon Cesar Faidherbe, now Commander-in-chief of the French
Army of the North, was born at Lille on the 3d of June, 1818. He was
educated at the college in that place,, entered the Polytechnic School in
1838, then went on to the military school at Metz, which he left in 1842,
with a lieutenant’s commission in the First Regiment of Engineers.
He fought in Africa from 1844 to 1845 ; returning there again in 1850, where he won the
Cross of the Legion of Honor for distinguished service. In 1852 he was sent to Senegal,
where he gave such proof of ability, that he was made Governor of the Colony in 1853.
He now sought to renovate the colony. He fought the Moors of Furza, and conquered
the Prophet El-Hadji-Omar, who undertook to expel the French and found a Mussulman
empire in Central Africa. El-Hadji-Omar conquered, Faidherbe left Senegal to command
the subdivision of Sidi-bel-Abbes, having been made Lieutenant-Colonel of Engineers in
1855, and Colonel in 1858. But his absence was soon felt in the colony : his policy was
not maintained, his instructions were neglected, and everything retrograded. On the
20th of May, 1863, M. Fftidherbe, raised to the rank of Brigadier-General, resumed the
reins of government in Senegal. Two years after, his health requiring his return to a less
murderous climate, he took the highest command in the subdivision of Bone. M. Faid¬
herbe has written much on the manners, language, and history of the African nations, at
468
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
well as on the topography, geology, and archeology of the districts they inhabit. He is
a member of the Geographical Societies of Paris, London, and Berlin.
Faidherbe is now the rising man in the north of France, and promises to do much for
the Republic.
Saturday, December 24. — Skirmish before Havre. The
French defeated, and driven into the fortifications with a loss of
200 prisoners.
SKIRMISH BEFORE HAVRE.
While Manteuffel was fighting Faidherbe at Amiens, the
French commander at Havre organized an expedition of 3000
men, under Colonel Macmanard, to attack a force of about
1800 Prussians from General' Goeben’s force, stationed at
Yvetot, a considerable town twenty-five miles north-east from
Havre. The advancing French were met promptly by the
Germans, and after an artillery and cavalry fight, driven back
to the fortifications of Havre, which are considered to be impreg¬
nable to almost any investing force. A writer in The London
Standard writes :
The defences of Havre consist of a line of forts and batteries running
along the crest of a range of hills, commencing about a mile beyond Le
Hive, on the sea coast, to Harfleur, on the River Seine. They are about
three miles from the outskirts of the town of Havre, and are armed with
about 100 heavy naval guns. These lines are about six miles in length,
and can only be approached by two roads, both of which are well swept by
batteries, and the position is so formidable by nature, that, with a flanking
fire on both extremities from the men-of-war, they could easily be held by
10,000 good troops against all the Prussians in France.
The present French force in Havre numbers 40,000 men. So immense
is the value of shipping and stores in Havre, that the city would not stand
a bombardment, and no labor has been spared upon the outworks and re¬
doubts, to make them strong enough to keep the Germans outside of shell
range of the city. Havre has a population of 75,000. St. Romain is eight
miles from Havre, and with Harfleur, four miles from the city, it will pro¬
bably be destroyed when the regular investment of Havre commences.
Tuesday, Decejnber 27. — The bombardment of Fort Avron
commences. The German batteries throw twenty-four shots
per minute, the French replying regularly. Bismarck apolo¬
gizes for the scuttling of six English vessels near Rouen, by tha
German troops. Manteuffel advances in pursuit of Faidherbe,
capturing French troops at Albert.
PARIS BOMBARDED DECEMBER 29.
469
BISMARCK’S APOLOGY FOR SCUTTLING ENGLISH
VESSELS.
On the 27th, the German troops, a few miles from Rouen, seized and
scuttled six English vessels, turning the English crews adrift. The affair
agitated England, and the English vice-consul at Rouen presented to the
Prussian commander a formal protest. The Prussian commander claimed
that he seized them for fear that the French would use them to land troops,
and Count Bismarck apologized by this telegram to Earl Granville, through
Count Bernstorff, the Prussian Minister:
Versailles, Jan . 8, 1871.
The report of the German commander at Rouen respecting the sinking of the Eng¬
lish colliers has not arrived, but the facts are known. Tell Lord Granville that we sin¬
cerely regret that our troops, to avert imminent danger, were obliged to seize the British
ships. We admit the claim for indemnity. If unjustifiable excesses were committed, we
regret them, and will call the guilty to account. Bismarck.
Thursday, December 29.—The Germans capture Mont
Avron, south of Paris. General Prim assassinated while pro¬
ceeding from the Cortes in Madrid to his residence, by three
villains in the Calla Alcala. Bourbaki reinforces the French in
front of Nuits, and Werder falls back, evacuating Dijon, Gray,
and Dole, which are occupied by the French. The Roumanian
Government repudiates the Treaty of Paris, and declares inde¬
pendence. The Crown Prince goes to Amiens to confer with
Manteuffel. MeziHes surrenders with 2000 men and 106 guns.
MONT AVRON.
The German guns in a curved line from Noisy le Grand to
Gagny (see map, page 340) opened on Mont Avron on the
27th, at 9 a.m., throwing twenty-four shots per minute, and
silencing the French guns on the morning of the 29th. The
Crown Prince of Saxony entered the fort with his old Twelfth
Corps, who stood with him at Sedan, and thus telegraphed his
entry :
To King John of Saxony : Mont Avron, Dec. 29.
The Saxons have Mont Avron. When my troops entered, they found
the work deserted. The French had removed their guns to Noisy. The
German batteries were then ordered to open fire on Noisy, Merlan, and
Bondy. The French subsequently withdrew from the village of Rosny,
along the road to Paris.
While from the King came this dispatch :
To Queen Augusta : Versailles, Dec. 29.
The bombardment of Fort Avron silenced the enemy’s guns. The
railway station at Noisy was shelled, and the French artillery at Bondy dis¬
lodged.
470
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
The Prussian loss was three men. The garrison of Fort Avron has fled
into Paris. Wilhelm.
Sunday, January i. — Manteuffel moving against Faidherbe
on the north. Grand banquet at Versailles.
KING WILLIAM’S TOAST.
At the New Year’s banquet at Versailles, the King gave a
toast to “ The German Princes,” to which the Duke of Baden
responded in a speech, rejoicing at the restoration of the old
German Empire, and concluding with a toast to “ William the
Victorious.”
Monday, January 2, 1871. —Manteuffel marches north from
Amiens, past the fortress of Peronne, and fights Faidherbe
near Bapaume.
Tuesday, January 3.—Faidherbe is repulsed by Manteuf¬
fel, and retreats upon Arras.
BAPAUME AND PERONNE.
After the victorious encounter of Manteuffel at Amiens, the
Germans commenced their northward march. The fortress of
Peronne was invested, and the cavalry, light infantry, and artil¬
lery pushed on to Bapaume, about fifteen miles south of Arras,
another fortified town, which, with Douai and Lille, forms an
almost impregnable triangle, with a fortress at each angle. Faid¬
herbe made his last stand at Bapaume before withdrawing to
the neighboring fortified towns. He attacked Manteuffel on
Monday, south of Bapaume. The contest was hot and bloody,
and after an all-day fight, both armies rested on their respective
fields. On Tuesday morning, Manteuffel ordered Goeben to
advance upon the French again. After a sanguinary struggle,
the French withdrew into the town of Bapaume, and commenced
a retreat towards the north. The town was destroyed, and the
Eighth Rhenish Cuirassiers pursued the retreating French to¬
wards Arras and Douai. A strange question of veracity again
sprang up between Faidherbe and Manteuffel, but the denott-
ments of a few days showed Faidherbe’s pretensions to be
groundless. The following dispatch from Faidherbe proved to
be as false as General Pope’s famous dispatch claiming the
capture of 10,000 rebels south of Corinth :
MANTEUFFEL GOES TO WERDER. 471
We have fought a battle near Bapaume, which lasted from eight in the
morning to six in the evening of Monday. We have driven the Prussians
from all their positions and the villages occupied by them. The enemy’s
losses are enormous. Ours are serious. Faidherbe.
This question of veracity arose from the fact that Captain
Von Maire’s cuirassiers were at one time repulsed, and re¬
treated in disorder before a superior force of French. The
main battle was in favor of Manteuffel, who sent his uhlans
scouring the country in all directions; some even crept up
under the walls of Lille.
BATTLE ON THE SEINE.
While this fight was going on at Bapaume, General Von Ben-
theim sallied out from Rouen towards Havre, routing the French
under General Roy, and capturing 1000 prisoners.
Thursday, January 5.—The fortress of Rocroy surren¬
ders. Von Moltke orders the bombardment of the southern
forts of Paris — Montrouge, Issy, and Vanvres.
Friday, January 6 .— Terrific bombardment of southern
forts continued.
KING WILLIAM’S DISPATCH.
To Queen Augusta: Versaili.es, Jan. 6.
The weather has moderated. We are now having a thaw. Our
losses during the bombardment of Fort d’lssy, so far, are 17 killed and
wounded. Large supplies were captured from the French at Rocroy.
Sunday, January 8 . — Prince Charles commences his march
against Chanzy at Le Mans. Manteuffel leaves the Army of
the North to Goeben, Kummer, and Prince Albrecht, and
prepares to take command of a new German army, to ope¬
rate against Bourbaki’s rear. German shells fall into the gar¬
dens of the Luxembourg, and around the Pantheon.
the bombardment.
To Queen Augusta: Versailles, Jan. 8 .
Frederick Charles continues his victorious advance on Le Mans. Our
forces meet with resistance. Everything has been quiet in the North since
the 3d. The bombardment here is proceeding favorably. The barracks
in Fort Vanvres are on fire Wilhelm.
Monday, January 9. — Bourbaki arrives in front of Werder
473
THE FRANC O-PR US SIAN WAR.
with his Orleans army, and is defeated by the Germans, with a
loss of 800 prisoners.
Tuesday, January 10. —The great battle of Le Mans com¬
mences. The Germans advance one thousand yards nearer
Paris. The Parisians demand active operations, and blame
Trochu. The fortress of Peronne capitulates with 3000 pris¬
oners..
KING WILLIAM’S DISPATCH.
To Queen Augusta : Versailles, Jan. 10.
Owing to a snow-storm and heavy fog, the bombardment is slower to¬
day.
Peronne has capitulated with 3000 prisoners.
Werder defeated Bourbaki on the 9th, south of Vesoul. He took 800
prisoners. William.
THE BATTLE OF LE MANS {January 10 and n).
The last hope of France to succor Paris was dispelled
to-day — a day rife with strategy and battles. Goeben, with
the First and Eighth Corps, supported by Prince Albrecht’s
cavalry, already in possession of Peronne, held Faidherbe defi¬
antly towards Arras. Manteuffel, with Fansecki's second corps,
started post haste to threaten Bourbaki, now in front of Wer¬
der, near Belfort. While these grand movements were being
made upon the checker-board of Eastern France, another and
grander movement was going on in the west. Chanzy had
withdrawn his defeated army from Vendome to within seven
miles of Le Mans, where, reinforced from Cherbourg and
Bordeaux, he awaited with 150,000 men the attack of Prince
Charles. The battle commenced at nine o’clock on the morn¬
ing of the icth. Chanzy located his Sixteenth, Seventeenth,
and Twenty-first Corps, commanded by Admiral Jaurezibery,
and Generals Colomb and Jouffroy, in a line extending from
the village of Brette, about four miles from Orleans, along the
railroad towards La Ferte, overlooking the valley of the
Huisne. Jouffroy commanded the French Right covering
Brette, Colomb the Centre on the plateau of Auvours, and
Jaurezibery the Left. Prince Charles advanced with the Third,
Ninth, Tenth, Fourteenth, and the First Bavarian Corps, about
150,000 veteran troops. Prince Charles first attacked the Right
of the French, hoping to cut them off from Le Mans, and to
LE MAKS—JANUARY io.
473
prevent a retreat to the south, choosing rather to drive
Chanzy towards Cherbourg and the sea.
Chanzy received the attack with his army well drawn up
with artillery in front, and cavalry on the right and left. The
battle-field was perfect, and the French line reflected the he¬
reditary glory of France. Twelve inches of snow covered the
ground. Between the two armies was a valley, and for the
first hour it was a battle of artillery. At eleven o’clock, Prince
Charles gave the order for an infantry advance, and the two
armies met face to face in a bloody struggle. The French were
fierce —the German veterans cool and determined. At twelve
o’clock, the Third and Tenth German Corps made a terrible
advance against the French centre. The French Mobiles
wavered and fell back, and again Voigts Rhetz and Alvens-
leben covered a victorious field.
The snow was red with blood, and, as Chanzy fell back to¬
wards Le Mans, night came on and shrouded the dreadful
scene. All that night Chanzy worked with a terrible energy
to retrieve the fortunes of the day. Reinforcements arrived
from Camp Conlie, and, after,a night of anxiety, the morning
dawned upon the French prepared for another conflict. For¬
ward came Prince Charles at daylight — but the French had
fallen back, and their position was not reached until ten o’clock.
Again the attack sounded — this time on the French Left. A
tremendous German force, under cover of a heavy artillery fire,
struck Jaurezibery, who met the advance in a terrible struggle.
The Germans carried the Left, capturing two guns, when Chanzy
moved forward supports, checking a farther German advance.
Here the French left stood like a wall against every German
onslaught, and around La Ferte was a long and sanguinary
encounter. An overpowering German force now massed and
attacked Colomb in the centre. Colomb fell back to a posi¬
tion where the rising ground gave the French artillery an effec¬
tive position. Here were stationed the marines, with a large
park of artillery, shotted with shell and canister. Its terrible
fire soon compelled the Germans to fall back. Now the bat¬
tle stood still for two hours, with varying fortunes. The sun
now came out warm, and the snow commenced rapidly to melt.
As usual, the fighting had brought on an impending storm.
At four p.m. Prince Charles changed his tactics, and threw
an overpowering force against the French Right beyond Brette.
In front of Brette is a large wood. This was filled with Ger¬
mans, who showered bullets and canister upon the unfortunate
474
THE FRANC O-PR US SIAN WAR.
town. At dark, Chanzy ordered his right to fall back, and soon
the streets of Le Mans, only a few miles to the rear, were
filled with stragglers. At five, Prince Charles advanced his
entire line, and Chanzy ordered his army to retreat. This was
done in good order; the French deciding to renew the fight
again in the morning. Prince Charles did not rest with night,
but even in the darkness a tremendous assault was continued
against the French Right, which gave way, the Gardes Mobiles
from Brittany flying in disorder towards Le Mans. After a
council of war, Chanzy decided to retreat towards Alencjon on
the north, and Laval on the west. Thus ended the hope
of the Republic in the Army of the West. On the morning of
the 12th Mecklenburg telegraphed :
We advanced to-day north of Le Mans, without fighting. Our van¬
guard has crossed the Sarthe.
The Third and Tenth German Corps occupied Le Mans,
and Mecklenburg moved upon Jaurezibery toward Alen^on.
King William sent the following dispatch of victory :
To Queen Augusta: Versailles, January 12 (A.
Prince Frederick Charles has fought and defeated the French at Le
Mans. Chanzy’s army is broken up, and is retreating on Alentjon and
Laval. Ten thousand prisoners and many guns are falling into our hands.
Wilhelm.
losses.
Since the 6th, the French losses have been, besides killed
and wounded, 22,000 prisoners and twelve canon. The
Prussian official losses were 177 officers and 3203 men killed
and wounded; about the same number of French have been
placed hors du combat.
Friday, Jaiiuary i 7 ,th. — Prince Charles continues his pur¬
suit of Chanzy. Trochu makes a sortie from the north of
Paris. The bombardment continues. Montmedy surrenders,
after its walls are breached with solid shot.
PARIS — A SORTIE.
To-day important sorties were made against the Eleventh
German Corps at Meudon, the Second Bavarian at Clamart,
and the Guards at La Bourget; all of which were repulsed. A
rain of projectiles is pouring upon Paris, causing death and
destruction in the region between the Invalides, where lie the
ashes of the first Napoleon, and the Odeon. Two shells per
minute drop around the Luxembourg and Church of St. Sulpice.
MONDAY JANUARY 16 .
47 J
Bread is scarce, but still the heroic population resist surrender.
To-day, a poor wretch, half-dead with fatigue, and wasted by
misery, exclaimed : “ Mon Dieu ! que cela lrnisse” (My God !
when will this end). Suffering women surrounded her, abused
and hustled her about, till she fainted on the street. There is
a mad class of stoics who propose absolute starvation, that
the world may be stunned by an example of sublime self-de¬
struction. A great cry is raised in Paris against Gen. Trochu,
who has failed to organize victory. Gen. Vinoy, now seventy
years old, is the favorite now in Paris. An American gentle¬
man thus writes to-day:
General Trochu is a complete failure, and if he were out of the way there
would be some hope of saving France. He has been so flattered for his
supposed greatness that he believes his own safety paramount to that of
Paris, and has talked of leaving Paris by balloon, to avoid capture when
the city falls. When urged not to do so, and told that the French people
would regard such an act as cowardice, he replied that his capture would
be the ruin of France, and by his safety alone could the people expect to
succeed in driving the Germans from the soil of France.
The price of provisions is enormously high; there remains only enough
on hand to enable the city to hold out until the 20th of January —- pos¬
sibly a few days longer. Horse-meat has entirely given out, and is not to
be found in the markets. Mule-meat sells for $2.00 per pound and upward,
according to quality. Cats bring $4.00 each, dogs $1.50 per pound, and
rats are $1.00 per pair. One turkey sold for if!50.00.
The weather is fearfully cold, and fuel is exhausted. The people are
burning fences and furniture. Oil is gone, and the city is in total darkness
at night.
Monday, January 16. — Bourbaki attacks Werder south of
Belfort, and is defeated. Prince Charles occupies Laval, and
Mecklenburg Alen^on, capturing four locomotives and four
hundred wagons. Chanzy moving west, and Jaurezibery
north: Faidherbe moves toward St. Quentin.
BOURBAKI’S DEFEAT.
After the defeat of Paladines, on the 3d of December, had
broken the French Army of the Loire into three retreating
forces, Bourbaki fell back upon Bourges with the Eighteenth
Corps. While Prince Charles pursued Chanzy toward Tours,
Bourbaki commenced the strategic movement of falling upon
Werder at Dijon before reinforcements could reach him. On
the nth of January, Fansecki started in hot pursuit of Bour¬
baki with the Second Corps, while Werder fell back with his
inferior force towards Belfort, garrisoned with four thousand
476 THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
besieged French. On the 16th of January, Bourbaki, with the
other French forces, arrived in front of Werder, near Belfort,
and immediately gave battle to the Germans, hoping, if suc¬
cessful, to raise the siege of Belfort. Bourbaki’s forces, with
the forces of Cambriels and Garibaldi, and with reinforcements
from Lyons, amounted to 125,000 men. The encounter was
bloody, and there was great solicitude at Versailles as to the
result of the French attack. All day long on the 16th, both
armies fought on the plain near Belfort, and the beleaguered
garrison hoped, but in vain, for victory. At night both armies
slept on the field. On the morning of the 17th, Bourbaki com¬
menced a fresh attack. It was the last struggle of the Army
of the East, and defeat meant the abandonment of the strug¬
gling garrison. Towards night Werder swept forward his entire
army in one grand advance. The French wavered — then the
centre broke, and Bourbaki was defeated. He commenced his
retreat suddenly towards Dijon, hoping to reach Lyons before
the flanking army from Paris, now under Mantueffel, should
break his communications. Bourbaki’s failure caused him such
regret that insanity followed ; and a week afterwards we hear of
his making an attempt upon his own life. Poor General! If the
writer threw a doubt about you in August, he now withdraws
it; for you have proved true to the Republic.
Thursday, January 19. — King William is proclaimed Em¬
peror of Germany in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Faid-
herbe defeated and driven into and through St. Quentin, where
Goeben captured 2000 French wounded, 5000 unwounded
troops, and six guns. Trochu makes his last sortie from
Paris. General Glumer pursues Bourbaki towards the Swiss
border.
THE KING BECOMES EMPEROR.
In the presence of all the German Princes, to-day, at Ver¬
sailles, King William was proclaimed Emperor of Germany.
The occasion was the scene of a great military pageant; and
while Napoleon III. is a throneless prisoner, the man who
was to be besieged in Berlin receives the crown once worn by
Charlemagne. The Emperor — Frederick William I. — appoints
Bismarck chancellor of the German Empire, and issues the fol¬
lowing proclamation to-day :
PARIS— THE LAST SORTIE , JAN. 16 .
477
To THE PEOPLE OF UNITED GERMANY :
In consequence of the appeal of the German Princes and of the free
towns for us to restore the German Empire, after a lapse of sixty years, we
announce that we consider it our duty to the Fatherland to accept the Im¬
perial dignity. Henceforth we and our successors will bring to the title of
Emperor of Germany the hope that God will vouchsafe a blissful future to
the Fatherland, and that, under our auspices, its ancient splendor may be
restored. We partake of the dignity, conscious of our duty to preserve
with German fidelity the rights of the Empire, and of its members to main¬
tain peace, and to support and strengthen the independence of Germany,
in the hope that the German people will reap, in lasting peace, within our
boundaries, the fruits of their bloody battles, and be safe against the re¬
newal of French attacks. God giant that we and our successors may pro¬
tect the Empire, not by warlike conquests, but by works of peace, freedom,
and civilization.
William, Emperor.
THE LAST SORTIE FROM PARIS.
On Wednesday evening the Government issued a fiery proc¬
lamation to the discouraged Parisians. It was the last hectic
flush of a dying man. “ To-morrow,” read the eyes of Paris on
a thousand bulletins, “ we go forth against the foe which kills
our wives and children ! ” All night long artillery rumbled to
the west, under cover of Fort Valerien, and at the first dawn
of light on Thursday, three corps d'armee — an hundred thou¬
sand strong — advanced upon the besieging Germans. The
morning was beautiful and bright, and the French line was a
historic tableau for the canvas of Dore and Meissonnier, who
stood with 1 ’rochu in the centre. Ducrot commanded the right,
occupying Bougival, in front of Kirchbach’s Fifth Corps. Gen¬
eral Vinoy took possession of the village of Montretout, and
opened on the Germans with ten pieces of artillery. General
Villemain subsequently took the line of battle on the Left tow¬
ards St. Cloud. The fighting around Sevres and in the rear of
St. Cloud was severe and bloody. Immense masses of the
French threw themselves against that sturdy German wall ; but
it was all in vain. At three o’clock, the Second Bavarian Corps
advanced upon the French Left, which recoiled, and broke tow¬
ards Montretout. Trochu rallied his broken masses again, and
placing himself at their head advanced upon the Germans, who
pushed forward immense masses of infantry with heavy reserves
of artillery. Trochu was driven back, and, abandoned by for¬
tune, his unhappy army returned sullenly and sorrowfully to
Fort Valerien, and the fiery proclamations of the morning
were covered over with Trochu’s terrible acknowledgment of
defeat:
473
THE FRANCO-PR US SIAN WAR.
The day, which commenced successfully, did not terminate as we could
have wished. The enemy were at first surprised, hut subsequently concen¬
trated great masses of artillery and infantry, and at three o’clock in the
afternoon our left receded. We resumed at nightfall the offensive move¬
ment, but were unable to hold the heights which we had taken. The
struggle was sanguinary. We have asked for an armistice.
The Emperor William sent the following telegrams :
To the Empress Augusta:
Versailles, January 19. — A sortie was made from Valerien to-day
under cover of a heavy fire. It was entirely without result.
The Army of the North was beaten to-day before St. Quentin. Four
thousand unwounded prisoners and two guns were captured.
Wilhelm.
Versailles, Friday, January 20.— Faidherbe will be pursued to-day.
The sortie from Valerien yesterday was made in great force. The troops
are still outside of Paris. A fresh attack is certain to-day.
Wilhelm.
During the battle the Prussian shells went crashing into Paris,
and that night, with defeat in the field and hunger at home, —-
with the skies raining shot and shell upon their beautiful capi¬
tal, what wonder that Paris was the picture of despair !
William Emperor telegraphed at night :
To the Empress Augusta :
The enemy has entirely withdrew into Paris. Fifteen officers and two
hundred and fifty men were captured at St. Cloud. William.
On Friday morning, Trochu, at a council held by the mem¬
bers of the Committee of Defence, announced that, as there
was no hope for assistance from Chanzy or Faidherbe, it was
his duty to surrender before the Germans destroyed the public
buildings, and fired on the centre of the city. A quarrel en¬
sued, when General Trochu offered his resignation ; which was
accepted, and Generals Vinoy, Frebault, and Clement Thomas
were appointed a triumvirate to replace Trochu. Subsequently
the council recoiled from the responsibility, and Trochu was
sustained.
CAPTURE OF ST. QUENTIN.
The misfortune of Paris was not alone this day the misfortune
of France. Faidherbe advanced defiantly beyond St. Quentin,
where he was met by Goeben, defeated, and driven into and
through the town with great loss. A general panic seized upon
the people at Cambrai, while Faidherbe retreated to the fortress
of Douai, with the loss of an entire division. The entry of the
retreating army into the city of Cambrai was a sad scene of
disorder. The troops were shoeless and in rags, and the army
fragmentary to a great degree. General Goeben’s losses at St.
Quentin were 94 officers and 3000 men.
PARIS SURRENDERS, JAN. 28
479
The Emperor William sent the following telegram :
To the Empress Augusta :
Versailles, January 20.—-The number of unwounded prisoners
captured at St. Quentin is 9000, beside 2000 wounded taken in the town.
The total loss of the French is 15,000. The enemy has withdrawn to Val¬
enciennes and Douai. We have again occupied Cambrai.
Fours Hours Later .— The latest estimate of the French loss at St.
Quentin is 15,000 men, including 11,000 prisoners.
William.
With the French Army of the North defeated, with Bourbaki
threatened by Manteuffel, with Chanzy flying disorganized be¬
fore Prince Charles and Mecklenburg, and with Trochu driven
into Paris, threatened with shells from without and internal
disorders from within, the fortunes of France are unhappy in¬
deed. It is folly longer to fight. Germany has fairly conquered.
Sunday, January 22.—Mob in Paris. Gustave Flourens
released from prison. Three hundred National Guards attack
the Hotel de Ville, but are repulsed by the Mobiles. General
Vinoy assumes command in place of Trochu. Emperor Wil¬
liam accepts in an order the Imperial dignity, and praises his
troops, charging them to remain the strong arm of the Father-
land. Gambetta at Lille. The Army of the North totally de¬
moralized. The bombardment of Longwy proceeding.
Tuesday, Jamtary 24. — Paris concludes to surrender.
Jules Favre visits Bismarck, and returns to Paris. The Bor¬
deaux Government notified, and Gambetta accepts the action
of the Paris authorities.
Wednesday, January 25. — The surrender agreed to.
Longwy surrenders with four thousand prisoners and two hun¬
dred guns. Manteuffel crowds Bourbaki towards Switzer¬
land.
Saturday, January 28.—An armistice of three weeks on
land and sea agreed to.
4S0
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
FAVRE AND BISMARCK.
To-day, the German pickets were overjoyed at the sight of
a flag of truce from Paris, and an unusual commotion, which
indicated an important communication from the Capitol. A
Prussian Captain advanced and received the French deputation,
whichwas headed by a no less personage, than M. Jules Favre,
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who desired to be conducted di¬
rectly to Count Von Bismarck’s rooms in Versailles. The meet¬
ing between Favre and Bismarck was affecting—the voice of the
former sometimes becoming gruff with emotion. After a few
kind remarks, Bismarck, in the tenderest manner, remarked:
“ My dear friend, I know the cause of your visit; you would
stop the farther shedding of blood.”
Favre (affected) — “ Yes, yes, M. Bismarck ; my object is to
stop the terrible sufferings of my unhappy countrymen in Paris,
for all hope of relief from without seems lost, and Paris must
needs seek peace.”
Bismarck— “ We respect the gallantry of the French nation,
and we pity her sufferings. We will do what we can for peace,
consistent with the safety and honor of Germany. This, my
dear M. Favre, has been the desire of the Emperor William
and his advisers since the unhappy war was forced upon him.
What has Paris to offer ? ”
M. Favre — “ If her soldiers were permitted to leave Paris
with the honors of war, Paris would surrender.”
Bismarck — “ It is not my province to refuse or accept your
terms ; but I will say, that personally, I do not approve them,
and I feel confident that my august master will reject them.
However, I will submit them to his consideration.”
Count Bismarck now invited Favre to a repast, when the
two spent an hour in social conversation. The Emperor firmly
rejected Favre’s proposition, and submitted the following, which
Favre carried back to the Provisional Government :
The forts to be garrisoned by Germans.
The regulars and Gardes Mobiles to be sent to Germany.
Paris to receive no garrison for its protection — the city to be
confided to the National Guards, who will not be disarmed.
As M. Favre rose to depart, the following conversation took
place :
Bismarck — “The surrender, M. Favre, should be signed by
the entire Provisional Government, to make it binding in
France.”
Favre — “ But we cannot bind the republic at Bordeaux.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER ig.
481
The surrender is purely a military one, and the republic may
reject every question outside of the garrison.”
Bismarck. — “ If the Republic rejects terms which will give
peace, the Emperor is ready to accept them; and then France
must choose between acceptance and a restoration of the em¬
pire.”
M. Favre spent the evening of the 24th in Paris, but returned
to Versailles on the evening of the 25 th with the signature of
the Paris officials to the articles of surrender. Bismarck now
urged upon Favre the practicability of an armistice, that a de
jure government might be elected by the people, whose repre¬
sentatives would have power to guarantee the execution of a
:reaty of peace. Favre passed back to Paris again, returning
:o Versailles on the 28th, when an armistice of twenty-one days
vas agreed upon. The constituent elections to be held on the
Ith of February, and the National Assembly to be convened
it Bordeaux on the 15th. It was farther arranged that the
prisoners of war were to remain in Paris during the armistice.
The National Guards and gendarmes to retain their arms,
is were also the police. All Francs-tireurs to be disbanded.
Herman prisoners to be exchanged. The public funds to re¬
main in Paris.
The names of the French officers surrendering, are given in
all on page 418.
The Emperor sent the following telegram :
Versailles, January 29, 2P. m., 1870.
To the Empress Augusta:
Last night an armistice for three weeks was signed. The Regulars and
tobiles are to be interned in Paris as prisoners of war. The National
luard will undertake the maintenance of order. We occupy all the forts
'aris remains invested, but will be allowed to revictual as soon as arms are
irrendered.
The National Assembly is to be summoned to meet at Bordeaux in a
jrtnight. All the armies in the field will retain their respective positions,
re ground between opposing lines to be neutral.
This is the reward of patriotism, heroism, and great sacrifices. Thank
iod for this fresh mercy 1 May peace soon follow !
Wilhelm.
Bordeaux agreed to the terms of this armistice, and decreed
n election on the 8th of February, for members of the con-
tituent assembly. The decree disqualified as candidates to
le Republican election all Imperialists who have been Imperi-
l candidates for, or held the offices of Minister, Senator, or
Councillor of State under the Empire, and Prefects under Na-
oleon III. To prevent the entire dissolution of the French
rmies during the armistice, Gambetta issued the following
roclamation: 21
482
THE FRANCO-PR USSIAN WAR.
Frenchmen : Prussia believes the armistice will dissolve our armies,
and secure the election of a chamber ready to conclude a shameful peace.
It depends on France to upset these calculations. It is necessary to make
the armistice a period for the instruction of our young troops. Continue
with unrelaxed vigor the organization for defence, and for war if necessary,
while you instal a National Republican Assembly willing to make such a
peace only as is compatible with the honor, rank, and integrity of France.
The surrender found Paris in a starving condition, and the
railroads being broken, the German army was obliged to share
its rations with the French troops. This was magnanimously
done, causing much good feeling. Much damage was done to
the old part of Paris and around the Luxembourg by the Ger¬
man shells, but new Paris escaped particular damage.
At the signing of the armistice —
Faidherbe’s Army of the North (the Twenty-second and
Twenty-third Corps) was in a demoralized condition in front
of Goeben at Arras, Douai, and Cambrai.
Chanzy stood, defeated by Prince Charles, with the Army of
the West at Laval.
Bourbaki (relieved by Clinchart) was fleeing into Switzerland
before Manteuffel with the Army of the East, covered by Gen¬
eral Billot.
Manteuffel was about capturing six thousand prisoners, which
work was finished before news of the armistice reached him.
The success of the German armies is unprecedented in the
history of warfare. Never in the world’s history has an army,
within six months, captured forces, the aggregate of which
almost equal the capturing army. The following table gives
the fortified places captured—time, and number of French
prisoners of war:
Weisenburg..
Lichtenburg..
Herny.
Vitry.
Sedan.
Laon.
Toul.
Strasburg.
Soissons.
Metz.
Verdun.
Neuf Brisach
Thionville ...
Pfalzburg....
Montmedy....
Rocroy.
Peronne.
Le Mans ....
St. Quentin..
Longwy.
Paris.
August 4..
August 9..
August 12.
August 19.
Sept. 1...
Sept. 10..
Sept. 23..
Sept. 27..
Oct. 16...
Oct. 27...
Nov. 8....
Nov. 11...
Nov. 25...
Dec. 12...
Jan. 13 ...
Jan. 5 ....
Jan. 10 ...
Jan. 11...
Jan. 19...
Jan. 25...
Jan. 28...
2.500
1,000
100
500
110,000
3,000
2,240
11,000
4,700
200,000
4.500
5,000
5,000
2,000
4,000
3,000
3.500
10,000
8,000
4,000
230,000
614,040
PEACE — THE DUAL GOVERNMENTS.
4S3
PEACE!
The election on the 8th of February may provide a de jure
government, and the world may look for peace between France
and Prussia on the following basis :
1. France to cede Alsace and Lorraine to Prussia. Metz
and Strasburg to become German fortfications.
2. France to pay Germany a war indemnity, and surrender
twenty ships from her navy.
3. Both national armies to be reduced to a peace footing.
Tranquillity came with the surrender, but General Trochu
feared far more the hatred of the Parisians than the Germans.
He refused to become a candidate in the Provisional election,
and retired to Brittany, a disheartened and disappointed man.
The hatred for Gambetta was intense in Paris, and on the
north. The people protested against his decrees, and against
the idea of proscription, preventing a free election. Favre
threatened to depose Gambetta, and appoint M. Herold in his
place ; and Bismarck even interfered, and said the election
should be free, and that Gambetta’s decrees from Bordeaux,
disfranchising the Imperialists, must be disobeyed. On the 5 th,
the differences of the dual governments became so great, that
Favre resigned his position of Minister of the Interior, and
Gambetta, intent on mischief, called a council of war in Bor¬
deaux, “ to deliberate on the means of profiting by the armistice."
If the Constituent election was not held on the 8th of Feb¬
ruary, Gambetta and his hot-headed party from Bordeaux pre¬
vented it; and all further anarchy or bloodshed will be on the
head of this selfish, vain, and tyrannical republican despot.
Germany will be compelled to organize a new Provisional Gov¬
ernment for France, with the consent of England, Austria, and
Russia.
If Napoleon III. made the war, Gambetta continued it, and
even now jeopardizes the making of peace. The following is
the list of Paris candidates for the Constituent Assembly, all
true, but conservative men :
Jules Favre, Isaac Adolphe Crfemieux, Alexandre Glais-Bizoin,
Louis Joseph Earnest Picard, Jules Simon, Pierre Clement,
Eugene Pelletan, Emanuel Arago, Louis Antoine Garnier-
Pages, Jules Ferry, Henri Rochefort, Admiral Saisset, Admiral
delaRonciere de Noury, Admiral Pothouan.
WHAT MADE A NATION’S DISASTERS.
And so the end is come. Wonderful indeed is the sublime
lesson taught by Divinity to the nations. The Coliseum has
4S4
THE FRANC O-PR US SI AN WAR.
become the pigmy, and the scathing irony of Victor Hugo has
become an awful truth. Voltaire has indeed surrendered to
Bismarck, Versailles is but the shadow of Potsdam, the Lor-
rainer has become a German, and France — “ the soldier of
God”—stands trembling before the sword of the hated Teuton.
What has caused this terrible change ? History is full of expla¬
nation. Other nations have had their rise and fall — their
period of prosperity; and then came the hectic flush, like the
Paris frenzy for war in July, which proved the signal for the
entry of political death. India taught the lesson of astrono¬
my and architecture to Egypt — and died; Rome, with her
Caesar-palaces, bowed to the sturdy Vandals; and Napoleon
the Great sharpened at Jena the Prussian sword which stabbed
Napoleon the Little at Sedan. Imperialism rotted the political
system of France. Military glory, ignorance, jealous suspicions,
and official espionage culminated in the Imperial declaration of
war against Prussia. It was the old assault of slavery against our
Republic — and with the same result. The war declaration
in July was but the blossom of Imperial decay. For ten years
the nation has been dying, and nothing but a great national
calamity could follow her rotten political system. The Emperor
dazzled; but behind was a dark shadow — the ignorance and
superstition of forty millions of subjects. In eighteen years
America could applaud but one act in the reign of Louis Napo¬
leon, and that act was the liberation of Lombardy. The Emperor
astonished Europe on fete days, and covered over the corruption
and decadence and the ignorance of a barbarous peasantry with
the glare of luxury. The column of July was gilded at the top ;
but it looked down upon a capital full of intriguers, suspicious,
and without manly confidence.
A nation cannot be great which gives five hundred millions
of francs a year to its army in time of peace, and but forty
millions to the education of her children. A nation cannot be
great which spends four hundred millions of francs in fine bar¬
racks, imperial palaces, and grand opera-houses, but which
looks in vain and in shame for a respectable school-house.
Greatness will never come when the army officers ten times
outnumber the schoolmasters. A nation cannot be great which
carries on its shoulders that monster of decay, that vampire
of Italy — the temporal power of a Pope ; gives two hundred
millions of francs a year to support a Papal imbecility, and re¬
fuses for years to contribute one hundred thousand francs to
Gustave Lambert for an expedition in search of the north-west
WHAT KILLED THE EMPIRE.
485
passage. Absolute power in one man and in one place —
Ccesarism — will never expand the national mind. The effects
of these eighteen years of despotism, of centralization, of luxury
for the capital and ignorance for the rural districts, have shown
themselves in blood, in shame, and in national disaster. Back¬
ward under the Empire, instead of forward to liberty, has been
going the education of the people. A nation must be on the
confines of barbarism when, unstartled, it sees the tax contribu¬
tions of her half-starved rural laborers go to pay for the “ pigeon
wings” of M. Petitpas and Mile. Fiocre on the boards of the
Grand Opera. What hope is there for a people who pay sixty
million francs a year from the state treasury to a half-naked
dancer, and who refuse to pay more than forty francs a month to
their school-teachers ? It was a heathenish excuse that the
dance-women brought strangers to Paris and enriched the people.
Education and sound morality, and not money, among the
masses, is a nation’s only salvation. What hope is there for
morality when opera-houses take the place of churches, and
when an Emperor flaunts the soiled robes of a Marguerite Bel¬
anger in the face of the reigning Empress? Not the one-man
education, but a broad and universal education will save a na¬
tion in her direst need. The Rousseaus, Pascals, Keplers, and
Humboldts cannot save a people, but the great swaying masses
must kneel at the fountain of wisdom and letters. First knowl¬
edge, then the Republic, and then greatness ; not first the
Empire, then wealth, then ignorance, and then littleness!
Paris deceived the world. Her brilliancy, her splendid rail¬
ways, and her dazzling soldiers were only masks covering an
ignorant, superstitious, and priest-ridden peasantry. Such a
people were incapable of great deeds. It was natural that the
frugal, Protestant, educated Prussian should overrun her fron¬
tiers sooner or later, and teach France, by a visitation of fire
and sword, the sources of her sickness and the remedy for her
cure.
The Empire with its spy system made one man suspicious of
another. This suspicious lack of confidence among citizens
became a great social evil. Great deeds were betrayed, and
affairs of state became intrigues of men. One half of France
were watching the other half, and everywhere were a double set
of sentries — one watching the other. M. de Persigny cautioned
the Emperor in a letter against their mutual friend, the Prefect
of Police. A whole nation became addicted to espionage —
every man a natural policeman, stealing with the right hand and
486
THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR.
guarding with the left, and the people became two armies of
parasites — the watchers and the watched.
The Empire died at Sedan; and then came the men of Sep¬
tember 4th. The seeds of the Republic were faulty, and they
fell on barren soil, worn out by imperial vegetation. It was
the same old government with a plurality of rulers — Favre,
Trochu, Gambetta, and Hugo, all pulling, but different ways.
Each man became a Republican emperor, with the same love
of decrees inherited from the Emperor. Every man who held
a bit of power, from the Governor down to the lowest mayor
or sub-prefect, must put into operation the abstract ideas he
had been preaching in secret conclave to his disciples for the
last twenty years; but fortunately for the state, they died as
soon as launched. Arbitrary arrests continued, the people still
belonged to the office-holders, and opinions were opposed by
force and secret intrigues rather than by the ballot and free
discussion. Men vote in a Republic, but do not decree ; and
when five or ten Republican emperors, like Gambetta and
Trochu, decree themselves de facto rulers, refusing to go before
the people in an election, they become despots. Gambetta
could not trust the people ; for the Empire had perverted hu¬
manity, and it must be born again before it could vote in a
spirit of liberty. After the fall of Paris, Bismarck sent the de¬
feated people to their ballot-boxes, and France did the first
republican act since the coup d'etat of Napoleon III. Months
must elapse before we shall know the result. We do not de¬
spair of the Republic, for the war has been a blessing in disguise,
pricking a visionary bauble, and placing a great nation in her
true position, humbled, but in her right mind. By and by she
may become a Republic. Republicans are born, not made;
and only with thirty years of trial, and with a generation of
born Republicans, can France be free from Imperial snares.
America has passed through that dead sea of Imperialism; and
every citizen, watched over by Republican parents and schooled
in Republican schools, finds in himself that undying, unchang¬
ing Republican principle and thought, — that thought goes
out in benedictions to struggling humanity — to Ireland,
to France, to Hungary, and Poland, and beckons even among
the thrones of depotism, saying, in a sweet voice, “ Come to
us! ”
THE END.
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