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"• V >/ •■' .-y Af -: ■ .;f^:| ' ':^i E2^I='X^.^3Sr^=^TI03^ OF TIIK- Cyclorama of tlie Battle of ^edan. * ■" (9 9 9 (9 9 / "L!.fA?°'\*'"^'^'"« ^™" *^^ ''*'''*»y on to the central platform. U?ll f^ "^ 1!^°'^ ''""■""^'y 'P**'^'"8' the north-east. fiJforeS noli ;5J k'^' ''^"' '*° '""*' *'^^ '™^«"«d f'o«n south^?st to M»« "'f 5 , *• ''^ * """r "''^'■' t*'^ M«"^e. in French; in German the Maas. It first comes on the scene from far to the swectiitor', riJI!l a thence along in front of Sedan and adjacent vilCe^^^?ir?c^S."he?th; m^ high hill, Iges, around which it sweeps to the left- and formimr o il a "loop," comes back dirfecUy south, u^t^UeL wLra^rS"! iltaX^^^^ spans It, It turns to the west and disappears from the canvas. ^ ^ T oM \? It* "^''^ *° -^^^ south-east, the spectator can see the villajre of LaMoncelle. the extreme right of the French fSnt line of batt^ Sond the V. lage, m the far distance, the Fourth Army Corps, the sSon cCn Pnnce's reserve, is coming on. ^saxon crown Looking further to the left, the burnina villaee of Bar^ilUc o«^ .u V llage of Balan next catch the eye. The fer<^ousXc J^f'he ,on^ ^d bloody struggle at these two places, which were takS^ and ?etlken ^vSd times, IS powerfully depicted in the Cyclorama *"" • u}^\^ •?'*''", "X *h^ *=*"^*s, the spectator catches a jrlimose. to th« right, of the viUage of Gi^onne. A whitfe Tall separat^ it fromT^pSk of BaUn. Far to the rear is a scant view of the village of 3v ALlnni^Sl clear across the Cyclorama^ and even into the d.KU,;'' are tS^^JS and foreste. The pnncipa one, running across the area from Giv^nne to aJ plateau of Floing, is the historic Forest of LaGarenne ^'^o^ne to the t*^n ?k!.ril!^ ^ ""* 'lu°'' *"*'** ^"f ** Prussians and Saxons, while be- tween them and Sedan, on the open areas and ridffes. are s«on A- w!! u columns, slowly falling back towiS the city!^ ^^ " ** ,^'^"** Running his eye to the left, the spectator watches the last charge of th«. French cavalry, the chasseurs, upon the Prussian infantry The iSe? n^ formed in square, as customary, but in somewhat 1<^ oJ!« j!! 'i * parallelogran, have gained a firS^'footing onTe rio^. oTSofet^'l^he 'S y^^^ P«H«i« ^'n^ae pns-rtaugfiter m« iSd IkS^ Wbei^ Z tt iifl? S J^r'n'^ **? fu ^''':?*J'- .^* °' ^° <^mpaS5a break thfouKh the wall of fire, and reach the road at the foot of the olateau. rfJ^jr.2??" '^-HH-I^ /■ Cyclorama of the Battle of Sedan. \ IS one Looking east, directly to his front, across the Meuse, the spectator now se^s the ancient city of S^dan, the centre of this gigantic struggle, looming up largely and grimly. ' The eye is attracted by several public edifices, of massive structure, liberal dimensions, and imposing^ apiiearance. In the south-east section of the city stands the eitadel, with it§ arsenal and adjacent barracks. Near by, the church, whose two domes are prominent. In other parts of the city are two orher large barracks. On the north rises high the military hospital. It stands qn an eminence 130 feet above the Aleuse. It is well fortified, and, as it commands "the entire city, i? deemed a stronghold. We will now examine, with the spectator, what the artist shows us on the western side of the Meuse. To the spectator's immediate front is the suburb ot Torcy. It is con- nected with Sedan by a stone bridge, and is fortified and strongly held by the French. Quite a number of houses, arranged on a couple of streets, inter- vene between the platform and the ramparts of Torcy. This little hamlet is called Petit Torcy. The Bavarian infantry occupy it, supporting Wurtem- berg field batteries. Its walls and roofs show the devastating track of shell and round shot. On the sward and in the streets are bloodier evidences, in dead or wounded men and horses. " Behind a protecting wall, a prikt . kneeling by the side of a dying soldier, administers the last rites. Over to the left of the settlement, some of the guns have, by mistake, fired upon their own infantry, in the houses in their front; and an officer is seen riding at full speed to Stop the carnage. Still further to the left of Petit Torcy, a long, double column of Wurtem- burg horse-artillery is seen, rushing madly from the high ground to the rear out into the open plain, there to take position and shell Sedan. This i of the most life-like, spirited and accurate pictures in the Cyclog ama. In reply to this vehement assault, the French cannon fire thick and fast from the Torcy and Sedan ramparts and the Sedan interior works. Their shells burst all around with fatal effect. Just to the spectator's right, in the open area, is proof thereof in the two mounted ("icrman officers, their horses at full speed, and one officer affectionately supporting in his arms his comradel wounded and falling. ' ■ ,1^^ Further to the right, a Jaeger battalion is eagerly rushing forward Vom the highway into the level ])lain. Beyond them, along the road crossing the valley from the village of Vadeiincourt to Balan, the IJavarian pioneers are cutting down the tall trees, in order to give their artillery on the hillside a clear range. Between these two bodies is a Jiollow space, sheltered by a grove of trees, in which a field hospital has just been established. .\ number of wounded German soldiers are being attended to by the surgeons. Others await their care, or are being brought in on stretchers. All are under lire, but all seem unconciousof it. Looking down the valley, we admire the artist's delicate and finished touch in depicting the transparent waters frcMii the inundation. The trees, the sky, the clouds, are rt fleeted in them; and the black smoke and red flames also. At the furthest end of the valle\, to the south-east, is seen, somewhat mdistmctly, the village of Remilly. ]ust this side of it is the manufacturing village of Porte Mauzy. Back. of them, and all the waj coming up the valley, stands out, on the spectator's right, a range of lofty hills, forest crowned, and now glmming in- the sun, now darkened by a cloud overhead. Along their stepes-foriiiiles^^aretwstedthe^noraenjns field bmeric^ of rhe Fourth Afffiy Corps and the Second Bavarian Corps, throwing rhell clear across the valley and river into the French masses on the eastern side. High up on the sum- mit of one of these hills stands the village of Novers. , I Cyclcrama of the Battle of Sedan. Here, close at hand, so close that the signs on tlie houses can be read. IS he village of Vadelmcourt, curving out from tl^ foot of the hills nuo the valley. J he ra.lr-.ad trom Sedan to Melz runs thTough it, towards the sou;h east; and through the l«-oad street moves olT, in the some direction, a band of trench prisoners. 1 he red rai>s and i)ants and blue coats of the Krcneh con trast vividly with the helmels and dark blue uniforms of the (ierm.u.s The peaceful village church and cjuiet cemetery, on the slope just above Vadelmcourt, seem «rt of place amid the masses of soldiery, and the artillery here and there, bleaching smolce and destruction. -'"uiery, The spectator ha(s moved gradually round the platform by his right He IS ndw exactly opposite to where he first stood, and is looking westward " His . eyes rise above the lines of batteries and supporting troops, to a group of dismounted officers standing in a line high up on the slo,.e if the lofty 1 i just below us fore.st crown. They are over a mile distant, but arc easilJ recognized with the naked eye. ^ An historical group, indeed ! The first man to the spectator's right is VonMoltke. He is pointing out to the King of Prussia, whose tall fiHire comes next to his, the French cavalary charge in the ' distance. On^ e Kmgs right stands General Sheridan, sent by the United States Government to study this grand campaign from German headquarters. Prince Carl of Prussia, is next to the American general. . Then the Grand Duke of \Veimar- h"?v ' u^f t^^'"""/^^'"'^'''^ 'V''^'"^^^'^- Otl^er notables are in the gS but VonMoltke and Bismarck dwarf them all. It is well to state here tha the German headquarters are distant from Sedan four miles: and from the forests on the line of the french rear, seven miles. Quite near the platform ■ now, the spectator sees the little village of Frenois, much damaged [)y artil-.'' lery projectiles. In one of it^small houses is dcciptcd a scene That at once enlists the sympathies. This tenement'rs being used »s a field hospital The door in the rear into which we look, opens on a small .yard walled in ' Tho surgeons are busy at their terrible yet humane work. - In. one corner of the yard a female nurse is preparing, over a fire, food f)r the wounded One poor fellow near her needs no further care. Death has claim. -d him ' A side gate in the wall is open, and the surgeon's aids are rnivfully ijuin to an ambulance just outside, those of the wounded who can ation to a regular hospital. To the right of, and close to the hospit.il, stands the rhurd The first interchange of cannon balls h.as thro' it in- transport- J' Frenois. ,, ,.,, ", \_ :;, .— c-.Kked and finished its l-alls. Hut the arlillerymen on both sides now aim at it no Imacr. Indeed even if order ed to fire on it they would refuse. " For they sec tlie little flag that flutters from the church steeple. They know what it means and what it protects That little flag is sacred— it is the Red Cross of Gen; va ! Aii'jthcr grouj) on the right of the spectator, but much further awav from him, next arrests his attention. On a winding road, lined with tall poplars, and leading from the low grounds up a long hill to German headquarters, appears the Crown Prince of Prussia. -He is on horseback, and is followed bv his staff and escort also mounted. He is hurrying on, to report the success of his grand turnin- movement, but he nevertheless stops a minute or so, to say a kind word to a wounded soldier, who rises from the road side to salute his general. • W^ are next attracted by the picturesque apjiearanre of a body of cavalry drawn up in a meadow, in line of battle. 'I'hey stand as if on parade with lances high in air, from which flutter their little flag. They form a i)art of the Bavarian light horse— the famous Uhlans. ' Further back, on the hill sides are Wurtemberg field batteries firing vigorously a very long distance across the valley at thc'French troops and guns on the opposite heights. In this part of the canvas the two steeples rising above ^ hill in the distance, indicates the vil'a-c of lianrhcry which is situat ^ Cyclorama of the Battle of Sedan. ed on the Meuse, on the other side of this hill. In this village Bismarck slept the night after the battle. In the distant plain, north of Dynchery and beyond the Meuse, is seen a large mass of infantry, motionless. They constitute a VJIJurtembiftg^vision, 20,000 strong, and form the reserve fur the two Prussian Army £orps, \he sth and I iih, that have accomjOislied the turning movement around the peninsula and hill of Iges, and are now assaulting the French rear at the plateau of Flo- ing This peninsula and hill hold a |iT..iiiiiient plac€ in the Cyclorama, look- ing north from y^e platform. On the summit of the hill, a German battery is firinL' at the PVench batteries on the heiglfts of Kloing. t:onlln;J^jj|)ack now to a point nearer the platform, the spectator's glance is am Sled l)f the sight of a large and handsome edifice, located at the foot of a hil , just north of Krenois. It is a French country house; its name is the ChaiiMu (le IJellevue. Ill this Chateau, on the afternoon of S.ptember 2nd, the conquering !'nis>i,m King a. id the defeated French i:ni,.i. .r met, by appointment, and held I'nvaie conference for ji (}uarte of an hour. r .:n this Chateau, the next .morning, the captive Emperor departed for 1 V. Then departed and disappeared, also, the second French Empire, - I.nd the solid foundation for the new .and powerful German Empirek he ar.istb, Profe-sor Louis Hiaun and August Lohr had the signal ad- ■ of personally witnessing tli-- great battle. Their minutely careful > t.ik.11 then a 1.1 .ifterwards, wer^- submitted to competent authority 1. a id their accri'-y fiflly authenticated. It was then the work of IS o' con.stant > 1 e and labor to transfer these sketches to the circiil- Mi'.;ed canvas ii'W before us. result is a historic painting, unsurpassed for its grandeur and harmony I its fidelity to ■ .uire and to triiih, its dramatic power, its absorbing The soul aiul talent of the true artist are especially seen in the re- manner in which every scene in the terrific war tragedy is accurate- powerfully delineated, without obliterating the peaceful beauty with whi( h eternal Nature, in a beneficent spirit, had decorated the romantic land- scape eVn fr,>m the lays of old. Germ and w van' r sketr at 15 tWf) arly of d. inter mar ly an I ■ f/i ait;: Nations change^ but Genius is Immortal. ^-^ i- '^ , The Battle Of ^cdail WITH A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENTS WHICH LED UP TO IT, AND OF THOSE WHICH IMMEDIATELY SUCCEEDED JT. 3) TUJISTORY, it ran happily he said, has but seldom been called upon to pi record a more interesting, yc-t innnlernus conflict than was witnessed • J hi ? p'"'' ^'i'"'"!,.^' ^^^'^ ''-^ ^^•■^»'- which struck the dSh H.v \f .k" k^"^^' ^"'"'"'^ ''"''"'■^ '''"^ S^^'^ "■'*« to the J^epublic of to- day; .t was this battle, also, which determined the future V the Franco- F/uss,an War. I o g.ve a more comprehensive unde^st.wdin- of the circu.r- bmrbelmv ' ^t-.^^^l^N the events which led up to >t are given ia In 1 866' the fierce struggle between Austria and" Prussia for the supre- macy of Germany ended, ,,lacing Prussia at her head. As a result of his conflict Pruss,, received on the wi,ole about eigl^y-two millions of gulden and considerable^ddition to her territory. Hesides this, the military forces of nearly al Germany were j-lnc^.d under Ikk r.^wr.^, While Austria had beeh weakened Prussia was greatly strengthened. It was against this powS country that Irance on the igth of July, 1870, declared the war k own „ history as the Iranco-Prussi.an. -^■■owii in ^;f."ce had not yet recovered .from the fe.irful shock which the Mexican Expedition had caused her^h,.feare General, coun.seled war/bt^t Bis marck with more discretion successfully opposed it. By the arrangements which were finally made bv a congress of ambassadors which met in I oS the Pnissian garrison vacated the fortress and razed it to the ground Much severe condemnaHon was heaped upon 15ismarck for this action.' " Napoleon was riot s)ow in maturing new plans. He soon c6nceived the idea ot reuniting Belgium .to France, as in the^daysof Napoleon I W4t£^ Bismaf^Tcs aid and by means of promises, he hoped to be .successful But ' "."""u U "^ characteristic diplomacy, procrastinated as much as possible ' and with hTs-usual skill, frustrated these plans. possioie Much opposition was .at this time brought fo bear against Napoleon There was an uprising of public sentiment against him, which tjireatened soori «1 6 Cyclorartrja gf tWe Battle of Sedan. S 'J to break out into open rebellion. ' NapoleVm (oiild no longer re'stvsecure, , even with the intnnatc c«nfiw in finding a- i)rete.xtffor a proclamation. Dy thjjS means the Emperor had thought to packy his opponents. He atitirm- cd Willi truth that lie was forced into the war, and so he wa«. , ,,^ _ It wa» at this ])oriod that negotiations fur the acceptance of the Spanisii rrown'.hj-vlijvii-Kje, Hohenzolltrn were being effected. 'Ihis afforded the I'liiiperor a pretext for'th'e lexeculign of his i)lans. ^Me reasoned that by this means the balance of power, alwayS a mo-st import'ant cenjiideration, wouUl be destroyed in Europe. The -interest and'cventhe future existence of. France, he strongly maintained, would thus t)e endangered. The Kiiig, Willism of Prussia, was consulted by ('ounfRupedetti, who 1iad been sent by the Duke de Graitiont, a wArm friend of tlVe'Ktoperor. Kihg William heard' the envoy, and though sufficiently conStious* t)f his'bwfl,., power to be indifferent to the -ascendancy of the Prince, nevertheless graciou.sjy consented to the renunciation of his candidature to the throp^. A second demand was now made to the King, and this jjerhaps a very ■ unrcasojittble one. After all his concessions,- he was now haughtily asked txt^ promise tliat the I'rinie of liuiien/uliern shquld never, . under any'circum- htanccs, he a candidate fui" the Spanish throne. Much quibb^ng has been indulged in as to whether tl>e bearer of this demand w.as received courteously, or, as sortie vj-riters express i*, "was shown - the door. ' To be sure such an act would l)e an' insult. France it would !eem, legarded it in tins li-lrt, and on the 15th July acce|.ted the chtillenge which she claimed I'lu-sia had oriVrcd. , 'this was doiie, it ni'.,^i be said, not without much opposition from the .leaders of the I.ibcial p.uty. " We pioteM," end Jules Favre, "that streams 'of blood will fiow, and F.um |,e be cuVL-red with luins, for a mere fpieslion of sliscciilibility, a n'lere (iue--lion of eli'|U'.a!c," and \viie4i he said this he was by no means alone in his opinion. Put throu-li il.c intrigues of the war party, this sent >.i;(.ul was squelched and war was dei laied. ^ South (leiniany >vas terror stricken. Should Xajioleon march forwartL imnK(iiately on this dei laration, as Prussia had done in 1866, Pajden, the^ Palatinate, Wurtemburg and Pavaiia would be ui his macy. /iKaheir terror they joined the North«Cohfederati*«gftt"tliem in Vienna and Italy. It was while engaged in theff^r secret and important negotiations, that Bismarck exposed to, all Europe the proposals and proifiises of the Emperor in resi)ect to the acquisition of Belgium. Napoleon saw his ihistake; he hag been treating with tlie wrong man. • • / This exposure threw Napoleon in such a dreadful state of confusion that he knew neither whtrp nor how to begin his operations^ The army, the navy, the money, all of which had been pictured to him by his followers in such glowing colors as ready, and at his command, were not "forthcoming; mey were more vissionary than real. The money had been appropriated forj dif- ferent purposes and the army was but half the size it had been represertted. ^Once agairi drsappointS^, it requfreff two long weeks bef6re he could com- "^ plete his preparations. In the meanwhile Prussia had not been idle. She had sent powerful forces to the aid of the South, so as to be able to meet Napoleon there. The war had begun, though no actual engagement had as yet tak^n place. f li 300 yards fronv the Prussian needle-guns. They escaped unharmed, afl.ki, a miracl,^. 'I'he French would have entered tli^ town of baarbrucR but rumors of fls-h^ving been undermined caused them to pause In this engagement the tVL-i,cR*TaS^.two officers and fifteen meii. killed' besides si.xty others hors-de-cofiibat. ' Tl.e Prussians lost 300 'killed aftd wounded and fifty prisoners. The engagsiiient was an importartt ohe to the l|^rench testing ti.eirc)wnJ»reetcd .vyith an cnthuiastic ovau6n from the inhalfitant^. -TJnbunnded hopes and extrav-tagant exi^ctations prevailed. Cermany on the contrar/wns much depressed by the-neAvs of Ofis bat^tle, though this merely incited her to greater efforts^ Her ^ru'V^^^.^/" ^'^;'i''"^efl •'''«ng the French frontier in three g-md armies. rhe first^n6«:n as the Army of the North, was under the command of Gen 3tem»*«tz; the .second, known as the Army of the Centre, was under the .command of Prince Frederick Charle* of Prussia", and the third* known as tlie Army of the South, was under the command of the Crown Prince of Prussia Gen. Vori Moltke, the great strategist, was the real coifimander-in- chief, though the kmg reserved the title for himself. Together these three armies mustered about 5 10,000 well drilled, strong and active soldiers They we so placed as to be e^ily coalesced. South Germany was.especially pleased with the arrangerfient and distribution of these armies and offictrs. • On the 4th of August the advance guard of Marehal MacMahon's coips ^as attacked at Weissemburg.' The French displayed magnificent heroism-- the/ouayes and Turcos being particularly commendable for the valor which they displayed.. History cannot be too lavish in her praises of their heroic .deeds. Nor can it be sai)i that the Prussians were less obstmat^ in their ^efence. The French hoped for victory, and in this they would not have been disappointed had not the Crown Prince furnished the Prussians with ^ -time y and mvaluaWe assistsince. As it was they were entrapped between ' twa furious fires, and it was only throughJnvincible daring and courage that they suQceeded m retiring, t u ■A,' 8 Gyclorama of the Battle of Sedan. The Crown Prince did not rest here, but continued to push onward witb J T'J~^'' "™y °^ "°'°°° ™en, s^nd engaged in a fierce butTe.7 S s.ded battle wuh MacMahon's army of 33 ooo men. tT. F^nchTad " a bold struggle considering the disproportionateness of their number but the J ' soon put to rout. This battle was fought on the 6th of August at and near Worth, whence it took its name. The French loss wasTep^wf amounting to 13,000 k.lled besides the loss of thirty pieces 6f aS^s,^ murameuses and two eagles. The losses of the Pru^L^ns were a o ?reat though not nearly so formidable.. ^ ' Misfortunes were now rapidly succeeding one another. We no sooner In Z fin'r^"Y'^f ' l^'^" ^:^"^^"' ^'^''^'^ '^ ^^P"'^^d from Larbruck thriJ K !^f"^^'' '^' ^>"''^ ^g^'" '^'^P'^yed much intrepidity But three such defeats m two days were more than they could endure wkh equamm,ey. However much confidence and fortitude pervaded the^mrnt at^he begmnmg of the war, they now had too little. Their courage suddenly left them, and without courage and presence of mind it is needless to sav mankind .s not fit for warfare. The Emperor, from whom such a th n, wa^ least expected, succumbed with th^n gt. " ^ f.ii.^^'^"xT' d'«^^"'t to imagine the consternation and excitement which followed. Napoleon dared not return to Paris, unsuccessful as he had been Once again he contemplated that coup d'etat which he had meditated at the opening of the war-the deportation of his opponents to Africa and Cayenne and among them many respected and peace-loving inhabitants Tre numbered. lo banish thousands of such good and honest citizen ould be a terrible and fatal stroke. Even the Empress Eugenie felt this and feared to execute such a policy. Napoleon now ardently desired tp conclude peace w^th Prussia, and at this juncture would doubtless have acceded to any te ms Meanwhile the Prussians were following up their victories and soon r^ore successful conflicts before the fortress of Metz were added to their^riunrhs These victories however were by no means achieved with ease. '"""'P*^^' On the 14th of August the French army made a bold resistance tn th^ earfu onslaughts of the enemy. The i6th still saw no end to this bLd? struggle. The losses on both sides were enormous. The French enacted prodigies of valor, and to the Germans, too, a high tribute must be pTid for the wonderful tactics and discipline with which they fought. This bauronl of the fiercest of the age is known as the battle of MarsMour'Bo^h amies occupied the next day in transporting their wounded, burying their dead and in procuring ammunition. It was the plan and the houe of the Pruss^ns to cut off Bazaine, the French General, from retreat ng, and to orJe him back to Metz. On the i8ththey engaged the French in another battle -that of Gravelotte. This conflict lasted all day and was even mo e ZtZ"' T^ ''"' ^'/" ^'^' ^'' ^'^ '''''■ ''''' F--h were ou numlS and after strenuous efforts to rc.st the thundering charges of the enemv were defeated. Night came on and cast a veil over^'one of the siSdS S most heart-rendering scenes of the whole war; so numerous were ?hVde"d and wounded that they were thickly piled on one another. The b«u le of Pravelo te had been fought and won. Prussia's hope was realized. Marslia " Bazaine's army h^ been forced back to Metz. -^lars.ui The history of the following ten or twelve days can be briefly told There were no utlportant pitched battles, only a few and comparative^ in igl nificent skirmishes. Both armies were pre,)aring for the m irderous scS^ assistance of Bazaine who was still shut up at Metz, so that a meeting ofThese two armies became an impossibility. They theref.re quietly encamped at Chalons, and just as quietly left for and entered Rheims. 'Fhey next marched to Rethel where they remained but a short time. marcnea ■A. I / Cyclorama of the Battle of Sedan. ft^ II ZtlnfleSSlelsf:^^^^^^^ -^ powerful fruW • would be a veritable mirade '^^ '^'^^^^ '""^ ^^"^« ''^"ks h«H J;^^*=M^hon's army had been seriously crippled by the defeats which it had suffered and was very disoiriteH On TiL «-»u r a "^'*^^^,^ wnicn it posKive instructions from Paris to relieve Met?! M^rtrTJ ^V^''^'\^'^ E'"Jf,'"° P™"""^"' '» suns, a„d c^emble camp baggie tS Em'iror himself was present and mth much Mfulty escaped to sjan *-'"P«'°"^ .0 .he'XrnrSlirylfthrsZesr'thI 'tS^U'^.T^' ""^ ^'^^ "'' prelude to the grand and' decisfve eng^eme* ^Xh theyTer"; """ THE BATTLE OF SEDAN. I'rSt^rS'-rshli^Ee^^.'Setr^^^^^^ Of s.dan^%lsl^ral,l,?ef;rs„?h:si.r„£?F'^^^^^^ good defensive positions, and awaited the attack wh?ch was to fonr^q'S"'" LTo?'p1r,°s" ' U T:l"f "' ','" ""' «'"='• ^ * -cTor.S'Zies 'l^T "rs w !i;=:i»r?a:^etTeM™rrctf,"hi^T ■" ^t^ ""- .rtV--s-/^d-n-je^:rS^^^^^^^ cons.dered the most ,mpor.tant part of the stronghold^ It is Se birthp ace of the great Marshall Turenne, one of the most remarkable of French generals whose ghost might well be supposed to have trembled with excrement and hnlf ?T" V^^ terrible defeat which befell the hosts of France wltTaMa^ shall and an Emperor at their head in this verv town TTnul f^!. /i- ! u of Sept. X870 Sedan was noted for its clo.h^and woolen tnuf^^^^^^^^ since then it has acquired a lasting military name in histoid Sremoe w^fn . '^Tf ' '"""'"^ i\"" ""g'^ f'^'^^^" projections of^Belgiaf te^Tort r^, on TK '° 'f T f '\l "'°'' ""^'^'"« ^'^^^^^^^ that ever befdl a migS ^nZ^ 7^ •?K^'t"'''°'yu,°'^ '°^^'"' ^°""d «bout by streams and hllh 1S mocked her with the semblance of defence, yet unable to avert Sie comhS doom, v^m seem to the eyes of future travellers to partake of the sadneS of =Aat tragedy to which it afforded a badcpounran^a stSgt^^ ^ ^ I he plan conceived by the Germans on the 31st of August and carriofi out by them on the following day, was to envelope the whde French aiSv to hem ,t ,n upon Sedan, and so to cut it off from^ every p^ sibry of S^a. They had at their command about 240,000 men, and fmm 600 to 700 cannon" thus greatly outnumbering the French, whose force probably did not exceed m G ^1f' 10 Cyclorama of the Battle of Sedan. 1^°'°°° men, with 440 guns. To ensure the success of these movements the whole of August 31st had been devoted by General von MoItL ^^01™! the various corps in the necessary positions, partly along the rive cS and beyond Remillym the direction of the Meusc, with supports in other poSioJs where they would be required to aid in the great turning movement that was to be the leadmg feature of the following day. "vtment tnat was bv thT^'r^^'Th^' °" '^^ ?'°'"'"^ °^ ^'P'- ''' '■"""^ themselves attacked pLtlv h tK • ^^y "'"'' ^'""^^ '^^" ^°"^ desperate their position was. Partly by their own mismanagement and partly by the admirable plans of the enemy they found themselves caught in a trap-driven into a corner of the country with no possible retreat open to them. Under cover of a dense og the Saxons had crossed the Chiers, the bridges of which stream by extraordin- mTt wTth 'S nh'. ^^"^h had neglected to break down, so that their advance ^rSn^^.^nifc H ^' ^""^ "l^'"''^'^ ^P°" ^'"°""^- The Bavarians advanced ^^m !f"i^ ^'Tr^^ '° ^"^^^ '^'' ^'"^g^- This action did not fully commence until 6 o'clock a.m., and at 9 o'clock a furious artillery fight at close range was going forward along the whole line. The position at Givonne S uZ'^f'f ^^. MacMahon too strong to be turned, and unfortunately he ad here stationed his weakest troops. On the first onslaught of the Prussians these ga;e way and the left wing was turned. By i r o'clock the French centre also began to recede, though the contest was still prolonged with desperate tenacity the weaker side fiercely and bravely disputing every hill, slope and point of vantage. The villages of Bazeilles and Balan were the two great scenes of carnage, for the French well knew the importance of these places, and-clung to Uiem as long as it was possible. In spite of the murderous cross hre from the Bavarian supporting batteries (headed by the Emi)eror himself, who IS said to ha%-e agh.n exposed his life with great recklessness), they at one thT hi? ri'^l""''^^"'/"^ ^'°^' ^""'^ '^^ *="^™y- It was at this stage of the balde that it seemed as though the French might yet win the day. Their vfnrTl T' '" '^^ meantime also hotly engaged. The German Crown Prince after havmg crossed the Meuse on pontoons, had planted his batteries on the c est of a hill which overlooks the village of Floingand the surrounding ^ \J kX 1 i L I y a . Although attacked in the rear the French confronted the enemy with all Ifv-'^Tr rr'"'^"§''''''"'^P""'^^ ^ deadly and determined musketry fire . w. h tentfic effect upon the Prussians. General Sheridan, who was an eye witness, remarked that he had never before heard so well sustained and long n^ni'J^'v u'.? i 'i'"^'- .^y "'"'^""^ '^^ ^^"^■'^i^^" battery on the slope near La V.llette had silenced two batteries of French guns near die village of Floirig, and soon after the French infantry were compelled to retire from that ?nl. rT. ^ \ -^"i-^n"" ^'°*"S *"^ ^'"^^"^ ^t I o'clock another French Bn Sc f ^tr A^i""r 'f '^^' '° *h^ ■''^h' °f Sedan, on the road leading from .^nTh n,! K 1^ "^^ ""^ La Garenne ; a third column was observed coming up through the same wood, designed for the support of the troops defendini - 1a T"' "/ ^^".^'''- ^°^ '^^ ^'■^"^h b^"^"«« «" the edge of this wood and above it opened a most teriffic fire on the Prussian columns of the fifth ^JS,! ^^"^1"^^*"^ " ''^"^ °^ ^^'"'"g possession of the hill north of U oarenne. Ihe Germans gained the position, but being too weak to hold it r' «^^!Tu "''^" '^r" *h^ •"'"■ ^' the bottom they were strongly reinforced. n,J! Sk'""! 'u^' ^^^ historical charge of the French Cuirassiers was ^ u \i - A't"0"g'V the ground was broken and unfavorable for cavalry, they ?i^ p T^'^i^''^*^^^ the scattered ranks thatwereaptn stragglmgWW^ ^ slope. But to their mishap they had before them the llite ofihe Prussian army steady and well disciplined soldiers. On they came, and nothing seemed able to withstand their tremendous assault. The Prussians did not form square nor send a shot until the gallant horsemen had come within about 100 yards ma of the Battle of Sedan. 11 when they opened a (ertrful fiie upon them, reloadii-.i; and firing as fast as possible ; men and horses were killed and wounded In" hundreds ; the others turned and fied. The French infa^itry then advanced, but, hke the cavalry n-ere also driven oehind thti ridge on the road to Sedan. Subseciucnily another regiment ot cavalry dashed forward to make a renewed attempt to dislodce the enemy, but this also failed. Although by some extraordinary effort the I'russians had succeeded in getting a cbuple of 4-pounders up the steep and were using them with telling effect, the French cavalrycl;arecd again and again, each time with increased spirit and resolution, even to the extent of reckless- ness ; but not being supported by their infantrv, who scemed'paralyzed by the fearful shock, they were unable to shake the Prussians., (living up the position for lost they fell back ; but the French cavalry finding themselves pursued and loth to give up even the unequal contest, turned and once more charged desperately. Nothing could now have changed the failure into success The French had lost the hill ; the Prussians had gained it, and were now receivineaan. from Napoleon I the victor,ouVp^{;g''' "^s .er remoratl "" ' 'f'^l w.th reference to the issue to which it led commencTd .^ h ^.^ considered . " Not being able to die at the head of mv arm. 7^n '^ ^^^'^ "^"'^^ • of your Majesty," etc. .Ml the V^st ^^s leftTn 'thV ^' T^ "T"^ ^* '^^ ^^'^ reply in which V,e deplored Ihe mann; of h s meeUn^^S^thTK ' '^'^'^ and begged that a plenipotentiary mi-ht be sent wuh u^^r^^J Emperor, could be concluded. ' ^^ ''''"'" ^^^ capitulation Meanwhile the state of tilings within Sedan was terrihl^ h^ ^ ^ t.on. Watch-fires were lighted in every direS and the h^ ^^^yond descrip- bright crimson glow beneath which the threaTened fortr.^, heavens reflected a Discipline there was none. The inen o dTfT.rem / ^ ^'^""'^ ^"^ ^'■"- " together indiscriminately, inflintrv cava ' '^d ,X\' 'rrV'',! "'''"''"^ everywhere, and otiiers, both woJnded and not J, Id S "'^ \°'"'"' '^y will through the streets. Ram fcl! in torrents the me^^'hlLTu T?u'""^ '' singly ^d in groups under arches and on dot'steps the S '^'T'^-'^^ gunpowder, and the pavements were littered Sfra'gmenrof shell '? T^' swords, rifles, pistols, lances cuirasses and metrailleuscs 'I h. cf i '^^'■°''^" either burnt or buried to prevent their fa.ling.nt'X"hanJs':;l"eter " lo these horrors of the scene a dpfirlpnru />f ,^, ■ • ■^' and the half famished soldiers were obhgd to cut'^r"deTl T "°^ ^^^^^' only means of obtaining food Many of fhl^ho es ':ere urnt^ott ^'"'" destroyed, and a large number of the .v.lians together l-hhth^'sX™! On the morning of the 2nd of Sept. the situation wn<: -, h^ i .t must hnve appeared still more obvious to the F encrth;^ ^ If' °"'v^^ night that further resistance would 't^e fruitless as d'nse ^.s's of T'""' troops were seen on the heights above the Meuse. The hSns h?i^M H™'," batteries in position, and the plains were covered as far as th. T A"^ ''''"' with regiment upon regiment. '^^ ^>^ ^O"'^^ '"each The terms of the Germans were unconditional surrondf-r nr.^ v ^ , capitulation was not signed" bv noon of the 2nd the nvvn f k V "'^u'^ '^^ Nothing but purposeless slaughter could have res Ueifr"m a det^'^"'''- to abide such an attack, and the lOmperor wisely resolved to see £^™""^^^<^" and endeavor to obtain a moderation of the terms itch had been set'd''""' Accompanied by a few of h,s staff, he started from Sed^at , ovJk T morning, and proceeded in a carriage to Donch^rv where hlL^ '" ^^^ with Bisimuk in a small wayside 'house. occupiS t J handloom "''"'"'" Later in the day Napoleon mot the King of Prussia at ChLauSr "^Tu' result of these interviews was a modification of the orlin.u! ^^"/^"e- ^ he The artieles^ five in namh^ -« ^,„«»* tll^ - ine original ter ms of sur render. and Gen. de Wimpffen for the French, provided that the FrlS, / Germans, themselves ac:tually surrounded by superior forces s£ldS^^^^^^^ as prisoners of war ; that, however, in consequence of ^.£1 themselves up defence offered by the army, all the generarrnrffict.rdXT7uper Cycloi/arna of the Battle of Sedan. 13 et employees having the rg/nk of officers, who would jSedge their word of honor in writing, not io bear arms against Germany, and riot to act in any manner against her interests until the close of the existing war, should be allowed to retain their arms and personal effects ; that all war materials, flags, etc., should be dehvered at Sedan to a military commission ; that the town and fortified works should be given up at the latest on the eyening of the 2nd of September and that those officers who do nof accept the articles previously set forth' should be marched out together with the disarmed troops, to be handed over *?. T^" commisssaries by their officers, the surgeons to remain behind to attend ahe wounded. , Many of the officers refused to promise not to fight again against the enemy, and preferred going into captivity. o o & .u . k"u !i"''f "^"^"1 '''^'^'J'^ *° ^'' ''""I^' ^^"- '^e Wimpffen acknowledged that he had obtained conditions which relieved the army, as far as pcssibic . from the humiliating formalities which ordinarily the usages of war exac under such circumstances, , ' In this memorable and bloody battle the French sustained a loss unpar- alleled in the history of her country, a loss of about eighty thousand prisoners and ovet four hundred field pieces, including seventy metraiUeuses, one hundred and fifty siege guns, ten thousand horses, and. warlike materials of all kinds In a single month every French soldier that was not securely shut up with Bazaine, at Metz was a captive in the hands of the Prussians, and among them was the fallen monarch of the French Nation -the Emperor 1 The crowning victory of the war was now won ; the Second Empire was at an end;, the Government of National Defense was proclaimed, and with this proclamation the Emperor of France, Napoleon III., passes from the pages of history. The remai^nining events of the war can be briefly chronicled. When the news of the Battle of Sedan reached Paiis the Empress and the Emperor's party fled from France. Both France and Germany now jdshed for peace but they were unable to come to satisfactory terms. Germal!^ persisted in he^ demand for Strasburg and Metz, but France would not yield. The armies of the Crown Prince of Prussia and of Saxony had, immediately after the battle of Sedan, left for Pans. They arrived before the giant city without meeting any noteworthy resistance. v,tuug The war now assumed a new phase. It was no longer a w;k of conquest by Napoleon III., but a war between the French Republic and Germany:^ skirmishing and small battles still continued, and on the 23rd of September Toul was captured by the Germans. On the 27th they occupied Orleans, and on the same day also the garrison and fortress of Strasburg surrendered 17,000 men layiffg down their arms. " cnucrca. In the meanwhile Bazaine, who was still shut up at Metz, made several unsuccessful attempts to break away, and on the 7th of October made a ^rand sortie, in which, after fighting valiantly and stubbornly for five hours he was repulsed with a loss of about 2,500 men. The Germans were not wrong in their calculations that his provisions would give out before the end of teh month, for en th^ 27th his army and the fortress of Metz capitulated— 171 000 prisoners, including three marshals and sixty-six generals, surrendered and 3,000 cannon were taken. " Never," says an historian, " since the world was had such a host surrendered itself without a last trial of the fortune of war " Ihe Germans hoped that Paris would now succumb to a like attack, and would spare a similar fate. ==- France was awakening to a realizaftoh of her situatfon. New and increased^ "" dangers ^-.re again threatening her. Through the indefatigable exertions of Gambetta, new armies were quickly raised. On the 9th of November thev gained a well-earned victory over the Gprman general, Van der Tann at . Coulmiers and Baccon. and reoccupied X)rleans. These successes raised >■ u Cyddijama^ofthe Battle of Sedan. ".em of Paris shorty after. This Si? im"°? "' ""'^'^^ """i bO^-bT,^ *e.8.h of Jan'„*X b«X?h"eS'~^*' '™ "''"°°" *e evening "Mil the ,6th of FebruaV. Wth thi?.!,^ T '" "^'""^^ ™ "»< included ended-the war so remartable (or s ^IT ^"f" <=''™"y ^nd F™ce "P'd.ty and violence with wh'h th^ w'rr/ome'led^'*'' " "°'«' *' *^ <-» • V. ,■?» ■•'rv. » en ^ \) '1':WaJ.^aL V ■v • \ ■■■ -KA 1 w ■ ' A •<■■ - / ^ \ rf. « v>, ■ ■ / X • 1 1 -H , ■ / . / • ' . <. '#