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was detailed from this Bavarian contingent； a stroke of policy no
doubt； for the South Germans were so prejudiced against their
brothers of the North that no opportunity to smooth them down was
permitted to go unimproved。
Bar…le…Duc； which had then a population of about 15；000； is one of
the prettiest towns I saw in France； its quaint and ancient buildings
and beautiful boulevards charming the eye as well as exciting deep
interest。 The King and his immediate suite were quartered on one of
the best boulevards in a large buildingthe Bank of Francethe
balcony of which offered a fine opportunity to observe a part of the
army of the Crown Prince the next day on its march toward Vitry。
This was the first time his Majesty had had a chance to see any of
these troopsas hitherto he had accompanied either the army of
Prince Frederick Charles； or that of General Steinmetzand the
cheers with which he was greeted by the Bavarians left no room for
doubting their loyalty to the Confederation； notwithstanding ancient
jealousies。
While the troops were passing； Count Bismarck had the kindness to
point out to me the different organizations； giving scraps of their
history； and also speaking concerning the qualifications of the
different generals commanding them。 When the review was over we went
to the Count's house； and there； for the first time in my life； I
tasted kirschwasser； a very strong liquor distilled from cherries。
Not knowing anything about the stuff； I had to depend on Bismarck's
recommendation； and he proclaiming it fine； I took quite a generous
drink； which nearly strangled me and brought on a violent fit of
coughing。 The Chancellor said； however； that this was in no way due
to the liquor； but to my own inexperience； and I was bound to believe
the distinguished statesman； for he proved his words by swallowing a
goodly dose with an undisturbed and even beaming countenance；
demonstrating his assertion so forcibly that I forthwith set out with
Bismarck…Bohlen to lay in a supply for myself。
I spent the night in a handsome house； the property of an
exceptionally kind and polite gentleman bearing the indisputably
German name of Lager； but who was nevertheless French from head to
foot； if intense hatred of the Prussians be a sign of Gallic
nationality。 At daybreak on the 26th word came for us to be ready to
move by the Chalons road at 7 o'clock； but before we got off； the
order was suspended till 2 in the afternoon。 In the interval General
von Moltke arrived and held a long conference with the King； and when
we did pull out we traveled the remainder of the afternoon in company
with a part of the Crown Prince's army； which after this conference
inaugurated the series of movements from Bar…le…Duc northward； that
finally compelled the surrender at Sedan。 This sudden change of
direction I did not at first understand； but soon learned that it was
because of the movements of Marshal MacMahon； who； having united the
French army beaten at Worth with three fresh corps at Chalons； was
marching to relieve Metz in obedience to orders from the Minister of
War at Paris。
As we passed along the column； we noticed that the Crown Prince's
troops were doing their best； the officers urging the men to their
utmost exertions； persuading weary laggards and driving up
stragglers。 As a general thing； however； they marched in good shape；
notwithstanding the rapid gait and the trying heat； for at the outset
of the campaign the Prince had divested them of all impedimenta
except essentials； and they were therefore in excellent trim for a
forced march。
The King traveled further than usual that dayto Clermontso we did
not get shelter till late； and even then not without some confusion；
for the quartermaster having set out toward Chalons before the change
of programme was ordered； was not at hand to provide for us。 I had
extreme good luck； though； in being quartered with a certain
apothecary； who； having lived for a time in the United States；
claimed it as a privilege even to lodge me； and certainly made me his
debtor for the most generous hospitality。 It was not so with some of
the others； however； and Count Bismarck was particularly unfortunate；
being billeted in a very small and uncomfortable house； where；
visiting him to learn more fully what was going on； I found him；
wrapped in a shabby old dressing…gown； hard at work。 He was
established in a very small room； whose only furnishings consisted of
a tableat which he was writinga couple of rough chairs； and the
universal feather…bed； this time made on the floor in one corner of
the room。 On my remarking upon the limited character of his
quarters； the Count replied； with great good…humor； that they were
all right； and that he should get along well enough。 Even the tramp
of his clerks in the attic； and the clanking of his orderlies' sabres
below； did not disturb him much； he said； in fact； that he would have
no grievance at all were it not for a guard of Bavarian soldiers
stationed about the house for his safety； he presumed the sentinels
from which insisted on protecting and saluting the Chancellor of the
North German Confederation in and out of season； a proceeding that
led to embarrassment sometimes； as he was much troubled with a severe
dysentery。 Notwithstanding his trials； however； and in the midst of
the correspondence on which he was so intently engaged； he graciously
took time to explain that the sudden movement northward from Bar…le…
Duc was； as I have previously recounted； the result of information
that Marshal MacMahon was endeavoring to relieve Metz by marching
along the Belgian frontier； 〃a blundering manoeuvre；〃 remarked the
Chancellor； 〃which cannot be accounted for； unless it has been
brought about by the political situation of the French。〃
CHAPTER XVIII。
AFTER MacMAHONTHE BATTLE AT BEAUMONTTHE FRENCH SURPRISEDTHE
MARCHING OF THE GERMAN SOLDIERSTHE BATTLE OF SEDANGALLANT CAVALRY
CHARGESDEFEAT OF THE FRENCHTHE SURRENDER OF NAPOLEONBISMARCK
AND THE KINGDECORATING THE SOLDIERS。
All night long the forced march of the army went on through Clermont；
and when I turned out； just after daylight； the columns were still
pressing forward； the men looking tired and much bedraggled； as
indeed they had reason to be； for from recent rains the roads were
very sloppy。 Notwithstanding this； however； the troops were pushed
ahead with all possible vigor to intercept MacMahon and force a
battle before he could withdraw from his faulty movement； for which
it has since been ascertained he was not at all responsible。 Indeed；
those at the royal headquarters seemed to think of nothing else than
to strike MacMahon； for； feeling pretty confident that Metz could not
be relieved； they manifested not the slightest anxiety on that score。
By 8 o'clock； the skies having cleared； the headquarters set out for
Grand Pre'； which place we reached early in the afternoon； and that
evening I again had the pleasure of dining with the King。 The
conversation at table was almost wholly devoted to the situation； of
course； everybody expressing surprise at the manoeuvre of the French
at this time； their march along the Belgian frontier being credited
entirely to Napoleon。 Up to bed…time there was still much
uncertainty as to the exact positions of the French； but next morning
intelligence being received which denoted the probability of a
battle； we drove about ten miles； to Buzancy； and there mounting our
horses； rode to the front。
The French were posted not far from Buzancy in a strong position；
their right resting near Stonne and the left extending over into the
woods beyond Beaumont。 About 10 o'clock the Crown Prince of Saxony
advanced against this line； and while a part of his army turned the
French right； compelling it to fall back rapidly； the German centre
and right attacked with great vigor and much skill； surprising one of
the divisions of General De Failly's corps while the men were in the
act of cooking their breakfast。
The French fled precipitately； leaving behind their tents and other
camp equipage； and on inspecting the ground which they had abandoned
so hastily； I noticed on all sides ample evidence that not even the
most ordinary precautions had been taken to secure the division from
surprise； The artillery horses had not been harnessed； and many of
them had been shot down at the picketrope where they had been
haltered the night before； while numbers of men were lying dead with
loaves of bread or other food instead of their muskets in their
hands。
Some three thousand prisoners and nearly all the artillery and
mitrailleuses of the divisionwere captured； while the fugitives
were pursued till they found shelter behindDouay's corps and the
rest of De Failly's beyond Beaumont。 The same afternoon there were
several other severe combats along the Meuse； but I had no chan