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rest of De Failly's beyond Beaumont。 The same afternoon there were
several other severe combats along the Meuse； but I had no chance of
witnessing any of them； and just before night…fall I started back to
Buzancy； to which place the King's headquarters had been brought
during the day。
The morning of the 31st the King moved to Vendresse。 First sending
our carriage back to Grand Pre' for our trunks； Forsyth and I mounted
our horses and rode to the battle…field accompanied by an English
nobleman； the Duke of Manchester。 The part of the field we traversed
was still thickly strewn with the dead of both armies； though all the
wounded had been collected in the hospitals。 In the village of
Beaumont； we stopped to take a look at several thousand French
prisoners； whose worn clothing and evident dejection told that they
had been doing a deal of severe marching under great discouragements。
The King reached the village shortly after； and we all continued on
to Chemery； just beyond where his Majesty alighted from his carriage
to observe his son's troops file past as they came in from the
direction of Stonne。 This delay caused us to be as late as 9 o'clock
before we got shelter that night； but as it afforded me the best
opportunity I had yet had for seeing the German soldiers on the
march； I did not begrudge the time。 They moved in a somewhat open
and irregular column of fours； the intervals between files being
especially intended to give room for a peculiar swinging gait； with
which the men seemed to urge themselves over the ground with ease and
rapidity。 There was little or no straggling； and being strong； lusty
young fellows； and lightly equippedthey carried only needle…guns；
ammunition； a very small knapsack； a water…bottle； and a haversack…
they strode by with an elastic step； covering at least three miles an
hour。
It having been definitely ascertained that the demoralized French
were retiring to Sedan； on the evening of August 31 the German army
began the work of hemming them in there； so disposing the different
corps as to cover the ground from Donchery around by Raucourt to
Carignan。 The next morning this line was to be drawn in closer on
Sedan； and the Crown Prince of Saxony was therefore ordered to take
up a position to the north of Bazeilles； beyond the right bank of the
Meuse； while the Crown Prince of Prussia was to cross his right wing
over the Meuse at Remilly； to move on Bazeilles； his centre meantime
marching against a number of little hamlets still held by the French
between there and Donchery。 At this last…mentioned place strong
reserves were to be held； and from it the Eleventh Corps； followed by
the Fifth and a division of cavalry； was to march on St。 Menges。
Forsyth and I started early next morning； September 1； and in a thick
fog…which； however； subsequently gave place to bright sunshinewe
drove to the village of Chevenges； where； mounting our horses； we
rode in a northeasterly direction to the heights of Frenois and
Wadelincourt； bordering the river Meuse on the left bank； where from
the crest we had a good view of the town of Sedan with its circling
fortifications； which； though extensive； were not so formidable as
those around Metz。 The King and his staff were already established
on these heights； and at a point so well chosen that his Majesty
could observe the movements of both armies immediately east and south
of Sedan； and also to the northwest toward Floing and the Belgian
frontier。
The battle was begun to the east and northeast of Sedan as early as
half…past 4 o'clock by the German right wingthe fighting being
desultoryand near the same hour the Bavarians attacked Bazeilles。
This village； some two miles southeast of Sedan； being of importance；
was defended with great obstinacy； the French contesting from street
to street and house to house the attack of the Bavarians till near
10 o'clock； when； almost every building being knocked to pieces； they
were compelled to relinquish the place。 The possession of this
village gave the Germans to the east of Sedan a continuous line；
extending from the Meuse northward through La Moncelle and Daigny to
Givonne； and almost to the Belgian frontier。
While the German centre and right were thus engaged； the left had
moved in accordance with the prescribed plan。 Indeed； some of these
troops had crossed the Meuse the night before； and now； at a little
after 6 o'clock； their advance could be seen just north of the
village of Floing。 Thus far these columns； under the immediate eye
of the Crown Prince of Prussia； had met with no opposition to their
march； and as soon as they got to the high ground above the village
they began extending to the east； to connect with the Army of the
Meuse。 This juncture was effected at Illy without difficulty； and
the French army was now completely encompassed。
After a severe fight； the Crown Prince drove the French through
Floing； and as the ground between this village and Sedan is an
undulating open plain； everywhere visible； there was then offered a
rare opportunity for seeing the final conflict preceding the
surrender。 Presently up out of the little valley where Floing is
located came the Germans； deploying just on the rim of the plateau a
very heavy skirmish…line； supported by a line of battle at close
distance。 When these skirmishers appeared； the French infantry had
withdrawn within its intrenched lines； but a strong body of their
cavalry； already formed in a depression to the right of the Floing
road； now rode at the Germans in gallant style； going clear through
the dispersed skirmishers to the main line of battle。 Here the
slaughter of the French was awful； for in addition to the deadly
volleys from the solid battalions of their enemies； the skirmishers；
who had rallied in knots at advantageous places； were now delivering
a severe and effective fire。 The gallant horsemen； therefore； had to
retire precipitately； but re…forming in the depression； they again
undertook the hopeless task of breaking the German infantry； making
in all four successive charges。 Their ardor and pluck were of no
avail； however； for the Germans； growing stronger every minute by the
accession of troops from Floing； met the fourth attack in such large
force that； even before coming in contact with their adversaries； the
French broke and retreated to the protection of the intrenchments；
where； from the beginning of the combat； had been lying plenty of
idle infantry； some of which at least； it seemed plain to me； ought
to have been thrown into the fight。 This action was the last one of
consequence around Sedan； for； though with the contraction of the
German lines their batteries kept cannonading more or less； and the
rattle of musketry continued to be heard here and there； yet the hard
fighting of the day practically ended on the plateau of Floing。
By 3 o'clock； the French being in a desperate and hopeless situation；
the King ordered the firing to be stopped； and at once despatched one
of his staffColonel von Bronsartwith a demand for a surrender。
Just as this officer was starting off； I remarked to Bismarck that
Napoleon himself would likely be one of the prizes； but the Count；
incredulous； replied； 〃Oh no； the old fox is too cunning to be caught
in such a trap； he has doubtless slipped off to Paris〃a belief
which I found to prevail pretty generally about headquarters。
In the lull that succeeded； the King invited many of those about him
to luncheon； a caterer having provided from some source or other a
substantial meal of good bread； chops and peas； with a bountiful
supply of red and sherry wines。 Among those present were Prince
Carl； Bismarck； Von Moltke； Von Roon； the Duke of Weimar； the Duke of
Coburg； the Grand…Duke of Mecklenburg； Count Hatzfeldt； Colonel
Walker； of the English army； General Forsyth； and I。 The King was
agreeable and gracious at all times； but on this occasion he was
particularly so； being naturally in a happy frame of mind because
this day the war had reached a crisis which presaged for the near
future the complete vanquishment of the French。
Between 4 and 5 o'clock Colonel von Bronsart returned from his
mission to Sedan； bringing word to the King that the commanding
officer there General Wimpffen； wished to know； in order that the
further effusion of blood might be spared； upon what terms he might
surrender。 The Colonel brought the intelligence also that the French
Emperor was in the town。 Soon after Von Bronsart's arrival a French
officer approached from Sedan； preceded by a white flag and two
German officers。 Coming up the road till within a few hundred yards
of us； they halted； then one of the Germans rode forward to say that
the French officer was Napoleon's adjutant； bearing an autograph
letter from the Emperor to the King of Prussia。 At this the King；
followed by Bismarck； Von Moltke； and Von