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letter from the Emperor to the King of Prussia。 At this the King；
followed by Bismarck； Von Moltke； and Von Roon； walked out to the
front a little distance and halted； his Majesty still in advance； the
rest of us meanwhile forming in a line some twenty paces to the rear
of the group。 The envoy then approached； at first on horseback； but
when within about a hundred yards he dismounted； and uncovering； came
the remaining distance on foot； bearing high up in his right hand the
despatch from Napoleon。 The bearer proved to be General Reille； and
as he handed the Emperor's letter to the King； his Majesty saluted
him with the utmost formality and precision。 Napoleon's letter was
the since famous one； running so characteristically； thus： 〃Not
having been able to die in the midst of my troops； there is nothing
left me but to place my sword in your Majesty's hands。〃 The reading
finished； the King returned to his former post； and after a
conference with Bismarck； Von Moltke； and Von Roon； dictated an
answer accepting Napoleon's surrender； and requesting him to
designate an officer with power to treat for the capitulation of the
army； himself naming Von Moltke to represent the Germans。 The King
then started for Vendresse； to pass the night。 It was after
7 o'clock now； and hence too late to arrange anything more where we
were； so further negotiations were deferred till later in the
evening； and I； wishing to be conveniently near Bismarck； resolved to
take up quarters in Donchery。 On our way thither we were met by the
Count's nephew； who assuring us that it would be impossible to find
shelter there in the village； as all the houses were filled with
wounded； Forsyth and I decided to continue on to Chevenge。 On the
other hand； Bismarck…Bohlen bore with him one great comfortsome
excellent brandy。 Offering the flask to his uncle； he said： 〃You've
had a hard day of it； won't you refresh yourself？〃 The Chancellor；
without wasting time to answer； raised the bottle to his lips；
exclaiming： 〃Here's to the unification of Germany！〃 which sentiment
the gurgling of an astonishingly long drink seemed to emphasize。 The
Count then handed the bottle back to his nephew； who； shaking it；
ejaculated； 〃Why； we can't pledge you in returnthere is nothing
left！〃 to which came the waggish response； I beg pardon； it was so
dark I couldn't see〃； nevertheless there was a little remaining； as I
myself can aver。
Having left our carriage at Chevenge； Forsyth and I stopped there to
get it； but a long search proving fruitless； we took lodging in the
village at the house of the cure； resolved to continue the hunt in
the morning。 But then we had no better success； so concluding that
our vehicle had been pressed into the hospital service； we at an
early hour on the 2d of September resumed the search； continuing on
down the road in the direction of Sedan。 Near the gate of the city
we came on the German picket…line； and one of the Officers；
recognizing our uniformshe having served in the war of the
rebellionstepped forward and addressed me in good English。 We
naturally fell into conversation； and in the midst of it there came
out through the gate an open carriage； or landau； containing two men；
one of whom； in the uniform of a general and smoking a cigarette； we
recognized； when the conveyance drew near； as the Emperor Louis
Napoleon。 The landau went on toward Donchery at a leisurely pace；
and we； inferring that there was something more important at hand
just then than the recovery of our trap； followed at a respectful
distance。 Not quite a mile from Donchery is a cluster of three or
four cottages； and at the first of these the landau stopped to await；
as we afterward ascertained； Count Bismarck； with whom the diplomatic
negotiations were to be settled。 Some minutes elapsed before he
came； Napoleon remaining seated in his carriage meantime； still
smoking； and accepting with nonchalance the staring of a group of
German soldiers near by； who were gazing on their fallen foe with
curious and eager interest。
Presently a clattering of hoofs was heard； and looking toward the
sound； I perceived the Chancellor cantering down the road。 When
abreast of the carriage he dismounted； and walking up to it； saluted
the Emperor in a quick； brusque way that seemed to startle him。
After a word or two； the party moved perhaps a hundred yards further
on； where they stopped opposite the weaver's cottage so famous from
that day。 This little house is on the east side of the Donchery
road； near its junction with that to Frenois； and stands about twenty
paces back from the highway。 In front is a stone wall covered with
creeping vines； and from a gate in this wall runs to the front door a
path； at this time bordered on both sides with potato vines。
The Emperor having alighted at the gate； he and Bismarck walked
together along the narrow path and entered the cottage。 Reappearing
in about a quarter of an hour； they came out and seated themselves in
the open air； the weaver having brought a couple of chairs。 Here
they engaged in an animated conversation； if much gesticulation is
any indication。 The talk lasted fully an hour； Bismarck seeming to
do most of it； but at last he arose； saluted the Emperor； and strode
down the path toward his horse。 Seeing me standing near the gate； he
joined me for a moment； and asked if I had noticed how the Emperor
started when they first met； and I telling him that I had； he added；
〃Well； it must have been due to my manners； not my words； for these
we're； 〃I salute your Majesty just as I would my King。〃 Then the
Chancellor continued to chat a few minutes longer； assuring me that
nothing further was to be done there； and that we had better go to
the Chateau Bellevue； where； he said； the formal surrender was to
take place。 With this he rode off toward Vendresse to communicate
with his sovereign； and Forsyth and I made ready to go to the Chateau
Bellevue。
Before we set out； however； a number of officers of the King's suite
arrived at the weaver's cottage； and from them I gathered that there
were differences at the royal headquarters as to whether peace should
be made then at Sedan； or the war continued till the French capital
was taken。 I further heard that the military advisers of the King
strongly advocated an immediate move on Paris； while the Chancellor
thought it best to make peace now； holding Alsace and Lorraine； and
compelling the payment of an enormous levy of money； and these rumors
were most likely correct； for I had often heard Bismarck say that
France being the richest country in Europe； nothing could keep her
quiet but effectually to empty her pockets； and besides this； he
impressed me as holding that it would be better policy to preserve
the Empire。
On our way to the chateau we fell in with a number of artillery
officers bringing up their guns hurriedly to post them closer in to
the beleaguered town on a specially advantageous ridge。 Inquiring
the cause of this move； we learned that General Wimpffen had not yet
agreed to the terms of surrender； that it was thought he would not；
and that they wanted to be prepared for any such contingency。 And
they were preparing with a vengeance too； for I counted seventy…two
Krupp guns in one continuous line trained on the Chateau Bellevue and
Sedan。
Napoleon went directly from the weaver's to the Chateau Bellevue； and
about 10 o'clock the King of Prussia arrived from Frenois；
accompanied by a few of his own suite and the Crown Prince with
several members of his staff； and Von Moltke and Wimpffen having
settled their points of difference before the two monarchs met；
within the next half…hour the articles of capitulation were formally
signed。
On the completion of the surrenderthe occasion being justly
considered a great onethe Crown Prince proceeded to distribute
among the officers congregated in the chateau grounds 'the order of
the Iron Cross'a generous supply of these decorations being carried
in a basket by one of his orderlies； following him about as he walked
along。 Meantime the King； leaving Napoleon in the chateau to
ruminate on the fickleness of fortune； drove off to see his own
victorious soldiers； who greeted him with huzzas that rent the air；
and must have added to the pangs of the captive Emperor。
CHAPTER XIX。
RIDING OVER THE BATTLEFIELDDESTRUCTION OF BAZEILLESMISTAKES OF
THE FRENCHMARSHAL BAZAINE ON TO PARISA WEEK IN MEAUXRHEIMSON
THE PICKETLINE…UNDER FIREA SURRENDERAT VERSAILLESGENERAL
BURNSIDE AND Mr。 FORBES IN PARIS。
The Crown Prince having got to the bottom of his medal basket…that is
to say； having finished his liberal distribution of decorations to
his officersForsyth and I rode off by way of Wadelincourt to
Bazeilles to see what had taken place on that part of the field； and
the sight that met our eyes as we entered the village was tr