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the sight that met our eyes as we entered the village was truly
dreadful to look upon。 Most of the houses had been knocked down or
burned the day before； but such as had been left standing were now in
flames； the torch having been applied because； as it was claimed；
Frenchmen concealed in them had fired on the wounded。 The streets
were still encumbered with both German and French dead； and it was
evident that of those killed in the houses the bodies had not been
removed； for the air was loaded with odors of burning flesh。 From
Bazeille we rode on toward the north about two miles； along where the
fight had been largely an artillery duel； to learn what we could of
the effectiveness of the Krupp gun。 Counting all the French dead we
came across killed by artillery； they figured up about three hundred…
…a ridiculously small number； in fact； not much more than one dead
man for each Krupp gun on that part of the line。 Although the number
of dead was in utter disproportion to the terrific six…hour
cannonade； yet small as it was the torn and mangled bodies made such
a horrible sight that we turned back toward Bazeilles without having
gone further than Givonne。
At Bazeilles we met the King； accompanied by Bismarck and several of
the staff。 They too had been riding over the field； the King making
this a practice； to see that the wounded were not neglected。 As I
drew up by the party； Bismarck accosted me with； 〃Well； General；
aren't you hungry？ This is just the place to whet one's appetite
these burning FrenchmenUgh！〃 and shrugging his shoulders in evident
disgust； he turned away to join his Majesty in further explorations；
Forsyth and I continuing on to Chevenges。 Here we got the first
inkling of what had become of our carriage since leaving it two days
before： it had been pressed into service to carry wounded officers
from the field during the battle； but afterward released； and was now
safe at the house in Vendresse where we had been quartered the night
of the 31st； so； on hearing this； we settled to go there again to
lodge； but our good friend； the cure'； insisting that we should stay
with him； we remained in Chevenges till next morning。
On September 3 the King removed from Vendresse to Rethel； where he
remained two days； in the mean while the Germans； 240；000 strong；
beginning their direct march to Paris。 The French had little with
which to oppose this enormous force； not more； perhaps； than 50；000
regular troops； the rest of their splendid army had been lost or
captured in battle； or was cooped up in the fortifications of Metz；
Strasburg； and other places； in consequence of blunders without
parallel in history； for which Napoleon and the Regency in Paris must
be held accountable。 The first of these gross faults was the fight
at Worth； where MacMahon； before his army was mobilized； accepted
battle with the Crown Prince； pitting 50；000 men against 175；000； the
next was Bazaine's fixing upon Metz as his base； and stupidly putting
himself in position to be driven back to it； when there was no
possible obstacle to his joining forces with MacMahon at Chalons；
while the third and greatest blunder of all was MacMahon's move to
relieve Metz； trying to slip 140；000 men along the Belgian frontier。
Indeed； it is exasperating and sickening to think of all this； to
think that Bazaine carried into Metza place that should have been
held； if at all； with not over 25；000 menan army of 180；000；
because it contained； the excuse was； 〃an accumulation of stores。〃
With all the resources of rich France to draw upon； I cannot conceive
that this excuse was sincere； on the contrary； I think that the
movement of Bazaine must have been inspired by Napoleon with a view
to the maintenance of his dynasty rather than for the good of France。
As previously stated； Bismarck did not approve of the German army's
moving on Paris after the battle of Sedan。 Indeed； I think he
foresaw and dreaded the establishment of a Republic； his idea being
that if peace was made then； the Empire could be continued in the
person of the Prince Imperial who； coming to the throne under
German influences； would be pliable in his hands。 These views found
frequent expression in private； and in public too； I myself
particularly remember the Chancellor's speaking thus most unguardedly
at a dinner in Rheims。 But he could not prevent the march to Paris；
it was impossible to stop the Germans； flushed with success。 〃On to
Paris〃 was written by the soldiers on every door； and every fence…
board along the route to the capital； and the thought of a triumphant
march down the Champs Elysees was uppermost with every German； from
the highest to the lowest grade。
The 5th of September we set out for Rheims。 There it was said the
Germans would meet with strong resistance； for the French intended to
die to the last man before giving up that city。 But this proved all
fudge； as is usual with these 〃last ditch〃 promises； the garrison
decamping immediately at the approach of a few Uhlans。 So far as I
could learn； but a single casualty happened； this occurred to an
Uhlan； wounded by a shot which it was reported was fired from a house
after the town was taken； so； to punish this breach of faith； a levy
of several hundred bottles of champagne was made； and the wine
divided about headquarters； being the only seizure made in the city；
I believe； for though Rheims； the centre of the champagne district；
had its cellars well stocked； yet most of them being owned by German
firms； they received every protection。
The land about Rheims is of a white； chalky character； and very poor；
but having been terraced and enriched with fertilizers； it produces
the champagne grape in such abundance that the region； once
considered valueless； and named by the peasantry the 〃land of the
louse；〃 now supports a dense population。 We remained in Rheims eight
days； and through the politeness of the American ConsulMr。 Adolph
Gillhad the pleasure of seeing all the famous wine cellars； and
inspecting the processes followed in champagne making； from the step
of pressing the juice from the grape to that which shows the wine
ready for the market。 Mr。 Gill also took us to see everything else
of special interest about the city； and there being much to look at
fine old churches； ancient fortifications； a Roman gateway； etc。the
days slipped by very quickly； though the incessant rains somewhat
interfered with our enjoyment。
For three or four days all sorts of rumors were rife as to what was
doing in Paris； but nothing definite was learned till about the 9th；
then Count Bismarck informed me that the Regency had been overthrown
on the 4th； and that the Empress Eugenie had escaped to Belgium。 The
King of Prussia offered her an asylum with the Emperor at
Wilhelmshohe； 〃where she ought to go；〃 said the Chancellor； 〃for her
proper place is with her husband；〃 but he feared she would not。 On
the same occasion he also told me that Jules Favrethe head of the
Provisional Governmenthad sent him the suggestion that； the Empire
being gone； peace should be made and the Germans withdrawn； but that
he （Bismarck） was now compelled to recognize the impossibility of
doing this till Paris was taken； for although immediately after the
surrender of Sedan he desired peace； the past few days had made it
plain that the troops would not be satisfied with anything short of
Paris； no matter what form of Government the French should ultimately
adopt。
The German army having met with no resistance whatever in its march
on Paris； its advance approached the capital rapidly； and by the 14th
of September the royal headquarters moved by a fine macadamized road
to the Chateau Thierry； and on the 5th reached Meaux； about twenty…
eight miles from Paris； where we remained four days awaiting the
reconstruction of some railroad and canal bridges。 The town of Meaux
has a busy population of about 10；000 souls； in peaceable times
principally occupied in manufacturing flour for the Paris market；
having a fine waterpower for the many mills。 These were kept going
day and night to supply the German army； and it was strange to see
with what zeal Frenchmen toiled to fill the stomachs of their
inveterate enemies； and with what alacrity the mayor and other。
officials filled requisitions for wine； cheese； suits of livery；
riding…whips； and even squab pigeons。
During our stay at Meaux the British Minister Lord Lyons； endeavored
to bring about a cessation of hostilities； to this end sending his
secretary out from Paris with a letter to Count Bismarck； offering to
serve as mediator。 The Chancellor would not agree to this； however；
for he conjectured that the action of the British Minister had been
inspired by Jules Favre； who； he thought； was trying to draw the
Germans into negotiations through the medium of a third party only
for purposes of delay。 So the next mornin