The year of battles

Front matter

S'

THE YEAR OF BATTLES :

OR THE

Chapter I

The remote and proximate cauaes of tbe "War.— Encroacliments of France tipon Gel-many in tlio past three hundred years.— Alsace and Lorraine.— Westphiilia and the Rhine Provinces.— Belgium.— Restoration of the last three to their rightful owners.— Avenging Waterloo.— The Rhine and Adriatic boundary.— Movements of Napoleon III to accomplish this.— His jealousy of Prussia.— His preparations for War.— The introduction of the Chassep6t rifle and the ifii)-ai7ZeMse.— The want of genuine preparation for the War on the part of France.— Other reasons for the War.-France restive.— The ^Ze6(saie.— Napoleon's health.— Religions motives.— France in a secondary position.— The occasion of "War.- Tho Ilohenzollern candidacy.— Sketch of Prince Leopold.— Protest of the French Emperor.— His interview with General Prim.— Declination of Prince Leopold.— New pretexts.— The alleged insult to Count Benedetti.— The missives sent to German States supposed to be disaffected.— The French declaration of War PP- 13-19

Chapter II

Biographical sketches.- Wilhelm I, King of Prussia.— His birth, education, absolutist princi. pies.— His Accession to the Throne.— His personal appearance, manners and character.

Napoleon IIL— His parentage, birth, education.— Joins tlie Carbonari.— Involved in Italian Conspiracies.— Attempts authorship.— Becomes the legal heir of Napoleon I.— The Strasbourg affair in 1S36.— His banishment to America.— Is coldly received thore.—His return to Switzerland.— Death of his mother.— His escape to England.— Publication of his Idets Napoleoniennes and Eiveries PoUtiqucs.—The Boulogne fiasco.- His arrest, trial, and sentence to imprisonment at Ham.— His studies and writings at H.im. —Escape to England in 1846.— His life in England.— The Revolution of 1848.— Election of Louis Napoleon to the National Assembly — His" return to France.— His election as President.— His policy.— His aspirations for permanent and supreme power.— Efforts to change th(3 Constitution.- Uneasiness of the French people. —Tho coup d'itat of Dec. 2, 1851.- The firstpZeiwciie.— Further steps toward despotism.— Proclaims himself Emperor.— " The Empire is Peace."— His Marriago.—Alliance with England.— The Crimean "War.— Hia policy as Emperor.- Birth of the Prince Imperial.— Overestimation of Napoleon IIL— The Italian "War.— His mismanagement.— The compact with Cavour.— The threatening attitude of Prussia.— Treaty of Villafranca.-Napoleon's disappointment.— Acquisition of S.avoy and Nice.— His failing health.— Troubles —The attempt to interveneinbehalf of tho Southern Confederacy.— The War with Mexico.- He makes a dupe of Maxunilian.— Sad end of this War.--The Cochin China and Chinese War3,—Thepromise of reforms.— The Austro-Prussian War.— Prussian superiority demonstrated.— His offers to and demands upon each of the belligerents.- Their rejection.- Ills Life of Cresar.- Hia determination to bring on a Wax.— Hia charaeter in brief PP- 20-S8.

CONTENTS.

Chapter III

Biographical sketches coiitinned.— Count von Bismarok-Schonhausen.— Ilits birth and education. —Entrance upon public life.— A Conservative.— His pamphlet, "Prussia and the Italian Question."— Minister at St. Petersburg and Paris.— Premier, and Cabinet Minister.— His bold measures.— The opposition evoked.— The Danish War.— The War with Austria.— The ■wisdom of his measures demonstrated.— His extraordinary abilities and foresight.— His personal appearance. — His scholarship. — His impaired health.

General von Moltke.— His birth and education.— Military studies at Copenhagen.— Straitened circumstances.— His eminent attainments.— His rapid promotion.— His mission to Turkey and Asia Minor.— Authorship.— His advancement to thepositionof Chief of Staff.— His herculean labors.— His remarkable topographical and geological knowledge.— His extraordinary prescience and knowledge of the character of his antagonists. — His personal exploration of military routes.— His interview with General de ■Wimpffen.— Personal appearance and manners.

The French Premiers and War Ministers.— Ollivier and Rouher.— General licboeuf.— Birth and education.— Promolion.—Coramandantof Polytechnic School. — Chief of Artillery. —General of Division, 185T.— Distinguished in the Italian War.— Minister of War in 1S67.— His corrupt management relative to the Chassep6t rifle.— His recklessness and dishonesty.

Count do Palikao.— His birth, education and military career.— His experiences in Algeria» Prance and China. — His stem and cruel disposition.

Other French generals.— The old soldiers.— The three Marshals.— Marshal MacMahon.— His birth and education.— Early career in Africa.— His courage and daring.— Ability as a tactician.— Capture of the Malnkoff.— His skilful strategy at Magenta.— Duke of Magenta.— Eeprescntative of France at King "Wilhelm's coronation.— Subsequent command in France and Algeria.

Marshal Cunrobert.— His birth and education.— His African career.— Adhesion to Louis N"apoleon. — Service in the Crimean War.— In the Italian War.— Senator of France.

Marshal Bazaine.— His education.— Military experience in Algeria, Spain, and the Crimea.— His part in the Mexican Expedition.— His cruelty, greed, and mismanagement there. — His corruption and rapacity.

The French corps-commanders, Frossard, J)e Failly, I'Admirault, &c.— General de Wimpflen.— Gon. Trochu PP. 39-55.

Chapter IV

Biographical sketches continued.— Prince Friedrich Karl.— Birth and education.— His entrance into the Army.— His fondness for military studies.— Frederick the Great his exemplar.— A staff-oflBcer under von Wrangel in 1848, in the first Schleswig-Holstein War, and the Baden Campaign in 1849.— Commander of the Prussian Contingent in the Danish War of 1864 — His gallantry in the assault on Diippel.- His command of the first Army in the Austrian War ol 1866.— Sudowa. — His pamphlet on improvements in military organizations. — The changes ■which followed.— His interTiew ■\vith von Moltke. — Prince Friedrich Wilhelm.— Birth, education. — A pupil of von Moltke. — A corps-commander in 1S64. — Commander of the Second Prussian Army in 1856, and the hero of Sadowa.— His ability in handling large bodies of troops.

General von Steinmetz.— Birth, education.— Wounded at Dannegko^w in 1813.— Entered Paris ■with the Allies in 1815.— " The Lion of Skalitz."— A stern, imperious old man.— The German corps and army commanders pp. 57-63.

Chapter V

Financial condition of France and Germany Difficulty in arriving at the facts relative to tha

French finances The latest statistics of French revenue and expenditure — The constant

deficits —Seven loans from 1854 to 1870.— Cost of the Wars during the reign of Napoleon III,—

Imports and Exports The national debt— Its enormous amount. — Valuation of property in

France.

Financial condition of the North German Confederation Revenues of 1869-70 Ordinary

and Extraordinary Expenditure. — Eevenue of Prussia Her Expenditure with about tho

Bame population. — Her Expenditure only two sevenths of that of France No deficits.—.

Items of Expenditure. — The national debt of Prussia, small.

Social condition of tho two countries. — Intelligence and Morals in Germany. — Condition of Franco in these respects. — Military and naval strength of the two countries. — Over-statement of French military strength. — ^Under-estimate of Prussian military power. — Causes. — The French reports of their Army. — Its vast numbers and presumed elEcient condition. — The

reserves, National Guard and Garde, Mobile Almost two millions of soldiers— on paper.

— The actual numbers. — One half the Army only existing on paper. — Tho German Armies.— Their actual numbers in each arm of the service. — Even these estimates largely exceeded.

The Navies of the two Nations. — Great number of vessels in the French Navy — 55 Iron-clad Steamers. — Analysis of the character of these. — Their efficiency more apparent than real.— . Their meagre success.

Prussian Navy. — ^Vessels few in number, but of remarkable efficiency.

The Cannon of the German Army. — Krupp's rifled breech-loaders. — ^Their great range and accuracy.

The French bronze Napoleons — muzzle-loaders. — The Mitrailleuse, its character and destruo-

tiveness. — The Needle-gun Full description of its mechanism. — The different methods of

obturation or closing of the cylinder upon the barrel The Chassepot rifle — Its construction.

— Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the two pp. 64-91.

Chapter VI

The circumstances attending the declaration of "War, in detail. — Gen. Prim's visit to Napoleon IIL — His correspondence with Prince Leopold. — His acceptance of the candidacy. — The King of Prussia's disapproval.— The Prince's persistence. — The French demand on Prussia, July 6. — Count Benedetti's instructions. — Mr. Ripley's account of the interviews of Benedetti

with the King The demand of the French Government The offensive way in -which they

were presented. — Napoleon's preparations for immediate War The declaration of War. —

The activity which followed, all over Christendom. — Return of King Wilhelm from Ems to

Berlin His address to the Prussian Legislature. — ^War-loan voted. — Address of Napoleon

III Its melodramatic character. — His address to the Army at Metz, July 2Sth. — The circular of von Bismarck to the Prussian representatives at the courts of Foreign Powers. — Efforts

of the French Government to counteract the damaging efi'ect of this exposure Attempts of

other European Powers to effect a settlement. — Their futility Letter of Pope Pius IX to

Napoleon III and King Wilhelm. — King Wilhelm's reply. — Forward movements of the French advance-guard. — Skirmishing. — Circulation of addresses by the Emperor among the South Germans, and the people of Sohleswig-Holstein and Hanover. — Failure of these addresses to win any adherents to his cause pp. Q^IOS.

Chapter VII

The War begun. — King Wilhelm takes command of the German forces, August 2d. — His address to the troops, at Mayence. — Strength and position of the French forcai on the 2d of August. — The German forces and their positions. — The affair at Saarbruck. — The Emperor's letter to the Empress. — ^The Tranquil Infant's baptism of fire. — Movements of the two armies. — ^The French fortify the Spicheren Hills back of Saarbruck. — MacMahon advances to Weissenburg. — Battle of Weissenburg, Aug. 4 The Crown-Prince's report of the action. — Ad-

CONTENTS.

dress of Prince Friedrich Karl Gen. von Steinmetz'6 address to the First German Army.— .

The battle of Spicheren heights or Forbach, Aug. G Report of von Steinmetz — Account of

the New York Tribune correspondent. — Casualties of the battle. — The advance of the

Crown-Prince toward Woerth. — The Battle of Woertli Attempts of the French commander

to rally his troops — Hie retreat to Saverne Marshal MacMahon's report to the Emperor —

King "Wilhelm's despatch to the Queen.— " Our Fritz."— Napoleon IIPs despatches.- "He

goes to the Centre." — Gen. Leboeuf's report Attempts to keep the news from the French

people. — The proclamation of the Empress. — The statement of the Minister. — Changes in the French goverimient and military commands pp. 107-129.

Chapter VIII

Indications of .1 coming revolution Addresses and orders of Prince Friedrich Karl, the King,

and von Steinmetz. — Their humane tenor. — Strasbourg summoned to surrender. — Proclamation of Gen. Uhi-ich in reply. — Proclamation of King Wilhelm to the French people. — Particulars of MacMahon's def|ht at Woerth. — His order to his soldiers The reenforcements he

received from De Failly, Caiirobert, and De Caen. — His march towards Paris. — Pursuit by the Crown-Prince of Prussia. — Bazaine falls back upon Metz, and decides to retreat upon Verdun and Paris, leaving a large garrison at Metz. — The rapid advance and severe pressure of the Germ.in armies upon his rear. — Crossing of part of the Second Army at Pont k Mous-

Bon — Napoleon III quits Metz, leaving an address to the inh.ibitants The battle of Cour-

celles, east of the Moselle Conflicting accounts. — The German report. — Correspondents'

reports King Wilhelm's despatches. — French official report. — The Emperor's despatch to

Eugenie. — Bazaine's necessity for retreat. — Critical position. — The two routes to Verdun. — His determination to seize and control one or both. — The battle of Vionville, or Mars-la- Tour, on the 16th of August. — Terrible fighting. — The Mars-la-Tour road completely blocked by the Second German Army Bazaine falls back to the line of Gravelotte. — The battle indecisive Heavy losses. — The German report. — Bazaine's reports Statement published in

Paris. — Possibility of Bazaine's retreat by the Conflans road. — Napoleon III leaves Verdun

with the little prince for Eheims. — The battle of Gravelotte The official account in the

Army and Kavy Journal King Wilhelm's despatches from Rezonville. — The New York

Tribune correspondent's account. — Frightful slaughter. — The battle continues into the nighl — Account of another correspondent. — The execution done by the Mitrailleuse at close quarters. — French and German artillery practice pp. 130-167.

Chapter IX

Gen. Trocha appointed Governor of Paris by the Emperor. — His proclamation to the people of Paris. — Organization of a committee of defence. — Gen. Trochu's address to the people and

appeal to the soldiers Gen. MacMahon's movement on Chalons He tirrns northwestward

to Rheims — The attempt to raise the siege of Metz. — The route taken. — The movement a blunder. — Reasons why. — Difficulty of the country for rapid marching. — MacMahon's advance

reaches Rethel and M.dziferes The pursuit by the German aiToies. — The lines on which they

moved. — The action of August SO. — The advantage gained by the Germans Crossing the

Meuse — The 1st of September.— The intention to rest the German troops that &ny Change

of plan — Orders issued — The plan of attack Position of the German armies The French

ti-oops forced back to Sedan — They enter the town with the French The white flag raised

King Wilhelm's account of the battles and surrender. — The terms of capiiulation.-TelegraHia from the King. — Gen. von Moltke's order for carrjiiig out the capitulation.— Count von Bismarck's letter describing his part MacMahon wounded early in the fight.— De AVimpffen's

address to his soldiers — Controversy concerning the Emperor and de Wimpffen. — Description of the battle and surrender by a French officer.— Narrative of the Tribune's correspondent with the German army , pp. 167-223.