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An Independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence. HOYT & CO., Proprietors. ANDERSON C. H., S. C, THURSDAY1 MORNING, SEPTEMBER 15, 1870. VOLUME 6?NO. 12. -??-1~~K-^^^axa^Liiji3emiimmir jgjflfegjttjgjA^j 'iff-h ????ge?B^?fe?BBBBBSHBiSgBisiiSii ' '" ' j " ' ^SS?tifMj ii ' . i im _ The Battle of Sedan. GRAPHIC ACCOUNT BY AN EYE-WITNESS?MAG? NIFICENT Q?DBAGE OF TBE GERMAN TROOP8 ?UNAVAILING HEROISM OF THE FRENCH? ilOLlKE'S-'STHATEGY?THE SURRENDER. The'war con-espondent of the ^feW York TtifrfaeSi the Prussian headquarters, whose acc^ntbf fhe-battleof GYavelorte^evoiaed the unrcers?l laudatio n of the press, furnishes the following admirable description of the terrible battles around Sedan. The letter is dated at the headquarters of the King of Prussia, Thurs . day night, September 1. After a brief narra? tion of the movements of the previous day, and "^description of the preliminaries incident to a great battle, in which he pays an eloquent tribute to the endurance and courage of the Prussian troops, he proceeds: At 7 o'clock on Thursday morning, my ser? vant came to awake me, saying the King's horses were harnessing, and his Majesty would leave in half an hour for the battle-field, and as cannonading had already been heard near Se? dan, I jumped up, seized crusts of bread, wine, cigars, &c., and crammed them into my holster, taking my breakfast on the way. Just as I got to my horse King William drove out in an open carriage, with four horses, for Chevange, ttbout three aud a half miles south of Sedan. Much against my will, I was compelled to al- ! low the King's staff to precede me on the road to the scene of action, where I arrived myself j soon after 9 o'clock. It was impossible to ride fast, all the roads being blocked with artillery, ammunition wagons, ambulances, &c. THE SCENE OF CONFLICT. As I rode on to the crest of the hill which rises sharply about six hundred or seven hun? dred feet above the little hamlet of Chevange, i nestled in the grove below, a most glorious panorama burst on my view. Eight at our feet lay the little Town of Se? dan, famous for it3 fortificatious by Vauban, and as the birthplace of Turenne, the great marshal; known also as the place where Sedau chairs originated. As we were only about two and a quarter miles from the town, we could easily distinguish its principal edifices without the aid of our field glasses. On the left was a pretty, church, its Gothic spire of sandstone of? fering a conspicuous target for Prussian guns had General Moltke thought fit to bombard the town. To the right, on the southeast of the church, was a large barrack, with the forti? fications of the citadel behind it, and beyond this, to the southeast again, was the old chat? eau of Sedan, with picturesque round tur a-eted towers of the sixteenth century, very use? less even against four-pounder Krupp field pieces. This building, I believe, is now an arse? nal. Beyond this was the citadel, in the heart of Sedan, on a rising hill above the Meuse, to the southeast, but completely commanded by hills on both sides of the river, which runs in front of the citadel. The French had flooded the low meadows and valley before coming to the railway bridge at Bazeile in order to stop the German? from advancing on the town in that direction. With their usual stupidity, for'one oan find no other word for it, the French had feilcd to mine the bridge at Bazeile, and it was of immense service to the Prussians throughout the battle. The Prussians actuallv threw np breastworks on the iron bridge itself to protect \t from the French, who more than once, at? tempted, early in the day, to storm the bridge in.the hope of breaking the Bavarian's commu? nication between the right and left banks of the Meuse. This they were unable to do, and although their cannon shot had almost demolished the parapet, the bridge itself was never materially damaged. On the projecting spurs of the hill, crowned by the woods of La Marfee, of which I have already spoken, the Bavarians had posted two batteries of six-pounder rifle breach-load? ing steel Krupp guns, which kept up a duello ?until the very end of the day with the siege ?guns of Sedan across the Meuse. Still further to the right flank, or rather to the east, for our line was a circular one, crescent at first, with Sedan in the centre, like a star on the Turkish standard, was an undulating plain before the pillage of Bazeile, terminating about a mile and ?a half from Sedan, at the woods near Rube court midway, that is to sav, in a line from Bazeile north there is a ravine, watered by a tiny brook, which was the scene of the most desperate straggle and of the most frightful ?slaughter of the whole battle. This stream, Whose name I have forgotten, if it ever had one, runs righ t behind the town of Sedan, from the woods of Fleigreuse. On the north behind the town rises a hill, dotted with cottages and fruit-laden orchards, and crowned by the wood of La Garienne, which runs down to the valley of Which I have just spoken. Between this wood and the town were several French camps, their white shelter tents standing out clear among the dark fruit trees. In these camps one could see throughout the day huge masses of troops which were never used. Even during the height of battle they stood as idle as Fitz John Porter at the second battle of Bull Run. We imagined that they must have been undis? ciplined Gardes Mobiles, whom the French generals dared not bring out against their ene-. my. To the Prussian left these French camps, separated from them by a wooded ravine, was a long bare hill, aomethiug like one of the hills on Long Island. This hill, on which was some of the hardest fighting of the day, formed one of the keys of the position of the French army. When once its crest was covered with Prussian i artillery the whole town of Sedan was com-1 pletely at the mercy of the Prussian guns, as they were not only above the town, but the town was almost within musket range of them. Still further to the west lay the village of Illy, set on fire early in the day by French shells. Sonth of this a broken railway bridge, blown up by the French to protect their right, was a conspicuous object. Right above the railway bridge, on the line to Mezieres, was the wooded hill crowned by the new and most hideous chateau, as he calls it, of one Monsieur Pave. It was here the Crown Prince and his staff stood during the day, having a rather more ex? tensive but less central view, and therefore less desirable than ours, where stood the King, Count Bismarck, Von Roon, the War Minister, General Moltke and Generals Sheridan and Eorsythe, to say nothing of your correspondent. POSITIONS OF THE PRU89IAN ARMIES. Having thus endeavored to give some faint idea of the scene of what is in all probability the decisive battle of the war, I will next give an account of the position of the differnt corps at the commencement of the action, premising that all movements were of the simplest possi? ble nature, the object of the Prussian generals being merely to close the crescent o? troops With which they began into a circle by effecting a junction between the Saxon corps on their right and the Prussian corps on their left. This action took place about noon, near the, little village of Illy, on Bazeile ravine, behind Se? dan, of which I have already spoken. Once thejr terrible circle formed and well soldered together, it grew smaller and smaller, until at last the fortifications of Sedan itself were en? tered. On the extreme right were the Saxons, Olle Corps d'arhiee with Sing William's guards, also a corps d'arhiee in reserve behind them, The: guards had suffered terribly at Grave? lotte, where they met the Imperial Guard, and the King would not allow them to be again so cruelly decimated. Justice compels me to say that this arrangement , was very far indeed from being pleasing to the guards themselves, who were ever anxious to be in the fore front of bat? tle. The guards and Saxons, then about 75,000 strong, were all day on the right bank of the Meuse, between Eubecourt and La Chapel le, at Which latter village Prince Albert of Saxony, who was in command of two corps, which had been formed iuto a little extra army by them? selves, passed the night of Thursday. The ground from Rubecourt to the Meuse was occu Sied by the First Bavarian Corps. The Second iavarian Corps extended their front from near the Bazeille Railway bridge to a point on the high road from Doucherry to Sedan, not far from the little village of Torey. Below the hill on which the Crown Prince was placed, the ground, from Torey to Illy, through the large village of Flomig, was held by the first and third Prussian corps, belonging to Prince Frederick Charles, and temporarily attached to the army of the Crown Prince. This was the position of the troops about 9 o'clock on Thursday morning, September 1st, and no great advance took place until later than that, for the artillery, at first, had all the work to do. Still further to the left, near Dou? cherry, were 20,000 Wurtemburgers, ready to cast off the French from Mezieres, in case of their making a push for that fortress. THE FORCES ENGAGED. The number of Prussian troops engaged is estimated by General Moltke at 240,000, and that of the French at 120,000. We know that McMahon had with him on Tuesday 120,000 men; that is, four corps?his own, that was lately commanded by General DeFaillv, now under'General Le Brun ; that of Felix Douay, brother of General Abel Douay, killed at Weissenburg, and the Fourth Corps, principal? ly composed of the Garde Mobile, the name of whose commander has escaped me. McMahon, although wounded, commanded in chief on the French eide. It is needless to say that the real comraander-in-chief of the Prussians was Von Moltke, with the Crown Prince and Prince Al? bert of Saxony immediately next in command. COMMENCEMENT OF BATTLE. There were a few stray cannon shots fired, but the real battle did not commence until 6 o'clock, becoming a sharp artillery fight at 9, when the batteries had got within easy range and shells began to do serious mischief. At five minutes of 12 o'clock the musketry fire in the valley in the rear of Sedan, which had opened at 11.25, became exceedingly lively, be? ing one continuous rattle, only broken by the growling of the mitrailleurs, which played with deadly effect on the advancing Saxon and Ba? varian columns. General Sheridan, by whose side I was standing, told me that he did not re? member ever to have such well-sustained small arms fire. It made itself heard above the war of batteries at our feet. At 12 o'clock precise? ly a Prussian battery of six guns, on the slope above the broken railway bridge over the Meuse, near La Villette, had silenced two bat? teries of French guns at the foot of the bare hills already mentioned, near the village of Flomig. At ten minutes past 12 o'clock the infantry, no longer supported by their artillery, were compelled to retire to Flomig, and soon afterwards a junction between the Saxons and Prussians behind Sedan was announced to *us bw General Von Boon, who was eagerly peer? ing through a large telescope, as being safely completed. THE FRENCH surrender. From this moment the result of the battle could no longer be doubtful. The French were completely Surrounded and brought to bay. At 12:55 we were all astonished to see clouds of retreating French infantry on the hill between Flomig and Sedan, a Prussian batter}' making good practice, with percussion shells, among rae receding ranks. The whole hill, for a quar? ter of an nour, was literally covered with Frenchmen, running rapidly. Less than half an hour after, General Von Roon called our at? tention to another French column in full re? treat to the right of Sedan, on the road leading from Bazeille to La Gavenue wood. They nev? er halted until they got to a small red roofed house on the outskirts of Sedan itself. Almost I at the same moment General Sheridan, who was using my opera glass, asked me to look at a third French column moving up a broad grass road through La Gavenue wood, imme? diately above Sedan, doubtless to support the troops defending the important Bazeile ravine to the northeast of the town. PROGRESS OF THE BATTLE. At one o'clock the French batteries on the edge of the wood towards Toney and above it opened a vigorous fire upon the advancing Prussian columns of the third corps, whose ev? ident intention it was to storm the bill noihwest of La Gavenue, and bo gain the key of the posi? tion on that side. At 1:15 o'clock yet another French battery near the wood opened on the Prussian columns, which were compelled to keep shifting their ground till ready for their final rush at the hills, and in order to avoid of? fering so good a mark to the French uhells. Shortly alterwards we saw the first Prussian skirmishers on the crest of La Gavenue hills, above Toney. They did not seem in strength, and General Sheridan, who was standing be? hind me, exclaimed, "Ah, the beggars are too weak. They can never hold that position against all those French." The General's prophecy soon proved correct, for the French advancing at least six to one, the Prussians were forced to retreat down the hill to seek reinforcements from the columns which were hurrying to their support. In five minutes they came back again, this time in freater force, but still inferior to those huge 'rench masses. A DISASTROUS CAVALRY CHARGE. "Good Heavens 1 the French cuirassiers are going to charge them," cried General Sheridan, and sure enough the regiment of cuirassiers, their helmets and breastplates flashing in the September sun, form in sections of squadrons and dash down on the scattered Prussian skir? mishers. Without deigning to form in line, (squares are nevfif flseefby the Prussians,) the infantry received the cuirassiers with a crushing, quick fire, at about:a hundred yards distance, loading and firing with extreme, rapid and unfailing precision into the dense French, squadrons.? The effect was startling. Over went horses and men, in numbers, in masses, in hundreds, and the regiment of proud French cuirassiers went hurriedly back in disorder?went back faster than it came?went back scarcely a regiment in strength, and not at all a regiment in form. Its comely array was suddenly changed into, a shapeless crowd of flying men. The moment the cuirassiers turned back the brave Prussians dashed forward in hot pursuit, at double quick, the infantry plainly pursuing the flying caval? ry. Such a thing has not often been recorded in the annals of war. I know not when an ex? ample to compare precisely with this has oc? curred. There was no more striking episode in the battle. repulse of the french infantry. When the French infantry saw their cavalry thus fleeing before the foot soldiers, they in their turn came forward and attacked the Prus? sians. The Prussians waited quietly and pati? ently, enduring a rapid and telling nre from the chassepots, until their enemy had drawn so near as to be within 100 yards from them.? Then they returned with the needle-guns the rapid fire from the chassepots, and the French infantry could no more endure the Prussian fire than the cavalry to whose rescue they had come. The infantry fled in its turn, and fol? lowed the cavalry to the place from which they c.ime?that is behind a ridge some 500 yards on the way to Sedan, where the Prussian mitrail liers with their tearing fire could no longer reach them. The great object of the Prussians were gained, since they were/ not driven from the crest of the hill they fought to hold.? Holding it thu3 against cavalry, the Prussians persuaded themselves that it was possible to establish artillery on this hill. The roads now presented a terrible aspect.? The French left everything, flying in every di? rection, and throwing away their arms. The Prussian forces pressed forward resolutely, bent upon cutting off their retreat towards Belgium. The Prussian troops used the bayonet with ter? rible effect. Night closed on the rout and pur? suit, leaving the Prussians gathering in large numbers around Sedan. The Emperor remained at Sedan throughout the battle. At half-past two o'clock a message was sent to the Empercr at his headquarters, advising him to fly to Bel? gium, but the Emperor was too ill to undertake the journey. This morning the Prussians prepared to at? tack Sedan, which was not in a condition to re? sist. At twelve o'clock a party of officers, headed by General Wimpffen, left Sedan, bear? ing a flag of truce. It was received by the Prussian advance guard and conducted to the rear to the Prussian headquarters, where the general formerly surrendered the French army and fortress to King William. The French party also bore a letter from the Emperor Na? poleon to King William, stating he desired to surrender himself, not having any command. Formal capitulation took place at half-past 1 o'clock. The Victor and the Vanquished.?"As I cannot die at the head of the ?rmy I lay my sword at the feet of your Majesty." Thus the Emperor of the French to his quondam friend and royal compeer, Koenig Wilhelm L of Prus? sia. But a few years back we remember to have seen these two, the victor and the vanquished, seated amicably together in one of the imperial voitures which was being driven at the time through the Bois de Boulogne. They chatted apparently with the freedom aud unreserve that might mark the intercourse of old friends, turn? ing every now and then to acknowledge the bows of many a passer by. No royal cortege attended the two sovereigns on that beautiful evening drive. No pomp, no display, no sign of rank, none of the glitter of the court went with them. It was as though two unpretend ing citizens had driven forth to inhale the pure air of the Bois, or enjoy an hour of social com? munion in its refreshing shade. The beaming countenance of the kind old German King was as benignant as the sky above him was clear. He might have passed for a venerable gentle? man of fortune, who had withdrawn from the cares of business; a retired wine merchant, for instance, possessed of extensive estates upon the Rhine; a man whose culture of the grape had imparted to his character some of its gen? erous glow and richness, and to his cheeks some of its rosy bloom. But the man who sat beside him never smiled. His face was pale and puffy, as though disease had dried within him the fountains of health; his complexion of a milky hue, as though his blood never mounted above his shirt collar. When a bystander raised his hat to this pale, puffy man, the latter returned but a cold and distant recognition. Evidently he had forgotten that afternoon to shift from his mind the weighty responsibilities of Empire. He talked much to his companion, but his speech seemed frozen. There was no humor in his expression ; no sparkle in his eye. It was as though a sphinx had been endowed with voice, but denied all mobility of feature, all play of countenance. Thus, Louis Napoleon and William of Prussia, as they passed Defore our eyes one afternoon six years ago. What a change has come o'er the spirit of that scene since then ! What a transformation from Wil? liam, hospitably entertained as the guest of Bonaparte, and that same Bonaparte, robbed of his sceptre and his sword, a prisoner in the hands of that same William.?N. T. Commer? cial Advertiser. The Sisters of Mercy.?An incident of scarce a line, some poor half dozen words con? densed to the utmost of telegraphic brevity, the episode of a life as likely to pass unnoticed and to be forever lost, one slender beam of purest light piercing the murky clouds of battles? one poor flower blooming in a jungle of thorns, yet worthy of emblazoning in letters of gold on the black tablet of passing events; all that was told was of a Sister of Mercy who tenderly caring for a fallen soldier stricken down in the storm of battle, and receives herself a fearful wound, rallies for awhile, then dies with placid smile on her holy lips. God save us from taking a tittle from the guerdon of praise due to the thousands of he? roic dead, whether French or Prussian, un? known soldiers or historic Generals, who, with their last gasps, the cry of defiance on their lips, their faces to the foe, their weapons in their hands, sank lifeless on the sod; this frail woman inspired by faith alone, her gentle limbs nerved^ to the cruel task, serene and calm whilst breathing a whirlwind of plunging-hissing deaths, withput blanching or qualing, steadily Sursues her sacred mission amidst horrors in escribable, until some cruel missile changing her to the mangled semblance of human form, she left this earth and mounted to heaven, bear? ing the martyr crown upon her lovely head. What should we know her name ? It would give,us nothing save a passing, sound, the fact itself is all 'we care for I God in his great mercy will treasure it I If of things earthly there is any good, may she find sepulchre in some quiet grave?where ere sleeps our sister will be consecrated ground?over her . may the sweet breath of wild flowers mingle their per? fumes, with the songs of passing birds I Man can but coarsely praise such acts of piety, it behooves the Creator alone to reward sublime devotion.?Savannah News. An Approved Whitewash.?The following recipe for whitewashing has been found, by ex? perience, to answer on wood, brick and stone, nearly as well as oil paint, and is much cheaper. Take half a bushel of unslackod lime with boiling water, keeping it covered during the process. Strain it, and add a peck of salt, dis? solved in warm water and boiled to a thin paste; half - a pound of powdered Spanish whiting and a pound of clear glue, dissolved in warm water; mix these well together, and let the mixture stand for several days. Keep the wash thus prepared in a kettle or portable fur? nace, and when used put it on as hot ua possi? ble, with painters' whitewash brushes. ?etiew of the Waft from tbe Declaration of hostilities by france to the surrender of napoleon. The events of the last ten days in Europe, tremendous as a deluge, irresistible and inevi? table as fated decrees, have taken men so un? expectedly that the first great shock of sur? prise and astonishment which stunned them has scarcely yet worn off. The march of events to this prodigious climax has been so rapid that memory with difficulty recalls the separate events which have rushed in such whirlwind succession over the surface of contemporary history; and involuntarily catching breath as from a sudden submersion, each asks his neigh? bor. "Who would have expected it ?" And this story is told, and will Dear telling again and again. Early in July, less than two months ago, William of Prussia was said to have treated the French Ambassador with rudeness. The Ambassador, eager to prevent misunderstand? ing and to obtain specific promise from the King himself as to tne non-aggressive inten? tions of Prussia, pressed his suit a little perti? naciously and unseasonably. The monarch himself was not ill-disposed, and matters might have been temperately managed had not Count Bismarck stepped in, and, Brennus like, cast the sword into the balance. The dignity of France was outraged, the sensitive honor of the French nation touched, and preparations for war were made. Still nothing irretrievable was done, the last hope of peace was not thrown aside until the 15th of July, when the declara? tion of war was published. Then, on both sides, troops and all the paraphernalia of horrid war were hurried to the frontier. The line of operations chosen by the French Generals was from Metz on the west to Strasbourg on the east. The troops massed along the frontier, and for some days nothing was done in appear? ance ; but the preparations on both Bides was so enormous that the wonder is how such vast work could have been accomplished in so short a time. There were not wanting, however, people, who in their inconsiderate impatience, expected the overt acts of war to follow imme? diately on the first notes of preparation. At length on the 30th of July, at the little fron tier town of Saarbrucken, the first blow was struck; it was but a preliminary operation for reconnoissance. On the 2d of August the bat? tle of Saarbrucken was fought to get possession of some wooded heights. The French were successful, and, trivial as was the operation com with what followed, there was great gratulation over the first gain-. In a day or two, however, the object for which the first movement was made having been accomplished, the French General, Fros sard, abandoned the points he had been at pains to attain, and fell back a little to his first posi? tion. Now the Prussians put themselves in motion at the other end of the line. On the 3d of August, the day of the little affair at Saarbrucken, the Crown Prince advanced sud? denly against MncMahon, and falling on the advance guard under Douay at Weissenburg, cut his troops nearly to pieces, routed them en? tirely, and having given to General Douay, who died a hero's death on the field, honorable burial, the victorious Prince advanced against MacMahon. On the 0th of August, at both ends of the line, battles were fought. General Frossard was crushed at Forbach, near Saarbrucken, and driven in with heavy losses on Metz; while at Haguenau, or Worth, for the battle is named after both places, the Crown Prince followed up Weissenburg by assailing on MacMahon and routing him with immense slaughter on both sides, after a desperate .fight, in which the French did wonders of heroic bravery, but could effect nothing against overwhelming num bers, consummate generalship, and unflinching perseverance. The French, utterly crushed and demoralized, gave way. Some of the bro? ken regiments made their way to Strasbourg, MacMahon himself, with the shattered rem? nant of his army, retreated, with courage un? broken, though in great disorder, to Nancy, with a view of massing the Army of the Rhine on the line of the Moselle, which had the great frontier fortresses of Metz and Thionville as their base on the one side, and in the rear the Paris and Strasbourg Railway, with communi? cations open to the entrenched camp of Chalons, the fortress of Verdun, aud various fortified points which, with much difficult country and two large rivers and many minor streams, might reasonably be considered a hopeful line of defence*. Meanwhile Paris was in a state of siege On the 11th the.Olivier Ministry had resigned, Palikao, a rugged veteran, was Minister of War, and Trochu, a brilliant scientific soldier, was made military commandant The fortifications and defences were rapidly pushed. The unsuc cessful Marshal Lebaeuf was removed, and Ba zaine was made commander-in-chief of the Army of the Rhine: The French left had fal len back on Metz, the French right had pivo? ted on Metz, so as to make the River Moselle the front of their line, France breathed again. But if the French retreat had been rapid, and their organization prompt, the Prussian pursuit was unhesitating, and sternly determined to risk nothing by delay. The French army, though retaining their "high courage, was in a measure demoralized. Whatever the error or oversight, whether from mismanagement or from the contrarieties of time and circumstance inevitable on defeat, the supplies both of am? munition and of provisions came forward so uncertainly and irregularly that the French soldiery with all the depressing discouragement Of defeat and want of confidence in their lead? ers, had to endure the Buffering of deplorably insufficient food, and of an ill-managed com? missariat. It is even, indeed charged that the well devised plan of campaign by which Mac? Mahon was to have crossed tbe Rhine and car? ried the war into the enemy's country was spoil? ed at the outset by an inefficient commissariat. However this may be, the failure to attack gave the Prussians the right to open the game and to reverse the intended procedure. Rapid? ly following the retreat of the French to Nancy, that open city was found untenable. The Prus? sians took possession of it, and, although for want of seige trains they could do nothing against the forts and strong posts, their recon? naissances and scouts were pushed lar into the French rear, on the road to Paris. Meanwhile MacMahon, finding himself so endangered by the proximity of the Prussians, gathered to? gether the remnants of his forces and struck across from Nancy towards the northern com? munications from Metz to Verdun, hoping to meet reinforcements there from Chalons and to open communications with Marshal Bazaine, whose army was lying in front of and around Metz. MacMahon received reinforcements, but he could not succeed in effecting; a junction with Bazaine. Ceasing for the moment from their pursuit of MacMahon, the Prussians turn? ed short round and took up a position between Metz and Nancy, on the east side of the Mo? selle. MacMahon was.left for the moment to make his arrangements with Paris and the country to the wes,t of the Meuse. The Prus? sians turned their faces eastward again andpre Sared to deal with Bazaine, who on his part ad ressed himself bo tbe imperative necessity of breaking through a cordon which was surely and rapidly encircling him in its strangulating compress. Bazaine's division endeavored to cross the Moselle at various points, but they were checked, and desultory fighting took-place, in which, great as were the Prussian losses, the general success was with them, inasmuch as they kept closing in on Bazaine with their su? perior forces, restricting his communications and forcing him on a narrow base of action. At length, on the 15th and 18th of August, took place the terribly sanguinary battles of Borny, Gravelotte, and Vionville. It was a three days' fight. The French within and with? out Metz sought to effect the passage of the river by a simultaneous movement. The French had succeeded in advancing some few miles from Metz on the road to1 Verdun, when Stein? metz with 70,000 men fell on the French right. At the Same time Prince Fritz assailed the left. The result was a prolonged engagement, in which both sides claimed the result, though the advantages remained with the French, who could not be dislodged or driven in. The slaughter on both sides was prodigious. The Prussians asked for time to bury their dead ; the French rested on their positions, and it may therefore be fairly said that the battle was drawn. The last engagement, though on a less magnificent scale, has been decisive in its char? ter, as the results have been ascertained, and most momentous. Marshal MacMahon had re? treated beyond to the north of the Merz-Verdun line, and entered the rugged and defensible Argonne district close to the Belgian frontier. The Prussian generals deciding, after the des Eerate engagement of Gravelotte, that it would e an affair of time to conquer Bazaine, turned sharp round on MacMahon with the intention apparently of demolishing him, and thereby leaving the march on Paris perfectly free from any flank movement, at the same time saving themselves from any operations in their future dealings with Bazaine. On the 30th of August Prince Frederic fall upon MacMahon at Douzy, and pushed him for a whole day. The slaughter was as usual ter? rific, but the Prussians were repulsed, though not driven back, and MacMahon crossed the Meuse towards Sedan in face of the enemy. The next day and the day after the battle was continued; finally General MacMahon was des? perately wounded; the French found them- i selves hemmed in between the Belgian frontier in flank and rear, and a powerful enemy supe? rior in number, in front, and the whole divis? ion surrendered. This, however, was not all, for the Emperor Napoleon, who, since the commencement of active operations, had considered it expedient to leaved Paris entirely in charge of the Re? gent and the Ministry, and to take the field in person, had, during these six weeks, oscillated between Metz and Nancy, Chalons and Verdun, as momentary occurrences required his presence. During this last battle he had been in the neighboring city of Sedan within communica? tion of MacMahon. At the last moment he had fallen desperately sick, and finding himself un? able to move or place himself at the head of his troops, he determined to include himself in , the surrender. This is not the place to specu? late on the political motives which Napoleon's profound sagacity may have suggested. But a motive is found ready to hand in confidence of the honorable treatment due to a prisoner of war, and also in the absolute freedom to the Empress and regency of acting for the safety of France, without consideration tor the Emperor's person, or even for his action, which, as a pris- j oner, could not possibly be binding on France. Previous to the surrender, and while the capi? tulation was under consideration, the soldiery,, exasperated at the inefficiency of their officers,j killed some of them, among others General Failly, the man of Mentana. Unavoidably or not the case may be, he had been a cause of MacMahon's defeat at HagUenau in not joining him when ordered. It is not certaiu whether de Failly wa* murdered by his men or whether he was executed after court-martial. Like Dr. Guillotine he fell by his favorite invention. The words in which the Emperor made his surrend? er will be memorable for their sad and simple dignity: "As I cannot die at the head of my army, I lay my sword at the feet of your Maj? esty." If motives of policy did not dictate the act, it is possible that long continued malady and the exertions of the campaign, with con? stant anxieties and fearful sights of war, may have enfeebled his resolution. The most ran cerous vilifier of Louis Napoleon will scarcely charge him with want of moral courage or the will to carry out his plans, even under extraor? dinary reverse. His whole life bears testimony to this. His future is, of course, matter of the purest speculation?dependent on the course of events. Magnanimity in the Prussian monarch might not be considered consistent with com? mon policy. On the other hand, there is no ground for supposing but that he will be treated with all personal courtesy and honor. The Crown Prince, who being a great general is also a chivalrous gentleman, has spoken in terms of becoming consideration of the Emperor when his open enemy. The ijsues of the war will be treated of else? where, but it Ls part of this article to say that at Paris already the news of the capitulation has been ill received, and General Count Pali kao has issued his proclamation, signed by all the Ministry, declaring that France will not submit to terras, and will fight it out. History attests in innumerable cases, that it is impossi? ble to constrain a free and earnest people. The Low Countries, even with intestine dissensions, resisted the whole power of mightv Spain. The rise of Prussia from a petty electorate to a na? tion in the face of poverty and misery at home and war abroad is another instance; while the most pregnant illustration of all is in France herself, which, rising in '89 and "92, shook off royalty, and when her soil was polluted by for? eign invasion rose as with a shout, and, literal? ly picking up arms, rushed as an undisciplined mass against her foes and swept them from her Boil. The situation of France in this day is far more potent than eighty years ago. Owing to the Sroviacnt care of the man who has iust surren ered, she is now second in financial position to none in Europe. She has vast internal re? sources, her fociety is organized, her manufac? tures and agriculture progressive, and she has all the elements of internal prosperity, with a war navy equal to that of England. Whatever the form of her government may be, a Regen? cy, a Republic, or an Orleanist monarchy, the sentiment of the people will alone determine the discontinuance of the war. And that this continuance is to be purchased at the dishonor of giving up Lorraine and Alsace, it is scarcely to be supposed that a proud, powerful and self assertive nation would submit to it, even if the Other powers of Europe were content to stand by and look calmly on Prussian aggrandize? ment and the criumph of absolutism.?New York World, Sept. 5. Preserving Green Corn.?Boil the corn (on the cobs,) until it is thoroughly scalded, then cut from cobs, and dry on earthen plates in the sun. Three or four bright sunshiny days Will dry it sufficient. If well dried and kept in a dry place, corn prepared in this way will-JceeD/any length of time, and boiled with beans in the winter, makes a very palatable dish. Beans and peas may be preserved in the same manner. Exit Napoleon?The Empire Exploded. Charles Louis Napoleen, otherwise called Napoleon III, is the youngest son of Louis, King of Holland, and Hortense, daughter of the Empress Josephine, and was born in Paris, April 20,1808. His early life, after the battle of Waterloo, was spent in Switzerland, and subsequently in Italy. His principal tutor was M. Labas, a strong Republican, and from him he imbibed those beautiful ideas of Republic canism, which, in after life, he so pompously expressed yet so fatally warred against After the death of the Duke of Reichstadt, in 1832, he became the successor of the Great Napoleon, not by regular descent, but by vir ture of the Imperial edicts, of 1804 and 1805, which fixed the order of succession in the heirs of Joseph, instead of the older brothers Of the first Emperor. Soon after this, Louis seemed to have come to the conclusion that destiny bad fixed upon him as the deliverer of the French Republicans, and, in connexion with Colonel Vaudry, and other officers of the gar? rison of Strasbourg, on the 80th of October, 1836, he proclaimed a revolution. This attempt to raise himself resulted,: in a few days, in a miserable failure. Taken prisoner'by Louis Phillippe, instead of being executed for insur? rection, as he expected, he was, through the intercession of his mother, merely banished the kingdom. Coming to tbis country, he led a life of idle? ness for some time, and then went 'to South America. Soon after, he returned to Europe, and re-visiting his sick motherat Arenenburg, ne reached there just in time to witness her death-. Here, he soon commenced various publications in defence of his Strasbourg fiasco, which cans" ed Louis Phillippe to demand his expulsion from Switzerland, to avoid which he voluntari? ly withdrew, and took up his residence in Eng? land. Here, he occupied his time in writing Idees Napoleoniennes^ and in getting up another revolutionary expedition. In 1840, accompanied by Count Montholon, an old friend and favorite of the Great Empe? ror and a retinue of about fifty persons he sail* ed from Margate, and in a few days after lan? ded at Bologne, marched to the barracks and called npon the soldiers to surrenderor join his standard This they refused?a few shots were exchanged, when the nephew of his uncle re? tired to the hills where he was soon after cap tu red. He was tried for treason before the House of Peers?was defended by Berry er, con? victed and sentenced to perpetual imprison? ment in the Fortress of.Ham. In 1846 he managed to escape from prison^ and two years after when the Revolution of 1848 broke out he repaired to Paris, and was chosen a deputy to the National Assembly from the department of the Seine and three outer de* Eartments. An effort w&s made in the Assemb? ly to effect his banishment^ which movement was led by Lamartine, but after a stormy, de? bate he was admitted to his seat He was then professedly a strong Republican, and as"the known pupil of Labas received much credit for his sincerity. In May, 1850, he Was elected President of the Republic by a large majority. Though nominally Republican, it was soon discovered that his government was directed mainly to strengthening his own power and the revival of Napoleonic ideas. Cbangarnier, a staunch Re? publican, who commanded the army of Paris, was dismissed from his command in 1851, and the legislative assembly which showed some consistency in refusing to yield to his personal wisbes, were startled on the 2d of December in that year by the promulgation of an order by the Piince President, as ne had come to be des* ignatcd, declaring Paris in a state of siege, dis? solving the assembly and placing 180 of the most conspicuous of its members under arrest At the same time a decree was published, es? tablishing universal suffrage, and ordering an election for President for ten years. Of course the "Nephew" was elected, and he immediately set to work preparing for the Empire. In 1852 a national guard was established, and new or? ders of nobility issued. Later in the year the people were required to vote on a plebiscitttm, recognizing the imperial dynasty in the person of Louis. The majority was largely in his fa? vor, and thus was founded the new Empire, which, on the 2d of September, 1870, went out amid the smoke of battle, the boom of artil ery and the red glare of Prussian needle guns on the bloody heights of Sedan. The Empire is ended?the nephew of his uncle is disgraced, dishonored ana dethroned. The victorious host of William turn their faces towards Paris?the long coveted metropolis? and the rich valleys of the Moselle, theMense, the Aube and the'Seine will, ere long, wake to the echos of the triumphant tread oi William's soldiery. In less than ten days the shadow of Notre Dame will fall upon a serried line of armed invaders and the subdued tones of cathe? dral bells greet the ears of the rude North men in their temporary bivouac on the heights around the apparently doomed city. The Emperor dethroned?Trochu Dictator. These be strange words. One short month ago Napoleen the III, grand Emperor of heroic France, was the talismanic word which waked to life the slumbering fires of the .French sol? diery. But one short month back and the man who now, by the voice of the people/takes the absolute command of La belle' -Francois, was not known beyond the limits of the small co? terie of officers who had shared his toils and successes in Africa. The star of Louis hasset That of the youthful Trochu appears for the first time above the horizon. With best wishes for his success, we shall anxiously await the de? velopments of the next few days.?Augusta Chronicle. The House of Obxeaxs.-^-Now that the present complications in France may at any moment revive the Bourbon dynasty, it i3 in? teresting to know who and what are the present representatives of that ancient family. The last King of France was Louis Phillippe, a de? scendant of the Orleans branch of the Bourbon family. His eldest son; the Dulce of Orleans, married Helena of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, May 30, 1837. Daring the reign of his father he was killed by being thrown from. Iiis carriage. He left two sons, Louis Phillippe Albert, Count of Paris, born August 24, 1830, and Robert Phillippe Louis Eugene Ferdinand, Duke of Chartres, born November 9,1840. The Count of Paris; tbe head of the family, is now thirty eight years of age. He has been & traveler and ah author. He served for a time with his younger brother, the Dake of Chartres, on the staff of Gen. McClellan on the Peninsula. The brothers offered their services to Napoleon at the outbreak of the present war, but there is no evidence thus far that they have been accepted. The surviving sons of Louis Phillippe, uncles to the Count of Paris and Duke or Chartres, are the Duke of Nemours, 66 years old; Prince de Joinville, 52 years old; Duke of Aumal, aged 42, who rose to be Marshal of France, nvd had the distinction of receiving Abdel-Kader's surrender; and the Duke of Montpeneier.? They have been fruitful and have multiplied; There are enough of the family to stock alltbe thrones of Europe. : ,i ? t -? The latest parlor game?sitting' up "Tfc takes two to play it.