The Campaign of Sedan: The Downfall of the Second Empire, August-September 1870
The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Campaign of Sedan, by George Hooper
Transcriber’s Note
BOHN’S STANDARD LIBRARY
THE CAMPAIGN OF SEDAN
“The policy of your Government will bring you to Jena,” said M. de Moustier to Herr von Bismarck during the Crimean War. “Why not to Waterloo?” was the prompt and prophetic reply.
Wo Kraft und Muth in deutscher Seele flammen.
AUTHOR OF “WATERLOO: THE DOWNFALL OF THE FIRST NAPOLEON: A HISTORY OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1815,” ETC.
WITH MAP AND PLANS
LONDON GEORGE BELL AND SONS 1909
CHISWICK PRESS: CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO. TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON.
When it was decided to publish a new and cheaper edition of Mr. George Hooper’s “Sedan,” the question arose whether anything should be added to it. My father had intended, should a new edition be called for, to revise and correct the work, and to furnish it with an index. After due consideration it has been decided to make no additions to the book, except the index, which has been carefully compiled. A few errors that had crept into the text of the original edition have been corrected; but in other respects the volume remains as it was left by its author.
WYNNARD HOOPER.
George Hooper
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PREFACE.
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
French demands for the Rhine.
Luxemburg.
An Interlude of Peace.
The Salzburg Interview.
The Emperor seeks Allies.
The Hohenzollern Candidature.
The French Government and the Chamber.
CHAPTER II.
German Mobilization.
French Mobilization.
War Methods Contrasted.
CHAPTER III.
The Combat at Saarbrück.
Preparing to go forward.
Positions on August 4.
The Moral and Political Forces.
CHAPTER IV.
The Combat on the Lauter.
French Position on the Saar.
German Position on the Saar.
CHAPTER V.
1.—Woerth.
The Battle Begins.
Attack on Woerth.
Attack on the French right.
Attack on Elsasshausen.
MacMahon Orders a Retreat.
The Close of the Battle.
2.—Spicheren.
The Battle-field.
The Germans begin the Fight.
The Red Hill Stormed.
Progress of the Action.
Frossard Retires.
CHAPTER VI.
The Emperor resigns his command.
The German Advance.
The German Cavalry at Work.
The Germans March on the Moselle.
CHAPTER VII.
The French Propose to Move.
The Battle of Colombey-Nouilly.
Von Golz Dashes In.
The End of the Battle.
The French Retreat.
The Germans cross the Moselle.
The Cavalry beyond the Moselle.
Orders for the Flank March.
The Emperor Quits the Army.
CHAPTER VIII.
Vionville—Mars la Tour.
The Vionville Battlefield.
The French are Surprised.
The Third Corps strikes in.
Arrival of Bazaine.
Bredow’s Brilliant Charge.
The Fight becomes Stationary.
Arrival of the Tenth Corps.
The great Cavalry Combat.
End of the Battle.
CHAPTER IX.
Marshal Bazaine.
The Battlefield of Gravelotte.
The German Plans.
The Battle of Gravelotte.
Prince Frederick Charles at the Front.
Steinmetz Attacks the French Left.
Operations by the German Left Wing.
General Frossard Repels a fresh Attack.
The last Fights near St. Hubert.
The Prussian Guard on the Centre and Left.
The Capture of St. Privat.
CHAPTER X.
The King Marches Westward.
The Cavalry Operations.
The Emperor at Chalons and Reims.
MacMahon Retires to Reims.
The Chalons Army directed on the Meuse.
CHAPTER XI.
The Cavalry Discover the Enemy.
Movements of the French.
The Marshal Resolves, Hesitates, and Yields.
Movements of the Germans.
Effects of MacMahon’s Counter-Orders.
German and French Operations on the 29th.
The Combat at Nouart.
The State of Affairs at Sundown.
The Battle of Beaumont.
The Surprise of the 5th Corps.
The Flight to Mouzon.
CHAPTER XII.
The Battle of Noisseville.
CHAPTER XIII.
German Decision.
Confusion in the French Camp.
The Movements of the Germans.
The Battlefield of Sedan.
The Battle of Sedan.
MacMahon’s Wound and its Consequences.
Progress of the Battle on the Givonne.
The March on St. Menges.
The 11th and 5th Corps engage.
The Condition of the French Army.
The French Cavalry Charge.
General de Wimpffen’s Counterstroke.
The Emperor and his Generals.
King William and his Warriors.
How the Generals Rated each other.
The Generals Meet at Donchery.
Napoleon III. Surrenders.
The French Generals Submit.
The End.
APPENDICES.
INDEX.
