When the Count received me he was clothed in the undress uniform of the Cuirassier regiment, of which he was the colonel.  During the interview which ensued, he exhibited at times deep anxiety regarding the conflict now imminent, for it was the night before the battle of Gravelotte, but his conversation was mostly devoted to the state of public sentiment in America, about which he seemed much concerned, inquiring repeatedly as to which side—­France or Prussia—­was charged with bringing on the war.  Expressing a desire to witness the battle which was expected to occur the next day, and remarking that I had not had sufficient time to provide the necessary transportation, he told me to be ready at 4 o’clock in the morning, and he would take me out in his own carriage and present me to the King—­adding that he would ask one of his own staff-officers, who he knew had one or two extra horses, to lend me one.  As I did not know just what my status would be, and having explained to the President before leaving America that I wished to accompany the German army unofficially, I hardly knew whether to appear in uniform or not, so I spoke of this matter too, and the Count, after some reflection, thought it best for me to wear my undress uniform, minus the sword, however, because I was a non combatant.

At 4 o’clock the next morning, the 18th, I repaired to the Chancellor’s quarters.  The carriage was at the door, also the saddle-horse, but as no spare mount could be procured for General Forsyth, he had to seek other means to reach the battle-field.  The carriage was an open one with two double seats, and in front a single one for a messenger; it had also a hand-brake attached.

Count Bismarck and I occupied the rear seat, and Count Bismarck-Bohlen—­the nephew and aide-decamp to the Chancellor—­and Doctor Busch were seated facing us.  The conveyance was strong, serviceable, and comfortable, but not specially prepossessing, and hitched to it were four stout horses—­logy, ungainly animals, whose clumsy harness indicated that the whole equipment was meant for heavy work.  Two postilions in uniform, in high military saddles on the nigh horse of each span, completed the establishment.

All being ready, we took one of the roads from Pont-a-Mousson to Rezonville, which is on the direct road from Metz to Chalons, and near the central point of the field where, on the 16th of August, the battle of Mars-la-Tour had been fought.  It was by this road that the Pomeranians, numbering about 30,000 men, had been ordered to march to Gravelotte, and after proceeding a short distance we overtook the column.  As this contingent came from Count Bismarck’s own section of Germany, there greeted us as we passed along, first in the dim light of the morning, and later in the glow of the rising sun, continuous and most enthusiastic cheering for the German Chancellor.