with power to treat for the capitulation of the army, himself naming Von Moltke to represent the Germans.  The King then started for Vendresse, to pass the night.  It was after 7 o’clock now, and hence too late to arrange anything more where we were, so further negotiations were deferred till later in the evening; and I, wishing to be conveniently near Bismarck, resolved to take up quarters in Donchery.  On our way thither we were met by the Count’s nephew, who assuring us that it would be impossible to find shelter there in the village, as all the houses were filled with wounded, Forsyth and I decided to continue on to Chevenge.  On the other hand, Bismarck-Bohlen bore with him one great comfort—­some excellent brandy.  Offering the flask to his uncle, he said:  “You’ve had a hard day of it; won’t you refresh yourself?” The Chancellor, without wasting time to answer, raised the bottle to his lips, exclaiming:  “Here’s to the unification of Germany!” which sentiment the gurgling of an astonishingly long drink seemed to emphasize.  The Count then handed the bottle back to his nephew, who, shaking it, ejaculated, “Why, we can’t pledge you in return—­there is nothing left!” to which came the waggish response, “I beg pardon; it was so dark I couldn’t see”; nevertheless there was a little remaining, as I myself can aver.

Having left our carriage at Chevenge, Forsyth and I stopped there to get it, but a long search proving fruitless, we took lodging in the village at the house of the cure, resolved to continue the hunt in the morning.  But then we had no better success, so concluding that our vehicle had been pressed into the hospital service, we at an early hour on the 2d of September resumed the search, continuing on down the road in the direction of Sedan.  Near the gate of the city we came on the German picket-line, and one of the Officers, recognizing our uniforms—­he having served in the war of the rebellion—­stepped forward and addressed me in good English.  We naturally fell into conversation, and in the midst of it there came out through the gate an open carriage, or landau, containing two men, one of whom, in the uniform of a general and smoking a cigarette, we recognized, when the conveyance drew near, as the Emperor Louis Napoleon.  The landau went on toward Donchery at a leisurely pace, and we, inferring that there was something more important at hand just then than the recovery of our trap, followed at a respectful distance.  Not quite a mile from Donchery is a cluster of three or four cottages, and at the first of these the landau stopped to await, as we afterward ascertained, Count Bismarck, with whom the diplomatic negotiations were to be settled.  Some minutes elapsed before he came, Napoleon remaining seated in his carriage meantime, still smoking, and accepting with nonchalance the staring of a group of German soldiers near by, who were gazing on their fallen foe with curious and eager interest.