THE ROYAL ARTILLERY INSTITUTION. 
189 
works from thence were proceeded with to aid the bombardment in 
convincing the garrison; but, owing to the rain and the plain, the 
trenches got full of water and the country so deep that the pieces 
could not be got across it, either that night or the next; though 
it appeared to me that no contrivance beyond main force had been 
applied. 
In the afternoon of the second day a flag of truce was shown by 
the town, the firing ceased, and an envoy arrived about 4 p.m. at 
the Prussian head-quarters, asking for a cessation of hostilities, for 
the purpose of sending away the women, children, and old men; this 
the General refused, alleging the difficulty of seeing it fairly carried 
out; but he said that firing would not recommence before six o’clock, 
and that such as chose to get out in that short time, might: he also 
gave notice that the next display of a white flag by the town would 
not procure a cessation of fire, but only the actual arrival of an 
envoy empowered to propose terms. And the French officer took his 
leave, gallantly assuring the General, “At 6 o’clock we shall be 
prepared to receive your fire.” 
Nobody appears to have left the town during the very short 
interval allowed, and the Prussians, thinking they had been robbed 
of a little time, increased the night firing up to the day rate. The 
town consequently burnt fiercely in many places (but without serious 
explosions) until about 11 a.m. next day, when the tricolor flag 
on one of the towers of the principal church (which was used as a 
granary), was replaced by a white one; too late, however, to save 
the roof of the church, which burst out in flame shortly after, and 
fell in during the negotiations which followed. 
There was very little delay over the terms: “ the 
apmaion. con( j^q ong 0 f ]\£ e t z and Sedan,” the sole offer of the 
Prussian general, was soon accepted for the garrison, and it was 
arranged that the next day at noon the troops should march out of 
the town by its eastern gate, pile arms in the plain, and place them¬ 
selves at the.’disposal of Prussian escorts as prisoners of war: after 
which the besieging army would march into the town. Next morn¬ 
ing, however, the Governor sent to beg the Prussians to take over 
the various guards in the town forthwith, as his men were in such 
disorder that he could not otherwise answer for the fulfilment of the 
stipulations,—or even against treacherous attempts on the magazines. 
The guards were sent in accordingly, and instituted order in parts; 
but it seems to have been a rough night in the town, with a great 
deal of drunkenness and danger: some rejoiced at the capitulation, 
some were in despair ; but all, soldiers, mobiles, and inhabitants, 
concurred in condemning the Governor, though for opposite and 
incompatible reasons. 
The Prussian army was formed to receive the prisoners at 11 a.m., 
in two lines nearly perpendicular to one another, and meeting in a 
re-entering angle about a mile on the road from the town, some 
batteries of artillery forming part of one of the lines close to the 
angle. Only a little before 1 o’clock the lively French bugles were 
