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F-
BEV- A. J. RYAN, Editor.
AUGUSTA, GA., SEPT. 24, 1870.
BT ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS AND
BUSINESS LETTERS FOR THE “BAN
NER OF THE SOUTH” SHOULD BE
ADDRESSED TO THE PUBLISHERS—
L. T. BLOME & CO.
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POLITICAL HARMONY.
Political harmony is absolutely essen
tial to Political success. “A house di
vided against itself must fall.” A Party
disintegrated by personal dissensions
must crumble to ruins. Well Will it be
for the Democratic Party in the Southern
States and all who hate Radicalism to
consider these axioms and profit by the
consideration. Wc are not strong enough
to permit divisions. We need every
vote we can get. Aud we need to have
them consolidated and used with one
mind and one will. Personal preference
must be set aside ; and personal sacrifices
must be made for the good of the country.
All must unite for the common good
Unless this is done Radicalism will be
fastened upon the South, and the chains
of Tyranny be more tightly drawn about
our unhappy Section.
See what division and dissension have
done for France. They have placed her
at the very feet of her enemy. What
will they do for us ? They will secure us
a fate worse than that of France. In
Alabama, the Conservatives were divided,
but we are happy to learn that the De
mocracy have magnanimously made a
concession in regard to the Party name,
by reason of which those Conservatives
have become reconciled to the situa
tion, and will throw all their influence
against Radicalism in the approaching
State electious. The Party designation
there is “Democratic and Conservative.”
In Louisiana, it is painful to know that
division also exists.. A Third Party
movement is at work, and dealing as
heavy blows against the Democracy as
any that the Radicals can inflict. It is
painful and humiliating in the extreme.
What objection can there be to a name ?
Simply because some life-long prejudice
exists against the Democratic Party, these
sticklers for a name, would rather sacri
fice their State than to unite with a political
organization, which, united, can and
will defeat the Radicals in every Southern
State. To such men as these we earnest
ly address ourselves. We appeal to
tneir patriotism, to their past devotion to
the South, and to that hatred which they
ought to bear to that wicked and corrupt
cabal called the Radical Party, to cease
their opposition to the Democratic Party,
and unite their strength in the approach
ing Political contest.
When we have thoroughly and effec
tually whipped out Radicalism, then we
may have numbers enough to fritter
away ou new Parties and side issues, and
personal prejudices. But for the present
we cannot alford to do it. Patriotism,
good sense, every interest of our Section
forbid such a course. Colonel C. C.
Lungdon, of Mobile, a life-long Whig, and
an ardent Patriot, has wisely said that
in this great contest he cares not what
the Party of the Constitution shall be
named. Let it be Democratic, or Whig,
Jew, or Gentile, or Pagan or what not, he
is with it heart and soul, until the ene
my of Constitutional Liberty and South
ern Rights is annihilated. This is the
spirit which should animate all our peo
ple. It is the spirit of Patriotism, of
Reason, of Prudence. It is the spirit
which alone can win success. It is the
spirit which alone will achieve the vic
tory.
THE IATLIAN MOVEMENT-
The Kingdom of Italy, too weak and
cowardly to lay its hands upon the tem
poral sovereignty of Pope Pius IX.
when the arms of France were in Rome
to protect that sovereignty, exhibits its
cowardiee, now that Branch bayonets are
withdrawn, by marching its troops into
the Eternal City and usurping an authori
ty for which it has no shadow of right.
The Papal States,” so-called, are the
patrimony of the Church. They belong
to the Catholic world—as much to the
Catholics ot the United States as to those
of Italy, or of any portion of the world.
They belong to the Catholic world pretty
much as the District of Columbia does to
the United States—a sort of common
property, wherein the General Govern
ment might have an independent abiding
place, as it were, subject to no State or
local authority. For any State to claim
jurisdiction over the District of Colum
bia would he an act of usurpation which
would be promptly resisted and pre
vented by the Government and by the
States themselves. So, too, is the claim
of Victor Emanuel to rule the States of
the Church a fraudulent claim, which
Catholics everywhere have a right and
ought to resist. When he sets his foot
in, or sends his armies-to occupy that
territory, he becomes a lawless invader;
and when he claims it as a part of his
territory he becomes a public robber. If
France and Spain were in possession of
any power to-day, the King of Italy
would not dare to assume these positions-
Taking advantage of their weakness, he
robs our Church of her property, and
strikes a blow at the independence of our
Venerable and beloved Head; for the
temporal sovereignty of the Pope is ab
solutely essential to his independence as
Head of the Church on earth,
Can King Victor hope to succeed in his
nefarious work ? Perhaps he may suc
ceed for a while; but God, in His justice,
will not permit His Church to he suc
cessfully robbed of her estates, nor her
honored Holy Father to be persecuted by
the thieving, cowardly King of Italy.
Success may attend him for a while ;
but his fall will be greater than his tri
umph, and Lis punishment commensurate
with his crime.
GOV- BULLOCK AND INSURRECTION-
A large number of affidavits of colored
men have been taken in Jefferson County,
Ga., implicating Gov. Bullock, of this
State, or Territry, in the late Insurrec
tionary movement in that County. Cudjo
Fye, the leader of the insurrection, de
clared in the presence of these witnesses
that he had instructions from the Gov
ernor to organize Clubs for the release of
parties from jail, whom the club believed
to be undeserving of punishment, to
compel the payments of debts due the
members, and to compel officers of elec
tions to receive the'votes of members
who could not pay their taxes! This is
a dreadful charge to make against the
Chief Executive of the State; but the
action is so much in accordance with
Radical policy, that it is an easy matter
to believe it true.
If true—and the affiants have sworn
that this chief fugleman of Radicalism,
Cudjo Fye, assured them that it was
true, and they believed it to be so—it is
to be hoped that the Military authorities
who have undertaken to investigate the
matter, will mete out such punishment as
so heinous an offence will deserve. For the
present, and for the honor of our State,
as well as respect for the high official
position which Gov. Bullock holds, we
prefer to believe it untrue. But true,
or untrue, it is a warning to our people,
white and black, to rid themselves of
the incubus of Radicalism which is
weighing them down with its burthen
some taxation, and its corrupt and venal
character.
GEN. HANCOCK aT~THE BATTLE OF
GETTYSBURG.
We publish in this issue of our paper
a communication from a Pennsylvania
soldier who was in Hancock’s Army Corps
at the Battle of Gettysburg. He is
jealous of the honor ot his commander ;
and as his communication is fair and
courteous, and contains a subject of his
torical interest, we cheerfully give it a
place in our columns.
THE DEFENCE OF SEDAN.
THE FRKXUH ACCOUNT OF M’MAHON’S
DISASTER.
[by TELEGRAPH TOTHS TRIBUNE]
The Battles Previous to the Surrender —
Splendid Artillery Service of ihe Prus
sians— Bravery of the Emperor under
Fire—A Desperate Sortie by General
Wimp fen —Graphic Description of the
Terrible Scenes in Sedan .
London, Tuesday Sept. 6, 1870.
The special correspondent of the. Tri
bune at McMahon’s Headquarters, a
French officer, who witnessed the battle of
Sedan from the French side, and was shut
up in Sedan with the French army, hav
ing been released sends the following ac
count, dated Sedan. Sept 3:
THE EVENTS ©F AUG. 31st.
I pass over Ml that has happened since I
wrote you from Meizires, to come at once
to the events o: Aug. 31 and Sept. I—the
u tter the saddest day the French arms
have ever witnessed.
Eidy in the morning of the 31st, orders
were given to bring into Sedan all the
wagon-trains and oxen which lird been left
cU'side the glacis. By this time the
streets were blocked up with troops of
every kind which had entered the town
during the night. I tried to ride down to
the Port de Paris, where the train was
stationed to carry the orders. I was
obliged to get off my horse and make my
way as best I cou and between the horses
and caissons which choked up every
street and square of the town. As I
reached the Port de Paris, I met the wagon
train entering as fast as possible, followed
closely by the rushing oxen and inter
mingled with the weeping and terror
stricken peasantry of the neighborhood
flying into the town for protection. They
little knew that it was about the worst
place they could have chosen. The gates
on that side were immediately afterward
closed, while the troops slowly fikd out
through the opposite gate toward Douay,
where ali McMahon s forces were posted,
expecting to be again attacked by the
Prussians, who had close followed up the
French army.
POSITIONS THE CONTENDING FORCES -
Abort 10 o’clock that morning cannon,
ading was heard six or seven miles away
toward the village of Bazeille. I went up
on the rampart overlooking the country in
that direction. Thence I could see the
Prnssian position, and with my field-glass
could watch the firing ; but I could not
see the French lines, which wero hid from
me by trees about a mile from the town.
I therefore, at noon, walked out of the
town at the Porte de Balan and ascen
ded on ray left the rising ground which
is close by the town. Not more than
half a mile, from the gate I passed
through regiments of teserve infaDtry.
Their arms were piled and the fires
smoking, the soup not having long been
eaten. I continued ascending, and eveiy
where passed reserve corps of infantry and
artillery. I got higher and higher, from
hillock to hillock, till I reached a battery
of reserve, the guns of which were unlim
bered and placed facing the rear of the
French left. This battery was so pointed
as to fire over the crest of the rising ground
on which I stood. About a quarter of a
mile distant, in front of a little church
yard, stood also several officers iff the dif
ferent corps which were stationed on my
right aud left, all being of the reserve.
From the point I had now reached, a
charming prospect was within view. The
French line of battle extended right in
front, spreading on the slope of the ground
which forms one side of this basin of the
Meuse. In front of the center of the
French lines, and lower down in the vale,
was the village of Bazeille, which was
then beginning to burn, the Prussian shells
having set fire to it. Parallel almost to
the front of the French positions ran the
Meuse, crossed by a bridge a little to the
lett ot Bazeille. The French right was
upon a knot of wooded ground held by
tirailleurs, the wooded ground extending
nearly to the grounds of Sedan. The left
was lost to my sight behind the inequali
ties af the ground toward the road to
Bouillon. As far as I could see, ou the
right and left and in front of me, were
massed regiments of all arms; hut toward
the left, on the second line, was a very
large force of heavy cavalry-dragoons
and cuirassiers.
The sun was shining brightly, and every
thing was plainly visible. The glittering
of weapons, the bright and showy colors
of the French uniforms, the white smoke
curling under the blue sky or lingering
like vapor beneath the trees, the lurid
flames rising from the burning village of
Bazeille, all seen from a commanding po
sition, formed a spectacle such as one has
hut rarely the opportunity to witness.
The principal Prussian batteries were di
rectly opposite the French center on a
plateau or table-land which terminated
abruptly, and made it a very stroug po
sition.
For some time cannonading continued on
both sides. At two o’clock a force of
PRUSSIAN INFANTRY ADVANCED
across the bridge in the village of Douzy,
and immediately there began a very sharp
fusillade, lastine, however, not more than
t.en minutes. I think the French must
have 10-t ground in that encounter, al
though I could not see it because of some
trees that intervened ; but a battery of six
mitrailleuses advanced and opened fire
through the trees. Six volleys came all at
once. The Prussians fell hurriedly back,
leaving whole ranks behind, which had
gope down like those leaden soldiers which
children play with.
About 4:30 the firing had ceased every
where. The village, which had been
blazing all day, was still smoking. The
French remained in the same position.—
Though the day had apparently been
without result, its description is a neces
sary prelude to the bitter siory of the
morrow. At 5:30 1 returned to the town.
THE EMPEROR RESIGNS lIIS COMMAND OF TIIK
ARMY.
The Emperor who had arrived during the
night had issued a proclamation which was
posted oil the walls, saying that he had
confided the command of the armies to the
generals whom public opinion had seemed
to select as most capable of leading them,
and that lie liimself intended to fight as an
officer, forgetting for a while his position
as a sovereign.
SPLENDID ARTILLERY PRACTICE OF THE
PRUSSIANS.
The next morning, Thursday, Sept. 1
I returned, as soon as the gates of the
town were opened, to my post of observe,
tion on the elevated ground where the baa
tery was still placed. The French pos
tions did not seem to me much altered, but
the right was dow on the other side of
Sedan. At 7 o’clock the cannonade began
in earnest; some slight firing having taken
place earlier. The Prussian batteries
facing us appeared to mo much more nu
merous ; indeed it seemed to me there
were batteries everywhere. They roared
from every point of the Prussian line
which then stretched nearly para lei in
front of the French. I could follow the
falling of their shells which exploded ns
they touched the ground and fell with won
derful pre ision. I noticed also how
quickly they changed and corrected their
lire. As soon as a French corps took up a
position it was instantly assailed by shells.
The first would, perhaps, fall a few feet
short or beyond, but the second or third
was sure to find its way to the troops and
do its awful work among them. The
French shells, on the contrary, exploded
generally before they reached the ground,
and the smoke of the explosion formed
innumerable little clouds at different
heights, some so high that the shell could
do no harm, I should think, to the enemy.
I noticed some inexplicable movements.
A few squadrons of Prussian cavalry
made as if they would charge a French
fore?, which was toward the left. Imme
diately
TWO REGIMENTS OF FRENCII CAVALRY
CHARGED
n turn upon the Prussian squadrons,
which fell back and fled. But at- the
same moment a Prussian corps of infantry
opened a murderous fire upon those two
eager French cavalry regiments, and they
came back sadly shattered from their rash
pursuit. About, 9 o’clock I could not help
fancying that the Pru ssians were extend
ing farther to the left; for, on asking
whether certain new batteries were French
I was told they were Prussian. The
Prussian line evidently curling around
us.
I have learned since that the Crown
Prince had crossed the Meuse during the
night about five leagues from Bcdan, and
that this had not been known to McMahon.
A large force of Bavarians must also have
arrived after the commencement of the
battle, for it was the Bavarian troops who
began pounding us from the left. At 10l
o’clock
THE ADVANCE OF THE PRUSSIANS
was perceptible on both wings at the same
time. Some French infantry which was
close to the town on the east side gave
way, as it seemed to me, rather quickly.
Soon afterward shells were coming from
behind my left, and it became evident that
the French position had been turned, and
that a fresh German corps had taken a
position in our rear.
The reserves were now necessarily di
rected against these points. The battery
near which I stood was already in action,
and I thought it quite time to beat a re
treat. The place was becoming as dan
gerous as any in the field. Among the
guns close to me. the Prussian shells be
gan falling with their usual beautiful pre
cision. So I got on the other side of the
slope, and made my way toward the town.
TIIE PRUSSIAN CIRCLE CONTRACTING.
As the road to Bouillon, which crossed
the field of battle, was wholly closed to me
now, I also perceived that I should be
shut up in that circle which the Prussians
had been drawing about the army and the
town, and which was ultimately completed.
I made my wav as fast as I could, by the
safest paths. When I reached the suburb
before the Porte de Balan, I found it in
cumbered Hth soldiers of all corn*, has
tening, as I was, into the town. It was a
defeat, evidently, yet, it was not eleven
o’clock, and the battle w R s destined to con
tinue at various points for some time
longer, though continuing without any real
hope of victory.
THE FRENCH ROUTED.
To one entering the town as I did, there
was no longer any battle to describe. It
was first a retreat and too soon a rout. I
thought myselflucky to get away from the
field as I did; lor an hour afterward the
rout of those forces that had been near by
me was complete. Already soldiers were
crushing against each other in the strug
gle to get inside the town. Dismounted
cavalry were trying to make their way,
some evon by the ramparts, leaping down
Irom the counterscarp; others forcing
their way in Dy the postern gates. From
a nook of the ramparts, where I rested
moment, I saw ai.-o Cuirassiers iumpjm
horses and all—into the moat, the h cr «Z
breaking their legs and ribs. Men were
scrambling over each other. There
careers ot all ranks—Colonel?, and even
Generals, in uniforms which it was impos-i
ble to mistake, mixed in this shameful
melee. Behind all came guns with th eir
heavy carriages and powerful horses forc
ing their way into the throne, maiming
and crushing the fugitives on foot.
TERRIBLE SCENES IN SEDAN.
To add to the confusion and horror, the
Prussian batteries rad by this time ad
vanced within range, and the Prussian
shells began falling among the struggling
masses of men. On the ramparts were
the National (iuards. manning the gunsof
the town, and re .lying with more or less
effect to the nearest Prussian batteries. It
was a scene horr ble enough to have suited
the fancy of Gustave Dore himself I
could form but one idc3 of our uoharp”
army: that it was at the bottom if a
seething cauldron.
I hurried back as best I could to my ho
tel, following the narrow streets where the
shells were least likely to reach the
Wherever there was a square or open
place, I came upon the bodies of horses
and men quite dead or still quivering,
mown to pieces by bursting shells. Reach
ing my hotel, I found the street in which
it stood choked like the rest, with wagons,
guns, horses and men. Most luck fly at
this moment the Prussian fire did not en
filade this street, for a train of caissons
filled with powder blocked the whole wav.
itself unable to move backward or for
ward. There was every chance that these
caissons would explode, the town being
then on fire in two places; and I began to
think Sedan was a place more uncomfort
able than even the battle field over which
a victorious enemy was swiftly advancing.
TUE EMPEROR UNDER FIRE.
From friends whom I found at the hotel,
I learned that the Emperor, who had
started early in the morning for the field of
of battle, had returned about the same
time that I did, and passed through the
streets with his staff. One of my friends
was near him on the Place Turenne when
a shell fell under the Emperor’s horse,
and, bursting, killed the horse of a general
who was behind him. lie himself was
untouched, and turned around and smiled ;
though my friend thought he saw tears in
his eyes, which he wiped away with his
glove. Indeed, he had cause enough fur
tears on that fatal Ist of September.
Meantime, shells began to fall in the
direction of our street and hotel. We all
stood under the vaulted stone entrance, as
the safest shelter vve could find. I trembled
on account of the caissons still standing in
the street, and filling all the space from
end to end. It was at this time when we
waited watching painfully for the shell
which would have sent us all together into
another world, that Gen. De Wirnpffen
came past, making
A VAIN EFFORT
to rally and inspirit bis flying troops. He
shouted, “ Vive la France ! En avant /”
But there was no response. He cried out
that Bazaine was taking the Prussians in
the rear. News which bad been current ail
the mormng at intervals, coming row from
the mouth of Gen. De Wirnpffen, seemed
to be believed, and a few thousand men
were rallied and followed him out of the
town. People began to have hope, and
for one brief moment we belb ved the day
might yet be saved. Need I say that this
intelligence was a patriotic falsehood
brave Gen. De Wimpffen? Mad with
anguish, and in direct opposition to the
Emperor’s orders, he had resolved to rally
what men he could and make a stand. He
could not have known that he was bound
in the grasp of at least 300,000 men.
A DESPERATE SORTIE.
The bugle aud the trumpet ring cut on
all sides. A few thousand men hearken to
the sound. My friend Rene De G a.rove
of the Chasseurs D’Afriquc, whjm I have
just met, alter losing sight of him for ten
or twelve years, got on horseback 2gain
and joined the General. The scr »e took
place thus: They went out at the Porte de
Balan. The houses of the suburb are al
ready full of Prussians, who fire on the
French out of every window. The church,
especially, is strongly garrisoned, and its
heavy doors are closed- The General sent
off De Guiroye to bring two pieces of can
non. These soon arrived, and wi-h them
the dorr of the church was blown in, and
200 Prussians were captured and brought
back with the French, who, in spite c t all
efforts, were themselves soon obliged to re
tire into the town. It was the last inci
dent of the battle —the last struggle.
While this took place at the Porte .e
Balan, the Prussian shelling went on and
the shells began to fall into the hotel.
SHOCKING SCENES
followed. A boy, the son of a tradesman
around the corner of the street, came in
crying and asking for a surgeon, hw
father’s leg had been shot off. A woman
in front of the house met with the ssnie
late. The doctor who went to the trad s*
man found him dead ; and returning, a*
tempted to carry the woman to an ambu
lance. He had scaicely made a step when
she was shot dead in his arms. Thot-e ot
us who stand in the gateway and witness
such scones have got beyond the feeling of
personal fear. Any one of us, 1 will
venture to say would give his life to_ -pare
France on this dreadful day. N «’t we
stand pale and shuddering at the sigo.t o:
the fate which befals the poor people of the
town.
1 earc not to dwell upon horrors, which,
nevertheless, I shall never be able to for-