The Franco-German War of 1870-71Moltke, Helmuth, Graf von
History
The Franco-German War of 1870-71
Moltke, Helmuth, Graf von
Franco-Prussian War, 1870-1871
The Vth Corps had meanwhile proceeded on its march to Versailles; a few
National Guards, who had collected at the entrance to the town, were
driven off or disarmed by the German Hussars. The 9th Division held the
eastern exits of the town, the 10th encamped at Rocquencourt, and strong
outposts were pushed out on the Bougival--Sevres line. The 18th Brigade,
which remained at Villacoubay to support the Bavarians in case of need,
did not reach Versailles until the evening.
The 3rd Bavarian Division remained on the heights in front of Plessis
Piquet, its outposts confronting the forest of Meudon, where the French
were still in possession of the chateau; and the pioneers at once
altered the redoubt of La Tour du Moulin so as to front north. The 12th
Division was encamped at Fontenay and rearward as far as Chatenay.
The main body of the VIth Corps had taken position at Orly, its outposts
extending from Choisy le Roi past Thiais to Chevilly. Maud'huy's
Division attempted to drive in the outpost line at the last-named
village, but without success. A brigade of the same Corps at Limeil, on
the right bank of the Seine, was engaged in skirmishing with the French
at Creteil. Within touch, further to the right, the Wuertemberg Division
held the (left) bank of the Marne from Ormesson to Noisy le Grand,
behind which latter place the pontoon bridge near Gournay assured
communication with the Saxon Corps.
Thus on the 19th of September the investment of Paris was complete on
all sides. Six Army Corps stood in a deployment some fifty miles in
circumference immediately in front of the enemy's capital, in some
places actually within range of his guns, its rear guarded by a large
force of cavalry.
FOOTNOTE:
[32] Commanding 1st Bavarian Infantry Brigade.
FIRST NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
In full expectation of a battle to the north of Paris, the King had
ridden out to join the Guard Corps, and in the evening his head-quarters
were moved to Ferrieres.
Here thus early Monsieur Jules Favre made his appearance to negotiate
for peace on the basis of "not one foot of soil." He believed that after
all their victories and losses, the Germans would come to terms on
payment of a sum of money. It was self-evident that such a proposal
could not be taken into consideration, and only the eventuality of
granting an armistice was seriously discussed.
It was in the political interest of Germany as well, to afford the
French nation the possibility of establishing by its own free and
regular election a government which should have full right to conclude a
peace creditable to the people; for the self-constituted de facto
Government ruling in Paris was the offspring of a revolution, and might
at any moment be removed by a counter-revolution.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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