Beginning of the Term of Service in France—Arrival in Paris—Paris in 1869—Presentation to the Emperor and Empress—General Dix—An Election for the Corps Législatif—Discontent in Paris—M. Rouher— “Transcontinental, Memphis, El Paso and Pacific Railway“—Prince de La Tour d’Auvergne—Postal Treaty—Visit to the Imperial Palace at Compiégne—Opening of the Corps Législatif—New Year’s at the Tuileries—Change of Ministry—M. Ollivier
Significance of the Hohenzollern Incident—King William’s Rumored Insult to the French Ambassador—Some Traits of the Emperor and Empress of France—Americans at Court—The Last Grand Dinner at the Tuileries—War Declared—German Subjects Placed under the Protection of the United States Minister—An Important Question in International Law
Suppression of the News in Paris—Crowds Exasperated by a False Report of Victory—Paris Declared in a State of Siege—An Interview with the Empress—Expulsion of the Germans—An Extraordinary Session of the Corps Législatif—The Fall of a Ministry—A Panic among German Residents
A Night Session of the Corps Législatif—The Bonaparte Dynasty Declared Fallen—Plans for a Government of National Defence—Uprising of the People—Gambetta Proclaims the Republic of France—Flight of the Empress—Judge Erskine’s Recollections—Recognition of the New Government by the United States Minister
Closing of the Gates on September 18, 1870—Street Scenes—Victor Hugo’s Return from Exile—Panic of the French Troops—Favre’s Interview with Bismarck—The Spy Episode—Scarcity of Fresh Meat and Abundance of Bread—General Burnside’s Visit—Bismarck’s Special Favor to the United States Minister—A Diplomatic Correspondence
Gambetta’s Departure for Tours by Balloon—A Sketch of his Remarkable Career—His Rapid Rise from Obscurity to Power—Personal Qualities—Disorder in the Streets of Paris—The Tuileries Correspondence—Another Visit from General Burnside—A Succession of Rainy, Uneventful Days—Departure of Americans from Paris—Bismarck’s Memoir on the Hopeless Struggle
The Revolution of a Day—Imprisonment of the Government of National Defence—A Farcical Proceeding—-Leaders of the Red Republican Movement—Speedy Overthrow of their Municipal Government—Restoration of Order—Election Day—A Large Majority in Favor of the Republic—A Dreary Thanksgiving Day
General Ducrot’s Effort to Break Through the Prussian Lines—Defeated and Driven Back—Sufferings of the Troops from the Intense Cold—Disaster to the Army of the Loire—The Parisians Determined to Hold Out—Gloomy Winter Days in the Besieged City—Another Unsuccessful Sortie
A Gloomy Christmas Day—Scarcity of Meat and Fuel—The Parisians Losing Heart—Recollections of an Illinois Campaign—Dismal Opening of the New Year—Beginning of the Bombardment—Shells Bursting in the City Streets—The Killed and Wounded—Protest of the Diplomatic Corps
Diplomatic Correspondence—Bismarck Explains the Taking of Hostages by the Germans—Controversy over the American Despatch Bag—The Last Days of the Bombardment—Another Great and Fruitless Sortie—Trochu Succeeded by Vinoy —The Uproar of the Mob—Fired upon by the Mobiles—An Armistice at Last—The Siege Raised
