General Von Moltke was in great hopes that the Orleans
vic- tory would subdue the spirit of the defenders of Paris, and kindly sent General Troche word of the defeat as soon as possible, offering any officer of his a safe-conduct to go to Orleans and satisfy himself of the reality of the disaster, and return. General Trochu, however, in courteously acknowledging the receipt of the intelligence, simply replied that he did not think it expedient to verify it through the means suggested to him. The Paris cor- respondent of the Inde'pendance Beige states that the news was discussed at a special meeting of the Ministers ; that M. Picard thought the opportunity of concluding peace should be embraced, if it would be an honourable one ; but General Trochu remarked that these overtures of the Germans showed the critical position of the enemy in the heart of a hostile country and in the depth of winter ; that the German victory might be less complete than it was represented [as it no doubt was] ; that the greatest sacri- fices would be demanded at such a moment ; that Paris could hold out a long time ; that everything was to be hoped from continu- ing the struggle, and that their motto should be, " Combattre, combs ttre encore, combattre toujours." This carried the Ministerial Council at once. Unquestionably there is a real grandeur in the sombre enthusiasm of General Trochu, who has never yet quailed and never uttered a sanguine word ; but just worked and fought on, with grave, melancholy ardour.
Previous page
