'The Battle of Sedan'

Frank was a war correspondent during the Franco-Prussian war (July 19, 1870 – May 10, 1871) for the ‘The Graphic’. This illustrated weekly newspaper was first published on 4th December 1869 and was founded by William Luson Thomas, a wood engraver, who appeared to believe that illustrations could influence public opinion on political issues.

The scan of the original pen and ink wash sketch below was sent to me by Charles Miller, a great grandson of Frank. It depicts the Seuse river below Sedan on the 2 September 1870, the day after the battle of Sedan. Emperor Napoleon III and large numbers of his troops were captured and for all intents and purposes the battle decided the war in favour of Prussia and its allies

The illustration above of 'The Meuse River below Sedan' appears on page 414 of 'THE GRAPHIC' - VOL. II - No. 48 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1870.

Presumably Frank's sketch would be sent to the newspaper's headquarters, where it would be drawn on to a wood block by one of the artists employed by Mr Thomas. When the drawing was completed an engraver would cut away the blank spaces and the inked surface would be reproduced like type.

The engraver at the Graphic left out the sun's rays depicted on the top right of the original and also replaced the four men with a man on horseback by the left bridge pier. There are some other observable differences.

Below is Frank's description of the battle fields of the Franco-Prussian war, which was published in a letter to the editor of the Reading Mercury on 29 October 1870.

Sir, — Having been asked by several friends to give a slight sketch of my visit to the battle fields of the present war, I think it might be interesting to your readers to hear a few facts of which I was an eye-witness the day after the battle.

Passing through many towns in Belgium, I came to Charleville, where we met a party of thirteen Belgians, whose intention it was to buy horses; they, like myself and friend, were intent on seeing the battle field of Sedan. We had not gone far when we met a peasant, who told us that Bazaine was in front marching on Sedan ; that the bridge over the Meuse was destroyed. At this point of our journey we first saw signs of the fearful ravages of war.

At irregular distances along the road were cottages deserted and in flames, whose walls and roofs were riddled with splinters from shells. We came now in sight of the bridge which had been blown up. The chains which supported the roadway were still hanging from pillar to pillar but the roadway itself had fallen across the river, thus impeding all progress.

Having noticed hundreds of curious looking objects, blocked by the above-named portion of the bridge, we made a closer inspection, and found them to dead horses, swollen to twice their original size. We were ferried across the river, picking our way through this horrible floating mass. Arriving at the other side, the peasants were busily engaged pulling out those nearest the shore and flaying them ; they were then dragged along to pits dug on the banks and thrown in with quick lime. All this was done by the peasants for their own safety.

We kept along the river for about two miles, passing batches of these horses floating down. On inquiry we were told that it was a regiment of French Dragoons that had been driven to the river and drowned. The fields bordering the river were strewn with boots, knapsacks, helmets, canteens, and pieces of shells : also, numbers of freshly dug graves.

We noticed along the road, galloping towards us, a party of Uhlans, who informed us that all persons who were in Sedan that night must find lodgings and be indoors by nine o'clock, otherwise they would be arrested. On nearing Sedan we heard firing of cannon, and saw great numbers of Prussian soldiers hastening on to that town, followed by ambulance waggons, bringing in the wounded. On our way to the town, at a corner of the road, we noticed three graves, with nine wooden crosses placed at their head, the crosses being made with portions of gun rammers, tied together with pieces of rope, each grave containing six soldiers. Close by in a kitchen garden was the grave of Prussian general, over whom was a sentry placed.

The cottages at the entrance of the town were dreadfully knocked about, the gardens all deserted, and the fields covered with remnants of the fight. On entering Sedan, the moat at the foot of the fortifications was choked up with swords, guns, and dead bodies. We were joined by a French gentleman, who offered us the beds of some Prussian officers who were billeted on him ; but in consequence of the expected engagement were ordered to the front. We started early the next morning with him; he intended visiting his wife, who was tending the wounded in one of his large linen manufactories, which he had given up for their reception.

On our way thither we did not once lose sight of the ravages of war. On each side of a lane through which we passed were lying piled against the bank for quite a mile and a half, chassepots, needle-guns, gun-carriages, cannons, and overturned ammunition waggons of all descriptions, shells lying all over the place, and heaps of unused cartridges and shells, and the hedges were trampled down on each side through which the soldiers had rushed to escape the murderous fire poured on them ; large spaces were cleared in the wood by the bursting of the shells ; branches had been cut from the trees and piled against the bank, forming screens from behind which the soldiers had fired.

On arriving at the top of the lane, we found- the burning remains of a once beautiful chateau : here evidently a fierce encounter had taken place —the walls and farm buildings were a perfect wreck and covered with blood, the yards and places were covered nearly knee deep with arms of every description. On one side of the chateau were vases containing aloes placed along a terrace, some lying smashed on the pavement under the verandah, while others were still burning. Against the window was a fine domed greenhouse; the roof had hardly suffered, but the side where the doorway was, was completely smashed in.

On entering, a sad sight presented itself; all the stands were broken and besmeared with blood, the pots thrown down in heap on the floor, every nook and corner strewn with caps, swords and guns. The walls bore dreadful evidence of a sharp hand-to-hand encounter. Among the débris in the chateau I picked up Chassepot, two sword bayonets, a Uhlan pistol, several letters and books containing the soldiers' last entries, several cloth cases belonging to the guns, &c. These things on my return home I sent to the War department of the Crystal Palace, where they are now on exhibition.

After leaving the chateau we arrived at our friend's manufactory, which now serves the purpose of a hospital. On entering the courtyard, we observed a number of wounded soldiers lying on mattresses in all directions, over whom were thrown sheets to protect them from the sun. Inside we had still worse sights to see : on each side of rooms, 100 feet long, opening into each other, the wounded were placed ; the surgeons were busily at work taking off arms and legs, and dressing wounds. We now reluctantly said "good bye" to our friend, and started for Sedan.

On arriving at the outposts round Sedan, the sentries refused to let us pass, and we trudged along a lonely road until we came to a deserted cottage. Night coming on we were glad to accept this wretched place for shelter. By this time the moon was up, the graves "that covered the fields as far you could see," and the odour from them made our quarters anything but enviable, the cause being the large pits that were dug, were filled with bodies up to within a few feet at the top, the mould being heaped up outside, settling down as the bodies decomposed.

Early next morning we started on our road for Bazeilles, we noticed a cottage whose walls were smeared with blood, and literally peppered with bullets. An old man came out, and asked us to enter; he told us a sad story of his own troubles. It seemed that his cottage had been taken possession of by the Prussians, and the French to driven them out, had planted a battery of mitrailleuses, and continued firing for quarter of an hour. He showed us the place where he had hidden his family in the straw behind some beams; also, the door, which was so battered about that you would wonder how it held together.

We now came to Bazeilles, and just outside the town was a fine chateau; the grounds were beautifully timbered with firs; the lower branches had been cut off and formed into huts, which extended all over the park. The town presented a shocking sight; nothing but tottering walls and burning houses. The few villagers that remained were busily engaged seeking their relatives and friends among the ruins.

Leaving this miserable village we started across the fields that were covered with graves. I noticed a grave that stood alone; on it was lying a knapsack, swordbelt, and other articles. An old woman came up, and during our conversation told us that it was the grave of her husband; that she herself, unaided, dug the grave, and performed, as best she could, the last offices for the dead. This is by no means a single instance the dreadful necessities of this cruel war.

Our intention now was to go to Charleville. After walking some miles with my relics, which were by no means light to carry, an old man driving cart came along, and we made arrangements with him to drive us to Charleville. I, fortunately, had with me a large check shawl, in this I put my guns, &c, which I thickly padded with spare linen, and arranged some sticks, &c. outside, in order to give it a rustic appearance, placing this safely at the bottom of the cart.

Proceeding on our journey, I noticed to my friend that we must be nearing some fortified town, as vast woods had been cut down to within three feet of the ground, and the stumps spiked up with hatchets. On mentioning this to our driver, he now coolly told he was going through Mezieres with some bread and meat, and that he did not tell us before, fearing he might lose his two francs, at the same time assuring us that we could enter with his pass.

On arriving at the gates of the town we noticed 60 or 70 carts waiting to go in. The ramparts were covered with soldiers who were busily engaged bringing up cannon, and heightening their ramparts. At last our turn came, and by this time we began to feel little nervous.

We were passed as the others had been, but had no sooner got inside than four soldiers came up at a double and told us must consider ourselves prisoners. We were conducted into a guard-room which was full of officers, among whom was the commander of Mezieres.

The first question he asked us was where we came from? we said Bazeilles. He then said where are you going to? We answered Charleville. He said that we had no business through Mezieres at all. Every minute we expected to be searched, which would have been most condemning to me, having strapped round my waist under my coat a loaded Uhlan pistol.

He asked for our passports, which on being produced seemed in some measure to explain matters. He then called the guard, and ordered them to see that we went to Charleville. They marched to the gates of the town, when we met our cart and were allowed to take our bundles out. We were then passed on to an officer, who was instructed to see us to the station, and were very glad to find ourselves safely there.

A crowd had collected to know what was the matter, and on telling them we had passed through Mezieres, they told us ought to consider ourselves very fortunate to escape so easily, as the day before two Prussian spies had been shot without any fuss at all. We took the train to Vireux, and so on for England.

In most cases we had visited the battle-fields a day after the fight, thereby seeing war in all its terrible forms.

FRANK HYDE, Hyde End, Brimpton, Reading, and Wandsworth.