by Michael Hill
206 “I am the Jesus Christ”: Howard, The Franco-Prussian War, 369, n. 1.
207 The bread was inedible: Galignani’s Messenger, Jan. 31, 1871.
208 Although Washburne received the news: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 3.
Chapter 5: Peace
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209 “stock on hand”: It appears as if the Moultons (as did Washburne and Hoffman) made provision to stock up before the siege. Specifically, Lillie Moulton writes in her memoir, In the Courts of Memory (1912; pages 255–256), how they came to have beef and other food on hand:
“The family had not eaten cats and dogs during the siege as, according to the newspapers, other people had done.
“Mr. Moulton having been in Paris at the time of the revolutions, had the forethought to lay in a stock of provisions, such as ham, biscuits, rice, etc. and all sorts of canned things which he deemed would be sufficient for their requirements . . .”
In addition, Lillie said the French government had given the Moultons permission to bring into their Paris residence “one or two cows . . . a calf, a sheep and some chickens . . .” from their estate, Petit Val, located just outside Paris. “The cows and the sheep,” she wrote, “shared the stables with the horses, while the chickens were let loose in the conservatory into a sort of kitchen garden . . . So you see the family took good care that it should have enough to eat, the mice and rats only appeared on the table after the repasts.”
210 With an armistice in place: Galignani’s Messenger, Feb. 1, 1871.
211 On February 1: Ibid.
212 Soon convoys of provisions: Ibid., Feb. 5, 1871.
213 The stalls of the central market: Ibid., Feb. 2, 3, 4, 1871.
214 On February 11: Ibid., Feb. 11, 1871.
215 With great hope: Elihu Washburne to General Read, Feb. 25, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
216 But he was cautioned: Letter of Dr. W. E. Johnston to Elihu Washburne, Feb. 8, 1871, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
217 Now that the siege is over: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Feb. 5, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 141.
218 A “good deal worn out”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 5. See also Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 241–242.
219 The journey by train: Washburne, A Biography of Elihu Benjamin Washburne, Vol. IV, 374–375.
220 When word of his arrival: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 241–242.
221 Under the treaty: McCullough, The Greater Journey, 303; Wawro, The Franco-Prussian War, 310.
222 The humiliating terms of surrender: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 261.
223 On March 1, 1870: See accounts by Elihu Washburne in letter to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, March 1, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 148; Galignani’s Messenger, March 10, 1871.
224 many statues: Galignani’s Messenger, March 10, 1871.
225 They have come in: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, March 1, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 148.
226 Their departure began: Galignani’s Messenger, March 10, 1871.
227 They have gone out: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, March 8, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 152.
228 In mid-February: Washburne, A Biography of Elihu Benjamin Washburne, Vol. IV, 375.
229 I cannot get the ague: Elihu Washburne to H. H. Houghton, March 6, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
230 Your government has sympathized deeply: Secretary of State Hamilton Fish to Elihu Washburne, March 21, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 161.
231 “I fear I am too much”: Elihu Washburne to Horace Rubel, Feb. 3, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
232 But by the middle of March: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 27.
233 For the next two months: Ibid.
Chapter 6: Reign of Terror
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234 In late February: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 34.
235 At first the insurrectionists: See Horne, The Fall of Paris, 277–281.
236 “The officers with broad”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 35.
237 Washburne was angered: Ibid., 34.
238 As these “grave incidents” unfolded: Ibid., 27.
239 In announcing the operation: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 269.
240 As the regular forces waited: Ibid., 271.
241 “It was a strange sight”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 37.
242 The rumor he had heard: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 271.
243 Afterward, they were taken: Ibid., 272.
244 As the mob went wild: Ibid., 273.
245 “Paris was in full revolt”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 44.
246 “There never was a more cowardly”: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 247.
247 “They saw at their feet”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 34.
248 Pressed by events: Ibid., 33.
249 However, on the way: Ibid.
250 “We are in a pretty mess here”: Elihu Washburne to his brother, March 21, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
251 A few days later: Elihu Washburne to Madame Erlanger, March 26, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
252 There seems today: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, March 19, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
253 On March 21 a group calling themselves: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 49.
254 Washburne called it a “massacre”: Ibid.
255 He described them: Ibid., 58.
256 but when it comes to the question: Ibid.
257 It would be difficult: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, March 25, 1871, Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 167.
258 He wants more time: Elihu Washburne to Paul Hedler, March 25, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
259 Washburne dismissed the results: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 61.
260 “It is difficult to conceive”: Ibid., 62.
261 The election for the commune: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, March 27, 1871, Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 168.
262 Two days later: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, March 30, 1871, ibid., 171.
263 The election of members: Ibid.
264 “And now it was in the last days”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 54–55.
265 “The organization of one of the finest”: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 307.
266 “It was a singular”: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, April 4, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 176.
267 We still have here a large number: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, April 6, 1871, ibid., 178.
268 One of the most sadistic: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 334.
269 Although only twenty-five: Ibid.
270 Lillie Moulton: Ibid., 335.
271 He advocated: Ibid., 334.
272 Rigault had a bizarre fascination: Ibid., 335.
273 Washburne himself described: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 192–193.
274 Washburne would later find: Ibid., 194.
275 Above all, Washburne: Ibid., 196.
276 On April 4, Rigault ordered: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 337.
277 The Archbishop of Paris: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, April 6, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German W
ar and the Insurrection of the Commune, 178.
278 It is one week: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, April 9, 1871, ibid., 180.
279 The streets were filled: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 92.
280 People were in a state: Ibid., 88–89.
281 Washburne and the Legation: Ibid., 88.
282 To make matters worse: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 271–272.
283 I am certain that I never believed: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, April 20, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
284 Earlier efforts to enlist: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 258.
285 Washburne knew the Archbishop: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 163–164.
286 When he first heard: Ibid., 164.
287 “I fully sympathized”: Ibid., 166.
288 I shall never forget: Elihu Washburne to Dr. Henry James Anderson, Jan. 31, 1873, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
289 After his visit: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 169.
290 After the arrest of Darboy: Elihu Washburne to Dr. Henry James Anderson, Jan. 31, 1873, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
291 “I could not conceal”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 170.
292 He described it to a friend: Elihu Washburne to [unknown], May 14, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
293 Truly, I do not know: The Papal Nuncio to Elihu Washburne, April 25, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 216.
294 Washburne would write: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 125.
295 Weeks earlier: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 349.
296 The decree, Washburne noted: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 114.
297 An indignant and overwrought: Ibid., 115.
298 During one visit: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 113.
299 Throughout the siege and reign of terror: “Over Land and Sea: Father Washburne Abroad,” undated news article, Washburne Scrapbooks, Box 7, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
300 The crisis seems to be really approaching: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, May 11, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 195.
301 Later that day: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 349.
302 It was to be a day: Ibid., 350.
303 To prepare for the tremendous: Ibid.; Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 254.
304 At 3 P.M.: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 350.
305 Amid the shattered ruins: Ibid., 351.
306 I have not written to you: Grant, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Vol. 21, 364–365.
307 In the middle of May: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 172.
308 At first Rigault: Ibid.
309 Since I have commenced: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, May 19, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 200.
310 “They pounded away”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 133.
311 The leader of the squad: Ibid., 133–134.
312 Washburne immediately dispatched a letter: Ibid., 134.
313 Grousset agreed: Ibid.
314 Washburne would later write: Ibid., 133.
315 I no sooner got inside: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 172.
316 The Communards: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 283.
317 Tuesday morning. It seems: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, May 23, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 203.
318 Wickham Hoffman would later write: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 282.
319 This has been a horrible night: Elihu Washburne to Susan Washburne, May 24, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
320 On the Place de l’Opéra: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 156.
321 Others were shot: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 280.
322 Young children: Ibid., 281.
323 When I closed my dispatch: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, May 25, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 205.
324 I have neither been excited: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, May 25, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
325 The fighting is still going on: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, May 26, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 208.
326 As the final savage battles: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 146.
327 “His activity in these moments”: Ibid., 145.
328 Rigault was determined: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 364.
329 The insurrection is suppressed: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, May 28, 1871, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
330 After an insurrection of seventy-one days: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, May 31, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 209.
331 I remained here during the whole period: Elihu Washburne to George Bancroft, May 31, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
332 Ten days earlier: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 397–398.
Epilogue
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333 On the morning of June 7, 1871: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 185.
334 Washburne was deeply moved: Ibid., 185–186.
335 You beheld around you: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 259.
336 Although Washburne knew: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 163.
337 “Alas! Could such efforts”: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 253.
338 His Majesty has commanded: Count von Bismarck to Elihu Washburne, June 13, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 214.
339 Paris was deserted by the titled: Undated news article, Scrapbooks, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
340 The New York Tribune: Quoted in undated news article, Scrapbooks, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
341 Hasn’t our Minister in Paris: Diary of Frank Moore, Sept. 30, 1871, Frank Moore Papers, New-York Historical Society.
342 “We have been through fire and blood”: Elihu Washburne to Bayard Clarke, June 16, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
343 “Paris, the Paris of civilization”: Galignani’s Messenger, June 3, 1871.
344 “There has been a marvelous change”: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, June 2, 1871, Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 211.
345 “It is a healthy spot”: Elihu Washburne to [unknown], June 18, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
346 “I am a good deal”: Ibid.
347 “I have not been as well”: Elihu Washburne to George Eustis, Oct. 5, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
348 “All is quiet”: Elihu Washburne to Edward McPherson, Oct. 2, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
349 Our great and beautiful city: Elihu Washburne to [Kusmann?], Oct. 15, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
350 He raised $30,000: Ibid.
351 Despite these successful efforts: Elihu Washburne to Thomas Hoyne, Dec. 26, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
352 A month later: American Register, Nov. 14, 1871; undated article, Scrapbooks, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
353 The dinner was held at: Ibid.
354 He was presented: American Register, Nov. 4, 1871.
355 By late 1872: Galignani’s Messenger, Jan. 12, 15, 1872; July 18, 1872.
/> 356 He hosted a number of formal dinners: New York Times, Aug. 2, 1872; Galignani’s Messenger, Aug. 2, 1872.
357 He also helped promote: McCullough, The Greater Journey, 334.
358 In the fall of 1872: Galignani’s Messenger, Oct. 5, 1872.
359 Washburne found him: Elihu Washburne to Judge R. W. Branch, June 16, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
360 “The hour has come finally”: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Sept. 2, 1876, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
361 In dying he has left: Elihu Washburne to Cadwallader Washburn, Sept. 4, 1876, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
362 In accepting his resignation: American Register, April 7, 1877.
363 The passengers on the train: Chicago Tribune, Oct. 4, 1877.
364 Mr. Washburne has returned from France: Undated news article, Scrapbooks, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
365 That evening a formal welcome: Chicago Tribune, Oct. 17, 1877.
366 The stage in the hall: Ibid.
367 After thanking the people of Galena: Ibid.
368 I have long looked forward: Ibid.
369 “That little old law library”: Elihu Washburne to Thomas Hoyne, Dec. 26, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
370 “I am not vain enough”: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 264.
371 The Boston Herald: Galena (Illinois) Gazette, March 4, 1879.
372 The New York Sun: Quoted in Chicago Tribune, Jan. 6, 1879.
373 “He is one of the few”: Galena (Illinois) Gazette, Jan. 31, 1879.
374 He knew many: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 269.
375 One Republican Party leader: Hesseltine, Ulysses S. Grant, Politician, 435.
376 As support for Grant began to dwindle: Ibid., 435, 436.
377 Washburne, however, dismissed all such encouragement: Years after the election, Adam Badeau, a close friend of Grant’s, was quoted on Grant’s treatment of Washburne and the fractured relationship of the two old friends: “That is the darkest spot on Grant’s life. Grant had a thousand good qualities of head and heart, among them gratitude for unworthy frauds and nobodies whose character he had not enough knowledge of human nature to discern.” However, when it came to Washburne and the 1880 campaign, “he was a bad friend of his friend Washburne, of the same friend who, (foolishly enough) sacrificed himself for a man who never was able to appreciate the sacrifice.” (Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 281.)