Siege of Paris begins; balloon mail leaves the city

Background. The conflict arose from French attempts to reassert dominance in Europe, leading to war declarations in July 1870. Following decisive German victories, including the capture of Emperor Napoleon III at Sedan in September, Prussian forces moved to encircle Paris. The siege marked a prolonged phase of the war, characterized by the isolation of the city from the rest of France.

Siege Operations. Prussian forces commenced the siege on 19 September 1870. The blockade involved heavy artillery deployments, particularly Krupp siege guns from late January 1871. The Government of National Defense continued resistance despite starvation and disease, leading to failed breakout attempts by the garrison. The siege concluded with an armistice in January 1871.

Balloon Mail. A legacy record indicates that balloon mail began leaving Paris on 23 September 1870, but this date is not supported by the retrieved evidence. The only supplied passage on ballooning concerns a disproven claim that 160 wounded soldiers were evacuated from the city by hot-air balloon during the siege; it says nothing about postal balloon flights or their start date. No specific balloon mail operations are described in the source text.