The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-09-17 00:00:00

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SOLDIER'S LETTER.

The folios in-, letter has been received by a German
resideut in Lortien from a cousin, who ie a i*rgeant in
the 3id military detachment of the Bth Plllo,iith Army
Curpr. It is dated the Lb inet., from the bivouac be-
tween Mete and Gravelotte' and after re e.ni.r.g to
fatally matters, it proceeds thus
' • . _

" S.nce the 79th if Jely we have beau sleeping tinder the
oreu tky, having had no quotient. Moreover, we have had
exhausting marches through wretched dittlicts, almost all
trill and dale. Nothing to sat and &kik is to be bed for
gold ; even water is so scarce that every day our porttan is
fined, thrt etc may cook our Mt of meat, :del we receive
also some ship's biscuit. This is our shots noutishment.
The first battle at which I was present was on the 6th of
August, at tirarbt tick. The French had • very floe peti-
tion, and were much stronger than ourselves. You can f orm
no idea of the difficulty of ascending the eplcheren height.
which they occupied. Those heights were twice stormed
by the 40th, 370, 74511 12th, and 3rd Regiments, but each
time our troops were forced back. A third time they were
*teamed, and then the victory was curs There van no end
to the crackling of ominous and chassepots. At filet cur
troops were somewhat confused Iv this terrible tire, but
after they had seen how few the enemy struck down with
his bullets, they were not afraid even of the 1 eaves, but
with the greatest coolness allowed them to aslv.nce, not-
wlthstainitug their savage cry, and then they fell like files.
The record !tattle at which I was present was at Tour. Toe
enemy had again a strong position. It was on the 16th of
Augurs! ; many Fro.lans lost their lives, and the nattle-fleld
was soon, ssit wore, with dead and wounded. The Freech
were obliged to retire, and took ups position at Gravelette,
where they Lad Erongly intrenched themselves. On the
lath It came there to blows, so furiously that I have netther
sten nor heard anything like it. in the year 1614.1 I took port
in five It it tics, but never in such nose as this. In the moreing
to war ds seven o'cl.cklhe firing commenced ; it irrcreaest, hod,
with the roost frightful losses on Loth sides, the enemy weru
nein obliged to retire :up to behind Grnvtl.olle. There the
et cloy stood bellied bit thtr.nehments eke • wall. About
four o'clock our Wing himself appeared on the battle-4.1d,
which made stick an impression on our troops that If the
enemy had been as strong again we should have made
him run. From ten in the [vendee till towards ape 11, the
evet.ing our troops sled sgaluit the eeemy without gaining
half a mile. Our infantry wore obliged to meet the enemy
on all fours Every bush, every little earth leap had to be
taken advantage of in order to aeveres on him. Index the
hottest fire from chassepota and Luttrell:ewes our troups
were obliged to make trenches and small earthwork. on the
open field to protect themselves. Towardenine in the evening
the French made a vehement attack, and such a howling
anti thundering I never witnessed. thlit troops stood like
rocks, atc,tl victory declared itself on our side. The enemy
retreated right up to Metz. It was really frightful when
we sesetemplated the battle-field. After elitt days, in spite
of every exertion, corpses still lay on the field Actor three
days wow sled were still found as ho had not been aitended
to. The French then on the 3111 of Augutt tried to break
through cur ranks In order to get to Faris, but they were re-
pulsed with much loss, nmny misovers being taken, acid
driven to Metz, which, also, is eh scaly partly taken, and sorry
moment we exp.: to hear of the cseltnlation. Yesterday
we had • telesram from our King that Napoloon woo his pri-
soner, slid that the army at Soden, where Macitalsou com-
manded, bas already capitulated, all being immolate We
shall, therefore, it Is to be hoped, soya have peace. There
are here a !norther of French frarcsdirenrs, who go out to
shoot soldiers who VE nture out singly. These are dressed
in linen treaters and bloc blouses, and bine esps with
white stripe., and Arm armed with a carbine. Mae: of therm
tie have already taken."