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

A DESCRIPTION OP A CAVALRY
ATTACK.

Count Schmettow' the Majr in the Halberstadt
Cuirawiers has scut a letter for publication on the
fatal cavalry attack at Mare la Tour:—

"Biala, near Verdun, Aug. U.
"I will give you herewith what I can state as positively
certain to this ',Ant I have delayed, as persons reported
dead have in some instances appeared alive I observe,
mLreover, that to have beeo taken a priaoncr on this occasion
may well be the pride of every one collect. ned. The French
Committers could only succeed in taking men prisoners after
they had been wouuded, or after their regiment, in its
heroic ride, had broken through two battenies and two
Infantry columns. I quite agree that a commander would
be inexentable In leading his troops into such a mess unless
there were the moot urgent reasons. But such was the case
in the present Instance. Colonel von Vogt Rhety, Chief of
the Soil e.f the Yrd Corps u'Armee, came to our Brigadier,
Yon Liredow, whom we hove on every occa.ion been aeon-
towel to ass in the thick of it, and General, in
concert with General von Rheinbaben. Ccnitnseder ot the
Yavatry divisim, the Commanding-General has decided that
you meet break through at the wood, and you are still stand-
ing quietly here.' General von Bredow replied, 'Am Ito
niblerstand that cavalry tete break through infantry and ar-
Hilary hero by the wood?' Certainly,' was the answer, 'we
have trendy taken the hamlet, but cannot reach the wood,
so the issue of the battle depends upon your clearing away
everythlog alone the forest You most attach, and with the
ntinoit enemy.' Born see we had got to do it. We formed
tee divi-lone, the Cairmater regiment on the left wing along
the edge of the wood, the Lancer regiment ex the right wing
and lon paces farther back. Oar brave General, with his
Staff of four officers, three of which he lost, was nearly on a
line with the Cuirassiers. Before the French bittcry had
di charged its third gnu we were maytera viii. The honour
of chal:o4,l, g the French Commander I conl.l not leave to
another, and I rather think I found him. It was clear to me
that in this death-ride the object war not to hr:og home
trophies, hut to stoke down everything between the wood
and the road. At tho battery all were put to the sword,
sod thu we went in tearing course at an infantry
column, which was ridden over and cut down. Ita
rentnantl sent a good many &hobs after us. At this time
the LAU ecre..were
.close. ott.. our heels. A second bat.

te& ass attacked, and all- who did net run put
to the sword Then, as many as were left of us
made for n second military celnte. Just before reaching it
two squedrons of French Cuirassiers whetted from a woJdy
hollow into the gape of our little handful, and after the last
latentry celumn hod been ridden down we wheeled to the
right and niched back. By this time we were pell-mell will
the French horse. Before the battery I received two shots,
which sent through my helmet, without, however, touching
mo. The Adjutant, hi, by two bends. fell from his horse;
one trumpeter we. ghat down, the horse of the other
wounded. I was just aueaking with Captain Ilejster when he
also fell. Lieutenant rampbell WM for a while by my side
until, in the attempt to tear away from the French Cuireaslers
the standard he had telesed with hie left hand, he was fear-
fully maltreated. Some one helped him to out his way out
I never shall forget my ordering the first trumpeter I found,
nearly on the same 'pot where we set cut on our ride of
nearly a enterter of a German mile, to blow the regimental
signal. The trumpet+ had been bored through by shots,
and a coned came out that pierced we to the quick. At my
Intl three sections out of the teeveli (three had been detached)
assembled. Agl corny bivouac followed. Two days niter
we were again under flee It Is five miles to Chalons, where
we shall p+obably get more of it The regiment lost seven
°nicer. and 206 men (ot 600). It Is authentically reports
that all the ottlects are la our own hospitals hot reepecting
Lsintenailt Frio" who was seen with broken skull on the
battle-M:ld, the regiment has received no intelligence.
Captain Meyer and Colonr-hearer von Stockhausen were
buried on the battle-flea"