The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-27 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF REZONVILLE.

The great battle of the 18th wed witnessed by a correspon-
dent of the Da.ly New, who telegraphs from Saarbrnels the
following account

The great battle which was fought on the 18th, re.
suiting in a victory for the Prussians, began at ten
o'clock in the morning, and did not end till nearly ten
si night. Up to twelve o'clock it was an artillery duel.
Tile French hoes stretched along the hills covering the
road from Metz to Veidun. Their right flank rested
on a farmhouse known as La Villette, with a walled
garden, altogether a strong position. A similar road
led from Gravelotte. On the left of this road the
French had seized upon the create of a line of hills, on
which they bad thrown up twelve earthworks. Toe
guns of these tel.:wee, with eight mitrailleurs, swi /it
down the elope of the bills, and up the valley from
Gravelotte, commanding every approach. Behind this
line lay the burls of St. Quentin and Carieres, com-
pletely protecting the French rear, and securing their
retreat.

Th-e-Prr had at first taken position on a line of
bills bet wern h zonvilb- %nd Gravelotte, stretching
north-west and South-er -,dextending on either side
of the road from Mott to • 'un. Ity twelve the tire
from their artittery,had d,,,. the French guns from
their first line, ard ttiro Yreka labs found themselves able
to push for- arel thi rguns, aril establish their bat-
ter.. sinad . of their tint ,•orition The new line
stretched a • daiderahlie dirtan.. •on eithee side of Gra-
vtlotte.

I reached the held at twelve, jusfas the encounter
was developing ,oto a geztetal engagement, and from
one f the halls ahove•mettioned had a good view of
the whole field. By two o'clock in the afternoon the
French batteries covering the Verdun road were
silenced, and the Prussians had pushed forward till
the y reached and oieupied the farmhouse at Malmaison.
Twenty minutes later the Prussian guns were in front
of Gravelotte, the weight of their metal said superior
accuracy ernehiug the French fire, and driving one bat-
tery after ano her from its position. At twenty
minutes past three the Prussian cavalry, including Utt•
lams, Cuirassiers, and Husaren, moved forward under a
heavy fire from the French batteries, which still
maintained their gerund. They attacked with
great energy, but untupported at first by infantry, and
only partially covered by their OWD guns, were obliged
to give way. Meanwhile the Prussian infantry
divisions Fad been coming rapidly on, and at forty•tive
minutes past four the first serious effort to dislodge the
French commence I. The 33rd Regiment of the Line
was directed against a hill that seemed the key of the
French position. They went forward with the utmost
gallantry and determination, but were driven back
with heavy loss. By this time the Pruesians had
massed heavy frees upon this porti, n of the line, and
the fortunes el the battle seemed likely to turn upon
the attack and defence so obstina' ely kept up at the
centre. The Prusdan divisions were formed again
and again, and led forward, only to be repulsed and
forced to withdraw under • searching fire from the
French guns, which cost them great numbers d men.
Noehing could be more brilliant than the repeated
efforts of the Pru•sians ; nothing more steady than
the French de'ence. The disparity of numbers existed
here as at Woe r h ; but here the numbers were
on the side of the Frenen, and for long hours
it seemed more than doubtful wheth,r the natural
strength of the French position, and their numerical
superiority together, would not battle the utmost
efforts of the Prussian,. During all the afternoon, and
far into the evening, the Sich Prussian Corps was en-
gaged with what I believe to be nearly the full strength
of three French corps. Reinforced as the Bth Corps
was by portions of the 2nd and 3rd, it did not exceed
50,000 men, while the number of Prussian guns engaged
was given to tne as about ninety. I have had no time
to collectdetails, nor was it possible to distinguish from
my point of view the different regiments, brigades,
and divisions that shared in the successive attempts
that were unavailingly directed against the French
-position. Nor war the torten:le of the day to change
at this point. Whether the Prussian generals became
convinced that the centre was too atrot g for them I
cannot say, hut they made their fiend and successful
attack on the right flank of the enemy. The farm-
house or hamlet of La Villette, though held in
great force, was carried about nine o'clock, and
the French position Vs came immediately untenable.
Their line w,ss enfiladed by the Prussian fire ;
some of their outworks were even taken in reverse,
and they were compelled to abandon the ground they
had so bravely held, and to withdraw under cover of
the fortress. T. vie last hold on the Verdun road was
abandoned, and the army of the Rhine found itself shut
up in the stronghold which they had chosen as the base
of their invasion of Germany. I hear that a force will
speedily eccupy the railway northward, cutting off
Metz from Thionville also. King William was on the
, field throughout the battle, General Steinmetz being
in immediate command of the Prussian troops engaged.
; Marshal Bs z eine commanded ,en the French side. It
is difficult to estimate the Prussian losses, but the
kil'ed sod wounded are reckoned at not less than
10,0e0—a large proportion for the number actually
engaged ; but the loesee at one time, in the effort to
reach the French cent re, were tremendous. I can give
no notion of what the French may have suffered. The
Prussians, notwithstandir g the severity of the day's
work, are in great spirits over their victory. Ituniours
of peace already circulate in the camp, and at any
rate the hardest work of the campaign is believed to
have been done.
. . •. . •

..„
General Sheridan. of the American army, was
present, and tintne,serl the Sv,ht from Count Bismatk's
carriage. General Forsyth was also here. Otte
English officer was wounded, the horse of another was
shut under him.