The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-13 00:00:00

THE BATTLE OF WISSEMBOURG.

The Courrier du Bus Rhin publishes the following
letter from a correspindent at Hagenau
. .

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The reports which throughout yesterday were curre t
in Strasbourg, arid in consequence of which I star ed diet
01.00 to Regent= were, unhappily, but too well minded
Our soldiers, we are told, have been crushed by force of
number.; 8,1.00 or 10,000 men of our army fought for six
hours against 02,000 or, perhaps, 100,00 of the enemy. The
74th anti the bOth of the line, the 16:h bettalion of Foot
Chaaseure, a regiment of Tereus, and a regiment of mounted
Chasmure encamped the previous r icht in the environs of
Wiese ..... mow. The scouts and tiraiiiettrs tent to recon•
mitre the frontier had trot reported the presence of an
enemy's force, and there was tio reason to expect an immediate
eneagement. This morning at dawn a violent cannonade was
heard, avid the immense German army, artillery, cavalry,
and infantry showed itself on the heiehte of Schwa ing, n, the
fleet village on the Bavarian frontier, and in the country
round about them. The first shells were thrown Into W is-
sembourg and set fire to the barracks and other buildieg&
The both Regiment of the line were about preparing
their morning's seup when the shot was poured into the
camp. Time soldiers immediately abandoned their equip
meals, throwing down the knat sacks which they had begun
to fasten on, and rushed into the tight. The French troops
had but three gune, while the enemy had a formidahle
artillery, which threw shot and shell into our ranks. Our
men at first took shelter behind the I ermhous“ near
Wissembourg, but they were soon driven thence by the fire
of the enemy. They were crushed by the number of Germans
which increased every moment, and at last attained, as I
have said, 00,000 or 100,000 men The Turcos toUght like
lions. They attacked the enemy with the bayonet, but their
ranks were riddled by the fire. The two lire regiments also
performed pi...diodes of valour, but in officer, and men we
have sustained cruel loeaee. A dreadful event occurred to
sadden our troops. o,neral Douay wag killed by a shell and
General de elontmarie was wounded. The Gtrmans con-
tinued to pour • torrent of shots upon our troops with their
numerous guns, and aloe upon the dwellinghouses and the
farm buildiegs, which were set ou fire. In the midst of the
battle • detachment of the line arrived by railway, knowing
nothing of the tight, but proceetillig to rejoin Ile regiment.
The train was stopped at litimpach, and the men, leaplng
from the carriages, prepered their weapons, arid at once
ruthed into the strife. Till, struggle of one against ten
listed until about two o'clock, when the French retired by
the woods and vineyards, always pursued by the terrible fire
of the enemy. The Turcos had captured eight guns, which
were retaken fr, m them after a deeperete coeflict, in which
they suffer.' severely, but ha which they half destroyed a
regiment of Prmadan Unesaro. There was no time to collect
the arms or tents, and the wounded were left on the field. I
reached liagenau at eight In the twisting. The street.. were
thronged with people discussing the events of the day. Then
came a melancholy spectacle—long files of carts, drawn by
horses or oxen, laden with articles of household furniture and
bedding, arid accompanied by men, women, and weeping
children. These were the inhabitants of illedseltz and Schee-
venburg, two villages which lay in the route of the enemy's
troops, before whom they were fleeing. They nero in despair,
as they believed that their villages were in flames. Soon after
there entered by the Wiseendrourg gate the soldiers of our
regiments whioh had been engaged in this unequal contest.
They arrived fatigued, exhatieted, not having eaten for 24
hours, and lamenting a chief, a comrade. I spoke to 40 or be
of them, and they all maid that the contest was an impossible
one, but they declared that had they been 20,000 in number
only they wouel have repulse d the enemy, for even their
email columns had several times checked them. A sergeaht-
major of the use gave me the account of the battle as I have
related it. Some wounded men then came in leaning upon
their muskets. One Turco showed us his arm, pierced through
by a bayonet, and another carried the sword of hie captain,
who had been killed by Lis aide. He kissed the arm that had
belonged to his unfortunate chief. At eleven o'clock two cart-
loads of wounded arrived, who were taken to the ambulances.
At one o'clock in the illumine the drums were beaten in the
streets of flagellate 'the pompiers were assembled and sent
off to pick up the wounded and bury the dead.