The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-08 00:00:00

FIGHTING AT BESANCON.

The following is an extract from a letter of the corres-
pondent of the Daily News, dated Dole, October 30th, des-
cribing the skirmish in the neighbourhood of Besancon :
"On Saturday our troops fought against the Prussians
between Voray and Cussey. The enemy's column
evidently intended to follow the valley of the
Ognon to Marnay and Pesmes, and thence gain
the valley of Saone, and with the other columns
coming from the Haute - Saone reach Dijon
and Lyons. General Cambriels could not allow this army
to pass without a combat. He sent against the enemy a
column, composed of troops of the Line,. of Francs-tireurs,
and Mobile Guard, and some pieces of artillery. Our
troops were firm and resolute in the fight. The young
Mobiles bore themselves bravely under fire —those
of the High Alps, especially the Mobiles of the Vosges
and Doubs. The enemy having received reinforcetnents,
and seconded by numerous arti.lery, succeeded in driving
back our troops to the left bank of the Ognon, and in
passing the river at several points. Not far from
Devecey very smart engagements took place. Two
pieces of cannon placed at Chatillon, and pointed
with rare precision by Colonel Perrin, threw the Prussian
ranks into disorder. The German artillery, so renowned,
fired very badly, and did not reach our positions.
Anxonnc was taken by the Prussians. In the evening the
Zouaves retook it. Well, as yet we have no list of
killed and wounded, but I know that Cambriels
telegraphed to Garibaldi in the evening :---` Yesterday we
fought for nine hours. To-day the enemy seems to
menace us at all sides, above all at the extremities of my'
line. He has established batteries at Plouzet, in front of
Pouilly-les-Vignes. Could you by means of requisition
trains bring a few battalions behind him or o
his right flank ? it would be a very precious
aid.' This sounds energetic. Garibaldi prepares to
obey. Now, what is the last news? All the Mobiles—
not merely a battalion, as
,I wrote you yesterday—have
fled before the Prussians at the frontier of Auxoune,
abandoning their arms. 7,000 men under the famous La-
vane —and the Prussians, without striking a blow, have
entered Dijon ! It is asserted by some that Cambriels de-
manded a special train, and fled; that General Michel is
named in his stead ; by others, that General Garibaldi is
to have the command of the Cote d'Or as well as the Jura;
further, that he is still at Besancon. Just as I left
Amanges this morning Garibaldi sent scouts to see if the
Prussians were at Pontailleur, and whether the bridges
over the Ognon were broken. His little corps lives
on the qui vive, is as ready as it can be, will not be sur-
prised ; but of course there can be but two alternatives
---` all killed, or all prisoners.' I have a suspicion
that the Prussians, who are good fellows after all, do not
mean to attack Garibaldi on Cattanea's principle touching
the canton Ticino. ' Don't annex it,' he said, `it would
be a pity to kill a nightingale in order to add an ounce of
fat to a goose.' It is hardly fair to judge of a people
after so few days wandering among them, but with the
maguifying-glass of intense desire I have not been able
to discover a single grain. of enthusiasm. The farmer
whom I found weeping over his five apple trees, felled for
the telegraph poles, represents their sentiments. They
do not believe in victory, they fear the vengeance of the
Prussians, and think it hard, meanwhile, to be despoiled
of everything."