The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-06 00:00:00

,:-
THE SORTIE AGAINbT EPINAY.

Writing from the Headquarters of the Crown Prince of
Saxony, Margency, December 1, the correspondent of
the Pally News says :—lt was about three o'clock in the
afternoon that the French made their rush. No doubt
they succeeded in surprising the battalion of the 71st,which
occupied Epihay. The fire from La Briche had been all day
so strong that it was necessary in Epinay to huddle very
close under cover. The French simultaneously burst out
of St. Denis at the double, and started the gunboat with
its living freight. The vessel as it came down stream
swept the banks clear of the German outposts with its
fire, and landed its cargo at Epinay just as the troops
arrived that bad come by terra firma. The houses by the
river side and round to the west side of the village were
occupied, ana the 71st at least half surrounded
before it had well realised the fact that it was
attacked. It had got so late in the evening that no
sortie was anticipated. While the French were
crossing the plain. the German batteries on the crest in
front of Montmorency played upon them with con-
siderable effect. A lodgment having been effected in
the village by a force so immensely superior,
nothing remained for the battalion of the 71st
but to extricate itself, with as much credit as
possible, from its awkward plight. It evacuated
the village, fighting as-it retreated, and fell back towards
St. Gratien. Here it found immediate reinforcement. Tho
French utilised the time by barricading themselves in
Epinay, and making preparations to give a warm recep-
tion to the force which should attempt to retake it.
That force consisted of the whole of the 15th Brigade,
the 71st and 31st Regiments, in all six battalions,.
with three companies of the 26,A1 Regiment lent by
the 16th Brigade. The whole belong to the Bth division,
which is commanded by General von Schoeler. A rapid
march was made on Epinay, the ardour of which the
French were unable to baulk, and the place was retaken
after having been held by the French not qute two hours.
The loss of the Germans was very considerable, to be
accounted for from the fact that they were the
assailants. There• were killed outright between
40 and 50 men and five officers. The wounded are about
135 men and eight officers. It is believed the French were
able to carry off no prisoners, although one officer is re-
ported " missing," as also are several men, but it is.
thought likely they may be lying either killed or wounded
in some of the houses not yet explored. The wounded
were brought in the first instance to St. Gratien,
where the chateau of Princess Demidoff was converted
for the time into an hospital. The position, however,
was too exposed, it being within easy range of St. Briche,
and therefore the poor fellows were this morning remov4.l
further back—some to Month:ore:icy, but the greatest
number to Eaubonne. They will be sent to Germany an
soon as possible.

THE ENGAGEMENTS BEFORE AMIENS.
Writing from St. Sanflsen on the 27th ult., the corres-
pondent of the Telegraph says: At the town of Sains two
battalions of the 23rd and two battalions of artillery,
leaving the road to St. Fuscier,marched upon affirm called
Cambos. Meanwhile the 05th Regiment, with some

artillery, marched upon St. Fuscier, to keep up the line
of communication with the 16th Division, already

engaged before Dory. By this it will be seen that the

French left rested between St. Nicholas and Gentelles,

whilst their right was in Dury and their centre in
Boves. Accompanied by his Staff, General von Goben,
hearing the sound of heavy firing to his right rear, went
in the direction of Fonencamps. As we rode across the
open ground towards Boves, an aide-de-camp
brought intelligence of the movements of the
16th Division. The 9th Hussars had charged a
battalion of Marine volunteers, and completely cut them
to pieces, with the losA of the Prince Hatzfeld ; the 70th
Regiment had stormed the village of Dury, and the ar-
tillery had five officers hors de combat. The enemy was in
full retreat upon Amiens. With a smile upon his face
the General rode forward until he came opposite the
French position, whence we could see the French troops
retiring upon Boves before General Strauberg from
the wooded ground above St. Nicholas. Here the
Staff awaited the advance of the troops. The 33rd Regi-
ment—that is to say, two battalions—marched forward to
the ravine between St. Nicholas and Boves, to storm the
village and the French position; whilst a battery of artil-
lery stationed themselves at a distance of 2,000 yards,
about a quarter of a mile in front of the farm at Cambos.
No sooner dill the 33rd deploy, and, covered by half a
company of skirmishers, -advance to the attack, than
the enemy opened the most determined fire. They
however, were but weak in artillery. After the lapse of
half-an-hour the French were driven from their position,

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the 33rd storming the village of Boves, and taking 200
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sev severely
yur
as
battethrieeys
of Amiens ; but the battle to
the right still went on vigorously. As evening
fell the French brought out some guns from
Amiens in order to cover their troops, who were
making an anything but orderly retreat into the town by
way of the Roye road. After the taking of Boves,
General von Goben rode to the right, where General
Strauberg, commanding the 30th Brigade 15th Division,
was still engaged with the enemy. This brigade had been
fighting since nine o'clock in the morning. We found the
French in an entrenched position between Gentelles
and St. Nicholas, with two guns; and it was deemed
advisable not to attack them, as night was fast coming on,
and we could scarcely see. in the evening, at six o'clock,
General von Goben left the battle field, having thoroughly
reconnoitered the position of the enemy, and rode to
St. Sauflien, on the Amiens and Dunkirk road.
At five p.m. yesterday (the 30th) the 70th Regiment had
been relieved by the 40th Regiment, which occupied the
cemetery immediately opposite the French lines between
Dury and Amiens. The unusual stillness and nonappear-
ance of sentries front of the spot in which the French
were supposed to be, induced the commanding
officer to send a patrol forward to reconnoitre ; the
distance was some 300 yards. You may imagine their
surprise when, entering the works, they found nothing
but the cannon and the dead bodies of those slain in yes-
terday's combat. Intelligence was immediately sent tc
General Barnekow, who at once ordered an advance of
the troops. They, without opposition, entered the town ;
and thus ingloriously fell the good city of Amiens.