The New York herald., 1870-08-12

than oSa men and place more than 100 guns on the
Tie Fort st. Julien is also situated on the right
bank of the Moselle, on the Mont Chatilon $500
metres northeast Of the por,e & ~ Mrf saroe s Is az
the Fort DC Plagpeville ont on the LEI. bank is 800
about 500 metres, and has four fronts. II can con-
tain about the same garrison and mount the same
number OF guns as Fort st. Julien.
= The Fort ST. Quentin, ON the heights OF the same
name, Is at an altitude OF about 3l5 metres, and Is
zine. From all points Of the town can be seen this
fort, suspended ike an eagles nest the crest OF
position: position It's capture would exercise decided
influence on the Inhabitants and on the iptrenched
1amP DSs n TO & take would be acn snr "a
long sides Of 800 metres small ones Of 100 only.
General Foysard the clever President Of sne e9 ~
construct this fort well In view OF the town OF whch
considered the guardian angel c,nts e ~ aotSe Ss
intrenched camp of Metz, and within a lew days
me corps amse ps Iere Of cou ,n Ease
Among the other works OF MINOR importance are
First"Tne Fort de Saint Privat between the Mo.
selle and the Settle, TO the south of the town.
Seoond-The Redonte des Bottles, on an eminence
that commands the road and the Valley OF Flan-
there's. Its nre WIN cross those OF the orts OF Gueueu
Thtfd-The Saint Eloy to the south OF the village
OF the same name aud to the northwest OF the town,
on the right bank Of the Moselie Its fire will cross
those OF Saint julien and Plsppevile. Metz is at
present Of the strongest places in the world. 1t
could De well defended with $4,000 OF the Gardes
Mobiles within the town and 10000 regulars In the
lntrenched camp.
Having thus given you, as concise as possible, the
military capacity ~ Of Metz WI reafs wa arn my eX
visit.
CITY LIFE IN TINE OF WAR.
The town bore q most animated aspect, the streets
IN many places being impossible In consequence OF
ammunition and baggage wagons ambulances ana
commiSsarlat 8 ores; troops passing In all direc-
tions; drums, regimental bands and truln-
pets vying with each other In noise; orderes
looping sDurs ngling, scabbards clanklng on the
pavemcnts hurryskurry sketer all as busy as bees.
outside the principal hotel Obtain glimpse, be il
ever 50 small, OF the Major General LebGuf who,
the sensation Of the hour. In Metz, at the present
time, everything smells OF gunpowder, and the
war fever. A native with whom conversed declared
that they had lost their senses pOteness perhaps
Do. Dasy and tired having Ing had but an hours
dous pair of black mustaches, an ugly face and vii
famous IMPRESSION or countenanee. Figaro had driven
anourshng trade since the declaration OF war, every
Ocer In the service having had his hair cropped as
closely as possible All the hairressers in Metz have
been chppcipp-clipping necessarily, night and day
since King William OF Prussia thought fit to insult
la Belle France. Yesterday the barber was in
soent. and slasned about his razor In reckless
style, drawing blood at every stroke in q manner
that made you wonder what strange infatuation
caused his customers 60 submit without remon-
STRANGE. The reason Of his being more than usually
brutal discovered from confere. Some people
are profane enough to imagine that woman was
sent into this world for the express torture of man.
The barber has wife, a private tOrurer of mis-
the previous day that she would return to Metz by
the nlQht train. AT four O'Clock In the morning he
Mss n at ye 81 staten h to r sceve n IN e M being who by
he Is permitted to consider his better half until
either one or the other take departure TO better
world. To every train which arrived throughout
the day. whether laden with civilians, soldiers or
baggage, did the poor fellow rush, In hope ana
rear, 10 return 10 shaving aud disappointment His
clients' chins suffered IN consequence. When lett
10 1.-THE the evening he was again at the station, with
savage disappointment depicted ON hts countenance
No wife was there, and should she be a woman OF
taste no vile Of his win ever be. He is an awful
looking customer. 1t Is no Your waiting
Figaro. Make up your mind to the loss of Your
darling. II it be one, and try your luck again.
THE CATHEDRAL
or course "dldn the Cathedral. 1t Is magnif-
cent. Commenced in the twelfth century, it was NOT
which is bold and elegant, Is in height eghty.dve
and q half metres, No one can look at the Cathe-
,ral OF Metz without being struck with the singular
beauty of it's proportions. Louis XIV, however,
gave orders to BlOndel to erect o heavy entrance,
Doric order 1t remains to this day In frghtfnl con.
trast with the remainder OF the splendid Gothic
author.
There has been a movement in advance OF the
Third corps, under Marshal BaZane. All the camps
were struck, ana the headquarters yesterday were
changed to Bouay between but slightly IN the rear
of Thionville and St Avoid. on the same day. the
26th, the Garde Imperiae commenced replacing the
posts occupied by Bazaine's corps. The votigeurs
and other troops which saw when passing Pont
Mouss0n Will encamp outside the town.
CAMPS IN FRoNT--sENTINEI.s AND DIALOGUE.
Wishing to see the ground on which my friends,
the yotgeurs, would take up their quarters, took
advantage OF the oner to ride to Longevleles hetz
the village pleasantly situated on the Moselle to
camp. one of my worthy coyferes ls the proprietor
between which and the town the guard was ordered
of yellow horse and having obtained a small Das
the panes q salade, into it we packed The art Of
driving as practlsed in France Is incomprehensble
and dangerous; but after many hairbreadth es
capes the owner the horse extrlcated us from the
crowded streets and crossing the bridge, we got
into smooth water. 1t was a ine bright, thirsty
do ha Er1ur rAa q mt riual MI
proposed bottle OF white WINE at the Auberge OF
Longevlle. We sat down by the roadside on an Old
brought table and the wherewithal we enjoyed a
pleasant half hour on the banks of the blue Moselle
paid no attention. When we left to return to
Metz two other artillerymen, in dirty undress
bar ahu on arrived 1u
our attention was attracted by the Gathering Of
horses feet along the pave ana the drunken bonn
rnked up well above the knees, galloped up.
"Of what nationality are your" shouted the most
"What business is that OF yours?n replied Paris
''we arrest you.n hlccupped bombarder
'Go to - you are drunkpr screamed the Paris
@ IAN giving giving at the same time cut with his whip TO
brought bombardier to the ground. ''S'
You are sples," screeched the gunners in chorus,
anu one OF their horses, startled by the noise,
veyed his rider, the most drunken OF the two ar "a
Ralop along the road The artilleryman rolled fright
uliy IN the SADDLE between which and his legs ap
panion following. The feet OF the bolnbardier soon
parted company with his stirrups; but as he still
chung on to reins and name with the
clutch Of q drowning man, his horse slacE.
ened speed, and as we drove up the
rider came heavily to the ground with q heavy
thud. and as he did so seized the reins OF our na9
AT the same time the three artillerymen we hal
seen in the Auberge and the other mounted drnnken
b0msardier rushed up, and an altercation ensned.
which IN the Bowery or BillnRsgate would have
ended In murder. Have you ever heard Frencbmen
abuse each other-cursing swearing, sDlutterlng.
threatening9 The noise soon brought the people
within hearing to the spot. The drunken bombar-
dier had shouted himself into ungovernable rage
thatif he had had o revolver at hand none of Us
would have been left to tell the tale
My fellow travellers demanded the reaimental
numbers of the gunners who refused TO give them