The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-09-17
NEcYgaEaSaa's Dash and Sang
FrOiea.

w HoSfSl SlSe "dS tcSpoilsiple, says Il
London journal, for the disaster at
Woerth, it is quite evident Marshal Nc
Mahon was not. High testimony to
his ability and dash is pouring in from
all sides, even the Prussians admitting
hat be handled his istroops magnifcently.
One correspondent says:
T AS TO McMahon the soldiers are unan-
im' us and enthusiastic. His personal
bravery has touched the heart of eyerv
wounded soldier. "Ah," says every
one, "if he had got command in this
campaign all would have gone different
ly; but they hampered him and they iso-
lated him. They left him aud US to
die
"J. P. L." in the London Exami-
ner, says:
Marshal McMahon, saving his army
and inficting such heavy losses on the
enemy, is lait d'armes far more meri-
torious than the taking of Malakof Or
the victory of Magenta. Rest assured
he will retrieve the losses and defeat of
his little army, when, perhapsbefore this
reaches you, he will have met in less
unequal numbers the enemies of France
The following appreciation of his con-
duct will show that he was fully equal
to the task imposed upon him. Had he
been joined by another corps d'armee he
would have won one of the greatest battles
in our times, " Ca yiendra."
The Paris Moniteur contains the fol.
lowing on McMahon
In those kilograms, laconic as they
are, we find one brilliant individuality
one splendid military figure, true soldier
we knew him before at Maliakof and
Magenta This man-this soldier, this
lion who combats at the frontier-is
Mcmahon. From these dispatches we
found that he fought against several
Prussian armies. It is not man against
man, but one against ten. He fought
not during an hour or day, but from
the Sd to the 9th, in foreign country,
full with enemies. lie was almost sur
rounded, it appears, several times. He
attacked those masses of troops, whose
fallen ranks were filed up at once. He
fought, he resisted the shock there was
no disorder in the army. It is grand
solemn--epic land the glory of the
French arms will receive new Iustre
from this Homeric struggle.
The end of the battle at Woerth is
thus described by correspondent:
In front of those battalions which had
escaped the massacre and shame of sur.
rendering en- masse, before those decima
ted regiments rose McMahon holding his
sword by the blade and brandishing il
like a club. He wildly spurred a large
black charger covered over with foam
the third he had mounted His uniform
was torn to rags, his cravat had beer
carried away, his shirt was open expos
ing his breast. This man was superb
He forced his black charger into the cir
Gle of fire through which he had jus
broken. The chasseurs came back will
loosened rain; they passed and re
passed several times through the enemy
lines, which they overthrow and sabred
The officers took the big black charger b,
the bride, the soldiers cried Vive Nc
Mahon"' and the Marshal standing VI
in his stirrups, took in at a glance tn
field Of battle, lighted a cigar and or
dered his admirable retreat. At
O'Clock we were in capital position
but Mcmahon had returned to the from
along the valley where the Prussial
army, quite exhausted was unable t.
pursue it's march. This man who from
dawn had been in the saddle, and who hat
been fighting for thirteen hours ant
seen all his orderlies fall, lighted anothe
cigar, dismounted and passed three hour
in helping the hospital men to attend t.
the wounded.