The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-10-19

officer in MacMahon's army, who witnessed the bat
tie OF Sedan on the French side, and the rout, and
was shut up in Sedan with the Freuch army having
been released, reached London with the following
account
SEDAN, September 8
Early in the morning of the 3lst orders were Civ
en- to bring into town all wagons, trains, aud
which had been left outside the glacis By this time
the streets were blocked up by troops of every kind
which had entered the town during the night, tried
TO ride down to Porte de Paris, where the train
stationed to carry orders was Obliged 10 get of
my horse and make my way best could between
horses and caissons which checked up every street
and square of the town. As l reached the Porte dc
Paris, met the wagon train entering fast pos
sibe, followed closely by the rushing oxen, and in
termingled in weeping and terror, the stricken pea
santry of the neighborhood hying into town forp
lection. They little knew it was about the worst
place they could have chosen. The gates on that
size were immediately closed. while the troops slow
ly filed through the opposite gate towards Douzy,
where all MacMahon's forces posted, expect
ing to again attacked by the Prussians, who had
closely followed up the French army. About 10
O'Clock that morning some canuonading was heard six
or seven miles away toward the village of Bazees.
l went up the rampant looking over the country
position, and with my glass could watch the firing
plainly. but could not the French lines well,
! which were hid from me by trees about a mile from
town. /, therefore, noon, walked out of town at
the Porte de Paan, and assembled, my left, the ri
sing ground, which is close by the town, not
than half mile from the gate, passed through
regiments of reverse infantry. Their
| piled aud the fires smoking, soup having not long
ago been eaten. l continued ascending. aud every
where passed corps OF infantry and artillery.
got higher aud higher from hillock hiluck Till
1 reached battery of reserve, the guus OF which
were unmbered, and placed facing the rear OF the
| French left. This battery pointed to fire
/ over the crest of rising ground which stood,
about quarter of mile in front of the little church
yard. Here stood also several officers of the differ
ent corps, stationed on my tight aud left all of tue
| reserve. From the point had now reached, char
ming scene was in view. The French line of battle
extended right in front, spreading on the slope of
ground which forms side of this basin of the
Meuse. In front of the centre French lines, and
lower down in the vale the village Of Bazeilles,
then beginning to burn, the Prussian shells having
set fire to it, Parallel almost to the front of the
| French positions the Meuse. The French right
was upon kind Of wooded ground held by miirail-
| leures. The wooded ground extended near the
grounds of Sedan. The French # was lost to
sight behind the Irregularities of ground, towa
the road BouillOn. As far as / could see, right
and left, in front of me, massed regiments OF
all arms but toward the left the second liue
a very large force of heavy cavalry, dragons and
cuirassers. The shining brightly and every
thing was plainly visible The glittering of wca-
pons, the bright and showy culOrs of the French
uniforms the white smoke curling under the blue
sky or lingering, vapor-like beneath the trees, the
cracking flames arising from the burning village of
Bazeilles-the whole seen from a commanding posi-
tion, formed a spectacle one seldom finds himself in
a position to witness. The principal Prussiau bat
teres were directly opposite the French centre
plateau or table land, which terminated abruptly
and made it a very strong position. For some time
| canuOnading continued on both sides. AT o'clock
force OF Prussian infantry advanced across the
bridge in the village OF Douzy, and Immediately
there began very sharp fusiIade lasting, however
not more than ten minutes. think the FreLch
must have lost ground in that encounter although l
could not see for some trees that intervened but
battery of six mrailleures adyauced and opened fire
through the trees. Six vollrys came all at once
The Prussians fell hurriedly back, leaving whole
ranks behind, which had gone down like leaden sa
diers children play with About halfpast firing
had ceased everywhere. The village, which had
been blazing all day, still smoking. The French
remained in the position, though the day had
apparently been without result Its description is
a necessary prelude to the bitter story of the
row. At half past l returned to town. The Em
peror who had arrived during the night, had issued
a proclamation which was posted on the wall, say
ing lie had confded tue command Of the armies to
The Generals whom public opinion had seemed to
select the most capable sud that he himself n-
tended to fight officer, forgetting for while
his position sovereign. The next morning
Thursday | returned the gates Of the town
were opened to my post OF observation on the ele-
waited ground where the battery was still placed.
The French positions did not seem to me much al
tered but the right now on the other side of Sc
dan. At O'Clock cauEonadHg began in earnest,
some slight firing having taken place earlier The
Prussian batteries facing Us appeared te me much
more numerous. Indeed, it seemed that there were
batteries everywhere. They reared from every
point of the Pruzsian line, which then stretched
nearly parallel in front Of the French. could ioI-
low the falling Of their shells which exploded as
they touched the ground, and tell with wonderful
precision, noticed how quickly, also, they changed
and corrected their fire. As a French corps
took position, il instantly assailsd by shells.
The first would perhaps, fall few feet short be-
yond but the third more sure TO find its way 10
the troops and do its awful work among them.
The French shells, the contrary, exploded gener
ally before they reached .he ground, and the smoke
of explosion formed inuumeTable little clouds at
different heights go high that they could do
no harm to the enemy noticed some inexpcable
movements A few squadrons Of Prussian cavalry
made if they would charge the French force which
toward the left Immediately two regiments
Of French cavalry charged IN turn upon the Prussan
squadron, which fell back aud hed, but the same
moment the Prussian corps Of infautry opened a
murderous IRE upon those too eager French cavalry
and they came back badly shattered from their rash
pursuit.
"About o'clock could not help faneying that
the Prussians we're seeming TO extend more to the
left, for asking whether certain new batteries
we're French, was told that they were Prussian
The Prussian line evidently curling round US
have learned since that the Crown Prince had cross
ed the Meuse during the night, about five leagues
from Sedan, and this had not been known to Mac
MshoB A large force of BsraTians must also bave
arrived ser the commencement Of The battle for II
was Bavarian troops who began pounding US from
the left. At half past 10 the sdYaDce Of the Prpssians
was perceptible on both wings. At the same time
some French infantry which was close TO town on
the east side gave way il seemed to rather quick