The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-23
THE BATTLE OF HAGUENAU.

MncNlahan's Command and its Action-Prus-
sian Surprise of the French-CauGht with
Their Pnntnloous OA--The Distinguished
Dead- ma annniniity of tho Grown Prince.
A letter from Strasbourg. dated August @, at md
night and published In Paris, mas the following re-
ports:--
The French soldier Is now, as he has always been,
the best IN the world. But | seek for The French
general, and alas cannot IND him.
have just arrived from Haguenau, worn out, ex-
bausted and down-broEen, even more SO morally than
physically. The battle commenced at about SIX IN
the morning. continued At noon. ana at 1--WE IN the
evening was not over. was there when 1t begun,
and saw II almost terminate. At six IN the morn
ing the cannon was heard before the village OF
Frescnwier, not far from Hagucnau. MacMI hon
commanded. but had only from thirty to forty thou
sand men to resist forces four times as numerous,
and continually reinforced. The Prince Royal lost
ground anu Freschwiller was retaken
The Second regiment OF Turc0s charged with the
bayonet and carried everything before II. Bat while
the French were performing prodiges OF vaor the
the Prussian ARTILLERY took up position on the edge
OF the wood and cannOnaded us without ceasing.
Their rockets set Ore to The village.
About TWO O'Clock some regiments began to waver;
the number OF dead on our side increased, but the
situation was not irremediablc.
MacMahon held out, but suddenly rumor spread
munltion and that the soldiers had no more car
ridges
Tae cavalry attempted final effort.
Tue Cuirassers charged at full speed In the direc
ton Of the forest, but every tree concealed Prus
sian, who could lire in safety.
The retreat then commenced.
The road TO Haguenau was thronged with fugitives
living in disorder before the enemy's cannon.
Tue regiments which have suffered the most are
the sixth and Forty-seventb OF the line and Second
Turcos. Co0nels nrien and the Marquis dc Ora
mont and Ge0eral Raoult are Killed.
Too Fond Of Soup-Naked Turcos in Action.
From the Memorial Dpomatque OF Paris
August III
Ii Is known that our soldiers were at their soup
when they surprised by the FIRST attack OF the
Prussians Most OF the Turcos were ut that moment
bathing. The surprise was 80 sudden and the call
TO combat so pressing that some OF them had scarcely
time TO SLIP their pantal0Ons while many others,
SEEING their pieces, rushed quite naked Into action.
An African colonel who heard the TACT related, SAID
that he had often seen Kabyles i'll Algeria fight IN
nude state. Under such circumstances the Turcos
with an indescrbable fury on the Prussans and
took nine guns, but as they were hauling them OF
they were crushed by grapeshot.
Both killed and wounded were literally hacked to
pieces by the Prussans 1t was owing TO these hor-
rble engines or destruction and alter these savage
brutaiJies that the enemy remained in possession Of
the guns, which the intrepidity OF our TOO ardent
companions in arms had captured in their ranks.
Some companies or Turcos and notably that in
which M. Albert Duruy, volunteer, had taken SER
vice. had, after this heroic combat, only five men
left. M Duruy son of the late minister was one OF
those miraculously preserved.
Among the heroes who fell at ReichshOncn are
mentioned Colonel de vassart, Count DC Septeuil,
the Marquis dEspeuilles aud Count Robert de
Vogue, brother Of Count McchiOr, chief OF the am
balances Of the society for succoring the wounded.
After the combat the body OF Count Robert was
recognized on the field of battle by some Prusslan
officers who had known him at Baden. The Prince
Royal being informed rhat Count Melchior was mot
far or sent for him and said in grave, sad tone,
''Monsour have to announce some painful news
TO you. DO you comprehend My poor brother ~
exclaimed the French gentleman "Yes,n replied
the Prince. 'ne has fallen hero worthy OF his
name. Ills body Is there, Count. You shall have
every facility for removing his glorious remains"
A rumor, says the Paris Figaro, has been In cir
cuation that Count Alfred de GramOnt, colonel OF
tho Forty-slxth, brother of the Minister OF Foreign
Affairs and OF the General Duke Lesparre, mad sue
cumbcd to his wound. We believe, on the contrary,
that the Colonel has survived his serious injury His
left arm was carried away by ball. lie Is married
the Sene-et-Oise, at this moment volunteer In the
Army Of the Rhine.