Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-08-19
Latest War News.

! N i"'Ns' Val heWs Oh lhutSuay MORN
ing, still gives no details Of the great
battles of Sunday and Mon ay. The
RUSSIAN successes were confirmed in
London ON Wednesday, but they have
but few particulars. The fact that the
French give no news, and do not follow
up their claim of victory is also ominous
Of their defeat. The Prussians captured
small fortress near Nancy with guam
tity of stores and six pieces of artillery.
The French government has relented
on driving out the Germans, and on Ger.
tain conditions give permits to German
| residents TO remain.
SAD sToRY-TERRIBLE SLAUGHTER OF
FRENCH SOLDIERS.
The following letter from the French
General Procleor, commanding the Zou-
aves of McMahon's division, tells sad
story
Saverne, Aug. 16. Let lis thank
God, who has preserved me from the
most terrible dangers that is a soldiers
fate to encounter. 1t is a miracle that |
am still alive, without scratch and in
perfect health, but my heart is broken,
and | am overwhelmed with grief and
the fate of my officers and my poor sold
iers.
dare not tell you how many l have
lost. 1t would grieve you TOO much.
Later shall know the names of those
you knew and loved but will never see
again. The gallant fellows fought like
lions and horoes. Out of So officers,
AZ were killed, wounded or missing. AT
Z o'clock in the morning they were full
of life and ardor, and are now all kill
ed
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon my I'M
fortunate Lieut.. Col. Despartier, was
wounded by my side. The bullet enter
ed his abdomen, having been discharged
from only few yards distant. He was
able to squeeze my hand as he was car
ried off the field, but he has probably
died before this in a Prussian ambu-
lance.
Two chefs de battalion were shot dead
and third one is either dead or pris-
oner. Saint Saureur was wounded bad
ly and but little hope is entertaind for
his recovery. | had him taken from the
field in an ambulance. The bullet went
through his chest He behaved splen-
didly. Pierron was shot stone dead.
I have but FIVE captains here out of
thirty. The others are in heaven. All
my adjutants and most of my sergeant
majors shared the same fate of the pio-
neers. Better or more gallant men new
er breathed, and but five are left.
Two who were left with the baggage
were either sabred or taken prisoners
My poor black charger was killed under
Gen. Saureur, to whom l lent him, his
horse having been killed early in the ac-
ton. Out of all | had, all that remains
is the clothes | wear and 70 francs in my
pocket. My baggage, with that of the
Marshal, has been taken. l don't care
for that, cannot help crying inwardly
when / think of all those / have lost.
We fought like lions, $4,000 against
100000.
The enemy surrounded us on all sides.
Gen. Calom was killed and Robert de
Vogue was killed, Alfred de Gramot, the
Dukes brother, lost an arm. The other
corps suffered almost as much as our own.
General Mcmahon behaved splepdidly
and did all that any man could do, but
he had not men enough; he was unable
to cope with 100000 men, with three
times more artillery than he had. Never
theless we inflicted heavy loss on the en-
envy, and that doubtless was the reason
we were not more vigorously pursued.
Had such been the case the disaster
would have been fearful 1t is bad
enough as it is.
The battle began at half-past seven
o'clock. After night there was pour
ing rain, in which we had to stand with
out tents or fire, or lie down in the mud
During the previous day we had march
| 20 kilometres from the battle field to
Severne. The last Sc kilometres were
got over during the night, pell NELL, and
without stopping or sleeping.
The war is fearful scourge. We are
doomed to a forced inaction. We have
but 500 or 600 Zouaves, without KNAPP
sacks, tents, clothes or food, but we have
arms and don't complain. We are with
out officers and non-commissioned officers
cannot be sent into action. 1t is proba
BILE that we will be sent to Strasbourg tc
reform. Our regimental chests, from
all accounts heve been taken"
A PLEASANT SUBMISSION Thurs
day of last week, several of the leadin,