New-York tribune., 1870-08-24
THE BATTLES BEFORE METZ.
THE RATTLE OF GRAvELOTTE.


DESCRIPTION BY TRIBUNE CORRESPOND
rNT WHO WITNESSED 1T THROUGHOUT
ONE OF THE GREATEST BATTLES OF MODERN
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCB.l
LONDON, Tuesday, Aug. Is, 1870.
Details of the battle of Thursday, the 18th
inst, at Gravelotte, are still wanting here, as
well as in Paris, and even in Berlin.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
LONDON, Tuesday, Aug. %, 1870.
The following detailed account of the great
battle of Gravelotte on Thursday, Aug. Is, was
received this mornmg in London from our
special correspondent, who witnessed the battle
ut headquarters, and stood by the side of Bis
marck and King William;
THE WOUNDED AT PONT-A-M0UssoN.
The first realization we had at Pont-a-Mous-
sOu-where found myself on the 17th-of the
extent to which fighting had been going on at
the front, on Sunday and Tuesday, was from
the coming in of wounded men. At first it was
surmsed that these had been wounded in skir-
msbes. But on the 10th, late in the evening,
there were signs that the work was becoming
warm. On that evening soldiers with CHASTITY
wounds walked about the market-place in
POnt-a- MOussOn, surrounded by eager groups
of their newly arrived comrades, and told
story of disaster. Poor fellows 1t surely was
disaster to them borne away as they had been
from the field without having heard of any re-
suit. | stood among these groups and the mar
ratives of the men all amounted to this: that
they had been sent to confront much larger
force than their own, and that their division
had been cut up. l was struck by the fact
that, though there was some dissatisfaction
suggested by their tone of voice, | heard no
word uttered by narratOrs or listeners which
accused any one. They dwelt rather on the
fact that they had dealt heavy blow, on the
14th, and that the Tenth Division, though 1t
had as an available organization been demol-
ished, had sold its life dearly.
On the 18th the wounded of the preceding
day began to pour into POnt-a-MOuss on. They
were brought in in long, uncovered graln-carts,
living upon hay. From my window, which
overlooked the main street and also COM
manded q view of the maTket-place, counted
more than ninety of these long carts, each
holding on an average about ten men. 1t was
strange to see them as they passed between
files of French citizens unable To conceal their
joy on the one hand, and Prusslan soldiers on
the other. But now came the other side Oh
the account. The streets began to swarm with
other wagons with other wounded, wearers OF
red trOwsers Now and then came batch OF
unwOunded prisoners. AT length there arrived
a carriage with French general. 1t was fol-
lowed by a vast crowd of French, and for
little time it seemed as if there might be
collision between the inhabitants and Prus-
slams, SO earnest were the demonstrations of
the populace. But it was now at least evident
that the struggle was very serious at the
front, At midnight of the 18th, or little
after, all the trumpets for miles around began
70 sound This was the first time we had been
startled by such wild music. Trumpet
answered to trumpet through all the bivouacs
around the little city.
MARCHING TO THE FRONT.
The troops had been passing through almost
continually for several days previously; but
now the tramp through every street and by
way made between midnight and dawn per-
petual roar. Hastily dressing, l ran out into
the darkness, and managed to get seat on
wagon that was going in the direction of the
front. now understood to be mile OF two be-
wound the village of Gore, some twelve miles
from Pont-a- Mousson. On our way we met
considerable DdJcn VI IIchSh piiSohoio "H"
were looked upon with considerable curiosity
by the continuous line of German soldiers
with whom we advanced, but only one or two
offensive cries toward the prisoners were
heard. The way was so blocked with
wagons that finally concluded l could
better do the six or seven miles re-
naming on foot So / got out of my wagon
and began to walk and run swiftly ahead. AT
Mouyient on the Moselle, about half way to
Metz, found vast bodies of cavalry-Uhlans
and Hussars-crossing the river by pontoOn
bridge, and hurrying at the top of their speed
toward Gore. Quickening my own steps,
first heard the thunder of the cannonade
seemingly coming from the heart OF range
of hills on the right. Passing through the
village and ascending the high plain beyond
found myself suddenly in battlefield,
strewn thickly, as far as my eye could reach
with dead bodies. In one or two parts OF the
field companies were still burying the dead,
chiefly the Prussians. The French, being ne
cessarily buried last, were still lying in vast
numbers ON the ground. A few Of those that
saw were not yet dead.
AS hurried on, a splendid regi ment OF cav
airy came up from behind me, and when they
reached the brow of the hill they all broke
out with wild hurrah and dashed forward
rev more steps and gained the summit
anu saw the scene which had evoked their
cry and seemed to thrill even their horses.
THE BATTLEFIELD.
1t would be difficult to imagine a grander
patte-neld From the hill to which had been
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