Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-02
NEWS Dz4sE oT Eno5I NlEFz.

Sunday night:
When / arrived at Metz, for the first
time, transport horses were to be found
n numbers. They were heavy, strong
looking horses, many OF them grays.
They were picketed in q large square,
their haltcrs tied to the wheels of country
wagons. The horses had clearly lust
come from the plough, and beside them
lay their ordinary harness. IA auxiliary
corps Of peasants had been engaged 10
conduct the wagons. They had no uni
forms, but carried cards IN their hats. de-
noting the corps d'armee to which they
belonged. l tried TO get a room at the
Hotel de PEurope, but was informed that
it was full of Generals and of the Etat-
Major. l then applied at the Grand Ho-
Tel de Metz, and was told that, although
they had eighteen Generals, they would
manage TO put me up. Upon afterwards
repeating this speech to the lady, who ap-
pears to manage the Hotel de l'Europe,
where l again repaired to inquire Cor
letters, she grew a little indignant and
said that she had more Generals in her
hotel than the madam opposite, and even
she had not eighteen; but then she was
not in the habit Of exaggerating. The
cOurtyards of both hotels were crowded
with baggage-carts belonging to the staff
masters.
BAzAINE'S HEADQUARTERS.
Bazainc alone had q least five two-horse
wagons marked, ''lIarshal Bazaine, No.
l., etc, up 10 No. j-ngt an illiberal al
loTaHce even for a marshal. Orderlies
and guards crowded the gates; the private
sitting-rOoms were turned into offices, and
the calling saloons surrounded with uni
formed men. Ii was quite a distinction
to wear plain coat, but by no means a
pleasant distinction.
MARCHING ORDERS.
This evening took walk with an ac-
qUaintapce. He asked me: 'Do you OBJ
serve anything peculiar about the French
officers !" replied 'ENo." Il do" he
answered; ''they are dressed in marching
order; they embrace instead of bowling
when they part; they say an az TeU0ir
and not an adieu; there viii be a march
20 morrow" True enough, when we got
TO the hotel the staff wagons were being
loaded, and We were informed that Mar
shal Bazaine and ct least one division of
his corps would set out at daybreGk.
corps d'armee, but the left wing Of the
French army.
THE GRAND MOVEMENT TO-DAY.
My own Belief Is that a grand move
ment across the frontier will commence
on Wednesday OF Thursday. The centre
and nearly the whole light, except the
army OF ssAfrica, which is rapidly coming
up, and Of which the Etat-NIaiOr is al
ready Al hand, are now in line between
Bitche and ScTrcgUemincs. The left
wing, which is immensely strong at Metz
and Thionyi,le, viii make for Saar- Louis
and Birckenfeld; The right and centre
heading for Esiscrslautern; and thus the
movement VIII be along thcwestern slopes
of the NosgCs, although a corps will pro-
badly be ordered % move in Z parallel d.
TcCtiCn along the east of that range to
watch the doliles and 20 give warning of a
flank attack 10y the Prussiaus. 1t is not
unlikely that the French army viii then
descend the valley of The Natc, and that
the King Of Prussia, if he is willing to
fight at all on the Left bank, viii accept
battle somewhere about Kreutmach, g
position strong in itself and affoTdiDg q
secure retreat upon Mayence, the bulwark
of Germany, the standing menace Of
France.
ODDS II FAVOR OF FRANCE.
With regard to the chances of success
Of the two C0mbatants in the first battle,
l believe The odds to be immensely in
favor of France. For the last twelve
days she las been massiug the whole Of
her army on the frontier, aud within one
or two marches Of Bitche ard Sarrcgue-
mines. have read Of certain number
of battali0ns being sent forward and Of
others remaining behind; but as far as |
can Judge the French are cyaCuatiGg every
garrison On massc. put eight hundred
thousand down as the lowest number the
Emperor means 70 have under his hand,
and in complete communication at the en-
trance of the campaign; and believe the
concentration now to be within forty
eight hours Of completion. The number
, Of guns viii be large, but they will not be
adequately hoTscd The cavalry, also,
viii not bear high pTOpoTtion-probaby
under cnc-;cnth Of The infantry.
EXCELLENT DISCIPLINE.
The whole Of the troops arc in a mag
nIfceHt state OF discipline, aGd the Off
GERS are much more numerous than those
of the Prusaians. The French artillery
was superior 10 the Austrian at SolferirO
and the Austrian was superior to III
Pussian at Koniggratz.. 3hcrc is n
douJt Qftic Ciu8scpot being q better
1"capOu than the PlusSiu5l arm. | can
hardly believe in the Pussials having yet
been able to effect such a concentration
Of strength as the French have certainly
done, and believe that on the opening Of
the campaign, either with or without a
battle, the PrUssians must retire behind
the Rhine.