Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-10
The War.

/
French arms, and in one short week the prus-
slams have demonstrated that they are the
foremost military power of the world
With the exception of q slight affair at
Weissenburg, the fighting commenced on
Saturday. Before that day the PrussIan line
extended distance of some one hundred and
twenty miles the plan decided on by them
was almost a repetition of the tactics oy
which the Austrians were defeated in 1866
they boldly divided their immense force into
at least three different armies, and with two
of these struck the scattered forces of the
Emperor terrible blows. The French right,
under Marshal McAIahon, the most celebrated
of their officers, and consisting of the flower
of their army, was most ANONYMOUSLY routed
and cut off from all communication with the
main body. Even now, after four days, it is
not known where this force is, or whether it's
remains will be able to effect junction with
the main armies. The center, under General
Frossard, was able to resist from eleven in
the forenoon till late in the evening, when
badly beaten, with immense losses of baggage
and military stores, it was forced to abandon
the field The details of the battles are of
course meager we give entire the most i'm
portant of the dispatches received The first
comes from the King of Prussia
Good news. A great victory has been won
| by our Fritz. God be praised for His mercy
We captured 4 900 prisoners, thirty guns,
two standards and six n1itrdiifeurS. McMa-
hon, during the fight, was heavily reinforced
from the main army. The contest was very
severe, and lasted from eleven in the morning
until nine at night, when the French retreat
ed, leaving the field to us. Our losses were
heavy.
Under date of Aug. I, General Goeben re-
ports concerning the fight west of Saarbruck
Many hundreds of prisoners were taken.
From these we gather that Frossard's CORPS
was engaged. Our forces in the action were
four divisions. Night alone put an end to
the lighting. The enemy covered his retreat
BY heavy fire of artillery. Gen. Steinmetz
arrived in the evening and took command
Gen. Francois is dead. The loss is heavy on
both sides. The number of officers of the
enemy killed is especially large.
Berlin dispatch of the same date says
The French Emperor has withdrawn his
entire line, and is concentrating his troops
Tor the defense of Paris. His losses have
been enormous. the Prussians overlook the
retreating French forces early on Saturday
morning. west of Saarbruck, near the Spie- |
hren hills. Gen. Kamers commenced the |
attack, supported by Gems. Barnakow and
Stupnagel. Gen. Van Goeben ultimately
assumed the command. The action was Sc
we're. A position at which the French en-
deavored TO make stand during their retreat
was carried by the Prussians at the point of
the bayonet. This battle is known as that Of
Hsguenau.
The kilograms from Paris virtually &C
knowledged the Prussian accounts to be cor
rect The official journal of the 9TH says:
" FRENcHMES: Up to this hour we have
always given without reserve all the certain
news which we have received, and we con-
tinue TO do so. Last night we received the
following dispatches
METZ, Aug. 6-Midnight.
Marshal Mcmahon has lost a battle
Gen. Frossard, on the Saar, has been obliged
to retire. His retreat was effected in good
order. All can be re-estabIished.
(Signed.) NAPOLEON
METZ, Aug. 7-3AA.M.
Ny communications have been interrupted
with Marshal Mcmahon. I am going to
place myself in the centre Of the position.
NAPOLEON.
A proclamation was Immediately issued
calling together the Chambers on Thursday,
but as the evil news came faster it was sup
plemented by another calling them at an
earlier date. The Empress announces
Details of our losses are wanting. Our
troops are full of elan. The situation is not
compr Omised but the enemy is in our ter
ritory, and a serious effort is necessary. A
battle appears imminent. In the presence
of this grave news our duty is plain. We
appeal to the patriotism and the energy OF
all. The Chambers have been convoked. We
are placing Paris with all possible haste in
state of defense. In order TO facilitate
the execution of military preparation we
declare the capital in a state Of siege There
must be no iaint-heartedness, no divisions.
Our resources are immense. Let us pursue
the struggle without hinching. and the
country will be saved.
PARIS, the 18th of Aug. 1870, at lOP. N.
By order of the Empress Regent.
On the 9Th the ministry issued this procla-
nation
FRENcHxEN ehave told the whole truth
It is for you now to do your duty. Let one
shout come from all, from one end of France
to the other Let the people vie with each
other in sustaining the great cause
Some of our regiments have fallen before
overwhelming numbers. The army has not
been defeated; sustain it. To the fortunate
audacity of the moment let US oppose tenac
ity. Let the inhabitants of all parts of
France not subjected to the burden of the
war rush to the assistance of their brothers
in the east. Let France be united. Heaven
bless our arms
Thus all reports agree perfectly in the
main facts that the French have suffered de-
feats almost unprecedented for so early in the
campaign. The actual loss in men is doubt
less of little consequence in a military point
of view, but the plans of the Emperor, if he
had any, are completely deranged His
center being driven back and his right wing
turned, leaves his line in a position at right
angles with, and not nearly so strong as his
former one. The decentralization of the gov
eminent and the people seems more complete
than that of the army. The resources of
France are yet hardly touched, but with the
J feeling as it now is we are hardly likely to
see the conscripts repeat Champ ALBERT or
Montmirail. The humiliation is almost
equal to that after Waterloo, and the disap-
J pointment if possible is still greater. So
far, the Prussians seem to have made no at
tempts to advance since Saturday, state OF
J affairs which indicates perhaps that their
| victories were dearly bought. In the mean
time there are around the strongly fortified
city of Metz three French corps nearly in
tact, and there is yet chance that these
! brave and warlike legions may, in the alb
: sence of the Emperor, who is reported sick
at Chalons, retrieve the opening disasters Of
the campaign. Certain til that their chief.