New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-20
ANNIHILATION OF THE ZOUAvEs.
Thrilling Letter Of a General.
al 70 ho

Especial TO the New York Herald.
LONDON, August 16.-The following letter
from General Proscher, commanding the
Zouaves of Marshal McMahon's corps, tells
the story Of the demolition Of these fine
soldiers
SAvERNE, August 8.-Let ls thank God
who has preserved me from the most terri
BILE of the dangers which it is soldiers fate
to encounter. 1t is miracle that I am
still alive without a scratch. But my heart
Is broken and l am overwhelmed with grief
at the fate of my poor officers my poor
soldiers! l 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 heroes. Out of sixty-fve officers forty
seven were killed, wounded and missing At
seven in the morning they were full of life
and ardOr, and now they are killed. At two
O'Clock in the afternoon my unfortunate
lieutenant colonel, De Shonhorties, was
wounded by my side. A bullet entered his
abdomen, which was discharged but a few
yards distant. He was able to squeeze my
hand as he was carried off the field; but he
has probably died before this in Prussian
ambulance. Two chiefs de battalion were
shst dead, and a third is either dead or
prisoner. Saint Sanareu was wounded
badly and there are but little hopes for his
recovery. I had him taken from the field in
an ambulance. A bullet went through his
chest. He behaved splendidly. Pierson
was shot stone dead. l have but five
captains here out of thirty the others are
in heaven. All my adjutants, and most all
my sergeants and ma jOrs shared the same
fate: Of the piOneers-better or more gal
liant men never breathed-but five are left.
Two, who were left with the baggage, were
either sabered or taken prisoners. My
horses were also captured. My poor black
charger was killed under General Sawreur,
to whom lent him, his horse having been
killed early in action. Out of all I had,
and all that remains is the clothes l wear,
and seyenty-hve francs in my pocket. My
baggage. with that of the marshal, has been
taken. | don't care for that can't help
crying inwardly when I think of all
these l lost. We fought like lions, g.
900 against 100000 The enemy sur
was killed. Alfred Grammont, the Dukes
brother, lost his arm. The other corps suf-
fered almost as much as our own. McMahon
behaved splendidly, and did all that any
man could do, but he had not mon enough.
He was unable to cope with 100, 900 men
with three times more artillery than he
had. Nevertheless, we inflicted heavy loss
on them, and that was, doubtless, the
reason we were not more vigorously
pursued. Had such been the case, the
disorder would have been fearful. 1t
is bad enough as it is The battle be-
gan at half-past seven o'clock. after a
night in which there was pouring rain,
in which we had, without tents or fire, to
lie down in the mud. During the previous
day We had marched seventy kilometres
from the battle field to Saverne. The last
thirty-six kilometres were got over during
the night, pell-mell, and without stopping
or sleeping. War is fearful scourge. We
are doomed to forced inaction. We have
but 300 or 600 Zouaves, without knapsacks, |
clothes or food; but we have arms and do
not complain. We are without officers and
non-commissioned officers, and can not be
sent into action. 1t is probable we will be |
sent to Strasburg to reform our regiment.
Our chests, from all accounts, have been |
taknn