The New York herald., 1870-08-14

tcr-The Town and FOrtresS-Frencii Cav
airy-Tu They Go TO Battle.
BELFoRr, France, July 49, 1870.
1 reached Befort this afternoon, after a weary
Journey OF fifteen hours from PARIS. All trains from
the capital eastward are now running "any howr
more especially those on the direct Strasboure
route; ana the nearer the theatre or war Is ap-
proacaed the greater difficulty is experienced in
getting fiom one place to another. The railroads
are In TACT, under the direction OF the War De-
partment, and il would seem be an oversight on
the part of that bureau that any still continue
to run for the benefit OF the public.
l left Paris in Il considerable state OF excitement
that Is to say, the city, not myself; for
spondents of ali men, must possess their souls in
peace aud believe am no exception to the rule
But the excitement in Paris is next to MI compared
VITA what nd here In Alsace; for the entire popu-
lation men, women and children-may be said
10 be up IN arms against the Russians. Neither
mere nor towards the westward have heard any eX-
preston showing The existence OF peace party;"
and, what at hrst sght may appear strange and i'm.
probable, the old are far more bitter against the
Prussans than the young or middle aged The
troops from the centre Of France and those coming
from the South and Africa pass through Befort on
their way to the frontier, and the entire population
on their line OF route is seemingly employed In
nothing more nor less than hanging about The rail.
way depots and cheering and treating the soldiers
on their way towards the Rhine. nice looking lot
OF men they mostly are-enough to make the whole
pody oi teetotalers commit suicide incOntnently;
and If the naarchands de utn and auor dealers
generally are not making years income within a
week, then is not most of the sold the troops
equal to the celebrated New York poison known as
'three cent rum.n
TIE TOWN AND FORTRESS OF BELFORr
Beifort, at the present moment, tue southern
point OF the French front, anu a highly important
position apart rom this fact Should the fortune of
war turn against the Emperor Napoleon.
the town and fortress In question VIII even.
tualy become the scene or operations ON the
largest scale; or Belfort Is the direct and easiest
road TO Paris, and the one almost certain to be
chosen by an invading army. The country between
The capital and Beli0rt is nat and Opcn lust Sucn Il
region, IN fine. as would suit the advance OF large
bodies OF troops; and were Beort TO surrender no
other obstacle TO the enemys advance would lie in
the path, with The exception OF Langres in the
Haute Marne; ana Bellort In every way calcu-
lated, both by nature and art 10 resist even such
1oice as Prussia is now capable OF bringing against
It, the town lseif with the faubourgs, Will possess
population OF some 1000 mhabiiants but 50 eX-
tensive are the fortitcauons 900 troops would
scarcely suffice 10 man them, while the attack would
have TO be conducted by regular approaches In a
iow-lying plain. the greater part or wnich can read
nv be iaid under water. The osiiion mas been
oi the thirteenth century, and many have been its
changes OF ownership during the last 600 years UNTIL
~ l64S, IL was finally ceded To France by Austria
Snder the treaty OF Westphalia.
Nanban then took the defences in hand, enclosing
the town and citadel within Fashioned eacetn,e,
%hlch completely hides The former from view; but
the works as they now exist were only completed
some forty years ago, when General de Bellouet
added TWO additional lines. or circles, OF defeuce
thereby raslng Beliort to position OF equal strength
with Metz and Strasbourg.
MOVEMENT OF TROOPS.
The town anu fortress OF Belfort are literally filed
to overlooking with troops, but each successive regi-
ment remains here for few hours only. The SOL
ders from The east and OF France simply pass
thiough WITHOUT stopping but those belonging TO
<he cars travelling towards Strasbourg from Paris
the fortress is pretty wei surrounded by q heavy
cavalry force, principally composed of huzZars and
]ancers, aud the horses will compare iavorably
wih those OF any cavalry IN the world. There
a lew 'clockS' among them or Norman and Flemish
race, but the great majority are of sound, 1.-THE Eng
liSh breed, and the right material for rapid and
lengthy maneuvres. If the men only as good IS
their mounts the rrussans VIII not ind IL an easy
ahair To match them, and from what see Of the
condition OF the horses and the movements Of the
riders think man and beast arc worthy OF eacn
other.
THE TURcos
inc sensation OF the day Is the arrival OF n reg-
ment OF Inrcos body OF troops raised among the
Waflike native tribes OF the mountainous regions of
Algeria. wish TO speak OF this corps in terms OF
thc highest admiration, for there is nothing to equal
them IN the world: The famous New York
regiment ,commanded by Colonel "Billy" VII
son was considered "some' in the way of
deviiry and the "Garlbadians,n OF the Union
army were not far behind them wnen ''they got
70 work" IN Virginia. But for sheer downright ruth
lessness aud nintigated blackguardsm commend
me 10 the Turcos-the rowdlest or the louave reg-
menls being quiet CHRISTIAN gentlemen IN compar-
son with them. While eating luncheon moon by the
clock "A Tree fight takes place among some thirty OF
these rascals In front OF the restaurant and ON
Ger OF the Etdt-Dtoje1v explains TO me the cause
viz.:-Ccrtain OF these heroes have robbed some Of
the denlzens OF BefOrt and their comrades are en-
oeavorlng 10 rob them in turn.
Enter few minutes afterwards three officers OF
Turcos-an Arab. at-faced, wooy headed negro
ana malignant looking Frenchman. The Arab seats
himself beside me at table, and In the coolest manner
possible lays hold OF my knife and commences 10
strike ON my plate to attract the notice or the waiter
NOT the slightest apology TO me by look word but
another row occurs outside, and away, thank Eea-
ven the three fellows rush. to my intense delight
and that OF the officers at table. Thcn am given 70
understand that such conduct Is mild, for Turco
ueutenanis and captains; while the men themselves
nave no regard Tor man, God, lie. property or any
thing else. Just before reaching Belfort some OF
then had had light in the tram, and one poor fel
low was laid hold OF and SHE'D clean out OF the
upon The track by his own comrades. such are tht
IurcoS, and the less anybody has to DO with then
the be ter.
HEADQUARTERS Of the Army OF the Rhine N
Strasboura-d.eneral Douay's Division
Plan of First Aftack-in the Rear o
abe Army-Prussian Spies-EecIinS in ti
Cnmp.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE RuNE,l
STRAsBoURG, July 81 1870. I
Jast night another division--namely. that
Ceneral Douay-moved to the northwest OF Stra
bourp This division consists OF the brigades
Generals Montmaie and Pele. The former Is con
posed of the sixteenth battalion or Chasseurs Pee
or rnemeu, and OF the Fiftieth and seventy eight
regiments. The Second Is composed of the Seventy
fourth regiment and the First Turcos. Thus, accord
Ing to the explanations gave IN my last letter Goa
cerning The formation OF French regiments, the hrs
OF these brlgades will be composed OF seven, tn
latter OF six battaIions or the whole division WI
consist OF about 5000 men. This. with tile FIrs
division OF infantry that preceded the day before
under &c. eral Ducrot, and the light cavalry tina
tlta General III
Sefeni, makes rather more than 10000 mel
of all arma belonging 70 MRcMahon,s cOmmans