The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1870-08-20
THE EUROPEAN WAR.
Terrible Slaughter OF the Ere nch
Forces al EEagenam.

E'OHCeS SaG EAISSERG2eas
LONDON, Aug I6.-The following letter
from Gen, Procher, commanding the Zou-
ayes of Marshal McMahon's corps, tells the
story of the demolition Of those fine sol
diers:
SAvERGNE, August 8.-Let us thank God,
who has preserved me from the most terri
bic of dangers it is the soldiers fate to en-
counter. 1t is a miracle | am still alive
without scratch, but my heart is broken,
and l am overwhelmed with grief at the
fate of my poor officers and my poor sol
diers. l dare not tell you how many /
have lost, it would grieve you too much.
Some time later [ shall know the names of
those you knew and loved, bat will never
see again. The gallant fellows fought like
lions and heroes Out Of sixty five officers,
forty-seven were killed, wounded and miss
ing At o'clock in the morning they
were full of life and ardor; now are killed
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon. my unfor-
tunate Lieutenant Colonel, De Sborhorties,
was wounded by my side; bullet entered
his abdomen, which was discharged but a
few yards distant. He was able to squeeze
my hand as he was carried from the field,
but he has probably died before this in
| Prussian ambulance. Two Chiefs de Bat
talon were shot dead and a third Is either
dead ora prisoner Lieutenant Lamoreux
was wounded badly, and there is but little
hopes for his recovery, I had him taken
| from the field in an ambulance buIiet
went through his chest; he behaved splen-
didIy. Pierson was shot stone dead. I
| have but five captains out Of thirty the
others are in Heaven. All of my Adjutants
and most of my Sergeants and Majors
shared the same fate Of the pioneers, Bet
ter or more gallant men never breathed J;
| bat five are left two, who were left with
the baggage, were either sabred or taken
prisoners. My horses were also captured.
My poor black charger was killed under
| General Saurear, to whom | loaned him, his
horse having been killed early in the action
| OF all that had all that remains is Cladies
wear 275 francs in my pocket, my baggage
with that Of the Marshal was taken. l don t
care for that l cannot help crying inward
ly when think of all lost. We fought like
lions, 5000 against 100000. The enemy
surrounded US on all sides. Gen. Calom
was killed, Fred de Gramont, the dukes
brother, lost an arm, the other corps suf-
fered almost as much as our own Napol-
con behaved splendidly, and did all that any
one could do, but he had not men enough.
He was unable to cope with 100000 with
three batteries more artillery than he had,
nevertheless we inflicted a heavy loss on the
enemy, and that was doubtless the reason
we were not more vigorously pursued. Had
such been the case, the disorder would have
been fearful The battle began at half past
seven; after night there was a pouring rain
in which we had to stand without tents or
fire or lie down in the mud.
LONDON, Aug I6.-The following was
published here to-day: 100000 German
soldiers are now in France carrying needle
guns After them comes the reserves, the
entire male population of able bodied Ger
many. This mass is distributed in three
portions: The army of Saar, the army OF
the Rhine, and the army of the South.
Frederick Charles commands the army of
the Rhine as leader of center on his right
advancing from east of Luxumburg is the
first army, or that of the Saar, under Gen.
Steinmetz; on the Princes left is the third
or Southern army led by Prince Frederick
William, heir to the Grown.
The Telegraph believes that two great
battles were fought on Sunday, one at Payne
eight miles east of Metz, and the other at
Longeville The first encounter occurred
before the French had drawn off their forces
to cross the Moselle by the bridges connect
ing VITA the works of Metz. The Prussians
assailed the French rear guards furiously
and attacking them by the flank and rear
pushed the French to the very verge of the
works of the fortress. The French sue
ceeding in effecting Judgment behind the
entertainments The French made a de
termined stand, and resisted the Prussian
assault
f The second contest then ensued, which
resulted in a repulse of the Prussians in ar
almost hand to hand encounter on the walls
of the outer line Of works The Prussians
though stubbornIy contesting their ground