The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-10

at McMahon's headquarters, a French officer,
who witnessed the battle of Sedan from the
French side, and was shut up In Sedan with
the French army, having been released, sends
the following account, dated Sedan, septem-
ber 8:
THE EVENTS OF AUGUST 81.
nass over all that happened since wrote
vou from Mezferes. to come at once TO the
events of August 81 and September 1.-The lat
ter the saddest day the French arms have ever
witnessed. Early in the morning OF the 3ist,
orders were given to bring into Sedan all the
wagon trains and oxen which had been leit
outside the glacls. By this time the streets
were blocked up by troops OF every klno
which had entered the town during the nigat.
l tried to ride down to the porte ae talls,
where the train was stationed to carry tne OF,
ders. was obliged TO get OF my horse ana
make nv way as best I could between the
horses and caissons, which choked up every
street and square of the town. AS reachec
the Porte de Paris, met the. wagon train en-
tering as fast as possible, followed closely oy
the rushing oxen and intermingled with the
neiphborhood flying into the town for protec-
ton. They little knew that twas the worst
piace they could have chosen. The gates on
that side were Immediately atterward closed,
while the troops slowly fled out through the
opposite gate toward Donzy, where all mcma- N
hons forces were posted, expecting 10 oe
again attacked by the Prussans, VINO naa
closely followed up the French army.
POSITIONS OF THE CoNTENDINa FORCES.
About 10 o'clock that morning cannonading
was heard six or seven miles away, toward tne
village of Bazeile. ! went up on the rampart
overlooking the country In that direction.
Thence could see the Prussian position, and
with NV ield-glass could watch the firing; Dut
I could not see the French lines, which were
hid from me by trees about mile from tne
town. I therefore, at noon, walked out OF the
town at the Porte de Balan and ascended on
nv left the rising ground which is close oy tne
town. Not more than half mile from the
gate I passed through regiments OF reserve
Infantry. Their arms were piled and the fires
smoking, the soup not having long been eaten:
continued ascending, and everywhere passed
reserve corps Of infantry and artillery. | got
higher and higher, from hillock to hillock, TILL
reached battery of reserve, the guns OF
which were unlimbered and placed facing the
rear of the French left. This battery was SO
pointed as to fire over the crest OF the rising
n mile distant, In front Of a little churchyard,
stood also several officers of the different corps
which were stationed on my right and lett, oil
being Of the reserve.
From the point had now reached, charm
ing pyospect was within view. The French
line Of battle extended right in front, spread
ing on the slope OF the ground which forms as
of the centre of the French lines, and lower
down in the vale, was the Village Of Bazeile,
which was then beginning to burn, the Prus-
sian shells having set fire to IT, Parallel al
most to the front of the French positions ran
the Mtise; crossed by bridge a little to the
left of BazeIle. The French right was upon
knot of wooded ground held by tird,Aeatrs,
the wooded ground extending nearly n:t TO TO 1ne
sight behind the inequalities Of the ground to,
ward the road to Bouillon. AS far as could
see. on the right and LEFT and in front OF me,
were rnassed regiments Of all arms; but to-
ward the left, on the second line, was very
large force Of heavy cavalry-dragoons and
cuirassiers
thing was plainly visible. The glittering Of
WEAPONS, the bright and snowy colors OF the
French uniforms, the white smoke curling
under the blue SIX. or lingering like vapor
beneath the trees, the rid flames rising from
the burning village of Dazeile, all seen from
a commanding position, formed spectacle
such as one has but rarely the opportunity to
were directly opposite the French centre on
plateau or table-land which terminated ao-
ruptly, and made 1t q very strong position:
For some time cannOnading continued on
both sides. At 2 o'clock force OF
PRussLAN INFANTRY ADVANCED
across the bridge in the village of Douzy, and
Immediately there began very sharp fusll-
ade, lasting, however, not more than ten
minutes. think the French must have lost
ground In that encounter, although | could
not see It, because OF some trees that inter-
yened; but battery OF six mltrailleurs ad-
vanced and opened fire through the trees. Six
hurriedly back, leaving whole ranks behind,
which had gone down like those leaden SOL
diers which children play with:
At about 4:30 the firing had ceased every
where. The village, which had been blazing
all day, was still smoking. The French re-
mained in the same position. Though the day
had apparently been without result, its de-
scrlption Is necessary prelnde 10 tne olIter
story of the morrow. At $3.50 lleturned 70
the town.
THE EMPEROR RESIGNS HIS COMMAND OF THE
ARMY.
The rmperor, who had arrived during the
night, had issued a proclamation which was
posted on the walls, saying that he had con-
tded the command ofthe armies to the gene
rails whom public opinion had seemed to select
as most capable OF leading them, and that he
himself intended to fight as an officer, forget
ting for while his position as sovereign.
SPLENDID ARTILLERY PRACTICE OF THE PRus-
SLAMS.
The next morning, Thursday, September !,
I returned, az soon as the gates ol tne loWn
were opened, to my post Of observation on tne Inc
elevated ground where the battery was SUN
niacetl, The French positions did not seem
ffo me TO be much altered. but the rlghc was
now on tine other side Of Sedan. At O'Clock
the cannonade began in earnest, some sliSnC
firing having taken place earlier. The Prus-
sian batteries facing us appeared to be much
more numerous; indeed It seemed to me there
we're batteries everywhere. They roared
from every point of the Prussian line which
then stretched nearly parallel in front OF the
French. l conld follow the falling OF their
shells which exploded as they touched the
ground, and fell with wonderful precision.
Ioticed, also, how quickly they changed and
corrected their fire. AS soon as a French
corps took up a position 1t was instantly as
sailed by Shells The first would, perhaps.
fall few feet short or beyond, but the second
or third was sure to find Its way to the troops
and do its awful work among them. Ihe
French shells, on the contrary, exploded gene
rally before they reached the ground, anu ,e tiIe
smoke of the explosion formed lnnumeraole
little clouds at different heights, some so nlSh
that the shell could do no harm, should tnlnh,
10 the enemy. ..
few souadrons of Prussian cavalry mace as II
they would charge French force WEIGH was
toward the left. Immediately
TWO REGIMENTS OF FRENCH CAVALRY CHARGED
In turn upon the Prussian squadrons, which