The New York herald., 1870-09-09
ON THE fiELo or WoER TIL.

ON THE FIELD or WOER
The StunEipz Blow to ;,c Frepc'i--Afier Wis-
scmbonr1 anl - Prnssian Swoop-A Clean
March by the Prussians--Debris After Mac
HIahon's Arn,y--iae Battle, Position and
Tactics.
WoegTH, August II, 1870.
On the battle field OF W0erth the French forces
received stunning blow Immediately after the de-
moraizing effect produced upon them by their
repuse from Wissembourg where the Grown Prince
swooped down upon hem with such OverpowcriDg
numbers.
Woerth was repetition OF the affair at Wissem-
bourg. but on much larger scale. MacMahon came
up from Strasbourg with his corps, which numbered
nealy 0J,0o0 men, and was joiued at Froschweiler
by three divisions from General Fail!ys corps; the
Marshal was TO intercept and give batte to the Crown
Prince on his way to Metz. From Wissembourg
10 W0erh the route passes midway through the little
village Of Sulz, the entire distance being thlrtyfour
English miles. The German corps d'armee, 10000
strong after its first success. to Sulz and Its
next halting place afterwards was Woerth. Marshal
MaCNahon has dubbed the battle Ffoschweler,
from the fact that his forces were encamped and
fought around that little village. which lies about
Ian mile from Woerth in the direction OF Metz
while the Germans have retained the name Of
Woerh as that now celebrated little burg lay within
their lighting lines al the time OF The action.
On my way hither was surprised to see how few
traces such Immense force as that OF the Priace
left by the wayslle. True the road IN one or two
places was cut up by the pounding OF cannon bolts
and It also had upon its face the footprints OF huge
army; but the orchards the vines, tie potato ells
the meadows and iarnhouses were well nigh intact
4 arrived the VILLAGE a rila
though there arc few wounded here now and cnly
small detachment or occupa Ions, barely MANAGED
to secure place wherein to iay my head-thas Is to
say, within doors | have succeeded ere now In
sleeping upon mother earth bat Just It this time
nave not found the streets OF Wocrth particularly
prepossessing Tor such purpose owing TO the
numerous Teutonc calls and vlstlngs they SO lately
received. Tie good fortune befe me to meet with
an od inhabitant OF the place who not only gave me
lodging but good deal OF Information bearing urOn
tie details OF the fight a. II occurred; moreover I
was also lucky IN being a6lc TO visit the ground In
company with several German officers who had been
"in'' and who obgingly furnished me with explana-
tons enabling me to obtain an accurate account of
the positions as tine two antagonistic armies
actually fought upon them. Accordingly saliyiug
OUT early this morning the vestges OF pretty houy
contested battle were at once visible on al! Sides
In the village streets were heaps OF steel breast
plates once worn by French cuirassicrs with their
helmets along side, also dented and hacked and in
heaps; Chassepot and needle gans battered broken,
rustlng and at length lying together in brotherly
love; French and Prussian head gear and KNAPP
sacks, &C.; all these articles had been gathered in
according TO the requirements of the frugal and pre-
else Prussian organization. In one or the village
gardens the graves Of some 300 men were apparent
in oil rnat, had
the very spot where they HAD killed and
been Killed so fcrcely-necause all admit
that, what fight there was, was q fierce
on both Sides no traditional or actual love pass
ing between the two foas After we go little fur.
ther ana get outside OF the village the whole
scene Is taken IN at glance peasants are on hill
ana In valley still gathering up the debris, and In
one particular piece OF wood digging graves wherein
10 bury few outlying cadavers. The little piles Of
me rubbish are SET on fire, and the blue smoke
ascends high into bright sky from various direc-
tions The effect Is picturesque and suggestive, as
the twirling spiras keep ever upward until out OF
On the whole, while surveying the scenes one Is
forced TO exclaim, "Never was there more charm
Ing battle field than this OF Woerth, never better
ground upon which TO have good square fight
provided always equality Of forces be obtainabe. "
We go up on the brow OF the hiu upon the sum.
NIT or which stands Froschweller, now much
damaged and the Inhabitants of which are mourning
their losses. From this point an excellent and com.
prehensive view Is obtaIned. Between two ranges
III
valley about half mile wide, Woerth Is situated
1t " village OF 700 inhabitants. and forms amids
rev trees cluster OF sOnle forty or fifty very
Respectable red-tiled buildings. Un the eastern
range, or the one between WOerth ana Suz, thu
Crown Prince suddenly debouched with his whslt
army on the 9th inst. The French commander wa.
informed as TO his coming. but seems to have been
unable In any way, either through his pickets ol
through SCOUTS, to ascertain with what numbers his
royal enemy would appear The numerous force.
or the Germans were, even then, a mystery in the
French camp although II might have been supposed
thlt Weissembourg had taught them to look out 70,
q crushing host The Crown Prince Immediately
took ND his strong position on tie range overlook
ing WOertn, and commenced his work IN good
earnest On. tho French SIDE tho hills were the
battle ground which extended over three miles IL
lcn9tn. The French finding themselves in q mi
norfty stood on the defensive; hence 1G was parti
cuary on and at the foot OF their positions that The
light ragged obstinatey from seven A. M. to fou
+. NJ, through vine and hop fields, orchards ant
patciles OF open ground.
At the village OF Fr0schweiler MacMahon hat
his quarters; It was the strong and central point
OF bis line, and where the thick Of the struggle
occurred.
the debris, observed in walking at this point
was more densely strewn; several houses had peen
balls and gun shots; the church tProtestant) burned
nnd its interior baCkened and smearcd by the light
ing which took place within Its four walls. The
French prisoners accuse the PrusSlan3 oil having
prcd upon the wounded after they had taken refuge
here, as also OF having killed their wounded men
7oors OF the peasants houses. The Prusslans did
MS, they reiate towards the closing scenes after
hey had been excited and nushed with victory.
I'm Tor many reasons disposed 10 believe that tlcir
ls Yes xoely tHGlvas ana AAt lAeI ald. aiter sue