New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-09-03

line from youziers 10 Montmedy TO Sedan. On Aug.
80 combats were fought west of the river at Vrezy'
Mozart, soune, and Beaumont and an the east az YauA
-
the Second Division, near Etangs between Metz and
Boulay. with another division near Courceles, be-
tween Metz and Avoid; the Seventh Corps. with the
Thirteenth Division, near Lange; the Fourteenth
Division near Donnauville; the Eighth Corps in re-
servo near the village of Vionville; the lhrd
Division on the left wing, St Barbe Its First
Cavalry near Frontigny; the advance post close 10
the French line, scarcely German mile from Metz.
While the main body WAS encamped on the banks
of the Med the enemy had occupied, with consider
able force the small water courses between Coomby
and DenOuilly. The movements Of the enemy about
o'clock led to reconnaissance. An energetic resist
ance was encountered. The enemy developed great
strength, and Gen. Manteufel of the First Corps,
and Gen Zostrow of the Seventh promptly engaged
them, Gen Goltzs Brigade of the Seventh Corps, in
advance The First Division advanced toward Col
omby and was soon involved in a very violent com
bat. but maintained itself until the Osten Brigade
came up, fronting a force far outnumbering
it, Gen. Zostrow arrived at five o'clock
to the east of Colomby, taking the COM
mand-in-chief, and advancing the whole Corps
At six o'clock all of Gluners Division was
engaged near Colomby, maintaining itself with dlh-
Guilty against superior force. AT Z o'clock kameks
Division was concentrated at Marseilly AT that
moment six batteries were engaged, with others In
reserve. To extrcate and sustain Gunner and Eos
trow at o'clock Woynacs Brigade was sent to attack
the enemy's right near Colomby. The brigade, with
splendid bravery drove the enemv enabling the Osten
Brigade to occupy the wood on the north of Colomby
The Twenty-seventh Brigade remained intact as
reserve At about 81 o'clock the enemy withdrew at
all points.
In the mean time the Seventh Corps, with the adj
vance of the First advanced under the cover OF
cavalry near to the roads connecting Avoid with
Metz and Etangs with Metz. The corps opened the
attack with the First Division near Montbols and
the Second near Noisseville The enemy iii force,
attempting to advance on the latter point, was re-
pulsed with force by the prompt service OF the corps
of artillery and by the reserves Of infantry. Dark
ness closed the fight On the extreme left the First
Division of Honse approached Mercy lie III ant, their
battery advancing with pauses to fire. The 36th
Regiment of the Ninth. belonging TO the left
wing of the Second Army had advanced on
the east on the same line At the extreme right the
Third Division of Cavalry advanced to Ogg, where
its battery opened on the enemy north of Serguay.
AT o'clock the enemy recoiled at all points from
the left bank of the Mosele under the guns of Metz
The pursuit was stopped by the fire from the guns of
the fortress. The field was covered with the French
dead Few prisoners taken, and few trophies,
owing to the activity of the fortress the heavy fire
of which tore through the Prussian masses
Cen Steinmetz, who came IN, was in time to give
orders for the night and the following day, and to
prepare for a renewal of the conflict. The result
was that the enemy, in quarter, driven from
the river back into the fortress i'll another quarter
large body was left to retreat on Paris, and fall
into the hands of the Second Army, which was
moving rapidly on the left bank of the Mosele,
leaving the First Corps and two divisions of cavalry
on the east OF Metz
The army next day moved to the left without
resistance passing the Aoselle at Arey and Borny.
On the nth, the corps was beyond AIRS Moselle;
the Eighth and Ninth Corps at Gorge. while the
Second Army was marching rapidly toward Metz on
the Verdun ROAD.
After the victorious fights at Wonyille and Fla
vigny the task of the First Army this day was to
act as the right of all the lines of attack holding the
left bank of the Moselle, while the Second Army
moved so that the front would extend from the north
toward the east thus bringing the First and Second
Armies between Metz and Paris.
On the 18th no offensive movement was made the
Prussians resting in sheltered position near Grave
lotte; the Seventh Corps cOntentng itself with re-
polling o slight reconnaissance near the forest Of
Vaux. At this moment Gen. Steinmetz reconnOter-
ing at the south of Graveotte, in the forest Of
Ognoth discovered the enemy. three corps
strong encamped on the nights north Of
Gravelotte The farms OF st. Hubert and
Point du Jour were occupied about noon.
Gen. Steinmetz, hearing cannonade at Verne
ville and having been advised that the head of the
Ninth Corps engaged, gave orders to resume the
attack. The Seventh Corps deployed on the south
and east of the flights of Gravelotte A formidable
artillery duel followed presenting imposing spec
tacle. Fifty cannon, presently augmented to go
opened on the enemy's batteries, while advancing
steadily along the hghroad was q mtrailleuse
whence fire was opened on the accommodating party
Strong outposts well sustained, were placed. The
enemy made no serious attack that day.
On the 18th the First army remained quiet. the
enemy equally so; while the Second army advanced
TO Nerneville aud Marie-aux- Chenes to renew the
fight MP the hill Stemmetz and staff remained by
the batteries under shower Of projectiles Hardly
an honr had passed before the French batteries grew
silent and the French began to retire. The infantry
of the Seventh Corps in the mean time rested in a
woody gorge between Gravelotte and Point dn Jour;
Int Goltz's brigade, po.ted near Ans TO guard the
Moselle valley, WA already engaged in combat IT