New-York tribune., 1870-10-25
TRIBUNE WAR LETTERS.
THE BATTLE OF SEPTEMBER 10.
ouCRors DEFEAT-THE CowARDICE OF zOUAyES
SCENES IN THE STREETS.
pEoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE

In commotoo, everybody being on the grand hunt 70
particulars OF yesterdays fight outside which lasted ur
al quite late in the afternoon. 1t was asserted that IN
Prussans had gained no advantage but as the JOurna
"Voei OF thiS morning announces that Gen. Ducrot wa
compelled to abandon eight guns, after spking them
and to retreat into Paris the victory cannot bc said
nave remained with the French. The same iourna
brands as absolutely false" the runor that the euem,
= TOOK several OF our pieces" Well the enemy did no
take them, because they were "let behind" but 4
aouhS to the same thing in the long run; for the Prus
SLAMS got them though spiked Tie pieces were at any
"'o iost 20 tho French. Gen. Ducrot originally occu
pea the nights Of Chatllon and Camart with fouI
DIVISIONS Of Infantry, and assumed the offensive at break
OF DAY. Tie PmsSians were concealed. p,dSse, in
the woods OF Mcudon Clamart, F0ntcnay, Sceaux,
Chatenay Bcurga Reine, and the nights of Choisy, tie
line Of battle extending about six miles. After the
Sagement they occupied all the French positions, result
which assuredly must be regarded an advantage.
part OF the left wing OF the French to have expe
rienccd panic The 20th Of the line, formed OF four
marching battallons stationed in the valley OF the
Bieyre, but could not the enemy, could they
heavy artillery re was directed against them,
but the sheltered themselves behind the walls OF the
gardens, and for some hours pretty safe But at
about II o'clock, having been tus exposed since break
OF day. the signal was gycn TO retire and. according TO
all accounts, perfect skcdaddc commenced, which the
officers could not arrest Some 1900 made a clean
bolt of it, throwing away their and accoucrments
running from the field with all taoir might, and thinking
that they hol been betrayed into ambush TO be cut
TO pieces without fighting. Their example we'll nigh in
fected company Of the 52d posted at the gates OF Cha
tlOn, but was rallied by the coOlncss and energy OF
Capt Billion Bourbon Of the sixth company, 4th batal
ion The ruAaways dispersed themselves all over Paris
in the course Of very few hours. large number be-
longed 90 the l1uayes, Others 10 the 2th marching reg
ment.
STREET SCENES.
As all hal Sfg IN foil ot frzt
listened to and pitied but the Of their GgTacef
flight their heels and then every mans hand
against them. National Guards and Mobiles acted
police and the crowdheped. The wine-shops in which
numbers Of them were oarOuins at the expense of the
credulous. TO whom they were showing how fields are
not won, rapidly invaded and the already three
parts drunken braggt dragged out bodily aud escorted
with anything but military honors to the nearest post.
witnessed several OF these arrests and did not envy the
position Of the dclnquCnts In the quarter inhabit the
intelligence OF the engagement brought by Of
these fugtiyes at about 12l the day. According his
account Gen. DucTOs corps had been surprised by O
900 Prussans and completely up The Prussans had
come Out from the woods in masses, with an immense
force Of artillery and surrounded his division pounding
1t with gape-shO from the nights he had been compelled
20 abandon cit was Sedan over again, Monsieur. We
lost and the Prussians will he in Paris by the Bar
riere du Manic and Monrougc before evening if they are
not in already" Startled by this extraordinary infor-
nation, set off in a cab to the scene Of the coming
action Ny driver-an Alsacan- me- in answer
20 my inquiry If he knew what had happened
that we had been beaten again" He couldn't under
stand why Gen. TOchu had Mt sent 010men against the
PrusSanS, instead Of just handful, 10 he massacred
e" But it's always like that, Monsieur We haven't any
Generals The first indication of something unusual
afoot met our eyes turned into the Boulevard du
Maine from the Rue du ChercheMidi. 1t was soldier
Of the sod who formed the center Of an excited but
attentiyely listening group Ny ccachman pulled up
without orders, threw the reins over his whip which he
stuck into s socket, eaped from his box and was soon
close up to the warrior, who detailing his expert
ences of the fight. waited few minutes, and Jehu
returned. He informed me that the soldier had taken
part in the engagement, and was on the way TO his
depot 1t had been an artillery affair, but the
Prussians had been beaten and had suffered
heavily. We now began to pass groups of men
and women, squattng along the curb, some
standing knots at the doors OF and estGmine and
wine-shops, all looking out anxiousy and al serious
Presently ambulance passed u.s. 1t contained three
wounded men, of whom had Lis head and face bound
up The blood hcky clOtted the outside of the band
age through which had oozcd. Icould not distinguish
the others. As we approached the ma-ketsquare O
Montrouce, the road became more densely lined witt
people made my driver stop opycsite a group istenn;
20 another soldier This wha, &c was sayirS sun.
The action to the wOId. de also belonged to the SD
1heh yen see they opened terrible fire Of rftraH
upon us ana e'd tel you was pretty rain Of plunS
Mi0 80 4to'td But we got baCrF OF lAlIdlAtuses u
Dear a.id peed them that they were obliged
"a run" This man was slightly hit in the
reg which was bandaged 1T Is only
graze, Monsieur" he answered, on my lnquirine
If hc was hurt. lie stated that the Prussians very
greatly Ounumbcred the French forces and had come
up from behind the hills from the woods, but that they
mad taken positions lie estimated their losses a
1909 and about as many hundred our side" IdrovC
little further VIXEN had TO draw up TO allow az
artillery train TO pass Some of tie horses were bleeding
IRON SLIGHT woInds, ana seemed missing from the
place in the teams The men were covered with dust
many had shake; Jew were slightly wounded judg
mg from the banddges their hins, arms and heads
believe every man smoking. Tie guns were the
led brass said TO have been invented by the fug
i've of Sedan. / counted ten miuaiileuses. The dis
charging apparatus behind the brecch looks like the han
slc. in brass, Of bauelOrun. Two of the
,arriaSes seriously spliutcred, and three
Df the cannon were indontCd, two the side
Dne on the edge OF The muzzlc. Many of the wagons
we're laden with saddles AMI bridlcs upon the top OF
which lay ar.ilcrymcn half asleep. One man held a
'amncr UPRIGHT between lis knees, The top Of which
spintered. ancied the officers looked grave, even
iOwncasi; The men less sO but serious nevertheless,
and their eyes Lad strange and peculiar glare. After
;his first urocc ,sioI had passed, got on a little
mrther, when we were again compelled to draw up 10
allow second train 10 pass This was preceded by
Two ambUlance-caTiages, conveying more wounded
iway. AT length reached the market place and here
ne found another portion Of the cOfu5 81 artillery which
lad taken part in the engagement. The square was
:rOwdcd with horses and and wagons. but saw no
guns. TIE men were gathered in group7, some being
tl L Ore saddle, other, holding three four horse,
bhilc o.. comrades refreshed. ono poor horse had an
lwfui sash M tic butOck, Pad ,rcmJlcI Win rain. The
esult Of consultation wili the veterinary surgeon was
ha The animal you'd not le disabled piece OF iuorua
non which seemed greatly % delight tie art.LcymIl
Nho held by the bride. lie rattsd the poor thing ON
ne neck spying: Come. o'd Coco. You are not dead
get b1lGfrl thats al. Sqrrt oJas!' Tie man in.
ormca iue thai the horse OF team Of winch he
vas driyor and had been sIuc, by - intcr from ID
shell Il; Knocked lin over, NOl, us. Uut DO got mn