Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-09-04


Energetic resistance was encountered.
The enemy deveIoped great strength,
and General Manteuffel, Of the first corps,
and General Starstrow, of the seventh,
engaged promptIy Gatz' brigade of the
seventh corps in advance. The first di-
vision advanced toward Colombey, and
was soon involved in very violent COM
bat, but maintained itself till Asteur's
brigade came up, fronting force far out
numbering it. General Starstrow arrived
at O'Clock 10 the east of Colombey, tax
ing command in chief and advancing the
whole corps at o'clock. All of Glum-
ber's division was engaged near Colom-
bey, maintaining itself with dif1culty
against a superior force. At o'clock
Koineck's division was concentrated at
Maizilly, At that moment six batteries
engaged with others in reserve, to
extricate and sustain Glover and Stras-
truw. At 5 o'clock Waynach's brigade
was sent to attack the enemy's right near
Colombey, and the brigade with splendid
bravery drove the enemy, enabling Os-
tens brigade to occupy the woods north
of CoIombey, the 9th brigade remaining
intact in reserve. At e'eloek the enemy
withdrew at all points. In the meantime
the 9TH corps with the advance of the first,
advanced under cover of the cavalry near
TO the roads connecting Avoid with Metz
and EIivy with Metz. This corps opened
the attack with the 1st division near
Montbois and the ID near MeZzierville.
The enemy in force attempting to ad-
vance on the latter point was repulsed
with loss by prompt service of corps of
artillery and reserve infantry. Darkness
closed the fight. On the extreme left the
First Division of Horse approached
MucylhaUt, the battery advancing
within range Of the houses with
orders to IRE; the 37th regiment of the
nj To ha off of "a
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 Seigny. AT O'Clock the
enemy rstired at all points from the left
bank of MoseIle, under the guns of Metz.
Pursuit was stopped by the fire from the
ga rs CO ciie fortress, and the field was
90. ero3 Trith French dead; but
few prisocseS we're taken, and few
trophies, ~sHl1S to the activity of the
fortress, tbe 0ssvy fire of which tore
through tb' PruSsian masses. General
Stsinmstz, S-ho came in, was in time TO
give orders ~, The night, and following
dav, TO prepare for renewal of the con
fiict. The result WAS, that the enemy in
one quarter was driven from the river
bank to the fortress; in another quarter
a heavy body was left to retreat on
Paris, and fall into the hands of the Sec
ond army, which was moving rapidly
on the left bank of the M0selle, leav-
ing the First corps and Second division
of cavalry on the east of Metz,
The army on the 10th moved to the left
without resistance, passing tbs Moselie |
at Alvey and Barnsy. On the 18th the ( r~st
corps was beyond Ansus MOselle, the |
Sth and 9th corps at Gorge, while the End |
army was marching rapidly toward Aetz |
on the Verdun road. After the victori- |
Gus e lights at VionviIIe and Flaniguy, the
last Of the first army this day was to act
As the right of all lines OF attack, holding
the left bank of the Moselle, while the sec |
ond army moved, so that the front would
extend from the North toward East, thus
bringing in the first and second armies |
between Metz and Paris On
the 18th offensive mo- ements
were made by the Prussiens
being in sheltered position near GRAY |
ellotte the Seventh corps contenting it
self with repelling a slight reconnaissance
near the forest of Vaux. AT this mo-
men6 General SteinmetZ was reconnoiter-
ing at the south of Gravellotte, in the
forest near Ogroith discovered the enemy
three corps strong, encamped on the
the nights north Of GraYellotLs.
The farms Of St. Huburt and Point Du-
sour were occupied about noon.
General Steinmetz having been advised
that the head of the Ninth corps was en-
gagged, gave orders to resume the attack.
The Seventh corps deployed on the south
and east of the nights at Gravellotte,
and a formidable artillery practice
followed presenting an imposing spectacle.
Fifty cannon presently augmented to 80,
opened on the enemy's battery, while ad
vsncing steadily along the high road was
a mitrsillenr, from whence fire opened
on the accommodating party. A strong
outpost, well sustained, was placed. The
enemy made no serious attack that day. On
the fourth, the first army remained quiet,
the enemy equally so, while the second |
army was advancing to Vionville, Aube |
Mause, Aux Cheves to renew the fight up |
the hill. Steinmetz remained by the bat |
teries under a shower of projectilss, but
hardly an hour had passed before the |
French batteries grew silent, and the |
French began to retire. The infantry of |
the Seventh corps meantime rested in |
woody gorge between Gravelotte and |
Point dn Jour. Gsltz's brigade was posted |
near to guard the Moselle valley, and was |
actively engaged in combat. It took the |
village OF Vsnx and the nights of Fussey, |
where il sustained itself In the mean |
time the Seventh and Eighth Corps, COM |
ing from Resonville, opened the attack
with heavy artillery practice, while the
First division of cavalry took the first
sheltered position behind it, and the
infantry attacked the enemy in the
woods of Gemvaux. Again the enemy's |
guns were silenced, while the infan ry en-
countered an obstacle, resistance In the |
Gemvaux woods, where the fight con-
tinued for hours. Owing to the density |
of the woods, the hostile forces inter-
mixed, and the Germans and French FREE
quently fired into their own ranks. At
last, from the woods the Prussisns
carried the nights and the town
Of n uuif
further advance is impossible. On
this side the French artillery was
Withdrawn, and the Prussians became
silent about 2 O'Clock. Supposing the
enemy had gone, Steinmetz ordered the
cavalry to cross the deiile with two bat
teries and the Fourth Uhlands and pur-
sue. This was effected at A p. m. The
pursuers found that the enemy had not
retreated, but was sheltered from the
cannonade by the troops which had ad-
vanced. Our men encountered murder
ous fire from chassepots, cannon and
noitrailleurs. The dead and wounded
immediately encumbered the road.
The Prussian batteries soon
re-opened. sheltering the cav
alry. The duel continued until dark,
when. leaving force on the field, the
Prussisn main body fell back. At four
O'Clock in the morning the Prussian ar
tillery reopened. The French replied |
until silenced at the left, between Won |
Vile and Arneau Viliiers. The infantry |
fire alone was telt at first, but soon the |
artillery began showing the approach of
Prince Frederick Charles. The German
infantry held their position firmly, await |
ing the support of the artillery, and kept |
the enemy busy. The French all day !
used the Chassepots from the trenches at
two thousand and two hundred yards, |
inficting disnay and severe losses, but
they neVertheless were in a desperate
condition, and being surrounded and at
tackled on all sides their only chance was
to retreat to the fortress. In the evening
they made one more effort to cut through
ouriines to Paris, line after line Of rifle
men firing over each others shoulders,
and shouting wildly, rushed from the
nights to the ravins through the trees.
The Prussian infantry were thwarted and
weakened. Tbs moment was
critical, but Steinmetz providentially
opened and hurried back with slaughter
the assailants. The PrussiRns then as
surned the offensive, reinforcsments hav-
ING arrived, the King having approached
and ,1isoatched the Pomeranian Corps,
that had never been under fire, to the
front. It wss said to be decisive rushing
forward and firing carving the nights and
winning the day. On the 18th the enemy
took refuge In Metz.
WHAT THE PRUssIANs AND FRENCH BE-
LIEvE.
BERLIs, September IA dispatch, lust