The Republican journal., 1870-09-15

lolhS' az" SUN dlleIWaru the junction be-
tween the SaXons and Prussians behind
Sedan was announced to us bv Gen. Won
Room, eagerly peering through a large tele
scope, as being safely completed.
THE FRENCH SURRENDER.
From this moment the result of the battle
could no longer be doubtful. The French
were completely surrounded and brought to
Day. AT 1925 we were all astonished to see
clouds Of retreating French infantry on ~
hill between FlCing and Sedan, a Prussiau
battery in front Of st. Menges making accu-
rate practice with percussion shells among
| he rcceding ranks. The whole. hill for;
quarter of an hour was literally covered with
Frenchmen running rapidly.
Less than half on hour atterward-at II 10
-Gen. Won Room called our attentionoto
another French column in full retreat to the
right of Sedan, on the road leading from
Bazeille to the It Givonne wood. They
never halted until they came to a red-roolcd
house on the outskirts of Sedan itself Al
most at the same moment Gen Sheridan.
who was using my opera-glass, asked me to
look at the third French column moving up
a broad, grass-covcred road through the La
Givonng wood, immediately above Sedan.
doubtless to support the troops defending
the important Bazeillc ravinc to the north
east of the town
THE KEY OF TIE POSITION.
| At ] o'clock the French batteries on the
edge of the wood toward Torcey and above
| 1t opened Il vigorous fire on the advancing
| lrussian columns of the Third Corps. whose
evident intention it was to storm the hil ,
northwest Of La Gi>unllr, and So gain III,
| key Of the position on that side At 10 YET
another French battery near the wood open
en- on the Prlssiln columns, which Wtrr
7 II,
ready for their final rush at the hills, in ur
der to avoid Offering so good Il mark to fine
French shells. Shortly attcrward we ~uw
the first Prussian skirmisherS ON the crest %,
! the la Givonnr hills above Torcpv Then
did not seem to be in strength and Gen
Sheridan, standing behind me- exclaimed.
'Ah , the bcggars are too wrak they can
never hold that position against all those
French"
The Generals prophecy soon proved con
rect, for the French advanced ut least SIX Ia
one; and the Prussilns Were forced To- re-
treat down the hill to seek reinlorccment-
from the columns which were hurrying to
their support. In five minute, they came
back again, this time in greater force, but
still terribly inferior to those huge French
masses.
AN UNSL CCESSFJL CAVALRY CHARGE
Good heavens The French cuirassirr-
are going to charge Them cried Gen. Sheri
dan; and sure enough, the regiment OF
curassiers their helmets and breast plates
flashing in the September sun, formed in
sections of squadrons and dashed down oli
the scattered Prlssian skirmiShcrS. without
lelgning to form Il line. Squares are never
used by the PruSslanS, and the infantry t.
ccived the cuirlSSierS with Il crushing ''quick
| fire > S"bHcUfF1tcr, at about Il hundred yard
distance, loading and firing with extreme
rapidity, and shooting with unfailing prcvi--
on into the. dense French squadron> rhr
effect WAS startling. Over went horses ana
meu i'll numbers, in masses, in hundreds
and the regiment OF proud French cuirassier-
went hurriedly back in disorder; went back
faster than it came went back scarcely a
regiment in strength, and not at all Il rrgi-
ment in form. lis comey array was sud
denly changed into shapeleSs and hrlplrs-
crowds of flying men.
| CAYALEl PURSUED i1 INFANTRY.
The moment the cuira9sierS turned bark
the brave Prussians actually dashed forward
in hot pursuit at louble-quick; infantry ell-
IDENTITY pursuing ilying cavalry. Such a
thing has not often been recorded in the al,-
mails of war | know not when IN example
to compare precisely with this has occurred.
There was no more striking episode i'll the
battle.
NEEDLE GUNs vs.. CILt>,ErorS.
When the French infantry saw their caval-
ry thus fleeing before foot soldiers. they In
their TURN came forward and attacked the
Prussians. The Prussians waited quietly,
patiently enduring Il rapid and telling fire
from the Chassepots until their enemies had
drawn SO near as to be within Il hundred
yards of them. Then to the fire of the