The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-09-10
BATTLE OF GRAVELOTTE.
Conclusion Of the Description

were teIegraphed by the special cores
p n1ent If the New York Tribune, report
ing the great battle of Gravelotte /:
The fight on the Prussian left beeam
so fierce that it was soon lost to US 0
almost lost by reason of the smoke
Now and then a thick cloud would oper
little and drift away the wind, ant
then we could see the French
tried to get a better view of thi'
part of the field, and went forward abou
half a mile, and from my new standpoint
found myself not far from Malrnaison
The French line on the bills was still
unbroken, and to all appearances they
were having the best of the battle, bu
this appearance was due perhaps to the
fact that the French were more clearly
visible on the broad height, and fighting
with such singular obstinacy.
They plainly silenced a Prussian
battery now and then, but the Prussian
line also was strengthened by degrees
on the northern point.
The infantry and artillery were
brought up, and from the rear, away
seemingly in the direction OF I'hionville,
shot began reaching the French ranks
These were the men and guns Of
Steinmetz, who there and then effected
his junction with the army of Prince
Frederick Charles, aud completed the
investment of Metz to the northwest.
W;tb no, in nGoroou,nte fbnc oopt;nu, II y,
arriving on both sides, the battle grew
more and more obstinate. There could
be 40 doubt but that the French under
stood the new movement of the Prus-
slams, and of the gradual development
of their line to the north Steinmetz
was able to extend his line gradually
further and further, until the French
were outfanked aud threatened, as it
with an attack on their ex-
treme right wing. So long as the
smoke from the Prussian guns hovered
only over their front, the French clung
to their position.
The distance from headquarters,
where the Prussian flank attack
stretched forward. and, to add to the
difficulty of clearly seeing the progress
of the battle, darkness was coming on.
I know not how long the French held
out, nor at what precise moment the
Prussians' onset became irresistible.
What I saw was the puffs Of smoke
from French guns, mingled with flashes
Frightening as darkness increased, and
receding gradually towards the very
serious pillar of cloud and fame from
the north, which gradually and steadily
and with that advance the
French fire grew every moment more
slack.
1t was not far from nine o'clock when
tine ground was yielded finally from the
north, and the last shots fred on that
terrible evening were heard in that d.
reetion.
The correspondent says:
But to go back now to the movements
Of the King and those with him at
headquarters. The Kings face as he
stood gazing upon the battlefield had
something almost plaintive in it. He
had hardly said word, but his atten-
tion was divided between the exciting
scene in the distance and the dismal
scene nearer his feet, where they were
just beginning, what must yet be long
task, to bury the French who fell in
Tuesdays battle. On them he gazed
silently, and thought sadly. Bismarck
could not conceal his excitement and
anxiety. II it had not been for the
King the Count would clearly have gone
forward where the fighting was. His
towering form was always little in ad-
vance Of the rest. When the French
completely gave up their hold upon the
road to Gravelotte, the horses of the
headquarters party were hastily called,
and the entire party mounting, with the
King at the head, dashed down to a
point not very far from the village
Then shouts and cheers arose and fol-
lowed them wherever they passed.
A little after four o'clock strange
episode occurred. From the region
where Steinmetz was supposed to be, a
regiment of cavalry galloped
out. They paused a moment at point
where the Confans road joins that to
Metz. Then they dashed up the road
Metz. This road, between
Gravelotte and St. Hubert, is cut through
the bill, and on each side of il rise cliffs
from forty to sixty feet high, except
where it traverses the deep ravine be-
hind the village. When it is rcmem-
bered that at the time the eliminating
point to which that road ascends was
held by the French, it will not be won
dered at. that only half that regiment
survived. What the survivors accom-
plished | do not know, nor could |
learn the name and number of that regi
ment, which seemed to meet its fate un-
der the eyes of the king. The situation
hardly admitted asking such questions,
but their plunge into that deep cut on
the hillside, where the next day saw
30 many of them and their horses lying.
was Of that brave, unhesitating. unfal-
tering kind, SO characteristic Of German
among whom stragglers and
deserters seem absolutely unknown.
/ must record also what seemed an in
explicable thing. The army of Prince
Frederick Charles was fighting hard
and suffering, ii was only too plain.
From this army division af-
Ter division had been taken and vainly
sent against the French centre. A por-
tion of the Princes reserves had been
to an important extent in
the engagements Of the fourteenth and
sixteenth. Moreover, considerable part
Of bis army required rest !; and two di-
certainly were in need Of re-
hxfaro xhov snuld arain