The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-07
. WEDNESDAY, MORNING, SEPTEMBER 7, 1870.

bard the town. 70 the right. on the south
east of the church, was large barrack, with
the Notifications or the citadel behind it, and
beyond this, to the southeast again, was the
old chateau of Sedan, with picturesque round
turreted towers of the sixteenth century, very
useless even against four FOUNDER Krupp field
pieces. This building, oeIeVe, IS now an
arsenal.
Beyond this was the citadel, in the heart of
Sedan on rising hill above the Meuse, to the
southeast, but completely commanded by hills
on both sides Of the river, which runs in front
of the citadel. The French had flooded the
low meadows and valley before coming to the
railway bridge at Bazeile In order to stop the
Germans from advancing on the town In that
direction. With their usual stupidity, for one
can and no other word for it, the French had
failed to mine the bridge at Bazeile, and it was
of immense service to the Prussians through
out the battle. The Prussians actually threw
up earthWorks on the iron bridge itself to pro-
tect it from the French, who more than once,
ATTEMPTED, early in the day, to storm the
bridge in the hope of breaking the Bavarians
communication between the right and left
banks of the Meuse.
This they were unable to do, and although
their cannon shot had almost demolished the
parapet, the bridge itself was never materially
damaged. On the projecting spurs OF the hill,
crowned by the woods Of La Marfee, of which
l have already spoken, the Bararians had
posted two batteries Of slX-pounder rlfled
breech-loading steel Krupp guns, which kept
up duello until the very end Of the day with
the siege guns OF Sedan across the Meuse.
Still further to the right flank, or rather TO the
east, Tor our line was circular one, crescent
at first, with Sedan In the centre, like star
on the Turkish standard, was an undulating
plain before the village of Bazeile, termi-
hating about mile and q half from Sedan, at
the woods near RubeconTt midway. that is to
say, In line from Bazeile north there is a
ravine, watered by tiny brook, which was
the scene OF the most desperate struggle
and of the most frghtiul slaughter of the
whole battle. This stream, whose name
l have forgotten, II 1t ever had one, runs
right behind the town of Sedan, from the
woods Of Fleigrense. On the north behind the
town rises a hill, dotted with cottages and
fruit-laden orchards, and crowned by the wood
OF La Garlenne, which runs down 10 the val
lev of which have Just spoken. Between this
wood and the LoWn were several French
camps, their white shelter tents standing out
clear among the dark fruit trees. In these
camps one could see throughout the day huge
masses Of troops which were never used.
Even during the height OF battle they stood as
idle as Fltz John Porter at the second battle
of Bull Run. We imagined that they must have
been undiscIplned Gardes Mobiles, whom the
French generals dared not bring ont against
their enemy To the Prussian left these French
camps, separated from them by wooded raw
Inc, was long bare hill, something like one
of the hills on Long Island. This hill, on
which was some Of the hardest fighting OF the
day, formed one of the keys Of the posi-
ton of the French army. when once one,
lery the whole Town of Sedan was complete
" at the mercy of the Prussian guns, as they
were not only above the town, but the town
was almost within musket range oil them.
Still further to the west lay the village OF lily,
set on fire early in the day By French shells.
South Of this O broken railway bridge, blown
up By the French to protect their right, was
conspicuous object Right above the railway
bridge, on the line to MeZieres. was the wood
ed hill crowned by the new and most hideous
chateau, as he calls 1t, OF one Monsieur Pave:
Il was here the Grown Prince and his staff
stood during the day. having rather more ex-
tensive bnt less central view, and therefore
less desirable than ours, where stood the King,
Count Bismarck, Won Room, the War Minister,
General Moltke and Generals Sheridan and
Forsythe, to say nothing Of your correspon-
dent.
POSITIONS OF TIE PRUssIAN ARMIES.
Having thus endeavored to give some faln.
idea of the scene of what Is In al probability
the decisive battle of the war, Will next give
an account of the position OF the different
corps ut the commencement OF the action, pre-
missing that all movements were OF the SIM
plest possible nature, the object OF the Prus-
sian generals being merely to close the crcs-
cent OF troops with which they began into
a circle by efftcting q junction between the
Saxon corps on their right and the Prussian
corps on their left. This action took place
about noon, near the little village Of lily, on
Bazeile ruvine, behind Sedan, OF which have
formed and we'll soldered together, 1t grew
smaller and smaller, until at last the fortit1ca-
tions of Sedan itself were entered. On the
extreme right were the SaXons, one corps
d'arnee with King Williams guards, also
corps d'armee in reserve behind them.
The guards had suffered terribly at Grave.
lotte. where they met the Imperial Guard, and
the King would not allow them to be again so
cruelty decimated. Justice compels me to say
that this arrangement was very far indeed
from being pleasing to the guards themselves,
who were ever anxious to be in the fore front
Of battle. The guards and Saxons, then about
$4,000 strong, were all day on the right bank
of the Meuse, between RnbecoITt and La Cha
pelle, at which latter village Prince Albert OF
SaXony. who was in command oil two corps,
which had been formed into little extra
army by themselves, passed the night OF Thurs
day. The ground from Rubecourt to the
Mense was occupied by the First Bavarlan
Corps. The Second Bararian Corps extended
their front from near the Bazeille Railway
bridge to point on the high road from Dou-
cherry 10 Sedan, not far from the little village
Of Torcy.
Below the hill on which the Crown Prince
was placed. the ground, from Torey to lily.
through the large village OF Flomig, was held
by the first and third Prusslan corps, belong
ing TO Prince Frederick Charles, and tempo
rarily attached to the army OF the Crown
Prince. This was the position OF the troops
about o'clock on Thursday morning, Septem-
Der LIST, and no great advance took place until
later than that, for the artillery, at first, had
all the work to do. Still further to the leit.
near Doucherry. were 200 Wurtemburgers,
ready to cast of the French from Mezleres, In
case of their making push for that fortress.
THE FORCES ENGAGED.
The number Of Prusslan troops engaged is
estimated by General Moltke at 100000, and
that of tile French at 100000 We know that
McMahonl had with him on Tuesday l20, 900 men;
that is four corps-his own. that was lately
commanded by General De Failly, now under
General LIE Bran; that of Felix Donay, brother
of General Abel Douay, killed at Weissenbnrg.
and the Fourth Corps. principally composed
of the Garde Mobile, the name of whose COM
nlander has escaped me. Mcmahon, although
wounded, commanded in chief on the French
side. 1t IS almost needless to say that the
real commander.in-chief Of the Prussans was
Won Moltke, with the Crown Prince and Prince
Albert of Saxony Immediately next in COM
mand.
COMMENCEMENT OF BATTLE.
Tboro ,raro fpw stray cannon shots fired,