Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-08-23
THE BATTLE OF GKAvELOTTE.
DETAILS OF fHE GREAT CONTEST
A Stubborn Fight Of Eleven Hours
An Artillery Duel-The French
fOfced fr8m Their Defenees-
The victory Of the Prus-
SLAMS Complete.


slams Complete.
LONDON, Aug. 21.-The special correspondent
OF the Tribune, at the Prussian headquarters,
SENDS the following account Of Thursdays bat
tie, written the same night on the field, for
warded by messenger toSaarbruck, and reach
ing London thence by telegraph on Sunday
evening:
The battle fought to-day, Thursday, the
18th, 1--WE call it the battle of Gravelotte began
al ten In the morning and lasted till after nine
thls evening. Until noon it was an artillery
auei. The French lines being stretched along
the hil covering the two roads leading from
Metz TO Nerdun, having on their right flank q
iarm mouse, known as La Eilette with walled
garden, held In great force a sunken road that
their position.
ION the French left, the road wound over the
crest OF hiNon which twelve earthworks had
oeen thrown mp. Eight mitrdiilears, besides
Auliery, were posted to command every ap-
proach to this strong position, and their guns
swept the valley reaching from Gravelotte east
Wad, by which the Prussians had to advance.
Behind this line of strong defence lay the forts
OF ST. quentin, making the position apparently
one Of impregnable strength, and completely
protecting the FL ench rear.
'Ihe position at first held by the Prussians
was to the east Of the French facing toward
Metz, occupying the southermost road to Yer
dun, and reaching over the chain Of hills lying
between Gravelotte and Rezonville The result
OF the artillery contest was to compel tine French
to abandon their most advanced positions, and
the line by which they hoped to cover both
roads was pierced and driven back.
"At noon the Prussians were able to push
forward their artillery, the French guns proving
unable to resist the weights of the Prussian fire
The Rrnssian batteries shortly after noon were
neither Of the roads, which at that point branch
OF to Verdun north and sOuthwesterIy, were
any longer open to the French army reached
the neld Just as this forward movement Of the
PruSsians Al hQp hoA Tha
was favorable for good view Of both positions
ana 1t was apparent at a glance that the French
had already relinquished a line of defense i'm
cally.
"By two O'Clock the French batteries cover
ing the Nerdun road from the north an 4 east
so far from the south of that road as to ,cupy
the farmhouse at Malmaison, little nor invest
from Grayelotte. Twenty minutes later. the
French fire so slackened and wavered that the
PrussiaD batteries were once more pushed tor
ward, and took up new position in front of
GravelOtte. At 800 the Prussan cayalry went
into action. They advanced under a hot fire
from the French guns. The attack was made
in considerable force by the Uhlans, both CUR
assers ard hussars; but they were at first with
out infantry support. and could make no serious
impression on position stlll naturally strong
and held in force by all arms of the French,
But half an hour later, il being now nearlt
four in the afternoon, portion OF the third
Prussian corps had come upon the ground.
they came into the position from which the
serious attack was to be directed on what at,-
peared to be the key OF the French lines. AZ
four the Thirty-third regiment OF the Prussian
line was launched against the same position
which the cavalry had failed to reach. It
moved forward with the utmost determination;
but the French by this time had reinforced
their defence more strongly than the Prussians
had their attack, and they still outnumbere,I
their assailants and steadily maint aimed the
second line which they had occupied.
'.As the different divisions OF the Prussiau
army came into position they attacked forcibly,
but were repeatedly driven back with heavy loss
The struggle lasted. with varying fortunes on
different portions of the lines, until eight
O'Clock. Up to that hour the French held their
ground.
"At eight O'Clock, the Prussians, massine
La Nillette, a hamlet covering the French right
This, once in Prussian hands, enabled them to
eniilade the French lines and take in reverse
some OF their outworks. The ground the French
had held SO Obstinately and SO gallantly during
nine hours they were compelled to abandon
and at nine O'Clock were driven back on Metz
and, under cover Of its Outlaying forts, their
last hold upon the Nerdun road was abandoned
their communications destroyed to the East and
to the West and the French Army of the
kline after losing three pitched battles since
sunday, was shut up IN the fortress which they
bad chosen for the base of their operations for
the invasion Of Germany.
81 believe strong Prussian force is moving
tonight to the north OF Metz, TO cut of all com
nunicauOn with Thionville. King William was
present throughout the battle. The Prussian
forces engaged we're under General Steinmetz's
command, and personally directed by him.
Marshal BaZaine commanded in person on the
French side.
"The Eighth Prussian Corps, numbering
with other divisions over 5000 men, bore the
brunt Of the battle. Tie Second and Third
Corps were partially engaged. -Four thousand
French prisoners were taken. The Prussian
loss in killed. wounded, and missing, is esti-
mated Tonight at less than 10000 OF the
French losses no estimate can vet be formed
but their defeat is complete, and il is belle we'd
they are 10 longer in condition to make any
fun ther attempts at escape. The Prussian army,
in spite Of all its losses, is in the highest spirits
RnmOrs of peace are already circulated i'm the
CAMPS, and the hardest work OF the campaign is
thought by the soldiers to be over
General Sheridan was on the field and saw
the battle from Count Bismarck's Carriage
General Forsyth was also present.