New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-04
HOW BAZAINE WAS BOTTLED.
Interesting Letter from Verdun.

Interesting Letter from Verdun.
NEW YORK, August 31.-The New York
Times letter from Verdun says: Let me
sketch the position of the French army as
understood it to be on Sunday, the four
teenth. The main French force lay in {,
semi-circie in front of Metz. facing west
ward They had II large detachment OF
Decans corps thrown about four and halt
miles to the front of Metz. at Paugeon, on
the little river Med, which flows northeast
to the Saar. A part of the heavy baggage
trains had alre"dy the day previous been
sent across the Mosclle by bridges under
cover of the guns of Metz. on the road to
Verdun. and Bazaine was only holding his
troops at Metz until he could effect a retreat
in light order. The German armies OF the
Saar and Rhine were, however, determined
to prevent BaZaine from retreating on Yer
dun, and, joining his forces with the new
levies of France. form a formidable line of
defense along the valley OF the Meuse, be-
tween Nerdun and COmmercy.
Steinmetz on Sunday again opened the
ball. and pressed forward his skirmish line
upon the OutpOsts of the great French de-
tachment thrown forward at Payne. tie
desired to prevent them crossing the Med
on their pontoOns TO join the main army TO
the rear. So hot became the fight that, to
save their advance force. Bazaine was
obliged to bring forward large part Of
rAdmirault's corps. which brought on a
fierce engagement that opened about three
or four clock in the afternoon and lasted
until dark. The result was tnat after sew
eral repulses Of the Germans the French
troops were finally forced back to the pro
lection of the small works to the east of
Metz. The losses were very heavy on both
sides
Upon the forcing back. on Sunday, of the
whole French army to the protection of the
guns of Metz, the army of the Saar, con-
ssting of the Seventh Wcstphalian and the
Eighth Rhenish corps. with the Branden-
burg division Of cavalry, deployed from the
right and lef. from their massed position in
front of Metz the cavalry taking the ex-
trelne right, and stretching its Outposts al
most TO Ihionviile on the north. This
army. under Steinmetz, numbers over Ip,-
900 men of all arms, and has lS0 cannon.
Meantime Prince Frederick Charles was
deploying his magnificent army of the
Rhine to the left. hurryIng horse and foot
for Pont-a MoussOn. about ten miles above
Metz on the Moselle, to cross and cut off
Bazaine's retreat toward Eerdun Prince
Charles has probably under him 100000.
men; the first East PIussian, second
Pomeranan, third Brandcnburg. fourth
wig -Holstein, tenth Hanoverian, and
twelfth Saxon corps. and a few small
divisions Of infantry, five cavalry divisions,
and 10 batteries, with $50 guns,
The German movements have been so
well timed, that on the same day. the four
teenth. a large detachment from the army
of the Crown Prince made its appearance In
front of the old tourth-clas- fortitication of
Toui. commanding the railway track be-
tween Nancy and Commercy. and demand
ed it, surrender. which, of course, was re
fused. On Sunday night and Monday morn
ing. the fifteenth instant, therefore, found
The Prusslans in motion, but occupying
stmi-Circle, with its Coucaye side to the
westward, SteiImetz on the right, and
facing Metz. with his picl1ets almost at
Tnionyille: Prince Frederick Charles in the
centre, and the Crown Prince. Frederick
William. on the left, stretching across the
Nancy and Paris railway at Toul, with his
cavalry outposts thrown forward to Com
mercy. Under the Crown Prince there are
perhaps 10000 men, intending the Wur
temberg and Bavarian troops, sixth cavalry
division, eleventh iesse and Nassau corps,
sixth Siiesian, 18th Posen, and the splendid
corps of Guards, also between 400 and 500
field pieces. Opposed to this vast army the
French had the Army Of the Rhine, under
Bazaine. at Metz, consisting of about 10000
men, and some 600 field pieces, and the re-
serves and new recruits at Chalons consist
ing of 100000 Of the Garde Mobile and the
various troops from Africa and other sec
tions hurried forward to swell the ranks and
meet the force of Mcmahon. retreatng west
ward.
Monday. the fifteenth, Bazaino com
merccd his retreat il earnest. lie had
given the Germans such desperate repIliscs
The previous day. that it was thought but
sight obstacle could he opposed 10 his rc-
tiring on Verdun. The main force took the
southern and direct high road but nearly
60 900 men were pushed along the northern
road, which branches off from the main one
3t point almost within reach Of the heavv
guns OF Metz, and by q somewhat longer
route reaches VcrGun via EtaIn all day
Monday, however. these two roads had been
secured by the German thlans. who had,
in small idctachmentl, frequent intercourse
with the Second Chasseurs d'AtriGue. the
latte" always clearing the roads OF the !
former On Monday, also, Prince treder- /.
ok Charles had succeeded in massing d
arce BODY Of troops 10 the southwest OF |
Metz. on the left Of the Moseile having |
,een engaged all sunday night i'll crossing |
u hattaiious over Pont-a- -Moua8On bridge
On Monday evening the main bulk of his !
.rp occupied line facing northward on |
he south side Of the main road from Metz |
o Eer,iun, and ready for dash on the re
reating force OF BaZaint, who were thus
brought 20 a stand and forced to give bat
ia. The force of SteinnetZ, Or a large part
# 1t, at least, had in the meantime crossed I,
ne Mosele. at q point about two-thirCts the
distance from Metz to Thionviile. north Il
Vas headed by the Brandenburg division Of
'avairy, that came down with a dash, and
without waiting for their supports, forced
he divisions Of the French army on the
lorthern road to give battle at Doneourt.
Sazalne's army, therefore, of some 10000
nen. were brought to a stand between Mars
a-Tour on the main road, and Doncourt on
he Metz and Etain road, Froissard found
himself engaged at Doncourt with the same
roops he had fought tenaciously at For.
zach. 1t would appear that Prince Charles
waited in the south until the guns of the
RUSSIAN divisions on the north assured him
hat the right wing Of the French army was