The New York herald., 1870-09-27

WHO Knew now O ust, tucCtutly, the poor
and deficient weapons In their possession.
Thus large body OF Frenchmen were marched
or rather dragged, 10 the field OF battle without food
without clothlng, acc0utrements, ammunition or
warke instruction, TO be literally moved down
like herd OF cattle before the grape and shell OF tue
enemy.
We were marched in companies nrst to Chalops
and afterward 20 Rheims, where II vas reported
the Empcror's headquarters We're and dnrng the
whole or the march, which was tedious ana pro-
tracted. the same deficiency and irregulary could
be seen that arterward proved so fatal ON the held
Of battle.
THE FOLLY OF THE ATTACK AT SEDAN.
On Thursday the day OF the battle at sedan, we
were aroused long before daybreak and the rolls
were lnenicienty called, when 1t ascertaIned
that upwards or 100000 Frenchmen were in the field
before sedan ana In the fortresses. IL was reported
tnae there had been great commotion among General
Wimpnen's stan on the previous evening In conse-
quence or the numbers which were TO be pitched
against us having been ascertained 10y some OF the
men, and the utter hOpesseness OF attacking them
IN their present position with anything ike success
was apparent to all who mad the slightest idea OF
military life and experience
The EmperOr's orders had been handed 10 General
Wlmpfen and he called his star together to give them
the me REQUISITE Instructions for CARRYING them
oncers having the command OF the smaller
divisions OF the. army that there was the
slightest chance for their success under such a
leader IA General Wmpnen wno looked upon
as mere nonentity in the planning OF the opera
ions either In or out OF the fortress. Besides he
had allowed the Prussans TO occupy all The leading
aud most useful positions, 30 THAT there was nothin.
10 prevent tham from
here were 100 900 men completely snu, 10
every slde by the army Of the Crown Prince OF Prus
sia, ana, what was worse, without any one 10 lead
tnem out OF the dreadful position. The Emperor
and his stan were now in Sedan, waiting for the
result OF the battle which was unavoidable
As The first rays OF light broke upon the horizon
skirinisning parties were despatched well out away
from the town TO ascertain the movements and
exact Positions OF the enemy, ana II was but very
short period after tins that several voeys or mus
kerry were distinctly heard and following these IN
quick succession came the roar or ARTILLERY from the
Ipp "A nl nj no
sRimIshers and had replied 10 the muskelry lire
WIN Their cannon. The whole OF the available
Frencn army Was Immediately In motion, the yolun-
leers following IN the rear and IN about two hours
lrightIul and destructive nre opened upon US,
CUTTING DOWN OUR MEN
by hundreds, and leaving the ground literally
covered with dead and wounded.
Our artillery replied to them with murderous
fire. opening their ranks and cutting them down in
an awful manner, making their ranks waver and
fall ont at every charge like The falling away
before the scythe The mrrailleuse now did some
shocking execution,
A regiment of Prussian cavalry attempted 10 take
battery OF these winch were placed on slight ee-
walton near Sedan, and as the Prussians were COM
ing up the incline the battery was opened upon
them aud, as though by Hash OF lightning the
being strewn In thick prornsion the side OF the
hill, scarcely man being left 10 tel the dreadful
tale OF the murderOus charge.
Again another regiment OF Prussans presented
themselves and though they succeeded IN captur-
ing several mirailleuse, 1t was at the OF an
enormous number OF men. II was appa hng IN the
extreme TO witness
THIS WORK OF DEATH.
The French infantry and volunteers were next
made to participate in the action, and though the
whole fought with the desperation Of tigers bravey
c0ntesting every inch OF ground before the well and
fatally directed IRE OF the enemy, as well their
more disciplined and more numerous force the
carnage was SO terrible that even old veterans who
had seen fierce experience before this day,
to alter and wipe tears OF sorrow from their ewes
as rank after rank became severed and detached.
and their comrades fell by thousands. Horses which
mad been wounded were lying In every position,
| and In their agOnies they plunged with their feet
killing numbers OF soldiers who had fallen badly
wounded. within their reach Shouts and entreatles
| and cries from the
WOUNDED AND pSINd
were truly hearrending, but none had time at this
moment 10 heed them. Many. also, VINO had
sufficient strength, cursed the madness OF the
officers who had permitted such murder ~ had
| been perpetrated that day. The Prussans proved
themselves TO have superior numbers In every posi-
uon-almost three men TO of ours, and they soon
twelve O'Clock In the day French regiment or
Zouaves were ordered by General Wmpnen
to break through u great number of uhlans.
The Colonel IN command begged to have
| the order remanded, as his regiment mad
been already mutated by narrowing FIRE, and he
well knew the impossibity OF breaking tnesr ranks
but, on the contrary he knew he could not bring
| his men out again alive. But, despite hrs protesta
Iions and entrcaty, the order was soon repeated
but this time those who gave II mad nothing 10 com
! PLAIN OF AS regarded delay or execution. for th,
French regiment rushed forward at quick rate ano
dashed bravey on TO the Prussians, but they were
instantly met by the rapid fire and advance or the
enemy, and 1t happened with them here In every
overpowered and nearly all lost or taken prisoners
REPoRTER-D0 you mean to infer that such mad
| attempt was made after 1t was plainly shown how
| futile it would be2
RUDOLPBE-Yes; but you Will remember that we
were an army In reality at TINS time without gene
raj TO direct us. Wild aides decamp galloped about
belonging TO the stan, but where was the practical
! leaderf we mad none. No arm was stretched out
| To save us IN this moment OF dire calamity. Every
| man was his own master, every man, in fact.
| was an onlcer, and no sooner was q sudden charge
| made and a i. Ight disadvantage experienced maj n
~ renHv n mn tnatr
| that had been made aud leaders to cheer on the
| whole BODY became detached into small sections
thas leaving our men ready pray for the enemy aud
general CONSERVATION and discord ensued.
REPoRTER-How long had this state OF AFFAIR,
gone on before the order to retreat was gwen?
| RUDoLPHE-lt was the same all through the piece
| WEI hau no leaders at all; whatever was done /,
to be accredited 10 the bravery and enterprise OF In
| divdual exertlOn; the men fought against superior
| forces, without sufficient ammunition aud withou
aid from commanders who seemed paralyzed by the
| reverses they had experienced and apparently had
! given up command. The French did frigntful havoc
| among The Prusslans, however, despite the innlens,
difficulties and drawbacks; but we no sooner
| CUT DOWN A REGIMENT
than they had Others TO put into their places, while
every man who fell on our side lessened and
Diminished our strength, which, unlike the enemy,
| we were unapie 10 replensh.
REpoRTER-iiow many were there killed and
wounded on your side?
RUDOLPHE-YOu may put IT down IN Killed and
| wounded at not less than As 900 men.
| REPoRrER-How many were killed and wounded
| RUD0LpHE-More than forty thousand men The
mltrailense did an awful amount or execution In
| their ranks.
REPoRTER-How did they manage In their range
, were they accurate In their aims.
| RUDOLPHE--Murderously so.
| REPORrER-HOw many pieces OF artillery were
there on the Prussan sldef You stated AT first they
| dld an awful amount OF damage,
| RUDOLPHE-They had upwards OF nine hundred
pieces OF artillery and, from the positions which
| The imbecillty OF our commanders had permitted
them to occupy they fired into our ranks witbKreat
| skill and accuracy.
REP0RTER- How many pieces OF artillery mad
| you all told
| RUDoLPHE-We had 400 cannon. bur not sufficient
ammunition for these at any time during the day.
| We could not reply to the enemy's constant and
! steady fire.
REPORTER What was the numerical strength OF
| the army OF the Crown Prince surrounding SedanY
| RUDoLPHE-rwo hundred and fifty thousand well
| ofcered proysioned and efficiently disciplined
! men.
| REPoRrER-At what time was the retreat sounded
RUDoLPHE-I do not remember; IL was late In the
day when the forces ceased the terrible conflict and
| the French army was Withdrawn into the town aud
| encampmentS.
| Rvp0RTER--After these friuhtful rayorSau u,ba,