Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-08-31
. Resume of the Progress ofthe War.

Inc lONOWln9 Is TeSuWc VI tHe piosi9s' -
the German arms since the commencement OF
the invasion of France. as telepraphcd from
London:
After the check encountered by the French
vanguard near Saarbruck, August 9th, follow
ed by the rout of McNlahon. the French main
BODY retired on the line of the Mosclio.
The fortrcsses OF Metz, defence OF the first
order, with we'll supplied and cntrenched
camps, gave great strength to their new line
OF postion: A direct attack would have been
difficult therefore the German armies passed
to the south Of Metz toward the Moselle, 10
cross it above the city and discover the enemy s
movements. Such great masses Of troops,
covering wide region, required spcclal pre-
cautions.
The First army was to flank the enemy's line
| of march, and was dire cted to take new posi-.
ton near the river Med. In the meantime,
the First and Second armies approached each
other, division, passing over the Moselc. -
The same division, on the 9th, took part in the
fight, in which the French were repulscd and
pursued until they reached the protection OF
the guns OF Metz.
This combat resulted greatly to the advan-
tage of the PrussiaDs, US it retarded the French
| retreat and the advantage was easily followed
up Two roads connect Metz with Fcrdun
and Paris.
The second army rcfraining from the passage
of the Mosellc, and Paris thus threatened, the
French were obliged to withdraw from the
right bank of the Moselle before Metz, not be
ing strong enough to stop the PrusSian move
| ments.
The advance of the First Army. observing
the movements Of the French attacked Aug.
18th the French rear, throwing it upon the
main body, which was compelled to send
back several divisions to support the rear.
The Prussian First and Seventh Corps
went on the south side to compel the French
to face about.
They succeeded after bloody, tut victor
ious conflict. The Prussian Fifth Division
attacked General Frossard. BY degrees the
entire French force became engaged anu OF
the Prussian forces, other divisions OF the
Third Corps, Tenth Corps, Regiment of the
Ninth Corps and Brigade OF the Eighth par,
ticipated. Prince Frederick Charles had taken
| command.
The movement was successful, and the south
erly road to Paris was intercepted. The Prus-
SLAMS fought heroicaIly and their losses were
large, but those OF the enemy, especially the
Imperial Guard, were immense. The French
official reports estimate the Prussan force en-
gagged at double what it was.
The only way for the Emperor to escape ia.
tai isolation from Paris and his supplies lay on
the northern line. The Prus5ian army on the
south, finding no enemy before it, fell back
combining with the other army. a joint at
tack on the French was then planned,
The French, ccasiDg 10 retreat by a norther-
| ~ line, took position on the heights before
Metz The Second army instantly moved It's
right, fixing its centre and left at Verneviile
and Armanvillers, while its right rested in con-
tact with the First army. Absolute readiness
for a Simultaneous move along the entire line
was REQUISITE as the French position was a
strong one. At the start the Ninth Corps en-
countered advanced dctachmcnts, who opened
with artillery from the Verncvle side.
The First Army, therefore, was ordered TO
engage the enemy in front, and at one clock
opened we'll sustained and effective cannon
ade, which lasted until broad daylight. The
French replied with vgor About 2:30 the in
fantry engaged the enemy, who was Just then
strongly reinforced, his line extending from st.
Marie Aux Cheese to La Cuissc wood.
His position, naturally of great strength,
had been so fortified by carthworks and bitches
that it seemed almost imprcguahc. There
was brief delay before the assault in order to
make sure that the enemy had stopped his re-
treat on the northern route.
|
bic. o. the left the GUARDS and Saxon troops
| fought at St. Marie, ST. Privat and Doncourt
| Meanwhile another wing was engaged near st.
| All. La Cuissc, Wand and Fcrneville, as far as
the north side of the northern road from Metz
to Ferdun.
The Eighth and Ninth Corps participated in
the action of GravcloLtr, and the contest snrcad
from Vaux to Moscc, where brigade OF the
Third and Tenth, with artillery, were engaged
with the entire French army, McNahon' =
Corps and Feys Division excepted. After
shutdown the Prussians took the heights by
storm, hineing back the French along the en-
| tire line to the shelter OF Metz.
The VAR IN EURoPE.-Wc receive with
many grains OF allowance all such reports rs
that the French fired on flag of truce, or that
| the PrussiaDs arc committing such outrages as
| pould disgrace n CossacS, or that France is
oyerrun with spies, or that the Prussians arc
dying by the hundred with typhus lever, or, IN
a word, any rumor which our own experience
| has taught US to look upon with doubt. Not
one single rumor OF this kind however has yet
come to US from Europe for which We could
not find match in this country, by overhaul
ing the papers published during the war. The
official orders issued by both the French and
the Prussjan Governments show that outruges
find no favor with the rulers of either OF those
countries. The very fact that 10th Govern
ments nave agreed to respect the stipu ations
of the treaty of Paris ought to satisfy the
world that the war will be conducted with
some regard to the civilization of the age, and
so as not 10 encounter the opprobrium of
Cbrstcndom. Such campaign as that waged
by General Sheridan in the Valley OF Virginia,
in which tarns, mills, and houses. were burn.
ed, and i1caculable suffering inflicted upon
Innocent women and children, would not be
tolerated in Europc.-Richmond Dispatch.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING. FROM the de-.
tailed account of the remarkable thunder storm,
with loss Of life and injury to a large number
of persons at Kingston, on tue Hudson river,
on Thursday evening, it will be seen that fifteen
hundred persons. Notwithstanding that the
storm was impending and the ligbtnines
tb in bn hio1 iro