The New York herald., 1870-09-07


right was now on the other side OF sedan
nest, come slight firing having taken place earlier.
much more numerous- Indeed, it seemed to me
there were batteries everywhere. They roared
S MSich snsn pr Stretched nearly assln parse nH IL
front OF the French could follow the falling Of
ground, and fell with wonderful precision. no. no
ticed how quickly also they changed and corrected
their fire.. AS soon as a French corps took up a
position IL was instantly assatled by Shells The
frst wond perhaps fall q few feet short or beyond
but the third was more sure to find its way to tho
French Shells on the contrary. % exploded gen.
srsl'y era ss before they reached the groSnd' and
msrabe s0ks re clouds s explosion M formed neaas
some SO hign that they corld do no harm, should
mink, TO the enemy. noticed some incxplicabie
made as II they would charge French force,
which was toward the left; Immediately TWO regl-
Prusslan sQuadrons which fell back and ded, but at
the same moment the Prussian corps OF infantry
opened murderous IRE upon those 100 eager
French cavalry and they came back badly shattered
About nlne O'Clock could not help fancying that
the Prtssians were seeming to extend further to the
left, Tor on asking whether certain new batteries
were French was told they were Prussians. The
have learned since tnat the Crown Priuce had
cessed the Mense during the night about i've
10 MacMahon. A large force Of Bavarlans must
also have arrived after the commencement OF the
anneng a or m "ns ra e e foops VINO negan
ten the advance of the Prussians was
perceptole on both wings. AT the same
to the town on the east side gave way, as 1t seemed
70 me, rather quickly. Soon after shells were com.
Ing from behind my left and It became evident that
the French position had been turned and that
fresh German corps had taken position IN our rear.
against those points. The battery near where % I
stood was already IN action. and thought 1t quite
tmeto beat retreat; this place was becoming as
a "a II bp m onlnoo
to me the Prussian shells began falling with their
usual beautiful precision, 80 got on the other side
the road 10 BouillOn which crossed the field OF bat
tie, was wholly closed to me.
Now also perceived that should be shut up I'm
that circle which the Prussians had been drawing
about the army and the town. and which was at
conG %s BY ihe safest pan %nen May reached a ds the
suburb before Porte de Balan found II encumbered
with soldiers OF all corps 1t was defeat evidently,
destined TO continue OF different points for some
time longer, though continuing without any
town % as aid Tnere 0Vs was en1s,inf NO Eouser ser
any baltic to describe. 1t was first
to get away from the field as did, for an hour
Afterwards the rout OF those forces near by was
complete; @ a Already soldiers were crushing against
Dismounted cavalry were trying 10 make their way
even by the ramparts leaplng down from the coun-
terscaTp: 0fheIe forcing their way in by the pOse.n
gntes from q nook OF the ramparis. AS rested
moment saw the curiasslers jumping. horses ana
RIBS; men were scrambing over each other; officers
OF all ranks colonies and even generals In uniform
~ was mposSibct0 mistake, mixed In this shameful
meiee, behind all came guns With their heavy car.
Ttages and powerful horses forcing their way into
foot To Add To- the ana nS,or srr @ ps Ga
sinn batteries had by this time advanced to within
range and the Prussian shells began falling into the
Samparfs were tho Garde Rationale manning the
guns Of the Eown ana replying with moro
or less effect 70 the nesrest Prussian batteries.
IL was . scene horrible enough TO have
pleased the fancy OF Gustave D0re himself could
ni o GIa caFS amy as was
streets where the shells were least likely to reach
place came upon the bodies OF horses and men
quite dead or still quivering, blown TO pieces by
street In which 1t stood chokcd IKE the rest with
wagons, guns, horses and men. Most luckily the
srreeI; FOR train OF calssons, filed with powder
blocked the whole way, itself unable to move back
sna wara & OF lorwara % Inere was every chance that
on IRE IN two places anu began to think that
Seaan N WAS pace more uncomfortable than even
swiftly advancing.
From friends whom found at the hotel learned
morning for the field OF battle, had returned about
the same time DID, and passed through the streets
WIN his staf One Of my friends was near MIN on
the Place Turenne when shell fell under his horse
and bursting killed the horse OF general who was
behind hun He himself was untouched, and turned
round and smiled, though my friend thought he
with his glove. and indeed he had cause enough for
tears that fatal lst OF September. Meantime shells
began to fall In tho direction Of our street and hotel
We all stood under the vaulted stone entrance as
caissons stn standing In the street and filing all
the space from end to end 1t was at this time
vnn while we waited d., watching painfully for the
into another world that General Wimpden
came past making vain effort TO rally and
Francer en- ardgit, but there was no response. He
cred out that Bazaine was taking the Prussians in
morning, at intervals, coming now from the mouth
OF General De Wimpffen came to be believed and
few thousand men were rallied and followed him
People began to have hope, and for one brief
moment we believed the day might yet be saved.
otic falsehoOd OF brave General winnpnen. Mad
with anguish end III direct opposition 10 the EN-
could and make stand He could not have known
that ne was bound In the grasp OF at least 30O 900
ali sides, few thousand men hearken to the sound
OF my friend Rene de Queroye, OF the Chasseurs
d'Afrique. whom have just met after losing sight
OF MIN Tor ten or twelve years, got on horseback
again and Joined the General. This is what took
place in the sorte. They went out at the Porte de
Balan: The houses OF the suburb are already full Of
Prussians who fire on the French Of every window
The church especially is strongly garrisoned; the
1niroye TO fetch two pieces Of cannon. These soon
arrived, and with them the door OF the church was
blown in. TWO hundred Prusslans were captured
and brought back with the French, who, spite |
OF all Efforts were soon obliged to re.
tire again into the town. Il was tile
last incident OF the battle-the last struggle |
While this took place at the Porte de Balan the |
Prnssian shelIinQ went on and the shells began to
lau into the hotel. Shocking scenes followed. A |
boy, the son Of tradesman round the corner OF the
street, came in crying ana asking for a surgeon
saying his fathers leg had been shot on. A |
woman In front OF the house met the same |
fate. The doctor who went to the trades |
man found HIM dead, and returning |
attempted TO carry the woman to an ambulance He |
had scarcely made step when she was shot dead |
IN his arms Those Of who stand In the gateway
and witness such scenes have got beyond |
any feeling OF personal fear. Any Of US, |
I Will venture to say, would have given |
his ire to spare France this dreadful |
day; yet we stand pale and shudderpg at the sight
Of the fate which beialls the poor people OF the |
town, civilians and even the jaded soldiers as |