Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-09

| M Iexier continues, IN the oiccici hi'
interesting letters from the seat OF war
The following extract is taken from one
dated Chalons, the 18th;
have conyersed with several officers
who were present at the passage oil the
Moselle on the 18th. II was great bat
tie, lasting nine hours, and not simple
engagement, as hitherto believed Treat
ardor was shown on both sides, ana the
losses of the Prussians were so consid,
cradle as TO be said TO amount to 3O,OOV
killed and wounded. The two following
DAYS we're succession OF combats. Not
withstanding the efforts of the enemy,
who we're superior in number, they could
not dislodge the French from their posi-
tons. Unfortunately, as at Froschwii-
Ter there was deficiency of ammunl-
tion. The men were forced to remain
on the defensive when they might have
attacked and perhaps crushed the army
of Prince Frederic Charles. How is the
fact to be explained that the French IN
their own country cannot procure the
ammunition and supplies of food which
they require. while the Prussians in an
enemy's territory have all those matters
in abundance? THERE'S in such state OF
things capital defect for which q rem
edy should be applied Immediately
The Emperor, at the commencement OF
the battle, was at Longeyille with the
Prince Imperial, Prince Napoleon, and
their aides-de-camp, in an inn situated
in the middle of the village. The Prus-
slams we're certainly not aware Of the
presence of those illustrious guests or
the house would have been battered with
artillery. Two or three shells, however,
fell few PAGES off, and as the village
was in danger of being destroyed by the
enemys fire, the Marshal sent to warn
his Majesty of the peril, and orders were
at once given for the departure of the
imperial household. The Emperor and
his suite mounted on horseback, but the
difficulty was great, as the country
around was secured by the German
troops. A guide, however, undertook TO
lead the party by pathways through
vineyards, and at certain moment
the Emperor passed within a mile and
half of the Prussians, who, however
well informed they usually are, were not
aware that such rich prize was within
their reach. After two or three hours
march through the woods and planta-
tions, which time must have appeared
very long to his Majesty and his suite,
tney arrived at the high road, which
they had then only to follow to reach
their next destination at Gravelotte.
The Emperor rested one day at Verdun,
and then proceeded to Chalons by rail in
a third-class carriage, as already related.
An eyewitness tells me that the servants
at the station, who had not been informed
of the departure of the imperial house
hold, had not even time to clean out the
compartments, which still bore traces of
the troops who had travelled in them on
the preceding days. When arrived at
the camp this morning, ! found it in
state of great activity. ! was told that
the Garde Mobile we're being sent to
Paris. / also learned that the different
corps were formed into two great ar
mies-that of the Rhine and that Of
Chalons, commanded by De Mcmahon
under Bazaine. The measure is an ex-
cellent one, and had the French con-
centrated their forces at the commence
ment of the campaign, instead Of ex-
tending them and isolating tne different
corps from each other, the Prussians
would probably not now be about forty
leagues from Paris. The imperial head
quarters present an aspect of melan-
choly. The Emperor does not show
himself and no one has seen him since
his arrival at the camp. In passing
along the road near the pavilion which
he occupies met the Prince Imperial,
in uniform and wearing the military
medal, walking with his equerry. He
had the gay and careless air Of boy of
his age. After following the road for a
distance he crossed field and went and
sat down on the edge of a ditch, where
he amused himself in drawing lines or
figures with his walking-cane in the
sand