The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-03
P4UssAN REPORTS OF THE CAMPAIGN
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW YORK HERALD.

The Prussian Advance-steinmetz's Victory
The Movement Metz-The Engagement
near COlOmby-French Retreat 70 the Left
Bank of the MoselIc-vfonviIle and Fiavis-
ny-Strategy-The Battle Of Gravel0tte-
Fighting and observation-disclosures Rein
forcements-Tbe French Take Refugc in
Metz.
BERLIN, Sept 2, 1870.
The following is the Official report of the campaign
Metz
On the 9th OF August the first Prussian army found
Itself between Saarbrncken and Saarlouis, facing
the second French corps, occupying Spicheren
Heights. near Saarbrdcken. The Fourteenth divi-
sion attacked, as the French were preparing to
leave on the trains, and supported by the FIJI
teenth division and some portions OF the second
army under General Steinmetz. bloody victory
was achieved and 5000 prisoners captured. Eros
sard retired from Forbach to Metz leaving his bag
gage, private stores OF champagne pontoon train
camp kitchen, &C.
THE MOVEMENT ON METZ.
Meanwhile the First corps moved on Mety, wait
ing for the second Army which had to lay a rail-
way track as II was moved along. On the 14tn OF
August the first Army was placed thus:-The First
corps, with the Second division, near Etang, be
tween Metz and Bouay, with another division near
Courcelles, between Metz and Avoid: the Seventh
corps, Win the Jnlrteentn division, Lange:
the Fourteenth division near Donanvile; the Eighth
corps In reserve, near the village OF Vionvie; the
Third division on the lert wing. near St. Barpe its
Flint cavalry near Frontgny the advance post close
10 the French line. scarcely German mile from
Metz.
While the main body was encamped on the banks
OF the Med, the enemy had occupied, with consider.
able force, the small water courses between Colomby
and Denouilly. The movements OF the enemy abou
four O'Clock led to reconnaissance. An energetic
resistance was encountered. The enemy developed
great strength. and General Manteurel OF the First
corps, and General Zostrow OF the Seventh engaged
promptly. General Goltz's brigade, OF the Seventh
corps, in advance The First division advanced TO.
wards Colomby and was soon involved in q very
violent combat, but maintained itself until the osten
brigade came up, fronting force far outnumberng
1t. General Zostrow arrived at five O'Clock to the
east OF Colomby, taking the command III chief and
advancing the whole corps.
THE ENGAGEMENT NEAR CoLoMBY
AT six O'Clock all OF Glumer's division was n
gagged near Colompy, maintaining itself with dini-
Guilty against a superior force. AT seven O'Clock
Kamek's division was concentrated at Marseilly
At tnat moment six batteries were engaged with
Others In To extricate and sustain Gunner
and Zostrow, at six O'Clock, Wognac's brigade was
sent to attack the enemy's right, near Colomby
enemy, enabling the Osten brigade to occupy the
wood on the north Of Colombv. The Twenty-seventh
brigade remained intact as a reserve.
At about halfpast eight the enemy Withdrew at all
points. In the meantime the Seventh CORPS with
the advance of the First. advanced under the cover
OF cavalry near to the roads connecting Avoid with
Metz and Etang with Metz. The CORPS opened the
attack with the First division near Moutbois and the
Second near Noisseville The enemy In force at
tempting to advance on the latter point was re-
pulsed with force by the prompt service the corps
OF artillery and by the reserves OF infantry.
Darkness closed the fight. On the extreme left
the First division OF horse approached Meryle.
Haut, their battery advancing with pauses to fire.
The Thirtysixt regiment OF the NINTH belonging to
the lett wing OF the Second army, had advanced on
the east on the same line. AT the extreme right the
Third division OF cavalry advanced to Ogg where its
battery opened on the enemy north OF Serigpy At
eight O'Clock the
ENEMY REcOu.ED AT ALL POINTS FROM TIE LEFT
BANK OF THE MosELLE
under the guns OF Metz The pursuit was stopped
by the Gre from the guns OF the fortress The field
was covered with the French dead. Few prisoners
were taken and few trophies owing to the activity
OF the fortress, the heavy fire of which through
the Prussian masses
THE FRENCH DRIVEN INTO METZ
General Steinmetz who came in was In time TO
give orders for the night and the following day and
able to prepare for renewal OF the conflict. The
result was that the enemy In one quarter was driven
from the wall back into the fortress; In another
quarter large body was left to retreat for Paris and
fall into the hands of the second army, which was
moving rapidly on the lef Of the Mosee leaving the
First corps two divisions OF cavalry on the east
OF Metz. The army next day moved to the LETT with.
out resistance, passing the Moselle at Arey and
Corny. On the eth the corps was beyond Ars-suI'
Mosele the Eighth and Ninth corps at Gorge, while
the Second corps was marching rapidly towards
Metz, on TIC yerdqn road After