Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-08-27
NO. 2O4.


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appearance was due, perhaps, to the fact
that the French were more clearly visible
in their broad height, and fighting with
| such singular obstinacy. They plainly si-
fenced 4 Prussian battery now and then.
But the Prussian line also was strength
ened by degrees on this northern point
Infantry aud artillery were brought up,
and from far in the rear, away seemingly
| in the direction of Ferneville shot and
shell began reaching the French ranks.
| These were the men and these were the
guns of Steinmetz, who there and then
effected his junction with the army of
Prince Frederick Charles, and completed
the investment of Metz to the northwar
With reinforcements for the Prussians
thus continually arriving on both sides Of
the field, the battle grew more and more
obstinate There could be no doubt that
the French well understood the meaning
of the new movements of the Prusians,
and of the gradual development of their
line to the north es1
THE FRENCH oUTFLANkED. ''a
SteinmeiZ was able to extend his line
gradually further and further until the
French were outfianked and began to be
threatened, as it appeared, with an attack
on the rear of their extreme right wing.
SO long us the smoke from the Prussian
guns lowered only over their front, the
French clung to their position. The dis
tance from headquarters to where the
Prussian flank attack stretched forward
was great, and, to add to the difficulty of
clearly seeing the battle, the darkness was
coming on. The puffs of smoke from the
French guns, mingled with the flashes,
frightening rs the darkness increased, re-
ceded gradually The pillars of cloud and
flame from the north, as gradually and
steadily approached With that advance
the French fire every moment grew more
slack. Itswas not fan from, nine o'clock
when the ground was yielded finally on
the north, and the last shots fired on that
terrible evening, were heard in that direc
ton
ANXIETY AT HEADQUARTERS.
The Kings face, rs he stood gazing up
on the battle field, had something almost
plaintive in it. He hardly said a word,
but noticed that his attention was divid
ed between the exciting scenes in the dis
tance, and the, dismal scene nearer his feet,
: where they were just beginning what must
Yet be long task--to bury the French
gazed silently, and, thought, sadly.
Count Bismarck could not conceal his
excitement and anxiety. If it had not
been for the King, the Count would clear
" have gone forward where the fighting
was. His towering form was always
little in advance of the rest.
When the French completely gave up
their hold upon the road up to Gravelotte,
the horses of the headquarters party were
hastily called, and the entire party, mount
ing, with the King at their head, dashed
down to a point not very far from the vii
lage. Then shouts and cheers arose, and
followed them wherever they passed.
ACAvALRY CHARGE.
a little after O'Clock strange episode
occurred. From the region where Stein
metz was supposed to be, a magnificent
regiment of cavalry galloped out They
paused moment vt the point where the
CONTAINS road joins that to Metz. Then
they dashed up the road toward Metz
This raod between Gravelotte and ST. HUI
berts is cut through the hill, and on each
side OF it rise cliffs from forty to sixty feet
I high, except at the point where it trayers-
es the deep rayine behind the village.
When it is remembered that at the time
the eliminating point to which that road
ascends was held by the French, it will
not be wondered mt, that only half that
regiment survived. Their plunge into
that deep cut on the hillside, where next
day | saw so many of them and their
horses lying, was of that brave, unhesita-
ting, unialterng kind which is so charac-
teristic OF German soldiers, among whom
stragglers and deserters seem to be abso-
lutely unknown.
MYSTERIOUS REINFORCEMENTS.
At a moment that seemed critical, there
appeared on the field, occupying ground
before held by portion of the forces OF
Prince Frederick Charles, large body OF
troops They moved into position under
the eyes of the King, yet neither the King
nor any OF his staff could account for their
appearance. They passed to the point
which in the morning had been the Royal
Headquarters Their march was begun
at the time have mentioned, and their
advance did not cease till dark. But the
mystery that hung over them was not dis
PEELED. Whose was this new army ?
Whence did it come The staff insisted
that at the point whence it moved there
We're, or at any rate ought to be. no troops
of the armies of either Steinmetz OF oi
Prince Frederick Charles. The rumor be-
; gan and spread among the group Of men
who surrounded the King, that this fresh.
, mysterious force was a part of the army
of the Crown Prince, and that new june
ton had been expected. know of no
reason to suppose this true. Doubtless
the staff soon cleared up the matter to
their own satisfaction, but it happened
that | was away in another part OF the
field before the riddle was solved.
In any event it cannot be doubted that
the presence of that large body of men
made itself felt upon the fortunes of the
field. They We're visible to the French as
we'll as to us. Here was another example
of the moral effect that may be and so
often is exerted in battle by masses of men
whose presence is known to the enemy,
but who may not fire shot in the actual
conflict. From their line of march, it is
clear that the divisions We're finally posted
Il little i'll the rear and on the left of the
Prussian centre at the time when the at
tacks SO long directed against the key Of