The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-09-05

| VOL. .XXXIy. !.
Aisne !; the next more to the south, pass
| ing through Meaux, on the Marne and
! the more southcriy one passing through
| Chalons: all start from the same point on
| the old boulevards and pass through the
] northeastern angle of tho fortified line and
| lie between the forts around st. Denis and
| the forts of Aubervilliers and Romainyille.
Any plan of attack on these eastern fronts
| of the fortified line would have to take into
consideration the mesh-work of defences
from the forts around st. Denis, on the
north, to those of Charenton, IVry, and
Bicetrc, on the south. This zone includes
the Bois de Fincennes, in front of the
southeast angle of the fortified line.
The orders given for the destruction of
the Bois de Boulogne look to an attack by
Mont Valerien, or at the southwest angle IF
the fortified line. This point. although be-
nlnd the Seine, is quite vulnerable one.
~ paralyzing the fire of Forts Mont Va
lerien, issy, Vauve, and MontrouZe, the
last three OF which are comparatively weak
works, by heavy, inceSsant fire, un fen
TenTer. the points running northeast and
southeast, that form this angle. might be
rendered untenable by q powerful emilia
ding and reverse fire, thus making an OPEN
ing into the city here quite practicable. The
scarps, neither Of the forts, nor the fronts
OF the city, are we'll covered from fire; and
the bitches are wanting in that chief fea-
ture Of security against an open assault,
high counterzScarps faced with masonry
From our own experience of the effects of
shot from long ranges, of rifled guns, at Sa-
vannah and Charleston, some idea NAV be
formed of the vulnerability of Paris from
like destructive means; and were its de-
fences now to be devised they would be
somewhat different from what they are.
constructed on data before the rified and
heavy guns now III use were introduced.
NJ.
West Point, Tuesday, August 80, 1870.
PRUSsIAN OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CAMPAIGN.
BERLIN, September 2-The following is
the official report of the campaign from the
commencement to the battles around Metz !:
On the 9Th of August the first Prussian
army found itself between Saarbrucken and
Saar Louis, facing the second French corps,
occupying Spichelm heights, near Saar-
brucken. The fourteenth division attacked
rs the French were preparing to leave on
trains, and was supported by the fifteenth
division and some portions Of the second
army, under General SteinmetZ. A bloody
victory was achieved, and 5000 prisoners
captured. General Frossard retired from
Forbach to Metz, leaving his luggage, pri-
Vate stores of champagne, pontoon train,
camp, etc.
Meanwhile the first corps moved on Metz.
Waiting for the second army, which had to
lay the railway track as it moved along on
the 14th of August, the first army was
placed thus: First corps, with second divi-
sion, near Etang, between Metz and Boul-
lay, with another division near Courcelles,
.between Metz and st. Avoid the seventh
corps, with the thirteenth division, near
Pauge the fourteenth division near Don
nanville the eighth corps in reserve near
the village Of Nionville the third division
on the left wing, near st. Barbe; its first
cavalry near Frontign; the advance post
mile from Metz, while the body was en-
camped on the bank Of the Med. The en-
emy had occupied with considerable force
small water course between Colomby and
Genouilly.
Movements of the enemy about O'Clock
led to a reconnaissance. Energetic resistance
was encountered. The enemy developed
great strength, and General Mautufel, OF
the first corps, and General ZoStrow. OF
the seventh, engaged promptly-General
GaitZS brigade, of the seventh corps, IN
advance. The first division advanced to-
ward Colomby, and was soon involved in a
very violent combat, but maintained itself
until General OStcn's brigade came up, the
confronting force fur outnulnbering it.
General IoStrow arrived ut 5 o'clock to the
east Of Colomby, taking command in chief
and advancing the whole corps. At 6
o'clock all OF Genera! Gleiner's division was
engaged near Colornby, maintaining itself
against superior force.
p'cIorl General kamp1SoS' division
was concentrated ut Marseily. At Il mo-
ment six batteries were engaged, with
others in reserve. to eNtricate and sustain
Generals Glciner and Zostrow. AT 6
O'Clock General Waynac's brigade was sent
to attack the enemy's right near Colomby.
The brigade, with splendid bravery, drove
the enemy, enabling OSten's brigade to
occupy the wood on the north of Colomby.
The twenty-SeYenth brigade remained in
tact as a reserve.
AT about $50 the enemy withdrew at all
points. Meantime the seventh corps, with
the advance of the first, advanced under
cover of cavalry near to the roads connect
inc Avoid with Metz and Etany with Metz.
The corps opened the attack with the first
division near Montbais and the second near
Noisseville. The enemy in force attempt
ing TO advance OIL the latter point, was re-
pulsed by prompt service of the corps of
artillery anu ny ille lcSclfCo VI ILlanuS .
Darkness closed the fight.
On the extreme left the first ,,,vision of
horse approached Mercy. their bat
terry advancing Wit, rauses to fire. The
thlrty.slAth r. r,vslment of the ninth corps,
DelohS'. ..., to the left wing of the second
ai LAY had advanced on the east. On the
| same line, at the extreme right, the third
! division of cavalry advanced to Ogg, where
| n hatterv oDened OH the enemy north OF
Perigny. >,
| At s O'Clock the enemy recoiled at all
points from the left bank Of the Moselle
under the guns Of Metz. Pursuit was
stopped by the fire Of the guns of the fort
ress. The field was covered With dead.
Few prisoners were taken and few tro-
phies, owing to the activity Of the fortress,
fbc heavy fire OF which tore through the
| Prussian masses. General Steinmetz, who
came up, was in time to give orders for the
night and the following day to prepare FOR
a renewal Of the conflict.
| The result was that the enemy in one
quarter Of an hour was driven from the wall
| back into the fortress. In another quarter
a large body was left to retreat on Ial1s
and fall into the hands of second army,
which was moving rapidly on the left bank
of the Mosele, leaving the first corps and
two divisions Of cavalry on the east of Metz.
The army the next day moved to the lett
without resistance, passing the Moselle al
Ayey and Comy-on. The seventeenth corps
was beyond An-Sur- -Moselle, the eighth
and ninth at Garza, while the second army
was marching rapidly toward Metz, on the
Verdun road, after victorious lights az won
vile and Flavigny.
The task of the first corps this day was TO
act as the right of all the lines of attack,
4 ~, nf h1