The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-10-22

made as if they would charge the French force
which was towards the left. Immediately two
regiments of French cavalry charged in turn
upon the Prussian squadron, which fell back and
fled, but at the same moment the Prussian corps
of infantry opened a murderous ire upon those
too eager French cavalry, and they came back,
badly shattered from their rash pursuit.
About 9 O'Clock | could not help fancying
that the Prussians were seeming to extend more
to the left, for on asking whether certain new
batteries were French, l was told they were Prus-
sian. The Prussian line was evidently curling
round us. | have learned since that the Crown
Prince had crossed the Meuse during the night,
about five leagues from Sedan, and this had not
been known to Mcmahon. A large force of Bava-
rians must also have arrived after the commence
ment of the battle, for it was Bavarian troops
who began pounding us from the left. At hall
past 10 the advance of the Prussians was percepti-
BILE on both wings. At the same time some
French infantry which was close to town on the
east gave way, it seemed to me rather quickly.
Soon after shells were coming from my left, and
it became evident that the French position had
been turned, and that a fresh German corps had
taken position in our rear. The reserves were
now obliged to be directed against those points.
The battery near where l stood was already in &C
ton, and l thought it quite time to beat a retreat.
The place was becoming as. dangerous as any in
the field. Among the guns close to me the Prus-
sian shells began with their usual beautiful pre-
cision, so I got on the other side of the slope, and
made my way toward the town, as the road to
Bouillon, which crossed the field of battle, was
wholly closed to me. Now, also, L perceived L
should be shut up in that circle which the Prus-
slams had been drawing about the army and town,
and which was at last complete. | made my way
as fast as I could, by the safest paths. When l
reached the superb before the Porte de Balan, l
found it encountered with soldiers of all the corps.
1t was a defeat evidently, yet not II O'Clock, and
the battle was destined to continue at different
points for some time longer, though continuing
without any real hope of victory. There was no
longer any battle to describe. 1t was first a re-
treat and to soon a rout. l thought myself lucky
to get myself away from the field as did, for, an
hour afterwards the rout of those forces was
nearly complete. Already soldiers were crushing
against each other in the struggle to get inside
the town. Dismounted cavalry were trying to
make way even by the ramparts, leaping down
from the counterscarp others forcing their way
in by the postern gates. From a nook OF the
ramparts, as l rested a moment, L saw also cui-
rassiers jumping, horses and all, into the moat,
the horses breaking their legs and ribs. Men
were scrambling over each other officers of all
ranks, Colonels, and even Generals in the uniform,
it was impossible to mistake, mixed in this shame
full melee. Behind all came guns with their heavy
carriages and powerful horses forcing their way
into the throng, manning and crushing fugltlyes
on foot. To add to the confusion and horror, the
Il ucSldh ia OJ tAho OAhS oosNAOSN
within range, and Prussian shells began falling
into the midst of the struggling masses of men.
On the ramparts were the Garde Rationale, man
ming the guns of the town, and replying, with
more or less effect, to the nearest Prusslan bat
teries. 1t was q scene horrible enough to have
pleased the fancy of Gustave Dore himself. ]
could form but one idea of our unhappy army
that is it was at the bottom of a seething cauld.
ron. l hurried back as best l could to my hotel,
following the narrow streets, where shells were
not likely to reach the ground. Wherever there
was a square or open place, L came upon bodies
of horses and men quite dead or still quivering
mown to pieces by bursting shells. Reaching my
hotel I found the street choked, like the rest, with
wagons, guns, horses and men. Most luckily the
Prussian fire did not ut this moment enflade this
street for a train of caissons filled with powder
! blocked the whole way, itself unable to move
backward or forward. There was every chance
that these caisons would explode, the town being
then on fire in two places, and began to think
Sedan was a place more uncomfortable than ever
the battle field over which the victorious enemy
was swiftly advancing. From friends whom ]
found at the hotel, L learned that the Emperor
who had started early in the morning for the
field of battle, had returned about the time | did,
and passed through the street with his staff. One
of my friends was near him on the Place Turenne,
when a shell fell under his horse and bursting
killed the horse of a General behind him. He
himself was untouched, and turned around anC
smiled, though my friend thought he saw tears ir
his eyes which he wiped away with his glove
Indeed he had cause enough for tears that iata
LIST of September. Meantime shells began to fall
in the direction of our street and hotel We all
stood under the vaulted stone entrance. as the
caissons were still in the streets, and filling ali
the space from end to end. 1t was at slrE, time
while we waited watching painfully for she shell
which would have sent us altogether into smother
world, that General Wimpfen came past making
a vain effort to rally and inspirit his flying troops
He shouted KiUe la France en- aUant, but there
was no response. He cried out that Bazaine was
taking the Prussians in the rear. This news
which had been current all the morning Mt inter,
walls, coming from the mouth of General dc
Wimpffen came to be believed, and a few thou.
sand men rallied and followed him out Of the
town. People began to have hope, and for one
brief moment we believe the day might be saved.
riotic falsehood of the brave General Wimpfen,
Mad with anguish and in direct opposition to the
Emperor's orders, he had resolved to rally what
men he could and make a stand. He could moi
have known that he was bound in the grasp o.
about 800, 900 men. The bugle and trumpet ring
T out on all sides. A few thousand men hearkeI
to the sound. My friend Pere D'Quiraye, of the
ChasSeayS d'Afrigue whom | have just met, aftel
losing sight of him about ten or twelve years
got on horseback again and joined the General
This is what took place in the sortie. They went
out at the Porte de Balan. The houses of the
suburb are already full of Prussians, who fire or
the French out of every window. The church es.
pecially, is strongly garrisoned. The heavy door
, are closed. The General sent De Gurray to fetch
two pieces of cannon. These soon arrived, and
with them the door of the church was blown in
Two hundred Prussians were captured and
brought back with the French, who, in spite oil
all efforts, were soon obliged to retire again into
the town. It was the last incident of the battle
the last struggle.
While this took place at the Porte de Balar
the Prussian Smelling went on, and the shells
began to fall into the hotel. Shocking scene:
followed. A boy, the son of a tradesman round
the corner of the street, came in crying and ask
ing for a surgeon, saying his father leg had beer
i shot off. A woman in front of the house met the
same fate. The doctor who went to the tradesmar
found him dead, and returning attempted to carry
the woman to an ambulance. He had scarcely
made a step when she was shot dead in his arms
Those of us who stand in the gateway and wit