The New York herald., 1870-12-10


tho second corps. This force was made up Of con-
triDutons from various other portions OF the same
corps, and was commanded by General Won Frin-
secke who mad nom nal direction OF all ;he opera
tiens, supervised, however as regarded the
ssxons by Prince George in person, whose heed
lessness Of danger must have sorey tried the nerves
OF his star.
A CoUNTER-oFFENsIvE MOVEMENT.
contingent force supported the wurtembergers;
the saxons had no backing but their own valor.
In all, the German troops engaged and im-
mediately supporting amounted TO 22,OOO men.
This force, it seems, had been detailed for an often
sive movement. and the programme was greatly
complicated by the unexpected counter offensive
movement Of the French projected against villiers,
and with hopes of ultimately breaking through the
Gordon surrounding them. 1t thus happened that
as the Germans were pressing In to drive the French
out of Brie and Champigny, the French were stimuli
taneously pouring out to take ynliers.
SCENE OF THE BATTLE.
rode into Champs, whittier Prince George had
moved his headquarters the previous evening. and
found the battle raging fearfully over the broken
country to the southwest OF that village. 1t was in
and around these villages Brie villiers and Cham
pigny that the bloody drama was enacted
the day before yesterday. When the curtain
fell on tnat drama the Saxons stood fast in vlncrs
In spite Of al the French troops and forts could do
to dislodge them. Brie ana Champigny, lying close
under the guns Of Fort Nogent. ann the strongly
armed earthworks at Raisontrie the verge Of the
forest Of yincennes overhanging st. Maur remain in
the hands OF the French.
CONFORMATION OF THE GROUND.
On the road to Noisy the South banks OF the
Marne are low with gradual rise furrowed by In
considerable rectangular dspressons on each. As
one looks southward from Noisy he sees towards
Brie broad nat, Offering scope Tor military evolu-
tions. From this plain toward viliers there rises
gradually low but shaggy elevation, covered
mostly with copsewood and vineyards. This eleva-
sional depressons, the debouchments OF which
cause trivial hoows which occur on the the road to
Noisy. The general tendency is nevertheless up
ward SO that the table land, at the back OF which
lies viniers is higher Than any ground between It
and the plain. The ridge, therefore, although ham.
pered by hedges and brushwood. would form no bad
standpoint for maintaining resistance to any force
which, having deployed on the plain, should at
nre from Fort Nogent, within easy range, and emf.
laded by the longer range but still effectively, of
the batteries on Mount Avron.
THE FRENCH cANNoNADE.
When crossed the river 1t was past nine. Noisy
was an eligible point from which to observe opera
tions. Shells from Mount Avron were coming very
thick. Now 1t was shower Of states, as the shells
crashed through the roof and lifted solid rafters
Is II they were laths; now half side Of a
house went bodily as some hugo projectns
struck and crunched 1t. Brie divided with Noisy
the attention OF the French batteries and Brie is
more open.
THE GERMANS DRIVEN OUT OF BRrE.
The forth regiment haa made dash into Brie out
OF Rosny early in the morning, and l wondered
much how it Jared with them. Hard enough
beyond doubt, but could they hold the
place under such q ding-dong petings By ten
O'Clock the question was resolved. First, there
came up drove OF French prisoners and red
preeched regulars towards Noisy, along the slight
shelter afforded by the road; then the Saxon
soldiers, with more prisoners and. finally the bulk
OF the 1o7th In very open order, making the
most Of the few opportunities for cover. It was not
pleasant ray TO traverse. The forts fred heavily
upon captors- and captured alike. and more than one
Frenchman was slain by missiles from the French
weapons as the. struggling columns came up.
learned that the 1o7th regiment in rapid rush in
the morning had surprised the occupants OF Brie;
some were asleep and others were drinking coffee.
There was but trining resources. Nearly 500 pri.
soners were taken, including eight officers The
reason for the REIMBURSEMENT Of Brie was that the
terrible and persistent fire from the forts rendered it
utterly untenable
WORK FOR THE GERMANS.
What this advantage represented was simply that
Bre gave them footing $50 to speak) on the Saxon
main land, while Champigny formed key to the
peninsula Of the Marne The object Of the day on
the side OF the Germans was to dislodge
the French from Brie and Cnampigny. This
task fell to the lot OF the Saxons, Wurtemburger,
and brigade Of the Second corps. The Saxons
engaged consisted Of the Second division OF the
Royal Saxon Army, under the command of General
Won Nehrhof1.
PATRIOTIC SERGEANT.
The prisoners looked sturdy fellows and anything
but i'll fed. They were hearty ana good lighters to
judge from their expressions. The sergeant bade
me bon jour and told me cheerily II an one INDUCED
In the anticipation Of the speedy capture
lation he was extremely out Of his sning. Food
is plentiful" he said, with a laugh; land the pro-
gramme is sorties every day and in every drec-
tionr The prisoners were escorted back to cnelles,