The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1870-09-09
ABBEVILLE S. G. FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER g. 1870

! dcep ravino. This woody ravinc is
over 100 feet dcop and is at tho top
some 800 yards wide. The side of the
ravino next to Gravclottc, whcro the
Prussians stood, is much lower than
tho other side, which gradually ascon-
ded to Il great height.
i! FEARFUL SLAUGHTER.
From their commanding cminenoc,
tho French held their armies beneath
them and poured upon them n search
ing fire. The French guns were i'm
position far up tho Metz road, hidden
and covered among the trees There
was not an instant's cessation of tho
roar. Easily distinguishablo among
all was tho curious gruntIng roll Of
the mitrallcurs.'
The Prussan artillery was postcd
TO the north and south of tho village,
the guns on the latter side being nc
ccssarily raised for an awkward vcrti-
cal fire, The French stood their ground
and died by hundrcds-I had almost
said by thousands; this for an hour or
two that seemed ages so constant was
the slaughter. The hill where I stood
commanded chiefly the conflict behind
the village and to the south of it.
pRUssIANs POURING IN.
Tho Prussian rcinGo-camcnts COM
ing up on their right filed out Of the
l}ols dcs OSnous, and it was at that
point, as they marched on to the field,
that ono could, perhaps, get the best
idea OF the magnitude of this invading
army now in the heart of France.
There was no break whatever for four
hours in the march Of mon out Of that,
woods.
1t seemed almost as if all the killed
and wounded revived, came back and
marched forth again. Birnamwood
advancing to Duhsinane Hill, was not
a moro ominous sight to Macbeth than
these men Of General Gocbcrs's army,
shielded as they were by tho woods
until they wcro fairly within range
and reach Of their enemies.
So the French must have felt, for
between 4 and 5 o'clock they conccn-
tratcd upon that spot their heaviest
fire, massing all available guns and
ShcllinS the woods which covered the
Prussians unremittingly. Their shot
reached the Bavarian lines and tore
through them, and though they were
steady, it was test to which no gen
e:al cared long to subject his troops.
They presently swcrvcd q little from
their limo ofadvancc, and there was no
longer continuous column Of infanty
pouring out Of the woods.
INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH.
The attack of tho Prussians in tho
centre was clearly checked about s
o'clock. However, another brigade of
fresh Infantry was again formed in the
woods and emerged from it's cover.
Once out from under the trees, they
advanced ut doublc-quick. watched
their movement, for tho French guns
had not lost the range Of the wood
nor of the ground iu front. Seen at q
distance through powerful glass, the
brigade was hugo serpent bending
with the undulations Of the fields, but
it left dark track behind it, and the
glass resolved tho dark track into
falling and dying and dead mon. AS
tho horrld significance of that path,
so traced, came upon me, I gazcd more
intcntly. Many of those who had fall
len lcaped up and ran forward Il little
way, striving still to go with their
comrades. Of these who went back
ward instead Of forward, there were a
few, though many fell as they pair1llly
cndcavorcd to follow the advance. I
do not know whether, after the vain
effort of that brigade, another move
mcnt was attempted.
ANOTHER MOVEMENT.
From within tho road, but half an
hour afterwards, greater numbers Of
troops began to march over the hill
where was standing, and moved for
ward toward the field, where SO hard
a struggle had boon SO long protractcd.
These also wore a portion OF General
Gobcin's troops, who had been dircc-
ted upon less dangerous route. The
conflict from this point, on tho Prus-
rian left, become SO fierce that it was
soon lost to us, or almost lost, by rca-
son Of the smoke.
Now and then the thick cloud would
open a little and drift away on the
wind, and then VIC could sec the
French. 1 tried to get better view
of this part of the field. [ went for
ward about half mile from my new
standpoint and fonnd myself not far
from Malmaison. Tho French line on
the hills was still unbrokcn' and to all
appearances they wero having the
best Of the battle.
But this appearance was duo, per.
haps, to the fact that the French were
more clearly visible in their broad
height and fighting with such singular
obstinacy. They plainly silcnced q
Prussiau battery now and thcn; but
the Prussian line was also strcngthcd
by degrees ON this northern point.
Tho infantry and artillery were
brought up, and from far in tho rear,
seemingly in the direction of Vionvillc,
shot and shell began reaching tho
Frenchmen.
sTEINMETz IN THE FIELD.
These were the men and these were
| the guns Of General Stcinmetz, who
there and then effected his junction
with the army Of Prince Frederick
Charles, and compelled the invest
meDt Of Metz to the northwest. With
reinforcoments thus continually arriv-
ing on both sides, the battle grew more
and more obstinate. There could be