New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-08-30
TRIBUNE WAR LETTERS.


THE FIELD OF SPICHEREN FORBACH)
THE STRONG POSITION OF THE FRENCH-GAL-
LIANT CHARGE OF THE POMERANIANs-HAN-
OyERIAN TROOPS IN ACTIoN-THE FRENCH
FIANKED AND FORCED To RETlRE-THh
FIELD AFTER THE FIGHT-THE ChASohIoi
AND MITRAILLEUR.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SAARBRUCK, Aug. 11.-Yesterday went over
the field of Spicheren, where there was very shiP
on saturday-n fact, what would have been c"h -,
battle before the present century, there nan ,ho
more than 10000 men ON each side engaged Iane
road from saarlruck TO Forbach. one climbs 'r h
commands the town. and which was useu ~ Wv, ON
i'm their attack, as place for their pa''cIIo' - -,
top of the HILL level plateau. from INV -, -, .,
deep extends as far the hills when ilse - 'o 80,
enc ua nj spicheren on these hills the french tooh
position on Saturday last, their line eN'ehus U
a mile from the hills, across the hiSn Io io -
front of a mandatory, and down 10 'ne iiii""' Ve
They were enabled completely 10 sweep tne pam III
tt ~ ,bcD,. and looking at its level unbroken eX-
o,so one wonders how a single Prussan ever passed 1t
alive.
Tho iron n position on the hills was naturally very
strong one that the plain had been strengthened
by an intrencEment thrown up in front Of the troops
About iOin the morning the Prussans began the attack
with eight pieces of artillery in position the crest of
The hill above Saarbruck. But these pieces did small
execution as their fire had little effect on the French
sharpshoOterg on the rocks above them.
After about hour of artillery fire from the Prussians
with slight effect the nights ordered TO he stormed
by two batalOns of the 14th Regiment IRON Pomerania
these men, 1900 strong flung down their knapsacks
and the Intervening plain and up the HILL the
artillery aud the rest of the division covering the advance
by their fue But the French fire from the brow OF the
hill fearful and in spite of the leading companies
having ualy reached the top, it was impossible to
drive out the French; the attack on the plain
directed against the village of spcheren moro success
fu. The French strongly posted in mandatory
the entrance to the village and swept all the plain for
nearly mile with their chassepots After little time,
the 74h Regiment HanoveTian hiS should be noted as
showing little foundation there is for the idea that
the Hanoverans will fight against the French, went
at the nights again. They succeeded in gaining the top,
hut could only Just maintain themselves there and were
thinking of retiring night coming on and the
French had brought three mraleuses, which did much
execution at close quarters into action Suddenly drums
heard on the right Of the French position in wood
which they believed would eecualy protect their left
flank. This was the advance guard of Gen. Zasrow's
corps and their arrival settled the battle the French
being completely outnanked and compelled to retire In
disorder to Forbach, losing many prisoners, rs
some Of their caught between the two bodies
of Prussans.
But the Prussian victory not obtained without
terrible loss their side or some 10000 men engaged,
there 1900 killed and wounded, or more than
one in ten. On Wednesday when l visited the nights,
there still many French and Prussians unburied,
of them looking as il only asleep. What has been
said about the rightfu effect of the chassepOt bullet
does have been exaggerated for many of the
wounds Prussian bodies horrible to look at
noticed whose whole face one big wound,
ball having struck him just under the eye and made
hole could have put ones fist into. There little
contortion in bodies 10 be expected most of
the wounds being gunshot There was however
bandto hand fighting in the final struggle for the
top of the hill The muskets and bayonets which covered
the ground broken and bent with blows given and
received
Many more needleguns than chassepots to be
seem but this accounted for by the anxiety OF
every to carry off French rife as trophy. Even
the French officers taken prisoners admit the great dash
and bravery shown by the Prussans in their attack on
hills which say from experience difficult TO
climb without apenstOck. They that the mitrail
leuses used by the French very deadly at close
quarters but they affirm that at any distance the balls
Nv wide that they little to be dreaded Though
OF the bodies still unbured most of them
inferred, and piOus hands have raised rough wooden
crosses above graves with the of those who
sleep below them Frossards division made
40 preopate retreat from FOrbach that they left many
baggage-wagons and the whole of their ponoon-train
behind them Thus it happened that they did not break
the railway UP at Forbachnot rail as far as
and have been all along the line from st. Avoid to
saarbruck-has been disturbed. The French
represented greatly discouraged by their de-
feats all along the line. Should they not
cept a battle outside Of Metz, couple Of
corps darmee or some 100000 men, will be left to the
south of Metz wachit and the main body will press
10 Paris There must be 100000 In line from Hague
in the SOUTH Serck in the NORTH and very nearly
many Landwehr to back them up near Coblentz and
Mayence. The formation of Arcadian Cabinet In
Paris gives great pleasure here it being taken sign
that the Emperor is desperatet being notorious that
policy the extreme Right Of the Corps Legslatf is
most unpopular in France. suppose it hardly need
ful TO tell you that every soldier firmly believes that he
will be quartered Paris by the end of the month, and
that any talk Of peace laughed at impossible until
the standard of King william is flying the Tusries
at the time many Of the officers have expressed
their conviction that not square inch OF ground
will be taken from FTancethat what Germany seeks Is
conquest but peace, and the power to weld her diff
ferent States into whole. hope to write you next
within a days march OF Metz.