New-York tribune., 1870-08-27
METZ BEFORE THE GREAT BATTLE.
THE DISPOSITIONS FOR THE BATTLE - TIL

METZ BEFORE THE GREAT BATTLE.
| TIE DISPOSITIONS FOR THE BATTLE - THE
| FRENCH ARMY CONFIDENT OF VICTORY.
IRON OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
| MFTZ, Aug. 12-6 EVENING" nm just in from
the camp where have several good and Old friends
days there has been nothing but hing ana
counter marching Everybody IL weary Of It. The sol
dIers are covered with mud Scarcely Is tho color OF
their uniform distinguished impossible to obtain
| a vehicle set out on foot and have returned
lust now having walked ten miles. am
| footsore and knocked up, and covered with
mud The post was not in yesterday till in the even
ing and is not yet in and we have had no Paris news
papers here for two days The rghtu weather yester-
day and OF last night, it is said prevented the great
battle now impending. 1t is finer to-day
and IL the weather continues good, prob
ably the engagement will come of tomor
row. Nearly the whole OF Canroberts Corps
(the eth has arrived. few regiments are st on their
yay but will be here In the course OF the evening To
morrow there will be 100000 men in Metz, camped be-
Montigny, Les sabons, Grigney ana Borny. ie
soldiers are boiling with ardor, even those whom
saw and who complained bitterly OF the watches,
marches. and counter-marches they were compelled TO
make-probably, however, necessaryand OF the rear
ward movements; and also OF the prohibition TO hre
upon the scouts OF the enemy, who keep drawing up
closer and closer upon lines and do not seruple to
send bullet at our sentinels as they themselves "lh
draw into the woods.
The Prussians occupy the whole country indicated to
you in my yesterday, and French railroads
to bring their troops to st. Avoid To-day they en-
tered Ponta-Mousson There, "a everywhere they met
with no opposition This abandonment Of the country is
utterly ncomprehensibe They have taken OF
our villages without meeting single French soldier
They arrive In small groups-l00 at tme So even &3
solders very much fear that the French army viii
find itself tomorrow opposed only 10 that flying erny
| referred to, which is scarcely 10000 strong; for
| .t,g, MAD 1t flA
Prussians, they have come In only by small de-
tachmeuts 1t ls therefore, really to DO apprehended
that we shah taken in the by the great Prussan
army CORPS while easily crushing their flying
army Of 10000 We only hope that oar present
commanders may us from the great strait into
which the ncapaey Of their predecessors has driven u.s.
rumor is current that the Emperor has placed Gen.
fio's"iu u'"'' Aug 13-3 O'Clock.
am Just in after long turn in our lines Fortunately
found.a vehicle at 81 o'clock this morning. and can only
say nothing will take place to-day, probably nothing TO-
marrow although the weather is fine but our soldiers
have orders not take off their shoes, in order to
| he ready at the first signal II the Prussians do
not attack u.s. 1t is possible there may not be battle for
| two or three days. Notwithstanding the excessive
atiaue they have undergone the last few days, our
soldiers are eager and demand only to be led III 'front.' OF
the enemy They swear they will make the Prussians pay
dearly for the reverses we experienced The army
and has front of 1t three Prussan army corps which
are drawn up in concentrc semicirces with their left
on the Forbach Railway The Imperial Guard form the
soldiers want nothing and will every one quit the
camp I'm the firm beiefo Of victory As for news we have
none The commanders alone know anything Of the
movements about take place. II depends upon the
French they fix tomorrow he l5th for the great battle
At11 Last night thirty Prussan prisoners were brought
in from Ponta MoussOn by the escort OF provision
train The railway which had been cut at PontaMous
| son was reGstabhshed this morning.
am opening relations with headquarters ana doing
NV utmost TO obtain permission TO follow the staff To
avoid any difficulties got two Gardes Mobiles attached
70 beadauarters to accompany me back to-day. an
waiting for q friend, bandmaster in one OF Canro-
berts regiments drive with and who will give me
news II sny there be. We have only contradictory
repors but army increases every day every hour
fresh masses pour in. Yesterday it reported that
the Emperor and his whole stan would leave Metz last
night. Nobody budged
Four SPIES Just captured have passed the WINDOW
Numbers are being taken, but it is month too late
We are told Prussians at Au. Their object Is 10
turn our right and think this is true. The news comes
nv an officer mounted Of the 10th Of the Line, Sixth
Corpa who ia come summon all the officers OF thht
regiment one of them, for whom we were waiting 10
a,ne with us Is OF course obliged 10 leave in hot haste
have also learnt that the dragons Of the Sixth Corps
have inst returned from serious reconnaissance, ana
nushed on 70 Cormy, where the enemy In force Inc
oth regiment OF the Line Of the Sixth Corps forms por
tOn OF our rght' ,,,,, ,..- -
The railway line has not been reesabhshed az was re-
r,ed The Paris courier is not in and don't whether
- h,y this will reach you II l cannot get permission
"a follow the staff will contriye some means OF sending
90 CON direct so that you shall be informed OF what goes
an The Emperor and his staff leave Metz at II this
i might.