The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-24

had been no time to strike the tents
Meanwhile reinforcements had come up from For
bach, and Sp keren being the key 10 the position l.
was not 10 be left 20 the enemy. The ammunition
was served ont, for the soldiers mad used up their
eighty rounds. General Metmann's division opens
fire on the woods with their artillery and the mi
trallieuses are ordered into action, but the OBJ
stacles OF wood and cover insuperabe, and they
are useless. During the delay the wounded have
been picked up, the stragglers have been collected
and now comes new advance. Charging down the
side Of the hill we reach the foot OF the next ridge
many OF the men throw themselves nat on the ground
while the hail OF musketry whistles their heads.
And now two officers on horseback clear the space
and ride up TO the Prussans The troops push on
again and the combat is renewed but it is in vain
The French fought desperately, hand TO hand. Our
mirailenses were never once brought into play The
russian ian position was too strong; it was task be-
we heerd the drums and bugles of an approaching
column from Sarreguemines, but It was too late.
Lavancoupet's division was demoralized. The di-
visions of Batale and Verger were not much better
for the 4Oth 10th, and 24th line and the 10th
thasseurs were almost exerminated Retreat
was the only course open. We fell back
on Stetlin, the artillery covering our move
memt freT Tho Not ,poSs Word Of complaint was heard
many brave fellows cheeks, forgetful OF his own
misfortune and thoughtful only Of the honor OF
seized the railway station and had fired upon II,
though it was filled with fugitives / saw one poor
woman shot dead and others wounded. The vii
layers accompanied our march, women weeping
children whining at being dragged abroad in the
march for fear OF drawing upon us the fire Of the
Prussian guns.
Will not offer my own opinions but prefer to re-
peat what heard. The French soldier IS a pretty
impartial critic and no mean Judge of the merits OF
his superiors. recollect TO have read that Prince
Frederick Charles considered of the deficiencies
OF the French system was its contempt OF scouting
parties Had the French in this case been properly
were advancing in force. The woods were fun of
them and nobody knew it. The soldiers, interchang-
ing opinions freely, commented on this ignorance.
The army was splendid, the fighting heroic, but
the geperalship deplorable. At Forbach there was
train with four car loads of powder. shell
hn froiYa an.vht
and village to atoms So a battery of artillery was
sent to cover it. The sight OF this battery brought
obliged to leave the car and the powder. mention
this not as any ones fault; it might have been the
best course, but it was an incident
General steinmetz's Report
The following is the official report from General
von StenmetZ regarding the batte:-
"ro-day, from noon till after dark, severe and
wel,contested battle has been fought between Saar-
bruck and Forbach. The 18th Division commenced
the engagement, and was successfully supported
against the enemy, who had fortified themselves, by
three batt8lions and the battery of the 10th Division
three hataons, two batteries and cavalry tbe tele,
gram does not specify which, The heights Of Spike
rem, to the south OF the exercise ground were taken
by storm and the enemy driven back upon Forbach
While this was going on the 18th Division advanced
established the head OF the column at Forbaeh
General Francois was killed. Very MANY Wouaded
men and large number of prisoners from the dlle-
rent regiments or FrosSard's corps. The number
mas not yet been aScertained.
81 have assumed the command.
v. OJEiNhETZ.'
A French Account of the Closing Scenes of the
Battle.
Camille Pelletan, a correspondent of one of
the papers, thus describes the close of the battle
Of Forbaeh:--
Then a horrible scene was presented. In the
face of these new enemies detachments OF regi-
mepts and scattered bodies (corps) reformed aud
the soldiers or both nations fought almost hand to
hand, firing at each other at one hundred Yards
with guns that Kill at one thousand five hundred
The nashes seemed to touch; the volleys were
delivered point blank. We resisted, we struggled
but we were crushed. 1t was impossible to keep
II up. We were caught between two
Prussian batteries 1t was at first retreat-orderiy
enough-then II became rout, flight; men,
women and children, wild, panic-stricken and lost,
ned they knew not whittier. Then Forbach took
fire, and the flames blazed up In lurd redness
through the darkness OF the night Now the enemy
were masters OF all. They tired upon a passing
traiD and the carriages ran In the midst OF smoke
and through hail OF bullets and cannon balls. The
station was captured; a train full of soldiers was
sezed and the locomotive was sent back alone to
tell the tale OF our disaster"
The French commander states officially that the
Pruksians turned one of their batteries upon the
ambulance corps, but is impossible to believe that
Germans would willingly be guilty OF an atrocity
like this. In the present state OF French minds this
may be merely another trick to work them up to
frenzy against the invader; IL may have been an
accident caused by the disOrderly retreat OF the
beaten troops who became mixed up with the line
Of hospital wagons.