The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-27
TIE WOUNDED AT PoNT-A-MoCssON.


the first realization We had at Pont-a-Mous-
son-where found myself on the l7th-et the
extent TO which fighting had been going on at
the front. on Sunday and Tuesday, was from
The coming IN Of wounded men. At first II
Wns surmIsed that these had been wounded in
skirmishes. But on the 10th, late In the eve
ming, there were signs that the work was pc
coming warm. On that evening soldiers with
ghestly wounds walked about the market
mace in Pont-a-M Mousson, surrounded by eager
groups of their newly-arrved comrades, and
fold a story of disaster. Poor fellows 1t
surely was disaster to them, borne away as
thew had been from the field without having
heard OF any result. ] stood among these
groups and the narratives Of the men ell
amounted to this: That they had been sent to
confront much larger force than their own,
and that their division had been cut up. was
struck by the fact that, though there was some
dissatisfaction suggested by their tone OF
voice. heard no word uttered by narrators or
listeners which accused any one. They dWelt
rather on the fact that they had dealt heavy
blow. on the l4th, and that the Tenth DiVi-
sion, though 1t had as an available organiZa-
ton been demolished, had sold It's life dearly.
On the 18th the wounded OF the preceding
day began to pour into Ponta-Mousson. They
were Brought in in long, uncovered grain
carts. lying upon hay. From my window,
which overlooked the main street and also
Commanded a view OF the market-place, I
counted more than ninety Of these long carts,
each holding on an average about ten men. 1t
was strange to see them as they passed be-
tween files OF French citizens unable TO con-
ceal their 10y, on the one hand, and Prusslan
soldiers on the other But now came the other
side of the account. The streets began to
swarm with other wagons with other wound
ed. wearers Of red trousers. Now and then
came a batch OF unwounded prisoners. At
length there arrived q carriage with French
general. 1t was followed by q vast crowd OF
French, and for little time it seemed as II
there might be collision between the inhab!-
tants and Prussians, so earnest were the de-
monstrations OF the populace. But 1t was now
at least evident that the struggle was very seri-
ous at the front. At midnight OF the 18th, or
little after, all the trllmptts for miles around
began to sound. This was the first time we
had been startled by such wild music Trumpet
answered to trumpet through all the biTouacs
around the little city.
MARCHING TO THE FRONT.
The troops had been passing through almost
continually for several days previously; out
now the tramp through every street ana oy-
way made between midnight and dawn per
petral rvar. Hastily dressing, ran out into
the darkness, anu managed 10 gel q seaI On
WAGON that was going in the direction of the
front, now understood to be q mile or to be-
yond the village OF Gorze, some twelve miles
frum Pont-a- -Mousson. On our way We met g.
considerable batch of French prisoners, who
were looked upon with considerable curiosity
bv the continuous line of German soldiers
with whom we advanced but only one or two
offensive cries toward the prisoners were
wagons that l finally concluued ! could
better do the SIX or seven miles re-
naming on loot. So got out Of my wagon
and began TO walk aud run swiftly ahead. At
Mouyient on the Moselle, about half way to
Metz, found vast bodies OF cayalry-uhlans
and hussars crossing the river by pontoon
bridge, and hurrying at the top Of their speed
toward Gorze. Quickeniug my own steps, 1
first heard the thunder OF the csnnonade, SEEM
ingly coming from the heart OF range OF bills