Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-08-26
5Miseellanp.
Battle of Worth.
SCENES ON THE BATTLEFIELD.


The following is from Tribune cor
respondent:
The swift ard skillful movement against
Weissenburg, resulting in complete sue
cess to the German arms, was but fore
taste of the storm which threatened the
northern part of Alsace. On the second
day after that of Weissenburg came the
battle Of Worth, and the Crown Prince
gained victory over the ablest General
in France. 1t is admitted that the
French fought with reckless courage, and
that they inflicted heavy loss on their
opponents but the fact of this hard
fighting and of this heavy loss shows how
serious defeat was sustained by McMa-
hon.
traversed the field while the dead
still lay unbured on the trampled ground
and could form good notion of how the
fight had gone by the ghastly evidences
which remained. Worth is at the bottom
of fertile valley, between two ridges
of cultivated ground. There is much of
wooded land in the neighborhood; and
especially behind the French position or
on the western side of the valley, there
is a strip of forest which forms cover
retreating troops.
The little river Bruder, not big enough
in summer time to float skitf, flows
through the village, and the highroao
comes winding down toward the village OF
the eastern side Of the valley, fanked by
trees. Here was the Prussian position
Stretching far to right and left along thl
road were heaps of spiked helmets to b
seen and cart-loads of needleguns wer
collected under the trees. At distance
the French musketry fire had told NOR
heavily than the German and hear
that the French artillery had been yer
we'll served
But though the burying parties wer
busy with the German dead on the Eas
ern side of Worth, there was more tha
an exchange of slaughterous work on tt
|. Western side. Here the Prussians an
Bavarians had pushed forward in stror
force. and their fire had told fearful
upon the French. The high spirit al
rigid discipline of the one army had be-
more than a match for the desperate
y sis.ance of the other. Whole companl
90 of Frepchmen had been moved down
% their wild attempts to check the enemy
NJ advance. 1t had been tolerably equ
% fight in some places, for the ground "
~ . strewn with German dead; but me
90 Frenchmen had fallen in proportion,
Black Turcos and wide-trousered Zo'
YES lay thick at many points, and
cuiraissiers had suffered much. Th'
es. we're steel breastplates and brass helm
scattered thickly on the line OF retire
while the dead horses in all directi
might be counted by hundreds.
And so westward through the VIC
u, went the traces of increasing disaster
officer and men lying grimly where t
had fallen. Some in quiet, shady sp
as though upon picnic seemed asl'
pools of blood remained where
did wounded had been found. There "
:. knapsacks, rifles and overcoats eli
thrown away in flight or left by
wounded on the field. Then | came
a spot where the French had rallied
RT. where the dead on both sides lay tn
Turcos were there who had evidel
ex- fought to the last and had tried to
their pieces as they lay. Frenchme
the line regiments had here and t
ms fallen in numbers, as they had ha
and faced about in regular order.
- But the aspect of the fields beyond
RE wood seemed to indicate a hasty ret
ms Wagons we're overturned. Baggage
49,, thrown out upon the roadside, and
pared knapsacks were to be seen. No one
had passed over that battle-groul
Worth when did could have tail'
3 realize that great disaster had bel
sre''' the France arms, though my observf
we're made When most of the wot
HOES had been removed.
On so large scene Of action 1t
s' ''' have been impossible to judge o. II
act loss sustained. / see no reason
Err ever to doubt the official return Q
'uth O. German side, which gives about
Germans hors di combat, and
7 900 prisoners taken by the vic
600 in the battle and 5000 in tn
'e'o''' suit. These losses, with the furtht
Of cannon and colors, made the ba
finish. Worth an evil day for France.
Iislets, H sles might the wounded Germans raise
= !, sOa Soa selves to cheer the Crown Prince
factor fac nassed. and cry that Germany wa
co It will often be told how the arml
on the 9th of August, and how
80, hon made his unsuccessful effort
'AH the invasion of Alsace; how the
w. slams held the left of the line, a
,R. Ravarians and Wurtemberges tn
al atth faw Raden troops helc