The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-08-20

army has ever succeeded in gettin
far on the road from Metz to VerduI
Their delay, to whatever cause du'
gave the Prussians time to come uI
and they were able on Tuesday TO al
tack with a vanguard strong enough t
arrest the French retreat and brini
iour French corps into action. Whel
Bazaine found he could not shake OF
the Prussian pursuit, he clearly resoly
cd to crush their single corps before it
supports could come up. For hours
The Third Prussian corps, which, sup
ported only by a cavalry division, haG
first attacked, was compelled TO bear
! the brunt of vigorous onslaught from
twice or thrice ther own numbers. To
ward the close of the day, reinforced
by the Tenth and parts Of The Eight
and Ninth corps, the Prussians resumed
the offensive, and when night fel
the French army was again divided
and It il doubtful whether either Of thu
main roads from Metz to Verdun re
main open to Bazaine. Three French
corps heretofore unscathed, besides
Frossards and the Imperial Guards
were brought into action, which on the
freach side was general engagement
while on the Prussian side the lower
part ol thew armies of Slrinmrt3 and
Prince Frederick Charles were not oil
the helI, and apparently not a single
battalion of the Crown Prince, who is
believed to he advancing steadily for
Chalons
LONDON, August lS-The junction OF
the armies of Bazaine and Mcmahon is
momentarily expected at Nitry Francias,
Lear ChalOns. where the French are ex-
pected to make new stand.
The commandant at Metz, on account
of the deficiency of food drives away
fugitives who throng into the city.
The firemen have been enlisted as
soldiers, and throng the streets of Paris,
the Go',lojs says, to the number OF
100000. They wear brass helmets and
are armed.
LONDON, August lS.-The Cabinet OF
Berlin, in reply 70 the communication
from the Pope, declines to guarantee the
inviolability OF the Pontitical States.
Edmund AbOui's Description Of
scenes NJ WOerth.
PARIS, August lS.-Edmund About
describes the scenes after the battle of
Woerth as follows: One sees solid
regiments who proudly retreat, while a
few bad soldiers-disbanded, lost, de-
moralized and disarmed, threw them
selves desperately into each 10y path. |
arrived Just in time to see three wretch
ed Turcos, mounted on artillery horses,
as they were entering the old quarry
with the hope OF making a short cut
from the field. Our artillery must have
been roughly fused, SO many cissons
pass along the road without guns. But
here come one or two regiments OF the
line firm, tolerably complete in num-
bers, rifle on shoulder, and knapsack
on back; behind them Marshal Nc
Mahon, calm, dignitied, almost smiling
and fresh as rose. salute him as he
passes. He passes without noticing
me. One "f his aids, NJ. Dalzac,
names me. Then the old hero stops
and tells lpe quite simply the story Of
his defeat 81 had only $4,000 men
and found 10000 in front of me. We
have given way before numbers. They
have killed or wounded about 50O0m9.
But we shall have our revenge. HE-
plain this TO the public But where are
YOU going in that direction? To
Saverne," reply. You will be cap.
ured. The Prussians will be there in
two hours" says the General. II have
my wife and children there" ] answer.
God preserve you! Do not fail to say
that the morale of the troops is excel
lent" We shake hands; exchange O
few pleasant words with NJ. Dalzac, and
| search vainly in the ranks Of the staff
as it moves on for the laughing and
kindly face. of NJ. Devogue, officer of
ordinance. This fine young man, full
of promise, was killed by bullet
through the forehead, and General
Colson with bullet through the heart.
Last comes regiment of Turcos
fellows who have not thrown
away their knapsacks nor their arms.
One first comes out Of the ranks and
clasps me round the neck 1t is Albert
Durv, fellow journalist and the excel
lent fellow begins telling me, a have
been to your house it is empty all
your people are safe but yom ], as You
see, am firm as a post oh, my poor
friends, what disaster. We will all
repair it though He runs of and dis
appears in the motley crowd of his COM
rades. A little further on saw a civil
ian dressed in short coat of grey vel
vet who marches like an officer between
two companies of the line. 1t is M.
Gaildran, the artist of the Illustration,
an old friend of the day before yester-
day. He carries his portfolio across
his back, and tomorrow morning at
Pfalzburg he will no doubt make a
sketch Of this shameful retreat
At the gates Of Saverne the panic
stricken are flying along the railway or
hiding in gardens, but some good regi-
mentS OF the line are tramping in steps
through the streets. Their passage,
calm and courageous, is not over before
eleven o'clock at night. These last be.
long to the Fifth corps. They reached
Reichshoffen tco late TO give battle. |
find the town a prey TO panic really
fabulous. Marshal McMahon arrived
there Saturday night, at 4 o'clock, fol,
lowed by the remains Of his army, and
preceded by a swarm Of breathless fugl
tives. In the twinkling ofan eye Saverne
saw itself filled with the First Corps,
which the foe luckily believed to have
retired upon Bitsche. They messed to
gether where they could, those mos
fortunate in the houses of the towns
men, those who had brought away
their knapsacks and camp equlpag'
under their tents, many upon the pave
ment and in the fields under heaven
D l. or