New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-10

( near where | stood was already III action
and thought it quite time to beat retreat
| The place was becoming as dangerous IN
any in the field. Among the gums close q q
me the Prussian shells began falling Will
! their usual precision, so l got on the Othel
! side Of the dope and made my way toward
| town, as the road to BouillOn, which crossed
| the fiold of battle, was wholly closed to me
| Now, also. | perceived l should be shut ny
! in that circle, which the Prussians had beer
! drawing about the army and town. and
| which waa at last completed. made my
way fast as could by the safest path.
| When reached the suburbs before Pon1
! de Balon. found it encountered with sol
| diers of all corps. 1t was n defeat, evident
| ": vet it was not eleven o'clock, and the
| battle threatened to continue at different
points for some time longer, though COZ
tnuing without any real hope of victory.
| There was no longer any battle to describe
| 1t was just retreat, and too soon rOut
I thought myself lucky to get away from
| the field as did. for an hour afterward the
rout of those forces near by was complete
Already soldiers were crushing against each
other in the struggle to get inside the town
The dism0unted cavalry were trying to
make their way even by the ramparts, leap
ing down from the cOunterscarp; Others
forcing their way in by the postern gates.
From nook of the ramparts where
rested q moment saw also cuirassiers jump
ing, horses and all. into the moat, the horses
breaking their legs; and riders were of all
ranks, cOlonels and even generals in a uni
form it was impossible to mistake were
mixed in this shameful melee.
Behind all came the guns with their heavy
carriages and powerful horses. forcing their
way into the thrOng and manning and
crushing fugitives on foot To add TO the
confusion and horror the Prussianbat.eries
had by this time advanced within range,
and the Prussian shells began falling into
the midst of the struggling masses,
On the ranpartS were the Garde NatiOnalc
manning the guns of the town and replying.
with more or less effect, to the Prussian
batteries.
1t was q scene horrible enough to have
pleased the fancy of Gustaye Dore himself
l could form but one idea of our unhappy
army-that il was at the bottom of a seeth
ing cauldron. hurried back as best l
could to my hotel. the following morrow.
Streets where shells were least likely to
reach ground. wherever there was a square
open place, l came upon the bodies OF
horses and men quite dead or still quiver-
ing. Inown to pieces by bursting shells
Reaching nay hotel. l found it choked
like the rest with wagons, guns, horses and
men, .
Most luckily the Prussian fire did not. at
this moment entilade this street. FOR traiu
OF caissons. filled with powder, blocked the
whole way, itself unable to move backward
or forward
There was every chance that these cais-
sons would explode, the town being then
on IRE in two places, and began to think
Sedan was q place more uncomforta Die than
even the battle field over which the Yicto-
rious enemy was swiftly advancing.
From friends whom found at the hotel
learned that the emperor. who had started
in the forenoon for the field of battle. had
returned about the same time that did, and
passed through the streets with his staff.
One of my friends was near him on the
Place Turennc when shelf fell under his
| horse. and bursting, killed the horse of a
general behind him. He himself was IN
touched and turned around and smiled.
though my boy friend thought he saw
tears in his eyes, which he wiped away with
his gloves. Indeed he had cause enough
for tears that fatal first Of September.
Meantime shells began to fall in the
direction Of the street and the MOTEL We
Ill stood under che vaul,ed stone entrance,
as the safest shelter We could find. I
trembled for the caissons still standing III
the streets. and filing all the space rom
end to end. 1t was at this time. while we
waited, watching painfully for the shells,
which would have sent us all together into
another world. that General Nimptcu came
past 10 rally and inspirit his flying troops.
He shouted "Eiye Ia France." En-
avanti" but there was no response. He
cried ont that Bazaine was taking the
Prussians in the rear. This news, which
had been current all morning at intervals,
coming from the mouth Of General De
Wimpien, came to be believed, and few
thousand men were rallied. and followed
him out Of the town.
People began to have hope, and for n
brief moment we believed the day might yet
be saved. Alas. need | say that this intel
ligencc was q patriotic taisehood Of the
brave General de Wemptcn Mad with
anguish, and il direct opposition 10 the
e,nrcror's orders. he had resolved to rally
what men lie could and make a stand. He
could not have known that he was bound
in the grasp Of at least 3AG.o00 men. The
buglc and trumpet ring ont on ali sitea. A
few Thousand men harken to the souud.
NJ friend, Ride lie Quirrey, Of the Chas-
seurs d'Atrique, whom | have just met
after losing sight of him for ten or twelve
yeaA, got on horseback and joincGLthe Cen
cral.
This is what took place in the sortie.
They went out .st the Ponte dc Balon. The
houses OF tne suburbs are already irIll o.
PrIlssilns who fire on the French out ut
eveIy window. The church esl,ccialiy j.
strongly garrisoncd; the heavy doors are
closed. The General sent of de Quirrey to
fetch two pieces of cannon. These soon ar
rived, and with them the door Of the church
WAS soon blown IN.
Two hundred prussians were captured
and brought back with the French, who, III
spite Of all efforts, were soon obliged 70 re-
tire again 10 the town. Ii was the last in
cident Of the battle. The last struggle.
While this took place, at the Pont de
Balon. the Prussiano shelling went on, and
the shells began TO fall into the hotel.
Shocking scenes followed. A boy. the son
OF % ti;Idesman around the corner of tn
street, came in crying. aud asking for sur
geon, saving his fathers leg had been shot
OF. A woman in front OF the house met The
same fate. The doctor who went 10 the
tradesman found him dead, and returning
attempted TO carry the woman to AN ambu-
lance. but he had scarcely made Il step
when she was shot dead in his arms.
Those OF us who stand in the gateway and
witness such scenes, hasc got beyond any
feeling of personal fear. ANY Of lis. ! viii
venture to 9a,5 would have given his life 10
spar, France this dreadful day; yet We
stand pale and shuddering a. the sight OF
the fate which befails the poor people OF the
town. Civilians. and even 3na ja1ed
soldiers are a. helpless rs they.
| pass over the details. [ care not IL
dwell on horrors, which, nevertheless; !!
shall never be able 20 forget. | could men
ton more ahout that brave Officer who did
not fear 10 shrink from tn. sight Of nat
had become q mere massacre.
Those who were safely out OF the way as
prisoners, whether officers or men. need rot
bc pitied, v hen after II turn it became clear
that there Was no sign Of Bazaine. The
hopes cf the French again departed: u
sullen sort OF fight stli went on Il e guns