Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-25

Germans had but little cavalry or
artillery The Germans carried al
the breastworks against the murderous hrt
of the French who we're always compelled
to retire before them, but the murderous
fire of the chassepots told very severely on
the Germans, who in the engagement lost
many more than the French. Ii was the
superior courage of the Germans which
compelled the enemy to retire, and they
did this slowly, contending every inch OF
ground until they were driven almost
| against the walls of Metz. Every account
agreed that the battle was more san
culinary than any during the campaign OF
1866. No unwounded prisoners taken on
either side.
New YoRK, Aug. 24.-A special dispatch
to the Courier des Etats Unis dated Paris
Aug. %, says that the sprightly element Of
the Parisian people accommodates itself
with difficulty to the reign ofsilence which |
the Ministry imposes. So many blunders
were committed in the opening OF the war |
it is feared that this change In the policy |
of Palikao only conceals some new mis-
take. .e--s
The Situation at Metz-A Draw
Game. --.... --
/ saw to-day a part of dispatch from
Bazaine which the Minister of War CON-
municated to the Corps Legislath 1t was
couched in general terms, but it never |
could have come from conquered man,
or one doubtful of success.
Bazaine wished to leave Metz but he was |
not able; the enemy on the other hand, |
wished to seize him and cut off his commu- |
nicaiions with Paris, but both efforts were |
futile. II was draw game. This In two
wordsis the situation and explanation OF the |
recent engagements. t1FEr r
ADaiIy Drill of 10000 Men.
We have sustained severe and heavy |
losses it is said, but those Of the enemy |
have been enormous and out of proportion |
to the merely negative advantage which he |
has gained. We are sending forward rein |
forcements constantly, but this is done
without weakening the defense Of the capt. |
tai Every day from l, 500 to 10000 cons
scripts are sent from Champaigne, This !
morning two battalions of Gardes Mobile |
from Brittany and Normandy left by rail |
road for Ardennes. must admit that they |
are very poorly armed Their guns are the |
old muzzle leaders, and they were without |
uniforms, but they are brave and stalwart |
patriotism. While the work on the fortif- |
cations goes on, the Rationale Garde, and |
even young men from the schools and |
lyceums, drill in the manual of arms. |
Every day 150, 900 men are drilled in field |
evolutions in the Champ de Mars
The Committee of Defense.
A the Corps Legislatif there is nothing |
of general importance. The action OF the |
newly created Committee of Defense was |
reviewed and considerably criticised. l |
saw the Minister of Marine as he came from |
to-days session, silent like the others; |
nevertheless, he gave those around him to
understand that he expected very soon, |
good news from the feet.
Prussian spies swarm upon US, especially |
in the semi. official world. 1t follows that |
redoubled caution must be exererclsed |
upon all dispatches sent hence by the way |
of England, Belgium and Switzerland. NJ.
Chaearau's own signature is necessary In
order to send a political dispatch to the
United States.
At Chalons-McMahon and Failly |
Reach Ardennes.
It is difficult to obtain accurate news OF
what has taken place at Chalons or in its |
neiehborhood. At the War Department
they peremptorily refuse to say anything on
the subject. But some of the papers, the
Petrie and Presse among others, announce
that the corps of Mcmahon and Failly have
succeeded in reaching Ardennes, and that
the flank march from that place will effect !
a junction with BaZaine. 1t Is believed
that some of the troops lately encamled at
ChaIons have gone thither, butI can affirm
nothing certain. l am assured that the
Prussian Prince Royal has given over his
direct march on Paris, and that he waits
for the Prussian army before Metz to de- |
liver great battle,
Other dispatches say he is at Bar LIE Due.
EVERYTHING from that direction is confused,
and believe that these reports are put In
circulation by the enemy to make the Paris
ians believe that all immediate danger has
been dispelled to calm their patriotic ardor
to place the capital in a state of defense.
Napoleon Silently Awaiting Victory.
The Emperor is at Rheims. He waits
anopportunity to victoriously break silence.
Prussia Wants no Peace till France
il Crippled.
At the ministry of foreign affairs
everything is quiet. There are certain
mysterious rumors among the diplomatic
corps, but there hasbeen no proposition
for preliminaries of peace. l have read IN
some of the English papers, l know, that
Bismarck has indirectly informed De La
Tour D 'Auvergne that Prussia will not treat
for peace until she can do it on conditions
which will make it impossible for France to
take revenge hereafter. 1t is not then our
abasement, but our destruction which the
Prussian Minister seeks. Force will an
swer him la 60RHee heure.
Victor Hugo.
Victor Hugo has returned to US. The
poet re-enters France in the uniform of
the Home Guards.
A Detailed Account of the Battle of
POnt-a-MOuSsOn.
LONDON, Aug. 23.-The following de-
tailed account of Thursdays battle was re-
ceived this morning in London from our
special correspondent, who witnessed the
battle at the headquarters and stood by
the side of Bismarck and the King
The first realization We had at Pont-a- |
Mousson, where found myself on the 18th, |
of the extent to which the fighting had |
been going on during Tuesday and Sunday |
last at the front, was the coming in Of |
wounded men. At first it was surmised |
that these had been wounded in skirmishes, |
but on the 18th, late in the evening, there |
were signs that the work was becoming |
warm. On that evening the soldiers, with |
CHASTITY wounds, walked about the market |
place in Pont-a- Mousson, surrounded by
eager crowds of their newly arrived COM
rades, and told the story of the disaster
Poor fellows! it was surely disaster to
them, having been borne from the field
without having heard of any result.
stood among them, and the narrative
of the men all amounted to their having
been set to confront a much larger force
than their own and their division had been
cut ND. 1 was struck by the fact that,
though there was some dissatisfaction sug-
pested by their tone of voice, heard no
word uttered by the narraters or listeners
which accused any one. They dwelt rather
on the fact that they had dealt heavy |
blow on the 14th, and that though the 10th |
division had, as an available organization,
been demolished, it had sold its life dear. |
On the 18th the wounded from the pre-
ceding day began to pour into Pont-s
Mousson. They were brought in on long,
uncovered grain carts lying upon hay. |
From my window, which overlooked Main |
street, a d commanded also view of Mar |