Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-08-23
Stannto11 Spectator.
Tuesday, AWgatst %, 1870.
France and Prussia.

During the past week torrents of blood have
been shed in France. Thousands of French
and Prussian soldiers have fallen and weeping
widows and waiting orphans are numbered by
tens of thousands. We have been unable to
find justiGabe cause for this immense slaugh-
ter of human beings, and humanity is appalled,
at what seems to be such wicked and wanton de-
struction of human life. 1t is astonishing to
witness the readiness with which the masses OF
the people offer themselves as sacrlflcial VIC
TINS to the iusatiate Moloch of human ambi-
tion-the many the willing victims Of the
mad ambition of the few.
The dispatches in reference to the battles OF
the past week are so ambiguous and contradic-
tory, that it is impossible to form any definite
idea of what has been done, or to learn the In
juries inflicted and the losses sustained by the
armies, respectively, of France and Prussia
It seems, however, that the tide of Prussian
success has ceased to fow-whether it will have
refuent ebb which will result in stranding
the Argosy of Prussian hopes remains to be
seen.
In the beginning, the French, with charac-
teristic mpetuosity, rashly suffered their forces
to be brought into conflict with vastly superior
numbers. and the result was that notwith-
standing the valor of their troops, they were
overpowered and defeated 1t had the salu-
tary effect of teaching them the importance,
yea the absolute necessity, of efecting a
union and concentration of their forces. The
Prussians have three good armies on French
soil, aggregating n number, it is thought, $780,
OOO With such force of efficient and well
equipped Prussian soldiers, flushed with VIC
tory and animated by hope, marching with
confident tread to assa them, it became neces-
sa-y for the French to fall back towards Paris
that they might effect union Of their forces,
~ which, it is supposed, will take place at or near
Chalons The sanguinary conflicts which oc-
CURED last week commencing Gu Sunday and
continuing every day, so far as heard FROM
were caused by the efforts of the Prusslans to
prevent the French from efecting such con-
sentration Of their forces. 1t seems that both
parties lost heavily, and that the Prussians
failed to defeat the purpose of the French
er-in-chief-Marshal Bazaine. 1t is
supposed that the tug of war will take place in
short time near Chalons, when both parties
will have their forces united. This will be a
terrible battle, and humanity shudders in an
ticipa.ion of the frightfol and appalling slaugh-
ter which will be there committed
We have depressed from the main purpose
had III view when we commenced writing this
article, and that was to give briefly as accurate
q Il. LII e II L
the unsatisfactory and conflicting kilograms will
enable Us to do. These battles have taken
place within square, in which Verdun would
represent the northwest corner Metz, the
northeast; Commercy, the southwest, and
Nancy the southeast.
SUNDAY, the l4th.--On this day when the
French forces we're crossing the Mosele on a
bridge at Basny-not Longueville as was at
first repored--and when about half (100,O 00)
had crossed over. they we're attacked unex-
pectedly, it seems, by the Prussians. The bat
tie continued from to y 0 clock P NJ, when
the Prussians we're forced to give way. The
Prussian forces consisted of $4,000 infantry,
$4,000 cavalry and Sc caanons. The French
lost 1000 killed with proportionate number
of wounded The Prussian loss was greater.
A French account says they admitted loss of
5000 killed. This is probably exaggerated. -
The Prussiaus requested an armistice for the
purpose Of burying the dead 1t was refused
MONDAY, the l5th.-We find but little in
reference to this days operations. A French
dispatch says
son Monday about nine clock in the morn
ing detachment of Chasseurs d'Afrioue was
sent to recoanOiire the woods in the neighbor-
hood Of Mars Ia Tour. They suddenly came
upon three regiments of Prussian infantry and
two batteries of artillery, which Immediately
opened fire.
Colonel Gallifet ordered his men to charge,
but at that moment an order came from Ba-
zaine TO fall back on the road and protect the
passage Of the Emperor. The Chasseurs re-
turned and eilcamped little above Jarny"
TUESDAY, the 10TH What purports to be
an official despatch from Marshal Bazaine says
'sLate in the afternoon of Tuesday we gave
battle between Doncourt and Thionville. The
enemy were driven back, and We bivouacked
on the positions We had taken. | halted in my
movement for several hours In order to bring
up a full supply OF munitions. We had before
us Prince Frederick Charles and General Stein
metz. ..e
Another despatch says: The following ad-
ditioDa details of Tuesday, battle, near Don
court and Thionpille, have been obtained from
official sources:
Prince Frederick Charles attacked our right.
and was firmly met The corps of Gems. Argand
and ReZaDVil!e fastened into the action, which
ceased only with the night. The Prussians re-
peatedly attacked US, and were as often repuls-
ed. Towards night fresh corps sought to turn
our position. but was beaten off Our losses
are serious. General BattailIe is wounded By
eight o clock In the evening The enemy was re-
pulsed along the entire lice. He had 12O. 900
men engaged.
Per Contra, a Prussian account saws:
The SIX divisions, under Prince Frederick
repulsed the Third, Fourth, Second and Sixth
divisions Of the French and Imperial Guard
The Prussians took two thousand prisoners. two
eagles and seven guns and constrained the en-
envy to rapid movement from the bank of the
Meuse to the fortified city of Metz
An Engiish desnatch saws: tAfter The close
OF the conflict the French occupied the Prussian
position. 1t is said the French force engaged
numbered 100000"
j.. WEDNESDAY, the 18th, In reference to the
conflict Of Wednesday, we have the following,
which purror to be an official despatch from
Marshal Bazaine;
VERDUN, August lis p. M.-Tbis morn
ing the army OF Prince Frederick Charles com
menced sharp attack on the right of orr no.
sition WI po
The cavalry division of Gen. Forum. and tho
Second Corps, under Gen. Frossard. made a
firm resistance Divisions of another corns
which were 10 echelon to the right and left of