New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-10
BATTLE OF SEDAN.
Account by a French O0icer
(CNblo Special to tho Tribunei.


hons army, who witnessed tho battle of
Sedan on the French side and the rout. was
shut up in Sedan with the French army,
having been released, reached London with
the following account:
SEDAN, September 3-Early in the fore-
noon of the thirty-frst orders were given to
bring into town all the wagons trains and
oxen, which had been left outside the glacis.
BY this time the streets were blocked up
by troops of every kind, which had entered
the town during the night. tried to ride
down to the Porte do Paris, where tho train
was stationed, TO carry orders. | WAS
obliged to get of NV horse and make my
way as best could between the horses and
! caissons which choked up every street and
! square of the town.
AS / reached the Porto de Paris met tho
wagon train entering rs last as possible,
followed closely by the rushing oxen and
lltermingled with the weeping and terror
stricken peasantry of the neighborhood, Hy-
ing into town for protection
They little knew it was about the worst
place they could have chosen. The gates
on that side were immediately after closed
while the troops slowly filed out through
the opposite gate toward Douey, where all
McMahOn's forces were posted, expecting
to be again attacked by the Prusslans, who
had closely followed up the French army.
About ten o'clock that morning some
severe cannonading was heard six or seven
miles away, toward the village of Bezellies
| went uD on q rampant looking over tfo
country in that direction, thence l could
see the Prussians' position, and with my
glass could watch tho firing plainly, but
could not we'll see the French lines, which
were hid from view by the trees. about
mile from town.
therefore, at noon, walked out of town
at the Porte de Bolan, and assembled on tho
left the rising ground which is close by the
town. Not more than half q mile from the
gate passed through regiments OF reserve
infantry. Their arms were piled and the
fires smoking, soup having not long ago
been eaten.
l continued ascending, and everywhere
passed reserve corps of infantry and arul
iery. l got higher and higher. from hillock
to hillock, till reached battery of reserve
guns which wore ,lnimbered and placed
facing the rear of the French left. This
battery was so pointed as to face over the
crest Of the rising ground on which l stood,
about quarter of a mile in front of the
little churchyard. Here stood, also. several
officers of the different corps stationed on
my righ: and left, all of the reserve.
From the point | had now reached
charming scene was in view. The French
line of battle extended right in front.
spreading Oh the slope of ground which
forms ono side of this basir OF the Meuse.
In front of the centre of tie French limos.
and lower down in the valley, was the vii
lage of Bazeilles, then beginning to burn, the
Prussian shells having set fire to It.
Parallel almost to the front of the French
position ran the Meuse crossed by bridge.
A little to the left of Bazeilles the French
right was upon a kind OF wooded ground
hard by Tivailleur, the wooded ground ex
tending nearly to the grounds OF Sedan.
The French left was lost 81 ght of behind the
irregularities of the ground. Toward the
road to Bouillon as far as We could see right
and left and in front of NE were massed
regiments Of all arms; but toward the left
on the second line was very large force of
heavy cavalry. dragons and cuirassiers
The sun was shining brightly and every
thing was plainly visible. The gtitterlng of
weapons, the bright and sho~y cOlors of the
French uniforms, tho white smoke curling
under the blue sky. or lingering vapor-hke
beneath the trees, the cracking flames rls-
ing from the burning village of Bazeilles-
the whole scene from my commanding posi-
ton formed spectacle one seldom lnds
himself in position to witness.
The principal Prussian batteries were di-
rectlv opposite the French centre, on
plateau or table land, which Terminated alb
ruptly, and made it very strong position.
For some time cannnading continued on
both sides, and at two o'clock force of
Prussian infantry advanced across the
bridge in the village Of Douzay, and i'm
mediately there began a very sharp fusiiade
lasting. however, not more than ten min
utes | think the French must have lost
ground.
In that encounter, although l could not
see for some trees that intcrveIed. but u
battery of six mitrafleuse ad,anceG and
opened fire through the trees.
Six volleys came all at once. The Prus-
slams fell hurriedly back, leaving whole
rank behind. which had gone down ike
leaden soldiers children play with.
About half-past four firing had ceased
everywhere. The village which had been
blazing all day was still smoking. The
French remained in the same position.
Though the day had apparently beH With
out result its description is q necessary pre-
lude to the bitter story of the morrow.
AT half-past FIVE returned to town. Tho
Emperor, who had arrived during the night,
had issued q proclamation, which was posted
on the walls. saying he had confided the
command Of the armies TO the genera! whom
public opinion had seemed 10 select as most
capable, and that he himself was resolved
to fight "a an officer. forgetting TOR "A while
hH position as a0vcTcign.
The next morning, Thursday, returned,
soon as the gates Of the town were opened.
to my post of observation, on elevated
ground where the battery was still placed.
The French position did not seem to mo
much altered, but the right was now on the
other side Of Sedan.
At seven o'clock cannOnading began in
earnest, some slight firing having taken
place earlier. The Prussian batteries facing
Ils' appeared to ME much more numerous.
1t seemed that there were batteries every
where. They roared from every point of
~ rt, IL;
nearly parallel in front of the French |
could follow the falling Of their she'll which
exploded as they touched tie ground, and
fell with wonderful precision. | noticed
how quickly. also, they changed and cor
rected their fire As soon b, o French corps
took up a position it Was instantly assalled
by shells. The first would perhaps fall d
few feet short or beyond, bu! the third was
was more sure to find It's way to the troops
and do it's awfu! work among them.
The French shells. en- the contrary, tH-
ploded generally before they reached che
ground and the smoke OF the explosion
formed innumcrlbic little clouds al differ
.ent heights, some so high they could do no
harm to the enemy.
l noticed seine ioexpEcabis movement.
A fine squadron of Prussiin cavalry made
as if they would charge the French force
which Was toward the loft. Immediately
Two reSiihento ol rto1,cA faFaiiy chtLeei
i'll turn upon the Pr'issian squadron, which
fell back and fed out at the same moment
the Prussan corps of infantry opened 4
murderous fire upon those toe eager French
cavalry, and these came back badly shat
tered from their rash pursuit.
About nine O'clock could not help fancy
inc that the prussians Were seeming to x
tend further to the left, for on asking
whether certain new batteries were French
was told they were prusaian. The prus-
sim linz Aas eYdentlV curling around US.