The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-09-05
pailp argus.
OFFICIAL CITY g. COUNTY PAPER
Battle Of SE DAN.

New YoRK, Sept. 4.-The following is an
extract from the Iribune's special CORES
pondeut's report of the battle of Sedan:
The real battle did not commence unui
six o'clock, becoming 3 sharp artillery
fgh, at nine, when the batteries had each
got within easy range, and shells oegan 70
do serious mischief. At III 90 O'Clock
muska,ry FIRE in the valley in the rear of
Sedan. which had opened about ii %,
became exceedingly lively, being one con
tinuous rattle, only broken by the growing
of mitrsileurs, which played with deadly
effects on the advancing SaxoDs and BAvs-
ri.n columns. General Sheridan, by whose
side was standing, told me he did not
remember ever to have heard such we'll
sustained small arm fire. 1t made itself
heard above the roar of the batteries st our
feet. At IL O'Clock precisely Prussian
battery Of six guns on the slope above the bro
ken railroad bridge over the Meuse near La
Villetts, had silencedtwo batteries of French
guns at the foot of the bare hill already
mentioned, near the Village of Flaing. At
ten minutes past II o'clock the French in
fsntry, no longer supported by their arsl-
lsry, we're compelled to retreat to FlAing,
aud soon Afterwards the junction between
the Saxons and Prussian behind Sedan was
announced to us by General Won Room, who
was eagerly peeriug through large teles
cope, As being safely completed. From
this moment the result of the battle could
not be doubtful. The French were com.
pletely surrounded and brought to bay.
At 1925 We we're oil sstonished to see
clouds of retreating French infantry on the
hill between Flaing and Sedan, the Prussian
battery making good practice with percus
Il Ill a. Ls ko
whole hill, for q quarter of An hour, litter
ally covered with Frenchman running rapid
ly.
Less than An hour after, at 1880, Gen.
Won Room called our attention to another
French column in full retreat, to the right
Of Sedan, on the road from Bazilles to La
Gsrenue wood. They never halted until
they got to q small, redroofed house, on the
outskirts of Sedan itself. Almost At the
some moment, Gen. Sheridan, who was using
my opera glass, asked me to look at the
third French column, moving up the broad
grass road, through La Garenue wood, i'm
meissely above Sedan, doubtless to support
the troops defending the important Bszille
RAvine to the northeast of town.
At one O'Clock the French batteries on the
edge of the wood towards Tony and above
it opened a vigorous fire on the advancing
Prussi.n colames of he Sd corps, whose
evident intention it was to storm tho hill
northve OF La CAYENNE, and so gain the
KEY of thc-posi,inn on that side. At l:l5
yet another French battery, near the
wood, opened on the Prussian column.
which was com pelied to keep shifting their
ground till ready for their fnal rush at the
hills and in order to avoid offering so good
Q mark TO French shells. Shortly afterwards
We saw the first Prussian skirmishers on
the crest of the LaGavenne hills above
Toney. They did not seem in strength, an
Gen. Sheridan, who was standing behind
me, exclaimed, "Oh, the beggars are too
weak-.hey can never hold that positio n
against oil those French" The Generals
prophecy soon proved to be correct, for the
French, advancing at least six TO one
Prussian, forced them to retreat down the
hill to seek reinforcements from the columns
which we're hurrying to their support. In
five minutes they came back again
this time in greater force. but still
terribly inferior to those huge French
masses
Good heaven! the cuirasseus are gong
TO charge them," cried Gen. Sheridan, and
sure enough, regiment OF cuirasseurs
,heir helmets and bresssplates fAshing in
sausdrsns and dashed down on the scattered
Prassians, who, without turning to form II
line (sousres are not used by the Prussian
infantry, received the cuirssseurs with q
crushing quick fire at about hundred yards
distance, loading and firing with great
rapidisy and unfAiling precision into the
dense French squsdrons. The effect was
startling. Over went horses and men in
masses-by hundreds-snd the squadrons
Of proud cuiras seurs went hurridly back in
dsorder-went back faster than they came
wen. back scarcely Q regiment in strength
its comely array Vas suddenly changed to
shapeless and helpless crowds of flying
men.
The moment the ouirssseurs turned back.
the brave Prussians actually dashed forward
at a double guck-infantry pursuing flying
cavalry. Such a thing has not often beer
recorded in the annals of war, | know moi
when an example to compare PRECISELY viii
this has occurred. There was not q mor'
striking episode in the battle.
When the French infantry saw the'
cavalry thus fleeing before foot soldiers
thew in their turn came forward and attacked
the Prussisns. The Prussians waited quiet
". patiently enduring rapid and tellinj
fire from the Chassepots, until their enemIe
had drawn 80 near a. to be within lOO yard
of them. Then they returned with sheI
ueedle-puus the rapid fire from the Chase
pots. and the French infantry could no NOR
endure the Prussian fire than the cavalry t.
whose rescue they had come. The intantr
fed in its turn, and followed the cavalry :
the place from which they came-that
beyond the ridge some five hundred yard
m the way to Sedan, where the Prussia
mi.rsilleurs. with the teasing fire, could n
longer reach them.
The great object of the Prussian' wa
gained, since they were driven from IN
cres. Of the hill they fought to hold,-ho
ding it thus against cavalry.