Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-05

became exceedingly lively, being one continu-
GUS rattle, only broken by the growing OF
mtreilleurs, which played with deadly effect
on the advancing Saxon and Bavarian columns
General Sheridan, by whose side | was standing
told me that he did not remember ever TO have
heard such well sustained small arms hre. IL
made itself heard above the war OF batteries at
our feet.
At 10 O'Clock precisely Prussisn battery or
SIX guns, on the slope above the broken railway
bridge over the Meuse. near La Nillette, had
silenced two batteries of the French guns at the
foot of the bare hills, already mentioned, near
the village of Floring. At 10 minutes past II
O'Clock the infantry, no longer supported by
their artillery. were compelled to retire to Flor
ing and soon afterwards a junction between
the SaAons and PruSsians behind Sedan was an
nOunced to us by General Won Room, who was
eagerly peering through large telescope, as
being safely completed. From this moIaent the
result OF the battle could no longer be doubtful.
The French were completely surrounded and
brought to bay. At 1856 were all aston
ished to see crowds of retreating French infan-
try on the hill between Floring and Sedan, Prus-
sian battery making good practice with percus-
sion shells among the recedng ranks. The
whole bill for quarter oil an hour was liter
ally covered with Frenchmen running rapidly.
Less than half an heur afterwards General
Won Room called our attention to another
French column in full retreat to the right of Sc
dan, on the road leading from Bazeille TO La
CAYENNE wood. They never halted until they
got to a small red rooted house on the outskirts
of Sedan itself. Almost at the same moment
Gen. Sheridan, who was using my opera glass,
asked me to look at a third column moving up
broad grass road through La Gayenned wood,
Immediately above Sedan, doubtless TO support
the troops defending the important BaZeille ra-
vine, to the northeast of the town. At one
O'Clock the French batteries on the edge OF the
wood towards Toney and above il, opened a Wig
Orous fire upon the advancing Prnssian columns
of the third corps, whose evident intention ii
was to storm the hill northeast OF La CAYENNE,
and so gain the key OF the position on that side.
Terrible Scenes Of Carnage.
At lis o'clock yet another French battery
near the wood opened on the Prussan columns,
which were compelled 70 keep shifting their
ground till ready for their final rush at tue hills
and in order to avoid offering SO good a mark 10
the French shells. Shortly afterwards we saw
the first Prussan skirmishers on the east OF La
CAYENNE hills, above Torey: They did not
seem in strength, and General Sheridan, who
was standing behind me, exclaimed "Ahi the
beggars are too weak. They can never hold
that position against all those French" The
Generals prophecy soon proved correct, for the
French, advancing, at least six to one, the
Prussians were forced to retreat down the bill
TO seek reinfOrcements from the columns which
were hurrying to their support. In i've minutes
they came back again, this time ia greater
foI ce. but still terribly interior 10 those huge
French masses. "Good heavens! the French
CUiraSsiers are going TO charge them.' cried
General Sheridan, and sure enough the regi-
ment Of Cuirassers, their helmets and breast
plates flashing in the September sun, form
in sections OF squadrOnS and dash down
the scattered Prussian skirmishers
Without deigning to form in line, (the squares
are never used by the PrusSiaDs,l the infantry
received the Cuirassiers with a crushing quick
fire at about a hundred yards distance, Ioad.ng
and firing with extreme rapid and Gniailing
precision in the dense French sluatiroDs. The
effect was startling. Over went horses and meu
in numbers, in masses, in hundreds, and the re-
giment OF proud French Culrassiers went hgr-
I.edly back in disorder, went back faster thanit
came, went hack scarcely a re gimentin strength
and not at all a regiment in form. It, Com-ly
array was suddenly changed into ShepeleSS AMI
helpless crowds or living men. The moment
the CuirassieTs turned back the brave Pru>-
SLAMS actually dashed forward in hot pursuit al
double quick. the infantry plainly pursuing III,
flying cavalry. Such a thing has not often been
recorded an the annals of war. ! know no,
when an example to compare precisely with tii,
has occurred. There was 40 more III k
lng episode in tie battle. Whcn the Frcncu
infantry saw their clTalrv thus fieeing
before the foot soldiers. they in their
turn came forward and attacked the Prussians
The PrussiaDs waited quietly and patiently.
enduring a rapid and telling fire from tn
chasseIo.s. unit! their eurmy had drawn so near
returned with the needle gun the rapid fire
from the chassepOts. and the French infantry
could no more endure the PruSSan tire than the
cavalry to whose rescue they had come. The
infantry fled in its turn, and followed the cayal-
ry TO the place from which they had come, that
y. behind ridge some go yards on the way e.
Sedan, where the Prussian mitrailleurs with
their tearing ire could no longer reach them.
The great object of the Prussians vas gained
hill they fought to hold. Alter a tremendous
battle, the PrussiaDs having completely sur
rounded Sedan, the Bavarians entered the for
titicatioDs of Sedan.