The New York herald., 1870-12-27
BATTLE FIELD OF BEAUNE -LA-ROL LhNDE,
Campaigning With the Army Of
the Red Prince.
The Village Of Beaune-la-Rolande-Brav Of
the French-Not Believe in Defeat-No More
Surrenders Testimony Of French
valor-The Germans Opposed to Fight
ing Too Far From Their Base.

PRINCE FREDERICK CHARLES HEADQUARTERS
PiTHIvIERs, Dec. q 1870.
Leaving Versailles three days ago amid roar OF
artillery such as | had never heard before In the
neghborhood of the beleagured city-in fact
was told tnat the bombardment had actually com.
menced-I made the quickest route by way OF Lon
Juneau and Etampes to this place. No obstacle 10
the journey was interposed by the Francs-tireurs,
for the whole country is now secured by cavalry and
fOotmen in zone OF fifty miles south OF Paris, in
which we met very few soldiers only ambulance
and provision trains leading to the base on the rail-
way either at Lagny Barbecue.
THE JOURNEY
was made as rapidly as possible, in tue expectation
that great battle could reasonably be regarded as
imminent after the engagement between the Prince
and General Paadines on the 2sth uit. But on arry.
ing here yesterday evening all found quiet and
after hurried visit to headquarters the only thing
feasible in the way Of news was to make visit to
the village OF
BEAUSE-LA-ROLANDE,
where the fight took place on the 2sth, and after.
ward to ride on down to the lines beyond l had q
letter OF recommendation from Count Bernstein.
which, after much wandering in search, took the
opportunity to give TO General Won Stiehle the
chief OF staff OF Prince Frederick and the directing
head Of this army. The general was very busy, but
on reading the letter gave me most cordial recep-
ton and prOnered me the cOurteses of his lines and
quarters. On approaching Beaune the usual signs
OF battle aeld were visible; batteries parked or
In position; camping grounds, debris OF arms can
non balls, clothing, uniform caps, helmets, dead
horses dead bodies, &c.
SCENES on THE BATTLE FIELD.
Several poor Frenchmen or the line were IvinV
stf In the cold, win eyes wide opened up TO
heavens their CATERS red pants and gray Overcoats
looked so familiar to sight that it could almost be
imagined that they were only resting or sleeping on
the ground. But they were quite dead, being
In the same attitude In which they fell wounded or
Killed. Over a Thousand fOuud fha
dead and wounded and OF the latter the improviscd
hospitals In tie village are dll1d. They are attended
to by the Prussians and the doctors OF the English
ambulance, who have just arrived.
THE FIGHTING
was In measure Tor the possession or the little viii
age OF Beaune "a place of 400 or 500 innabltantsl,
and the inhabitants seem to have been rendered
quite dumbfounded and despairing by the shower
or shells and balls which was lately raned down
over their heads. They wander about their houses
and streets pale and agltated not knowing what is
to come to them next, and evidently expecting that
the village will be burned over their heads yet. on
the 2sth the French ary In great force attacked
advanced brigade Of he russians, consisting, all
told, OF about 5000 men, The latter took refuge IN
the village and were ordered to
HOLD IT TO THE LAST MAN.
They immediately commenced hurriedly to loop
hole the houses, throw up a few small brcasworks
ana pile up plankS ana logs 10 connect the bits OF
stone walls together and 40 OBTAIN coverior them
selves. At about nine O'Clock IN the Iaornlng The
french drove IN the advanced posts and showed
right around IN the splendid open fields to the mme-
dlate LETT and right OF the threatened garrison
Tney came up very near IN ovcrpewcrlng numbers,
surrounding the place, and yet the Prussians re.
Piled TO their assaults OF shot and shell until
THE PRUSsIAN CORPS CAME UP
on the ground tn their relief whe OF course, Prince
Frederick Charles had the better, and compelled tue
French to retreat TO their starting point after they
had fought however, most obsiinately and bravely
They inflicted considerable punishment on the Prus
slams, killing and woundlng over Que thousand (otl-
ciay recognizeu, and taking one gun, after cutting
up an entire battery-drlvcrS anu horses Killed out
right A Prussian OFFICER told me 1--WE had 10 aban-
d0n tiliS one gun TO them for, the battery being
USED up, we could not withdraw all the guns.r
NOT KNOWING WHEN THEY ARE BEATEN.
The French lost about 1000 prisoners, and 500 IN
Killed ana wounded; but no cannon or eagles were
taken IRON tacm In this the second battle under the
republic. Tne people nereab0utS call IL q downright
French vctorv. and are anxiouslg LOOKING TOR their