The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-24

vancing, the battle was no longer about
Rezonville, but Rad been transferred and
pushed forward 10 tIravelotte, the junction of
the two branching roads to Verdun.
The field, in front of the village were COM
pletely covered by the Prussan reserves, and
over il interminable lines Of soldiers we're per-
petualy marching onward, disappearing into
the village, and emerging on the other side of
it with flaming volleys. This second battle
field was less extensive than the first, and
brought the opposing forces into fearfully close
quarters. The popularity of it is that it con-
sists of two heights, intersected by deep
ravine, which is one hundred feet deep, and at
the top some three hundred yards wide.
The side of this chasm, near to Gravelotte,
where the Prussians stood, is much lower than
the other side, which gradually ascended to
great height.
From their commanding eminence the
French held their enemies fairly beneath
them and poured upon them scorching fire.
The French guns are in position far up by
the Metz road, hidden and covered among
the hills.
There was not an instant cessation of the
roar, and easily distinguishabe amid all was
the curious gruntiDg roll of the mitrailleuse.
The Prussisn artillery posted to the north
and south of the village the of the latter side
being necessarily raised for an awkward half
vertical fire. The French stood their ground, and
died by hundreds had almost said by thousands.
This for an hour or two, that seemed ages, so con-
slant was the slaughter. The hill where L stood
commanded chiefly the conflict behind the village
and to the south of it.
The Prussian reinforcements coming up on their
right, filed out of the Bois des Ognous and it was
at that point as they marched to the field, that
we could, perhaps get the best idea of the magni-
tude of the invading army now in the heart of
France. There was no break whatever for four
seemed almost as If all the killed and wounded
revived and came back. and marched forth again.
Burnam wood advancing on Dunsenane was not a
more ominous sight to Macbeth than these men OF
General Gorbenz's army, shielded they by
the woods until they were fairly within range and
So the French must have felt, for between four
and five O'Clock they concentrated upon that spot
their heaviest force, massing all available guns
and shelling the woods which covered the Prus-
SLAMS unremittingly. Their shot reached the Prus-
sian lines and tore through them and though the
men steady it was test to which no general
could long to subject his troops. They presently
sweryed a little from that line of advance end
there longer continuous column of in
fantry pouring out of these woods. The attack of
the Prussians in the centre was clearly checked.
About five O'Clock, however, another brigade OF
fresh infantry was again formed in the wood and
emerged from its cover.
double quick. i watched their movement, for the
French guns had not lost the range of the woods
nor of the ground in front; seen at a distance
through powerful glass, the brigade was huge
serpent, bending with the unduaton of the fields,
but it left dark track behind IT, and the glass re-
solved the dark track into falling, dying and dead
men.
Asthe horrid significance of that path SO traced
came upon me, gaz ed on more intently. Many
of those who had fallen, leaped up again and ran
forward a little way, striving still to go on with
stead of forward, there were few. though many
fell as they powerfully endeavored to follow the
L don't know whether, after the vain efforts of
that brigade, another movement was attempted
From the wood, about half an hour afterwards
great numbers Of troops began to march over the
hill where was standing, and moved forward to-
ward the field where SO hard astrugge had been so
long protracted. These were, think, portion of
General Goeben's troops, who had been directed
| upon less dangerous route.
The conflict from this point on the lUs m
| almost lost, by reason of the smoke. Now and
then the thick cloud would open little and drift
| away in the wind, and then could see the
French. tried to get a better view OF this part
of the field L went forward about half mile,
| and from my new standpoint found myself not far
The French line on the hills was still unbroken,
the battle, But this appearance was due perhaps
the fact that the French were more clearly visible
In lar obspSsv Tgey panV ssnced Prnssan
battery now and then, but the Prussian line also
strengthened by degrees on the northern point,
by infantry and artillery brought up, and from far
in the rear seemingly in the direction of Verne
vine, shot and shell began reaching the French
ranks.
These were the men and these were the guns OF
StenmetZ who there and then effected the junction
| with the army of Prince Frederick Charles, and
completed the investment of Metz to the north
west. With reinf0rcements thus continually arriv-
| ing on both sides, the battle grew more and more
obstinate. There could be doubt that the French
| understood the meaning of the new movement of
| the Prussians, and of the gradual development OF
| their line to the north.
Stenmetz was able to extend his line gradually
further and further, until the French were out
| fanked and began to be threatened as it appeared
with an attack on the of their right wing. So
| long the smoke from the Prussian guns lowered
| only their 'front.' the French clung to their
position The distance from headquarters, where
the Prussian flank attack stretched forward, was
great and to add to the difficulty of clearly seeing
the progress OF the battle, the darkness was coming
| on.
O. know not how long the French held out nor al
| what precise moment the Prussan onset became
| inevitable. What L saw this: The puffs of
smoke from the French guns mingled with the
flashes, Frightening as the darkness increased re-
| ceded gradually. The very volumes of cloud and
flame from the north, as they gradually and
steadily approached, assiited the advance of the
| column, and with that advance the French fire
| grew every moment more slack.
1t was nearly nine o'clock when this ground was
| yielded finally the north and the east shots
| fired that terrihle aYening were heard In tha1