The union Democrat., 1870-09-24
SONORA TUOLUMNE COUNTY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1870.

ed a murderocs fire upon those too eager
French cavalry, and they came back, badly
shattered from their rash pursuit.
About o'clack | could not help fancy.
ing that the Prussians were seeming to extend
more to the left. sor On asking whether Ger
tain new batteries were French. | was told
| that they were Prnssian. The Prussian lire
was evdeatly curling round Us. l have
learned since that the Crown Prince had
crossed the Meuse during the night, abou,
hve leagues from Sedan, and this had not
heen known to McMahon. 4 large force o
! Bava-ians must also have arrived after the
commencement of the hattie, for it was Ba
varian troops who began pounding as from
the loft. AT hali-past 10 the advance of ths
Prussans was perceptihle on both wings
At the same time some French infantry whicl
was close to town on the east side gave way
| il seemed to inc rather quickly. Soon after
shells were coming from tehind my left, and
il became evident that the French position
had heen turned, ard that fresh German
corps had taken position in our rear. The
reserves were now obliged to he directed
against those points. The battery near
where stood was already in action, and
Thought it quite time to beat a retreat. The
place was becoming as dangerous as any in
the field. Among the guns close to me the
Prussian shells began falling with theirusual
beautiful precision. so got on the other side
of the slope, and made my way toward the
town, as the road to Bouillon, which crossed
the field of hattie, was wholly closed to me.
Now, also. perceived should be shut up
| in that circle which the Prussians had been
drawing about the arniy and town, aud which
was at last complete. | made my way as
fast as could. by the safest paths. When |
reached the suburb before the Porte de Ba-
Ian. found it encountered with soldiers OF
all the corps. |. was IA defeat evidently, yet
not ii o'clcck. end the battle was destined to
continue at different points for some time
| longer. though continuing without any real
hope of victory. There was no longer any
| battle to describe. Ii was first u retreat and
TOO soon a rout. thought myself lucky to
get away from the field as did. for, ac hour
| afterwards the rnut of those forces was near
" complete. Already soldiers were crush
| ing against each other in the struggle to get
inside the town. Dismounted cavalry were
trying to make way even by the ramrarts,
leaping down from the connterscarr; others
forcing their way in by the postern gates.
| From Nook of the ramparts, as | rested a
| moment. | saw also cuirassers jumping, hor-
ses and all, the moat. the horses breaking
their legs and ribs. Men were scramb!ing
over each other: officers of all ranks. Colo
nels. and even Generals in the uniform. j.
was impossible to mistake, mixed in tais
shameful melee. Behind all came guns with
their heavy carriages and powerful horses
forcing their way into the thr"ng. manning
and crushing fngitives on foot. To add to
/ he confusion and horror. the Prussian bat
,eries bad bv this time advanced within range,
| fall ho
midst Of the struggling masses of men. On
/ the ramparts were the Garde Rationale. man
ming the gurs of the town, and replying,
with more rr less effect, to the dearest Prus-
sian batteries. 1t was scene horrible
enough to have pleased the fancy Of Grstave
| Dnre himself / could form but one idea OF
our unhappJ armv-that is it was Mt the bot
tom of - SETTLING cauhlrou. | hurried back
as hest could TO my hotel. following the
narrow streets, where shells were not likely
!, to reach the ground. Wherever there was q
square or open place, | came upon bodies oi
horses ard nen quite dead or still quivering,
NOV to pieces bv bursting shells. Reaching
nv hotel found the streets choked, like the
rest, with wagons, guns, horses and men.
Most luckily the Prussian fire did not at this
moment enflade this street, for n train of
caissons filled with powder blocked the whale
way. itself unable to move backward or for
ward. There was every chance that these
caissons would explode. the town being then
on fire in two places, and | began to think
Sedan WAS place more uncomfortable than
even the battle field over which the victorious
enemy was swiftly advancing. From friends
whom found at the hotel, learned that the
Emncror who had started early in the morn
| in. for the field of battle, had returned about
the time that did, ard passed through the
streets with his staff. One of my friends vas
near him on the Place Turenne. when she'll
fell under his horse hurs:iog, killed the horse
Of "a Genera, heh::i,,i him. lie him-elf was
untouched. and turned around and smiled,
'ho.gn nv friend thought he saw tears IN his
/ eyes. which he wiped away with his glnve.
| indeed, be had cause enough for tears that
fatal lst OF September.
| Meantime shells began to fall in the direc-
ton of cur street and hotel. We all stood
nndpr the vanlted stone entrance, as the cais-
sons we're sti'l in the streets. and filling all
| the space from end to end. 1t was st this
time, while we rated watching painfully for
the shell which would ha re sent us alto
geiber into another world, that General VIM
pfen caL,e past, making a vain effort TO rally
and inspirit his flying troops. lie shousted
Itre III France en- drdnf. but therc was no re-
spouse. lie c-ed out that Bazaine was TAX
ing the Prus>ians in the rear. This news
which had been current all the morning at
intervals coming from the mouth of General
de Wimpffen came to he believed. and few
Thousand men rallied and followed him out OF
the town. People began to nave hope, and
| for one brief moment believed the day
nigh, vet he saved. Alas need | say thar
this intelligence was patriotic falsehcod OF
the hrave Gen. Wimrffen. Mad with anguish
and in direct opposition to tho Emperor or
tlers, ae had resolved To rally what men be
could and make a stand. lie could not have
known tina. he was bound in the grasp Of
about 500, 900 men. The bugle and trumr et
ring out on all sides. A few thousand
mon harken TO the sound. NV friend Pere
! D'Quirave. of the Chdsseurs d. Afriqne, whonl
| have Just met. after losing sight Of hin Tor
ten or twelve years. got on horseback again
| a.,l Joined the General. This is what took
place in the sortie. They went ont as The
Porte de Balsn. The bouses of the snburh
are already fu.l Of Prussians, who fire on the
i French out Of every window. The church.
especially. Is strongly garrisoned. The hea-
! w doors are closed. The General sent DE