The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-08-12

have held line describing roughly Two sides
or n SQUARE. The north side ran from Metz'to
the Rhine. the east side followed the course
of the river, through Strasbourg to Belfort;
the angle of the two sides was near Weissen-
burg.
From the numerous difficulties that would
attend any other method OF advance, move
ment from tine right wing seems to have been
considered the most practicable, as presenting
the least formidable opposition. This part OF
the army, occupying the broad and beautiful
valley which lies between the Vosges NOUN
tains and the Rhine, was under the command
of the Emperor's greatest marshal, and en-
braced the flower Of his troops: If he had
thrown them across the river, either at Stras,
bourr or some point between that place and
Rastadt, and so moved upon Stuttgardt, he
would have had strongly fortified place to
reduce before he could cross, and then the dlt-
ficult march through the defles of the Black
Forest would lie before him. movement
northward through Hagenau ana Welssen,,
burg led him upon Landau and Mannheim, anu
involved the masking of Rastadt, but It was 10
in many respects the best, and exposed the in
terror Of France less than any other, since to-
Prussian force invading from the Baden side
the Vosges formed a natural barrier Wnlcn
comparatively small army could defend.
Whether this movement OF McMahons was
to be the main attack, or only diversion on
large scale, Is doubtful. The indications are
that the principal advance vast be by way OF
Saarbriicken, while the lett wing moved across
the Lauter, and pushed forward to Landau.
Thus the two halves Of the army would De
operating on converging lines. The Prrssians
adopted q strategy almost Identical with the
French. but, with the same boldness which re-
suited for them SO fortunately at Sadowa, they
allowed their two converging armies to disre-
gard any connection with each other, and
moved up ut once to attack the French at the
two points upon which the Emperor had appa-
rently designed to make the attack himself
The first movement was Prussan raid upon
the railway By which Mcmahon communicated
with the French centre and lett. The next was
the affair at Saarbricken lest Tuesday, when
General Froissard seized the railway connect
ing the forces Of the Crown Prince Win tne
Prussian centre and right.
That no attempt had been made to defend
this lie. and no anxiety was manifested 10
recover Ii. showed that the Crown Prince was
confident in his own strength to conduct an
independent campaign. Marshal McMahon,
meanwhile, had moved down from StIasoours
and established his headquarters at Hagenal.
while two of his DIVISIONS occupied the iort!-
fed town OF Weissenburg, situated directly on
the frontier, at the foot of the east spur OF the
vosges. As he was reinforced during the re-
cent battle by portions OF Canrooerts corps
from so far back as Chalons, 1t is probable that
the troops had already been ordered to join
him in view of an immediate advance.
Thus at the beginning of the great battle.
which ragged from Thursday until Saturday
night. we find Mcmahon with . powerful corps
OF picked men at the angle Of the two lines
which formed the French position. threatening
Two avenues Of approach into Germany, and
covering the whole valley in Ills rear on
Thursday. the Crown Prince, with portions OF
the Fifth and Eleventh Pruss.an Corps, anu a
ID f,11 MrMuhnnS 'front.'
carried Weissenburg By assault. carried ti-s
heights Of Geisburg in the rear. drove IN the
two advanced divisions. and moved several
miles into the French lines. tearing up the ROAD
In the direction Of Ha"enall, and compelling
Mcmahon 10 move hurr;edly to the left and
concentrate in the neighborhood OF Bitsche
By this brilliant operation the angle Oh the
French lines was driven In; and MOI only was
McAlahons position turned. bnt the Grown
Prince threatened to take the whole French
right and centre in flank and rear and roll
them mp. Both parties during the night con-
centrated for u decisive battle. McManon
drew five divisions from General de Failiys
fifth corps, at Bitsche, and the next morning,
with force reported by the French at l50,-
600, made a furious attack al Wourth. a little
village few miles northwest OF Hagcnau.
The battle lasted until nightiall. was resumed
on Saturday, and ended late in the afternoon,
with complete Prussian victory. and Sunday
beheld the creates: of the frsnch marsilais
in full retreat across the Yosges, striving TO
recover his connection with the main body OF
the army. and at the same time TO cover the
important city OF Nancy.
simultaneously with McMahon's attack at
Wourth. on Friday morning, General Froissard
ATTEMPTED forward movement from Saar-
briicken with the second corps, but was at
once assailed by q portion of the Prussian
centre, under Steinmetz, and after sharp
engagement, with heavy losses on both sides,
was defeated almost as signally as his COM
rade on the right Thus, with the right
wing turned and cut oil, the centre driven
in and the rear in imminent danger OF at
tack, the entire French army was, and per-
hans Is, in q most critical situation. For TWO
DAYS Mcmahon was entirely unable TO commu-
nicate with headquarters.
The Empero: had no choice but to fall back,
and swing his line around toward Nancy, 80
that it Is now, supposing this manenvre to
have been successfully executed, nearly per-
pendicular to its former position. The Prus-
slams. on their part, are pressing forward. Their
right has moved from Treves toward Saar-
briicken, and is close up with the centre. ready
for movement southwark along the western
slope of the Yosges 10 intercept McMallon, While
the Crown Prince is still in the beaten French
mans rear, and the troops OF Baden are pour
ing across the river into the valley from which
Mcmahon has Just been driven.