Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-08-11
The European War,

NV N'HN'At VI wv uooltA'i CT ihlCo
began last Thursday, has been toll
lowed up with astonishing yigol
and swiftness. In two great bat.
ties the Prussians have swept the
enemy before them, and the victo-
rious troops are now eneamped on
hostile territory. The French for.
ces have been driven back to their
interior lines of defense, Paris has
been declared to be in a state of
siege, Napoleon has been forced to
send word to his capital that his
first stmoyement has most disastrous
ly miscarried, the French Chambers
have been convoked, and the Re
gent Of the Empire has been com.
PEELED to issue an appeal to the pa
triotism Of the French nation. The
situation Of Napoleon is grave in
the extreme. On every side Prus-
sia, flushed with magnificent sue
cess, is advancing with evident de-
termination to overthrow in ire
trieyable discontinue her ancient
enemy and the disturber of the
peace Of Europe.
The swift march Of events since
last Friday can be briefly told
Last Thursday, it will be rcmem-
bered, the Prussian forces, under
the command Of the Crown Prince
Frederick William, attacked and
carried Weissenburg, driving before
them General Douay's Division of
the First Corps. Stung by this de-
feat, and approaching the import
ance Of regaining the position he
had lost Marshal Mcmahon, com
mander Of the First Corps, determ-
ined to avenge the losses his forces
had sustained, and drive the yictors
back to their own territory Ac-
cordingIy Friday evening, after a
slight brush with the enemy, he ad-
yanced and occupied a strong posi-
ton on the Bavarian frontier But
the Prussian force, consisting at
tie time %cissenborg was occupied
Of two Prussian Army Corps and
one corps of Baden troops, and
without doubt largely increased by
subsequent arrivals, had not taken
possession Of Wotssenburg in way
Of a mere raid, and on Saturday
morning they were equally ready
with Marshal McMaIon to give
battle.
The Prussian forces appear TO
have advanced to a little village
called Worth, situated about ten
miles southeast Of Weis senburg,
aud on the eastern slope Of the |
Vosgcs mountains, near the line of |
the. railway connecting Bitche and.
Strasbonrg. The story of the bat
tie is very briefly and very plainly
told in the official dispatch Of the
Crown Prince: "McMahon was to-
tally beaten, and the French lave
retired upon Bitcho." Subsequent
state that the Prassians
four thousand prisoners,
one hundred of whom were officers,
thirty cannon and six mitraileuses.
A Afterward the Prnssians advanced 4
on Hagonau, situated sixteen miles
north of Strasbourg, and now hold .
that place. Dispatches dated at
Metz as late as three O'Clock indi-
cate that the French forces, instead
Of retreating, as Frederick William
to Biiche, must have re-
treated, after the engagements at
and Reichshofen, both
Of which places are directly on the
Bitcho railroad, to Sayerne. This
place Is on the railway leading from
Strusbourg to Nancy, and about
twelve miles from Strasbourg,--
Thus Strasbourg Is uncovered, and
rs the victorious Prussian troops ]
are now at liagcnau, and ms force
Of Baden troops are reported adj ,
against the place by way Of |
Basle, it Is not unreasonable to eX- {
beet that this French stronghold
may fall into the hands of the Prus-
slams within q short time, Thus /
much for the left wing Of the Prus- s
sian forces. They have routed
driven him back a dis 4
anee Of forty miles, and cut off, as t
t appears from Napoleon's dis t
patches, his communication with a
he Emperor Il
While the left wing was striking {
his heavy blow at Mcmahon, the f
,enter of the Prussian army was i
loiug equally valiant service at q
1t seems that some i
ime on Friday or Saturday, the i
french Second Corps, under the |
command General Frossard, adj G
.anced beyond Saarbruck into Prus p
ian Territory ltwos not long be Q
ore they were met and driven back L
" the German troops, under the A
command Of Gen. Cohen, OF the S
osses sustained in this battle there r,
re reports, from either French or q
russian sources But the French Il
we're driven back, though to what u
lace is not set forth Prussian 4
dispatches state that the French p
,cre concentrating Mt Metz, but it t.
hardly probable that with only a n
Ingle corps of the French army A
ngaged, as tits stated there was, n
M with others within cusy sup a