The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-24

when hundreds or French soldiers, VINO hau escapes
| with their lives FROM the affair at Wssempoure
were busy writing TO their friends that they wer
alive. and telling or the death OF their Fellow vi
| layers. one gallant fellow OF the Sevcnty-tourt'
regiment OF the line was busy writing TO his friend
in a small village OF La Berrie in the centre O
| France. lie told me that there were not more thai
hundred families in his native village, and that b
| had To record tho death OF no less than seventies
fellow soldiers who came from the same village.
wOUNDEn
some wounded Prussians have (half-plst eigh
A. NJ just been brought In ana taken to the hospi
tai where that blessed hag-thc red cross on
white ground-hangs out az q sign that there, a
any rate Christian charity Ia supreme and that N
one should injure the building. Four Sisters Of
Charity are already busy ut work tending tn
wounded with that wonderful care aud charity for
which their order Is so famous.
MACMAHONs STRATEGY.
MacMahon has mine A. NJ got his wish think.
The whole OF the Prussian corps d'armee seems 70
be upon HIM. He still holds Oh, as If to draw them
| on more and more Bombs aud shells are exploding
every minute the Prussans evidently trying to drive
the French army from the position they have taken
| up The French game Is evidently to IRE now ana
again and TO seem as n their strength did not admit
| OF their doing more than defend their position.
This letter is written by dts and starts, but need
hardly say that the scene passing on around me
does not tend much to care In composition. NY Oh
ject is to jot down events as they happen and to
send OF this letter soon and as well as can.
The cannonaie upon MacMahon's position 10
(quarter past nine A. NJ, getting hotter and hotter
The smell OF gunpOwder Is fearful; the duh air
seems mpregnated with It, MY two fellow cores
pondents are with me and are most indignant with
the stupid law OF NJ. olivier which fOrblds news
paper correspondents from going with headquar-
tiers of the army and condemns them to do their
work, as we are doing at the risk OF liberty, II
not OF life.
The courage Of the poor women under this fearful
trial astonlslled me more than can tell you They
are pale, anxious, 'rembling But not word es
capes them, nor do they so much as dream OF cry
ing or screaming. At the first alarm this morning,
the village streets being full OF people there was
little calling for children and looking up OF hus-
bands, but since the strife began In earnest not
word has been heard.
As yet the battle is confined to huge duel OF big
field guns MacMahon Is answering with batteries
the Pmssian guns and VIII then, no doubt, make
dash with his infantry. But 1t Is 10 easy matter to
silence the immense amount OF artillery which the
Prussans evidently have with them. But every hour
that MacMahon can delay the main attack improves
his chances for there is no doubt but that the move
ment mentioned yesterday, Of drawing on the
Prussian army and then cutting or its retreat ex-
cept upon the Rhine Is what the Marshal intends to
do-if he can. But he has evidently a verJ tough
and very strong enemy to deal with.
some of the wounded Prussians say that great
part OF the Crown Prince OF Prussias corps. COM
manded by the son-inaw OF Queen Victoria, is with
them having arrived last night; but this, OF course,
requires confirmation. l believe that the engage
ment now going on win decide the fate OF the
paign.
Not very wisely have been for the last twent
minutes Uen A. NJ on the church steepe with my
field glass; but very significant hint In the shape
OF Prussian shell made me take my departure
therefrom; but not before saw an immense body OF
French Zouaves and Turcos descend the hill, the
gallant Macsahon himself leading them, and divide
like mighty stream and take up fresh positions.
THE coMBAr RAdEs-FEARrUL WEAPONS OF DEATH
THEIR EFfECr.
The battle is raging, but Ia farther or near to
| where the P-ussans had their position this morn
| Ing, at village called LiebFrauenberg, and as
write the repeated discharge OF the mitraleuse tell
tale That the french are getting al Their enemy.
IS enough that close by here at place cale'
Fieswiian, General Hoche twhO tried to invade Ire
land with French force IN 1850 fought a splendid
| battle against the PrusslanS in 1871, with one o
| those famous armies Of tile French republic, o
| which the world thas seldom since seen the like
| Hoche commenced his fight with only 5000 men,
his enemy ha, ing at least TO- 900. He mad not sin.
gle with him, but offered 600 louis d'0rs fol
every prusslan piece OF ordnance that was brought
him. Ia an hour his men. ragged and baIefOoteJ al
they were, had captured from the best troops then
! known in Europe no less than six pieces. Last
| night MacMalols headquarters were Ia the very
same mouse, the presbetere or parsonage, IN the vii
lage Of FIeswiilain, where those OF General Hoche
| We're III 1871. the French soldiers know this and
! take il as good augury.
AS the name OF this village is not unlikely to be
| come famous ii Is as well that give you the right
| spelling OF the name, which, by the way, was MOI
spelt nightly III my letter VI yesterday. 1t Is called
| Woerth-sur-Saur and u.s. as its name implies, upOr
| the river Saur. close TO the VOsges Mountains. A
more beautiful yaliey one richer with all tn
most beautiful gifts OF nature could hardly be fount
| in the world The inhabitants OF the village arr
well TO DO landed prOprietors Alsacans as to race
| honest, hard working and thruGy. Their village
for the whole plain Is full OF well built houses) ant
| lands being made the theatre OF war Is terribl
| blow for them. But they are kind and hospitaOe Il
| the soldiers OF Doth armies.
| Another look from The church steeple at halfpas
ten A. M. Tne battle Is still raging, but the cannon
| on both sides IS heard now and again. The hight i
one OF infantry against infantry. The French hav
descended upon the PLAIN, but they seem to lind /
| very hard WORK TO disoqge The Prussan lnfantr
! from the position taken up. MacMahon, as sal'
| before has q stubborn foe to beat. He does no
seem 10 gam upon them, and the danger OF this /
that the French, who cannot be stopped either ron
firing or advancing, may get To the end OF their an
| 1o:4O A. NJ
/ The big guns are at work, but chleny on tn
French side. General Lartigue with the Fourth div
sion OF this army corps, has now come down upo
the prussan iank, and Is nghtlng Hereby with tnei
| reserve tiiat mas just bcen Drought up 10 supper
the cenGre OF their position ! cannot exactly max
out why the French reserve artillery on the height
has begun 10 fire. iOr TO do SO they must fire III
heads or their own people. The hospital already fu
OF wounded and dyi men What devils work ther
is, to be sure
AS the battle seems to die or at one point (eleve
IL A. M it RACES fercer aud nercer at another Tie
minutes ago there was no firing near the villages, no.
1t getting hotter and hotter upon every side. grea
number OF PrusS!anS are being brought III fearful
wounded, but have not seen anything OF tn
| French wounded. The Prussans are brought In b
their comrades, fine, stout, well dressed men, Wit
| spiked helmet and blue tunic, 80 often depicted.
| seems impossible Tor either one or the other side {
| give In, for verify TWO mighty iants have got
Tighfing between them The Prussan wounded SO
that they cannot resist the French weapons. Til
| history OF the fight must beawrtten at time whe
| heads aud hearts are cooler than at present.
| The massacre Oh both sides has been fearful. Il
| one spot, In a wood about mile from where writ
| these lines, the Prussians resisted manfu,y for
long time, but had at last to give way 10 the nitrai
| leurs can see with glass heir dead bodies ~
ing there in masses. They tell where they stood