Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-09-03
THE WAR.
LAST .rI0MT's TRLRGRAIG, o,
PRUSSIAN OFFICIAL REPORr.

AS usual the war news Dy ceDle last night ADDS
but little real Information to that contained in
our telegraphic columns yesterday in regard to
the late battles. The following, however, is OF
interest:
PRUSsIAN OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE
CAMPAIGN.
BERLIN, Sept. 2.-The following is the official
report Of the campaign from the commence
ment to the battles around Metz
On the 9TH OF August the first Prussian army
found itself between Saarbrucken and Sa n
Louis, facing the second French corps occupy
ing Spicheim heights near Saarbrucken. The
preparing to leave on trains, and was supported
by the fifteenth division and some portions OF
the second army under Gen. SSeinmetz. A
captured. Gen. Frossard retired from Forbach
to Metz, leaving his luggage, private stores Of
champagne, pontOon train, camp, &c.
Waiting for the second army, which had to lay
the railway track rs ii moved along on the 14th
of August, the first army was placed thus: First
corps, with second division, near Etang. between
Metz and Boullay, with another division near
Courcelles, between Metz and st. Avoid; the
seventh corps, with the thirteenth division, near
Pange; the fourtsenth division near Donnan-
Vile; the eighth corps in reserve, near the viii
liage OF Vi0nville; the third division on the left
wing, near St Barbe;it first cavalry near From
tign; the advance port close to the French line,
scarcely German mile from Metz, while the
body was eDcsmped on the bank OF the Med
The enemv had occupied with considerable force
q small water course between Colomby and
Genouilly.
Movements Of the enemy, about O'Clock, led
to q reconnaissance. Energetic resistance was
encountered: The enemy developed great
corps, and Gen. ZastrOw, OF the seventh, en-
gagged promptly, Gen. Galtz's brigade, Of the
seventh corps, in advance. The tirst division
adv yanced toward Colomby, and was soon in
voiyed in violent combat, but maintained
itself until Gen. Osten's brigade came up, the
confronting force far outnumbering it. Gen.
Sfrnxu rtt-oh LOT n llaE tn ha oosf rnf
lOmby, taking command In chief and advancing
the whole corps. At O'Clock all of Gen.
Gleiner's division was engaged near ColOmby,
maintaining itself against a superior force. AT
z O'Clock Gen. Kamekas' division was concen-
trated at Marseilly. At moment six batteries
were engaged, with others in reserve, to extri-
cate and sustain Gems. Glciner and Zastrow. At
O'Clock Gen. Waynac's brigade was sent to
attack the enemys right near COlOmby. The
bri. atle, with splendid bravery, drove the enc
my, enabling Osten's brigade to occupy the
wood on the north ct Colomby. The twenty
sew; nth brigade remained intact as q reserve.
Atabout $50 the enemy withdrew at all points.
Meantime tie seventh corps, with the advarce
OF the first, advanced under cover OF cavalry
near to the roads connecting Avoid with Metz
and Etany with Metz. The corps opened the
attack with the fiji st division near Monthais and
the secOrd pear Noissey ille. The enemy in force
attempting TO advance on the latter point, was
repul; ID by prompt service OF the corps of ar
TIL, ry ard by the reserves Of infantry. Dark
ness closed the fight. Cn the extreme lett the
ii St division ofhofs. approached Mercy-le- Hsut
their battery advancing with pauses to fire.
The Seth regiment of the ninth corps, belonging
vanced on tie east. On the same line at the
extreme right, the third division OF cavalry ad-
yanced to Ogg, where battery opened on tue
enemy. north of Perigny.
At O'Clock the enemy recoiled at all points
from the left bank of the Moselle under the
guns of Metz. Pursuit was stopped by the tre
Of the guns of the fortress. The field was COW
cred with dead. Few prisoners were taken and
few trophies, owing 10 the activity OF the
fortress, the heavy ire OF which tore through
the Prussian masses. General Steinmetz, woo
came up, WAS in time to give orders FOR the
night and the following day to prepare for a
renewal Of the conflict. The result was that the
enemy in one quarter Of an hour was driven
quarter large body was lett to retreat on Paris
and fall into the hands Of the second army,
the MoseIe, leaving the first corps and two y,
divisions OF cavalry on the east of Metz. The
army the next day moved to the left without
resistance, passing the Moselle at Avey and
Comy-op. The seventeenth corps was beyond
An-Sur- -Mosele, the eighth and ninth at Cara.
while the second army was marching rapidly
towards Metz, on the Verdun road, after victo-
rious fights at Vionville and Flayigny.
The task Of the first corps this day was to act
as the right OF all the lines of attack, holding
the left bank Of the MOselle, while the second
army moved SO. hat the front would extend
from the north towards the east. thus bringing
the first and second armies between Metz and
Paris. On the 18th no offensive movement was
y
sitOn near GravelOtte, the seventh corps con-
tenting itself With repelling slight reconnois-
sances near the forest OF Vsux. At this moment
Gravelotte, in the forest Of Ogouth, discovered
the enemy, three corps strong, encampsd on the
heights north OF Grsyelotte. The farms Of st.
about noon. Gen. Steinmetz, hearing a can
nonade at Verneville. and having been advised
that the head Of the ninth corps was engaged,
gave orders to resume the attack. The seventh
denIOYed p of ha
heights Of Gravelotte. A formidable artillery
practice followed, presenting an imposing spec
eighty opeSeS on
advancing steadily along the high road was q
miiraileuse, when the FIRE was opened on the
tse0nT ,G Offering party strong outposts well sus-
The enemy made 10 serious attack that day
On the 18th the first army remained quiet, the
Ms1s %
renew the fight mp hill. General Steinmetx and
staff remained by the batteries under q shower
Ss asSjsctllss, but hardly had an hour passed
French began TO retire. Tho infantry OF the 7th
CORPS rested in a woody gorge between Grav-
slSss and Point SS J9GI SSs Gs,.s SIs,d
s;rSstdy =; :asefsd u eS%bsr It took the VILLAGE
tanned sam; itsst Meantime the yss and ssh corps,
heavy artillery practice, while the first division
Of cavalry teok the aEss anelteSed poeition be-
nina IL, ma the infantry atc1cko0 the enemy
In the wood Af. zGApiyoyf. Again the enemy's
guns were silencsdy while tho Infantry en-
countered osstinate resistance In Genivous
wcod., where she light continued for hours.
Owing to the denaitY OF the woods tho hostile
forces intermixed, apdt Germaus and French
frequently fired into their own Ranks. Emerg-
ing st last from the wood the Pruasians carried
The heights and farm Of st. Hubert yith severe
las. Further advance was impossible on this
side. Tho French artfllery Was Withdrawn, and
the Pru8iaDs became Silent About O'Clock,
IN iUu "a
HArtmAns cavalry % cpCsS the def1e with two
horse bstteries and the fourth uhlans and pur-
sue. Th6 WaA elected ak4 p. m. Tho pursuers
found the enemy had not retreated, bat was
sheltered from tie canDonade by troops which
bad advanced. Our mep encountered muir
deroos dEe from chassep0D, cannon and mitrail-
leurs. The dead And wounded instantly enoum-
befed the roads The batteries soon rcopened,
shelter1Dg the cavalry duel, which continued
the PrusSisn main body fSIl back.
At O'Clock In the morning the Prussian sr-
tilaery reopened, the French replying unit,
sileneeA. At the left, between verpeville and
ArTam Nilliers infantry Dire alone was heard
at 6rst, but 6oon artillery begun, showing the
approach OF Prince Frederick Charles. The
German iosantry held firmly, awaiting the sun
v,nr n o~f;If a ~