The New York herald., 1870-09-07
glIE BlTTLE OF SEDAN.


LONDON. Sept o, 1870.
A HERALD special correspondent, French of1cer
with Maciahon's army, who witnessed the battle at
Sedan on the French side, and the rout and was
shut up in Sedan with the French army having been
released, reached London with the following ac-
COUNT
pass over all that has happened since I
wrote you at Mezieres to come at to the events
81 august No. 81 amd sep.e noer re la,ser she sad
Early III the morning OF the 3lst orders were given
to bring into town all the wagons, trains and oxen
time the streets were blocked up by troops OF every
kind, which had entered town during the night I
train was stationed. To carry the orders / was
obliged to get OF my horse and make my way as
best could between the horses and caissons, which
choked up every street and square Of the town. Az
reched the Porte de Paris met the Wagon train en-
terlng fast possible followed closely by the rush.
ing oxen.and interminged with the weeping and ter
r0r-sircken peasantry OF the neighp0rhoOd. nyng
into the town for protection. They little knew that t
tine TSas pee ss i1Ta
closed, while the troops slowly filed ont through tho
opposite gate toward Douzy. where all MacMahon's
BY the Prussians, who had closely followed up the
French army
Ing was heard SIX or seven miles away toward the
village OF BazeiIles. went up on the rampant look.
ing over the country in that direction. Thence
could see The Prussian position, and with my Held
glass could watch the firing plainly, but could not
well see the French lines, winch were hid from me
by trees about mile from the town. therefore at
noon walked out Of the town at the Porte de Balan
and ascended on my left the rising ground which Ia
close by the town, not more than half mile from
the gate. l passed through regiments or reserve
infantry. Their arms were piled and the fires smok.
ing, the soup having not long ago been eaten.
/ continued ascending ana everywhere passed
reserve corps Of infantry and artillery got higher
and higher, from hillocck TO hllock, till reached
& U cine e ea wih VI ne s
THIS battery was SO pointed as to Ire over the crest
Of the rising ground on which stood, about quar-.
ter OF a mile in front OF little churchyard. Here
stood also several officers OF the different corps
which were stationed OH my right and left, all Of
From the point had now reached q charminp
scene was in view. The French line OF battle ex.
tended right in 'front.' spreading on the slope Of the
ground which forms one side Of this basin OF the
Meuse. In front OF the centre OF the French lines
and lower down In the vale, was the village Of Ba.
zeilles which was then beginning to burn the Prus
sian shells having set fire to It. Parallel almost to
the front Of the French positions ran the Meuse,
crossed by bridge little TO the left OF Bazeles
The French right was upon Kind OF wooded
ground. held by tiralleurs, the wooded ground ex.
tending nearly TO the grounds or Sedan. The
French let was lost to my sight behind the inequali
ties OF the ground towards the road to
Bouillon as far as | could see. Right and
ments Of ali arms; but towards the LETT. on the
second line WAS very large force OF heavy cavalry.
dragons and cuirassiers. The sun was shining
glltteGing OF weapons, the bright and showy coors
OF the French uniforms, the white smoke curling
the OF lingering, VapOr ike, Deneatn
the trees, the cracking flames rising from the burn
Ing village OF Bazeiles the whole seen from o COM
mandlng position, formed a spectacle which one
seldom inds himself In position TO witness.
The principal Prussan batteries were directly 0p-
poste the French centre, on piatea,kOr table land
which terminated abruptly aud made 1t very
strong position. For sonlo time the cannonadIa
continued on both sides. AT two O'Clock force Il
Prusslan infantry advanced the bridge In the
village OF Douzy and immediately there
began a very sharp fusiiade, lasting, how
ever, not more than ten minutes. think the
French must have lost ground In that encounter,
although could not see for some trees that inter-
vened; but "a battery OF six mitraicuses advanced
and opened fre through the trees. SIX v0lleys
came all at once. The Prussans fell hurriedly back,
leaving whole ranks behind whcn had gone down
like those eaden soldiers which children play with.
About half-past four the firing had ceased every
where The village, which had been blazing all day.
was still smoking. The French renamed In the
same position. Though the day had apparently been
without result. its description IL Q necessary
prelude TO tho bitter story OF the morrow.
At half past five returned TO the town.
The Emperor who had arrived during the ninhs
had Issued proclamation, which was posted on M
wall, saying that he had connded the Command Of
the armies 70 the generals whom public opinion had
seemed 10 select as most capable Of leading them,
and that he hlmself intended to light as an oficer
forgetting for while his position as sovereign
The next morning, Thursday, September ], I re-.
CONTINUED on TENTH PAGE