New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-26
THE BATTLE AT METZ.
Details of the Fight on sunday, Au-
gust II
Ispecial Telegra1n 10 the New York Tlnes.l

Especial Telegram to the New York Tines
PARIS, August 17.-Our special cores
pondent writes from Metz on Monday, as
follows:
Yesterday we thought ourselves shut III
herc-and all chances OF sending letters
gone. for we got nothing, even from Paris:
but this morning | hear the post will start
for the capital. and | take my chance OF
your getting what [ am able to tell you
from inside OF a town surrounded by ar
mies-whether French or Prussian, does not
much matter, SO far as the news is con-
cerned.
cat eleven o'clock on Sunday, Marshal
Bazaine effected grand reconnaissance
with one division of LAdmirault's corps.
cat two p. NJ. a battle commenced on
the right at Bourey. Until four it was of
no great Importance. Then the fourth army
corps, forming the first line of battle. ac-
complished a maneuvre intended to drive
the Prussians into the belief that ii was re-
treating. This was at Ais POM.
THE Prussians fell into the trap, rushed
forward aud attacked with surprising vigor
Then the fourth corps. whose retreat to the
left was mere feint. fell at once on the
enemy's flank, while McMahon's, on the right
attacked simultaneously. The Prussian
attack III the meantime had been developed
in great force in the French centre. The
movements ON both sides were effected with
singular precision, and the whole spectacle
was like review at Chalons. The Pr,ls-
slams advanced in close column against the
French line, which their artillery, splendi.lly
served as it was, had vainly attempted to
shake. The French officers considered the
Prussian infantry was relatively inferior
to their artillery. The needle gun is
heavy, and appears to incommOde them
greatly when climbing height or
moving rapidly over broken ground
The soldiers themselves were active. They
fired lying fat on the ground, and seeking
cover from every irregularity. but do not
use their knapsacks as the French do. to
make little ramparts in front of them and
rests for their guns. 1t is true, as has been
said of the other battles of Woerth and
Forbach, that the Prussians fred with great
deliberation, while the French ratified away
as fast as they could discharge their chasse-
pots. The regiments most closely engaged
were the sixty-eighth, ninetieth. forty fourth
sixtieth, thirty ghth, tifty-fOurth, sixty
fifth and eighty-fitth of the line; the elev-
enth and fifteenth foot chasseurs. and the
eighth, ninth and tenth batteries of the first
regiment of artillery. Those which suffered
most were the forty-fourth and ninetieth of
the line, and the fifteenth foot chassellrs.
The torty-fourth. especially. was t0erablv
shattered, while the eighty-fifth, though in
the thlckcst of the fight, had but thirty u
men killed and wounded. The colonel Of the
forty-fourth was killed.
AS 1t Is impossible to leave the town, and
as this action Was fought, or at any rate be
gun az some distance outside the tortitica-
IONS, can't pretend TO give you the ac-
count OF an eyewitness, nor q complete ac-
count at all. The above details are mostly
Satnered rom ofhcers coming into town
aiter the hght was over. At the beginning
L followed the troops Of husssrs as far as I
was permitted to, and what | saw of fbc
h9ht was from a hillock close bv the walls
a stan omcer came to summon the bussar
regiment with the officers with whom 7 y1as
seated III a cafe. In five minutes they ran
OIL and halted on the hilloclz above men
toned On sudden signal they were tear
ing away to the front, and in a moment
more the artillery on both sides had covered
the WORKS IN front OF the ground with a
thick cloud OF smoke There was NOTHING
to do but to return to the town.
which | did at $50 p. NJ. Al
eight o'clock in the evening a bulletin
was placed i'll the streets, saving. The
firing is nearly over. The Prussian lines
extended three leagues. Ground was
gained in every direction 1t did not say
by whom the ground was gained. An officer
who came back later from the fell maintain.
ed chat the victory rested with the French.
and that the PrtIssians had been outgener-
aled and lost heavily, while the French
were comparatively little exposed. But a
Prussian officer, who was taken prisoner
and came into my cafe on parole with
French officer, told different story. Said
he, You had better surrender at discretion.
We are more than hundred thousand
strong, and you will be crushed. As to the
battle, you had it your own way at first, for