Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-09-07
THE RECENT FRENCH DEFEAT.
Full Particulars OF the Late Hattie by an
American Correspondent.

Stual, lluISdly nlgnt, says after the de-
| feat ON the 30th and 3lst the French re-
| treated en- masse on Sedan and encamped
around it, and French prisoners say it was
believed that the road to Meziercs was open,
and in case of another defeat retreat
could have easily been accomplished. But
| on "Wednesday evening, The whole Prus-
! sian corps, those sent from Frederick
Charles army, the second army, and the
| Crown Princes, We're making Il forced
|march In the direction of DancbCrg and
| Mezieres to shut in McAIahon's army on
the west and drive them against the Bel
| gian frontier. While this was going ON,
! the SaXons and Guards, 80 coo strong. COM
posing the Prussan right under Prince
| Albert, of SaXony, wore marching rapidly
! to close on the French on the right and on
the Mouse which they had crossed Tues
day, the 3Oth, at Remedy, in the direction
of La Chapelle.
On Thursday morning, at half-past sew
en-, the King started for the battlefield,
where cannonadiug was then going on.
The King drove in an open carriage to
! Cheerange, 33 miles south of Sedan. The
! French had flooded the low meadows in
the valley, before coming 70 the railway
bridge ut Bazeille to stop the Germans
from advancing on the town i'll that direc-
ton. But the French failed to mine the
bridge at BaZeille, and it was of immense
Eservice to the Prussans throughout the
battle, who threw up earth works on the
bridge itself to protect it from the French,
who more than once attempted to storm it,
i'll the hope of breaking the Bavarian com
nlunications between the left and right
banks of the Meuse. On the projecting
spurs of a hill the Bavarians posted two
batteries of breech-lOading steel Keupp
guns, which kept up u duelo till the very
I, end of the day, with the siege guns of Sc
dan, across the Mcrsc
still ftirther to the right flank was an un-
n hp nf ItDyn-
, vile, terminating about u mile and u half
, from Sedan, ut the woods near Richccourt.
Midway between the two places there is a
1 Iravine watered by two brooks, which was
the sccue of the most desperate struggle
and frightful slaughter of the whole battle.
Between this wood and the town were
= several French camps where were shelter
: ed huge masses of troops which were never
used. Separated from them by q
Ifwooded ravine, was a long bare hill
where occurred some Of the hardest fight
ing of the day, and which formed one of
the keys of the position of the French
, army. When this was. once iii the hands
of the Prussans, the whole town of Sedan
was at the mercy of the German guns.
Further to the left lay the yillagegof lily
which was set on fire early in the day by
/. French shells. Above the railroad bridge
: the line to MeHeres was wooded hills
a where the Crown Prince and staff stood du
: ring the day, having amore extensive view
5 than on the one where stood the King
! Bismarck, the Minister Wair, Generals
Z Moltlle, Sheridan and Forsythe.
The object of thePrussian generals was tt
: close the crescent of troops, the shape oft the
S line with which they began battle, intoa cir
!. Gle, by Il junction between the Saxon cOrp'
t ON the right and the Prussians on the left
/. This took place at noon, near the village o
Hey, or Bazeille, in a ravine behind Sc
dan. This terrible circle, once formed
" grew steadily smaller, till ut last the torti
If ticatiOns of Sedan itseifWere enclosed.
d NEW York, sep 4.-Cable dispatches
=. dated Paris Sep. i, state that the Counci
@ of Ministers have issued the folloWin!
proclamation TO the French people:
.e " Great misfortune has come upon on
: country After three days heroic struggle
sustained by the army of Marshal McMa
+ hon against 100000 of the enemy, 4O,OW
a-- men have been made prisoners. Gen. ID
e. Wimpflen, who took command in place o
= McMahon, who was badly wounded, ha
o. signed capitulation. This cruel reNers
i will not shake our courage. Paris
y, to-day in n complete state of defense. Tn
. military forces of the country will be OF
,r ganized in Il few days. A new army wi
be under the walls of Paris, and another
now forming on the banks of the Loire
Your patriotism, your union and your el
ergy will save France. The Emperor Ia
i,,t hos tIIfr frolaS