The New York herald., 1870-09-05

allow them 10 be again so cruelty decmated.
Justice compels me to state that this arrange
ment was very far indeed from being pleas
ing 10 the Guards themselves. who are ever anx-
ious TO be IN he front or the battle.
The Guards and Sax0ns. then about Is, 900 strong
were all day on the right bank OF the Meuse, be-
tween Rubecourt and La Chapelle, at which latter
village Prince Albert OF Saxony, who was in COM
mand or the two corps which have been formed into
little extra army by themselves, passed the night
Of Thursday.
T4e ground from Ru0ec0urt to the Meuse was oc-
cnpled by The First Bavarian corps.
The Second Bavarian corps extended their front
from near the Bazeille Railway bridge 10 point
on the high road from Donchery TO Sedan, not far
from tile little village OF TOrcy
Below the hill ON which the Crown Prince was
placed, the ground from Torcy to lily, through the
large village OF Flong, was held by the First and
Third frussian CORDS, belonging to Prince Frederick
Charles and temporarily attached to the army Of the
Crown Prince.
This was the position or the troops about nine
O'Clock on Thursday mornln g. September ], and no
great advance took place till later than that, for the
artillery had at first all the work to do
Sti fnrther to the LETT near D0nchery, there were
10000 Wurtemburgers ready TO cSst on the French
from Mezifres, IN case Of their making push for
that fortress
THE FORCES ENGAGED
The number Of the Prussian troops engaged was
estimated by General Moltke at No, ,Ooo and that OF
the French at 100000.
We know that MacMahon had with him on Tues
day 100000 mcn-that s, four corps; his own, that
lately commanded by General de Failly, now under
General lie Brun; that OF Felix Douay brother Of
General Abel Douay, killed at weissenburg; and
fourth corps. principally composed Of Carde Mo-
bile, the name Of whose commander has escaped
me.
MacMahon, although wounded, commanded in
chief ON the French side.
1t is almost needless to my that the real comman-
der-in-cnief OF the Prussians was Won MOtke, with
the Crown Prince ana Prince Albert OF Saxony i'm
mediatcly next In command
THE BATrIE-HOw THE FIGHT OPENED AND PRO-
GRBSsED.
There were few stray cannon shot fred, merely
sighting Shots however, al soon as the range was
obtained, but the real battle did commence until
SIX O'Clock, becoming sharp artillery fight at nine,
when the batteries had each got within easy range
and the shells began to do serious mischief
At dfty-hve minutes past eleven O'Clock the mus.
kerry 1re IN the valley In the rear OF Sedan which
had opened about twenty five minutes past eleven
O'Clock, became exceedingly lively, being one con.
tnuous rattle, only broken by the growing of the
mi'railleurs which played with deadly effect the
advancing Saxon and Bavaran columns.
Major General Sheridan, United States Army by
Whose side was standing, told me that he did not
remember ever to have heard such a well sustained
fire OF small arms. IL made itself heard above the
roar OF the batteries at our feet.
At twelve O'Clock noon precisely the Prussian bat
terry of guns the slope above The broken rail-
way bridge over the Meuse near La vlllete had ST.
fenced two batteries Of the French guns at the foot
OF the bare hills already mentioned the village
OF FlOing. At ten minutes past twelve O'Clock the
infantry, no longer supported by their artillery,
were compelled to retire to Flong, and AFTER
wards the junction between the saXons and Prus-
slams behind Sedan was announced to us by General
Won Room, who was eagerly peering through large
telescope, as being safely completed.
THE FRENCH IN RETREAT-COMMENCEMENr OF THE
RoUT AND COMING TO A CLOsE-THE PRUssIAN
PURSUIT AND FIRE.
From this moment the result Of the battle could
no longer be doubtful. The French were completely
surrounded ana brought to bay,
Al tusn>- five minutes past twelve we were all as
tonshed to clouds Of rctreating French infantry
on the Hill between Floing and Sedan, a Prussian
battery making good practice with percussion shells
among the recelng ranks The whole hill for quar-
ter of an hour was literally covered with French.
men running rapidly less than half an hour after.
At ten minutes TO one General Won Room called at
tention to another French column in full retreat to
the right Of Sedan. on the road leading from Ba-
zelcs to La CAYENNE wood
They never halted till they got to a small red rooted
house the outskirts Of Sedan ITSELF
Almost at the same moment Major General SherI-
dan asked US to look al third French column mov-
ing up broad grass road through La CAYENNE
wood, Immediately above Sedan doubtless to sup
port the troops defending The important Bazeies
ravine to the northeast OF the town.
At one o'clock r. NJ. the French batteries on the
edge OF the wood, toward Toney ana above It. opened
a vigorous fire on the advancing Prussian columns
OF the Third corps whose evident intention It was
to storm the hill northwest Of La CAYENNE. and so
gain the key Of the position on that side.
THE FINAL "RUsH."
At 4uarter past one O'Clock yet another French
battery near the wood opened on the Prussian
columns, which were compelled to keep shifting
their ground fll ready for their final rush at the
hills, and in order to avoid Offering SO good mark
to the French shells.
Shortly afterward we saw the first Prussian skir-
mishers on the crest Of the La CAYENNE hills above
Toney. They did not seem in strength, and General
Sheridan exclaimed, "Ah the beggars are too weak;
they never hold that position against all those
French"
The Generals prophecy soon proved correct, for
the French advancing at least six to one the Prus-
SLAMS forced TO retreat down the hill TO seek re-.
Inducements from the columns which were hurry
ing to their support.
In five minutes they came back again. this time in
greater force but s terribly inferior to those huge
French masses.
THE FRENCH CUIRAssIERs.
"Go0d heavens; the French curassers are going
TO charge them" cried Major General Sheridan; and
sure enough the regiment OF curassers, their he'll
NETS and breastpiates nashing In the September
sum- form In sections OF squadrons and dash down
on the scattered Prussian skirmishers without
deigning to form In line. Hollow squares are never
used by the Prussians The infantry received the
cuirassiers with crushing, quick fire tschnelleuer
at about 100 yards distance loading and firing with
extreme rapidty and unfailing precision into the
dense French squadrons.