South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-08-26


The Eperdnce, of Nancy, states that af-
ter all the French soldiers had left the city
of Nancy the Prussians ordered the Mayor
to present himself before the commander of
the Prussian forces. The town was made to
pay 5O,OOOf. acquisitions were also issued
for large quantities of rations and forage
This reads as if Beast BUTLER were in Nancy.
We don't believe the story as told. The troops
were probably fed once at the expense Of the CT
tizens because their commissary stores had not
arrived.
Instead of few hundred prisoners hav-
ing been captured at Weissenburg, their
number amounts to nearly 1000. The
French soldiers stood their ground well.
Their rifles proved terribly destructive. It
was downright hard fighting which enabled
the Germans to claim the honors of the day.
A wounded French prisoner avowed in nv
hearing that his countrymen could not with
stand the weight of the German attack.
The fight being ore not of bullets only, but
of bayonets also, it was decided at last by
the actual strength Of the respective com.
batants. Physically the German soldiers,
on the average, are heavier men than ordi-
nary. The French supposed that the new
weapons would alter warfare-that the old
style hand-to-hand combats were obsolete.
This engagement proved otherwise. Tri-
hume telegram.
The German loss has been proportionate-
~ enormous. BY day and night the woun-
ded have been arriving here Prussian head
quarters This afternoon ali the beds in
the hospitals are occupied these contain
about 1000 men. The field hospitals are
also full. Hundreds Of wounded men we're
sent on to Frankfort, where there is accom-
mediation for 5,000.-IJ.
Prussian soldiers say that the hardest
fighting ofall was at Wessenburg. There
was much hand-to-hand work but the
French, although brave, know not the use
Of the bayonet. No Prussian soldier has
received a bayonet wound
Toul is a fortified town Of about 1000
inhabitants, situated on the left bank Of the
Moselle, twelve miles west Of Nancy. 1t
is on the railroad from Paris 10 Strawsbourg
and IS military station Of some impor.
lance, having an arsenal and barracks for
cavalry and infantry. The town is largely
engaged in manufactures Of lace, calico, and
hardware. IL has a Gothic cathedral, built
in the fifteenth century, and near by are
cha!ybeate springs Of considerable note.
Some newspapers assert that the Prus.
SLAMS make the country people march IN
front Of their advancing lines, so that the
French troops may be forced 10 FIRE upon
their countrymen when they attack the
enemy.
lFalso assertion. We had the same story here
during our late war.
DR. Russell thus describes n charge Of
The Eighth cuiraisseurs on the Eighteth
Prussian infantry when the French
we're at a distance Of 100 yards they were
ezterminoted by the Prussian fire.
The French admit that The Psussiaus nav
the country people for all supplies
fWhat a contrast 90 tbe conduct Of tbe armies
Of our paiernal" Government
Private letters from Paris describe the
Emperor as sadly changed and worn BY the
heavy days and slceplcss nights.
Letters from the scat Of war notice
practice u tho Prussians 10 an engagement
10 station sbarpshooters 90 the rlrht of
each platoon TO pick ~ French officers.
IWha. terrible fellows t}-Daraleb.
IL There are three things in the world