Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-08-24

Gravelotte. so that neither Of the roads,
which at that point branch off to vcr'lun
north and sOuth-wt sterly, was any longer
open to the French army. / reached the field
just as this forward movement OF the Prus-
slams had been accomplished. The ground
was favorable for good view of both posi-
tions, and it was apparent at glance that the
French had already relinquished line OF de-
fence important to them iactically and STRAIT
egically
by o'clock the French batteries covering
the Verdun road from The north and east were
silenced, and the Prusians had advanced so
far from the south of that road as to occupy
the farmhouse at Mamaison. little north
west from Gravelo,te Twenty minutes later
the French fire slackened and wavered that
the Prussian batteries were once more pushed
forward. and took up new position in front
OF Grayelottc. At 3 30 the Prnusian cavalry
went into action. They advanced under a
hot fire from the French guns. The attack
was made in considerable force by the Unians,
both cuirassicrs aud hnssarS; but they were
at first without infantry support, and could
make no ctiuus impression on position still
naturally strong and ST i'll held in force by all
arms of the French.
But half an our later, il being now nearly
four in the afternoon, a portion of the Third
prussan corps had come upon the ground
The infantry regiments were formed as fast
they came into the position rom which
the serious attack was to be directed on what
appeared to be the key Of the French lines.
At four the Thirty-third Regiment of the
Prussian line was launched against the same
position which the cavalry had failed to reach.
Il moved forward with the utmost determina-
ton; but the French by this time had reen-
forced their defence more strongly tLan the
Prussians had their attack, and they still out
numbered their assalants ana steadily main
tanned the second line which they had occu-
pi,d.
A. the different divisions of the Prussian
army came into position they attacked torci
bly,, but were rep, atcdly driven back with
heavy loss. The struggle lasted with va.y-
ing fortunes of the lines, until eight O'Clock.
Up to that hour the French held their ground.
At 5 O'Clock the Prussians massiug heavy
forces on their lett attacked and carri, La
Nillctte hamlet, covering the French right.
This once in Prussian hands enable them to
enti'ate the French lines and take in reverse
some ot their outworks. The ground the
French held so obstinately and SO gaIlantly
during nine hours, they were compelled TO
abandon, and at nine o'clock were driven
back upon Metz and under cover of its cut
lying forts. Their last hold upon the Nerdun
road was abandoned, their communications
destroyed to the east and west, and the French
army of the Rhine, after losing three pitched
battles since Sunday, was shut up in the for
trcss which they had chosen Scr the base of
their operations for the evasion of Germany.
The ci ghth Prussian corps, numbering with
the other di, isious over 30. 600 men, bore the
hrunt OF the battle. The Second and Third
corps were partially engaged. 1000 French
prisoners were taken. The Frussian loss in
killed, wounded and missing is estimated to-
night at no less than 10000 OF the Fr nch
losse, no estimate can yet he formed, but
tn, ir defeat is complete. and it is believed
that they are no longer in condition to make
any further att, mpt to escape. The Prussian
.rrly in spite of all its losses is i'll the high
est spirits.
Rumors of peace are already circulated in
| the camps and the hardest work of the cam
paign is Thought by The soldiers TO be over.
General Sheridan on the field and saw
the battle from Count BisInarks carriage.
General Forsyth was also present.