New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-30
THE GREAT SORTIES.


trRoM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
p,p1s. Dec. Ave are almost WHO'LL! "o
,,ived OF news the Government reports ueins
inyv meagcr ana the newspapers which, unNer 'he IA"
=, ,,oncc may not ave details, observe the pauo'c
discretion imposed upon them' Wh'n' ho"e''i '"''
sot tbev dcpart 80 widely from the truth, IN even
mat ters that one hestateS To report upon
ther authority one OF Them gives description Oh Deh'
Ircr,t M the battle Of Couya very small village upon
the Marnc but which will become historlcal-"neH
dcriutlon is purely imaginative. 1t says that IN 'ho
worry heat OF the engagement the general went on uo
the head Of his troops Iii one hand he he'd S"o,D'
between his teeth another and in his left manu- q 90
barre,cd r. yolvor In hand-to-hand hght WIN
san officer his sword broke in his manu. "iu -" -,
have been Killed hut for the inter'eH'ioN VI
who DISPOSED suunariy OF the PrlSsl'n' 0'"o -
ulous folk believe in this melo-ola''"'te 49,. ~,
maintain that "ft is just like Ducrot' No,
,u-. Tho D,crot who has charge OF the lhHu
g.. Cor. and who is responsible for the success vi
ono 90 ,le mos; terrible sOrtes ever made Dy pe
toocured CITY, mention the fact 10y way OF warning W
noc who may receive accounts from French SouIceS VI
tt d. doing here Ducrot is brave ana an aoic GUT
dior and la, sworn to die on the field OF honor or 10 re-
r victorious lie is brave to rashness' ana IL Is re-
It'll that hi. soldiers have during the recent engage
,,ents for,ill, withheld him from rushing Nhere uu'I
d5d mo- call Gen. T.ochu gives him all the cIeul' VI INC
,ort victories whatever may be the plan OF action,
GEN Tochu has the credit of having framed ma'ueu,
and proposed IT, He has never held the command oi
more than division, but has the reputation oil gIc"'
Theoretical Skill Of GOODNESS in action, and OF exceeding
.t, f ,,rnose He is an immense favOTite with the
s,liicrg and is acclaimed everywhere on his passage
,brugh the ranks lie has word of encouragement lor
ALL and his addresses always to the purpose In Du
rot he La, Il lief lieutenant Of indoma0lc energy ana
yglor and i'm Nu0v another subordinate wno' ny MS
,fful retreat from Sedan, has acquired reputation
scarcely second to that gained by MoTeaulor MS se
march after Uohenlinden
We have had q succession Of engagements since the
gs-b including two real battles amost extensive scale
foucht h the fragments Of an army dcnOIazed 10y de
feat ami r,ach,y but aided by yourS troops ana by
body OF who, two months ago, were ioI inc lnoSI
mart peacca hokecpcr, mon in business thinking OF
ANYTHING ru, Of being called upon to take part in
bloody campai n against the best disciplined troops
Europe car, produce In the space Of two months Paris
aScreated and completely equipped 100000 menatarms
and their first great ventures have been successes am
speaking upon the authority Of their leaders. Know
from ID. hct that two months ago Gen. Trochu
would not have attempted to lead these men out Now,
ne and Lis colleagues have the fullest confidence III them
They know they have their work to DO and are prepared
for every cventuality. We have had week Of rain
wind frost and sunshine Tie days OF the two great
ENGAGEMENTS the sun shOne more brightly nor in
purcr sky. Alas how many whom that sun cheered on
VII never behold it again.
IOGaY'-
Paris which tells eloquent but sad tale. They are in
formed that losses very great that is necessary
that the wounded should be cared for and that private
charity must in aid Of the slender resources at the
command of the Government They are appealed to
those who are position do one OF more
81 the poor fellows who have exposed their lives for the
salvation Of Paris aud Of the country 1t is to be in
fclrcd from this appeal that the list Of wounded for
uidably long. The Church Of the Trinity is converted
into a hospital The naves have been cleared and beds
mn them Tic wounded might lie in worse quarters, for
The church has oaken plank flooring, is wel-heated
ana ventilated, and is cheerful wltha Mass is now said
la the crypt, As to the number of those who viii have
To accept TINS eccentric accommodation their name is
legion" They have been brought in from the field In all
sorts Of c0uyeyaDces. The boats which do passenger
service on seine have brought down their share. ON
Ibusc by the score have been diverted from their ord-
nary routes and directed TO points where cargo of
sufferers awaited them. Cabs and coaches have also
hecn impressed into the service of humanity, and Their
sd occupation has not ceased Carts, wagons private
calriagcs trucks an kinds OF cOnvcyanCes have figured
iu the mOurnful professions now too familiar 10 on
ycv ana painful reflection comes that their service
will again be required Enemies ana friend
receive eoual attention. The Prussians asonishe,
that tlcy should be cared for. Their officers had i'm
pressed them with the belief that if captured certain
death awaited t,em for the French gave quarter;
the prisoners affirm The bulk Of them are BadOis
Bayar.iu,, scsians, and Pomcranans. But the othe
DAY zoo laid down their arms and were taken Il
Vnccluc~ make no statement upon my own authority
as The number of prisoners taken in the recent actions
bar am assured they exceed 1000.
The more prisoners we make the will ID be for
u view of the proOugaton of the siege and the incrcas
ing scarcity Of provisions. Some 1900 horses killed, OF
disabled on the field, and afterward killed, have beer
utilized by tb' sodery to increase their scanty ratOns
though these may be replaced the stock will not last
beyond certain time. People who have means may
"A A
meal az the resUrotes but the poor are actually suf
fIlng aud hundreds OF respectable families are almost
al starvation point being deprived OF the opportunity Of
gaining their ordinary subsistence Nevertheless, not
murnur Of dissatisfaction complaint escapes the lips
OF those VINO suffer most There hope that the siege
will raised by the efforts making To break through
the cueys lines and The Of the last few days
have infused TT sh into the heart Of the pOpua
ton any reliance IS 10 be placed in the reports OF
writers for the press who profess to record conversations
held with German prisoners much establishment j.
manisfe-ted in the Prussan army at the
resistance OF Paris 1; supposed and the soldiers
given u understand, that the city would fall into
their hands within fortnight. The prisoners
with wO1dtrmen to no signs Of famine and express
CONSERVATION AZ the prospect long offensive re-
ssance the part OF the besieged. Take these reports
for what they worth. On point there now 10
doubt The three classes Of armed men fight and fight
well aud the artillery consisting OF welvepOunder
muzzleloadcr- which have been converted into seven
FOUNDER breechoaders is far superior in extent and
accuracy OF range to the PrusSan hcldguns
The whole Of day before yesterday the thunder OF can
non reSoundng above the rattle Of carriages and the hum
and hustle Of the Boueyards brought home the realities
OF the siege Every spot whence glimpse Of the field Of
action could be obtained was crowded The engagement
wac all on the eastern side Quite early the Prussians
attacked in immense force the Patcaux OF the Marine
between Cbampigny and Vilers positions they lost
on the oh and now held by the troops Of Gen Ducrot
For three hours did the engagement last but the French
artillery the nights Of Avrou and the heavy
guns OF the forts Of Nogent, the Faisapderie
fhn rehnnhI az l,r,veIlns and Mann nrd a.. L..