The New York herald., 1870-09-15
TIE BATTLE or SEDAN.

HE 6R IE Or SEDAN.
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Special Report Of the Great Fight in the VAL
ley Of the Mense-Opcning aud Termination
Of the EnGn9emcni-Partsal Success OF the
French Ultimate Victory and Triumph
of the Prussians-Charses aud Counter
Charses-How the French Held Thcir Posi-
tiOn--A Critical Moment, WaverinG, and
Defented-Twcnty Thousand Prussians aud
Ten Thousand French Killed and Wounded.
BoUHLON. Belgian Frontier, Sept 1, 1870.
Two days and one night spent in the open fields,
in weather which is deemed cool even for autumn
In this mountainous country, does not dispose any
one to give true. faithful and graphic account of
what he has seen. I have just returned from
thirty-six hours sojourn on the hills and In the
woods Of Ardennes, and have seen, 80 far as
one individual can see along o line that
extends twenty miles and more. ono Of those fear
fully bloody nattles which seem to he distinguish
ing feature IN this campaign, and which yet seem to
be so far unsatisfactory that both sides claim as
they evidently will claim in this instance the vic
tory.
have named the fight that took place to-day the
battle Of Sedan for two reasons. In the first placa
Sedan III the most important town village along
the whole line; ana the second place It was last
night the headquarters both OF MacMahon and the
Emperor himself.
I may further mention that whatever other faults
his Majesty may have, he has to-day shown himself
to be no coward, for he was TO be seen here and
there and everywhere, wherever the balls ralned
hardest.
THE FIELD-POsIrioNs OF THE ARMIES.
To understand In some measure the events OF the
past three days the valley of the Meuse you must
imagine An obong, OF which the right ana leit---
which are the longest--silles are formed by the
armies OF
The Crown Prince OF Prussia ana Prince Frederick
Charles respectively, ana the top and bottom SIDES
which are the SMALLEST are formed by the armies OF
MacMahon and Bazaine. The objects OF the Crown
Princes army (which Is the right hand side OF the
obong) twoiold on the one hand 10 keep press
ing on slowly but surely towards Paris and on the
other hand TO prevent the junction OF Bazafne and
MacMahon.
The army OF Prince Frederick Charles formed by
the left hand side the oblong also two objects
IN view. Like the other Prussian army 1t is trying
TO prevent junction OF the two French armies, and
also to work round the top side OF the oblong Mac
Mahon's army and cut of his communications with
Paris.
On the other hand, the two French armies, the top
and bottom OF the oblong, are trying to form juno
ton with each other, and the top slde MacMahon's
army, is also doing its best Keep open its commu
nications with Paris.
BAzAINE's GENERALS
Such then has been the position OF the TWO Prus-
sian and TWO French armies for the last ten days,
and such, indeed, was the position they held until
yesterday, when Bazaine surprised the Prince Fred
erlck Charles by attack ON his rear, at the same
time that MacMahon made 1ent OF attacking the
army of the Crown FRINGE, and by the evening OF
yesterday both French armies were in full commun,.
cation.
In the meantime MacMahon's attack was carried
further than was intended, and the Crown Prince
knowing that the other Prussian army was also en-
gagged fell back in order not to be cut of from II.
This morning early, or rather last night, the mistake
was discovered but too late to be recthed for Mac
Mahon mad made good use OF the advantages
he had gained, and placed along the heights
that command the valley OF the Moselle. not only
his freshest troops, but his best batteries OF artillery
THE CROWN PRINCES DIFFICULTIES AND CHOICE.
Thus when, the day broke this morning, the
THE to fall back from CaTgnaii which is on the
borders OF the Ardennes. towards Champagne, and
| allow MacMahon to cut him off from the direct road
TO Paris the second to fight his way along the No
selie, trust to numbers and generaship to out
| flank and outnumber his adversary, and the third
TO turn TO his let occupy the forest that forms the
outlying portion OF the forest Of the ArdenneS and
make his way by the Rheims road to Paris.
OF these three difficulties he selected the first
being all the more obliged to do so that already Il
| whole DIVISION or ms army had. so to speak, got
| entangled on The road, and could not have fought
| its way back without great loss.
/ DEPARTS FROM FIELD ErIQUETTE-THE WORK CON-
| MENCEs
It was the first time ever heard the Prusstans
commence fight early IN the morning. As q rule
their practice Is TO let the eat as good meal as
! they can get before the battle begins But 1t was
| otherwise to-day.
To push on and get past the French position in the
early dark would have been immense deal gained
! and the attempt was consequently made.
| But the French army is alert enough and active
| enough wnen it believes that it has victory on
hand and to-day 1t had not only victory before it,
| but a month Of defeats tn avenge.
The Prussians commenced to move before four A.
NJ, but no sooner did the head OF their column de-
bouch along the road to Sedan than the French ar
tillery commenced to Shell them with the deadly
effect. AS matter OF course the heights on which
| the french guns were placed were stornel again
and again by the Prusslans the iuain column con.
tinuin2 It's route. But IL was Of use. Infantry
was met repulsed by infantry, the mitTall,cuseg
assisting the deadly work. S,ill the main column
pushed on, aud still the French swept the Prussian
line oil march.
Thls work continued for upward OF two hours
duing winch time the losses were fearful the side
OF the German army
In Ghe mean time a change took place on the part
of the Prusslans. II was seemingly determined by
their leaders attack the French line It stood
break ii and thus mold the whole line OF the heights
along tue MOselle. ta
TO eneci this an attempt was made TO- outaank
MacMahon, which he met by partial change OF
front, bringing forward his right. Then it that
the french left rested on Carignan or Cnargnan.
| With the Belgian frontier beyond, and Its right
| doubled back in Il half circle upon Sedan.
The position was an admirable one, well selected
| and one which did MacMahon infinite credit. Had
he been well supported there IS uitle doubt but that
| total victory would have been the result OF the
| days fighting. But, marvellous to relate, whole
French division the left OF that line gave way in
the most ignominious manner, and almost before q
! hundred men had been killed or wounded made b Y
companies and battalIons for the Belgian frontier,
where they laid down their and declared them
selves PRISONERS or the Belgian troops guard
the rontles or that country and prevent It's neu-
trality being broken.
You will hardly believe, as write this every viii
lage hamlet farm tavern or other place OF refuge
for fnes along and within the Belgian frontier is
full or these French soldiers una officers; by far the
greater part OF them have not scratch In the very
room below the one am writing III there are two
yop1 officers OF cavalry, both unwounded, both Of