The New York herald., 1870-11-15
seen BY the rest of the army was therefore, douDly

enect. Exhausted, like the other, by forced marches
which had taken It from Bltche across the vosges
Chalons having lost without hgnt portion OF its
equipments and almost all It's baggage the Flith
corps had an appearance OF Indifference and d s0r-
ganization OF nature to inspire .the most lively
anxiety.
the seventh corps. whose tardy organisation was
same trials the Two foregoing ones; but, In con-
sequence OF the long march from The rear, which
had brought II from Befort through Paris, TO the
camp Of Chaons, IL did not show such solidity as
might have been desired.
Is to The Twelfth corps OF very recent formation.
1t comprised elements OF different degrees OF value.
The First division was composed OF new regiments,
upon which we had reason 70 70 depend the Second.
battaIlons, with Incomplete stan. and OF soldiers
who had never red gun; and, lastly, the Third d.
rines who bore themselves bravely at Sedan, but
who little accustomed to long marches, dotted the
such were the troops upon whom was 10 be i'm.
posed most dithcuit and most dangerous cam
palgn. ...... ...
Rheims on tho 23d; but scarcely had 1t made march
towards establishing itself on the Suippe, ct Bethnl
MacMahon to re-approach the line Of t6e railway.
He made movement on his left and reached Rethel
the 24th In order to obtain for his troops several
days. subsistence. This distribution occupied the
whole OF the day OF the 25th. From Kethe the head
quarters were transported TO Tourter0n.
Since the commencement OF the war the Prince
Imperial, despite his youth had always accompanied
his father and, amid all the incidents OF the cam
paign, had shared is fstigues. But IN view Of the
shal insisted with the Emperor, that the Prince I'M
perial should be removed from the theatre OF war.
He therefore set out to his fathers great regret for
Mezieres, and thence entered Belgium, wnere he
learned the news Of the capitulation OF Sedan.
ON the 21tn the army arrived d Ct La 0hene-P Popu.
ony had effected Its junction with that Of the Prince
Royal OF Prussia, and their vangnards had already
and Douay. The Marshal, observing that the enemy
were gaining upon MIN, resolved, III order TO save
the sole army which France had at her disoositlon,
diateiy gave orders 10 this erect; but during the
night he received by telegraph formal njunctions
the Emperor could have concentrated this sfder,
but he was resolved not to oppose the decision or
the Regency. and had resigned hir.eel to submit TO
self to all the resolutions OF the government. AS
decision made known from Paris, and 6hce more
These orders eau counter-orders occasioned de.
iays J! the movements. Headquarters reached
Stcnne on the 2sth. Unfortunately, the different
unable to group themselves around this position
and those OF De Faily and Douay were attacked
the intention Of the Marshal was 70 reach
Stenay and from thence Montmedy But the
enemy was already In strength In the first OF these
1M2 sSwpa e Iae v prussan army hsd made forced
occupied six days with ratlgued troops In marching
twenty live leagues. We were therefore obliged to
establish headquarters at Raucour In order to pass
the Meuse at Mouz0n. -N
While, on the morning Of August 80, portion Of
the army effected this movement, already executed
on the previous evening by General .Lebrun, the
corps Of De Fallly and Douay still the left bank
or the Meuse, became engaged near Beaumont with
De Faily's corps, sharply pushed by the attacking
troops, fought well for several hours, but 1t was
nnally thrown back In disorder towards Mouzon.
The brigade sent to support 1t was involved in the
retreat AS for General D0uay arriving at Remilly,
he was obliged 70 cross the narrow passage OF the
the corps Of bncret reached Garignan after long
For the third time Marshal MacMahon was COM
peled to abandon the project Of going to the succor
Of Marshal Bazaue; and during the night Of the
tmpossibilIty OF reaching Montmedy, he gave the
order to withdraw upon Sedan. This city classed
pable OF resisting the power Of new artillery, It
was, moreover imperfectly arrived and badly pro.
vsioned. possessed no exterior works and offered no
portance, except that 1t ls joined to Mezieres and
Paris by the railway, winch, passing BY Hlrson. was
The troops, weakened by Continuous marches, at.
fected by successive checks fell back Without much
order towards Sedan where they srriyed, harasssd
The Emperor, VINO on the evening Of the soth was
sSeniSs the news of the movement Il retreat i ' and
the advice from Marshal MacMahon to take the rall-
h than to so on
secure his personal safety. The proposition to do 50
to separate from the army, and determined to share
its tate, whatever IL might be- On the morning Of
the slsf the following proclamation was issued to
been Fortunate determined TO aside personal consd
shais particularly Indicated BY public opinion. ~
% 70 ns tine s ss has mot or
sane has reformed under the walls Of Metz and that of
e ss an s p
ne re 70 Sas Se4 70 ap and =.
serious crcumsancesthe Empress wornily representing
Sovereign No Be- O y 90 1a
try 1t still contains, thank God men of courage and
mete out justice 10 them ~ "-N p''s '''''Ap' "A'
ss scSn %snSy gs y God will not
,s Given at the Imperial at seSsns
This proclamation, which we had barely time to
distribute was the last appeal which the Emperor
addressed to his soldiers.
While the French army took up Its position around
Sedan the Prussians, TO the number OF 23O OOO con-
tnued their march upon our track, and arrived at
nearly the same moment as ourselves in sight of the
town. 1t was too late to avoid The battle which they
offered, and which we were now obliged to accent
in the disadvantageous position where we had been
driven.
Our four corps d'armee were massed, not far
from the city, In the order assigned for the move.
ment OF retreat: the Seventh corps, which formed
the rear guard on the march towards Metz was
from Mezieres to the west OF Sedan, Occupying
the ground from Fl0ing to Cavaire d'Illy. The
First corps extended from the Petitc Moncelle to
Givonnes and D'Atgny. The Fifth corps was posted
partially In the town, partially the heights which
command on the southeast the gully OF Givonnes.
The Twelfth corps occupied La Aoncee, La Petite
Moncslle and La Platinerle, near Bazeilles.
The army was thus formed in O semicircle ronnd
tpe town, the two wings leaning on the Meuse.
Never was an army placed In such all unfavorable
situation. Generally, well-defned plan of opera
tion is followed, assuring line OF retreat on Which
are the reserves the ambuances &c. Here on the
contrary our troops rlsked being surrounded on all
sides, without any line OF retreat; and II they had
the misfortune to attempt to take refuge in the CITY,
they could only preCipitate themselves into an nex
trcable defle through narrow gates and streets.
encumbered with Wagons and baggage.
of campaign imposed from Paris, and contrary to
the most elementary principles Of the art OF war;
On the morning Of the 31st the corps OF General
Lebrun had already been engaged, and had slls.
tanned the struggle with equal energy and courage
But the army OF the enemy, relying upon the superb
Ority Of numbers, had divided its forces into two
principal masses, which were to attack separately