The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-08-25
disaster TO sracMahon's Army.

A cable dispatch from London under date
of August 10th, furnishes the following let
ter from General Boeher, commanding the
Zouaves of MacMahon's division, relative to
the demolition of those fine soldiers:
SAvERNB, August 8.-Let rs thank God,
who has saved us from the most terrible of
dangers it is soldiers fate to encounter. 1t
is miracle that l am still alive, without a
scratch, and in perfect health but my
heart is broken. i am overwhelmed at the
fate of my poor officers and my poor soldiers.
l dare not tell you how many | have lost
| 1t would greve you too much. Later l
shall know the names of those you knew and
loved but will never see again. The gallant
fellows fought like lions and heroes. Out of
65 officers, Al were killed, wounded and miss
ing.
Att A. NJ, they were full of life and ar
dor, and now all are killed at 2 P. NJ,
my unfortunate Lieut.. Colonel Desporties,
was wounded by my side. a bullet entered
his abdomen, which was discharged but a
few yards distant. He was able to press
| my hand as he was carried off the field, but
he has probably died before this in Prussan
ambulance. Two chiefs de battalion were
shot dead, and a third is either dead or a
prisoner. Saint SAuveux was wounded
badly, and but very little hope is entertained
of his recovery. | had him taken from the
| Geld in an ambulance. The bullet went
through his chest. He behaved splendidly.
| Pierrun was shot stone dead. / have but
| five captains here out Of thirty; the rest are
in Heaven. All my adlutants and must Of
my sergeant majors shared the same fate
The pioneers-better or more gallant men
never breathed-but five left. Two who
were left with the baggage were either sabred
or taken prisoners. My horses were also
captured. My poor black charger was kill
ed under Gen. Sauveaul, to whom l lent
him, his horse having been killed early in
the action. Out of all that | had, all that
remains is the clothes l wear, and 75f. in
my pocket. My baggage, with that oil the
Marshal, has been taken. | don't care for
that. l cannot help crying inwardIy when
| think Of all those l have lost. We fought
like li0ns-35 900 against 100 900. The
enemy surrounded us all sides. Gen. Ca
loon was killed. Ro6t. de Vogue killed
Alfred de Grammont, the Dukes brother,
lost an arm. The other corps suffered al
most as much as our own.
McMahon behaved splendidly, and did
all that any man could do, but he had not
men egough. He was unable TO cope 18th
100 900, with three times more artillery
than he had. Nevertheless be inflicted a
heavy loss on the enemy, and thst, doubt
less, was the reason we were not more Wig
| orously pursued. Had such been the case
| the disaster would have been fearful. 1t is
| bad enough as it is. The battle began at
1870 A. N. After night there was pouring
rain, in which We hau to stand without tents
or fire, or lie down in the mud. During
. the previous day we marched seventy kilo-
! L. E,Il O..
| The last thirty six kilometres were got over
during the night pel-ne, aud without
stopping or stepping. Wa7 is a fearful
scuuFge. We are doomed to forced naction
We have but 500 or 600 Zouaves, without
knapsacks, tents, clothes, or food, but we
have arms. and DO not complain. We are
without officers and uon>commsioned off
GERS and cannot be sent to action. 1t is proba-
bic we will be sent to Strasbourg to reform
Our regimental chests, from all accounts,
have been captured