The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-06
FIRST EDITION
CHANzY's FLIGHT FROM LIE MANS. Z
The Terrible Retreat of the French to Rennes
"A DisOrderly and ExhaustlnR nIarch
YhrOuah Ten Inches of Snow.

LAVAL Jan. 15.-I started Yesterday morning
from Alencon in the only conveyance could
get I. e. an open kind of cabriolet, to which was
attached two horses for the snow which has
lately fallen is so deep that 1t was rs much as
two horses could do to get along. Before lett
Alencon despatch had appeared from Chanzy
which was dated the night before-that is Thurs
day night, O'Clock, and which said that at that
time his positions were still good, excepting at
the Tuilleries, where the giving way of corps
of modified National Guards had compromised
the safety of the army, and Admirals Iavregui-
berry and Jaurez declared in their opinion that
it was necessary to fall back and he had de-
cited upon doing so. The despatch did not say
word about lie Mans being occupied by the
enemy. Moreover, on Thursday evening, a
gentleman left me to go to the Projects, and,
on joining me again, told me the Prefect had
told him there was success complete. Is
it not wonderful? Notwithstanding all
these evasions and falsehoods, the population fully
believed in the rumor which was abroad, that lie
Mans was taken, and this, of course, did not aug
ment their hopes or tranquillize them much seeing
that that place in the hands of the Prussians goes
great way to completely destroy the communications
between the sbuth and the north, between the seat
OF government and Fa1dherbe.
The cold was intense, and the snow quite ten
inches thick so that even the centre of the
roads was not marked out, for the traffic had
been very small, and the suow in most cases
was scarcely tumbled; so that often we went into
the bitches on the roadside. In the villages we
passed through, or rather the one we stopped at,
the officers of the diligence party were hooted
(FuydedS); for the spy mania seems to have
completely subsidized, and in its stead appears to
have sprung up n spirit of persecution against
French oflicert specially against the unfortun-
ate ''mobilises," who, it is thought, have always
been prone to fly.
/ did not arrive here till o'clock, and was
not prepared to find all the symptoms of the
retreat taking place through here. Nota bed
to be had-every place crowded with officers of
every corps. learned that divisional staff
was in the town. The officers were all very foot
sore, and had evidently come by road. 1t was
not till this morning, however, that the town
became quite aware of all that was in store for
them. With early morning the retreat was
taking place through here in an unmistakable
manner. 1t was pititul sight.
have no doubt the French kilograms have
informed you that the retreat was making with
the best order, etc. Well, here Il am in the
midst of these flying herds of men, and all |
can say is that il is q complete 'debandade. !"
The corps which is passing through here is
supposed to be, and is called TIE 10th; but
tts battslions " companies, ETC., '' of every every
other corps mixed up in the most inextricable
puzzle all having marched as they listed, and
by whatever route they chose, the infantry
(Mobies and line) showing the greatest anxiety
of all to ge out of reach of the enemy, who
is in hot pursuit. l have been told whole
droves of Mobiles have marched during tht
night and rested during the day. in order no
to be molested by the gendarmes of the pro
vosty, whose mission is to pick up and turr
back disbanded soldiers and, in short
force them back not the way they should go
General Michel's division of cavalry Ca bette
securing the villages and purging the house
and farm houses of the Mobiles and Nations
Guards who had earthed themselves there b
thousands. They drove them along, smith
them hip and thigh with the fats of thel
swords. 1t is really sad to have to relate sue
things but what could one expect?