The New York herald., 1871-01-15
The Battle Of lie Mans.

The Battle Of lie Mans.
We publish in this mornings HERALD the
full particulars of the recent battle near LIE
Mans, received from our special correspon-
dent in that city. For weeks past the Army
of the Loire, under the command of General
| Chanzy, has been man9uvring in front of the
forces by which they were opposed. Move
ments were initiated by General Chanzy
against the Mecklenburg troops, who at one
time composed almost the entire force opposed
to him, which brought to the French army
success and to the sympathizers with France
hope. A glimmer of light had at length
appeared on the horizon, 80 long dark and
dreary. With many it was thought that the
day was fast approaching when Chanzy, with
his two hundred thousand men, assault
ing the German investing line out
side the walls of the doomed capital,
would have been the signal for Trochu to mass
his forces and strike from within, cut his way
out and make junction with the army which
had come to his rescue. Such consumma-
ton was not as remote as many seemed to
consider it. The forces appointed to keep
watch over Chanzy and stay his advance on
Paris were unequal to the task. The French
commander was pressing them sorely, gaining
little, it is true, but still gaining. The Ger
man commander-in-chief saw it, dreaded it,
and resolved to check it. Chanzy's maneu-
wiring so fur had succeeded. 1t may be that
the very success he attained surprised him.
He rested-call 1t hesitation; but, whatever it
may be, that delay cost him in the end defeat.
That Chanzy's movements were the source of
considerable anxiety in the German camp we
are well satisfied; for it was not until the very
position of his forces, as well as the
strength of the army under his command,
became almost threatening that the German
commander-in-chief resorted to the adoption
of that policy which all through the war has
proven 80 fruitful of results for the armies of
Germany. Finding the army opposed to
Chauzy unequal to the task of staying the
French advance, Prince Frederick Charles,
with his veterans, was ordered to assume the
offensive, reinforcements were hurried on from
investing lines outside Paris, and the German
forces opposed to the Army of the Loire were
not emily rendered equal in point of numbers,
but made superior to it. This point gained,
and the results may be briefly summed up for
the French in these wsrds-checked and
defeated.
These details, however, are but the prelimi-
naries Of the events which followed on the 10th
Of the present month. At nine o'clock on the
morning of that day, within seven miles of
the city Of LIE Mans, the Germans suddenly
appeared in force and attacked the right wing
Of the French army. Sudden as was the
attack the French behaved admirably.
Forming line of battle they awaited
the struggle. Infantry, cavalry and artil-
lery all appeared to be well handled, well
posted and well supplied on the French side
1t is almost needless to say that similar
remark must be applied to the Germans. 1t
was in most respects fair fight, judging from
the particulars we have before us. On the
two hills which locked down upon the valley
below, clothed with q covering of snow, were
arrayed the armies of France and OF Germany
Fer hours did the German cannon belch forth
their iron hail upon the enemy, and for hours
did the French reply with equal spirit to the
murderous missiles. Shot and shell fairly
rained on both combatants. AT length the
German commander ordered an advance
Then commenced the movement of the Ger
man infantry. No way 10th to meet the foe,
the French, equally gallant, also advanced,
and down the hill sides and across the plain
which separated them marched the oppos-
ing fsrces. Midway in that valley, which
but few short hours before was
covered with mantle Of spotlsss snow,
the two armies met in hand to hand conflict
Fierce, desperate, impetuous and bloody was
the struggle. Man to man the tried veterans
Of Germany and the hastily gathered levies of
France met Calmly and determinedly fought
the soldiers Of the Red Prince; with deter
mination equally strong, but lacking the cool
ness Of the Germans, fought the republican
soldiers of France. On the one side it was
struggle Of cool, collected soldiers, directed by
officers whose ability they had proven and
whose tactics they understood; on the other
side It was the dash of equally brave men,
lacking the discipline Of their opponents, but
fighting with an impetuous galiantry, directed
but by the individual judgment of the soldiers
themselves. A contest equal ip some re-
spects, yet SO unequal on the whole, could
only have terminated In one way. The French
were forced to retire, with loss, we are told,
of fifteen thousand men. What the German
loss was we are not informed-a discrepapy