Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-01-21
TEE CARNAGE.
"A series ofErcncls Disastcra.
Two Days Hard Fighting.
The Rattle OF LeWans----Fuu ana
Graphic Particulars,

The Rattle OF LeWans----Fuu and
Graphic Particulars,
LIE MANS, Jan. 0.-Midnight. Special
to the New York TelegrGn'. -Tbe Army OF
the Loire, the hope of France, has been de-
feated in bloody battle within seven'iniles
of the city. The report of cannon was
heard in the city all day. The entire pop
ulation of lie Mans crowded the housetops
and suburbs of the city and all. thor
oughfates, and the progress of the fight was
nuXiously watched.
Although the people are accustomed to
the roar of cannon, there never was seen
such excitement. At O'Clock in the morn
ing the right wing of tho French army,
which was on the east of lie Mans, were
suddenly attacked by the vanguard OF
Pruseians which emerged from the woods,
on the extreme right Of the French.
Upon the alarm being giver' the advance
of the French infantry wheeled into line of
battle, the artillery pushing forward through
intervals made in several ranks. The ca
valry took positions upon the right and left
wings. 4 more perfect line of battle could
not have been formed by the finest army.
The artillery were well supplied with ann
unition, and the infantry with one hundred
rounds per man. The supply trains were
conveniently posted, and real bloody work
began. The two armies occupied heights
opposite each other. The French line was
semi-cYcular. and extended twelve miles,
overlooking the valley, which was covered
with twelve inches Of snow. On the oppo-
site heights the Prussians held almost q
similar position.
! Shortly after 0 O'Clock the Prussians he
/ gan furious cannonade from the woods,
| hear the extreme left, hankcd by an i'm
mense force of cavalry. the wood conccaiing
/ their position, when the troops were mass
ed with the evident intention Of turning
| Chanzy's position. The artillery fire con-
| tinuCd on both sides until the ammunition
of the Prussan artillery WAS almost eX-
hausted, when the PrusSans became furi-
Gus, and gave The order for the advance Of
| the infantry.
The French advanced with equal rapid
ty along the whole 'liue to meet the Ger
mans in a falkland to hand musketry tight.
The Germai,s were cool and collected the
French timpetuUus and behaving brarely,
but near noon the Mobiles began to waver,
aud the French, no longer able to hold Their
position, began to retreat.
Meanwhile the dead and wounded strew-
ed the ground, and the fields were red with
blood. The carnage was fearful, fifteen
Thousand French having fallen before o.
clock, when the whole French army was in
full retreat.
The number Of troops engaged on each
side numbered sixty thousand.
LONDON. Jan. 1G.
The correspondent Of the Times at Var
sailcs tclcgraphs that further dispatches
have been received in that city from Prince
Frederick Charles. The army Of Chan2y
has been broken up aud disor.anizcd, and
is now rctrpatng in three q rcCtiuus. Vi
to the present time twenty thousand pri
soners in all have been captured.
No further seizures Of rolling stock have
been made.
The Times correspondent also adds thHt
C9nSi6' .dJ.. fighting WAS done III the streets
of LvMams during thc.reccnt battle around
that city. The streets and lanes were il
man. PAGES strewn with the dead in long
ghastly lines, evidently the work Of the
mitrallcuse. The victory was most de
cisye one for the Prussians, as it was &
most crushing defeat to the French, an,
was doubtless achieved by the well timeC
and active concentration of the variOu!
Prussian corps on the town Of LcMans.
LONDON, Jan. l6.
In replying to the representations recent
lymade 10y the neutral powers for :he cnnCiu
sion of IL treaty and the establishment %
peace between Prussia ana France tho
Prussian government authortatively states
that Prussia will only treat for peace on tho
surrender of Paris, and ut The formal re
quest of the French government alone auc
none other.