Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-11-14


words, the Emperor met General de
Wimpffen and communicated the state
ment. "Your Majesty need not be dis
turbed; in two hours ! shall have driven
them into the Meuse."
God Grant," said General Of the
staff, that it may not be us who are
driven there"
Every body saw the danger. Alone,
the General-in-C Chief seemed not to dis
trust it. About III, violent cannonade
was heard in the direction OF Floing at
first, and afterwards at Fleigneux. Al
ways on the lookout toward this side,
General Ducrot sent an officer to Gene
raj Douay for news. A quarter OF an
hour afterward, the sound of cannon in.
creasing more and more, he galloped
to the hill of lily. AS he came there he
was stopped by torrent of men and
horses-infantry, cavalry, artillery, all
flying pell-mell. In vain Ducrot sought
to stop the fight. Nobody needed him
every one ran. At the same moment
he saw a regiment of cuirassers trotting
along, but in good order. He begged
the commander to stop and hold the po-
sition for few moments. In an in.
slant | will bring you reinforcements,
and at full speed Ducrot rode of to find
de Wimpffen, whom he encountered
south of the forest.
"The events which / predicted have
occurred sooner than / thought. The
enemy is attacking lily; Dpuay is very
hard pressed; moments are precious.
Hasten to send reinforcements, if you
would preserve that position"
De Wimpfen-" Very we'll You take
charge Of that. Collect the troops OF all
arms that you can find, and hold your
position there, while will take charge
Of the Twelfth Corps"
When General de Wimpffen had taken
the command in the morning, the ad-
vantage of Lebrun induced him to hope
for victory over an enemy then placed
under disadvantageous conditions, as he
had written to General Ducrot. Once
the Bavarians, driven into the Meuse, he
had relied upon attacking the assailants
placed on the other side Of Sedan. But
when he ordered Ducrot to hold lily
while he would occupy himself with the
Twelfth Corps, then at Moncelle and Ba-
Ian, he had already renounced the vic
tory; he no longer expected TO drive the
Bavarians into the water. He simply
hoped to maintain his position, and did
not dream of making a sortie by Carig-
nan. At least he did not mention a
word of 1t to Ducrot, who turning his
back upon Carignan to reach lily, should
at least have been apprised of any move
ment that the General-in-Chief contem-
plated on that side. If General de
Wimphen had spoken Of it tDuerot would
not have hesitated, for the reasons pre-
viously assigned, 10 have protested most
energetically against the possibility of
such move succeeding. (3.) IA
In conformity with his orders Ducrot
sent General Forgert, with all the dis
possible artillery, upon the plateau facing
Fleigneux and Floing. He sent two
divisions upon the ridge, and sentfor all
the cavalry in reserve. These orders
were given in the name of de Wimpfien
to prevent hesitation. From eleven
o'clock all the positions between Floing
and lily were swept by frightful fire.
The German infantry had not appeared,
but at one clock the grand circular
movement of their Eleventh and Fifth
corps, by Vrigue aux Bois, as well as the
Guards corps by Villers Cernay, was
clearly unmasked. Upon our left, in
solid masses, the Eleventh advanced,
sustained by portions of the Fifth.
They must be stopped. General Dpcrot
called General Marguerite, who held
the First Division of cavalry reserve
He accompanied them himself, and
passing the batteries on the ridge, said
to Marguerite: charge by squadrons
upon our left. After sweeping what is
before, you will turn to the right and at.
tack the enemy whole line in the rear.
This remarkable General advanced
with his staff to reconnoiter and received
a mortal wound. Many Of his officers
fell around him. General Galifet took
command. A part of the Saliguac-Fen-
elon division came forward at the same
time. These brave troops, officers and
generals at their head, advanced at full
speed Of their horses. Despite of q rain
of balls and shell, the first line of the
enemy was sabered and dispersed. The
second line was attacked with the same
ardor, but they could not break it. The
Prussian battalions deployed upon their
center, formed III square upon the wings,
and repnlsed them by we'll directed
fire. The squadrons drew back, re-
formed, and charged again, making an
attack without cessation. King Will
liam, who, from the nights OF Frenois,
looked upon this scene, could not refrain
from exclaiming: "0h, what brave
ment