Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-01-20

The news from France, during the past
week, has been most thrillingly exciting.
A terrible battle occurred near LIE Mans, be-
tween the forces of Prince Frederick
Charles and the army Of Gen. Chauzy, on
the 10th instant, which, in its bloody result,
and the daring bravery of the troops en-
gagged, reminds one of the battles of the
Wilderness, Gettysburg and other disastrous
conflicts of our late struggle. The special
dispatch to the Mem York Telegram, gives
the fullest details and VIC publish it below +:
LIE MANS, Jan. 10, midnight.-The army
of the Loire, the hope of France, has been
defeated in bloody battle within seven
miles Of this city. The report Of cannon
was heard in this city all day. The entire
population of LIE Mans crowded the house
tops and suburbs Of the city, and all thor
oug hfares, and the progress of the fight was
anziously watched. Although the people
are accustomed to the roar of cannon, there
never was seen such excitement. At 9
o'clock in the morning the right wing of
the French army, which was on the east
side of LIE Nuns, was suddenly attacked by
the vanguard of the Prussians, which
emerged from the woods on the extreme
right of the French Upon the alarm be-
ing given the advance Of the French infant
ry wheeled into the line Of battle, the artil-
lery pushing forward through intervals made
in the severed ranks The cavalry took
positions upon the right and left wings
A more perfect line Of battle could not have
been formed by the finest army. The artil-
lery were well supplied with ammunition,
and the infantry with one hundred rounds
per man. The supply trains were conve-
nienty posted near, and real bloody work
began.
t. The battle field was valley, and the two
armies occupied the heights opposite each
other. The French line was semi circular,
and extended twelve miles, overlooking the
valley, which was covered by twelve inches
of snow. On the opposite heights the
Prussians held an almost similar position.
Shortly after nine o'clock the Prussians be-
gan furious cannonade from the woods
near the extreme left hanked by an immense
force of cavalry, the wood concealing their
position, when the troops were massed with
the evident intention Of turning Chauzy' $
right. The artillery fire continued Oh both
sides until the Prussian artillery was al
most exhausted, when the Prussians be-
came furious and gave an order for the ad-
vance of the infantry. The French ad-
vanced WITH equal rapidity along the whole
line to meet the Germans in fair hand-to-
hand musketry fight. The Germans were
cool and collected, and the French were be-
having bravely but near noon the Mobiles
began to waver, and the French were no
longer able to hold their position and began
to retreat Meanwhile, the dead and wound
ed strewed the ground; the fields were red
with blood, and the carnage was fearful
Fifteen Thousand French had fallen before
5 o'clock, when the whole French army
was in full retreat. The troops actually
engaged Oh each side numbered sixty
thousand.
In his description on the day after, the
same correspondent describes it still as most
desperate struggle, and proclaims it deci-
sivc victory for the Prussians and crush
ing defeat Of the French. He SAYS Gen.
Chauzy superintendent the retreat Of his re.
naming forces. which was never disorder.
ly.
LIE Mans was captured and occupied by
the Prussians, who secured there, and at
St. Coreille, large quantities of stores.
The bombardment Of Paris proceeds with
unabated severity. The destruction Of Fort
d'Issay has been virtually achieved Fort
Montrouge has been widely preached, and
various places on the suburbs have been
broken up badly by shot and shell. The
point mostly subjected to the German fire,
inside the regular dcfenses, is in the neigh
borhood of st. Sulpice, and many men, wo-
men and children have been killed. The
return fire of the French has latterly been
quite effective, but on Saturday, in addition
to Fort d'Issay, Vanvres and Montrouge
were silent
The Paris government protest against the
bombardment Of the city and call attention
10 the fact that it has been commenced with
out the usual warning for the removal of
non-combatants, that it liz proceeding wan
tonly, and that many innocent women and
children are being killed, and conclude with
the statement that the inhabitants Of Paris
are undismaycd.
Latest reports state, that 80, 900 of Gen.
Chanzy's army retreated towards Laval, 40
miles west of LIE Mans, and the remainder
$4,000, towards Alencon, about 40 miles
North Of LIE Mans, and that the Prussians
occupy Beaumont, a point between lie Mans
and Alencon, and will likely prevent
junction between these forces Gen. Chauzy
counts upon another great effort.
Another serious battle occurred on til,
18th near Belfort, in the Vosges, lasting
nine hours, in which the French were finally
fepulsed by Gen. Werder.
In Cur last issue We noticed the defeat in
the Legislature of the bill to allow Augusta
to vote again on the question of subscribing
to the Stock Of the Valley Railroad and the
fact that Mr.. Hanger had offered a substi-
sute. to allow certain counties to subscribe
to the Stock Of Incorporated companies
This substitute embraces Augusta and has
been amended, SO as to require three-ffths of
the votes cast at any election to order the