Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-10
THREE GREAT BATTLES.
Koniggrntz. GraveIotte and sed al


Wochenblatt comprises the great battles
of Koniggratz, Gravelotte and Sedan,
in an interesting article, the principal
points of which we produce: IF we CON
sider, in the first place" says the mill
tary periodical, "the geographical posi-
ton of the three battle6elds, we shall
find that in all the great battles OF the
Emperor the enemys forces we're sup
ported by fcrtresses. The Austrian
army at Koniggratze was drawn up IN
semi circular form in front Of the small
fortress on the Elbe; the French position
at Sedan formed q complete circle. On
the other hand, opposition of Bazaine
at Gravelotte formed straight line,
with the front toward the west, and the
fortress of Metz in the rear While the
retreat to the small fortresses was dis
astrous for the beaten armies at Konig-
gratz and Sedan, leading in the first
named battle to terrible disorganization,
and in the second to a general sur
render, the great fortress OF Metz was
capable Of furnishing temporary refuge
to the retreating army and arresting the
progress of the victors, though this did
not avert the ultimate catastrophe.
These three fortresses are all situated on
large rivers. At Koniggratz the Elbe,
which was in the rear of Benedeks 8 army,
exercised prejudicial effect on the re-
sreat Of the Austrians. At Sedan the
Muse was favorable to the hanking
executed by the Prussian fifth
and eleventh army corps; indeed, the
river alo,.e made it possible to COM
nletelv surround the French army by
precluding an advance on the trench
side in that direction, and thus enabling
the German commander-in-chief to en-
nlov his troops at other points. These
battles were all begun by an offensive
movement on the part of the Emperor
William. The enemy had IN general
posted himself on heights, which he had
partly fortified.
With regard to the system of attack
pursued in these battles, they may all
be designated as outhanking engage
ments. At Konigsgratz the day was
decided by the advance Of the Army OF
the Elbe, and the second army on the
Austrian hanks, so that the Prussian
order of battle formed semi-circle, the
ends of which-the Sixth army corps
and the Army of Elbe-at length met
each other at Z o'clock in the evening" |
near the village of Klakow. At Sedan |
the French we're completely surrounded
and the German lines closed the circle,
from which there was no escape, In the
course of the forenoon. What poor
had our Western neighbors
in this stupendous German success IN
the fact that they were outnumberedl
Never had such complete annihilation
Of hostile army been the immediate
of battle. Besides, the
long extended circular line of the Ger
man army made it impossible for the
Germans to possess q numerical su-
periority at many points. The bat
lie of Gravelotte was also decided by
he outhanking movement OF the Prus-
,ian Guards and the Saxons st. Privat,
he strategical encompassing having
oeeu previously completed. AS to the
of the various arms, the
battle of GraVelotte was purely an in
'aBtry and artillery combat, but at ko-
4, Tgrata the cavalry on both sides, IN
y or smaller masses, took an active
l.I, 80 i, the 6ght. Toward the end of the
'at,ls aeyerAl severe encounters took
lace between the excellent cavalry
vbich both armies possessed. The Prus-
ian horse even repeatedly broke
brouch the Austrian infantry and cap
~ n.o5 n;eces of cannon. At Sedan, on
he contrary. the French cavalry at
aoteJ onIv In masses, and vas uni
ormly repulsed by the German Infantry,
hough often merely iormha Z, -, IN
trong lines Of skirmishers. lhe
Indictment and the handling OF
he artillery at Gravelotte ana
Iedan show a decided advance when
ompared with Konniggra,z. While an
ficient and uniform direction on the
,art OF the commanding officers, and
,erfect development Of artillery power,
rere often missed in the great combat
4 the center on the Sd Of July, 1866,
he artillery was early employed, in the
most admirable and effective manner, at
iravelotte and Sedan. Il was several
ines hotly engaged before the infantry
.onld come within range Of the enemy.
"No continued pursuit took place
lfter any OF tnese Oatties. NJ NUNS
ratz Il was partly hindered By the fort
ess and the Rlbe, and at Graveloite by
he forts around Net; at Sedan the bat
le ended with surrender.
"The numerical trength Of the re-
-pective armies wal as follows. At
loaniggrafz. 2l5,O0A Prussians. and !
,20 600 Austrians and taxons; at Grave !
otie. 10, 900 French ald 100000 Ger .
mans: az Sedan, $4,000 French and J
l00. 600 Germans
Looking at the nambe Of men en- {
- - L.tt1. of Eonk~-,fr l. IA, ,