The New York herald., 1878-03-25

II there had been any uncasiuess the bridges over
the heuse would have been CUT but this ot eves
thought oi Why should IL be done? The enemy
was FAR away. The Emperor, who well informed,
affirmed tho fact
The army bivouacxed in q somewhat pelI-ncr
fashion, as We have said and siep. TRANQUILITY during
isht OF the 3st OF August ba ving in anv event
thinking had. its Mezierss open behind
It. he most ordinary precautions we're disdained Nc
cavalry ssances were sdc: no Grand guards
even were placed. SO says German writer. They
wero separated from the German army by at Iosst
fourteen leagues. three days march. II was not
known exacilv where It was. IL was believed TO be
scattered adhering badly together. badly Informed
directed somewhat chance toward several objective,
points ~ the same time aud ncaablc of converging
movement on a single point like Sedan. 1t was be-
livvcd 10 be known that the Prince OF Saxony was
was marching on Meiz. Everything connected with
tins army was ignorrdits chiefs its plan, ts
ment, us elective strength Did Il s,ii follow ths
strategy Of Gusr'vns Adophusf We're lis tactics
those OF Freder OK H.? II was not known. II
certain The French would be in few weeks moro IN
Berlin. Bah The PrussInn army. This wm
spoken OF as dream and th s army 80 phantom.
During this same night whilo the French army
slept, THIS is what was DONE
Al n quarter to two in tho morning At tho Mouzon
headquarters the Prince Royal Albert OF saxony. pus
the Army OF the Meusc In motion. The ROYAL Guard
were al once under arms. and two divisions took nj
the m.rch-she one on villers csrnay; by Escamcre
suchy and Fouru-Saint Reny THO artillery o. the
guard followed.
~ arms and, taking tho high road 10 the south OF
Douzy, skired Lanccourt and marched Ia Mon
support al R'niIy-surMeu.c bv aa artillery d,vi.
sion OF the lhro corps. Tho other dtvison OF tho
Fourtn corps passed the Mcusc at Mouzon and
massed In reserve NJ Marry, on the right bank.
The three co,umns held their positions, overlapping
cachs other. Tho oracr was gwen to tho advances
guard not to commence any Offensive b~iore
five o'clock. and to occupy silently Fouru.aux3ois,
Fouru saint Romy and the Douay. They had lott their
knapsacks with the baggage wagons The trains did
the height OF Ablimont
Al the same hour, aI the headquarters of Chemcry,
BnmcDihai made the wut tcmburg division throw .
bridge over the Mcusc. 1he Eleventh corps broke
camp before daylight, crossed the Meuse a!
Dom-le Mesnil apd at Doucnefy, ana reached
virgne BoiG The artillery followed and COM
manded the road from vrtgne to sedan. Tho
made and commanded tne road from Seian TO No
zeres. Az nve O'Clock tho Second Bavar,an corps,
brought 1t by Buson to FIGnos: the othcr division
passed by Noycra aud formed bcloro Sedan between
massed in battery tho heights OF tho right bank
the river before Douchcry.
Al tho same moment the sixth division Of cavalry
started from Mazsrav, and, going by Bou ancourt and
Bolzicourt, reached the Meu>c at Fze; toe Second
cavalry division left It's cantonments and took up
position on the south OF Bou tancourt; tho
Fourth cavalry division took us sand on
the gouth OF Frenois; tho FIRST Bavarinn
cavalry division and the sixth corps wore placed to
Observe and all, IN limo and In order, masscd tho
heights waited Tho coming OF the dawn The Prus-
Prince in the saddle the hill OF Frcnois.
Al tho same time all along the horizon other simi-
lar movements took place from all sides Tho nigh
hills were suddenly held by an Immense black army.
Not cry Of command. Two hundred and nfty thou.
sand men came IN silence TO mako circo around the
basin of Givonnc
And this was the circle:-
The Bavarans, right wing nt Bazciiles on the
aud at Dasny; In front OF Givonno the Royal Guard;
the Filth corps ut Saint Mcnges; The Second corps
Flngneux; on the bend OF The Mcuse, between saint
Menges aud Donchcry, the Wurt tcmUurgers Count
Obcrg and his cavalry NJ DOnchery; on the front,
before Sedan, III. second Bavaran army.
All This had shaped Itself 10 spectral fashion, Ia
order, without u breath, without NOISE, across the
woods, the rlvioes and the valleys march tortuous
and sinister--thc cngthcning out of reptiles.
Scarcely could a murmur bo heard under the dense
leaves OF tho trees. Tho seot battle swarmOd tue
shadows waiting for the day.
The French army slept
All at once II awakened
IL was prisoner.
Nv.
Let us TX the situation.
Tho Germans have numbers on their side rhey
are three, perhaps four, against one. They avoW
$50 600 men, but Is their front attack
they crown Inc nsgh.s they 6i the forests
they are covered BY ali theso s,esps, thoy are
masked BY all this shadow; thcy have ncom
artillery. Tue French army rs IN a basin, almost
without artillery and without munitions. stark naked
unaer shot ard shell. Tho Germans have on thar
side alnousoade, The French on theirs beroIsm
alone To dio Is beautiful, but TO surprise Is good
A surprise, that was this ieat Of arms
Is this good wars Yes; but II this is good was
What Is badS
The same thngs
That said, tho battle OF Sedan 10 recouuted
We would wish TO halt there, but We cannot Nc
wha, the horror OF the historian, history II
duiy. and that drty must bo nod There 10 NO mors
Imperative descent than ths-to tell the truth. whs
adventures II rolls to the bottom. II 10 necessary
The justice doer Is condemned TO Justice.
Tho battle OF Sedan Is more than q baltic fought: n
Is syliogism completed, tho terrible premed tatou
of destiny. Destiny hastens never, but reaches
always In It's hour, behold II lots pass tho years
Tut NJ the moment wncn least dream OF Il it ap.
pears. Sedan fate unexpected From time TO time
In history tho divine logic makes sorties Sedan was
The list OF September tnon, at dve IN tho morning.
the world awakened under tho sun, ana the French
army under tho thunder.
BazslIcs takes nre, Gtvoune takes nrc Flong takes
fire; II commences with furnace. All tho HORIZON 10
anane. The French camp In aus crater-stup peied
dsmsy ed. madly astr. iuncreaI swarminp. A circle
OF thunder environs tho army II Is surrounded By
determination.
THIS mighty massacre begins from ell points a
oncs. Tho French resist and tney terrible, nav.
ing nothing but despair Our cannon. nlmos, all OF
olden model ond low range, are soon dsmountcd by
the fire 50 frightul and precise OF tho Prussans.
The denseness tho RAIN Of shells on the valley n
such that 'tnc oarth all striped by it, says Wit
ness, ''as by harrow" How many gunss Eleven
la MonccIIe alone; the Third ana Fourth xbshci-
lung, terrible artillery on tho crcsts OF Gvouuc.
with the second horse battery reserve III front Of
curtain OF trees o the wood to the north Of vilers
Ccrnay hides The mounted abtheiiung which Is tho
this shady ooppce comes iorih Formidable ars the
twcnty-four pieces OF the First assvy srtil-
cry are tn battery IN the clearing clos. to hs road
terry OF the Royal Guard sets Ore TO tho wood
oil Ia Ghronne tho bombs ana balls riddle Susny,
FranchevaI Fouru- -Ssi t-kGmy- and the valley bc-
tween heibcs aud Givonpe; and the triple quad.
ruple rank OF hery muzzcs 10 prolonged without .
break 10 continuity up 10 The Calvary OF Iliy-the
extreme point on tho horizon
The German soldiers, seated or lying down, watch
tho artillery work. Tho French soldiers fall aud die.
Among the co.pscs which cover the PLAIN, there 10
ono, tho corpse OF m officer on which viii be found
aiier fhe ta,te scaled note containing this ordcr
signed Napoleon -"To.day. Me l1 Of SEPTEMBER,
repose Jor he enftrc army The valiant Thir.
ty-hhh OF the line disappears almost en-
tirely under the overwhelwmcnt of tho SHELLS |;
the infantry OF the marine hold for a mono nj
IN chcck the saxons mixed with Bavar,ans, but out
nanked and ovcrpowercd, retire. All tho admirable
cavalry OF the Marguerite division, hurled against
tho German infantry, hats and mcts away
midway. cxtcrminatcd, says the Prussian re-
port, ''by . well directed and steady nrc."
This ned OF carnage has thrco issues.
all three barred tho DouiIIon rond by tho Prusalnn