Middletown transcript., 1878-04-27


slep: peaeeably through the night 0
!. Aug. 81, having, under all circum
stances, or believing that it had, a re
, treat upon Mezieres open to it. Even
the most common measures Of precau
ton were disdained no cavalry re.
e connoissances were undertaken; they
did not even send out grand guards
q a German writer says SO.
They were separated from the Ger
man Army by "A leagues at least
they did not know precisely where
that army was; they fancied it was
scattered, holding i'll together, i'll ad-
vised, directed somewhat at hap-haz-
ard upon several objective points sim
ultaneously, unable to effect a converg-
ing movement upon single spot, like
Sedan; they thought they knew that
the Prince Of Saxony was marching
upon Chalons, and the Prince of Prus-
sia upon Metz; they we're ignorant Of
everything concerning the German
Army, its chiefs, its plans, its equip
ment, its numbers. Did it still prac-
tice the strategy of Gustavus-Adol-
phus? Was it still no further than the
tactics of Frederick H.? Noone knew.
They were sure that in few weeks
they would be in Berlin. Pshaw the
Prussian Army! They spoke of the
war as dream, and Of the hostile
army as of phantom.
During this same night, while the
French Army slumbered, this Is what
was being done:
At 1.45 o'clock in the morning, at
the headquarters of Mouzon, Albert,
Prince Royal of Saxony, moved with
the Army Of the Meuse; the Royal
Guard took up its arms on an alarm,
and two divisions advanced, one upon
Nillers-Cernay, by Escambre and
Fouru-aux-Bois, the other upon Fran
cheval, by Suchy and Fouru-Saint-
Rcmy The artillery of the guard
followed at the same hour. the Twelfth |
Saxon Corps took up its arms on an
alarm, and through the highway south
Of Douzy, proceeded toward Lame
court and marched upon Moncelle;
the First Bavarian Corps marched up
on Bazeilles, supported at Renilly-sur-
Meuse by division Of artillery of the
Fourth Corps. The other division Of
the Fourth Corps crossed the Meuse at
Mouzon, and was massed as a reserve
Marry, on the right bank. The three
columns kept connected with each
other. Orders had been given the adj
vance guard not to commence any Of
fensive movement before o'clock, and
to occupy Fouru-aux-Bois, Eouru-
Saint-Remy, and le Douay. The KNAPP
sacks had been left with the baggage.
The artillery trains did not stir. The
Prince Of Saxony was on horseback Oh
the heights Of Amblimont.
At the same hoar, At the herdquar
tiers Of Chemery, Blumenthal had the
Wurtemberg Division build bridge
over the Meuse. The Eleventh Corps,
moving before dawn, crossed the Meusc
at Domle-MesiiI and at Donchery,
and reached Virgne-Sur-Bois. The
artillery followed and commanded the
road from Virgne to Sedan. The Wurt- |
emberg Division defended the bridge
it built and commanded the road from /
Sedan to Mezieres. AT 5 o'clock the I
Second Bavarian Corps, headed by its
moved one Of its divisions t
and sent it by Bulson toward Fren- |
2is; the other division passed BY !
Meyers and formed before Sedan, be-
,ween Frenois and Wadelincourt. The i
'eserve artillery was installedupon the t
heights on the left bank, opposite /
Donchery.
AT that very moment the Sixth Di-
rision Of Cavalry moved from Mazeray t
md, by Bontanceurt and Bolzicourt, d
cached the Meuse at Flize the Sec T
nd division Of Cavalry left its quar- t
ers and took up its position south Of t
3ontancourt; the Fourth Division Of tt
)avalry took up its position south Of l
Frenois; the First Bavarian Corps q
TODD at Remilly, the Fifth Division
f Cavalry and the Sixth Corps were &
observation, and all, in line and ii Il
rder, massed upon the heights, +
waited the dawn. The Prince ROYAL Il
Prussia was on horseback on the D.
i'll Of Frenois. "
Simultaneously, on all points Of the D
ORION, similar movements were ef- Il
,cted. The high hills were suddenly IL
lvaded by an immense black army. II
Ot cry Of command trFssssss was heard I've p
nndred and fifty thousand men came, il
dumbness, and formed circle about h,
le Fond de Givonne. fc
The circle was composed as follows; OF
he Bavarians, right wing, at Bazeil- m
), on the Meuse; near the Bavarians si
e Saxons, at La Moncelle, and at ia
aigny; opposite Givonne, the Royal ha
uard; the Fifth Corps at Saint til
enges; the second at Flaigneux; on an
e bend of the Meuse, between Saint ba
engcs and Donchery, the Wurtem- tn
,rerers Count Sfolhurnr ood H. - n,