Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-02
BATTLE OF eRAvELoTTE.

Nom sntous Struggle while the Issue Was
In suspen>s--Germany's Victory.
'The first action of the Franco German
war which Emperor William witnessed
was the colossal struggle Of Gravelotte.
While Prince Frederick with the Third
array corps was striking hard ut the
F.ench right from verneville to st. Marie
au -Chene, King William remained all day
with the first army, which Steinmetz was
hurling against the French left, holding
the woods and bare, slopirg plateau Of
Stubert. Late in the afternoon the fierce
ness of the fighting and uncertainty Of the
issue drew William right up to the edge OF
the ravine between Gravelotte and the
plateau of Stubert. There he sat among
the soldiers, mounted on his black horse.
watching the herce and all but futile ef-
forts made bJ the stout infsntrymen of
Won Goben and Glumper 10 make head
against the hurricane Of fire with which
the French swept the smooth. slopins
giacis which the expanse OF the plateau
afforded.
"All of q sudden there ran through the
German eombatants out in the pandemo-
mum Of slaughter over against US . spasm
of panic, that impulse TO which, In the
strain of excitement, the best troops are
liable. Panic, like the fire on a prairie,
ran back across the ravine and caused q
momentary sauve Qui peut among the un
engaged troops about the king. Shells
came crushing into the dislocated ranks
and for moment an outburst of disorder
had sway. William was borne back in
the pressure, demonstrating vehemently
with uplifted voice and fiat OF sword
Bismarck was said TO have got out astrde
a gun, and the royal staff was temporarily
broken up. The panic was over in few
minutes and order restored, but the
French had strengthened their grip on the
plateau.
The issue Of the battle wss still in
suspense when, under the last rays Of the
setting sun, the last reserve Of Germans,
the Seco. corps, came up at double To
the brink Of the rayine In the lurid
glare of the blazing -'llage. King William
stood by the wayside and greeted his
stalwart Pomeranians High over the
bicker Of drums, the blare Of bugles and
the crash Of cannon. rose an eager burst
of cheering as the soldiers greeted their
soldier sovereign, and then followed their
chiefs down into the full depths OF the
terrible chasm.
''The crisis was dreadful
AZ we watched the issue in sort OF
spasm OF somber silence. the king sat
with his hack against wall on plank,
one end of which rested on IA shattered
gun carriage, the other on a dead horse.
Bismarck, with ali elaborate assump-
tion OF indifference, made pretense to be
reading letters.
"The roar of close battle swelled and
deepened till the very ground trembled
beneath US.
might fell like pail, but the blaze of
the adjacent confagration lit up the
anxious group there by the churchyard
troops on the glittering slope in front
came suddenly great shout which grew
in volume as il rolled nearer. Hoofs of
galioping horses ratified on the causeway
"A moment later Field Marshal Won
Moltke, his face for once quivering with
excitement, sprang from the saddle and,
rushing toward the king, cried out:
".It is good for usi We have won the
plateau and victory is with -our ma
;,ssty'
.'The king sprang to his feet, saying:
God be thankedr
Bismarck, with deep sigh Of relief,
crushed his letters In the hollow Of
his hand, and with simultaneous
hurrah greeted the glad tidings. A sutler
who chanced to hear improved the occa-
sion in a practical, quiet way. He brought
up wine barrel and dispensed its con-
tents. King William took hearty drink
Of the red wine out of cracked tumbler,
giving the German Army for his toast"
From Archibald Forbes "Reminiscences.