Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-02
BATTLE OF eaAveLoTTe
Monaentous Struggle While the Issue "

Monentous Struggle While the Issue Wa
IN suspen-e-Germany's Victory.
s.1'he first action of the Franco German
war which Emperor William witnessed
was the colossal struggle Of Gravelotte.
While Prince Frederick with the Third
army corps was striking hard at the
French right from verneyille to st. Marie
au-Chene, King William remained all day
with the first army, which Steinmetz was
hurting against the French left, holding
the woods and bare, slOping 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 raviue between Gravelotte and the
plateau Of Stuberr. There he sat among
the soldiers. mounted on his black horse,
watching the fierce and all but futile eff
forts made by the stout infantrymen Of
Won Cohen and Giumper TO make head
against the hurricane Of fire with which
the French swept the smooth, sloping
glacis which the expause Of the plateau
afforded
IAN Of sudden there ran through the
German cotlbatants cat In the pandemo
MUM Of slaughter over against rs a spasm
Of panic, that impulse 10 which, In the
strain Of excitement, tue best troops are
liable Panic. like the ire on a prairie,
ran back across the rayine and caused
monetary sauye qHi pent among the un
engaged troops about the king Shells
came crushing into the dislocated ranks
aud for a moment an ourburst Of disorder
had sway. William WAS borne back in
the pressure demonstrating vehemently
with upiifted voice and fiat OF sword.
Bismarck was said 10 have got ont astride
a q -Dritss
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 was still in
suspense when, under the last rays Of the
setting sun. the last reserve OF Germans,
the Second corps, came up at a double to
the brink of the ravine. In the lurid
glare Of the blazing village. King William
stood by the wayside and greeted his
stalwart Poueranians. High over the
bickrr 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.
AS we watched the issue in a sort OF
spasm Of somher silence, the king sat
with his back against wall on plank,
one end Of which rested on shattered
gun carriage, the other on u dead horse.
Bismarck. with All elaborate assump-
ton Of indifference, made u pretense to be
reading letters.
The roar Of close battle swelled and
deepened til the very ground trembled
beneath us.
might fell like n pail, but the blaze OF
the adjacent connagration lit up the
anxious group there by tie churchyard
wall From out OF n medley of broken
troops on the glittering slope in front
came suddenly great shout which grew
IN volume AS il rolled nearer. Hoofs of
galloping horses ratified on the causeway.
"A moment later Field Marshal Won
Motke, his face for once quivering with
excitement, sprang from the saddle and,
rushing toward the king, cried out:
"It is good for u.s. We have won the
plateau and victory is with your ma
jesly'
The king sprang to his feet. saying:
God lie thanked"
Bismarck, with deep sigh OF relief,
crushed his letters in the hollow OF
his hand, and with simultaneous
hurrah greeted the CHAD tidiugs. A sutler
who CHANGED to hear improved the occa-
sion IN n practical, quiet way. He brought
up u wine barrel and dispensed its con
tents. King William took II hearty drink
of the red wine out of "a cracked lumber
giving the German Army for his toast. :"
From Archibald Forbes "reminiscences.