The Portland daily press., 1892-01-20

ss=1gEs5kralHI Bazaine been al
r. .,-~z;s544Hs|| IL lowed to withdraw
- oszAasRlE NJ lESyS@from Metz and
= gscssssse3 S NYNIp form a junction
III L-sS1N;> with an outside
49, - NJ army under Nc
c-s.sry !SsF&SN - Mahon, as he tried
GSSss%I%ZNT.' to do on the 10Th,
~ %gSSs. two days before
- Gravelotte. II S
ss=zST movement was
y frustrated by Sc
ries of engagements in the vicinity
of MARSHA Tour, the Germans getting
t the best of the French and forcing
! them back toward Metz. Mars-la-Tour
is the name generally given to the
actions of the 10th, and a feature of the
day, besides the desperate and bloody
fighting of some German regiments, was
the brilliant work of the cavalry. The
troopers on both sides rode for death or
glory'' with all the reckless bravery of the
ideal cavalryman, and the grave was the
goal for about every other man that rode
in some of the charges.
The conflict opened at a point about
seven miles out of Metz, and gradually
shifted scenes until the last shot was fired
five miles further on, or about twelve
miles from Metz. 1t commenced with the
advance corps of the armies, and the cav
airy was Gu land simply to reconnoi5er and
to support the infantry. On the German
side there were at the outset but two di-
visions of infantry and one of cavalry
within reach, but the corps general, Al
veusieben, promptly sprung the attack on
the retreating French, relying upon troops
farther off to come to his aid. On the
French eide Bazaine himself was at the
front, and handled his superior forces in a
way to separate and partly surround the
opposing forces by brigades and regiments
in detail. About noon there was crisis.
The first German division engaged had suf-
fered SO heavily that it was compelled to
close vi, it's ranks and leave wide space
on the German front undefended. The
French pushed forward to the exposed
ground, and at the same moment detach-
ment of German cavalry from Gen. Rhein-
baben's freshly arrived division charged
into the gap.
Although the cavalry dash was rapid,
the French parted it by whitening fire of
bullets and cannon shot. After suffering
great loss, the troopers gave way, and see
ing their confusion two regiments of
French cuirassiers and dragoons of the I'm
periai Guard bounced upon their TANKS
and swept the remnants from the field.
Meanwhile German brigade of infantry
had reached the spot and was advancing
through the gap, and Bazaine sent in some
cuirassiers and lancers to check it. Both
regiments charged handsomely, but were
repulsed, and in turn were followed at a
breakneck gallop by tue German regiment
of Black Brunswicker hussars. The hus-
sars rode on in pursuit until they struck
the battery of the Imperial Guard, and
there a hand to hand melee ensued. Ba.
zaine and his staff were swallowed up in
the ranks Of the impetuous hussars and
only saved themselves by striking out
right and left with their swords. The
BEunswickers were repulsed, and so it was
quits between them and the French guard.
Bazaine had the inside or interior line,
and his moving masses drew naturally to
the scene of contact. By o'clock the
French outnumbered the Germans three
to one and took the aggressive to ward off
their enemy from the key position at
Gravelotte. Every step forward by the
German divisions ex posed their tanks to
destruction, and it looked rs though an
Inhalation would be the fate of Budden-
brooks division, that had been fearfully
cut to pieces and was again advancing,
with enemies to the right, to the left and
IN 'front.' But only for minute. General
Alvensleben saw that something must go
to the wall and made up his mind that 1t
should uot be Buddenbrock's gallant line.
In the cavalry division that had just
tyotted up to his support rode the brigade
o. Won Bredow, only three squadrons
800 strong, Count Bismarck's Madgeburg
cuirassiers and the Altmarck lancers.
Affair to the front and right was a heavy
French battery on the flank of Budden-
block, and ready co grind his battalions to
dust should ne advance. The order was
given Won Bredow to charge home, and
out to the front along a protecting valley
the lancers and cuirassiers rode verltaole
ride to death. The order was to beat back
the enemy, fall upon his guns and bring
confusion upon his lines at any cost.
At the head of the valley the column
swung into battle order and made for the
batteries. The impetus of the charge was
terrific and through the storm OF shots 1t
went, breaking the enemy's ranks front
and rear into the batteries and upon the
gllnners, who stood at their posts dealing
death to the assailauts. The leader of Bis
marck's cuirassiers, Count Won Schmitten,
struck down the battery commander and
his followers initiated the example until
every gunner of the first battery had fallen.
Then on to the second battery, and
through, over the crest to strike the in
fantry in the rear So far the ride had
been triumph, though the course was
marked by dead cuirassiers and uhlans-
But the French were alert and a whole
cavalry division stood to arms beyond the
shaltering crest, and the bold Germans wers
soon surrounded.
A regiment of French cuirassiers and
one of lancers fell upon the assailants,
saber against saber and lance against
lance. Won Schmitten ordered his bugler
to sound the assembly call for a rally and
second charge all together. But it was
too late. A bullet punctured the bugle
through the neck and it gave out mourn
full groan instead of a spirited biare of
battle. The troopers were scattered be-
yond recall, and the French infantry closed
in across their path SO that they had to
cut their way out, singly and in squads.
Lieut.. Campbell, one of the fighting Clan
Campbell, who rode with the Bismarck
cuirassiers, seized the eagle of the French
cuiraSSierS to bear off as a trODhV His