The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-02-05

ward many miles from Metz, had cut the
road across Bazaine's front at Mars-l Tour
and secured a Judgment on the heights be-
yond. Gradually the patient Germans
were enveloping the French right flank
The sun went down on q ghastly field,
with the infantry and artillery in close
contact all along the line. neither side will
ing to yield. Suddenly the German lead
ers beheld compact body of horse pouring
over the ridge north OF Mars-la-Tour and
aiming for the batteries that had just been
planted around that point at the cost OF 30
much blood The column was composed
of the division of Gen. lie Grand, two
brigades, and the Garde Brigade de France.
Rheinbaben's German cavalry division had
suffered in three charges already, and the
remnants OF two badly shattered brigades
Joined themselves with the third fresh
brigade and poised lance and sword to
meet the onslaught.
There was Just breathless wait among
the Germans to get the bearings, thrust
and parry here and there between squad.
rons, and then in cloud of dust 5000
horsemen rode at one another, cuirassier
against Hussar, and lancer against uhlan.
The collision occurred Just above the village
of Mars-la-Tour. The Brigade de France
allowed the Hanoverian uhlans to 40.
proach within $50 PAGES and then rushed
upon them. The uhlans stood to the work,
which was hand to hand, and OPPORTUNITY
Q squadron OF Dragon Guards Just In from
q reconnaissance passed by and spurred
over ditch and wall to sustain the hard be-
set uhlans. The Westphalian cuirassiers at
the same time attacked the Gsrde brigade
in front and the French Chasseurs d. Az.
rique fell upon the German Dragon
Guards.
Thus along the entire field a German
regiment rushed upon a fresh opponent
or mixed into fray already begun, and a
French regiment, seeing its chance, dashe
at the latest conner This was repeated
again and again. The combat spread over
wide semicrcle, and squads and compa-
MES that found themselves on the out.
skirts of the melee attacked back and
forth until darkness ended the contest.
The Prussian cavalry retired to their own
lines and the French infantry slowly pur-
sued. The French horse had suffered ter
rible punishment Gen. lie Grand was
Killed and Gen. Montaigu, one of his
brigadiers, was r wounded captive. Mars
la-Tour was held to the Germans and the
infantry and artillery chung to the posi-
lions they had seized around the village,
and that without further molestation from
the French. This fourth affair of the cav
airy was the greatest combat of the war
between mounted men, and in one sense il
was decisive, for i6 showed Bazaine that
he could not dislodge the enemy from,
MARSHA Tour and open the road to carry
his army out of Metz.
The days results in cavalry charges were
in favor of the Germans. The troopers
saved the infantry again and again, and
without their unsurpassed daring, which
at times amounted to a longing to be
killed, so hopeless were the chances, the
day would have had different story.
The Death Ride was every whit as wild
and grand as the charge of the Light Bri-
gade at Balaklava, and it answered the in
tention Of the commander who ordered it.
GEORGE l.. MINER