The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-01-11

of MARSHA Tour, the Germans getting
the best of the French and forcing
them back toward Metz MARSHA Toul
is the nama generally given to the
actiAns of the l6th, and a feature OF the
da besides the desperate and bfoody
fighting of some German regiments, was
the brilliant w9rk Of the cavalry. The
troopers on both sides rode for death or
glory" with all she reckless bravery of the
ideal cavalrynan, and the grave was the
goal for about every other man that rode
in some of the charges.
The conflict opened at point about
seven miles cat of Metz, and gradually
shifted scenes until'the last shot was fred
five miles further on, or about twelve
miles from Metz. 1t commenced withHthe
advance corps of tbs armies, and the cav
airy was on land simply to reconnoiter and
to support TIE 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
venseben, promptly sprung the attack on
the retreatiug French, relying upon troops
farther off to come to his aid. On the
French side Bazaine himself was at the
front, and handled his superior forces in
way to separate and partly surround the
opposing forces by brigades and regiments
in detail. About noon there was a crisis.
The first German division engaged had suf
fered so heavily that it was compelled to
close up 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 dragons of the I'M
perial Guard pounced upon their TANKS
and swept the remnants from the field.
Meanwhile German brigade of infantry
had reached the spot and was advancing
through the gI9, and Bazaine sent in some
cuirassers and lsncers 10 check it. Both
regiments charged handsomely, but were
rephlsed, aud in turn were followed at
breakueck galiOp by the German regiment
OF Black Brulswicker hhssars The hus-
sars rode on in pursuit until they struck
the battery of the Imperial Guard, and
there n hand to hand melee ensued. Ba-
zalua and his staff were swallowed up in
the ranks Of the jmpe;uous hussars and
only saved themselves by striking out
right aud left with their swords The
Brunswickers were repulsed, and so it was
quits between them and the French guard.
B8Zane had the inside or interior line,
and his moving masses drew naturally to
the scene Of contact. By 2 O'Clock the
French outuumbered the Germans three
to one and took the aggressive to ward off
their enemy from the key position at
Grayelotte. Every step forward by the
German divisions exposed their TANKS to
destruction, aud it looked as 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 it
should not be Buddenbrock's gallant line.
In the cavalry division that had just
trotted up to his support rode the brigade
of Won Bredow, only three squadrons
900 strong, Count Bismarck's Madgeburg
cursssers and the Atmarck lancers.
Altar to the front and right was a heavy
French battery on the flank of Budden
brock, and ready to grind his battalions to
dust should he advance The order was
given Won Bredow to charge home, and
out to the front along a protecting valley
the lancers and cuirassiers rode a veritable
ride to death. The order was to beat back
the enemy, fall upon his guns and bring
confusion upon his lines at any cost.