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

ward many miles from Metz, had cut the
road across Bazaine's front at Mars la. Tour
and secured Il Judgment on the heights be
yond. Gradually the patient Germans
were enveloping the French right flank.
The sun went down on a CHASTITY 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 a compact body of horse pouring
over the ridge north of Mars-laTour and
aiming for the batteries that had Just heeu
planted around that point at the cost Of 50
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 IL breathless wait among
the Germans to get the bearings, Il thrust
and parry here and there between squad
rons and then in Il cloud of dust 5000
horsemen rode ut one another cuirasser
against Hussar, and lancer against uhan.
The collision occurred just above the village
of Mars la-Iour The Brigade de France
allowed the Hanoverian uhlans to APP
proach within $50 PAGES and then rushed
upon them. The uhlans stood to the work,
which was hand to hand, and opportunely
squadron Of Dragon Guards just in from
a reconnaissance passed by and spurred
over ditch and wall to sustain the hard be-
set uhlans. The Westphalian cuirassers at
the same time attacked the Garde brigade
in front and the French Chasseurs d. At
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 q
French regiment, seeing its chance, dashed
at the latest conner. This was repeated
again and again. The combat spread over
wide semicircle, 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 wounded captive. Mars
la-Tour was held to the Germans and the
infantry and artillery chung to the posi-
tons they had seized around the village,
and that without further moestation from
the French. This fourth affair of the cav
airy was the greatest combat of the war
between mounted men, and in one sense it
was decisive, for it showed Bazaine that
he could not dislodge the enemy from
Mars-la-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 a 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 i. KILMER