The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-30
slams; but here on 10000 Prussians, en-
yelOping 80 900 Frenchmen.

slams; but here on 10000 Prussians, en-
veloping 80 900 Frenchmen.
Nothing could be more startling than
the sudden revelation which that morn
ing sun made ia Davoust. He expected to
find only q few attachments before HIM,
and lol there stood q mighty army with the
imposing front OF battle. As his eye fell on
the glittering ranks of infantry and flash
ing helmets OF the superb cavalry, 1T en-
braced at once the full peril OF his position
1t was enough to daunt the boldest heart,
but fear and Davoust were utter strangers.
He was not to reach Apolda that day, that
was certain, and fortunate he might con
slider himself if he reached it at all in any
other way than as n prisoner OF war.
The struggle before him was to be against
desperate odds, one against two, while
10000 cavalry stood in battle array-their
formidable masses alone sufficient, APP
parently, TO sweep his army from the field.
OF Gudin's brave division OF 1000 men,
which had fought one against three, 10
maintain the plateau till his arrival, half
had already fallen.
DAyoUsT OVERWHELMINGLY BEsET.
The tremendous onsets of cavalry and
infantry together on him could not be
much longer withstood; but at this june
ture the other divisions OF the army APP
peared on the field, and with rapid step,
and IL admirable order, moved into the
ine-of- battle. The two armies were now
f.irly engaged. The mist had rolled away,
as ii hasting in alright from the scene of
carnage, and under the unclouded sun
there was no longer any room Tor decep-
ton. DavOust was fairly taken by sur
prise, and had on his hand an army double
of his own, while a retreat without rout
was impossible.
With that cO0lness and self-possession
which rendered him so remarkable in the
midst on the conflict, he gave all his orders,
and performed his evolutions, and CON
Quoted the charges: thus inspiring, by his
very voice and bearing, the soldiers with
| confidence and courage. He rode through
the lines his brow Unit with his stern re-
| solve, and with the weight that lay on his
brave heart, and his clear, stern voice, ex-
pressing by its very calmneSs the intensity
OF the excitement that mastered him. The
next moment the plain fairly rocked and
| trenlbled under the headlong charge OF the
| Prussian cavalry, as they came pouring on
| the French infantry.
| The SHOCK was terrific: but that splen-
did body of horse recoiled from the blow,
! as ii il had fallen against the face OF rock
| instead Of living men. The French threw
| themselves into squares, and the front
| rank kneeling, fringed with their glitterIng
| bayonets the entire formations, while the
ranks behind poured an incessant volley
| on the charging squadronS. These would
recoil turn, and charge again, with I'M
paralleied but vain bravery.
Prince William, who led them on, dis
/ daining to abandon the contest, again and
again hurried them forward with an i'm
petuosity and strength that threatened to
| bear own everything before them Some
| times a SQUARE would bend and WAIVER a
moment like a line OF fire when it meets
! the blast, bat the next moment would
spring 10 its place again, presenting the
| same eirdle OF steel in front and the same
| line OF fire behind.
CAVALRY VERSUS INFANTRY.
Goaded to desperation and madness by
| the resistance he met, and confident still
| OF the power OF his cavalry to break the in
! fantry. he rallied his diminished troops for
the last time, and then led them to the
charge. These brave men rode steadily
! forward through the storm OF grapeshot and
! bullets that swept their Path, IL they
came to the very muZzleS OF the guns; but
not "a square broke, not a battalion yielded
Furious with disappointment, they then
rode around the squares, firing their pistols
III the soldiers faces, and spurTing then
/ steeds in wherever a man fell. But al
| this time q most murderous fire wasted
them; for while they swept in rapid circle
round each square a girdle OF light fol
| lowed them; and the fire OF the musketry
rolled round the living wall, enveloping II
| in smoke and strewing its base with the
| dead.
At length Prince William himself was
| stretched ON the field where half his fol
lowers already lay bleeding, and the re-
| maindeT Withdrew.
Davoust, feeling how everything wavered
| in the balance, multiplied himself with the
perils that environed him. With no cav
airy able To contend with that OF the enemy
he was compelled to rely entirely on his
infantry. The Tapidity, GOODNESS, and pre-
csion with which they performed then
| evolutions saved him from ruinOus de
| feat.
Now he would suddenly throw division
into squares, as the splendid Prussiar
cavalry came laundering upon it, and re
pelling the shock, unrOll them into line Il
receive a charge of infantry, or throw then
into close columns 10 charge in turn.
The battle rested on his life; yet his
personal presence at the points OF danger
was equally necessary To- victory, and he
seemed to forget he had a life to lose Ht
never appeared better than on this day
The intense action OF his mind neutraliZet
the strong excitement of his feelings which
usually bore him into battle; and he rod,
through the driving storm with the sterr
purpose never to yield written on his calm
marble like countenance in lires tina
could not be mistaken.