The Medina sentinel. [volume] (Medina, Ohio) 1888-1961, 1915-06-18
EUROPE 57S ~ AND 1915

Prince Frederick Charles was the
heroic leader of the Prussian soldiers
and by forced marches intercepted our
main body; this was no small task
for we outnumbered them, about 10 to
/. But again the poor tactics of our
generals lost the day and the battle
of Mars la Tour will 60 down in his
tory as the bloodiest and fiercest in>the
annals of warfare.
1t was at this terrific cavalery bat
tie that / received my first bullet; it
was here where my regiment 1000
strong answered roll call 127 strong;
the rest would never again answer to
the bugle call. At the battle of Mars
la Tour both armies fought like de-
mons and in justice to Prussian arms
let it be said that over six hours four
regiments of the line assisted by three
regiments of cavalry held our men
at bay tho we outnumbered them 10
to |. When finally unable to hold out
any longer and ready to surrender, the
rhngi Of The Pfpssian guards sounded
the advance Of new and fresh body
of horsemen, giving new enthusiasm
to the much pressed soldiers. One half
of these men remained on the field
of battle, yet they won the day. A part
of our army succeeded to break thru
the enemy's lines, while the largest
part under Marshal Bazaine was
thrown back upon Metz. Bazaine
knew it would be futile for him to at
tempt to give battle in Metz, hence
once more he rallied his troops for a
final attempt to break the lines Of the
enemy; thus on August 18th the
great battle begun upon which hung
the destiny of his entire army.
German artillery was superior to
French at this time and in very few
hours almost every battery around
Metz had been silenced, while the ad-
vance of the Prussian guards were or
dered to fall upon the left flank of the
French army resting with its wing
upon Gravelotte. AS the evening
shades were falling the whole German
army advanced upon the hard pressed
lines of the French defenders, who,
fighting like demons, were driven from
one position to the other, until at night
fall Bazaine order a general retreat
upon Metz, which was successfully
carried out under cover of darkness.
My first taste of battle was on Aug
ust A, 1870. We were stationed at
'Weissenburg and ordered to hold the
enemy in check, until the heights be-
yond the town could be more strongly
fortified, yet at the very beginning of
the fight it became evident that our
new chassepot guns were no match
for the Prussian needle guns, our ar
tillery also proved inferior and after
many hours of hard fighting the Prus-
sian infantry took the heights of the
Geissberg by storm, driving our troops
who had become almost demoralized,
for most Of them were volunteers, un-
accustomed to military hardships, into
the town. A terrific hand to hand
fight now commenced, proving that
the French soldier knows how to use
the cold steel. Several hours Of des-
perate fighting saw the streets Of the
beautiful little city drenched by the
blood of men of both armies. The bat
tie was almost ours, when to the sur
prise and chagrin Of all, our bugles
sounded the retreat. AT first we sup
posed q trick Of the enemy was be-
ing employed to weaken our position,
but very soon this illusion was dis
Isipated, for we were ordered to fall
back on Woerth, about three miles
east, where a strong force under Gem
eral MacMahon had taken up a very
favorable position. Our lines were
hastily reformed, and the order for q
general advance given, as soon as our
men could take second breath Next