The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-10-25

Sedan, fought on September l, 1870,
was the losing battle OF a demoralized
France. 1t cost the French arms loss
Of prestige; perhaps even temporary
loss Of honor. 1t cost France the huge
indemnity demanded by triumphant
Germany. But, for all this, its ulti-
mate effect was of inestimable prOnt
to France. For Sedan marked the
collapse of the Second empire, over
which relgned the Emperor Louis Ma
poleon-Napoleon the Little. From'its
ruin sprang the splendid republic OF
today.
Sedan lies In northern France, IL
miles from Mezleres, on the right bank
Of the Meuse. To it came Marshal
MacMahOn and the discouraged, al
ready half-beaten army Of France, its
commander so respondent that he
could contemplate nothing more than
n battle to sustain the honor OF his
troops. He did not even communicate
with VInoy, whose corps was concen-
trating at Mezieres.
To the east there was a strong posi-
ton, where the Fond du Givonne pre-
sented serious obstacle to the German
infantry. However, MacMahon Ignored
it. The German host came on In two
columns, with only weak cavalry
screen between. Before daybreak the
.Bavarlans had thrown pontoon
bridge across the Meuse, advancing
toward Bazeilles, where Vassoigne's d.
vision, containing q number Of marine
and sailor battallons, gave them such
warm reception that they were COM
pletely disconnected. About six in the
morning the heavy night fog lifted,
whereupon the German artillery came
violently into action. One of the first
shells wounded MacMahon. General
Ducrot took over the command
Now 1t happened that there was
with the army General Wimpffen, who
had only arrived from Algiers on the
night of August 80, and who had In
his pocket a secret commission, au-
thorizing him to assume command In
event of the death or disabIement of
MacMahon. No one save Wimpffen
knew of this. He was new to the
troops and new to this theater Of war.
Therefore he hesitated to dlsplace Du-
crOt, waiting until nine o'clock, when,
perceiving that Ducrot intended to re-
treat toward the west, and convinced
that salvation lay only in moving east
ward toward Metz and the army OF
Bazaine, he produced his papers and
took charge. AS q result there fol-
lowed dire confusion, a good part OF
the army already having begun the ex-
ecution Of Ducrot's orders.
Northward of Bazeilles the French
were withdrawing, so that the Saxons
swept easily over the ridge south Of the
Glvonne- Sedan road This cut off the
retreat of Vassoigne's gallant fighters,
who fell into the hands of the Germans
en- hour before noon.
At about the same time the Ger
man Guard corps began to form up be-
tween DSigny and Givonne, when sud
denly great column Of French infan-
try, 5000 strong, obeying Wimpffen's
orders of movement, came over the
eastern border Of the valley and
charged at full speed for the guns.
There followed what was probably
the most dramatic spectacle Of the war
for the whole of the corps artillery OF
the Guard turned upon these devoted
men, tearing the column in half and
almost annihilating it. The head OF
the column, 1000 strong, struggled des
perately on, but coming under f1anking
fire from both cannon and rifles, it fair
ly dissolved before the German eyes
Another detachment of the invaders
crossed the river at DOncherey, driving
back the French OutpOsts to the south
Of the lily road so easily that the Ger
man artillery became reCklesSly ex
posed. Perceiving this and acting in
stantly, G neral de Gallfet-"Old Sill
yer Top" IS he was afterward called
because of the silver plate which re
placed hort Of his skull-rushed uI
his brigade of Chasseurs d'Afrique anC
hurled a most dashlng charge against
the batteries. Gallifet might have ac
complished something here, but he was
utterly unsupported, and could nOt
hold his advantage. He fell back will
his hard-punished horse behind thu
Cazal-Illy ridge.
Next the French infantry tried it.
hand again, making brilliant, If i'll
timed, charge out of its position ant
driving the Germans until the re
endorsements dashed up. Then once
more the French retired in more OF
less confusion. holding strongly al
Floing.
Now, however, the French Twelfth
corps found itself furiously assaulted
and in such peril that reinforcement.
were sent up from Douay's force. 81
pronounced was the confusion of thu
day that these re-enforcements actu