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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Franco-German War of 1870-71, by 
+Count Helmuth, von Moltke
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Franco-German War of 1870-71
+
+Author: Count Helmuth, von Moltke
+
+Translator: Archibald Forbes
+
+Release Date: May 24, 2011 [EBook #36209]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR OF 1870-71 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+    THE
+    FRANCO-GERMAN WAR
+    OF
+    1870--71
+
+
+    BY
+    FIELD-MARSHAL
+    COUNT HELMUTH VON MOLTKE
+
+
+    TRANSLATION REVISED BY
+    ARCHIBALD FORBES
+
+
+    _WITH A MAP, NOTES, AND ORDERS OF BATTLE_
+
+
+    LONDON
+    JAMES R. OSGOOD, McILVAINE & CO.
+    45, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
+    1893
+    [_All rights reserved_]
+
+
+
+
+NOTE.
+
+
+The translation has been thoroughly revised for the sense as well as in
+regard to technical military terms and expressions. To the name of every
+German general officer mentioned in the text has been affixed, within
+brackets, his specific command, a liberty which the reader will perhaps
+not resent, since the interpolation is intended to facilitate his
+clearer understanding of a narrative condensed by the author with
+extreme severity.
+
+In further aid of elucidation there has been occasionally inserted, also
+within brackets, a date, a figure, or a word.
+
+A few footnotes will be found, which may perhaps be excused as not
+wholly irrelevant. In the Appendix have been inserted the "Orders of
+Battle" of both sides, as in the first period of the war.
+
+                                                       A. F.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+Field-Marshal von Moltke began this history of the War of 1870--1 in the
+spring of the year 1887, and during his residence at Creisau he worked
+at it for about three hours every morning. On his return to Berlin in
+the autumn of that year, the work was not quite finished, but he
+completed it by January, 1888, at Berlin, placed it in my hands, and
+never again alluded to the subject.
+
+The origin of the book was as follows. I had several times entreated
+him, but in vain, to make use of his leisure hours at Creisau in noting
+down some of his rich store of reminiscences. He always objected, in the
+same words: "Everything official that I have had occasion to write, or
+that is worth remembering, is to be seen in the Archives of the Staff
+Corps. My personal experiences had better be buried with me." He had a
+dislike to memoirs in general, which he was at no pains to conceal,
+saying that they only served to gratify the writer's vanity, and often
+contributed to distort important historical events by the subjective
+views of an individual, and the intrusion of trivial details. It might
+easily happen that a particular character which in history stood forth
+in noble simplicity should be hideously disfigured by the narrative of
+some personal experiences, and the ideal halo which had surrounded it be
+destroyed. And highly characteristic of Moltke's magnanimity are the
+words he once uttered on such an occasion, and which I noted at the
+time: "Whatever is published in a military history is always dressed for
+effect: yet it is a duty of piety and patriotism never to impair the
+prestige which identifies the glory of our Army with personages of lofty
+position."
+
+Not long after our arrival at Creisau, early in 1887, I repeated my
+suggestion. In reply to my request that he would write an account of the
+Campaign of 1870--1, he said: "You have the official history of the war.
+That contains everything. I admit," he added, "that it is too full of
+detail for the general type of readers, and far too technical. An
+abridgment must be made some day." I asked him whether he would allow me
+to lay the work on his table, and next morning he began the narrative
+contained in this volume, and comparing it as he went on with the
+official history, carried it through to the end.
+
+His purpose was to give a concise account of the war. But, while keeping
+this in view, he involuntarily--as was unavoidable in his
+position--regarded the undertaking from his own standpoint as Chief of
+the General Staff, and marshalled results so as to agree as a whole with
+the plan of campaign which was known only to the higher military
+authorities. Thus this work, which was undertaken in all simplicity of
+purpose, as a popular history, is practically from beginning to end the
+expression of a private opinion of the war by the Field-Marshal himself.
+
+The Appendix: "On a pretended Council of War in the Wars of William I.
+of Prussia," was written in 1881. In a book by Fedor von Koppen, "Männer
+und Thaten, vaterländische Balladen" (_Men and Deeds: Patriotic Songs_),
+which the poet presented to the Field-Marshal, there is a poem entitled,
+"_A German Council of War at Versailles_" (with a historical note
+appended), describing an incident which never occurred, and which, under
+the conditions by which the relations of the Chief of the Staff to his
+Majesty were regulated, never could have occurred. To preclude any such
+mistakes for the future, and to settle once and for all the truth as to
+the much-discussed question of the Council of War, the Field-Marshal
+wrote this paper, to which he added a description of his personal
+experience of the battle of Königgrätz. It is this narrative which,
+shortly after the writer's death, was published in the _Allgemeine
+Zeitung_ of Munich, in the somewhat abridged and altered form in which
+the Field-Marshal had placed it at the disposal of Professor von
+Treitscke, the well-known historian.
+
+                             COUNT HELMUTH VON MOLTKE,
+                               Major and Adjutant to his
+                                 Imperial Majesty.
+
+Berlin, June 25th, 1891.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+  PART I.
+                                                                 PAGE
+  Preparations for War                                              2
+  Combat of Weissenburg (4th August)                               12
+  Battle of Wörth (6th August)                                     14
+  Battle of Spicheren (6th August)                                 19
+  Right-wheel of the German Army                                   26
+  Battle of Colombey-Nouilly (14th August)                         29
+  Battle of Vionville--Mars la Tour (16th August)                  34
+  Battle of Gravelotte--St. Privat (18th August)                   49
+  New Distribution of the Army                                     64
+  The Army of Châlons                                              66
+  Battle of Beaumont (30th August)                                 76
+  Battle of Sedan (1st September)                                  87
+
+
+  PART II.
+
+  Sortie from Metz (26th August)                                  102
+  Battle of Noisseville (31st August)                             106
+  Change of Government in Paris                                   114
+  Retreat of General Vinoy                                        116
+  March on Paris of IIIrd Army and the Army of the Meuse          119
+  Investment of Paris (19th September)                            124
+  First Negotiations for Peace                                    129
+  Reduction of Toul (23rd September)                              130
+  Reduction of Strasburg (28th September)                         131
+  Operations round Paris to 15th October                          139
+  Action of Artenay (10th October)                                145
+  Engagement at Orleans (11th October)                            146
+  Reduction of Soissons (15th October)                            149
+  Storming of Châteaudun (18th October)                           151
+  Sortie against Malmaison (21st October)                         153
+  Storming of Le Bourget (30th October)                           156
+  Sortie from Metz against Bellevue (7th October)                 162
+  Capitulation of Metz (27th October)                             165
+  New Distribution of the Army                                    166
+  Operations of the XIVth Corps in the South-East (October)       166
+  Reduction of Schlettstadt (24th October)                        172
+  Reduction of Breisach (10th November)                           174
+  Reduction of Verdun (9th November)                              175
+  Advance of Ist and IInd Armies (up to mid-November)             177
+  Engagement at Coulmiers (9th November)                          181
+  Operations of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg                     187
+  Situation of IInd Army (second half of November)                189
+  Battle of Beaune la Rolande (28th November)                     192
+  Advance of the Army of the Loire to the relief of Paris         197
+  Battle of Loigny--Poupry (2nd December)                         199
+  Paris in November                                               204
+  Attempt of the Army of Paris to break out (30th November and
+    2nd December)                                                 207
+  Advance of the Ist Army in November                             216
+  Battle of Amiens (17th November)                                217
+  Reduction of La Fère (27th November)                            221
+  Reduction of Thionville (24th November)                         222
+  Investment of Belfort in November                               223
+  Battle of Orleans (3rd and 4th December)                        224
+  Offensive Operations South, East, and West                      233
+  Fighting of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (7th--10th December)  235
+  Interruption of important offensive operations in December      245
+  The XIVth Corps in December                                     250
+  The Ist Army in December                                        252
+  Reduction of Mézières (1st January, 1871)                       257
+  Paris in December                                               259
+    Combat of Le Bourget (21st December)                          261
+    Bombardment of Mont-Avron (27th December)                     264
+  The Army of the East under General Bourbaki                     266
+  Advance of the IInd Army to Le Mans                             269
+  Battle in front of Le Mans (10th--12th January)                 284
+  Occurrences northward of Paris during January                   303
+    Battle of Bapaume (3rd January)                               305
+    Fighting on the Lower Seine (4th January)                     308
+    Reduction of Péronne (9th January)                            310
+  Battle of St. Quentin (19th January)                            316
+  Occurrences in the South-Eastern Seat of War up to 17th January 324
+    Siege of Belfort                                              324
+    Transfer of the French Army of the East to the South-Eastern
+      Seat of War (end of December)                               328
+    Action of Villersexel (9th January)                           331
+  Battle on the Lisaine (15th--17th January)                      338
+  The Artillery Attack on Paris (January, 1871)                   349
+  Battle of Mont Valérien (19th January)                          355
+  Prosecution of the Artillery Attack on Paris to the Armistice   361
+  Operations of the Army of the South under General von
+    Manteuffel                                                    366
+  General Hann von Weyhern's March on Dijon                       390
+  Occupation of the Departments of the Doubs, Jura, and Côte
+    d'Or                                                          391
+  Prosecution of the Siege of Belfort                             393
+  The Armistice                                                   399
+  The Homeward March of the German Army                           406
+
+  APPENDIX.
+
+  On the pretended Council of War in the Wars of King
+    William I.                                                    413
+  "Orders of Battle" of the French and German Armies in the
+    first period of the war                                       419
+
+
+
+
+THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.
+
+PART I.
+
+
+The days are gone by when, for dynastical ends, small armies of
+professional soldiers went to war to conquer a city, or a province, and
+then sought winter quarters or made peace. The wars of the present day
+call whole nations to arms; there is scarcely a family that has not had
+to bewail lost ones. The entire financial resources of the State are
+appropriated to military purposes, and the seasons of the year have no
+influence on the unceasing progress of hostilities. As long as nations
+exist distinct one from the other there will be quarrels that can only
+be settled by force of arms; but, in the interests of humanity, it is to
+be hoped that wars will become the less frequent, as they become the
+more terrible.
+
+Generally speaking, it is no longer the ambition of monarchs which
+endangers peace; but the impulses of a nation, its dissatisfaction with
+its internal conditions, the strife of parties and the intrigues of
+their leaders. A declaration of war, so serious in its consequences, is
+more easily carried by a large assembly, of which no one of the members
+bears the sole responsibility, than by a single individual, however
+lofty his position; and a peace-loving sovereign is less rare than a
+parliament composed of wise men. The great wars of recent times have
+been declared against the wish and will of the reigning powers.
+Now-a-days the Bourse possesses so great influence that it is able to
+have armies called into the field merely to protect its interests.
+Mexico and Egypt have had European armies of occupation inflicted upon
+them simply to satisfy the demands of the _haute finance_. To-day the
+question is not so much whether a nation is strong enough to make war,
+as whether its Government is powerful enough to prevent war. For
+example, united Germany has hitherto used her strength only to maintain
+European peace; while the weakness of a neighbouring Government
+continues to involve the gravest risk of war.
+
+It was, indeed, from such a condition of relations that the war of
+1870--71 originated. A Napoleon on the throne of France was bound to
+justify his pretensions by political and military successes. Only
+temporarily was the French nation contented by the victories of its arms
+in remote fields of war; the triumphs of the Prussian armies excited
+jealousy, they were regarded as arrogant, as a challenge; and the French
+demanded revenge for Sadowa. The liberal spirit of the epoch set itself
+against the autocratic Government of the Emperor; he was forced to make
+concessions, his internal authority was weakened, and one day the nation
+was informed by its representatives that it desired war with Germany.
+
+
+
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
+
+
+The wars carried on by France beyond seas, essentially on behalf of
+financial interests, had consumed immense sums and had undermined the
+discipline of the army. Her army was by no means in thorough
+preparedness for a great war, but, in the temper of the nation, the
+Spanish succession question furnished an opportune pretext on which to
+go to war. The French Reserves were called out on July 15th, and, as if
+the opportunity for a rupture was on no account to be let slip, only
+four days later the French declaration of war was presented at Berlin.
+
+One Division of the French Army was ordered to the Spanish frontier as a
+corps of observation; only such troops as were absolutely necessary were
+left in Algiers and in Civita Vecchia; Paris and Lyons were sufficiently
+garrisoned. The entire remainder of the army: 332 battalions, 220
+squadrons, 924 guns, in all about 300,000 men, formed the Army of the
+Rhine, which, divided into eight Corps, was, at any rate in the first
+instance, to be under the sole direction of a central head. The Emperor
+himself was the fitting person to undertake this weighty duty, pending
+whose arrival Marshal Bazaine was to command the gathering forces.
+
+It is very probable that the French reckoned on the old dissensions of
+the German races. Not that they dared to look forward to the South
+Germans as allies, but they hoped to paralyze their offensive by an
+early victory, perhaps even to win them over to their side. It was true
+that Prussia by herself was still a mighty antagonist, and that her
+armed forces were of superior strength; but peradventure this advantage
+might be counterbalanced by rapidity of action.
+
+The French plan of campaign was indeed based on the delivery of sudden
+unexpected attacks. The powerful fleet of war-ships and transports was
+to be utilized to land a considerable force in Northern Prussia, which
+should there engage a part of the Prussian troops, while the main body
+of the German army, it was assumed, would await the first French attack
+behind the strong defensive line of the Rhine. A French force was to
+cross the Rhine promptly, at and below Strasburg, thus avoiding the
+great German fortresses; its function being, at the very outset of the
+campaign, to cut off the South-German army charged with the defence of
+the Black Forest, and prevent it from effecting a junction with the
+North Germans. In the execution of this plan it was imperative that
+the main body of the French army should be massed in Alsace. Railway
+accommodation, however, was so inadequate that in the first instance it
+was only possible to transport 100,000 men to Strasburg; 150,000 had to
+leave the railway at Metz, and remain there till they could be moved
+forward. Fifty thousand men in the Châlons camp were intended to serve
+as supports, and 115 battalions were destined for field service as soon
+as the National Guard should relieve them in the interior. The various
+Corps were distributed as follows:--
+
+      Imperial Guard, General Bourbaki--Nancy.
+      Ist Corps, Marshal MacMahon--Strasburg.
+     IInd Corps, General Frossard--St. Avold.
+    IIIrd Corps, Marshal Bazaine--Metz.
+     IVth Corps, General Ladmirault--Thionville.
+      Vth Corps, General Failly--Bitsch.
+     VIth Corps, Marshal Canrobert--Châlons.
+    VIIth Corps, General Félix Douay--Belfort.
+
+Thus while there were but two Corps in Alsace, there were five on the
+Moselle; and, so early as the day of the declaration of war, one of the
+latter, the IInd Corps, had been pushed forward close to the German
+frontier, about St. Avold and Forbach. General Frossard, its commander,
+was, however, under strict injunctions to commit himself to no serious
+undertaking.
+
+The regiments had been hurried away from their peace stations before the
+arrival of their complement of men, and without waiting for their
+equipments. Meanwhile the called-out reservists accumulated in the
+depôts, overflowed the railway stations and choked the traffic. Their
+transmission to their destinations was at a standstill, for it was often
+unknown at the depôts where the regiments to which the reservists were
+to be sent were for the time encamped. When at length they joined they
+were destitute of the most necessary articles of equipment. The Corps
+and Divisions lacked trains, hospitals and nearly the whole of the
+_personnel_ of their administration. No magazines had been established
+in advance, and the troops were to depend on the stores in the
+fortresses. These were in a neglected state, for in the assured
+expectation that the armies would be almost immediately launched into
+the enemy's country they had received little attention. It was of a
+piece with this that the French Staff-officers had been provided with
+maps of Germany, but not of their own country. The Ministry of War in
+Paris was overwhelmed with claims, protestations, and expostulations,
+till finally it was left to the troops to help themselves as best they
+could. "_On se débrouillera_," was the hope of the authorities.
+
+When the Emperor arrived at Metz eight days after the declaration of
+war, the forces were not yet up to their strength, and even the precise
+whereabouts of whole bodies of troops was for the time unknown. He
+ordered the advance of the army, but his Marshals protested that its
+internal plight was so unsatisfactory as to make this impossible for the
+time. The general conviction was gradually impressing itself on the
+French, that instead of continuing to aim at invasion of the enemy's
+country, their exertions would have to be confined to the defence of
+their own territory. A strong German army was reported to be assembling
+between Mayence and Coblentz; and instead of reinforcements being sent
+forward from Metz to Strasburg, much heavier ones would have to be
+ordered from the Rhine to the Saar. The determination to invade South
+Germany was already abandoned; the fleet sailed, but without carrying a
+force to be landed on the north German coast.
+
+Germany had been surprised by the declaration of war, but she was not
+unprepared. That was a possibility which had been foreseen.
+
+After the withdrawal of Austria from the German connection, Prussia had
+taken upon itself the sole leadership, and had gradually formed closer
+relations with the South-German States. The idea of national
+unification had been revived, and found an echo in the patriotic
+sentiments of the entire people.
+
+The mobilization machinery of the North-German army had been elaborated
+from year to year, in accord with the changing conditions, by the
+combined exertions of the War Ministry and the General Staff. Every
+branch of the administration throughout the country had been kept
+informed of all it needed to know in this relation. The Berlin
+authorities had also come to a confidential understanding with the
+Chiefs of the General Staffs of the South-German States on all important
+points. The principle was established that Prussian assistance was not
+to be reckoned on for the defence of any particular point, such as the
+Black Forest; and that South Germany would be best protected by an
+offensive movement into Alsace from the middle Rhine, to be effectively
+supported by a large army massed there. That the Governments of Bavaria,
+Würtemberg, Baden and Hesse, to all appearance uncovering their own
+territories, were ready to place their contingents under the command of
+King William, proved their entire confidence in the Prussian leadership.
+
+This understanding enabled the preparations which it entailed to be
+proceeded with. The train and march tables were worked out for each body
+of troops, with the most minute directions as to the respective
+starting-points, the day and hour of departure, the duration of the
+journey, the refreshment stations, and points of detrainment. In the
+locality of concentration cantonments were assigned to each Corps and
+Division, and magazines were established with due regard to the most
+convenient sites; and thus, when the stroke of war inevitably impended,
+there was required only the Royal signature to start the whole mighty
+movement in its smooth, swift course. Nothing needed to be changed in
+the directions originally given; it sufficed to follow the plans
+previously thought out and prepared.
+
+The aggregated mobile forces were formed into three separate Armies, on
+the basis of an elaborate tabular statement drawn up by the Chief of the
+Prussian General Staff.
+
+The Ist Army, under the command of General von Steinmetz, consisted of,
+in the first instance, only the VIIth and VIIIth Corps, with one
+Division of cavalry; 60,000 men all told. It was ordered to assemble at
+Wittlich and form the right wing.
+
+The IInd Army, under the command of Prince Frederick Charles, consisted
+of the IIIrd, IVth, Xth, and Guard Corps, with two Divisions of cavalry.
+Assembling in the vicinity of Homburg and Neunkirchen, it was to form
+the centre, with a strength of 134,000 men.
+
+The IIIrd Army, under the command of the Crown Prince of Prussia,
+consisted of the Vth and XIth Prussian, and the Ist and IInd Bavarian
+Corps, the Würtemberg and Baden Field Divisions, with one Division of
+cavalry. Its approximate strength was 130,000 men; it was to constitute
+the left wing, and to concentrate about Landau and Rastatt.
+
+The IXth Corps, consisting of the 18th and the Hesse Divisions, was
+along with the XIIth Royal Saxon Corps to form a reserve of 60,000 men
+in front of Mayence, for the reinforcement of the IInd Army to a
+strength of 194,000 men.
+
+The three Armies numbered together 384,000 men.
+
+There still remained the Ist, IInd, and VIth Corps, numbering 100,000
+men; but they were not at first included, as railway transport for them
+was not available for three weeks to come. The 17th Division and certain
+bodies of Landwehr troops were detailed to defend the coasts.
+
+It is apparent that numerically the German armies were considerably
+superior to the French. Inclusive of the garrisons and reserves about
+one million of men and over 200,000 horses were on the ration list.
+
+On the night of July 16th the Royal order for mobilization was issued,
+and when his Majesty arrived in Mayence fourteen days later, he found
+300,000 men assembled on the Rhine and beyond.
+
+The plan of campaign submitted by the Chief of the General Staff, and
+accepted by the King, proves that officer to have had his eye fixed,
+from the first, upon the capture of the enemy's capital, the possession
+of which is of more importance in France than in other countries. On the
+way thither the hostile forces were to be driven as persistently as
+possible back from the fertile southern provinces into the more confined
+background to the north. But beyond everything the plan of campaign was
+based on the resolve to attack the enemy at once, wherever found, and
+keep the German forces always so compact that this could be done with
+the advantage of superior numbers. The specific dispositions for the
+accomplishment of those objects were left to be adopted on the spot; the
+advance to the frontier was alone pre-arranged in every detail.
+
+It is a delusion to imagine that a plan of campaign can be laid down far
+ahead and fulfilled with exactitude. The first collision with the enemy
+creates a new situation in accordance with its result. Some things
+intended will have become impracticable; others, which originally seemed
+impossible, become feasible. All that the leader of an army can do is to
+form a correct estimate of the circumstances, to decide for the best for
+the moment, and carry out his purpose unflinchingly.
+
+The advance of the French troops to the frontier, while as yet
+imperfectly mobilized, which was an extremely hazardous measure in
+itself, was evidently with the intent of utilizing the temporary
+advantage of having a superior force at immediate disposition by taking
+at unawares the German armies in the act of developing their
+advance-movements. But, notwithstanding, the German commanders did not
+deviate from their purpose of promptly effecting this first advance in
+front of the Rhine. The railway transport of the Corps of the IInd and
+IIIrd Armies, however, ended at the Rhine; thence the troops marched on
+foot into the cantonments prepared on the left bank of the river. They
+moved in echelon, advancing only so many at a time as would make room
+for the body in rear, in the first instance to the line
+Bingen-Dürkheim-Landau. The farther advance towards the frontier was not
+to be undertaken until the Divisions and Corps were all assembled, and
+provided with the necessary trains; and then they were to march forward
+in a state of readiness to confront the enemy at any moment.
+
+The massing of the Ist Army appeared to be less threatened, because its
+route was protected by neutral territory, and was covered by the
+garrisons of Trèves, Saarlouis and Saarbrücken, the German outposts on
+the Saar.
+
+The Ist Army, 50,000 strong, was concentrated at Wadern, in the first
+days of August. The IInd Army, which meanwhile had been increased to a
+strength of 194,000 men, had pushed forward its cantonments to
+Alsenz-Günnstadt, at the farther base of the Haardt Mountains, a
+position which had been thoroughly inspected by an officer of the
+General Staff, and where the troops might confidently await an attack.
+The 5th and 6th cavalry Divisions were reconnoitring the country in
+front. The IIIrd Army was still assembling on both banks of the Rhine.
+
+The French so far had made no serious attempt at Saarbrücken;
+Lieutenant-Colonel Pestel, with one battalion and three squadrons, was
+able successfully to withstand their petty attacks. It had meanwhile
+been observed that the hostile forces were moving farther to the right,
+towards Forbach and Bitsch. This seemed to indicate that the two French
+Corps known to be about Belfort and Strasburg, might purpose crossing
+the Rhine and marching through the Black Forest. It seemed therefore all
+the more important that the IIIrd Army should be set in motion as early
+as possible, for one thing to protect the right bank of the Upper Rhine
+by an advance on the left; for another, to cover the left flank of the
+IInd Army during its advance.
+
+A telegraphic order to that effect was despatched on the evening of July
+30th, but the Head-quarters of the IIIrd Army wished to wait for the
+arrival of the VIth Corps and of the trains. Whereupon, regardless of
+this delay, the IInd Army was put in march towards the Saar, where the
+French were beginning to be active.
+
+The time had gone by when they might have taken advantage of their
+over-hasty mobilization; the inefficient condition of the troops had
+paralyzed every attempt at activity. France had been long waiting for
+the news of a victory, and something had to be done to appease public
+impatience. So, in order to do something, it was resolved (as is usual
+in such circumstances) to undertake a reconnoissance in force, and, it
+may be added, with the usual result.
+
+On August 2nd three entire Army Corps were set in motion against three
+battalions, four squadrons, and one battery in Saarbrücken. The Emperor
+himself and the Prince Imperial shared in the enterprise. The IIIrd
+Corps advanced on Völklingen, the Vth through Saargemünd, the IInd on
+Saarbrücken.
+
+Saarbrücken was evacuated after a gallant defence and repeated
+counter-strokes, but the French did not press across the Saar;
+convinced, possibly, that they had wasted their strength in a stroke in
+the air, and had nowhere gained any insight into the dispositions of the
+enemy.
+
+The French military chiefs now hesitated for a long while between
+conflicting resolutions. Orders were given and recalled on the strength
+of mere rumours. The left wing was reinforced because 40,000 Prussians
+were supposed to have marched through Trèves, the Guard received
+contradictory orders, and the bare apparition of a small German force
+about Lörrach in the Black Forest occasioned the order that the VIIth
+Corps must remain in Alsace. Thus the French forces were straggled over
+the wide area between the Nied and the Upper Rhine, while the Germans
+were advancing in compact masses towards the Saar.
+
+This scattered state of their forces finally induced the French leaders
+to divide them into two separate Armies. Marshal MacMahon took command,
+but only provisionally, of the Ist, VIIth, and Vth Corps, of which the
+latter had therefore to draw in to him from Bitsch. The other Corps
+remained under Marshal Bazaine, with the exception of the Imperial
+Guard, the command of which the Emperor reserved to himself.
+
+It had now become a pressing necessity to protect the left wing of the
+advancing IInd German Army against the French forces in Alsace, and the
+IIIrd Army was therefore ordered to cross the frontier on August 4th,
+without waiting any longer for its trains. The Ist Army, forming the
+right wing, was in complete readiness near Wadern and Losheim, three or
+four days' march nearer to the Saar than the IInd Army in the centre. It
+received the order to concentrate in the neighbourhood of Tholey and
+there halt for the present. For one thing, this army, the weakest of the
+three, could not be exposed single-handed to an encounter with the
+enemy's main force; and for another, it was available to serve as an
+offensive flank in case the IInd Army should meet the enemy on emerging
+from the forest zone of the Palatinate.
+
+In the execution of this order, the Ist Army had so extended its
+cantonments southward that they trenched on the line of march of the
+IInd Army, and it had to evacuate the quarters about Ottweiler in favour
+of the latter. This involved a difficulty, as all the villages to the
+north were full, and as room had also to be found for the Ist Corps, now
+advancing by Birkenfeld. General von Steinmetz therefore decided to
+march his whole army in the direction of Saarlouis and Saarbrücken. The
+IInd Army, on August 4th, stood assembled ready for action, and received
+orders to deploy on the farther side of the forest zone of
+Kaiserslautern.
+
+
+
+
+COMBAT OF WEISSENBURG.
+
+(August 4th.)
+
+
+On this day the Corps of the IIIrd Army, consisting of 128 battalions,
+102 squadrons, and 80 batteries, which had been assembled in bivouac
+behind the Klingsbach, crossed the French frontier, marching on a broad
+front to reach the Lauter between Weissenburg and Lauterburg. This
+stream affords an exceptionally strong defensive position, but on August
+4th only one weak Division and a cavalry brigade of the Ist French Corps
+covered this point, the main body of that Corps being still on the march
+towards the Palatinate.
+
+Early in the morning the Bavarians forming the right wing encountered a
+lively resistance before the walls of Weissenburg, which were too strong
+to be stormed. But very soon after the two Prussian Corps crossed the
+Lauter lower down. General von Bose led forward the XIth Corps (which he
+commanded) with intent to turn the French right flank on the Geisberg,
+while General von Kirchbach, with the Vth Corps (which he commanded)
+advanced against the enemy's front. Thirty field-guns were meanwhile
+massed against the railway station of Weissenburg. It and subsequently
+the town were taken, after a bloody struggle.
+
+So early as ten o'clock General Douay had ordered a retreat, which was
+seriously threatened by the movement against the Geisburg; and the
+château of that name, a very defensible building, was most obstinately
+defended to enable the French to retire. The Grenadiers of the King's
+Regiment No. 7 in vain assailed it by storm, suffering heavy loss; nor
+did its defenders surrender until, with the greatest difficulty,
+artillery had been dragged up on to the height.
+
+The French Division, which had been attacked by three German Corps,
+effected a retreat after an obstinate struggle, though in great
+disorder, having suffered much loss. Its gallant Commander had been
+killed. The Germans had to bewail a proportionately considerable loss;
+their casualties were 91 officers and 1460 men. General von Kirchbach
+had been wounded while fighting in the foremost rank.
+
+The 4th Division of cavalry had met with much delay in the course of a
+nineteen miles' march by the crossing of the columns of infantry. It did
+not reach the scene of combat, and all touch of the enemy, now retiring
+to the westward, was lost.
+
+Uncertain as to the direction whence fresh hostile forces might be
+approaching, the IIIrd Army advanced on the 5th of August by diverging
+roads in the direction of Hagenau and Reichshofen; yet not so far apart
+but that it should be possible for the Corps to reconcentrate in one
+short march. The Crown Prince intended to allow his troops a rest on the
+following day, so as to have them fresh for a renewed attack as soon as
+the situation was made clear.
+
+But already, that same evening, the Bavarians on the right flank and the
+Vth Corps in the front had a sharp encounter with the enemy, who showed
+behind the Sauer in considerable strength. It was to be assumed that
+Marshal MacMahon had brought up the VIIth Corps from Strasburg, but it
+remained a question whether he intended to join Marshal Bazaine by way
+of Bitsch, or whether, having secured his line of retreat thither, he
+meant to accept battle at Wörth. Yet again there was the possibility
+that he might himself initiate the offensive. The Crown Prince, to make
+sure in any case of a preponderance of force, determined to concentrate
+his army in the neighbourhood of Sulz on August 6th. The IInd Bavarian
+Corps received separate instructions to watch the road from Bitsch with
+one Division; the other Division was to strike the hostile attack in
+flank on the western bank of the Sauer, in the event of artillery fire
+about Wörth being heard.
+
+Marshal MacMahon was endeavouring with all his might to concentrate his
+three Corps, and he really had the intention to make an immediate attack
+on his invading foe. A Division of the VIIth Corps, which had but just
+been sent to Mülhausen to strengthen the defence of Alsace, was at once
+recalled to Hagenau, and early on the 6th formed the right wing of the
+strong position which the Ist Corps had taken up behind the Sauer, and
+in front of Fröschwiller, Elsasshausen, and Eberbach. On the left,
+Lespart's Division of the Vth Corps was expected from Bitsch, of which
+the other Divisions were only now on march from Saargemünd by way of
+Rohrbach. Meanwhile Ducrot's Division formed a refused flank on the
+French left.
+
+Neither the German nor the French leaders expected the collision before
+the following day, but when, as in this case, the adversaries are in so
+close proximity, the conflict may break out at any moment, even against
+the wish of the higher commanders.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF WÖRTH.
+
+(August 6th.)
+
+
+After a good deal of skirmishing between the respective outposts during
+the night, the Commander of the 20th German Brigade[1] thought it
+expedient to seize a passage over the Sauer, which flowed just in his
+front and constituted a serious obstacle. The bridge leading to Wörth
+had been destroyed, but the sharp-shooters waded through the river, and
+at seven o'clock pressed into the town, which the French had left
+unoccupied.
+
+Soon enough they realized that before them was a numerous enemy in a
+strong position.
+
+The broad meadows of the Sauer all lie within effective range of the
+commanding slopes on the right bank; and the long-ranging chassepôt fire
+could not but tell heavily. On the French side of the river the terrain
+was dotted with vineyards and hop-gardens, which afforded great
+advantages for defensive purposes.
+
+The combat which had begun at Wörth was broken off after lasting half an
+hour, but the artillery of both sides had taken part in it, and the
+sound of cannon-fire had been the signal prescribed to Hartmann's IInd
+Bavarian Corps, acting on which it now advanced from Langensulzbach, and
+was soon engaged in a brisk fight with the left flank of the French. The
+latter on their side had advanced on their right to the attack of
+Gunstett, where they came in contact with the advancing XIth Prussian
+Corps.
+
+The din of battle, rolling from the north and south alike, was heard by
+the Vth Corps in its position opposite to Wörth; and it seemed
+imperative that it should engage with vigour the enemy's centre in order
+to hinder him from throwing himself with all his strength on one or
+other of the German flanks.
+
+The artillery was brought up, and by ten o'clock 108 guns were in action
+on the eastern slope of the Sauer valley.
+
+Some infantry detachments waded breast-high through the river, but this
+dashing attempt, undertaken in inadequate strength, miscarried, and it
+was only by strenuous efforts that a foothold was maintained on the
+other side.
+
+The Crown Prince sent orders that nothing was to be undertaken that
+would bring on a battle on that day. But by this time the Vth Corps was
+so seriously engaged that the fight could not be broken off without
+obvious disadvantage. General von Kirchbach therefore determined to
+continue the contest on his own responsibility.
+
+The frontal attack was an undertaking of great difficulty, and could
+scarcely succeed unless with the co-operation of another on the flank.
+But at this juncture the Bavarians, who, in position as they were on the
+right, could have afforded this co-operation, obeyed the breaking off
+command, which had also reached them in the course of the fighting, and
+withdrew to Langensulzbach. There was, however, the XIth Corps in
+position on the left, eager to strike in. It seized the Albrechts-häuser
+farm, and pressed forward into the Niederwald.
+
+In front of Wörth the battle hung, consisting of a succession of attacks
+renewed again and again on either side; each assailant in turn getting
+worsted, in consequence of the nature of the country. By degrees,
+however, the collective battalions, and finally the artillery of the Vth
+Corps, were brought over to the west bank of the Sauer; while the XIth
+Corps had already won there a firm point of support for further advance.
+
+Just then, near Morsbronn, notwithstanding the evident unfavourable
+nature of the ground, two Cuirassier and one Lancer regiments of
+Michel's brigade hurled themselves with reckless daring on a body of
+German infantry taken in the act of wheeling to the right. But the 32nd
+Regiment, far from seeking cover, received in open order the charging
+mass of over 1000 horse with a steady fire which did great execution.
+The Cuirassiers especially suffered immense loss. Only a few horsemen
+broke through the firing line and gained the open ground; many were
+taken prisoners in the village, the remainder rode in wild gallop as
+far as Walburg. There they encountered the Prussian 13th Hussars,
+suffered further loss, and disappeared from the field.
+
+It is true that the infantry of the French right wing succeeded in
+driving back the foremost detachments of the Germans about
+Albrechts-häuser farm, but the further advance of the former was
+shattered by the fire of newly-unmasked artillery.
+
+When finally the last battalions had crossed the Sauer, the XIth Corps
+made its way through the Niederwald, fighting its way step by step. The
+northern edge of the forest was reached by 2.30, and there a junction
+was formed with the left flank of the Vth Corps. The burning village of
+Elsasshausen was carried by storm, and the little copse south of
+Fröschwiller was also won after a gallant defence.
+
+Thus crowded together in a limited space, the French army was in a
+situation of imminent danger. Its left flank, it is true, still held out
+against the renewed attack of the Bavarians, who had re-entered the
+action, but its front and right flank were terribly hard pressed, and
+even its retreat was seriously threatened. Marshal MacMahon therefore
+tried to obtain a breathing space by a heavy counter-stroke to the
+south. The weak German detachments standing to the east of Elsasshausen,
+thrown into confusion by the vehement attack, were in part driven back
+into the Niederwald, but were quickly rallied and brought up again. Here
+the French cavalry strove once more to change the fortunes of the day.
+Bonnemain's Division, notwithstanding the unfavourable nature of the
+ground, threw itself on the dishevelled front of the enemy, suffered
+terrible losses, and was shattered without having been able effectively
+to charge home.
+
+The Würtembergers now came up from the south, and the Bavarians from the
+north. General von Bose, though twice wounded, led what of his troops
+he could collect to the storm of the burning Fröschwiller, the enemy's
+last stronghold. The artillery moved up within case-shot range, and thus
+cleared the road for the infantry which was pushing forward from all
+sides. After maintaining to the utmost a resolute and gallant resistance
+until five o'clock, the French retreated in great disorder towards
+Reichshofen and Niederbronn.
+
+At the Falkenstein stream, Lespart's Division, just arrived on the
+field, made a short stand, but these fresh troops offered only brief
+resistance, and were swept away in the general rout.
+
+This victory of the IIIrd Army had been dearly paid for with the loss of
+489 officers and 10,000 men. The loss on the French side is not exactly
+known, but of prisoners alone they left 200 officers and 9000 men, and
+in the German hands there remained 33 guns and 2000 horses.
+
+The disintegration of the French army must have been so complete as to
+throw it altogether out of hand. Only one brigade of Lespart's Division
+took the road by Bitsch to join the French main army at St. Avold; all
+the rest of the army, following an infectious impulse, rolled
+unhaltingly in a south-western direction towards Saverne.
+
+As in the Head-quarter of the IIIrd Army it had not been intended to
+fight on August 6th, the 4th Division of cavalry had not left its
+quarters in the rear, and was therefore not available to take up the
+pursuit; it did not reach Gunstett until nine o'clock in the evening.
+But, in order to be at hand at any rate for the next day, Prince Albert
+marched his command on during the night as far as Eberbach; after three
+hours' rest he started again, and after covering thirty-six miles,[2]
+came up in the evening with the rearguard of the enemy near Steinberg,
+at the foot of the Vosges. Without infantry it would have been
+impossible for the Division to push farther, but the sight of it gave
+the enemy a fresh impulse of flight. The Ist Corps stampeded again in
+the night and reached Saarburg, where it joined the Vth Corps. Thus the
+French had a start of twenty-three and a half miles, and continued their
+retreat on Lunéville, unmolested by the Germans.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] General Walther von Montbary. It is Molkte's custom throughout this
+work, except in regard to his prime aversion, Prince Frederick Charles,
+to refrain from naming an officer whom by implication he is censuring,
+but this is simply a _nuance_, since he specifies the culprit's military
+position.
+
+[2] Throughout the miles are English miles.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF SPICHEREN.
+
+(August 6th.)
+
+
+Let us now turn to the events which occurred, on this same 6th of
+August, in another part of the theatre of war.
+
+The IInd Army, its southern (left) flank covered by the IIIrd Army, had
+been moving to the westward, while the Corps it still lacked were being
+brought up by railway. Its leading Corps, having traversed unmolested
+the long defiles of the forest-belt of Kaiserslautern, reached on the
+5th the line Neunkirchen-Zweibrücken. The cavalry, scouting into French
+territory, reported that the enemy was retreating. Everything seemed to
+indicate that the French would await the attack of the Germans in a
+strong defensive position. The nearest position of the kind that offered
+was that on the farther bank of the Moselle, of which Metz protected one
+flank, Thionville the other. It was decided that if the French were
+found in that position, the Ist Army should hold the enemy in front,
+while the IInd made a circuit south of Metz, and so the enemy be forced
+either to retire or to fight. In case of disaster the IInd Army was to
+fall back on the IIIrd, now advancing over the Vosges.
+
+The protrusion to the south-westward[3] of the Ist Army towards the
+Saar, which had not been intended by the supreme Command, had brought
+its left wing in upon the line of march laid down for the IInd, and
+detachments of the two armies had to cross each other at Saarbrücken on
+the 6th. Thus there was indeed no lack of strength at that point; but as
+a battle on that day was neither expected nor probable, the synchronous
+arrival of troops had not been pre-arranged, and so detachments could
+only come up by quite unprescribed routes and arrive one after the other
+at different hours.
+
+The 14th Division of the VIIth Corps was the first to reach Saarbrücken,
+towards noon on the 6th.
+
+General Frossard, considering his position there very hazardous, had
+left the night before, without waiting for permission, and had fallen
+back with the IInd Corps on Spicheren, where it had entrenched itself.
+The IIIrd, IVth, and Vth Corps were behind, at distances of from nine to
+nineteen miles, and the Imperial Guard was about twenty-three miles
+rearward. The Emperor, therefore, had it in his power to collect five
+Corps for a battle in the vicinity of Cocheren, or, on the other hand,
+to support Frossard with at least four Divisions, if that General were
+confident that his position was strong enough to hold.
+
+The range of heights which upheaves itself immediately behind
+Saarbrücken is capable of affording a serious obstacle to a hostile
+passage of the Saar. It was known that the French had evacuated those
+heights, but General von Kameke thought it prudent to seize them at
+once, in order to secure the debouche of the columns following him.
+When, in the forenoon, two squadrons of the 5th Cavalry Division showed
+themselves on the drill-ground on the ridge above the farther bank, they
+were greeted with a hot fire from the Spicheren heights. But as it
+seemed highly probable, from the previous behaviour of the French, that
+the force seen there was only the rear-guard of the retiring enemy,
+General von Kameke (commanding 14th Infantry Division) ordered an
+immediate attack, since he had the promise of reinforcements. General
+von Zastrow (commanding VIIth Corps), as soon as he recognized that the
+14th Division had involved itself in a serious engagement, allowed the
+13th to go forward. General von Alvensleben (its commander) also ordered
+up to Saarbrücken all the available troops of the IIIrd Corps, and with
+equal promptitude General von Goeben (commanding VIIIth Corps) hurried
+thither the entire 16th Division. Generals von Döring (commanding 9th
+Infantry Brigade) and von Barnekow (commanding 16th Infantry Division),
+belonging respectively to these two Corps (IIIrd and VIIIth), had
+besides already struck forward from Tudweiler and Fischbach in the
+direction of the cannon-thunder, even before receiving orders to that
+effect.
+
+The position occupied by the French was one of exceptional advantage. In
+the centre projected the Red Hill (der Rothe Berg), a precipitous and
+almost inaccessible cliff; and the steep slopes on either side were
+densely wooded. On the left the massive buildings of the Stiering-Wendel
+ironworks furnished a separate defensive position.
+
+Had the strength of the enemy been fully known the attack would
+certainly have been delayed until the whole of the 14th Division had
+arrived. As a matter of fact, at the beginning of the fight, about noon,
+only von François' Brigade (27th) had come up, and this force, in the
+effort to facilitate an attack on the naturally strong position held by
+the enemy's front, assailed in the first instance both his flanks.
+
+At first it succeeded in making progress. On the left the 39th Regiment
+drove the swarms of hostile skirmishers out of the wood of Gifert, but
+then became exposed to the bitter fire of a French battalion lining the
+farther side of a deep hollow. On the right flank its 3rd Battalion,
+together with the 74th Regiment, seized the wood of Stiering. But the
+enemy's superior strength soon displayed itself in violent
+counter-attacks, and when Von Woyna's[4] Brigade (28th) reached the
+field it had to furnish reinforcements to both flanks. Thus, at an early
+stage, intermingling of battalions and companies began, which increased
+with every subsequent rush, and made the control of the combat a matter
+of extraordinary difficulty. Added to this was the circumstance that
+three Commanding Generals in succession came up to the scene of the
+conflict, and one after the other took the chief control.
+
+At about one o'clock, simultaneously with the flanks, the Fusilier
+Battalion of the 74th Regiment pushed forward in front, under a severe
+fire across the open ground towards the Red Hill, and, under such
+trivial cover as offered, established itself at the foot of the cliff.
+When at about three o'clock the Prussian artillery compelled the foe to
+move his guns farther up the hill, the Fusiliers, with General von
+François at their head, began to climb the cliff. The French Chasseurs,
+evidently taken by surprise, were driven from the most advanced
+entrenchments with clubbed rifles and at the point of the bayonet. The
+9th company of the 39th Regiment followed close, and the gallant
+General, charging farther forward along with it, fell pierced by five
+bullets. Nothing daunted, the small body of Fusiliers made good its grip
+of the narrow spur of the cliff.
+
+Nevertheless, a crisis was imminent. The 14th Division was extended over
+a distance of about three and a half miles, its left wing had been
+repulsed by greatly superior forces in the wood of Gifert, its right
+wing was hard pressed at Stiering. But now, at four o'clock, the heads
+of the 5th and 16th Divisions simultaneously struck in, shortly after
+their batteries, which had been sent on ahead, had come into action.
+
+The left wing, strongly reinforced, now again pressed forward. General
+von Barnekow[5] led trusty succours up on to the Red Hill, where the
+Fusiliers had almost entirely exhausted their ammunition, and drove the
+French out from all their entrenchments. As the result of a fierce
+struggle the Germans also succeeded in taking possession of the western
+part of the wood of Gifert. The right wing with sharp fighting had
+pressed on to Alt Stiering and was approaching the enemy's line of
+retreat, the Forbach highway. General Frossard had, however, recognized
+the danger threatened at this point, and reinforced his left wing to the
+strength of a Division and a half. This force advanced to the attack at
+five o'clock. On the German side there was no formed force to oppose to
+it, so all the previously gained advantages were lost.
+
+If the 13th Division[6] had here struck in with a resolute attack, the
+battle would have ended. This Division after, indeed, a march of nearly
+nineteen miles had reached Puttlingen at one o'clock, where it was
+little more than four miles distant from Stiering. When the fighting
+about Saarbrücken was heard it is true that at four p.m. the advanced
+guard moved forward to Rossel. It would seem that the roar of the cannon
+was not audible in that wooded region; the impression was that the
+combat was over, and the Division bivouacked at Völkingen, which place
+had been previously named as the end of its march by the Corps Commander
+at a time when he was, of course, unable to foresee the change in the
+situation.
+
+The French offensive movement had meanwhile been brought to a stand by
+the seven batteries in position on the Folster height; the infantry then
+succeeded in making fresh progress, under the personal leadership of
+General von Zastrow.
+
+The nature of the ground entirely prohibited the twenty-nine squadrons
+of cavalry which had arrived from all directions and were drawn up out
+of the range of fire, from taking part in the action. The Hussars tried
+in vain to ride up the Red Hill, but in spite of incredible
+difficulties Major von Lyncker finally gained the summit with eight
+guns, amid the loud cheering of the hard-pressed infantry. The guns, as
+each one came up, at once came into action against three French
+batteries; but quite half of the gunners were shot down by sheltered
+French tirailleurs, at a range of about 800 paces. A small strip of
+ground in front was indeed won, but the narrow space allowed of no
+deployment against the wide front of the enemy.
+
+But effective assistance was coming from the right. General von Goeben
+had despatched all the battalions of the 16th Division not yet engaged,
+in the decisive direction toward Stiering. While one part of these
+troops made a frontal attack on the village, the rest climbed from the
+high-road up the defiles of the Spicheren woods, in a hand-to-hand
+encounter drove the French from the saddle leading to the Red Hill, and
+pushed them farther and farther back towards the Forbach height.
+
+Even as late as seven o'clock on the French right wing Laveaucoupet's
+Division, supported by part of Bataille's, advanced to the attack and
+once more penetrated into the oft-contested Gifert wood, but the danger
+threatening the French left wing from the Spicheren wood paralyzed this
+effort. By nightfall the French were falling back over the whole
+plateau.
+
+At nine o'clock, when their "Retreat" call was sounding from the
+heights, General von Schwerin (commanding 10th Infantry Brigade) made
+sure of night quarters by occupying Stiering, where resistance was only
+quelled, at many points, after a hand-to-hand fight. The advanced guard
+of the 13th Division advanced on Forbach, but did not occupy it, having
+allowed itself to be hoodwinked by some French Dragoons in possession.
+
+Apart from this, General Frossard had abandoned the line of retreat by
+the so seriously threatened Forbach-St. Avold road, and fell back with
+all his three divisions on Oetingen. The darkness, and the impossibility
+of handling large bodies of cavalry in such a country, saved him from
+further pursuit.
+
+General von Steinmetz ordered the reorganization of the dislocated
+bodies of troops that same night. Some of them had marched more than
+twenty-eight miles; two batteries, arriving from Königsberg by rail, had
+immediately set out for the battle-field. But it remains that the
+Germans at no time of the day attained the numerical strength of the
+enemy in this engagement, which had been begun with insufficient forces.
+Only thirteen batteries could be brought into action in the limited
+space, and the cavalry remained excluded from all participation. It was
+only natural, under the circumstances, that the losses of the assailants
+were greater than those of the defence. The Prussians lost 4871, the
+French 4078 men. The fact was significant that a considerable number of
+unwounded French prisoners were taken in this early action.
+
+In strong contrast to the comradeship and mutual helpfulness displayed
+by the Prussian Generals, and the eagerness of their troops to hurry
+into the fight, was the strange vacillation of the Divisions in General
+Frossard's rear; of which three, indeed, were sent forward to his
+support, but only two came up, and that when the fight was already
+ended.
+
+It has been vehemently asserted that the battle of Spicheren was fought
+in an ill-judged locality, and that it interfered with more important
+plans. It certainly had not been anticipated. But, generally speaking, a
+tactical victory rarely fails to fit in with a strategic design. Success
+in battle has always been thankfully accepted, and turned to account. By
+the battle of Spicheren the IInd French Corps was prevented from
+withdrawing unharmed; touch of the enemy's main force was obtained, and
+to the supreme Direction of the armies was afforded a basis for further
+resolutions.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[3] South-eastward.
+
+[4] There were two Major-Generals of this name, both commanding
+Brigades; one the 28th, VIIth Corps, the other 39th, Xth Corps.
+
+[5] Commanding 16th Division, VIIIth Corps.
+
+[6] Commanded by General Glümen.
+
+
+
+
+RIGHT WHEEL OF THE GERMAN ARMY.
+
+
+Marshal MacMahon in his retreat had taken a direction which entirely
+severed his touch with Marshal Bazaine.
+
+As he was not pursued, he could have used the Lunéville-Metz railway to
+effect his union with the French main army; for up to the 9th it was
+still open. But rumour had it that the Prussians had already appeared in
+Pont à Mousson, and the state of his troops did not permit him thus
+early to risk another engagement.
+
+His Ist Corps, therefore, marched southwards on Neufchâteau, whence
+Châlons could be reached by railway. The Vth Corps was being shifted to
+and fro by contradictory orders from the Emperor's head-quarters. First
+it was to proceed to Nancy, then to take an opposite direction towards
+Langres. On arriving at Charmes it was ordered to Toul, but from
+Chaumont it was finally directed to proceed to Châlons. General Trochu
+had there located the newly-formed XIIth Corps, and behind this
+gathering point the VIIth Corps also managed to get away from Alsace and
+reach Rheims by rail by way of Bar sur Aube and Paris.
+
+Thus by August 22nd a Reserve Army was formed, consisting of four Corps
+and two Cavalry Divisions, under the command of Marshal MacMahon, who,
+however, at a distance, as he was, of about 120 miles, was unable to
+render timely assistance to Marshal Bazaine, who stood directly in the
+line of the advancing enemy.
+
+When the news of the double disaster of August 6th reached the Imperial
+Head-quarter, the first impression there was that it would be necessary
+to retreat immediately on Châlons with Bazaine's army; and the VIth
+Corps, a portion of which was already being transported thence to Metz,
+was ordered to retrace its steps. But this resolution was presently
+retracted. The Emperor had not merely to consider the foreign enemy,
+but public opinion within his own realm. The sacrifice of entire
+provinces at the very beginning of a war which had been undertaken with
+such high anticipations, would have provoked the unbounded indignation
+of the French people. There were still 200,000 men who could be brought
+together in front of the Moselle, supported by a large fortress, and
+though the enemy would still have the superiority in numbers, his army
+was holding a line nearly sixty miles long. It had yet to cross the
+Moselle, and this would necessitate a dislocation which might create a
+weakness at the critical moment.
+
+In the IIIrd German Army the disorderly condition of the defeated enemy
+was not known, nor even the direction of his retreat. It was expected
+that MacMahon's Army would be found rallied on the farther side of the
+Vosges for renewed resistance; and as it was impossible to cross the
+mountains except in detached columns, the German advance was very
+cautious, and by short marches only. Though the distance between
+Reichshofen and the Saar is not more than about twenty-eight miles in a
+straight line, that river was only reached in five days. Nothing was
+seen of the enemy, except in the fortified places, small indeed, but too
+strong to be taken by storm, which command the highways in the
+mountains. Bitsch had to be avoided by a fatiguing circuit, Lichtenberg
+was captured by surprise, Lützelstein had been abandoned by its
+garrison, the investment of Pfalzburg was handed over to the approaching
+VIth Corps, and Marsal capitulated after a short resistance.
+
+The German left wing had no enemy before it, and could be brought into
+closer connection with the centre. To bring the three armies abreast of
+each other a wheel to the right was requisite. The advance of the Ist
+and IInd Armies had, however, to be delayed, as the IIIrd did not reach
+the Saar until August 12th. The whole movement was so arranged that the
+IIIrd Army was to use the roads by Saarunion and Dieuze, and to
+southward; the IInd those by St. Avold and Nomény and to southward; the
+Ist those by Saarlouis and Les Etangs, the last also taking the
+direction of Metz.
+
+The cavalry Divisions which were reconnoitring far to the front,
+reported the enemy as retreating all along the line. They ranged close
+up to Metz, and across the Moselle both above and below the place,
+forcing the detachments of Canrobert's Corps, which had again been
+ordered up from Châlons, to return thither. All their information
+indicated that very large masses were encamped in front of Metz. From
+this it might equally be inferred that the enemy intended to retreat
+further, or, with his whole force concentrated, to strike hard at the
+right wing of the German Army, at the moment when the impending crossing
+of the Moselle should make its severance from the left wing unavoidable.
+
+The chief Head-quarter restricted itself in ordinary course to issuing
+general directions, the execution of which was left in detail to the
+army commanders; but in this instance it was deemed necessary in the
+momentary circumstances to regulate the movements of each separate corps
+by specific orders. On August 11th the Head-quarter of his Majesty was
+therefore transferred to St. Avold, in the front line, and midway
+between the Ist and IInd Armies, so as, by being in the immediate
+vicinity, to be able to exercise timely authority to either hand. The
+three Corps of the Ist Army advanced towards the German Nied on August
+12th, only to find that the French had evacuated that position. Three
+Corps of the IInd Army on the left of the Ist also moved forward in
+prolongation of the same front by Faulquemont and Morhange, while two
+others followed.
+
+On the next day the IInd Army reached the Seille, without encountering
+the enemy, and occupied Pont à Mousson with infantry.
+
+The strangely inactive attitude of the French made it seem quite
+probable that they might not make any stand in front of Metz, a
+probability strengthened by the reports of the German cavalry, which was
+scouting as far as Toul and on to the Verdun road. But there always
+loomed the possibility that the enemy would throw himself with 200
+battalions on the Ist Army, now in his immediate front. The two Corps
+forming the right wing of the IInd Army were therefore ordered to halt
+for the present, a little to the south of Metz, ready to deliver a
+shattering blow on the flank of any such attack. If the enemy preferred
+to assail these Corps, then would devolve on the Ist Army on its part
+the prompt assumption of the offensive.
+
+Meanwhile the other Corps of the IInd Army were pursuing the march
+towards the Moselle farther to the southward; if the enemy should attack
+them with superior forces after they had crossed the river, it would be
+possible for them, in case of need, to fall back on the IIIrd Army.
+
+So much caution was not universally deemed essential; it was argued that
+the French seemed already committed to full retreat, they ought not to
+be allowed to get away without punishment, and it followed that the
+German Army should strike without delay. The French had, indeed, already
+committed themselves to a further retreat; but when in the afternoon (of
+the 14th) the VIIth Corps discerned their retrograde movement, a fight
+began on the hither side of the Moselle, which, by the voluntary
+intervention of the nearest bodies of troops, developed into a battle in
+the course of the evening.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF COLOMBEY--NOUILLY.
+
+(August 14th.)
+
+
+The Commandant of Metz had declared his inability to hold that place for
+a fortnight, if left to his own resources; but the chosen and intrenched
+position on the Nied, taken up to cover the fortress, had been found
+locally defective, and the French Head-quarter hoped to find a more
+favourable defensive position in the vicinity of Verdun.
+
+Military necessity outweighed even a politic regard for public opinion,
+and the Emperor, although he had transferred the command-in-chief to
+Marshal Bazaine, still remained with the army, for it would have been
+impossible for him to return to Paris in existing circumstances.
+
+Very early in the morning of the 14th August the multitudinous trains
+were being withdrawn through the city, and towards noon the IInd, IVth,
+and VIth Corps got in motion, while the IIIrd Corps remained in position
+behind the deep valley of the Colombey brook, to cover the retirement.
+
+When, at four in the afternoon, the break-up of the enemy was perceived,
+General von der Goltz (commanding 26th Infantry Brigade) with the
+advanced guard of the VIIth Corps struck him in the act, and wrenched
+from him Colombey and the Château d'Aubigny on his right flank. But, at
+the first cannon sound, the French columns immediately turned about,
+fully equipped for fighting, and eager, after their many previous
+disasters, to break the spell by a desperate effort. Castagny's Division
+threw itself in greatly superior force upon the weak German detachment
+in the isolated position of Colombey, which held its own only by the
+utmost exertion.
+
+Already the advanced guard of the Ist Army Corps was approaching by both
+the high-roads from Saarbrücken and Saarlouis; and its batteries having
+pushed on ahead, at once took part in the engagement. Passing through
+Lauvallier, the infantry followed close, climbed the eastern slope of
+the plateau of Bellecroix, and farther to the right drove the enemy out
+of the wood east of Mey. But the presence at this point of the main body
+of the French IIIrd Corps gave pause to the German offensive for the
+time.
+
+The 13th, 1st, and 2nd Divisions had meanwhile followed their respective
+advanced guards, the two latter having been held in full readiness by
+General von Manteuffel ever since his outposts had reported that the
+enemy was moving. General von Zastrow, too, arrived on the field, and
+took over the command of the left wing. Soon sixty field-pieces were in
+action against the enemy. General von Osten-Sacken hurried forward the
+25th Brigade through the hollow of Coincy, and climbed on to the edge of
+the upland. The clump of fir-trees on the road to Bellecroix was taken
+by storm, was surrounded on three sides, was lost again in a bloody
+conflict, and was once more recaptured. Soon afterwards two batteries
+succeeded in establishing themselves above Planchette, whose fire drove
+the French back as far as Borny; yet still the conflict raged on both
+sides with the utmost fury.
+
+But now there threatened the German right the danger of being
+out-flanked. General Ladmirault, on learning that Grenier's Division had
+been driven out of Mey, immediately set out to its support with his
+other two Divisions, retook the village, and pressed farther forward by
+the Bouzonville road. General von Manteuffel had meanwhile given the
+necessary orders for holding, at all hazards, the deep-cut trough of the
+Vallières brook which covered the flank. The 1st Brigade was posted
+behind Noisseville as general reserve, the 4th, and part of the
+artillery of the Ist Corps, marched by the Bouzonville road to confront
+General Ladmirault near Poix, while the remaining batteries from the
+southern slopes to the eastward of Nouilly enfiladed his advance. On the
+left, Glümer's Division (13th) had all this time been holding its ground
+at Colombey, and now, at seven o'clock in the evening, Woyna's Brigade
+came to its assistance, and took possession of the copses westward of
+Colombey. A very welcome reinforcement now arrived from the IInd Army
+remaining halted on the Seille.
+
+The 18th Infantry Division, after a heavy march, had bivouacked near
+Buchy in the afternoon, but when General von Wrangel (its commander) was
+informed that fighting was audible from the locality of the Ist Army, he
+promptly set his Division in motion in that direction. He drove the
+enemy out of Peltre, and then in conjunction with Woyna's Brigade
+occupied Grigy, somewhat in rear of the French position in front of
+Borny.
+
+On the right wing of the fighting line, the 2nd Division had also pushed
+on towards Mey, by way of Nouilly and through the adjacent vineyards;
+and, as darkness was setting in, that village and the adjoining woods
+were wrenched from the enemy. The French had not advanced beyond Villers
+L'Orme, and they now withdrew all along their line from that village to
+Grigy. The Prussians, as they followed up after dark, were molested only
+by the fire of the heavy guns of the forts, more especially Fort St.
+Julien.
+
+The engagement of August 14th cost them the heavy loss of 5000 men,
+inclusive of 200 officers; while the French lost only 3600 men, their
+IIIrd Corps being the heaviest sufferer. The vicinity of a great
+fortress of course prevented the reaping of the fruits of victory by an
+immediate pursuit. It was for the same reason that a battle on the part
+of the Ist Army on that day had not been included in the concerted plan
+of action, though the possibility of such an occurrence had been
+foreseen. Although it was true that but one Division of the IInd Army
+(the 18th) had been able to hasten to the aid of the Ist, and that after
+the late opening of the fight, its assault on the left[7] flank of the
+enemy had not failed of its effect.
+
+The manner in which the battle originated rendered unity of direction
+impossible.
+
+It was but the advanced-guards of four Divisions which were the troops
+principally engaged; and the daring attacks made on greatly superior
+hostile forces by small bodies unfollowed by immediate supports
+occasioned many critical moments, which might have been dangerous if the
+enemy had pushed forward more energetically in closely concentrated
+strength. But while, for instance, his IIIrd Corps received no support
+from the Imperial Guard standing close behind it, the contrast presented
+itself that on the Prussian side, in this as in the previous battles,
+there shone forth, along with their ready acceptance of personal
+responsibility, the eager mutual helpfulness of all the commanders
+within reach of the battle-field.
+
+An essential share of the success of the day must be attributed to the
+artillery. Hurrying along in front, leaving the responsibility of
+covering it to the advanced guards which reached forward before the main
+bodies of the Divisions had time to come up, it drove the French
+completely out of their positions before Metz, and back under the guns
+of the defences of the place.
+
+The protection so afforded to the enemy rendered it impossible that the
+victory of Colombey-Nouilly should yield any trophies, but the supreme
+Command was quite content with the results obtained. The retreat of the
+enemy had been arrested, and a day had been gained for the crossing of
+the Moselle by the IInd and IIIrd Armies.
+
+_August 15th._--In the early morning of the 15th the cavalry had ridden
+forward to the outworks of Metz, but found none of the enemy on this
+side of the fortress. A few shells scared away the Imperial Head-quarter
+from Longeville on the further side of the Moselle.
+
+As King William was riding over to visit the Ist Army, immense clouds of
+dust were observed rising on the further side of the fortress; and it
+was no longer doubtful that the French had begun their retreat, and that
+the IInd Army was henceforth free to follow across the Moselle with all
+its Corps.
+
+The Ist Corps of the Ist Army was necessarily left at Courcelles, south
+of Metz, to protect the railway, the other two were brought up leftward
+towards the Seille; and they were also by-and-by to cross the Moselle
+higher up, so as to avoid interference from the fortress.
+
+The French had started again on the retreat interrupted on the previous
+day, but proceeded little more than four miles[8] beyond Metz on August
+15th. Their cavalry only went somewhat farther ahead, by both the roads
+to Verdun.
+
+The IIIrd Corps of the German IInd Army crossed the Moselle at Novéant,
+by the bridge which was found intact, and by a flying pontoon bridge;
+its artillery, however, was forced to make a détour by Pont à Mousson.
+
+It was not until late at night that the troops were all across and in
+bivouac close to the left bank. One Division of the Xth Corps remained
+at Pont à Mousson and the other advanced to Thiaucourt. The cavalry
+scouted farther forward towards the Metz-Verdun road, and struck in on
+the French cavalry near Mars la Tour. Several small engagements took
+place, but when early in the afternoon twenty-four Prussian squadrons
+had assembled, the French retired on Vionville. The Guard Corps and the
+IVth Corps crossed at Dieulouard and Marbache, higher up the river.
+
+The IIIrd Army advanced to the line Nancy-Bayon. On this day an attempt
+to seize the fortress of Thionville by surprise proved a failure.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[7] Clearly should be "right."
+
+[8] On the night of 15th, four of Bazaine's five Corps (less one
+Division) bivouacked at distances of from eight to ten miles westward of
+Metz; viz., from beyond Rezonville rearward to Gravelotte.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF VIONVILLE--MARS LA TOUR.
+
+(August 16th.)
+
+
+In the Head-quarter of the IInd Army there was the belief that serious
+fighting with the French was no more to be anticipated on the Moselle,
+and therefore two Corps, the IIIrd and the Xth, were ordered to march on
+August 16th, northwards toward the road to Verdun by way of Gorze and
+Thiaucourt, while the other Corps were directed to advance by forced
+marches westwards towards the Meuse.
+
+The French retreat from Metz was, however, not completely effected on
+this day. The trains blocked every road, and in the forenoon three
+Divisions still remained behind in the Moselle valley. The Emperor,
+however, escorted by two brigades of cavalry, had departed at an early
+hour by the road through Etain, which was still comparatively safe. As
+the right wing of the army could not yet follow, the prosecution of the
+retreat was postponed until the afternoon, and the left wing, which had
+already begun the march, was sent back again into its bivouacs. But so
+early as nine o'clock Prussian shells startled the troops from their
+rest.
+
+Major Körber had advanced with four batteries close up to Vionville
+under cover of the cavalry, and the French troopers, surprised by their
+fire, fled in utter confusion through the camp of the infantry. The
+latter, however, briskly got under arms in good order, and the artillery
+opened a heavy fire. Destitute at first of infantry supports, the
+Prussian guns were withdrawn. Matters soon became serious.
+
+General von Alvensleben, fearing lest he should fail to overtake the
+enemy, had started again with the IIIrd Corps after a short night's
+rest. The 6th Division marched on the left, by Onville; the 5th, on the
+right, followed the long forest valley on the way to Gorze. This valley
+so capable of defence was found unoccupied by the enemy, who indeed had
+taken very few precautions. The advanced-guard presently encountered
+Bergés' French Division on the open plateau south of Flavigny, and
+General von Stülpnagel (commanding 5th Infantry Division) soon
+discovered that he had before him an enemy whom it would take all his
+strength to beat. At ten o'clock he began operations by sending forward
+the 10th Brigade (commanded by General von Schwerin); and opened fire
+with twenty-four guns.
+
+Both sides now assumed the offensive. The Prussians, on the right,
+fought their way with varying fortunes through the wood, often in
+hand-to-hand encounter, and, towards eleven o'clock, succeeded in
+reaching the spur of the wood of St. Arnould projecting in the direction
+of Flavigny. Their left wing, on the contrary, was repulsed; even the
+artillery was in danger; but the 52nd Regiment hurried forward and
+re-established the fight at the cost of bloody sacrifices. Its 1st
+Battalion lost every one of its officers, the colours passed from hand
+to hand as its bearers were successively shot down, and the commander of
+the 9th Brigade, General von Döring, fell mortally wounded. General von
+Stülpnagel rode up into the foremost line of fire, inspiriting the men
+with brave words, while General von Schwerin collected the remnants of
+troops bereft of their leaders, and, reinforced by a detachment of the
+Xth Corps from Novéant, carried the height in front of Flavigny, whence
+the French presently retired.
+
+On the assumption that the French were already prosecuting the retreat,
+the 6th Division had been ordered forward towards Etain by way of Mars
+la Tour, to bar the enemy also from the northern road to Verdun. When it
+reached the height of Tronville, whence could be seen how things really
+stood, the brigades wheeled to the right in the direction of Vionville
+and Flavigny. The artillery going on in advance, formed a formidable
+line of batteries, the fire of which prepared the way for a farther
+advance, and by half-past eleven the 11th Brigade had taken possession
+of Vionville in spite of heavy losses. From thence, and from the south,
+in conjunction with the 10th Brigade, an attack was then directed on
+Flavigny, which had been set on fire by shell-fire. The different
+detachments were hereabouts very much mixed, but by skilfully taking
+advantage of every fold of the ground, the individual regimental
+officers succeeded in getting their men steadily forward, in spite of
+the heavy fire of the hostile infantry and artillery. Flavigny was taken
+by assault, and one cannon and a number of prisoners fell into the hands
+of the brave Brandenburgers.
+
+Vionville, Flavigny and the northern end of the forest of St. Arnould
+constituted the points of support of the Prussian front now facing to
+the east; but this front was more than four miles long, and the whole
+infantry and artillery were engaged up to the hilt all in one line. The
+second line consisted only of the 5th and 6th Cavalry Divisions and half
+of the 37th Brigade near Tronville.
+
+The position of the French was one of great advantage. Their left flank
+leaned on Metz, their right was protected by formidable batteries on the
+old Roman road and a strong force of cavalry; and so they could await
+with confidence a frontal attack on the part of a venturesome enemy.
+
+The possibility of continuing the march to Verdun on this day, under the
+protection of a strong covering rearguard, was, no doubt, out of the
+question. Supposing the Marshal earnest above everything to effect his
+retreat, he could do so only by fighting hard for his right of way, and
+by so freeing himself from the enemy blocking his path.
+
+It is not easy to discern, from a purely military standpoint, why this
+course was not resorted to. There was the full certainty that only part,
+and probably only a small part, of the German host could as yet have
+reached the left side of the Moselle, and when in the course of the day
+the Divisions detained about Metz arrived, the French had greatly the
+superiority in strength. But it seems that the Marshal's chief
+solicitude was lest he should be forced to relinquish his touch of
+Metz; and he gave almost his whole attention to his left wing.
+Constantly sending fresh reinforcements thither, he massed the whole
+Guard Corps and part of the VIth Corps opposite the Bois des Ognons,
+whence an attack was exceptionally improbable. One is tempted to assume
+that political reasons alone thus early actuated Bazaine in his resolve
+to cling to Metz.
+
+Meanwhile the Prussians slowly but surely made their way beyond Flavigny
+and Vionville, and, assisted by a heavy fire from the artillery,
+compelled the right wing of the IInd French Corps to retire on
+Rezonville, a movement which became a flight when the French Generals
+Bataille and Valazé were killed.
+
+To regain the lost ground the French Guard Cuirassier Regiment threw
+itself resolutely on the pursuers. But its attack was cut short by the
+rapid fire of two companies of the 52nd Regiment drawn up in line, which
+reserved their fire till the enemy were within 250 paces. The horsemen
+sweeping right and left rushed into the fire of more infantry behind;
+243 horses strewed the field, and only the remnants of the regiment
+wheeled about in swift flight, pursued by two Hussar regiments which had
+dashed forward from Flavigny. A French battery in front of Rezonville
+had hardly time to discharge a few shots before it was surrounded. For
+want of teams the Prussians could not, indeed, carry off the captured
+guns; but the Commander-in-Chief of the French army, who had himself
+brought them up, was for several minutes in imminent danger of being
+taken prisoner.
+
+The 6th Prussian Cavalry Division had also been ordered to the front.
+After passing through the line of artillery and deploying as well as the
+limited space permitted, it found itself face to face with fresh and
+completely formed troops. Marshal Bazaine had taken the precaution of
+substituting for the routed bodies of the IInd Corps the Guard Grenadier
+Division, which he had at last prevailed on himself to bring up from
+his unengaged left wing, but not without filling the vacancy by a
+Division of the IIIrd Corps. Thus the Prussian cavalry was received with
+such an overwhelming musketry and artillery fire that it halted, and
+deliberately retired, its retreat being covered by two squadrons of
+Uhlans, which time after time showed a front against the enemy. The
+cavalry had not actually engaged, but its advance had gained time and
+opportunity for the artillery to move further forward in one line from
+the spur of the wood to Flavigny.
+
+It was now two o'clock. So far General von Alvensleben had deceived the
+enemy with regard to the slenderness of his force by acting incessantly
+on the offensive. But the battle was now at a standstill, the battalions
+were visibly thinned, their strength was sapped by four hours of hard
+fighting, and the ammunition of the infantry was almost exhausted. Not a
+battalion, not a battery remained in reserve behind the fighting line
+standing there in the fire. It was now required to conserve the success
+won with so much blood by acting thenceforth on the defensive.
+
+The left wing was in especial danger, being under the fire of the
+powerful artillery deployed on the Roman road. Their greatly superior
+numbers enabled the French to extend farther and farther to the right,
+threatening thus completely to envelop the Prussian flank.
+
+Marshal Canrobert, in the French centre, had discerned the right moment
+to press forward against Vionville with all his might. At this critical
+instant there was on the German side only a small detachment of the 5th
+Cavalry Division available to check this effort. Two brigades had
+necessarily been sent to strengthen the left flank, and of the 12th
+Brigade remaining in rear of Vionville two squadrons had been detached
+to the Tronville copses. The two regiments ordered to undertake the task
+of charging the advancing enemy--the Magdeburg Cuirassiers and the
+Altmark Uhlans--were consequently each but three squadrons strong, in
+all 800 horses.
+
+General von Bredow, commanding the 12th Cavalry Brigade, first traversed
+in column the shallow hollow sinking down from Vionville, then wheeled
+to the right and mounted the slope to the eastward, both his regiments
+on one front. Received immediately with heavy artillery and infantry
+fire, he threw himself on the hostile ranks. The first line is ridden
+over, the line of guns is broken through, gunners and teams are put to
+the sword. The second French line is powerless to resist this vigorous
+onslaught, and even the more distant batteries limbered up to drive
+away.
+
+But the rapture of victory and the impetuosity of the charge carried the
+handful of troopers too far, and after a gallop of 3000 paces they found
+themselves surrounded by the French cavalry, which attacked them from
+all sides. There was no scope for a second charge, and so after several
+encounters with the French horse the brigade was forced to cut its way
+back through the French infantry, whose bullets accompanied it home.
+Only one-half of the command returned to Flavigny, where it was
+reorganized into two squadrons. The devoted self-sacrifice of the two
+heroic regiments effected the result, that the French entirely
+discontinued their attack on Vionville.
+
+At three o'clock four of their Divisions advanced towards the Tronville
+copses. Barby's cavalry brigade (11th), watching the western verge, had
+to retire before the enemy's fire, and the German infantry occupying the
+wood also had to yield to a strength so superior; the batteries which
+were in action between Vionville and the copses were assailed in rear
+from the west through the glades of the copses, and were likewise forced
+to retire. But not until the lapse of an hour did the French succeed in
+overcoming the obstinate resistance of four staunch battalions.
+
+At the subsequent roll-call near Tronville, it was ascertained that the
+24th Regiment had lost 1000 men and 52 officers, and that the 2nd
+Battalion of the 20th Regiment had lost all its officers. The 37th
+demi-Brigade, which of its own accord had been fighting valiantly in
+support since noon, took possession of the village of Tronville and
+prepared it for an obstinate defence.
+
+It was not till after three that the IIIrd Corps, which had been
+fighting for seven[9] hours almost single-handed, received effective
+assistance.
+
+While the Xth Corps was on the march through Thiaucourt, its advanced
+guard heard cannon-fire from the direction of Vionville. The Corps
+Commander, General von Voigts-Rhetz, immediately set out for the
+battle-field, and having personally ascertained how matters stood, he
+sent back the requisite orders to his approaching troops.
+
+In this instance again it was the artillery which, hurrying on in
+advance, masterfully struck into the conflict. Its fire, in conjunction
+with that of the promptly further advancing batteries of the IIIrd
+Corps, checked the French rush made on both sides of the Tronville
+copses simultaneously. At half-past three the head of von Woyna's
+Brigade (39th) fell on, drove the enemy back into the wood, and finally,
+supported by Diringshofen's Brigade (40th), took possession of its
+northern outskirts.
+
+The right wing of the IIIrd Corps had also received some reinforcement.
+
+The 32nd Brigade of the VIIIth Corps, on being called upon to assist the
+5th Division, fatigued though it was by a long march, immediately
+advanced from the Moselle by Arry. The 11th Regiment joined it, and
+three batteries were sent ahead to commence operations; this force
+emerged at five o'clock from the forest of St. Arnould. It at once made
+an assault on the heights in front of Maison Blanche, but, though it
+made three strenuous efforts in succession, failed to carry them, since
+Marshal Bazaine had greatly strengthened his position in front of
+Rezonville. Then the French, in their turn, took the offensive there;
+but were equally unable to establish themselves firmly on the heights,
+swept as they were by the well-directed fire of the Prussian artillery;
+and they had to withdraw from the attempt. Petty struggles for this
+position were renewed later on both sides, but those spurts came to
+nothing because of the fire of the respective artillery; and the
+fighting on the German right became in the main stationary.
+
+That on the German left two French Divisions had retired before a few
+newly-arrived battalions, and had evacuated the Tronville copses, can
+only be explained by a report having reached Bazaine's head-quarters
+that the enemy was coming in upon his right flank in the vicinity of
+Hannonville.
+
+The enemy referred to was Wedell's Brigade (38th), which, while on the
+march in the direction of Etain according to its original orders, had
+received counter-instructions while halted at St. Hilaire at noon, to
+hurry to the field of battle. General von Schwartzkoppen (commanding
+19th Infantry Division) decided to march by the highway to Mars la Tour,
+in the hope of falling on the enemy either in flank or in rear. But the
+French meanwhile had extended their reinforced right wing to the sunken
+valley west of Bruville, where three Divisions of their cavalry were
+massed in position.
+
+Thus when General von Wedell advanced to the attack on both sides of
+Tronville, which the French themselves had fired, his brigade--only five
+battalions strong--found itself in face of the long deployed front of
+the 4th French Corps. The two Westphalian regiments advanced steadily
+under the storm of shell and mitrailleuse fire till they suddenly
+reached the edge of a deep ravine hitherto unseen. This, however, they
+soon traversed, and were climbing the farther ascent, when they were met
+by a murderous shower of bullets from the French infantry which hemmed
+them in closely on every side. After almost every one of the commanders
+and regimental officers had fallen, the wreck of the battalions fell
+back into the ravine; 300 men were taken prisoners, having no strength
+left to ascend the steep southern rise after the fatigue of a
+twenty-eight miles march. The remainder rallied at Tronville under the
+shot-torn colours which Colonel von Cranach, the only officer who still
+had a horse under him, had brought back in his own hand. Seventy-two
+officers and 2542 men were missing out of 95 officers and 4546 men--more
+than half. The French followed up their success, but were checked on the
+right by the headlong charge of the 1st Guard Dragoons, which cost that
+regiment 250 horses and nearly all its officers; and on the left by the
+4th squadron of the 2nd Guard Dragoons, which attacked three times its
+strength of Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+
+But there now imminently threatened the charge of a great mass of French
+cavalry, which disclosed itself on the open plateau of Ville sur Yron.
+This consisted of Legrand's Division and de France's Guard Brigade in
+four compact echelons, overlapping each other to the right. On the
+German side, all the still disposable cavalry joined Barby's brigade,
+and the body thus made up, consisting only of sixteen squadrons, was
+formed for action in two lines west of Mars la Tour. Farther in advance
+stood the 13th Dragoons, halted to receive the Guard-squadron on its
+return from its recent charge. The 13th galloped forward to meet the
+charge of Montaigu's Hussar Brigade, which constituted the first line of
+the French cavalry mass, and which broke through the (over-wide)
+intervals of the Prussian squadrons. But General von Barby promptly
+appeared with the other regiments on the upland of Ville sur Yron, where
+at a quarter to seven the cavalry masses came into collision.
+
+A mighty cloud of dust concealed the varying phases of the hand-to-hand
+encounter of 5000 horsemen which gradually declared itself in favour of
+the Prussians. General Montaigu, severely wounded, was taken prisoner,
+and General Legrand fell while leading his Dragoons to the assistance of
+the Hussars.
+
+De France's Brigade allowed the enemy to approach within 150 paces, and
+then its Lancer regiment rushed impetuously upon the Hanoverian Uhlans;
+but the latter outflanked it, and received unexpected assistance from
+the 5th squadron of the 2nd Guard Dragoons, which, returning from a
+reconnaissance, plunged forward over fences and ditches and fell upon
+the enemy in flank, while the Westphalian Cuirassiers at the same time
+broke his front. The Chasseurs d'Afrique strove in vain to hinder the
+enveloping tactics of the Hanoverian Dragoons; the clouds of dust
+drifted farther and farther northward, and the whole mass of French
+horse drew away towards the wooded slopes of Bruville, behind which
+there were still five regiments of Clérembault's Cavalry Division.
+Clérembault permitted one of his brigades to cross the valley, but the
+fleeing Hussars and some misunderstood signals threw it into confusion.
+It was borne back, and not until the French infantry confronted the
+Prussian pursuers in the covering valley did the latter desist from the
+pursuit.
+
+The Prussian regiments quietly re-formed and then withdrew at a walk to
+Mars la Tour, followed at a great distance by part of Clérembault's
+Division.
+
+This, the greatest cavalry combat of the war, had the effect of making
+the French right wing give up all further attempts to act on the
+offensive. The Germans mourned the loss of many superior officers, who
+always, at the head of their men, had set them a glorious example.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles had hastened to the field of battle. The day
+was nearly at an end, darkness approaching, and the battle won. The
+Prussians in the evening stood on the ground which in the morning had
+been occupied by the French. Though General von Alvensleben had in the
+first instance been under the impression that he would have only the
+French rear-guard to deal with, he did not hesitate for a moment to
+become the assailant when he found the entire French Army before him.
+With his single Corps he maintained the fight till the afternoon, and
+drove back the enemy from Flavigny to Rezonville, a distance of more
+than two miles. This was one of the most brilliant achievements of all
+the war.
+
+Thanks to the valuable assistance of the Xth Corps it was possible to
+carry on the battle through the afternoon on the defensive, but only by
+most resolute counter-attacks by the cavalry, and by the unflinching
+tenacity of the artillery.
+
+It was clearly most unadvisable to challenge by renewed attacks an enemy
+who still outnumbered the Germans; which action, since no further
+reinforcements could be hoped for, could not but jeopardize the success
+so dearly bought. The troops were exhausted, most of their ammunition
+was spent, the horses had been under the saddle for fifteen hours
+without fodder; some of the batteries could only move at a walk, and the
+nearest Army Corps on the left bank of the Moselle, the XIIth,[10] was
+distant more than a day's march.
+
+Notwithstanding all these considerations, an order from Prince Frederick
+Charles's Head-quarter issued at seven o'clock, commanded a renewed and
+general attack on the enemy's positions. The Xth Corps was quite
+incapable of answering this demand; and only part of the artillery went
+forward on the right followed by some infantry. The batteries indeed
+reached the much-disputed plateau south of Rezonville, but only to be
+exposed on two sides to the fire of infantry and artillery. Fifty-four
+guns of the French Guard alone, in position on the farther side of the
+valley, were taking them in flank. The Prussian batteries were compelled
+to retreat to their previous position, but two brigades of the 6th
+Cavalry Division still pressed forward. Scarcely able to discern in the
+increasing darkness where lay their proper line of attack, they came
+under very sharp infantry fire, and withdrew with great loss.
+
+Fighting did not entirely cease until ten o'clock. On either side 16,000
+men had fallen. On either side pursuit was out of the question. The
+Germans reaped the fruits of this victory solely in its results. The
+troops, worn out by a twelve hours' struggle, bivouacked on the
+victorious but bloody field, immediately opposite the French position.
+
+Those Corps of the IInd Army which had not taken part in the battle,
+were on that day on march towards the Meuse. The advanced guard of the
+IVth Corps on the left wing was heading towards Toul. This fortress,
+commanding a railway-line of importance to the further progress of the
+German Army, was reported to be but feebly held, and it was resolved to
+attempt its capture by a _coup de main_. But the bombardment of it by
+field-artillery proved quite ineffective. Bastions of masonry and wide
+wet ditches made a storm impossible. An attempt to batter down the gates
+by shot and thus gain an entrance proved a failure. Finally the
+undertaking was given up, and not without some loss on the part of the
+Germans.
+
+At the Royal Head-quarter in Pont à Mousson it had become known by about
+noon on the 16th that the IIIrd Corps was engaged in serious conflict,
+and that the Xth and IXth were hastening up to its support. The
+far-reaching consequences of this information were recognized at once.
+
+The French were arrested in their withdrawal from Metz, but it was to be
+presumed as a certainty that they would again make strenuous efforts to
+force open their interrupted line of retreat. The XIIth Corps was
+therefore ordered to set out for Mars la Tour as early as three o'clock
+next morning; the VIIth and VIIIth Corps to stand in readiness at Corny
+and Arry. The bridging operations were to be pushed with the utmost
+vigour during the night. The Head-quarter of the IInd Army sent from
+Gorze the order to the Guard Corps to make a forced march to Mars la
+Tour, and there take up a position on the left of the XIIth Corps. The
+execution of these orders was facilitated by the foresight of the
+Commanders, who had in the course of the day received news of the battle
+which was being fought. Prince George of Saxony at once placed his
+Division on the march to Thiaucourt, and the Prince of Würtemberg
+assembled the Infantry of the Guard in its cantonments farther northward
+in readiness for an early march.
+
+_August 17th._--On this morning, at sunrise, the French outposts were
+observed still occupying the sweep of front from Bruville to Rezonville.
+Behind them were noticed a stir and much noise of signalling, which
+might be the indications equally of an attack or of a retirement.
+
+The King arrived from Pont à Mousson at Flavigny as early as six
+o'clock. The reports sent in to headquarters until noon by the
+reconnoitring cavalry were somewhat contradictory; they left it
+uncertain whether the French were concentrating towards Metz, or were
+pursuing their retreat by the two still open roads through Etain and
+Briey. Preparations for the offensive were nowhere observed. By one
+o'clock, after a skirmish on the way, the head of the VIIth Corps had
+reached the northern skirt of the Bois des Ognons, over against which
+the French subsequently abandoned Gravelotte. The VIIIth Corps stood
+ready at Gorze, the IXth, IIIrd, and Xth remained in their positions,
+the XIIth and the Guard Corps were on the march. Seven Corps and three
+Cavalry Divisions could be counted on for the following day; for to-day
+all attacks were forbidden.
+
+In making the dispositions for the impending battle of August 18th, two
+possible contingencies were foreseen and had to be provided for. To meet
+both the left wing was to be sent forward in a northerly direction
+through Doncourt towards the nearest of the routes still open for the
+retreat of the French. If the enemy were already retiring, he was to be
+at once attacked and detained while the right wing was hurrying up in
+support.
+
+In case the enemy should be remaining about Metz, the German left wing
+was to swing eastwards and out-flank his farthest north position, while
+the right was to hold his left closely engaged until this movement was
+accomplished. The battle, under these circumstances, probably could not
+be decided until late in the day, owing to the wide-sweeping movement of
+a portion of the army. A peculiar feature of the situation was that both
+parties had to fight with inverted front, and sacrifice for the time
+their respective lines of communication. The consequences of victory or
+defeat would thus be greatly enhanced or aggravated, but the French had
+the advantage of having as their base a large place of arms with its
+resources.
+
+A decision having been arrived at, by two o'clock orders were published
+at Flavigny for an advance by echelons from the left wing. The guidance
+of individual Corps during the battle was to turn on the reports which
+should be brought in. The King then returned to Pont à Mousson.
+
+As early as nine o'clock in the morning the Saxon Cavalry Division had
+reached the Etain road to the west of Conflans, and had reported no
+enemy visible except a few stragglers. Still, this only proved that on
+the 17th the French had not yet taken up their retreat.
+
+In rear of its cavalry the XIIth Corps arrived during the day in the
+vicinity of Mars la Tour and Puxieux, and left of it the Guard
+bivouacked in the evening at Hannonville sur Yron, in accordance with
+order. The IInd Corps, which ever since it left the railway had followed
+close on the IInd Army, reached Pont à Mousson, and was ordered to march
+forward by Buxières at four next morning.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[9] Five; viz. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
+
+[10] The Hessian Division of the IXth Corps was on the left bank, much
+nearer the field than the XIIth--so near indeed that portions of it were
+actually engaged; and its other Division crossed the river in the night.
+The _Staff History_ assigns the proximity of the IXth Corps as a leading
+reason for the action of Prince Frederick Charles which Moltke
+denounces. Both the VIIth and VIIIth Corps (the latter of which had a
+brigade engaged in the battle) were more immediately available than the
+distant XIIth.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF GRAVELOTTE--ST. PRIVAT.
+
+(August 18th.)
+
+
+Marshal Bazaine had not thought it advisable to prosecute the march to
+Verdun now that the Germans were so close on the flank of such a
+movement. He preferred to concentrate his forces near Metz, in a
+position which he rightly considered as almost impregnable.
+
+Such an one was afforded him by the range of heights stretching along
+the western verge of the valley of Chatel. Their face looking toward the
+enemy sloped away like a glacis, while the short and steep decline in
+the rear afforded cover for the reserves. Along the flat crown of the
+heights from Roncourt to Rozerieulles, a distance of about seven miles,
+were posted the VIth, IVth, IIIrd, and IInd Corps in succession from the
+north; for which distance there were available from eight to ten men to
+the pace (Schritt). A brigade of the Vth Corps stood near Ste. Ruffine
+in the valley of the Moselle; the cavalry was in rear of both flanks. In
+front of the IInd and IIIrd Corps shelter-trenches had been thrown up,
+battery emplacements and covered ways of communication constructed, and
+the farmsteads lying out to the front converted into little forts. To
+approach this (left) wing from the west it was necessary to cross the
+deep ravine of the Mance. The VIth Corps on the other hand was wholly
+without an engineer park; and it is indicative of the general
+ill-equipment of the French that, for the transport of the wounded to
+the rear, in spite of the enormous trains, provision waggons had to be
+unloaded and their contents burnt. This Corps was therefore unable to
+construct fortified flank defences toward the forest of Jaumont, such as
+would have given to the right wing the character of formidable strength.
+This would undoubtedly have been the place for the Guard, but in his
+apprehension of an attack from the south the Marshal held that Corps in
+reserve at Plappeville.
+
+The King returned to Flavigny at six o'clock on the morning of the 18th.
+All commanding officers were instructed to send their reports thither,
+and officers of the General Staff belonging to the Royal Head-quarter
+were besides sent out in different directions to report information as
+to the progress of the engagement.
+
+The following were the initial dispositions. The VIIth Army Corps, which
+was to form the pivot for the eventual wheel to the right, occupied the
+Bois de Vaux and Bois des Ognons; the VIIIth, which the King had
+reserved at his own disposition, stood halted near Rezonville ready to
+march to the north or to the east, as might be required. The IXth Corps,
+on its left, advanced towards St. Marcel, while the IIIrd and Xth
+followed in second line. The Guard and XIIth Corps moved in a northerly
+direction.
+
+In consequence of the Head-quarter of the IInd Army having ordered the
+XIIth Corps, although it stood on the right,[11] to form the extreme
+left, a serious delay occurred from the crossing of the respective lines
+of march. The Saxon troops had not entirely passed through Mars-la-Tour
+until nine o'clock, and till then the Guard Corps could not follow.
+
+Meanwhile the advanced guard of the XIIth Corps had already reached
+Jarny, and pursued its march as far as Briey without encountering the
+enemy.
+
+Before information to this effect came in, the conviction had been
+reached in the Royal Head-quarter that at all events the main forces of
+the enemy still remained before Metz; there was, however, a difference
+of opinion as to the extension of the French front, which it was assumed
+did not reach beyond Montigny. The Head-quarter of the IInd Army was
+therefore instructed not to extend further northward, but to attack the
+enemy's right wing with the IXth Corps, and push in the direction of
+Batilly with the Guard and the XIIth Corps. The Ist Army was not to
+begin its frontal attack until the IInd should be ready to co-operate.
+
+In obedience to those instructions Prince Frederick Charles ordered the
+IXth Corps to march towards Verneville, and, in case the French right
+wing should be found there, to begin the action by promptly bringing a
+large force of artillery into action. The Guard was to continue its
+advance by way of Doncourt to support the IXth as soon as possible. The
+XIIth was to remain at Jarny for the present.
+
+A little later fresh reports came in, which indicated that the IXth
+Corps, should it proceed in the manner ordered, would not strike the
+enemy on his flank, but full on his front. The Prince, in the discretion
+of his high position, therefore determined that the Corps should
+postpone its attack till the Guard Corps should have been brought to
+bear upon Amanvillers. At the same time the XIIth Corps was to push on
+to Ste. Marie aux Chênes.
+
+But while these orders were being expedited, there was heard from
+Verneville at twelve o'clock the roar of the first cannon shots.
+
+The two Corps of the left wing had, moreover, of their own accord, taken
+an easterly direction, and the IIIrd Corps moved up in rear of the IXth
+to the Caulre farm.
+
+General von Manstein, the commander of the IXth Corps, had observed from
+Verneville a French camp at Amanvillers, which apparently lay in
+negligent repose. From his standpoint it could not be discerned that to
+his left about St. Privat great masses of troops were in position.
+Thinking that in this camp he had the enemy's right wing before him, he
+determined to act on his original orders and at once take the foe by
+surprise. Eight of his batteries at once opened fire.
+
+But the French troops showed great alacrity in moving up into their
+prepared positions. The isolated initiative of the single Corps
+naturally drew upon it not only the fire of the troops opposite to it,
+but also that of the hostile Corps to right and left.
+
+In the effort to find a location affording something of shelter, the
+Prussian batteries had taken position in a fold of the slope looking
+towards Amanvillers, and facing to the south-east, where, however, they
+were exposed from the north, on the flank and even in the rear, to the
+fire of the enemy's artillery, as well as to the massed fire of his
+infantry.
+
+To meet this, it was necessary to send forward the infantry battalions
+nearest at hand. They took possession of the eastern point of the Bois
+de la Cusse on the left, and on the right seized the farmhouses of
+L'Envie and Chantrenne, and forced their way into the Bois des Genivaux.
+Thus the front of the 18th Division in action extended along a distance
+of 4000 paces.
+
+It had to endure very heavy loss from the circumstance that the French
+with their long-range Chassepôt rifles could afford to keep out of the
+effective range of the needle-gun; the artillery suffered exceptionally
+severely. One of the batteries had already lost forty-five gunners when
+the enemy's sharpshooters swarmed forward on it. Infantry protection was
+not available at the moment, and two guns were lost. By two o'clock the
+batteries still remaining in position were almost unserviceable, and no
+relief arrived till the Hessian Division reached Habonville, and
+brought up on the left of the distressed batteries, five batteries on
+either side of the railway, which diverted on themselves to a
+considerable extent the concentrated fire of the enemy. The batteries of
+the 18th Division, which had suffered most, could now be withdrawn in
+succession, but even in the act of retreat they had to drive off the
+pursuers by grape-shot.
+
+The artillery of the IIIrd Corps and the Guard also came to the aid of
+the IXth, and those of the damaged guns of the last, which were still at
+all fit for service, were at once brought up again into the fighting
+line. Thus there was formed in front of Verneville and as far as St. Ail
+an artillery front of 130 pieces, whose fire now opposed the enemy's
+artillery with conspicuous success. Now that the IIIrd Corps was
+approaching Verneville and the 3rd Guard Brigade had reached Habonville,
+it was no longer to be apprehended that the French would succeed in
+piercing this line.
+
+The main body of the Guard Corps reached St. Ail so early as two
+o'clock. General von Pape (commanding Ist Guard Division) at once
+recognized that by wheeling to the east he would not only not strike the
+enemy on that right flank of his which had to be turned, but would
+expose his own left flank to the hostile force occupying Ste. Marie aux
+Chênes. This town-like village, in itself extremely strong, and also
+strongly flanked by the main stronghold of the enemy's right, it was
+necessary to gain before making any further advance; but, in obedience
+to superior orders, the General had to await the co-operation of the
+Saxon Corps.
+
+The foremost troops of this Corps had already reached the vicinity of
+Batilly, but it was still distant from Ste. Marie more than two miles,
+so that its batteries could not be pushed forward into position west of
+that place until three o'clock. But as the Guard had sent most of its
+own artillery to the support of the IXth Corps the Saxon batteries were
+of essential service. Ten batteries now directed their fire upon Ste.
+Marie, and by the time its effect was discernible, the 47th Brigade of
+the XIIth Corps came up. At half-past three the Prussian and Saxon
+battalions hurled themselves on the town from the south, the west, and
+the north, with loud hurrahs and without returning the fire of the
+enemy. The French were driven from it with the loss of several hundred
+men taken prisoners.
+
+The Saxons eagerly followed up, and north of Ste. Marie there ensued a
+lively infantry fight, which masked the fire of the artillery. The
+brigade having obeyed the order to retire, the batteries immediately
+re-opened fire, and the repeated efforts of the French to recover the
+lost position were frustrated.
+
+Soon afterwards the IXth Corps succeeded in storming and firmly holding
+the farm of Champenois, but all further attempts by isolated battalions
+or companies to force their way forward against the broad and compact
+front of the French were then manifestly futile. Thus, towards five
+o'clock, the infantry fire altogether died out, and the artillery fired
+only an occasional shot. The exhaustion of both sides caused for the
+time an almost total suspension of hostilities in this part of the
+field.
+
+The Royal Head-quarter had firmly maintained the resolution, that the
+Ist Army should not commit itself to a serious offensive until the IInd
+had grappled with the enemy. But when the day was half-spent and when
+about noon heavy firing was heard from Vionville,[12] it was to be
+assumed that the moment for action had arrived; still, for the present,
+permission was only given to the Ist Army to engage in the artillery
+preparation.
+
+Sixteen batteries of the VIIth and VIIIth Corps accordingly drew up
+right and left of Gravelotte on the highway passing through that
+village. Their fire was ineffective, because they were too far distant
+from the enemy; and furthermore they suffered from the fire of the
+French tirailleurs nestling in the opposite woods. It became necessary
+to drive those out, and thus there occurred here a premature infantry
+fight. The French were cleared out from the eastern declivity of the
+Mance ravine, and the artillery line, now increased to twenty batteries,
+was able to advance closer up to the western brink and now direct the
+strength of its fire against the main position of the enemy.
+
+But the battalions of the 29th Brigade pushed the attack further. They
+pressed on leftward into the southern section of the Bois des Genivaux,
+but were unable to obtain touch of the IXth Corps in possession of the
+northern portion of the forest, since the French firmly held the
+intervening ground. On the right sundry detachments took possession of
+the quarries and gravel-pits near St. Hubert.
+
+The artillery meanwhile had gained the mastery over that of the enemy,
+several of whose batteries were silenced, and others prevented from
+coming into position. The French fire was in part directed on the
+farm-steading of St. Hubert, to the vicinity of which portions of the
+30th Brigade had spurted forward. These formidable premises close under
+the face of the enemy's main position, and in spite of a very heavy fire
+therefrom, were stormed at three o'clock. The 31st Brigade also now
+promptly crossed the ravine, but a further advance against the farms of
+Moscou and Leipzig, over a bare stretch of ground encompassed by the
+enemy on its wooded edges, did not succeed, and resulted only in heavy
+loss. On the extreme right, the 26th Brigade had taken possession of
+Jussy, thus securing the connection of the German army towards Metz, but
+found it impossible to cross the deep valley of Rozerieulles.
+
+Everywhere the advanced positions of the French had been driven in, the
+farms in their front were blazing, their artillery appeared to be
+crushed, and, as the situation was viewed from Gravelotte, there needed
+nothing but to follow up the success. General von Steinmetz therefore,
+at four o'clock, ordered a renewed attack with fresh forces.
+
+While the VIIth Corps occupied the border of the woodland, four
+batteries, backed by the 1st Cavalry Division, moved at a trot through
+the ravine, about 1500 paces across, which lies east of Gravelotte. But
+as soon as the head of the deep column came in sight of the enemy he
+redoubled his rifle and artillery fire, which had till now been kept
+under. One battery lost in a twinkling the men serving four of its guns,
+and it was only by an extreme effort that it was withdrawn to the border
+of the wood; another never succeeded in deploying. On the other hand,
+Hasse's battery remained in action, in spite of the loss of seventy-five
+horses, and Gnügge's battery stood fast near St. Hubert, regardless of
+the return fire from the quarries.
+
+The foremost regiment of cavalry bent to the right at a gallop on
+leaving the hollow way, and advanced towards Point du Jour, but the
+enemy, being completely under cover, offered no mark for an attack.
+Clearly there was no field here for the utilization of this arm, so the
+regiments withdrew across the Mance ravine under a heavy fire from all
+sides.
+
+The result of the ill-success of this attempt was that swarms of French
+tirailleurs now poured down from Point du Jour, and drove the Prussian
+detachments still remaining on the bare plateau backward to the skirts
+of the wood. Chassepôt bullets even reached the position of the Royal
+Commander-in-Chief and his personal staff, and Prince Adalbert's horse
+was shot under him.
+
+Fresh forces pushed forward and drove the enemy back into his main
+position. St. Hubert remained in German possession, though the gunners
+of the battery in post there were equal to the service of but one gun.
+But all partial attempts to advance over the exposed plateau proved a
+failure; and here also at about five o'clock in the afternoon there
+occurred a lull in the fighting, during which the weary troops on both
+sides reorganized themselves and took breath.
+
+About this time King William and his staff rode forward to the swell
+south of Malmaison. But from there nothing could be discerned of the
+situation of the left flank of the army, at a distance as it was of more
+than four miles. The French artillery had almost entirely ceased along
+the whole front from La Folie to Point du Jour; but to the northward the
+thunder of the cannon fire roared louder than ever. It was six o'clock,
+the day was nearly at an end, and it was imperative that the decisive
+result should be precipitated. The King therefore ordered the Ist Army
+to make a renewed advance in support of which he placed the IInd Corps,
+just arrived after a long march, at the disposal of General von
+Steinmetz.
+
+The battalions of the VIIth Corps which were still serviceable, except
+five which remained in reserve, were again sent across the Mance ravine,
+and in support of them the battalions holding the Bois de Vaux advanced
+in the direction of Point du Jour and the quarries.
+
+The IInd Corps of the French Army thus assailed was now reinforced by
+the Guard Voltigeur Division. All the reserves were hurried up into the
+foremost line. The artillery burst into redoubled fire, and a crushing
+musketry fire was concentrated on the advancing enemy. Then the French
+themselves took the offensive with a huge swarm of tirailleurs, which
+hurled backward upon the wood-fringes the small leaderless bodies of
+German troops that had been lying in the shallow folds of the plateau.
+
+There, however, the sally found its limit; and there still remained at
+disposition a fresh Army Corps in full strength.
+
+The IInd Corps, the last to come up by rail into the theatre of war,
+had hitherto followed in the wake of the army by forced marches, and had
+not been able to take part in any engagement. It had started from Pont à
+Mousson at 2 a.m. and, taking the road by Buxières and Rezonville,
+arrived south of Gravelotte towards evening. The Pomeranians expressed
+their eager desire to get at the enemy before the day should end.
+
+It would have been more proper if the Chief of the General Staff of the
+Army, who was personally on the spot at the time, had not permitted this
+movement at so late an hour of the evening. A body of troops, still
+completely intact, might have been of great value the next day; but it
+could hardly be expected on this evening to effect a decisive reversal
+of the situation.
+
+Hurrying through Gravelotte, the foremost battalions of the IInd Corps
+pushed forward to the quarries, and up to within a few hundred paces of
+Point du Jour; but those following soon found themselves involved in the
+throng of the broken detachments remaining under fire south of St.
+Hubert, and the further advance towards Moscou was arrested. In the
+growing darkness friend became indistinguishable from foe, and the
+firing had to be broken off. Not, however, until ten o'clock did it
+entirely cease.
+
+It was, to be sure, an advantage that the fresh troops of the IInd Corps
+were available to hold the foremost fighting-line for the night, behind
+which the intermixed detachments of the VIIth and VIIIth Corps were
+enabled to reorganize themselves.
+
+The whole course of the struggle had conclusively proved that the French
+left flank, almost impregnable as it was by nature and art, could not be
+forced even by the most devoted bravery and the greatest sacrifices.
+Both sides were now facing each other in threatening proximity, and both
+in attitude to renew the battle on the following morning. The result of
+the day turned on the events evolving themselves on the opposite flank.
+
+The Prince of Würtemberg,[13] then in St. Ail, had judged at a
+quarter-past five that the moment was come for an attack on the French
+right wing; but that wing extended considerably further north than the
+front of the Guard Corps reached; further, indeed, than the French
+Commander-in-Chief himself was aware. The Saxons had, indeed,
+participated in the seizure of Ste. Marie aux Chênes, but after that
+event the Crown Prince[14] deemed it necessary to assemble his Corps in
+front of the Bois d'Auboué, before proceeding to attack the enemy in
+flank. One of his brigades had to come up from Jarny, another from Ste.
+Marie; and, since the Corps had been delayed in getting away from Mars
+la Tour, its direct attack could not be expected at the earliest for an
+hour to come.
+
+The 4th Infantry Brigade of the Guard Corps, in accordance with orders
+received, proceeded in the prescribed direction of Jerusalem,
+immediately south of St. Privat. As soon as General von Manstein
+observed this movement, he ordered the 3rd Guard Brigade, which had been
+placed at his orders, immediately to advance from Habonville direct upon
+Amanvillers. Between and abreast of these two brigades marched Hessian
+battalions. It was not till half-an-hour later that the 1st Guard
+Division leftward of the 2nd moved forward from Ste. Marie against St.
+Privat. This combined offensive movement was directed against the broad
+front of the French VIth and IVth Corps. Their respective strongholds of
+St. Privat and Amanvillers had as yet hardly felt the fire of the German
+batteries, which had hitherto found enough to do in combating the
+enemy's artillery outside the villages.
+
+In front of the French main position on the crown of the height had been
+prepared on the slope behind the hedges and low walls, which rose
+terrace-wise backward, tier on tier of shelter trenches. Behind these
+defences towered the village named St. Privat, castle-like with its
+massive houses, which were garrisoned to the very roofs. The bare slope
+stretching in its front was thus exposed to an overwhelming storm of
+projectiles.
+
+The losses of the Guard Corps marching forward to attack a front so
+formidable were simply enormous. In the course of half an hour five
+battalions lost all, the others the greater part of their officers,
+especially those of the higher grades. Thousands of dead and wounded
+marked the track of the battalions pressing valiantly forward in spite
+of their cruel losses. The ranks as fast as they were thinned constantly
+closed up again, and their cohesion was not lost even under the
+leadership of young lieutenants and ensigns. As they drew nearer to the
+enemy the needle-gun came into full utility. The French were driven from
+all their foremost positions, in which, for the most part, they did not
+await the final struggle. By a quarter-past six the battalions had
+advanced to within 600 to 800 paces of Amanvillers and St. Privat. The
+troops, weary from the strained exertion, halted under the steeper
+slopes offering some, though small, protection, and in the shelter
+trenches abandoned by the enemy. Only four battalions now remained in
+reserve at Ste. Marie, behind the line which now extended to a length of
+4000 paces. Every charge of the French cavalry and of de Cissey's
+Division had been steadily repelled with the aid of twelve batteries of
+the Guard Corps which had hastened up; but detachments commingled under
+stress of untold losses, had to show a resolute front against two French
+Corps in close proximity for more than half-an-hour, before relief came
+to them.
+
+It was nearly seven o'clock when on the left of the Guard, two brigades
+of Saxon infantry reached the scene of strife; the other two were still
+assembling in the forest of Auboué; their artillery, however, had for a
+considerable time been maintaining a lively fire on Roncourt.
+
+When Bazaine received word that the Germans were stretching out in
+constantly increasing extension with intent to outflank his right, he at
+three p.m. ordered Picard's Guard Grenadier Division posted at
+Plappeville, to march towards the threatened flank. Though the distance
+to be covered was little more than four miles, this all-important
+reinforcement, having diverged to rightward from the direct road through
+the woodland, had not yet arrived; and Marshal Canrobert, who was
+fending off with all his might the converging masses of Prussian
+assailants, decided to concentrate his troops more closely about the
+strong position of St. Privat. The retreat from Roncourt would be
+adequately covered by a small rearguard, since the border of the Bois de
+Jaumont was being held.
+
+Thus it happened that the Saxons did not find the strong resistance at
+Roncourt which they had expected, and after a slight skirmish entered
+the village together with the companies of the extreme left of the
+Guard; a body of Saxon infantry had previously been diverted to the
+right from the road to Roncourt and marched direct on St. Privat to the
+support of the Guard.
+
+The fire of twenty-four batteries of the two German Corps wrought awful
+havoc there. Many houses were set on fire, or crumbled under the
+concentrated crash of the shells. But the French were determined to hold
+to the last extremity this point, decisive as it was of the fate of the
+day. The batteries of their right flank were hurried into position
+between St. Privat and the Bois de Jaumont, whence their fire would
+enfilade the further advance of the Saxons on the former place. Other
+batteries went southward to confront the Prussians, and the simultaneous
+final rush of the German battalions was met by a rattling fire from the
+French riflemen under cover in their lines of shelter trenches.
+
+All those obstacles were gradually overcome in the course of the
+assault, although again with heavy loss; some detachments halting
+occasionally for a moment to pour in a volley, others again never
+firing a shot. By sundown the attack had swept up to within 300 paces of
+St. Privat. Some detachments of the Xth Corps, which had reached St.
+Ail, closed up, and now the final onset was made from every side at
+once. The French still defended the burning houses and the church with
+great obstinacy, till, finding themselves completely surrounded, they
+surrendered at about eight o'clock. More than 2000 men were here taken
+prisoners, and the wounded were rescued from the burning houses.
+
+The defeated troops of the VIth French Corps hurriedly retired into the
+valley of the Moselle, their retreat covered by the brigade holding the
+Bois de Jaumont and by the cavalry. Only then did the Guard Grenadier
+Division make its first appearance, and the Reserve Artillery of the
+French Army deployed east of Amanvillers. The German batteries at once
+took up the fight, which lasted till late in the night, and in the
+course of which Amanvillers was burned.
+
+In that quarter the retirement of the IVth French Corps had also already
+commenced, masked, however, by repeated heavy attacks to the front. In
+the course of these there occurred a hand-to-hand encounter with the
+charging battalions of the right wing of the Guard and the left of the
+IXth Corps. Amanvillers, however, remained in the hands of the French
+for the night. Not until three o'clock on the morning of the 19th did
+the IIIrd French Corps evacuate its position about Moscou; and the IInd
+Corps held its ground until five o'clock, engaged in constant sharp
+frays with the outposts of the Pomeranians, who on its withdrawal took
+possession of the plateaus of Moscou and Point du Jour.
+
+The results attained on the 18th of August had been made possible only
+by the battles of the 14th and 16th.
+
+The French estimate their losses at 13,000 men. In October 173,000 were
+still in Metz, consequently it is certain that the enemy had at
+disposition in the battle of the 18th of August more than 180,000 men.
+The exact strength of the seven[15] German Corps on that day amounted to
+178,818 men. Thus with the forces on either side of approximately equal
+strength, the French had been driven out of a position of almost
+unrivalled natural advantage.
+
+Naturally the loss of the assailants was much heavier than that of the
+defence; it amounted to 20,584 men, among them 899 officers.
+
+Whereas by the war-establishment the average is one officer to every
+forty men, in this battle one officer fell to every twenty-three men;
+glorious testimony to the example set by their leaders to their brave
+men, but also a loss which could not be restored during the course of
+the war. Altogether the six battles fought in the first fourteen days of
+August had cost the German army 50,000 men.[16] It was naturally
+impossible immediately to call out at home a sufficient levy in
+substitution for the losses; but reinforcements drawn from the
+time-expired cadres were already bespoken.
+
+First of all that same evening the earliest instalment of the trains and
+the Field-Hospitals had to be brought up from the right bank of the
+Moselle; and the ammunition had to be replenished throughout. In
+Rezonville, thronged as it was with the wounded, it was with difficulty
+that a little garret for the King and shelter for his General Staff
+were found. Its members were engrossed throughout the night in preparing
+the dispositions which the new phase of the situation created by the
+victory rendered immediately necessary. This exertion enabled all those
+orders to be laid before his Majesty for approval on the morning of the
+19th.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[11] The XIIth Corps never stood on the right. It occupied its assigned
+position on the extreme left, and the delay arose from the Guard Corps
+having occupied a position other than that designed for it, and having
+been allowed to remain there.
+
+[12] Vionville in text seems a slip of the pen for Verneville.
+
+[13] Commanding the Guard Corps.
+
+[14] Of Saxony, commanding XIIth Corps.
+
+[15] These figures represent only the infantry of the eight (not seven)
+Corps engaged; they do not include the cavalry, 24,584; the artillery,
+at least as strong; nor the officerhood of the two armies, numbering
+several thousands. Inclusive of those items the German host "employed"
+in the battle of Gravelotte--St. Privat numbered, in round figures,
+232,000 combatants. Accepting Moltke's own estimate of ten defenders per
+"Schrith" of front, there works out a total of 133,000 men, as the
+strength of the French army "employed" in the battle.
+
+[16] During the first fourteen days of August, the German troops were in
+conflict with the enemy on five occasions: viz. Saarbrücken, 2nd, loss
+79; Weissenburg, 4th, loss 1551; Wörth, 6th, loss 10,642; Spicheren,
+6th, loss 4871; Borny, 14th, loss 5000. Total losses during the fourteen
+days, 22,143.
+
+
+
+
+NEW DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY.
+
+
+The siege of Metz had formed no part of the original plan of campaign;
+it had been intended to do no more than merely to maintain an
+observation on the place when the main army should have passed it on the
+advance towards Paris; and a Reserve Division, consisting of eighteen
+battalions, sixteen squadrons, and thirty-six guns, detailed for that
+duty, was now near at hand.
+
+Under the altered conditions, however, the regular investment of Metz
+was now necessary, and this involved a radical alteration of the
+existing arrangements throughout the whole army.
+
+A separate army under the command of Prince Frederick Charles,
+consisting of the Ist, VIIth, and VIIIth Corps of the former Ist Army,
+the IInd, IIIrd, IXth, and Xth Corps of the IInd Army, the Reserve
+Division and the 1st and 3rd Cavalry Divisions, in all 150,000 men, was
+assigned to the duty of investing Metz.
+
+The Guard, IVth, and XIIth Corps and the 5th and 6th Cavalry Divisions
+were formed into a separate army under the command of the Crown Prince
+of Saxony; it was styled "The Army of the Meuse" and was 138,000
+strong.[17] This and the IIIrd Army, which numbered 223,000 men, were
+directed to advance against the new French army forming at Châlons.
+
+Certainly the army investing Metz was left weaker than the blockaded
+enemy. It was to be expected that the latter would renew his efforts to
+break out to the westward. Prince Frederick Charles' main forces were
+therefore to remain on the left bank of the Moselle.
+
+All these orders received the approval of the King, and were dispatched
+to the commanding officers by eleven o'clock on the morning of the 19th.
+
+In accordance with the orders of Prince Frederick Charles, the Xth Corps
+occupied the woodland districts of the lower Moselle as far as St.
+Privat, while the IInd held the high ridge from that point to Moscou. To
+the right of the IInd, the VIIIth and VIIth Corps followed on, the
+latter positioned on both sides of the Upper Moselle. The Ist Corps
+occupied the Pouilly upland to left and right of the Seille, specially
+charged to protect the great magazines which were being established at
+Remilly and Pont à Mousson. The 3rd Reserve Division moved to the
+vicinity of Retonfay, north-east of Metz. The IXth and IIIrd Corps
+cantoned at St. Marie and Verneville as reserve. All the troops
+immediately set about the construction of earthworks, and of bridges
+over the Moselle above and below the fortress.
+
+Of the Corps now belonging to the Army of the Meuse, the XIIth assembled
+at Conflans and the Guards at Mars la Tour; the IVth Corps, which had
+not been ordered to Metz, had already reached Commercy.
+
+The IIIrd Army, after crossing the Vosges range, and having left a
+Bavarian brigade blockading Toul, was pressing forward in three
+columns. Its foremost Corps had already reached the Meuse, but were
+obliged to halt there for two days, so as to cross the river
+approximately abreast of the Meuse army. Its cavalry meanwhile patrolled
+three marches ahead as far as Châlons and Vitry, where, for the first
+time since Wörth, it regained touch of the enemy. The French encountered
+were only guarding posts on the Marne railway-line, which retired when
+the traffic thereon ceased.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[17] These figures are erroneous. It is manifest that three Corps and
+two Cavalry Divisions, most of which had been materially weakened by
+casualties, could not furnish a strength of 138,000 men; nor could the
+IIIrd Army, originally 130,000 strong, swelled by one Corps and
+diminished by battle losses of 12,000, approximate a strength of
+223,000. As a matter of fact, on August 22nd, the Meuse Army was 86,275
+strong, and the IIIrd Army 137,622; the two armies together had a total
+strength, in round numbers, of 224,000 men.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARMY OF CHÂLONS.
+
+
+Meanwhile at Châlons there had been formed a French army of 166
+battalions, 100 squadrons, and 380 guns, consisting of the Ist, Vth,
+VIIth, and XIIth Corps.
+
+Of the last the Division which had been left behind on the Spanish
+frontier formed the nucleus, to which was added a body of very superior
+troops, consisting of four regiments of marines; later the two cavalry
+divisions also joined. General Trochu, who had been made Governor of
+Paris, had taken back with him thither eighteen battalions of
+Gardes-Mobiles, they having already given such proofs of insubordination
+that it was thought unsafe to confront them with the enemy.
+
+The Emperor had arrived in Châlons and had placed Marshal MacMahon in
+command of the newly-formed army. In the French Head-quarter it was not
+unnaturally assumed that Marshal Bazaine was in retreat from Metz. By an
+advance of the Army of Châlons merely to Verdun the armies could form a
+junction with each other in the course of a few days, and so a fighting
+force be formed which might make head against the hitherto victorious
+enemy. On the other hand, MacMahon had to concern himself with the duty
+of covering Paris, and that capital, no less than his own right flank,
+was threatened by the appearance of the Crown Prince of Prussia's army
+on the Meuse.
+
+For the attainment of a decision between advancing and retiring, it was
+beyond everything necessary to know the direction which Marshal Bazaine
+might have taken.
+
+On the 18th tidings had come from him, that he had maintained his
+position in a battle about Rezonville, but that his troops had to be
+supplied with ammunition and supplies before they could renew the march.
+From this it seemed only too probable that the communications of the
+Army of the Rhine were already threatened; and MacMahon determined to
+march on Rheims, whence he could either reach Paris, though by a
+somewhat circuitous route, or move in the direction of the other army.
+
+But when it became known that the Crown Prince of Prussia's army had not
+even been near Metz, and that Prussian cavalry had already appeared
+before Vitry, the Marshal could not deceive himself as to the danger
+involved in the latter alternative. With sound judgment, therefore, he
+stood out against the order of the Empress and the Ministry to undertake
+that enterprise; he determined against it, and announced his resolution
+to march to Paris. Under its walls he could accept a battle with
+advantage, since the fortifications, even in the event of defeat,
+assured a safe retreat and precluded pursuit.
+
+Further reports from Metz did not afford a clear insight into the
+situation there. Also on the 18th, "the army had held its position," the
+narrative ran--only the right wing had changed front. "The troops
+required two or three days' rest," but the Marshal "counted still on
+being able to move out in a northerly direction," and fight his way to
+Châlons by the Montmédy--Ste. Menehould route, if this road was not
+strongly held by the enemy. In that case, he would march on Sedan, and
+even by Mézières, in order to reach Châlons.
+
+Bazaine might already have committed himself to the movement thus
+indicated, and therefore Marshal MacMahon, who was not the man to leave
+his fellow-soldier in the lurch, instead of marching on Paris, set forth
+on the 23rd in the direction of Stenay.
+
+The suddenness of this decision caused all the preparations for the
+undertaking to be left unexecuted. At the end of the first day's march
+the troops reached the Suippe late in the evening in pouring rain. They
+lacked every necessary, and two Corps remained entirely without food.
+The Marshal was therefore forced to move his army further northward to
+Rethel, where large magazines of provisions had been established, and
+where the railway facilitated the bringing up of stores. Even on the
+third day's march the army had made little progress eastward. The left
+wing remained at Rethel, the right reached the Aisne, near Vouziers. On
+August 26th the main army was still standing between Attigny and Le
+Chêne on the Ardennes canal, while the VIIth Corps and a regiment of
+Hussars lay in front of Vouziers for the protection of the right flank.
+
+While the French army was thus marching eastward by a wide détour, the
+German forces, which had been put in motion at the same time, were for
+their part marching due westward.
+
+According to orders issued from the supreme Head-quarter at Pont à
+Mousson, the advance on the enemy, supposed to be at Châlons, was to be
+effected in such manner that the IIIrd Army, marching on the left of the
+Army of the Meuse, should have the start by a day's march, so that the
+enemy, wherever he might stand halted, could be struck simultaneously in
+front and on his right flank, and thus forced away northward from the
+direction of Paris. The two armies were to converge as they advanced,
+and to reach the line of Ste. Menehould--Vitry on the 26th.
+
+On the first day's march, the armies still on a front some fifty-six
+miles long, the Meuse was reached; on the second day, the 24th, they
+advanced to the line St. Dizier--Bar le Duc--Verdun. The attempts to
+take the latter place and Toul in the by-going proved unsuccessful.
+
+So early as on that day the 4th Cavalry Division, which had pushed far
+ahead, sent in important news. The Rhenish dragoons had found Châlons
+and the camp at Mourmelon deserted, and notwithstanding the destruction
+effected, there still remained in the latter considerable booty. An
+intercepted letter written by a French officer, which intimated that the
+relief of Metz was in prospect, and another which stated that Marshal
+MacMahon was at Rheims with 150,000 men and was fortifying his position
+there, were corroborated by the Paris newspapers.
+
+On the 25th the Army of the Meuse formed a line from Sommeille to
+Dombasle, while the heads of columns of the IIIrd Army were already
+executing the march prescribed for the following day, on the Ste.
+Menehould--Vitry road. The small fortress of Vitry, a few hours after a
+battalion of Mobiles had left the place, surrendered to the 4th Cavalry
+Division. On its march to Ste. Menehould, thence to be forwarded by
+train to Paris, this battalion, 1000 strong, fell into the hands of the
+6th Cavalry Division as it was moving on Dampierre, and was carried away
+captive.
+
+The 5th Cavalry Division reached Ste. Menehould, and the 12th followed
+on the same road as far as Clermont, patrolling the country up to
+Varennes, within nine miles of the French outposts at Grand Pré, but
+without learning anything as to the whereabouts of the French army.
+
+The scouting service to any great distance on the right of the army was
+hindered by the vicinity of the forest of Argonnes, which it was
+difficult for the cavalry to penetrate without the assistance of
+infantry. The inhabitants of the country began to show themselves
+extremely hostile. The Government had provided them with arms, and
+organized a general rising. The Germans, who hitherto had made war on
+the Emperor alone, were now forced to use their arms against the
+population. The franctireurs, though not affecting operations on a large
+scale, were a source of much annoyance to the smaller undertakings, and
+as it naturally embittered the soldiers to realize that they were no
+longer safe either by day or night, the character of the war became more
+stern, and the sufferings of the country were increased.
+
+A Paris telegram, sent by way of London, reached this day (25th) the
+Royal Head-quarter at Bar le Duc. It stated that MacMahon was at Rheims,
+and sought to effect a junction with Bazaine.
+
+It is always a serious matter to exchange, without the most pressing
+necessity, a once-settled and well-devised plan for a new and unprepared
+scheme. It would have been unwise and unskilful hastily to alter the
+whole direction of the advance because of rumours and information which
+might later probably turn out to be unfounded. Endless difficulties must
+result from such a course; the arrangements for bringing up baggage and
+reinforcements would have to be cancelled, and aimless marches might
+impair the confidence of the troops in their commanders.
+
+The orders for the following day, issued at eleven o'clock in the
+morning, prescribed therefore for both armies merely a slight alteration
+of direction; Rheims instead of Châlons was indicated as the objective.
+The cavalry of the right wing, however, was explicitly ordered to
+advance to Buzancy and Vouziers, where a thorough insight into the
+situation could not but be obtained.
+
+In war it is for the most part with probabilities only that the
+strategist can reckon; and the probability, as a rule, is that the enemy
+will do the right thing. Such a course could not be anticipated as that
+the French army would uncover Paris and march along the Belgian frontier
+to Metz. Such a move seemed strange, and indeed somewhat venturesome;
+but nevertheless it was possible. The chief of the General Staff,
+therefore, that same day worked out a tabular detail of marches, upon
+which the three Corps of the Army of the Meuse, together with the two
+Bavarian Corps which were nearest that army, could be brought together
+in the vicinity of Damvillers, on the right bank of the Meuse, in three
+not over-severe marches.
+
+These forces, with the two Corps standing in reserve at Metz, which
+could be brought up, would constitute a force of 150,000 men, which
+might give battle in the specified vicinity, or compel the enemy to do
+so on the march to Longuyon. Without employing this reserve, there was
+every prospect that the advance of the French could be brought to a halt
+on this side of the Meuse, and then another Corps of the IIIrd Army
+could be brought up.
+
+This march-table was soon to be brought into service. Fresh news arrived
+in the course of the same afternoon. The newspapers revealed the secret
+by publishing vehement speeches delivered in the National Assembly to
+the effect "that the French general who should leave his comrade in the
+lurch, deserved the execration of the country." It would be a disgrace,
+it was protested, to the French nation if the brave Bazaine were left
+unsuccoured: from all this, and considering the effect of such phrases
+on the French, it was to be expected that military considerations would
+give way to political. A telegram from London, quoting the Paris
+_Temps_, stated that MacMahon had suddenly resolved to hasten to the
+assistance of Bazaine, though the abandonment of the road to Paris
+endangered the safety of France.
+
+The King, before night, approved of the march to the right, and the
+orders were dispatched that night direct to the respective Army Corps on
+the march.
+
+On the 26th his Majesty moved his head-quarter to Clermont. The Crown
+Prince of Saxony had set out for Varennes early in the morning with the
+XIIth Corps, and had ordered the Guards to Dombasle, the IVth Corps to
+Fleury.
+
+The cavalry, sent forward in every direction, found that the enemy had
+evacuated the region of the Suippe valley and had not yet entered that
+of the Meuse; that Buzancy and Grand Pré were in occupation of the
+French, and that a large encampment of their VIIth Corps had been
+specifically perceived on the height of Vouziers. The apparition of a
+few handsful of cavalry, despatched thither on observation duty,
+occasioned an almost unaccountable excitement. General Douay, quartered
+at Vouziers, received the most exaggerated reports, and must have
+thought that a general attack by the German army was imminent. The VIIth
+Corps was kept under arms the entire night in pouring rain, and the
+Marshal resolved to advance towards Vouziers and Buzancy with all his
+forces on the following morning. Thus the march to the east received a
+check as early as the 27th, but the untruthfulness of the reports very
+soon became sufficiently apparent.
+
+If the German chiefs were deeply interested in gaining an insight into
+the enemy's movements, so on the French side this requisite was
+certainly urgent in no less imperative degree. With judicious disposal
+of their cavalry on the right flank, a surprise like that above
+mentioned would have been impossible, but the 1st French Cavalry
+Division was placed on the left flank, where there was no danger
+whatever, and the 2nd was rearmost of everything. It seemed as though in
+the French army less attention was paid to the repulse of an attack than
+to the evasion of one, and to the unobserved attainment of Montmédy,
+the point of rendezvous with the other army. When the movement of the
+Germans from southward could no longer be doubted, it would certainly
+have been best for the French to take the vigorous offensive in that
+direction with intent to defeat them, or at least to sweep them out of
+the vicinity of their own line of march. If they had failed in this they
+would, at any rate, have readily learnt that their undertaking was
+impracticable, and that its further prosecution must certainly result in
+a catastrophe. It must, however, be admitted that the German cavalry
+formed an almost impenetrable screen. The Marshal could not know that
+his enemy was écheloned from Vitry to Varennes, a distance of more than
+thirty-seven miles, and was not at all in form to attack him just then
+in serious earnest.
+
+_August 27th._--The Marshal had cleared up his misconception, and on the
+27th he continued his march, at least with part of his troops. The VIIth
+and Vth Corps covered the movement at Vouziers and Buzancy, the XIIth
+advanced to Le Chêne, and the 1st Cavalry Division to Beaumont, probably
+to ascertain the whereabouts of Marshal Bazaine. The Ist Corps and the
+2nd Cavalry Division remained behind on the Aisne.
+
+The Saxon Corps, the furthest forward of the German Army, had received
+direct orders to march to Dun on the 27th, and secure on the right bank
+the passages over the Meuse, as far as Stenay. It reached Stenay at
+three o'clock in the afternoon, and threw forward a post on the left
+bank.
+
+The cavalry clung closely to the enemy and followed his movements, often
+engaging in petty skirmishes. The departure of the Vth French Corps from
+Buzancy in the direction of Le Chêne was at once detected, as also was
+the march to Beaumont; and the Saxon Cavalry Division pushed forward
+that evening to Nouart. The Bavarian Corps reached the Clermont-Verdun
+road, the 5th Ste. Menehould; the other Corps of the IIIrd Army were
+hurrying by forced marches in a northerly direction.
+
+The prospect now seemed certain that the enemy would be overtaken on the
+left bank of the Meuse. Word was sent to the blockading army before Metz
+that the two Corps asked for were no longer required, but they had
+already set out.
+
+The latest dispositions made by Marshal MacMahon clearly betokened a
+last effort on his part to persevere in the original direction. He was
+écheloned along the northernmost of the roads by which he could reach
+Metz, but had left a strong reserve on the Aisne on which he might fall
+back. When he now learnt that nothing had been seen of the Army of the
+Rhine at Montmédy, but that it actually was still at Metz, he resolved
+on retreating, and, after giving orders to that effect for the following
+morning, reported his intention to Paris.
+
+From thence during the night came the most strenuous remonstrances. The
+Minister of War telegraphed, "If you leave Bazaine in the lurch, the
+revolution will break out," and the Council of Ministers issued a
+peremptory order to relieve Metz. The troops in front of the Marshal, it
+was urged, were nothing more than part of the army investing Metz; he
+had the start of the Crown Prince of Prussia by several days' march; and
+General Vinoy had already left Paris for Rheims with the newly-formed
+XIIIth Corps as a reinforcement to him.
+
+The Marshal silenced his military convictions and issued new orders. But
+the troops had started in advance of the promulgation of them. The
+change of route gave rise to much confusion; the roads were bad, and
+quarters for the night were not reached until darkness had long set in;
+the men were weary, wet to the skin, and depressed in spirits.
+
+_August 28th._--Little more than nine miles' distance eastward was
+attained. The XIIth Corps reached La Besace, the Ist was on the march
+to Le Chêne, the VIIth was halted at Boult aux Bois because of a false
+report that two Prussian Corps were occupying Buzancy, further ahead. On
+the strength of this report the Vth Corps moved toward that town by way
+of Bar, but went on to Bois des Dames in the afternoon. Neither of these
+movements was interfered with. The German cavalry had strict orders,
+while watching the French as closely as possible, not in any way to
+check or press them, and the Saxon cavalry evacuated Nouart on the
+approach of the enemy. The Germans had to await the coming up of the
+IIIrd Army, the rearmost Corps of which, the VIth, had only just reached
+Ste. Menehould.
+
+_August 29th._--For this day also a non-offensive attitude was
+prescribed, and the bringing on of decisive operations was postponed
+until the 30th.
+
+The Marshal in his head-quarter at Stonne had been informed that the
+Germans occupied Dun, and that the bridges over the Meuse had been
+destroyed. He had no pontoon-train, and could cross the river only lower
+down, at Mouzon and Villers. His XIIth Corps and 1st Cavalry Division
+passed over to the right bank unhindered at these points; the Ist Corps
+and the 2nd Cavalry Division proceeded to Raucourt. The VIIth Corps,
+delayed on march by petty skirmishes on its right flank, did not reach
+its destination at La Besace, but went into bivouac at Oches. The Vth
+Corps was to have moved to Beaumont, but the staff officer carrying the
+order fell into the hands of the Prussian cavalry together with his
+escort. General de Failly therefore marched upon Stenay, according to
+his original instructions.
+
+Up to this time, apart from the cavalry, the Saxon Corps alone had been
+in contact with the enemy, but the Guard now came up to Buzancy in
+parallel line, while the Saxon Corps crossed over to the left bank of
+the Meuse at Dun. Its advanced guard at once took possession of the
+wooded spur to the north-east of Nouart, drove out the French cavalry,
+and pressed ahead to Champy, where it encountered a strong force in
+Lespart's Division. The purpose of the reconnaissance having been
+attained, the advanced guard was called in. The French Division, in
+consequence of fresh orders received from the Marshal, withdrew
+simultaneously in a northerly direction.
+
+On the German side four Corps of the IIIrd Army were now within nine
+miles rearward of the Army of the Meuse. The 5th Cavalry Division stood
+at Attigny on the enemy's line of communication; the 6th was hanging on
+the heels of the French columns of march, and, among other things, had
+taken Boncq with a dismounted party. The Royal Head-quarter was now
+advanced to Grand Pré, and, as the result of the various reports which
+had poured in, the resolution was taken to attack the enemy on the
+following day, before he should cross the Meuse. The Army of the Meuse
+was to march towards Beaumont, the IIIrd Army to move forward between
+that place and Le Chêne. To bring both armies to a parallel front, the
+right wing was not to move until ten o'clock, while the left[18] was to
+start before six o'clock. Only the trains absolutely requisite for the
+battle were to follow.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[18] The Army of the Meuse constituted the right wing; the IIIrd Army,
+the left.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF BEAUMONT.
+
+(August 30th.)
+
+
+On the 30th of August, at ten o'clock, the King set out for Sommauthe by
+way of Buzancy. Both the Bavarian Corps were on the march thither, the
+Vth Corps advanced in the centre towards Oches, the XIth, together with
+the Würtemberg Division, was heading for Le Chêne, the VIth for
+Vouziers. The IVth Corps on the right was advancing by Belval, the XIIth
+reached to the Meuse, while the Guard Corps followed in rear as a
+reserve.
+
+Marshal MacMahon had issued orders for the attainment of the object that
+his entire army should on this day cross to the right bank of the Meuse;
+only the baggage trains and sick were to remain behind.
+
+His Ist Corps and the 2nd Cavalry Division had left Raucourt so early as
+seven; they crossed the river at Remilly, light bridges having been
+thrown over for the infantry. The VIIth Corps at Oches had struck camp
+still earlier at four o'clock, but as it took with it in the march all
+its waggons, even the empty ones, the trains formed a column more than
+nine miles in length, and seven of its battalions were forced to march
+alongside the road in the capacity of baggage guard; so that the brigade
+bringing up the rear was unable to start until ten o'clock. This long
+procession soon came into contact with the Prussian cavalry, was fired
+upon by artillery, and compelled to arrest its march. Not till one
+o'clock could the movement on La Besace be resumed, and then, as heavy
+firing was heard from Beaumont, General Douay conceived it right to
+abandon the road to Mouzon and take that to Remilly.
+
+To the Vth Corps had been precautionally assigned the duty of covering
+the march of the other two. The troops had reached the vicinity of
+Beaumont only at 4 a.m., and were thoroughly exhausted by fighting and
+the night-march. General de Failly therefore determined to halt his
+Corps for cooking and rest before pursuing the march. Precautionary
+measures seem to have been altogether neglected, though it must have
+been known that the enemy was now close at hand. While at half-past one
+the officers and men were engaged in their meal, Prussian shells
+suddenly burst among these heedless groups.
+
+The two Corps of the German right wing had to move through a wooded
+tract in four wholly independent columns, by ways sodden with rain. The
+Crown Prince of Saxony therefore ordered that no single column should
+attempt to enter on an attack before the neighbouring one was ready to
+co-operate.
+
+The IVth Corps had started very early, and after a short rest had
+pursued its march at ten o'clock. When at noon the head of the 8th
+Division emerged from the forest, it discerned from its elevated
+position the enemy's camp about 800 paces distant, in the condition as
+described. General Schöler (commanding the Division) held that the
+opportunity of so complete a surprise was not to be let pass; the
+proximity of his force could not long remain undetected by the enemy. He
+announced it by his cannon-fire.
+
+The Division soon recognized that it had drawn upon itself an enemy of
+immensely superior strength. The French rapidly got under arms, and
+dense swarms of riflemen hurried to the front, whose long-range
+Chassepôts inflicted great losses, especially upon the artillerymen. The
+main body of the 8th Division had meanwhile come up to the assistance of
+its advanced guard, and ere long the 7th Division appeared on the right.
+The French assailed it too with great impetuosity, and could only be
+repulsed at the bayonet-point. Presently, however, the foremost
+battalions of both Divisions made their way into the French camp in
+front of Beaumont, into the town itself, and finally into a second camp
+located northward of it. Seven guns, of which the teams were missing,
+and which continued firing up to the last moment, a number of gunners,
+waggons and horses, fell into the hands of the assailants.
+
+Whilst now, about two o'clock, a pause occurred in the infantry fight,
+fourteen batteries of the IVth Corps engaged in a contest with the
+French artillery deployed on the stretch of heights north of Beaumont.
+The German artillery mass was presently strengthened by the Saxon
+artillery on the right, and by the Bavarian batteries on the left. This
+formidable and commanding artillery line, constantly advancing in
+echelon, promptly squandered the mitrailleuses, and at three o'clock the
+remaining French batteries also were silenced.
+
+The IInd Bavarian Corps, on the left of the Prussian IVth, was advancing
+on La Thibaudine, when it was quite unexpectedly attacked from the west
+by a strong force of the enemy.
+
+These troops were Conseil Dumesnil's Division of the VIIth French Corps,
+which was continuing in march to Mouzon in error, acting on its original
+orders. Completely surprised as it was, and attacked in front and flank,
+the Division gave up all hope of cutting its way through, and at about
+four o'clock beat a hasty retreat northwards, leaving two guns behind.
+
+The Bavarians had in the meantime taken possession of the farm of
+Thibaudine, and the Prussians that of Harnoterie. The wooded hills
+prevented a clear view of the surrounding country; the enemy had
+completely disappeared.
+
+General de Failly was making strenuous efforts to collect his scattered
+forces in front of Mouzon, under cover of a rear-guard halted at La
+Sartelle; and General Lebrun had left behind on the left side of the
+Meuse an infantry and a cavalry brigade and three batteries belonging to
+the XIIth Corps, to render him assistance.
+
+At five o'clock the 8th Division, headed by the 13th Brigade, was
+pushing toilsomely through the dense forest of Givodeau, on its way to
+operate against this new defensive position. On emerging from the wood
+the battalions, which had fallen into some confusion, were received by a
+brisk fire at short range. The repeated efforts of the riflemen to
+advance were unsuccessful, and the dense underwood hindered the clubbed
+mass behind them from forming. By the time the Saxon Corps had succeeded
+with extreme difficulty in extricating itself from the forest and swamps
+of the Wamme stream, and had reached Létanne, the impracticability of
+further progress in the Meuse valley became apparent, since numerous
+French batteries, in unassailable positions on the opposite side of the
+river, commanded all the low ground. The Corps therefore ascended the
+plateau, moved in its turn through the Givodeau woods, and debouching
+thence swelled the strength of the forces assembled on the northern
+border, where, however, their development on a broader front was
+impossible. So about six o'clock the infantry engagement came to a stand
+for a time in this quarter.
+
+On the left the 14th Brigade had come up into line with the 13th, and
+this body (the 7th Division) was followed by the 8th Division in two
+columns.
+
+The 93rd Regiment had carried the height to the north-east of Yoncq, and
+advanced in pursuit of the enemy as far as to the foot of Mont de Brune.
+Four mitrailleuses and eight guns, some of them with their entire teams,
+fell thus into the hands of the Anhalters.
+
+When, at half-past five, the artillery had come up into position, and at
+the same time the 27th Regiment was approaching, General Zychlinski
+(commanding 14th Brigade) advanced to the enveloping attack.
+
+The French occupied in strength the summit of the entirely isolated
+hill; their batteries faced to eastward against the Bois de Givodeau,
+whence an assault threatened; but they swiftly changed front to the
+south and directed a heavy fire on the 93rd and the 2nd Battalion of the
+27th, as they charged up on this face while the Fusilier battalion was
+at the same time pressing forward from the west. Regardless of their
+losses, the assailants eagerly scaled the ascent, the brigade and
+regimental commanders at their head. Six French guns were seized while
+in action, in spite of a brave resistance by the gunners and covering
+troops, and the enemy was pursued as far as the Roman road. Here four
+more guns, completely horsed, which had been abandoned by the
+artillerymen, fell into the hands of the conquerors.
+
+The three battalions[19] hurried on towards Mouzon, without waiting for
+the support of the[20] 14th Brigade following in rear, but they suddenly
+found themselves threatened by a cavalry-charge.
+
+Marshal MacMahon had recognized the fact that the only thing left him
+now to do was to effect as orderly an evacuation as possible of the left
+bank of the Meuse; the reinforcements sent across from the right had
+already been recalled. The 5th Cuirassier Regiment alone still remained.
+When, a little to the north of the Faubourg de Mouzon, it was reached by
+the fire of the advancing Prussians, the French regiment hurled itself
+upon the enemy with a noble contempt for death.
+
+The shock struck the 10th Company of the 27th Regiment. The soldiers,
+without closing their ranks, waited for the word of command of their
+leader, Captain Helmuth, and then fired a volley at close range, which
+struck down eleven officers and 100 men, the brave commander of the band
+of horsemen falling fifteen paces in front of his men. The survivors
+rushed back towards the Meuse, and, as all the bridges had been removed,
+they strove to gain the other side by swimming.
+
+Considerable masses of the enemy were still in front of Mouzon, and upon
+these the batteries of the IVth Corps, as one after another they came
+into action, directed their fire. Two Bavarian batteries brought under
+their fire the bridge at Villers, lower down the river, and prevented it
+from being used. Then the suburb was carried after a fierce encounter,
+and here too the bridge across the Meuse was taken and held. The enemy,
+deprived of every way of retreat, received with a hot fire the 8th
+Division emerging from the valley of the Yoncq, but was gradually driven
+back towards the river. The French troops in front of the Bois de
+Givodeau were also in a hopeless plight; they were assailed by the 7th
+Division and XIIth Corps, and were dispersed after an obstinate
+struggle. By nightfall the French had ceased their resistance on the
+hither side of the Meuse. Many lagging stragglers were taken prisoners,
+others hid themselves in the copses and farmhouses, or tried to escape
+by swimming the river.
+
+In this battle, as in the preceding ones, the attack suffered far
+heavier loss than the defence. The Army of the Meuse lost 3500
+combatants, the preponderating loss falling on the IVth Corps. The
+French estimated their loss at 1800; but in the course of the day and on
+the following morning, 3000 prisoners, mostly unwounded, fell into the
+hands of the victors, with 51 guns, 33 ammunition and many other
+waggons, and a military chest containing 150,000 francs. And, what was
+of supreme importance, by the result of this battle the French army had
+been driven into an extremely unfavourable position.
+
+While the IVth Corps had been chiefly sustaining the day's battle, the
+Saxon Cavalry had pushed forward on the right bank of the Meuse, and had
+reconnoitred towards Mouzon and Carignan. The Guard Corps reached
+Beaumont, and General von der Tann with the 1st Bavarian Corps was at
+Raucourt, having marched by way of La Besace with some slight
+skirmishing on the way. The IInd Bavarian Corps was assembled at
+Sommauthe, the Vth Corps had reached Stonne, the XIth, La Besace. Thus
+seven Corps now stood in close concentration between the Meuse and the
+Bar.
+
+The King rode back to Buzancy after the battle, as all the villages in
+the vicinity of the battle-field were crowded with the wounded. Here, as
+previously at Clermont, was felt the great inconvenience of inadequate
+lodging for hundreds of illustrious guests and their suites, when, for
+once in a way for military reasons, head-quarters were established in a
+small village, instead of in a large town. Shelter for those officers
+whose duty it was to prepare the necessary orders for the morrow was
+only found late at night, and with considerable difficulty.
+
+These orders instructed that on the 31st two Corps of the Army of the
+Meuse should cross over to the right bank of the river, to prevent the
+possibility of further progress of the French to Metz by way of
+Montmédy. Two Corps of the army besieging Metz were besides already
+posted in that direction about Etain and Briey. The IIIrd Army was to
+continue its movement in the northward direction.
+
+As the situation had now developed itself, it already seemed within
+sight that the Army of Châlons might be compelled to cross over into
+neutral territory, and the Belgian Government was therefore asked
+through diplomatic channels to concern itself with its disarmament in
+that event. The German troops had orders at once to cross the Belgian
+frontier, should the enemy not lay down his arms there.
+
+While the Vth French Corps was still fighting about Beaumont, and when
+the rest of the army had crossed the Meuse, General MacMahon had ordered
+the concentration of his army on Sedan. He did not intend to offer
+battle there, but it was indispensable to give his troops a short rest,
+and provide them with food and ammunition. He then meant to continue the
+retreat by way of Mézières, which General Vinoy was just then
+approaching with the newly-formed XIIIth Corps. The Ist Corps, which had
+arrived at Carignan early in the afternoon, detached two of its
+divisions to Douzy in the evening to check any further advance of the
+Germans.
+
+Though any pursuit immediately after the battle of Beaumont was
+prevented by the intervening river, the retreat of the French soon
+assumed the ominous character of a rout. The troops were utterly worn
+out by their exertions by day and night, in continuous rain and with
+but scanty supplies of food. The marching to and fro, to no visible
+purpose, had undermined their confidence in their leaders, and a series
+of luckless fights had shaken their self-reliance. Thousands of
+fugitives, crying for bread, crowded round the waggons as they struggled
+forward to reach the little fortress which had so unexpectedly become
+the central rallying point of a great army.
+
+The Emperor Napoleon arrived at Sedan from Carignan late in the evening
+of the 30th; the VIIth Corps reached Floing during the night, but the
+XIIth Corps did not arrive at Bazeilles until the following morning. The
+Vth Corps mustered at the eastern suburb of Sedan in a fearfully
+shattered state, followed in the afternoon of the 31st by the Ist,
+which, after many rear-guard actions with the German cavalry, took up a
+position behind the Givonne valley. To pursue the march to Mézières on
+that day was not to be thought of. The XIIth Corps had that same evening
+to show a front at Bazeilles, where the thunder of their cannon already
+heralded the arrival of the Germans. The destruction of the bridges
+there and at Donchery was ordered, but the order remained unexecuted,
+owing to the worn-out condition of the men.
+
+_August 31st._--Of the army of the Meuse the Guard and 12th Cavalry
+Divisions had crossed the Meuse at Pouilly, and by a pontoon bridge at
+Létanne, and swept the country between the Meuse and the Chiers.
+Following close upon the rear of the French and harassing them in
+skirmishes till they reached their new position, they brought in as
+prisoners numbers of stragglers. The Guard Corps then crossed the Chiers
+at Carignan and halted at Sachy; the XIIth pushed on to about Douzy on
+the Meuse,[21] while its advanced guard thrust ahead on the further side
+(of the Chiers) as far as Francheval. The IVth Corps remained at Mouzon.
+
+The 4th Cavalry Division of the IIIrd Army reconnoitred in the direction
+of Sedan, drove back the French outposts from Wadelincourt and Frénois,
+and, moving from the latter place, seized the railroad under the fire of
+hostile artillery. The 6th Cavalry Division on the left flank proceeded
+on the way to Mézières as far as Poix.
+
+When the Ist Bavarian Corps reached Remilly before noon, it came under
+heavy fire from the opposite side of the river, and at once brought up
+its batteries in position on the hither slope of the valley of the
+Meuse. A sharp cannonade ensued, by the end of which sixty Bavarian guns
+were engaged. It was only now that the French attempted to blow up the
+railway bridge south of Bazeilles, but the vigorous fire of the 4th
+Jäger Battalion drove off the enemy with his engineers, the Jägers threw
+the powder-barrels into the river, and at midday crossed the bridge. The
+battalion entered Bazeilles in the face of a storm of bullets, and
+occupied the northern fringe of the straggling place. Thus the XIIth
+French Corps was forced to move up into a position between Balan and
+Moncelle, where, having been reinforced by batteries belonging to the
+Ist Corps, it had to encounter, and that with considerable waste of
+power, the daring little band of Germans.
+
+General von der Tann[22] did not however hold it advisable to commit
+himself on that day to a serious conflict on the further side of the
+Meuse with a closely compacted enemy, while his own Corps was still
+unconcentrated; and, since the weak detachment in Bazeilles had no hope
+of being reinforced, it withdrew therefrom at about half-past three
+without being pursued.
+
+Meanwhile two pontoon bridges had been laid at Allicourt, without
+molestation from the French. These and the railway bridge were
+barricaded for the night, while eighty-four guns further secured them
+from being crossed. The Ist Bavarian Corps went into bivouac at
+Angecourt, the IInd at Hancourt.
+
+To the left of the Bavarians the XIth Corps marched towards Donchery,
+followed by the Vth. The advanced guard found the place unoccupied, and
+extended itself on the further side of the river. By three o'clock two
+other bridges were completed close below Donchery, whilst the railway
+bridge above the place, also found unguarded, was destroyed.
+
+On the extreme left the Würtemberg and the 6th Cavalry Divisions came in
+contact with the XIIIth French Corps, which had just arrived at
+Mézières.
+
+The King removed his head-quarters to Vendresse.
+
+In spite of a succession of occasionally very severe marches in bad
+weather, and of being in regard to supplies chiefly beholden to
+requisitioning, the Army of the Meuse advancing on the east, and the
+IIIrd Army on the south, were now directly in face of the concentrated
+French Army. Marshal MacMahon could scarcely have realized that the only
+chance of safety for his army, or even for part of it, lay in the
+immediate prosecution of his retreat on the 1st of September. It is true
+that the Crown Prince of Prussia, in possession as he was of every
+passage over the Meuse, would have promptly taken that movement in flank
+in the narrow space, little more than four miles wide, which was bounded
+on the north by the frontier. That nevertheless the attempt was not
+risked was only to be explained by the actual condition of the exhausted
+troops; for on this day the French Army was not yet capable of
+undertaking a disciplined march involving fighting; it could only fight
+where it stood.
+
+On the German side it was still expected that the Marshal would strike
+for Mézières. The Army of the Meuse was ordered to attack the enemy's
+positions with the object of detaining him in them; the IIIrd Army,
+leaving only one Corps on the left bank, was to press forward on the
+right side of the river.
+
+The French position about Sedan was covered to rearward by the fortress.
+The Meuse and the valleys of the Givonne and the Floing brooks offered
+formidable obstructions, but it was imperative that those outmost lines
+should be obstinately held. The Calvary height of Illy was a very
+important point, strengthened as it was by the Bois de Garenne in its
+rear, whence a high ridge stretching to Bazeilles afforded much cover in
+its numerous dips and shoulders. In the event of a retreat into neutral
+territory in the last extremity, the road thereto lay through Illy.
+Bazeilles, on the other hand, locally a very strong point of support to
+the Givonne front, constituted an acute salient, which, after the loss
+of the bridges across the Meuse, was open to attack on two sides.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[19] Of 27th and 93rd Regiments.
+
+[20] Read in "rest of the."
+
+[21] Douzy is on the north bank of the Chiers.
+
+[22] Commanding Ist Bavarian Corps.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF SEDAN.
+
+(September 1st.)
+
+
+In order, in co-operation with the Army of the Meuse, to hold fast the
+enemy in his position, General von der Tann sent his Ist Brigade over
+the pontoon-bridges against Bazeilles so early as four o'clock in a
+thick morning mist. The troops attacked the place, but now found the
+streets barricaded, and were fired on from every house. The leading
+company pressed on as far as to the northern egress, suffering great
+losses, but the others, while engaged in arduous street-fighting, were
+driven out of the western part of Bazeilles by the arrival of the 2nd
+Brigade of the French XIIth Corps. They however kept possession of the
+buildings at the southern end, and from thence issued to repeated
+assaults. As fresh troops were constantly coming up on both sides, the
+French being reinforced to the extent even of a brigade of the Ist and
+one of the Vth Corps, the murderous combat long swayed to and fro; in
+particular the struggle for the possession of the Villa Beurmann,
+situated in front of the exit, and commanding the main street throughout
+its whole length, lasted for a stricken hour. The inhabitants took an
+active part in the fighting, and so they inevitably drew fire upon
+themselves.
+
+The fire of the strong array of guns drawn up on the left slope of the
+valley of the Meuse naturally could not be directed on the surging
+strife in Bazeilles, which was now blazing in several places, but at
+eight o'clock, on the arrival of the 8th Prussian Division at Remilly,
+General von der Tann threw his last brigades into the fight. The walled
+park of the château of Monvillers was stormed and an entrance won into
+the Villa Beurmann. The artillery crossed the bridges at about nine
+o'clock, and the 8th Division was requested to support the combat in
+which the right wing of the Bavarians was also engaged southward of
+Bazeilles about Moncelle.[23]
+
+In this direction Prince George of Saxony[24] had so early as five
+o'clock despatched an advanced guard of seven battalions from Douzy.
+They drove the French from Moncelle, pressed ahead to Platinerie and the
+bridge there, and, in spite of the enemy's heavy fire, took possession
+of the houses bordering the further side of the Givonne brook, which
+they immediately occupied for defensive purposes. Communication with the
+Bavarians was now established, and the battery of the advanced guard
+moved up quickly into action on the eastern slope; but a further
+infantry support could not at first be afforded to this bold advance.
+
+Marshal MacMahon had been struck by a splinter from a shell near
+Moncelle at 6 a.m. He had named General Ducrot as his successor in the
+chief command, passing over two senior Corps commanders. Apprized of
+this promotion at seven o'clock, that General issued the necessary
+orders for the prompt assemblage of the army at Illy, in preparation for
+an immediate retreat on Mézières. He had already despatched Lartigue's
+Division of his own Corps to safeguard the crossing of the Givonne
+ravine at Daigny; the Divisions of Lacretelle and Bassoigne were ordered
+to take the offensive against the Saxons and Bavarians, to gain time for
+the withdrawal of the rest of the troops. The divisions forming the
+second line were to start immediately in a northerly direction.
+
+But the Minister of War had appointed General de Wimpffen, recently
+returned from Algiers, to the command of the Vth Corps in room of
+General de Failly, and had at the same time given him a commission
+empowering him to assume the command of the Army in case of the
+disability of the Marshal.
+
+General de Wimpffen knew the army of the Crown Prince to be in the
+neighbourhood of Donchery. He regarded the retreat to Mézières as
+utterly impracticable, and was bent on the diametrically opposite course
+of breaking out to Carignan, not doubting that he could drive aside the
+Bavarians and Saxons, and so succeed in effecting a junction with
+Marshal Bazaine. When he heard of the orders just issued by General
+Ducrot, and at the same time observed that an assault on Moncelle seemed
+to be taking an auspicious course, he produced--to his ruin--the
+authoritative commission which had been bestowed on him.
+
+General Ducrot submitted without any remonstrance; he might probably not
+have been averse to be relieved of so heavy a responsibility. The
+Divisions of the second line which were in the act of starting
+immediately were recalled; and the further advance of the weak Bavarian
+and Saxon detachments was soon hard pressed by the impact of the first
+stroke of the enemy rushing on to the attack.
+
+By seven in the morning, while one regiment of the Saxon advanced guard
+had gone in upon Moncelle, the other on its right had to concern itself
+with the threatening advance of Lartigue's Division. With that body it
+soon became engaged in a heavy fire-fight. The regiment had laid down
+its packs on the march, and had omitted to take out the cartridges
+carried in them. Thus it soon ran short of ammunition, and the repeated
+and violent onslaughts of the Zouaves, directed principally against its
+unprotected right flank, had to be repulsed with the bayonet.
+
+On the left in this quarter a strong artillery line had gradually been
+formed, which by half-past eight o'clock amounted to twelve batteries.
+But Lacretelle's Division was now approaching by the Givonne bottom, and
+dense swarms of tirailleurs forced the German batteries to retire at
+about nine o'clock. The guns, withdrawn into a position at a somewhat
+greater distance, drove back with their fire the enemy in the hollow,
+and presently returned to the position previously occupied.
+
+The 4th Bavarian Brigade had meanwhile pushed forward into Moncelle, and
+the 46th Saxon Brigade also came up, so that it was possible to check
+the trifling progress made by Bassoigne's Division.
+
+On the right flank of the Saxons, which had been hard pressed,
+much-needed supports now arrived from the 24th Division, and at once
+took the offensive. The French were driven back upon Daigny, with the
+loss of five guns. Then in conjunction with the Bavarians, who were
+pushing on through the valley to the northward, the village of Daigny,
+the bridge and the farmstead of La Rapaille were carried after a bitter
+fight.
+
+About ten o'clock the Guard Corps reached the upper Givonne. Having
+started in the night, the Corps was marching in two columns, when cannon
+thunder from Bazeilles heard afar off caused the troops to quicken their
+pace. In order to render assistance by the shortest road, the left
+column would have had to traverse two deep ravines and the pathless wood
+of Chevallier, so it took the longer route by Villers Cernay, which
+place the head of the right column passed in ample time to take part
+with the Saxons in the contest with Lartigue's Division, and to capture
+two of its guns.
+
+The Divisions ordered back by General Ducrot had already resumed their
+former positions on the western slopes, and fourteen batteries of the
+Guard Corps now opened fire upon them from the east.
+
+At the same hour (ten o'clock) the 7th Division of the IVth Corps had
+arrived near Lamécourt, and the 8th near Remilly, both places rearward
+of Bazeilles; the head of the latter had reached the Remilly railway
+station.
+
+The first attempt of the French to break out eastward to Carignan proved
+a failure, and their retreat westward to Mézières was also already cut
+off, for the Vth and XIth Corps of the IIIrd Army, together with the
+Würtemberg Division, had been detailed to move northward to the road
+leading to that place. These troops had started early in the night, and
+at six a.m. had crossed the Meuse at Donchery, and by the three pontoon
+bridges further down the river. The advanced patrols found the Mézières
+road quite clear of the enemy, and the heavy cannonade heard from the
+direction of Bazeilles made it appear probable that the French had
+accepted battle in their position at Sedan. The Crown Prince, therefore,
+ordered the two Corps, which already had reached the upland of Vrigne,
+to swing to their right and advance on St. Menges; the Würtembergers
+were to remain behind to watch Mézières. General von Kirchbach then
+indicated Fleigneux to his advanced guard as the objective of the
+further movement, which had for its purpose the barring of the escape of
+the French into Belgium, and the establishment of a junction with the
+right wing of the Army of the Meuse.
+
+The narrow pass about 2000 paces long between the heights and the river
+traversed by the road to St. Albert, was neither held nor watched by the
+French. It was not till the advanced guard reached St. Menges that it
+encountered a French detachment, which soon withdrew. The German advance
+then deployed against Illy. Two companies moved to the right and took
+possession of Floing, where they maintained themselves for the next two
+hours without assistance against repeated attacks.
+
+The earliest arriving Prussian batteries had to exert themselves to the
+utmost to maintain themselves against the much superior strength of
+French artillery in action about Illy. At first they had for their only
+escort some cavalry and a few companies of infantry, and as these bodies
+debouched from the defile of St. Albert, they found themselves an
+enticing object of attack to Margueritte's Cavalry Division halted on
+the aforesaid plateau of Illy. It was at nine o'clock that General
+Galliffet rode down to the attack at the head of three regiments of
+Chasseurs d'Afrique and two squadrons of Lancers formed in three lines.
+The first fury of the charge fell upon two companies of the 87th
+Regiment, which met it with a hail of bullets at sixty yards range. The
+first line charged some horse-lengths further forward, then wheeled
+outward to both flanks, and came under the fire of the supporting troops
+occupying the broom copses. The Prussian batteries, too, showered their
+shell fire into the throng of French horsemen, who finally went about in
+confusion, and, having suffered great losses, sought refuge in the Bois
+de Garenne.
+
+At ten o'clock, the same hour at which the assaults of the French on
+Bazeilles and about Daigny were being repulsed, fourteen batteries of
+the XIth Corps were already in action on and near the ridge south-east
+of St. Menges; to swell which mass presently came up those of the Vth
+Corps. Powerful infantry columns were in march upon Fleigneux, and thus
+the ring surrounding Sedan was already at this hour nearly closed. The
+one Bavarian Corps and the artillery reserves on the left bank of the
+Meuse were considered strong enough to repel any attempt of the French
+to break through in that direction; five Corps were on the right bank,
+ready for a concentric attack.
+
+The Bavarians and Saxons, reinforced by the head of the IVth Corps,
+issued from the burning Bazeilles and from Moncelle, and, in spite of a
+stubborn resistance, drove the detachments of the French XIIth Corps in
+position eastward of Balan back upon Fond de Givonne.
+
+Once in possession of the southern spur of the ridge sloping down from
+Illy, and while awaiting the renewed attacks of the French, the extreme
+urgency was realized of reassembling the different Corps and of
+re-forming the troops, which had fallen into great confusion.
+
+As soon as this was done, the 5th Bavarian Brigade advanced on Balan.
+The troops found but a feeble resistance in the village itself; but it
+was only after a hard fight that they succeeded in occupying the park of
+the château situated at its extreme end. From thence, soon after midday,
+the foremost battalion extended close up to the walls of the fortress,
+and exchanged shots with the garrison. There now ensued a stationary
+musketry fight with the enemy once again firmly posted about Fond de
+Givonne. At one o'clock the French, having evidently been reinforced,
+took the offensive, after a preparatory cannonade and mitrailleuse fire.
+The 5th Bavarian Brigade was driven back for some considerable distance,
+but presently, supported by the 6th, regained its old position after an
+hour's hard fighting.
+
+Meanwhile the Saxon Corps had extended itself in the northern part of
+the valley against Givonne. There also the foremost detachments of the
+Guard Corps were already established, as well as in Haybés. The Prussian
+artillery forced the French batteries to change their positions more
+than once, and had already caused several of them to go out of action.
+To gain breathing space here, the French repeatedly tried to send
+forward large bodies of tirailleurs, and ten guns were brought up into
+the still occupied Givonne, but these were taken before they could
+unlimber. The Prussian shells also fell with some effect among the
+French troops massed in the Bois de Garenne, though fired from a long
+distance.
+
+After the Franctireurs de Paris had been driven out of Chapelle, the
+Guard-cavalry dashed through Givonne and up the valley, and at noon the
+Hussars had succeeded in establishing direct contact with the left flank
+of the IIIrd Army.
+
+The 41st Brigade of that army had left Fleigneux and was descending the
+upper valley of the Givonne, and the retreat of the French from Illy in
+a southern direction had already begun. The 87th Regiment seized eight
+guns which were in action, and captured thirty baggage waggons with
+their teams, as well as hundreds of cavalry horses wandering riderless.
+The cavalry of the advanced guard of the Vth Corps also made prisoners
+of General Brahaut and his staff, besides a great number of dispersed
+infantrymen and 150 draught-horses, together with forty ammunition and
+baggage waggons.
+
+In the direction of Floing there was also an attempt on the part of the
+French to break through; but the originally very weak infantry posts at
+that point had gradually been strengthened, and the French were driven
+from the locality as quickly as they had entered. And now twenty-six
+batteries of the Army of the Meuse[25] crossed their fire with that of
+the Guard batteries, in position on the eastern slope of the Givonne
+valley. The effect was overwhelming. The French batteries were shattered
+and many ammunition waggons exploded.
+
+General de Wimpffen at first took the advance of the Germans from the
+north for nothing more than a demonstration, but toward midday became
+completely convinced that it was a real attack. He therefore ordered
+that the two Divisions of the Ist Corps halted in second line behind the
+Givonne front, should now return to the Illy height in support of
+General Douay. On rejoining the XIIth Corps he found it in full retreat
+on Sedan, and now urgently requested General Douay to despatch
+assistance in the direction of Bazeilles. Maussion's Brigade did
+actually go thither, followed by Dumont's Division, which latter was
+relieved in the foremost line by Conseil Dumesnil's Division. All this
+marching and counter-marching was executed in the space south of the
+Bois de Garenne dominated by the cross fire of the German artillery. The
+recoil of the cavalry heightened the confusion, and several battalions
+drew back into the insecure protection of the forest. General Douay, it
+is true, reinforced by portions of the Vth Corps, retook the Calvary (of
+Illy), but was forced to abandon it by two o'clock; and the forest (of
+Garenne) behind it was then shelled by sixty guns of the Guard
+artillery.
+
+Liébert's Division alone had up to now maintained its very strong
+position on the heights north of Casal. The amassing at Floing of a
+sufficient strength from the German Vth and XIth Corps could only be
+effected very gradually. After one o'clock, however, detachments began
+to climb the steep hill immediately in its front, while others went
+round to the south towards Gaulier and Casal, and yet others came down
+from Fleigneux. The complete intermixture of the troops prevented any
+unity of command; and a bloody contest was carried on for a long time
+with varying fortunes. The French Division, attacked on both flanks and
+also heavily shelled, at last had its power of resistance undermined;
+and the reserves of the VIIth Corps having already been called off to
+other parts of the battle-field, the French cavalry once more devotedly
+struck in to maintain the fight.
+
+General Margueritte, with five regiments of light horse, and two of
+Lancers, charged to the rescue out of the Bois de Garenne. Almost at
+the outset he fell severely wounded, and General Galliffet took his
+place. The advance was over very treacherous ground, and even before the
+actual charge was delivered the cohesion of the ranks was broken by the
+heavy flanking fire of the Prussian batteries. Still, with thinned ranks
+but with unflinching resolution, the individual squadrons charged on the
+troops of the 43rd Infantry Brigade, partly lying in cover, partly
+standing out on the bare slope in swarms and groups; and also on the
+reinforcements hurrying from Fleigneux. The first line of the former was
+pierced at several points, and a band of these brave troopers dashed
+from Casal through the intervals between eight guns blazing into them
+with case-shot, but the companies beyond stopped their further progress.
+Cuirassiers issuing from Gaulier fell on the hostile rear, but
+encountering the Prussian Hussars in the Meuse valley, galloped off
+northward. Other detachments cut their way through the infantry as far
+as the narrow pass of St. Albert, where they were met by the battalions
+debouching therefrom. Others again entered Floing only to succumb to the
+5th Jägers, who had to form front back to back. These attacks were
+repeated by the French again and again in the shape of detached fights,
+and the murderous turmoil lasted for half an hour with steadily
+diminishing fortune for the French. The volleys of the German infantry
+delivered steadily at a short range strewed the whole field with dead
+and wounded horsemen. Many fell into the quarries or down the steep
+declivities, a few may have escaped by swimming the Meuse; and scarcely
+more than half of these brave troops returned to the protection of the
+forest.
+
+But this magnificent sacrifice and glorious effort of the French cavalry
+could not change the fate of the day. The Prussian infantry had lost but
+little in the cut-and-thrust encounters, and at once resumed the attack
+against Liébert's Division. But in this onslaught they sustained heavy
+losses; for instance, all three battalions of the 6th Regiment had to
+be commanded by lieutenants. But when Casal had been stormed, the
+French, after a spirited resistance, withdrew at about three o'clock to
+their last refuge in the Bois de Garenne.
+
+When between one and two o'clock the fighting in Bazeilles had at first
+taken a favourable turn, General de Wimpffen reverted to his original
+plan of driving from the village the Bavarians, now exhausted by a long
+struggle, and of breaking a way through to Carignan with the Ist, Vth,
+and XIIth Corps; while the VIIth Corps was to cover the rear of this
+movement. But the orders issued to that effect in part never reached the
+Corps; in part did so so late that circumstances forbade their being
+carried out.
+
+In consequence of previously mentioned orders, besides Bassoigne's
+Division, the Divisions of Goze and Grandchamp were still available.
+Now, at about three in the afternoon, the two last-named advanced from
+Fond de Givonne, over the ridge to the eastward, and the 23rd Saxon
+Division, which was marching up the valley on the left bank of the
+Givonne, found itself suddenly attacked by closed battalions accompanied
+by batteries. With the support of the left wing of the Guard Corps and
+of the artillery fire from the eastern slope, it soon succeeded in
+repulsing the hostile masses, and indeed drove them across the valley
+back to Fond de Givonne. The energy of the French appeared to be by this
+time exhausted, for they allowed themselves to be taken prisoners by
+hundreds. As soon as a firm footing had been gained on the heights west
+of the Givonne, the German artillery established itself there, and by
+three o'clock an artillery line of twenty-one batteries stretching from
+Bazeilles to Haybés was in action.
+
+The Bois de Garenne, in which many broken bands of all Corps and of all
+arms were straggling in search of refuge, still remained to be gained.
+After a short cannonade the 1st Guard-Division climbed the heights from
+Givonne, and were joined by Saxon battalions, the left wing of the IIIrd
+army at the same time coming on from Illy. A wild turmoil ensued, in
+which isolated bands offered violent resistance, while others
+surrendered by thousands; nor was it until five o'clock that the Germans
+had complete possession of the forest.
+
+Meanwhile long columns of French could be seen pouring down on Sedan
+from the surrounding heights. Disordered bodies of troops huddled closer
+and closer in and up to the fortress, and shells from the German
+batteries on both sides of the Meuse were constantly exploding in the
+midst of the chaos. Pillars of fire were soon rising from the city, and
+the Bavarian riflemen, who had pushed forward through Torcy, were
+preparing to climb the palisades at the gate when, at about half-past
+four, the white flags were visible on the towers.
+
+The Emperor Napoleon had declined to follow General de Wimpffen in his
+attempt to break through the German lines; he had, on the contrary,
+ordered him to enter into negotiations with the enemy. In consequence of
+the renewal of the order to that effect the French suddenly ceased
+firing.
+
+General Reille now made his appearance in the presence of the King, who
+had watched the action since early morning from the hill south of
+Frénois. He was the bearer of an autograph letter from the Emperor,
+whose presence in Sedan was till then unknown. He placed his sword in
+the hand of the King, but as this was clearly only an act of personal
+surrender, the answer stipulated that an officer should be commissioned
+with full powers to treat with General von Moltke as to the surrender of
+the French Army.
+
+This painful duty was imposed on General de Wimpffen, who was in no way
+responsible for the desperate straits into which the French army had
+been brought.
+
+The negotiations were held at Donchery in the night between the 1st and
+2nd September. On the part of the Germans it had to be insisted on that
+they durst not forego the advantages gained over so powerful an enemy as
+France. Since the French had regarded the victory of German arms over
+other nationalities in the light of an offence to France, any untimely
+generosity might cause them to forget their own defeat. The only course
+to pursue was to insist upon the disarmament and captivity of their
+entire army, with the exception that the officers were to be free on
+parole.
+
+General de Wimpffen declared it impossible to accept conditions so hard,
+the negotiations were broken off, and the French officers returned to
+Sedan at one o'clock on the morning of the 2nd. Before their departure
+they were given to understand that unless the offered terms were
+accepted by nine o'clock that morning the artillery would reopen fire.
+
+The capitulation was signed by General de Wimpffen on the morning of the
+2nd, further resistance being obviously impossible.
+
+Marshal MacMahon was very fortunate in having been disabled so early in
+the battle, else on him would have inevitably devolved the duty of
+signing the capitulation; and though he had only carried out the orders
+forced upon him by the Paris authorities, he could hardly have sat in
+judgment, as he afterwards did, on the comrade he had failed to relieve.
+
+It is difficult to understand why we Germans celebrate the 2nd of
+September--a day on which nothing memorable happened, but what was the
+inevitable result of the previous day's work; the day on which the army
+really crowned itself with glory was the 1st of September.
+
+The splendid victory of that day had cost the Germans 460 officers and
+8500 men. The French losses were far greater; they amounted to 17,000
+men, and were chiefly wrought because of the full development of the
+fire of the German artillery.
+
+    During the battle there
+      were taken prisoners      21,000
+    By the Capitulation         83,000
+                                ------
+                    A total of 104,000 sent into captivity.
+
+The prisoners for the present were assembled on the peninsula of Iges
+formed by the Meuse. As supplies for them were entirely lacking, the
+Commandant of Mézières permitted the unrestricted transport of
+provisions by the railway as far as Donchery. Two Army Corps were
+assigned to the duty of guarding and escorting the convoys of prisoners,
+who were sent off in successive bodies 2000 strong by two roads, one to
+Etain, and the other by Clermont to Pont à Mousson, where the prisoners
+were taken over by the army investing Metz, and forwarded to various
+parts of Germany.
+
+On Belgian territory 3000 men had been disarmed.
+
+The spoils of war taken at Sedan consisted of three standards, 419
+field-pieces, 139 fortress guns, 66,000 rifles, over 1000 waggons, and
+6000 serviceable horses.
+
+With the entire nullification of this army fell the Empire in France.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[23] Moncelle is northward of Bazeilles.
+
+[24] Now commanding XIIth Corps, since his elder brother's appointment
+to command of the Army of the Meuse.
+
+[25] Sense and accuracy alike indicate that "Army of the Meuse" in text
+should be "Third Army," _vide_ Staff History, part I. 2nd vol. pp. 361,
+367, and 370.--Clarke's authorized Trs.
+
+
+
+
+PART II.
+
+
+While one half of the German Army was thus engaged in a victorious
+advance, the other half remained stationary before Metz.
+
+The foremost line of outposts of the investment embraced a circuit of
+more than twenty-eight miles. An attempt of the concentrated forces of
+the enemy to break through would have met at the beginning of the
+blockade with but slight opposition. It was therefore extremely urgent
+that the several posts should be strengthened by fortifications. These
+works, the clearing of the neighbouring battle-fields, the close watch
+kept over every movement of the enemy, the construction of a
+telegraph-line connecting the quarters of the several Staffs, and
+finally the erection of a sufficiency of shelter, kept the troops and
+their leaders amply occupied. Besides the care of the wounded, provision
+had to be made for the sick, whose number was daily increased by the
+unusually severe weather and lack of shelter. The provisioning of the
+troops was, however, facilitated by their stationary attitude, and in
+addition there now flowed in upon them from their homes a copious supply
+of love-gifts.
+
+The first days of the investment went by without any attempts to break
+out on the part of the French. They too were busy reorganizing,
+collecting ammunition and supplies.
+
+On the 20th of August Marshal Bazaine had written to Châlons: "I will
+give due notice of my march if, taking everything into consideration, I
+can undertake any such attempt." On the 23rd he reported to the Emperor:
+"If the news of the extensive reductions in the besieging army is
+confirmed, I shall set out on the march, and that by way of the northern
+fortresses, in order to risk nothing."
+
+
+
+
+SORTIE FROM METZ.
+
+(August 26th.)
+
+
+On the 26th of August, when the Army of Châlons was still nearly seventy
+miles distant from the Ardennes Canal, and its advance on Metz was as
+yet not generally known, Marshal Bazaine collected his main forces on
+the right bank of the Moselle.
+
+This movement had not escaped the notice of the German posts of
+observation, and the field-telegraph at once disseminated the
+information.
+
+To support the 3rd Reserve Division at Malroy, ten battalions of the Xth
+Corps crossed from the left bank of the Moselle to Argancy on the right
+bank. The 25th Division held itself in readiness at the bridge of
+Hauconcourt, and the Ist Corps closed up towards Servigny. In the event
+of the success of a breach towards the north, the IIIrd, IVth, and part
+of the IXth Corps were available to intercept the enemy's march about
+Thionville.
+
+The crossing from the island of Chambière by the field-bridges which had
+been built, seriously delayed the French advance; the IIIrd, IInd, IVth,
+and VIth Corps, however, by about noon stood closely concentrated
+between Mey and Grimont. Advanced detachments had already at several
+points driven in the German posts south-east of Metz, but instead of
+now entering upon a general attack, Marshal Bazaine summoned all his
+Corps Commanders to a conference at Grimont. The Commandant of Metz then
+made it known that the artillery ammunition in hand would suffice for
+only one battle, that when it was exhausted the army would find itself
+defenceless in midst of the German hosts; the fortress, he continued,
+was not defensible in its present state, and could not stand a siege if
+the army were to be withdrawn from the place. All those things might
+certainly have been seen into during the stay in Metz; and much more did
+they behove to have been known before the army should cut loose. It was
+particularly enforced, "That the preservation of the Army was the best
+service that could be rendered to the country, more especially if
+negotiations for peace should be entered into." The generals present all
+spoke against the prosecution of the proposed movement; and the
+Commander-in-Chief, who had refrained from expressing any opinion in the
+matter, gave the order to retire at four o'clock.
+
+The whole affair of the 26th of August can only be regarded in the light
+of a parade manoeuvre. Bazaine reported to the Minister of War that the
+scarcity of artillery ammunition made it "impossible" to break through
+the hostile lines, unless an offensive operation from the outside
+"should force the enemy to raise the investment." Information as to the
+"temper of the people" was earnestly requested.
+
+There is no doubt that Bazaine was influenced, not wholly by military,
+but also by political considerations; still it may be asked whether he
+could have acted differently in the prevailing confusion of France. From
+the correspondence referred to, and his behaviour in the battles before
+Metz, his reluctance to quit the place was evident. Under its walls he
+could maintain a considerable army in unimpaired condition till the
+given moment. At the head of the only French army not yet
+shattered,[26] he might find himself in a position of greater power than
+any other man in the country. This army must, of course, first be freed
+from the bonds which now confined it. Even if it should succeed in
+forcibly breaking out it would be greatly weakened; and it was not
+inconceivable that the Marshal, as the strongest power in the land,
+might be able to offer a price which should induce the enemy to grant
+him a passage. Then when at length the time for making peace should
+come, the Germans would no doubt ask: "Who in France is the authority
+with whom we can negotiate now that the Empire is overthrown, and who is
+strong enough to give a guarantee that the obligations which he will
+have undertaken shall be performed?" That the Marshal, if his plans had
+come to fulfilment, would have acted otherwise than in the interest of
+France is neither proved nor to be assumed.
+
+But presently a number of men combined in Paris, who, without consulting
+the nation, constituted themselves the Government of the country, and
+took the direction of its affairs into their own hands. In opposition to
+this party, Marshal Bazaine, with his army at his back, could well come
+forward as a rival or a foe; nay, and--this was his crime in the eyes of
+the Paris Government--he might restore the authority of the Emperor to
+whom he had sworn allegiance. Whether he might not thus have spared his
+country longer misery and greater sacrifices may be left undecided. But
+that he was subsequently charged with treason obviously arose, no doubt,
+from the national vanity of the French, which demanded a "Traitor" as a
+scapegoat for the national humiliation.
+
+Soon after this demonstration, for it was nothing more, of the besieged
+army, the investing forces were, in fact, reduced by the despatch, on
+the 29th, in accordance with orders from the supreme Headquarter, of
+the IInd and IIIrd Corps to Briey and Conflans, there to remain. To be
+sure, from those positions it was in their power to attack either of the
+French Marshals, as might prove requisite; while the XIIIth Corps, newly
+formed of the 17th Division, hitherto retained to defend the coast, and
+from the Landwehr, was already within a short distance of Metz.
+
+Meanwhile Marshal Bazaine might have realized that he must abandon his
+delusion as to a release by means of negotiations; and he now firmly
+resolved to cut his way out by dint of force. The troops were served out
+with three days' provisions, and the intendance was furnished with a
+supply of "iron rations" from the magazines of the fortress. That the
+attempt should again be made on the right bank of the Moselle was only
+to be expected; since by far the larger portion of the enemy's forces
+stood entrenched on the left bank. It would have been very difficult to
+traverse that hilly region, intersected by deep ravines; and finally the
+army of the Crown Prince on the march to Paris would have had to be
+encountered. East of Metz, on the other hand, there afforded ample space
+for the full development of the French forces. By bending of the south
+the open country was to be reached, offering no effective intercepting
+position to the enemy, whose line of investment was weakest in that
+direction. The march to the north and along the Belgian frontier
+entailed more danger and greater obstacles, yet the Marshal had
+explicitly indicated this particular road as that by which he intended
+to move. The Army of Châlons was also marching in that direction; its
+approach was already reported; and on the 31st of August, on which day,
+in fact, Marshal MacMahon's forces reached Stenay[27] in such disastrous
+circumstances, Bazaine's army also issued from Metz.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[26] The Army of Châlons was still unimpaired on August 26th.
+
+[27] "Stenay," probably a slip of the pen for "Sedan," where MacMahon's
+army was gathered on August 31st. It never reached Stenay.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF NOISSEVILLE.
+
+(August 31st.)
+
+
+Of the French Corps then located on the right bank of the Moselle,[28]
+the IIIrd was to cover on the right flank the advance of the others; one
+Division was ordered to move early in a south-easterly direction with
+intent to mislead the enemy, its other three Divisions to take position
+threatening Noisseville. Three pontoon bridges were constructed for the
+crossing of the rest of the army, and accesses to the heights in front
+of St. Julien were prepared. The passage of the IVth and VIth Corps was
+to begin at six o'clock, and they were to take a position which, linking
+on its right with the IIIrd Corps, should extend from the village of Mey
+by Grimont to the Moselle; the IInd Corps and the Guard were to follow
+and form a second line. With the passage of the artillery reserve and
+the cavalry it was expected that the crossing of the Moselle should be
+finished by ten o'clock; the trains were halted on the Isle of
+Chambière. Thus it was intended that by noon five Corps should be ready
+for the assault of the section of the line of investment from Retonfay
+(on the French right) to Argancy (on the left), a distance of about
+seven miles, which space had for its defenders only two German
+Divisions.
+
+So early as seven o'clock Montaudon's Division issued from Fort Queuleu,
+and heading eastward drove the opposing outposts back on Aubigny. But
+this demonstration did not in the least deceive the Germans. The stir in
+the French camp had been observed quite early, and when the mist cleared
+off and great masses of French troops were seen in front of Fort St.
+Julien, an attempt to break through to the north was anticipated with
+certainty, and the necessary dispositions were immediately undertaken to
+foil the effort.
+
+The 28th Brigade of the VIIth Corps was dispatched to protect
+Courcelles, so that thus the 3rd Brigade of the Ist Corps could be
+brought nearer to Servigny. The troops of the Xth Corps which could be
+spared from their own section of the line of defence on the left bank
+were again set in motion to cross to the right, and the IXth Corps was
+held in readiness in anticipation of its having eventually to follow.
+The IIIrd Corps and the Ist Cavalry Division were recalled from Briey
+and directed to the plateau of Privat; the IInd was to stand ready to
+move off.
+
+The attempt of the French to break out proved on this day even less
+successful than on the 26th; the IVth and VIth Corps crossed each other
+at the bridges, and they only reached their rendezvous position at one
+o'clock, though it was little more than three miles further; they then
+abandoned the intention of an immediate assault, and set about cooking.
+A few skirmishes on the east of Aubigny and on the north towards Rupigny
+came to nothing. The Imperial Guard did not come up till three o'clock,
+the artillery and cavalry were still behind.
+
+As entire quiescence now supervened, the Germans came to the conclusion
+that the attack must be intended for the following day. To save the
+strength of the troops, part of the reinforcements ordered up had
+already been sent back, when, at about four o'clock, the French suddenly
+opened a heavy artillery fire.
+
+The Marshal had again summoned his commanders to assemble at Grimont,
+this time to inform them of his dispositions for the attack. It was
+evident that the French could not advance towards the north until they
+had gained elbow-room by means of an offensive movement in the eastern
+direction, and had secured their right flank. For even if they succeeded
+in breaking through the Malroy-Charly line, they could get no further so
+long as the Germans were at Servigny and swept with their fire the plain
+as far as the Moselle, a space not more than 5000 paces broad. The
+Marshal could not in any case reckon on carrying through his Artillery
+Reserve, which did not reach the battle-field until six o'clock, and the
+extrication of the baggage trains which had been left behind on the Isle
+of Chambière was clearly impossible. The Cavalry Corps was still
+defiling, and could not come up until nine o'clock in the evening.
+
+This unsatisfactory aspect of affairs was in complete accord with the
+character of the dispositions of the French commanders.
+
+Marshal Le Boeuf received orders to advance with the IInd and IIIrd
+Corps on both sides of the valley of St. Barbe, and outflank from the
+south the 1st Prussian Division at Servigny, while the IVth Corps
+assailed it in front. The VIth Corps had the task of thrusting forward
+against the Reserve Division at Charly-Malroy. Marshal Canrobert was to
+command the two latter Corps, and the Guard was to be held back as
+reserve.
+
+Thus General von Manteuffel had at first to confront with a small force
+a greatly superior enemy. This opposition might be undertaken either in
+the St. Barbe position, to outflank which was by no means easy, or on
+the line of Servigny--Poix--Failly, which, though more exposed, afforded
+much greater scope for the use of artillery. The latter position was
+chosen on the advice of General von Bergmann commanding the artillery,
+and the Landwehr Brigade was ordered into it from Antilly, where its
+place was taken by the 25th Division. Ten batteries were advanced to a
+distance of 1000 paces in front of the line of villages held by the
+infantry. Their fire proved so superior to that of the enemy, that the
+hostile batteries were soon silenced. The attack on Rupigny by the
+French IVth Corps, supported on the flank though it was by three
+batteries, remained stationary for a considerable time, and as the
+Prussians had not yet been driven back on St. Barbe, the VIth French
+Corps meanwhile could not enter upon any serious attack on the Reserve
+Division at Malroy-Charly. For the same reason Marshal Canrobert
+received the order for the present only to send a detachment of his
+force to the attack of the village of Failly, the northern point of
+support of the Servigny position.
+
+Tixier's Division therefore moved out at 7.30 in the evening from
+Villers L'Orme, but met with a most obstinate resistance at Failly.
+Though attacked on two sides, pelted by a storm of projectiles, and, as
+regarded a part of them, engaged in hand-to-hand fighting, the East
+Prussians stoutly held possession of their ground till the Landwehr
+Brigade came to their assistance from Vremy.
+
+Up till now the situation southward of Servigny had worn a more
+favourable aspect for the French than in this northern re-entering angle
+between two hostile positions; their IInd and IIIrd Corps in the former
+quarter had only the 3rd Brigade of the Ist Prussian Corps to deal with
+in front of Retonfay. Montaudon's and Metman's Divisions moved down by
+way of Nouilly into the valley of the Vallières brook; Clinchant's
+Brigade stormed the brewery in the face of strong resistance, and by
+seven o'clock the defenders of Noisseville were forced to evacuate the
+place. Montoy and Flanville were also taken possession of by the French,
+and further south the outposts of the German 4th Brigade were thrown
+back through Coincy and Château Aubigny. The batteries of the 1st
+Division, after enduring for a long time the fire of strong swarms of
+tirailleurs from the deep hollow south of them, were forced about seven
+o'clock to retire in echelon to the infantry position on the
+Poix--Servigny line, fending off for a time the pursuing enemy with
+case-shot.
+
+But to this position the Prussians now held on staunchly, although
+completely out-flanked on their left. Potier's Brigade ascended the
+northern slope of the Vallières valley, but found it impossible to
+reach Servigny. A moment later Cissey's Brigade rushed forward from the
+west, and seized the graveyard outside the village. The French IVth
+Corps struck at the centre of the Prussian position, but without
+success. Its effort to penetrate between Poix and Servigny was
+frustrated by the offensive stroke delivered by the battalions of the
+2nd Brigade constituting the last reserve--a counter attack in which all
+the troops at hand at once joined. With drums beating they hurled
+themselves on the French, swept them out of the graveyard, and drove
+them back down the slope.
+
+In support of the fierce fight here, the 3rd Brigade about half-past
+eight marched on Noisseville, whence it promptly expelled the small
+detachment found in possession, but subsequently yielded to superior
+numbers, and withdrew to St. Marais.
+
+The din of strife had now fallen silent at all points, and the fight
+seemed to be ended. The infantry of the 1st Division were moving into
+the villages, and the artillery was going into bivouac, when suddenly at
+nine o'clock a great mass of French infantry advanced in the darkness to
+an attack on Servigny. This proved to be Aymard's Division; it entered
+the village without firing a shot, surprised the garrison, and drove it
+out after a fierce hand-to-hand fight. This episode remained unnoticed
+for a long time, even by the nearest troops; but these then rushed to
+arms, and pouring in from all sides, drove the French back beyond the
+graveyard, which thenceforth remained in German possession.
+
+It was now ten o'clock at night. The 1st Division had kept its ground
+against an enemy of superior strength; but the French had penetrated
+into the unoccupied gap between the 3rd and 4th Brigades, and were a
+standing menace to the German flank at Servigny from their position at
+Noisseville.
+
+_September 1st._--The 18th Division, by a night-march, crossed
+from the left to the right bank of the Moselle at four o'clock
+in the morning, and reinforced with a brigade both flanks of the line
+Malroy--Charly--Bois de Failly. The 25th Division was now able to fall
+back from Antilly to St. Barbe, where, with the 6th Landwehr Brigade, it
+formed a reserve for the Poix--Servigny position.
+
+On the morning of the 1st of September a thick mist still shrouded the
+plain when all the troops stood to arms.
+
+Marshal Bazaine now again indicated to his generals the seizure of St.
+Barbe as the prime objective, since that alone could render possible the
+march to the north; and he added, "In the event of failure, we shall
+maintain our positions." This expression could only indicate the
+intention, in the event specified, of remaining under shelter of the
+cannon of Metz, and evinced but little confidence in the success of the
+enterprise now engaged in.[29]
+
+So early as five o'clock the 3rd Brigade had deployed on the Saarlouis
+road to prevent the further progress of the enemy on the left flank of
+the 1st Division. It swept the slopes in the direction of Montoy with
+the fire of twenty guns, and when Noisseville had been well plied for a
+considerable time by the fire of the artillery of the 2nd Brigade, about
+seven o'clock the 43rd Regiment carried the village by storm. A fierce
+fight ensued in and about the houses: two French brigades struck into
+the combat, and after a long whirl of fighting the German regiment was
+driven out again. Battalions of the 3rd Brigade came up just as the
+fight was over, but the attack was not renewed.
+
+Now that the direction of the French effort to break out was no longer
+doubtful, the 28th Brigade had started from Courcelles at six in the
+morning to reinforce the Ist Corps. Its two batteries silenced those of
+the French at Montoy, and then directed their fire on Flanville. The
+enemy soon began to abandon the burning village, which, at nine o'clock,
+the Rhinelanders entered from the south and the East Prussians from the
+north. Marshal Le Boeuf again sent forward Bastoul's Division on Montoy,
+but the extremely effective fire of the Prussian artillery compelled it
+to turn back.
+
+The 3rd Brigade had meanwhile taken up a position on the upland of
+Retonfay, where it was now joined by the 28th. The 3rd Cavalry Division
+was reinforced by the Hessian Horse Brigade, and these troops with the
+artillery mass made up presently to 114 guns, formed a rampart against
+any further progress of the IInd and IIIrd French Corps.
+
+The fighting had now died out on the right wing of the French army; but
+the IVth Corps had been enjoined to await the direct advance of the
+troops of that wing before renewing its attack on the artillery-front
+and village entrenchments of the line from Servigny to Poix, whose
+strength had been proved on the previous day. But towards eleven
+o'clock, after Noisseville had been heavily bombarded, the 3rd Prussian
+Brigade, supported by the Landwehr, advanced southward of the position,
+pushed its attack against that point, and compelled the French to
+withdraw from the burning village.
+
+Marshal Canrobert, on the northern front of the sortie, had brought up
+his batteries at Chieulles by half-past eight, and their fire, seconded
+by that of the artillery of the fortress, caused a temporary evacuation
+of Rupigny; but the village was soon reoccupied. Tixier's Division had
+made two fruitless attempts to seize Failly, and now, on the other hand,
+the 36th Brigade of the 18th Division came up, and taking the offensive
+in conjunction with the Reserve Division, at ten o'clock drove the
+French back over the Chieulles stream. They made still another
+onslaught on Failly, but the flanking fire made this also a failure.
+
+Marshal Le Boeuf, though he still had more than two Divisions to oppose
+it, held himself obliged to retreat on account of the approach of the
+Prussian 3rd Brigade on his right flank; and in consequence of the
+receipt of this intelligence, Marshal Bazaine at mid-day ordered the
+fighting to be broken off at all other points.
+
+The Army of the Rhine which issued from Metz on August 31st, with a
+strength of 137,000 men,[30] had been successfully opposed by no more
+than 36,000 Prussians. In this battle for the first time in the war the
+French were the assailants, the Germans had the rôle of the defence.
+That the Germans lost 3400 men against the loss of 3000 by the French,
+must be attributed to the higher properties of the infantry weapon of
+the latter. But the superiority of the Prussian artillery was decisively
+proved, and this it was which rendered possible General von Manteuffel's
+unshaken resistance.
+
+The VIIth Corps remained on the right bank of the Norelle, where the
+line of investment was now further strengthened by the arrival of the
+XIIIth Corps under the command of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. On the
+left bank the IInd and IIIrd Corps were now able to return to their
+respective previous positions. On the same day and at about the same
+hour when the destruction of one French army was completed at Sedan, the
+other was returning to an apparently more and more hopeless detention in
+Metz. Thus the issue of the war was already beyond doubt after a
+campaign of but two months' duration; though the war itself was far from
+being ended.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[28] The IInd and IIIrd Army.
+
+[29] The wording of Bazaine's order dispenses with any speculation on
+this point. He wrote, "In the event of failure, we shall maintain our
+positions, strengthen ourselves therein, _and retire in the evening
+under Forts St. Julien and Queuleu_."
+
+[30] The estimate of the total strength of the Army of the Rhine on the
+22nd August is given at 137,728 men in the German Staff History. It
+deducts for garrison and normal outpost duty details amounting to over
+17,000 men; and reckons the marching out strength for the battle of 31st
+August--1st September at "about 120,000 men."
+
+
+
+
+CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN PARIS.
+
+
+When, in the night of the 4th of September, the news of the disaster of
+Sedan and the Emperor's surrender became known in Paris, the Legislative
+Body met in a rapidly successive series of sittings for the purpose of
+selecting an Administrative Committee. The mob cut those deliberations
+short by forcing its way into the Chamber and proclaiming the Republic
+there and at the Hôtel de Ville, amidst the acclamations of the people.
+Though the troops were under arms in their barracks, the Government till
+now in power offered no resistance; the Empress left Paris; General
+Trochu and several members of the Minority in the Chamber combined to
+form a Government, which they styled "The Government of National Defence
+and War." "War to the bitter end" was its motto, and the entire nation
+was to be called to arms. Not an inch of territory, not a stone of the
+fortresses was to be yielded up to the enemy.
+
+Such a Government, devoid of any legitimate foundation, necessarily
+thirsted for results, and could be little disposed to allow the war to
+end in peace.
+
+Notwithstanding all the early reverses of the war, France was too rich
+in resources to find herself as yet by any means defenceless. General
+Vinoy was still in the field. All the scattered Corps, the Marine troops
+and the Gendarmerie could gather to him. There was, too, the
+"Territorial Militia," numbering 468,000 men, an institution which the
+country owed to Marshal Niel, whose far-seeing work of reorganization
+had been cut short only too soon. Further, there was available to be
+called up the falling-due contingent of 100,000 conscripts, as well as
+the National Guard. It followed that France was thus able to put into
+the field a million of men, without reckoning Franctireurs and Volunteer
+Corps. The reserve store of 2000 guns and 400,000 Chassepôts assured the
+means of armament, and the workshops of neutral England were ready and
+willing to fulfil commissions. Such resources for war, backed by the
+active patriotism of the nation, could maintain a prolonged resistance
+if a master will should inspire it with energy.
+
+And such a will was disclosed in the person of Gambetta.
+
+Minister of War, he had at the same time, by the French system of
+government, the direction of military operations, and certainly he was
+not the man to loosen his grasp of the chief command. For in a Republic,
+a victorious general at the head of the Army would at once have become
+Dictator in his stead. M. de Freycinet, another civilian, served under
+Gambetta as a sort of Chief of the General Staff, and the energetic, but
+dilettante, commandership exercised by these gentlemen cost France very
+dear. Gambetta's rare energy and unrelenting determination availed,
+indeed, to induce the entire population to take up arms, but not to
+direct these hasty levies with comprehensive unity of purpose. Without
+giving them time to be trained into fitness for the field, with ruthless
+severity he despatched them into the field in utter inefficiency as they
+were called out, to attempt the execution of ill-digested plans against
+an enemy on whose firm solidity all their courage and devotion was
+inevitably wrecked. He prolonged the struggle at the cost of heavy
+sacrifices on both sides, without turning the balance in favour of
+France.
+
+In any event the German chiefs had still great difficulties to overcome.
+
+The battles already won had cost heavy losses; in officers especially
+the losses were irreparable. Half the army was detained before Metz and
+Strasburg. The transport and guarding of already more than 200,000
+prisoners required the services of a large part of the new levies being
+formed at home. The numerous fortresses had not indeed hindered the
+invasion of the German army, but they had to be invested or kept under
+observation to secure the rearward communications, and to safeguard the
+forwarding and victualling of troops; and each further advance into the
+enemy's country involved increased drafts of armed men. After the battle
+of Sedan only 150,000 men were available for further operations in the
+field. There could be no doubt that the new objective must be Paris, as
+the seat of the new Government and the centre of gravity, so to speak,
+of the whole country. On the very day of the capitulation of Sedan, all
+the dispositions were made for the renewal of the advance.
+
+To spare the troops, the movement was to be carried out on a very broad
+front, which involved no risk, for of the French Corps, the XIIIth alone
+could possibly cause any detention. And, indeed, only Blanchard's
+Division of that Corps was now at Mézières; its other two Divisions had
+but just begun their march when they received orders to halt preparatory
+to returning (to Paris).
+
+
+
+
+RETREAT OF GENERAL VINOY.
+
+
+General Vinoy's most urgent anxiety was--very rightly--to reach Paris
+with the least possible loss. This was not very easy to accomplish,
+since the VIth Prussian Corps, which had taken no part in the battle of
+Sedan, was at Attigny in such a position that as a matter of distance,
+as far as to Laon, it could reach any point of any line of the enemy's
+retreat before, or as soon as the latter. General von Tümpling,
+commanding that Corps, had already taken possession of Rethel with the
+12th Division by the evening of September 1st, thus closing the
+high-road to Paris. Only extraordinary forced marching and a succession
+of fortunate circumstances could save from destruction Blanchard's
+Division, which had already wasted its ammunition in small conflicts.
+
+General Vinoy supplied the troops with several days' rations, enjoined
+the strictest discipline on the march, and during the night between 1st
+and 2nd September set out on the road to Rethel, where he expected to
+find Exéa's Division; which, however, availing itself of the section of
+railway still undestroyed, had already gone back to Soissons.
+
+It was still early morning (of 2nd) when the French column of march came
+in contact with the 5th and presently with the 6th Prussian Cavalry
+Divisions, without, however, being seriously attacked. It was not till
+about ten o'clock, and within about seven miles of Rethel, that the
+French general learnt that place was in hostile possession, whereupon he
+decided on turning westward to Novion Porcien. He sent his rear-guard
+against the enemy's horse-artillery, but seeing hardly anything but
+cavalry in its front, it soon resumed the march. At about four in the
+afternoon the Division reached Novion, where it went into bivouac.
+
+General von Hoffmann (commanding the 12th Prussian Division) had taken
+up a position at Rethel, and was awaiting the enemy, of whose approach
+he had been warned. Having ridden out in person, he became aware of
+Vinoy's deviation from the Rethel road, and at four in the afternoon
+marched to Ecly, where he arrived late in the evening. Part of his
+troops scouted forward toward Château Porcien.
+
+General Vinoy, on learning that this road, too, was closed to him,
+quited his bivouac again at half-past one on the morning (of 3rd),
+leaving his fires burning, and set out on a second night-march in
+pouring rain and total darkness.
+
+At first he took a northerly direction, to reach Laon at worst by the
+byways. By tracks fathomless in mud, and with frequent alarms, but
+without being reached by the enemy, he trudged into Château Porcien at
+half-past seven on the morning of the 3rd, and there halted for a couple
+of hours. The trend of the roads now compelled him again to take a
+southerly direction, and when the head of his column reached
+Séraincourt, the sound of firing told him that his rear had been
+attacked by the Germans.
+
+The Prussian cavalry had, early the same morning, discovered the French
+departure, but this important information found General von Hoffmann no
+longer in Ecly. He had already started thence to search for the enemy at
+Novion-Porcien, where he might well be expected to be after his first
+night-march, but at half-past nine the Prussian general found the place
+empty. Thus, that morning, the German and French Divisions had marched
+past each other in different directions at a distance apart of little
+more than four miles. The thick weather had prevented them seeing each
+other. General Vinoy this day reached Montcornet, in what plight may be
+imagined. The 12th Division continued its pursuit in the westerly
+direction, but came up only with the rear stragglers of the
+fast-retreating enemy, and took up alarm-quarters in Chaumont Porcien.
+
+This march of the enemy ought not indeed to have remained unobserved and
+unchecked under the eye of two Cavalry Divisions, but it has to be said
+that these were called off at an unfortunate moment.
+
+It was, in fact, in consequence of a report that the French forces were
+assembled at Rheims, that the Headquarter of the IIIrd Army had ordered
+the immediate return of the VIth Corps and the two Divisions of cavalry.
+These at once relinquished the pursuit, and General von Tümpling ordered
+his two Infantry Divisions to march at once on Rheims. The 11th, which
+had been holding Rethel, set out forthwith. General von Hoffmann, on the
+contrary, followed up the French, on his own responsibility, as far as
+was possible without cavalry to overtake them. Not till the following
+day did the 12th Division reach the Suippe.
+
+_September 4th._--General Vinoy made his way northward again, by way of
+Marle, where he received the news of the Emperor's surrender and of the
+outbreak of the revolution in Paris. His presence there was now of the
+greatest importance, and on the 13th he reached the French capital with
+the two other divisions of his Corps from Laon and Soissons.
+
+
+
+
+THE MARCH ON PARIS
+OF THE IIIRD ARMY AND THE ARMY OF THE MEUSE.
+
+
+During these occurrences the German armies, on the 4th September, had
+begun their advance on Paris. The first thing to be done was to
+disentangle the mass of troops assembled in the cramped space around
+Sedan. The IIIrd Army, of which the XIth and the Ist Bavarian Corps were
+still remaining there, had to make two long marches forward in order
+that the Army of the Meuse should regain its line of supply
+(Etappen-line).
+
+The news of a great assemblage of French troops at Rheims soon proved to
+be unfounded. Early on the 4th, detachments of Prussian horse entered
+the hostile and excited city, the 11th Division arrived that afternoon,
+and on the following day the German King's head-quarters were
+established in the old city where the French Kings had been wont to be
+crowned.
+
+On the 10th of September the IIIrd Army had reached the line
+Dormans--Sezanne, and the VIth Corps had pushed forward to Château
+Thierry. The Army of the Meuse, after the failure of a coup-de-main on
+Montmédy, was advancing between Rheims and Laon. Cavalry sent far in
+advance covered this march executed on a front so exceptionally broad.
+The scouts everywhere found the inhabitants in a very hostile temper;
+the franctireurs attacked with great recklessness, and had to be driven
+out of several villages by dismounted troopers. The roads were in many
+places wrecked by the tearing up of the stone pavement, and the bridges
+were blown up.
+
+On the approach of the 6th Cavalry Division Laon had capitulated. Small
+detachments of troops of the line were taken prisoners, 25 guns, 100
+stores of arms and ammunition were seized as prizes, and 2000
+Gardes-Mobiles were dismissed to their homes on parole to take no
+further part in the war. While friends and foes were assembled in large
+numbers in the courtyard of the citadel, the powder-magazine blew up,
+having probably been intentionally fired, and did great damage both
+there and in the town. The Prussians had fifteen officers and
+ninety-nine men killed and wounded; among the wounded were the
+Division-Commander and his general-staff officer. The French lost 300
+men; the commandant of the fortress was mortally wounded.
+
+On the 16th the Army of the Meuse was between Nanteuil and
+Lizy-on-Ourcq; the 5th Cavalry Division had advanced to Dammartin; the
+6th to beyond Beaumont, sending patrols up to before St. Denis. The
+IIIrd Army was spread over the area from Meaux to Compte Robert. Strong
+military bridges had been thrown over the Marne at Trilport and Lagny to
+replace the permanent ones which had been blown up, and on the 17th the
+Vth Corps reached the Upper Seine.
+
+To secure the draw-bridges at Villeneuve St. Georges, the 17th Brigade
+pushed on down the right bank of the Seine towards Paris, and at Mont
+Mesly it encountered Exéa's Division, which had been sent out by General
+Vinoy to bring in or destroy stores of supplies. The fight which ensued
+ended in the French being driven back under shelter of Fort Charenton.
+
+The IInd Bavarian Corps also reached the Seine on this day and bridged
+the river at Corbeil. The 2nd Cavalry Division was in observation in
+front of Saclay, towards Paris. The Royal head-quarter moved to Meaux by
+way of Château Thierry. The complete investment of the French capital
+was now imminent.
+
+The works constructed under Louis Philippe effectually protected the
+city from being taken by storm. The artillery armament of the place
+consisted of over 2627 pieces, including 200 of the largest calibres of
+naval ordnance. There were 500 rounds for each gun, and in addition a
+reserve of three million kilogrammes of powder. As concerned the active
+strength of the garrison, besides the XIIIth Corps which had returned
+from Mézières, a new Corps, the XIVth, had been raised in Paris itself.
+These 50,000 troops of the line, 14,000 highly efficient and staunch
+marines and sailors, and about 8000 gensd'armes, customs officers, and
+forest-guards, formed the core of the defence. There were besides
+115,000 Gardes-Mobiles, who had been drawn in from outside at an earlier
+date. The National Guard was formed into 130 battalions, which, however,
+being defective in equipment and poorly disciplined, could be employed
+only in the defence of the inner circle of fortifications. The
+volunteers, though numerous, proved for the most part useless.
+
+In all the besieged force was over 300,000 strong, thus it was far more
+than double the strength of the besiegers as yet on the spot, of whom
+there were at the outside only about 60,000 men available, with 5000
+cavalry and 124 field-batteries. On the Seine the defence had five
+floating batteries and nine section-built gunboats originally intended
+for the Rhine; on the railways were some guns mounted on armour-plated
+trucks.
+
+Great difficulties necessarily attended the victualling of two million
+human beings for a long period; however, the authorities had succeeded
+in gathering into Paris 3000 oxen, 6000 swine, and 180,000 sheep, with
+considerable stores of other provisions, so that perfect confidence was
+justifiable, that Paris could hold out for six weeks at least.
+
+Orders issued from the head-quarter at Meaux charged the Army of the
+Meuse with the investment of the capital on the right bank of the Seine
+and Marne,[31] and the IIIrd Army with the section on the left bank of
+both rivers. As a general rule the troops were to remain beyond range of
+the fire of the fortress, but, short of that, were to keep as close as
+possible so as to curtail the circuit of environment. The close
+connection of the two armies was to be secured above Paris by several
+bridges across both the rivers, and below the city, by the cavalry
+occupying Poissy. To the IIIrd Army was to belong the duty of
+reconnoitring in the direction of Orleans. In case of any attempt to
+relieve the capital it was to allow the relieving force to approach
+within a short distance, and then, leaving the investment to be
+maintained by weak details, to strike the enemy with its main body.
+
+Without relief from outside, a close passive blockade must inevitably
+result in the capitulation of Paris, though probably not for some weeks
+or even months. As an ultimate compulsory measure there remained
+recourse to a bombardment.
+
+At the time when Paris was fortified it was not foreseen that
+improvements in the artillery arm would double or treble the range of
+fire. The exterior forts, especially on the south, were at so short a
+distance from the enceinte that the city could easily be reached by the
+fire of heavy batteries.
+
+The Germans have been blamed for not having had recourse at an earlier
+date to this expedient of bombardment; but this criticism indicates an
+inadequate appreciation of the difficulties which stood in the way of
+its earlier execution.
+
+It may safely be accepted that the attack of a large fortified place in
+the heart of an enemy's country is simply impossible so long as the
+invader is not master of the railways or waterways leading to it, by
+which may be brought up in full quantity the requisite material. The
+conveyance of this by the ordinary highways, even for a short distance,
+is in itself a herculean undertaking. Up to this time the German army
+had the control of only one railway in French territory, and this was
+fully occupied in the maintenance of supplies for the armies in the
+field: in bringing up reinforcements and equipment; in conveying
+rearward wounded, sick and prisoners. But even this much of railway
+service ended at Toul; and the attempt to turn that fortress by laying a
+temporary section of line found insurmountable difficulties in the
+nature of the ground. Further forward there interposed itself a scarcely
+inferior obstacle in the complete destruction of the Nanteuil tunnel, to
+repair which would probably require weeks.
+
+Even then, for the further transport from Nanteuil up to the Paris front
+of 300 heavy guns with 500 rounds for each gun, there were requisite
+4500 four-wheeled waggons, such as were not in use in the country, and
+10,000 horses. Thus a bombardment was, in the earlier period, not to be
+thought of, and in any case the object of it would not be to destroy
+Paris, but merely to exert a final pressure on the inhabitants; and this
+influence would be more effectual when a long blockade had shaken the
+resolution of the besieged than it was likely to be at the beginning of
+the investment.
+
+_September 18th._--Corresponding directions communicated to the
+respective army commands, ordered the resumption of the march on the
+enemy's capital.
+
+On the 18th the Army of the Meuse, swinging leftward, had the XIIth
+Corps at Claye, the Guard Corps at Mitry, and the IVth Corps at
+Dammartin, one march from Paris.
+
+All the villages in front of St. Denis were occupied by the French. It
+seemed as if the investment on the north front of Paris would be
+resisted, and the Crown Prince of Saxony took measures for next day to
+follow up and support the IVth Corps, which led the advance. The 5th and
+6th Cavalry Divisions, hastening on to Pontoise, were given two
+companies of Jägers and a pontoon train, and after a bridge had been
+laid they crossed the Oise.
+
+The Vth Corps of the IIIrd Army passed over the Seine at
+Villeneuve-St.-Georges and advanced to Palaiseau and the Upper Bièvre.
+The advanced guard came into collision with Bernis' French Cavalry
+Brigade. The 47th Regiment at once proceeded to the attack, and stormed
+the walled farmsteads of Dame Rose and Trivaux. But on the southern
+skirt of the forest of Meudon the whole of the French XIVth Corps was
+drawn up; on its left stood a Division of the XIIIth Corps. The regiment
+retired on Petit Bicêtre without being followed, and there took up a
+defensive position.
+
+The IInd Bavarian Corps marched from Corbeil by Longjumeau on a parallel
+front with the Vth Corps, and on the right the VIth occupied both banks
+of the Seine. These Corps, too, had several brushes with the enemy.
+
+The Würtemberg Division at Lagny and Gournay was to cross the Marne
+forthwith, and so establish communication between the two armies.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[31] Viz., from the Marne above Paris in a wide half-circle to the Seine
+below it. The rayon of the Army of the Meuse subsequently extended to
+the right bank of the Seine above Paris.
+
+
+
+
+INVESTMENT OF PARIS.
+
+(September 19th.)
+
+
+On the 19th September the IVth Corps met with no opposition in its
+advance to St. Brice; it drove detachments of the enemy from the
+neighbouring villages back under cover of the heavy guns of St. Denis,
+and pushed forward towards the Lower Seine. The Guard Corps followed it
+as far as Dugny, and lined the Morée brook, which was dammed up at its
+mouth, and afforded useful cover for the line of investment along a
+considerable distance. Further to the left the XIIth Corps took up a
+position extending to the Marne, and on the left bank of that river the
+Würtemberg Division advanced to Champigny.
+
+On this day the Vth Corps of the IIIrd Army marched on Versailles in two
+columns. The 47th Regiment had again the duty of covering the march
+along the hostile front. The French evidently were anxious to remain
+masters of the important heights in front of the fortifications of
+Paris, and in the early morning two divisions of their XIVth Corps
+marched out of the neighbouring forest of Meudon against Petit Bicêtre
+and Villacoublay. Supported by a numerous artillery, which set on fire
+the farm-buildings of Petit Bicêtre, they drove back the German
+outposts; but reinforcements from the Vth Corps presently came up to
+Villacoublay, and to Abbaye aux Bois from the IInd Bavarian Corps.
+
+The left brigade of the latter had crossed the columns marching on
+Versailles in the valley of the Bièvre; but the sound of fighting from
+the field of strife induced General von Dietl[32] to advance with his
+detachments as they came up singly, on both sides of the high-road to
+Bicêtre. A conjunct assault with the Prussians still fighting in the
+Bois de Garenne, was successful in repulsing the French at Pavé blanc.
+Meanwhile the enemy by half-past eight had formed an artillery front of
+fifty guns, and three regiments of march advanced to renew the attack on
+Petit Bicêtre and the Bois de Garenne. They were received with a
+destructive musketry fire, and not even General Ducrot's personal
+influence could persuade the troops, who were young recruits, to go
+forward. The Zouaves posted about the farm of Trivaux were finally
+thrown into such confusion by some shells falling among them that they
+hurried back to Paris in headlong flight.
+
+General Ducrot had to abandon his attempt. His Divisions retired in
+evident disorder on Clamart and Fontenay, under cover of the artillery
+and of the cavalry, which had resolutely endured the hostile fire;
+pursued at their heels by the German troops. The Bavarians stormed Pavé
+blanc under a heavy cannon fire; the Prussians retook Dame Rose after a
+trivial skirmish, and pushed on past the farm of Trivaux into the forest
+of Meudon. The French still held the heights of Plessis-Piquet, which
+were to them of vast importance and very easy of defence, as well as the
+redoubt at Moulin de la Tour, where nine field-batteries at once came
+into action, the fire from which commanded the whole of the western
+field of operations.
+
+The main body of the Bavarian Corps had meanwhile moved southward, and
+during its advance on Fontenay aux Roses, about nine o'clock, it came
+under a hot fire from the height, as well as a flanking fire from a
+redoubt near Hautes Bruyères. Being informed of the situation at the
+scene of conflict on the plateau of Bicêtre, General von Hartmann (the
+Corps Commander) at once sent thither an artillery reinforcement, and
+ordered the 5th Brigade to attempt a junction to his left by way of
+Malabry. As soon as this brigade had deployed under a hot Chassepôt and
+artillery fire between Pavé blanc and Malabry, General von Walther
+(commanding 3rd Bavarian Division) passed to the attack of
+Plessis-Piquet. The artillery advanced to a short distance on the hither
+side of the park wall, and then the infantry broke out from the wood of
+Verrières, and, after a brief but sharp struggle, took possession of the
+mill lying to the southward. After half an hour's artillery preparation,
+the Bavarians advanced on Hachette by rushes, and broke into the park
+of Plessis. The French kept up a hot fire from the redoubt of Moulin de
+la Tour on the localities wrenched from them, by which the Bavarian
+field batteries suffered severely; but they still effectively supported
+the further advance of the infantry, who now got close in under the
+earthworks. However, the defenders were already on the point of
+retiring, and when about three o'clock one Bavarian company entered, it
+found the place deserted and the guns left in position.
+
+Caussade's Division had left Clamart and was on the way to Paris;
+Maussion's had abandoned the heights of Bagneux on the pretence of
+having received mistaken orders, and Hughes' Division was with
+difficulty brought to a halt under cover of Fort Montrouge.
+
+The Bavarian Corps now took up the position it had won on the plateau of
+Bicêtre to the right of the Vth Corps. The fight had cost the former 265
+men and the latter 178; the French lost 661 killed and above 300
+prisoners.
+
+The condition in which the French XIVth Corps returned to Paris caused
+such dismay that General Trochu found himself obliged to withdraw a
+Division of the XIIIth from Vincennes for the defence of the enceinte.
+
+It was subsequently argued that it would have been possible to capture
+one of the forts on this day by forcing an entrance along with the
+fugitive enemy, with the result of materially shortening the siege. But
+the forts did not need to open their gates to shelter fugitives, to whom
+those of the capital stood open. The escalade of masonry escarpments
+eighteen feet high can never be successful without much preparation.
+Ventures of this character are rarely ordered by superior authority; but
+can be attempted only in a propitious moment by those on the spot. In
+this case probable failure would have endangered the important success
+of the day.
+
+The Vth Corps had meanwhile proceeded on its march to Versailles; a few
+National Guards, who had collected at the entrance to the town, were
+driven off or disarmed by the German Hussars. The 9th Division held the
+eastern exits of the town, the 10th encamped at Rocquencourt, and strong
+outposts were pushed out on the Bougival--Sèvres line. The 18th Brigade,
+which remained at Villacoubay to support the Bavarians in case of need,
+did not reach Versailles until the evening.
+
+The 3rd Bavarian Division remained on the heights in front of Plessis
+Piquet, its outposts confronting the forest of Meudon, where the French
+were still in possession of the château; and the pioneers at once
+altered the redoubt of La Tour du Moulin so as to front north. The 12th
+Division was encamped at Fontenay and rearward as far as Châtenay.
+
+The main body of the VIth Corps had taken position at Orly, its outposts
+extending from Choisy le Roi past Thiais to Chevilly. Maud'huy's
+Division attempted to drive in the outpost line at the last-named
+village, but without success. A brigade of the same Corps at Limeil, on
+the right bank of the Seine, was engaged in skirmishing with the French
+at Créteil. Within touch, further to the right, the Würtemberg Division
+held the (left) bank of the Marne from Ormesson to Noisy le Grand,
+behind which latter place the pontoon bridge near Gournay assured
+communication with the Saxon Corps.
+
+Thus on the 19th of September the investment of Paris was complete on
+all sides. Six Army Corps stood in a deployment some fifty miles in
+circumference immediately in front of the enemy's capital, in some
+places actually within range of his guns, its rear guarded by a large
+force of cavalry.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[32] Commanding 1st Bavarian Infantry Brigade.
+
+
+
+
+FIRST NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
+
+
+In full expectation of a battle to the north of Paris, the King had
+ridden out to join the Guard Corps, and in the evening his head-quarters
+were moved to Ferrières.
+
+Here thus early Monsieur Jules Favre made his appearance to negotiate
+for peace on the basis of "not one foot of soil." He believed that after
+all their victories and losses, the Germans would come to terms on
+payment of a sum of money. It was self-evident that such a proposal
+could not be taken into consideration, and only the eventuality of
+granting an armistice was seriously discussed.
+
+It was in the political interest of Germany as well, to afford the
+French nation the possibility of establishing by its own free and
+regular election a government which should have full right to conclude a
+peace creditable to the people; for the self-constituted de facto
+Government ruling in Paris was the offspring of a revolution, and might
+at any moment be removed by a counter-revolution.
+
+From a military point of view it was true that any pause in the active
+operations was a disadvantage. It would afford the enemy time to push
+forward his preparations, and by raising for a time the investment of
+Paris would give the capital the opportunity to reprovision itself at
+discretion.
+
+The armistice could, therefore, only be granted in consideration of a
+corresponding equivalent.
+
+To secure the subsistence of the respective German armies, Strasburg and
+Toul, which now intercepted the railway communication, must be given
+over. The siege of Metz was to be maintained; but with regard to Paris,
+either the blockade was to continue; or, if it were raised, one of the
+forts commanding the capital was to be occupied by the Germans. The
+Chamber of Deputies was to be allowed to meet at Tours in full freedom.
+
+These conditions, especially the surrender of the fortified places, were
+absolutely rejected on the French side, and the negotiations were broken
+off. Eight days later Toul and Strasburg were in the hands of the
+Germans.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF TOUL.
+
+(September 23rd.)
+
+
+As soon as the German coast seemed no longer threatened by the danger of
+a landing of French troops, the 17th Division, which had been left
+behind there, was ordered to join the army in France. It arrived before
+Toul on September 12th.
+
+This place, in itself exempt from capture by storm but commanded by
+neighbouring heights, had till now been invested by Etappen troops of
+the IIIrd Army, and shelled by the guns taken at Marsal and with
+field-guns, but without any particular effect. The infantry on the other
+hand had established a footing behind the railway embankment and in the
+suburbs close up to the foot of the glacis, so that sorties by the
+garrison were rendered almost impossible. In view of these circumstances
+half the Division was presently sent to Châlons, where sixteen
+battalions and fifteen squadrons barely sufficed to deal with the
+extremely hostile attitude of the people, hold the Etappen-lines and
+safeguard the communication with Germany. Thus only seven battalions,
+four squadrons, and four field-batteries remained before Toul.
+
+On the 18th there arrived from Nancy by railway ten 15 cm. and sixteen
+12 cm. siege guns. The intention was to attack the western face, which
+was enfiladed from Mont St. Michel, and then to breach the south-west
+bastion; but first an (unsuccessful) attempt was made to reduce the
+place by the shorter process of subjecting it to a bombardment with
+field artillery.
+
+On the night of the 22nd battery-emplacements for the siege artillery
+were constructed by the infantry; three on Mont St. Michel, seven on the
+heights on the left bank of the Moselle, and one on the right bank. Next
+morning sixty-two guns opened fire, and at half-past three in the
+afternoon the white flag was hoisted on the Cathedral.
+
+The handing over of the place followed the same day (23rd), on the
+conditions as had been granted at Sedan. A hundred and nine officers
+were released on parole, 2240 rank and file were taken prisoners. Six
+companies took possession the same evening of the city, which on the
+whole had suffered little.
+
+Twenty-one heavy guns, about 3000 stand of arms, and large stores of
+provisions and forage were the prizes of success.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF STRASBURG.
+
+(September 28th.)
+
+
+Immediately after the victory of Wörth, the reduction of Strasburg
+became a primary object. This strong fortified position, bridge-head as
+it was commanding the Rhine, was a standing menace to Southern Germany.
+
+When Marshal MacMahon evacuated Alsace, only three battalions of the
+line were left with the commandant of Strasburg. But with stragglers
+from the various regiments engaged at Wörth, with sundry fourth
+battalions and reserve detachments, and finally with Mobiles and
+National Guards, the strength of the garrison had increased to 23,000
+men. There was a complete absence of engineer troops, but 130 marines
+formed an excellent nucleus; the armament of the fortress was also
+ample.
+
+So early as on the 11th August the Baden Division had been detailed to
+observe Strasburg. Notwithstanding the smallness of its force the
+Division had advanced unchecked by the enemy on the Ruprechtsau as far
+as the Rhine-and-Ill Canal; had occupied the village of Schiltigheim,
+almost within rifle-shot of the fortifications: and, having promptly
+prepared it for defence, pushed forward into the suburb of Königshofen.
+
+In the course of eight days there arrived, under the command of General
+von Werder, the Guard Landwehr and 1st Reserve Divisions, and one
+cavalry brigade, in all 46 battalions, 24 squadrons, and 18
+field-batteries; as well as a siege-train of 200 rifled cannon and 88
+mortars, with 6000 foot artillerymen and ten companies of
+fortress-pioneers; a total strength of 40,000 men.
+
+The unloading of the guns brought from Magdeburg, Coblentz, and Wesel
+was begun on August 18th at the railway station of Vendenheim, by a
+detachment of the Railway Battalion.
+
+The engineer-depôt was established at Hausberge, a wagon-park at
+Lampertsheim, and provision made for permanent magazines. A complete
+blockade was established, and the field-telegraph kept up communication
+between all the posts.
+
+To attain the desired end with the least possible delay, an attempt was
+made, contrary to the advice of General of Engineers Schultz, though
+with the sanction of the supreme Head-quarter, to force the town to
+surrender by stress of a bombardment. The request that the women and
+children should be allowed to withdraw was necessarily refused.
+
+The erection of the batteries for the bombardment in the dark, wet
+nights was attended with great difficulties. Meanwhile only the
+field-guns could fire on the city; but the batteries whose armament of
+heavy guns was complete opened fire on the night of the 24th--25th; and
+soon a great fire was raging. Kehl, on the right bank of the river, was
+also set on fire by the shell-fire.
+
+The Bishop of Strasburg came out to the outposts at Schiltigheim to
+entreat forbearance for the citizens. Much as damage to this German city
+was to be regretted, since the Prelate was not empowered to negotiate
+the bombardment was continued through the night of the 25th, when it
+reached its height. But the headquarter staff at Mundolsheim became
+convinced that this mode of attack would not accomplish the desired
+object, and that the more deliberate course of a regular siege would
+have to be resorted to. General von Mertens was placed in charge of the
+engineer operations, General Decker was given the direction of the
+artillery.
+
+During the night of the 29th--30th August the first parallel was opened
+very close to the glacis, and soon was prolonged from the Rhine and
+Marne canal, through the churchyard of St. Helena, to the Jewish
+cemetery at Königshofen.
+
+The number of batteries on the left bank of the Rhine was soon increased
+to 21, on the right bank to 4; so that 124 guns of the heaviest calibre
+were ready in protected positions to begin the contest with the guns of
+the fortress. The further offensive operations were directed against
+bastions Nos. 11 and 12 on the north-west salient of the fortress. In
+the night of September 1st--2nd the second parallel was completed, but
+not without opposition. A strong sortie of fourteen companies of the
+garrison made at daybreak (of 2nd) upon the island of Waken, and in
+front of Kronenburg and Königshofen, was repulsed.
+
+The fortress then opened a heavy fire, pouring such a storm of
+projectiles on the siege-works that they had to be abandoned, till at
+about nine o'clock the artillery of the attack had silenced the guns of
+the fortress. A second sortie followed on the 3rd September, which was
+not repulsed before it had reached the second parallel.
+
+A short truce was granted at the request of the commandant, to allow of
+the burial of the dead lying in front of the works. And on this day a
+grand salvo announced to the besieged the victory of Sedan.
+
+Incessant rain had filled the trenches of the second parallel, 2400
+paces in length, ankle-deep with water, and it was not till the 9th that
+they were completely repaired. Five batteries were moved forward from
+the first parallel, as special batteries were required to crush the fire
+of lunette No. 44, which took in flank all the approaches. These soon
+silenced its guns, and the lunette was abandoned by the garrison.
+
+There were now 96 rifled cannon pieces and 38 mortars in full fire at
+very short range. Each gun was authorized to fire twenty rounds a day
+and ten shrapnel each night. The large Finkmatt Barracks were destroyed
+by fire, and the Stone Gate was so much injured that it had to be
+buttressed with sandbags. The garrison withdrew the guns behind the
+parapet, and only fired their mortars. However, in order to push forward
+the siege-works, sap-rollers had to be brought into use.
+
+When it was discovered that mining galleries were being driven in front
+of lunette No. 53, Captain Ledebour let himself down by a rope into the
+ditches, and with the help of his pioneers removed the charges of
+powder.
+
+During the night of the 13th--14th, the crest of the glacis in front of
+both the lunettes Nos. 52 and 53 was reached. The crowning was then
+begun by means of the double traverse sap, and was finished in four
+days.
+
+The attack henceforth was exclusively directed against bastion No. 11.
+
+To run off the water from the ditches of the fortress it was necessary
+to destroy the sluices by the Jews' Gate. These were invisible from any
+part of the field of attack, and the desired result could only be very
+incompletely obtained by artillery fire at a distance of more than a
+mile. Detachments of the 34th Fusilier Regiment, therefore, on the 15th,
+marched on the sluices under a heavy rifle fire from the besieged, and
+destroyed the dam.
+
+The island of Sporen was at this time taken possession of by the Baden
+corps.
+
+When the mortar-batteries had for the most part been moved up into the
+second parallel, the gun-batteries were also advanced nearer, and the
+wall-piece detachments did such execution by their accurate practice
+that the defenders never more dared to show themselves by day.
+
+The retaining wall of lunette No. 53 could only be reached by indirect
+fire; but 1000 shells made a breach, and on the 19th September two mines
+were fired, which blew up the counterscarp and brought it down to the
+level of the water of the ditch. The pioneers immediately set about
+laying a dam of fascines across the ditch. A party sent over in a boat
+found the work abandoned. The gorge was closed under heavy rifle fire
+from the ramparts of the main fortress, and the parapet reversed so as
+to face the place.
+
+The next lunette to the left, No. 52, was merely an earthwork, and the
+attack had already been pushed forward as far as the edge of the ditch,
+but earth screens had first to be thrown up and covered in with railway
+iron, as a protection against the heavy fire of shell from bastion No.
+12. The construction of a dam of fascines or earth, more than sixty
+paces across, and with the ditch full of water almost fathom deep, would
+have taken a long time; so it was decided to make a cask bridge of
+beer-barrels, of which a quantity had been found in Schiltigheim. This
+work was begun at dusk on the 21st, under no better protection than a
+screen of boards to prevent observation, and it was finished by ten
+o'clock. Here again the defenders had not waited for the escalade, and
+this lunette, too, was immediately prepared for being held. Both
+lunettes were now furnished with batteries of mortars and guns to
+silence the fire from the ravelines and counter-guards of the front of
+attack, against which five dismounted and counter-batteries were also
+directed.
+
+During the night of the 22nd--23rd the Germans advanced from lunette No.
+52, partly by flying sap and partly by the deep sap, and there followed
+the crowning of the glacis in the front of counter-guard No. 51. A
+breaching fire was immediately opened against the east face of bastion
+No. 11, and the west face of bastion No. 12. The splinters of stone
+compelled the defenders to abandon the counter-guards. The scarp of
+bastion No. 11 fell on the 24th, after a shell-fire of 600 rounds. The
+bringing down of the earthwork angle which remained standing, was
+postponed till the beginning of the assault.
+
+It was more difficult to breach bastion No. 12, because of the limited
+opportunity for observing the effect of the fire. It was not till the
+26th that a breach thirty-six feet wide was made, after firing 467 long
+shells. And even then, for the actual assault to succeed, the deep wet
+ditch at the foot of the bastion had to be crossed.
+
+News of the fall of the Empire had indeed reached Strasburg, but General
+Uhrich would not listen to the prayers of the citizens that he would put
+an end to their sufferings. The Republic was proclaimed.
+
+The siege had lasted thirty days, but the place was still well supplied
+with food and stores; the garrison was not materially weakened by the
+loss of 2500 men, but its heterogeneous elements prevented its
+effective employment in large bodies outside the walls. From the first
+the small blockading force had been allowed to approach close to the
+works; and the moment when the artillery of a fortress always has the
+advantage over the attack had been little utilized.
+
+The German artillery had proved much the stronger, both as regards
+material and in its advantageous employment. Under its powerful
+protection the work of the pioneers and infantry was carried on with
+equal courage and caution, never swerving from the object in view. The
+storming of the main walls was now to be imminently expected, and no
+relief from outside could be hoped for.
+
+On the afternoon of September 27th, the white flag was seen flying from
+the Cathedral tower; firing ceased and the sapper-works were stopped.
+
+In Königshofen at two in the following morning the capitulation was
+settled, on the Sedan conditions. Five hundred officers and 17,000 men
+were made prisoners, but the former were free to go on their parole. The
+National Guards and franctireurs were dismissed to their homes, after
+laying down their arms and pledging themselves to fight no more. All the
+cash remaining in the state bank, 1200 guns, 200,000 small arms and
+considerable stores proved a valuable prize of war.
+
+At eight o'clock in the morning of the 28th, companies of Prussian and
+Baden troops took over the National, Fischer, and Austerlitz gates. The
+French garrison marched out at the National Gate, General Uhrich at
+their head. At first the march was conducted in good order, but before
+long numbers of drunken men broke the ranks and refused to obey, or
+threw down their arms. The prisoners were taken in the first instance to
+Rastatt, under the escort of two battalions and two squadrons.
+
+The old city of the German Reich, which had been seized by France in
+time of peace nearly two centuries earlier, was now restored by German
+valour to the German fatherland.
+
+The siege had cost the Germans 39 officers and 894 men. The city
+unhappily could not have been spared great suffering. Four hundred and
+fifty houses were utterly destroyed, 10,000 inhabitants were roofless,
+nearly 2000 were killed or wounded. The museum and picture gallery, the
+town hall and theatre, the new church, the gymnasium, the Commandant's
+residence, and alas! the public library of 200,000 volumes had fallen a
+prey to the flames.
+
+The noble Cathedral showed many marks of shot, and the citadel was a
+heap of ruins. Under the wreck of the assailed works in the western
+front lay buried burst cannon.
+
+The fall of Toul and of Strasburg produced a not unimportant change in
+the military situation. Considerable forces were now free for other
+services, and the railway transport could be brought up nearer to the
+armies. The material no longer required at Strasburg could not indeed be
+at once employed for the artillery offensive against Paris; it needed
+considerable re-equipment, and was to do duty meanwhile in the reduction
+of several smaller places. The newly-opened railway line was made use of
+to bring up the Guard Landwehr Division to the army investing Paris. A
+new Army Corps, the XIVth, was created of the Baden Division, a combined
+brigade consisting of the 30th and 34th Prussian regiments, and one
+cavalry brigade; which, under the command of General von Werder, marched
+on the Upper Seine. The 1st Reserve Division remained behind as the
+garrison of Strasburg.
+
+
+
+
+OPERATIONS ROUND PARIS TO 15TH OCTOBER.
+
+
+The Government in the now closely-blockaded capital, could not make its
+behests heard and obeyed throughout France. It therefore decided on
+sending a delegation of two of its members out into the provinces, their
+seat of direction to be at Tours. They could quit Paris only in a
+balloon. One of these delegates was Gambetta, whose restless energy soon
+made itself conspicuously felt, and lasted during the continuance of the
+war. Monsieur Thiers, meanwhile, had been visiting the European courts
+on the errand of inducing them to interpose their good offices in favour
+of France.
+
+After the mishap of September 19th the feeling in Paris was against any
+great offensive demonstrations for the present; but the troops of the
+line still remained outside the walls under protection of the outlying
+forts. The Divisions of the XIIIth Corps were encamped on the south
+front and on the plateau of Vincennes; the XIVth was at Boulogne,
+Neuilly and Clichy behind the loops of the Seine, with Mont Valérien in
+its front, which was held by two line-battalions, after the flight, on
+the 20th, of the Gardes-Mobiles from that impregnable stronghold, in
+great disorder back into Paris. The defence of the northern front of the
+city remained entrusted to the Gardes-Mobiles.
+
+On the German side the positions of the Army of the Meuse, which were to
+be occupied and defended to the uttermost, extended from Chatou along
+the Seine to the heights of Montmorency, and onward along the Morée and
+the skirts of the forest of Bondy as far as the Marne. In close touch
+with the flank of the Army of the Meuse at the Marne, the lines of the
+Würtemberg Division carried on the investment from Noisy le Grand across
+the Joinville peninsula to Ormesson. The XIth Corps arriving from Sedan
+on the 23rd filled up the interval from Ormesson to Villeneuve St.
+Georges, and the 1st Bavarian Corps occupied Longjumeau as a protection
+against attempts from the direction of Orleans. The VIth Corps could now
+be entirely transferred to the left bank of the Seine, where the line of
+defence extended along the wooded heights south of Paris to Bougival.
+
+The Head-quarter of the King and that of the IIIrd Army were at
+Versailles, that of the Army of the Meuse was transferred to
+Vert-Galant. Numerous bridges facilitated the inter-communication of the
+various portions of the forces, telegraphs and signal-lights insured
+their rapid concentration, and every movement of the French was watched
+from eligible posts of observation.
+
+There was no lack of accommodation for the troops, for every village was
+deserted; but this made the difficulty of obtaining supplies all the
+greater. The fugitive inhabitants had driven off their cattle and
+destroyed their stores; there remained only the apparently inexhaustible
+wine-cellars. For the first few days all the food needed had to be drawn
+from the Commissariat trains, but ere long the cavalry succeeded in
+obtaining considerable supplies. High prices and good discipline secured
+a market. Only the troops in advanced positions had to bivouac or build
+huts, many within range of the hostile artillery, some even within
+rifle-shot of the enemy. Near St. Cloud, for instance, no one could show
+himself without becoming a mark for the chassepôts from behind the
+shutters of the houses opposite. The outposts here could only be
+relieved at night, and sometimes had to remain on duty two or three days
+at a time. The advanced positions of the Bavarians at Moulin la Tour
+were also much exposed, and the visits of superior officers to them
+always drew a sharp cannonade. Le Bourget, standing as it did in advance
+of the line of inundation, was especially liable to a surprise. That
+village had been seized on 20th (Sept.) by a battalion of the Guard
+Corps, at whose approach 400 Gardes-Mobiles had fled, leaving their
+baggage. Only one company occupied this post, on account of the heavy
+fire of the adjacent forts.
+
+Some petty sorties from St. Denis met with no success; but an attempt by
+detachments of the VIth Corps to occupy the village of Villejuif and the
+redoubt of Hautes Bruyères proved unsuccessful. They forced their way in
+several times, but always had to retire under the fire of the
+neighbouring forts of Bicêtre and Ivry, and because of the superior
+strength of Maud'huy's Division. The French afterwards armed the
+redoubts with heavy guns.
+
+_September 30th._--Early on this day a cannonade of an hour and a half's
+duration from the southern forts and batteries announced a sortie in
+that direction. By six o'clock two brigades of the XIIIth French Corps
+deployed against Thiais and Choisy le Roi. Strong swarms of tirailleurs
+drove in the outposts of the VIth Corps, and forced the field-guns in
+position between those two villages to retire; but then the fire of the
+infantry garrisons checked any further attack on the part of the French.
+Further to the west a third brigade got into Chevilly and seized a
+factory on the road to Belle Epine; but its determined attack failed to
+obtain possession of the whole village. The 11th Division was alarmed in
+its rearward quarters, and hurried forward to the support of the 12th.
+The factory was recovered from the French, and the Prussian batteries
+now opened fire, and worked such havoc among the enemy as he retired on
+Saussaye, that, shunning the attack of the infantry, he fled in great
+disorder to Hautes Bruyères and Villejuif. A brigade which had forced
+its way into L'Hay was in the same way driven back, leaving 120
+prisoners for the most part unwounded. In the farmstead at the north
+entrance of Chevilly, however, the French still held their ground with
+great obstinacy. Not till they were completely surrounded, and had made
+an ineffectual attempt to force a passage, did surrender those brave
+defenders, who numbered about 100.
+
+The whole series of attacks was entirely defeated by about nine o'clock,
+and General Vinoy vainly endeavoured to incite the diminished battalions
+at Hautes Bruyères to renew the struggle.
+
+These few morning hours had cost the VIth Corps 28 officers and 413 men;
+and the French many more.
+
+Two simultaneous feint-attacks on Sèvres and on Mesly on the right bank
+of the Seine, came to nothing. The German outposts, at first driven in,
+re-occupied their ground by about nine o'clock.
+
+After thus failing to gain space towards the southward by this sortie,
+the besieged proceeded to assure themselves of the ground already in
+their possession by the construction of entrenchments. They fortified
+Villejuif and extended their lines from Hautes Bruyères past Arcueil to
+the Mill of Pichon, so that there the Bavarian outposts had to be drawn
+in nearer to Bourg-la-Reine.
+
+Otherwise, throughout the first half of the month of October the
+garrison of Paris restricted itself for the most part to daily
+cannonades. Guns of the heaviest calibre were directed on the most petty
+objects. It was sheer waste of ammunition, just as though the aim was to
+get rid of the stores on hand. If one of the gigantic long shells
+happened to fall on an outpost, the destruction was of course terrible;
+but on the whole they did little execution.
+
+Apart from the noise of the cannonade to which one soon became
+accustomed, in Versailles, whence none of the residents had fled, it
+might have been thought a time of profound peace. The admirable
+discipline of the German troops allowed the townsfolk to pursue their
+business undisturbed; the hosts were well paid for the billeting imposed
+on them, and the country people could cultivate their fields and gardens
+in peace. At St. Cloud every room was kept in the same order as when
+the Imperial family had left it, till the shells from Mont Valérien
+reduced that delightful palace with all its treasures of art to a heap
+of charred ruins. It was the French fire, too, which wrecked the Château
+of Meudon, the porcelain factory of Sèvres, and whole villages in the
+nearer environs. And it was also the French themselves who, without any
+necessity, felled half the Bois de Boulogne.
+
+The investment line was considerably strengthened on the 10th and 16th
+of October, when the 17th Division arriving from Toul relieved the 21st
+at Bonneuil, and the latter took up a position between the Bavarians and
+the Vth Corps, in the Meudon--Sèvres tract; and when the Guard Landwehr
+Division came up and occupied St. Germain.
+
+These movements were observed from Paris, and to clear up the situation,
+General Vinoy advanced at nine o'clock on 13th October with about 26,000
+men and 80 guns, against the position held by the IInd Bavarian Corps.
+
+Four battalions of Gardes-Mobiles, protected by the fire of the nearest
+forts and of field batteries, advanced to the attack of Bagneux, and
+forced their way over the entrenchments wrecked by artillery fire, into
+the heart of the place, whence the defenders retired to Fontenay, when
+at eleven o'clock the French 10th Regiment of the line had also come up.
+Reinforced by a fresh battalion, and supported by an effective flanking
+fire from Châtillon, the Bavarians now made so firm a stand that the
+enemy could make no further progress, but began to put Bagneux in a
+state of defence. Meanwhile the 4th Bavarian Division had stood to arms,
+and by about 1.30 General von Bothmer (its commander) moved it up from
+Sceaux and from Fontenay, and proceeded to surround Bagneux. The
+barricades erected by the enemy were carried, who however still offered
+an obstinate resistance in the northern part of the village.
+
+A French battalion had also made its way into Châtillon, but the
+Bavarian battalion in occupation there held its own until assistance
+came, and the enemy was driven out of the place after a sharp conflict.
+
+A third brigade seized Clamart, which at that time was not yet included
+in the German intrenched lines; but it failed to climb the ascent to
+Moulin de la Tour, although the defenders on the plateau above were
+exposed to the fire of the forts.
+
+General Vinoy had convinced himself that forces which were a match for
+him confronted him at every point, and at three o'clock he decided to
+break off the fight. The French bodies of troops gradually disappeared
+behind the forts, and had all vanished by dusk. The Bavarians returned
+to their former fore-post positions, and the garrison of Bagneux was
+increased to two battalions.
+
+All France had meanwhile been arming with eager haste. Armies of
+considerable strength were being massed at Rouen and Evreux, at
+Besançon, and especially behind the Loire, of very various composition
+no doubt, and above all lacking in professional officers to drill and
+discipline them. Great battles were therefore in the first instance to
+be avoided; the enemy was to be constantly harassed by small
+engagements. Thus, towards the end of September, General Delarue
+advanced from Evreux with his "Eclaireurs de la Seine" up to the
+vicinity of St. Germain. But the 5th Cavalry Division, supported by two
+Bavarian battalions, drove these bands back to Dreux behind the Eure.
+The woods in front of the 6th Cavalry Division were also full of hostile
+parties, who were, however, swept out without much difficulty beyond
+Rambouillet to Epernon.
+
+Matters looked more serious to the south of Paris, in front of the 4th
+Cavalry Division, which was in observation towards the Loire.
+
+The newly-formed French XVth Corps had assembled at Orleans in three
+Divisions with a strength of 60,000 men, and it occupied the whole
+forest-belt on the right bank of the river. To counteract the danger
+threatening the investment from that direction, the 1st Bavarian Corps
+and the 22nd Division of the XIth had been put in march on Arpajon and
+Montcléry as soon as they were freed from duty at Sedan; and on the 6th
+of October they were placed, with the 2nd Cavalry Division, under the
+command of General von der Tann.
+
+
+
+
+ACTION OF ARTENAY.
+
+(October 10th.)
+
+
+When General von der Tann received instructions to take the offensive
+against Orleans, he marched on the 9th of October to the vicinity of St.
+Péravy without meeting any serious opposition, and on the 10th advanced
+on Artenay. The 4th Cavalry Division covered the right flank; the 2nd
+remained near Pithiviers, where the enemy had collected in great force.
+
+General La Motterouge on the same day also moved out on Artenay with the
+XVth French Corps, having the wood in his rear occupied by
+Gardes-Mobiles; and so the advanced guards of both sides met at a short
+distance to the north of the common objective.
+
+While the Bavarian light horse on the right were driving the French
+cavalry before them, the infantry deployed across the road near to
+Dambron. The 22nd Division marched forward on Dambron with both Cavalry
+Divisions on its flanks. Under the fire of the Bavarian batteries, the
+French had gone about to Artenay, where the Germans were ready to
+receive them. Attacked in front and threatened by bodies of horse, at
+about two o'clock, leaving their tents standing, they began a retreat
+which soon degenerated into flight. The cavalry seized four field-guns
+and took above 250 prisoners. Six hundred more, who had reached Croix
+Briquet, surrendered there to the Bavarian infantry on the arrival of
+the latter.
+
+The German troops had made a long march; General von der Tann therefore
+allowed them rest for the day in and around Artenay, and only the
+advanced guard went on to Chevilly, to pursue the march to Orleans next
+day.
+
+
+
+
+ENGAGEMENT AT ORLEANS.
+
+(October 11th.)
+
+
+On this day, the 22nd Division, for the time only 6000 strong, moved to
+the right flank of the advance, and drove the French out of several
+villages partly prepared for defence; it was not till about ten o'clock
+that it met with serious opposition from an intrenched position at
+Ormes.
+
+The French Commander after the disaster at Artenay had decided on a
+retreat behind the Loire, to cover which he had halted about 15,000 men
+on the right bank of the river, in a position which possessed many
+essentials towards a good defence.
+
+General von Wittich (commanding 22nd Division) first sent the 44th
+Brigade against this position at Ormes, and opened fire from seven
+batteries. The troops of his left wing, supported by the Bavarian right,
+made their way but slowly over the plain east of the enemy's position,
+and various enclosures and buildings had to be stormed and taken as
+they advanced. This threatening attitude of the German right, however,
+shook the firmness of the defence, and, after some hours' hard fighting,
+the French began to retreat. No sooner was this observed by the Germans
+than two batteries were brought up to within 800 paces, and the 83rd
+Regiment stormed the entrenchments at two in the afternoon, but with
+heavy loss. Detachments of the 43rd Brigade had meanwhile reached the
+road in rear of Ormes, and took 800 prisoners. But the villages, gardens
+and vineyards which line the road to Orleans for more than four miles on
+either side, were serious obstacles to the advance of the Germans in
+close formation, and the Division did not arrive at Petit St. Jean till
+three o'clock, of which the nearest buildings were forcibly taken
+possession of.
+
+The Bavarian Corps, which had also met with a stout resistance at Saran,
+pushed forward to Bel Air, but with great loss, especially in the
+artillery. Here the nature of the ground did not allow of the deployment
+of the guns, a further attack came to a standstill, and at half-past
+four the French were still stoutly holding their own at Les Aides, till
+the advance of the 4th Bavarian Brigade to Murlins threatened their line
+of retreat. They made a renewed stand behind the railway embankment,
+1000 paces in front of the town, and the railway-station and gas-works
+had also to be taken by assault.
+
+It was already five o'clock when General von der Tann led his reserve,
+the 1st Bavarian Brigade, to the decisive assault of Grand Ormes. The
+32nd Prussian Regiment crossed the embankment on the left flank of the
+French, who now retired into the suburb of St. Jean. The 1st Bavarian
+Regiment, hurrying in their rear, was received with a hot fire at the
+gate of the city; but with its officers marching at its head it reached
+the market-place about seven o'clock.
+
+The French hurried across the bridge over the Loire, while the 43rd
+Prussian and 1st Bavarian Brigades seized the principal buildings and
+the passages across the river; but as darkness fell they desisted from
+further advance and bivouacked on the open places of the city.
+
+The day had cost the Germans a loss of 900 men, the 3rd Bavarian Brigade
+having suffered most severely. But their hard-won victory promptly
+dispelled the disquietude of the investing armies caused by the
+threatening attitude of the French; and 5000 rifles, ten locomotives and
+sixty railway-carriages were welcome prizes.
+
+The French rear-guard had lost in detached combats and retreats alone
+1800 prisoners; but it had covered the retreat of the main body of the
+Army of the South for a whole day against superior forces, with
+praiseworthy determination. In the open field, where skilful handling of
+masses is possible, it would soon have been defeated; but in
+street-fighting unflinching personal courage is all that is needed in
+the defender, and the latest recruits of the newly created French levies
+did not lack that attribute.
+
+On the following day the 1st Bavarian Division took possession of the
+suburb of St. Marceau, on the further side of the Loire, and advanced to
+the Loiret. The 2nd Cavalry Division scouted through the Sologne, the
+4th on the right bank ranged to the westward.
+
+The French XVth Corps had continued its retreat to Salbris and
+Pierrefitte, behind the Sauldre.
+
+It was certainly to be wished that its pursuit could have been followed
+up to Vierzon and Tours, so that the vast arsenals at the first-named
+town might have been destroyed, and the Government Delegation driven
+away from the other. But it must not be forgotten that though the French
+forces had been discomfited at Artenay, favoured by the nature of the
+locality they had escaped utter defeat by retreat. General von der Tann
+was disproportionately weak in the infantry arm, and hostile masses
+were disclosing themselves on all sides. A new French Army Corps, the
+XVIth, appeared at Blois, below Orleans, and at Gien, above that city;
+the German cavalry met with resistance in the forest of Marchénoir and
+before Châteaudun; and everywhere the inhabitants and volunteers
+appeared so full of confidence that the proximity of reinforcements was
+to be presumed.
+
+So it behoved the Germans to restrict themselves to the occupation of
+Orleans and the line of the Loire; and for this purpose the Bavarian
+Corps, with the 2nd Cavalry Division, seemed a sufficient force. The
+22nd Infantry and 4th Cavalry Divisions were recalled to the IIIrd Army;
+on their return march they were charged to disperse the volunteers who
+had made their appearance at Châteaudun and Chartres.
+
+General von der Tann had the bridges over the Loiret and the Loire
+prepared for destruction, an Etappen-line was established to Longjumeau,
+and the Bavarian Railway Detachment set to work to restore the line to
+Villeneuve.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF SOISSONS.
+
+(October 15th.)
+
+
+Soissons still hindered the further utilization of the railway, which
+had been re-opened at the time of the fall of Toul as far as Rheims.
+This fortress had been bombarded by field artillery without success when
+the Army of the Meuse passed by it on the march to Paris, and since then
+it had only been kept under observation until on October 6th eight
+Landwehr battalions, four squadrons, two batteries, two companies of
+pioneers, and four of fortress artillery made good the investment.
+
+Soissons, with its walls about 26 feet high, had complete immunity from
+escalade, and the damming of the Crise brook made it unassailable on the
+south. The south-west front, on the other hand, had only a dry ditch,
+with no counterscarp of masonry; here, too, the town was commanded by
+Mont Marion, rising to a height of 300 feet at a distance of little more
+than a mile. Against this face of the fortress, therefore, the artillery
+attack was directed at short range, when on the 11th October there
+arrived from Toul 26 Prussian siege-guns with 170 rounds for each, and
+10 French mortars. The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg took over the command.
+
+In a clear moonlight night the artillery with the help of the infantry
+was brought up on to the heights of Ste. Geneviève; the construction of
+the batteries about Belleu and in Mont Marion was completed and the
+arming of them effected. At six in the morning of 12th October they
+opened fire simultaneously.
+
+The besieged answered with great spirit but with small results, and the
+accurate fire of the Prussian artillery soon subdued that of the enemy
+in the particular front.
+
+A narrow breach was visible by next day, and the fire from the fortress
+was evidently much enfeebled; but the commandant decidedly rejected the
+demand that he should capitulate. On the 14th he increased the number of
+guns on his south front, so that the batteries on Ste. Geneviève had an
+arduous struggle. The French also laboured hard along the front of the
+attack to restore the severely damaged works, brought more guns up to
+the ramparts, and closed the breach by retrenchment.
+
+But on the 15th these repairs were soon demolished again by the
+artillery of the attack, and a breach was made 40 paces wide and amply
+spread with earth. As the fortress still kept up a brisk fire, it was
+determined to bring up the field-batteries within 900 paces. But at
+eight in the evening, when this operation was just begun, the commandant
+opened negotiations and surrendered the place on the Sedan terms. The
+garrison marched out next morning, for the most part drunk. A thousand
+Gardes-Mobiles were dismissed on parole, 3800 regulars were made
+prisoners.
+
+The attack had cost 120 men; 128 guns and 8000 small arms became prize
+of war, besides vast stores of provisions.
+
+
+
+
+STORMING OF CHÂTEAUDUN.
+
+(October 18th.)
+
+
+In obedience to instructions, General von Wittich marched on Châteaudun
+with the 22nd Division on the afternoon of the 18th. The French troops
+of the line had already been ordered to retire on Blois, but about 1800
+National Guards and volunteers still remained, prepared under cover of
+barricades and walls to receive the enemy. The infantry attack was also
+made more difficult by the nature of the ground, and four batteries had
+to keep up a hot fire for a long time.
+
+It was not till dusk that a general assault was had recourse to. Inside
+the town the enemy made a desperate resistance. House after house had to
+be won, the fighting lasted until late into the night, and a large part
+of the place was set on fire. The volunteers finally escaped, leaving
+150 prisoners and abandoning the inhabitants to their fate; and these,
+though they had taken part in the struggle, were let off with a fine.
+
+At noon on the 21st the Division arrived in front of Chartres, where
+10,000 French were said to have assembled. The marine infantry and
+Gardes-Mobiles advanced to the attack, but were repulsed by the fire of
+seven batteries. The General commanding the Division had deployed both
+his brigades southward of the city, and with the assistance of his
+cavalry, which had been joined by the 6th (Cavalry) Division, completely
+surrounded it. The fate of Châteaudun had been a warning to the
+municipal authorities, and at three o'clock an agreement was come to by
+which the troops were to be withdrawn, the National Guards to lay down
+their arms, and the gates to be thrown open.
+
+General Wittich's orders were to remain at Chartres for the present,
+while the 6th Cavalry Division was to occupy Maintenon, and so cover the
+investing army to the west.
+
+Not less fervid was the rush to arms in the north, in Picardy and
+Normandy. The Saxon Cavalry Division, supported by detachments of the
+Army of the Meuse, had in the early part of October driven the
+franctireurs and Gardes-Mobiles beyond the Oise and the Epte on Amiens,
+taking some hundreds of prisoners. But fresh swarms were constantly
+coming on, and had to be attacked at Breteuil, Montdidier, and
+Etrêpagny, so that no less than eleven battalions, twenty-four
+squadrons, and four batteries, were by degrees employed in this
+direction for the protection of the besieging force. But by the end of
+the month the French forces were so systematically organized and in so
+great strength, that for the time the Germans had to confine themselves
+to holding on the defensive the line of the Epte.
+
+To the south-east also, in the forest-land of Fontainebleau, hostilities
+were prosecuted by the volunteers, particularly against
+requisition-parties of cavalry; and from Nangis obstruction was
+threatened to the transport of the siege-guns. A small force of
+Würtemberg troops seized Montereau, which, though barricaded, was not
+defended; the inhabitants gave up their arms, and the detachment marched
+on Nogent. This town was held by a large body of Gardes-Mobiles. After
+breaching the walls of the churchyard, the Würtembergers, in the face
+of a hot fire, made their way into the place. The French still offered a
+stout resistance in its interior, but finally retired on Troyes, leaving
+600 dead and wounded. The small flying column rejoined its Division,
+having traversed over 126 miles in six days.
+
+
+
+
+SORTIE AGAINST MALMAISON.
+
+(October 21st.)
+
+
+The French capital had now been invested for more than four weeks, and
+it seemed not impossible, because of the long continuance of inactivity,
+that it might be brought to surrender by famine. All the sorties
+hitherto attempted had only had for their object to drive the enemy from
+the closest vicinity; a new effort was to aim at greater results. The
+project was to cross the Seine below Paris at Bezons and Carrières, and
+to make a simultaneous attack on the positions of the IVth Prussian
+Corps on the heights of Argenteuil from the south, and from St.-Denis
+from the east. A march on Rouen by Pontoise was to follow, into a
+district not yet altogether exhausted of resources. The Army of the
+Loire was also to proceed thither by railway by way of Le Mans, and so
+there would be massed in that region an army of 250,000 men.
+
+The Prussian Vth Corps, it was true, stood right on the flank of such an
+advance across the Seine; its outposts had several times been seen in
+Rueil. As a preliminary step, General Ducrot undertook to force back
+this body with 10,000 men and 120 field-guns. Then an intrenched line
+from Valérien to Carrières would close the peninsula against
+interference from the southward.
+
+Perhaps, in the face of much-dreaded "public opinion" and the growing
+restlessness of political parties in Paris, it was more the urgency to
+be doing something than any serious hope of success which gave rise to
+such far-reaching schemes. Considerable difficulties had to be met in
+attacking the enemy's lines, and greater must inevitably arise if the
+attack should succeed. It was vain to think of bringing through the
+miles-long trains which are indispensable for victualling an army.
+Serious embarrassment would ensue when the troops had consumed the three
+days' rations they would carry with them. To live on the country the
+army must disperse itself; but with the enemy at its heels close
+concentration was indispensable. And, in any case, it is hard to see
+what would have been gained by withdrawing from Paris the forces which
+had been assembled for the defence of the capital. Success could only
+have been hoped for if an army from without had been so near as to be
+able immediately to give the hand to the troops marching out.
+
+However, on the 21st of October, after Mont Valérien had all the morning
+kept up a seemingly ineffective fire, General Ducrot advanced at about
+one o'clock to attack the position of the Prussian 19th Brigade whose
+supports held the line Bougival--Jonchère--Fohlenkoppel. Fourteen French
+field-batteries deployed on either side of Rueil and about the southern
+base of Valérien; the infantry advanced in five columns behind this
+artillery front.
+
+On the German side only two batteries could at first engage in the
+unequal duel, and one of these near the Villa Metternich had very soon
+to retire. The French guns advanced rightward to within 1400 paces of
+Bougival, and at three o'clock four companies of Zouaves rushed out of
+Rueil. Being received with a hot fire, they wheeled into the park of
+Malmaison, and without opposition seized the Château of Buzanval and the
+eastern slope of the deep-cut ravine of Cucufa. And here one of their
+batteries was brought up into the fighting-line to support them.
+
+While the main body of the 9th Division advanced from Versailles on
+Vaucresson, the 10th deployed against the ravine and at Villa
+Metternich. The infantry fire lasted for a full hour, and wrought the
+French much loss. When at about four o'clock they seemed sufficiently
+shaken, and a reinforcement of the Guard Landwehr had come up from St.
+Germain on the left, the German left wing advanced from Bougival and
+over the height of Jonchère, forced its way into Malmaison in spite of
+violent opposition, and followed the retreating Zouaves as far as Rueil.
+The right wing at the same time having turned the head of the Cucufa
+ravine, charged against its eastern slope, drove out the enemy, seized
+the battery of two guns, and occupied the Château of Buzanval.
+
+The French now retired on all sides, firing ceased by six o'clock, and
+the 10th Division, which had repulsed the enemy's assaults
+single-handed, re-established its previous fore-post line.
+
+The struggle had cost the Germans 400 men. The French, on the other
+hand, had in this luckless enterprise left 500 dead and wounded, and 120
+prisoners.
+
+Soon after this affair the French began to throw up entrenchments within
+800 paces of the line of the Guard Corps; and in the early morning of
+the 28th, General Bellemare, under cover of the darkness, advanced on Le
+Bourget with a force of several battalions.
+
+The German company in occupation there, taken completely by surprise,
+could only retire before such overwhelming numbers, to Pont Iblon and
+Blanc Mesnil. The French promptly barricaded themselves in the place and
+prepared it for an obstinate defence. A German battalion made a vain
+attempt that evening to drive them out; it was repulsed with heavy loss.
+Equally unsuccessful next day was the fire of thirty field-guns
+directed against the place from Pont Iblon. Then, however, the Crown
+Prince of Saxony issued imperative orders to the Guard Corps to
+recapture Le Bourget without delay.
+
+
+
+
+STORMING OF LE BOURGET.
+
+(October 30th.)
+
+
+Accordingly on October 30th, nine battalions of the 2nd Guard-Division
+and five batteries, under the command of Lieutenant-General von
+Budritzki,[33] were assembled at Dugny, Pont Iblon and Blanc Mesnil for
+a concentric attack on Le Bourget. The artillery in action along the
+bank of the Morée inundation opened the attack at about eight in the
+morning, and then the infantry went forward. The terrain was perfectly
+open, and the advance was under fire, not merely from Le Bourget, but
+also from the heavy guns of the forts. Nevertheless the Grenadier
+Battalion of the Queen Elizabeth Regiment, at the head of the central
+column, at nine o'clock made a successful assault, charging over the
+barricade at the northern end of the village, and entering it through a
+breach in the wall promptly made by the pioneers. The Emperor Francis
+Grenadier Regiment advanced against its western face and took possession
+of the park. A fierce street-fight ensued on a further advance into the
+village, in the course of which there fell the commanders of both
+regiments, Colonels von Zaluskowski and Count Waldersee. The walled
+farmsteads left of the main street, were stormed one after another in
+spite of a determined defence; the windows of the church, high up in the
+walls as they were, were broken in and scaled, and a hand-to-hand fight
+raged furiously inside the sacred building. The Guard Rifle-Battalion
+forced its way into the glass-works.
+
+At half-past nine the French attempted to bring up into Le Bourget
+reinforcements from Aubervillers and Drancy; but the left German column
+had meanwhile seized the railway-embankment, placed a detachment of the
+Emperor Alexander Regiment to hold it, and was forcing its way into the
+southern quarter of the village. Two batteries had taken up position on
+the Mollette brook, and their fire drove back the enemy and even
+compelled him to evacuate Drancy.
+
+At ten o'clock the French still held the buildings on the north side of
+the Mollette. These were now assailed from the south. The 4th Company of
+the Emperor Alexander Regiment crossed the stream and forced its way
+through a breach made by the sappers into the farmstead in which the
+enemy's main force was gathered. The defenders had to be quelled with
+the bayonet and with clubbed arms, and here the French Colonel de
+Baroche met his death.
+
+Although by this time--eleven o'clock--all the three attacking columns
+had struck hands in the heart of Le Bourget, the enemy continued the
+struggle in detached houses and gardens with embittered desperation till
+the afternoon, while all the forts on the north front of Paris
+overwhelmed the place with shell-fire. It was not till half-past one
+that the troops of the attack could withdraw by companies to their
+respective quarters. Two battalions remained to garrison Le Bourget.
+
+The desperate resistance of the French showed how important they
+considered their retention of this post. Its success had cost the 2nd
+(Guard) Division 500 men. The enemy's loss is not known, but 1200
+prisoners were taken. This new disaster added to the dissatisfaction of
+the inhabitants of Paris. The revolutionary factions, which at all times
+lurk in the French capital, came ominously to the front.
+
+Highly-coloured reports could no longer conceal utter lack of results;
+the authority of the Government was steadily on the wane. It was accused
+of incapacity, nay, of treason. Noisy mobs clamoured for arms, and even
+a part of the National Guard took part in the tumult. The Hôtel de Ville
+was surrounded by a throng shouting "Vive la Commune!" and though other
+troops dispersed these gatherings, the ringleaders, though well known,
+went unpunished.
+
+On the 31st of October uproarious masses again paraded the streets. As
+General Trochu had forbidden the sentries at the Hôtel de Ville to use
+their arms, the rebels forced their way in. The Ministers were their
+prisoners till the evening, when some battalions which remained staunch
+liberated them.
+
+Monsieur Thiers, who had returned from his fruitless tour among the
+European Courts, thought the time had come for re-opening negotiations
+with Versailles. On the part of the Germans there was still the
+readiness to grant an armistice, but it was naturally impossible to
+accede to the condition demanded by the French, that the city should be
+re-provisioned, and so hostilities had to take their course.
+
+At this time, towards the end of October, the situation on the Moselle
+had assumed an aspect which essentially modified that of the whole war.
+
+      *      *      *      *      *[34]
+
+By the exchange of German prisoners for French who had fought at Sedan,
+details of the disaster which had befallen France in that battle were
+currently known in Metz. But Marshal Bazaine declared that the Army of
+the Rhine would continue to defend the country against the invaders, and
+maintain public order against the evil passions of disloyal men--a
+resolution which certainly could be interpreted in more ways than one.
+It would have been eminently satisfactory to the Germans, politically
+speaking, if there had been in France an available power, apart from
+the pretentious but feeble Government in Paris, with which to come to an
+understanding as regarded the termination of the war. Permission was
+therefore given for the admission to Metz of a person representing
+himself to have a commission from the exiled Imperial family. As he was
+unable to authenticate himself in this capacity to the satisfaction of
+Marshal Bazaine, General Bourbaki was allowed to pass through the German
+lines that he might betake himself to London, where, however, the
+Empress Eugénie declined all intervention in the already so disastrous
+affairs of France. The General then placed his services at the disposal
+of the National Defence Government at Tours.
+
+Meanwhile the army which had been beleaguered in Metz since the day of
+Noisseville maintained a waiting attitude. The necessary supplies for
+70,000 inhabitants, including the country-folk who had taken refuge in
+the city, had originally been enough to last three months and a half,
+those for the regular garrison were calculated for about five months;
+but for the Army of the Rhine there was sustenance in store for only
+forty-one days, and there was forage for only twenty-five.
+
+Certainly it was possible to supplement the supplies for the troops by
+purchase from the abundant stores of the citizens; but ere long smaller
+rations of bread were served out and horses were being slaughtered to
+furnish animal food, so that most of the cavalry regiments were reduced
+to two squadrons.
+
+On the German side, the service of supplying 197,326 men and 33,136
+horses was one of great difficulty. The outbreak of cattle-plague in
+Germany restricted the importation of live beasts to those purchased in
+Holland and Belgium. The meat rations had to be supplemented by tinned
+provisions; and increased rations of oats had to take the place of hay
+and straw.
+
+The losses of the army had hitherto been made good from the reserves,
+but the transport of the prisoners from Sedan alone required the
+services of fourteen battalions of the force blockading Metz. Thus it
+had not yet been possible to provide sufficient shelter for the troops
+near the wide extension of the entrenched line. Raw, rainy weather had
+come on early in the season, and a fourth part of the men were still
+roofless; so that by degrees the sick in hospital reached the alarming
+number of 40,000.
+
+Although fifty heavy guns had been brought up from Germany, they were
+useless for the bombardment of Metz, since in consequence of the
+superior calibre of the fortress artillery they could only be fired at
+night, and with frequent change of position. There was nothing for it
+but to hope for the best, and have patience.
+
+For four weeks already had the besieged been consuming their stores. To
+replenish those in some degree, and at the same time to revive the
+spirit of the troops by active measures, the Marshal decided on fetching
+in all the provisions to be found in the villages inside the line of the
+German investment, under cover of a sortie.
+
+At noon on September 22nd Fort St. Julien opened a heavy fire on the
+outposts of the Ist Corps. Strong bodies of infantry then advanced on
+the villages to the eastward, drove in the picquets of the enemy, and
+returned to Metz with the stores which had been seized. But a similar
+attempt made next afternoon on the villages to the north was less
+successful. Most of the waggons had to return empty, under the fire of
+the Prussian batteries quickly brought up into position. Finally, on the
+27th, a sortie for the same purpose was made to the southward, which led
+to a series of small conflicts and the capture in Peltre of a German
+company, which was surrounded by a much stronger force. A simultaneous
+sally on the left bank of the Moselle was baffled by the fire of the
+alert artillery of the besieging force.
+
+Thionville, on the north of Metz, had hitherto only been kept under
+observation by a small force, which could not hinder the garrison from
+scouring the country as far as the neighbouring frontier, taking many
+prisoners, seizing fifty waggon-loads of supplies, and even diverting
+into the fortress a whole train of provision-trucks while passing by the
+now restored railway from Luxemburg.
+
+In point of fact, the Army of the Rhine would have found in Thionville
+an important rallying-point at the end of its first day's march, if the
+blockade of Metz could have been broken through. Prince Frederick
+Charles, realizing this, took care to strengthen the investing lines to
+the north, on the right bank of the Moselle. On October 1st the Xth
+Corps took up the position hitherto held by the Reserve Division Kummer,
+which was transferred to the left bank of the river. The Ist, VIIth, and
+VIIIth Corps closed up to the right, and the IInd occupied the space
+between the Seille and the Moselle; the troops before Thionville were
+also reinforced.
+
+The Marshal had really once more determined to break out to the
+northward, and that on both banks of the river. New bridges were
+constructed behind St. Julien and from the island of Chambière, the
+nearest German outposts on the north and west of Metz were pushed back
+by a series of daily skirmishes. Under cover of the fire of the forts
+the French established themselves firmly in Lessy and Ladonchamps. The
+troops to be left in Metz were expressly selected; the others tested as
+to their marching powers. Light-signals were arranged with Thionville,
+and all preparations made for a sortie on the 7th.
+
+Then the French commander suddenly changed his mind, and the proposed
+enterprise collapsed into a foraging expedition.
+
+For this, indeed, large forces were set in motion; the Guard Voltigeur
+Division, the VIth Corps, and the IVth in the forest of Woippy. The
+movement was also to be supported by the IIIrd Corps on the right bank
+of the river.
+
+Four hundred waggons were in readiness to carry off the stores from the
+large farms lying north of Ladonchamps.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[33] Commanding 2nd Guard-Division.
+
+[34] In text there is at this point no Section-Headline, although the
+subject changes; but the succeeding pages till commencement of new
+Section are headed: "Die Lage vor Metz im October." This heading is
+followed in translation.
+
+
+
+
+SORTIE FROM METZ AGAINST BELLEVUE.
+
+(October 7th.)
+
+
+Although the start from Woippy planned for eleven o'clock, was not
+effected till one, the Landwehr companies on outpost duty were driven in
+by superior numbers, and as they defended their positions till their
+ammunition was exhausted, they also lost a considerable number of
+prisoners. But the artillery of the Landwehr Division prevented the
+removal of the stores; the 5th Division advancing from Norroy struck the
+left flank of the French attack and drove the enemy back on Bellevue,
+where a stationary fight developed itself.
+
+The French IIIrd Corps advanced on the right bank of the Moselle against
+Malroy and Noisseville. Here, too, the outpost line fell back; but
+behind it stood the Xth and Ist Corps, ready for action. The respective
+Corps commanders at once perceived that this attack was only a feint.
+Although threatened himself, General von Voigts-Rhetz sent his 38th
+Brigade across the Moselle at Argancy by half-past two to assist the
+Landwehr Division, and when General von Manteuffel forwarded him
+supports to Charly, the 37th Brigade followed.
+
+No sooner had the first reinforcements arrived than General von Kummer
+on his side took the offensive, recaptured the farmsteads from the
+enemy after a sharp struggle just as the latter were about to retire,
+and then, supported on the right by part of the 5th Division, moved on
+Bellevue at about six in the evening. Ladonchamps, however, still
+remained in the hands of the French. Late in the evening the 19th and
+Reserve Divisions advanced on this place. The premises of the château,
+which were surrounded by a moat, were carefully intrenched and strongly
+defended by infantry and guns. The darkness precluded effective
+artillery action, and the attack failed; but all the other points
+previously held by the Germans were re-occupied.
+
+The day had cost the Prussians 1700 killed and wounded, besides 500
+reported missing. The French loss was given out to be no more than 1193.
+
+This attempt on the part of the French might be regarded as tentative,
+and preliminary only to a real effort to break through; perhaps it was
+so intended. The German troops therefore remained in the positions they
+had occupied at the close of the fighting, in expectation of renewed
+hostilities on the morrow.
+
+The forts in fact opened a heavy fire on the farm-buildings early on the
+8th, while the German batteries directed their fire on Ladonchamps.
+Strong columns also advanced along the right bank of the Moselle, but
+nowhere attempted a serious attack. The Prussian troops therefore
+presently retired to their quarters.
+
+The artillery duel was carried on for the next few days, but with
+diminished energy. Constant rain made all field operations very
+difficult, and increased the sufferings of the men on both sides. In
+Metz the lack of victuals was becoming very painfully felt. So early as
+on the 8th the commandant had announced that his stores would not last
+longer than for twelve days. A council of war, held on the 10th, was,
+however, of opinion that the greatest service the Army of the Rhine
+could do to France was to hold out as long as possible, since it thus
+continued to detain a hostile army under the walls of Metz.
+
+The Marshal now sent General Boyer to negotiate at Versailles, but his
+instructions were to demand a free exit for the army and explicitly to
+refuse the terms of the Sedan capitulation.
+
+The state of affairs in Metz was perfectly well known to the Germans.
+The number of men who were taken willing prisoners while digging
+potatoes increased every day. They reported that disturbances had broken
+out in the city, in which even part of the soldiers had taken part, and
+that the commander-in-chief had been compelled to proclaim the Republic.
+And since the Empress had declared that she would never give her consent
+to any diminution of French territory, no further political negotiations
+were possible with the chiefs of the Army of the Rhine.
+
+On the 20th the distribution of stores came to an end within the
+fortress, and the troops thenceforth for the most part subsisted on
+horseflesh. The original stock of 20,000 horses was reduced by a
+thousand a day. The want of bread and salt was severely felt, and the
+soaked, deep ground made living in camp almost unendurable.
+
+After the failure of the negotiations at Versailles, the imperative
+necessity of entering into negotiations with the Headquarter of the
+besieging army was recognized by a council of war held on the 24th.
+
+The first interview had no result, as the Marshal still stipulated for
+free egress on condition of withdrawing to Algiers, or the alternative
+of an armistice with the reprovisioning of Metz. On the German side the
+surrender of the fortress and the march out of the garrison as prisoners
+of war were insisted on, and on these conditions the capitulation was
+signed on the evening of the 27th of October.
+
+
+
+
+CAPITULATION OF METZ.
+
+(October 27th.)[35]
+
+
+On the morning of the 29th[35] Prussian flags were hoisted on the great
+outworks of Metz. At one o'clock the French garrison marched out by six
+roads in perfect silence and correct military formation.[36] At each
+specified position a Prussian Army Corps stood to receive the prisoners,
+who were immediately placed in bivouacs previously prepared, and
+supplied with food. The officers were allowed to keep their swords and
+to return to Metz; provisions were immediately sent in.
+
+Marshal Bazaine set out for Cassel.
+
+In the course of the day the 26th Brigade occupied Metz. The city had
+suffered no injury, but the state of the camps showed what the troops
+had suffered during the siege of seventy-two days.
+
+The Germans during that time had lost 240 officers and 5500 men in
+killed and wounded.
+
+Six thousand French officers and 167,000 men were taken prisoners,
+beside 20,000 sick who could not be at once removed, about 200,000 in
+all.[37] Fifty-six Imperial eagles, 622 field and 876 fortress guns, 72
+mitrailleuses and 260,000 rifles fell into the hands of the Germans.
+
+The prisoners were transported by way of Trèves and Saarbrücken,
+escorted by Landwehr battalions, and as these would have also to guard
+them when in Germany, their return to field service was not to be
+reckoned on.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[35] The Protocol embodying the terms of capitulation was signed on the
+evening of the 27th; its provisions came into effect at and after 10
+a.m. of the 29th.
+
+[36] On the contrary, there were much drunkenness and disorder.
+
+[37] The 20,000 sick were included in the total of 173,000 officers and
+men surrendered.
+
+
+
+
+NEW DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY.
+
+
+The capitulation of Metz, which Prince Frederick Charles had brought
+about under such serious difficulties, materially improved the prospects
+of the war for Germany.
+
+At the Royal Headquarter at Versailles, even before the catastrophe but
+in confident anticipation of it, decisions had been arrived at as to the
+respective destinations of the forces it would release for service, and
+communicated in advance to the superior Commanders.
+
+The Ist, VIIth and VIIIth Corps, with the 3rd Cavalry Division, were
+thenceforth to constitute the Ist Army, under the command of General von
+Manteuffel. Its orders were to advance into the Compiègne region and
+cover the investment of Paris on the north. But apart from these orders
+it had various other duties to fulfil; it was to occupy Metz and lay
+siege to Thionville and Montmédy.
+
+The IInd, IIIrd, IXth and Xth Corps, with the 1st Cavalry Division, were
+to constitute the IInd Army under the command of Prince Frederick
+Charles, which was ordered to advance on the Middle Loire.
+
+
+
+
+OPERATIONS OF THE XIVTH CORPS IN THE SOUTH-EAST.
+
+(October.)
+
+
+Since the fall of Strasburg the newly-formed XIVth Corps had been
+employed in safe-guarding the communications between the German armies
+standing fast respectively before Metz and before Paris. General von
+Werder had no great battle to look forward to, but a succession of
+small engagements. To prepare his four infantry brigades for independent
+action under such circumstances, he detailed artillery and cavalry to
+each. In this formation the Corps crossed the Vosges by the two roads
+through Schirmeck and Barr, driving swarms of hostile Franctireurs out
+of the narrow passes without material delay. But on emerging from the
+mountains it at once met with serious opposition.
+
+The French General Cambriels had been at Epinal with about 30,000 men
+ever since the beginning of October, and under cover of this force
+numerous battalions of National Guards and Gardes-Mobiles had been
+formed in the south of France.
+
+On the 6th, General von Degenfeld[38] with the advanced guard of the
+Baden force approached St. Dié, marching on both banks of the Meurthe.
+The weak column was beset on all sides by far superior forces, yet after
+repeated attacks it succeeded in taking the villages which the enemy had
+been holding.
+
+The struggle, which lasted seven hours, ended with the eccentric retreat
+of the enemy to Rambervillers and Bruyères. It had cost the Germans 400
+and the French 1400 men. The Baden force bivouacked on the field, and
+presently found that the French had evacuated St. Dié. General Cambriels
+had, in fact, collected all his available forces in intrenched positions
+about Bruyères. The Baden Brigade advanced on these on the 11th, drove
+the Gardes-Mobiles and volunteers from the outlying villages, climbed
+the heights on both sides of the town, and forced its way into it with
+inconsiderable loss. The enemy retired to the southward on Remiremont.
+
+From the small resistance hitherto made by the French, though so far
+superior in numbers, General von Werder assumed that they would hardly
+make a stand before reaching Besançon, so he immediately countermanded
+further pursuit, though somewhat early in the day, and concentrated his
+forces on Epinal, which place was taken possession of by the Germans
+after insignificant fighting. From thence an etappen-route and
+telegraph-line were opened to Lunéville and Nancy, magazines were
+formed, and the trains, which were following the Corps from Saverne by
+Blamont to Baccarat, were brought up. The railway along the Moselle
+remained, however, useless for a long time, in consequence of injury
+done to it by the enemy.
+
+General von Werder was now anxious, in accordance with his instructions
+of September 30th, to march on the Upper Seine by Neufchâteau, but a
+telegram from the supreme Headquarter directed him in the first instance
+to complete the rout of the enemy in his vicinity under General
+Cambriels.
+
+The Corps accordingly put itself in motion forthwith through Conflans
+and Luxeuil on Vesoul, and information was received that the enemy had
+in fact halted at the Ognon, taken up quarters there, and received
+reinforcements. General von Werder determined to attack at once. He
+ordered that the passages over the river should be secured on the 22nd;
+further decisions were postponed till reports should be brought in. The
+1st Baden Brigade came up on the right by nine o'clock, reaching Marnay
+and Pin without having encountered the French; it secured the bridges
+there, and then halted to await further orders. On the left flank the
+franctireurs were driven out of the woods by the 3rd Brigade, which also
+stormed Perrouse, and at about half-past two seized the bridge over the
+Ognon at Voray. In the centre the head of the advanced guard of the 2nd
+Brigade entered Etuz after a slight skirmish, but had to withdraw at
+eleven o'clock to the northern bank, before the enemy's flank attack
+from out the woods. Afterwards, when the main force came up and the
+artillery opened fire, the place was taken for the second time at one
+o'clock. But a prolonged fire-fight ensued, the French making an
+obstinate stand in front of the passage over the river at Cussey. Orders
+had already been sent to the 1st Brigade to move up on the southern bank
+from Pin on the enemy's flank and rear. But it could not reach the
+ground until six o'clock, when the battle was over. When two batteries
+had made good the possession of the bridge over the Ognon under a heavy
+fire, the enemy hastily retired, pursued by the Badeners; he was again
+driven out of his rearward positions, but when night fell he still
+remained in possession of several points in front of Besançon.
+
+The Germans had lost 120 men, the French 150 and 200 prisoners. In
+opposition to Gambetta, who was himself in Besançon, General Cambriels
+obstinately resisted every order to renew the advance, and would only
+consent to maintain his strong position under the walls of the fortress.
+
+Parties sent out to reconnoitre on the right reported the presence of
+French forces at Dôle and Auxonne, the advance-guard probably of an
+"Army of the Vosges" under Garibaldi, which was assembling on the Doubs.
+General von Werder disregarded it, and on the 26th moved his Corps to
+Dampierre and Gray. Beyond the Saône all the roads were broken up, the
+woods choked with abatis, and the whole population in arms. But the
+franctireurs and Gardes-Mobiles were dispersed without difficulty, and a
+column marching without any precautions was driven back on the Vingeanne
+brook, where 15 officers and 430 men laid down their arms.
+
+From further reports and the information of the prisoners it was known
+that Dijon was strongly garrisoned. In expectation, therefore, of an
+attack from that side, the XIVth Corps was assembled behind the
+Vingeanne, whence early on October 30th General von Beyer[39] marched on
+Dijon with the 1st and 3rd Brigades. Filled with apprehension by recent
+events, the National Guards in Dijon had already laid down their arms,
+the Gardes-Mobiles and the line troops of the garrison had retreated
+southwards; but the inhabitants were assured that the forces would be
+brought back to defend them. About 8000 men were available, but they
+insisted on their commander pledging himself to fight only outside the
+city.
+
+The advanced posts on the Tille were driven in by the Baden advanced
+guard; the village of St. Apollinaire and the neighbouring heights were
+taken with a rush at noon, in spite of a hot fire. Meanwhile the main
+body had come up, and at three o'clock six German batteries opened fire.
+The vineyards and numerous farmsteads in the neighbourhood of Dijon, and
+especially the strongly barricaded park south of the city, gave the
+defence a great advantage. Nevertheless, the Baden infantry continued
+its steady advance and closed in on the northern and eastern suburbs by
+a wide encircling movement.
+
+Here a fierce combat ensued, in which the inhabitants took part. House
+after house had to be stormed, but the attack came to a stand at the
+deep-cut bed of the Suzon brook, which borders the city on the east. It
+was four o'clock, and the impending struggle could not be ended before
+dark. General von Beyer therefore broke off the fight; the battalions
+were withdrawn and retired to quarters in the adjacent villages; only
+the artillery still kept up its fire.
+
+The Germans had lost about 150 and the French 100 men; but of the latter
+200 were taken prisoners.
+
+In the course of the night a deputation came out to beg that the town
+might be spared; its members undertook to furnish supplies for 20,000
+men, and to guarantee the good behaviour of the inhabitants. The Baden
+troops took possession of Dijon on the 31st.
+
+Meanwhile fresh instructions had reached General von Werder. They
+prescribed that he was to protect the left flank of the IInd Army
+advancing to the Loire and at the same time to cover Alsace and the
+troops besieging Belfort, where two reserve Divisions had now arrived.
+It was intended that the XIVth Corps, while retaining its hold on Dijon,
+should also move to Vesoul and hold in check from there the gathering of
+hostile troops round Besançon and at Langres. Some offensive movement on
+Châlons[40] and Dôle was also insisted on.
+
+General von Werder's position was more difficult than was recognized at
+Versailles. At Besançon alone there were 45,000 French troops, under the
+command of a new leader, General Crouzat. Garibaldi had collected 12,000
+between Dôle and Auxonne; lower down the Saône valley a new Corps was
+being formed of 18,000 men, and 12,000 National Guards and
+Gardes-Mobiles threatened from Langres the flank of the isolated German
+Corps. But the French, instead of attacking this slender force with
+overwhelming numbers--spread out as it was over a distance of fifty-six
+miles from Lure to Dijon and Gray--were haunted by the apprehension that
+the Germans, reinforced from Metz, might be intending an attack on
+Lyons. General Crouzat, leaving a strong garrison in Besançon,
+consequently marched to Chagny, where up to November 12th he was
+reinforced from the south to a strength of 50,000 men. The Garibaldian
+volunteers moved up to Autun to protect Bourges.
+
+General von Werder meanwhile had occupied Vesoul, and had the south face
+of the city put in a state of defence.
+
+The only event of importance during the course of October which remains
+to be mentioned was the action taken against the French forts lying
+rearward of the German armies.
+
+At the beginning of the month the newly constituted 4th Reserve
+Division, of fifteen battalions, eight squadrons, thirty-six guns, and
+a company of fortress-pioneers, had assembled in Baden, and crossed the
+Rhine at Neuenburg. The vicinity was first cleared of franctireurs,
+Mülhausen was occupied, and, by the express desire of its municipal
+authorities, the excited artisan inhabitants were disarmed. General von
+Schmeling (commanding the Division) was instructed to besiege
+Neu-Breisach and Schlettstadt, and at once set about the investment of
+each of these places with a brigade. On October 7th the East Prussian
+Landwehr invested Breisach, and the field-batteries shelled the place,
+but without effect. The other brigade, having been forced to detach
+considerably, reached Schlettstadt very weak, but was reinforced by
+Etappen troops to such extent that the place was invested with 8
+battalions, 2 squadrons, and 2 batteries. At the same time 12 companies
+of fortress-artillery and 4 companies of pioneers arrived from Strasburg
+with the necessary siege material, and an artillery park of fifty-six
+heavy guns was established at St. Pilt; the engineer park was located at
+Kinzheim.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[38] Commanding 2nd Baden Brigade.
+
+[39] Commanding Baden Division.
+
+[40] Châlons-sur-Saône.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF SCHLETTSTADT.
+
+(October 24th.)
+
+
+At the beginning of the blockade, inundations and marsh-land rendered
+Schlettstadt, a fortified town of 10,000 inhabitants, unapproachable on
+the east and south, and partly on the north. The place itself, perfectly
+safe from storm, with high walls and a wet ditch, was armed with 120
+guns, but garrisoned with only 2000 men, for the most part
+Gardes-Mobiles. There was a deficiency of safe casemates, and on the
+west front vineyards and hedgerows favoured the near approach of
+assaults, while the railway embankment was a ready-made protecting wall
+for the construction of the first parallel. To divert the attention of
+the besieged from this front of attack, a battery was constructed on the
+20th at the Kappel Mill on the south-east, from which fire was opened on
+the barracks and magazine in the town, and on the sluice which
+maintained the inundation. By the evening of the 21st, the infantry
+posts had advanced to within 400 paces of the glacis, and the
+construction of the first parallel was proceeded with that night,
+immediately behind the railway, as well as of emplacements for six
+batteries within 1230 feet from the ramparts. The garrison fired in the
+dark on the entire field of attack, but almost without effect. By the
+morning the trenches were two feet wide and three and a half feet deep,
+and 20 heavy guns and 8 mortars were ready to open fire. A hot artillery
+duel now began with the fortress, which replied very steadily. The
+battery at the mill subjected the west front to a telling reverse fire,
+and several guns and embrasures were severely damaged. The town was
+fired at several points, and the defenders' fire gradually ceased.
+During the night, which was very stormy, the batteries of the attack
+kept up their fire, the parallel was widened and two new batteries were
+begun.
+
+At daybreak of the 24th the white flag was seen flying, and a
+capitulation was forthwith signed, by which Schlettstadt surrendered
+with its garrison and war-material. The commandant begged the Germans to
+take possession at once, as the greatest disorder reigned within the
+town. The public buildings were being plundered by the mob and the
+drunken soldiery, and a powder-magazine was actually on fire. The German
+battalions promptly restored order, extinguished the flames, and took
+away the prisoners. Seven thousand stand of arms fell into German
+hands, besides the fortress artillery and a large quantity of stores.
+The siege had cost the victors only twenty men. Schlettstadt was
+occupied by Etappen troops, and the battalions released from duty there
+marched into southern Alsace, three of them going to strengthen the
+siege of Breisach, which was now being proceeded with.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF BREISACH.
+
+(November 10th.)
+
+
+This fortress, lying in the plain and of very symmetrical shape, was
+proof against a coup-de-main because of its ditches, which were dry
+indeed, but faced with solid masonry. The garrison of over 5000 men had
+well-protected quarters in the bomb-proof casemates of the ravelins.
+Fort Mortier, standing near the Rhine, and constructed for independent
+defence, effectually commanded the ground over which the intended attack
+must be made on the north-west front of the fortress. Therefore 12 heavy
+guns were brought up from Rastatt to Alt Breisach, where the right bank
+of the Rhine commands the fort at effective range.
+
+It was not till near the end of October that the siege-guns arrived
+before New Breisach from Schlettstadt, and when the infantry had closed
+up and all preparations were complete, fire from 24 heavy guns was
+opened on the fortress on November 2nd from Wolfgantzen, Biesheim and
+Alt Breisach.
+
+By three o'clock a large part of the town was on fire, and detachments
+of infantry were skirmishing with the French posts at the foot of the
+glacis. Fort Mortier had suffered exceptionally severely. Nevertheless,
+an attempt to storm it was repulsed, but at six o'clock it capitulated,
+an utter ruin. Only one gun remained in serviceable condition. Two new
+mortar batteries were erected to shell the main fortress, the defence
+became perceptibly more feeble, and on November 10th Breisach
+surrendered on the same terms as Schlettstadt, but the garrison was
+allowed to march out with the honours of war. The fortifications were
+almost uninjured, but the town was for the most part burnt down or
+severely damaged. The success had cost the Germans only 70 men; 108
+guns, 6000 small arms and large quantities of stores fell into their
+hands.
+
+While these strongholds in Alsace-Lorraine were thus being reduced,
+Verdun still intercepted the line of railway which formed the shortest
+line of communication with Germany.
+
+
+
+
+TAKING OF VERDUN.
+
+(November 9th.)
+
+
+This place, too, was made quite storm-free by high walls and deep wet
+ditches; but, on the other hand, it was surrounded by a ring of heights
+whence it could be seen into, and at the foot of these heights villages
+and vineyards favoured an approach to within a short distance of the
+outworks.
+
+The fortress was armed with 140 guns and abundantly victualled, and the
+garrison, which had been supplemented by escaped prisoners, was 6000
+strong. A bombardment by field-artillery had already proved perfectly
+ineffectual. For a long time Verdun was only under observation, at first
+by cavalry, and afterwards by a small mixed force. At the end of
+September the 65th Regiment and twelve companies of Landwehr assembled
+under General von Gayl before the east face of the place. It was not
+till October 9th that two companies of fortress-artillery brought up
+some French heavy guns from Toul and Sedan. The infantry now advanced to
+within a few hundred paces of the west and north fronts and there
+established itself. Under this cover the construction of the batteries
+was begun on the evening of October 12th.
+
+The heavy ground after the rain, and the rocky subsoil very thinly
+covered, made the work uncommonly difficult, yet by next morning
+fifty-two guns were able to open fire. But the fortress replied with
+such effect that before noon two batteries on the Côte de Hayvaux on the
+westward were reduced to inaction.
+
+In the course of this three days' artillery engagement, 15 German guns
+were placed out of action, the artillery lost 60 men and the infantry
+40. The disabled guns on the walls of the enemy were constantly replaced
+by fresh ones.
+
+The garrison, which was far stronger than the besiegers, now assumed the
+offensive. During the stormy night of the 19th--20th, the picquets on
+the Hayvaux were overpowered, and the guns in the battery there were
+spiked. On the 28th a sortie in greater force was made. The French
+climbed up Mont St. Michel, lying northward of Verdun, and destroyed the
+breast-works and bomb-proofs of the batteries, from which, however, the
+guns had been withdrawn. Another body pushed up the Hayvaux, and as the
+soaked state of the ground prevented the guns from being withdrawn, they
+were totally disabled. The villages in the neighbourhood were also
+occupied by the French.
+
+It was now evident that the means hitherto brought to bear on the
+reduction of Verdun were quite inadequate. But after the fall of Metz
+the Ist Army was able to send up reinforcements. At the end of the month
+5 battalions and 2 companies of pioneers and several of artillery
+arrived, and also a quantity of German material.
+
+The siege park now numbered 102 guns with abundant ammunition, and
+preparations were at once made for a regular attack.
+
+But for this the garrison did not wait. After an armistice had been
+granted, the place capitulated on November 8th, in virtue of which the
+garrison, with exception of the local National Guards, became prisoners
+of war. The officers were dismissed on parole with their swords and
+personal property, and it was agreed that the war-material in store
+should be given back on the conclusion of peace.
+
+
+
+
+ADVANCE OF IST AND IIND ARMIES UP TO MID NOVEMBER.
+
+
+The Ist Army having in addition undertaken the siege of Mézières, the
+1st Infantry Division moved on that place, and the 3rd Brigade, sent
+forward by railway to Soissons, on November 15th set about the siege of
+the small fortress of La Fère. The rest of the Ist Corps reached Rethel
+on the same day, the VIIIth Rheims, and the 3rd Cavalry Division Tagnon,
+between the two places named. The VIIth Corps was still fully engaged in
+guarding the prisoners and in besieging Thionville and Montmédy.
+
+Of the IInd Army the IXth Corps and 1st Cavalry Division reached Troyes
+on the 10th, the IIIrd Vendeuvre, the Xth Neufchâteau and Chaumont. The
+important railway connections there and at Bologne were occupied, and
+the injury done to the line to Blesme was repaired, so as to open up a
+new line of communication. The health of the German forces had been
+materially improved by short marches along good roads and by abundant
+supplies; but a telegram from Versailles now ordered an accelerated
+advance.
+
+The Government in Paris being powerless, the Delegation at Tours was
+displaying increased activity. Gambetta, as Minister both of War and of
+the Interior, was exercising the power almost of a Dictator, and the
+fiery energy of this remarkable man had achieved the feat of placing
+600,000 armed men and 1400 guns in the field in the course of a few
+weeks.
+
+In the Arrondissements the National Guards were formed into companies
+and battalions; then in each Department these were consolidated into
+brigades; and finally the brigades were incorporated along with the
+nearest troops of the line and Gardes-Mobiles into the larger
+Army-Corps.
+
+Thus, in the course of October, under cover of the troops of General
+d'Aurelle de Paladines which had re-crossed the Loire, a new XVIIth
+Corps was made up at Blois, another, the XVIIIth, at Gien, and a third,
+under Admiral Jaurès, at Nogent le Rotrou. A large force was in Picardy
+under General Bourbaki, another at Rouen under Briand, and a third on
+the left bank of the Seine under Fiéreck.
+
+The detachments of the army investing Paris, which were pushed forward
+to the south, west, and north, already met in all directions strong
+forces of the enemy, which they indeed repulsed in many small
+encounters, but could not follow up to the places of their origin. For
+such purposes the arrival of the army released from the siege of Metz
+was needed, and this was not to be looked for before some time in
+November, while now in October there was threatened a general advance of
+the French forces on Paris.
+
+Having regard to the inferior strength of General von Tann's Division
+holding Orleans, at a French council of war held at Tours it was decided
+to recover that important place. The attack was to be delivered chiefly
+from the west. The French XVth Corps--two Infantry Divisions and one of
+Cavalry--therefore assembled at Mer on the northern bank of the Lower
+Loire, and the main body of the XVIth behind the forest of Marchénoir.
+The remaining portions of both Corps were to co-operate on the Upper
+Loire by way of Gien. Any further advance was not projected, at any rate
+for the present; on the contrary, General d'Aurelle's instructions were
+to form an intrenched camp about Orleans for 200,000 men.
+
+General von Tann's reconnoitring parties to the westward everywhere met
+hostile detachments, which were indeed driven back by restraining
+skirmishes into the forest of Marchénoir without much difficulty, but
+which betrayed the vicinity of large forces of the enemy. On the whole
+an attack from the south-west on the investing army before Paris seemed
+the likeliest event, since this would threaten both the German
+Head-quarter in Versailles and the siege-park at Villacoublay; while the
+German reinforcements from the eastward would have the furthest distance
+to reach the quarter indicated.
+
+The French forces to the west of Orleans were already extended over a
+wide stretch of country from Beaugency to Châteaudun. The volunteers
+grew bolder every day, and the people more hostile.
+
+At last, in quest of some more accurate information, Count Stolberg
+(commanding 2nd Cavalry Division) on November 7th made a reconnaissance
+in force. Three regiments of the 2nd Cavalry Division, two batteries,
+and some companies of Bavarian Infantry advanced by Ouzouer and drove
+the enemy out of Marolles, but they found the skirts of the forest
+strongly held.
+
+General Chanzy had brought up all his immediately available troops to
+St. Laurent des Bois. A sharp fire-fight ensued, lasting about half an
+hour, which caused severe losses in the Bavarian infantry; and then, as
+the great superiority of the French was evident, the engagement was
+broken off.
+
+As a matter of fact, both the French Corps were already in full march on
+Orleans. Reaching the forest on the 8th, they occupied it firmly, their
+right wing at Messas and Meung, their left at Ouzouer. The XVth Corps
+was next to move to the right to the Mauve and the XVIth to the left on
+Coulmiers. The heads of those Corps showed themselves at Bardon and
+Charsonville respectively. Both the French Cavalry Divisions were
+directed northward on Prénouvellon to turn the right wing of the
+Bavarians with a force of ten regiments, six batteries, and numerous
+volunteer bands, and thus to cut off their retreat on Paris.
+
+To counteract this attempt the Bavarian Cuirassier Brigade started for
+St. Péravy, the 2nd Cavalry Division for Baccon, and, further south, the
+2nd Bavarian Infantry Division advancing from Orleans held the country
+about Huisseau and St. Ay.
+
+But an attack was also threatening the German rear from the considerable
+force at Gien. General von der Tann realized that it was now the last
+moment when he could hope to extricate himself from so hazardous a
+position; and that same evening he issued the necessary orders. However
+desirable it was to keep possession of Orleans, he could not accept
+battle in so thickly wooded country, where the action of his relatively
+strong artillery and cavalry would be seriously impeded, and where
+indeed he might be entirely hemmed in. The General, however, determined
+to strike at the most immediately threatening hostile force in the open
+country about Coulmiers, where he would at the same time be nearer to
+the 22nd Division at Chartres, on which he could call for support.
+
+General von Wittich had already asked and obtained permission to fall
+back on Orleans, but on the 9th he had only reached Voves, with his
+cavalry at Orgères; thus he could not take any direct part in that day's
+fighting.
+
+The IInd Army was in full march from Metz, but on this day its head had
+but just arrived at Troyes.
+
+
+
+
+ENGAGEMENT AT COULMIERS.
+
+(November 9th.)
+
+
+Left thus to its own resources, the Ist Bavarian Corps moved out in the
+night, and on the morning of the 9th stood concentrated on the skirts of
+the forest between Château Montpipeau and Rosières, with the village of
+Coulmiers in its front. The Bavarian Cuirassiers on the right wing
+protected the line of retreat by St. Sigismond; the 2nd Cavalry Division
+was distributed by brigades along the whole front, with detachments well
+in advance and infantry posts ready in support. Only a small detachment
+remained in Orleans after the bridge over the Loiret had been destroyed,
+to protect the numerous sick and wounded in the field hospitals, and
+occupy the city at any rate till the result of the fight was decided.
+
+The first reports brought in that morning were of the advance of a
+strong hostile column from Cravant on Fontaines and Le Bardon. This was
+Rébillard's Brigade, which, as it seemed, aimed at turning the Bavarian
+left flank and marching direct on Orleans. To oppose it on the bank of
+the Mauve, General von der Tann at about nine o'clock sent the 3rd
+Brigade in a southerly direction to Préfort, a little over two miles
+distant, and as at the same time a sharp contest had now begun at the
+outposts near Baccon, the 1st Brigade marched to La Renardière. The
+remainder of the Corps remained in and behind Coulmiers. The General's
+intention was to assume the offensive from this point against the
+enemy's left flank, if, as seemed probable, the latter should attempt to
+push his chief attack across the Mauve. In furtherance of this intention
+the cavalry of the right flank was ordered to close in to Coulmiers.
+
+But the superior strength of the French allowed of their fetching a much
+wider compass to the left. While General d'Aurelle with the XVth Corps
+detained the Bavarians southward of the road from Ouzouer to Orleans,
+General Chanzy advanced with Barry's Division against their centre and
+directed Jauréguiberry's Division northward against their right; and
+finally the strong force of French cavalry under General Reyau moved in
+the direction of Patay, thus threatening the German communication with
+Paris.
+
+This movement of the French XVIth Corps compelled General von Tann, at
+the very beginning of the engagement, to despatch the 2nd Brigade, which
+had constituted his reserve, to prolong his right wing northwards
+towards Champs, and thus obtain touch with the 4th Cavalry Brigade. The
+Bavarian Cuirassiers, retiring according to orders from St. Péravy to
+the southward, about eleven o'clock encountered Reyau's cavalry, which,
+however, restricted itself to a mere cannonade.
+
+Meanwhile, after a stout resistance, the advanced posts of the Bavarians
+had been driven in by the enemy's superior strength. The 1st Rifle
+Battalion, after having retarded the advance of the French
+horse-batteries through Champdry for a long time, retreated from Baccon
+to La Rivière,[41] where it expected to be received by the 2nd (Rifle
+Battalion). But the situation of the latter soon became very critical.
+Peytavin's Division closely followed up through Baccon, beset La Rivière
+with five batteries, and then attacked the burning village from three
+sides at once. After energetic reprisals the Riflemen retired in good
+order on the 1st Brigade in Renardière, where General Dietl had taken up
+a position for defence.
+
+After the evacuation of Baccon by the Bavarians, Barry's Division had
+continued its advance through Champdry, and its batteries deployed
+opposite Coulmiers and in front of Saintry, in preparation for an
+assault by strong lines of tirailleurs.
+
+The 4th Bavarian Brigade occupied the park extending to the west; the
+quarries further in front were occupied by two battalions, two others
+were sent to the right to the farmsteads of Ormeteau and Vaurichard, so
+as to keep up some sort of communication with the 2nd Brigade. One
+battery to the south and four batteries to the north of Coulmiers were
+supported by the 5th Cavalry Brigade.
+
+Thus at noon the Bavarian Corps, with only three brigades, held the
+ground from Renardière to the front of Gémigny, its front
+disproportionately extended to a length of more than four miles. But the
+French right wing remained quite inactive, so that the 3rd Brigade which
+had been sent to Préfort was recalled to Renardière.
+
+When the French Corps had made good its foothold opposite the thin
+Bavarian line, it attacked in earnest at about one o'clock.
+
+The Riflemen in Renardière had indeed repulsed the enemy's first rush,
+but this position was no longer tenable with only four battalions
+against the whole of Peytavin's Division. At about one o'clock General
+Dietl retired unmolested, under cover of an intermediate position, on
+the wood of Montpipeau, and occupied its border. Here he was joined by
+the 3rd Brigade, which on its retirement from Préfort had found
+Renardière already evacuated. The French had followed up from thence but
+hesitatingly, came under the fire of six batteries between the points of
+the forests at La Planche and Coulmiers, and made no further advance
+with their right wing.
+
+In the centre Barry's Division about one o'clock had driven the Bavarian
+Riflemen out of the stone-quarries in front of Coulmiers. Not till three
+o'clock did it advance to a renewed general attack on the 4th Brigade,
+which was repulsed by the fire of the German guns and the repeated
+charges of the 5th Cavalry Brigade.
+
+Meanwhile, d'Aries' Brigade of the XVth French Corps, after leaving
+Renardière, arrived southward of Coulmiers, and its batteries
+strengthened the fire which was being directed on that village. The
+Bavarian guns were compelled before the rush of the French tirailleurs
+to take ground further in rear, where they resumed their activity, while
+the infantry drove the French out of the park at the point of the
+bayonet.
+
+But after four hours' fighting the resistance of this single brigade
+against three French brigades had become extremely arduous. Of the whole
+Corps only two battalions remained intact as a reserve at Bonneville, no
+reinforcement was to be looked for from anywhere, and on the right flank
+the French threatened the communications with Chartres as well as with
+Paris. At four in the afternoon General von der Tann gave orders to
+break off the fight and to retire by brigades from the left wing on
+Artenay.
+
+Fresh troops of the enemy at this moment forced their way into the park
+of Coulmiers. Colonel Count von Ysenburg held the eastern outlets of the
+village, and withdrew his troops by alternate echelons through Gémigmy
+in good order.
+
+It now proved of the greatest importance that the 2nd Brigade should
+have been able to maintain its position in front of this village, thus
+covering the further retreat.
+
+At noon, General von Orff (in command of the Brigade), on approaching
+Champs and Cheminiers, had found these villages occupied by Deplanque's
+French Brigade. First he silenced its artillery, then he deployed his
+four battalions for action, with the 4th Cavalry Brigade on the right
+flank.
+
+Reyau's Cavalry ere long came up between these two villages, after it
+had given up its two hours' cannonade against the Bavarian Cuirassiers
+and had been driven out of St. Sigismond by dismounted hussars. But this
+body of horse soon got out from under the fire of the Bavarian guns and
+moved off to the westward, it was said because it mistook Lipkowski's
+volunteers, skirmishing further to the north, for German reinforcements
+advancing. And when the Bavarian horse-batteries opened fire on Champs
+from the north-east, the French abandoned the place at about two
+o'clock, in great disorder.
+
+General von Orff now brought the artillery up to within 500 paces of
+Cheminiers, and marched the infantry up through the intervals.
+
+Admiral Jauréguiberry, however, arriving in person, succeeded in
+rallying the wavering troops, and this attack failed. The French
+batteries soon compelled the Bavarian horse-batteries to retire.
+
+When, at about three o'clock, Bourdillon's Brigade and the reserve
+artillery of the XVIth French Corps also arrived at Champs, and news was
+brought of the state of the fighting at Coulmiers, General von Orff
+determined to refrain from all further attack, and confined himself to
+maintaining his position in front of Gémigny to the last extremity.
+Unshaken by the fire of the numerous hostile batteries, the weak brigade
+repulsed the repeated attacks of the enemy.
+
+Thus the 4th Brigade was enabled unmolested to retire from Coulmiers by
+Gémigny and St. Péravy, and the 1st, from Montpipeau further eastward,
+on Coinces. The 2nd Brigade followed to Coinces, and finally the 3rd
+formed the rear-guard as far as St. Sigismond, where it halted and
+bivouacked. The cavalry covered the retreat on all sides.
+
+After a short rest the retreat of the main body was continued during the
+night, by very bad roads. Artenay was reached by the morning. Orleans
+was evacuated, and the garrison which had been left there rejoined its
+Corps. The stores were conveyed by railway back to Toury; but one
+ammunition column, 150 prisoners, and the sick who could not be moved,
+fell into the hands of the French.
+
+This contest of 20,000 Germans against 70,000 French cost the former
+about 800 in killed and wounded; the enemy's loss was nearly double.
+
+From Artenay, on November 10th, the 2nd Brigade undertook the duty of
+covering the further march on Toury, where close quarters were
+available. Thither, too, came the 22nd Division from Chartres, and took
+up a position at Janville close to the Bavarians. General von der Tann
+had extricated himself from a difficult position with much skill and
+good fortune. The enemy did not attempt a pursuit. General d'Aurelle
+restricted himself to awaiting further reinforcements in a strong
+position before Orleans. The French preparations were, however, in
+greater activity on the Upper Loir and the Eure.
+
+On the German side the IInd Army Corps arrived before Paris on the 5th
+of November; the 3rd Division was included in the investing line between
+the Seine and Marne; the 4th moved on to Longjumeau.
+
+When the Guard Landwehr took possession of the peninsula of Argenteuil,
+a brigade of the IVth Corps became available for service on the north
+side of the capital. On the south side, the 17th Division at
+Rambouillet, the 22nd at Chartres, and the Bavarian Corps, which had
+moved to Ablis, with the 4th and 6th Cavalry Divisions, were ultimately
+formed into a separate Army-Detachment of the IIIrd Army, under the
+command of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, and it was ordered to betake
+itself in the first instance to Dreux.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[41] According to the _Staff History_, on La Renardière and La Grande
+Motte.
+
+
+
+
+OPERATIONS OF THE GRAND DUKE OF MECKLENBURG.
+
+
+On the 17th of November the 17th Division advanced by Maintenon. On the
+left, a French detachment was driven back across the Blaise; and when a
+few companies of marines, who attempted to block the high-road, had been
+disposed of, General von Tresckow (commanding the Division) marched into
+Dreux that evening. The combat had cost the Germans 50 men, the French
+150 and 50 prisoners.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles, whose forces were now at length assembled
+before Orleans in face of the enemy, expressed the wish that the (Grand
+Duke's) Detachment should advance on Tours by way of Le Mans. The Grand
+Duke accordingly marched on Nogent le Rotrou, which place, being the
+central rendezvous of the French levies, promised to be the scene of an
+obstinate resistance.
+
+After several skirmishes the Detachment approached the place, but when
+on the 22nd preparations were being made to storm it from three sides,
+it was found that the enemy had already evacuated it. At the same time
+orders arrived from the supreme Headquarter, instructing the Grand Duke
+to fall back at once on Beaugency to join the right wing of the IInd
+Army, which it was necessary should immediately be reinforced in view of
+the superior strength of the enemy. "The force now massing before
+Orleans is to postpone all hostilities until the arrival of the
+Detachment. The slight opposition offered by the French on the Eure and
+Huisne sufficiently shows that no serious danger threatens on that side;
+the enemy in that quarter need only be kept under observation by
+cavalry." The Detachment was not to be permitted even a single rest day,
+and its march was to be conducted with the utmost speed.
+
+On the 23rd, the Divisions had closed up on their respective heads, and
+the Grand Duke on the 24th moved on Châteaudun and Vendôme; but the
+Bavarian Corps only got as far as Vibraye, while the two Prussian
+Divisions withdrew from the difficult country of the Perche, and the
+cavalry found the whole line of the Loir held by the enemy.
+
+In fact, the French had sent a brigade of the troops massed behind the
+forest of Marchénoir by railway to Vendôme, expressly to protect the
+Government at Tours, while General de Sonis had advanced with the rest
+of the XVIIth Corps on Brou. Here on the 25th his advance met an
+ammunition column and bridge-train of the Bavarian Corps. At first only
+the 10th Cavalry Brigade could engage the enemy, but when presently two
+companies and eight guns had occupied the bridge over the Loir at
+Yèvres, the waggons were got through Brou in safety, and the enemy could
+not enter that place till the cavalry had continued its march.
+
+The Bavarian Corps was meanwhile advancing on Mondoubleau and St.
+Calais, not certainly the shortest route to Beaugency, but, on the
+contrary, on the direct road to Tours. The two Divisions only reached
+the vicinity of Vibraye and Authon.
+
+The appearance of a hostile force at Brou was deemed of sufficient
+importance to justify a détour by that place, postponing for the moment
+the prescribed march on the Loire. But when the 22nd Division approached
+Brou on the 26th, it found that the enemy had already retired during the
+night. The Government at Tours had ordered the whole of the XVIIth
+Corps to concentrate at Vendôme for their protection. But when the
+German cavalry made its appearance at Cloyes and Fréteval, General Sonis
+considered that he could not pursue his march further along the Loir,
+and made a détour by Marchénoir. But two night-marches so shattered the
+levies for the first time collected in mass that whole swarms of
+stragglers wandered about the neighbourhood all day and could only with
+difficulty be re-assembled at Beaugency.
+
+To imbue the operations with unity of command, the Grand Duke was now,
+by instruction from the supreme Head-quarter, placed under Prince
+Frederick Charles's orders, and General von Stosch[42] was despatched to
+undertake the duties of Chief of the Staff to the Detachment. That force
+by the Prince's orders was to come in with all speed to Janville,
+whither troops of the IXth Corps would be sent to meet it by way of
+Orgères.
+
+The Grand Duke therefore marched, on the 27th, with both his (Prussian)
+Divisions (17th and 22nd) to Bonneval, where there was already a
+squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Division. The Bavarian Corps, which, after
+finding Brou abandoned, had been directed on Courtalin, marched to
+Châteaudun. Having thus accomplished a junction with the IInd Army, the
+sorely fatigued troops of the Detachment were allowed a day's rest on
+the 28th, in quarters on the Loir.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[42] Until then Commissary-General. He succeeded Colonel von Krenski as
+the Grand Duke's Chief of Staff.
+
+
+
+
+SITUATION OF IIND ARMY.
+
+(Second half of November.)
+
+
+Prince Frederick Charles had hastened the advance of his army as much as
+possible, but it had met with many hindrances. The roads were broken
+up, National Guards and franctireurs stood watchful for mischief, and
+even the country people had taken up arms. However, by November 14th the
+IXth Corps with the 1st Cavalry Division reached Fontainebleau, whence
+it pursued its march to Angerville. The IIIrd Corps was following on
+Pithiviers. Of the Xth Corps the 40th Brigade was left at Chaumont, to
+make connection with the XIVth Corps; the 36th reached Montargis and
+Beaune la Rolande on the 21st.[43] The two brigades following in rear
+(37th and 39th) had a sharp encounter on the 24th at Ladon and
+Maizières. In this combat 170 French prisoners were taken, who belonged
+to a corps which, as General von Werder had already reported, was
+proceeding under General Crouzat's command from Chagny to Gien by
+railway. The order of battle was found on an officer who was among the
+prisoners.
+
+That while the Grand Duke's Detachment was marching to join it, the IInd
+Army, only now fully concentrated, was in very close proximity to
+considerable forces of the enemy, was ascertained beyond doubt by
+several reconnoissances.
+
+On the 24th troops of the IXth Corps advanced along the great high-road.
+A few shells caused the enemy to evacuate Artenay, pursued by the
+cavalry as far as Croix Briquet. Early in the same day a mixed
+detachment of all arms from the IIIrd Corps reached Neuville aux Bois.
+Two detachments of the 38th Brigade marched on Bois Commun and
+Bellegarde, but everywhere those inquisitive reconnaissances were met by
+very superior numbers of the enemy.
+
+It was ascertained that the position of the French before Orleans
+extended for about 37 miles from the Conie to Loing; and the massing of
+troops, especially on their (right) flank, made it highly probable that
+they proposed advancing by Fontainebleau on the rear of the besieging
+army. Still, this intention was not so evident as to justify Prince
+Frederick Charles in leaving the great highways from Orleans to Paris
+unguarded. However, to enable him to lend his left wing timely support
+in case of need, he moved the 5th Infantry Division of the IIIrd Corps
+and the 1st Cavalry Division to Boynes, nearer to the Xth Corps which
+was weak, and the 6th Division occupied Pithiviers in their stead. The
+quarters at Bazoches vacated by the 6th Division, were assigned to the
+IXth Corps. Finally, the Grand Duke received orders to reach Toury with
+his heads of columns by the 29th at latest. These dispositions were all
+carried out in due course.
+
+Immediately after its success at Coulmiers the French Army of the Loire
+seemed for the moment only to have thought of securing itself against a
+counter-blow. It retired on Orleans, threw up extensive entrenchments,
+for which marine artillery was even brought up from Cherbourg, and
+awaited the arrival of further reinforcements. The XXth Corps, already
+mentioned, 40,000 strong, joined the XVth, XVIth, and XVIIth at Gien, in
+addition to one Division of the XVIIIth newly assembled at Nevers, and
+finally the volunteer bands under Cathelineau and Lipowski.
+
+Thus the French Army round Orleans numbered 200,000; the German infantry
+opposed to this host for the time reached a strength of not more than
+45,000 men.
+
+Gambetta soon became urgent for renewed offensive operations. As General
+d'Aurelle raised objections to an advance by Pithiviers and Malesherbes,
+the Dictator himself took in hand the dispositions. In the night of the
+22nd--23rd he telegraphed orders from Tours that the XVth Corps was at
+once to assemble at Chilleurs aux Bois and reach Pithiviers on the 24th;
+the XXth to march to Beaune la Rolande; and that then both Corps were to
+advance by way of Fontainebleau on Paris. The General pointed out that,
+according to his reckoning, 80,000 Germans must be encountered in an
+open country, and that it would be more advisable to await their attack
+in an intrenched position. Further, that this movement could be of no
+service in affording succour to the distressed capital, and that
+meanwhile there would remain unperformed the strengthening of the right
+wing, where on the 24th the unsteadiness of the XVIIIth and XXth Corps
+had caused the loss of the already mentioned fight at Ladon and
+Maizières.
+
+In accordance with instructions received from Tours on the 26th, General
+Crouzat ordered the advance for the 28th of the two Corps he
+commanded--the XVIIIth by the right through Juranville, the XXth by the
+left through Bois Commun--for an encompassing attack on Beaune la
+Rolande. The XVth Corps in addition was moved up to Chambon in support,
+and Cathelineau's volunteers went forward to Courcelles.
+
+As we have seen, on this same day the Grand Duke's Detachment had come
+up on the extreme right of the IInd German Army. On the left stood the
+Xth Corps with the 38th Brigade at Beaune, the 39th at Les Côtelles; the
+37th, with the Corps artillery, had advanced to Marcilly between these
+two places.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[43] There seems some confusion here. The 36th Brigade belonged, not to
+the Xth, but to the IXth Corps. The 38th Brigade is stated in the _Staff
+History_ to have reached Beaune la Rolande on 23rd, the rest of the
+Corps (exclusive of the 40th Brigade) still behind at Montargis.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF BEAUNE LA ROLANDE.
+
+(November 28th.)
+
+
+The French attack on November 28th failed because of the miscarriage of
+the projected combination, the two separate attempts exerting little
+reciprocal influence. On the right, the head of the XVIIIth Corps struck
+the outposts of the 39th Brigade at an early hour, in front of
+Juranville and Lorcy. Not until after a stout resistance were these
+driven in by about nine o'clock on Les Côtelles and behind the
+railway-embankment at Corbeilles, where they took possession of the
+park.
+
+The French could now deploy in the open country in front of Juranville,
+and following up with strong lines of tirailleurs preceding them, they
+forced their way into Corbeilles and drove the garrison out to the north
+and west. But meanwhile, on the other side, a reinforcement from the
+reserve at Marcilly reached Les Côtelles, and now Colonel von Valentini
+passed to the attack of Juranville with the 56th Regiment. The artillery
+could afford no co-operation, the enemy made an obstinate resistance,
+and not till noon did he begin to retreat, while bitter fighting still
+continued round some detached houses. But when strong columns came up
+from Maizières and Corbeilles, the Germans were compelled to abandon the
+conquered village, carrying off with them 300 prisoners.
+
+About two o'clock the greater portion of the French Corps deployed near
+Juranville for an attack on the position at Long Cour, into which the
+39th Brigade had retired. But since the attack had not been prepared by
+artillery, it came to nothing under the fire of five Prussian batteries.
+
+The first attack on Les Côtelles was also repulsed, but when it was
+repeated an hour later, the Germans had to abandon the place with the
+loss of fifty men taken prisoners. A gun, seven of the gunners of which
+had fallen, sank so deep in the soft ground that the few men left could
+not drag it out.
+
+The XVIIIth French Corps, however, made no further way, but, as dusk
+came on, contented itself with an ineffective cannonade, and finally the
+39th Brigade was able to maintain its position abreast of Beaune.
+
+On the left wing of the French line of battle the attack had also from
+the first been of an encompassing tendency, the 2nd Division of the XXth
+Corps having advanced on Beaune, and the 1st on Batilly. But it was near
+noon before the arrival of part of its 3rd Division, which had remained
+in reserve, enabled the enemy to drive in the German advanced posts from
+Bois de la Leu to the cross-roads north-west of Beaune. And here also
+the 38th Brigade soon found itself under the artillery and infantry fire
+from Pierre Percée, the enemy continually gaining ground from the
+northward. The retreat had to be continued along the Cæsar road, whereon
+a gun, of which the men and horses had for the most part perished, fell
+into the enemy's hands. About the same time the 2nd French Division
+ascended the heights to the east of Beaune, and Colonel von Cranach was
+first enabled to rally the 57th Regiment further rearward, near La Rue
+Boussier, whereby the withdrawal of the batteries hurrying away from
+Marcilly was covered, and the further advance of the enemy was then
+arrested. Any such effort on his part entirely ceased when he was
+suddenly threatened on his own flank by the 1st Prussian Cavalry
+Division advancing from Boynes, and came under fire of its
+horse-batteries.
+
+Meanwhile the 16th Regiment found itself completely isolated in Beaune,
+and surrounded on three sides by the enemy.
+
+The town, which was surrounded by the remains of a high wall, and the
+churchyard were as far as possible prepared for defence. The enemy,
+after his first onset by strong swarms of riflemen had been driven back,
+set about bombarding the town. His shells burst through the walls of the
+churchyard and set a few buildings on fire, but every attempt at an
+assault was steadfastly repulsed.
+
+In the meantime, General von Woyna had replenished the ammunition of his
+batteries, and while occupying Romainville on the right, he also took up
+a position opposite the copses of Pierre Percée, so that by three
+o'clock he was able to bring up seven companies on the east side of
+Beaune.
+
+About this time assistance came with the arrival of the IIIrd Army
+Corps. While the 6th Division was still pressing on towards Pithiviers,
+the 5th had already that morning stood to arms in front of that place.
+The first news from Beaune had sounded so far from alarming, that the
+Corps-artillery retired to its quarters. Nevertheless, in consequence of
+the increasing cannon thunder and later information of a serious
+encounter, General von Alvensleben gave the word for the Corps to
+advance, with the 5th Division of which General von Stülpnagel had
+already set out of his own initiative. The 6th followed, and detached a
+battalion to observe towards Courcelles; wherein, however, Cathelineau's
+volunteers remained inactive.
+
+Part of the 52nd Regiment, which was marching at the head of the column,
+turned off to the right, and, supported by artillery, began a fire-fight
+about 4.30 against Arconville and Batilly. Another part penetrated into
+the Bois de la Leu and the copses near La Pierre Percée, where it
+recaptured the gun which had been lost there earlier. Four batteries in
+position on the road from Pithiviers, behind Fosse des Prés, directed
+their fire on the enemy still holding his ground on the west side of
+Beaune, from which he was finally driven by the 12th Regiment, and
+pursued as far as Mont Barrois.
+
+After dark the Xth Corps encamped about Long Cour, Beaune and Batilly,
+and the 5th Division in its rear; the 6th remained at Boynes, where the
+1st Division of Cavalry also found accommodation.
+
+In the battle of Beaune la Rolande General von Voigts-Rhetz had to hold
+his ground against the enemy with 11,000 men against 60,000, with three
+brigades against six Divisions, until help reached him towards evening.
+This action cost the Germans 900 and the French 1300 men in killed and
+wounded; and 1800 unwounded prisoners fell into the hands of the
+Germans.
+
+In the evening the French XXth Corps had retreated as far as Bois Commun
+and Bellegarde; the XVIIIth, on the contrary, had taken up its position
+near Vernouille and Juranville, in fact, directly in front of the Xth
+German Corps, on the ground which the former had won. The expectation
+was therefore not unnatural that the fighting would recommence on the
+morrow.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles, therefore, directed the Xth and IIIrd Corps to
+assemble on the 29th in full preparedness. The IXth received orders to
+advance with two brigades towards Boynes and Bazoches, and the remaining
+troops were to follow as soon as the Grand Duke's Detachment should have
+reached the main road to Paris. Of it in the course of the day the heads
+arrived, the 4th Cavalry Division at Toury, the infantry at Allaines and
+Orgères. The 6th Cavalry Division, which was marching on the right
+flank, met first with opposition at Tournoisis.
+
+Meanwhile General Crouzat had been instructed from Tours by a message
+which reached him on the evening of the 28th, to desist for the present
+from further offensive attack, and the French right wing was thereupon
+drawn further back. On the 30th both Corps moved leftward, in order to
+be again nearer to the XVth. For the purpose of disguising this lateral
+movement, detachments were sent in a northerly direction and met
+reconnoitring parties of the German Xth and IIIrd Corps, with which
+skirmishes took place at Maizières, St. Loup and Mont Barrois; and the
+movement of the French was soon detected, in the first instance on their
+left flank.
+
+The Government at Tours had received news from Paris that General Ducrot
+would attempt on the 29th to break through the German investing lines
+with 100,000 men and 400 guns, and endeavour to connect with the Army
+of the Loire in a southerly direction. The balloon which carried this
+despatch had descended in Norway, whence the message had been forwarded.
+It was concluded from this that the General was already vigorously
+engaged, and that help must be no longer delayed. Commissioned by
+Gambetta, M. Freycinet submitted to a council of war called by General
+d'Aurelle, a scheme for the advance of the whole army on Pithiviers. In
+the event of a refusal by the Commander-in-Chief to accept the same, M.
+Freycinet carried an order for his supersession.
+
+It was decided in the first place to execute a wheel to the right with
+the left wing, Chilleurs aux Bois forming the pivot of the movement.
+While a front was thus being formed against Pithiviers, the Corps of the
+right wing on a parallel front were to await the order to move until
+this was accomplished. The XXIst Corps was to be sent to Vendôme to
+cover the left flank.
+
+
+
+
+THE ADVANCE OF THE ARMY OF THE LOIRE TO THE RELIEF OF PARIS.
+
+
+As the result of those dispositions, on the 1st of December the XVIth
+Corps moved on Orgères, in the direction of the railway; the XVIIth
+followed to Patay and St. Péravy.
+
+Opposite to these forces, on the right wing of the IInd German Army the
+17th Division of the Grand Duke's Detachment had arrived at Bazoches,
+the 22nd at Toury, and the Bavarian Corps reached the vicinity of
+Orgères. Thus the hostile shock fell first on the last body. Attacked in
+front by a far superior force, and threatened in flank by Michel's
+Cavalry Division, the 1st Bavarian Brigade was forced to retreat at
+three o'clock to Villepion. The 2nd Brigade approaching from Orgères,
+halted to the west of Nonneville, and the 4th marched up to between
+Villepion and Faverolles, which position the Bavarians, in spite of
+heavy losses, succeeded in holding for a long time. On their right wing
+Prince Leopold of Bavaria, with the four guns of his battery still
+serviceable, arrested the enemy's advance on Nonneville, but under the
+personal leadership of Admiral Jauréguiberry the French forced their way
+into Villepion. As night drew on, and the want of ammunition was
+becoming serious, the 1st Bavarian Brigade went to Loigny; the 2nd,
+however, did not retreat until five o'clock to Orgères, where also the
+3rd arrived in the evening, whilst the 4th joined the 1st at Loigny.
+
+The engagement cost both sides about 1000 men, and only the foremost
+Bavarian detachments were forced back for a short distance.
+
+This measure of success, and the news from Paris, rekindled in Tours
+ardent hopes of victory. As will be seen further on, a sortie from Paris
+on 30th November had certainly so far succeeded that the village of
+Epinay on the northern section of the line of investment was occupied
+for a short time. Thereupon it was summarily concluded that this was the
+village of the same name which lay to the south near Longjumeau, and
+that there was now scarcely any obstacle to the junction of the Army of
+Orleans with that of Paris. Cathelineau's volunteer Corps was directed
+at once to occupy the forest of Fontainebleau, and the imminent
+annihilation of the Germans was announced to the country.
+
+The head of the Army of Orleans, nevertheless, had barely made half a
+day's march in the direction of Paris, and the right wheel of the left
+wing remained to be accomplished. The XVIth Corps was to attempt to
+reach the line Allaines-Toury by the 2nd of December; the XVIIth was to
+follow, and the XVth, marching from Chilleurs through Artenay, was to
+close to the right. The Grand Duke, on the report of the great force in
+which the enemy was approaching, determined to march to meet him with
+the whole strength of the Detachment. The requisite orders were issued
+at eight o'clock in the morning to the Divisions, which were already
+standing prepared on their respective assembling-grounds. The Bavarian
+Corps was directed to take up a position opposite Loigny with its left
+wing at Château-Goury; the 17th Division to march immediately from
+Santilly to Lumeau, and the 22nd from Tivernon to Baigneaux. The cavalry
+was to undertake the protection of both wings.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF LOIGNY--POUPRY.
+
+(December 2nd.)
+
+
+The Bavarian Corps was still engaged in the advance from Maladerie when
+the French ascended the heights to the west of Loigny. The 1st Division,
+therefore, marched towards Villeprévost, and the 2nd held the line
+Beauvilliers-Goury.
+
+At 8 a.m. General Chanzy set out with his 2nd and 3rd Divisions from
+Terminiers, for Loigny and Lumeau. The 1st followed in reserve, and
+Michel's Cavalry Division covered the left flank. In spite of the strong
+fire of the defenders, the 2nd Division by nine o'clock advanced close
+upon Beauvilliers, but then it had to give way before the onset of the
+Bavarians, who now on their side attacked Loigny. When, however, at
+10.30 the whole French Corps advanced, deployed on a broad front from
+Nonneville to Neuvilliers, they had to fall back with great losses.
+They, however, found a rallying point at Beauvilliers, where the fire of
+the Corps artillery gave pause to the advance of the enemy.
+
+The combat surged backwards and forwards until, at 11.30, the 2nd
+Bavarian Brigade joined in the fray. The 4th Cavalry Division charged
+the left flank of the enemy; and Michel's Division fell back on the
+XVIIth Corps, numerous prisoners thus falling into the hands of the
+German troopers. In the meantime the Bavarian infantry had marched to
+Ferme Morâle with intent to renew the attack, but there found itself
+under fire so destructive that it was forced to turn back. Thereupon the
+horse-batteries on the flank enfiladed the enemy's wing with such
+effect, that the farm was set on fire and General von Orff found himself
+able to take possession of it.
+
+At Beauvilliers, meanwhile, the 2nd Division had only with great
+difficulty resisted the vigorous onslaughts of the French, whose
+rifle-swarms were already so close that the batteries were compelled to
+retire to positions further back. But the success of the right wing soon
+extended to the left. Breaking out from Beauvilliers, as well as from
+Château Goury, the Bavarians drove Jauréguiberry's Division back to
+Loigny.
+
+Shortly after noon the firing of the French became again remarkably
+energetic, especially against Château Goury. The battalions of the
+Bavarian left wing were forced back upon the park.
+
+During these events the two Prussian Divisions had continued their
+advance. The artillery of the 17th pressed on in order to engage the
+enemy, while the head of the infantry reached Lumeau in time to prevent
+its occupation by the opposing forces. Strong swarms of French riflemen
+fought their way up quite close to the place, but they were finally
+driven back by a well-directed fire of musketry and shell; whereupon the
+Division assailed the right flank of the French attack.
+
+The 22nd Division also marched through Baigneaux to Anneux, and joined
+in the pursuit of the retreating enemy. A number of prisoners and a
+battery were captured, and the enemy, after a vain attempt to make
+another stand near Neuvilliers, at last fled towards Terminiers in utter
+disorder.
+
+After this result of the fighting about Lumeau, General von Tresckow was
+able to go to the assistance of the hard-pressed left wing of the
+Bavarians. Under cover of the fire of eight batteries the 33rd Brigade
+moved against the flank of the French masses which were now making a
+fierce attack on Château Goury. Taken by surprise, these retired upon
+Loigny. But there, too, the Mecklenburg battalions forced in, shoulder
+to shoulder with the Bavarians, and it was only in the churchyard on
+high ground at the west end of the village, that an obstinate resistance
+was made for some time longer. The French, as they retired on Villepion,
+suffered from a destructive fire from eighty guns massed near Loigny.
+
+At 2.30 General von der Tann caused the whole of his 1st Division, after
+the replenishment of its ammunition, to advance once more; this
+movement, however, was arrested by the fire of the enemy.
+
+Michel's Division moved up to oppose the advance of the German cavalry
+on the right flank, but went about as soon as it came within range of
+the horse-batteries.
+
+Because of the exposed condition of his right flank, General Chanzy had
+sent a few battalions to form a refused flank[44] near Terre-noire.
+Behind this a brigade of the XVIIth Corps came up near Faverolles, and
+to the right of Villepion the Papal Zouaves advanced against Villours.
+
+General von Tresckow now threw in his last reserves. Two battalions of
+the 75th Regiment broke into the place at the first charge, and in
+conjunction with all the troops fighting in the vicinity, drove back the
+French columns to Villepion.
+
+The approach of darkness brought the fighting here to a close.
+
+While the French XVIth Corps had been fighting single-handed with great
+persistence all day, the XVth, according to orders, had advanced through
+Artenay along the Paris high-road. There it was opposed only by the 3rd
+Cavalry Brigade. That force was attacked about mid-day near Dambron by
+the 3rd French Division, which formed the left-flank column, while the
+other two Divisions held much further to the right.
+
+So soon as this information came in from the cavalry, General von
+Wittich moved off with the whole of the 22nd Division from Anneux in the
+direction of Poupry. The head of the column reached that place at the
+double, and succeeded in driving back the enemy, who had already broken
+in there and occupied the forest belts to the north. Six batteries then
+came into action, resting on Morâle to the south. The French deployed
+between Dambron and Autroches, and maintained a persistent fire while
+their remaining Divisions came up. After an encounter with the troops
+from Poupry, they occupied with their right wing the small copses which
+lay near, in front of the forest-land to the north, placed the artillery
+in the intervals, and began at three o'clock an attack from thence.
+This, however, withered under a fire of grape-shot from the defenders,
+and the menace of a charge by the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, which General von
+Colomb had set in motion in the open country to the west of Dambron. An
+attack on Morâle by the left wing from Autroches likewise miscarried.
+But at four o'clock the French advanced along their whole front,
+preceded by great swarms of tirailleurs. They were repulsed at Poupry,
+and likewise at Morâle, at which latter place two companies of pioneers
+joined in the fight; on the other hand, their right wing pushed into the
+forest, and compelled its defenders to retreat. But Prussian battalions
+yet remaining in reserve, advanced from Poupry, and drove the enemy back
+into the copses, where he had still to defend himself against an attack
+by the cavalry.
+
+The fighting was now stopped by the approach of night. The 22nd Division
+remained under arms till eleven o'clock in the position which it had
+seized, and only then withdrew to Anneux. The 3rd Cavalry Division
+quartered for the night in Baigneaux. The 17th Division remained in
+position near Lumeau, having Loigny in its front, which it occupied in
+concert with the Bavarians, who extended further to the right as far as
+Orgères.
+
+The day had cost the French 4000 killed and wounded, and the Germans
+fully as many, but 2500 unwounded prisoners, eight guns, one
+mitrailleuse and a standard belonging to the enemy were left in
+possession of the latter.
+
+On the French side, the XVth Corps retired to Artenay and received
+orders, under cover of a Division to be left there, to occupy the
+defensive position previously held on the skirt of the forest.
+
+Thus the intended further advance of the left wing of the Army of
+Orleans had not succeeded. The XVIth Corps, lacking the support of the
+XVIIth, had indeed lost ground, but still maintained itself with its
+most advanced line on Villepion, Faverolles and Terminiers. General
+Chanzy therefore considered himself justified in making yet another
+effort against the German right wing on the following day.
+
+The German strength consisted of five Corps, and stood close in front of
+the enemy; further reinforcements could not be immediately expected, but
+by the supreme Command it was judged that the moment had now come to put
+an end to the standing menace from the south against the investment of
+Paris.
+
+At mid-day of the 2nd, the order came from the Royal Head-quarter to
+undertake an attack on Orleans in full strength, and in the course of
+that day Prince Frederick Charles gave the requisite instructions to
+this end.
+
+It is here necessary to go back a little in order to see how
+circumstances developed events during November at various other points.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[44] To the German term "Haken-stellung" there is perhaps no precisely
+equivalent expression in our military vocabulary. "Refused flank" is
+probably approximate.
+
+
+
+
+PARIS IN NOVEMBER.
+
+
+The tidings, which became known on the 14th November, of the happy
+result of the action at Coulmiers on the 9th, had rekindled in Paris
+universal hope. No one doubted that the enemy would find it necessary to
+send large forces in the Orleans direction, which would considerably
+weaken the investment line, particularly in its southern section.
+
+In order to contribute towards the hoped-for approaching relief by
+active co-operation, three separate armies were formed out of the
+garrison of Paris.
+
+The first, under General Clément Thomas, consisted of 226 battalions of
+the National Guard, in round numbers 130,000 men. Its duty was the
+defence of the enceinte and the maintenance of quietude within the city.
+The second, under General Ducrot, constituted the most trustworthy
+element, especially the troops of the former XIIIth and XIVth Corps.
+This army was apportioned into three (Infantry) Corps and one Cavalry
+Division, and it consisted of fully 100,000 men and more than 300 guns.
+It was designed for active service in the field, and for making sorties
+on the investing forces. The third army, under General Vinoy, 70,000
+strong, was made up of six Divisions of Gardes-Mobiles and one Cavalry
+Division; and to it also Maud'huy's Division of the line was assigned.
+It was to aid the more important sorties by diversions on subordinate
+fronts. In addition to all these details, 80,000 Gardes-Mobiles were in
+the forts, and 35,000 more in St. Denis under Admiral de la Roncière.
+
+The available military strength consequently amounted to above 400,000
+men.
+
+The garrison exhibited a lively activity in petty nocturnal enterprises.
+The heavy guns of the defences carried to Choisy le Roi, and even as far
+as Beauregard, near Versailles. On the peninsula of Gennevilliers
+trenchwork was energetically set about, and the task of bridge-building
+was undertaken. Many signs pointed to an intended effort on the part of
+the French to break out in a westerly direction. But since, as long as
+the IInd Army was still incomplete, the greatest danger threatened from
+the south, the supreme Command in Versailles, as already mentioned,
+ordered the IInd Corps into the position behind the Yvette from
+Villeneuve to Saclay. On the north of Paris the Guard Corps extended
+itself leftward as far as Aulnay, the XIIth sent one brigade across to
+the south bank of the Marne, and the Würtemberg Division moved into the
+interval between the Marne and the Seine caused by the shifting of the
+IInd Corps.
+
+On November 18th the summons from Tours reached Paris, calling on the
+latter with all promptitude to reach the hand to the Army of the Loire;
+certainly somewhat prematurely, since, as we know, that army was at the
+time concerning itself only in regard to defensive measures.
+
+In Paris all preparations were actually made for a great sortie. But as
+the earlier attacks on the front of the VIth Corps had shown that this
+section of the investment was materially strengthened by fortifications
+about Thiais and Chevilly, it was decided in the first instance to gain
+the plateau east of Joinville and from thence to bend rightward towards
+the south. The attention of the Germans was to be distracted by attacks
+in the opposite direction.
+
+On the 18th,[45] the day on which the Army of Orleans had vainly striven
+to press forward to Beaune la Rolande, General Ducrot assembled the IInd
+Army of Paris in the neighbourhood of Vincennes, and Mont Avron was
+occupied on the following day by Hugues' Division of the IIIrd Army. As,
+however, the construction of the bridges (over the Marne) at Champigny
+and Bry was delayed, the battle was postponed till the 30th; but it was
+left to the commanders of the subordinate affairs to carry them out
+simultaneously with the chief enterprise or in advance of it.
+Accordingly, Maud'huy's Division assembled in the night of 28th--29th
+behind the redoubt of Hautes Bruyères, and advanced against L'Hay before
+daybreak.
+
+Warned by the heavy firing from the southern forts, General von Tümpling
+(commanding VIth Corps) had early ordered the 12th Division to get under
+arms in its fighting positions, and the 11th to assemble at Fresnes.
+
+The French, favoured by the darkness, made their way through the
+vineyards into L'Hay; but were successfully driven back by the Germans
+with the bayonet and clubbed arms.
+
+After a prolonged fire-fight, the French renewed their onslaught at
+8.30, but without success; and then the defenders, reinforced from the
+reserve, retaliated with a vigorous counterstroke. At ten o'clock the
+enemy retreated to Villejuif.
+
+Admiral Pothuau at the same time had moved up the Seine with Marines and
+National Guards. An outpost at Gare aux Boeufs was surprised and
+captured, and Choisy le Roi was fired upon by field-guns, fortress
+artillery, and gunboats which appeared on the Seine. Just as the
+Grenadiers of the 10th (Prussian) Regiment were on the point of making
+an attack, General Vinoy broke off the fight.
+
+This demonstration cost the French 1000 men and 300 uninjured prisoners;
+the Prussians, remaining under cover, lost only 140 men. The fortress
+kept up its fire till mid-day, and then the enemy was allowed a short
+truce, to remove his numerous wounded.
+
+Against the front of the Vth Corps also, a strong infantry force
+advanced at eight o'clock upon Garches and Malmaison, and drove in part
+of the outposts. But it soon found itself opposed by closed battalions,
+and at noon retreated to Valérien.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[45] Obvious misprint for 28th.
+
+
+
+
+THE ATTEMPT OF THE ARMY OF PARIS TO BREAK OUT.
+
+(November 30th and December 2nd.)
+
+
+On November 30th the IInd Paris Army opened the battle which was to
+decide the fate of the capital.
+
+To hinder the reinforcement of the Germans towards the real point of
+attack, almost every section of their line of investment was again
+engrossed by sorties.
+
+To the duty of pushing an attack against the southern front, General
+Ducrot assigned Susbielle's Division of his IInd Corps. It reached Rosny
+so early as three o'clock in the morning, crossed the Marne at Créteil
+by a field-bridge, and from thence, briskly supported by the nearest
+forts, opened fire on the outpost line of the Würtemberg Division, which
+had been pushed forward to Bonneuil and Mesly.
+
+General von Obernitz (commanding the Division) had an extended position
+to maintain. His 1st Brigade was at Villiers on the peninsula of
+Joinville, his 2nd at Sucy en Brie, and his 3rd at Brévannes. The
+Division was placed under the Commander of the Army of the Meuse, who
+had been instructed from Versailles to reinforce it strongly by the
+XIIth Corps, or even by troops of the Guard Corps.
+
+From the great accumulation of hostile forces on Mont Avron, the Saxon
+Corps believed itself directly threatened on the right bank of the
+Marne, and requested to be immediately transferred to the left; the
+Crown Prince of Saxony gave the order that the whole 24th Division
+should assemble there on the following day.
+
+Thus for the present the only aid that could be rendered to the
+Würtembergers was from the wing of the IInd Corps at Villeneuve, of
+which the 7th Infantry Brigade moved up near Brévannes to Valenton.
+
+The fire of its three batteries hurrying thither, first brought the
+advance of the French Division to a stand. The attempt of the
+Würtembergers to seize Mont-Mesly failed at first; but after a strenuous
+artillery fire they succeeded in carrying the hill by twelve o'clock,
+and the Prussian battalions forced their way into Mesly. The Würtemberg
+horse cut in upon the enemy's retreating guns with great success. At
+1.30 the re-opening of the fire from the forts proclaimed the end of
+this sortie. It cost the Germans 350 men, and the French 1200.
+
+During this time the front of the VIth Corps had not been at all
+molested. General Vinoy, who had not been informed of the advance of
+Susbielle's Division, when its retreat was noticed caused to be opened
+from Fort Ivry and the adjoining works a brisk fire, which was augmented
+by gunboats on the Seine and armour-plated batteries on the railway.
+Then Admiral Pothuau advanced against Choisy le Roi and Thiais. His
+Marines, after driving out the Prussian fore-posts, again settled
+themselves firmly in Gare aux Boeufs. But the further advance failed,
+and General Vinoy recalled his troops, after which the fighting at Mesly
+ceased, and only the thunder of artillery continued till five o'clock.
+
+After a preliminary cannonade from Valérien the Gardes-Mobiles advanced
+against the front of the Vth Corps about seven o'clock. They were,
+however, repulsed by the outposts and supporting troops in readiness,
+and retired at eleven o'clock.
+
+On the northern front of Paris there occurred also a sharp fight. At
+mid-day Fort de la Briche, supported by field-guns and a floating
+battery, opened a heavy fire on the low-lying village of Epinay on the
+right bank of the Seine. At two o'clock Haurion's Brigade advanced, two
+companies of marines pressed into the place along the bank of the river,
+and drove out the garrison, which consisted of only one company. A
+second also retired from the defence-works in a northerly direction
+towards Ormesson. At three o'clock in the afternoon, the village, up to
+some still obstinately defended farms on the further side of the
+mill-race, fell into the hands of the French.
+
+Meanwhile the troops of the IVth Corps had assembled, and seven
+batteries came into action on the overhanging heights. The infantry
+rushed upon the village from all sides with loud cheers, and about four
+o'clock, after a fierce street-fight, recovered possession of the posts
+which had been lost; and it was this transitory conquest that was to
+raise so great hopes in Tours. The losses on both sides amounted to 300
+men.
+
+Those affairs were all mere feints to facilitate the chief action; and
+whilst the investing troops were thus engaged and held fast at all
+points, two Corps of the IInd French Army at 6.30 in the morning crossed
+the bridges at Joinville and Nogent which had been completed during the
+night. After repulsing the German outposts they both deployed, and
+stretched completely across the peninsula between Champigny and Bry. The
+IIIrd Corps had taken the road along the north bank of the Marne,
+towards Neuilly, to cross the river there, thus threatening to
+compromise the position of the Saxon Corps, which therefore still
+detained the 47th Brigade on the right bank, though it had been assigned
+to the assistance of the Würtembergers. Consequently there were
+available to oppose the two French Corps on the left bank, only two
+German brigades extended over about four miles, the Saxon 48th about
+Noisy, and the Würtemberg 1st from Villiers to Chennevières.
+
+At ten o'clock Maussion's Division advanced against the Park of
+Villiers. Supported by Saxon detachments from Noisy, the Würtembergers
+repulsed a first attack, but in following it up met with heavy losses.
+The French batteries of two Divisions and those of the Artillery Reserve
+formed line in front of the park. On their right Faron's Division, not
+without heavy losses, succeeded in gaining possession of Champigny, and
+had then established itself in front of that village to defend the
+occupation of it.
+
+General Ducrot's original idea had been to maintain a stationary fight
+on the peninsula until he should be joined at Noisy by his IIIrd Corps.
+But as news arrived that at eleven o'clock it was still on the northern
+side of the Marne, he ordered an immediate general attack by both his
+other Corps.
+
+On the left the advance was checked for a considerable time by the
+German batteries which had been pushed forward between Noisy and
+Villiers, and when Colonel von Abendroth moved out from both villages
+with six companies of the 48th Brigade to an attack in close formation,
+the French fell back into the vineyards on the western slope of the
+plateau, leaving behind two guns, which, however, the Saxons could not
+carry away for want of teams.
+
+In the centre of the line of fight, Berthaut's Division tried to push
+forward south of Villiers, but by the fire of five batteries in position
+there and at Coeuilly its ranks were so severely thinned that it gave
+ground before the advance of a Saxon battalion.
+
+On the right wing, the guns which had been brought up into position in
+front of Champigny had at last been compelled by the German artillery to
+withdraw, and had sought cover further north, near the lime-kilns. A
+body of French infantry had advanced along the riverside to Maison
+Blanche, but meanwhile the 2nd Würtemberg Brigade, although itself
+attacked at Sucy, despatched a reinforcement of two companies and a
+battery to Chennevières. Advancing from the Hunting-lodge, the
+Würtembergers took 200 French prisoners at Maison Blanche; though, on
+the other hand, an attempt to carry the heights in front of Champigny
+with the companies assembled at Coeuilly failed with heavy loss. As the
+result, however, of a renewed flank-attack from the Hunting-lodge,
+Faron's Division, which had already been severely shaken, was obliged to
+retreat to Champigny.
+
+General Ducrot decided to be content, for that day, with having
+established a firm footing on the left bank of the Marne, and he brought
+up sixteen batteries to a position in his front, to secure the wedge of
+ground he had gained. On the following day the attack was to be renewed
+by all the three Corps.
+
+The Germans, on their part, had to congratulate themselves on having
+maintained their ground against greatly superior numbers. And so in the
+afternoon the fight gradually died away, until it broke out again in the
+north.
+
+The French IIIrd Corps, marching up the right bank of the Marne, had
+occupied Neuilly in force, and had driven in the outposts of the Saxon
+47th Brigade. Under cover of six batteries the construction of two
+military bridges below Neuilly was begun at ten o'clock, and finished by
+noon. But just at this time it happened, as we have seen, that the
+French were in retreat from the plateau, so the crossing did not occur
+until two o'clock in the afternoon. Bellemare's Division marched down
+the valley to Bry, where it closed on the left flank of the IInd Corps.
+A regiment of Zouaves, trying to ascend the plateau from Bry, lost half
+its men and all its officers. Notwithstanding, General Ducrot decided to
+employ his reinforced strength in the immediate renewal of the attack on
+Villiers.
+
+Strengthened by four battalions, the Division advanced in this
+direction, although the artillery had not succeeded in battering down
+the park wall; repeated onslaughts by rifle-swarms were repulsed, and
+finally the French retreated into the valley. The simultaneous attacks
+of Berthaut's Division along the railway line and of Faron's Division on
+the Hunting-lodge also miscarried. Not till darkness had set in did the
+firing cease on both sides.
+
+Near Chelles, on the line in which the French IIIrd Corps had been
+advancing in the morning, the Crown Prince of Saxony had collected the
+23rd Division; but as soon as the enemy's real objective was
+penetrated, he despatched part of the 47th Brigade and a portion of the
+Corps Artillery to the threatened position held by the Würtembergers.
+Not less opportunely had General von Obernitz, as soon as the fighting
+at Mesly was over, sent three battalions to the Hunting-lodge. In the
+night orders came from the supreme Head-quarter for the IInd and VIth
+Corps to send reinforcements to the endangered points of the line of
+investment, and the 7th and 21st Brigades arrived at Sucy on the
+following day, the 1st of December.
+
+On the French side the attempt to break through without help from
+outside was already considered as well-nigh hopeless, and it was only
+the fear of popular indignation which caused the IIIrd Army to remain
+longer on the left bank of the Marne. Instead of attacking, the French
+began to intrench themselves, and in order to clear the battle-field a
+truce was arranged. The thunder of the cannon from Mont Avron had to
+serve for the present to keep up the spirits of the Parisians. The
+Germans also worked at the strengthening of their positions, but,
+suffering from the sudden and extreme cold, part at least of the troops
+withdrew into quarters further rearward.
+
+The command of the whole of the German Army between the Marne and the
+Seine was assumed by General von Fransecky (commanding IInd Corps). The
+Head-quarter of the Army of the Meuse had already given instructions
+that Prince George (of Saxony) with all the available troops of the
+XIIth Corps, should make surprise-attacks on Bry and Champigny in the
+early morning of the 2nd.
+
+With this object, on the morning specified the 24th Division assembled
+at Noisy, the 1st Würtemberg Brigade at Villiers, and the 7th Prussian
+Brigade at the Hunting-lodge.
+
+The foremost battalions of the Saxon Division drove back the enemy's
+outposts by a sudden rush, took 100 prisoners, and after storming a
+barricade entered Bry. Here ensued an embittered fight in the streets
+and houses, in which the 2nd Battalion of the 107th Regiment lost nearly
+all its officers. Nevertheless it maintained its hold on the northern
+part of the village, in spite of the heavy fire of the forts.
+
+The Würtembergers also forced an entrance into Champigny, but soon met
+with fierce resistance from the enemy sheltered in the buildings. The
+previously occupied Bois de la Lande had to be abandoned, and General
+Ducrot now determined to resort to the offensive. The strong artillery
+line on his front came into action at about nine o'clock, and two
+Divisions deployed in rear of it.
+
+Meanwhile the Fusilier battalion of the Colberg Regiment marched once
+more from the Hunting-lodge on Bois de la Lande, and carried it with the
+first onslaught. The French, firing heavily from the railway
+embankments, struck down the Pomeranians with clubbed rifles and at the
+point of the bayonet. A fierce fight was carried on at the same time at
+the lime-pits, where at noon 160 French laid down their arms. When six
+Würtemberg and nine Prussian batteries had been by degrees brought into
+action against Champigny, General Hartmann[46] succeeded in getting as
+far as the road leading to Bry. As, however, the batteries were now
+being masked by their own infantry, and were suffering, too, under the
+heavy projectiles fired from the forts, they were withdrawn into the
+hollow of the Hunting-lodge. At two o'clock the 1st Würtemberg and 7th
+Prussian Brigades established themselves firmly in the line from the
+churchyard of Champigny to the Bois de la Lande.
+
+Meanwhile the French divisions of Bellemare and Susbielle had reached
+the battle-field from the right bank of the Marne. The two Saxon
+battalions in Bry, having already lost 36 officers and 638 men, were
+compelled by the approach of the enemy in very superior force, to
+evacuate the village and retire on Noisy, but not without taking 300
+prisoners with them. The rest of the Saxon forces held Villiers, where
+the still available batteries also were in position.
+
+While, at two o'clock, the French were bringing up a strong artillery
+mass against this point, four batteries of the IInd Corps rushed out of
+the hollow near the Hunting-lodge at a gallop upon their flank, and
+opened fire at a range of 2000 paces. In less than ten minutes the
+French batteries fell back and the Prussian batteries returned to their
+sheltered position. Several hostile battalions which, at about three
+o'clock, attempted a renewed assault on Villiers, were repulsed with no
+difficulty, and at five o'clock the fighting ceased. The French merely
+kept up a fire of field and fortress artillery until dark.
+
+General Ducrot had received information in the course of the day, that
+the Army of the Loire was marching on Fontainebleau, and he was,
+therefore, very anxious to continue to maintain his position outside
+Paris.
+
+During the night of December 2nd--3rd, provisions were procured, and the
+teams and ammunition of the batteries were made up; but the approach of
+support from without was in no wise confirmed.
+
+The troops were completely exhausted by the previous disastrous
+fighting, and the Commander-in-Chief was justified in apprehending a
+repulse on the Marne by the enemy's invigorated forces. He therefore
+ordered a retreat, the troops being informed that the attack should be
+renewed as soon as their preparedness for fighting should have been
+re-established.
+
+Soon after midnight the divisions were assembled behind the outposts,
+and the trains were sent back first. At noon the troops were able to
+follow over the bridges at Neuilly, Bry, and Joinville. Only one brigade
+remained in position to cover the passage.
+
+The retreat was very skilfully covered by a series of small attacks on
+the German outposts. The French batteries had opened fire at Le Plant
+and Bry by daybreak, and the withdrawal of the enemy's army was
+completely hidden by the thick mist.
+
+General Fransecky assembled the Saxon and the Würtemberg Divisions in a
+fighting position at Villiers and Coeuilly, the 7th Brigade with the
+Corps-Artillery of the IInd Corps and two regiments of the VIth at
+Chennevières, intending to wait for the expected reinforcement which the
+VIth Corps had agreed to furnish for the 4th. The 23rd Division also
+received orders from the Crown Prince of Saxony to cross to the left
+bank of the Marne, whilst the Guard Corps had meanwhile extended its
+outposts to Chelles.
+
+So remained matters on the 3rd, with the exception of petty frays, and
+at four o'clock in the afternoon the troops were able to return to
+quarters. When early on the 4th patrols rode forward towards Bry and
+Champigny, they found these places vacated, and the peninsula of
+Joinville deserted by the enemy.
+
+The IInd French Army, which had been severely reduced and its internal
+cohesion much shaken, returned to Paris; on its own report it had lost
+12,000 men. The German troops engaged had lost 6200 men, but resumed
+their former positions in the investing line.
+
+This energetic attempt on the part of General Ducrot was the most
+serious effort that was made for the relief of Paris. It was directed
+towards what was at the moment the weakest point of the investment, but
+met with any success only at the outset.[47]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[46] Commanding 3rd Infantry Division.
+
+[47] A legend was subsequently circulated that the voice of one general
+in a German council of war had, in opposition to all the others,
+prevented the removal of the chief head-quarters from Versailles. Apart
+from the fact that during the whole course of the invasion no council of
+war was ever held, it never occurred to any member of the King's
+military suite to set so bad an example to the army. [Moltke.]
+
+
+
+
+THE ADVANCE OF THE IST ARMY IN NOVEMBER.
+
+
+The newly-formed levies in northern France were not remaining inactive.
+Rouen and Lille were their chief centres. In front of the latter place,
+the Somme with its fortified passages at Ham, Péronne, Amiens, and
+Abbeville afforded a line equally advantageous for attacks to the front
+or for secure retreat. Isolated advances had, indeed, on various
+occasions, been driven back by detachments of the Army of the Meuse, but
+these were too weak to rid themselves of the continued molestation by
+pursuit pushed home.
+
+We have already seen how, after the fall of Metz, the IInd Army marched
+to the Loire, and the Ist into the northern departments of France.
+
+A large portion of the Ist Army was at first detained on the Moselle by
+having had to undertake the transport of the numerous prisoners and the
+observation of the fortresses which interrupted the communications with
+Germany. The whole VIIth Corps was either in Metz or before Thionville
+and Montmédy. Of the Ist Corps, the 1st Division was detached to
+Rethel,[48] the 4th Brigade transported by railway through Soissons to
+the investment of La Fère, and the 3rd Cavalry Division sent on towards
+the forest of Argonnes. The remaining five brigades followed with the
+artillery on the 7th November.[49]
+
+Marching on a wide front, the force reached the Oise between Compiègne
+and Chauny on the 20th. In front of the right wing the cavalry,
+supported by a battalion of Jägers, came in contact with Gardes-Mobiles
+at Ham and Guiscard; in face of the infantry columns the hostile bodies
+fell back on Amiens. It was learned that 15,000 men were there, and that
+reinforcements were continually joining.
+
+On the 25th the 3rd Brigade reached Le Quesnel. The 15th Division of the
+VIIIth Corps advanced beyond Montdidier, and the 16th to Breteuil,
+whence it established connection with the Saxon detachments about
+Clermont. On the 26th the right wing closed up to Le Quesnel, the left
+to Moreuil and Essertaux. The cavalry scouted forward towards the Somme,
+the right bank of which it found occupied. The enemy's attitude
+indicated that he was confining himself to the defence of that position.
+General von Manteuffel thereupon determined to attack, without waiting
+for the arrival of the 1st Division, the transport of which from Rethel
+was extraordinarily delayed. His intention, in the first instance, was
+to utilize the 27th in drawing closer in his forces, which were extended
+along a front of some nineteen miles. But the battle was unexpectedly
+fought on that same day.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[48] According to statement on p. 177, to Mézières.
+
+[49] The "five brigades" mentioned in the text consisted of the 3rd of
+Ist Corps, and the four composing the VIIIth Corps, of which, the Ist
+and VIIth, the Ist Army was made up. The 1st Cavalry Division,
+originally belonging to the Ist Army, was transferred to the IInd Army
+by the reorganization following the capitulation of Metz.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF AMIENS.
+
+(November 17th.)
+
+
+General Farre, with his 17,500 men distributed into three brigades,
+stood eastward of Amiens on the south bank of the Somme, about Villers
+Bretonneux and Longueau along the road to Péronne, holding also the
+villages and copses on his front. Besides these troops there were 8000
+Gardes-Mobiles occupying an intrenched position about two and a half
+miles in front of the city.
+
+In accordance with instructions from the Army Headquarter, General von
+Goeben (commanding the VIIIth Corps) had given orders for the 27th that
+the 15th Division should take up quarters at Fouencamps and Sains; the
+16th at Rumigny and Plachy and in the villages further back; the
+Corps-Artillery at Grattepanche. Consequently the VIIIth Corps was to
+be assembled before Amiens between the Celle and the Noye, at the
+distance, then, of nearly two and a half miles from the Ist Corps,
+and divided from it by the latter brook and the Avre. General von
+Bentheim (commanding the 1st Division, Ist Corps[50]) on the other
+hand, had sent his advanced guard, the 3rd Brigade, into quarters
+north of the Luce.
+
+At an early hour that brigade seized the passages of the brook at
+Démuin, Hangard, and Domart. At ten o'clock it moved forward in order to
+occupy the appointed quarters, and as the enemy were already in
+possession, a fight began which gradually increased in magnitude.
+
+The wooded heights on the north bank of the Luce were taken without any
+particular resistance, and maintained in spite of several counter
+strokes by the French. The artillery pushed forward through the
+intervals of the infantry. On the left the 4th Regiment seized the
+village of Gentelles, on the right the 44th Regiment rushed up to
+within 300 paces of the left flank of the French position, and by a
+vigorous onslaught carried by storm the earthworks at the railway
+cutting east of Villers Bretonneux. Soon after mid-day heavy hostile
+masses drew up at Bretonneux and in Cachy, directly opposite the 3rd
+Brigade, which was extended along a front of some four miles.
+
+On the left wing of the Germans the 16th Division had by eleven
+o'clock already reached its assigned quarters, and had driven the enemy
+out of Hébecourt, as well as out of the woods north of that village
+towards Dury. The 15th Division, in compliance with the enjoined
+assemblage of the VIIIth Corps on the left bank of the Noye, moved
+westward from Moreuil through Ailly to Dommartin, its advance guard
+which had been holding Hailles marching direct on Fouencamps. Thus it
+happened that before noon the roads from Roye and Montdidier between the
+two Corps were left completely uncovered by troops on the German side,
+while a French brigade was standing at the fork of these roads at
+Longueau, though, in fact, it remained absolutely inactive. This
+interval was at first screened only by the numerous retinue and staff
+escort of the Commander-in-Chief; and then it was to some extent filled
+by the battalion constituting the guard of the headquarter. As, however,
+after ten o'clock the French on their side commenced an attack on the
+3rd Brigade, General von Manteuffel ordered the 15th Division to join in
+the fight as far as possible toward the right wing.
+
+After a staunch defence the companies of the 4th Regiment were driven
+back out of the Bois de Hangard towards the declivity of the height in
+front of Démuin, and subsequently, having expended all their ammunition,
+the defenders of Gentelles were driven back to Domart.
+
+General von Strubberg (commanding 30th Infantry Brigade, VIIIth Corps),
+on instructions from the scene of combat in front of the Luce, had sent
+four battalions in that direction, which crossed the Avre, but came
+under such a heavy fire from the Bois de Gentelles that their further
+advance was prevented, and they had to change front against the wood.
+Behind them, however, the other detachments of the 30th Brigade pressed
+forward to St. Nicolas on the right bank, and to Boves on the left, and
+in co-operation with the 29th Brigade drove the French from the
+neighbouring Ruinenberg.
+
+Meanwhile a part of the approaching 1st Division came up behind the 3rd
+Brigade. The artillery positions were considerably strengthened, and the
+cannon fire was directed against the earthworks south of Bretonneux. As
+the nearest support the Crown Prince's Regiment went forward, and soon
+the French were again driven out of the Bois de Hangard. The East
+Prussians following them up, took cover in front of the earthworks;
+several detachments of the 4th and 44th Regiments gradually collected
+there from the neighbouring woods, and the enemy was then driven back
+from this position. Thirteen batteries now silenced the French
+artillery, and, after they had fired for some time on Bretonneux, the
+place was, at four o'clock, seized by the Prussians pouring in from all
+sides with drums beating. The French in its interior made only a weak
+defence at isolated points; for the most part they hurried over the
+Somme at Corbie under cover of the darkness, and with the loss of 180
+unwounded prisoners.
+
+When, somewhat later, the French General Lecointe advanced with the
+reserve brigade on Domart, he found that crossing point already in
+possession of the 1st Division, and turned back. Cachy only was held by
+the French till late in the evening.
+
+The troops of the Ist Corps were distributed for the night in the
+hamlets to the south of the Luce; but the outposts were established on
+the northern bank of the Somme, and Bretonneux also remained occupied.
+
+On the left wing of the battle-field the 16th Division had advanced to
+Dury, and had driven the French out of the neighbouring churchyard, but
+had been forced to withdraw from an attack on the enemy's extensive and
+strongly defended line of intrenchment. It bivouacked behind Dury.
+
+It was night before General von Manteuffel received information which
+proved that the enemy had been completely defeated. Early in the morning
+of the 28th the patrols of the Ist Corps found the region clear of the
+enemy as far as the Somme, and all the bridges across the river
+destroyed. At noon General von Goeben entered Amiens, the citadel of
+which capitulated two days later with its garrison of 400 men and 30
+cannon.
+
+One peculiarity of the battle of the 27th November was the
+disproportionately great extent of the battle-field to the number of the
+troops engaged. General Farre, with 25,000 men in round numbers, covered
+a front of about fourteen miles from Pont de Metz south of Amiens to the
+east of Villers Bretonneux, and with the Somme close on his rear. The
+Germans attacked on approximately the same breadth of front, with the
+result that there was a break in the middle of their line. The danger
+caused by this gap was not taken advantage of during the morning through
+the inactivity of the enemy, and it was then nullified by the occupation
+of St. Nicolas.
+
+The superiority of numbers was on the side of the Germans, for, although
+of the approaching 1st Division only the Crown Prince's Regiment could
+take part in the fighting, they were 30,000 strong. The 3rd Brigade bore
+the brunt of the battle, losing 630 men and 34 officers out of a total
+of 1300. The French also lost about 1300, besides 1000 reported missing.
+Part of the National Guard threw down their arms and fled to their
+homes. The main body of the French Corps retired on Arras.
+
+Immediately after the battle the Ist Army was reinforced by the 4th
+Brigade, which had been brought from La Fère.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[50] In effect commanding the whole Ist Corps, although nominally
+Manteuffel was still chief of it, as well as in command of the Ist
+Army.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF LA FÈRE.
+
+(November 27th.)
+
+
+This little fortress became of importance since it closed the line of
+railway passing through Rheims, both to Amiens and to Paris. Lying in
+open, wet, low ground overflowed by the Somme and its tributaries, it
+was difficult of approach; otherwise, the fortifications merely
+consisted of an isolated wall, with sundry earthworks close in front of
+it, and it was entirely seen into from heights on the east at a distance
+of not more than 1500 metres.
+
+The brigade (4th of Ist Corps) as a preliminary measure had invested La
+Fère on the 15th November, and when the siege-train arrived from
+Soissons with thirty-two heavy guns, seven batteries were built and
+armed during the night of the 25th on the heights already mentioned. On
+the following morning these opened fire, and on the 27th the place
+capitulated. Gardes-Mobiles to the number of 2300 were taken prisoners,
+and the most serviceable of the 113 guns found were brought away to arm
+the citadel of Amiens. The reinforcement of the Ist Army by the VIIth
+Corps meanwhile was not yet even in prospect, since the latter still had
+further work to do on the Moselle; the greater part of the 14th Division
+only arrived before Thionville on November 13th.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF THIONVILLE.
+
+(November 24th.)
+
+
+This fortress, shut in on all sides by hills, was entirely without
+bomb-proof protection; direct approach from the south was, on the other
+hand, rendered difficult by artificial inundations, and on the west and
+north by swamps. General von Kameke therefore decided to await the
+result of a heavy bombardment before resorting to a regular attack.
+Batteries were erected on both banks of the Moselle, and on the morning
+of the 22nd eighty-five guns opened fire. At first the fortress answered
+briskly. In the following night the infantry detailed to the task of
+throwing up the first parallel, advanced to within 600 paces of the
+west front, but, in consequence of pouring rain and the condition of the
+ground the work made but small progress. However, on the 24th at mid-day
+the commandant proposed negotiations for the surrender of the place. The
+garrison, 4000 strong, with the exception of the National Guard
+belonging to the place, became prisoners and were sent to Germany; and
+199 guns, besides a considerable amount of supplies, arms and
+ammunition, fell into the hands of the conqueror.
+
+The 14th Division was now required to lay siege to the northern frontier
+fortresses, which would occupy it for some time. The 13th Division, by
+orders from the supreme Head-quarter, was assigned to the operations in
+southern France.
+
+
+
+
+INVESTMENT OF BELFORT IN NOVEMBER.
+
+
+On the south-east section of the theatre of war Belfort had become the
+centre of continual petty enterprises on the part of French flying
+detachments in rear of the XIVth Corps, which under General von Werder
+stood about Vesoul.
+
+But when the troops previously before Strasburg had been relieved by a
+newly formed body from Germany, the troops before Neu-Breisach became
+available, and were set in march on Upper Alsace; while the 1st Reserve
+Division reached Belfort on the 3rd November, and by the 8th had
+effected the preliminary investment of that place. The greater part of
+the 4th Reserve Division marched to join the XIVth Corps at Vesoul, a
+detachment under General von Debschitz occupied Montbéliard, and the
+67th Regiment held Mulhouse and Delle.
+
+Glancing back on the German successes during November and the general
+military position at the end of the month, we see the great sortie from
+Paris repulsed[51]; in the north the menace to the investment of being
+hemmed in done away with by General von Manteuffel's victory at Amiens;
+in the east Thionville, Breisach, Verdun, and La Fère taken, Montmédy
+and Belfort surrounded; and in the south Prince Frederick Charles ready
+to attack the French army before Orleans.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[51] The great sortie to the east of Paris was not repulsed until
+December 2nd.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF ORLEANS.
+
+(December 3rd and 4th.)
+
+
+When soon after noon of 2nd December the telegraphed order to take the
+offensive against Orleans reached the headquarter of the IInd Army, the
+Prince on the same day assembled the Xth Corps at Beaune la Rolande and
+Boynes, the IIIrd at Pithiviers, and the IXth at Bazoches les
+Gallerandes. By evening the collected forces had their marching orders.
+
+The attack was to comprise two days of fighting. The IIIrd Corps was
+first to advance on Loury by way of Chilleurs aux Bois; the Xth was to
+follow to Chilleurs; and the IXth was to attack Artenay at half-past
+nine. The 1st Cavalry Division supported by infantry was to be on
+observation on the left flank towards the Yonne; the 6th was to follow
+the right wing. The Grand Duke, to whom it had been left to arrange the
+details of his own march westward of the Paris main road, ordered the
+22nd Division to support the attack on Artenay, the Bavarian Corps to
+advance on Lumeau, the 17th Division to remain for the present at
+Anneux. The 4th Cavalry Division was charged with the duty of scouting
+on the right flank.
+
+So early as nine o'clock in the morning on the 3rd of December the IIIrd
+Corps met eight battalions and six batteries of the enemy at Santeau.
+The 12th Brigade and the artillery of the 6th Division intercalated in
+the columns of march in rear of the foremost battalions, thereupon
+deployed about La Brosse. After a few rounds a battery of the left wing
+had to be withdrawn from the fight which had now commenced; on the
+right, on the other hand, the Corps-Artillery gradually came up, and by
+noon seventy-eight Prussian guns were in action.
+
+The French, yielding to strength so overwhelming, retired on Chilleurs;
+but, when the German batteries had advanced within 2000 paces of that
+place, and the right flank of the former was threatened by an assault of
+the Jäger battalions, they began a retreat towards the forest, and at
+three o'clock part of the 5th Division followed them up through the glen
+leading to the southward, and the 6th by the high road. As these had
+been obstructed in many places, it was six o'clock in the evening before
+the clearing by Loury was reached.
+
+On the right, heavy musketry-firing was heard in the region of Neuville,
+and tidings also arrived that on the left the French had occupied
+Nancray.
+
+In consequence of this, a reinforcement from the reserve remaining in
+Chilleurs was brought up; one regiment was thrown out fronting towards
+the west, a second towards the east, and under cover of the outposts
+extended toward the south the remainder of the troops went into bivouac
+and quarters at Loury.
+
+The IXth Corps had first assembled at Château Gaillard on the main road
+to Paris, and then advanced along the chaussée through Dambron against
+Villereau. At Assas it met the enemy, who was soon driven back by its
+artillery, and disappeared towards Artenay. At about ten o'clock an
+obstinate contest was engaged in against the batteries of the 2nd French
+Division in position here, in which part of the Corps-Artillery
+presently bore part, seconded later by the batteries of the 22nd
+Division, which had come up to Poupry. General Martineau retreated
+slowly by successive detachments, his artillery leading, before the
+overwhelming fire of ninety guns, on La Croix Briquet and Ferme
+d'Arblay.
+
+At twelve o'clock the Germans occupied Artenay, and after half an hour's
+rest they renewed the offensive. There occurred a long and obstinate
+fire-fight both of infantry and artillery, while the 22nd Division
+pushed forward on the enemy's left flank. At two o'clock his guns were
+silenced, the left-wing column of the IXth Corps seized the farm of
+Arblay, and the centre by hard fighting drove the enemy back along the
+high road through La Croix Briquet to Andeglou, where under cover of the
+marine artillery resistance was kept up till dark.
+
+General Puttkamer[52] had brought up five batteries to within 800 paces
+of Chevilly, and the 22nd Division was advancing on the burning village,
+when the chief Command gave the order to halt, the Grand Duke hesitating
+to engage in a night attack on the intrenched village. But when, soon
+after, a Hussar patrol brought the information that it was already
+evacuated, General von Wittich ordered its occupation. The troops
+bivouacked in a heavy snowstorm, in and to the rear of La Croix Briquet.
+
+About the time of the first advance the IXth Corps had sent a detachment
+of four Hessian battalions leftward against St. Lyé. They met with
+opposition at La Tour, drove the enemy back on St. Germain, but could
+not dislodge him from that place.
+
+When the Xth Corps, marching round by Pithiviers unmolested, about three
+o'clock reached the vicinity of Chilleurs in rear of the IIIrd Corps,
+part of the 20th Division went on in the direction of the fighting about
+Neuville, the noise of which in the evening was also heard at Loury.
+Darkness had already come on and precluded the use of artillery, but the
+infantry broke into the village at several points. But it found the
+streets barricaded, and met with obstinate resistance, so that the
+prosecution of the attack had to be postponed till the following day.
+
+The XVth French Corps had sustained single-handed the onslaught of three
+Prussian Corps. Strong masses of the Army of Orleans, to right and to
+left of that Corps, made but feeble efforts in the course of the day to
+support it. General Chanzy alone, when at about two o'clock he heard
+heavy firing from Artenay, ordered forward the 2nd Division of the XVIth
+Corps, though he had already that morning begun his retreat on St.
+Péravy and Boulay. But this reinforcement encountered the Prussian 17th
+Division, which, coming up from Anneux, was on the point of joining in
+the fight at Andeglou, and with it the Bavarian Corps advancing from
+Lumeau. Their strong united artillery in position at Chameul and Sougy,
+soon forced the enemy to retire. Douzy and then Huêtre were taken, and
+the château of Chevilly was occupied by the 17th Division. Here too
+darkness put an end to the fighting. The troops of the right wing
+quartered at Provenchères, Chameul and rearward.
+
+Thus the German army had made its way without very heavy fighting to
+within nine miles of Orleans. The French, indeed, had maintained their
+ground till evening in the neighbourhood of Neuville, but the forces
+holding on there were ordered to retire in the night. They were to gain
+the road from Pithiviers by Rebréchien, and make a circuit by Orleans to
+Chevilly. But they thus came under the fire of the IIIrd German Corps
+quartered in Loury, and fled in disorder back into the forest, whence
+they attempted to reach their destination by detachments.
+
+It was only to be expected that the French would stoutly defend their
+intrenchments at Gidy and Cercottes on the following day, if only to
+keep open their way of retreat through Orleans. Prince Frederick Charles
+therefore ordered the Grand Duke's Detachment and the IXth Corps to make
+an encompassing attack on both points on the 4th. The IIIrd Corps was to
+advance from Loury on Orleans, and the Xth, again forming the reserve,
+was to follow to Chevilly.
+
+General d'Aurelle had retired to Saran on the evening of the 3rd. Here
+he saw the 2nd Division of the XVth Corps fleeing by in utter rout, and
+heard also that the 1st had failed to make a stand at Chilleurs. The
+Corps of his right wing were altogether shattered as regarded their
+internal cohesion by the battle of Beaune, and those of his left no less
+by the fight at Loigny. The French General could not but dread being
+driven on the Loire with undisciplined masses, and the consequent block
+of the only passage of the river at Orleans. He decided therefore on an
+eccentric retreat. Only the XVth Corps was to retire by Orleans; General
+Crouzat was to cross the Loire at Gien, General Chanzy at Beaugency. The
+reassemblage remained to be attempted behind the Sauldre. The necessary
+dispositions were made during the night, and communicated to the
+Government. From the Board of Green Cloth at Tours, counter orders of
+course came next morning to maintain the Orleans position, which
+practically was already wrecked; but the General adhered firmly to his
+own determination.
+
+On December 4th the IIIrd Army Corps marched out of Loury in two columns
+by the high road and the tracks through Vennecy. Both bodies reached
+Boigny by noon, having met only stragglers. A detachment was sent to the
+right to Neuville, which made prize of seven derelict guns and many
+rifles. To the left, another detachment occupied Chézy on the Loire.
+After a short rest the main columns advanced, and by two o'clock the 6th
+Division reached Vaumainbert, which was occupied by detachments of the
+French XVth Corps. Although the country was not open enough to allow of
+the employment of artillery, the place was taken by the Brandenburgers
+in spite of the stout resistance of the French Marine Infantry, and the
+fire of the batteries on the heights to the north of St. Loup could now
+be directed on the suburb of Orleans.
+
+The 5th Division had meanwhile come up behind the 6th and took part in
+the fight.
+
+The XXth French Corps, which was still at Chambon, in the eastern part
+of the forest opposite Beaune la Rolande, had received orders at four in
+the morning from Tours direct, to march on Orleans. Contrary orders had
+previously arrived from General d'Aurelle, but nothing subsequently came
+to hand. General Crouzat had, as a precaution, sent his train across the
+Loire by way of Jargeau, and then marched in the prescribed direction.
+When, at half-past two he met at Pont aux Moines the German detachment
+despatched to Chézy, he determined to cut his way through by force of
+arms; but as General von Stülpnagel reinforced his two battalions with
+the rest of his Division, the French general gave up that attempt and
+retreated across the river, making the passage at Jargeau.
+
+On the German side the attack on St. Loup[53] was unsuccessful; and
+since from the locality of the fighting on the part of the other Corps
+no tidings reached him, and darkness was approaching, General von
+Alvensleben postponed any further attack on the city till the following
+day.
+
+North of Orleans the IXth Army Corps advanced from La Croix Briquet on
+the intrenched position of Cercottes. At about one o'clock the foremost
+detachments of infantry entered the place. The 2nd Division of the
+French XVth Corps was driven back by the fire of the artillery into the
+vineyards in front of the city. Here the infantry alone could continue
+the struggle. The French defended every tenable spot, and especially in
+the railway station close to Orleans held their own with great
+persistency. It and the adjacent deep road-cutting were fortified with
+barricades and rifle-pits, and armed with naval guns. It was not till
+nightfall, about half-past five, that these posts were abandoned, but
+the contest was continued further back. To avoid street-fighting in the
+dark, General von Manstein broke off the fight for the day at about
+seven o'clock.
+
+The advanced guard of the 17th Division of the Grand Duke's Detachment
+had found Gidy intrenched and strongly occupied. But at the approach of
+the IXth Corps the French about eleven o'clock thought proper to abandon
+the position, leaving behind eight guns. The German Division, to avoid
+the wood, now moved in a westerly direction on Boulay, whither the 22nd
+and the 2nd Cavalry Division followed as a reserve.
+
+Here the Bavarian Corps and the 4th Cavalry Division were already
+engaged in a fight, having previously driven the French out of Bricy and
+Janvry. When the artillery had for some time been in action, General von
+der Tann passed to the assault at about twelve o'clock. But the French
+did not wait for this; they beat a hasty retreat, leaving some of their
+guns in the defences.
+
+The 2nd Cavalry Division took up the pursuit. The 4th Hussars of the 5th
+Brigade, trotting forward through Montaigu, charged a dismounted French
+battery and seized all its guns; another near Ormes was left to be
+carried off by the horse battery. From thence a strong body of French
+horse suddenly appeared on the left flank of the 4th Brigade as it was
+crossing the Châteaudun road. But the Blücher Hussars, promptly wheeling
+into line, drove the enemy back through the village on Ingré.
+
+The 4th Cavalry Division was placed on observation on the right flank of
+the Detachment; and the Hussars of the 2nd Life Regiment here rode down
+250 men forming the escort of a waggon column escaping by the road to
+Châteaudun, and captured the convoy.
+
+While the Germans were thus converging on Orleans from the east and
+north, in the west the XVIIth French Corps and the 1st Division of the
+XVIth were still in the field about Patay and St. Péravy. General Chanzy
+had assembled the latter about Coinces, and, to protect himself against
+its threatened attack on his flank, General von der Tann formed front at
+Bricy with his 3rd Infantry Brigade, the Cuirassiers, and the artillery
+reserve. The 4th Cavalry Division marched on Coinces, where General von
+Bernhardi, clearing a wide ditch with four squadrons of Uhlans, drove a
+body of French horse back on St. Péravy without its having been able to
+do more than fire one carbine-volley. Other squadrons of the 9th Brigade
+rode down the French tirailleurs, and pursued the cavalry till it
+reached the protection of strong bodies of infantry. The 8th Brigade was
+in observation toward Patay, and after that place had come under the
+fire of a battery and been abandoned, General Chanzy gave up all further
+attack and retired behind the forest of Montpipeau.
+
+The 2nd Cavalry Division now made for the Loire immediately below
+Orleans. Its artillery destroyed a bridge at Chapelle over which a
+baggage-train was passing, and compelled the French troops, which were
+marching towards Cléry along the further bank, to flee back to Orleans.
+Two military railway-trains from thence were not to be stopped by the
+firing, but a train coming from Tours, in which, as it happened, was
+Gambetta himself, returned thither with all speed.
+
+The Bavarian Corps meanwhile was advancing by the high road, and the
+22nd Division, in touch with the IXth Corps, on the old Châteaudun road;
+the 17th Division between the two on La Borde. This last Division at
+about 3.30 had to carry on its way the strongly defended village of
+Heurdy; and when the Bavarians from Ormes turned to the right on Ingré,
+it proceeded by the high road towards St. Jean de la Ruelle. Having
+overcome all opposition there too, the head of the Division reached the
+gates of Orleans at about six o'clock.
+
+General von Tresckow entered into negotiations with the military
+authorities there for the orderly occupation of the town. An agreement
+was arrived at by ten o'clock, and shortly after midnight the Grand Duke
+marched in with the 17th Division, promptly followed by the 2nd Bavarian
+Brigade. The bridge over the Loire, which the French had not found time
+to blow up, was secured with all speed. The rest of the troops found
+quarters for the night, to the west and north of the city.
+
+The peremptory orders from the Government to hold Orleans had shaken
+General d'Aurelle's original determination. When the mass of the XVth
+Corps arrived there in the forenoon, he was anxious to make a final
+stand. But the necessary orders could not be transmitted to the Corps of
+the right wing, nor carried out by those of the left; and by five
+o'clock the General in command was convinced of the futility of any
+further resistance. The artillery of the XVth Corps was in the first
+instance forwarded to La Ferté St. Aubin; the infantry followed. The
+XXth Corps, as we have seen, was at Jargeau; the XVIIIth recrossed the
+Loire at Sully; the XVIth and XVIIth moved off westward in the direction
+of Beaugency, but remained on the right bank of the river.
+
+The two days' battle had cost the Germans 1700 men; the French lost
+20,000, of whom 1800 were taken prisoners. Their large army lately
+massed before Orleans, was now split up into three separate bodies.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[52] Commanding Artillery of IXth Corps.
+
+[53] The northern suburb of Orleans.
+
+
+
+
+OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.
+
+
+The troops were too much exhausted for immediate pursuit in any of these
+three directions.
+
+It was ordered that only the 6th Cavalry Division, reinforced by an
+infantry detachment of the 18th Division, should follow up the enemy
+making to the southward, ascertain his whereabouts, and destroy the
+concentration of the railways from Bourges, Orleans and Tours at the
+Vierzon junction. This Cavalry was in quarters to the north of the city;
+the French XVth Corps had a considerable start of it, and the main body
+of the latter had reached Salbris, when, on December 6th, two days after
+the battle, General von Schmidt (commanding 14th Brigade, 6th Cavalry
+Division) arrived by a forced march at La Ferté St. Aubin. Here he found
+a detachment of the 18th Division, which had already driven the French
+rear-guard back on La Motte Beuvron, but was now recalled to the Loiret.
+Only two companies of the 36th Regiment and one of pioneers joined the
+further advance, and followed the cavalry partly in waggons and partly
+on gun-limbers.
+
+On the 7th, under direct orders from Tours, the French Corps left the
+high road to the south, and made a flank march of twenty miles in an
+easterly direction to Aubigny Ville. The cavalry, supported to the best
+of their power by its artillery and the small infantry detachment, had a
+sharp fight with the French rear-guard at Nouan le Fuzelier, and again
+in the evening at Salbris, in which the French finally had the best of
+it. The neighbourhood being very thinly populated, the Division had to
+return in the night to Nouan, to find shelter from the bitter winter
+weather.
+
+Long before daybreak on the 8th, the French rear-guard evacuated Salbris
+to avoid a further encounter with the enemy, whose strength was greatly
+overestimated. After some slight skirmishes the Cavalry Division reached
+Vierzon that evening. The telegraph wires were cut and the railway line
+torn up in several places, 70 goods vans were made prize of, the
+direction of the enemy's retreat was ascertained, and any offensive
+movement on the part of the French from that side for the time was
+reckoned very improbable.
+
+The Division had fulfilled its task; it was now ordered to leave one
+brigade in observation, and to advance in the direction of Blois with
+the rest. General (Count) von der Groeben (commanding 14th Cavalry
+Brigade) maintained his positions at Vierzon and Salbris till the 14th.
+
+The winter marches of the 6th Cavalry Division were exceptionally
+arduous. It was almost impossible to travel excepting by the high roads,
+and they were so slippery with ice that it was often necessary to
+dismount and lead the horses. The inhabitants of the Sologne were
+extremely hostile, and troopers patrolling in advance were fired upon in
+every village. The French forces, on the other hand, made but a feeble
+resistance. Numerous prisoners and large quantities of abandoned war
+matériel bore witness to a hasty retreat, in many cases indicated
+panic-flight. Nevertheless, in spite of much desultory marching and
+counter-marching, the Corps on December 13th finally succeeded in
+joining the right wing of the Army of Orleans at Bourges. The plight in
+which it arrived there may be gathered from the telegraphic
+_Correspondance Urgente_ of the Tours Government with General Bourbaki,
+who, when General d'Aurelle was dismissed from the command in chief, had
+assumed command of the three Corps.
+
+The delegate Freycinet, who was no doubt kept well informed by the
+country people, assured General Bourbaki that he had only a weak force
+of cavalry in his front, and called upon him repeatedly, and in the most
+urgent terms, to advance against Blois. The General retorted that if he
+were to undertake that operation, not a gun, not a man of his three
+Corps would ever be seen again. His intention was to retreat without
+delay from Bourges on St. Amand, and if necessary yet further; all he
+dreaded was lest he should be attacked before he could accomplish this,
+and so be involved in overwhelming disaster.
+
+The Minister of War himself went to Bourges, but he too renounced all
+idea of a serious offensive movement when he saw the disorder of the
+troops; "I have never seen anything so wretched." It was with difficulty
+that he carried his point that the Corps should not retreat, but should
+await events under cover of one of them pushed forward towards Vierzon.
+
+On the day when General von Schmidt entered Vierzon, the XVth Corps was
+in the vicinity of Henrichemont, at about an equal distance with himself
+from Bourges. The XVIIIth and XXth Corps were at Aubigny Ville and
+Cernay, from two to three marches away. It can scarcely be doubted that
+if the 18th Division had followed the advance of the 6th Cavalry
+Division, possession would have been obtained of Bourges and of the vast
+military establishments there.
+
+To the east of Orleans the IIIrd German Corps marched up the river
+through Châteauneuf. It met only stragglers, till on the 7th two
+Divisions of the XVIIIth French Corps attempted to cross to the right
+bank of the Loire at Gien. There came about an advanced-guard fight at
+Nevoy, with the result that these Divisions retreated across the bridge
+in the night, and continued their march on Bourges.
+
+
+
+
+FIGHTING OF THE GRAND DUKE OF MECKLENBURG.
+
+(December 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th.)
+
+
+The Grand Duke's Detachment stood westward, close to the retreating left
+wing of the enemy. In contrast to the disorder of the right wing,
+General Chanzy, probably the most capable of all the leaders whom the
+Germans had to encounter in the battle-field, had very rapidly in so
+great measure restored the discipline and spirit of his defeated troops,
+that they were able not only to make a stand, but even to take the
+offensive. They had, it is true, been considerably reinforced by the
+newly formed XXIst Corps and by Camô's Division. The latter formed the
+advanced guard at Meung; behind it were the XVIth Corps at Beaugency,
+the XVIIth at Cravant, and the XXIst at St. Laurent on the edge of the
+forest of Marchénoir.
+
+On the day after the fight the troops of the Grand Duke were given a
+rest-day; only the cavalry pursued the French. The 4th Cavalry Division
+reached Ouzouer; the 2nd came upon considerable masses of infantry
+behind Meung.
+
+On the 7th, the Grand Duke's forces advanced on a very wide front. The
+17th Division, on the left wing, marched on Meung, where its artillery
+opened a combat with that of the enemy. The French held possession of
+the narrow lanes of the village, which further westward was pierced by
+the main road to Beaugency. Towards four o'clock a Mecklenburg battalion
+carried Langlochère by storm, but found itself threatened on both sides
+by the approach of hostile columns. On the left Foinard was presently
+occupied, and a gun captured there, while on the right the 1st Bavarian
+Brigade advanced on La Bourie. Here, almost at the same moment, the 2nd
+Cavalry Division came up by by-roads from Renardière, having driven the
+enemy out of Le Bardon by the fire of its guns. The Bavarians had now to
+march out to meet a hostile mass advancing from Grand Chatre. Supported
+by the horse batteries, they maintained till nightfall a stubborn fight,
+which ended in the retreat of the French on Beaumont.
+
+During this conflict on the left wing of the Detachment, the 1st
+Bavarian Division, considerably on the right, were marching on Baccon,
+the 22nd on Ouzouer; and finding that the French were offering a
+determined resistance, the Grand Duke decided on closing in his forces
+to the left.
+
+_December 8th._--To this end the 22nd Division moved southward from
+Ouzouer through Villermain. After repulsing the swarms of tirailleurs
+which attacked its left flank under cover of a thick fog, General von
+Wittich directed his march on Cravant, to effect a junction with the
+right wing of the 1st Bavarian Division already engaged in a hot
+struggle. They had repulsed an attack of the enemy pushed forward from
+Villechaumont, and the 2nd (Bavarian) Division advanced by the road from
+Cravant to Beaugency; but when three French Divisions came on afresh, it
+retreated on Beaumont. Here it found support from the 1st (Bavarian
+Division) and 17 batteries were gradually brought up into the fighting
+line. Their fire and an impetuous attack from three Bavarian brigades at
+last forced the enemy to fall back, and the position on the high road
+was recovered.
+
+The French now, on their side, brought up a strong force of artillery,
+and prepared to advance on Cravant with their XVIIth Corps. But the 22nd
+German Division having taken Beauvert and Layes by the way, had already
+reached Cravant at about one o'clock, and was in position there with the
+4th Cavalry Division on its right and the 2nd on its left. So when, at
+about three o'clock, dense French columns advanced on Cravant, they were
+repulsed by a powerful counter-stroke delivered by the 44th Brigade, in
+conjunction with the Bavarians, and were soon driven out of Layes, which
+they had entered while advancing. The five batteries nearest to Cravant
+had suffered so severely meanwhile that they had to be withdrawn. When
+finally at about four o'clock the Bavarian battalions advanced to storm
+the height in their front, they were met by fresh troops of the enemy,
+and after losing a great part of their officers were compelled to
+retreat on the artillery position at Beaumont. Later, however, the
+French abandoned Villechaumont.
+
+On the left wing of the Detachment the 17th Division pursued the
+retreating French through Vallées and Villeneuve, and then at about noon
+made an attack on Messas. The defence was obstinate, and it was not till
+dusk that it succeeded in gaining full possession of the place. The
+artillery directed its fire on dense masses showing about Vernon, the
+infantry stormed the height of Beaugency, and finally forced its way
+into the town itself, where a French battery fell into its hand. Camô's
+Division then retired on Tavers, and at midnight General von Tresckow
+fell upon Vernon, whence the French, taken entirely by surprise, fled to
+Bonvalet.
+
+The Headquarter of the IInd Army had determined to set in march on
+Bourges the IIIrd, Xth, and IXth Corps, from Gien, from Orleans, and
+also from Blois. But the Detachment in its advance on Blois by the right
+bank of the Loire had met with unexpected resistance lasting for two
+days. In the supreme Headquarter at Versailles it was regarded as
+indispensable that the Grand Duke should immediately be reinforced by at
+least one Division. Telegraphic orders to that effect arrived at ten
+o'clock on December 9th. The IXth Corps, which was already on the march
+along the left bank and had found no enemy in its front, could not give
+the requisite support, since all the bridges over the river had been
+blown up. The IIIrd Corps was therefore ordered to leave only a
+detachment in observation at Gien, and to turn back to Orleans. The Xth
+Corps was to call in its detachments standing eastward of the city and
+march forward to Meung. Meanwhile on the 9th the Detachment remained
+still quite unsupported while actually confronting with four Infantry
+Divisions, eleven French Divisions. And early on that morning General
+Chanzy took the offensive.
+
+_December 9th._--The two Prussian Divisions at Beauvert and Messas stood
+firmly awaiting the hostile onslaught. The two Bavarian Divisions,
+because of their severe losses, were held in reserve at Cravant, but
+soon had to come up into the fighting line, when at seven o'clock strong
+columns of the enemy advanced on Le Mée.
+
+Dense swarms of tirailleurs were repulsed both there and before Vernon,
+and were later shattered by the fire of the devoted German artillery,
+which silenced the French guns and then directed its fire on Villorceau.
+In spite of a stout defence, this village was carried and occupied about
+half-past ten by the Bavarian infantry. The French advance on
+Villechaumont in greatly superior force was also repulsed, with the
+assistance of three battalions and two batteries of the 22nd Division.
+The Thüringers[54] then stormed Cernay, where 200 French laid down their
+arms, and one of their batteries lost its teams and limbers.
+
+On the right wing of the Detachment, in consequence of a
+misunderstanding, the Germans evacuated Layes and Beauvert, and the
+French occupied these villages. However, with the assistance of the 2nd
+Bavarian Brigade, the 44th (Brigade) drove them out again from both
+places. Further to the north, the 4th Cavalry Division was in
+observation of a French detachment approaching Villermain.
+
+The French made renewed efforts, advancing again at mid-day on Cravant
+in strong columns; but this movement General Tresckow took in flank from
+Messas. He left only a weak detachment in Beaugency, and secured
+himself towards Tavers in the villages on his left. The main body of the
+17th Division advanced on Bonvalet, reinforced the hardly-pressed
+Bavarians in Villorceau, and occupied itself Villemarceau in front of
+that place. Here the Division had to maintain a severe struggle, at
+about three o'clock, with close columns of the French XVIth and XVIIth
+Corps. The infantry rushing on the enemy with cheers succeeded, however,
+in repulsing him and holding its ground in spite of a hot fire. At the
+same time three Bavarian battalions, accompanied by cavalry and
+artillery, marched up from Cravant and drove the French out of
+Villejouan. Yet further to the right a battalion of the 32nd Regiment
+took possession of Ourcelle. A line from thence to Tavers defined the
+section of terrain laboriously wrung from the enemy.
+
+The fight ended with the retreat of the enemy on Josnes and Dugny.
+
+On this day the IIIrd Corps was still on the march to Orleans. The IXth
+from its position on the left bank, could only take part in the fighting
+by the fire of its artillery on Meung and Beaugency. It was not till
+near Blois that it met French detachments. Fifty men of one of the
+Hessian battalions carried the defended château of Chambord lying
+rightward of the line of march, and there took 200 prisoners and made
+prize of twelve ammunition waggons with their teams.
+
+Of the Xth Corps only the head of its infantry reached Meung, but it
+sent forward a regiment of Hussars with eight batteries, which arrived
+at Grand Chatre by about three o'clock in the afternoon.
+
+By order of the Headquarter of the IInd Army the Bavarian Corps was now
+to retire to Orleans, to recruit after its heavy losses. But even after
+the arrival of the Xth Corps the Grand Duke had still in his front an
+enemy double his strength, and instead of engaging in a pursuit he had
+rather to study how to maintain himself on the defensive.
+
+_December 10th._--At dawn General Chanzy renewed his attack, which even
+the Bavarians were presently required to join in repulsing.
+
+At seven o'clock the French XVIIth Corps rushed in dense masses on
+Origny, took there 150 prisoners, and forced its way into Villejouan.
+This advance was met directly in front by the 43rd Brigade at Cernay,
+and by the 4th Bavarian Brigade with six batteries at Villechaumont;
+while on the right flank General von Tresckow pushed forward on
+Villorceau and Villemarceau. In this latter village two of his
+battalions, supported by four batteries, resisted every onslaught of the
+French from Origny and Toupenay. At noon the main body of the 17th
+Division advanced to the recapture of Villejouan. Here the French made
+an obstinate stand. An embittered and bloody fight in the streets and
+houses was prolonged till four o'clock, and then fresh troops of the
+enemy came up to recover the post the Germans still held in one detached
+farmstead. The artillery mass of the Prussian Division had, however,
+deployed to the south of Villemarceau; it was joined by two horse
+batteries of the Xth Corps, and the batteries of the 22nd Division also
+came into action from Cernay. The concentric fire of this body of
+artillery wrecked the subsequent attacks of the XVIIth French Corps.
+
+Beaugency was now occupied by part of the Xth Corps. During the previous
+days the left flank of the German fighting position had a secure point
+d'appui on the Loire, but on the right such a support had been wholly
+lacking. The French had nevertheless hitherto made no attempt to take
+advantage of their superiority by a wider extension of their front. For
+the first time on this day did they come in on the unprotected left
+flank of their enemy. The greater part of the XXIst Corps deployed
+opposite to it, between Poisly and Mézierès, and at half-past ten
+strong columns advanced on Villermain. The Bavarians were compelled to
+take up with their 2nd Brigade the "hook" formation from Jouy to
+Coudray. Seven batteries were brought up into that line, and on its
+right flank the 4th Cavalry Division stood in readiness to act. By two
+o'clock two more horse batteries, and from Cravant four batteries of the
+Xth Corps arrived, which massed there with three brigades as a reserve.
+The fire of over a hundred German guns compelled the French to hurry
+their artillery out of action at three o'clock, and weak independent
+attacks by their infantry were repulsed without difficulty by the
+Germans persevering staunchly on the defence.
+
+The French losses in this four days' battle are unknown. The Detachment
+lost 3400 men, of whom the larger half belonged to the two Bavarian
+Divisions.
+
+The Grand Duke had succeeded in holding his own against three Corps of
+the enemy till the arrival of the first reinforcement, and this he owed
+to the bravery of all his troops, and not least to the exertions of the
+artillery. This arm alone lost 255 men and 356 horses. Its material was
+tasked to the utmost, so that finally almost all the steel guns of the
+light batteries of the 22nd Division, and most of the Bavarian, were
+rendered useless by the burning out of their vent-pieces.
+
+The IIIrd Corps had on this day just arrived at St. Denis, and the IXth
+at Vienne opposite Blois; but here, too, the bridge over the Loire was
+found to be blown up.
+
+On the French side, General Chanzy had learnt from the telegraphic
+correspondence of the Government at Tours with General Bourbaki, that
+nothing had come of that commander's attempt to divert part of the
+German IInd Army upon himself. The long delay gave General Chanzy the
+daily apprehension of an attack by it with its full strength; and he
+therefore decided on a retreat, which resulted in the removal of the
+Assembly from Tours to Bordeaux.
+
+In the Grand Duke's Head-quarter the renewed offensive had been decided
+on for December 11th. The villages in his front remained strongly
+occupied, and it was only at noon of that day that the enemy's retreat
+became known. He was at once pursued on the left by the Xth Corps, and
+on the right, south of the forest of Marchénoir, by the Detachment. On
+the north, the 4th Cavalry Division took up the scouting.
+
+A thaw had followed the hard frost, making the march equally difficult
+for friend and foe. The Germans found the roads littered with abandoned
+waggons and cast-away arms; the bodies of men and horses lay unburied in
+the fields, and in the villages were hundreds of wounded uncared for.
+Several thousands of stragglers were captured.
+
+The directions[55] of the Chief of the General Staff from Versailles
+suggested an immediate pursuit, which should render the enemy incapable
+of further action for some time to come; but not to be maintained beyond
+Tours. The IInd Army was then to assemble at Orleans and the Detachment
+at Chartres, and the troops were to obtain the rest they needed. From
+the former point constant and strict watch could be kept on General
+Bourbaki's army, and to this end a connection was to be made with
+General von Zastrow, who with the VIIth Corps was to reach Châtillon sur
+Seine on the 13th. But the operations in this quarter were not to extend
+beyond Bourges and Nevers.
+
+The IInd Army was accordingly in the first instance marched toward the
+Loir, and on the 13th reached the line Oucques--Conan--Blois, which last
+town was found evacuated.
+
+On the 14th the 17th Division marched to Morée, and reached the Loir at
+Fréteval. A fight occurred at both these points. Though the French had
+yielded thus far, they seemed resolved to make a firm stand on the Loir,
+and had occupied Cloyes and Vendôme in great strength.
+
+In order to attack with success, Prince Frederick Charles first
+proceeded to concentrate all his forces. The IIIrd Corps, which was
+hurrying after the army by forced marches, was in the first instance to
+come up into the interval between the Detachment and the Xth Corps,
+which was to march from Blois and Herbault on Vendôme.
+
+But when, on the 15th, the Xth Corps was moving in the prescribed
+direction, its main body encountered so determined a resistance close in
+front of Vendôme that it could not be overcome before dark. The troops
+therefore retired to quarters in the rear of Ste. Anne. A left-flank
+detachment had found St. Amand occupied by heavy masses, and halted at
+Gombergean. The IIIrd Corps had advanced in the course of the day on
+Coulommiers, in the vicinity of Vendôme, had fought the French at Bel
+Essert, driven them back across the Loir and established connection with
+the Xth. The Grand Duke, in compliance with instructions, stood
+meanwhile on the defensive. The IXth Corps, after the restoration of the
+bridge of Blois, was at last able to follow the army, leaving a brigade
+in occupation of Blois.
+
+A greatly superior force was now assembled opposite the enemy's
+position, and a general attack was decided on; but to give the wearied
+troops some rest it was postponed till the 17th, and meanwhile, on the
+16th, General Chanzy withdrew.
+
+It had certainly been his intention to make a longer stand in the Loir
+angle; but his Generals convinced him that the condition of the troops
+did not permit the prolongation of active hostilities. He accordingly
+gave the order for the retreat of the army at daybreak by way of
+Montoire, St. Calais, and Vibraye to Le Mans.
+
+Thus in the early morning (of the 17th) the Xth Corps found the French
+position in front of Vendôme abandoned, and it entered the city without
+opposition. On the French left wing only, where the marching orders had
+not yet arrived, General Jaurès made an attack on Fréteval, but in the
+evening he followed the other Corps.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[54] In the 22nd Division of the XIth Corps--a Corps of a curiously
+composite character, there were three Thüringian regiments. The 43rd
+Brigade was wholly Thüringian, consisting as it did of the 32nd and 95th
+regiments (2nd and 6th Thüringers), and in the 44th Brigade was the 94th
+(5th Thüringers). It was the 2nd battalion of this last regiment which
+is referred to in the text.
+
+[55] The expression "Directiven" in the text cannot be succinctly
+translated. It was rarely, except when actually himself in the field,
+that the Chief of the General Staff issued actual "orders" to the higher
+commanders. His communications for the most part consisted of
+"Directiven"--messages of general suggestions as to the appropriate line
+of action to be pursued, leaving a wide discretion to the commanders to
+whom they were addressed, and refraining almost entirely from details. A
+collection of Moltke's "Directiven" would be perhaps the finest tribute
+to his military genius.
+
+
+
+
+INTERRUPTION OF IMPORTANT OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IN DECEMBER.
+
+
+On the 17th of December general directions were issued from Versailles
+to the Armies both to the north and south of Paris.
+
+Now that General von Manteuffel was across the Somme, and Prince
+Frederick Charles had advanced to the Loir, the Germans held possession
+of almost a third of France. The enemy was everywhere driven back; and
+that the German forces should not be split up, it was thought advisable
+that they should be concentrated into three principal groups. The Ist
+Army was therefore to assemble at Beauvais, the Detachment at Chartres,
+the IInd Army near Orleans, where the troops were to have the needful
+rest, and their full efficiency was to be re-established by the arrival
+of reservists and equipment. If the French should engage in any new
+enterprises, they were to be allowed to approach within striking
+distance, and then were to be driven back by a vigorous offensive.
+
+For the IInd Army there was but little prospect at present of overtaking
+the enemy beyond the Loir; and the reports from the Upper Loire now
+necessitated the bestowal of increased attention in that direction. News
+came from Gien that the posts left there had been driven back to Ouzouer
+sur Loire; and it seemed not unlikely that General Bourbaki would take
+the opportunity of advancing by Montargis towards Paris, or at least
+towards Orleans, which for the moment was occupied only by part of the
+Ist Bavarian Corps.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles had got quit of his enemy probably for some
+considerable time, and he decided, in accordance with directions from
+Versailles, to assemble his forces at Orleans and maintain a waiting
+attitude. Only the Xth Corps was to remain behind in observation on the
+Loir. To secure immediate support for the Bavarian Corps in any event,
+the IXth Corps, on its arrival from Blois at La Chapelle Vendômoise on
+the 16th December, was ordered to march to Beaugency that same day, and
+to Orleans on the morrow. It covered nearly 52 miles in twenty-four
+hours, notwithstanding the badness of the weather. The IIIrd Corps
+followed it.
+
+However, it was soon known that the enemy's detachment which had been
+seen at Gien did not form part of a large body of troops, and was
+intrenching itself at Briare for its own safety. So the Germans retired
+into comfortable rest-quarters, the Ist Bavarian Corps at Orleans, the
+IIIrd there and along to Beaugency, the IXth in the plain of the Loire
+up as far as Châteauneuf, with a strong post at Montargis.
+
+The Bavarian Corps was later transferred to Etampes, to recover at its
+leisure, to recruit its numbers, and refit as to its clothing and
+equipment. Nor was the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg's detachment in a
+condition to follow General Chanzy beyond the Loir. Six weeks of daily
+marching and fighting had tried the troops to the utmost. The dreadful
+weather and the state of the roads had reduced their clothing and
+foot-gear to a miserable state. A reconnoissance beyond the Loir showed
+that the French could be overtaken by only long and rapid marches. So
+the Grand Duke allowed his troops a long rest, from the 18th, in the
+villages on the left bank of the river.
+
+Of the IIIrd Army, General von Rheinbaben, on the other hand, occupied
+with the three Brigades of the 5th Cavalry Division Courtlain, Brou, and
+Chartres, strengthened by five battalions of Guard Landwehr and four
+batteries. A letter from the Chief of the General Staff at Versailles
+had pointed out that this cavalry might probably be employed with great
+success in attacking the flank and rear of the enemy's retreating
+columns, and the Crown Prince had already given orders that it should
+push forward by way of Brou in full strength on the 15th. Contrary to
+these orders, the Division obeyed a subsequent order which reached it on
+the 16th from the Grand Duke, under whose command the Division had not
+been placed, to take up a position on the Yères.
+
+On this day patrols had found the roads open to Montmirail and
+Mondoubleau, except for French infantry in front of Cloyes, which
+retired after a short fray. On the left, a connection was opened with
+the 4th Cavalry Division. On the 17th, the 12th Cavalry Brigade entered
+Cloyes, already evacuated by the French; on the 13th it advanced on
+Arrou, and only General von Barby (commanding the 11th Cavalry Brigade)
+marched on Droue with a force of all arms, where he surprised the French
+at their cooking, and carried off much booty.
+
+On the 18th, the 12th Brigade did make prisoners of a few stragglers
+there, but the other two brigades only made a short march to the
+westward to La Bazoche Gouet and Arville, whence the enemy had quite
+disappeared. To the south of Arville a battalion of the Guard Landwehr
+drove the French infantry out of St. Agil.
+
+With this the pursuit ended on the 19th. The Division retired on Nogent
+le Rotrou by the Grand Duke's desire, and subsequently undertook the
+observation of the left bank of the Seine at Vernon and Dreux.
+
+The Grand Duke's Detachment left its quarters on the Loir on the 21st.
+The 22nd Division occupied Nogent le Roi, and the 17th Chartres, till the
+24th. The 4th Bavarian Brigade rejoined its own Corps at Orleans.
+
+During the remainder of December only the Xth Corps had any fighting, it
+having been detailed to keep watch beyond the Loir from Blois and
+Vendôme.
+
+Two brigades were set on march towards Tours on the 20th. On the further
+side of Monnaie they met the newly-formed troops of General
+Ferri-Pisani, 10,000 to 15,000 strong, which were advancing from Angers
+and had passed through Tours.
+
+The soaked ground made the deployment of the artillery and cavalry
+exceedingly difficult. The cavalry, indeed, could only pursue the
+retreating French in deep columns along the high roads, thus suffering
+severely from the enemy's fire delivered at very short range.
+
+On the following day General von Woyna (commanding 39th Infantry
+Brigade) advanced unopposed with six battalions on the bridge at Tours.
+A light battery was brought up on the bank of the river and dispersed
+the rabble firing from the opposite shore, but it would have cost too
+many lives to storm the city, which, since the removal of the seat of
+Government, had ceased to be of any great importance. The detachment was
+withdrawn to Monnaie, and the Xth Corps went into quarters, the 19th
+Division at Blois, the 20th at Herbault and Vendôme.
+
+From the latter place on the 27th, a detachment of two battalions, one
+squadron, and two guns marched through Montoire on Sougé on the Braye,
+and there met a greatly superior force. General Chanzy had in fact
+marched a Division of his XVIIth Corps towards Vendôme in order to draw
+the Prussians away from Tours. Behind St. Quentin the weak Prussian
+detachment found itself hemmed in between the river and the cliff,
+enclosed on every side, and under heavy fire. Lieutenant-Colonel von
+Boltenstern succeeded, however, in cutting his way through. Without
+firing a shot the two Hanoverian battalions hurled themselves on the
+dense body of tirailleurs blocking their retreat, and fought their way
+out fighting hand to hand. Through the gap thus made the guns dashed
+after firing one round of grape-shot, and notwithstanding losses to the
+teams they ultimately got back safely to Montoire. The squadron also
+charged through two lines of riflemen and rejoined the infantry.
+
+As a result of this incident General von Kraatz Koschlau (commanding
+20th Division) brought up the remainder of his Division from Herbault,
+determined to clear up the situation by a fresh reconnoissance. Four
+battalions were to advance from Vendôme, and the 1st Cavalry Brigade
+from Fréteval was to scout towards Epuisay. On this same day, however,
+General de Jouffroy was marching with two Divisions to the attack of
+Vendôme.
+
+When, at about ten o'clock, the reconnoitring force from Vendôme reached
+the Azay, it came under a hot fire from the further slope of the valley.
+Soon after six hostile battalions attacked its flank from the south, and
+repeated notice was brought in that considerable forces of the enemy
+were marching on Vendôme direct, from north of Azay by Espéreuse.
+General von Kraatz perceived that he would have to face a planned attack
+made by very superior numbers, and determined to restrict himself to the
+local defence of Vendôme. Under cover of a battalion firmly maintaining
+its position at Huchepie, he accomplished in perfect order the retreat
+of the detachment, which then took up a position on the railway
+embankment to the west of the city.
+
+Further to the north the hostile columns, advancing over Espéreuse, had
+already reached Bel Air. A battalion hastening up from Vendôme
+re-occupied the château, but being outflanked on the right by a superior
+force withdrew, and likewise took up a position behind the railway. At
+about two o'clock the French attacked this position in dense swarms of
+sharpshooters, but came under the quick-fire of six batteries in
+position on the heights behind Vendôme, which caused their right wing to
+give way. A column of the enemy advanced along the left bank of the Loir
+from Varennes against this artillery position, but hastily retreated out
+of range of the fire from it.
+
+The attacks directed against the railway from Bel Air and Tuileries were
+more serious; but eight companies posted there repelled them. At four
+o'clock the French once more advanced in strength; fortune wavered for
+some time, and at length, as darkness fell, they retired.
+
+The 1st Cavalry Brigade, accompanied by two companies and a horse
+battery, marched on this day on Danzé. Captain Spitz, with a handful of
+his Westphalian Fusiliers fell on two batteries halted there, and
+captured two guns and three limbers. With these and fifty prisoners
+General von Lüderitz (commanding 1st Cavalry Brigade) returned to
+Fréteval by about one o'clock, after pursuing the enemy as far as
+Epuisay.
+
+The attempt of the French on Vendôme had utterly failed, and they now
+retreated to a greater distance. General von Kraatz, however, was
+ordered, in the prospect of a greater enterprise to be described later,
+to remain meanwhile in waiting on the Loir.
+
+
+
+
+THE XIVTH CORPS IN DECEMBER.
+
+
+In the south-eastern theatre of war the French had at last decided on
+some definite action.
+
+Garibaldi's Corps, assembled at Autun, advanced toward Dijon on the
+24th (November); its detachments closed up by Sombernon and St. Seine,
+with various skirmishes, and subjected to night surprises. Crémer's
+Division advanced as far as Gevrey from the south. But as soon as
+reinforcements reached Dijon from Gray and Is sur Tille, the enemy was
+driven back, and now General von Werder on his part ordered the 1st
+Brigade of his Corps to march on Autun. General Keller (commanding 3rd
+Infantry Brigade, Baden Division), arrived in front of the town on
+December 1st, driving the hostile detachments before him. The
+preparations had been made to attack on the following day, when orders
+came for a rapid retreat. Fresh troops had become necessary at
+Châtillon, to replace the posts which had been stationed to protect the
+railway and which had been surprised at Gray, to cope with sorties by
+the garrison of Besançon and also to observe Langres.
+
+The Prussian Brigade (26th) marched on Langres, along with two cavalry
+regiments and three batteries, and on the 16th it met the French in the
+vicinity of Longeau, in number about 2000. They were repulsed, losing
+200 wounded, fifty prisoners, two guns, and two ammunition waggons.
+General von der Goltz (commanding the Brigade) in the next few days
+surrounded Langres, drove the Gardes-Mobiles posted outside into the
+fortress, and occupied a position opposite the northern front for the
+protection of the railways.
+
+In the country south of Dijon fresh assemblages of French troops had
+also now been observed. To disperse these General von Werder advanced on
+the 18th with two Baden Brigades on Nuits. In Boncourt, close to the
+town on the east, the advanced guard met with lively opposition, but
+carried the place by noon. The French, aided by their batteries posted
+on the heights west of Nuits, offered an obstinate defence in the deep
+railway cutting and at the Meuzin brook. When the main body of the
+Brigade came up at two o'clock, General von Glümer (commanding Baden
+Division) ordered a general attack. With heavy losses, especially in
+superior officers, the infantry now rushed across the open plain at the
+double against the enemy, who was under cover, and who, after
+maintaining a fire at short range, was driven back on Nuits so late as
+four o'clock in the course of a hand-to-hand struggle. At five o'clock
+he abandoned the place before the on-coming battalions.
+
+The Germans had had to do with Crémer's Division, 10,000 strong, which
+lost 1700 men, among them 650 unwounded prisoners. The Baden Division
+had lost 900 men. It encamped for the night on the market-place of the
+town and in the villages to the eastward. Next morning the French were
+found to have retreated still further, but the Germans were not strong
+enough for pursuit. The XIVth Corps had already been obliged to spare
+seven battalions for the investment of Belfort. General von Werder
+therefore returned to Dijon, where he assembled all the forces still
+left to him with those of General von der Goltz from Langres, and waited
+to see whether the enemy would again advance against him. But the month
+of December ended without any further disturbance.
+
+
+
+
+THE IST ARMY IN DECEMBER.
+
+
+While the IInd Army was fighting on the Loire, General von Manteuffel,
+after the victory of Amiens, marched on Rouen.
+
+General Farre was indeed at Arras, in the rear of this movement, but the
+disorder in which his troops had retired after the battle made it
+probable that he would do nothing, at any rate for the present. The 3rd
+Brigade, too, was left in Amiens, with two cavalry regiments and three
+batteries, to occupy the place and protect the important line of railway
+to Laon.
+
+The outlook to the west was more serious than to the north, for from
+thence at this juncture hostile forces threatened to interfere with the
+investment of Paris. General Briand was at Rouen with some 20,000 men,
+and had advanced his leading troops up to the Epte, where at Beauvais
+and Gisors he came in contact with the Guard Dragoon regiment and the
+Saxon Cavalry Division detached from the Army of the Meuse. The
+detachment of infantry which accompanied the latter had lost 150 men and
+a gun in a night surprise.
+
+When the Ist Army reached the Epte on December 3rd, both bodies of
+cavalry joined its further march, and the French retired behind the
+Andelles. The VIIIth Corps reached the vicinity of Rouen after petty
+skirmishes by the way, and found an intrenched position abandoned at
+Isneauville; and on December 5th General von Goeben entered the chief
+city of Normandy. The 29th Brigade advanced on Pont Audemer, the Ist
+Corps crossed the Seine higher up at Les Andelys and Pont de l'Arche.
+Vernon and Evreux were occupied, whence numbers of Gardes-Mobiles had
+retreated by railway to Liseux. On the northern bank the Guard Dragoon
+Regiment reconnoitred as far as Bolbec, and the Uhlan Brigade found no
+enemy in Dieppe.
+
+The French had retired to Havre, and a considerable force had been
+conveyed in ships that were in readiness, to Honfleur on the other bank
+of the Seine. The 16th Division continued its march on Havre, reaching
+Bolbec and Lillebonne on the 11th.
+
+The already-mentioned directions from Versailles had been communicated
+in advance by the Chief of the General Staff, and in accordance with
+them General Manteuffel now decided on leaving only the Ist Corps on the
+Lower Seine, and returning with the VIIIth to the Somme, where the
+French in Arras were now becoming active.
+
+Besides making this evident by various small encounters, on December 9th
+they had attacked a company detailed to protect the reconstruction of
+the railway at Ham, surprising it at night, and taking most of the men
+prisoners; while on the 11th several French battalions advanced as far
+as La Fère.
+
+To check their further progress, the Army of the Meuse had meantime sent
+detachments to Soissons and Compiègne. General Count von der Groeben[56]
+(commanding 3rd Cavalry Division) took up a position at Roye with part
+of the garrison of Amiens, and on the 16th met the 15th Division at
+Montdidier, which immediately moved up to the Somme.
+
+Only the citadel of Amiens now remained in German occupation; but
+General von Manteuffel, who had not approved of the evacuation of the
+city, ordered its immediate reoccupation. The inhabitants had, however,
+remained peaceable, and on the 20th the 16th Division, which had given
+up the attack on Havre, arrived by way of Dieppe.
+
+A reconnoissance fight near Querrieux made it certain that great numbers
+of French were drawn up on the Hallue, and General von Manteuffel now
+drew in the whole (VIIIth) Corps on Amiens. Reinforcements were shortly
+to be expected, for the 3rd Reserve Division was on the march, and had
+already reached St. Quentin. The Ist Corps was also ordered to send a
+brigade from Rouen to Amiens by railway, and the Commanding General
+determined to take the offensive at once with 22,600 men, all his
+available force at the moment.
+
+General Faidherbe had assembled two Corps, the XXIInd and XXIIIrd. His
+advance on Ham and La Fère, intended to divert the Prussians from
+attacking Havre, had succeeded. He next turned toward Amiens, advanced
+to within nine miles of the city, and now stood, with 43,000 men and
+eighty-two guns, fronting to the west behind the Hallue. Two Divisions
+held the left bank of this stream for about seven miles, from its
+confluence at Daours up to Contay, two standing further back, at Corbie
+and Fravillers. The Somme secured the left flank.
+
+On December 23rd General von Manteuffel, with the VIIIth Corps, advanced
+on the road to Albert. The 3rd Brigade of the Ist Corps formed his
+reserve. His design was to keep the French engaged by the 15th Division
+on their front and left wing, and with the 16th Division to outflank
+their right. The unexpected extension of the French right wing prevented
+this, and it became a frontal battle along the whole line. The greater
+height of the eastern bank afforded the French a commanding artillery
+position, and the villages lying at the foot had in every instance to be
+stormed.
+
+The French had drawn in their advanced posts to this line when at eleven
+o'clock the head of the 15th Division reached the grove of Querrieux,
+and brought up a battery. Two battalions of the 29th Brigade took the
+village at mid-day at the first onslaught, crossed the stream, and drove
+the French on the further bank out of Noyelles; but they now found
+themselves overwhelmed by an artillery and infantry fire from all sides.
+The East Prussians[57] stormed the acclivity at about four o'clock, and
+took two guns which were in action, but were forced to fall back into
+the village before the advancing French masses.
+
+Soon after mid-day Féchencourt was won on the left, and Bussy on the
+right; and the enemy after a feeble resistance was driven back across
+the stream. On the other hand, the German Artillery could at first do
+nothing against the strong and well-posted batteries of the enemy.
+Vecquemont, however, was stormed, though stoutly defended, and a bitter
+street-fight lasted till the afternoon.
+
+The 15th Division, against the intention of General Manteuffel, had
+become involved in fighting before the 16th, engaged further to the
+left, could afford it any assistance. Not till four o'clock did the 31st
+Brigade arrive in front of Béhencourt, when, crossing the river by
+flying bridges, it threw the enemy back into the village, where he
+maintained a stout resistance, but had ultimately to give way. The 32nd
+Brigade, on the extreme left, crossed the Hallue and entered
+Bavelincourt.
+
+Thus all the hamlets on the river were in German possession; but the
+short December day was closing in, and further progress had to be
+postponed till the morrow. Even in the dark the French made several
+attempts to recover the positions they had lost, especially about
+Contay, where they outflanked the German position. But their attacks
+were repulsed both there and at Noyelles. They succeeded, indeed, in
+getting into Vecquemont, but were driven out again, and were lost to the
+Prussians now following across the stream, who even seized Daours, so
+that ultimately the Germans held dominion over every passage of the
+Hallue.
+
+The battle was over by six o'clock. The troops moved into alarm-quarters
+in the captured villages, their foreposts standing close in front of the
+outlets.
+
+The attack had cost the Germans 900 men; the defence had cost the French
+about 1000, besides 1000 unwounded prisoners who were taken into Amiens.
+
+At daybreak on the 24th the French opened fire on General Manteuffel's
+position in the angle bounded by the Hallue and the Somme.
+
+It having been ascertained that the enemy's strength was almost double
+that of the Germans, it was decided this day on the latter side to
+remain on the defensive, pending the arrival of reinforcements, and to
+strengthen the defence of the positions gained. The Army-Reserve was
+pushed forward to Corbie to threaten the left flank of the French.
+
+But at two o'clock in the afternoon General Faidherbe took up his
+retreat. His insufficiently-equipped troops had suffered fearfully
+through the bitter winter night, and were much shaken by the
+unfavourable issue of the fighting of the previous day. He therefore
+drew them back within the area of the covering fortresses. When on the
+25th the two Prussian Divisions and the cavalry pursued beyond Albert,
+and then close up to Arras and as far as Cambrai, they found no formed
+bodies at all in front of those places, and only captured some hundreds
+of stragglers.
+
+When General Manteuffel had thus disposed of the enemy, he sent General
+von Mirus (commanding 6th Cavalry Brigade) to invest Péronne, while he
+himself returned to Rouen.
+
+Since it had detached to Amiens six battalions as a reinforcement, the
+Ist Army Corps (at Rouen) now remained only two brigades strong. The
+French had 10,000 men on the right bank, and 12,000 on the left bank of
+the lower Seine. And these forces had come very close to Rouen;
+particularly on the south side within nine miles. Meanwhile, however,
+the Commanding-General had ordered back the 2nd Brigade from Amiens, and
+on its arrival the hostile bodies were once more driven back.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[56] Lieut.-General, not to be confounded with Major-General of same
+name commanding 14th Cavalry Brigade.
+
+[57] Men of the 2nd battalion 33rd Regiment (East Prussian Fusiliers),
+belonging to the VIIIth Corps, whose territory is the Rhine Provinces.
+It would be interesting to know how an East Prussian Regiment came to be
+incorporated into the Rhineland Corps. The Ist is the East Prussian
+Corps, and it was also under General v. Manteuffel, who had been the
+Corps Commander until the beginning of December, when its command passed
+to General v. Bentheim.
+
+
+
+
+THE REDUCTION OF MÉZIÈRES.
+
+(1st January, 1871.)
+
+
+In the northern section of hostilities, before the end of the year, the
+siege of Mézières was brought to an end. After the battle of Sedan the
+Commandant had contributed supplies from the magazines of the fortress
+for the maintenance of the great mass of prisoners, and it had remained,
+therefore, for the time exempt from attack. Later the place precluded
+the use of the railroad; still it was only kept under provisional
+observation till the 19th of December, when, after the fall of Montmédy,
+the 14th Division moved up before Mézières.
+
+The garrison numbered only 2000 men, but it was effectively assisted by
+bands of volunteers outside, who displayed extraordinary activity in
+this broken and wooded country. The place was not completely invested
+till the 25th.
+
+Mézières stands on a mountain-spur which is surrounded on three sides by
+the Moselle,[58] but it is hemmed by a ring of heights. The character of
+the defences, which had been strengthened by Vauban, with their numerous
+salient angles, was not calculated to resist modern long-range
+artillery. The place exposed an isolated rampart of masonry in a
+circumference of from 2160 to 3250 yards, and although the long delay
+had been utilized in repairing the weak points by throwing up
+earthworks, a bombardment could not fail to be destructive to the
+defenders.
+
+When Verdun had surrendered, heavy siege guns were brought by rail from
+Clermont to a position close in front of the southern face of the
+fortress. The only hindrance to the erection of the batteries was the
+state of the soil, frozen to a depth of twenty inches; and at a quarter
+past eight on the morning of the 31st of December 68 siege guns and 8
+field-pieces opened fire. At first the fortress replied vigorously, but
+by the afternoon its artillery was utterly silenced, and the white flag
+was hoisted next day. The garrison were taken prisoners; considerable
+stores and 132 guns fell into the hands of the besiegers. But the chief
+advantage gained was the opening of a new line of railway to Paris.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[58] Slip of pen for "Meuse."
+
+
+
+
+PARIS IN DECEMBER.
+
+
+In Paris General Ducrot had been busily employed in making good the
+losses sustained in the battle of Villiers. A part of the greatly
+reduced Ist Corps had to be consigned to the reserve; the IInd Army was
+reorganized. A projected sortie by way of the peninsula of Gennevillers
+and the heights of Franconville had not been approved by the government.
+There was the confident expectation of seeing the Army of Orleans appear
+within a short time before the capital, and steps were being taken to
+reach it the hand, when on the 6th December a letter from General von
+Moltke announced the defeat of General d'Aurelle and the occupation of
+Orleans. A sortie to the south would thenceforth be aimless, and after
+long deliberation it was at length decided to break through the enemy's
+lines in a northern direction by a sortie in great force.
+
+It was true that the Morée brook afforded the besiegers some cover on
+that side, but only so long as the ice would not bear. And there were
+but three German corps of the gross strength of 81,200, extended over a
+front of about twenty-seven miles.[59]
+
+By way of preparation earthworks were begun to be thrown up on the 13th,
+between Bondy and Courneuve, the forts of the north front were furnished
+with a heavier artillery equipment, and the plateau of Mont Avron was
+occupied by batteries. Ninety rounds of ammunition were served out to
+each man, with six days' rations; and four days' fodder for the horses.
+Packs were not to be carried, but rolled tent-pieces were to be worn as
+breast-protection. December 19th was the day first set for the
+enterprise, but there was a postponement to the 21st.
+
+Thus, during the larger half of December the investing army had remained
+almost wholly undisturbed by the defenders. Regular food, warm winter
+clothing, and abundant supplies of comforts which the exertions of the
+postal service afforded, had maintained the troops in a thoroughly
+satisfactory condition.
+
+The preparations which the garrison was making for a new effort did not
+escape the notice of the besieging forces. Deserters brought in reports
+of an imminent sortie. On the 20th information came from the posts of
+observation that large masses of troops were assembling about Merlan and
+Noisy le Sec; and early on the 21st the 2nd Guard Division, by order of
+the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Meuse, stood in readiness at
+the passages of the Morée. Part of the 1st Division remained in reserve
+at Gonesse; the other portion was to be relieved by the 7th Division,
+and made available for action. On the right wing the Guard Landwehr
+Division occupied the section from Chatou to Carrières St. Denis; on the
+left a brigade of the Saxon Corps held Sévran. The 4th Infantry Division
+of the IInd Corps moved to Malnoue to support, in case of need, the
+Würtembergers, to whom was allotted the task of holding resolutely the
+advanced position of Joinville opposite the French.
+
+To divert the attention of the Germans from the true point of attack, a
+brisk fire was to be opened in early morning from Fort Valérien; strong
+bodies were to assail the right wing of the Guard Corps, General Vinoy
+was to lead the IIIrd Army against the Saxons, and Admiral de la
+Roncière was to fall upon Le Bourget with his Army Corps. This latter
+post, projecting as it did so prominently, it was essential to seize
+first of all, and not till then was General Ducrot, with the IInd Paris
+Army, to cross the Morée near Blanc Mesnil and Aulnay.
+
+(COMBAT OF LE BOURGET, 21ST DECEMBER.)--Le Bourget was held by only four
+companies of the Queen Elizabeth Regiment, and one Guard Rifle
+battalion. When the mist rose at a quarter to eight, there was rained on
+the garrison a heavy fire from the guns of the forts and many batteries,
+as well as from armour-clad railway trucks. Half an hour later closed
+hostile columns marched on the place from east and west. In the former
+direction its outskirts were successfully defended for some time against
+seven French battalions, and on the opposite side five more were brought
+to a halt by the quick fire of the defenders in front of the
+cemetery[60]; but a detachment of marine fusiliers penetrated unhindered
+into the village by its northern entrance. Pressed upon on all sides by
+overwhelming numbers, the defenders were compelled to fall back into the
+southern part of the village. The garrison of the cemetery also strove
+to force its way thither, but part of it fell into the enemy's hands.
+The French advanced only step by step, suffering heavy loss in bloody
+street-fighting, but they did not succeed in obtaining possession of the
+buildings or glass-factory. Five fresh battalions of the French reserve
+marched up from St. Denis on the gas-works, and battered down the
+garden-wall with cannon-fire, but still could not crush there the steady
+resistance of the Germans.
+
+At nine o'clock the latter were reinforced by one company, and at ten
+o'clock by seven more companies, which in a bloody hand-to-hand
+struggle, fought their way to the cemetery and glass-factory. By eleven
+the last bodies of assailants were driven out, and Le Bourget, in
+expectation of a renewed attack, was occupied by fifteen companies. Two
+batteries of field artillery, which had been in brisk action on the
+Morée, were brought up to the village.
+
+General Ducrot had meanwhile waited in vain for the signal which was to
+have announced the capture of Le Bourget. He had pushed forward the
+heads of his columns beyond Bondy and Drancy, when he was warned by the
+disastrous issue of the struggle on his left to abandon his intended
+attack on the line of the Morée.
+
+The anticipated important enterprise lapsed into a mere cannonade, to
+which the German field-guns did their best to reply. In the afternoon
+the French retired from the field.
+
+They had lost, by their own account, about 600 men. The troops of the
+Prussian Guard Corps lost 400, but 360 prisoners remained in their
+hands. In the evening the outposts resumed their previous positions.
+
+The various feigned attacks of the Parisian garrison were without
+effect, and produced no alteration in the dispositions made on the
+German side. An advance from St. Denis against Stains was repulsed, and
+two gunboats on the Seine had to go about in consequence of the fire of
+four field batteries on Orgemont. The trivial sortie on Chatou was
+scarcely heeded. General Vinoy indeed led forward a large force along
+the right bank of the Marne, but that was not till the afternoon, when
+the fight at Le Bourget was over. The Saxon outposts retired into the
+fighting position near Le Chenay. One of the battalions massed there
+drove the enemy out of Maison Blanche that same evening, another made a
+grasp at Ville Evrart, where fighting went on till midnight; it lost
+seventy men, but brought in 600 prisoners. Next morning the French
+abandoned Ville Evrart, under heavy fire from the German artillery on
+the heights on the opposite side of the river.
+
+Paris had now been invested for three months. The always distasteful
+expedient of a bombardment of a place so extensive could not of itself
+bring about a decisive result; and on the German side there was the full
+conviction that only a regular siege could accomplish the wished-for
+end. But the operations of the engineers had to be delayed till the
+artillery should be in a position to co-operate with them.
+
+It has already been shown that the siege-artillery had been first
+employed against those fortified places which interrupted the rearward
+communications of the army. There were indeed 235 heavy pieces standing
+ready at Villacoublay; but it had proved impossible as yet to bring up
+the necessary ammunition for the attack which, once begun, must on no
+account be interrupted.
+
+By the end of November, railway communication had been restored up to
+Chelles, but the greater part of the ammunition had meanwhile been
+deposited at Lagny, and from thence would now have to be carried forward
+by the country roads. The ordinary two-wheeled country carts proved
+totally unfit for the transport of shells, and only 2000 four-wheeled
+waggons had been collected by requisitions made over a wide area. There
+were brought up from Metz 960 more with horses sent from Germany, and
+even the teams of the IIIrd Army were taken into the service, though
+they were almost indispensable just then to contribute towards the
+efficiency of the army fighting on the Loire. Finally, all the draught
+horses of the pontoon columns, of the field-bridge trains, and of the
+trench-tool columns were brought into the ammunition-transport service.
+A new difficulty arose when the breaking-up of the ice necessitated the
+removal of the pontoon bridges over the Seine. The roads were so bad
+that it took the waggons nine days to get from Nanteuil to Villacoublay
+and back. Many broke down under their loads, and the drivers constantly
+took to flight. And moreover, at the instance of the Chief of the Staff
+there was now laid upon the artillery yet an additional task to be
+carried out forthwith.
+
+Though the besieged had not hitherto succeeded in forcing their way
+through the enemy's lines, they now set about widening their elbow room,
+with intent that by their counter-approaches the ring of investment
+should be further and yet further pushed back, until at last it should
+reach the breaking point. On the south side the French entrenchments
+already extended beyond Vitry and Villejuif to the Seine; and on the
+north, between Drancy and Fort de l'Est, there was an extensive system
+of trenches and batteries reaching to within 1100 yards of Le Bourget,
+which in part might in a manner be dignified with the title of a regular
+engineer-attack. The hard frost had indeed hindered the further progress
+of these works, but they were armed with artillery and occupied by the
+IInd Army. And further, a singularly favourable point of support for a
+sortie to the east as well as to the north, was afforded to the French
+in the commanding eminence of Mont Avron, which, armed with seventy
+heavy guns, projected into the Marne valley like a wedge between the
+northern and southern investing lines.
+
+(BOMBARDMENT OF MONT AVRON, DECEMBER 27TH.)--In order to expel the
+French from this position fifty heavy guns from Germany, and twenty-six
+from before La Fère were brought up under the command of Colonel
+Bartsch. By the exertions of a whole battalion as a working party, two
+groups of battery emplacements were erected in spite of the severe frost
+on the western slope of the heights behind Raincy and Gagny, and on the
+left upland of the Marne Valley near Noisy le Grand, thus encompassing
+Mont Avron on two sides at a distance of from 2160 to 3250 feet.
+
+At half-past eight on the morning of 27th December those seventy-six
+guns opened fire. A heavy snowstorm interfered with accurate aim, and
+prevented any observation of the execution done. Mont Avron and Forts
+Nogent and Rosny replied rapidly and heavily.
+
+The German batteries lost two officers and twenty-five gunners, several
+gun-carriages broke down under their own fire, and everything pointed to
+the prospect that no definite result would be obtained on that day.
+
+But the batteries had fired more effectually than had been supposed. The
+clear weather of the 28th allowed of greater precision; the Prussian
+fire proved most telling, making fearful havoc in the numerous and
+exposed French infantry garrison. Mont Avron was silenced, and only the
+forts kept up a feeble fire. General Trochu, who was present in person,
+ordered the abandonment of the position, which was so effectually
+accomplished in the night by the energetic commander, Colonel Stoffel,
+that only one disabled gun was left behind.
+
+On the 29th the French fire was silent, and the hill was found deserted.
+The Germans had no intention of continuing to occupy the position. Their
+batteries now turned their fire on the forts, which suffered severely,
+and on the earthworks near Bondy.
+
+By the end of the year the besiegers had succeeded in collecting the
+most indispensable ammunition in Villacoublay. The engineer operations
+were entrusted to General Kameke; the artillery was under the command of
+General Prince Hohenlohe.[61] The battery emplacements had long been
+finished, and with the dawn of the new year 100 guns of the largest
+calibres stood ready to open fire on the south front of Paris.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[59] Viz., the section of the investment line on the northern side, from
+the Marne above, to the Seine below Paris, held by the Army of the
+Meuse, consisting of the IVth, the Guard, and XIIth (Saxon) Corps.
+
+[60] "Kirchhof" seems to stand in German not only for our "churchyard,"
+but also for our "graveyard," in which latter there need be no church.
+In the case of Le Bourget the church stands in the village street--the
+reader will remember de Neuville's striking picture--and the graveyard
+lies outside the shabby village, and has the aspect of the modern
+"cemetery." That term has therefore been used.
+
+[61] Details as to the personnel of the artillery and engineer commands
+of the siege operations will be found on a later page.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARMY OF THE EAST UNDER GENERAL BOURBAKI.
+
+
+While the French forces were engaged in constant fighting, in the north
+on the Seine and the Somme, in the south on the Loire and the Saône,
+General Bourbaki's army had nowhere made itself prominent. Since the 8th
+of December, when the 6th Cavalry Division had reported its presence at
+Vierzon, all trace of it had been lost. It was of course of the greatest
+importance to the supreme Command that it should know the whereabouts of
+so large an army; only the IInd German Army could acquire this
+information, and on the 22nd it received instructions to obtain the
+required enlightenment by means of reconnaissances.
+
+On this errand General von Rantzau (commanding 25th Cavalry Brigade) set
+out from Montargis by the right bank of the Loire towards Briare, where
+he found that the French had abandoned their position on the 25th; in
+the course of the next few days he met them, and was defeated.
+
+The Hessian detachment was reinforced to a strength of three battalions,
+four squadrons and six guns, but was nevertheless driven back to Gien on
+the 1st of January. The French had displayed a force of several thousand
+Gardes-Mobiles, twelve guns, and a body of marine infantry. A noticeable
+fact was that some of the prisoners brought in belonged to the XVIIIth
+French Corps, which formed part of the Ist Army of the Loire.
+
+A regiment of the 6th Cavalry Division sent out to reconnoitre into the
+Sologne, returned with the report that strong hostile columns were
+marching on Aubigny Ville. On the other hand, two waggon-drivers who had
+been taken prisoners declared that the French troops had been already
+moved from Bourges by rail, and the newspaper reports also pointed to
+the same conclusion; still, too much weight could not be attached to
+mere rumour as against circumstantial intelligence. It was therefore
+assumed at Versailles that the Ist Army of the Loire was still about
+Bourges, and that General Bourbaki, when again in a condition to fight,
+would act in concert with General Chanzy.
+
+The two armies might attack the Germans at Orleans from opposite sides,
+or one might engage and detain them there, while the other marched to
+relieve the capital.
+
+This, in fact, was what General Chanzy had in view. Since the 21st of
+December he had been resting in quarters in and about Le Mans, where
+railways from four directions facilitated the bringing up of new levies.
+His troops had no doubt great hardships to contend with there. In lack
+of shelter for such great masses part had to camp out under canvas in
+the snow, and suffered severely from the intense cold. The hospitals
+were crammed with wounded and small-pox patients. On the other hand,
+this close concentration was favourable to the reorganization of the
+details and the restoration of discipline; and the news from Paris urged
+the General to renewed action.
+
+General Trochu had sent word that Paris unaided could not accomplish her
+freedom. Even if a sortie should prove successful, the necessary
+supplies for the maintenance of an army could not be carried with it,
+and therefore nothing but the simultaneous appearance of an army from
+without could meet the case. Now General Chanzy was quite ready to march
+on Paris, but it was indispensable that he should first know exactly
+what Generals Bourbaki and Faidherbe were doing.
+
+It was clearly evident that concerted action on the part of three great
+Army Corps could only be devised and controlled by the chief power. The
+General therefore sent an officer of his Staff on the 23rd of December
+to Gambetta at Lyons, to express his conviction that only a combined and
+prompt advance could avert the fall of the capital. But the Minister
+believed that he knew better. The first news of a quite different
+disposition of Bourbaki's army only reached General Chanzy on the 29th,
+when it was already entered upon. Nor in other respects did Gambetta's
+reply convey either distinct orders or sufficient information. "You have
+decimated the Mecklenburgers," wrote Gambetta, "the Bavarians no longer
+exist, the rest of the German Army is a prey to disquietude and
+exhaustion. Let us persevere, and we shall drive these hordes from our
+soil with empty hands." The plan of the Provisional Government was to be
+the one "which would most demoralize the German army."[62]
+
+Under instructions so obscure from the chief authority General Chanzy,
+relying on his own strength, determined to make his way to Paris without
+other assistance; but he soon found himself in serious difficulties.
+
+On the German side there was no time to be lost in utilizing their
+position between the two hostile armies, advantageous as it was so long
+as those armies were not too near. The simultaneous attacks on the 31st
+December at Vendôme on the Loir, and at Briare on the Loire, seemed to
+indicate that the two were already acting on a concerted plan.
+
+On New Year's day Prince Frederick Charles received telegraphic
+instructions to re-cross the Loir without delay, and strike at General
+Chanzy, as being the nearest and most imminently dangerous enemy. With
+this object the IInd Army was strengthened by the addition of the XIIIth
+Corps of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (17th and 22nd Divisions) and the
+2nd and 4th Divisions of Cavalry. And in addition the 5th Cavalry
+Division was detailed to the duty of covering the right flank of the
+advance.
+
+Only the 25th (Hessian) Division was to be left in Orleans as a possible
+check on General Bourbaki, and to maintain observation on Gien. But as a
+further provision, in case of need against a possible advance of the
+IInd Army of the Loire, General von Zastrow was ordered to the Armançon
+with the VIIth Corps;[63] and further the IInd Corps from the besieging
+lines was set in march to Montargis.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles' arrangement was to have his three corps
+assembled on the line Vendôme--Morée by 6th January, and to order the
+XIIIth from Chartres on Brou.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[62] "Qui démoralisera le plus l'armée Allemande."
+
+[63] In effect, with only the Corps-headquarter and the 13th
+Division--the 14th Division being still in the north-east.
+
+
+
+
+THE ADVANCE OF THE IIND ARMY TO LE MANS.
+
+
+The Germans had hoped to strike the enemy in his winter quarters; but
+General Chanzy had provided against surprise by a cordon of strong
+advanced positions. Nogent le Rotrou on his left was held by Rousseau's
+Division, and numerous bands of volunteers; from thence strong
+detachments were posted through Vibraye and St. Calais up to the Braye
+brook, where General Jouffroy had made a halt after the last attack on
+Vendôme; and on the right were General Barry at La Chartre and de
+Curten's Division at Château Renault.
+
+Both wings of the German army came into collision with these forces on
+the 5th of January.
+
+General Baumgarth (commanding 2nd Cavalry Brigade), on the German left,
+had assembled at St. Amand three battalions, two cavalry regiments and
+two batteries. The 57th regiment stormed Villeporcher in the direction
+of Château Renault, evacuated it in face of an attack by four French
+battalions, and finally recaptured and held it. This much, at any rate,
+was thus ascertained, that a not inconsiderable force of the enemy was
+assembled in front of the left wing of the German army now marching
+westward. While this movement was in prosecution General Baumgarth was
+thenceforth to undertake its protection, and with this object he was
+reinforced by the addition of the 6th Cavalry Division and the 1st
+Cavalry Brigade.
+
+On the right wing the 44th Brigade, in its advance on Nogent le Rotrou,
+also had had a sharp encounter. It carried the enemy's position at La
+Fourche, and captured three guns, with a large number of prisoners. The
+main body of the Corps (the XIIIth) reached Beaumont les Autels and
+Brou, but the cavalry failed to penetrate the woods to the north of
+Nogent.
+
+_January 6th._--At six in the morning the advanced guard of General
+Baumgarth's detachment started on march to Prunay, but the main body
+could not follow, since it was attacked in force at about half-past
+nine. With the object of observing the enemy, the infantry had been
+scattered in detached posts in a wide extension from Ambloy to
+Villeporcher, and only a small reserve remained at La Noue. The fight
+soon assumed greater expansion, and the defence with difficulty
+maintained the line Les Haies--Pias, the turning of the German left
+flank being seriously threatened, upon which the 6th Cavalry Division
+moved up, but could only enter the fight with one horse battery. The
+reserve, however, moved up along the high road to Château Renault and
+repulsed the enemy, who had already forced his way into Les Haies. But
+when he renewed the attack in strong columns and developed four
+batteries against the place, the reserve was obliged to retire behind
+the Brenne.
+
+Meanwhile the 16th Regiment, which had already reached Ambloy on its
+march to Vendôme, turned back to St. Amand in support, and the just
+assembled 38th Infantry Brigade deployed between Neuve St. Amand and St.
+Amand with a strong force of cavalry on its flanks. But as by some
+mistake St. Amand was evacuated, Duke William of Mecklenburg (commanding
+6th Cavalry Division) ordered a further retreat. The infantry, however,
+had already come to a halt at Huisseau and took quarters there. The
+advanced guard turned into Ambloy; the cavalry fell back partly on that
+place and partly on Villeromain.
+
+During the engagement about St. Amand the Xth Corps itself advanced on
+Montoire in two columns along the left bank of the Loire, leaving on its
+right a battalion in front of Vendôme to secure the debouche of the
+IIIrd Corps through that place.
+
+When the 20th Division reached St. Rimay at about one o'clock, it found
+the heights on the opposite side of the Loir occupied by General Barry's
+troops. The massed German batteries were brought up to the southern
+ridge of the valley and soon drove the French off the broad flats; but
+the defile of Les Roches in the front remained quite unassailable. The
+broken bridge at Lavardin, lower down the stream, was therefore made
+practicable by the pioneers. The 19th Division having meanwhile reached
+that place, several battalions crossed from the south side to attack Les
+Roches, and easily dislodged the French. As darkness came on, preventing
+any further advance, the Corps found quarters in and about Montoire.
+
+The Commander of the IIIrd Corps had intended to make a halt on this day
+before Vendôme, and only push forward his advanced guard as far as the
+Azay brook; but this detachment soon met with so stout opposition, that
+the main force was compelled to advance to its assistance. General de
+Jouffroy, with intent to disengage General de Curten, had renewed the
+attack on Vendôme, and so the advanced guard of the 5th Division,
+approaching Villiers at about half-past one, found the 10th Jäger
+Battalion, which had accompanied the march of its Corps along the right
+bank of the Loir, engaged at that place in a sharp fight which had
+already lasted four hours. The advanced guard brought up its two
+batteries on to the plateau north of the village, and the 48th Regiment
+made its way forward to the slope of the lower Azay valley, the broad
+flat meadows of which were commanded by the French long-range rifles and
+completely swept by the fire of the artillery. And here then the enemy
+came over to the attack in dense swarms of sharp-shooters.
+
+The 8th Regiment presently came up in support, and after a short fight
+took possession of Le Gué du Loir on its left flank; then the further
+reinforcement arrived of the 10th Infantry Brigade, and by degrees the
+number of Prussian guns increased to thirty-six. The French artillery
+could not endure their fire, and within half an hour it was possible to
+turn it on the hostile infantry. At about half-past four the German
+battalions crossed the valley, made themselves masters of the vineyards
+and farms on the opposite heights, and finally stormed Mazange. Under
+cover of the darkness the French retired to Lunay.
+
+Further to the right the advance guard of the 6th Division, having left
+Vendôme at eleven o'clock, found the battalion left by the Xth Corps at
+Courtiras fighting hard against a very superior force of the French. The
+11th Brigade advanced on the Azay ravine, though not without heavy loss,
+and when at about half-past three the 12th also came up, and the
+artillery went to work vigorously, Azay was successfully stormed and the
+force established itself firmly on the heights beyond. Repeated
+counterstrokes of the enemy were repulsed in succession, and by five
+o'clock the fighting ended with the retirement of the French.
+
+The IIIrd Army Corps took up quarters between the Azay stream and the
+Loir. A detachment occupied Danzé, higher up the river. The Corps lost
+thirty-nine officers and above 400 men, but captured 400 prisoners.
+
+In the course of the day the IXth Corps crossed the upper Loir about
+Fréteval and St. Hilaire, without opposition, and advanced along the
+high road to St. Calais, as far as Busloup. The XIIIth remained at
+Unverre, Beaumont, and La Fourche.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles had not been led into any change of purpose by
+the attack at St. Amand and the obstinate resistance at Azay. The XIIIth
+Corps was expected to reach Montmirail, and the XIth Epuisay, both on
+the 7th; the IIIrd was to continue the attack on the deep-cut channel of
+the Braye brook. But after the reverse experienced at St. Amand, the
+presence of a strong hostile force on the left flank could not be
+suffered to remain unregarded. Duke William had already been given
+verbal orders at the Head-quarter in Vendôme, to turn back forthwith to
+St. Amand with the 6th Cavalry Division, and in addition General von
+Voigts-Rhetz was ordered to support General Baumgarth if necessary with
+his whole Corps.
+
+The country between the Loir and the Sarthe through which the Germans
+had to march, presents peculiar difficulties to an invading force, and
+affords marked advantages to the defence.
+
+All the roads leading to Le Mans intersect at right angles, stream after
+stream flowing through broad and deeply cut meadow-valleys. Groves,
+villages, and châteaux with walled parks cover the highly cultivated
+upland; vineyards, orchards and gardens are enclosed by hedges, ditches
+or fences.
+
+Hence almost the whole burthen of the impending fighting would have to
+be borne by the infantry; nowhere was there space for the deployment of
+cavalry, and the use of artillery needs must be extremely limited, since
+in a country so greatly enclosed guns could only singly be brought into
+action. The enemy's central position could be approached by only four
+main roads, and the communications between the marching columns,
+starting at the least some thirty miles apart, would be confined to the
+cross roads, almost impassable from the severity of the season and the
+hostility of the inhabitants. Any lateral mutual support was at first
+quite out of the question.
+
+Under such conditions the movements could only be guided by general
+instructions, and even the leaders of lower grades had to be left free
+to act at their own individual discretion. Specific orders for each day,
+though they would of course be issued, could not in many cases be
+possibly carried out. In the Army Headquarter it could not be foreseen
+in what situation each individual corps might find itself after a day's
+fighting. Reports could only come in very late at night, and the orders
+drawn up however early would often arrive only after the troops, because
+of the shortness of the day, had already set out on the march.
+
+_January 7th._--In obedience to orders from the Army Headquarter,
+General Voigts-Rhetz on the 7th sent the part of the 19th Division which
+had already reached Vendôme, back to St. Amand in reinforcement. The
+38th Brigade had again entered that place early in the day, and General
+von Hartmann, taking over its command, advanced along the Château
+Renault high road, the cavalry moving on both flanks.
+
+The column first struck the enemy near Villechauve at mid-day. A thick
+fog prevented the employment of the artillery, and it was at the cost of
+heavy loss that Villechauve, Pias, and various other farmsteads were
+captured. Villeporcher and the adjacent villages remained in possession
+of the French, who at about two o'clock advanced by the high road to the
+attack with several battalions. The weather had cleared, and it was soon
+evident that this offensive was only intended to mask the beginning of
+the enemy's retreat to the westward. The troops took quarters where they
+stood, and the reinforcements forwarded to them remained at St. Amand.
+
+The Xth Corps, awaiting the return of the latter, remained in its
+quarters about La Chartre; only the 14th Cavalry Brigade went on up to
+La Richardière to establish connection with the IIIrd Corps. But it did
+not succeed in taking the village with dismounted troopers.
+
+General von Alvensleben[64] hoped to overtake the French on the hither
+side of the glen of Braye, and by turning their left wing to drive them
+on to the Xth Corps, whose co-operation had been promised. The IIIrd
+Corps advanced in the direction of Epuisay, leaving one brigade to
+garrison Mazange, and when tidings reached it on the march that the
+French had evacuated Lunay and Fortan, that brigade also followed by way
+of the latter village.
+
+Epuisay was found to be strongly held, and in the meantime the advanced
+guard of the IXth Corps, advancing from Busloup, also arrived there. But
+it was not till half-past one that the French were expelled from the
+little town, which they had strongly barricaded; and on the hither side
+of the Braye they renewed their resistance in the numerous hamlets and
+farmsteads. A long fire fight was kept up in the thick fog; but at
+length, at about four o'clock, the 12th Brigade pushed forward to the
+edge of the valley. The 9th Brigade took possession of Savigny without
+meeting any serious opposition, and Sargé was stormed in the dusk.
+
+The IIIrd Corps had lost forty-five men and had taken 200 prisoners. It
+found quarters behind the Braye, but threw forward outposts on its
+western bank. The IXth Corps found shelter in and about Epuisay, and
+thus, as a matter of fact, two corps were now crowded on one of the few
+available roads. The 2nd Cavalry Division went to the right, towards
+Mondoubleau, to make connection with the XIIIth Corps. The French
+retreated to St. Calais.
+
+The order from the Army Head-quarter that the XIIIth Corps was to march
+to Montmirail, had been issued on the presumption that it would have
+reached Nogent le Rotrou on the 6th, whereas in fact, as has been
+shown, it had remained at La Fourche, Beaumont, and Unverre. The Grand
+Duke, who expected to experience a stout resistance, did not pass to the
+attack of Nogent till the 7th. When the 22nd Division arrived there, it
+found all the villages deserted in the Upper Huisne valley and was able
+to enter Nogent without any fighting at two o'clock. It took up quarters
+there, the 4th Cavalry Division at Thirion Gardais; and only an advanced
+guard followed the enemy. It found the wood near Le Gibet strongly
+occupied, and did not succeed in forcing it till after nightfall.
+
+The French had retired to La Ferté Bernard.
+
+The 17th Division had at first followed in reserve. But at one o'clock,
+in consequence of the reports brought in, the Grand Duke detached it
+southward to Authon; and in order to follow the Head-quarter
+instructions as closely as possible he did at least push a detachment of
+two battalions, two cavalry regiments, and one battery towards
+Montmirail, under the command of General von Rauch.
+
+_January 8th._--Finding on the morning of the 8th that the enemy was not
+advancing to the attack of St. Amand, General von Hartmann at nine
+o'clock sent back the troops which had crossed the river to his support.
+At ten o'clock also he received instructions to join the Xth Corps; but
+the French still continued to hold Villeporcher and the forest lying
+behind it, and were also drawn up across the Château Renault high road
+in a very advantageous position behind the Brenne. The General
+recognized the necessity of making a decisive stand here, and took the
+best means to that end by acting himself on the offensive. Supported by
+the fire of his battery, and accompanied by the cavalry on either flank,
+six companies of the 60th Regiment marched on Villeporcher, drove back
+its defenders in flight into the forest of Château Renault, and took 100
+prisoners. On the left the 9th Uhlans drove the Chasseurs d'Afrique
+before them. Not till darkness had set in did General von Hartmann
+proceed in the direction of Montoire.
+
+General von Voigts-Rhetz had already set out from thence very early in
+the day. The night's frost had covered the roads with ice, which cruelly
+impeded all movements of troops. The road on the right bank of the Loir
+was in many places broken up. It passed through a succession of narrow
+defiles, and on emerging from these the advanced guard found itself face
+to face with a force of about 1000 Gardes-Mobiles, who had taken up a
+position in front of La Chartre. Their mitrailleuses were soon forced to
+a hasty retreat by the fire of two field-guns, but it was only after a
+prolonged struggle that the infantry, moving with difficulty, succeeded
+at 4 o'clock in entering the town, where it took up quarters. Two
+battalions which were sent further on the road, had to fight for their
+night's shelter, and all through the night were exchanging shots with
+the enemy at close quarters, of whom 230 were taken prisoners.
+
+The 39th Brigade, which left Ambloy in the morning, could follow the
+corps only as far as Sougé.
+
+General von Schmidt with the 14th Cavalry Brigade was sent to the right,
+to try to make connection with the IIIrd Corps. He was received at Vancé
+with a sharp fire. The leading squadron made way for the horse battery,
+and a volley of grape-shot from the foremost gun drove the dismounted
+hostile Cuirassiers behind the hedges. When two more guns were brought
+up into position, their shell fire dispersed in every direction a long
+column of cavalry.
+
+Colonel von Alvensleben pursued the French cavalry with the 15th Uhlan
+Regiment till he came upon a body of infantry guarding the Etang-fort
+brook. The brigade halted at Vancé, after putting about 100 French _hors
+de combat_.
+
+Of the IIIrd Corps the 6th Division had moved forward through St.
+Calais. The French tried to hold the cuttings on the greatly broken up
+roads; but they nowhere awaited a serious attack, and made off, for the
+most part in carts which were in waiting. The 5th Division, proceeding
+on a parallel front on the left, met with no opposition; but the state
+of the roads made the march extremely difficult. The corps halted on the
+hither side of Bouloire. The IXth Corps came up behind it into St.
+Calais.
+
+The Grand Duke had moved both Divisions of the XIIIth Corps on La Ferté
+Bernard. On their way they came across none but stragglers, but they
+found the roads so utterly cut up that not till four in the afternoon
+did they reach the place, where they took up quarters. The French had
+retired to Connerré. The 4th Cavalry Division was to secure the right
+flank on the further advance, but could not get as far forward as
+Bellême; on the other hand, General von Rauch's (commanding 15th Cavalry
+Division) detachment despatched leftward towards Montmirail, surprised
+the French in Vibraye, and took possession of the bridge over the Braye.
+
+By the evening of this day the two flank Corps of the German Army were
+at an equal distance from Le Mans, both on the same high road which
+crosses the district of the Quere from La Ferté Bernard in a southerly
+direction through St. Calais and La Chartre; the IIIrd Corps was further
+in advance, separated from each of them by the interval of a long march.
+A closer concentration of the forces could be attained only by a further
+advance along the converging highways. Prince Frederick Charles
+therefore issued an order at ten o'clock that evening, for the Xth Corps
+to march next day to Parigné l'Evêque, the IIIrd to Ardenay, and the
+XIIIth on to the heights of Montfort, the advanced guard of each to be
+pushed forward beyond these respective points. The IXth, in the centre,
+was to follow, while General von Hartmann was to protect Vendôme with
+the 38th Brigade and the 1st Division of Cavalry.
+
+But the distances prevented the flanking corps advancing from La Chartre
+and La Ferté from reaching their respective destinations, and, on the
+9th of January, snow-storms, ice-bound roads, and thick fog further
+combined to make their progress arduous beyond conception.
+
+_January 9th._--General von Hartmann marched the 38th Infantry Brigade
+on Château Renault, and entered the town at one o'clock, to find that
+Curten's French Division had started early in the morning for St.
+Laurent.
+
+The incomplete Xth Corps moved this day in two columns; the detachment
+of General von Woyna (commanding 39th Infantry Brigade) was to march
+from Pont de Braye by Vancé, the remainder of the corps from La Chartre
+by way of Brives to Grand Lucé.
+
+The 20th Division had scarcely set out by this route from L'Homme, when
+it encountered shell and mitrailleuse-fire. Here there happened for once
+to be room for three batteries to advance, but in the heavy snow-fall
+aim was out of the question. The infantry, however, by degrees drove the
+enemy out of sundry hamlets and farmsteads, and back across the Brives.
+To pursue him beyond that stream a makeshift bridge needed first to be
+thrown across with some loss of time, and then Chahaignes was to be
+seized. But in the narrow valley which had to be now traversed a
+vigorous resistance was to be counted on. The state of the road was such
+that the artillerymen and cavalry had to dismount and lead their horses.
+The General in command rode on a gun-carriage; his staff went on foot.
+Some horses which had fallen in front presently stopped the way for the
+whole column; and it therefore became necessary to send back all the
+Corps-artillery, which was to try next day to come on by way of Vancé.
+
+To facilitate the march of the 20th Division, General von Woyna had
+been instructed to deviate from his direct road and attack the enemy's
+left. When he approached the valley the fighting had fallen silent, and
+the detachment turned back to Vancé; but at Brives at about half-past
+three the main column met with fresh resistance, being received with a
+brisk fire from the heights north-east of the village. Not even the
+infantry could move outside of the high road, so there was no
+alternative to a frontal advance along it. A closed attack by the 39th
+Brigade broke up and routed the enemy. At half-past six in the evening,
+when quite dark, Colonel von Valentini set out for St. Pierre with four
+battalions, and took there 100 French prisoners and a loaded train of
+100 waggons. The Xth Corps spent the night with only its advance in
+Brives and Vancé, but its quarters reached back nearly to the valley of
+the Loir. Nor had the 14th Brigade of Cavalry been able to make any
+further headway.
+
+Of the IIIrd Corps the 6th Division had marched by the high road through
+Bouloire, with the artillery corps; the 5th on the left along the
+by-roads. The advanced guard of the 6th Division, after a lively
+fire-fight, expelled the enemy from his positions in front of Ardenay,
+but there at two o'clock had to encounter a determined resistance. After
+General de Jouffroy had withdrawn from St. Calais to the southward,
+General Chanzy pushed forward Paris' Division to secure the high road
+leading from thence to Le Mans. It had taken up a position near Ardenay,
+occupying the château on the right, and on the left posting four guns
+and two mitrailleuses near La Butte. To oppose these there was only room
+on the road for two German guns, which, however, in the course of half
+an hour silenced the mitrailleuses, and carried on the unequal contest
+with the greatest obstinacy. At about four o'clock five companies of the
+12th Brigade stormed the château of Ardenay, while others, crossing the
+meadowland to the right, forced their way through a patch of wood
+towards La Butte. As night came on the French tried to effect a general
+attack along the chaussée; but this was repulsed, and the
+Brandenburgers[65] plunged through the heavy fire of the defenders, and
+without firing a shot took La Butte and Ardenay with a rush and a cheer.
+The French were thrown back into the valley of the Narais, losing many
+prisoners.
+
+On the right a detachment of one battalion, two squadrons, and two guns,
+accompanied the 6th Division. It drove before it franctireur bodies, but
+at La Belle Inutile met with more serious resistance. The post was,
+however, carried by the 24th Regiment, which made prize of a large
+ammunition and provision train, and took above 100 unwounded prisoners.
+Count zu Lynar moved into the village for its defence.
+
+The 5th Division met with no opposition, but the state of the roads
+caused extreme delay to its progress. It was not till the afternoon that
+its head reached the Narais at Gué de l'Aune and took up quarters there
+and rearward to St. Mars de Locquenay. Its advanced guard went on,
+however, to La Buzardière, thus forming the absolute head of the whole
+army. Parigné l'Evêque, on its left flank, was found to be held by the
+enemy.
+
+The IXth Corps followed the IIIrd to Bouloire.
+
+Orders from head-quarters had not yet reached La Ferté when, at nine in
+the morning, the Grand Duke set the XIIIth Corps in motion on Connerré.
+Soon after midday the 17th Division came upon the French near Sceaux,
+and in a struggle wherein it slowly gained ground, drove them first out
+of the village precincts and then off the road. The French, who had
+retreated to Connerré by a forced night march, lost above 500 prisoners
+in this small affair. But the short day was closing in, and the advanced
+guard halted at dusk at Duneau. A detachment going further forward found
+Connerré occupied by the French, and many watch-fires blazing in the
+valley of the Due. The main body of the infantry found quarters in and
+about Sceaux.
+
+Rauch's detachment, ordered to rejoin the Corps, took possession of Le
+Croset and of the bridge over the Due in front of that village, and also
+expelled the French from Thorigné.
+
+The French stayed in Connerré only till the evening; then, leaving a
+company in occupation, they continued their retreat. This necessarily
+led from the left bank of the Huisne through the quarters taken up by
+the IIIrd German Corps, which was disturbed all night by wandering
+detachments of the enemy, even at Nuillé, where the Divisional
+headquarters lay.
+
+On the extreme right the 4th Cavalry Division occupied Bellême, after
+driving out the French battalion which had been in occupation there.
+
+Thus on this day the centre of the IInd Army had fought its way to
+within about nine miles of Le Mans; while the two wings were still some
+distance behind. As it was probable that the French would accept battle
+in a prepared position behind the Huisne, it seemed advisable to await
+the arrival of the Xth and XIIIth Corps; but on the other hand, this
+would also give the enemy time to strengthen himself. Were an immediate
+attack determined on, the two Divisions which had been delayed
+respectively at Château Renault and Le Chartre, could scarcely reach Le
+Mans in time, and the rest of the army would be involved everywhere in a
+disadvantageous contest with the hostile bodies which were being driven
+back concentrically on that place. Prince Frederick Charles therefore
+ordered the IIIrd Corps to push on through Ardenay; the Xth was to
+advance to Parigné, and the XIIIth on St. Mars la Bruyère, though these
+points could scarcely be reached from the positions actually occupied by
+the respective Corps this same evening (9th).
+
+As we have seen, the French army now assembled about Le Mans had been
+acting on the offensive on January 6th, when General Jouffroy had
+advanced on Vendôme, and de Curten on St. Amand. But so early as the 7th
+the French found themselves reduced to the defensive along their whole
+front, some 50 miles in length. General Rousseau, on the left wing, had
+evacuated Nogent le Rotrou, and, without being pressed, began his
+retreat by a night march to Connerré. In the centre, the trough of the
+Braye was wrested from General Jouffroy; he quitted St. Calais, not
+rearward on Le Mans, but southward to join General Barry. On the right,
+General Curten had abandoned Château Renault, and set out, unpursued, on
+the line through Château du Loir. To effect some concert in the
+operations of the three Divisions of his right wing, General Chanzy
+placed them under the superior orders of Admiral Jauréguiberry. He
+pushed forward the Division Paris on Ardenay by the high road General
+Jouffroy had uncovered, and on the left wing he reinforced General
+Rousseau by stationing three Divisions more on either side of his line
+of retreat. General Jouffroy was to retire to Parigné l'Evêque, and a
+Division was sent to meet him there and at Changé.
+
+General de Curten succeeded on the 9th in checking the progress of the
+German left wing for some time about Chahaignes; but the Division Paris
+was driven back through Ardenay, and General Rousseau, thus beset in
+Connerré, evacuated that village the same evening. The two Divisions of
+the right wing were behind as far as Jupilles and Neuillé Pont Pierre.
+
+Under these circumstances General Chanzy ordered that on the 10th the
+Division Jouffroy should fall back on Parigné l'Evêque, but that the
+Division Paris should once more move forward on Ardenay. He sent the
+remaining three Divisions of the XXIst Corps to meet General Rousseau,
+with instructions that he was to retake Connerré and Thorigné.
+
+The offensive movements thus planned by both sides developed into the
+fierce battle which, on the German side, was fought out single-handed by
+the IIIrd Corps.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[64] Lieut.-General Alvensleben II, commanding IIIrd Army Corps, not to
+be confounded with Infantry-General Alvensleben I, commanding IVth
+Corps.
+
+[65] Brandenburg is the territorial province of the IIIrd Army Corps. It
+was the nucleus of the Prussian monarchy, and the Hohenzollerns were
+Margraves and then Electors of Brandenburg for 300 years before they
+became Kings of Prussia. The IIIrd is unquestionably the most
+distinguished Corps of the Prussian line. The late Prince Frederick
+Charles long commanded it.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE IN FRONT OF LE MANS.
+
+(10th, 11th, and 12th of January.)
+
+
+_January 10th._--_The Fighting about Parigné and Changé._--Owing to the
+peculiar nature of the country, deep columns could not deploy without
+great loss of time. General von Alvensleben therefore advanced in the
+centre with the 9th and 11th Infantry Brigades on Changé from Gué de
+l'Aune and Ardenay, moving on a broad front in comparatively small
+separate bodies. On the right the 12th marched by the high road to Le
+Mans; on the left the 10th was to start from Volnay when Parigné should
+be found abandoned by the French, and leaving that place on its left,
+was also to converge on Changé.
+
+Parigné had, in fact, been deserted by the French, but had been
+reoccupied before daybreak by a brigade of the Division Deplanque; and
+even before the German troops had started, the far-advanced outposts
+towards the forest of Loudon were smartly attacked. The greater part of
+the 9th Brigade had to be deployed by degrees between Blinières and the
+point of the forest, but only seven guns could be brought into action
+against the numerous French artillery. General von Stülpnagel decided to
+reserve his strength for the struggle at Changé, and to carry on merely
+a stationary fight here, which must be inevitably decided as soon as
+the 10th Brigade should make its appearance on the left.
+
+That brigade, delayed by the badness of the roads, did not arrive by way
+of Challes till noon; but it brought two batteries to reinforce the
+German artillery strength, which now vigorously prepared the infantry
+attack on the high-lying Parigné. Half an hour later the battalions
+rushed on the place with shouts of "Hurrah Brandenburg!" taking a gun
+which the enemy had abandoned, and two mitrailleuses still in action.
+When the French returned to try to recover them they were again
+repulsed, and sacrificed another gun, two colours, and several waggons.
+After losing 2150 prisoners they fled to the shelter of the forest of
+Ruaudin. General von Stülpnagel left two battalions at Parigné to
+maintain observation in that quarter, and hurried on to Changé in two
+columns. In front of this village, at about three o'clock, the 11th
+Brigade met with a violent resistance at the Gué Perray brook from the
+other brigade of Deplanque's Division. The 2nd Battalion of the 35th
+Regiment lost nine officers and above 100 men in a severe struggle at
+Les Gars. The General in command, who was on the spot, dislodged both
+flanks of the enemy from his strong position, and on the left two
+companies succeeded in crossing the stream at La Goudrière.
+
+These at four o'clock now fell in with the advanced guard of the 9th
+Brigade, which Colonel Count von der Groeben was bringing up from
+Parigné, having taken possession of the Château of Girardrie on the way.
+When the companies of the 11th Brigade sent to the right reached Auvigné
+simultaneously, the "General Advance" was sounded. Auvigné was stormed,
+the bridge north of Gué la Hart was crossed, and that village carried
+after a hard fight. Over 1000 prisoners more were taken from the flying
+French.
+
+It was already dark, but Changé, the goal of the struggle, was not yet
+reached. But when a barricade outside the village had been won it was
+found that the 10th Brigade was already in possession. This brigade, on
+its way along the high road from Parigné, had met with resistance at the
+Châteaux Chef Raison and Paillerie. Having only two guns, it failed to
+silence the French artillery, but General von Stülpnagel left there only
+a battalion in observation, and hurried forward with part of the brigade
+to reinforce the fight at Gué la Hart; the other portion was directed
+against Changé. Here the French had already been for the most part
+dismissed to quarters, but they soon assembled and made a prompt and
+determined resistance. There ensued an embittered street-fight, which
+ended in about an hour's time in the surrender of the whole garrison of
+800 men, who had been crowded together into the market-place.
+
+The 12th Brigade had at last left Ardenay at eleven o'clock; it advanced
+along the high road without opposition as far as St. Hubert, where an
+abandoned commissariat train was seized. Having there aligned itself
+with the rest of the Corps it halted for a while, but after one o'clock
+was fired upon by French artillery; and the enemy again advancing along
+the highway, General von Buddenbrock[66] on his part passed to the
+attack, and drove back the enemy out of Champagné, in part across the
+Huisne, and in part to the heights behind the village. Two guns
+successfully dealt with the fire of the French artillery near Lune
+d'Auvours, and then the infantry expelled the French from that shelter
+also.
+
+Further to the right a German battalion had taken St. Mars la Bruyère
+after a slight skirmish, and was subsequently joined there by General
+Count zu Lynar's detachment.
+
+Fighting thus with equal skill and success the IIIrd Corps had indeed
+already lost 450 men; but it had brought in more than 5000 prisoners,
+and had won many trophies of which it had a right to be proud.
+
+The Xth Corps had started this day from Vancé and Brives, and
+unobstructed indeed by the enemy, but along very heavy roads, reached
+Grand Lucé at two o'clock. Here it took up quarters.
+
+The IXth Corps remained at Nuillé.
+
+Of the XIIIth Corps the 17th Division had continued its advance along
+the left bank of the Huisne, and found Connerré already deserted by the
+French. But on the further side of the river the heights of Cohernières,
+the railway station, and the wood to the north, were occupied by the 2nd
+Division of the French XXIst Corps. General von Rauch led two battalions
+to the attack from the south, in which shared the 22nd Division from the
+east, having crossed the Huisne at Sceaux and taken the direction of
+Beillé by the right bank. A stubborn resistance was encountered, and the
+fight swayed to and fro till darkness fell. The Château of Couléon,
+indeed, and several villages at the foot of the wooded heights were
+taken, but the French maintained their hold on the heights and their
+position at Cohernières.
+
+The 17th Division had meanwhile continued its advance along roads frozen
+as smooth as glass, and reached La Belle Inutile; the 22nd passed the
+night at Beillé.
+
+This division had in the morning sent a detachment sideward to
+Bonnétable, whither the 4th Cavalry Division now proceeded. The 12th
+Cavalry Brigade followed to Bellême. Colonel von Beckedorff then
+continued his advance to Chanteloup, whence he drove out the French in
+spite of an obstinate defence.
+
+General Chanzy had determined to risk a decisive battle in front of Le
+Mans. Curten's Division had not yet reached him, and only a part of
+Barry's had come up, but on the other hand the army from the camp of
+Conlie, in strength some 10,000 men, had arrived. The right wing of the
+French position rested its flank on the Sarthe near Arnaye[67]; it
+extended for more than four miles along the Chemin aux Boeufs, and
+continued in a slight curve leftward to the Huisne. Barry's Division,
+already weakened by previous reverses, and General Lalande's National
+Guards--undisciplined and badly armed troops--were posted on the extreme
+right which was the least threatened. Deplanque's and Roquebrune's
+Divisions, Desmaison's Brigade and Jouffroy's Division, held the centre
+and left, the last body in the first instance opposite to General von
+Alvensleben. Behind this line Bouëdec's Division and Colonel Marty's
+detachment constituted a reserve. In all from 50,000 to 60,000 men under
+the command of Admiral Jauréguiberry, with full ranks and well
+commanded, crowded the entrenched front of the most important section of
+the line--that between the two rivers (Sarthe and Huisne). Five
+Divisions more, under the command of General de Colomb, lined the right
+bank of the Huisne for a distance of about eight and a half miles, the
+Division Paris was at Yvré; Gougeard's Division, also holding the
+heights of Auvours on the hither side, was northward of Champagné; then
+came Rousseau's Division at Montfort and Pont de Gesnes, and finally,
+Collin's Division in hook-formation about Lombron. Besides these
+Villeneuve's Division, quite on the flank, fronted toward Chanteloup.
+
+_January 11th._--On this day the IIIrd German Army Corps was directly
+opposed to the main body of the French forces. It could not for the
+present hope for any assistance from the corps of the flanks, and had
+before it the certainty of an arduous struggle.
+
+On the left, the Xth Corps was still this morning at Grand Lucé, and on
+the right the XIIIth Corps had been detained on the previous day by the
+obstinate resistance of the French, who had held their own between Les
+Cohernières and La Chapelle, and occupied Le Chêne in their front.
+
+The troops of the 22nd Division had necessarily lost their formations
+and become mixed up in the course of the struggle in the wood, and it
+was not till they had been re-formed and the enemy's position had been
+reconnoitred by both the Divisional Commanders that the attack was
+renewed at about eleven o'clock.
+
+Two battalions of the 17th Division and one battery were left in
+observation in front of Pont de Gesnes, on the southern bank of the
+Huisne; on the northern side, the Mecklenburg battalions stormed
+Cohernières in the afternoon after a sharp contest, and in conjunction
+with the Hessians forced their way westward up to the Gué and on towards
+Lombron about four o'clock.
+
+Further to the right two companies of the 90th Regiment (22nd Division)
+meanwhile took Le Chêne by a closed attack on the obstinate defenders;
+the 83rd Regiment, after a sharp fire fight, stormed the farmsteads of
+Flouret and La Grande Métairie. Colonel von Beckedorff, on being
+relieved at Chanteloup by the 4th Cavalry Division, had driven the
+French out of St. Célerin, and he then advanced to La Chapelle-St. Rémy
+on the right of the Division, which occupied wide quarters behind the
+points it had seized.
+
+The Mecklenburg Grenadiers had held their own for a long time at Le Gué
+and La Brosse against superior numbers attacking from Pont de Gesnes;
+but the main body of the 17th Division was retired in the evening
+further back to Connerré.
+
+The more completely that General von Alvensleben had to rely solely on
+his own command, the more essential it was to keep the troops composing
+it closely concentrated. But a strong force of the enemy was now on his
+flank, almost indeed in his rear, on the heights of Auvours, where it
+was only kept at bay by his 12th Brigade, which therefore for the
+present was not free to advance.
+
+And here it was that the battle first really began. The French had
+repossessed themselves of Champagné, and had deployed artillery on the
+heights behind it. When their fire had been subdued by four guns of the
+brigade, two battalions advanced to an attack on the village. It was not
+till after an obstinate street-fight, that the enemy at eleven o'clock
+was driven back to the heights, and the bridge over the Huisne carried.
+General von Buddenbrock now let the two battalions remain in
+observation, sent a third to Lune d'Auvours, and at noon started with
+the rest of the brigade to rejoin the Corps.
+
+Meanwhile the conflict had been raging with such fury all along the
+front of the latter that at twelve o'clock Prince Frederick Charles sent
+orders from St. Hubert to General Voigts-Rhetz, to hurry forward by the
+shortest roads to the battle-field with the Xth Corps; and at the same
+time General von Manstein was instructed to seize the heights of Auvours
+with the IXth.
+
+It was already one o'clock when the advanced guard of the IXth climbed
+up the hollow way, deep in snow, followed by two battalions of the 12th
+Brigade, and by two batteries straining every nerve. The infantry
+plunged forward through the wood, strongly held as it was by the enemy,
+straight on Villiers; the skirmishers of the Fusilier battalion of the
+11th Regiment seized three mitrailleuses in action, and when the French
+had abandoned the village, turned them against the wood.
+
+Further to the left, at about three o'clock, two battalions of the 85th
+Regiment from the main body of the 18th Division, were directed on the
+western end of the ridge, supported by the Jägers and two batteries
+which were brought up near Les Hêtres. To cover them two companies moved
+on La Lune, and baulked for the moment the hostile rush along the high
+road. But against these movements the French opened a heavy fire from
+their commanding batteries behind Yvré. Regardless thereof the
+Holsteiners[68] on the left charged on a hostile battery and seized
+three of its guns. On the right they took possession of the neighbouring
+farmsteads; and soon after five the French abandoned the whole plateau
+as far as its western edge.
+
+Over it, however, a strong counter-attack was delivered in the evening,
+when part of Gougeard's Division charged up the slope from Yvré. Its
+further advance was arrested; but the French could not be prevented from
+remaining there during the evening and night. Nevertheless, this
+offensive struggle on the part of the 18th Division had relieved the
+pressure on the rear and flank of the IIIrd Corps. It received the
+further order in the evening to secure the passage over the Huisne for
+use next day. Three battalions and one battery immediately crossed over
+to the northern bank and drove from the bridge the hostile detachments
+in its vicinity. The Division lost 275 men.
+
+General von Alvensleben had delayed the advance of the IIIrd Corps till
+eleven o'clock, in anticipation of the arrival of the 12th Brigade.
+
+During the night (10--11th) the French had completed their entrenchments
+on the skirts of the wood and had taken up their position there; they
+also lined the heights on the further side of the river with numerous
+batteries. Thus a frontal attack must involve heavy loss, and it was
+impossible to out-flank lines so extensive. General von Alvensleben
+therefore decided on advancing at first only against the enemy's left
+wing, and assigned to that task the 11th Brigade. The 10th and 9th
+remained in reserve for the present about Changé and Gué la Hart. The
+12th, released at Mont-Auvours, was indeed marching up, but on
+circuitous ways, because the high road was everywhere entirely commanded
+by the batteries on the heights.
+
+The 11th Brigade, scarcely 3000 strong, followed the course of the Gué
+Perray streamlet up to the northern end of the wood. To protect it
+against the French columns threatening it from the heights, the 35th
+Regiment had to form front towards the brook and also occupied the
+Château of Les Arches. The 20th Regiment tried to get forward by the
+cattle-path, and while holding firmly the Château of Les Noyers and the
+bridge there over the Huisnes, drove back the enemy by sheer hard
+fighting to Les Granges. But he presently returned so considerably
+reinforced that the whole brigade had to be gradually brought up into
+the fighting line. Les Granges was lost and retaken several times with
+heavy loss, particularly of officers; but the Brandenburgers fought on
+staunchly.
+
+On the left of the 11th the 10th Brigade now made its appearance, coming
+up from Changé at one o'clock. After an hour-long bloody struggle the
+52nd Regiment made itself master of the farm of Le Pavillon, of the
+wooded slope in front, and the farm of Grand Anneau. Strong columns
+advancing from Pontlieue were driven back, two batteries dashed up into
+the Chassepôt fire to within 800 paces of Le Tertre; yet the 12th
+Regiment did not succeed in getting into the farmstead till two
+battalions of the 9th Brigade from Changé had come up to its assistance.
+The farmstead whose possession was so obstinately disputed was taken by
+storm at about five o'clock, with the co-operation of the Grenadiers of
+the 8th Life-Regiment.
+
+The 52nd Regiment, having expended all its ammunition, had to retire,
+but the Grenadier battalions pushed further forward on the cattle-path,
+where two French guns in action were captured after a bloody mêlée; and
+the enemy's repeated attempts to recover them were steadily frustrated.
+A hostile battery which had been brought up westward of the wood was
+driven back by quick fire.
+
+As the 35th Regiment had to be brought forward from the Gué Perray brook
+to support the 20th, the French had recovered possession of Les Arches.
+The 12th Brigade, only three battalions strong, arrived there from
+Auvours at two o'clock. The 64th Regiment recaptured the château after a
+short fight. The overwhelming artillery and musketry fire from the
+heights on the further side of the river prevented the German artillery
+from coming into action, and it was only with great difficulty and a
+heavy sacrifice of gunners that the pieces were brought away again; but
+every attack on the château by the French from Yvré was steadily
+repulsed.
+
+It was now quite dark, and only the fire of the cannon still lasted. The
+IIIrd Corps had taken 600 prisoners, but had also lost 500 men. It had
+fought its way into the heart of the French position, and its outposts
+were in the closest proximity to the enemy's front. And now strong,
+though late, reinforcements arrived.
+
+The Xth Corps had marched from Grand Lucé to the westward in the
+morning, to gain the high road from Tours to Le Mans, but slippery roads
+again delayed its march, so that it only reached Teloche in the
+afternoon.
+
+The cannon thunder heard to the northward left no doubt that General von
+Alvensleben was engaged in arduous fighting. The orders sent at noon
+from the Army Headquarter in St. Hubert sped to General Voigts-Rhetz;
+but that officer rightly judged that his appearance would now have a
+more telling effect on the enemy's flank than on the field where the
+IIIrd Corps was engaged. So in spite of the exhausted state of his men,
+who had had no opportunity to cook on the way, he at once pushed forward
+without halting.
+
+To protect himself against Curten's Division on the watch for him from
+Château du Loir, he despatched a battalion to Ecommoy. It was received
+with firing from the houses, surrounded on all sides in the darkness,
+and compelled to withdraw from the place; but it then kept the road
+clear in the rear of the corps.
+
+The head of the 20th Division found Mulsanne but feebly defended, and
+drove the detachment back beyond the cutting of La Monnerie.
+
+The nature of the country which here had to be traversed greatly
+favoured the enemy. Ditches and fences afforded his marksmen complete
+cover, farmsteads and copses furnished excellent defensive positions.
+Only eight guns could at first be brought to bear against the enemy's
+artillery; but nevertheless four Westphalian and Brunswick[69]
+battalions steadily repelled the French, and by nightfall reached Point
+du Jour. The fight first became stationary on the cattle-path in front
+of Les Mortes Aures. Here the French swept the whole foreground with a
+continuous rolling fire from tiers of shelter-trenches rising one above
+the other.
+
+The fight swayed to and fro for a long time, but finally the German left
+gained ground. The 1st Battalion of the 17th Regiment rushed on the
+enemy, who delivered his fire at point blank range and then made for the
+wood. And when now the 1st Battalion of the 56th Regiment advanced from
+Point du Jour, its drums beating the charge, the French carried away
+their mitrailleuses and evacuated Les Mortes Aures.
+
+This battalion had received orders from the Commanding General to settle
+the business with the bayonet. Captain von Monbart led it on locked up
+close at the charging pace; all the detachments at hand joined it, and
+in spite of a heavy fire from the wood La Tuilerie was reached by
+half-past eight; and here the 40th Brigade deployed, while the 37th
+stood ready to support it in front of Mulsanne. The enemy drifted away
+in the darkness. The constant roll of wheels, the noise of departing
+railway trains and the confusion of cries indicated a retreat. Yet the
+prisoners who were constantly being brought in, with one accord reported
+that a strong force was still encamped in the forest. Numerous
+watch-fires blazed there through the night, and instead of resting, it
+seemed evident that the hostile troops were preparing to engage in fresh
+attempts. At half-past ten the outposts reported the approach of a
+strong force from Pontlieue.
+
+Hitherto it had been only the little-to-be-relied-on National Guards
+under General Lalande at this point with whom the German troops in this
+quarter of the field had had to deal; but the Admiral now sent Bouëdec's
+Division against La Tuilerie, and ordered General Roquebrune to support
+his advance.
+
+For a full hour the Prussian battalions in first line were scourged with
+rifle fire in front and flank, and pelted by a hail-storm of
+projectiles, but no serious attack occurred.
+
+According to French reports, the officers strove in vain to bring
+forward their troops; but the latter constantly hung back. A later
+assault made by Gardes-Mobiles was equally fruitless.
+
+But still there was to be no rest. At two in the morning the din of
+fighting again made itself heard on the right. Deplanque's Division had
+been disturbed by a flank detachment of the 40th Brigade. This body was
+advancing by the road from Ruaudin to Pontlieue, to be at hand in case
+of need; without returning the enemy's fire, it had driven out the
+holders of Epinettes, and had established itself there close to the
+cattle-path.
+
+_January 12th._--For the impending struggle of the following day only
+the IIIrd and Xth Corps could be counted on. The other two Corps could
+only co-operate indirectly by holding engaged a part of the hostile
+forces.
+
+Of the XIIIth Corps the 17th Division was to advance by Lombron to St.
+Corneille, without committing itself to a contest with the enemy still
+holding the bank of the Huisne; the 22nd was ordered from La Chapelle to
+Savigné. The Gué brook was to be lightly held, and part of the artillery
+was to remain at Connerré with the 7th Brigade of Cavalry.
+
+On advancing it was found that the enemy had already abandoned Lombron,
+Pont de Gesnes, and Montfort. Arms and equipments thrown away betrayed
+how hurried had been the flight. Many stragglers were brought in
+prisoners, and it was not till reaching the Merdereau brook at noon,
+that the 17th Division met with opposition. The Château of Hyre and St.
+Corneille were won about four o'clock by an enveloping attack, and 500
+French were taken prisoners. The enemy was then driven back behind the
+Parance brook, where the advanced guard halted at dusk.
+
+Colonel von Beckedorff's detachment of the 22nd Division marched through
+Chanteloup from Sillé, throwing back the enemy on La Croix, where a
+large body of hostile troops made a stand. But when, after a long halt,
+the main body of the Division came up, it at once passed to the attack.
+Entire formed bodies of French here laid down their arms, and 3000 men
+with many officers became prisoners.
+
+An attempt of the cavalry to advance across the Sarthe to break up the
+railway on the further side of the river was, however, unsuccessful.
+
+The whole force occupying the heights of Auvours surrendered to the IXth
+Corps. The 35th Brigade marched up to Villiers, but patrols sent ahead
+soon reported that the French had retired across the Huisne. When the
+noise of fighting was heard at mid-day from St. Corneille, the brigade
+in question was ordered to proceed northward to support the 17th
+Division engaged there. The 84th Regiment, passing through La Commune,
+lent efficient assistance in the attack on Château Hyre. Outposts were
+left on the Parance for the night, but the main body of the 35th Brigade
+returned to Fatines, and the 36th took up quarters between Villiers and
+St. Mars la Bruyère.
+
+By the battle of the previous day the position of the French before Le
+Mans had been forced; but they still stood firm behind the Huisnes, and
+as their left wing had been driven in on their centre, the latter
+section had been considerably strengthened. There still remained the
+stream to be crossed, and the steep slope to be climbed, where every row
+of the vineyards in terraced ascent was held by strong firing lines, and
+the crest of which was crowned with batteries. The passage of the
+Huisnes near Ivré, on the left, was covered by entrenchments with
+special carefulness, and the ground in front of the wood of Pontlieue
+had been made impassable in many places by abatis. Against such a
+position the artillery could be of little and the cavalry of no service,
+while deep snow hampered every movement of the infantry. General von
+Alvensleben therefore decided on standing for the present on the
+defensive with his right wing, while he prepared to support the advance
+of General von Voigts-Rhetz with his left.
+
+The troops were roused from their short rest at six in the morning. Two
+French companies made their way towards the bridge at Château Les Noyers
+with powder-bags, but they were compelled to retreat, leaving the
+explosives behind them. At eight o'clock the French made a determined
+attack on the outposts of the 12th Regiment in the wood, and drove them
+in on Le Tertre. Again a combat raged furiously about this farmstead,
+which was almost demolished by shell fire. One by one the last
+battalions of the 10th Brigade were drawn into the struggle, to replace
+bodies which, their ammunition exhausted, had to retire. Only four guns
+could be used with effect, but by eleven o'clock the enemy's fire
+gradually died away, and he was seen to retire on Pontlieue. The
+battalions of the left wing pursued, and came out on the Parigné road in
+immediate touch with the Xth Corps.
+
+General von Voigts-Rhetz had left two battalions at Mulsanne, for his
+protection from the direction of Ecommoy; the whole Corps, after many
+detachments had been unavoidably detailed from it, was assembled by
+about half-past seven for a further advance on Pontlieue. The main body
+of the 20th Division closed up by the Mulsanne road on La Tuilerie.
+Three battalions of the 19th Division massed at Ruaudin to strengthen
+the sideward detachments in Epinettes, while two battalions with the
+14th Cavalry Brigade and the Corps' artillery, which could find no
+opening in the region further to the left, moved up by the roads from
+Parigné.
+
+The reinforcement meanwhile arrived from Ruaudin, and General von Woyna
+made his way without hindrance through the forest to La Source, where he
+halted at one o'clock, his front parallel with that of the 20th
+Division. A heavy battery of the latter had already driven away the
+French mitrailleuses in front of Pontlieue. On the right a light battery
+of the 19th Division was brought up to La Source, and ten
+horse-artillery guns on to the road from Parigné. The atmosphere was,
+however, so thick that their fire could only be directed by the map.
+
+At two o'clock General von Kraatz advanced in close column on Pontlieue,
+whither General von Woyna was now also marching. The southern part of
+the village was taken after a slight resistance; but on the further side
+of the Huisne the French held the houses along the river-bank, and just
+as the Germans approached the bridge it was blown up. The demolition,
+however, was not complete, and the foremost battalions got across over
+the débris to reach the enemy. Two made their way into the high street
+of Pontlieue, one turned left to the railway station, whence were heard
+signals for departing trains. Nothing interposed to hinder the railway
+bridge here from being blown up, and thus many prisoners were taken,
+besides 150 provision waggons and 1000 hundred-weight of flour.
+
+The artillery fire was immediately directed on the town of Le Mans.
+
+Meanwhile the detachments of the IIIrd Corps, which had become mixed up
+in the forest fight, had re-formed. After a ration of meat, the first
+for three days, had been served out to the troops, the 10th Brigade
+resumed its march. The Brandenburg Jäger Battalion crossed the river by
+the paper-mill of L'Epau, and two batteries strengthened from Château
+Funay the artillery fire directed on Le Mans.
+
+When presently the infantry entered the town, a fierce struggle began in
+the streets, which were entirely blocked by the French trains. Entrance
+into individual houses had to be cleared by artillery fire; a large
+number of French were taken prisoners, and a vast quantity of waggons
+were seized. The fighting lasted till nightfall, and then the Xth Corps
+and half of the IIIrd took up alarm quarters in the town. The 6th
+Division took possession of Yvré, which the enemy had abandoned, and
+threw out foreposts to Les Noyers and Les Arches on the further side of
+the Huisne.
+
+The actions fought by the French on this day, had been engaged in for
+the sole purpose of gaining time for the extrication of the army.
+
+On learning from Admiral Jauréguiberry that every effort to get the
+troops to advance had failed, and that the last reserves were shattered,
+General Chanzy had at eight in the morning issued orders for a general
+retreat on Alençon, where the Minister of War had arranged for the
+arrival of two Divisions of the XIXth Corps from Carentan.
+
+The advance of the IInd Army to Le Mans had been a series of seven days'
+incessant fighting. It was made at a season when the winter was in
+extremest severity. Ice and snow-drifts had rendered every movement one
+long struggle. Bivouacking was out of the question; and the troops had
+to seek their night shelter often at a distance of some miles in rear;
+their reassembling in the morning cost precious hours, and the shortness
+of the day then prevented their taking full advantage of their
+successes. Whole battalions were employed in guarding the prisoners. The
+roads were in such a state that the trains of the army could not be
+brought up; officers and men alike marched insufficiently clothed and on
+scanty rations. But zeal, endurance, and discipline conquered every
+difficulty.
+
+The army had sacrificed in this prolonged struggle 3200 men and 200
+officers, the larger half belonging to the IIIrd Corps alone. Many
+companies fought under the command of non-commissioned officers.
+
+The French estimated their losses at 6200 men, and 20,000 taken
+prisoners; seventeen guns, two colours, and an abundant supply of
+matériel remained as trophies in the hands of the victors.
+
+After exertions so severe the troops imperatively needed some rest. The
+instructions from the supreme Headquarter were that the operations were
+not to be extended beyond a certain limit; and it was possible that the
+services of the IInd Army might almost immediately be required on the
+Seine and the Loire. Prince Frederick Charles therefore determined to
+follow up the retreating enemy with only a small force.
+
+On the French side, that each Corps might have a separate road for the
+retreat to Alençon, two Corps had necessarily to draw out westward in
+the first instance. On the evening of the last day's fight the XVIth
+Corps reached Chauffour on the Laval road, and the XVIIth Conlie on the
+road to Mayenne, each covered by its rear-guard. The XXIst was assembled
+at Ballon, on the left bank of the Sarthe. From these points all were
+to march in a northerly direction. General Chanzy still deluded himself
+with the hope of coming up by Evreux to the assistance of the besieged
+capital. He would have had thus to make a wide circuit--an arc by moving
+on the chord of which the Germans could easily have anticipated him; and
+in a country where all arms were available, his army, in the condition
+to which it was now reduced, must have inevitably been destroyed.
+Ultimately the defeated French army retired in the direction to the
+westward of the Sarthe.
+
+After the distribution of rations and forage, General von Schmidt set
+forth at mid-day on the 13th with four battalions, eleven squadrons, and
+ten guns, and reached Chauffour after some skirmishing. The XIIIth Corps
+advanced to the Sarthe, the 17th Division sending its outposts across
+the river at Neuville, and the 22nd drove the French out of Ballon,
+whence they retired in full flight to Beaumont. The XXIst French Corps
+had taken up quarters this day at Sillé. The National Guards of Brittany
+fled wildly to Coron, and thence made homeward toward their own
+province. They were joined by the troops left in camp at Conlie, after
+the camp there had been plundered. The XVIIth Corps also went off,
+without halting by the Vègre as it had been ordered to do, but
+retreating direct on Ste. Suzanne. The XVIth withdrew on Laval, leaving
+Barry's Division at Chassillé as rear-guard. Numbers of abandoned
+waggons and cast-away arms, everywhere testified to the demoralization
+of the defeated forces.
+
+On the 14th the French were driven out of Chassillé. The XVIth Corps had
+by this time almost entirely lost its organization; it retired during
+the night to St. Jean sur Erve. In the camp at Conlie were found 8000
+stands of arms and 5,000,000 cartridges, as well as various other war
+matériel.
+
+The Grand Duke had marched on Alençon along the right bank of the
+Sarthe. The French in Beaumont made a feeble resistance to the advanced
+guard of the 22nd Division, and lost 1400 prisoners.
+
+On the following day General von Schmidt advanced further on the road to
+Laval, but found that the French had concentrated at St. Jean and posted
+a strong force of artillery on the heights behind the Erve. The
+Oldenburg Regiment[70] forced its way as far as the church of the little
+town, and the Brunswickers drove the enemy back on Ste. Suzanne, higher
+up the river, but there the pursuit ended.
+
+Barry's and Deplanque's Divisions, according to the French estimate, had
+now no more than 6000 fighting men, and Curten's Division had still not
+yet come up, but this strength was considerably superior to that of the
+weak German detachment confronting it. The rest of the Xth Corps was
+moving up in support, but had as yet only reached Chasillé. A battalion
+advancing from Conlie came into conflict at Sillé with the XXIst French
+Corps assembled there, and sustained heavy loss. The 22nd Division of
+the XIIIth Corps also met with serious opposition before reaching
+Alençon, from the National Guards and the volunteers under Lipowski; and
+the attack on the town was postponed till next day.
+
+But on the following morning the French positions in Alençon as well as
+in Sillé and St. Jean were abandoned. Those places were at once occupied
+by the Germans, and General von Schmidt marched forward, close up to
+Laval. Numerous stragglers from the retreating army were taken
+prisoners.
+
+Behind the Mayenne, whither now Curten's Division had arrived, the
+remnants of the IInd Army of the Loire re-assembled. Reduced to half its
+original strength, and its morale gravely shaken, it could but be unfit
+for service for a long time to come, and the object of the German
+advance on Le Mans was fully attained.
+
+To the north of Paris, however, the French were meanwhile threatening a
+renewed offensive. It was necessary to draw in on the Somme the portions
+of the Ist Army which were still on the Lower Seine; and orders came
+from the supreme Head-quarter that the XIIIth Corps of the IInd Army
+should march on Rouen.
+
+On the Upper Loire also French detachments had advanced against the
+Hessian posts about Briare, and had driven them back, on the 14th, to
+Ouzouer; while from the Sologne came a report of the advance of a
+newly-formed French Army Corps--the XXVth.
+
+The German IXth Corps, after evacuating and destroying the camp at
+Conlie, was therefore sent to Orleans in support. The remainder of the
+IInd Army, the IIIrd and Xth Corps with the three cavalry divisions--in
+a strength of about 27,000 foot, 9000 horse, and 186 guns--was assembled
+by Prince Frederick Charles round Le Mans. The cavalry in observation on
+the front and flanks had several small skirmishes, but no further
+serious hostilities were attempted.
+
+The 4th Cavalry Division held Alençon on the right, and on the left
+General von Hartmann entered Tours without any opposition.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[66] Commanding 6th Division, IIIrd Corps.
+
+[67] "Arnage" on the map and in the _Staff History_.
+
+[68] The "Holsteiners" mentioned in the text were two battalions of the
+85th Regiment, which belonged to the 36th Brigade, 18th Division, IXth
+Army Corps, whose territorial region consists of Schleswig-Holstein, the
+Hanse towns, Mecklenburg, &c.
+
+[69] The 17th and 92nd Regiments comprising the 46th Brigade commanded
+by General von Diringshofen.
+
+[70] The 91st Regiment, 37th Brigade, 10th Army Corps, whose recruiting
+ground is Hanover, Oldenburg, and Brunswick. The Hanoverian Corps
+consists mainly of the regiments of the old Hanoverian army of the
+kingdom long ruled by British sovereigns; an army whose valour, proved
+side by side with British troops on countless battle-fields from Minden
+and Dettingen to the Peninsula and Waterloo, culminated in its final
+battle on the glorious but luckless field of Langensalza.
+
+
+
+
+OCCURRENCES NORTHWARD OF PARIS DURING JANUARY.
+
+
+At the beginning of the New Year a considerable part of the Ist German
+Army was engaged in besieging Péronne, which had afforded a safe
+crossing-point for the debouche of the French on the southern bank of
+the Somme. General Barnekow held the little place invested with the 3rd
+Reserve Division and the 31st Infantry Brigade. Previously it had only
+been kept under observation by cavalry, but circumstances had
+temporarily given it importance. What of the VIIIth Corps formerly on
+the Somme was available formed a wide curve from Amiens northward as far
+as Bapaume, to cover the siege.
+
+The Ist Corps, posted at Rouen for the time, consisted only of three
+brigades; but the 4th was on the march thither from before Péronne,
+where it had been relieved. No reinforcement of the Ist Army had been
+effected. The 14th Division, after reducing Mézières and, soon after,
+Rocroy, had received fresh orders from Versailles which transferred it
+to another part of the theatre of war.
+
+General Faidherbe had concentrated his troops behind the Scarpe, from
+their resting quarters south of Arras, and had begun his forward march
+on January 2nd. He advanced with the XXIInd Corps to the relief of
+Péronne by way of Bucquoy. The XXIIIrd followed by the high road to
+Bapaume. About half-past ten Derroja's Division of the former Corps
+obliged the 3rd Cavalry Division, as well as those battalions of the
+32nd Brigade which had been attached to it, to fall back on Miraumont,
+followed, however, only as far as Achiet le Petit.
+
+The other Division, under General Bessol, did not advance towards Achiet
+le Grand till the afternoon. There it was opposed for several hours by
+two companies of the 68th, a sub-division of Hussars, and two guns,
+which only retired in the evening on Avesnes. The French did not follow
+up the detachment, but threw out outposts about Bihucourt.
+
+Payen's Division deployed on the high road at Béhagnies, and its
+batteries opened fire on Sapignies, where, however, General von
+Strubberg had posted five battalions. These repulsed the attack, and at
+two o'clock entered Béhagnies with a rush, took 240 prisoners, and
+prepared the village for defence. The enemy withdrew to Ervillers, and
+there once again drew out, but attempted no further attack.
+
+The other Division of the French XXIIIrd Corps, consisting of mobilized
+National Guards under General Robin, moved forward on the left on Mory.
+There were only one battalion and a squadron of Hussars to oppose it. By
+extending their line on the heights of Beugnâtre, the German detachment
+succeeded in deceiving the enemy in regard to its weakness. The latter
+marched and counter-marched, and also brought up artillery, but did not
+attempt an attack, and remained at Mory.
+
+The 30th German Brigade and the 3rd Cavalry Division assembled for the
+night in and about Bapaume. The 29th Brigade occupied the neighbouring
+villages on the right and the left of the Arras road.
+
+BATTLE OF BAPAUME.--_January 3rd._--General Faidherbe had brought his
+forces close up to the position which covered the investment of Péronne.
+His four Divisions consisted of fifty-seven battalions, which were
+opposed by only seventeen German battalions. He decided on the 3rd to
+push on in four columns to Grévillers and Biefvillers, on the high road,
+and to Favreuil on the east.
+
+But General von Goeben was not inclined to give up his position at
+Bapaume. Under cover of a force in occupation of Favreuil, General von
+Kummer in the morning assembled the 30th Brigade in front of Bapaume,
+and behind it the 29th, of which, however, three battalions were left in
+the villages to left and to right. A reserve was established further to
+the rear at Tronsloy, whither the 8th Rifle Battalion, with two
+batteries, was detached; and General von Barnekow received orders to
+hold three battalions and the 2nd Foot Detachment in readiness at Sailly
+Saillisel, without raising the blockade. Finally the detachment under
+Prince Albrecht, jun.--three battalions, eight squadrons, and three
+batteries--advanced on Bertincourt, near to the subsequent battle-field.
+In this disposition, in bitterly cold and sullen weather, the attack of
+the French was awaited.
+
+General Count von der Groeben had already sent the 7th Cavalry Brigade
+against the enemy's right flank, but it did not succeed in forcing its
+way through the villages occupied by the hostile infantry.
+
+On the right wing the Division Robin was at Beugnâtre met by so sharp a
+fire from two battalions of the 65th Regiment and two horse batteries
+which had joined them from Transloy, that it withdrew again on Mory. The
+garrison of Favreuil was reinforced by two battalions and two batteries
+against the approach of the Division Payen, which was marching by the
+high road to the eastward of that place. The first French gun moving out
+from Sapignies was immediately destroyed, but several batteries soon
+became engaged on both sides, and the French forced their way into
+Favreuil and St. Aubin.
+
+The 40th Regiment advanced on these places at noon from Bertincourt, and
+after a lively action re-occupied them; but had to evacuate Favreuil
+again, and took up a position alongside of the 2nd Guard Uhlan regiment
+and a horse battery sideward of Frémicourt, which secured the right
+flank of the Division.
+
+On the left, the Division Bessol had driven the weak garrison out of
+Biefvillers. The 1st Battalion of the 33rd Regiment, which moved forward
+to retake that place, became hotly engaged; it lost all but three of its
+officers, and had to retire upon Avesnes. The Division Derroja also took
+part in this fight. The French now brought up a strong force of
+artillery, and extended their firing-line to the south nearly as far as
+the road to Albert.
+
+Therefore, at mid-day, General von Kummer decided to confine himself to
+the local defence of Bapaume. At the cost of serious loss, the artillery
+covered the drawing in thither of the infantry. The 1st Heavy Battery,
+which was the last to withdraw, lost 2 officers, 17 men, and 36 horses;
+its guns could only be brought out of action with the help of the
+infantry.
+
+In Bapaume the 29th Brigade now prepared for an obstinate defence of the
+old city wall, and the 30th assembled behind the place. The French
+advanced leisurely as far as the suburb. Then ensued a long pause in the
+fighting. General Faidherbe hoped to take the town by further
+encompassing it, without exposing it to a bombardment followed by a
+storm. A brigade of the Division Derroja endeavoured to advance through
+Tilloy, but met there with stubborn resistance from the Rifle Battalion
+and two batteries which had come up from Péronne. At the same time
+twenty-four guns of the batteries which had retired behind Bapaume
+opened fire on the advancing columns, which then withdrew, at half-past
+three, across the road to Albert. They soon resumed the attack, and
+succeeded in entering Tilloy. All the neighbouring batteries now opened
+fire upon this village. General von Mirus, who on the advance of the 3rd
+Cavalry Division had been left behind in Miraumont, saw no enemy in his
+front there, but heard the fighting at Bapaume, and advanced from the
+west, as did General von Strubberg from the town, to renew the attack.
+The French did not await their arrival, and were driven back out of the
+suburb and also Avesnes. The French Divisions spent the night at
+Grévillers, Bihucourt, Favreuil, and Beugnâtre, thus surrounding Bapaume
+on three sides. The day had cost the Germans 52 officers and 698 men,
+and the French 53 officers and 2066 men.
+
+But only by exerting the whole available strength of the VIIIth Corps
+had it been possible to withstand the preponderating attack of the
+enemy. It had not yet been possible to replenish the Corps' supply of
+ammunition, and General von Goeben decided to immediately move back the
+fighting ground to behind the Somme. This movement was actually in
+process when the patrols brought information that the enemy was also
+evacuating the neighbouring villages.
+
+The French troops, as yet unaccustomed to the vicissitudes of warfare,
+had suffered extremely from the previous day's fighting and the severe
+cold of the ensuing night. General Faidherbe could perceive that the
+forces before Péronne had been brought forward to Bapaume, and that the
+Germans thus reinforced would take the offensive. His chief object, the
+interruption of the siege of Péronne, had been obtained, and the General
+thought it best not to endanger that result by a second encounter. He
+led his Corps back in the direction of Arras. Of the German cavalry
+detachments following up the retirement the 8th Cuirassiers succeeded in
+breaking a French square. The 15th Division withdrew behind the Somme,
+immediately below Péronne, and the Saxon cavalry joined the right wing
+at St. Quentin.
+
+FIGHTING ON THE LOWER SEINE.--_January 4th._--Exactly at the same time
+the other Corps of the Ist Army was in conflict with the enemy on the
+Lower Seine. The French had not undertaken any new enterprise on the
+right bank of the river, but on the left bank they held the wooded
+heights of Bois de la Londe, which overhang the southern outlet of the
+Seine after its encircling the peninsula of Grand Couronne. Here General
+von Bentheim,[71] with a view of gaining room in this direction, had
+assembled half the Ist Army Corps, and advanced on the 4th of January on
+Les Moulineaux. Before daybreak Lieut.-Colonel von Hüllessem surprised
+the enemy's outposts there, stormed the rock-crowned fortalice of
+Château Robert le Diable, and took prisoners the defenders who had
+sought refuge amid the ruins of the castle. The heights of Maison Brulet
+were then scaled under the heavy fire of the enemy, and two of his guns
+were taken. After a renewed resistance at St. Ouen the French withdrew
+on Bourgachard in the afternoon, pursued towards six in the evening by a
+half squadron of dragoons, two guns, and a company carried on waggons,
+which took from them two 12-pounders posted at the entrance of
+Rougemontier, killing the gunners and capturing an ammunition waggon.
+
+After a slight skirmish the enemy was also driven out of Bourgtheroulde
+and thrown back in the direction of Brionne. The French right wing at
+Elbeuf during the night hastily withdrew from a position rendered
+precarious by the wavering of the other detachments. The affair cost 5
+officers and 160 men. The loss of the French must have been equal,
+besides which they lost 300 prisoners and 4 guns.
+
+General Roye posted his troops behind the Rille on the line
+Pont-Audemer--Brionne, but the Germans now held Bourgachard,
+Bourgtheroulde, and Elbeuf strongly garrisoned, with three battalions at
+Grand-Couronne in readiness to furnish support. The other troops
+returned to Rouen. An attempted advance of the French on the same day by
+the northern bank of the Seine had been arrested in front of Fauville,
+whence they again withdrew towards Harfleur.
+
+Meanwhile it had not escaped the observation of the VIIIth Army Corps
+that this time the French did not seek the cover of the northern
+fortresses, but that they had halted south of Arras, thus betraying an
+intention shortly to renew the attack on the force investing Péronne.
+
+General von Goeben therefore decided to return to the northern bank of
+the Somme, to cover that operation, and there to take up a flanking
+position whose front the enemy would have to cross in his advance.
+
+On January 6th, after the troops had been permitted one day's rest and
+the ammunition had been replenished, the 30th Brigade moved to Bray, the
+29th to Albert. In close vicinity to the enemy was the 3rd Cavalry
+Division at Bapaume, behind it the Guard Cavalry Brigade. For the
+protection of the left flank Lieut.-Colonel von Pestel[72] occupied
+Acheux, and from the investing Corps the 3rd Reserve Division moved
+westward of Péronne to Feuillères. The Corps-Artillery remained for the
+time on the left bank of the Somme, since it almost seemed as if the
+enemy intended to direct his attack on Amiens.
+
+But during the next day the French did not undertake anything of
+importance, and on the 9th Péronne fell.
+
+REDUCTION OF PÉRONNE.--_January 9th._--For fourteen days this little
+place had been invested by eleven battalions, sixteen squadrons, and ten
+batteries. Flooded meadows on one side, and on the other walls with
+medieval towers, had secured it against a surprise; but for the rest it
+was commanded on all sides by overhanging heights.
+
+Although the fire of fifty-eight field guns had not done it much damage,
+yet in any case it must have been very soon discontinued for want of
+ammunition. A bombardment with captured French siege-artillery remained
+without result. The fortress stoutly maintained its fire, and its
+garrison of only 3500 men even attempted sorties.
+
+As before mentioned, on the day of the battle of Bapaume, a portion of
+the besieging troops had been necessarily withdrawn to the support of
+the VIIIth Army Corps, and in the uncertainty as to the result of this
+fight it had been imperative to take precautions for the safety of the
+siege material. The troops that remained behind stood ready to march,
+and part of the heavy guns had been withdrawn. But the garrison
+maintained a waiting attitude.
+
+Two days later arrived a siege-train of fifty-five heavy guns which had
+been brought together at La Fère. A second, of twenty-eight French
+siege-pieces, was on the way from Mézières. The preliminaries of a
+regular siege were undertaken, and when at length on the 8th of January
+a large ammunition-convoy arrived, the commandant was summoned to give
+up a defence that had now become hopeless.
+
+On the 10th of January, General von Barnekow entered the fortress, which
+was found amply provided with arms, ammunition and provisions. The
+garrison were made prisoners.
+
+On the 7th of January, his Majesty the King had assigned General von
+Manteuffel to another section of the theatre of war, and had given the
+supreme command of the Ist Army to General von Goeben.
+
+Freed from concern as to Péronne, that General's only duty thenceforward
+was to insure the protection of the investment of Paris. For this
+purpose the Somme, whose passages were all in the hands of the Germans,
+formed a natural bulwark, behind which the attack even of a greatly
+superior enemy could be awaited. And some reinforcements now arrived for
+the VIIIth Army Corps. The peaceful condition of the Lower Seine allowed
+of two infantry regiments and two batteries being sent from thence to
+Amiens. By instructions from the supreme Head-quarter an infantry
+brigade of the Meuse Army was held in readiness, which in case of need
+was to be sent up by rail to reinforce the Ist Army.
+
+It was still uncertain whither the enemy would direct his stroke.
+General von Goeben, therefore, spread his forces behind the Somme on a
+prolonged extension of some forty-five miles, still holding fast the
+points gained in front of the river, to meet the contingency of his
+having to renew the offensive. In the middle of the month, the
+detachments of the Ist Corps under the command of General Count von der
+Groeben occupied Amiens, Corbie, and the line of the Hallue as a flank
+position. The 15th Division, holding Bray firmly, took up quarters south
+of that village. Next to it, on the left of Péronne, was the 3rd Reserve
+Division, right of it were the 16th Division and the 3rd Reserve Cavalry
+Brigade, holding Roisel and Vermand to the front. The 12th Cavalry
+Division was at St. Quentin.
+
+The French army had already begun to advance on the Cambrai high-road,
+and its XXIInd Corps had pushed back the 3rd Cavalry Division first out
+of Bapaume and then out of Albert behind the Hallue. The XXIIIrd
+followed by the same road, and their objective really appears to have
+been Amiens. But a reconnaissance had exposed the difficulty of
+attacking in that direction, besides which a telegram from the War
+Minister announced that the Army of Paris within the next few days was
+to make a last supreme effort to burst the bonds of the investment, and
+the Army of the North was enjoined to divert, as far as possible, the
+enemy's forces from the capital, and draw them on itself.
+
+In accordance with these orders General Faidherbe decided to advance
+without delay on St. Quentin, whither the Brigade Isnard was already
+marching from Cambrai. An attack on their right wing, consisting for the
+time solely of cavalry, directly threatened the communications of the
+Germans, while the vicinity of the northern forts afforded the French
+army shelter and also greater liberty of action.
+
+But General von Goeben had foreseen such a leftward movement of the
+enemy, and concentrated all his forces to meet it.
+
+The convalescents who were fit for service joined the ranks. Only weak
+detachments were left at Amiens, and because of the approach of the
+XIIIth Corps from the Sarthe to the Lower Seine, it was now safe to
+transfer the 3rd Grenadier Regiment and a heavy battery from thence to
+the Somme.
+
+The departure of the French from Albert and the march of their Corps on
+Combles and Sailly Saillisel were soon reported by the cavalry in
+observation. The newly-formed Brigade Pauly occupied Bapaume, and the
+Brigade Isnard entered St. Quentin, whence General zur Lippe (commanding
+the 12th (Saxon) Cavalry Division detailed from the Army of the Meuse)
+retired on Ham in accordance with orders. General von Goeben now moved
+eastward, using the roads on both banks of the Somme so that he might
+the sooner reach the enemy.
+
+_January 17th._--The 12th Cavalry Brigade moved further to the right on
+La Fère, the 16th Division to Ham. The 3rd Reserve Division and the
+Guard Cavalry Brigade arrived at Nesle; the 15th Division and the Corps
+Artillery, at Villers Carbonnel. An Army-Reserve had been formed of the
+troops last brought up from Rouen, and it followed to Harbonnières. On
+the northern bank, the detachment under Count von der Groeben moved to
+the vicinity of Péronne.
+
+The four French Divisions had so far advanced on Vermand as to be able
+to unite next day near St. Quentin. The XXIIIrd Corps was to move
+straight upon the town, the XXIInd to cross the Somme lower down, and
+take up a position south of St. Quentin.
+
+_January 18th._--On the German side, the 16th and the 3rd Reserve
+Division moved by the south bank of the Somme to Jussy and Flavy, the
+Army-Reserve to Ham. The 12th Cavalry Division at Vendeuil found the
+country east of the Oise still free from the enemy.
+
+With the object of obtaining touch of the approaching enemy, the 15th
+Division was on its part to cross the Somme at Brie, and, together with
+the troops of General Count von der Groeben, to advance on Vermand and
+Etreillers. General von Kummer was enjoined, in case he found that the
+French had taken up a position, merely to watch them and to follow them
+should they retire northward, but should they march towards the south,
+to attack them with all his force.
+
+At half-past ten, the 29th Brigade came up on the hither side of Tertry
+with the rear-guard of the XXIInd Corps and its trains. The Hussars
+charged one of the battalions guarding the latter, and drove the waggons
+in the greatest disorder back on Caulaincourt, but had to abandon
+prisoners and prize under the fire of the approaching infantry. The
+French brigade had turned about, and it advanced to an attack on
+Trescon. This was resisted by the 65th Regiment and three batteries
+until after two o'clock, when General du Bessol reached the scene of the
+fight and ordered the French brigade to resume its march on St. Quentin.
+
+The XXIIIrd had also halted and detached a brigade against the left
+flank of the 15th Division. This, however, on reaching Cauvigny Farm,
+came upon two German battalions, which after a protracted fire-fight
+pursued the retreating enemy and entered Caulaincourt at half-past
+three, making 100 prisoners and capturing fourteen provision-waggons.
+
+Meanwhile Count von der Groeben had hurried forward at the sound of
+firing. The General realized that he could help most efficaciously by
+marching straight on Vermand. Four batteries came into action against
+Poeuilly, which was occupied by the enemy, and when the 4th Grenadier
+Regiment passed to the assault the French retreated, losing some
+prisoners. Many Gardes-Mobiles were dispersed by the Uhlans. About
+Vermand the whole of the XXIIIrd Corps was now in the act of beginning
+to march off.
+
+Count von der Groeben therefore posted his troops behind the Poeuilly
+bottom, thereby retarding the withdrawal of the enemy by forcing him to
+halt and form front against each display of pressure. The 15th Division
+took up quarters about Beauvois and Caulaincourt.
+
+The sole aim of the French Generals on this day seemed to be to reach
+St. Quentin. They neglected the opportunity of falling with their two
+Corps upon the single 15th Division. The XXIIIrd Corps passed the night
+in and westward of St. Quentin, and the XXIInd, after crossing the Somme
+at Séraucourt, southward of the town. A further advance either on Paris
+or on the German lines of communications depended now, when the latter
+had approached so close, on the issue of a battle; and this General
+Faidherbe wished to await at St. Quentin.
+
+It was important to hold on here in case the sortie of the Paris Army
+should result in success. The ground offered certain advantages--the
+heights in front of the town gave a free range of fire and afforded a
+sheltered position for the reserves. It was true that the Somme divided
+the army in two halves, but the bridge of St. Quentin made mutual
+assistance possible. The enemy also occupied both sides of the river,
+and including the Isnard and Pauly Brigades which had come up, he
+finally counted 40,000 men, opposed to an enemy numerically weaker.[73]
+The Germans, all told, numbered exactly 32,580 combatants, of whom
+nearly 6000 were cavalry.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[71] Who had succeeded General Manteuffel in the command of the Ist
+Corps, when at the beginning of December the latter found oppressive the
+command of a Corps along with the Command-in-Chief of the Ist Army.
+
+[72] Commanding the 7th (Rhineland) Uhlan Regiment, the officer who so
+long and so gallantly defended Saarbrücken on his own responsibility in
+the earliest days of the war.
+
+[73] Whether the author intends, in the two first sentences of this
+paragraph, that the advantages of the St. Quentin position should be
+enjoyed by Faidherbe or Goeben, appears somewhat obscure. The third
+sentence certainly refers to the German Army, as the succeeding one
+clearly shows. But this being so, there is a discrepancy between the
+text and the _Staff History_, as regards the side which the bridge of
+St. Quentin would serve in the battle. The following is quoted from that
+work: "Moreover, the German troops were separated by the Somme, whilst
+the bridges at St. Quentin enabled the French Corps to afford one
+another easy support."
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF ST. QUENTIN.
+
+(January 19th.)
+
+
+General von Goeben had ordered the general attack for this day.
+
+Covered by the occupation of Séraucourt, General von Barnekow advanced
+along the southern bank of the Somme, with the 16th and the 3rd Reserve
+Divisions from Jussy through Essigny; the 12th Cavalry Division advanced
+on the road leading from La Fère.
+
+The French columns were still on the march to take up their position
+with its rear towards the town; and Grugies was already occupied by
+them. While the 32nd German Brigade advanced northward of Essigny the
+Reserve Division halted behind the village, and the 31st Brigade at a
+quarter to ten advanced on Grugies.
+
+This attack was taken in flank on its left by the French Brigade
+Gislain, which had meanwhile occupied the hamlets of Contescourt and
+Castres. It was met in front by the Brigades Foerster and Pittié which
+had promptly come into action.
+
+The fire of the German batteries was at once returned vigorously from Le
+Moulin de Tout Vent. At eleven o'clock the second battalion of the 69th
+Regiment marched in company columns across the entirely open ground
+against the heights on the hither side of Grugies; but the attempt,
+renewed four times, was frustrated by the destructive cross-fire of the
+enemy. The ammunition of the isolated battalion was nearly exhausted,
+and only when followed by six fresh companies of the 29th Regiment did
+it succeed in forcing the French back, after a desperate hand-to-hand
+fight: but the latter held their ground in front of Grugies and in the
+sugar-factory there.
+
+On the right wing, the 12th Cavalry Division were advancing on the La
+Fère road. The French Brigade Aynès, hitherto held in reserve, rushed
+forward at the double to encounter it, and as Count zur Lippe had at
+disposition but one battalion of infantry, his advance at first was
+arrested at Cornet d'Or. But when at noon the Division was joined by
+reinforcements from Tergnier, the Saxon rifles stormed the park by the
+high-road, and the Schleswig-Holstein Fusiliers carried La Neuville. The
+French, with the loss of many prisoners, were vigorously pursued back to
+the suburb of St. Quentin, where first they found shelter.
+
+Meantime, the 31st Brigade was engaged in a hot fight on both sides of
+the railway-line in front of Grugies; behind its right wing was the 32nd
+in the hollow ground on the high-road, where it suffered severely from
+the enemy's shell-fire; and on the left, the detachment advancing from
+Séraucourt did not succeed in entering Contescourt. And now the French
+made so determined and overwhelming an attack from Grugies, that the
+16th Division had to be withdrawn as far as Essigny.
+
+When after noon General Faidherbe joined the XXIIIrd Corps, he had
+reason to hope that the XXIInd Corps would be able to maintain its
+position. But certainly the most important result was to be looked for
+on the northern section of the battle-field.
+
+Here the Division Robin had taken up a position between Fayet and
+Francilly. The Brigade Isnard had marched up it on its left, and the
+Brigade Lagrange of the Division Payen extended as far as the Somme. The
+Brigade Michelet remained in reserve, and the Brigade Pauly at Gricourt
+secured the communications rearward.
+
+On the German left, so early as eight o'clock, General Count von der
+Groeben set out from Poeuilly with eight battalions and twenty-eight
+guns and advanced along the Roman road; the Cavalry Brigade accompanied
+the march on the left.
+
+The East-Prussians[74] immediately hurled the French back from Holnon,
+cleared them out of Selency, and then advanced against Fayet and on to
+the heights of Moulin Coutte. A gun in action, ammunition-waggons, and
+many prisoners were there taken from the enemy.
+
+By degrees the twenty-eight guns were massed on the Windmill Height and
+entered into a contest with the artillery of the Division Robin. But in
+the course of half an hour the ammunition failed, since the waggons
+which had been sent on the previous day to the ammunition column of the
+VIIIth Corps had not yet come up with the reserve supply. The batteries,
+which were moreover suffering from infantry fire, had to retire to
+Holnon, and as Francilly, immediately on the flank and to the rear, was
+still occupied by the enemy, a further advance was temporarily
+postponed.
+
+On the right, General von Kummer with the 15th Division, marching from
+Beauvois, had reached Etreillers at ten. The King's Hussars cut in upon
+the enemy's horse in retreat, and drove them back upon L'Epine de
+Dallon, and the 29th Brigade entered Savy. North of that place three
+batteries opened fire against the artillery of the Division Payen, and
+then the 65th Regiment passed to the attack of the forward-lying copses.
+The smaller one to the south was carried, but here, as at Francilly, the
+Brigade Isnard maintained itself in the larger one to the north.
+
+At noon the Brigade Lagrange also advanced once more on the small copse
+and forced its way into it for a short time, but was again driven back
+by the 65th.
+
+The 33rd Regiment was posted in readiness on the threatened right flank
+of the 29th Brigade, and near it stood in action two heavy batteries of
+the Corps Artillery just arrived at Savy. At the same time the 30th
+Brigade also advanced through Roupy on the right of the 29th.
+
+Meanwhile Colonel von Massow at one o'clock renewed the offensive on the
+much more advanced left wing. Six companies of the 44th Regiment
+advanced on Fayet, and after firing into them at the shortest range,
+drove the French from the place. Two batteries followed, and resumed
+action against the enemy's great artillery position at Moulin de Cépy.
+
+General Paulze D'Ivoy, who saw the communications of his Corps with
+Cambrai in such imminent danger, had already called up the Brigade
+Michelet from its reserve post west of the town, and thus reinforced now
+advanced on Fayet. The Prussian detachments that were in the place had
+to be withdrawn to Moulin Coutte; but the further advance of the enemy
+towards these heights was arrested by a flank attack from Selency, and
+at the same time the farmstead of Bois des Roses was carried. The French
+again withdrew on Fayet.
+
+There, at Francilly, and in the northern copses, they still held their
+own at half-past one, while at that hour, on the German side, all three
+brigades had been brought up into the fighting-line. The Army-Reserve
+had arrived from Ham at Roupy, but General von Goeben, who from the
+latter place had been watching the slow progress of the 16th Division,
+had already sent it at eleven o'clock through Séraucourt to the support
+of that Division.
+
+Colonel von Boecking (commanding the Army-Reserve), with his three
+battalions, three squadrons, and two batteries, advanced from Séraucourt
+against Contescourt. Hastening forward with the cavalry, he brought his
+artillery promptly into action; and then the 41st Regiment, immediately
+on its arrival, passed to the attack. The battalion of the 19th Regiment
+which was already on the spot, joined in the fighting, and the enemy
+with the loss of many prisoners, was at one o'clock driven out of
+Contescourt and of Castres as well, towards the heights of Grugies.
+Against these heights the fire of the artillery, which had gradually
+been increased to thirty guns, was now directed.
+
+Bent on further disputing the position, General Lecomte brought up
+several battalions from the brigades of Pittié and Aynès for the
+reinforcement of the Brigade Gislain. The East-Prussian Regiment (41st)
+succeeded, nevertheless, by half-past two o'clock, in hurling the enemy
+by an outflanking attack from the heights into the hollow in front of
+Grugies. Colonel von Boecking's vigorous attack made itself felt
+throughout the whole front of fight.
+
+With a view to renewing a general advance, General von Barnekow had
+ordered up his last reserves from Essigny, when towards three o'clock
+the Brigade Pittié unexpectedly pushed forward an attack along the
+railway line. Its right scourged by artillery fire from Castres, it
+found its left taken at unawares by the charge of five squadrons of
+reserve cavalry from the Urvilliers hollow. Simultaneously Colonel von
+Hartzberg advanced with the 32nd Brigade, and drove the enemy back to
+Moulin de Tout Vent.
+
+The Brigade Foerster, south of Grugies, had still held out stubbornly,
+although now seriously threatened on the right from Giffécourt, as well
+as by the 12th Cavalry Division on its left flank. Its left flank now
+completely uncovered by the retreat of the Brigade Pittié, and its last
+strength exhausted by a long struggle, the brigade found itself finally
+forced to evacuate its long-held position. The 31st Brigade advanced
+along the railway-line as far as the sugar-factory, and Colonel von
+Boecking drove the last French detachments out of Grugies. He then
+prepared with his artillery the attack upon Moulin de Tout Vent. Against
+these heights the 41st Regiment, the battalions already ordered up from
+Essigny, and the 32nd Brigade advanced to a concentric attack. The
+French did not prolong their resistance, and indeed were already in
+retreat. The entire German fighting line, with the 12th Cavalry Division
+on its right, moved forward on the town, which was now reached by the
+fire of the artillery posted at Gauchy. The cavalry repeatedly broke in
+on the retreating hostile bodies; and the railway-station and suburb, in
+which was found only the rear-guard of the XXth French Corps, was
+occupied after a short struggle.
+
+Whilst on the southern section of the battle-field the action took this
+turn, on the northern side the attacks were also being pushed.
+
+By two o'clock the 28th Regiment advancing from Roupy by the road from
+Ham had carried the farmstead of L'Epine de Dallon; and almost
+simultaneously Count von der Groeben's infantry came up to renew the
+offensive.
+
+Whilst on the right some companies of the 4th and 44th Regiments opposed
+the advance of French detachments from the larger copse, Major von
+Elpons with six companies of the Crown Prince Grenadiers, advanced from
+Holnon and Selency upon Francilly, and, notwithstanding the hot fire of
+the defenders, forced an entrance into this very straggling village, in
+which many prisoners were made. As, however, the East-Prussian Regiment
+then advanced further south of the Roman road, it had in its turn to
+sustain a formidable attack.
+
+To cover its threatened line of retreat, the Brigade Michelet once more
+advanced from Fayet, and the Brigade Pauly also marched from Gricourt
+upon Moulin Coutte. This position, which had in the meantime been
+strengthened by artillery, was, however, obstinately held by the 44th
+Regiment, and when the Grenadier companies poured in leftward towards
+the Roman road, the enemy's attack was here also repulsed.
+
+Meanwhile the 29th Brigade, followed by the 30th, had already advanced
+in the direction of St. Quentin, the 33rd Regiment on its right and the
+65th Regiment on the left. The latter regiment now took complete
+possession of the larger copse, and forty-eight guns were brought up on
+both sides of the road from Savy. The further advance of the infantry
+was effected in column of companies and on an extended line, because of
+the heavy shell fire of the French. The Brigades of Lagrange and Isnard
+did not await the shock, but at four o'clock retired on St. Quentin with
+the loss of one gun.
+
+Their artillery once more took up a position at Rocourt, but at five
+o'clock had to abandon it abruptly, and the French now confined
+themselves to the defence of the barricaded accesses into the St. Martin
+suburb of St. Quentin.
+
+Six Prussian batteries were brought up against these, and the 29th
+Brigade for some time maintained a stationary fire fight on the strongly
+held buildings and gardens; but presently several companies from Rocourt
+established themselves in the suburb, in which street-fighting was still
+continued, even after Lieutenant-Colonel von Hüllessem had succeeded in
+crossing the canal bridge and entering the town itself.
+
+By four o'clock, General Faidherbe had already the conviction that the
+XXIIIrd Corps would probably be unable to hold its ground. In this event
+his choice was limited to the alternative of a night retreat, or of
+being shut up in St. Quentin. He had not yet formed a decision, when he
+met in the town General Lecointe, who reported that he had abandoned the
+defence of the left bank of the Somme. Thanks to the resistance still
+maintained by the XXIIIrd Corps on the north, the XXIInd was enabled to
+retire unmolested on Le Cateau.
+
+The Commanding General now ordered General Paulze d'Ivoy to retire on
+that place, but the latter only received the order at six in the
+evening, when the brigades of the right wing--Pauly's and
+Michelet's--had already started of their own accord for Cambrai. The
+more obstinately the two remaining brigades now defended the suburb of
+St. Martin, the more ominous for them must prove the result of the
+action. Attacked in rear by the battalions of Colonel von Boecking, the
+greater portion were made prisoners. The 41st Regiment alone took
+prisoners 54 officers and 2260 men, besides capturing 4 guns. General
+Faidherbe himself only escaped the same fate by the help of the
+inhabitants.
+
+The action ended at half-past six in the evening, and the troops passed
+the night in the town and in the captured villages.
+
+The hard-won victory had cost the Germans 96 officers and 2304 men; 3000
+wounded Frenchmen were found on the battle-field, and the number of
+unwounded prisoners exceeded 9000.
+
+According to theory, the pursuit should invariably clinch the victory--a
+postulate assented to by all, and particularly by civilians; and yet in
+practice it is seldom observed. Military history furnishes but few
+instances, such as the famous one of Belle Alliance. It requires a very
+strong and pitiless will to impose fresh exertions and dangers upon
+troops who have marched, fought and fasted for ten or twelve hours, in
+place of the longed-for rest and food. But even given the possession of
+this will, the question of pursuit will yet depend on the circumstances
+under which the victory has been won. It will be difficult of execution
+when all the bodies on the field of battle, as at Königgrätz, have
+become so intermixed that hours are required to re-form them into
+tactical cohesion; or when, as at St. Quentin, all, even the troops last
+thrown into the action, have become so entangled that not one single
+tactically complete body of infantry remains at disposition. Without the
+support of such a body, cavalry at night will be seriously detained
+before every obstacle and each petty post of the enemy, and thus alone
+its exertions will rarely be repaid.[75]
+
+General von Goeben did not pursue the defeated enemy till the following
+day. His advanced cavalry ranged up to the suburb of Cambrai and the
+glacis of Landrecies, without meeting with any resistance, and merely
+brought in some hundreds of stragglers. The Infantry Divisions followed
+to within four miles of Cambrai. Against this fortress nothing could be
+undertaken through want of siege material, and there was no military
+advantage to be derived in extending further north. Among the news to
+hand it was reported that a considerable portion of the French Army of
+the North had retired upon Lille, Douai and Valenciennes. As fresh
+enterprises on its part were consequently not to be expected, General
+von Goeben brought his force back to the Somme, where towards the end of
+the month it took up rest quarters between Amiens and St. Quentin.
+
+On the Lower Seine, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg entered Rouen with the
+XIIIth Corps on the 25th, after having encountered on the march only a
+few franctireurs. Although General Loysel had increased his force to a
+strength of nearly 30,000 by reinforcements from Cherbourg, he had
+remained entirely inactive.
+
+General von Goeben had in view the transfer to the Army of the Somme of
+that portion of the Ist Corps still about Rouen; but this was
+disapproved of by telegram from the supreme Head-quarter, which on
+political grounds ordered its continued retention there.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[74] Companies of the Crown Prince's Grenadier Regiment (the 1st of the
+Prussian line), and of the East Prussian Infantry Regiment No. 44,
+belonging respectively to the 1st and 3rd Brigades, 1st Division, Ist
+Army Corps.
+
+[75] Moltke, although not quite inexperienced in the practical conduct
+of war on a large scale, would scarcely have ventured to express himself
+as above, if he had studied the teachings of _The Soldier's
+Pocket-Book_. The distinguished author of that profound and accurate
+treatise writes of pursuits in quite a different tone. "You have won a
+great battle," writes Lord Wolseley, "and the enemy are in full retreat;
+run after him; hammer him with guns; charge him with cavalry; harass him
+with mounted infantry; pass round his flanks, and keep pushing him and
+hitting him from morning until night. Caution is out of place when you
+have a beaten army before you. Wellington never delivered any crushing
+blow, _because he failed to pursue_."
+
+
+
+
+OCCURRENCES IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN SEAT OF WAR UP TO 17TH OF JANUARY.
+
+
+SIEGE OF BELFORT.--In the south-eastern theatre of war, the forces
+detailed to operate against Belfort had been only gradually brought
+together under cover of the XIVth Army Corps.
+
+The town is surrounded by a bastioned enceinte. The citadel has a wide
+command, built as it is on lofty rocks, which, to increase the
+development of fire, are encircled by successive tiers of works in
+terrace-formation. On the left bank of the Savoureuse, newly constructed
+lines of defence protected the suburb and railway station. On the high
+adjacent ridge to the north-east the forts of La Miotte and La Justice,
+with the enclosing lines connecting them with the main fortress, formed
+a spacious intrenched camp. Hostile occupation of the lofty eminences of
+the two Perches (Hautes and Basses) would certainly endanger the whole
+defensive position, dominating as they did even the citadel from the
+south at a distance of only 1100 yards, and whence the works on the left
+bank of the river could be brought under fire. But two forts of masonry
+had been constructed on the Perches before the advent of the enemy, and
+further to strengthen the defence the nearest copses and villages, as
+for instance Pérouse and Danjoutin, had been intrenched.
+
+The fortress was by no means deficient in bomb-proof accommodation. Its
+armament consisted of 341 heavy guns, and it was provisioned for five
+months.
+
+When immediately after the opening of the campaign, the VIIth French
+Corps vacated Alsace, only about 5000 Gardes-Mobiles remained in
+Belfort, but its garrison, increased by calling in National Guards, now
+exceeded 17,000.
+
+The vigilant Commandant, Colonel Denfert, laid great stress on the
+maintenance in force of the environs in his front. The advanced posts
+were every day assigned to fresh operations, which the artillery of the
+fortress had to cover at extreme ranges.
+
+On the opposite side, General von Tresckow (commanding 1st Reserve
+Division) had available at the outset, a force of not more than twenty
+weak battalions of Landwehr, five squadrons and six field-batteries, in
+all barely 15,000 men. He had at first to confine himself to a mere
+investment. The troops, intrenched in the villages round a wide
+circumference, had to repel many sorties.
+
+Orders were received from the supreme Headquarter to set about the
+regular siege of the place. General von Mertens was charged with the
+direction of the engineer operations, and Lieut.-Col. Scheliha with that
+of the artillery attack. The difficulties of the undertaking were
+obvious. The rocky nature of the soil could not but increase the labour
+of throwing up earthworks, and the cold season was approaching. The
+attack could be carried on successfully only from the south against the
+main work--the formidable citadel. Only fifty heavy guns were available
+for the time, and the infantry strength was not sufficient to
+efficiently invest the place on all sides.
+
+In these circumstances, there devolved on General von Tresckow the task
+of attempting the reduction of Belfort by a mere bombardment. Towards
+this purpose the attack was chiefly directed from the west, in which
+quarter, after the enemy's garrison had been driven out of Valdoye, the
+infantry occupied Essert and Bavilliers, as well as the adjacent wooded
+heights. On December 2nd seven batteries were constructed on the plateau
+between these two villages by 3000 men, under cover of two battalions.
+The hard-frozen ground added to the difficulties of the work; yet,
+notwithstanding the moonlight night, the operations would appear to have
+escaped the attention of the besieged. When on the following morning the
+sun had dispersed the fog and made visible the objects, fire was opened.
+
+The fortress replied at first but feebly, but afterwards with increasing
+vigour from the entire line of works, even from Forts La Miotte and La
+Justice at a range of 4700 yards, and the losses in the trenches were
+considerable.
+
+Four more batteries in front of Bavilliers were armed, and on the fall
+of La Tuilerie the infantry pressed on to within 170 yards of the
+enemy's most advanced trenches. The artillery fire caused a
+conflagration in the town; but the ammunition was soon exhausted, whilst
+the lofty citadel maintained unchecked an effective fire, and repeated
+sorties on the part of the garrison had to be repelled. It was now
+clear, since no decisive result had followed the methods hitherto
+resorted to, that only by a regular attack could that be attained.
+
+On the south Colonel von Ostrowski on December 13th had carried the
+French positions of Adelnans and the wooded heights of Le Bosmont and La
+Brosse. On the eastern point of the latter two batteries, and on its
+northern skirt four additional batteries had been thrown up, not without
+great difficulty arising from thaw having made the ground a swamp. On
+January 7th, fifty guns opened fire. The superiority of the artillery of
+the attack was soon manifest. Fort Bellevue suffered severely, and
+notably the fire from Basses Perches was entirely silenced.
+
+But it was of grave importance that the village of Danjoutin, strongly
+garrisoned and intrenched by the enemy, stood in the way of a further
+advance. During the night of the 8th January seven companies attacked
+this position, and also from the northward at the same time took
+possession of the railway-embankment. With empty rifles the Landwehr
+hurled themselves against the enemy in the face of a hot fire, and
+charged along the village street up to the church. The supports
+hastening from the fortress were driven back at the railway-embankment,
+but the fight about the buildings in the southern quarter of the village
+lasted till towards noon. Of the defenders, twenty officers and 700 men
+were taken prisoners.
+
+Typhus and small-pox had broken out in Belfort; and in the besieging
+force also the number of the sick reached a considerable figure, caused
+by arduous work in inclement weather. Most of the battalions could only
+muster 500 men, and this weakness led General von Tresckow to devote
+half his force to the lighter duty of protecting the investment from
+without, principally towards the south.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Trustworthy intelligence estimated the French strength at Besançon at
+62,000. Although hitherto entirely inactive, this force now seemed in
+strong earnest to press on to the relief of the hard-pressed fortress by
+the line of the Doubs. On this line was the fortified château of
+Montbéliard, held by one German battalion, and armed with heavy guns.
+Between the Doubs and the Swiss frontier about Delle stood General
+Debschitz with eight battalions, two squadrons, and two batteries, and
+General von Werder concentrated the XIVth Corps at Noroy, Aillevans, and
+Athésans, to oppose with all his strength any interruption of the siege
+of Belfort.
+
+From January 5th onwards there ensued a series of engagements in front
+of Vesoul, as the result of which the enemy advanced from the south and
+west to within four miles of that town. There could be no doubt that
+very considerable forces were engaged in this advance. East also of the
+Ognon, the enemy's posts were advanced beyond Rougemont, although in
+lesser force. In these actions 500 prisoners were made; and it was at
+once evident that besides the XVIIIth, the XXIVth and XXth Corps also
+formed part of Bourbaki's army; a circumstance which threw a sudden
+light upon a totally changed phase of the war.
+
+
+TRANSFER OF THE FRENCH ARMY OF THE EAST TO THE SOUTH-EASTERN SEAT OF
+WAR, END OF DECEMBER.--As had been expected by the supreme Headquarter
+at Versailles, about the beginning of January an attempt had been made
+to bring about combined action on the part of Generals Chanzy and
+Bourbaki. As we have already seen, the advance of the former had been
+thwarted by Prince Frederick Charles on the Loir, and Bourbaki had
+actually made preparations for an advance by Montargis to the relief of
+Paris. But he delayed its execution until the 19th December, when the
+IInd German Army had already returned to Orleans from its expedition to
+Le Mans. General Bourbaki had now to realize that the IInd Army would
+fall on the flank of his projected movement, and he thus the more
+readily concurred in another plan, devised by the Delegate de Freycinet,
+and approved of by the Dictator Gambetta.
+
+This was for the XVth Corps to remain about Bourges and to cover that
+town in intrenched positions about Vierzon and Nevers; the XVIIIth and
+XXth were to proceed to Beaune by railway, and, when raised to a
+strength of 70,000 by an union with Garibaldi and Crémer, to occupy
+Dijon. The newly-formed XXIVth Corps was also to be moved by railway
+from Lyons to Besançon, where, with the forces already there, a strength
+of 50,000 would be attained. In co-operation with the "invincibles of
+Dijon," it then would be easy to raise the siege of Belfort "without
+even striking a blow." It was expected that the mere existence of this
+mass of considerably above 100,000 men would avert any attacks upon the
+Northern fortresses; in any case, there was the certainty of severing
+the enemy's various lines of communication, and the later prospect also
+of combined action with Faidherbe.
+
+The railway transport of Bourbaki's army from the Loir to the Saône had
+already commenced by December 23rd. In the absence of all preparations,
+many interruptions and breaks-down in the traffic naturally occurred,
+and the troops suffered severely from the intense cold and from being
+insufficiently cared for. When Chagny and Châlons sur Saône had been
+reached, and it was ascertained that the Germans had already evacuated
+Dijon, it was decided to again entrain the troops so as to bring them
+nearer to Besançon; whence arose a fresh delay, and it was only in the
+beginning of the new year that the Army of the East stood in readiness
+between Dijon and Besançon. The XVth Corps was now also ordered thither,
+but fourteen days were required for its transportation.
+
+The comprehensive plan of M. Freycinet, and his sanguine expectations,
+were essentially favoured by the circumstance that the transfer of those
+great bodies of troops to a remote section of the field of war had
+remained concealed for a fortnight from the IInd Army, as well as from
+the XIVth Corps, and consequently from the chief Head-quarter. Rumours
+and newspaper articles had no doubt given somewhat earlier hints, but
+General von Werder's telegram of January 5th was the first really
+authentic announcement by which it was known beyond doubt that the
+Germans now stood face to face with an entirely altered aspect of the
+military situation. In Versailles the appropriate dispositions and
+arrangements were promptly made, and steps taken for the formation of a
+new Army of the South.
+
+There was available for this purpose the IInd Corps at Montargis, and
+half of the VIIth under General von Zastrow at Auxerre, which during
+this period of uncertainty had been constantly moving to and fro between
+the Saône and Yonne, according as the one or the other quarter appeared
+to be threatened. The chief command of these two Corps, to which was
+afterwards added that of the XIVth, was entrusted to General von
+Manteuffel. General von Werder could not be immediately reinforced, and
+for a time the XIVth Corps was thrown upon its own resources.
+
+Notwithstanding their superiority of strength, the French did more
+manoeuvring than fighting. General Bourbaki aimed at outflanking the
+left wing of the XIVth Corps, and thus entirely cutting it off from
+Belfort. On January 5th the XVIIIth Corps advanced by Grandvelle, and
+the XXth by Echenoz le Sec, on Vesoul; but, as we have seen, they there
+met with opposition, and as the XXIVth Corps sent to the right to
+Esprels learned that Villersexel was occupied by the Germans, Bourbaki
+determined upon a still more easterly and circuitous route. On the 8th
+the two Corps of the left wing marched off to the right, the XVIIIth to
+Montbozon, the XXth to Rougemont; the XXIVth went back to Cuse. At the
+same time General Crémer received orders to move from Dijon on Vesoul.
+On the 9th the XXIVth and XXth Corps were at Vellechevreux and
+Villargent on the Arcey-Villersexel road, while the head of the XVIIIth
+Corps reached Villersexel and Esprels.
+
+General von Werder had no alternative but to follow this sideward
+movement in all haste. He ordered the Baden Division to Athésans, the
+4th Reserve Division to Aillevans, and Von der Goltz's Brigade to Noroy
+le Bourg. The trains were put in march to Lure.
+
+
+ACTION OF VILLERSEXEL, January 9th.--Accordingly at seven in the morning
+the Reserve Division was sent on from Noroy to Aillevans, and began
+bridging the Ognon to admit of the continuation of the march. A flanking
+detachment of the 25th Regiment sent to the right, was fired on near
+Villersexel, and the attempt to carry the stone bridge at that place
+failed shortly after. The French with two and a half battalions occupied
+the town, situated on a height on the further bank of the river. Shortly
+afterwards reinforcements came up on the German side. Two batteries
+opened fire upon the place and upon the still advancing bodies of the
+enemy. The 25th Regiment crossed the river by the suspension bridge and
+broke into the walled park and into the château. At one o'clock the
+French were driven out of the town with the loss of many prisoners, and
+a pause in the fighting ensued.
+
+The Prussian force during the fighting had been seriously threatened on
+its flank by the advance from Esprels of the 1st Division of the French
+XVIIIth Corps, with the artillery-reserve. General von der Goltz,
+however, opposed it by occupying the village of Moimay. He also sent to
+Villersexel nine companies of the 30th Regiment, to relieve the 25th
+Regiment there, so as to allow the latter to rejoin its own Division in
+the further march. His combined brigade was eventually to form the
+rear-guard of the whole movement.
+
+General von Werder, who observed the considerable force in which the
+French were advancing on Villersexel from the south, concluded that
+there was less to be gained by forcing his own passage across the Ognon
+than by opposing that of the French, since the river covered his line of
+approach to Belfort. He therefore recalled the infantry already issuing
+to the southward from the town, and withdrew the batteries to the
+northern side of the river. Here the main body of the 4th Reserve
+Division took up a defensive position, and the Baden Division was called
+in on its march at Arpenans and Lure, as a much-needed reinforcement to
+the former.
+
+It was already evening when large columns of the French advanced on
+Villersexel and shelled the town.
+
+Favoured by the darkness, they penetrated into the park and château,
+from which the German garrison had already been withdrawn; and as the
+general condition of things did not seem to necessitate the occupation
+of Villersexel, the responsible officers ordered the evacuation of the
+town. Though hard pressed by the enemy, this movement had been nearly
+completed, when orders arrived from General von Werder to hold the town.
+
+At once four battalions from the Reserve Division advanced to the
+renewed attack. The 25th Regiment turned about at the bridge over the
+Ognon and joined them. The Landwehr rushed into the ground floor of the
+straggling château, but the French defended themselves in the upper
+floors and the cellars. On the staircase and in the passages of the
+already burning buildings there ensued a hot and changeful combat, and
+the fight was maintained in the streets. Not till the General in command
+took the matter in hand, and himself ordered it to be broken off, were
+dispositions made at one o'clock in the morning for a gradual
+retirement, which was completed by three. The Reserve Division then
+recrossed the bridge at Aillevans, and occupied St. Sulpice on the
+right.
+
+General von der Goltz had held Moimay until evening.
+
+Of the XIVth Corps only 15,000 had been engaged, of whom 26 officers and
+553 men had fallen. The French losses amounted to 27 officers and 627
+men; and they also left behind in the hands of the Germans 700 unwounded
+prisoners. The French troops which chiefly took part in the operations
+were the XVIIIth and XXth Corps; the XXIVth Corps, on account of the
+fighting in its rear, had suspended its march to Arcey through Sevenans.
+Detachments of the gradually incoming XVth Corps advanced from southward
+in the direction of Belfort.
+
+On the morning of January 10th, General von Werder massed his Corps in
+the vicinity of Aillevans, ready to engage the enemy should the latter
+attempt an advance through Villersexel. But no attack was made, and so
+the march could be resumed that same morning. As a matter of fact, the
+French with three Corps were as near to Belfort as the Germans were with
+three Divisions. To cover the departure the Reserve Division took up a
+position at Athésans, and on the following day all the forces reached
+and occupied the line of the Lisaine. On the right wing about Frahier
+and Chalonvillars stood the Baden Division; in the centre, the Reserve
+Brigade between Chagey and Couthenans; on the left, the Reserve Division
+at Héricourt and Tavey. On the south, General von Debschitz stood in
+observation at Delle, and Colonel von Bredow at Arcey; towards the west
+Colonel von Willisen was at Lure with the detachment of eight
+companies, thirteen squadrons, two batteries, which had come up from
+Vesoul.
+
+General von Werder had in fact, succeeded in interposing his force
+between the enemy and Belfort.
+
+The French commander, under the intoxicating impression of a victory,
+had resigned himself to inactivity. "General Billot," he reported to the
+Government at Bordeaux, "has occupied Esprels and maintains himself
+there." We know that he was never attacked there at all, and that he did
+not succeed in driving away General von der Goltz from the vicinity of
+Moimay. "General Clinchant has carried Villersexel with extraordinary
+dash;" but the fight of the 9th was, as regards the Germans, maintained
+with only a portion of the XIVth Corps, to cover the right flank of the
+main body on its march. Whilst, then, this movement of the latter was
+prosecuted with the utmost energy, the French army remained passive for
+two days, ready for action and in the confident expectation that the
+enemy described as beaten, would come on again to fight for the
+supremacy. Not until the 13th did the XXIVth Corps advance on Arcey, the
+XXth on Saulnot, and the XVIIIth follow to Sevenans. The XVth was to
+support an attack on Arcey by way of Ste. Marie.
+
+General von Werder had utilized this interval, while the troops were
+hastening forward, in ascertaining the eligibility of the Lisaine
+position and in a consultation with General von Tresckow in rear of it.
+
+A detailed inspection showed that at Frahier the Lisaine, there but an
+unimportant streamlet, flows through a broad grassy hollow, and thence
+to Chagey through steep wooded slopes. About Héricourt the valley opens
+out into a wide plain, which is however commanded by the rocky heights
+of Mont Vaudois. Lower down the wooded heights line the river as far as
+Montbéliard, which with the Allaine brook forms a strong point of
+support and the extremity of the line.
+
+The wooded character of the plain west of the Lisaine would necessarily
+increase the assailants' difficulties in the deployment of large
+infantry masses and a strong artillery line. It is true that during the
+prevailing severe cold the river was everywhere frozen over; but only
+two high-roads led through the forest into the valley from the direction
+by which the French army was advancing, one to Montbéliard, the other to
+Héricourt. The other accesses were narrow, hollow roads rendered
+difficult of use by frost.
+
+General von Tresckow had already armed the most important points with
+siege guns, the castle of Montbéliard with six, and the neighbouring
+height of La Grange Dame with five heavy cannon. Seven were placed on
+Mont Vaudois and near Héricourt; besides these, twenty-one others
+commanded the valley of the Allaine southward as far as Delle.
+
+All the troops that could be spared from the investing force were also
+withdrawn from before Belfort. Still there remained the important
+consideration that the available forces might not suffice to entirely
+cover the whole of the Lisaine line. The right wing was the locally
+weakest portion of the whole position, but here there was the least to
+be apprehended, the enemy's main attack, since the many needs of the
+numerous but inadequately equipped French army made the nearest possible
+vicinity of one of the railroads a necessity. The Vesoul line by way of
+Lure was broken in many places, and the Besançon line led towards the
+strong left wing. The country north of Chagey might therefore more
+weakly be held, and a reserve was formed of the largest part of the
+Baden Division, which was distributed in rear of the centre and left
+about Mandrevillars, Brévilliers and Charmont.
+
+The respite accorded by the enemy was turned to account with the utmost
+zeal in the construction of rifle-pits and of battery emplacements, the
+establishment of telegraph and relay lines, the improvement of roads and
+the replenishment of supplies and ammunition.
+
+_January 13th._--On the morning of the 13th the advanced posts of the
+3rd Reserve Division were now attacked at Arcey, Ste. Marie and
+Gonvillars. They were instructed to withdraw before a superior force,
+but to hold their own long enough to compel the deployment of the
+hostile columns. The combat with French artillery coming up at wide
+intervals was therefore prolonged for a considerable time; then, after a
+three hours' resistance, a new position was taken up behind the Rupt
+brook, and the retirement on Tavey delayed until four in the afternoon.
+The advanced guard of General von der Goltz, after a whole brigade had
+deployed against it, also took up a position at Chavanni on a parallel
+front with that at Couthenans.
+
+Before the Allaine front the French did not succeed in driving General
+von Debschitz's advanced posts out of Dasle and Croix.
+
+_January 14th._--On the 14th General von Willisen with fifty dismounted
+Dragoons drove back the enemy advancing on Lure, and then retired with
+his detachment on Ronchamp.
+
+The French army did not yet on this day undertake a serious attack. It
+stood with the XVth, XXIVth, and XXth Corps, closely concentrated
+opposite the German left and centre at a distance of scarcely
+four-and-a-half miles. The German right was supposed by General Bourbaki
+to rest upon Mont Vaudois. His plan was to cross the Lisaine in force
+above this point of support, and by thus turning the hostile flank to
+facilitate a frontal attack. The XVIIIth Army Corps and the Division
+Crémer were assigned to this service. A drawback to this judicious
+arrangement was, that the two above-mentioned bodies designed by the
+officer in supreme command to open the fight on the 14th, would have
+the longest distance to march to their task. On this day the leading
+troops of the XVIIIth Army Corps barely succeeded in reaching the
+vicinity of Lomont through difficult hill and woodland region, and
+Crémer's Brigade[76] had only then begun to advance from Vesoul. A
+postponement to the 15th was thereupon determined.
+
+On the German side, a general attack by the greatly superior enemy was
+hourly expected, and General von Werder felt himself bound to send by
+telegraph to Versailles a representation of the extreme seriousness of
+his position. The rivers, being frozen over, were passable, and the duty
+of covering Belfort deprived him of freedom of movement and endangered
+the existence of his corps. He earnestly prayed that the question should
+be weighed, whether the investment of Belfort should continue to be
+maintained.
+
+In the supreme Head-quarter it was considered that any further
+retirement of the XVth[77] Army Corps would have the immediate effect of
+raising the siege of Belfort, and causing the loss of the considerable
+material which had been provided therefor; that it was impossible to
+foresee where such further retirement would end; and that it could but
+delay the co-operation of the army advancing by forced marches under
+General von Manteuffel. At three o'clock on the afternoon of 15th
+January a positive order was despatched to General von Werder to accept
+battle in front of Belfort. He was, as was only fair, relieved of the
+moral responsibility of the consequences of a possibly disastrous issue.
+But before this order reached him, the General had already come to the
+same resolution.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[76] Slip of the pen for "Division."
+
+[77] So in text; a slip of the pen, or printer's error, for the XIVth
+Corps, which von Werder commanded. There was no XVth Corps in 1871.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE ON THE LISAINE.
+
+(January 15th to 17th.)
+
+
+_January 15th._--On the morning of the 15th of January, two Divisions of
+the French XVth Corps, strengthened by artillery, advanced on
+Montbéliard; a third followed in reserve. The East-Prussian Landwehr
+battalions, which had pushed forward to the Mont Chevis Farm and Ste.
+Suzanne, held their position for a long time, advanced on their part to
+the attack, and drove the heads of the enemy's columns back upon the
+Rupt brook. But when the latter in the afternoon deployed in greater
+force along the edge of the wood, the Landwehr advanced posts were at
+two o'clock ordered back to the left bank of the Lisaine. The town of
+Montbéliard, entirely commanded by the surrounding heights, was also
+voluntarily evacuated, only its fortified castle being held. But east of
+Montbéliard General von Glümer with the 1st Baden Brigade had taken up a
+position, and had brought up four field-batteries alongside the siege
+guns on the plateau of La Grange Dame.
+
+Towards the close of the day the French, after a continuous but
+ineffective bombardment from eight batteries, took possession of the
+town, but did not make any further advance.
+
+Neither had they prospered in their attempt to cross the Lisaine at
+Béthoncourt. An officer and sixty men, who had sought cover within a
+walled graveyard from the sharp fire of the defenders, were taken
+prisoners.
+
+Further to the north the French XXIVth Corps continued to advance, but
+it was two o'clock before its columns were able to deploy from the wood.
+Four battalions did, indeed, succeed in taking possession of the village
+of Bussurel on the western bank of the Lisaine, but their further
+advance was frustrated by the fire of the defenders in cover behind the
+railway embankment, and by that of the Baden battalions and batteries
+brought up from the main reserve.
+
+Héricourt, on the great high road from Besançon and only little more
+than four miles from Belfort, became a point of special importance in
+the German fighting line. Here in front of the Lisaine the right wing of
+the 4th Reserve Division struck the enemy.
+
+The little wooded knoll of Mougnot, which forms a sort of bridge-head to
+the narrow gorge through which the road passes, had been fortified by
+the pioneers with abatis, battery emplacements and rifle-pits, the town
+in its rear prepared for defence, and the base of the heights on either
+of its sides faced with artillery. Four East-Prussian Landwehr
+battalions were in touch on the right with the Reserve Brigade, which
+held the slope of Mont Vaudois as far as Luze.
+
+About ten o'clock the French deployed their artillery on the bare
+heights close to the line of approach in the vicinity of Trémoins. Upon
+their infantry advancing leftwards through Byans, the German detachment
+which till then had been left in Tavey fell back on Héricourt in
+reserve, and the enemy's first attack on Mougnot was shattered by the
+resistance of its defenders, and by the fire of sixty-one guns on the
+further bank of the river. The attempt was not repeated that day, and
+the French confined themselves to a heavy but ineffective cannonade.
+
+According to the instructions issued by General Bourbaki, the XXth Corps
+was to await the result of the great outflanking movement which was to
+be carried out by General Billot with the XVIIIth Corps and Crémer's
+Division. As, however, these had not yet put in an appearance, the
+Army-Reserve had to be brought up leftward to Coisevaux to protect
+General Clinchant's flank.
+
+The orders from the Army Head-quarter had not reached the XVIIIth Corps
+until midnight. It had moreover to accomplish a difficult march by
+deeply snowed-up woodland paths. This entailed crossings, not only
+between the flank columns of its 1st and 3rd Divisions, but even with
+the Division Crémer at Lyoffans. This Division had only by dint of the
+greatest exertion reached Lure during the night, and could not get
+further on to Béverne until nine in the morning. A fresh delay was
+occasioned by the order to bring up in front of the infantry the
+artillery--even the reserve artillery which was marching in the very
+rear; and thus it happened that the XVIIIth Corps did not succeed in
+deploying two of its Divisions opposite Luze and Chagey till between 12
+and 2 in the afternoon.
+
+The 1st Division occupied Couthenans with one battalion, and brought up
+five batteries on the reverse slope of the heights to the north of that
+place. But the fire from the opposite bank prevented their further
+progress, and in a short time several of the batteries had but two guns
+left fit for action, although the Germans, in view of the difficulty of
+replenishment, used their ammunition as sparingly as possible. At three
+o'clock there was a pause in the artillery fight, which however was
+resumed energetically on the arrival of reinforcements, when the
+artillery of the XXIVth Corps coming from Byans took part in it. An
+infantry attack on a large scale was not yet attempted.
+
+There was scarcely more vigour in the advance of the 3rd Division
+against Chagey, which was occupied only by a Baden battalion; yet it was
+from here that the outflanking movement of the German right wing by
+turning Mont Vaudois was to be gone upon. The wood reached to the first
+houses of the village, and the only difficulty was the climb up the
+steep face of the height. Two French battalions suddenly burst from the
+gorge south of it, and drove in the Baden outposts; the further attack
+was to have been supported from Couthenans on the south, but the
+infantry advancing from thence found itself forced to turn back by the
+fire from the opposite bank. Only by a renewed effort did the Zouaves
+succeed in entering Chagey, where a stubborn fight raged in and around
+the houses. Meanwhile two Baden battalions came up, who, at five
+o'clock, drove the enemy out of the village back into the wood. Fresh
+reinforcements hastened to the support of the latter from the reserve
+near by, the short winter's day was over, and here during the night the
+French attempted nothing further. The 2nd Division of the French Corps
+had only advanced as far as Béverne, the cavalry had not moved from
+Lyoffans.
+
+The Division Crémer, despite its late arrival at Lure, had continued the
+march in the early morning. After the above-mentioned crossings and
+resultant delays the 1st Brigade advanced on Etobon, and there at noon
+it engaged in a fight with a Baden detachment under the command of
+General von Degenfeld. When the 2nd Brigade also came up, the 1st moved
+forward through the Bois de la Thure, with intent to cross the Lisaine
+above Chagey. Parts of the roads had first to be made practicable by the
+pioneers, involving considerable delay. The 2nd Brigade then followed in
+the dark, having left a detachment in observation at Etobon. A fresh
+collision with some Baden detachments determined General Crémer to
+extinguish all the watch-fires. His troops remained under arms
+throughout the hard winter night.
+
+On the German side, all the troops not on guard duty found shelter in
+the neighbouring villages, the pioneers only being kept at work with
+their pickaxes. The actions had cost both sides about 600 men, without
+bringing about any decisive result; but every day was a gain to the
+defenders.
+
+General Von Werder, on the heights north of Héricourt, had received
+constant reports regarding the course of the fighting from the General
+Staff officers sent out in various directions, by which he was able to
+regulate the abstraction from the reserves of reinforcements to the
+fighting line. The diminution of the ammunition was a cause of anxiety,
+since a consignment announced from Baden had not yet arrived.
+
+General Bourbaki informed his Government that he had taken Montbéliard,
+it was true without the castle, had occupied the villages on the west
+bank of the Lisaine, and that he would attack on the 16th. He had
+learned from General Billot that the German right wing extended
+considerably beyond Mont Vaudois, whence he inferred that important
+reinforcements had reached the enemy, whose strength he estimated at
+80,000 to 100,000 men. Nevertheless he anticipated a fortunate issue for
+the outflanking operation by fetching a yet wider compass to the left.
+
+_January 16th._--At half-past six on the morning of the 16th the Germans
+again stood to arms in the positions of the previous day.
+
+The French again began the attack with their right wing. From the
+loopholed houses they fired on the Landwehr company holding the castle
+of Montbéliard, causing some loss among the latter as well as among the
+gunners. The summons to surrender was disregarded, and the fire of the
+fortress artillery was used to such good purpose against two batteries
+which showed themselves on the neighbouring height, that these were
+obliged to retire, leaving behind them two guns. Neither could they
+advance from a new position they had taken up at the farm of Mont
+Chevis, and where they had been reinforced by three batteries, against
+the fire from La Grange Dame, although the cannonade continued until
+dark. No attempt was made from Montbéliard to pierce the German line.
+
+Further to the left the reinforced 1st Division of the French XVth Corps
+advanced on Béthoncourt. At one o'clock the fire of its artillery from
+Mont Chevis and Byans obliged a Baden battery to limber up, and it was
+then directed on the village. Large bodies had been massed in the
+neighbouring forest, from out which at three o'clock they advanced.
+General Glümer had meantime despatched reinforcements to the threatened
+front. Two determined attempts pushed close up to the village were
+frustrated by the destructive artillery and rifle fire of the defenders.
+A third attack made with a whole brigade at four o'clock, was not
+permitted even to approach. The losses on the French side were
+considerable, and the snowy field was strewn with the fallen. Some
+unwounded prisoners were also taken.
+
+One Division of the XXIVth French Corps had taken up a covered position
+in the woods behind Byans, and as it had already occupied Bussurel on
+the previous day, the German defensive position here in the rear of the
+railway embankment appeared to be threatened from the immediate
+vicinity. The General in command therefore sent General Keller with two
+Baden Fusilier battalions and one heavy battery from Brévilliers in this
+direction. The latter joined the two batteries which had been engaged on
+the slope of the hill since morning. The fire of five of the enemy's
+batteries was soon silenced by the unerring projectiles from the German
+guns. At noon the French artillery retired from Byans, leaving there
+also two guns, which could only be brought away later. The infantry, one
+Division strong, had only threatened to pierce the line, without
+proceeding to carry out the attempt.
+
+The XXth Corps brought up two Divisions against the line
+Héricourt--Luze. A thick fog covered the valley, and the early cannonade
+was at first scarcely answered by the Germans. To obtain some insight
+into the intentions of the enemy, two companies advanced to the height
+west of St. Valbert, and surprised the enemy moving up from Byans with
+so rapid a fire that he turned back. But soon after, at half-past nine,
+several battalions burst out from Tavey against the Mougnot. Two attacks
+were frustrated by the steady resistance of the Landwehr battalions, and
+a third attempt directed against the southern exit from Héricourt did
+not succeed. About four o'clock fresh masses of infantry again gathered
+against the Mougnot, but coming under fire from Mont Salamou, they
+shrank from further attacks, and confined themselves till evening to an
+ineffective cannonade.
+
+At Chagey two Divisions of the XVIIIth Corps found themselves face to
+face with the Germans. They did not attempt anything.
+
+The little spirit with which on January 16th the action along the whole
+front from Montbéliard to Chagey was conducted, pointed to the
+conclusion that the French were everywhere awaiting the issue of the
+scheme of out-flanking the German right wing.
+
+This task now devolved on General Crémer. The 2nd Division of the
+XVIIIth Corps joined him at Etobon.
+
+Two Divisions advanced thence on Chenebier, where General von Degenfeld
+stood with two battalions, two batteries, and one squadron. There could
+be no doubt as to the result. At eleven o'clock the Division Penhoat of
+the XVIIIth Corps advanced to encompass the place on the west and north,
+and the Division Crémer, for the purpose of barring the defenders' line
+of retreat on Belfort, advanced on the south, where the wood of La Thure
+covered his approach. The batteries of both Divisions were brought up in
+the afternoon on its northern edge, where they opened fire. After they
+had been in action for two hours, the infantry masses advanced from
+three sides. Under General Crémer's personal leading the Baden Fusiliers
+were driven from the southern to the northern part of the village, and
+as his encompassment therein through the wood of Montedin was
+practicable, General von Degenfeld, after an obstinate resistance, at
+three o'clock was obliged to take up his retreat in a northerly
+direction through Frahier. Thence he again turned south-east and took up
+a position in front of Chalonvillars, about the high-lying windmill of
+Rougeot, where, at six o'clock, he was joined by Colonel Bayer with
+reinforcements. The French did not pursue; the Division Crémer, which
+had lost 1000 men, retired, on the contrary, into the wood of La Thure,
+while Penhoat's Division confined itself to the occupation of Chenebier.
+
+Thus the German line of defence was nowhere broken on this day; still,
+its extreme right wing had been driven back to within little more than
+three miles of Belfort.
+
+The fortress celebrated the success of the French arms by a
+victory-salute, but made no serious sortie on the investing forces,
+weakened as they were by the despatch of reinforcements; and the latter,
+on their side, quietly continued the construction of batteries.
+
+General von Werder, anxious above all things to re-establish the
+fighting position on his right wing, could however only gather in as a
+general reserve four battalions, four squadrons, and two batteries,
+bringing up these from the least exposed places and even from Belfort,
+to Brévilliers and Mandrevillars. At eight o'clock in the evening
+General Keller was ordered to retake Chenebier. On this errand he left
+Mandrevillars with two Baden battalions, reached Moulin Rougeot at
+midnight, and found Frahier already occupied by Colonel Bayer.
+
+_January 17th._--On this morning eight battalions, two squadrons, and
+four batteries were assembled in Frahier. Three of the battalions
+advanced on the northern, three on the southern part of Chenebier; the
+others remained in reserve at the windmill, where also three 15 cm.
+cannon were to be stationed.
+
+At half-past four a.m. the first column, advancing in dead silence,
+surprised an outpost of the enemy's at Echevanne, but it was unavoidable
+that its rifle fire should make the French in Chenebier aware of the
+danger by which they were menaced. In the wood north of the village, the
+Germans met with serious resistance; and the danger that in the darkness
+and the dense undergrowth the troops might fall on each other obliged
+their withdrawal to the outer edge of the wood.
+
+The other column, advancing in the valley of the Lisaine, had quickened
+its pace from Moulin Colin as soon as the first shots were heard. The
+2nd battalion of the 4th Baden Regiment rushed with cheers into the
+southern part of Chenebier, where a great confusion ensued. But daybreak
+showed that the heights on the west of the village were strongly
+occupied, and that columns of all arms were approaching from Etobon. At
+8.30 Colonel Payen had to resolve on retirement from the half-conquered
+village, carrying with him 400 prisoners, and on taking up a position at
+the Bois de Féry, to cover the road to Belfort through Chalonvillars.
+
+At the same time the right column, strengthened by a battalion from the
+reserve, renewed the attack on the wood, and after a struggle which
+lasted for two hours with heavy losses on both sides, at last took
+possession of it. But the attempt to penetrate into the barricaded and
+strongly-defended village was vain. A destructive fire met every attack;
+a single round of mitrailleuse fire, for instance, struck down
+twenty-one men of the Baden assailants. At three o'clock in the
+afternoon General Keller therefore assembled his troops at Frahier,
+where they were supported by four batteries.
+
+With such inferior strength, and after failing in this attempt, it was
+useless to think of driving back the enemy beyond Chenebier; the only
+course to pursue was to hinder his further advance on Belfort. And this
+object was fully accomplished; the French did not pursue. Instead of
+out-flanking the German right, they seemed chiefly concerned for their
+own left. They defended Chenebier stoutly, but gave up all further
+offensive movements.
+
+While awaiting the expected success of the out-flanking movement,
+General Bourbaki's intention seems to have been merely to occupy the
+enemy along his front and to hold him fast where he stood. Even during
+the night the Germans were alarmed at Béthoncourt and before Héricourt,
+while they, on their part, disturbed the French at Bussurel and in the
+Bois de La Thure. The infantry fire went on for hours, and numerous
+detachments had to spend the bitter winter's night under arms. In the
+morning two Divisions of the XVIIIth French Corps advanced on Chagey and
+Luze, but their batteries, although supported by the artillery of the
+Army Reserve, they could not advance against those of the Germans, and
+repeated attacks on those villages were unsuccessful. After one o'clock
+a cannonade only was maintained here. In front of Héricourt also there
+was an exchange of shell fire, and Bussurel, held by the French, was set
+on fire.
+
+To drive the French out of Montbéliard, the town was fired on from La
+Grange Dame and from the Château, but ceased when the inhabitants begged
+forbearance on the assurance that the place was evacuated, which
+subsequently proved not quite true. Ten battalions of the French XVth
+Corps advanced from the woods in the forenoon, and tried to push on past
+Montbéliard, but suffered severely from the flanking fire of the heavy
+guns at La Grange Dame, and only a handful got into the valley of the
+Lisaine. The western exits from Montbéliard, and the heights immediately
+behind it, remained in French possession, but the offensive movements
+ceased at about two in the afternoon.
+
+Further to the south, General von Debschitz's posts in front of Allaine
+had easily repulsed the French assailants.
+
+On the German side there was now the conviction that no further attack
+would be attempted.
+
+The condition of the French troops, not yet inured to war, was, in fact,
+very critical. They had been obliged to bivouac in the bitterly cold
+nights, sometimes under arms, and for the most part without food. Their
+losses were not inconsiderable, and the superior officers whom the
+commanding General assembled at three in the afternoon, in the
+neighbourhood of Chagey, expressed their objections to a yet more
+extensive outflanking attempt to the left, since supplies would be
+utterly impossible, and the risk would be entailed of the Germans
+seizing the line of the communications of the army through Montbéliard.
+Then came the news that the heads of General von Manteuffel's Corps had
+already reached Fontaine-Française, and were also approaching Gray.
+
+In these circumstances General Bourbaki considered he must resolve on a
+retreat. He telegraphed to the Government that by the advice of his
+generals, and to his deep regret, he had been compelled to take up a
+position further in the rear, and only hoped that the enemy might follow
+him. Hence this experienced general could have felt no doubt that his
+army, its attack on the Lisaine, once gone to wreck, could only escape
+from a very critical position by an immediate retreat.
+
+_January 18th._--This morning the Germans were under arms in their
+positions of the previous day, the French still in full force before the
+whole front. It was significant that they were busy in the construction
+of earthworks. They had evacuated Montbéliard the evening before in
+disorderly retreat, and now held the country west of the place in
+strength and entrenched.
+
+During this day nothing occurred but a cannonade and small skirmishes.
+General Keller having been reinforced came up on the right, and as the
+enemy retired to Etobon he was able to re-occupy Chenebier in the
+afternoon. Further north, Colonel von Willisen again marched on
+Ronchamp. In the centre Coutenans was taken possession of, and the enemy
+driven out of Byans by artillery fire; but on the other hand the Germans
+could not yet penetrate the belt of forest. On the southern bank of the
+Allaine General von Debschitz's detachments drove the enemy back beyond
+the line Exincourt-Croix.
+
+In the three days' fighting on the Lisaine the Germans lost 1200, the
+French from 4000 to 5000 men.
+
+In spite of much necessary detaching, and of the threatening proximity
+of the enemy, the siege-works against Belfort were uninterruptedly
+carried on, and as soon as the complement of the investing forces was
+again made up, General von Werder followed the retiring French to
+Etobon, Saulnot and Arcey.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARTILLERY ATTACK ON PARIS.
+
+(January, 1871.)
+
+
+In the place of the IInd Corps, which had been assigned to the German
+Army of the South, there had come up into the Paris front the Ist
+Bavarian Corps, of which Gambetta had said, "The Bavarians no longer
+exist." It had made so good use of its time of rest in quarters south of
+Longjumeau that by the beginning of the New Year it was already restored
+to a strength of 17,500 men, with 108 guns. It was positioned on both
+banks of the Seine between the VIth Prussian Corps and the Würtemberg
+Division. The Würtembergers reached from Ormesson to the Marne, from
+which river the Saxons extended rightward to the Sausset brook, so as to
+narrow the front of the Guard Corps now that the Morée was frozen over
+and afforded no cover.
+
+The duty of watching so vast a place of arms as Paris had made great
+demands on the endurance of the troops.
+
+The French had gradually so extended their entrenchments outwards from
+Villejuif and Bruyères, that they threatened to outflank the IInd
+Bavarian Corps. To thwart such a flank attack the VIth Corps was
+obliged to keep a strong force constantly in readiness at L'Hay.
+
+It need not be said that the supporting troops on the south front could
+nowhere be safe from the fire of the heavy fortress guns, nor the
+foreposts from that of the Chassepôts. The latter consequently often
+could not be relieved for several days, and the relief was usually
+effected at night. The less the success of the French arms in the open
+field, the more lavish were they in the expenditure of ammunition from
+their works. Mont Valérien hurled its giant shells to a distance of from
+four to five miles, but this incessant cannonade, to the din of which
+the ear was soon accustomed, did little damage.
+
+THE ARTILLERY ATTACK ON THE SOUTHERN FRONT.--Till Mont Avron was taken,
+the Germans had only been able to oppose field guns to French fortress
+artillery. But early in January their preparations were at last so far
+forward that seventeen batteries, long since completed, could be armed
+with heavy guns against the south front of Paris. A battery stood apart
+on the left flank in the park of St. Cloud to the north of Sèvres; four
+were close together on the steep slope of the height west of the Château
+Meudon; five on the edge of the plateau of Moulin de la Tour, where the
+mill, serving to guide the aim of the enemy, had been blown up. Four
+more batteries occupied a lower position between Fontenay and Bagneux.
+Two, between Chevilly and La Rue, served as protection against a flank
+movement from Villejuif, with the field artillery of the IInd Bavarian
+and VIth Corps. Dressing-stations were prepared, and intermediate depôts
+were supplied with reserve ammunition from the great magazines at
+Villacoublay.
+
+Under Generals von Kameke[78] and Prince Hohenlohe[79] Colonels von
+Rieff and von Ramm conducted the artillery attack, General Schulz
+commanded the engineer attack. The men served twenty-four hours in the
+batteries, and then had two days' rest. The officers had but one day's
+rest.
+
+The heavy guns were brought up on January 3rd, by day, into the
+batteries which lay covered, without any interference; into all the
+others during the night, after the enemy's outposts had been driven in.
+Thus on the morning of the 4th 98 guns were ready to open fire: of these
+28 were directed on Issy, 28 on Vanves, and 18 on Montrouge, 10 against
+the emplacements between the first two forts. But a thick fog hid every
+object, and it was not till January 5th at 8.30 in the morning, that the
+signal shot was given for opening fire.
+
+_January 5th._--The enemy promptly replied. There were in Fort Valérien
+106 guns, in Issy 90, in Vanves 84, and in Montrouge 52; there were
+about 70 in the sectors of the enceinte concerned and at Villejuif,
+16-cm. guns for the most part; so the attack at first was heavily taxed.
+But when at about noon all its batteries came into action, the situation
+gradually improved and the greater accuracy of the German fire told.
+Fort Issy had almost entirely ceased firing by two o'clock, nine guns
+were dismounted in Vanves, and its garrison had lost thirty men; only
+Montrouge still replied with vigour. The fire was now taken up by the
+guns of the enceinte, but the forts never again gained the upper hand
+of the attack. Some gunboats appearing about Point du Jour very soon had
+to retire. The field artillery of the IInd Bavarian and VIth Corps also
+co-operated so energetically that no attack was attempted from the works
+at Villejuif, nor was a single shot fired on the batteries at Bagneux. A
+number of wall-pieces and long-range Chassepôts taken from the enemy did
+such good service that the French abandoned more and more of their
+rayon. The German outposts took possession of the trenches of Clamart,
+and in the course of the night reversed them against the defence.
+
+Only a couple of 15-cm. shells were thrown into the city itself as a
+serious warning; the first thing to be done was to batter down the
+outworks, and for some few days the firing was exclusively directed on
+these. A stubborn return fire came from Montrouge and from a
+mortar-battery in a very advantageous position behind the high railway
+embankment to the east of Issy; and especially from the south front of
+the enceinte, nearly four and a half miles long in a straight line.
+Foggy weather on some days necessitated the suspension or entire
+cessation of firing. But meanwhile the foreposts had advanced to within
+815 and 490 yards of Forts Issy and Vanves respectively. New batteries
+were constructed further forward, and armed with thirty-six guns from
+those evacuated in rear.
+
+_January 10th._--The French garrison meanwhile was again displaying
+great activity. On January 10th it succeeded in the dark hours in
+surprising the weakly-held post of Clamart. Three battalions were now
+posted in the place, and a shelter-trench some 1300 yards long was dug
+connecting Clamart with Châtillon.[80]
+
+_January 13th._--The IInd Army of Paris was still outside the city on
+the east and north fronts from Nogent to Aubervillers. After some small
+alarms, on the evening of the 13th strong bodies advanced from Courneuve
+and Drancy against Le Bourget under cover of a heavy fire from the
+forts. But the troops in occupation there were on the alert, and being
+soon reinforced by several companies, repulsed the attempts of the
+French to storm it, repeated as they were until two o'clock in the
+morning.
+
+_January 14th._--On this day the French made a renewed sortie on Clamart
+with 500 marine infantry and several battalions of National Guards.
+These last assembled at the adjacent railway-station with a great deal
+of noise, and their approach was reported about midnight. The fight
+lasted a full hour, and ended with the retreat, or rather flight, of the
+assailants. Patrols followed them close up to the trenches of Issy.
+
+The ranges were so great that hitherto the fire from the enceinte was
+not yet subdued. Battery No. 1, lying isolated in the Park of St. Cloud,
+suffered most, being fired upon from two bastions of the enceinte, from
+Point du Jour, and from Mont Valérien. The steep cliff behind the
+battery facilitated the aim of the enemy. Its parapet was repeatedly
+shattered, and it was only the most zealous devotion which enabled the
+struggle to be continued at this point. The enemy also concentrated a
+heavy fire on batteries Nos. 19 and 21, pushed forward into a position
+specially threatening to Fort Vanves. The long-range fire from the
+enceinte dropped from a high angle close behind the parapet, breaking
+through the platforms, and inflicting serious injuries on a great many
+gunners. The powder-magazines blew up in two of the batteries, and both
+the battery commanders and several other superior officers were wounded.
+
+On the east front of Paris, the fifty-eight German guns remaining there
+after the reduction of Mont Avron were opposed by 151 of the enemy. The
+former nevertheless soon proved their superiority; the forts only
+occasionally came into action; the French withdrew their outposts up to
+the works, and altogether vacated the peninsula of St. Maur. By degrees
+the heavy siege-guns could be removed from their previous positions to
+the Morée brook.
+
+The forts on the south front had meanwhile suffered severely. The ruin
+in Issy was visible to the naked eye; fires broke out there repeatedly,
+and the powder-magazine had to be cleared out at great risk in the night
+of January 16th. Fort Vanves had lost seventy men; it opened fire
+usually every morning, but soon became silent. Montrouge, on the
+contrary, on some days still fired over 500 rounds from eighteen guns.
+But here, too, the casemates no longer afforded any shelter, and one of
+the bastions lay a heap of ruins.
+
+In spite of the steady fire from the enceinte, a part of Paris itself
+was disturbed by the 15-cm. shells. An elevation of 30 degrees, obtained
+by a special contrivance, sent the projectiles into the heart of the
+city. From 300 to 400 shells were fired daily.
+
+Under the pressure of "public opinion" the Government, after repeated
+deliberations, decided once more on a new enterprise in force, to be
+directed this time against the German batteries about Châtillon. The
+collective superior commanders agreed, indeed, that sorties could
+promise no success without the co-operation of a relieving army from the
+outside; but, on the 8th, Gambetta had announced the "victory" of the
+Army of the North at Bapaume, and further had promised that both the
+Armies of the Loire should advance. Hereupon General Trochu advised that
+at least the moment should be awaited when the investing army before
+Paris should be weakened by having to detach anew part of its strength;
+but he was opposed by the other members of the Government, especially by
+Monsieur Jules Favre. That gentleman declared that the Maires of Paris
+were indignant at the bombardment, that the representatives of the city
+must be allowed some insight into the military situation, and, above
+all, that negotiations ought long since to have been entered into.
+
+Finally, on January 15th, it was determined that the German lines should
+be broken through at Montretout, Garches, and Buzanval.
+
+While confusion and dissensions thus prevailed in Paris, the unity of
+the German nation, under the Emperor William, was solemnly proclaimed at
+Versailles.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[78] Previously commanding the XIVth Infantry Division.
+
+[79] Previously commanding the artillery of the Guard Corps, the
+well-known military author, best known in England as "Prince Kraft." The
+slight ambiguity in the text may be removed by the more specific
+statement that General von Kameke was Chief Director of the Engineer
+attack, Prince Kraft Chief Director of the Artillery attack on Paris as
+a whole. On the south front Colonel von Rieff commanded the siege
+artillery, Major-General Schulz was Engineer-in-chief. On the north and
+east fronts within the Army of the Meuse Colonels Bartsch and Oppermann
+had the corresponding commands. Colonel von Ramm is nowhere mentioned in
+the official distribution of the respective staffs.
+
+[80] A casual reader might perhaps infer from these curt sentences, that
+the French, having possessed themselves by surprise of the weak German
+post of Clamart, placed in it a garrison of three battalions. The facts
+were, that the French battalion was scarcely in possession of Clamart
+when it abandoned village and redoubt; whereupon, to guard against any
+future attempt on the place on the part of the French, the Germans
+occupied the village with three battalions and the redoubt with two
+companies; and further to ensure the security of the position, since it
+was one of some importance, connected it with Châtillon in the manner
+described.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF MONT VALÉRIEN.
+
+(January 19th.)
+
+
+The sortie was planned to take place on January 19th. On that day, as we
+have seen, General Faidherbe advanced as far as St. Quentin on the way
+to Paris, and the army which was to make the sortie stood on the eastern
+and northern fronts of the capital. The attempt to break through was,
+however, made in the opposite direction. But in fact, the peninsula of
+Gennevilliers was now the only ground on which large masses of troops
+could still be deployed without being exposed for hours while they were
+being assembled, to the fire of the German artillery.
+
+Two days previously the mobilized National Guards had already relieved
+the three Divisions of the sortie-Army from the positions they had held;
+and those Divisions, collectively 90,000 strong, were to move to the
+attack in three columns simultaneously. General Vinoy on the left,
+supported by the fire from the enceinte, was to carry the height of
+Montretout; General Bellemare in the centre was to push forward through
+Garches; General Ducrot on the right by way of the Château of Buzanval.
+
+The attack was set to begin at six in the morning, but blocks occurred
+at the bridges of Asnières and Neuilly, as no specific orders had been
+issued for regulating the crossing. When at seven o'clock the signal to
+advance was made from Mont Valérien, only the advance of General Vinoy's
+force was ready, the other columns had not yet deployed, and the last
+detachments tailed back as far as Courbevoix. Before they had reached
+their rendezvous-points the left wing was already marching on St. Cloud
+with fifteen battalions.
+
+These at first met only isolated posts and patrols, eighty-nine men in
+all, who rushed into the open gorge of the redoubt of Montretout, and
+there made a stand for some time; they then fought their way out with
+great bravery, but some of them were taken prisoners. There, and in the
+northern part of St. Cloud, the French promptly prepared for defence.
+
+The centre column under General Bellemare also took possession without
+difficulty of the height of Maison du Curé.
+
+Not till now, at nearly nine o'clock, did the first supports of the
+German forepost line appear on the scene. Till within a short time the
+observatories had been able to report nothing but "thick fog;" but
+reports from the right and left wings announced that a serious attack
+was threatened on the whole front from St. Cloud to Bougival. The Vth
+Corps was now alarmed, and General von Kirchbach betook himself to the
+9th Division. On the German right, in the park of St. Cloud, stood the
+17th Brigade; on the left, behind the Porte de Longboyau, the 20th; the
+other troops of the Corps marched from their quarters in Versailles and
+the villages to its north, to Jardy and Beauregard. The Crown Prince
+ordered six battalions of the Guard Landwehr and a Bavarian Brigade to
+Versailles, and himself rode to the Hospice of Brezin; the King went to
+Marly.
+
+The French meanwhile had seized the foremost houses of Garches, and made
+their eastward way here and there through the breaches in the wall into
+the park of the Château of Buzanval. The 5th Jäger Battalion, supported
+by single companies of the 58th and 59th Regiments, hurried forward and
+drove the enemy back out of Garches, occupied the cemetery on its north,
+and still reached the advanced post of La Bergerie just at the right
+time. The other bodies under General von Bothmer (commanding 17th
+Brigade, 9th Division, Vth Corps), by order from the commanding General,
+maintained a stationary fight on the skirts of the park of St. Cloud, to
+gain time. About half-past nine they repulsed an attack by Bellemare's
+column, arrested the advance of the enemy along the Rue Impériale of St.
+Cloud, and themselves took the offensive from the Grille d'Orleans and
+the Porte Jaune. Five French battalions unsuccessfully assaulted La
+Bergerie. A section of Engineers tried with great devotion to demolish
+the wall surrounding the court, but the frozen dynamite did not explode,
+and the Jägers held the position steadfastly throughout the day.
+
+The attacks of the French had hitherto been undertaken without
+assistance from their artillery. The batteries of General Vinoy's
+advance had been seriously delayed by crossing with the centre column,
+and were now detained at Briqueterie to meet the contingency of a
+repulse. General Bellemare's batteries tried to get up the slope of the
+height of Garches, but the exhaustion of the teams made it necessary to
+take up a position at Fouilleuse. Meanwhile the batteries of the German
+9th Division came up by degrees, and by noon thirty-six guns had opened
+fire. In St. Cloud a hot street-fight was going on.
+
+Only General Ducrot on the French right wing had opened the battle with
+his strong force of artillery, which came into position on both sides of
+Rueil. The tirailleurs then advanced and made their way through the park
+of Buzanval to its western boundary-wall, but were driven back by the
+50th Fusilier Regiment which had hastened forward.
+
+At half-past ten the chief attack ensued at this point, supported by
+part of the central column. It found only an under-officer's post at
+Malmaison, but at the eastern exit from Bougival near La Jouchère and
+Porte de Longboyau, it encountered the already reinforced line of posts
+of the 20th Infantry Brigade. General von Schmidt (commanding 10th
+Infantry Division) still held back at Beauregard the reserve of the 10th
+Division. A murderous fire from the well-covered German infantry broke
+the onset of the French, and converted it by mid-day into a stationary
+fire fight, in which the German artillery also took part with great
+effect. Two batteries of the 10th Division at St. Michel were reinforced
+by two Guard batteries brought up from St. Germain to Louvenciennes; a
+third came into action near Chatou and forced an armour-plated train
+halted at the railway station north of Rueil to retire rapidly to
+Nanterre. Four batteries of the IVth Corps finally opened fire from
+Carrières, heedless of the fire of Valérien, and shelled the dense
+masses of hostile infantry halted in rear of Rueil.
+
+At two o'clock the French decided on renewing the attack. When two of
+their batteries had shelled Porte de Longboyau a brigade marched on that
+point, and a second on the western wall of the park of the Château
+Buzanval; a third followed in support. Not less bold than unsuccessful
+was the attempt of a section of Engineers, one officer and ten men, to
+blow up part of the wall; they all fell together. The attacking columns
+had advanced to within 200 paces, when thirteen German companies at the
+moment met them, broke and stopped their rush by pouring fire into them
+at short range, and presently routed the hostile columns in disorder, in
+spite of the devoted exertions of the officers.
+
+The French, however, still found a strong protection in the park-wall,
+which had been prepared for defence with great skill and with the utmost
+rapidity; and the advance of several companies from Brezin and La
+Bergerie on this wall was repulsed with heavy loss.
+
+But the strength of the French attack was already broken. So early as
+three o'clock a movement of retreat was observable in their left wing,
+and as dusk fell the French centre began to withdraw from the heights of
+Maison du Curé. When Colonel von Köthen pursued, with a small force,
+several battalions indeed fronted, and even threatened a sharp
+counter-attack; but timely support arrived from La Bergerie, Garches,
+and Porte Jaune, and, backed by the fire of the batteries, the pursuit
+was followed up. The King's Grenadiers drove back the enemy to the
+vicinity of Fouilleuse.
+
+The Germans, however, had not yet succeeded in repossessing themselves
+of the Montretout redoubt. The chief hindrance arose from their having
+been unable to advance through the town of St. Cloud. As, however, the
+possession of this position was indispensable for the protection of the
+right wing, General von Kirchbach gave orders that it was to be retaken
+either that evening or early next morning.
+
+General von Sandrart (commanding 9th Infantry Division) decided on
+immediate action, and at eight that evening five battalions went forward
+on this duty. Only a few French were found in the redoubt and were
+taken prisoners; but in the town the struggle was severe. Finally the
+Germans had to restrict themselves to blockading the houses held
+temporarily by the enemy. The French also clung to the outer park-wall
+of Buzanval throughout the night. The Guard Landwehr and the Bavarian
+Brigade were therefore assigned quarters in Versailles, to form a strong
+reserve at hand in case of need on the following day. The remainder of
+the troops withdrew into their former quarters.
+
+At half-past five General Trochu had issued the order for a retreat. He
+perceived that the prolongation of the struggle could afford no success,
+especially as the National Guards were becoming insubordinate. The brave
+defenders of St. Cloud were forgotten in these directions. They did not
+surrender till the day after, when artillery was brought against the
+houses they occupied. And the park-wall was not relinquished till the
+following morning.
+
+The French attack of January 19th was wrecked even before it had reached
+the main position of the defenders. The reserves in readiness on the
+German side had not needed to be brought into action. The Vth Corps
+alone had driven back an enemy of four times its own strength. It lost
+40 officers and 570 men; the loss of the French in killed and wounded
+was 145 officers and 3423 men, besides 44 officers and 458 men taken
+prisoners.
+
+When the fog lifted at about eleven o'clock on the morning of the 20th,
+their long columns were seen retreating on Paris across the peninsula of
+Gennevilliers.
+
+
+
+
+PROSECUTION OF THE ARTILLERY ATTACK ON PARIS UP TO THE ARMISTICE.
+
+
+After the repulse of this last struggle for release on the part of the
+garrison, the extension of the artillery attack to the north front of
+the defensive position was now determined on. The siege guns no longer
+needed against the minor French fortresses and on the Marne had been
+parked for this object at Villiers le Bel. The Army of the Meuse had
+prepared abundant material for the construction of batteries, and had
+collected a waggon park of above 600 vehicles. Twelve batteries had
+already been built in the lines between Le Bourget and the Lake of
+Enghien, the arming of which followed, for the most part, under cover of
+night. On January 21st eighty-one heavy guns were ready for action, and
+Colonel Bartsch opened fire at nine that morning on Forts La Briche,
+Double Couronne, and de l'Est.
+
+The forts, which opposed the attack with 143 heavy guns, replied
+vigorously, and on the following day the thick weather prevented the
+German batteries from resuming their fire till the afternoon. But the
+ground in front was abandoned by the French, and the outposts of the
+Guards and IVth Corps took possession of Villetaneuse and Temps Perdu.
+During the nights the fire was directed on St. Denis, with every
+endeavour to spare the Cathedral, and many conflagrations occurred. By
+the 23rd the vigorous prosecution of the cannonade had materially
+subdued the fire of the defence. La Briche was wholly silenced, and the
+other forts only fired occasional salvos. During the night of the 25th
+four batteries were advanced to within 1300 and 950 yards respectively
+of the enemy's main works. The engineer attack also could now be
+undertaken, and a series of new batteries was constructed, which,
+however, were never used.
+
+The effect of this bombardment of only six days' duration was decisive.
+The forts had suffered extraordinarily. In contrast to those of the
+south front they were destitute of the powerful backing of the enceinte,
+and they lacked, too, bomb-proof shelter. The provisional bomb-proofs
+were pierced by shells, the powder-magazines were in the greatest
+danger, and the garrisons had nowhere any more cover. The inhabitants of
+St. Denis fled to Paris in crowds, and the impaired immunity from storm
+of the sorely battered works was an insuperable obstacle to a longer
+maintenance of the defence. This northern attack cost the Germans one
+officer and 25 men; the French stated their loss at 180.
+
+The fire of the forts on the east front was kept under, and the
+Würtemberg Field Artillery sufficed to prevent the enemy from renewing
+his foothold on the peninsula of St. Maur.
+
+The south front meanwhile suffered more and more from the steady
+bombardment. The enceinte and the sunken mortar batteries behind the
+ceinture railway were still active, but in the forts the barracks were
+reduced to ruins, partly battered in and partly burnt down, and the
+garrisons had to take shelter in the emptied powder-magazines. The
+covered ways could no longer be traversed safely, the parapets afforded
+no protection. In Vanves the embrasures were filled up with sandbags; in
+the southern curtain of Issy five blocks of casemates had been pierced
+by shells penetrating the shielding walls. Even the detached gorge-walls
+of Vanves and Montrouge were destroyed, forty guns were dismounted, and
+seventy gun carriages wrecked.
+
+The whole condition of France, political and military, and above all the
+situation in Paris, was such as to cause the Government the gravest
+anxiety.
+
+Since the return of Monsieur Thiers from his diplomatic tour, it was
+certain that no mediatory interposition by any foreign power could be
+expected. The distress of the capital had become more and more severe.
+Scarcity and high prices had long borne heavily on its population;
+provisions were exhausted, and even the stores of the garrison had been
+seriously encroached on. Fuel was lacking in the lasting cold, and
+petroleum was an inefficient substitute for gas. When the long-deferred
+bombardment of the south side of Paris was had recourse to, the people
+took refuge in the cellars or fled to the remoter quarters of the city;
+and when it was also begun on the northern side the inhabitants of St.
+Denis crowded into the capital.
+
+The great sortie of the 19th had proved a total failure, and no relief
+was to be hoped for from outside since Gambetta had sent news of the
+disaster at Le Mans. The Paris Army, of whose inactivity he complained,
+was reduced to a third of its original strength by cold, sickness, and
+desertion, and the heart taken out of it by repeated miscarriages. Its
+horses had to be slaughtered to provide meat for the inhabitants, and
+General Trochu declared any further offensive movements to be quite
+hopeless; the means even of passive resistance were exhausted.
+
+Hitherto the Government had been able to keep the populace in good
+humour by highly-coloured reports, but now the disastrous state of
+affairs could no longer be concealed. All its projects were now
+denounced.
+
+There was a large class of people in Paris who were but little affected
+by the general distress. Numbers of civilians had been armed for the
+defence of their country and were fed and well paid by the authorities,
+without having too much to do in return. They were joined by all the
+dubious social elements, which found their reckoning in the disorganized
+situation. These had been quite satisfied with the condition which the
+4th of September had created, and a little later they displayed
+themselves in the hideous form of the Commune. Already some popular
+gatherings had been dispersed only by force of arms, and even a part of
+the National Guard were not free from mutinous tendencies. The
+revolutionary clubs, too, supported by the press, clamoured for further
+enterprises, even a sortie _en masse_ of all the inhabitants of Paris.
+Thus the feeble Government, dependent as it was on popular favour alone,
+was under pressure from the impossible demands of an ignorant mob on the
+one hand, and, on the other, the inexorable force of actual facts.
+
+There was absolutely no expedient possible but the capitulation of the
+capital; every delay intensified the necessity, and enforced the
+acceptance of harder terms. Unless all the railways were at once thrown
+open for the transport of supplies from a very wide area, the horrors of
+famine would inevitably fall on a population of more than two million
+souls; and later it might not be practicable to cope with the emergency.
+Yet no one dared utter the fatal word "capitulation," no one would
+undertake the responsibility for the inevitable.
+
+A great council of war was held on the 21st. In it all the elder
+Generals pronounced any further offensive measures to be quite
+impossible. It was proposed that a council of the younger officers
+should also be held, but no decision was arrived at. As, however, some
+one must be made answerable for every misfortune, General Trochu,
+originally the most popular member of the Government, was dismissed from
+his position as Governor, and the chief military command was entrusted
+to General Vinoy. General Ducrot resigned his command.
+
+All this did nothing to improve the situation, so on the 23rd, Monsieur
+Jules Favre made his appearance at Versailles to negotiate in the first
+instance for an armistice.
+
+On the German side there was readiness to meet this request; but of
+course some guarantee had to be forthcoming that the capital, after
+having been reprovisioned, would not renew its resistance. The surrender
+of the forts, inclusive of Mont Valérien and the town of St. Denis, as
+well as the disarmament of the enceinte was demanded and acceded to.
+
+Hostilities were to be suspended on the evening of the 26th, so far as
+Paris was concerned, and all supplies to be freely given. A general
+armistice of twenty-one days was then to come in force on the 31st of
+January, exclusive, however, of the departments of Doubs, Jura, and Côte
+d'Or, and the fortress of Belfort, where for the time operations were
+still being carried on, in which both sides were hopeful of success.
+
+This armistice gave the Government of National Defence the time
+necessary for assembling a freely-elected National Assembly at Bordeaux,
+which should decide whether the war should be continued, or on what
+conditions peace should be concluded. The election of the deputies was
+unimpeded and uninfluenced even in the parts of the country occupied by
+the Germans.
+
+The regular forces of the Paris garrison, troops of the line, marines,
+and Gardes-Mobiles, had to lay down their arms at once; only 12,000 men
+and the National Guard were allowed to retain them for the preservation
+of order inside the city. The troops of the garrison were interned there
+during the armistice; on its expiry they were to be regarded as
+prisoners. As to their subsequent transfer to Germany, where every
+available place was already overflowing with prisoners, the question was
+postponed in expectation of a probable peace.
+
+The forts were occupied on the 29th without opposition.
+
+There were taken over from the Field Army of Paris 602 guns, 1,770,000
+stand of arms, and above 1000 ammunition waggons; from the fortress 1362
+heavy guns, 1680 gun-carriages, 860 limbers, 3,500,000 cartridges, 4000
+hundred-weight of powder, 200,000 shells, and 100,000 bombs.
+
+The blockade of Paris, which had lasted 132 days, was over, and the
+greater part of the German forces which had so long stood fast under its
+walls, was released to end the war in the open field.
+
+
+
+
+THE OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY OF THE SOUTH UNDER GENERAL VON MANTEUFFEL.
+
+
+The two Army Corps under General von Manteuffel consisted altogether of
+fifty-six battalions, twenty squadrons, and 168 guns. When it arrived at
+Châtillon sur Seine on January 12th, the IInd Corps was on the right,
+and the VIIth on the left on an extension from Noyers Montigny of about
+forty-five miles. One brigade, under General von Dannenberg, which had
+already several times been in contact with portions of the French Army
+of the Vosges, was pushed forward to Vilaines and was charged with the
+duty of covering the right flank.
+
+Several good roads led from the quarters specified in the direction of
+Dijon; to Vesoul, on the contrary, there were only bad tracks deep in
+snow over the southern slope of the wild plateau of Langres. The
+Commander-in-Chief, nevertheless, chose this direction, that he might as
+soon as possible afford General von Werder at least indirect assistance
+by approaching in the rear of the enemy threatening his brother-officer.
+
+The march had to pass midway between the towns of Dijon and Langres,
+both points strongly occupied by the French. Wooded heights and deep
+ravines separated the columns and precluded mutual support; each body
+had to provide for its individual safety in every direction. The troops
+had previously undergone severe fatigues, and badly as they needed rest
+not one halt-day could be granted, nor could the evil plight of their
+boots and the horses' shoes be in any way remedied. On January 14th the
+march was begun in a thick fog and bitter cold, along roads frozen as
+smooth as glass.
+
+The maintenance of supplies required special attention, and at first the
+8th Brigade had to be left behind to secure the all-important
+railway-line Tonnerre--Nuits--Châtillon, until connections could be
+established by way of Epinal.
+
+On the very first day's march the advanced guard of the VIIth Corps had
+a fight before Langres. A force from the garrison of 15,000 men was
+driven in on the fortress with the loss of a flag, and a detachment had
+to be left behind in observation of the place. Under cover of it the
+VIIth Corps marched past the fortress next day, while the IInd advanced
+to the Ignon Brook.
+
+The weather changed during the night of the 15th. As a change from
+fourteen degrees of frost there came storm and rain. The water lay on
+the frozen roads, and it was with the greatest difficulty that the VIIth
+Corps reached Prauthoy, and the IInd Moloy, closing in to the left.
+
+On the 18th the left wing advanced South-East on Frettes and Champlitte,
+the right assembled at Is sur Tille, and its advanced guard, after a
+march of thirty-one miles, reached the bridges at Gray. On the flank and
+rear of the Corps there had been some trivial fighting, but the cruel
+march across the mountains had been accomplished, and the cultivated
+valley of the Saône was reached.
+
+General von Manteuffel had already received news of the satisfactory
+course of the first day's fighting on the Lisaine. Later telegrams from
+General von Werder reported that the French Army of the East would
+probably be obliged to retire under difficulties, and the German
+commander at once determined to cut off its retreat by advancing to the
+Doubs below Besançon.
+
+The defeated French army was still numerically greatly superior to the
+German force. The troops had to be again called upon for severe
+exertions. They were required once more to cross a thinly-populated
+mountainous region, where it would be a matter of great difficulty to
+procure food and the shelter needful during the bitter winter nights.
+Strong hostile forces had to be left in the rear at Langres, Dijon, and
+Auxonne, and that under very insufficient observation. However, in spite
+of every obstacle the advance in this new direction was begun on the
+19th.
+
+The first difficulty would have been the crossing of the Saône, here
+very deep and about sixty-six yards wide, and full of drifting ice, had
+not the advanced guard of the IInd Corps found Gray abandoned by the
+French and both the bridges uninjured; whereupon it occupied the town.
+The head of the VIIth Corps crossed the river by the intact
+railway-bridge at Savayeux, and by a pontoon bridge thrown across by the
+pioneers higher up.
+
+On the following day both Corps advanced in a southerly direction, the
+VIIth to Gy, the IInd to Pesmes. Here the latter also now crossed the
+Ognon after driving off by artillery fire a French detachment which
+tried to oppose the construction of the bridges.
+
+On the 21st, at half past two, the advanced guard of the IInd Corps
+found Dôle occupied by the enemy. General von Koblinski (commanding 5th
+Infantry Brigade) attacked at once. In spite of a violent street-fight
+in which the townspeople took part, the Grenadiers of the 2nd Regiment
+made their way through the town and on the further side seized a train
+of 230 waggons of provisions and military necessaries, intended for
+Besançon and left standing in the railway-station.
+
+While the Doubs was thus crossed by the IInd Corps at this point, so the
+VIIth Corps opened itself a passage across the Ognon at Marmay and Pin.
+
+General von Werder had been instructed to follow close on the heels of
+the retreating enemy, and while the latter still maintained his position
+on the front of the XIVth Corps, the 2nd Baden Brigade on the right wing
+had advanced to Etobon, while Colonel von Willisen with his twelve
+squadrons had moved out beyond Lure. On the left, Colonel von Zimmermann
+with the East-Prussian Landwehr had driven the French out of Ste. Marie.
+These detachments everywhere found cast-away arms and portions of
+equipment, and hundreds willingly gave themselves up as prisoners.
+
+During the next few days General von Werder effected a general
+left-wheel to the south. The right wing held Villersexel, and it was the
+left wing only that met the enemy in great masses at L'Isle sur le
+Doubs, and afterwards at Clerval and Baume les Dames.
+
+General Bourbaki had withdrawn from the Lisaine on the 18th. The XXIVth
+Corps only was left on the left bank of the Doubs, with orders to defend
+toward the north the defiles in the steep mountain-paths of the Lomont
+range eastward of Clerval; all the other troops withdrew between the
+Doubs and the Ognon, with the Division Crémer as rearguard. The Ognon
+might have formed a natural protection for the right flank of the French
+army, and orders had been given for the destruction of all the bridges
+over it; but we have seen how little they had been obeyed.
+
+On the 21st the XVth and XXth Corps arrived in the neighbourhood of
+Baume les Dames, the XVIIIth at Marchaux; and here, having the
+stronghold of Besançon close at his back, General Bourbaki desired to
+await for the present the further movements of the enemy. In order that
+his forces should still muster in full strength, the commandant of
+Besançon was instructed to send forward to Blamont all the battalions of
+Mobiles-Guards he could spare so as to relieve the XXIVth Corps. Nine
+battalions of mobilized National Guards had actually previously reached
+Besançon, which might have been substituted as desired, but they came
+armed with Enfield rifles, for which there was no ammunition in the
+fortress. Thus they would there only have added to the mouths to be
+filled, and General Rolland had simply sent them back again. The
+Intendant-General declared it impossible any longer to bring up the
+supplies ordered by him for the maintenance of the army; but what proved
+decisive was the news received this day that not only was the line of
+the Ognon lost, but that the Germans had already crossed the Doubs.
+
+Under these circumstances the French Commander-in-Chief determined to
+continue his retreat on Besançon and there cross to the southern bank of
+the Doubs, so as not to be compelled to give battle with the river in
+his rear. The trains were sent off during the night, but above all
+things the XVth Corps was ordered at once to occupy Quingey with a whole
+division, and defend that position to extremity, in order to keep open
+the communications of the Corps with the interior. All the other Corps
+were to concentrate round Besançon, even the XXIVth, which consequently
+gave up the defence of the Lomont passes.
+
+General Bourbaki reported his situation to the Minister of War, who held
+out hopes of supporting him with the portion of the XVth Corps still
+remaining on the Loire. Assistance could have been more quickly and
+effectually given from Dijon.
+
+The Government had assembled there a very considerable force to replace
+the Division Crémer gone to join the Army of the East, for the defence
+of the ancient capital of Burgundy and to constitute a point of support
+to the operations of General Bourbaki. A Corps of 20,000 men was
+assigned to the local defence; a very inappropriately-named Army of the
+Vosges, more than 40,000 strong, was to do duty in the field. But this
+was of little effect in hindering the toilsome advance of the Germans
+over the mountains. The detachments in observation allowed themselves to
+be driven in by General von Kettler (commanding 8th Infantry Brigade),
+who followed the movement of both Corps on the right flank; and they
+retired on Dijon. Colonel Bombonnel, stationed at Gray, urgently begged
+for reinforcements to enable him to defend the passages of the Saône;
+his applications were refused because Dijon was in too great peril, and
+it was not till the Prussians had already crossed the river that
+"General" Garibaldi began to move.
+
+He set out on the 19th in three columns in the direction of Is sur
+Tille, where there still remained only part of the (German) 4th Infantry
+Division. But he advanced little more than four miles. Garibaldi
+subsequently confined himself to watching reconnoitring parties which
+advanced to meet him from the heights of Messigny, and he then retired
+on Dijon with his troops marching to the strains of the Marseillaise.
+
+Nevertheless, the enemy was held in too small estimation in General
+Manteuffel's headquarter, when General von Kettler was simply ordered to
+go and take Dijon.
+
+The greatest care had been bestowed in strengthening the place. Numerous
+earthworks, and other erections specially constructed for defence
+protected it to the northward; more especially had Talant and Fontaine
+les Dijon been transformed into two detached forts and armed with heavy
+guns which commanded all the approaches on that side. The whole
+constituted a position which could be held against a much larger force
+than the five and a half battalions of the 8th Brigade with which
+General Kettler advanced to the attack.
+
+FIGHTING AT DIJON, JANUARY 21ST AND 22ND.--This force had reached Turcey
+and St. Seine, and on the 21st advanced in two columns from the west on
+Dijon, still distant some fourteen miles. Major von Conta from Is sur
+Tille on the north was approaching with a small reinforcement. The
+"Franctireurs de la Mort," the "Compagnie de la Revanche," and other
+volunteer bands as well as Mobiles-Guards were without much difficulty
+driven out of the villages on the way, and beyond the deep ravine of the
+Suzon; the village of Plombieres on the right, which was defended with
+spirit, was stormed, and Daix was carried on the left; but in front of
+the fortified position of the French, and within reach of the fire of
+their heavy batteries, the bold advance was forced to come to a stand.
+Major von Conta had also pushed on with continuous fighting, but failed
+to effect a junction with the brigade before dark. General von Kettler,
+recognizing the overwhelming superiority of the French, finally
+restricted himself to repulsing their sorties.
+
+The French lost seven officers and 430 men in prisoners alone; but the
+fighting also cost the brigade nineteen officers and 322 men. The troops
+had performed a severe march in bad weather along heavy roads, and had
+not been able to cook either before or after the fight; the ammunition
+could only be replenished from a convoy which was expected next day.
+Nevertheless General von Kettler did not hesitate to remain for the
+night in the positions he had gained immediately in front of the enemy,
+and then to seek shelter-quarters in the nearest villages.
+
+The French allowed him to do so without any serious opposition.
+Inactivity so utter caused General von Kettler the suspicion that the
+main body of the enemy had probably withdrawn by Auxonne to the support
+of the Army of the East, and he determined to bring it back on Dijon by
+a renewed attack.
+
+On the 23rd at eleven o'clock, by a flank march along the enemy's front,
+after his advanced guard had routed a detachment of Gardes-Mobiles, he
+reached the farm of Valmy on the Langres road, and advanced with his two
+batteries against the walled and strongly-held village of Pouilly.
+Here, as was almost always the case when engaged in the defence of
+buildings, the French made a stout resistance. The 61st Regiment had to
+storm each house in turn, and it was not till the château was in flames
+that the strong body of defenders who had taken refuge in the upper
+floors, surrendered.
+
+Beyond this place the enemy were found deployed in an entrenched
+position between Talant, which had been converted into a fort, and a
+large factory-building on the high-road. Here the advance was checked
+till the remainder of the regiment came up from Valmy, and the defenders
+at various points were driven back on the suburb.
+
+It was evident that the French were still at Dijon in full force, and
+the object of the undertaking had therefore been attained. But now
+unfortunately a tragic episode occurred, for the storming of the factory
+was absolutely insisted on--a great building, almost impregnable against
+infantry unaided. When all the senior officers had been killed, a
+first-lieutenant, whose horse had been shot and he himself wounded, took
+the command of the 2nd battalion. No sooner had the 5th company, only
+forty strong, advanced from the neighbouring quarry, than it came under
+a hot fire from all sides. The leader was at once wounded, and the
+sergeant who carried the colour fell dead after a few steps; so did the
+second-lieutenant and the battalion adjutant, who had again raised the
+standard. It was passed from hand to hand, carried first by the officers
+then by the men; every bearer fell. The brave Pomeranians[81]
+nevertheless rushed on the building, but there was no entrance anywhere
+on that side, and at last the under-officer retreated on the quarry with
+the remnant of the little band. Here, for the first time, the colour
+was missed. Volunteers went out again in the darkness to search for it,
+but only one man returned unwounded. It was not till afterwards that the
+French found the banner, shot to ribbons, in a pool of blood under the
+dead. This was the only German colour lost throughout the war, and only
+thus was this one lost.
+
+The enemy took prisoners eight officers and 150 men, and the brigade
+sustained a fresh loss of sixteen officers and 362 men. It mustered at
+Pouilly, and remained under arms till eight o'clock to meet possible
+pursuit; only then were quarters taken in the neighbouring villages.
+
+OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY OF THE SOUTH.--The commission to take Dijon could
+not be executed; but the bold advance of this weak brigade cowed the
+hostile army into inactivity, so that General von Manteuffel was able to
+pursue his march unopposed.
+
+He had given to both his corps as their objective the enemy's line of
+retreat south of Besançon.
+
+From this fortress there were but few roads to the south of France
+available for troops, through the riven and rugged regions of the
+western Jura. The most direct connection was by the road and railway to
+Lons le Saulnier, on which Quingey and Byans were the most important
+barriers. Further to the east, but by a wide détour, a road runs by
+Ornans, Salins and Champagnole to St. Laurent and Morez. Several ways,
+however, radiate from Besançon and converge in Pontarlier, by using the
+passes peculiar to this range, called "Cluses," which pierce
+transversely the mountain chains and afford the valleys
+intercommunication. From Pontarlier one road only runs past Mouthe, and
+along the Swiss frontier in awkward proximity thereto.
+
+_January 22nd._--On this day the advanced guard of the 13th Division
+marched from Audeux to St. Vit, and after breaking up the railway and
+plundering a number of loaded waggons, down the riverside to Dampierre.
+On the way four bridges over the Doubs were found uninjured and were
+taken possession of. The advanced guard of the 14th Division moved from
+Emagny to observe Besançon. The IInd Corps closed on Dôle and pushed
+reconnoitring parties across the river.
+
+_January 23rd._--The concentric movement of all the bodies of the German
+army was continued.
+
+General Debschitz, approaching from the north, in passing Roches found
+only the abandoned camping ground of the French XXIVth Corps. The 4th
+Reserve Division occupied L'Isle without opposition, and met no
+resistance till it reached Clerval and Baume.
+
+On the Ognon the Baden Division drove the French out of Montbozon.
+
+In the centre of the army the VIIth Corps pushed the advanced guard of
+the 14th Division forward on Dannemarie, near Besançon. A fight ensued
+there in the form only of a cannonade which lasted till night. The 13th
+Division, again, which had crossed the Doubs at Dampierre, advanced on
+Quingey.
+
+For want of rolling stock it had been possible to forward only one
+French brigade by railway, and the last trains were received at the
+Byans station with Prussian shells. These troops were in so bad case
+that they were unable even to place outposts. They abandoned Quingey
+almost without a struggle, and their hurried retreat on Besançon and
+beyond the Loue, stopped the advance of reinforcements already on the
+way. Thus 800 prisoners and a train of 400 convalescents fell into the
+hands of the Prussian advanced guard, who at once broke up the railway
+at Abbans-dessous.
+
+On the right wing, the head of the IInd Corps advanced by the valley of
+the Loue on the southern bank. Several cuttings on this road had been
+prepared for defence, but were found undefended. It was at Villers
+Farlay that it first encountered a strong body of the enemy.
+
+On the evening of this day, of the French forces the XXth Corps was on
+the north and the XVIIIth on the west of Besançon, at the distance of
+about four miles. Cavalry, artillery and the train were passing through
+the town or encamped on the glacis of the fortress. The XXIVth Corps was
+on the march thither, and the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the XVth were in
+possession of the southern bank of the Doubs about Baume and Larnod; but
+the 1st Division had not succeeded in holding Quingey. Thus the most
+direct and important line of communications of the French army was cut,
+and its position, by this fresh mischance, seriously compromised.
+Impracticable projects and counsels from Bordeaux poured in freely, but
+did not mend matters; and on the 24th General Bourbaki summoned the
+superior officers to a council of war.
+
+_January 24th._--The Generals declared that they had scarcely more than
+half their men under arms, and these were more inclined to fly than to
+fight. General Pallu alone thought he might answer for the men of the
+army reserve. The Intendant-General reported that, without trenching on
+the magazines of the place, the supplies in hand would last for four
+days at most. General Billot was in favour of attempting to fight a way
+through to Auxonne, but he declined to take the command in chief which
+was offered him. The exhaustion of the troops and their evidently
+increasing insubordination gave little hope of the success of offensive
+operations. So there was no alternative but to retire on Pontarlier, as
+the Commander-in-Chief had proposed.
+
+This recourse, even, was seriously threatened. To relieve himself from
+pressure on the north, General Bourbaki ordered the XXIVth Corps to
+advance once more and hold the Lomont passes. On the south the XVth was
+to defend the deep mountain-ravine of the Loue, and General Crémer was
+more especially to cover the retreat of the army on the right flank,
+which was most seriously threatened. For this difficult task, in
+addition to his own Division, a Division of the XXth Corps and the army
+reserve as the most trustworthy troops were placed under his command.
+The XVIIIth and the remainder of the XXth were to await marching-orders
+at Besançon.
+
+In the German Head-quarter, where of course the plans of the French
+could not be known, various possibilities had to be reckoned with.
+
+If the French remained at Besançon there would be no need to attack them
+there; the place was not suited for the accommodation of a large army,
+and its supplies could not long hold out. That they would again attempt
+to advance northwards was scarcely likely; by doing so they would be
+cutting loose from all their resources, and must encounter the larger
+part of the XIVth German Corps on the Ognon.
+
+An attempt to break through to Dijon seemed more possible. But this
+would be opposed at St. Vit by the 13th Division, at Pesmes by Colonel
+von Willisen's detachment, and finally by General von Kettler.
+
+Thus a retreat on Pontarlier seemed the most likely course; and to
+hinder their further march from that place would in the first instance
+be the duty of the IInd Corps, while in the meantime the VIIth was
+observing the enemy massed in Besançon, and opposing his sorties on both
+sides of the river.
+
+The Commander-in-Chief therefore confined himself to giving general
+directions to his Generals, expressly authorizing them to act on their
+own judgment in eventualities which could not be foreseen.
+
+General von Werder was instructed to advance by Marnay, and to place the
+14th Division in touch with the Baden Division and Von der Goltz's
+Brigade, and then to distribute these bodies along the right bank of the
+Doubs. The 4th Reserve Division restored the bridges at L'Isle and
+Baume, and crossed over to the left bank. Colonel von Willisen was to
+join the VIIth Corps to supply its lack of cavalry. The IInd Corps was
+assembled behind Villers Farlay.
+
+_January 25th._--Reconnaissances on a large scale were arranged for next
+day. The reconnaissance of the VIIth Corps resulted in a sharp fight at
+Vorges. The head of the IInd Corps met the enemy in front of Salins and
+at Arbois, but found that the latter had not yet reached Poligny.
+
+_January 26th._--The advanced guard of the IInd Corps advanced on
+Salins. The fronts of the high-perched forts of St. André and Belin near
+the town, looked toward Switzerland, but their fire commanded also on
+flank and rear the plain to the south and west on the enemy's line of
+march. Salins constituted a strong barrier on the road to St. Laurent,
+and as long as it was held would cover the line of retreat of columns
+marching from Besançon to Pontarlier.
+
+The two field-batteries of the advanced guard could, of course, do
+little against the heavy guns of the forts; but the Fusiliers of the 2nd
+Regiment advanced in rushes of small detachments up the narrow ravine,
+scaled its rugged faces, and, supported by the two Grenadier battalions,
+forced their way, about half-past two, into the railway-station and
+suburb of St. Pierre; but with the loss of 3 officers and 109 men.
+
+Soon after General von Koblinski arrived by way of St. Thiébaud with the
+42nd Regiment. As in consequence of the representations of the Mayor the
+commandant refrained from bombarding the town, the advanced guard was
+able to take up its quarters therein; the main body of the 3rd Division
+retreated from under the fire of the forts on Mouchard, and the defile
+remained closed again to further penetration. It was necessary to turn
+it by the south.
+
+In that direction the 4th Division had already marched to Arbois, its
+head further forward up to Pont d'Héry; it found Poligny and Champagnole
+on the right still unoccupied.
+
+The VIIth Corps reconnoitred both banks of the Doubs, and found the
+enemy in strong positions at Busy and at Vorges.
+
+The 4th Reserve Division advanced along the southern bank as far as St.
+Juan d'Adam, near Besançon; the remainder of the XIVth Corps marched on
+Etuz and Marnay.
+
+General von Kettler's report of the fighting on the 21st and 23rd
+determined General von Manteuffel to make a renewed attempt on Dijon. He
+detailed to this duty General Hann von Weyhern (commanding 4th Infantry
+Division, IInd Corps), placing him in command of the 8th Brigade, with
+Colonel von Willisen's troops and Degenfeld's Baden Brigade.
+
+On the French side, General Bressoles had started on the 24th, in
+obedience to orders, to take renewed possession of the passages of the
+Doubs and the Lomont defiles. He had, in the first instance, turned
+against Baume with d'Aries' Division; but as he did not succeed even in
+driving the German outposts out of Pont les Moulins, he retired to
+Vercel. In consequence of this, on the morning of the 26th, Carré's
+Division, which had found the passes of the Lomont unoccupied, also
+moved to Pierre Fontaine. Comagny's Division had already retreated to
+Morteau, and was making its way unmolested to Pontarlier.
+
+General Bourbaki was greatly disturbed by this failure of his right
+wing; more perhaps than was needful, since, in fact, only one German
+division stood north of him, which at most could drive his rearguard on
+Pontarlier, while the main force of the enemy threatened him far more
+seriously on the west. He nevertheless ordered a renewed advance, on the
+26th, of the XXIVth Corps, which was now to be supported by the XVIIIth.
+But the march through Besançon of the latter, through streets covered
+with ice, took up the whole of the day which should have been devoted to
+the attack, so that nothing came of the scheme.
+
+The Army Reserve had reached Ornans, and stood there in readiness. The
+two other Divisions advanced on the road to Salins, but heard while on
+the march that the Germans had just carried that place. They then
+occupied in Déservillers and Villeneuve d'Amont, the roads leading from
+thence to Pontarlier.
+
+The War Minister, meanwhile, had decisively refused permission for the
+general retreat of the army, without any regard to the imperative
+necessities of the case.
+
+The military dilettanteism which fancied it could direct the movements
+of the army from Bordeaux is characterized in a telegram of the
+afternoon of the 25th. Monsieur de Freycinet gives it as his "firm
+conviction"[82] that General Bourbaki, if he would concentrate his
+troops, and, if necessary come to an understanding with Garibaldi, would
+be strong enough to fight his way out, "either by Dôle, or by Mouchard,
+or by Gray, or by Pontailler" (north of Auxonne). The choice was left to
+him.
+
+Still more amazing was the further suggestion that if indeed the state
+of the army prohibited a long march, it should be embarked on the
+railway at Chagey, under the eye, no doubt, of the pursuing enemy.
+
+Such communications could only avail to shatter the brave commander's
+self-confidence. The disastrous reports which poured in from all sides,
+and the state of the troops which he had seen for himself as the XVIIIth
+Corps marched through the town, crushed his last hope and led him to
+attempt his own life.
+
+The Commander had of course to bear the blame of the total failure of a
+campaign planned by Freycinet; his dismissal from the command was
+already on its way. General Clinchant was appointed in his stead, and
+under these disastrous circumstances took the command of the army.
+
+All the Generals were, no doubt, extremely reluctant to bring their
+weary and dispirited troops into serious contact with the enemy. Every
+line of retreat was closely threatened, excepting only that on
+Pontarlier. The new Commander-in-Chief had no choice but to carry out
+the plans of his predecessor. He at once ordered the further march. He
+himself proceeded to Pontarlier. In that strong position he hoped to be
+able at least to give the troops a short rest. No large bodies of the
+Germans had been met with so far, the ammunition columns had got safely
+through, and if the defiles of Vaux, Les Planches, and St. Laurent could
+be reached and held in advance of the enemy there was still a
+possibility of escape to the southwards.
+
+On the evening of the 27th, the Division Poullet was at Levier, nearest
+to the Germans; the two other Divisions under General Crémer, with the
+XVth and XXth Corps, were écheloned on the road from Ornans to
+Sombacourt; the XVIIIth Corps alone was on the eastern road through
+Nods. The XXIVth, in a miserable condition, had reached Montbenoît with
+its head at Pontarlier; two Divisions were still in Besançon.
+
+On this same day General von Fransecky collected the main body of the
+IInd Corps at Arbois, and reinforced General du Trossel's posts at Pont
+d'Héry.
+
+The XIVth Corps relieved the 14th Division of the VIIth Corps at St.
+Vit; the latter advanced to the right of the 13th Division into the Loue
+angle, which the French had already abandoned.
+
+On the north, General von Debschitz held Blamont and Pont du Roide,
+while General von Schmeling watched Besançon from St. Juan, and General
+von der Goltz marched on Arbois to form a reserve.
+
+_January 28th._--Suspecting that the French were already on the march by
+Champagnole on St. Laurent, General Fransecky, to cut off from them that
+line of retreat, advanced on the following day in a southerly direction
+with the IInd Corps.
+
+General du Trossel reached Champagnole without opposition, and thence
+sent his cavalry along the road to Pontarlier. Lieutenant-Colonel von
+Guretzky arrived at Nozeroy with a squadron of the 11th Dragoons, and
+found the place occupied; but he made prize of fifty-six
+provision-waggons and the military-chest, taking the escort prisoners.
+
+The 5th and 6th Brigades advanced on Poligny and Pont du Navoy.
+
+The 13th Division of the VIIth Corps, having been relieved at Quingey by
+the Baden troops, assembled at La Chapelle, while the 14th advanced on
+Déservillers. Its head found no enemy in Bolandoz, although his
+camp-fires were still smouldering; so that the main hostile army was not
+overtaken on that day.
+
+General Clinchant had in fact moved his Corps closer on Pontarlier. But
+it soon became evident that supplies were not procurable for any long
+stay there. General Crémer received orders that night to move forward at
+once to Les Planches and St. Laurent with three cavalry regiments
+standing already on the road to Mouthe. The mountain-roads were deep in
+snow, but by forced marching he reached the points designated on the
+following afternoon. The XXIVth Corps and a brigade of the Division
+Poullett followed next day, and the latter also occupied with two
+battalions the village of Bonneveaux at the entrance to the defiles of
+Vaux. On the evening of the 28th the rest of the French army stood as
+follows: the XVIIIth Corps was behind the Drugeon at Houtaud close
+before Pontarlier; the 1st Division of the XVth had advanced over the
+brook to Sombacourt, the 3rd Division was in the town. On the left the
+2nd and 3rd Divisions of the XXth Corps held the villages from Chaffois
+to Frasne, and on the right the army reserve occupied Byans.
+
+General von Manteuffel had ordered for the 29th a general advance on
+Pontarlier, where at last the French must certainly be found.
+
+_January 29th._--Of the IInd Corps General Koblinsky had set out from
+Poligny in the night. When he reached Champagnole and had assembled the
+whole of the 5th Brigade he moved forward therefrom at about seven
+o'clock. General du Trossel with the 7th Brigade also reached Censeau
+without finding the enemy.
+
+On the right Colonel von Wedell marched from Pont du Navoy on Les
+Planches with four battalions of the 6th Brigade. He found only
+dismounted troopers, posts probably left by General Crémer which were
+easily dispersed by the Jägers. Detachments were then sent out in
+different directions, and everywhere met with scattered troops; but at
+Foncine le Bas the head of the XXIVth Corps was found, and Colonel von
+Wedell now blocked the last line of retreat which had remained to the
+French.
+
+With the rest of the IInd Corps General von Hartmann marched unopposed
+on Nozeroy.
+
+The 14th Division of the VIIth Corps had not received the order to
+advance on Pontarlier till somewhat late; it did not start from
+Déservillers until noon, and only reached Levier at three o'clock,
+where, at the same hour, the head of the 13th Division also arrived from
+Villeneuve d'Amont, the state of the roads having greatly delayed its
+march.
+
+The advanced guard of three battalions, half a squadron, and one
+battery, had met only stragglers on the way, and General von Zastrow
+commanded it to push forward to the Drugeon brook. In the forest on the
+left of the road closed detachments of the enemy were retiring on
+Sombacourt, and Major von Brederlow with the 1st battalion of the 77th
+Regiment turned off to attack that village lying on the flank. The 2nd
+company under Captain von Vietinghof dashed into it through Sept
+Fontaines with loud cheers, and was at once closely surrounded by strong
+bodies of the enemy; but the other companies soon came to its
+assistance. The first Division of the XVth French Corps was here
+completely routed without the Army Reserve close at hand in Byans
+having come to its support. Fifty officers, including two generals, and
+2700 men were taken prisoners; ten guns, seven mitrailleuses,
+forty-eight waggons, 319 horses and 3500 stand of arms fell into the
+hands of the Hanoverian battalion[83] which was left in occupation of
+Sombacourt.
+
+The rest of the advanced guard had meanwhile approached Chaffois, where
+the road opens out from the mountains into the wide valley of the
+Drugeon. That village, as we have seen, was occupied by the 2nd Division
+of the XXth Corps.
+
+Colonel von Cosel passed at once to the attack. Three companies of the
+53rd Regiment surprised the French field-posts and took possession of
+the first houses of the village, but then the whole mass of the French
+XVIIIth Corps barred his further progress. By degrees all the available
+forces had to join in the fighting, and also reinforcements had to be
+brought up from the main body of the 14th Division. The fight lasted
+with great obstinacy for an hour and a half, when suddenly the French
+ceased firing and laid down their arms. They claimed that an armistice
+had already been agreed on.
+
+Monsieur Jules Favre had, in fact, telegraphed to Bordeaux at a
+quarter-past eleven on the night of the 28th, that an armistice of
+twenty-one days had been concluded, without adding, however, that, with
+his consent, the three eastern departments had been excluded from its
+operations. The information, in this imperfect form, was transmitted to
+the civil authorities by the Delegation at 12.15 of the 29th; but
+Monsieur Freycinet did not forward it to the military authorities, whom
+the matter principally concerned, till 3.30 in the afternoon.
+
+Thus could General Clinchant in all good faith transmit to General
+Thornton, in command of the Divisions at Chaffois, a message which, as
+regarded the Army of the East, was altogether incorrect. The latter at
+once sent his staff officer to the Prussian advanced guard, which was
+still in action, who demanded the cessation of the firing in recognition
+of the official communication.
+
+General von Manteuffel had received in Arbois at five in the morning,
+full particulars from the supreme Head-quarter of the terms of the
+armistice, according to which the army of the South was to prosecute its
+operations to a final issue. An army order announcing this to all the
+troops was at once sent out, but did not reach the VIIth Corps till
+evening.
+
+Nothing was known there of any armistice; however, the tidings might be
+on the way, and General von Zastrow granted the temporary cessation of
+hostilities, and even sanctioned the release of his prisoners, but
+without their arms.
+
+Chaffois, with the exception of a couple of farmsteads, remained in
+possession of the 14th Division, which found such quarters there as
+might be; the 13th occupied the villages from Sept Fontaines back to
+Déservillers.
+
+_January 30th._--In full confidence in the news from the seat of
+Government, General Clinchant, on the 30th, suspended the movements of
+his army. The newly-appointed Commander of the XXIVth Corps, General
+Comagny, also gave up his intended attempt to cut his way with 10,000
+men at Foncine through Colonel von Wedell's weak brigade. The other
+Corps, after the unfortunate course of the fighting on the previous
+evening, had drawn in close on Pontarlier; but detachments of cavalry
+were sent out on the roads to Besançon and St. Laurent, to establish a
+line of demarcation and also to keep up communications with the fortress
+and with Southern France.
+
+On receiving the army order at about eleven o'clock, General Zastrow
+gave notice to the enemy in his front of the resumption of hostilities,
+but restricted his immediate demands to the complete evacuation of
+Chaffois, which was complied with. Otherwise the Corps remained inactive
+where it was.
+
+Of the IInd Corps General du Trossel had set out very early from
+Censeau, but the appearance of a French flag of truce, and his fear of
+offending against the law of nations, here too occasioned considerable
+hesitation. The forest of Frasne was not clear of the French till
+evening. Lieutenant-Colonel von Guretzky made his way into the village
+with quite a small force, and took prisoners twelve officers and 1500
+men who held it, with two colours. The 5th Brigade then also moved up
+into Frasne; the rest of the Corps occupied the same quarters as on the
+previous day.
+
+A flag of truce had presented itself at Les Planches, but Colonel von
+Wedell had simply dismissed the bearer. The outposts of the XIVth Corps
+did the same.
+
+On the north of Pontarlier, General von Schmeling advanced to Pierre
+Fontaine, General von Debschitz to Maiche.
+
+_January 31st._--Early in the morning of this day the French Colonel
+Varaigne made his appearance at General von Manteuffel's head-quarters
+at Villeneuve, with the proposal that a cessation of hostilities for
+thirty-six hours should be agreed upon, till the existing condition of
+uncertainty should be removed; but this proposal was refused, as on the
+German side there were no doubts whatsoever. Permission was granted for
+the despatch of an application to Versailles, but it was at the same
+time explained that the movements of the Army of the South would not be
+suspended pending the arrival of the answer.
+
+On this day, however, the IInd Army Corps marched only to Dompierre on a
+parallel front with the VIIth, its advanced guard pushing forward on the
+Drugeon to Ste. Colombe and La Rivière. Thence, in the evening, a
+company of the Colberg Grenadiers crossed the steep mountain ridge and
+descended on La Planée, where it took 500 prisoners. A right-flank
+detachment of two battalions and one battery under Lieutenant-Colonel
+Liebe marched unopposed up the long pass of Bonnevaux to Vaux, and took
+prisoners 2 officers and 688 men. The enemy then abandoned the defile of
+Granges Ste. Marie and retired to St. Antoine in the mountains.
+
+The Corps had found every road strewn with cast-away arms and camp
+utensils, and had taken in all 4000 prisoners.
+
+Of the VIIth Corps, as soon as the enemy had been informed of the
+resumption of hostilities, the 14th Division bent leftward on the
+Drugeon and up to La Vrine, whence a connection was effected with the
+4th Reserve Division of the XIVth Corps in St. Gorgon. The 13th Division
+advanced to Sept Fontaines. Pontarlier was now completely surrounded,
+and General von Manteuffel fixed February 1st for the general attack
+thereon. The IInd Corps was to advance from the south-west, the VIIth
+from the north-west; General von der Goltz was to establish himself in
+front of Levier in reserve.
+
+Meanwhile the French Commander-in-Chief had conceived doubts whether
+everything was quite right with the communications from his Government.
+All the mountain-passes leading to the south were now lost, and an
+escape in that direction was no longer to be hoped for. General
+Clinchant had already sent rearward the baggage and ammunition columns,
+the sick and worn-out men, through La Cluse under shelter of the forts
+of Joux and Neuv. And when in the afternoon a message from Bordeaux
+brought the intelligence that in fact the Army of the East had been
+excluded from the armistice, the Commander-in-Chief summoned his
+generals to a council of war. Every General present declared that he
+could no longer answer for his troops. General Clinchant himself
+therefore went out the same evening to Les Verrières, to conclude
+negotiations he had already opened, in virtue of which on the following
+day, February 1st, the army was to cross the Swiss frontier by three
+roads.
+
+To cover this retreat, the Army Reserve was to hold Pontarlier till all
+the baggage-trains should have passed La Cluse, while the XVIIIth Corps
+was to take up a covering position between the two forts. Defensive
+works there were at once set about. What of the XVth Corps on the way by
+Morez had failed in getting through with the cavalry was to try to cross
+into Switzerland at any available point.
+
+_February 1st._--When the advanced guard of the IInd Corps now advanced
+on Pontarlier from Ste. Colombe, it met with but slight resistance at
+the railway station. The Colberg Grenadiers took possession of the town
+without a struggle, and captured many prisoners, but then found the road
+on the further side entirely blocked by guns and waggons. They could
+pass beyond on either side of the road only with difficulty through deep
+snow. Just in front of La Cluse the road winds between high rocky
+precipices into the wide basin of the Doubs, completely commanded by the
+isolated fortalice of Joux perched on the solid rock. On debouching into
+the open the foremost companies were received by a hot fire. Four guns,
+dragged up thither with the greatest exertions, could make no head
+against the heavy guns of the fort, and the French themselves here
+passed to the attack.
+
+The Colberg Fusiliers had meanwhile climbed the heights to the left,
+followed by the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment and a battalion of the
+49th Regiment, which drove the French out of the farmsteads on the
+rifted upland. The steep cliff on the right was also scaled, several
+rifle sub-divisions of the 49th climbed the acclivity up to La Cluse,
+and the Colberg Grenadiers advanced to the foot of Fort Neuv.
+
+To take the strong fortalices by storm was obviously impossible, and
+furthermore because of the nature of the ground the fugitive enemy could
+scarcely be overtaken in force. Of the French, 23 officers and 1600 men
+were taken prisoners, with 400 loaded waggons; of the Germans, 19
+officers and 365 men had fallen, mostly of the Colberg Regiment. The
+troops spent the night on the field of the fighting.
+
+As no large force could come into action at La Cluse, General von
+Fransecky had ordered the main body of the Corps to march further
+southward to Ste. Marie. To avoid the necessity of crossing the steep
+chain of the Jura, General von Hartmann first betook himself to
+Pontarlier to avail himself of the better roads from thence, but his
+progress was stopped, the fight at La Cluse having assumed unexpected
+proportions. The VIIth Corps and the 4th Reserve Division, which had
+reached the Doubs at noon, were equally unable to get at the enemy.
+
+During the whole day the French columns were crossing the Swiss
+frontier. The Army Reserve in Pontarlier was at the beginning swept away
+by the tide of baggage-waggons and drivers, and only joined the XVIIIth
+Corps on reaching La Cluse. During the night they both followed the
+general line of retreat. Only the cavalry and the 1st Division of the
+XXIVth Corps reached the neighbouring department of l'Ain to the
+southward, the latter force reduced to a few hundred men. There crossed
+the frontier on to Swiss soil some 80,000 Frenchmen.
+
+General Manteuffel had transferred his headquarters to Pontarlier.
+There, in the course of the night, he first heard through Berlin of the
+convention arranged between General Clinchant and Colonel Herzog of the
+Swiss Confederation.
+
+General von Manteuffel had achieved the important success of his three
+weeks' campaign by hard marching and constant fighting, although there
+had been no pitched battle since that of the Lisaine. These marches,
+indeed, had been such as none but well-seasoned troops could have
+accomplished under bold and skilful leadership, under every form of
+fatigue and hardship, in the worst season and through a difficult
+country.
+
+Thus two French armies were now prisoners in Germany, a third interned
+in the capital, and the fourth disarmed on foreign soil.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[81] Men of the 2nd Battalion, 61st Regiment, 8th Brigade, 4th Division,
+IInd Corps, which Corps consisted exclusively of Pomeranians.
+
+[82] "Conviction bien arrêtée."
+
+[83] The 77th Hanoverian Fusilier Regiment, of which this was the 2nd
+battalion, belonged to the 25th Brigade, 13th Division, VIIth
+(Westphalian) Army Corps.
+
+
+
+
+GENERAL HANN VON WEYHERN'S MARCH ON DIJON.
+
+
+It only remains to cast a backward glance on the advance on Dijon, with
+the conduct of which General Hann von Weyhern was charged on January
+26th.
+
+On that same day Garibaldi received instructions there to take energetic
+measures against Dôle and Mouchard.
+
+To support him, the Government, indefatigable in the evolution of new
+forces, was to put in march 15,000 Gardes-Mobiles under General Crouzat
+from Lyons to Lons le Saulnier, and a XXVIth Corps in course of
+formation at Châtellerault was to be sent from thence to Beaune. As it
+was beyond doubt that General von Manteuffel had moved with a strong
+force on the communications of the Army of the East, the specific order
+was transmitted on the 27th to the Commander of the Army of the Vosges,
+to leave only from 8000 to 10,000 men in Dijon and to advance at once
+with his main force beyond Dôle.
+
+But the General was always greatly concerned for the safety of Dijon; he
+occupied the principal positions on the slopes of the Côte d'Or and
+detached a small force to St. Jean de Losne, behind the canal of
+Bourgogne. Of 700 volunteers who had marched on Dôle, no trace was ever
+found there.
+
+Langres had shown more energy; several and often successful attacks on
+small outpost companies and etappen troops had been made from it from
+time to time.
+
+General Hann von Weyhern's purpose of attacking Dijon from the south had
+to be abandoned, because the bridge over the Saône at St. Jean de Losne
+had been destroyed. He therefore on the 29th crossed the river at
+Apremont, and on the 31st assembled his detachments at Arc sur Tille.
+Here again General Bordone, the Chief of the general staff of the Army
+of the Vosges, vainly insisted that an armistice was in force. On the
+31st General von Kettler marched with an advanced guard on Varois. To
+cut off the enemy's communications with Auxonne a left-flank detachment
+made itself master of the bridge over the Ouche at Fauverney. The first
+shells drove the French back on their intrenched position on the line
+St. Apollinaire--Mirande.
+
+When the attempt to establish an armistice failed, General Bordone
+determined to evacuate Dijon in the course of the night and retire upon
+assured neutral ground. Thus, on February 1st, the head of the advanced
+guard found the position in front of the city abandoned, and General von
+Kettler marched in without encountering any opposition, just as the last
+train of French troops moved out of the railway-station. Sombernon and
+Nuits were also occupied on the 2nd.
+
+
+
+
+OCCUPATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE DOUBS, JURA, AND CÔTE D'OR.
+
+
+Nothing now remained for General von Manteuffel but to establish the
+military occupation of the three Departments which he had won, and to
+guard them from without.
+
+General Pelissier was still in the open field within their bounds,
+having reached Lons le Saulnier with the 15,000 Gardes-Mobiles who had
+come up from Lyons and had been joined by the battalions sent back from
+Besançon by General Rolland, by no means an insignificant force
+numerically, but practically of no great efficiency. The commanders were
+recommended to retire and avoid further bloodshed; and they did so, as
+soon as some detachments of the IInd German Corps advanced on Lons le
+Saulnier and St. Laurent. Others occupied Mouthe and Les Allemands,
+where were found twenty-eight field-guns which had been abandoned by the
+French. As a measure of precaution, the Swiss frontier was watched by
+eight battalions. The fortalices of Salins, the little fortress of
+Auxonne, and Besançon, were kept under observation from the eastward.
+Although the Department of Haute-Marne was included in the armistice,
+the commandant of Langres had refused to recognize the authority of his
+Government. So this place had to be invested, and probably besieged.
+General von der Goltz was promptly ordered to advance once more on it,
+and General von Krenski was already on the march thither with seven
+battalions, two squadrons and two batteries, and a siege train from
+Longwy, which he had brought to capitulate on January 25th, after a
+bombardment of six days' duration. But it was not called into
+requisition at Langres. General von Manteuffel aimed at no further
+tactical results; he was anxious to save his troops from further losses,
+and to afford them all possible relief after their exceptional
+exertions. Not till now were the baggage-waggons brought up, even those
+of the superior staff officers having been necessarily left behind
+during the advance into the Jura. The troops were distributed for the
+sake of comfort in roomy quarters, but in readiness for action at any
+moment, the IInd Corps in the Jura, the VIIth in the Côte d'Or, the
+XIVth in the department of the Doubs. But the siege of Belfort was still
+to be vigorously carried on.
+
+
+
+
+PROSECUTION OF THE SIEGE OF BELFORT.
+
+
+Immediately after the battle on the Lisaine the forces investing Belfort
+were increased to 27 battalions, 6 squadrons, 6 field batteries, 24
+companies of fortress artillery, and 6 companies of fortress pioneers;
+17,602 infantry, 4699 artillerymen, and 1166 pioneers, in all 23,467
+men, with 707 horses and 34 field-guns.
+
+The place was invested on the north and west by only a few battalions,
+and the main force was assembled to the south and east.
+
+On January 20th the eastern batteries opened a heavy fire on Pérouse.
+Colonel Denfert concluded that an attack was imminent, and placed four
+battalions of his most trusted troops in the village, which had been
+prepared for an obstinate defence.
+
+At about midnight, two battalions of the 67th Regiment advanced from
+Chêvremont on the Haut Taillis wood without firing a shot. Once inside
+it there was a determined struggle, but the French were driven back on
+the village, and the pioneers immediately intrenched the skirt of the
+wood towards Pérouse under a heavy fire from the forts. Half an hour
+later two Landwehr battalions advanced from Bessoncourt to the copse on
+the north of the village. They were received with a heavy fire, but made
+their way onward over abatis, pits and wire-entanglements, driving the
+enemy back into the quarries. A stationary fight now ensued, but the
+67th presently renewed the attack, and without allowing themselves to be
+checked by the earthworks forced their way into Pérouse. They took
+possession of the eastern half of the straggling village at about
+half-past two, and the detachment defending the quarries, finding itself
+threatened, retreated. At five o'clock, Colonel Denfert abandoned the
+western part of the village, which was now completely occupied by the
+Germans. The losses on the German side were 8 officers and 178 men; the
+French left 5 officers and 93 men prisoners.
+
+_January 21st to 27th._--The next day the construction of the first
+parallel was undertaken, extending about 2000 yards from Donjoutin to
+Haut Taillis. Five battalions and two companies of Sappers were employed
+in this work, and were undisturbed by the French; but the rocky soil
+prevented its being constructed of the prescribed width.
+
+General von Tresckow considered that he might thus early succeed in
+carrying both the Perches forts by a determined assault. Two half
+redoubts with ditches more than three yards deep cut perpendicularly in
+the solid rock, casemated traverses and bomb-proof blockhouses in the
+gorge, afforded protection to the defenders. Each work was armed with
+seven 12-cm. cannon, and they were connected by trenches, behind which
+reserves were in readiness. On the right flank this position was
+protected by a battalion and a sortie-battery in Le Fourneau; on the
+left the adjacent wood was cleared, cut down to a distance of 650 yards,
+and wire-entanglements between the stumps formed an almost impenetrable
+obstacle. In front the gentle slope of the ridge was under the
+cross-fire of the two forts.
+
+When on the previous evening of the 26th the construction of the
+parallel was sufficiently advanced to allow of its being occupied by
+larger detachments, the assault was fixed for the 27th. Two columns,
+each of one battalion, one company of Sappers, and two guns, passed to
+the attack at daybreak on that morning. Two companies of Schneidemühl's
+Landwehr Battalion advanced against the front of Basses Perches and
+threw themselves on the ground within from 65 to 110 yards of the work.
+A sub-division of sharp-shooters and a few pioneers reached the ditch
+and unhesitatingly leaped in; the two other (Landwehr) companies, going
+round the fort by the left, got into its rear, and here too the men
+jumped into the ditch of the gorge. But the French who had been driven
+out of their shelter-trenches were now assembled, and the battalion from
+Le Fourneau came up. All the forts of the place opened fire on the bare
+and unprotected space in front of the parallel, and an attempt of
+reinforcements to cross it failed. The 7th Company of the Landwehr
+Battalion was surrounded by greatly superior numbers, and after a brave
+struggle was for the most part made captive. Most of the men in the
+ditch were still able to escape.
+
+The advance of the right column against Hautes-Perches also failed. It
+had to cross 1100 yards of open ground. The encompassment of the fort
+was attempted, but it was impossible to force through the abatis and
+other obstacles under the destructive fire of the enemy.
+
+This abortive attempt cost 10 officers and 427 men; and the slower
+process of an engineer attack had to be resumed.
+
+_January 28th to February 15th._--As the approaches to the forts
+progressed the flying sap could be carried forward about 330 yards every
+night unopposed by the enemy. In spite of all the difficulties caused by
+the nature of the soil, on February 1st the second parallel was thrown
+up at half distance from the Perches.
+
+As the Fort of la Justice was a special hindrance to the operations, two
+new batteries had to be constructed to the east of Pérouse against it.
+Four mortar-batteries on the flanks of the parallel now directed their
+fire on the Perches at very short range. Three batteries were also
+constructed in the Bois des Perches to fire on the citadel, and one on
+the skirt of the wood near Bavilliers against the defences of the city.
+Henceforward 1500 shells a day were fired on the fortress and its
+outworks.
+
+But further the prosecution of the attack became more and more
+difficult. The withdrawal of General Debschitz had seriously reduced the
+working strength of the besieging force. There were only nine
+battalions for the exhausting service in the trenches. Specially serious
+was the heavy loss in pioneers, and two fresh companies had to be
+brought up from Strasburg. The bright moonlight illuminating the fields
+of snow far and wide made it impossible to proceed with the flying saps.
+Sap-rollers had to be used; the heads of the saps had to be protected by
+sandbags and the sides by gabions, while the earth for filling had often
+to be brought from a long distance in the rear.
+
+On the head of all this, on February 3rd, a thaw set in, and the water
+from the heights filled the trenches, so that all communication had to
+be carried on across the open ground. Torrents of rain damaged the
+finished works; the parapet of the first parallel gave way altogether in
+places, and the banquette was washed away. The bottomless tracks made
+the arming of the batteries unspeakably difficult, and the teams of the
+columns and field artillery had to be employed in bringing up the
+ammunition. Many guns had become useless by overheating, while the enemy
+understood, by rapidly running out their guns, firing, and then running
+them back again, how to interrupt the work. Not merely was it necessary
+to continue the shelling of the Perches during the night, but a brisk
+rifle fire had to be kept up against them. Only now and then did the
+batteries newly placed in the parallels succeed in entirely silencing
+the guns of Hautes Perches. Epaulments had to be erected against Fort
+Bellevue and the defences of the railway-station, and Fort des Barres
+resumed activity. That under such exertions and the abominable weather
+the health of the troops suffered severely, need not be said; the
+battalions could often only muster 300 men for duty.
+
+Meanwhile, however, the artillery of the attack had unquestionably
+become very much superior to that of the defence, and, in spite of every
+obstacle, the saps were pushed on to the edge of the ditch of Les
+Perches.
+
+On February 8th, at one in the afternoon, Captain Roese had gabions
+flung into the ditch of Hautes Perches, sprang into it with five
+sappers, and rapidly scaled the parapet by the steps hewn in the scarp.
+He was immediately followed by the trench guard, but only a few of the
+French were surprised in the casemated traverses. The situation of the
+garrison of the forts had in fact become extremely difficult. Ammunition
+had to be brought up under the enemy's fire, water could only be had
+from the pond at Vernier, and cooking could only be done inside the
+works. Colonel Denfert had already given orders to bury the material.
+Unseen by the besiegers the guns of which the carriages could still be
+moved had been withdrawn, and only one company left in each fort, which
+in case of a surprise was to fire and fly. Nothing was to be found in
+the abandoned work but wrecked gun-carriages and four damaged guns. This
+fort was at once reversed so that its front faced the fortress, but at
+three o'clock the latter opened so heavy a fire on the lost positions
+that the working parties had to take shelter in the ditches.
+
+The garrison in Basses Perches attempted some resistance, but under
+cover of a reserve it soon retired to Le Fourneau, leaving five guns and
+much shattered material. Here also the fire of the place at first
+compelled the working parties to break off, but four 15-cm. mortars were
+at length brought into the fort, and two 9-cm. guns were placed on the
+spur of the hill to the westward, which directed their fire on Le
+Fourneau and Bellevue. During the night of the 9th the two works were
+connected by a shelter-trench 680 yards long, and thus the third
+parallel was established.
+
+The position was now such that the attack could immediately be directed
+on the citadel, and on it the batteries in the Bois des Perches and
+presently those in the second parallel opened fire. Moitte, Justice, and
+Bellevue were shelled simultaneously. General von Debschitz had
+returned, so that the investing corps was thus again brought up to its
+full strength, and all the conditions were improved by the return of the
+frost. By the 13th ninety-seven guns were ready in the third parallel.
+
+The town had suffered terribly from the prolonged bombardment. Nearly
+all the buildings were damaged, fifteen completely burnt down, and in
+the adjoining villages 164 houses had been destroyed by the defenders
+themselves. The fortifications showed not less visible indications of
+serious damage, particularly the citadel. The hewn-stone facing of its
+front-wall had crumbled into the ditch. Half of the mantleted embrasures
+had been shattered, the expense powder magazines had been blown up, and
+a number of casemated traverses pierced. The guns in the upper batteries
+could only be reached by ladders. The garrison, of its original strength
+of 372 officers and 17,322 men, had lost 32 officers and 4713 men,
+besides 336 citizens. The place was no longer tenable; besides there now
+came the news that the army from which alone relief was to be expected,
+had laid down its arms.
+
+Under these circumstances General von Tresckow summoned the commandant
+after a defence so brave to surrender the fortress, with free withdrawal
+for the garrison, this concession having the sanction of his Majesty.
+The French Government itself authorized the commandant to accept these
+terms. Colonel Denfert, however, insisted that he must be given a more
+direct order. To procure this an officer was sent to Basle, pending
+whose return there was a provisional armistice.
+
+On the 15th a convention was signed at Versailles, which extended the
+armistice to the three departments which till then had been excluded
+from it, and also to Belfort; but the 1st article demanded the
+surrender of that place.
+
+After the conclusion of the definitive treaty, the garrison, in the
+course of the 17th and 18th, with its arms and trains, left the
+precincts of the fortress and withdrew by way of L'Isle sur Doubs and
+St. Hippolyte into the country occupied by French troops. The march was
+effected in detachments of 1000 men at intervals of 5 km., the last of
+which Colonel Denfert accompanied. The supplies which remained in the
+fortress were conveyed in rear of the departing troops in 150 Prussian
+proviant waggons. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of February 18th
+Lieutenant-General von Tresckow entered the place at the head of
+detachments from all the troops of the investing corps.
+
+There were found 341 guns, of which 56 were useless, 356 gun-carriages,
+of which 119 were shot to pieces, and 22,000 stand of arms, besides
+considerable supplies of ammunition and provisions.
+
+The siege had cost the Germans 88 officers and 2049 men, 245 of whom
+were released from imprisonment by the capitulation. Immediately was set
+about the work of restoring and arming the fortress, and of the
+levelling of the siege works.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARMISTICE.
+
+
+On the basis of the agreement of January 28th a line of demarcation was
+drawn, from which both parties were to withdraw their outposts to a
+distance of 10 km. The line ran south from the mouth of the Seine as far
+as the Sarthe, crossed the Loire at Saumur, followed the Creuse, turned
+eastward past Vierzon, Clamécy and Chagny, and then met the Swiss
+frontier, after bending to the north of Châlons sur Saône and south of
+Lons le Saulnier and St. Laurent. The two departments of Pas de Calais
+and du Nord, as well as the promontory of Havre, were particularly
+excluded.
+
+The fortresses still held by French troops in the districts occupied by
+the Germans were assigned a rayon in proportion to their importance.
+
+In carrying out the details of the agreement a liberal interpretation
+was in most instances allowed. The arrangements had the sanction of
+those members of the Government of National Defence who were in Paris;
+while the delegates at Bordeaux, who had hitherto conducted the war, at
+first held aloof, and indeed, as yet had not been made acquainted with
+the detailed conditions. Gambetta, it is true, allowed the suspension of
+operations, but could not give the commanders more precise instructions.
+
+General Faidherbe was thus without orders with regard to the evacuation
+of Dieppe and Abbeville. General von Goeben, however, refrained from
+taking immediate possession of these places. On the west of the Seine,
+the Grand Duke was forced to proclaim that the non-recognition of the
+line of demarcation would be followed by an immediate recommencement of
+hostilities.
+
+The commandant of the garrison at Langres also raised difficulties, and
+only withdrew within his rayon on February 7th, as did General Rolland
+later at Besançon. Auxonne was at first unwilling to give up control of
+the railway. Bitsch, which had not been worth the trouble of a serious
+attack, repudiated the convention; the investment had therefore to be
+strengthened, and only in March, when threatened with a determined
+attack, did the garrison abandon its peak of rock.
+
+Nor did the volunteers acquiesce at once, and there were collisions with
+them at various points. But after the conditions were finally settled,
+no more serious quarrels occurred between the inhabitants and the
+German troops during the whole course of the armistice.
+
+All the German corps before Paris occupied the forts lying in their
+front, more specifically the Vth took over Mont Valérien, and the IVth
+the town of St. Denis. Between the forts and the enceinte there lay a
+neutral zone, which civilians were allowed to cross only by specified
+roads placed under control of German examining troops.
+
+Apprehensive as it was of the indignation of the populace, the French
+Government had hesitated so long to utter the word "capitulation," that
+now, even with the resumption of free communication, Paris was
+threatened with an outbreak of actual famine. The superfluous
+stores in the German magazines were therefore placed at the disposal
+of its authorities. The respective chief-Commands, the local
+Governments-General, and the Etappen-Inspections received instructions
+to place no difficulties in the way of the repair of the railways and
+roads in their districts, and the French authorities were even allowed
+to make use, under German supervision, of the repaired railroads which
+the invaders used to supply their own army. Nevertheless, the first
+provision-train only arrived in Paris on February 3rd, and it was the
+middle of the month before the French had succeeded in remedying the
+prevalent distress in the capital.
+
+The German prisoners were at once given up. The surrender of arms and
+war-material followed by degrees, also the payment of the 200 million
+francs war-contribution imposed on the city.
+
+But it was still doubtful if the party of "war to the bitter end" in
+Bordeaux would fall in with the arrangements made by the Paris
+Government, and whether the National Assembly about to be convened would
+finally ratify the conditions of peace imposed by the conquerors. The
+necessary measures in case of the resumption of hostilities were
+therefore taken on the French as well as on the German side.
+
+The distribution of the French forces at the establishment of the
+armistice was not favourable.
+
+By General Faidherbe's advice the Army of the North was wholly
+disbanded, as being too weak to face the strength opposing it. After the
+XXIInd Corps had been transported by sea to Cherbourg, the Army of
+Brittany under General de Colomb was composed of it, the XXVIIth and
+part of the XIXth Corps, and, including Lipowski's volunteers,
+Cathelineau's and other details, its strength was some 150,000 men.
+General Loysel with 30,000 ill-armed and raw Gardes-Mobiles remained in
+the trenches of Havre.
+
+General Chanzy, after his retreat on Mayenne, had made a movement to the
+left, preparatory to a new operation with the IInd Army of the Loire
+from the Caen base, which, however, was never carried out. The XVIIIth,
+XXIst, XVIth, and XXVIth Corps stood between the lower Loire and the
+Cher from Angers to Châteauroux, in a strength of about 160,000 men
+strong, the XXVth under General Pourcet was at Bourges, and General de
+Pointe's Corps at Nevers. The Army of the Vosges had withdrawn southward
+of Châlons sur Saône, and the remains of the Army of the East assembled
+under General Crémer at Chambéry as the XXIVth Corps.
+
+The total of all the field-troops amounted to 534,452 men. The
+volunteers, even those most to be relied on, were dismissed, and the
+National Guard was designated as for the present "incapable of rendering
+any military service." In the depôts, the camps of instruction, and in
+Algiers there were still 354,000 men, and 132,000 recruits were on the
+lists as the contingent for 1871, but had not yet been called up.
+
+In case the war should be persisted in, a plan for limiting it to the
+defensive in the south-east of France was under consideration, for
+which, however, according to the report sent on February 8th by the
+Committee of Inquiry to the National Assembly, scarcely more than
+252,000 men in fighting condition were available. The fleet, besides,
+had given up so considerable a number of its men and guns for service on
+land, that it was no longer able for any great undertaking at sea.
+
+On the German side the first consideration was to reinforce the troops
+to their full war-strength, and replenish the magazines.
+
+The forts round Paris were at once armed on their fronts facing the
+enceinte. In and between these were 680 guns, 145 of which were captured
+French pieces; more than enough to keep the restless population under
+control. A part of the forces previously occupied in the siege, being no
+longer required, were removed, in order that the remaining troops should
+have better accommodation. Besides, it seemed desirable to strengthen
+the IInd Army, which had in its front the enemy's principal force. In
+consequence the IVth Corps marched to Nogent le Rotrou, the Vth to
+Orleans, and the IXth, relieved there, to Vendôme; so that now the
+quarters of this army extended from Alençon to Tours, and up the Loire
+as far as Gien and Auxerre.
+
+The Ist Army was in the north with the VIIIth Corps on the Somme, and
+the Ist on both sides of the Lower Seine; in the south the Army of the
+South occupied the line of demarcation from Baume to Switzerland, and
+the country in the rear.
+
+At the end of February the German field-army on French soil consisted
+of:--
+
+    Infantry      464,221 men with 1674 guns.
+    Cavalry        55,562 horses.
+
+Troops in garrison:--
+
+    Infantry      105,272 men with 68 guns.
+    Cavalry          5681 horses.
+                  -------
+      Total       630,736 men and 1742 guns.
+
+Reserve forces remaining in Germany:--
+
+       3288 officers.
+    204,684 men.
+     26,603 horses.
+
+Arrangements were so made, that in case of a recommencement of
+hostilities, the strongest resistance could be made at all points. The
+armistice had nearly reached its end, and the troops had already been
+more closely collected to be ready to take the initiative of the
+offensive towards the south, when the Chancellor of the Confederation
+announced the extension of the armistice to the 24th, which was again
+prolonged to midnight on the 26th.
+
+Considerable difficulties had arisen from the differences of opinion
+with regard to the election of the National Assembly, between the
+Government in Paris and the Delegation at Bordeaux. The Germans wished
+to see carried out the choice, not of a party, but of the whole nation,
+expressed by a free suffrage. But Gambetta had ruled, in violation of
+the conditions of the armistice, that all who after December 2nd, 1851,
+had held any position in the Imperial Government should be ineligible to
+vote. It was not till the Parisian Government had obtained a majority by
+sending several of its members to Bordeaux, and after the dictator had
+resigned on February 6th, that the elections proceeded quickly and
+unhindered.
+
+The deputies duly assembled in Bordeaux by the 12th, the appointed day.
+M. Thiers was elected chief of the executive, and went to Paris on the
+19th with Jules Favre, determined to end the aimless war at any cost.
+
+Negotiations for peace were opened, and after five days' vigorous
+discussion, when at last on the German side the concession to restore
+Belfort was made, the preliminaries were signed on the afternoon of the
+26th.
+
+France bound herself to give up in favour of Germany a part of Lorraine,
+and the province of Alsace with the exception of Belfort, and also to
+pay a war indemnity of five milliards of francs.
+
+The evacuation of the districts in occupation of the German armies was
+to begin immediately on the ratification of the treaty, and be continued
+by degrees in proportion as the money was paid. While the German troops
+remained on French soil they were to be maintained at the charge of the
+country. On the other hand all requisitioning on the part of the Germans
+was to cease. Immediately on the first instalment of evacuation the
+French forces were to retire behind the Loire, with the exception of
+20,000 men in Paris and the necessary garrisons in the fortresses.
+
+After the ratification of these preliminaries, further terms were to be
+discussed in Brussels, and the return of the French prisoners would
+begin. The armistice was prolonged to March 12th; but it was in the
+option of either of the belligerent powers to end it after March 3rd by
+giving three days' notice.
+
+Finally, it was stipulated that the German Army should have the
+satisfaction of marching into Paris, and remaining there till the
+ratification of the treaty; but would be restricted to the section of
+the city from Point du Jour to the Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré. The entry
+was made on March 1st, after a parade at Longchamps before his Majesty
+of 30,000 men, consisting of 11,000 of the VIth, 11,000 of the IInd
+Bavarian, and 8000 of the XIth Army Corps. On the 3rd and 5th of March
+this force was to have been relieved by successive bodies of the same
+strength, but M. Thiers succeeded by March 1st in getting the National
+Assembly at Bordeaux to accept the treaty, after the deposition of the
+Napoleonic dynasty had been decreed. The exchange of ratifications took
+place in the afternoon of the 2nd, and on the 3rd the first instalment
+of troops of occupation marched out of Paris back into its quarters.
+
+
+
+
+THE HOMEWARD MARCH OF THE GERMAN ARMY.
+
+
+By the IIIrd Article, the whole territory between the Seine and the
+Loire, excepting Paris, was to be evacuated with as little delay as
+possible by the troops of both sides; the right bank of the former
+river, on the other hand, was only to be cleared on the conclusion of
+the definitive treaty of peace. Even then the six eastern departments
+were still to remain in German possession as a pledge for the last three
+milliards; not, however, to be occupied by more than 50,000 men.
+
+The marching directions were drawn up in the supreme Headquarter, with a
+view as well to the comfort of the troops as to the reconstitution of
+the original order of battle, and the possibility of rapid assembly in
+case of need.
+
+The forces detailed for permanent occupation of the ceded provinces
+marched thither at once.
+
+The Reserve and Landwehr troops at home were to be disbanded, as well as
+the Baden Division, which, however, for the present was to remain there
+as a mobilized force. The Governments-General in Lorraine, Rheims, and
+Versailles were to be done away with, and their powers taken over by the
+local Commanding-Generals. In the maintenance of order in the rear of
+the army, the VIth and XIIth Corps, as well as the Würtemberg Field
+Division, were placed at the direct disposition of the supreme
+Headquarter.
+
+By March 31st the Army had taken full possession of the new territory
+assigned to it, bounded on the west by the course of the Seine from its
+source to its mouth.
+
+The Ist Army was in the departments of Seine-Inférieure and Somme, the
+IInd in front of Paris in the departments of Oise and Seine et Marne,
+the IIIrd in the departments of Aube and Haute Marne, the Army of the
+South in the districts most lately hostile. The forts of Paris on the
+left bank were given up to the French authorities; the siege park and
+the captured war material had been removed. In consideration of the
+desire of the French Government that the National Assembly might be
+allowed as early as possible to sit at Versailles, the supreme
+Headquarter was removed to Ferrières, even sooner than had been agreed.
+On March 15th his Majesty left Nancy for Berlin.
+
+All the troops that were left before Paris were placed under the command
+of the Crown Prince of Saxony, and General von Manteuffel was nominated
+Commander of the Army of Occupation.
+
+At the moment when France had freed herself by a heavy sacrifice, an
+enemy of the most dangerous character appeared from within, in the
+Commune of Paris.
+
+The 40,000 men left there proved themselves unequal to the task of
+keeping the rebellious agitation under control; which even during the
+siege had on several occasions betrayed its existence, and now actually
+broke out in open civil war. Large masses of people, fraternizing with
+the National and Mobile Guards, possessed themselves of the guns and set
+themselves in armed resistance to the Government. M. Thiers had already,
+by March 18th, summoned to Versailles such regiments as could still be
+trusted, to withdraw them from the disquieting influence of party
+impulses, and for the protection of the National Assembly there. The
+French capital was a prey to revolution, and now became an object of
+pillage by French troops.
+
+The Germans could easily have put a speedy end to the matter, but what
+Government could allow its rights to be vindicated by foreign bayonets?
+The German Commanders consequently limited themselves to forbidding at
+least within their own districts any movement of disturbance, and to
+preventing all further ingress into Paris from outside. The disarmament
+operations which had commenced were interrupted; the troops of the IIIrd
+Army were drawn closer to the forts, and the outposts were replaced
+along the line of demarcation, whereon 200,000 men could now be
+collected within two days. The authorities in Paris were also warned
+that any attempt to arm the fronts facing the Germans would be followed
+by the immediate bombardment of the city. The insurgents however, were
+fully occupied in destroying and burning, and in executing their
+commanders in the interior of Paris. They did not turn against their
+foreign enemy, but against the Government chosen by the nation, and
+prepared for an attack on Versailles.
+
+The high officers of State there, bound by the conditions of the
+armistice treaty, were almost defenceless; meanwhile the Germans were
+prepared and willing to allow a reinforcement of 80,000 French troops to
+be moved up from Besançon, Auxerre and Cambrai, the transport of whom
+would be furthered by the German troops in occupation of the districts
+through which they would have to pass.
+
+The release of the prisoners on the other hand was temporarily
+restricted. These were, for the most part, disciplined regulars; but
+they might not improbably join the hostile party, so in the first
+instance only 20,000 troops of the line were set free.
+
+On April 4th General MacMahon advanced with the Government troops
+against Paris, and entered the city on the 21st. As he was then engaged
+for eight days in barricade fighting, and as great bands of fugitives
+threatened to break through the German lines, the IIIrd Army was ordered
+to take closer order. The outposts advanced almost to the gates of the
+city, and barred all communication through them until, at the end of the
+month, Paris was again in the control of the French Government.
+
+In the meantime, the negotiations commenced in Brussels and continued in
+Frankfort were making rapid progress, and on May 10th the definitive
+treaty of peace based on the preliminaries was signed. The mutual
+ratification followed within the appointed time of ten days.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Thus a war, carried on with such a vast expenditure of force on both
+sides, was brought to an end by incessant and restless energy in the
+short period of seven months.
+
+Even in the first four weeks eight battles were fought, under which the
+French Empire crumbled, and the French Army was swept from the field.
+
+Fresh forces, numerous but incompetent, equalized the original numerical
+superiority of the Germans, and twelve more battles needed to be fought,
+to safeguard the decisive siege of the enemy's capital.
+
+Twenty fortified places were taken, and not a single day passed on which
+there was not fighting somewhere, on a larger or smaller scale.
+
+The war cost the Germans heavy sacrifice; they lost 6247 officers,
+123,453 men, 1 colour, 6 guns.
+
+The total losses of the French were incalculable; in prisoners only they
+amounted to:--
+
+    In Germany                   11,860 officers, 371,981 men.
+    In Paris                      7,456     "     241,686  "
+    Disarmed in Switzerland.      2,192     "      88,381  "
+                                 ------           -------
+                                 21,508 officers, 702,048 men.
+
+There were captured 107 colours and eagles, 1915 field-guns, 5526
+fortress guns.
+
+Strasburg and Metz, which had been alienated from the Fatherland in a
+time of weakness, were recovered, and the German Empire had risen anew.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+MEMORANDUM ON THE PRETENDED COUNCIL OF WAR IN THE WARS
+OF KING WILLIAM I.
+
+In the accounts of historical events, as they are handed down to
+posterity, mistakes assume the form of legends which it is not always
+easy subsequently to disprove.
+
+Among others is the fable which ascribes, with particular zest and as a
+matter of regular custom, the great decisions taken in the course of our
+latest campaigns, to the deliberations of a council of war previously
+convened.
+
+For instance, the battle of Königgrätz.
+
+I can relate in a few lines the circumstances under which an event of
+such far-reaching importance had birth.
+
+Feldzeugmeister Benedek had, in his advance to the northward, to secure
+himself against the IInd Prussian Army marching on the east over the
+mountains of Silesia. To this end four of his Corps had one after
+another been pushed forward on his right flank, and had all been beaten
+within three days. They now joined the main body of the Austrian Army,
+which had meanwhile reached the vicinity of Dubenetz.
+
+Here, then, on June 30th, almost the whole of the Austrian forces were
+standing actually inside the line of operations between the two Prussian
+armies; of which the Ist was already fighting its way to Gitschin,
+designated from Berlin as the common point of concentration, and the
+IInd had also advanced close on the Upper Elbe; thus they were both so
+near that the enemy could not attack the one without the other falling
+on his rear. The strategic advantage was nullified by the tactical
+disadvantage.
+
+In these circumstances, and having already lost 40,000 men in previous
+battles, General Benedek gave up the advance, and during the night of
+June 30th began his retreat on Königgrätz.
+
+The movement of six Army Corps and four Cavalry Divisions, marching in
+only four columns, which were necessarily very deep, could not be
+accomplished in the course of a single day. They halted very closely
+concentrated between Trotina and Lipa; but when on July 2nd they still
+remained there, it was owing to the extreme fatigue of the troops, and
+the difficulty, nay, impossibility, of withdrawing so large a body of
+men beyond the Elbe, under the eyes of an active enemy and by a limited
+number of passages. In fact, the Austrian general could no longer
+manoeuvre; he had no alternative but to fight.
+
+It is a noteworthy fact that neither his advance on Dubenetz nor his
+retreat on Lipa was known to the Prussians. These movements were
+concealed from the IInd Army by the Elbe, and the cavalry of the Ist was
+a mass of more than 8000 horse collected in one unwieldy Corps. The four
+squadrons attached to each Infantry Division were of course not able to
+undertake reconnoissances, as subsequently was later done in 1870 by a
+more advantageous plan of formation.
+
+Thus in the Royal head-quarters at Gitschin nothing certain was known.
+It was supposed that the main body of the hostile army was still
+advancing, and that it would take up a position with the Elbe in its
+front and its flanks resting on the fortresses of Josephstadt and
+Königgrätz. There were, then, these alternatives--either to turn this
+extremely strong position, or attack it in front.
+
+By the adoption of the first the communications of the Austrian Army
+with Pardubitz would be so seriously threatened that it might probably
+be compelled to retreat. But to secure the safety of such a movement our
+IInd Army must relieve our Ist and cross over to the right bank of the
+Elbe. And in this case the flank march of the latter close past the
+enemy's front might easily be interfered with, if passages enough across
+the river had been prepared by him.
+
+In the second case, success could only be hoped for if an advance of the
+IInd Army on the right flank of the enemy's position could be combined
+with the attack in front. For this it must be kept on the left bank.
+
+The separation of the two armies, which was for the present
+intentionally maintained, allowed of either plan being followed; but
+mine was the serious responsibility of advising his Majesty which should
+be chosen.
+
+To keep both alternatives open for the present, General von Herwarth was
+ordered to occupy Pardubitz, and the Crown Prince to remain on the left
+bank of the Elbe, to reconnoitre that river as well as the Aupa and the
+Metau, and to remove all obstacles which might oppose a crossing in one
+or the other direction. At length, on July 2nd, Prince Frederick Charles
+was ordered, in the event of his finding a large force in front of the
+Elbe, to attack it at once. But, on the evening of that day, it came to
+the knowledge of the Prince that the whole Austrian Army had marched to
+and was in position on the Bistritz; and in obedience to instructions
+received, he at once ordered the Ist Army and the Army of the Elbe to
+assemble close in front of the enemy by daybreak next morning.
+
+General von Voigts-Rhetz brought the news at eleven o'clock in the
+evening to the King at Gitschin, and his Majesty sent him over to me.
+
+This information dispelled all doubts and lifted a weight from my heart.
+With a "Thank God!" I sprang out of bed, and hastened across to the
+King, who was lodged on the other side of the Market Place.
+
+His Majesty also had gone to rest in his little camp-bed. After a brief
+explanation on my part, he said he fully understood the situation,
+decided on giving battle next day with all three armies in co-operation,
+and desired me to transmit the necessary orders to the Crown Prince, who
+was at once to cross the Elbe.
+
+The whole interview with his Majesty lasted barely ten minutes. No one
+else was present.
+
+This was the "Council of War" before Königgrätz.
+
+General von Podbielski and Major Count Wartensleben shared my quarters.
+The orders to the IInd Army were drawn up forthwith and despatched in
+duplicate by two different routes by midnight. One, carried by General
+von Voigts-Rhetz, informed Prince Frederick Charles of all the
+dispositions; the other was sent direct to Königinhof.
+
+In the course of his night-ride of above twenty-eight miles,
+Lieutenant-Colonel Count Finckenstein had to pass the rayon of the Ist
+Army Corps, which was furthest to the rear. He handed to the officer on
+duty a special letter to be forwarded immediately to the general in
+command, ordering an immediate assemblage of his troops and an
+independent advance, even before orders should reach him from
+Königinhof.
+
+The position of the Austrians on July 3rd had a front of not more than
+4-3/4 miles. Our three armies advanced on it in an encompassing arc of
+about twenty-four miles in extent. But while in the centre the Ist and
+IInd Corps of the Ist Army stood before daylight close in front of the
+enemy, on the right wing General von Herwarth had to advance on the
+Bistritz from Smidar in the dark, by very bad roads, above nine miles;
+and on the left, the orders from the Royal head-quarter could not even
+reach the Crown Prince before four in the morning. It was therefore
+decided that the centre would have to maintain a detaining engagement
+for several hours. Above all, a possible offensive on the part of the
+enemy must here be met, and for this the whole IIIrd Corps and the
+cavalry corps stood ready; but the battle could only be decided by the
+double flank attack by both the flanking armies.[84]
+
+I had ridden out early to the heights in front of Sadowa with my
+officers, and at eight o'clock the King also arrived there.
+
+It was a dull morning, and from time to time a shower fell. The horizon
+was dim, yet on the right the white clouds of smoke showed that the
+heads of the Ist Army were already fighting some way off, in front of
+the villages on the Bistritz. On the left, in the woods of Swip, brisk
+rifle-firing was audible. Behind the King, besides his staff, were his
+royal guests, with their numerous suites of adjutants, equerries, and
+led horses, in number as many as two squadrons. An Austrian battery
+seemed to have selected them to aim at, and compelled him to move away
+with a smaller following.
+
+Soon afterwards, with Count Wartensleben, I rode through the village of
+Sadowa, which the enemy had already abandoned. The advanced guard of the
+8th Division had massed its guns behind the wood under cover of the
+sharpshooters who had been sent forward, but many shells fell there from
+a large battery in front of the exits from the copses. As we rode
+further along the road we admired the coolness of a huge ox, which went
+on its way, heedless of the shot, and seemed determined to charge the
+enemy's position.
+
+The formidable array of the IIIrd and Xth Austrian Corps' Artillery
+opposite the wood prevented any attempt to break through it, and I was
+in time to countermand an order which had been given to do so.
+
+Meanwhile, further to the left, General von Fransecky had vigorously
+passed to the offensive. After a sharp struggle he had driven the enemy
+out of the Swip woods, and come through to the further side. Against him
+he had the IVth Austrian Corps; but now the IInd and part of the IIIrd
+Austrian Corps turned on the 7th Division; 57 battalions against 14. In
+the thick brushwood all the bodies had become mixed, personal command
+was impossible, and, in spite of our obstinate resistance, isolated
+detachments were taken prisoners, and others were dispersed.
+
+Such a rabble rushed out of the wood at the very moment when the King
+and his staff rode up; his Majesty looked on with some displeasure,[85]
+but the wounded officer, who was trying to keep his little band
+together, at once led it back into the fight. In spite of heavy losses
+the division got firm possession of the northern side of the wood. It
+had drawn on itself very considerable forces of the enemy, which were
+subsequently missing from the positions which it was their duty to have
+defended.
+
+It was now eleven o'clock. The heads of the Ist Army had crossed the
+Bistritz, and taken most of the villages on its further bank; but these
+were only the enemy's advanced posts, which he had no intention of
+obstinately holding. His Corps held a position behind, whence their 250
+guns commanded the open plain which had to be crossed for the delivery
+of a further attack. On the right, General von Herwarth had reached the
+Bistritz, but on the left nothing was yet to be seen of the Crown
+Prince.
+
+The battle had come to a standstill. In the centre the Ist Army was
+still fighting about the villages on the Bistritz; the cavalry could not
+get forward, and the artillery found no good position to occupy. The
+troops had been for five hours under the enemy's lively fire, without
+food, to prepare which there had been no time.
+
+Some doubt as to the issue of the battle existed probably in many minds;
+perhaps in that of Count Bismarck, as he offered me his cigar case. As I
+was subsequently informed, he took it for a good sign that of two cigars
+I coolly selected the better one.
+
+The King asked me at about this time what I thought of the prospects of
+the battle. I replied, "Your Majesty to-day will not only win the
+battle, but decide the war."
+
+It could not be otherwise.
+
+We had the advantage in numbers,[86] which in war is never to be
+despised; and it was certain that our IInd Army must finally appear on
+the flank and rear of the Austrians.
+
+At about 1.30 a white cloud was seen on the height, crowned with trees,
+and visible from afar, on which our field-glasses had been centred. It
+was indeed not yet the IInd Army, but the smoke of the fire which,
+directed thereon, announced its near approach. The joyful shout, "The
+Crown Prince is coming!" ran through the ranks. I sent the wished-for
+news to General von Herwarth, who meanwhile had carried Problus, in
+spite of the heroic defence of the Saxons.
+
+The IInd Army had started at 7.30 in the morning; only the Ist Corps had
+delayed till about 9.15. The advance by bad roads, in part across the
+fields, had taken much time. The hill-road stretching from Horenowes to
+Trotina, if efficiently held, could not but be a serious obstacle. But
+in its eager pressure on Fransecky's Division the enemy's right wing had
+made a wheel to the left, so that it lay open to some extent to the
+attack on its rear now impending.
+
+The Crown Prince's progress was not yet visible to us, but at about
+half-past three the King ordered the advance of the Ist Army also.
+
+As we emerged from the wood of Sadowa into the open we found still a
+part of the great battery which had so long prevented us from debouching
+here, but the teams and gunners lay stretched by the wrecked guns. There
+was nothing else to be seen of the enemy over a wide distance.
+
+The Austrian retreat from the position grasped by us on two sides, had
+become inevitable, and had, in fact, been effected some time before.
+Their admirable artillery, firing on to the last moment, had screened
+their retreat and given the infantry a long start. The crossing of the
+Bistritz seriously delayed the advance, especially of the cavalry, so
+that only isolated detachments of it yet came up with the enemy.
+
+We rode at a smart gallop across the wide field of battle, without
+looking much about us on the scene of horror. Finally, we found our
+three armies which had at last pushed on into a circumscribed space from
+their several directions, and had got much mixed. It took twenty-four
+hours to remedy the confusion and re-form the bodies; an immediate
+pursuit was impossible, but the victory was complete.
+
+The exhausted men now sought resting-places in the villages or the open
+field as best they might. Anything that came to hand by way of food was
+of course taken; my wandering ox probably among the rest. The
+death-cries of pigs and geese were heard; but necessity knows no law,
+and the baggage-waggons were naturally not on the spot.
+
+The King, too, remained at a hamlet on the field. Only I and my two
+officers had to journey some twenty-four miles back to Gitschin, where
+the bureaux were.
+
+We had set out thence at four in the morning, and had been fourteen
+hours in the saddle. In the hurry of departure no one had thought of
+providing himself with food. An Uhlan of the 2nd Regiment had bestowed
+on me a slice of sausage, bread he had none himself. On our way back we
+met the endless train of provision and ammunition waggons, often
+extending all across the road. We did not reach our quarters till
+midnight. There was nothing to eat even here at this hour, but I was so
+exhausted that I threw myself on my bed in great-coat and sash, and fell
+asleep instantly. Next morning new orders had to be prepared and laid
+before his Majesty at Horitz.
+
+The Great King[87] had needed to struggle for seven years to reduce the
+might of Austria, which his more fortunate and also more powerful
+grandson[88] had achieved in as many weeks. The campaign had proved
+decisive in the first eight days from June 27th to July 3rd.
+
+The war of 1866 was entered on not as a defensive measure to meet a
+threat against the existence of Prussia, nor in obedience to public
+opinion and the voice of the people: it was a struggle, long foreseen
+and calmly prepared for, recognized as a necessity by the Cabinet, not
+for territorial aggrandizement or material advantage, but for an ideal
+end--the establishment of power. Not a foot of land was exacted from
+defeated Austria, but she had to renounce all part in the hegemony of
+Germany.
+
+The Princes of the Reich had themselves to blame that the old Empire had
+now for centuries allowed domestic politics to override German national
+politics. Austria had exhausted her strength in conquests south of the
+Alps while she left the western German provinces unprotected, instead of
+following the road pointed out by the course of the Danube. Her centre
+of gravity lay outside of Germany; Prussia's lay within it. Prussia felt
+her strength, and that it behoved her to assume the leadership of the
+German races. The regrettable but unavoidable exclusion of one of them
+from the new Reich could only be to a small extent remedied by a
+subsequent alliance. But Germany has become immeasurably greater without
+Austria, than it was before with Austria.
+
+But all this has nothing to do with the legends of which I am telling.
+
+One of these has been sung in verse, and in fine verse too.
+
+The scene is Versailles. The French are making a sortie from Paris, and
+the generals, instead of betaking themselves to their fighting troops,
+are assembled to consider whether head-quarters may safely remain any
+longer at Versailles. Opinions are divided, no one dares speak out. The
+Chief of the General Staff, who is above all called on to express his
+views, remains silent. The perplexity seems to be great. Only the War
+Minister rises and protests with the greatest emphasis against a measure
+so injurious from a political and military point of view as a removal.
+He is warmly thanked by the King as being the only man who has the
+courage to speak the truth freely and fearlessly.
+
+The truth is that while the King and his whole escort had ridden out to
+the Vth Army Corps, the Marshal of the household, in his over-anxiety,
+had the horses put to the royal carriages, and this became known in the
+town; and indeed may have excited all sorts of hopes in the sanguine
+inhabitants.
+
+Versailles was protected by four Army Corps. It never entered anybody's
+head to think of evacuating the town.
+
+I can positively assert no Council of War was ever held either in 1866
+or 1870--71.
+
+Excepting on the march and on days of battle, an audience was regularly
+held by his Majesty at ten o'clock, at which I, accompanied by the
+Quartermaster-General, laid the latest reports and information before
+him, and made our suggestions on that basis. The Chief of the Military
+Cabinet and the Minister of War were also present, and while the
+head-quarters of the IIIrd Army were at Versailles, the Crown Prince
+also; but all merely as listeners. The King occasionally required them
+to give him information on one point or another; but I do not remember
+that he ever asked for advice concerning the operations in the field or
+the suggestions I made.
+
+These, which I always discussed beforehand with my staff officers, were,
+on the contrary, generally maturely weighed by his Majesty himself. He
+always pointed out with a military eye and an invariably correct
+estimate of the situation, all the objections that might be raised to
+their execution; but as in war every step is beset with danger, the
+plans laid before him were invariably adopted.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[84] viz. The IInd Army, commanded by the Crown Prince of Prussia, which
+was to strike the Austrian right flank and right rear; and the Army of
+the Elbe, commanded by General Herwarth von Bittenfeld, which was to
+strike the Austrian left flank.
+
+[85] I have a history of the war, published at Tokio, in the Japanese
+language, with very original illustrations. One of these has for its
+title, "The King scolding the Army." [MOLTKE.]
+
+[86] During a long peace the sphere of action of the War Minister's
+department and the General Staff were not distinctly defined. The
+providing for the troops in peace was the function of the former, and in
+war time a number of official duties which could be superintended by the
+central authorities at home. Thus the place of the Minister of War was
+not at head-quarters, but at Berlin. The Chief of the General Staff, on
+the other hand, from the moment when the mobilization is ordered,
+assumes the whole responsibility for the marching and transport already
+prepared for during peace, both for the first assembling of the forces,
+and for their subsequent employment, for which he has only to ask the
+consent of the Commander-in-Chief--always, with us, the King.
+
+How necessary this disjunction of the two authorities is, I had to
+experience in June, 1866. Without my knowledge the order had been given
+for the VIIth Corps to remain on the Rhine. It was only by my
+representations that the 16th Division was moved up into Bohemia, and
+our numerical superiority thus brought up to a decisive strength.
+[MOLTKE.]
+
+[87] Frederick the Great.
+
+[88] Wilhelm was not the grandson, but the great-grand-nephew of
+Frederick the Great. The term is very rarely used in the wider sense of
+"descendant;" but Frederick was childless.
+
+
+
+
+ORDERS OF BATTLE
+OF THE
+FRENCH AND GERMAN ARMIES IN THE FIRST
+PERIOD OF THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE FRENCH ARMIES.
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE "ARMY OF THE RHINE."
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: The Emperor Napoleon III.
+    Major-General: Marshal Le Boeuf.
+    Aide-Major-General: General Dejean.
+    Chiefs of Staff: Generals Jarras and Lebrun.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Soleille.
+    Commanding Engineer: General Coffinières de Nordeck.
+    Aides-de-camp to the Emperor: Generals Prince de la Moscawa, de
+      Castlenau, Count Reille, Viscount Pajol.
+
+
+THE IMPERIAL GUARD.
+
+    General Bourbaki.
+    Chief of Staff: General d'Auvergne.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Pé-de-Arros.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Deligny.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Brincourt.
+        Chasseurs of the Guard.
+        1st and 2nd Voltigeurs of the Guard.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Garnier.
+        3rd and 4th Voltigeurs of the Guard.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Picard.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Jeanningros.
+        Zouaves of the Guard (two battalions).
+        1st Grenadiers of the Guard.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Poitevin de la Croix.
+        2nd and 3rd Grenadiers of the Guard.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Desvaux.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Halma du Frétay.
+        Guides.
+        Chasseurs of the Guard.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de France.
+        Lancers of the Guard.
+        Dragoons of the Guard.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General du Preuil.
+        Cuirassiers of the Guard.
+        Carabiniers of the Guard.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel Clappier
+
+    Four horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+1ST CORPS.
+
+    Marshal MacMahon, afterwards General Ducrot.
+    Chief of Staff: General Colson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Forgeot.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Ducrot.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Moreno.
+        13th Chasseur battalion.
+        18th and 96th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Postis du Houlbec.
+        45th and 74th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries and one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Abel Douay, afterwards General Pellé.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pelletier de Montmarie.
+        16th Chasseur battalion.
+        50th and 78th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Pellé.
+        1st regiment of Zouaves.
+        1st regiment of Turcos.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Raoult.
+
+    1st Brigade: General L'Heriller.
+        8th Chasseur battalion.
+        2nd Zouave regiment.
+        36th Line regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Lefèvre.
+        2nd regiment of Turcos.
+        48th Line regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: General de Lartigue.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Frabonlet de Kerléadec.
+        1st battalion of Chasseurs.
+        3rd Zouave regiment.
+        56th Line regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Lacretelle.
+        3rd regiment of Turcos.
+        87th Line regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Duhesme.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Septeuil.
+        3rd Hussar regiment.
+        11th Chasseur regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Nansouty.
+        2nd and 6th Lancer regiments.
+        10th Dragoon regiment.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General Michel.
+        8th and 9th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel de Vassart.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Four horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+2ND CORPS.
+
+    General Frossard.
+    Chief of Staff: General Saget.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Gagneux.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Verge
+
+    1st Brigade: General Letellier-Valazé.
+        3rd battalion of Chasseurs.
+        32nd and 55th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Jobivet.
+        76th and 77th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Bataille.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pouget.
+        12th battalion of Chasseurs.
+        8th and 23rd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Fauvart-Bastoul.
+        66th and 67th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Laveaucoupet.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Doens.
+        10th battalion of Chasseurs.
+        2nd and 63rd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Michelet.
+        24th and 40th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Lichtlin.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Valabrèque.
+        4th and 5th regiments of Chasseurs.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Bachelier.
+        7th and 12th regiments of Dragoons.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel Baudouin.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two mitrailleuse batteries.
+
+
+3RD CORPS.
+
+    Marshal Bazaine, afterwards General Decaen.
+    Chief of Staff: General Manèque.
+    Commanding Artillery: General de Rochebouet.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Montaudon.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Aymard.
+        18th Chasseur battalion.
+        51st and 62nd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Clinchant.
+        81st and 95th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General de Castagny.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Cambriels.
+        15th Chasseur battalion.
+        19th and 41st Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Duplessis.
+        69th and 90th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Metman.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Potier.
+        7th Chasseur battalion.
+        7th and 29th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Arnaudeau.
+        59th and 71st Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: General Decaen.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Brauer.
+        11th Chasseur battalion.
+        44th and 60th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Sanglé-Ferrières.
+        80th and 85th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General de Clérembault.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Bruchard.
+        2nd, 3rd, and 10th Chasseur regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Maubranches.
+        2nd and 4th Dragoon regiments.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General de Juniac.
+        5th and 8th Dragoon regiments.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel de Lajaille.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Four horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+4TH CORPS.
+
+    General de Ladmirault.
+    Chief of Staff: General Desaint de Martille.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Laffaile.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General de Cissey.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Count Brayer.
+        20th Chasseur battalion.
+        1st and 6th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Golberg.
+        57th and 73rd Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Rose.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Bellecourt.
+        5th Chasseur battalion.
+        13th and 43rd Line Regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Pradier.
+        64th and 98th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General de Lorencez.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pajol.
+        2nd Chasseur battalion.
+        15th and 33rd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Berger.
+        54th and 65th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Legrand.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Montaigu.
+        2nd and 7th Hussar regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Gondrecourt.
+        3rd and 11th Dragoon regiments.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel Soleille.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+5TH CORPS.
+
+    General de Failly.
+    Chief of Staff: General Besson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Liédot.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Goze.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Grenier.
+        4th Chasseur battalion.
+        11th and 46th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Nicolas.
+        61st and 86th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General de l'Abadie d'Aydroin.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Lapasset.
+        14th Chasseur battalion.
+        49th and 84th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Maussion.
+        88th and 97th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Guyot de Lespart.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Abbatucci.
+        19th Chasseur battalion.
+        17th and 27th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Fontanges de Couzan.
+        30th and 68th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Brahaut.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pierre de Bernis.
+        5th and 12th Chasseur regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de la Mortière.
+        3rd and 5th Lancer regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel de Salignac-Fénelon.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+6TH CORPS.
+
+    Marshal Canrobert.
+    Chief of Staff: General Henri.
+    Commanding Artillery: General de Berkheim.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Tixier.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Péchot.
+        9th Chasseur battalion.
+        4th and 10th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Le Roy de Dais.
+        12th and 100th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Bisson.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Noël.
+        9th and 14th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Maurice.
+        20th and 30th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General La Font de Villiers.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Becquet de Sonnay.
+        75th and 91st Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Colin.
+        93rd Line regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: General Levassor-Sorval.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Marguenat.
+        25th and 26th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Chanaleilles.
+        28th and 70th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General de Salignac-Fénelon.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Tilliard.
+        1st Hussar regiment.
+        6th Chasseur regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Savaresse.
+        1st and 7th Lancer regiments.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General de Béville.
+        5th and 6th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel de Montluisant.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Four batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+7TH CORPS.
+
+    General Félix Douay.
+    Chief of Staff: General Renson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Liègard.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Conseil-Dumesnil.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Le Norman de Bretteville.
+        17th Chasseur battalion.
+        3rd and 21st Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Maire.
+        47th and 99th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Liébert.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Guiomar.
+        6th Chasseur battalion.
+        5th and 37th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de la Bastide.
+        53rd and 89th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Dumont.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Bordas.
+        52nd and 72nd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Bittard des Portes.
+        82nd and 83rd Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Ameil.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Cambriel.
+        4th Hussar regiments.
+        4th and 8th Lancer regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Jolif du Coulombier.
+        6th Hussar regiment.
+        6th Dragoon regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve Artillery._
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two batteries horse-artillery.
+
+
+RESERVE CAVALRY.
+
+_1st Division_: General du Barrail.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Margueritte.
+        1st and 3rd regiments Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Lajaille.
+        2nd and 4th regiments Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_2nd Division_: General de Bonnemains.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Girard.
+        1st and 2nd Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade:
+        3rd and 4th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_3rd Division_: General Marquis de Forton.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Prince J. Murat.
+        1st and 9th Dragoon regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Grammont.
+        7th and 10th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+GREAT ARTILLERY RESERVE.
+
+    General Cann.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel Laffont de Ladébat.
+    13th Field-Artillery regiment.
+      Eight 12-pounder batteries.
+    18th Field-Artillery regiment.
+      Eight batteries of horse-artillery.
+    Three mountain batteries.
+
+
+_Note_.--The 6th Corps (Canrobert), when ordered to Metz from Châlons,
+left there three line regiments, its cavalry division, and reserve
+artillery.
+
+The battle of Wörth divided the original Army of the Rhine into two
+parts, one of which is generally known as "The Army of Metz," and the
+other, with additions, became "The Army of Châlons." Their respective
+"Orders of Battle" follow:--
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF CHÂLONS.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: Marshal MacMahon, Duke of Magenta,
+        afterwards General de Wimpfen.
+    Chief of Staff: General Faure.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Forgeot.
+    Commanding Engineer: General Dejean.
+    Intendant-General: Rousillon.
+
+
+1ST CORPS.
+
+    General Ducrot.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel Robert.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Frigola.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Wolff.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Moreno.
+      13th Chasseur battalion.
+      18th and 96th Line regiments.
+    2nd Brigade: General de Postis du Houlbec.
+      45th Line regiment.
+      1st Zouave regiment.
+    Division-Artillery.
+      Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Pellé.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pelletier de Montmarie.
+      16th Chasseur battalion.
+      50th and 74th Line regiments.
+    2nd Brigade: General Gandil.
+      78th Line regiment.
+      1st regiment of Turcos.
+      1st "marching" regiment.
+    Division-Artillery.
+      Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General L'Heriller.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Carteret-Trécourt.
+        8th Chasseur battalion.
+        2nd Zouave regiment.
+        36th Line regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Lefébvre.
+        2nd regiment of Turcos.
+        48th Line regiment.
+        1st battalion of Franctireurs of Paris.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4 pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: General de Lartigue.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Fraboulet de Kerléadec.
+        1st Chasseur battalion.
+        3rd regiment of Tirailleurs (Turcos).
+        56th Line regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Bellemare.
+        3rd Zouave regiment.
+        2nd "marching" regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Duhesme; after August 25, General Michel.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Septeuil.
+        3rd Hussar regiment.
+        11th Chasseur regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Nansouty.
+        2nd and 6th Lancer regiments.
+        10th Dragoon regiment.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General Michel.
+        8th and 9th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel Grouvell.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Four batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+5TH CORPS.
+
+    General de Failly.
+    Chief of Staff: General Besson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Liédot.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Goze.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Grenier, later General Saurin.
+        4th Chasseur battalion.
+        11th and 46th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Baron Nicolas-Nicolas.
+        61st and 86th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General de l'Abadie d'Aydrein.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Lapasset.
+        (With the army of Metz.)
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Maussion.
+        88th and 97th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Guyot de Lespart.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Abbatucci.
+        19th Chasseur battalion.
+        17th and 27th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Fontanges de Couzan.
+        30th and 68th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Brahaut.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Viscount Pierre de Bernis.
+        5th and 6th Chasseur regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de la Mortière.
+        3rd and 5th Lancer regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel de Salignac-Fénelon.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+7TH CORPS.
+
+    General Félix Douay.
+    Chief of Staff: General Renson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Liègard.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Conseil-Dumesnil.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Morand, afterwards General la Brettevillois.
+        17th Chasseur battalion.
+        3rd and 21st Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General St. Hilaire.
+        47th and 99th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Liébert.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Guiomar.
+        6th Chasseur battalion.
+        5th and 37th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de la Bastide.
+        53rd and 89th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Dumont.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Bordas.
+        52nd and 72nd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Bittard des Portes.
+        82nd and 83rd Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Brigade_: General Ameil.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Cambriel.
+        4th Hussar regiment.
+        4th and 8th Lancer regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General du Coulombier (appointed).
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel Aubac.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+12TH CORPS.
+
+    General Lebrun.
+    Chief of Staff: General Gresley.
+    Commanding Artillery: General d'Ouvrier de Villegly.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Grandchamp.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Cambriels.
+        1 Chasseur marching battalion.
+        22nd and 34th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Villeneuve.
+        58th and 72nd Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Lacretelle.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Bernier Maligny.
+        14th, 20th, and 30th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Marquisan.
+        3rd and 4th marching regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General de Vassoigne.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Reboul.
+        1st and 2nd regiments of marine infantry.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Martin de Paillières.
+        3rd and 4th regiments of marine infantry.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General de Salignac-Fénelon.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Savaresse.
+        1st and 7th Lancer regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Béville.
+        5th and 6th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General Leforestier de Vendeune.
+        7th and 8th Chasseurs.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel Brisac.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+RESERVE CAVALRY.
+
+_1st Reserve Cavalry Division_: General Margueritte.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Tillard.
+        1st and 2nd Chasseurs regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Galiffet.
+        1st, 3rd and 4th Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_2nd Reserve Cavalry Division_: General de Bonnemains.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Girard.
+        1st Hussar regiment.
+        47th Chasseur regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Brauer.
+        2nd and 3rd Cuirassiers.
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF METZ.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: Marshal Bazaine.
+    Chief of Staff: General Jarras.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Soleille.
+    Commanding Engineer: General Viala.
+
+
+THE IMPERIAL GUARD.
+
+    General Bourbaki (afterwards General Desvaux).
+    Chief of Staff: General d'Auvergne.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Pé-de-Arros.
+
+(Detail as above.)
+
+
+2ND CORPS.
+
+    General Frossard.
+
+(Detail as above with the exception of the 3rd Division (Laveaucoupet's)
+detached to garrison duty.)
+
+
+3RD CORPS.
+
+    General Decaen, afterwards Marshal Le Boeuf.
+
+(Detail as above.)
+
+
+4TH CORPS.
+
+    General de Ladmirault.
+
+(Detail as above.)
+
+
+6TH CORPS.
+
+    Marshal Canrobert.
+
+     (Detail as above, with the exception that the Corps when
+     ordered up to Metz, left behind at Châlons three infantry
+     regiments, its cavalry division, its reserve artillery, and
+     division artillery of the 2nd Division.)
+
+    LAPASSET'S BRIGADE (from attached 5th Corps).
+
+    General Lapasset.
+        14th Chasseur battalion.
+        49th and 84th Line regiments.
+
+
+RESERVE CAVALRY.
+
+_1st Reserve Cavalry Division_: General du Barrail.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Margueritte.
+        (Vide Army of Châlons.)
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Lajaille.
+        2nd Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+        (The 4th regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique remained at Châlons.)
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+      Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_2nd Reserve Cavalry Division_: General de Forton.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Prince J. Murat.
+        1st and 9th Dragoon regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Grammont.
+        7th and 10th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+GREAT ARTILLERY RESERVE.
+
+(As above, less six batteries detached to the 6th Corps.)
+
+
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE GERMAN ARMIES
+ON 1ST AUGUST, 1870.
+
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: H.M. the King of Prussia.
+    King's aides-de-camp: General von Boyen; Lieut.-General von Treskow;
+        Major-General von Steinäcker; Colonel Count Lehndorff;
+        Lieut.-Colonel Prince Radziwill; Lieut.-Colonel Count Waldersee;
+        Major von Alten.
+    Chief of Staff: General Baron von Moltke.
+    Quarter-Master General: Lieut.-General von Podbielski.
+    Divisional Chiefs of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel Bronsart von
+        Schellendorf; Lieut.-Colonel von Verdy du Vernois;
+        Lieut.-Colonel von Brandenstein.
+    Inspector-General of Artillery: General von Hindersin.
+    Inspector-General of Engineers: Lieut.-General von Kleist.
+    Commissary-General: Lieut.-General von Stosch.
+
+
+I. ARMY.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: General von Steinmetz, afterwards General
+        von Manteuffel.
+    Chief of Staff: Major-General von Sperling.
+    Quartermaster-General: Colonel Count von Wartensleben.
+    Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General Schwartz.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major-General Biehler.
+
+
+7TH CORPS--WESTPHALIA.
+
+    Infantry-General von Zastrow.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Unger.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Zimmermann.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Treumann.
+
+_13th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Glümer.
+
+    25th Brigade: Major-General Baron v. d. Osten Sacken.
+        1st Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 13.
+        Hanoverian Fusilier regiment, No. 73.
+
+    26th Brigade: Major-General Baron v. d. Goltz.
+        2nd Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 15.
+        6th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 55.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        7th Westphalian Jäger battalion.
+        1st Westphalian Hussar regiment, No. 8.
+        Five batteries (two heavy, two light, and one horse-artillery)
+            of the 7th field-artillery regiment.
+
+    2nd Field-pioneer company, 7th corps, with entrenching tool-column.
+
+    3rd Field-pioneer company, 7th corps.
+
+_14th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Kamecke.
+
+    27th Brigade: Major-General von François.
+        Lower Rhine Fusilier regiment, No. 39.
+        1st Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 74.
+
+    28th Brigade: Major-General von Woyna.
+        5th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 53.
+        2nd Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 77.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Four batteries (two heavy and two light) of the 7th Westphalian
+          field-artillery regiment.
+        Hanoverian Hussar regiment, No. 15.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 7th corps, with light bridging-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Helden-Sarnowski.
+
+        Two Horse artillery, two light, and two heavy field-batteries
+            of the 7th Field-artillery regiment.
+        Artillery Ammunition columns.
+        Infantry      "         "
+            "     Pontoon       "
+
+    The 7th Westphalian train-battalion.
+
+
+8TH CORPS--RHINE PROVINCES.
+
+    Infantry-General von Goeben.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Witzendorff.
+    Commanding Artillery: Colonel von Kamecke.
+    Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Schulz.
+
+_15th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Weltzien.
+
+    29th Brigade: Major-General von Wedell.
+        East Prussian Fusilier regiment, No. 33.
+        7th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 60.
+
+    30th Brigade: Major-General von Strubberg.
+        2nd Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 28.
+        4th Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 67.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        8th Rhine Province Jäger battalion.
+        King's Hussar regiment (1st Rhine), No. 7.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 8th Field-Artillery
+            regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 8th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+
+_16th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Barnekow.
+
+    31st Brigade: Major-General Count Neidhardt v. Gneisenau.
+        3rd Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 29.
+        7th Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 69.
+
+    32nd Brigade: Colonel von Rex.
+        Hohenzollern Fusilier regiment, No. 40.
+        4th Thüringian Infantry regiment, No. 72.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        2nd Rhine Hussar regiment, No. 9.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 8th Field-artillery
+            regiment.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 8th corps, with light bridging-train.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 8th corps.
+
+_Corps Artillery_: Colonel von Broecker.
+
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery, two heavy and two light field
+        batteries, of the 8th Field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Artillery, Infantry, and pontoon columns belonging to the
+        8th Field-artillery regiment.
+
+    The 8th, Rhenish, train-battalion.
+
+
+3RD CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General Count v. d. Gröben.
+
+    6th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Mirus.
+        Rhine Prov. Cuirassier regiment, No. 8.
+            "         "     Uhlan regiment, No. 7.
+
+    7th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Count zu Dohna.
+        Westphalian Uhlan regiment, No. 5.
+        2nd Hanoverian Uhlan regiment, No. 14.
+
+    One battery of horse-artillery of the 7th Westphalian
+        Field-artillery regiment.
+
+
+1ST CORPS--EAST PRUSSIA.
+
+    Cavalry-General Baron von Manteuffel.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel v. d. Burg.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Bergmann.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Fahland.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Bentheim.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General von Gayl.
+        Crown Prince's Grenadier regiment (1st East Prussian), No. 1.
+        5th East Prussian Infantry regiment, No. 41.
+
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General von Falkenstein.
+        2nd East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 3.
+        6th  "      "     Infantry regiment, No. 43.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        East Prussian Jäger battalion, No. 1.
+        Lithuanian Dragoon regiment, No. 1.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 1st East Prussian
+            Field-artillery regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 1st corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 1st corps.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: Major-General von Pritzelwitz.
+
+    3rd Brigade: Major-General von Memerty.
+        3rd East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 4.
+        7th  "      "     Infantry regiment, No. 44.
+
+    4th Brigade: Major-General von Zzlinitzki.
+        4th East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 5.
+        8th  "      "     Infantry regiment, No. 45.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        East Prussian Dragoon regiment, No. 10.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 1st, East Prussian,
+            Field-artillery regiment.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 1st corps, with light bridging-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Junge.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery }
+        Two light field-batteries        } of 1st, East Prussian,
+        Two heavy " "                    }   Field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns belonging
+        to 1st Field-artillery regiment.
+
+    The 1st East Prussian train-battalion.
+
+
+1ST CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General von Hartmann.
+
+    1st Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Lüderitz.
+        Queen's Cuirassier regiment (Pomeranian), No. 2.
+        1st Pomeranian Uhlan regiment, No. 4.
+        2nd     "       "      "       No. 9.
+
+    2nd Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baumgarth.
+        East Prussian Cuirassier regiment, No. 3.
+          "     "     Uhlan regiment, No. 8.
+        Lithuanian      "      "    No. 12.
+
+    One battery of horse-artillery of the 1st, East Prussian,
+        Field-artillery regiment.
+
+
+II. ARMY.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince Frederic Charles
+      of Prussia.
+    Chief of Staff: Major-General von Stiehle.
+    Quartermaster-General: Colonel von Hertzberg.
+    Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General von Colomier.
+    Commanding Engineer: Colonel Leuthaus.
+
+
+GUARD CORPS--GENERAL.
+
+    Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince August of Würtemberg.
+    Chief of Staff: Major-General von Dannenberg.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General Prince Kraft of Hohenloh
+      Ingelsingen.
+    Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Bogun von Wangenheim.
+
+_1st Guard-Infantry Division_: Major-General von Pape.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General von Kessel.
+        1st regiment of Foot Guards.
+        3rd     "        "      "
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General Baron von Medem.
+        2nd regiment of Foot Guards.
+        Guard Fusilier regiment.
+        4th regiment of Foot Guards.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Guard Jäger battalion.
+          "   Hussar regiment.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Guard field-artillery
+            regiment.
+        1st Field-pioneer company of the Guard with light
+            bridging-train.
+
+_2nd Guard-Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Budritzki.
+
+    3rd Brigade: Colonel Knappe von Knappstaedt.
+        1st Guard Grenadier regiment (Emperor Alexander's).
+        3rd  "       "        "      (Queen Elizabeth's).
+
+    4th Brigade: Major-General von Berger.
+        2nd Guard Grenadier regiment (Emperor Francis').
+        4th  "       "        "      (Queen's).
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Guard Rifle battalion.
+        2nd Guard Uhlan regiment.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Guard field-artillery
+            regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company of the Guard with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company of the Guard.
+
+_Guard-Cavalry Division_: Lieut.-General Count v. d. Goltz.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General Count von Brandenburg I.
+        Regiment of the Guard du Corps.
+        Guard Cuirassier regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General H.R.H. Prince Albert of Prussia.
+        1st Guard Uhlan regiment.
+        3rd   "     "      "
+
+    3rd Brigade: Major-General Count von Brandenburg II.
+        1st Guard Dragoon regiment.
+        2nd   "      "      "
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Scherbening.
+
+        Three batteries of horse-artillery  }
+        Two light field-batteries           }  of the Guard
+        Two heavy   "      "                }  field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Artillery ammunition, Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of
+        the Guard field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Guard train-battalion.
+
+
+3RD CORPS--BRANDENBURG.
+
+    Lieut.-General von Alvensleben II.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Voigts-Rhetz.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Bülow.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Sabarth.
+
+_5th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Stülpnagel.
+
+    9th Brigade: Major-General von Döring.
+        Leib.-Grenadier regiment (1st Brandenburg), No. 8.
+        5th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 48.
+
+    10th Brigade: Major-General von Schwerin.
+        2nd Brandenburg Grenadier regiment, No. 12.
+        6th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 52.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Brandenburg Jäger battalion, No. 3.
+        2nd Brandenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 12.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Brandenburg
+            Field-artillery regiment, No. 3.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps.
+
+_6th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Baron von Buddenbrock.
+
+    11th Brigade: Major-General von Rothmaler.
+        3rd Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 20.
+        Brandenburg Fusilier regiment, No. 35.
+
+    12th Brigade: Colonel von Bismarck.
+        4th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 24.
+        8th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 64.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Brandenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 2.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Brandenburg
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 3.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Dresky.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Brandenburg
+        Two heavy field-batteries        } field-artillery regiment,
+        Two light   "       "            } No. 3.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps, with light bridging-train.
+
+    Artillery ammunition, Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns
+        of the Brandenburg field-artillery regiment, No. 3.
+
+    Brandenburg train battalion.
+
+
+4TH CORPS--SAXON PROVINCES AND ANHALT.
+
+    Infantry-General von Alvensleben I.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Thile.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Scherbening.
+    Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel von Eltester.
+
+_7th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Grosz von Schwarzhoff.
+
+    13th Brigade: Major-General von Vorries.
+        1st Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 26.
+        3rd Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 66.
+
+    14th Brigade: Major-General von Zychlinski.
+        2nd Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 27.
+        Anhalt Infantry regiment, No. 93.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Magdeburg Jäger battalion, No. 4.
+        Westphalian Dragoon regiment, No. 7.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Magdeburg
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 4th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 4th corps.
+
+_8th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Schöler.
+
+    15th Brigade: Major-General von Kessler.
+        1st Thüringian Infantry regiment, No. 31.
+        3rd    "         "          "     No. 71.
+
+    16th Brigade: Colonel von Scheffler.
+        Schleswig-Holstein Fusilier regiment, No. 86.
+        7th Thüringian Infantry regiment, No. 96.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Thüringian Hussar regiment, No. 12.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Magdeburg
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 4.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 4th corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Crusius.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Magdeburg
+        Two light field-batteries        } field-artillery
+        Two heavy  "     "               } regiment, No. 4.
+
+    Artillery ammunition, infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns
+        belonging to Magdeburg field-artillery regiment, No. 4.
+
+    Magdeburg train-battalion, No. 4.
+
+
+9TH CORPS--SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN AND HESSE.
+
+    Infantry-General von Manstein.
+    Chief of Staff: Major Bronsart von Schellendorf.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General Baron von Puttkammer.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Hutier.
+
+_18th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Baron von Wrangel.
+
+    35th Brigade: Major-General von Blumenthal.
+        Magdeburg Fusilier regiment, No. 36.
+        Schleswig Infantry regiment, No. 84.
+
+    36th Brigade: Major-General von Below.
+        2nd Silesian Grenadier regiment, No. 11.
+        Holstein Infantry regiment, No. 85.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Lauenburg Jäger battalion, No. 9.
+        Magdeburg Dragoon regiment, No. 6.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Schleswig-Holstein
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 9.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 9th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 9th corps.
+
+_Hessian Division_ (_25th_): Lieut.-General Prince Louis of Hesse.
+
+    49th Brigade: Major-General von Wittich.
+        1st Infantry regiment (Body Guard).
+        2nd   "       "       (Grand Duke's).
+        1st (Guard) Jäger battalion.
+
+    50th Brigade: Colonel von Lynker.
+        3rd Infantry regiment.
+        4th    "        "
+        2nd Jäger battalion.
+
+    (25th) Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Schlotheim.
+        1st Reiter regiment (Guard Cheveauxlegers).
+        2nd   "       "     (Leib Chevauxlegers).
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+        Five field-batteries (two heavy, three light).
+        Pioneer company with light field bridge-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Jagemann.
+
+    One battery of horse-artillery   } of the Schleswig-Holstein
+    Two light field-batteries        } field-artillery
+    Two heavy   "      "             } regiment, No. 9.
+
+
+10TH CORPS--HANOVER, OLDENBURG, AND BRUNSWICK.
+
+    Infantry-General von Voigts-Rhetz.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Caprivi.
+    Commanding Artillery: Colonel Baron v. d. Becke.
+    Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Cramer.
+
+_19th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Schwartzkoppen.
+
+    37th Brigade: Colonel Lehmann.
+        East Frisian Infantry regiment, No. 78.
+        Oldenburg Infantry regiment, No. 91.
+
+    38th Brigade: Major-General von Wedell.
+        3rd Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 16.
+        8th     "           "       "      No. 57.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Hanoverian Dragoon regiment, No. 9.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hanoverian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 10.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 10th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 10th corps.
+
+_20th Infantry Division_: Major-General von Kraatz-Koschlan.
+
+    39th Brigade: Major-General von Woyna.
+        7th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 56.
+        3rd Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 79.
+
+    40th Brigade: Major-General von Diringshofen.
+        4th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 17.
+        Brunswick Infantry regiment, No. 92.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Hanoverian Jäger battalion, No. 10.
+        2nd Hanoverian Dragoon regiment, No. 16.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hanoverian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 10.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 10th corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Baron v. d. Goltz.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of Hanoverian field-artillery
+        Two heavy field-batteries        } regiment, No. 10.
+        Two light  "      "              }
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition columns belonging to Hanoverian
+      field-artillery regiment, No. 10.
+
+    Hanoverian train-battalion, No. 10.
+
+
+12TH CORPS--KINGDOM OF SAXONY.
+
+    Infantry-General H.R.H. the Crown Prince of Saxony,
+        afterwards Prince George.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Zeschwitz.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General Köhler.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Klemna.
+
+_1st Infantry Division, No. 23_: Lieut.-General H.R.H. Prince George of
+    Saxony, afterwards Major-General von Montbé.
+
+    1st Brigade, No. 45: Major-General von Craushaar.
+        1st (Leib) Grenadier regiment, No. 100.
+        2nd (King William of Prussia) Grenadier regiment, No. 101.
+        Rifle (Fusilier) regiment, No. 108.
+
+    2nd Brigade, No. 46: Colonel von Montbé.
+        3rd Infantry regiment (Crown Prince's), No. 102.
+        4th    "        "     No. 103.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Reiter regiment (Crown Prince's).
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 12th
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        2nd company of 12th Pioneer battalion with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        4th company of 12th Pioneer battalion.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division, No. 24_: Major-General Nehrhoff von Holderberg.
+
+    3rd Brigade, No. 47: Major-General Tauscher.
+        5th Infantry regiment (Prince Frederic August's), No. 104.
+        6th Infantry regiment, No. 105.
+        1st Jäger battalion (Crown Prince's), No. 12.
+
+    4th Brigade, No. 48: Colonel von Schulz.
+        7th Infantry regiment (Prince George's), No. 106.
+        8th    "        "     No. 107.
+        2nd Jäger battalion, No. 13.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        2nd Reiter regiment.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 12th
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        3rd company of 12th Pioneer battalion with light bridge-train.
+
+_Cavalry Division, No. 12_: Major-General Count Lippe.
+
+    1st Cavalry Brigade, No. 23: Major-General Krug von Nidda.
+        Guard Reiter regiment.
+        1st Uhlan regiment, No. 17.
+
+    2nd Cavalry Brigade, No. 24: Major-General Senfft von Pilsach.
+        3rd Reiter regiment.
+        2nd Uhlan regiment, No. 18.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        One battery of horse-artillery of 12th field-artillery regiment.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Funcke.
+
+        One battery of horse-artillery }
+        Three light field-batteries    } of the 12th
+        Three heavy   "      "         } field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of the
+        12th field-artillery regiment.
+
+    12th train-battalion.
+
+
+5TH CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General Baron von Rheinbaben.
+
+    11th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Barby.
+        Westphalian Cuirassier regiment, No. 4.
+        1st Hanoverian Uhlan regiment, No. 13.
+        Oldenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 19.
+
+    12th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Bredow.
+        Magdeburg Cuirassier regiment, No. 7.
+        Altmark Uhlan regiment, No. 16.
+        Schleswig-Holstein Dragoon regiment, No. 13.
+
+    13th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Redern.
+        Magdeburg Hussar regiment, No. 10.
+        2nd Westphalian Hussar regiment, No. 11.
+        Brunswick Hussar regiment, No. 17.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Two batteries horse-artillery.
+
+
+6TH CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General H.S.H. Duke William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
+
+    14th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Diepenbroick-Grüter.
+        Brandenburg Cuirassier regiment, No. 6
+            (Emp. Nicholas I. of Russia).
+        1st Brandenburg Uhlan regiment, No. 3 (Emperor of Russia).
+        Schleswig-Holstein Uhlan regiment, No. 15.
+
+    15th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Rauch.
+        Brandenburg Hussar regiment, No. 3 (Zieten's Hussars).
+        Schleswig-Holstein Hussar regiment, No. 16.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+
+2ND CORPS--POMERANIA.
+
+    Infantry-General von Fransecky.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Wichmann.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Kleist.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Sandkuhl.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: Major-General von Hartmann.
+
+    5th Brigade: Major-General von Koblinski.
+        Grenadier regiment: King Frederic William IV.
+            (1st Pomeranian), No. 2.
+        5th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 42.
+
+    6th Brigade: Colonel v. d. Decken.
+        3rd Pomeranian Infantry Regiment, No. 14.
+        7th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 54.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Pomeranian Jäger battalion, No. 2.
+        Neumark Dragoon regiment, No. 3.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the 2nd Pomeranian
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Hann von Weyhern.
+
+    7th Brigade: Major-General du Trossel.
+        Colberg Grenadier regiment (2nd Pomeranian), No. 9.
+        6th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 49.
+
+    8th Brigade: Major-General von Kettler.
+        4th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 21.
+        8th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 61.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Pomeranian Dragoon regiment, No. 11.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Pomeranian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 2.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Petzel.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Pomeranian
+        Two light field-batteries        } field-artillery
+        Two heavy   "       "            } regiment, No. 2.
+
+    Artillery and infantry ammunition and pontoon columns of Pomeranian
+    field-artillery regiment, No. 2.
+
+    Pomeranian train-battalion, No. 2.
+
+
+III. ARMY.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: Infantry-General H.R.H. the Crown Prince of
+        Prussia.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-General von Blumenthal.
+    Quartermaster-General: Colonel von Gottberg.
+    Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General Herkt.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major-General Schulz.
+
+
+5TH CORPS--POSEN AND LIEGNITZ.
+
+    Lieutenant-General von Kirchbach.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel v. d. Esch.
+    Commanding Artillery: Colonel Gaede.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Owstein.
+
+_9th Infantry Division_: Major-General von Sandrart.
+
+    17th Brigade: Colonel von Bothmer.
+        3rd Posen Infantry regiment, No. 58.
+        4th   "       "       "      No. 59.
+
+    18th Brigade: Major-General von Voigts-Rhetz.
+        King's Grenadier regiment (2nd West Prussian), No. 7.
+        2nd Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 47.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Silesian Jäger battalion, No. 5.
+        1st Silesian Dragoon regiment, No 4.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Lower Silesian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 5.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 5th corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_10th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Schmidt.
+
+    19th Brigade: Colonel von Henning auf Schönhoff.
+        1st West Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 6.
+        1st Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 46.
+
+    20th Brigade: Major-General Walther von Montbary.
+        Westphalian Fusilier regiment, No. 37.
+        3rd Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 50.
+
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Kurmark Dragoon regiment, No. 14.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 5.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 5th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd    "             "      "   "
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Lieut.-Colonel Köhler.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Lower Silesian
+        Two light field-batteries        } field-artillery
+        Two heavy   "     "              } regiment, No. 5.
+
+    Artillery and infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of
+        field-artillery regiment, No. 5.
+
+    Lower Silesian train-battalion, No. 5.
+
+
+11TH CORPS--HESSE, NASSAU, SAXE-WEIMAR, &C.
+
+    Lieut.-General von Bose.
+    Chief of Staff: Major-General Stein von Kaminski.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General Hausmann.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Crüger.
+
+_21st Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Schachtmeyer.
+
+    41st Brigade: Colonel von Koblinski.
+        Hessian Fusilier regiment, No. 80.
+        1st Nassau Infantry regiment, No. 87.
+
+    42nd Brigade: Major-General von Thiele.
+        2nd Hessian Infantry regiment, No. 82.
+        2nd Nassau Infantry regiment, No. 88.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Hessian Jäger battalion, No. 11.
+        2nd Hessian Hussar regiment, No. 14.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hessian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 11.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 11th corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_22nd Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Gersdorff.
+
+    43rd Brigade: Colonel von Kontzki.
+        2nd Thüringian Infantry regiment, No. 32.
+        6th  "          "       "         No. 95.
+
+    44th Brigade: Major-General von Schkopp.
+        3rd Hessian Infantry regiment, No. 83.
+        5th Thüringian "      "        No. 94.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Hessian Hussar regiment, No. 13.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hessian
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 11th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 11th corps.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Oppeln-Bronikowski.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery }
+        Two light field-batteries        } of Hessian field artillery
+        Two heavy   "     "              } regiment, No. 11.
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of 11th
+        field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Hessian train-battalion, No. 11.
+
+
+1ST BAVARIAN CORPS.
+
+    Infantry-General Baron von der Tann-Rathsamhausen.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Heinleth.
+    Director of Field-Artillery: Major-General von Malaisé.
+    Director of Engineers: Lieut.-Colonel Riem.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Stephan.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General Dietl.
+        Infantry body-guard regiment.
+        Two battalions of 1st Infantry regiment (King's).
+        2nd Jäger battalion.
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General von Orff.
+        2nd Infantry regiment (Crown Prince's).
+        Two battalions of 11th Infantry regiment (v. d. Tann).
+        4th Jäger battalion.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        9th Jäger battalion.
+        3rd Chevauxlegers regiment (Duke Maximilian's).
+        Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Count Pappenheim.
+
+    3rd Brigade: Major-General Schumacher.
+        3rd Infantry regiment (Prince Charles of Bavaria).
+        Two battalions of 12th Infantry regiment
+            (Queen Amalie of Greece).
+        1st Jäger battalion.
+
+    4th Brigade: Major-General Baron von der Tann.
+        10th Infantry regiment (Prince Louis).
+        Two battalions of 13th Infantry regiment
+            (Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria).
+        7th Jäger battalion.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        4th Chevauxlegers regiment (King's).
+        Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.
+
+    Cuirassier Brigade: Major-General von Tausch.
+        1st Cuirassier regiment (Prince Charles of Bavaria).
+        2nd     "         "     (Prince Adalbert).
+        6th Chevauxlegers regiment
+            (Grand Duke Constantine Nicolajusitch).
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Brigade of Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel Bronzetti.
+
+        1st Division. Two 6-pounder, one 4-pounder battery. }
+        2nd    "      Two 6-pounder batteries.              } 42 guns.
+        3rd    "      Two 6-pounder batteries.              }
+
+    1st Field-Engineer Division.
+
+
+2ND BAVARIAN CORPS.
+
+    Infantry-General von Hartmann.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel Baron von Horn.
+    Director of Field-Artillery: Major-General Lutz.
+    Director of Field-Engineering: Lieut.-Colonel Fogt.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Walther.
+
+    5th Brigade: Major-General von Schleich.
+        6th Infantry regiment (King William of Prussia).
+        Two battalions of 7th Infantry regiment (Hohenhausen).
+        8th Jäger battalion.
+
+
+    6th Brigade: Colonel Borries von Wissell.
+        Two battalions of 14th Infantry regiment (Hartmann).
+        15th Infantry regiment (King John of Saxony).
+        3rd Jäger battalion.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Chevauxlegers regiment (Emperor Alexander of Russia).
+        Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Count von Bothmer.
+
+    7th Brigade: Major-General von Thiereck.
+        Two battalions of 5th Infantry regiments (Grand Duke of Hesse).
+        9th Infantry regiment (Werde).
+        6th Jäger battalion.
+
+    8th Brigade: Major-General Maillinger.
+        3rd battalion of 1st Infantry regiment.
+        3rd    "      "  5th    "        "
+        1st    "      "  7th    "        "
+        3rd    "      " 11th    "        "
+        3rd    "      " 14th    "        "
+        5th Jäger battalion.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        10th Jäger battalion.
+        2nd Chevauxlegers regiment.
+        Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.
+
+    Uhlan Brigade: Major-General Baron von Mulzer.
+        1st Uhlan regiment (Archduke Nicholas of Russia).
+        2nd Uhlan regiment (King's).
+        5th Chevauxlegers regiment (Prince Otto's).
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+    Brigade of Reserve Artillery: Colonel von Pillement.
+
+    1st Division:
+        One 4-pounder horse-artillery battery.
+        Two 6-pounder field batteries.
+
+    2nd Division:
+        Two 6-pounder field batteries.
+
+    3rd Division:
+        Two 6-pounder field batteries.
+
+    2nd Field-Engineer Division.
+
+
+WÜRTEMBERG DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General von Obernitz.
+
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Friebig.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General von Reitzenstein.
+        1st Infantry regiment (Queen Olga) (two battalions).
+        7th    "        "     (two battalions).
+        2nd Jäger battalion.
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General von Strakloff.
+        2nd Infantry regiment (two battalions).
+        5th    "        "     (King Charles's battalion).
+        3rd Jäger battalion.
+
+    3rd Brigade: Major-General Baron von Hügel.
+        3rd Infantry regiment (two battalions).
+        8th    "        "              "
+        1st Jäger battalion.
+
+    Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Count von Scheler.
+        1st Reiter regiment (King Charles) (four squadrons).
+        2nd   "       "     (King William) (two      "    ).
+        4th   "       "     (Queen Olga)   (four     "    ).
+
+_Artillery._
+
+    1st Field-artillery Division:
+        Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.
+
+    2nd Field-artillery Division:
+        Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.
+        3rd Field-artillery Division:
+        Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.
+
+
+BADEN DIVISION.[89]
+
+    Lieut.-General von Beyer.
+
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Leszczynski.
+
+    1st Brigade: Lieut.-General du Jarrys Baron La Roche.
+        1st Leib Grenadier regiment.
+        Fusilier battalion of 4th Infantry regiment.
+        2nd Grenadier regiment (King of Prussia).
+
+    Combined (3rd) Brigade: Major-General Keller.
+        3rd Infantry regiment.
+        5th    "        "
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        3rd Dragoon regiment (Prince Charles).
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light).
+        Company of pontooners with light bridge-train and entrenching
+            tool-column.
+
+    Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron La Roche-Starkenfels.
+        1st Leib Dragoon regiment.
+        2nd Dragoon regiment (Margrave Maximilian).
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Corps-Artillery._
+
+    Two heavy and two light field batteries.
+
+
+4TH CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince Albert of Prussia.
+
+    8th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Hontheim.
+        West Prussian Cuirassier regiment, No. 5.
+        Posen Uhlan regiment, No. 10.
+
+    9th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Bernhardi.
+        West Prussian Uhlan regiment, No. 1.
+        Thüringian Uhlan regiment, No. 6.
+
+    10th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Krosigk.
+        2nd Leib Hussar regiment, No. 2.
+        Rhine Province Dragoon regiment, No. 5.
+
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+6TH ARMY CORPS--SILESIA.
+
+    Cavalry-General von Tümpling.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Salviati.
+    Commanding Artillery: Colonel von Ramm.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Albrecht.
+
+_11th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Gordon.
+
+    21st Brigade: Major-General von Malachowski.
+        1st Silesian Grenadier regiment, No. 10.
+        1st Posen Infantry regiment, No. 18.
+
+    22nd Brigade: Major-General von Eckartsberg.
+        Silesian Fusilier regiment, No. 38.
+        4th Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 51.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        2nd Silesian Jäger battalion, No. 6.
+        2nd Silesian Dragoon regiment, No. 8.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Silesian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 6.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 6th corps.
+
+_12th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Hoffmann.
+
+    23rd Brigade: Major-General Gündell.
+        1st Upper Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 22.
+        3rd   "      "        "        "      No. 62.
+
+    24th Brigade: Major-General von Fabeck.
+        2nd Upper Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 23.
+        4th   "      "        "        "      No. 63.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        3rd Silesian Dragoon regiment, No. 15.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Silesian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 6.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 6th corps, with light bridge-train.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 6th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Arnold.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery  } of the Silesian
+        Two light field-batteries         } field-artillery
+        Two heavy   "      "              } regiment, No. 6
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of Silesian
+        field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Silesian train battalion, No. 6.
+
+
+2ND CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General Count Stolberg-Wernigerode.
+
+    3rd Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Colomb.
+        Silesian Leib Cuirassier regiment, No. 1.
+        Silesian Uhlan regiment, No. 2.
+
+    4th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Barnekow.
+        1st Leib Hussar regiment, No. 1.
+        Pomeranian Hussar regiment (Blucher's Hussars), No. 5.
+
+    5th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Baumbach.
+        1st Silesian Hussar regiment, No. 4.
+        2nd    "       "       "      No. 6.
+
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[89] Subsequently many changes in the commands.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+LONDON:
+PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LIMITED,
+ST. JOHN'S HOUSE, CLERKENWELL, E.C.
+
+
+[Illustration: Map of the Franco-German War of 1870-71.
+Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.
+James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., Publishers, 45 Albemarle St., London, W.]
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+Obvious punctuation and accent errors repaired. Note that it was
+customary to write a captial "E" without an "accent aigu" and this has
+been retained.
+
+There are two distinct rivers "Loir" and "Loire" so no attempt has been
+made to consider one as a typo of the other.
+
+Hyphen removed: "left[-]ward" (page 34), "franc[-]tireur(s)" (pages 70,
+281, 428), "gun[-]boats" (page 121), "grave[-]yard" (page 110, twice),
+"night[-]fall" (pages 276, 294), "re[-]captured" (page 195),
+"re[-]organized" (page 40), "re[-]organization" (page 25), "sand[-]bags"
+(page 362), "side[-]ward" (page 298), "St.[-]Menges" (page 92).
+
+Hyphen added: "battle[-]field" (page 212), "grape[-]shot" (page 53),
+re[-]opening (page 208).
+
+The following words appear both with and without hyphens and have not
+been changed: "counter[-]stroke(s)", "mid[-]day", "out[-]flank",
+"rear[-]guard", "re[-]cross(ed)", "re[-]provisioned",
+"sharp[-]shooters".
+
+Page 29: "committeed" changed to "committed" (already committed
+themselves).
+
+Pages 32, 321: "l" changed to "L" (Villers L'Orme, L'Epine de Dallon).
+
+Page 49: "Pont a Mousson" changed to "Pont à Mousson".
+
+Page 57: "to" changed to "of" (the small leaderless bodies of).
+
+Page 71: "of" added to "a halt on this side of the Meuse".
+
+Page 159: "beleagured" changed to "beleaguered" (had been beleaguered in
+Metz).
+
+Page 174: "Wolfganzen" changed to "Wolfgantzen".
+
+Page 178: "D" changed to "d" (d'Aurelle de Paladines).
+
+Page 191: "Ist" changed to "1st" (1st Cavalry Division).
+
+Page 195: Missing "t" added (observe towards Courcelles).
+
+Page 248: "Chatres" changed to "Chartres".
+
+Page 291: "Sleswig" changed to "Schleswig".
+
+Page 304: "Divison" changed to "Division" (The 14th Division).
+
+Page 315: "Sérancourt" changed to "Séraucourt".
+
+Page 325: "occupapation" changed to "occupation" (Hostile occupation).
+
+Page 346: "approach" changed to "approaching" (columns of all arms were
+approaching).
+
+Page 351: "Vannes" changed to "Vanves".
+
+Page 365: "Côte d'or" changed to "Côte d'Or".
+
+Page 414: "General von Herwath" changed to "General von Herwarth".
+
+Page 415: "fnrther" changed to "further" (further to the left).
+
+Page 415: "intentiou" changed to "intention" (which he had no
+intention).
+
+Page 417: "soene" changed to "scene" (The scene is Versailles).
+
+Page 418: "Versailes" changed to "Versailles".
+
+Page 429: "Guyot de l'Lespart" changed to "Guyot de Lespart".
+
+Page 436: "Connt" changed to "Count" (Count von Brandenburg).
+
+Page 442: "Fonr" changed to "Four" (Four batteries).
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Franco-German War of 1870-71, by 
+Count Helmuth, von Moltke
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR OF 1870-71 ***
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+      by Field-Marshal Count Helmuth von Moltke.
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+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Franco-German War of 1870-71, by 
+Count Helmuth, von Moltke
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Franco-German War of 1870-71
+
+Author: Count Helmuth, von Moltke
+
+Translator: Archibald Forbes
+
+Release Date: May 24, 2011 [EBook #36209]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR OF 1870-71 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+<h1><span class="smcap">The Franco-German War of 1870&mdash;71</span></h1>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[i]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="center">BY</div>
+
+<h2><span class="smcap">Field-Marshal</span> COUNT HELMUTH VON MOLTKE</h2>
+
+<div class="center">TRANSLATION REVISED BY</div>
+
+<h3>ARCHIBALD FORBES</h3>
+
+
+<div class="center"><i>WITH A MAP, NOTES, AND ORDERS OF BATTLE</i>
+<br /><br />
+LONDON<br />
+JAMES R. OSGOOD, McILVAINE &amp; CO.<br />
+45, <span class="smcap">Albemarle Street</span>, W.<br />
+1893<br />
+[<i>All rights reserved</i>]
+</div>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[ii]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[iii]</a></span></p>
+<h2>NOTE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The translation has been thoroughly revised for the
+sense as well as in regard to technical military terms
+and expressions. To the name of every German general
+officer mentioned in the text has been affixed, within
+brackets, his specific command, a liberty which the
+reader will perhaps not resent, since the interpolation
+is intended to facilitate his clearer understanding of
+a narrative condensed by the author with extreme
+severity.</p>
+
+<p>In further aid of elucidation there has been occasionally
+inserted, also within brackets, a date, a figure,
+or a word.</p>
+
+<p>A few footnotes will be found, which may perhaps
+be excused as not wholly irrelevant. In the Appendix
+have been inserted the "Orders of Battle" of both sides,
+as in the first period of the war.</p>
+
+<div class="right">A. F.</div>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[iv]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[v]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>PREFACE.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Field-Marshal von Moltke began this history of the
+War of 1870&mdash;1 in the spring of the year 1887, and
+during his residence at Creisau he worked at it for
+about three hours every morning. On his return to
+Berlin in the autumn of that year, the work was not
+quite finished, but he completed it by January, 1888,
+at Berlin, placed it in my hands, and never again
+alluded to the subject.</p>
+
+<p>The origin of the book was as follows. I had several
+times entreated him, but in vain, to make use of his
+leisure hours at Creisau in noting down some of his
+rich store of reminiscences. He always objected, in
+the same words: "Everything official that I have had
+occasion to write, or that is worth remembering, is to be
+seen in the Archives of the Staff Corps. My personal
+experiences had better be buried with me." He had a
+dislike to memoirs in general, which he was at no pains
+to conceal, saying that they only served to gratify the
+writer's vanity, and often contributed to distort important
+historical events by the subjective views of an
+individual, and the intrusion of trivial details. It
+might easily happen that a particular character which
+in history stood forth in noble simplicity should be
+hideously disfigured by the narrative of some personal
+experiences, and the ideal halo which had surrounded
+it be destroyed. And highly characteristic of
+Moltke's magnanimity are the words he once uttered
+on such an occasion, and which I noted at the time:
+"Whatever is published in a military history is always
+dressed for effect: yet it is a duty of piety and patriotism
+never to impair the prestige which identifies the
+glory of our Army with personages of lofty position."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[vi]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Not long after our arrival at Creisau, early in 1887, I
+repeated my suggestion. In reply to my request that
+he would write an account of the Campaign of 1870&mdash;1,
+he said: "You have the official history of the war.
+That contains everything. I admit," he added, "that
+it is too full of detail for the general type of readers,
+and far too technical. An abridgment must be made
+some day." I asked him whether he would allow me
+to lay the work on his table, and next morning he
+began the narrative contained in this volume, and
+comparing it as he went on with the official history,
+carried it through to the end.</p>
+
+<p>His purpose was to give a concise account of the
+war. But, while keeping this in view, he involuntarily&mdash;as
+was unavoidable in his position&mdash;regarded
+the undertaking from his own standpoint as Chief of
+the General Staff, and marshalled results so as to agree
+as a whole with the plan of campaign which was known
+only to the higher military authorities. Thus this
+work, which was undertaken in all simplicity of purpose,
+as a popular history, is practically from beginning
+to end the expression of a private opinion of the war
+by the Field-Marshal himself.</p>
+
+<p>The Appendix: "On a pretended Council of War in
+the Wars of William I. of Prussia," was written in
+1881. In a book by Fedor von Koppen, "Männer
+und Thaten, vaterländische Balladen" (<i>Men and Deeds:
+Patriotic Songs</i>), which the poet presented to the Field-Marshal,
+there is a poem entitled, "<i>A German Council
+of War at Versailles</i>" (with a historical note appended),
+describing an incident which never occurred, and
+which, under the conditions by which the relations
+of the Chief of the Staff to his Majesty were regulated,
+never could have occurred. To preclude any such
+mistakes for the future, and to settle once and for all
+the truth as to the much-discussed question of the
+Council of War, the Field-Marshal wrote this paper,
+to which he added a description of his personal experience<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[vii]</a></span>
+of the battle of Königgrätz. It is this narrative
+which, shortly after the writer's death, was published
+in the <i>Allgemeine Zeitung</i> of Munich, in the somewhat
+abridged and altered form in which the Field-Marshal
+had placed it at the disposal of Professor von Treitscke,
+the well-known historian.</p>
+
+<div class="right">
+<span class="smcap">Count Helmuth von Moltke</span>,<br />
+Major and Adjutant to his<br />
+Imperial Majesty.
+</div>
+
+<p>Berlin, June 25th, 1891.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_viii" id="Page_viii">[viii]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ix" id="Page_ix">[ix]</a></span></p>
+
+
+<h2>CONTENTS.</h2>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="center" colspan="2">PART I.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Preparations for War</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_2">2</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Combat of Weissenburg (4th August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_12">12</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Wörth (6th August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_14">14</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Spicheren (6th August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Right-wheel of the German Army</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_26">26</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Colombey-Nouilly (14th August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Vionville&mdash;Mars la Tour (16th August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Gravelotte&mdash;St. Privat (18th August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">New Distribution of the Army</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">The Army of Châlons</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_66">66</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Beaumont (30th August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_76">76</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Sedan (1st September)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_87">87</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="center" colspan="2"></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan="2">PART II.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left">Sortie from Metz (26th August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Noisseville (31st August)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Change of Government in Paris</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Retreat of General Vinoy</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">March on Paris of IIIrd Army and the Army of the Meuse</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_119">119</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Investment of Paris (19th September)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_124">124</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">First Negotiations for Peace</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of Toul (23rd September)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of Strasburg (28th September)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Operations round Paris to 15th October</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Action of Artenay (10th October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Engagement at Orleans (11th October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_146">146</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of Soissons (15th October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_149">149</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Storming of Châteaudun (18th October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Sortie against Malmaison (21st October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Storming of Le Bourget (30th October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_156">156</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Sortie from Metz against Bellevue (7th October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_x" id="Page_x">[x]</a></span>Capitulation of Metz (27th October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_165">165</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">New Distribution of the Army</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Operations of the XIVth Corps in the South-East (October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_166">166</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of Schlettstadt (24th October)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_172">172</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of Breisach (10th November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_174">174</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of Verdun (9th November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Advance of Ist and IInd Armies (up to mid-November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Engagement at Coulmiers (9th November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Operations of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Situation of IInd Army (second half of November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Beaune la Rolande (28th November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_192">192</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Advance of the Army of the Loire to the relief of Paris</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Loigny&mdash;Poupry (2nd December)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Paris in November</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_204">204</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Attempt of the Army of Paris to break out (30th November and 2nd December)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Advance of the Ist Army in November</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Amiens (17th November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_217">217</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of La Fère (27th November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of Thionville (24th November)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_222">222</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Investment of Belfort in November</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_223">223</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of Orleans (3rd and 4th December)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Offensive Operations South, East, and West</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Fighting of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (7th&mdash;10th December)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_235">235</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Interruption of important offensive operations in December</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_245">245</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">The XIVth Corps in December</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">The Ist Army in December</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_252">252</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Reduction of Mézières (1st January, 1871)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_257">257</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Paris in December</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Combat of Le Bourget (21st December)</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_261">261</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Bombardment of Mont-Avron (27th December)</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_264">264</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">The Army of the East under General Bourbaki</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_266">266</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Advance of the IInd Army to Le Mans</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle in front of Le Mans (10th&mdash;12th January)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_284">284</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Occurrences northward of Paris during January</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_303">303</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Battle of Bapaume (3rd January)</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_305">305</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Fighting on the Lower Seine (4th January)</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_308">308</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Reduction of Péronne (9th January)</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_310">310</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle of St. Quentin (19th January)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_316">316</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Occurrences in the South-Eastern Seat of War up to 17th January</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_324">324</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Siege of Belfort</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_324">324</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Transfer of the French Army of the East to the South-Eastern Seat of War (end of December)</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_328">328</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span style="margin-left: 2em;">Action of Villersexel (9th January)</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_331">331</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Battle on the Lisaine (15th&mdash;17th January)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_338">338</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">The Artillery Attack on Paris (January, 1871)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_349">349</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xi" id="Page_xi">[xi]</a></span>
+Battle of Mont Valérien (19th January)</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_355">355</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Prosecution of the Artillery Attack on Paris to the Armistice</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_361">361</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Operations of the Army of the South under General von Manteuffel</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_366">366</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">General Hann von Weyhern's March on Dijon</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_390">390</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Occupation of the Departments of the Doubs, Jura, and Côte d'Or</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_391">391</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Prosecution of the Siege of Belfort</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_393">393</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">The Armistice</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_399">399</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">The Homeward March of the German Army</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_406">406</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="center" colspan="2"></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="center" colspan="2">APPENDIX.</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td align="left">On the pretended Council of War in the Wars of King William I.</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_413">413</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">"Orders of Battle" of the French and German Armies in the first period of the war</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_419">419</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_xii" id="Page_xii">[xii]</a></span>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p>
+<h2>THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.</h2>
+
+
+
+
+<h2>PART I.</h2>
+
+
+<p>The days are gone by when, for dynastical ends, small
+armies of professional soldiers went to war to conquer
+a city, or a province, and then sought winter quarters
+or made peace. The wars of the present day call whole
+nations to arms; there is scarcely a family that has not
+had to bewail lost ones. The entire financial resources
+of the State are appropriated to military purposes, and
+the seasons of the year have no influence on the unceasing
+progress of hostilities. As long as nations
+exist distinct one from the other there will be quarrels
+that can only be settled by force of arms; but, in the
+interests of humanity, it is to be hoped that wars will
+become the less frequent, as they become the more
+terrible.</p>
+
+<p>Generally speaking, it is no longer the ambition of
+monarchs which endangers peace; but the impulses of
+a nation, its dissatisfaction with its internal conditions,
+the strife of parties and the intrigues of their leaders.
+A declaration of war, so serious in its consequences, is
+more easily carried by a large assembly, of which no
+one of the members bears the sole responsibility, than
+by a single individual, however lofty his position; and
+a peace-loving sovereign is less rare than a parliament
+composed of wise men. The great wars of recent times
+have been declared against the wish and will of the
+reigning powers. Now-a-days the Bourse possesses so
+great influence that it is able to have armies called
+into the field merely to protect its interests. Mexico<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span>
+and Egypt have had European armies of occupation
+inflicted upon them simply to satisfy the demands of
+the <i>haute finance</i>. To-day the question is not so much
+whether a nation is strong enough to make war, as
+whether its Government is powerful enough to prevent
+war. For example, united Germany has hitherto used
+her strength only to maintain European peace; while
+the weakness of a neighbouring Government continues
+to involve the gravest risk of war.</p>
+
+<p>It was, indeed, from such a condition of relations
+that the war of 1870&mdash;71 originated. A Napoleon on
+the throne of France was bound to justify his pretensions
+by political and military successes. Only temporarily
+was the French nation contented by the victories
+of its arms in remote fields of war; the triumphs of
+the Prussian armies excited jealousy, they were regarded
+as arrogant, as a challenge; and the French demanded
+revenge for Sadowa. The liberal spirit of the epoch
+set itself against the autocratic Government of the
+Emperor; he was forced to make concessions, his
+internal authority was weakened, and one day the
+nation was informed by its representatives that it
+desired war with Germany.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Preparations for War.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The wars carried on by France beyond seas, essentially
+on behalf of financial interests, had consumed immense
+sums and had undermined the discipline of the army.
+Her army was by no means in thorough preparedness
+for a great war, but, in the temper of the nation, the
+Spanish succession question furnished an opportune
+pretext on which to go to war. The French Reserves
+were called out on July 15th, and, as if the opportunity
+for a rupture was on no account to be let slip, only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span>
+four days later the French declaration of war was presented
+at Berlin.</p>
+
+<p>One Division of the French Army was ordered to
+the Spanish frontier as a corps of observation; only
+such troops as were absolutely necessary were left in
+Algiers and in Civita Vecchia; Paris and Lyons were
+sufficiently garrisoned. The entire remainder of the
+army: 332 battalions, 220 squadrons, 924 guns, in all
+about 300,000 men, formed the Army of the Rhine,
+which, divided into eight Corps, was, at any rate in the
+first instance, to be under the sole direction of a central
+head. The Emperor himself was the fitting person to
+undertake this weighty duty, pending whose arrival
+Marshal Bazaine was to command the gathering forces.</p>
+
+<p>It is very probable that the French reckoned on the
+old dissensions of the German races. Not that they
+dared to look forward to the South Germans as allies,
+but they hoped to paralyze their offensive by an early
+victory, perhaps even to win them over to their side.
+It was true that Prussia by herself was still a mighty
+antagonist, and that her armed forces were of superior
+strength; but peradventure this advantage might be
+counterbalanced by rapidity of action.</p>
+
+<p>The French plan of campaign was indeed based on
+the delivery of sudden unexpected attacks. The
+powerful fleet of war-ships and transports was to be
+utilized to land a considerable force in Northern
+Prussia, which should there engage a part of the
+Prussian troops, while the main body of the German
+army, it was assumed, would await the first French
+attack behind the strong defensive line of the Rhine.
+A French force was to cross the Rhine promptly, at
+and below Strasburg, thus avoiding the great German
+fortresses; its function being, at the very outset of the
+campaign, to cut off the South-German army charged
+with the defence of the Black Forest, and prevent it
+from effecting a junction with the North Germans.
+In the execution of this plan it was imperative that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span>
+main body of the French army should be massed in
+Alsace. Railway accommodation, however, was so
+inadequate that in the first instance it was only possible
+to transport 100,000 men to Strasburg; 150,000 had to
+leave the railway at Metz, and remain there till they
+could be moved forward. Fifty thousand men in the
+Châlons camp were intended to serve as supports, and
+115 battalions were destined for field service as soon as
+the National Guard should relieve them in the interior.
+The various Corps were distributed as follows:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="right">Imperial Guard,</td><td align="left">General Bourbaki&mdash;Nancy.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">Ist Corps,</td><td align="left">Marshal MacMahon&mdash;Strasburg.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IInd Corps,</td><td align="left">General Frossard&mdash;St. Avold.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IIIrd Corps,</td><td align="left">Marshal Bazaine&mdash;Metz.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IVth Corps,</td><td align="left">General Ladmirault&mdash;Thionville.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">Vth Corps,</td><td align="left">General Failly&mdash;Bitsch.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VIth Corps,</td><td align="left">Marshal Canrobert&mdash;Châlons.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VIIth Corps,</td><td align="left">General Félix Douay&mdash;Belfort.</td></tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<p>Thus while there were but two Corps in Alsace, there
+were five on the Moselle; and, so early as the day of the
+declaration of war, one of the latter, the IInd Corps,
+had been pushed forward close to the German frontier,
+about St. Avold and Forbach. General Frossard, its
+commander, was, however, under strict injunctions to
+commit himself to no serious undertaking.</p>
+
+<p>The regiments had been hurried away from their
+peace stations before the arrival of their complement of
+men, and without waiting for their equipments. Meanwhile
+the called-out reservists accumulated in the
+depôts, overflowed the railway stations and choked the
+traffic. Their transmission to their destinations was at
+a standstill, for it was often unknown at the depôts
+where the regiments to which the reservists were to be
+sent were for the time encamped. When at length
+they joined they were destitute of the most necessary
+articles of equipment. The Corps and Divisions lacked
+trains, hospitals and nearly the whole of the <i>personnel</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>
+of their administration. No magazines had been established
+in advance, and the troops were to depend on
+the stores in the fortresses. These were in a neglected
+state, for in the assured expectation that the armies
+would be almost immediately launched into the enemy's
+country they had received little attention. It was of a
+piece with this that the French Staff-officers had been
+provided with maps of Germany, but not of their own
+country. The Ministry of War in Paris was overwhelmed
+with claims, protestations, and expostulations,
+till finally it was left to the troops to help themselves
+as best they could. "<i>On se débrouillera</i>," was the hope
+of the authorities.</p>
+
+<p>When the Emperor arrived at Metz eight days after
+the declaration of war, the forces were not yet up to their
+strength, and even the precise whereabouts of whole
+bodies of troops was for the time unknown. He
+ordered the advance of the army, but his Marshals protested
+that its internal plight was so unsatisfactory as to
+make this impossible for the time. The general conviction
+was gradually impressing itself on the French,
+that instead of continuing to aim at invasion of the
+enemy's country, their exertions would have to be confined
+to the defence of their own territory. A strong
+German army was reported to be assembling between
+Mayence and Coblentz; and instead of reinforcements
+being sent forward from Metz to Strasburg, much heavier
+ones would have to be ordered from the Rhine to the
+Saar. The determination to invade South Germany was
+already abandoned; the fleet sailed, but without carrying
+a force to be landed on the north German coast.</p>
+
+<p>Germany had been surprised by the declaration of
+war, but she was not unprepared. That was a possibility
+which had been foreseen.</p>
+
+<p>After the withdrawal of Austria from the German
+connection, Prussia had taken upon itself the sole
+leadership, and had gradually formed closer relations
+with the South-German States. The idea of national<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span>
+unification had been revived, and found an echo in the
+patriotic sentiments of the entire people.</p>
+
+<p>The mobilization machinery of the North-German
+army had been elaborated from year to year, in accord
+with the changing conditions, by the combined exertions
+of the War Ministry and the General Staff. Every
+branch of the administration throughout the country
+had been kept informed of all it needed to know in this
+relation. The Berlin authorities had also come to
+a confidential understanding with the Chiefs of the
+General Staffs of the South-German States on all
+important points. The principle was established that
+Prussian assistance was not to be reckoned on for the
+defence of any particular point, such as the Black Forest;
+and that South Germany would be best protected by an
+offensive movement into Alsace from the middle Rhine,
+to be effectively supported by a large army massed
+there. That the Governments of Bavaria, Würtemberg,
+Baden and Hesse, to all appearance uncovering their
+own territories, were ready to place their contingents
+under the command of King William, proved their
+entire confidence in the Prussian leadership.</p>
+
+<p>This understanding enabled the preparations which
+it entailed to be proceeded with. The train and march
+tables were worked out for each body of troops, with
+the most minute directions as to the respective starting-points,
+the day and hour of departure, the duration of
+the journey, the refreshment stations, and points of
+detrainment. In the locality of concentration cantonments
+were assigned to each Corps and Division, and
+magazines were established with due regard to the most
+convenient sites; and thus, when the stroke of war
+inevitably impended, there was required only the Royal
+signature to start the whole mighty movement in its
+smooth, swift course. Nothing needed to be changed in
+the directions originally given; it sufficed to follow the
+plans previously thought out and prepared.</p>
+
+<p>The aggregated mobile forces were formed into three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span>
+separate Armies, on the basis of an elaborate tabular
+statement drawn up by the Chief of the Prussian
+General Staff.</p>
+
+<p>The Ist Army, under the command of General von
+Steinmetz, consisted of, in the first instance, only the
+VIIth and VIIIth Corps, with one Division of cavalry;
+60,000 men all told. It was ordered to assemble at
+Wittlich and form the right wing.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Army, under the command of Prince
+Frederick Charles, consisted of the IIIrd, IVth, Xth,
+and Guard Corps, with two Divisions of cavalry. Assembling
+in the vicinity of Homburg and Neunkirchen,
+it was to form the centre, with a strength of 134,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>The IIIrd Army, under the command of the Crown
+Prince of Prussia, consisted of the Vth and XIth
+Prussian, and the Ist and IInd Bavarian Corps, the
+Würtemberg and Baden Field Divisions, with one Division
+of cavalry. Its approximate strength was 130,000
+men; it was to constitute the left wing, and to concentrate
+about Landau and Rastatt.</p>
+
+<p>The IXth Corps, consisting of the 18th and the
+Hesse Divisions, was along with the XIIth Royal Saxon
+Corps to form a reserve of 60,000 men in front of
+Mayence, for the reinforcement of the IInd Army to a
+strength of 194,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>The three Armies numbered together 384,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>There still remained the Ist, IInd, and VIth
+Corps, numbering 100,000 men; but they were not
+at first included, as railway transport for them was
+not available for three weeks to come. The 17th
+Division and certain bodies of Landwehr troops were
+detailed to defend the coasts.</p>
+
+<p>It is apparent that numerically the German armies
+were considerably superior to the French. Inclusive
+of the garrisons and reserves about one million of
+men and over 200,000 horses were on the ration list.</p>
+
+<p>On the night of July 16th the Royal order for
+mobilization was issued, and when his  Majesty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>
+arrived in Mayence fourteen days later, he found
+300,000 men assembled on the Rhine and beyond.</p>
+
+<p>The plan of campaign submitted by the Chief of
+the General Staff, and accepted by the King, proves
+that officer to have had his eye fixed, from the first,
+upon the capture of the enemy's capital, the possession
+of which is of more importance in France than in
+other countries. On the way thither the hostile forces
+were to be driven as persistently as possible back from
+the fertile southern provinces into the more confined
+background to the north. But beyond everything the
+plan of campaign was based on the resolve to attack the
+enemy at once, wherever found, and keep the German
+forces always so compact that this could be done
+with the advantage of superior numbers. The specific
+dispositions for the accomplishment of those objects
+were left to be adopted on the spot; the advance to the
+frontier was alone pre-arranged in every detail.</p>
+
+<p>It is a delusion to imagine that a plan of campaign
+can be laid down far ahead and fulfilled with exactitude.
+The first collision with the enemy creates a new
+situation in accordance with its result. Some things
+intended will have become impracticable; others, which
+originally seemed impossible, become feasible. All
+that the leader of an army can do is to form a correct
+estimate of the circumstances, to decide for the best for
+the moment, and carry out his purpose unflinchingly.</p>
+
+<p>The advance of the French troops to the frontier,
+while as yet imperfectly mobilized, which was an extremely
+hazardous measure in itself, was evidently with
+the intent of utilizing the temporary advantage of
+having a superior force at immediate disposition by
+taking at unawares the German armies in the act of
+developing their advance-movements. But, notwithstanding,
+the German commanders did not deviate
+from their purpose of promptly effecting this first
+advance in front of the Rhine. The railway transport
+of the Corps of the IInd and IIIrd Armies, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span>
+ended at the Rhine; thence the troops marched on foot
+into the cantonments prepared on the left bank of the
+river. They moved in echelon, advancing only so
+many at a time as would make room for the body
+in rear, in the first instance to the line Bingen-Dürkheim-Landau.
+The farther advance towards the
+frontier was not to be undertaken until the Divisions
+and Corps were all assembled, and provided with the
+necessary trains; and then they were to march forward
+in a state of readiness to confront the enemy at any
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>The massing of the Ist Army appeared to be
+less threatened, because its route was protected by
+neutral territory, and was covered by the garrisons of
+Trèves, Saarlouis and Saarbrücken, the German outposts
+on the Saar.</p>
+
+<p>The Ist Army, 50,000 strong, was concentrated at
+Wadern, in the first days of August. The IInd Army,
+which meanwhile had been increased to a strength of
+194,000 men, had pushed forward its cantonments
+to Alsenz-Günnstadt, at the farther base of the Haardt
+Mountains, a position which had been thoroughly inspected
+by an officer of the General Staff, and where
+the troops might confidently await an attack. The 5th
+and 6th cavalry Divisions were reconnoitring the country
+in front. The IIIrd Army was still assembling on
+both banks of the Rhine.</p>
+
+<p>The French so far had made no serious attempt at
+Saarbrücken; Lieutenant-Colonel Pestel, with one
+battalion and three squadrons, was able successfully to
+withstand their petty attacks. It had meanwhile been
+observed that the hostile forces were moving farther to
+the right, towards Forbach and Bitsch. This seemed to
+indicate that the two French Corps known to be about
+Belfort and Strasburg, might purpose crossing the Rhine
+and marching through the Black Forest. It seemed
+therefore all the more important that the IIIrd Army
+should be set in motion as early as possible, for one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>
+thing to protect the right bank of the Upper Rhine by
+an advance on the left; for another, to cover the left
+flank of the IInd Army during its advance.</p>
+
+<p>A telegraphic order to that effect was despatched
+on the evening of July 30th, but the Head-quarters of
+the IIIrd Army wished to wait for the arrival of the
+VIth Corps and of the trains. Whereupon, regardless
+of this delay, the IInd Army was put in march
+towards the Saar, where the French were beginning
+to be active.</p>
+
+<p>The time had gone by when they might have taken
+advantage of their over-hasty mobilization; the inefficient
+condition of the troops had paralyzed every
+attempt at activity. France had been long waiting
+for the news of a victory, and something had to be done
+to appease public impatience. So, in order to do something,
+it was resolved (as is usual in such circumstances)
+to undertake a reconnoissance in force, and, it may be
+added, with the usual result.</p>
+
+<p>On August 2nd three entire Army Corps were set
+in motion against three battalions, four squadrons, and
+one battery in Saarbrücken. The Emperor himself and
+the Prince Imperial shared in the enterprise. The
+IIIrd Corps advanced on Völklingen, the Vth through
+Saargemünd, the IInd on Saarbrücken.</p>
+
+<p>Saarbrücken was evacuated after a gallant defence
+and repeated counter-strokes, but the French did not
+press across the Saar; convinced, possibly, that they had
+wasted their strength in a stroke in the air, and had
+nowhere gained any insight into the dispositions of the
+enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The French military chiefs now hesitated for a long
+while between conflicting resolutions. Orders were
+given and recalled on the strength of mere rumours.
+The left wing was reinforced because 40,000
+Prussians were supposed to have marched through
+Trèves, the Guard received contradictory orders, and
+the bare apparition of a small German force about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+Lörrach in the Black Forest occasioned the order
+that the VIIth Corps must remain in Alsace. Thus
+the French forces were straggled over the wide area
+between the Nied and the Upper Rhine, while the
+Germans were advancing in compact masses towards
+the Saar.</p>
+
+<p>This scattered state of their forces finally induced
+the French leaders to divide them into two separate
+Armies. Marshal MacMahon took command, but only
+provisionally, of the Ist, VIIth, and Vth Corps, of which
+the latter had therefore to draw in to him from Bitsch.
+The other Corps remained under Marshal Bazaine, with
+the exception of the Imperial Guard, the command of
+which the Emperor reserved to himself.</p>
+
+<p>It had now become a pressing necessity to protect the
+left wing of the advancing IInd German Army against
+the French forces in Alsace, and the IIIrd Army was
+therefore ordered to cross the frontier on August 4th,
+without waiting any longer for its trains. The Ist
+Army, forming the right wing, was in complete readiness
+near Wadern and Losheim, three or four days'
+march nearer to the Saar than the IInd Army in the
+centre. It received the order to concentrate in the
+neighbourhood of Tholey and there halt for the present.
+For one thing, this army, the weakest of the three, could
+not be exposed single-handed to an encounter with
+the enemy's main force; and for another, it was available
+to serve as an offensive flank in case the IInd
+Army should meet the enemy on emerging from the
+forest zone of the Palatinate.</p>
+
+<p>In the execution of this order, the Ist Army had so
+extended its cantonments southward that they trenched
+on the line of march of the IInd Army, and it had to
+evacuate the quarters about Ottweiler in favour of the
+latter. This involved a difficulty, as all the villages to
+the north were full, and as room had also to be found for
+the Ist Corps, now advancing by Birkenfeld. General
+von Steinmetz therefore decided to march his whole<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>
+army in the direction of Saarlouis and Saarbrücken.
+The IInd Army, on August 4th, stood assembled ready
+for action, and received orders to deploy on the farther
+side of the forest zone of Kaiserslautern.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Combat of Weissenburg.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 4th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>On this day the Corps of the IIIrd Army, consisting
+of 128 battalions, 102 squadrons, and 80 batteries,
+which had been assembled in bivouac behind the Klingsbach,
+crossed the French frontier, marching on a broad
+front to reach the Lauter between Weissenburg and
+Lauterburg. This stream affords an exceptionally
+strong defensive position, but on August 4th only one
+weak Division and a cavalry brigade of the Ist French
+Corps covered this point, the main body of that Corps
+being still on the march towards the Palatinate.</p>
+
+<p>Early in the morning the Bavarians forming the
+right wing encountered a lively resistance before
+the walls of Weissenburg, which were too strong to be
+stormed. But very soon after the two Prussian Corps
+crossed the Lauter lower down. General von Bose
+led forward the XIth Corps (which he commanded)
+with intent to turn the French right flank on the
+Geisberg, while General von Kirchbach, with the Vth
+Corps (which he commanded) advanced against the
+enemy's front. Thirty field-guns were meanwhile
+massed against the railway station of Weissenburg.
+It and subsequently the town were taken, after a bloody
+struggle.</p>
+
+<p>So early as ten o'clock General Douay had ordered a
+retreat, which was seriously threatened by the movement
+against the Geisburg; and the château of that
+name, a very defensible building, was most obstinately
+defended to enable the French to retire. The Grenadiers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>
+of the King's Regiment No. 7 in vain assailed
+it by storm, suffering heavy loss; nor did its
+defenders surrender until, with the greatest difficulty,
+artillery had been dragged up on to the height.</p>
+
+<p>The French Division, which had been attacked by
+three German Corps, effected a retreat after an obstinate
+struggle, though in great disorder, having suffered
+much loss. Its gallant Commander had been killed.
+The Germans had to bewail a proportionately considerable
+loss; their casualties were 91 officers and 1460
+men. General von Kirchbach had been wounded
+while fighting in the foremost rank.</p>
+
+<p>The 4th Division of cavalry had met with much
+delay in the course of a nineteen miles' march by the
+crossing of the columns of infantry. It did not reach
+the scene of combat, and all touch of the enemy, now
+retiring to the westward, was lost.</p>
+
+<p>Uncertain as to the direction whence fresh hostile
+forces might be approaching, the IIIrd Army advanced
+on the 5th of August by diverging roads in the direction
+of Hagenau and Reichshofen; yet not so far apart but
+that it should be possible for the Corps to reconcentrate
+in one short march. The Crown Prince intended
+to allow his troops a rest on the following day, so as to
+have them fresh for a renewed attack as soon as the
+situation was made clear.</p>
+
+<p>But already, that same evening, the Bavarians on
+the right flank and the Vth Corps in the front had a
+sharp encounter with the enemy, who showed behind
+the Sauer in considerable strength. It was to be
+assumed that Marshal MacMahon had brought up the
+VIIth Corps from Strasburg, but it remained a question
+whether he intended to join Marshal Bazaine by
+way of Bitsch, or whether, having secured his line of
+retreat thither, he meant to accept battle at Wörth.
+Yet again there was the possibility that he might himself
+initiate the offensive. The Crown Prince, to make
+sure in any case of a preponderance of force, determined<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>
+to concentrate his army in the neighbourhood of Sulz
+on August 6th. The IInd Bavarian Corps received
+separate instructions to watch the road from Bitsch with
+one Division; the other Division was to strike the hostile
+attack in flank on the western bank of the Sauer, in
+the event of artillery fire about Wörth being heard.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal MacMahon was endeavouring with all his
+might to concentrate his three Corps, and he really had
+the intention to make an immediate attack on his
+invading foe. A Division of the VIIth Corps, which
+had but just been sent to Mülhausen to strengthen the
+defence of Alsace, was at once recalled to Hagenau,
+and early on the 6th formed the right wing of the
+strong position which the Ist Corps had taken up behind
+the Sauer, and in front of Fröschwiller, Elsasshausen,
+and Eberbach. On the left, Lespart's Division
+of the Vth Corps was expected from Bitsch, of which
+the other Divisions were only now on march from
+Saargemünd by way of Rohrbach. Meanwhile Ducrot's
+Division formed a refused flank on the French left.</p>
+
+<p>Neither the German nor the French leaders expected
+the collision before the following day, but when, as in
+this case, the adversaries are in so close proximity, the
+conflict may break out at any moment, even against
+the wish of the higher commanders.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Wörth.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 6th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>After a good deal of skirmishing between the respective
+outposts during the night, the Commander of
+the 20th German Brigade<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> thought it expedient to seize<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>
+a passage over the Sauer, which flowed just in his
+front and constituted a serious obstacle. The bridge
+leading to Wörth had been destroyed, but the sharp-shooters
+waded through the river, and at seven o'clock
+pressed into the town, which the French had left
+unoccupied.</p>
+
+<p>Soon enough they realized that before them was a
+numerous enemy in a strong position.</p>
+
+<p>The broad meadows of the Sauer all lie within effective
+range of the commanding slopes on the right bank;
+and the long-ranging chassepôt fire could not but tell
+heavily. On the French side of the river the terrain
+was dotted with vineyards and hop-gardens, which
+afforded great advantages for defensive purposes.</p>
+
+<p>The combat which had begun at Wörth was broken
+off after lasting half an hour, but the artillery of both
+sides had taken part in it, and the sound of cannon-fire
+had been the signal prescribed to Hartmann's IInd
+Bavarian Corps, acting on which it now advanced from
+Langensulzbach, and was soon engaged in a brisk fight
+with the left flank of the French. The latter on their
+side had advanced on their right to the attack of Gunstett,
+where they came in contact with the advancing
+XIth Prussian Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The din of battle, rolling from the north and south
+alike, was heard by the Vth Corps in its position
+opposite to Wörth; and it seemed imperative that it
+should engage with vigour the enemy's centre in order
+to hinder him from throwing himself with all his
+strength on one or other of the German flanks.</p>
+
+<p>The artillery was brought up, and by ten o'clock 108
+guns were in action on the eastern slope of the Sauer
+valley.</p>
+
+<p>Some infantry detachments waded breast-high
+through the river, but this dashing attempt, undertaken
+in inadequate strength, miscarried, and it was
+only by strenuous efforts that a foothold was maintained
+on the other side.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Crown Prince sent orders that nothing was to
+be undertaken that would bring on a battle on that
+day. But by this time the Vth Corps was so seriously
+engaged that the fight could not be broken off without
+obvious disadvantage. General von Kirchbach therefore
+determined to continue the contest on his own
+responsibility.</p>
+
+<p>The frontal attack was an undertaking of great
+difficulty, and could scarcely succeed unless with the
+co-operation of another on the flank. But at this juncture
+the Bavarians, who, in position as they were on the
+right, could have afforded this co-operation, obeyed the
+breaking off command, which had also reached them in
+the course of the fighting, and withdrew to Langensulzbach.
+There was, however, the XIth Corps in
+position on the left, eager to strike in. It seized the
+Albrechts-häuser farm, and pressed forward into the
+Niederwald.</p>
+
+<p>In front of Wörth the battle hung, consisting of a
+succession of attacks renewed again and again on either
+side; each assailant in turn getting worsted, in consequence
+of the nature of the country. By degrees, however,
+the collective battalions, and finally the artillery
+of the Vth Corps, were brought over to the west bank of
+the Sauer; while the XIth Corps had already won
+there a firm point of support for further advance.</p>
+
+<p>Just then, near Morsbronn, notwithstanding the evident
+unfavourable nature of the ground, two Cuirassier
+and one Lancer regiments of Michel's brigade hurled
+themselves with reckless daring on a body of German
+infantry taken in the act of wheeling to the right.
+But the 32nd Regiment, far from seeking cover,
+received in open order the charging mass of over
+1000 horse with a steady fire which did great execution.
+The Cuirassiers especially suffered immense
+loss. Only a few horsemen broke through the
+firing line and gained the open ground; many were
+taken prisoners in the village, the remainder rode<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+in wild gallop as far as Walburg. There they encountered
+the Prussian 13th Hussars, suffered further
+loss, and disappeared from the field.</p>
+
+<p>It is true that the infantry of the French right
+wing succeeded in driving back the foremost detachments
+of the Germans about Albrechts-häuser farm,
+but the further advance of the former was shattered by
+the fire of newly-unmasked artillery.</p>
+
+<p>When finally the last battalions had crossed the
+Sauer, the XIth Corps made its way through the
+Niederwald, fighting its way step by step. The
+northern edge of the forest was reached by 2.30, and
+there a junction was formed with the left flank of the
+Vth Corps. The burning village of Elsasshausen was
+carried by storm, and the little copse south of Fröschwiller
+was also won after a gallant defence.</p>
+
+<p>Thus crowded together in a limited space, the French
+army was in a situation of imminent danger. Its left
+flank, it is true, still held out against the renewed attack
+of the Bavarians, who had re-entered the action,
+but its front and right flank were terribly hard
+pressed, and even its retreat was seriously threatened.
+Marshal MacMahon therefore tried to obtain a
+breathing space by a heavy counter-stroke to the
+south. The weak German detachments standing to
+the east of Elsasshausen, thrown into confusion by
+the vehement attack, were in part driven back into
+the Niederwald, but were quickly rallied and brought
+up again. Here the French cavalry strove once
+more to change the fortunes of the day. Bonnemain's
+Division, notwithstanding the unfavourable
+nature of the ground, threw itself on the dishevelled
+front of the enemy, suffered terrible losses, and was
+shattered without having been able effectively to
+charge home.</p>
+
+<p>The Würtembergers now came up from the south,
+and the Bavarians from the north. General von Bose,
+though twice wounded, led what of his troops he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>
+could collect to the storm of the burning Fröschwiller,
+the enemy's last stronghold. The artillery moved up
+within case-shot range, and thus cleared the road for
+the infantry which was pushing forward from all sides.
+After maintaining to the utmost a resolute and gallant
+resistance until five o'clock, the French retreated in
+great disorder towards Reichshofen and Niederbronn.</p>
+
+<p>At the Falkenstein stream, Lespart's Division, just
+arrived on the field, made a short stand, but these
+fresh troops offered only brief resistance, and were
+swept away in the general rout.</p>
+
+<p>This victory of the IIIrd Army had been dearly paid
+for with the loss of 489 officers and 10,000 men. The
+loss on the French side is not exactly known, but of
+prisoners alone they left 200 officers and 9000 men,
+and in the German hands there remained 33 guns and
+2000 horses.</p>
+
+<p>The disintegration of the French army must have
+been so complete as to throw it altogether out of hand.
+Only one brigade of Lespart's Division took the road by
+Bitsch to join the French main army at St. Avold; all
+the rest of the army, following an infectious impulse,
+rolled unhaltingly in a south-western direction towards
+Saverne.</p>
+
+<p>As in the Head-quarter of the IIIrd Army it had not
+been intended to fight on August 6th, the 4th Division of
+cavalry had not left its quarters in the rear, and was
+therefore not available to take up the pursuit; it did
+not reach Gunstett until nine o'clock in the evening.
+But, in order to be at hand at any rate for the next
+day, Prince Albert marched his command on during
+the night as far as Eberbach; after three hours' rest
+he started again, and after covering thirty-six miles,<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>
+came up in the evening with the rearguard of the
+enemy near Steinberg, at the foot of the Vosges.
+Without infantry it would have been impossible for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>
+Division to push farther, but the sight of it gave the
+enemy a fresh impulse of flight. The Ist Corps stampeded
+again in the night and reached Saarburg, where
+it joined the Vth Corps. Thus the French had a start
+of twenty-three and a half miles, and continued their
+retreat on Lunéville, unmolested by the Germans.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> General Walther von Montbary. It is Molkte's custom throughout
+this work, except in regard to his prime aversion, Prince
+Frederick Charles, to refrain from naming an officer whom by implication
+he is censuring, but this is simply a <i>nuance</i>, since he
+specifies the culprit's military position.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Throughout the miles are English miles.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Spicheren.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 6th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Let us now turn to the events which occurred, on
+this same 6th of August, in another part of the theatre
+of war.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Army, its southern (left) flank covered by the
+IIIrd Army, had been moving to the westward, while the
+Corps it still lacked were being brought up by railway.
+Its leading Corps, having traversed unmolested the
+long defiles of the forest-belt of Kaiserslautern, reached
+on the 5th the line Neunkirchen-Zweibrücken. The
+cavalry, scouting into French territory, reported that
+the enemy was retreating. Everything seemed to
+indicate that the French would await the attack of the
+Germans in a strong defensive position. The nearest
+position of the kind that offered was that on the farther
+bank of the Moselle, of which Metz protected one flank,
+Thionville the other. It was decided that if the French
+were found in that position, the Ist Army should hold
+the enemy in front, while the IInd made a circuit south
+of Metz, and so the enemy be forced either to retire
+or to fight. In case of disaster the IInd Army was
+to fall back on the IIIrd, now advancing over the
+Vosges.</p>
+
+<p>The protrusion to the south-westward<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> of the Ist Army
+towards the Saar, which had not been intended by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>
+supreme Command, had brought its left wing in upon the
+line of march laid down for the IInd, and detachments of
+the two armies had to cross each other at Saarbrücken
+on the 6th. Thus there was indeed no lack of strength
+at that point; but as a battle on that day was neither
+expected nor probable, the synchronous arrival of
+troops had not been pre-arranged, and so detachments
+could only come up by quite unprescribed routes and
+arrive one after the other at different hours.</p>
+
+<p>The 14th Division of the VIIth Corps was the first
+to reach Saarbrücken, towards noon on the 6th.</p>
+
+<p>General Frossard, considering his position there very
+hazardous, had left the night before, without waiting
+for permission, and had fallen back with the IInd Corps
+on Spicheren, where it had entrenched itself. The
+IIIrd, IVth, and Vth Corps were behind, at distances of
+from nine to nineteen miles, and the Imperial Guard
+was about twenty-three miles rearward. The Emperor,
+therefore, had it in his power to collect five Corps for a
+battle in the vicinity of Cocheren, or, on the other
+hand, to support Frossard with at least four Divisions,
+if that General were confident that his position was
+strong enough to hold.</p>
+
+<p>The range of heights which upheaves itself immediately
+behind Saarbrücken is capable of affording a
+serious obstacle to a hostile passage of the Saar. It
+was known that the French had evacuated those
+heights, but General von Kameke thought it prudent
+to seize them at once, in order to secure the debouche
+of the columns following him. When, in the forenoon,
+two squadrons of the 5th Cavalry Division showed
+themselves on the drill-ground on the ridge above the
+farther bank, they were greeted with a hot fire from
+the Spicheren heights. But as it seemed highly probable,
+from the previous behaviour of the French, that
+the force seen there was only the rear-guard of the
+retiring enemy, General von Kameke (commanding
+14th Infantry Division) ordered an immediate attack,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>
+since he had the promise of reinforcements. General
+von Zastrow (commanding VIIth Corps), as soon as he
+recognized that the 14th Division had involved itself in
+a serious engagement, allowed the 13th to go forward.
+General von Alvensleben (its commander) also ordered
+up to Saarbrücken all the available troops of the IIIrd
+Corps, and with equal promptitude General von Goeben
+(commanding VIIIth Corps) hurried thither the entire
+16th Division. Generals von Döring (commanding
+9th Infantry Brigade) and von Barnekow (commanding
+16th Infantry Division), belonging respectively to these
+two Corps (IIIrd and VIIIth), had besides already
+struck forward from Tudweiler and Fischbach in the
+direction of the cannon-thunder, even before receiving
+orders to that effect.</p>
+
+<p>The position occupied by the French was one of
+exceptional advantage. In the centre projected the
+Red Hill (der Rothe Berg), a precipitous and almost
+inaccessible cliff; and the steep slopes on either side
+were densely wooded. On the left the massive buildings
+of the Stiering-Wendel ironworks furnished a
+separate defensive position.</p>
+
+<p>Had the strength of the enemy been fully known
+the attack would certainly have been delayed until the
+whole of the 14th Division had arrived. As a matter
+of fact, at the beginning of the fight, about noon, only
+von François' Brigade (27th) had come up, and this
+force, in the effort to facilitate an attack on the naturally
+strong position held by the enemy's front, assailed
+in the first instance both his flanks.</p>
+
+<p>At first it succeeded in making progress. On the left
+the 39th Regiment drove the swarms of hostile skirmishers
+out of the wood of Gifert, but then became
+exposed to the bitter fire of a French battalion lining
+the farther side of a deep hollow. On the right flank
+its 3rd Battalion, together with the 74th Regiment,
+seized the wood of Stiering. But the enemy's superior
+strength soon displayed itself in violent counter-attacks,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+and when Von Woyna's<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> Brigade (28th) reached the
+field it had to furnish reinforcements to both flanks.
+Thus, at an early stage, intermingling of battalions and
+companies began, which increased with every subsequent
+rush, and made the control of the combat a
+matter of extraordinary difficulty. Added to this was
+the circumstance that three Commanding Generals in
+succession came up to the scene of the conflict, and one
+after the other took the chief control.</p>
+
+<p>At about one o'clock, simultaneously with the
+flanks, the Fusilier Battalion of the 74th Regiment
+pushed forward in front, under a severe fire across
+the open ground towards the Red Hill, and, under such
+trivial cover as offered, established itself at the foot
+of the cliff. When at about three o'clock the Prussian
+artillery compelled the foe to move his guns
+farther up the hill, the Fusiliers, with General von
+François at their head, began to climb the cliff. The
+French Chasseurs, evidently taken by surprise, were
+driven from the most advanced entrenchments with
+clubbed rifles and at the point of the bayonet. The
+9th company of the 39th Regiment followed close, and
+the gallant General, charging farther forward along
+with it, fell pierced by five bullets. Nothing daunted,
+the small body of Fusiliers made good its grip of the
+narrow spur of the cliff.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, a crisis was imminent. The 14th
+Division was extended over a distance of about three
+and a half miles, its left wing had been repulsed by
+greatly superior forces in the wood of Gifert, its right
+wing was hard pressed at Stiering. But now, at four
+o'clock, the heads of the 5th and 16th Divisions simultaneously
+struck in, shortly after their batteries, which
+had been sent on ahead, had come into action.</p>
+
+<p>The left wing, strongly reinforced, now again pressed
+forward. General von Barnekow<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> led trusty succours<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>
+up on to the Red Hill, where the Fusiliers had almost
+entirely exhausted their ammunition, and drove the
+French out from all their entrenchments. As the
+result of a fierce struggle the Germans also succeeded
+in taking possession of the western part of the wood of
+Gifert. The right wing with sharp fighting had pressed
+on to Alt Stiering and was approaching the enemy's line
+of retreat, the Forbach highway. General Frossard
+had, however, recognized the danger threatened at this
+point, and reinforced his left wing to the strength of a
+Division and a half. This force advanced to the attack
+at five o'clock. On the German side there was no
+formed force to oppose to it, so all the previously
+gained advantages were lost.</p>
+
+<p>If the 13th Division<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> had here struck in with a resolute
+attack, the battle would have ended. This
+Division after, indeed, a march of nearly nineteen
+miles had reached Puttlingen at one o'clock, where it
+was little more than four miles distant from Stiering.
+When the fighting about Saarbrücken was heard it is
+true that at four p.m. the advanced guard moved forward
+to Rossel. It would seem that the roar of the
+cannon was not audible in that wooded region; the
+impression was that the combat was over, and the
+Division bivouacked at Völkingen, which place had
+been previously named as the end of its march by the
+Corps Commander at a time when he was, of course,
+unable to foresee the change in the situation.</p>
+
+<p>The French offensive movement had meanwhile been
+brought to a stand by the seven batteries in position on
+the Folster height; the infantry then succeeded in
+making fresh progress, under the personal leadership
+of General von Zastrow.</p>
+
+<p>The nature of the ground entirely prohibited the
+twenty-nine squadrons of cavalry which had arrived
+from all directions and were drawn up out of the range
+of fire, from taking part in the action. The Hussars
+tried in vain to ride up the Red Hill, but in spite of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>
+incredible difficulties Major von Lyncker finally gained
+the summit with eight guns, amid the loud cheering of
+the hard-pressed infantry. The guns, as each one came
+up, at once came into action against three French batteries;
+but quite half of the gunners were shot down
+by sheltered French tirailleurs, at a range of about 800
+paces. A small strip of ground in front was indeed
+won, but the narrow space allowed of no deployment
+against the wide front of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>But effective assistance was coming from the right.
+General von Goeben had despatched all the battalions of
+the 16th Division not yet engaged, in the decisive direction
+toward Stiering. While one part of these troops
+made a frontal attack on the village, the rest climbed
+from the high-road up the defiles of the Spicheren woods,
+in a hand-to-hand encounter drove the French from the
+saddle leading to the Red Hill, and pushed them farther
+and farther back towards the Forbach height.</p>
+
+<p>Even as late as seven o'clock on the French right
+wing Laveaucoupet's Division, supported by part of
+Bataille's, advanced to the attack and once more penetrated
+into the oft-contested Gifert wood, but the danger
+threatening the French left wing from the Spicheren
+wood paralyzed this effort. By nightfall the French
+were falling back over the whole plateau.</p>
+
+<p>At nine o'clock, when their "Retreat" call was
+sounding from the heights, General von Schwerin (commanding
+10th Infantry Brigade) made sure of night
+quarters by occupying Stiering, where resistance was
+only quelled, at many points, after a hand-to-hand fight.
+The advanced guard of the 13th Division advanced on
+Forbach, but did not occupy it, having allowed itself
+to be hoodwinked by some French Dragoons in
+possession.</p>
+
+<p>Apart from this, General Frossard had abandoned the
+line of retreat by the so seriously threatened Forbach-St.
+Avold road, and fell back with all his three divisions
+on Oetingen. The darkness, and the impossibility of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>
+handling large bodies of cavalry in such a country,
+saved him from further pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>General von Steinmetz ordered the reorganization of
+the dislocated bodies of troops that same night. Some
+of them had marched more than twenty-eight miles;
+two batteries, arriving from Königsberg by rail, had
+immediately set out for the battle-field. But it remains
+that the Germans at no time of the day
+attained the numerical strength of the enemy in this
+engagement, which had been begun with insufficient
+forces. Only thirteen batteries could be brought into
+action in the limited space, and the cavalry remained
+excluded from all participation. It was only natural,
+under the circumstances, that the losses of the assailants
+were greater than those of the defence. The Prussians
+lost 4871, the French 4078 men. The fact was significant
+that a considerable number of unwounded French
+prisoners were taken in this early action.</p>
+
+<p>In strong contrast to the comradeship and mutual
+helpfulness displayed by the Prussian Generals, and the
+eagerness of their troops to hurry into the fight, was the
+strange vacillation of the Divisions in General Frossard's
+rear; of which three, indeed, were sent forward to his
+support, but only two came up, and that when the fight
+was already ended.</p>
+
+<p>It has been vehemently asserted that the battle of
+Spicheren was fought in an ill-judged locality, and that
+it interfered with more important plans. It certainly had
+not been anticipated. But, generally speaking, a tactical
+victory rarely fails to fit in with a strategic design.
+Success in battle has always been thankfully accepted,
+and turned to account. By the battle of Spicheren the
+IInd French Corps was prevented from withdrawing
+unharmed; touch of the enemy's main force was
+obtained, and to the supreme Direction of the armies
+was afforded a basis for further resolutions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> South-eastward.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> There were two Major-Generals of this name, both commanding
+Brigades; one the 28th, VIIth Corps, the other 39th, Xth Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Commanding 16th Division, VIIIth Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Commanded by General Glümen.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Right Wheel of the German Army.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>Marshal MacMahon in his retreat had taken a
+direction which entirely severed his touch with Marshal
+Bazaine.</p>
+
+<p>As he was not pursued, he could have used the Lunéville-Metz
+railway to effect his union with the French
+main army; for up to the 9th it was still open. But
+rumour had it that the Prussians had already appeared
+in Pont à Mousson, and the state of his troops did not
+permit him thus early to risk another engagement.</p>
+
+<p>His Ist Corps, therefore, marched southwards on
+Neufchâteau, whence Châlons could be reached by railway.
+The Vth Corps was being shifted to and fro by
+contradictory orders from the Emperor's head-quarters.
+First it was to proceed to Nancy, then to take an
+opposite direction towards Langres. On arriving at
+Charmes it was ordered to Toul, but from Chaumont it
+was finally directed to proceed to Châlons. General
+Trochu had there located the newly-formed XIIth
+Corps, and behind this gathering point the VIIth Corps
+also managed to get away from Alsace and reach Rheims
+by rail by way of Bar sur Aube and Paris.</p>
+
+<p>Thus by August 22nd a Reserve Army was formed,
+consisting of four Corps and two Cavalry Divisions,
+under the command of Marshal MacMahon, who, however,
+at a distance, as he was, of about 120 miles,
+was unable to render timely assistance to Marshal
+Bazaine, who stood directly in the line of the advancing
+enemy.</p>
+
+<p>When the news of the double disaster of August 6th
+reached the Imperial Head-quarter, the first impression
+there was that it would be necessary to retreat
+immediately on Châlons with Bazaine's army; and the
+VIth Corps, a portion of which was already being
+transported thence to Metz, was ordered to retrace its
+steps. But this resolution was presently retracted.
+The Emperor had not merely to consider the foreign<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+enemy, but public opinion within his own realm. The
+sacrifice of entire provinces at the very beginning of
+a war which had been undertaken with such high
+anticipations, would have provoked the unbounded
+indignation of the French people. There were still
+200,000 men who could be brought together in front
+of the Moselle, supported by a large fortress, and though
+the enemy would still have the superiority in numbers,
+his army was holding a line nearly sixty miles long.
+It had yet to cross the Moselle, and this would
+necessitate a dislocation which might create a weakness
+at the critical moment.</p>
+
+<p>In the IIIrd German Army the disorderly condition
+of the defeated enemy was not known, nor even the
+direction of his retreat. It was expected that
+MacMahon's Army would be found rallied on the
+farther side of the Vosges for renewed resistance; and
+as it was impossible to cross the mountains except in
+detached columns, the German advance was very
+cautious, and by short marches only. Though the
+distance between Reichshofen and the Saar is not more
+than about twenty-eight miles in a straight line, that
+river was only reached in five days. Nothing was seen
+of the enemy, except in the fortified places, small
+indeed, but too strong to be taken by storm, which
+command the highways in the mountains. Bitsch had
+to be avoided by a fatiguing circuit, Lichtenberg was
+captured by surprise, Lützelstein had been abandoned
+by its garrison, the investment of Pfalzburg was handed
+over to the approaching VIth Corps, and Marsal
+capitulated after a short resistance.</p>
+
+<p>The German left wing had no enemy before it, and
+could be brought into closer connection with the centre.
+To bring the three armies abreast of each other a wheel
+to the right was requisite. The advance of the Ist and
+IInd Armies had, however, to be delayed, as the IIIrd
+did not reach the Saar until August 12th. The whole
+movement was so arranged that the IIIrd Army was to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>
+use the roads by Saarunion and Dieuze, and to southward;
+the IInd those by St. Avold and Nomény and to
+southward; the Ist those by Saarlouis and Les Etangs,
+the last also taking the direction of Metz.</p>
+
+<p>The cavalry Divisions which were reconnoitring far
+to the front, reported the enemy as retreating all along
+the line. They ranged close up to Metz, and across
+the Moselle both above and below the place, forcing
+the detachments of Canrobert's Corps, which had again
+been ordered up from Châlons, to return thither. All
+their information indicated that very large masses were
+encamped in front of Metz. From this it might equally
+be inferred that the enemy intended to retreat further,
+or, with his whole force concentrated, to strike hard at
+the right wing of the German Army, at the moment
+when the impending crossing of the Moselle should
+make its severance from the left wing unavoidable.</p>
+
+<p>The chief Head-quarter restricted itself in ordinary
+course to issuing general directions, the execution of
+which was left in detail to the army commanders; but
+in this instance it was deemed necessary in the
+momentary circumstances to regulate the movements of
+each separate corps by specific orders. On August
+11th the Head-quarter of his Majesty was therefore
+transferred to St. Avold, in the front line, and midway
+between the Ist and IInd Armies, so as, by being in
+the immediate vicinity, to be able to exercise timely
+authority to either hand. The three Corps of the Ist
+Army advanced towards the German Nied on August
+12th, only to find that the French had evacuated that
+position. Three Corps of the IInd Army on the left of
+the Ist also moved forward in prolongation of the same
+front by Faulquemont and Morhange, while two others
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>On the next day the IInd Army reached the Seille,
+without encountering the enemy, and occupied Pont à
+Mousson with infantry.</p>
+
+<p>The strangely inactive attitude of the French made
+it seem quite probable that they might not make any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>
+stand in front of Metz, a probability strengthened by
+the reports of the German cavalry, which was scouting
+as far as Toul and on to the Verdun road. But there
+always loomed the possibility that the enemy would
+throw himself with 200 battalions on the Ist Army,
+now in his immediate front. The two Corps forming
+the right wing of the IInd Army were therefore
+ordered to halt for the present, a little to the south of
+Metz, ready to deliver a shattering blow on the flank
+of any such attack. If the enemy preferred to assail
+these Corps, then would devolve on the Ist Army on its
+part the prompt assumption of the offensive.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the other Corps of the IInd Army were
+pursuing the march towards the Moselle farther to the
+southward; if the enemy should attack them with
+superior forces after they had crossed the river, it
+would be possible for them, in case of need, to fall back
+on the IIIrd Army.</p>
+
+<p>So much caution was not universally deemed
+essential; it was argued that the French seemed
+already committed to full retreat, they ought not to
+be allowed to get away without punishment, and it
+followed that the German Army should strike without
+delay. The French had, indeed, already committed
+themselves to a further retreat; but when in the afternoon
+(of the 14th) the VIIth Corps discerned their retrograde
+movement, a fight began on the hither side of
+the Moselle, which, by the voluntary intervention of
+the nearest bodies of troops, developed into a battle in
+the course of the evening.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Colombey&mdash;Nouilly.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 14th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>The Commandant of Metz had declared his inability
+to hold that place for a fortnight, if left to his own
+resources; but the chosen and intrenched position on
+the Nied, taken up to cover the fortress, had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>
+found locally defective, and the French Head-quarter
+hoped to find a more favourable defensive position
+in the vicinity of Verdun.</p>
+
+<p>Military necessity outweighed even a politic regard
+for public opinion, and the Emperor, although he had
+transferred the command-in-chief to Marshal Bazaine,
+still remained with the army, for it would have been
+impossible for him to return to Paris in existing
+circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>Very early in the morning of the 14th August the
+multitudinous trains were being withdrawn through
+the city, and towards noon the IInd, IVth, and VIth
+Corps got in motion, while the IIIrd Corps remained
+in position behind the deep valley of the Colombey
+brook, to cover the retirement.</p>
+
+<p>When, at four in the afternoon, the break-up of the
+enemy was perceived, General von der Goltz (commanding
+26th Infantry Brigade) with the advanced guard
+of the VIIth Corps struck him in the act, and wrenched
+from him Colombey and the Château d'Aubigny on
+his right flank. But, at the first cannon sound, the
+French columns immediately turned about, fully
+equipped for fighting, and eager, after their many
+previous disasters, to break the spell by a desperate
+effort. Castagny's Division threw itself in greatly
+superior force upon the weak German detachment in
+the isolated position of Colombey, which held its own
+only by the utmost exertion.</p>
+
+<p>Already the advanced guard of the Ist Army Corps
+was approaching by both the high-roads from Saarbrücken
+and Saarlouis; and its batteries having pushed
+on ahead, at once took part in the engagement. Passing
+through Lauvallier, the infantry followed close, climbed
+the eastern slope of the plateau of Bellecroix, and
+farther to the right drove the enemy out of the wood
+east of Mey. But the presence at this point of the
+main body of the French IIIrd Corps gave pause to the
+German offensive for the time.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The 13th, 1st, and 2nd Divisions had meanwhile
+followed their respective advanced guards, the two
+latter having been held in full readiness by General
+von Manteuffel ever since his outposts had reported
+that the enemy was moving. General von Zastrow,
+too, arrived on the field, and took over the command
+of the left wing. Soon sixty field-pieces were in action
+against the enemy. General von Osten-Sacken hurried
+forward the 25th Brigade through the hollow of Coincy,
+and climbed on to the edge of the upland. The clump
+of fir-trees on the road to Bellecroix was taken by
+storm, was surrounded on three sides, was lost again in
+a bloody conflict, and was once more recaptured. Soon
+afterwards two batteries succeeded in establishing themselves
+above Planchette, whose fire drove the French
+back as far as Borny; yet still the conflict raged on
+both sides with the utmost fury.</p>
+
+<p>But now there threatened the German right the
+danger of being out-flanked. General Ladmirault, on
+learning that Grenier's Division had been driven out of
+Mey, immediately set out to its support with his other
+two Divisions, retook the village, and pressed farther forward
+by the Bouzonville road. General von Manteuffel
+had meanwhile given the necessary orders for holding,
+at all hazards, the deep-cut trough of the Vallières
+brook which covered the flank. The 1st Brigade was
+posted behind Noisseville as general reserve, the 4th,
+and part of the artillery of the Ist Corps, marched by
+the Bouzonville road to confront General Ladmirault
+near Poix, while the remaining batteries from the
+southern slopes to the eastward of Nouilly enfiladed his
+advance. On the left, Glümer's Division (13th) had all
+this time been holding its ground at Colombey, and
+now, at seven o'clock in the evening, Woyna's Brigade
+came to its assistance, and took possession of the
+copses westward of Colombey. A very welcome reinforcement
+now arrived from the IInd Army remaining
+halted on the Seille.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The 18th Infantry Division, after a heavy march,
+had bivouacked near Buchy in the afternoon, but when
+General von Wrangel (its commander) was informed
+that fighting was audible from the locality of the Ist
+Army, he promptly set his Division in motion in that
+direction. He drove the enemy out of Peltre, and
+then in conjunction with Woyna's Brigade occupied
+Grigy, somewhat in rear of the French position in front
+of Borny.</p>
+
+<p>On the right wing of the fighting line, the 2nd
+Division had also pushed on towards Mey, by way of
+Nouilly and through the adjacent vineyards; and, as
+darkness was setting in, that village and the adjoining
+woods were wrenched from the enemy. The French
+had not advanced beyond Villers L'Orme, and they now
+withdrew all along their line from that village to Grigy.
+The Prussians, as they followed up after dark, were
+molested only by the fire of the heavy guns of the
+forts, more especially Fort St. Julien.</p>
+
+<p>The engagement of August 14th cost them the heavy
+loss of 5000 men, inclusive of 200 officers; while the
+French lost only 3600 men, their IIIrd Corps being
+the heaviest sufferer. The vicinity of a great fortress
+of course prevented the reaping of the fruits of victory
+by an immediate pursuit. It was for the same reason
+that a battle on the part of the Ist Army on that day
+had not been included in the concerted plan of action,
+though the possibility of such an occurrence had been
+foreseen. Although it was true that but one Division of
+the IInd Army (the 18th) had been able to hasten to the
+aid of the Ist, and that after the late opening of the fight,
+its assault on the left<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> flank of the enemy had not failed
+of its effect.</p>
+
+<p>The manner in which the battle originated rendered
+unity of direction impossible.</p>
+
+<p>It was but the advanced-guards of four Divisions
+which were the troops principally engaged; and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>
+daring attacks made on greatly superior hostile forces
+by small bodies unfollowed by immediate supports
+occasioned many critical moments, which might have
+been dangerous if the enemy had pushed forward more
+energetically in closely concentrated strength. But
+while, for instance, his IIIrd Corps received no support
+from the Imperial Guard standing close behind it, the
+contrast presented itself that on the Prussian side, in
+this as in the previous battles, there shone forth, along
+with their ready acceptance of personal responsibility,
+the eager mutual helpfulness of all the commanders
+within reach of the battle-field.</p>
+
+<p>An essential share of the success of the day must be
+attributed to the artillery. Hurrying along in front,
+leaving the responsibility of covering it to the advanced
+guards which reached forward before the main bodies
+of the Divisions had time to come up, it drove the
+French completely out of their positions before Metz,
+and back under the guns of the defences of the
+place.</p>
+
+<p>The protection so afforded to the enemy rendered
+it impossible that the victory of Colombey-Nouilly
+should yield any trophies, but the supreme Command
+was quite content with the results obtained. The retreat
+of the enemy had been arrested, and a day had
+been gained for the crossing of the Moselle by the IInd
+and IIIrd Armies.</p>
+
+<p><i>August 15th.</i>&mdash;In the early morning of the 15th the
+cavalry had ridden forward to the outworks of Metz, but
+found none of the enemy on this side of the fortress.
+A few shells scared away the Imperial Head-quarter
+from Longeville on the further side of the Moselle.</p>
+
+<p>As King William was riding over to visit the Ist
+Army, immense clouds of dust were observed rising on
+the further side of the fortress; and it was no longer
+doubtful that the French had begun their retreat, and
+that the IInd Army was henceforth free to follow
+across the Moselle with all its Corps.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Ist Corps of the Ist Army was necessarily left at
+Courcelles, south of Metz, to protect the railway, the
+other two were brought up leftward towards the Seille;
+and they were also by-and-by to cross the Moselle higher
+up, so as to avoid interference from the fortress.</p>
+
+<p>The French had started again on the retreat interrupted
+on the previous day, but proceeded little more
+than four miles<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> beyond Metz on August 15th. Their
+cavalry only went somewhat farther ahead, by both the
+roads to Verdun.</p>
+
+<p>The IIIrd Corps of the German IInd Army crossed
+the Moselle at Novéant, by the bridge which was found
+intact, and by a flying pontoon bridge; its artillery,
+however, was forced to make a détour by Pont à Mousson.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until late at night that the troops were
+all across and in bivouac close to the left bank. One
+Division of the Xth Corps remained at Pont à Mousson
+and the other advanced to Thiaucourt. The cavalry
+scouted farther forward towards the Metz-Verdun
+road, and struck in on the French cavalry near Mars la
+Tour. Several small engagements took place, but
+when early in the afternoon twenty-four Prussian
+squadrons had assembled, the French retired on Vionville.
+The Guard Corps and the IVth Corps crossed at
+Dieulouard and Marbache, higher up the river.</p>
+
+<p>The IIIrd Army advanced to the line Nancy-Bayon.
+On this day an attempt to seize the fortress of
+Thionville by surprise proved a failure.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Clearly should be "right."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> On the night of 15th, four of Bazaine's five Corps (less one
+Division) bivouacked at distances of from eight to ten miles westward
+of Metz; viz., from beyond Rezonville rearward to Gravelotte.</p></div>
+
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Vionville&mdash;Mars la Tour.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 16th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>In the Head-quarter of the IInd Army there was the
+belief that serious fighting with the French was no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>
+more to be anticipated on the Moselle, and therefore
+two Corps, the IIIrd and the Xth, were ordered to
+march on August 16th, northwards toward the road to
+Verdun by way of Gorze and Thiaucourt, while the
+other Corps were directed to advance by forced marches
+westwards towards the Meuse.</p>
+
+<p>The French retreat from Metz was, however, not
+completely effected on this day. The trains blocked
+every road, and in the forenoon three Divisions still
+remained behind in the Moselle valley. The Emperor,
+however, escorted by two brigades of cavalry, had
+departed at an early hour by the road through Etain,
+which was still comparatively safe. As the right wing
+of the army could not yet follow, the prosecution of
+the retreat was postponed until the afternoon, and
+the left wing, which had already begun the march,
+was sent back again into its bivouacs. But so early
+as nine o'clock Prussian shells startled the troops from
+their rest.</p>
+
+<p>Major Körber had advanced with four batteries
+close up to Vionville under cover of the cavalry, and
+the French troopers, surprised by their fire, fled in
+utter confusion through the camp of the infantry.
+The latter, however, briskly got under arms in good
+order, and the artillery opened a heavy fire. Destitute
+at first of infantry supports, the Prussian guns were
+withdrawn. Matters soon became serious.</p>
+
+<p>General von Alvensleben, fearing lest he should fail
+to overtake the enemy, had started again with the IIIrd
+Corps after a short night's rest. The 6th Division
+marched on the left, by Onville; the 5th, on the right,
+followed the long forest valley on the way to Gorze.
+This valley so capable of defence was found unoccupied
+by the enemy, who indeed had taken very few precautions.
+The advanced-guard presently encountered
+Bergés' French Division on the open plateau south of
+Flavigny, and General von Stülpnagel (commanding 5th
+Infantry Division) soon discovered that he had before<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>
+him an enemy whom it would take all his strength to
+beat. At ten o'clock he began operations by sending
+forward the 10th Brigade (commanded by General von
+Schwerin); and opened fire with twenty-four guns.</p>
+
+<p>Both sides now assumed the offensive. The Prussians,
+on the right, fought their way with varying
+fortunes through the wood, often in hand-to-hand
+encounter, and, towards eleven o'clock, succeeded in
+reaching the spur of the wood of St. Arnould projecting
+in the direction of Flavigny. Their left wing, on the
+contrary, was repulsed; even the artillery was in
+danger; but the 52nd Regiment hurried forward and
+re-established the fight at the cost of bloody sacrifices.
+Its 1st Battalion lost every one of its officers, the
+colours passed from hand to hand as its bearers were
+successively shot down, and the commander of the 9th
+Brigade, General von Döring, fell mortally wounded.
+General von Stülpnagel rode up into the foremost line
+of fire, inspiriting the men with brave words, while
+General von Schwerin collected the remnants of troops
+bereft of their leaders, and, reinforced by a detachment
+of the Xth Corps from Novéant, carried the height
+in front of Flavigny, whence the French presently
+retired.</p>
+
+<p>On the assumption that the French were already prosecuting
+the retreat, the 6th Division had been ordered
+forward towards Etain by way of Mars la Tour, to bar
+the enemy also from the northern road to Verdun. When
+it reached the height of Tronville, whence could be seen
+how things really stood, the brigades wheeled to the
+right in the direction of Vionville and Flavigny. The
+artillery going on in advance, formed a formidable line
+of batteries, the fire of which prepared the way for a
+farther advance, and by half-past eleven the 11th Brigade
+had taken possession of Vionville in spite of heavy
+losses. From thence, and from the south, in conjunction
+with the 10th Brigade, an attack was then directed
+on Flavigny, which had been set on fire by shell-fire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>
+The different detachments were hereabouts very much
+mixed, but by skilfully taking advantage of every fold
+of the ground, the individual regimental officers succeeded
+in getting their men steadily forward, in spite
+of the heavy fire of the hostile infantry and artillery.
+Flavigny was taken by assault, and one cannon and a
+number of prisoners fell into the hands of the brave
+Brandenburgers.</p>
+
+<p>Vionville, Flavigny and the northern end of the
+forest of St. Arnould constituted the points of support
+of the Prussian front now facing to the east; but this
+front was more than four miles long, and the whole
+infantry and artillery were engaged up to the hilt all
+in one line. The second line consisted only of the 5th
+and 6th Cavalry Divisions and half of the 37th Brigade
+near Tronville.</p>
+
+<p>The position of the French was one of great advantage.
+Their left flank leaned on Metz, their right was
+protected by formidable batteries on the old Roman road
+and a strong force of cavalry; and so they could await
+with confidence a frontal attack on the part of a
+venturesome enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The possibility of continuing the march to Verdun
+on this day, under the protection of a strong covering
+rearguard, was, no doubt, out of the question. Supposing
+the Marshal earnest above everything to effect
+his retreat, he could do so only by fighting hard for
+his right of way, and by so freeing himself from the
+enemy blocking his path.</p>
+
+<p>It is not easy to discern, from a purely military
+standpoint, why this course was not resorted to.
+There was the full certainty that only part, and
+probably only a small part, of the German host could
+as yet have reached the left side of the Moselle, and
+when in the course of the day the Divisions detained
+about Metz arrived, the French had greatly the
+superiority in strength. But it seems that the Marshal's
+chief solicitude was lest he should be forced to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>
+relinquish his touch of Metz; and he gave almost his
+whole attention to his left wing. Constantly sending
+fresh reinforcements thither, he massed the whole
+Guard Corps and part of the VIth Corps opposite the
+Bois des Ognons, whence an attack was exceptionally
+improbable. One is tempted to assume that political
+reasons alone thus early actuated Bazaine in his
+resolve to cling to Metz.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the Prussians slowly but surely made
+their way beyond Flavigny and Vionville, and, assisted
+by a heavy fire from the artillery, compelled the right
+wing of the IInd French Corps to retire on Rezonville,
+a movement which became a flight when the French
+Generals Bataille and Valazé were killed.</p>
+
+<p>To regain the lost ground the French Guard Cuirassier
+Regiment threw itself resolutely on the pursuers.
+But its attack was cut short by the rapid fire of two companies
+of the 52nd Regiment drawn up in line, which
+reserved their fire till the enemy were within 250
+paces. The horsemen sweeping right and left rushed
+into the fire of more infantry behind; 243 horses
+strewed the field, and only the remnants of the regiment
+wheeled about in swift flight, pursued by two
+Hussar regiments which had dashed forward from
+Flavigny. A French battery in front of Rezonville
+had hardly time to discharge a few shots before it was
+surrounded. For want of teams the Prussians could
+not, indeed, carry off the captured guns; but the
+Commander-in-Chief of the French army, who had
+himself brought them up, was for several minutes in
+imminent danger of being taken prisoner.</p>
+
+<p>The 6th Prussian Cavalry Division had also been
+ordered to the front. After passing through the line
+of artillery and deploying as well as the limited space
+permitted, it found itself face to face with fresh and
+completely formed troops. Marshal Bazaine had taken
+the precaution of substituting for the routed bodies
+of the IInd Corps the Guard Grenadier Division,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+which he had at last prevailed on himself to bring up
+from his unengaged left wing, but not without filling
+the vacancy by a Division of the IIIrd Corps. Thus
+the Prussian cavalry was received with such an overwhelming
+musketry and artillery fire that it halted,
+and deliberately retired, its retreat being covered by
+two squadrons of Uhlans, which time after time showed
+a front against the enemy. The cavalry had not
+actually engaged, but its advance had gained time and
+opportunity for the artillery to move further forward
+in one line from the spur of the wood to Flavigny.</p>
+
+<p>It was now two o'clock. So far General von Alvensleben
+had deceived the enemy with regard to the
+slenderness of his force by acting incessantly on the
+offensive. But the battle was now at a standstill, the
+battalions were visibly thinned, their strength was
+sapped by four hours of hard fighting, and the ammunition
+of the infantry was almost exhausted. Not a
+battalion, not a battery remained in reserve behind the
+fighting line standing there in the fire. It was now
+required to conserve the success won with so much
+blood by acting thenceforth on the defensive.</p>
+
+<p>The left wing was in especial danger, being under
+the fire of the powerful artillery deployed on the
+Roman road. Their greatly superior numbers enabled
+the French to extend farther and farther to the right,
+threatening thus completely to envelop the Prussian
+flank.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal Canrobert, in the French centre, had discerned
+the right moment to press forward against
+Vionville with all his might. At this critical instant
+there was on the German side only a small detachment
+of the 5th Cavalry Division available to check this effort.
+Two brigades had necessarily been sent to strengthen the
+left flank, and of the 12th Brigade remaining in rear of
+Vionville two squadrons had been detached to the
+Tronville copses. The two regiments ordered to
+undertake the task of charging the advancing enemy&mdash;the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>
+Magdeburg Cuirassiers and the Altmark Uhlans&mdash;were
+consequently each but three squadrons strong, in
+all 800 horses.</p>
+
+<p>General von Bredow, commanding the 12th Cavalry
+Brigade, first traversed in column the shallow hollow
+sinking down from Vionville, then wheeled to the right
+and mounted the slope to the eastward, both his
+regiments on one front. Received immediately with
+heavy artillery and infantry fire, he threw himself on the
+hostile ranks. The first line is ridden over, the line of
+guns is broken through, gunners and teams are put to the
+sword. The second French line is powerless to resist
+this vigorous onslaught, and even the more distant
+batteries limbered up to drive away.</p>
+
+<p>But the rapture of victory and the impetuosity of the
+charge carried the handful of troopers too far, and after
+a gallop of 3000 paces they found themselves surrounded
+by the French cavalry, which attacked them
+from all sides. There was no scope for a second charge,
+and so after several encounters with the French horse
+the brigade was forced to cut its way back through the
+French infantry, whose bullets accompanied it home.
+Only one-half of the command returned to Flavigny,
+where it was reorganized into two squadrons. The
+devoted self-sacrifice of the two heroic regiments effected
+the result, that the French entirely discontinued their
+attack on Vionville.</p>
+
+<p>At three o'clock four of their Divisions advanced
+towards the Tronville copses. Barby's cavalry brigade
+(11th), watching the western verge, had to retire before
+the enemy's fire, and the German infantry occupying the
+wood also had to yield to a strength so superior; the
+batteries which were in action between Vionville and
+the copses were assailed in rear from the west through
+the glades of the copses, and were likewise forced to
+retire. But not until the lapse of an hour did the
+French succeed in overcoming the obstinate resistance
+of four staunch battalions.</p>
+
+<p>At the subsequent roll-call near Tronville, it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>
+ascertained that the 24th Regiment had lost 1000
+men and 52 officers, and that the 2nd Battalion of the
+20th Regiment had lost all its officers. The 37th
+demi-Brigade, which of its own accord had been
+fighting valiantly in support since noon, took possession
+of the village of Tronville and prepared it
+for an obstinate defence.</p>
+
+<p>It was not till after three that the IIIrd Corps,
+which had been fighting for seven<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> hours almost single-handed,
+received effective assistance.</p>
+
+<p>While the Xth Corps was on the march through
+Thiaucourt, its advanced guard heard cannon-fire from
+the direction of Vionville. The Corps Commander,
+General von Voigts-Rhetz, immediately set out for the
+battle-field, and having personally ascertained how
+matters stood, he sent back the requisite orders to his
+approaching troops.</p>
+
+<p>In this instance again it was the artillery which,
+hurrying on in advance, masterfully struck into the
+conflict. Its fire, in conjunction with that of the
+promptly further advancing batteries of the IIIrd Corps,
+checked the French rush made on both sides of the
+Tronville copses simultaneously. At half-past three
+the head of von Woyna's Brigade (39th) fell on, drove
+the enemy back into the wood, and finally, supported
+by Diringshofen's Brigade (40th), took possession of
+its northern outskirts.</p>
+
+<p>The right wing of the IIIrd Corps had also received
+some reinforcement.</p>
+
+<p>The 32nd Brigade of the VIIIth Corps, on being
+called upon to assist the 5th Division, fatigued though
+it was by a long march, immediately advanced from
+the Moselle by Arry. The 11th Regiment joined it,
+and three batteries were sent ahead to commence
+operations; this force emerged at five o'clock from the
+forest of St. Arnould. It at once made an assault on
+the heights in front of Maison Blanche, but, though it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>
+made three strenuous efforts in succession, failed to
+carry them, since Marshal Bazaine had greatly
+strengthened his position in front of Rezonville. Then
+the French, in their turn, took the offensive there; but
+were equally unable to establish themselves firmly on
+the heights, swept as they were by the well-directed
+fire of the Prussian artillery; and they had to withdraw
+from the attempt. Petty struggles for this
+position were renewed later on both sides, but those
+spurts came to nothing because of the fire of the
+respective artillery; and the fighting on the German
+right became in the main stationary.</p>
+
+<p>That on the German left two French Divisions had
+retired before a few newly-arrived battalions, and had
+evacuated the Tronville copses, can only be explained
+by a report having reached Bazaine's head-quarters
+that the enemy was coming in upon his right flank in
+the vicinity of Hannonville.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy referred to was Wedell's Brigade (38th),
+which, while on the march in the direction of Etain
+according to its original orders, had received counter-instructions
+while halted at St. Hilaire at noon, to
+hurry to the field of battle. General von Schwartzkoppen
+(commanding 19th Infantry Division) decided
+to march by the highway to Mars la Tour, in the hope
+of falling on the enemy either in flank or in rear. But
+the French meanwhile had extended their reinforced
+right wing to the sunken valley west of Bruville, where
+three Divisions of their cavalry were massed in position.</p>
+
+<p>Thus when General von Wedell advanced to the
+attack on both sides of Tronville, which the French
+themselves had fired, his brigade&mdash;only five battalions
+strong&mdash;found itself in face of the long deployed front of
+the 4th French Corps. The two Westphalian regiments
+advanced steadily under the storm of shell and
+mitrailleuse fire till they suddenly reached the edge
+of a deep ravine hitherto unseen. This, however,
+they soon traversed, and were climbing the farther
+ascent, when they were met by a murderous shower<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>
+of bullets from the French infantry which hemmed
+them in closely on every side. After almost every
+one of the commanders and regimental officers had
+fallen, the wreck of the battalions fell back into the
+ravine; 300 men were taken prisoners, having no
+strength left to ascend the steep southern rise after
+the fatigue of a twenty-eight miles march. The remainder
+rallied at Tronville under the shot-torn colours
+which Colonel von Cranach, the only officer who still had
+a horse under him, had brought back in his own hand.
+Seventy-two officers and 2542 men were missing
+out of 95 officers and 4546 men&mdash;more than half.
+The French followed up their success, but were checked
+on the right by the headlong charge of the 1st Guard
+Dragoons, which cost that regiment 250 horses and nearly
+all its officers; and on the left by the 4th squadron of the
+2nd Guard Dragoons, which attacked three times its
+strength of Chasseurs d'Afrique.</p>
+
+<p>But there now imminently threatened the charge of
+a great mass of French cavalry, which disclosed itself
+on the open plateau of Ville sur Yron. This consisted
+of Legrand's Division and de France's Guard Brigade in
+four compact echelons, overlapping each other to the
+right. On the German side, all the still disposable
+cavalry joined Barby's brigade, and the body thus made
+up, consisting only of sixteen squadrons, was formed for
+action in two lines west of Mars la Tour. Farther in
+advance stood the 13th Dragoons, halted to receive the
+Guard-squadron on its return from its recent charge.
+The 13th galloped forward to meet the charge of
+Montaigu's Hussar Brigade, which constituted the first
+line of the French cavalry mass, and which broke
+through the (over-wide) intervals of the Prussian
+squadrons. But General von Barby promptly appeared
+with the other regiments on the upland of Ville sur
+Yron, where at a quarter to seven the cavalry masses
+came into collision.</p>
+
+<p>A mighty cloud of dust concealed the varying phases
+of the hand-to-hand encounter of 5000 horsemen which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>
+gradually declared itself in favour of the Prussians.
+General Montaigu, severely wounded, was taken
+prisoner, and General Legrand fell while leading his
+Dragoons to the assistance of the Hussars.</p>
+
+<p>De France's Brigade allowed the enemy to approach
+within 150 paces, and then its Lancer regiment rushed
+impetuously upon the Hanoverian Uhlans; but the
+latter outflanked it, and received unexpected assistance
+from the 5th squadron of the 2nd Guard Dragoons,
+which, returning from a reconnaissance, plunged forward
+over fences and ditches and fell upon the enemy
+in flank, while the Westphalian Cuirassiers at the same
+time broke his front. The Chasseurs d'Afrique strove
+in vain to hinder the enveloping tactics of the Hanoverian
+Dragoons; the clouds of dust drifted farther and
+farther northward, and the whole mass of French horse
+drew away towards the wooded slopes of Bruville,
+behind which there were still five regiments of Clérembault's
+Cavalry Division. Clérembault permitted one
+of his brigades to cross the valley, but the fleeing
+Hussars and some misunderstood signals threw it into
+confusion. It was borne back, and not until the French
+infantry confronted the Prussian pursuers in the covering
+valley did the latter desist from the pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>The Prussian regiments quietly re-formed and then
+withdrew at a walk to Mars la Tour, followed at a great
+distance by part of Clérembault's Division.</p>
+
+<p>This, the greatest cavalry combat of the war, had the
+effect of making the French right wing give up all further
+attempts to act on the offensive. The Germans
+mourned the loss of many superior officers, who always,
+at the head of their men, had set them a glorious
+example.</p>
+
+<p>Prince Frederick Charles had hastened to the field of
+battle. The day was nearly at an end, darkness approaching,
+and the battle won. The Prussians in the
+evening stood on the ground which in the morning had
+been occupied by the French. Though General von
+Alvensleben had in the first instance been under the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>
+impression that he would have only the French rear-guard
+to deal with, he did not hesitate for a moment to
+become the assailant when he found the entire French
+Army before him. With his single Corps he maintained
+the fight till the afternoon, and drove back the
+enemy from Flavigny to Rezonville, a distance of more
+than two miles. This was one of the most brilliant
+achievements of all the war.</p>
+
+<p>Thanks to the valuable assistance of the Xth Corps it
+was possible to carry on the battle through the afternoon
+on the defensive, but only by most resolute
+counter-attacks by the cavalry, and by the unflinching
+tenacity of the artillery.</p>
+
+<p>It was clearly most unadvisable to challenge by renewed
+attacks an enemy who still outnumbered the
+Germans; which action, since no further reinforcements
+could be hoped for, could not but jeopardize the success
+so dearly bought. The troops were exhausted, most
+of their ammunition was spent, the horses had been
+under the saddle for fifteen hours without fodder; some
+of the batteries could only move at a walk, and the
+nearest Army Corps on the left bank of the Moselle,
+the XIIth,<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> was distant more than a day's march.</p>
+
+<p>Notwithstanding all these considerations, an order
+from Prince Frederick Charles's Head-quarter issued
+at seven o'clock, commanded a renewed and general
+attack on the enemy's positions. The Xth Corps was
+quite incapable of answering this demand; and only
+part of the artillery went forward on the right followed
+by some infantry. The batteries indeed reached the
+much-disputed plateau south of Rezonville, but only
+to be exposed on two sides to the fire of infantry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>
+and artillery. Fifty-four guns of the French Guard
+alone, in position on the farther side of the valley, were
+taking them in flank. The Prussian batteries were
+compelled to retreat to their previous position, but
+two brigades of the 6th Cavalry Division still pressed
+forward. Scarcely able to discern in the increasing
+darkness where lay their proper line of attack, they
+came under very sharp infantry fire, and withdrew with
+great loss.</p>
+
+<p>Fighting did not entirely cease until ten o'clock. On
+either side 16,000 men had fallen. On either side pursuit
+was out of the question. The Germans reaped the
+fruits of this victory solely in its results. The troops,
+worn out by a twelve hours' struggle, bivouacked on
+the victorious but bloody field, immediately opposite
+the French position.</p>
+
+<p>Those Corps of the IInd Army which had not taken
+part in the battle, were on that day on march towards
+the Meuse. The advanced guard of the IVth Corps on
+the left wing was heading towards Toul. This fortress,
+commanding a railway-line of importance to the further
+progress of the German Army, was reported to be but
+feebly held, and it was resolved to attempt its capture
+by a <i>coup de main</i>. But the bombardment of it by
+field-artillery proved quite ineffective. Bastions of
+masonry and wide wet ditches made a storm impossible.
+An attempt to batter down the gates by shot
+and thus gain an entrance proved a failure. Finally
+the undertaking was given up, and not without some
+loss on the part of the Germans.</p>
+
+<p>At the Royal Head-quarter in Pont à Mousson it
+had become known by about noon on the 16th that the
+IIIrd Corps was engaged in serious conflict, and that
+the Xth and IXth were hastening up to its support.
+The far-reaching consequences of this information were
+recognized at once.</p>
+
+<p>The French were arrested in their withdrawal from
+Metz, but it was to be presumed as a certainty that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>
+they would again make strenuous efforts to force open
+their interrupted line of retreat. The XIIth Corps
+was therefore ordered to set out for Mars la Tour as
+early as three o'clock next morning; the VIIth and
+VIIIth Corps to stand in readiness at Corny and Arry.
+The bridging operations were to be pushed with the
+utmost vigour during the night. The Head-quarter of
+the IInd Army sent from Gorze the order to the Guard
+Corps to make a forced march to Mars la Tour, and
+there take up a position on the left of the XIIth Corps.
+The execution of these orders was facilitated by the
+foresight of the Commanders, who had in the course of
+the day received news of the battle which was being
+fought. Prince George of Saxony at once placed his
+Division on the march to Thiaucourt, and the Prince of
+Würtemberg assembled the Infantry of the Guard in
+its cantonments farther northward in readiness for an
+early march.</p>
+
+<p><i>August 17th.</i>&mdash;On this morning, at sunrise, the
+French outposts were observed still occupying the
+sweep of front from Bruville to Rezonville. Behind
+them were noticed a stir and much noise of signalling,
+which might be the indications equally of an attack
+or of a retirement.</p>
+
+<p>The King arrived from Pont à Mousson at Flavigny
+as early as six o'clock. The reports sent in to headquarters
+until noon by the reconnoitring cavalry were
+somewhat contradictory; they left it uncertain whether
+the French were concentrating towards Metz, or were
+pursuing their retreat by the two still open roads
+through Etain and Briey.  Preparations for the
+offensive were nowhere observed. By one o'clock,
+after a skirmish on the way, the head of the VIIth
+Corps had reached the northern skirt of the Bois
+des Ognons, over against which the French subsequently
+abandoned Gravelotte. The VIIIth Corps
+stood ready at Gorze, the IXth, IIIrd, and Xth remained
+in their positions, the XIIth and the Guard
+Corps were on the march. Seven Corps and three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>
+Cavalry Divisions could be counted on for the following
+day; for to-day all attacks were forbidden.</p>
+
+<p>In making the dispositions for the impending battle
+of August 18th, two possible contingencies were foreseen
+and had to be provided for. To meet both the
+left wing was to be sent forward in a northerly
+direction through Doncourt towards the nearest of the
+routes still open for the retreat of the French. If the
+enemy were already retiring, he was to be at once
+attacked and detained while the right wing was
+hurrying up in support.</p>
+
+<p>In case the enemy should be remaining about Metz,
+the German left wing was to swing eastwards and out-flank
+his farthest north position, while the right was to
+hold his left closely engaged until this movement was
+accomplished. The battle, under these circumstances,
+probably could not be decided until late in the day,
+owing to the wide-sweeping movement of a portion of
+the army. A peculiar feature of the situation was
+that both parties had to fight with inverted front, and
+sacrifice for the time their respective lines of communication.
+The consequences of victory or defeat
+would thus be greatly enhanced or aggravated, but the
+French had the advantage of having as their base a
+large place of arms with its resources.</p>
+
+<p>A decision having been arrived at, by two o'clock
+orders were published at Flavigny for an advance by
+echelons from the left wing. The guidance of individual
+Corps during the battle was to turn on the
+reports which should be brought in. The King then
+returned to Pont à Mousson.</p>
+
+<p>As early as nine o'clock in the morning the Saxon
+Cavalry Division had reached the Etain road to
+the west of Conflans, and had reported no enemy
+visible except a few stragglers. Still, this only proved
+that on the 17th the French had not yet taken up
+their retreat.</p>
+
+<p>In rear of its cavalry the XIIth Corps arrived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>
+during the day in the vicinity of Mars la Tour and
+Puxieux, and left of it the Guard bivouacked in the
+evening at Hannonville sur Yron, in accordance with
+order. The IInd Corps, which ever since it left the
+railway had followed close on the IInd Army, reached
+Pont à Mousson, and was ordered to march forward by
+Buxières at four next morning.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Five; viz. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> The Hessian Division of the IXth Corps was on the left bank,
+much nearer the field than the XIIth&mdash;so near indeed that portions
+of it were actually engaged; and its other Division crossed the river
+in the night. The <i>Staff History</i> assigns the proximity of the IXth
+Corps as a leading reason for the action of Prince Frederick Charles
+which Moltke denounces. Both the VIIth and VIIIth Corps (the
+latter of which had a brigade engaged in the battle) were more
+immediately available than the distant XIIth.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Gravelotte&mdash;St. Privat.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 18th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Marshal Bazaine had not thought it advisable to
+prosecute the march to Verdun now that the Germans
+were so close on the flank of such a movement. He
+preferred to concentrate his forces near Metz, in a
+position which he rightly considered as almost
+impregnable.</p>
+
+<p>Such an one was afforded him by the range of
+heights stretching along the western verge of the valley
+of Chatel. Their face looking toward the enemy sloped
+away like a glacis, while the short and steep decline in
+the rear afforded cover for the reserves. Along the flat
+crown of the heights from Roncourt to Rozerieulles, a distance
+of about seven miles, were posted the VIth, IVth,
+IIIrd, and IInd Corps in succession from the north;
+for which distance there were available from eight to
+ten men to the pace (Schritt). A brigade of the
+Vth Corps stood near Ste. Ruffine in the valley of
+the Moselle; the cavalry was in rear of both flanks.
+In front of the IInd and IIIrd Corps shelter-trenches
+had been thrown up, battery emplacements and
+covered ways of communication constructed, and the
+farmsteads lying out to the front converted into little
+forts. To approach this (left) wing from the west it
+was necessary to cross the deep ravine of the Mance.
+The VIth Corps on the other hand was wholly without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>
+an engineer park; and it is indicative of the general
+ill-equipment of the French that, for the transport of
+the wounded to the rear, in spite of the enormous
+trains, provision waggons had to be unloaded and their
+contents burnt. This Corps was therefore unable to
+construct fortified flank defences toward the forest of
+Jaumont, such as would have given to the right wing
+the character of formidable strength. This would undoubtedly
+have been the place for the Guard, but in
+his apprehension of an attack from the south the
+Marshal held that Corps in reserve at Plappeville.</p>
+
+<p>The King returned to Flavigny at six o'clock on the
+morning of the 18th. All commanding officers were instructed
+to send their reports thither, and officers of the
+General Staff belonging to the Royal Head-quarter
+were besides sent out in different directions to report
+information as to the progress of the engagement.</p>
+
+<p>The following were the initial dispositions. The
+VIIth Army Corps, which was to form the pivot for
+the eventual wheel to the right, occupied the Bois de
+Vaux and Bois des Ognons; the VIIIth, which the
+King had reserved at his own disposition, stood halted
+near Rezonville ready to march to the north or to the
+east, as might be required. The IXth Corps, on its
+left, advanced towards St. Marcel, while the IIIrd and
+Xth followed in second line. The Guard and XIIth
+Corps moved in a northerly direction.</p>
+
+<p>In consequence of the Head-quarter of the IInd
+Army having ordered the XIIth Corps, although it
+stood on the right,<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> to form the extreme left, a serious
+delay occurred from the crossing of the respective lines
+of march. The Saxon troops had not entirely passed
+through Mars-la-Tour until nine o'clock, and till then
+the Guard Corps could not follow.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+<p>Meanwhile the advanced guard of the XIIth Corps
+had already reached Jarny, and pursued its march as
+far as Briey without encountering the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Before information to this effect came in, the conviction
+had been reached in the Royal Head-quarter
+that at all events the main forces of the enemy still
+remained before Metz; there was, however, a difference
+of opinion as to the extension of the French front, which
+it was assumed did not reach beyond Montigny. The
+Head-quarter of the IInd Army was therefore instructed
+not to extend further northward, but to attack the
+enemy's right wing with the IXth Corps, and push in
+the direction of Batilly with the Guard and the XIIth
+Corps. The Ist Army was not to begin its frontal
+attack until the IInd should be ready to co-operate.</p>
+
+<p>In obedience to those instructions Prince Frederick
+Charles ordered the IXth Corps to march towards Verneville,
+and, in case the French right wing should be found
+there, to begin the action by promptly bringing a large
+force of artillery into action. The Guard was to continue
+its advance by way of Doncourt to support the
+IXth as soon as possible. The XIIth was to remain
+at Jarny for the present.</p>
+
+<p>A little later fresh reports came in, which indicated
+that the IXth Corps, should it proceed in the manner
+ordered, would not strike the enemy on his flank, but
+full on his front. The Prince, in the discretion of his
+high position, therefore determined that the Corps
+should postpone its attack till the Guard Corps should
+have been brought to bear upon Amanvillers. At the
+same time the XIIth Corps was to push on to Ste.
+Marie aux Chênes.</p>
+
+<p>But while these orders were being expedited, there
+was heard from Verneville at twelve o'clock the roar of
+the first cannon shots.</p>
+
+<p>The two Corps of the left wing had, moreover, of their
+own accord, taken an easterly direction, and the IIIrd
+Corps moved up in rear of the IXth to the Caulre farm.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>General von Manstein, the commander of the IXth
+Corps, had observed from Verneville a French camp
+at Amanvillers, which apparently lay in negligent
+repose. From his standpoint it could not be discerned
+that to his left about St. Privat great masses of troops
+were in position. Thinking that in this camp he had
+the enemy's right wing before him, he determined to
+act on his original orders and at once take the foe by
+surprise. Eight of his batteries at once opened fire.</p>
+
+<p>But the French troops showed great alacrity in
+moving up into their prepared positions. The isolated
+initiative of the single Corps naturally drew upon it not
+only the fire of the troops opposite to it, but also that
+of the hostile Corps to right and left.</p>
+
+<p>In the effort to find a location affording something
+of shelter, the Prussian batteries had taken position in
+a fold of the slope looking towards Amanvillers, and
+facing to the south-east, where, however, they were exposed
+from the north, on the flank and even in the
+rear, to the fire of the enemy's artillery, as well as to
+the massed fire of his infantry.</p>
+
+<p>To meet this, it was necessary to send forward the
+infantry battalions nearest at hand. They took
+possession of the eastern point of the Bois de la Cusse
+on the left, and on the right seized the farmhouses of
+L'Envie and Chantrenne, and forced their way into the
+Bois des Genivaux. Thus the front of the 18th Division
+in action extended along a distance of 4000 paces.</p>
+
+<p>It had to endure very heavy loss from the circumstance
+that the French with their long-range Chassepôt
+rifles could afford to keep out of the effective range
+of the needle-gun; the artillery suffered exceptionally
+severely. One of the batteries had already lost forty-five
+gunners when the enemy's sharpshooters swarmed
+forward on it. Infantry protection was not available
+at the moment, and two guns were lost. By two
+o'clock the batteries still remaining in position were
+almost unserviceable, and no relief arrived till the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+Hessian Division reached Habonville, and brought
+up on the left of the distressed batteries, five
+batteries on either side of the railway, which diverted
+on themselves to a considerable extent the concentrated
+fire of the enemy. The batteries of the 18th Division,
+which had suffered most, could now be withdrawn in
+succession, but even in the act of retreat they had to
+drive off the pursuers by grape-shot.</p>
+
+<p>The artillery of the IIIrd Corps and the Guard also
+came to the aid of the IXth, and those of the damaged
+guns of the last, which were still at all fit for
+service, were at once brought up again into the fighting
+line. Thus there was formed in front of Verneville and
+as far as St. Ail an artillery front of 130 pieces, whose
+fire now opposed the enemy's artillery with conspicuous
+success. Now that the IIIrd Corps was approaching
+Verneville and the 3rd Guard Brigade had reached
+Habonville, it was no longer to be apprehended that
+the French would succeed in piercing this line.</p>
+
+<p>The main body of the Guard Corps reached St. Ail
+so early as two o'clock. General von Pape (commanding
+Ist Guard Division) at once recognized that by
+wheeling to the east he would not only not strike the
+enemy on that right flank of his which had to be
+turned, but would expose his own left flank to the
+hostile force occupying Ste. Marie aux Chênes. This
+town-like village, in itself extremely strong, and also
+strongly flanked by the main stronghold of the enemy's
+right, it was necessary to gain before making any
+further advance; but, in obedience to superior orders,
+the General had to await the co-operation of the Saxon
+Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The foremost troops of this Corps had already
+reached the vicinity of Batilly, but it was still distant
+from Ste. Marie more than two miles, so that its
+batteries could not be pushed forward into position
+west of that place until three o'clock. But as the
+Guard had sent most of its own artillery to the support<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>
+of the IXth Corps the Saxon batteries were of essential
+service. Ten batteries now directed their fire upon
+Ste. Marie, and by the time its effect was discernible,
+the 47th Brigade of the XIIth Corps came up. At
+half-past three the Prussian and Saxon battalions
+hurled themselves on the town from the south, the west,
+and the north, with loud hurrahs and without returning
+the fire of the enemy. The French were driven
+from it with the loss of several hundred men taken
+prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>The Saxons eagerly followed up, and north of Ste.
+Marie there ensued a lively infantry fight, which
+masked the fire of the artillery. The brigade having
+obeyed the order to retire, the batteries immediately
+re-opened fire, and the repeated efforts of the French
+to recover the lost position were frustrated.</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterwards the IXth Corps succeeded in storming
+and firmly holding the farm of Champenois, but all
+further attempts by isolated battalions or companies to
+force their way forward against the broad and compact
+front of the French were then manifestly futile. Thus,
+towards five o'clock, the infantry fire altogether died
+out, and the artillery fired only an occasional shot.
+The exhaustion of both sides caused for the time an
+almost total suspension of hostilities in this part of the
+field.</p>
+
+<p>The Royal Head-quarter had firmly maintained the
+resolution, that the Ist Army should not commit itself
+to a serious offensive until the IInd had grappled with
+the enemy. But when the day was half-spent and
+when about noon heavy firing was heard from Vionville,<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a>
+it was to be assumed that the moment for action had
+arrived; still, for the present, permission was only given
+to the Ist Army to engage in the artillery preparation.</p>
+
+<p>Sixteen batteries of the VIIth and VIIIth Corps
+accordingly drew up right and left of Gravelotte on
+the highway passing through that village. Their fire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+was ineffective, because they were too far distant from
+the enemy; and furthermore they suffered from the
+fire of the French tirailleurs nestling in the opposite
+woods. It became necessary to drive those out, and
+thus there occurred here a premature infantry fight.
+The French were cleared out from the eastern declivity
+of the Mance ravine, and the artillery line, now increased
+to twenty batteries, was able to advance closer up to
+the western brink and now direct the strength of its fire
+against the main position of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>But the battalions of the 29th Brigade pushed the
+attack further. They pressed on leftward into the
+southern section of the Bois des Genivaux, but were
+unable to obtain touch of the IXth Corps in possession
+of the northern portion of the forest, since the French
+firmly held the intervening ground. On the right
+sundry detachments took possession of the quarries and
+gravel-pits near St. Hubert.</p>
+
+<p>The artillery meanwhile had gained the mastery over
+that of the enemy, several of whose batteries were
+silenced, and others prevented from coming into position.
+The French fire was in part directed on the
+farm-steading of St. Hubert, to the vicinity of which
+portions of the 30th Brigade had spurted forward.
+These formidable premises close under the face of the
+enemy's main position, and in spite of a very heavy fire
+therefrom, were stormed at three o'clock. The 31st
+Brigade also now promptly crossed the ravine, but a
+further advance against the farms of Moscou and
+Leipzig, over a bare stretch of ground encompassed by
+the enemy on its wooded edges, did not succeed, and
+resulted only in heavy loss. On the extreme right, the
+26th Brigade had taken possession of Jussy, thus
+securing the connection of the German army towards
+Metz, but found it impossible to cross the deep valley
+of Rozerieulles.</p>
+
+<p>Everywhere the advanced positions of the French had
+been driven in, the farms in their front were blazing, their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>
+artillery appeared to be crushed, and, as the situation
+was viewed from Gravelotte, there needed nothing but
+to follow up the success. General von Steinmetz
+therefore, at four o'clock, ordered a renewed attack
+with fresh forces.</p>
+
+<p>While the VIIth Corps occupied the border of the
+woodland, four batteries, backed by the 1st Cavalry
+Division, moved at a trot through the ravine, about
+1500 paces across, which lies east of Gravelotte. But
+as soon as the head of the deep column came in sight of
+the enemy he redoubled his rifle and artillery fire, which
+had till now been kept under. One battery lost in a
+twinkling the men serving four of its guns, and it was
+only by an extreme effort that it was withdrawn to the
+border of the wood; another never succeeded in deploying.
+On the other hand, Hasse's battery remained in
+action, in spite of the loss of seventy-five horses, and
+Gnügge's battery stood fast near St. Hubert, regardless
+of the return fire from the quarries.</p>
+
+<p>The foremost regiment of cavalry bent to the right
+at a gallop on leaving the hollow way, and advanced
+towards Point du Jour, but the enemy, being completely
+under cover, offered no mark for an attack. Clearly
+there was no field here for the utilization of this arm,
+so the regiments withdrew across the Mance ravine
+under a heavy fire from all sides.</p>
+
+<p>The result of the ill-success of this attempt was that
+swarms of French tirailleurs now poured down from
+Point du Jour, and drove the Prussian detachments
+still remaining on the bare plateau backward to the
+skirts of the wood. Chassepôt bullets even reached
+the position of the Royal Commander-in-Chief and his
+personal staff, and Prince Adalbert's horse was shot
+under him.</p>
+
+<p>Fresh forces pushed forward and drove the enemy
+back into his main position. St. Hubert remained in
+German possession, though the gunners of the battery
+in post there were equal to the service of but one gun.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>
+But all partial attempts to advance over the exposed
+plateau proved a failure; and here also at about five
+o'clock in the afternoon there occurred a lull in the
+fighting, during which the weary troops on both sides
+reorganized themselves and took breath.</p>
+
+<p>About this time King William and his staff rode forward
+to the swell south of Malmaison. But from there
+nothing could be discerned of the situation of the left
+flank of the army, at a distance as it was of more than
+four miles. The French artillery had almost entirely
+ceased along the whole front from La Folie to Point du
+Jour; but to the northward the thunder of the cannon
+fire roared louder than ever. It was six o'clock, the
+day was nearly at an end, and it was imperative that
+the decisive result should be precipitated. The King
+therefore ordered the Ist Army to make a renewed advance
+in support of which he placed the IInd Corps,
+just arrived after a long march, at the disposal of
+General von Steinmetz.</p>
+
+<p>The battalions of the VIIth Corps which were still
+serviceable, except five which remained in reserve,
+were again sent across the Mance ravine, and in support
+of them the battalions holding the Bois de Vaux advanced
+in the direction of Point du Jour and the quarries.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Corps of the French Army thus assailed
+was now reinforced by the Guard Voltigeur Division.
+All the reserves were hurried up into the foremost line.
+The artillery burst into redoubled fire, and a crushing
+musketry fire was concentrated on the advancing
+enemy. Then the French themselves took the offensive
+with a huge swarm of tirailleurs, which hurled backward
+upon the wood-fringes the small leaderless bodies
+of German troops that had been lying in the shallow
+folds of the plateau.</p>
+
+<p>There, however, the sally found its limit; and there
+still remained at disposition a fresh Army Corps in full
+strength.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Corps, the last to come up by rail into the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>
+theatre of war, had hitherto followed in the wake of
+the army by forced marches, and had not been able to
+take part in any engagement. It had started from
+Pont à Mousson at 2 a.m. and, taking the road by
+Buxières and Rezonville, arrived south of Gravelotte towards
+evening. The Pomeranians expressed their eager
+desire to get at the enemy before the day should end.</p>
+
+<p>It would have been more proper if the Chief of the
+General Staff of the Army, who was personally on the
+spot at the time, had not permitted this movement at
+so late an hour of the evening. A body of troops,
+still completely intact, might have been of great value
+the next day; but it could hardly be expected on this
+evening to effect a decisive reversal of the situation.</p>
+
+<p>Hurrying through Gravelotte, the foremost battalions
+of the IInd Corps pushed forward to the quarries, and
+up to within a few hundred paces of Point du Jour;
+but those following soon found themselves involved in
+the throng of the broken detachments remaining under
+fire south of St. Hubert, and the further advance towards
+Moscou was arrested. In the growing darkness friend
+became indistinguishable from foe, and the firing had
+to be broken off. Not, however, until ten o'clock did
+it entirely cease.</p>
+
+<p>It was, to be sure, an advantage that the fresh troops
+of the IInd Corps were available to hold the foremost
+fighting-line for the night, behind which the intermixed
+detachments of the VIIth and VIIIth Corps were
+enabled to reorganize themselves.</p>
+
+<p>The whole course of the struggle had conclusively
+proved that the French left flank, almost impregnable
+as it was by nature and art, could not be forced even
+by the most devoted bravery and the greatest sacrifices.
+Both sides were now facing each other in threatening
+proximity, and both in attitude to renew the battle on
+the following morning. The result of the day turned
+on the events evolving themselves on the opposite
+flank.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Prince of Würtemberg,<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> then in St. Ail, had
+judged at a quarter-past five that the moment was
+come for an attack on the French right wing; but that
+wing extended considerably further north than the
+front of the Guard Corps reached; further, indeed,
+than the French Commander-in-Chief himself was
+aware. The Saxons had, indeed, participated in the
+seizure of Ste. Marie aux Chênes, but after that event
+the Crown Prince<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> deemed it necessary to assemble
+his Corps in front of the Bois d'Auboué, before proceeding
+to attack the enemy in flank. One of his
+brigades had to come up from Jarny, another from
+Ste. Marie; and, since the Corps had been delayed in
+getting away from Mars la Tour, its direct attack could
+not be expected at the earliest for an hour to come.</p>
+
+<p>The 4th Infantry Brigade of the Guard Corps, in
+accordance with orders received, proceeded in the
+prescribed direction of Jerusalem, immediately south of
+St. Privat. As soon as General von Manstein observed
+this movement, he ordered the 3rd Guard Brigade, which
+had been placed at his orders, immediately to advance
+from Habonville direct upon Amanvillers. Between and
+abreast of these two brigades marched Hessian battalions.
+It was not till half-an-hour later that the 1st Guard
+Division leftward of the 2nd moved forward from Ste.
+Marie against St. Privat. This combined offensive
+movement was directed against the broad front of the
+French VIth and IVth Corps. Their respective strongholds
+of St. Privat and Amanvillers had as yet hardly
+felt the fire of the German batteries, which had hitherto
+found enough to do in combating the enemy's artillery
+outside the villages.</p>
+
+<p>In front of the French main position on the crown of
+the height had been prepared on the slope behind the
+hedges and low walls, which rose terrace-wise backward,
+tier on tier of shelter trenches. Behind these defences<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>
+towered the village named St. Privat, castle-like with
+its massive houses, which were garrisoned to the very
+roofs. The bare slope stretching in its front was thus
+exposed to an overwhelming storm of projectiles.</p>
+
+<p>The losses of the Guard Corps marching forward to
+attack a front so formidable were simply enormous.
+In the course of half an hour five battalions lost all, the
+others the greater part of their officers, especially those
+of the higher grades. Thousands of dead and wounded
+marked the track of the battalions pressing valiantly
+forward in spite of their cruel losses. The ranks as
+fast as they were thinned constantly closed up again,
+and their cohesion was not lost even under the leadership
+of young lieutenants and ensigns. As they drew
+nearer to the enemy the needle-gun came into full
+utility. The French were driven from all their foremost
+positions, in which, for the most part, they did
+not await the final struggle. By a quarter-past six
+the battalions had advanced to within 600 to 800
+paces of Amanvillers and St. Privat. The troops,
+weary from the strained exertion, halted under the
+steeper slopes offering some, though small, protection,
+and in the shelter trenches abandoned by the enemy.
+Only four battalions now remained in reserve at Ste.
+Marie, behind the line which now extended to a
+length of 4000 paces. Every charge of the French
+cavalry and of de Cissey's Division had been steadily
+repelled with the aid of twelve batteries of the Guard
+Corps which had hastened up; but detachments
+commingled under stress of untold losses, had to show
+a resolute front against two French Corps in close
+proximity for more than half-an-hour, before relief
+came to them.</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly seven o'clock when on the left of the
+Guard, two brigades of Saxon infantry reached the
+scene of strife; the other two were still assembling in
+the forest of Auboué; their artillery, however, had for
+a considerable time been maintaining a lively fire on
+Roncourt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>When Bazaine received word that the Germans
+were stretching out in constantly increasing extension
+with intent to outflank his right, he at three p.m.
+ordered Picard's Guard Grenadier Division posted at
+Plappeville, to march towards the threatened flank.
+Though the distance to be covered was little more than
+four miles, this all-important reinforcement, having
+diverged to rightward from the direct road through
+the woodland, had not yet arrived; and Marshal Canrobert,
+who was fending off with all his might the
+converging masses of Prussian assailants, decided to
+concentrate his troops more closely about the strong
+position of St. Privat. The retreat from Roncourt
+would be adequately covered by a small rearguard, since
+the border of the Bois de Jaumont was being held.</p>
+
+<p>Thus it happened that the Saxons did not find the
+strong resistance at Roncourt which they had expected,
+and after a slight skirmish entered the village together
+with the companies of the extreme left of the Guard;
+a body of Saxon infantry had previously been
+diverted to the right from the road to Roncourt and
+marched direct on St. Privat to the support of the
+Guard.</p>
+
+<p>The fire of twenty-four batteries of the two German
+Corps wrought awful havoc there. Many houses were
+set on fire, or crumbled under the concentrated crash
+of the shells. But the French were determined to hold
+to the last extremity this point, decisive as it was of the
+fate of the day. The batteries of their right flank were
+hurried into position between St. Privat and the Bois
+de Jaumont, whence their fire would enfilade the
+further advance of the Saxons on the former place.
+Other batteries went southward to confront the Prussians,
+and the simultaneous final rush of the German
+battalions was met by a rattling fire from the French
+riflemen under cover in their lines of shelter trenches.</p>
+
+<p>All those obstacles were gradually overcome in the
+course of the assault, although again with heavy loss;
+some detachments halting occasionally for a moment to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+pour in a volley, others again never firing a shot. By
+sundown the attack had swept up to within 300
+paces of St. Privat. Some detachments of the Xth
+Corps, which had reached St. Ail, closed up, and now
+the final onset was made from every side at once.
+The French still defended the burning houses and the
+church with great obstinacy, till, finding themselves
+completely surrounded, they surrendered at about
+eight o'clock. More than 2000 men were here taken
+prisoners, and the wounded were rescued from the
+burning houses.</p>
+
+<p>The defeated troops of the VIth French Corps hurriedly
+retired into the valley of the Moselle, their retreat
+covered by the brigade holding the Bois de Jaumont
+and by the cavalry. Only then did the Guard Grenadier
+Division make its first appearance, and the Reserve
+Artillery of the French Army deployed east of Amanvillers.
+The German batteries at once took up the
+fight, which lasted till late in the night, and in the
+course of which Amanvillers was burned.</p>
+
+<p>In that quarter the retirement of the IVth French
+Corps had also already commenced, masked, however, by
+repeated heavy attacks to the front. In the course of
+these there occurred a hand-to-hand encounter with the
+charging battalions of the right wing of the Guard and
+the left of the IXth Corps. Amanvillers, however,
+remained in the hands of the French for the night.
+Not until three o'clock on the morning of the 19th
+did the IIIrd French Corps evacuate its position about
+Moscou; and the IInd Corps held its ground until five
+o'clock, engaged in constant sharp frays with the outposts
+of the Pomeranians, who on its withdrawal took
+possession of the plateaus of Moscou and Point du
+Jour.</p>
+
+<p>The results attained on the 18th of August had been
+made possible only by the battles of the 14th and 16th.</p>
+
+<p>The French estimate their losses at 13,000 men. In
+October 173,000 were still in Metz, consequently it is
+certain that the enemy had at disposition in the battle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>
+of the 18th of August more than 180,000 men. The
+exact strength of the seven<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> German Corps on that
+day amounted to 178,818 men. Thus with the forces
+on either side of approximately equal strength, the
+French had been driven out of a position of almost
+unrivalled natural advantage.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally the loss of the assailants was much heavier
+than that of the defence; it amounted to 20,584 men,
+among them 899 officers.</p>
+
+<p>Whereas by the war-establishment the average is
+one officer to every forty men, in this battle one
+officer fell to every twenty-three men; glorious testimony
+to the example set by their leaders to their
+brave men, but also a loss which could not be restored
+during the course of the war. Altogether the six
+battles fought in the first fourteen days of August had
+cost the German army 50,000 men.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> It was naturally
+impossible immediately to call out at home a sufficient
+levy in substitution for the losses; but reinforcements
+drawn from the time-expired cadres were already
+bespoken.</p>
+
+<p>First of all that same evening the earliest instalment
+of the trains and the Field-Hospitals had to be brought
+up from the right bank of the Moselle; and the ammunition
+had to be replenished throughout. In
+Rezonville, thronged as it was with the wounded, it
+was with difficulty that a little garret for the King and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>
+shelter for his General Staff were found. Its members
+were engrossed throughout the night in preparing the
+dispositions which the new phase of the situation
+created by the victory rendered immediately necessary.
+This exertion enabled all those orders to be laid before
+his Majesty for approval on the morning of the
+19th.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> The XIIth Corps never stood on the right. It occupied its
+assigned position on the extreme left, and the delay arose from the
+Guard Corps having occupied a position other than that designed for
+it, and having been allowed to remain there.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Vionville in text seems a slip of the pen for Verneville.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Commanding the Guard Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> Of Saxony, commanding XIIth Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> These figures represent only the infantry of the eight (not seven)
+Corps engaged; they do not include the cavalry, 24,584; the artillery,
+at least as strong; nor the officerhood of the two armies, numbering
+several thousands. Inclusive of those items the German host "employed"
+in the battle of Gravelotte&mdash;St. Privat numbered, in round
+figures, 232,000 combatants. Accepting Moltke's own estimate of
+ten defenders per "Schrith" of front, there works out a total of
+133,000 men, as the strength of the French army "employed" in
+the battle.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> During the first fourteen days of August, the German troops
+were in conflict with the enemy on five occasions: viz. Saarbrücken,
+2nd, loss 79; Weissenburg, 4th, loss 1551; Wörth, 6th, loss 10,642;
+Spicheren, 6th, loss 4871; Borny, 14th, loss 5000. Total losses
+during the fourteen days, 22,143.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">New Distribution of the Army.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The siege of Metz had formed no part of the
+original plan of campaign; it had been intended to do
+no more than merely to maintain an observation on
+the place when the main army should have passed it on
+the advance towards Paris; and a Reserve Division,
+consisting of eighteen battalions, sixteen squadrons, and
+thirty-six guns, detailed for that duty, was now near at
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>Under the altered conditions, however, the regular
+investment of Metz was now necessary, and this
+involved a radical alteration of the existing arrangements
+throughout the whole army.</p>
+
+<p>A separate army under the command of Prince
+Frederick Charles, consisting of the Ist, VIIth, and VIIIth
+Corps of the former Ist Army, the IInd, IIIrd, IXth,
+and Xth Corps of the IInd Army, the Reserve Division
+and the 1st and 3rd Cavalry Divisions, in all 150,000
+men, was assigned to the duty of investing Metz.</p>
+
+<p>The Guard, IVth, and XIIth Corps and the 5th and
+6th Cavalry Divisions were formed into a separate army
+under the command of the Crown Prince of Saxony;
+it was styled "The Army of the Meuse" and was
+138,000 strong.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a>  This and the IIIrd Army, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>
+numbered 223,000 men, were directed to advance
+against the new French army forming at Châlons.</p>
+
+<p>Certainly the army investing Metz was left weaker
+than the blockaded enemy. It was to be expected
+that the latter would renew his efforts to break out to
+the westward. Prince Frederick Charles' main forces
+were therefore to remain on the left bank of the
+Moselle.</p>
+
+<p>All these orders received the approval of the King,
+and were dispatched to the commanding officers by
+eleven o'clock on the morning of the 19th.</p>
+
+<p>In accordance with the orders of Prince Frederick
+Charles, the Xth Corps occupied the woodland districts
+of the lower Moselle as far as St. Privat, while the IInd
+held the high ridge from that point to Moscou. To the
+right of the IInd, the VIIIth and VIIth Corps followed
+on, the latter positioned on both sides of the Upper
+Moselle. The Ist Corps occupied the Pouilly upland to
+left and right of the Seille, specially charged to protect
+the great magazines which were being established at
+Remilly and Pont à Mousson. The 3rd Reserve
+Division moved to the vicinity of Retonfay, north-east
+of Metz. The IXth and IIIrd Corps cantoned at
+St. Marie and Verneville as reserve. All the troops
+immediately set about the construction of earthworks,
+and of bridges over the Moselle above and below the
+fortress.</p>
+
+<p>Of the Corps now belonging to the Army of the Meuse,
+the XIIth assembled at Conflans and the Guards at Mars
+la Tour; the IVth Corps, which had not been ordered
+to Metz, had already reached Commercy.</p>
+
+<p>The IIIrd Army, after crossing the Vosges range, and
+having left a Bavarian brigade blockading Toul, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>
+pressing forward in three columns. Its foremost Corps
+had already reached the Meuse, but were obliged to halt
+there for two days, so as to cross the river approximately
+abreast of the Meuse army. Its cavalry meanwhile
+patrolled three marches ahead as far as Châlons and
+Vitry, where, for the first time since Wörth, it regained
+touch of the enemy. The French encountered were
+only guarding posts on the Marne railway-line, which
+retired when the traffic thereon ceased.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> These figures are erroneous. It is manifest that three Corps and
+two Cavalry Divisions, most of which had been materially weakened by
+casualties, could not furnish a strength of 138,000 men; nor could
+the IIIrd Army, originally 130,000 strong, swelled by one Corps and
+diminished by battle losses of 12,000, approximate a strength of
+223,000. As a matter of fact, on August 22nd, the Meuse Army was
+86,275 strong, and the IIIrd Army 137,622; the two armies together
+had a total strength, in round numbers, of 224,000 men.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Army of Châlons.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>Meanwhile at Châlons there had been formed a French
+army of 166 battalions, 100 squadrons, and 380 guns,
+consisting of the Ist, Vth, VIIth, and XIIth Corps.</p>
+
+<p>Of the last the Division which had been left behind
+on the Spanish frontier formed the nucleus, to which
+was added a body of very superior troops, consisting of
+four regiments of marines; later the two cavalry divisions
+also joined. General Trochu, who had been made Governor
+of Paris, had taken back with him thither eighteen
+battalions of Gardes-Mobiles, they having already given
+such proofs of insubordination that it was thought unsafe
+to confront them with the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The Emperor had arrived in Châlons and had placed
+Marshal MacMahon in command of the newly-formed
+army. In the French Head-quarter it was not unnaturally
+assumed that Marshal Bazaine was in retreat
+from Metz. By an advance of the Army of Châlons
+merely to Verdun the armies could form a junction with
+each other in the course of a few days, and so a fighting
+force be formed which might make head against
+the hitherto victorious enemy. On the other hand,
+MacMahon had to concern himself with the duty of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>
+covering Paris, and that capital, no less than his own
+right flank, was threatened by the appearance of the
+Crown Prince of Prussia's army on the Meuse.</p>
+
+<p>For the attainment of a decision between advancing
+and retiring, it was beyond everything necessary to
+know the direction which Marshal Bazaine might have
+taken.</p>
+
+<p>On the 18th tidings had come from him, that he had
+maintained his position in a battle about Rezonville,
+but that his troops had to be supplied with ammunition
+and supplies before they could renew the march.
+From this it seemed only too probable that the communications
+of the Army of the Rhine were already
+threatened; and MacMahon determined to march on
+Rheims, whence he could either reach Paris, though by
+a somewhat circuitous route, or move in the direction
+of the other army.</p>
+
+<p>But when it became known that the Crown Prince
+of Prussia's army had not even been near Metz, and
+that Prussian cavalry had already appeared before
+Vitry, the Marshal could not deceive himself as to the
+danger involved in the latter alternative. With sound
+judgment, therefore, he stood out against the order of
+the Empress and the Ministry to undertake that enterprise;
+he determined against it, and announced his
+resolution to march to Paris. Under its walls he could
+accept a battle with advantage, since the fortifications,
+even in the event of defeat, assured a safe retreat and
+precluded pursuit.</p>
+
+<p>Further reports from Metz did not afford a clear
+insight into the situation there. Also on the 18th,
+"the army had held its position," the narrative ran&mdash;only
+the right wing had changed front. "The troops
+required two or three days' rest," but the Marshal
+"counted still on being able to move out in a northerly
+direction," and fight his way to Châlons by the Montmédy&mdash;Ste.
+Menehould route, if this road was not
+strongly held by the enemy. In that case, he would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span>
+march on Sedan, and even by Mézières, in order to
+reach Châlons.</p>
+
+<p>Bazaine might already have committed himself
+to the movement thus indicated, and therefore Marshal
+MacMahon, who was not the man to leave
+his fellow-soldier in the lurch, instead of marching
+on Paris, set forth on the 23rd in the direction of
+Stenay.</p>
+
+<p>The suddenness of this decision caused all the preparations
+for the undertaking to be left unexecuted.
+At the end of the first day's march the troops reached
+the Suippe late in the evening in pouring rain. They
+lacked every necessary, and two Corps remained
+entirely without food. The Marshal was therefore
+forced to move his army further northward to Rethel,
+where large magazines of provisions had been established,
+and where the railway facilitated the bringing
+up of stores. Even on the third day's march the army
+had made little progress eastward. The left wing
+remained at Rethel, the right reached the Aisne, near
+Vouziers. On August 26th the main army was still
+standing between Attigny and Le Chêne on the
+Ardennes canal, while the VIIth Corps and a regiment
+of Hussars lay in front of Vouziers for the
+protection of the right flank.</p>
+
+<p>While the French army was thus marching eastward
+by a wide détour, the German forces, which had been put
+in motion at the same time, were for their part marching
+due westward.</p>
+
+<p>According to orders issued from the supreme Head-quarter
+at Pont à Mousson, the advance on the enemy,
+supposed to be at Châlons, was to be effected in such
+manner that the IIIrd Army, marching on the left of
+the Army of the Meuse, should have the start by a
+day's march, so that the enemy, wherever he might
+stand halted, could be struck simultaneously in front and
+on his right flank, and thus forced away northward from
+the direction of Paris. The two armies were to converge<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>
+as they advanced, and to reach the line of Ste. Menehould&mdash;Vitry
+on the 26th.</p>
+
+<p>On the first day's march, the armies still on a front
+some fifty-six miles long, the Meuse was reached; on
+the second day, the 24th, they advanced to the line
+St. Dizier&mdash;Bar le Duc&mdash;Verdun. The attempts to
+take the latter place and Toul in the by-going proved
+unsuccessful.</p>
+
+<p>So early as on that day the 4th Cavalry Division,
+which had pushed far ahead, sent in important news.
+The Rhenish dragoons had found Châlons and the
+camp at Mourmelon deserted, and notwithstanding the
+destruction effected, there still remained in the latter
+considerable booty. An intercepted letter written by a
+French officer, which intimated that the relief of Metz
+was in prospect, and another which stated that Marshal
+MacMahon was at Rheims with 150,000 men and was
+fortifying his position there, were corroborated by the
+Paris newspapers.</p>
+
+<p>On the 25th the Army of the Meuse formed a line
+from Sommeille to Dombasle, while the heads of
+columns of the IIIrd Army were already executing
+the march prescribed for the following day, on the
+Ste. Menehould&mdash;Vitry road. The small fortress of
+Vitry, a few hours after a battalion of Mobiles had
+left the place, surrendered to the 4th Cavalry Division.
+On its march to Ste. Menehould, thence to be forwarded
+by train to Paris, this battalion, 1000 strong, fell into
+the hands of the 6th Cavalry Division as it was moving
+on Dampierre, and was carried away captive.</p>
+
+<p>The 5th Cavalry Division reached Ste. Menehould,
+and the 12th followed on the same road as far as
+Clermont, patrolling the country up to Varennes,
+within nine miles of the French outposts at Grand Pré,
+but without learning anything as to the whereabouts of
+the French army.</p>
+
+<p>The scouting service to any great distance on the
+right of the army was hindered by the vicinity of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>
+forest of Argonnes, which it was difficult for the
+cavalry to penetrate without the assistance of infantry.
+The inhabitants of the country began to show themselves
+extremely hostile. The Government had
+provided them with arms, and organized a general
+rising. The Germans, who hitherto had made war on
+the Emperor alone, were now forced to use their arms
+against the population. The franctireurs, though
+not affecting operations on a large scale, were a
+source of much annoyance to the smaller undertakings,
+and as it naturally embittered the soldiers to realize that
+they were no longer safe either by day or night, the
+character of the war became more stern, and the
+sufferings of the country were increased.</p>
+
+<p>A Paris telegram, sent by way of London, reached
+this day (25th) the Royal Head-quarter at Bar le Duc.
+It stated that MacMahon was at Rheims, and sought
+to effect a junction with Bazaine.</p>
+
+<p>It is always a serious matter to exchange, without the
+most pressing necessity, a once-settled and well-devised
+plan for a new and unprepared scheme. It would have
+been unwise and unskilful hastily to alter the whole
+direction of the advance because of rumours and
+information which might later probably turn out to be
+unfounded. Endless difficulties must result from such
+a course; the arrangements for bringing up baggage
+and reinforcements would have to be cancelled, and
+aimless marches might impair the confidence of the
+troops in their commanders.</p>
+
+<p>The orders for the following day, issued at eleven
+o'clock in the morning, prescribed therefore for both
+armies merely a slight alteration of direction; Rheims
+instead of Châlons was indicated as the objective. The
+cavalry of the right wing, however, was explicitly
+ordered to advance to Buzancy and Vouziers, where a
+thorough insight into the situation could not but be
+obtained.</p>
+
+<p>In war it is for the most part with probabilities only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>
+that the strategist can reckon; and the probability, as a
+rule, is that the enemy will do the right thing. Such a
+course could not be anticipated as that the French army
+would uncover Paris and march along the Belgian
+frontier to Metz. Such a move seemed strange, and indeed
+somewhat venturesome; but nevertheless it was
+possible. The chief of the General Staff, therefore, that
+same day worked out a tabular detail of marches, upon
+which the three Corps of the Army of the Meuse, together
+with the two Bavarian Corps which were nearest that
+army, could be brought together in the vicinity of Damvillers,
+on the right bank of the Meuse, in three not
+over-severe marches.</p>
+
+<p>These forces, with the two Corps standing in reserve
+at Metz, which could be brought up, would constitute
+a force of 150,000 men, which might give battle in
+the specified vicinity, or compel the enemy to do so on
+the march to Longuyon. Without employing this
+reserve, there was every prospect that the advance of
+the French could be brought to a halt on this side of the
+Meuse, and then another Corps of the IIIrd Army
+could be brought up.</p>
+
+<p>This march-table was soon to be brought into service.
+Fresh news arrived in the course of the same afternoon.
+The newspapers revealed the secret by publishing vehement
+speeches delivered in the National Assembly to
+the effect "that the French general who should leave
+his comrade in the lurch, deserved the execration of the
+country." It would be a disgrace, it was protested, to
+the French nation if the brave Bazaine were left unsuccoured:
+from all this, and considering the effect of
+such phrases on the French, it was to be expected
+that military considerations would give way to political.
+A telegram from London, quoting the Paris
+<i>Temps</i>, stated that MacMahon had suddenly resolved
+to hasten to the assistance of Bazaine, though the
+abandonment of the road to Paris endangered the
+safety of France.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The King, before night, approved of the march to the
+right, and the orders were dispatched that night direct
+to the respective Army Corps on the march.</p>
+
+<p>On the 26th his Majesty moved his head-quarter
+to Clermont. The Crown Prince of Saxony had set
+out for Varennes early in the morning with the XIIth
+Corps, and had ordered the Guards to Dombasle, the
+IVth Corps to Fleury.</p>
+
+<p>The cavalry, sent forward in every direction, found
+that the enemy had evacuated the region of the Suippe
+valley and had not yet entered that of the Meuse; that
+Buzancy and Grand Pré were in occupation of the
+French, and that a large encampment of their VIIth
+Corps had been specifically perceived on the height
+of Vouziers. The apparition of a few handsful of
+cavalry, despatched thither on observation duty, occasioned
+an almost unaccountable excitement. General
+Douay, quartered at Vouziers, received the most
+exaggerated reports, and must have thought that
+a general attack by the German army was imminent.
+The VIIth Corps was kept under arms the entire
+night in pouring rain, and the Marshal resolved to
+advance towards Vouziers and Buzancy with all his
+forces on the following morning. Thus the march
+to the east received a check as early as the 27th, but
+the untruthfulness of the reports very soon became
+sufficiently apparent.</p>
+
+<p>If the German chiefs were deeply interested in gaining
+an insight into the enemy's movements, so on the
+French side this requisite was certainly urgent in no
+less imperative degree. With judicious disposal of their
+cavalry on the right flank, a surprise like that above
+mentioned would have been impossible, but the 1st
+French Cavalry Division was placed on the left flank,
+where there was no danger whatever, and the 2nd was
+rearmost of everything. It seemed as though in the
+French army less attention was paid to the repulse
+of an attack than to the evasion of one, and to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>
+the unobserved attainment of Montmédy, the point
+of rendezvous with the other army. When the
+movement of the Germans from southward could no
+longer be doubted, it would certainly have been best
+for the French to take the vigorous offensive in that
+direction with intent to defeat them, or at least to
+sweep them out of the vicinity of their own line of
+march. If they had failed in this they would, at any
+rate, have readily learnt that their undertaking was
+impracticable, and that its further prosecution must
+certainly result in a catastrophe. It must, however,
+be admitted that the German cavalry formed an
+almost impenetrable screen. The Marshal could not
+know that his enemy was écheloned from Vitry to
+Varennes, a distance of more than thirty-seven miles,
+and was not at all in form to attack him just then in
+serious earnest.</p>
+
+<p><i>August 27th.</i>&mdash;The Marshal had cleared up his misconception,
+and on the 27th he continued his march, at
+least with part of his troops. The VIIth and Vth Corps
+covered the movement at Vouziers and Buzancy, the
+XIIth advanced to Le Chêne, and the 1st Cavalry
+Division to Beaumont, probably to ascertain the
+whereabouts of Marshal Bazaine. The Ist Corps
+and the 2nd Cavalry Division remained behind on the
+Aisne.</p>
+
+<p>The Saxon Corps, the furthest forward of the German
+Army, had received direct orders to march to Dun on
+the 27th, and secure on the right bank the passages
+over the Meuse, as far as Stenay. It reached Stenay
+at three o'clock in the afternoon, and threw forward a
+post on the left bank.</p>
+
+<p>The cavalry clung closely to the enemy and followed
+his movements, often engaging in petty skirmishes.
+The departure of the Vth French Corps from Buzancy
+in the direction of Le Chêne was at once detected, as
+also was the march to Beaumont; and the Saxon
+Cavalry Division pushed forward that evening to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>
+Nouart. The Bavarian Corps reached the Clermont-Verdun
+road, the 5th Ste. Menehould; the other Corps
+of the IIIrd Army were hurrying by forced marches
+in a northerly direction.</p>
+
+<p>The prospect now seemed certain that the enemy
+would be overtaken on the left bank of the Meuse.
+Word was sent to the blockading army before Metz
+that the two Corps asked for were no longer required,
+but they had already set out.</p>
+
+<p>The latest dispositions made by Marshal MacMahon
+clearly betokened a last effort on his part to persevere
+in the original direction. He was écheloned along the
+northernmost of the roads by which he could reach Metz,
+but had left a strong reserve on the Aisne on which he
+might fall back. When he now learnt that nothing had
+been seen of the Army of the Rhine at Montmédy, but
+that it actually was still at Metz, he resolved on retreating,
+and, after giving orders to that effect for the
+following morning, reported his intention to Paris.</p>
+
+<p>From thence during the night came the most
+strenuous remonstrances. The Minister of War telegraphed,
+"If you leave Bazaine in the lurch, the revolution
+will break out," and the Council of Ministers
+issued a peremptory order to relieve Metz. The troops
+in front of the Marshal, it was urged, were nothing
+more than part of the army investing Metz; he had the
+start of the Crown Prince of Prussia by several days'
+march; and General Vinoy had already left Paris for
+Rheims with the newly-formed XIIIth Corps as a reinforcement
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>The Marshal silenced his military convictions and
+issued new orders. But the troops had started in
+advance of the promulgation of them. The change of
+route gave rise to much confusion; the roads were
+bad, and quarters for the night were not reached until
+darkness had long set in; the men were weary, wet to
+the skin, and depressed in spirits.</p>
+
+<p><i>August 28th.</i>&mdash;Little more than nine miles' distance
+eastward was attained. The XIIth Corps reached La<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>
+Besace, the Ist was on the march to Le Chêne, the
+VIIth was halted at Boult aux Bois because of a false
+report that two Prussian Corps were occupying
+Buzancy, further ahead. On the strength of this
+report the Vth Corps moved toward that town by
+way of Bar, but went on to Bois des Dames in the
+afternoon. Neither of these movements was interfered
+with. The German cavalry had strict orders, while
+watching the French as closely as possible, not in any
+way to check or press them, and the Saxon cavalry
+evacuated Nouart on the approach of the enemy. The
+Germans had to await the coming up of the IIIrd
+Army, the rearmost Corps of which, the VIth, had only
+just reached Ste. Menehould.</p>
+
+<p><i>August 29th.</i>&mdash;For this day also a non-offensive
+attitude was prescribed, and the bringing on of decisive
+operations was postponed until the 30th.</p>
+
+<p>The Marshal in his head-quarter at Stonne had been
+informed that the Germans occupied Dun, and that the
+bridges over the Meuse had been destroyed. He
+had no pontoon-train, and could cross the river
+only lower down, at Mouzon and Villers. His XIIth
+Corps and 1st Cavalry Division passed over to the
+right bank unhindered at these points; the Ist Corps
+and the 2nd Cavalry Division proceeded to Raucourt.
+The VIIth Corps, delayed on march by petty skirmishes
+on its right flank, did not reach its destination
+at La Besace, but went into bivouac at Oches.
+The Vth Corps was to have moved to Beaumont, but
+the staff officer carrying the order fell into the hands
+of the Prussian cavalry together with his escort.
+General de Failly therefore marched upon Stenay,
+according to his original instructions.</p>
+
+<p>Up to this time, apart from the cavalry, the Saxon
+Corps alone had been in contact with the enemy, but
+the Guard now came up to Buzancy in parallel line,
+while the Saxon Corps crossed over to the left bank
+of the Meuse at Dun. Its advanced guard at once
+took possession of the wooded spur to the north-east<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>
+of Nouart, drove out the French cavalry, and
+pressed ahead to Champy, where it encountered a
+strong force in Lespart's Division. The purpose of the
+reconnaissance having been attained, the advanced
+guard was called in. The French Division, in consequence
+of fresh orders received from the Marshal,
+withdrew simultaneously in a northerly direction.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side four Corps of the IIIrd Army
+were now within nine miles rearward of the Army of
+the Meuse. The 5th Cavalry Division stood at Attigny
+on the enemy's line of communication; the 6th was
+hanging on the heels of the French columns of march,
+and, among other things, had taken Boncq with a dismounted
+party. The Royal Head-quarter was now
+advanced to Grand Pré, and, as the result of the various
+reports which had poured in, the resolution was taken
+to attack the enemy on the following day, before he
+should cross the Meuse. The Army of the Meuse was
+to march towards Beaumont, the IIIrd Army to move
+forward between that place and Le Chêne. To bring
+both armies to a parallel front, the right wing was not
+to move until ten o'clock, while the left<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> was to start
+before six o'clock. Only the trains absolutely requisite
+for the battle were to follow.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Beaumont.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 30th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>On the 30th of August, at ten o'clock, the King set
+out for Sommauthe by way of Buzancy. Both the
+Bavarian Corps were on the march thither, the Vth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>
+Corps advanced in the centre towards Oches, the XIth,
+together with the Würtemberg Division, was heading
+for Le Chêne, the VIth for Vouziers. The IVth Corps
+on the right was advancing by Belval, the XIIth
+reached to the Meuse, while the Guard Corps followed
+in rear as a reserve.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal MacMahon had issued orders for the attainment
+of the object that his entire army should
+on this day cross to the right bank of the Meuse;
+only the baggage trains and sick were to remain
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>His Ist Corps and the 2nd Cavalry Division had left
+Raucourt so early as seven; they crossed the river at
+Remilly, light bridges having been thrown over for the
+infantry. The VIIth Corps at Oches had struck camp
+still earlier at four o'clock, but as it took with it in the
+march all its waggons, even the empty ones, the trains
+formed a column more than nine miles in length, and
+seven of its battalions were forced to march alongside
+the road in the capacity of baggage guard; so that the
+brigade bringing up the rear was unable to start until
+ten o'clock. This long procession soon came into contact
+with the Prussian cavalry, was fired upon by
+artillery, and compelled to arrest its march. Not till
+one o'clock could the movement on La Besace be
+resumed, and then, as heavy firing was heard from
+Beaumont, General Douay conceived it right to abandon
+the road to Mouzon and take that to Remilly.</p>
+
+<p>To the Vth Corps had been precautionally assigned
+the duty of covering the march of the other two. The
+troops had reached the vicinity of Beaumont only at
+4 a.m., and were thoroughly exhausted by fighting
+and the night-march. General de Failly therefore
+determined to halt his Corps for cooking and rest
+before pursuing the march. Precautionary measures
+seem to have been altogether neglected, though it must
+have been known that the enemy was now close at
+hand. While at half-past one the officers and men were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>
+engaged in their meal, Prussian shells suddenly burst
+among these heedless groups.</p>
+
+<p>The two Corps of the German right wing had to move
+through a wooded tract in four wholly independent
+columns, by ways sodden with rain. The Crown Prince
+of Saxony therefore ordered that no single column
+should attempt to enter on an attack before the neighbouring
+one was ready to co-operate.</p>
+
+<p>The IVth Corps had started very early, and after a
+short rest had pursued its march at ten o'clock. When
+at noon the head of the 8th Division emerged from the
+forest, it discerned from its elevated position the
+enemy's camp about 800 paces distant, in the condition
+as described. General Schöler (commanding the
+Division) held that the opportunity of so complete a
+surprise was not to be let pass; the proximity of his
+force could not long remain undetected by the enemy.
+He announced it by his cannon-fire.</p>
+
+<p>The Division soon recognized that it had drawn
+upon itself an enemy of immensely superior strength.
+The French rapidly got under arms, and dense swarms
+of riflemen hurried to the front, whose long-range
+Chassepôts inflicted great losses, especially upon the
+artillerymen. The main body of the 8th Division had
+meanwhile come up to the assistance of its advanced
+guard, and ere long the 7th Division appeared on the
+right. The French assailed it too with great impetuosity,
+and could only be repulsed at the bayonet-point.
+Presently, however, the foremost battalions of both
+Divisions made their way into the French camp in front
+of Beaumont, into the town itself, and finally into a
+second camp located northward of it. Seven guns, of
+which the teams were missing, and which continued
+firing up to the last moment, a number of gunners,
+waggons and horses, fell into the hands of the assailants.</p>
+
+<p>Whilst now, about two o'clock, a pause occurred in
+the infantry fight, fourteen batteries of the IVth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>
+Corps engaged in a contest with the French artillery
+deployed on the stretch of heights north of Beaumont.
+The German artillery mass was presently strengthened
+by the Saxon artillery on the right, and by the Bavarian
+batteries on the left. This formidable and commanding
+artillery line, constantly advancing in echelon, promptly
+squandered the mitrailleuses, and at three o'clock the
+remaining French batteries also were silenced.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Bavarian Corps, on the left of the Prussian
+IVth, was advancing on La Thibaudine, when it was
+quite unexpectedly attacked from the west by a strong
+force of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>These troops were Conseil Dumesnil's Division of the
+VIIth French Corps, which was continuing in march
+to Mouzon in error, acting on its original orders.
+Completely surprised as it was, and attacked in
+front and flank, the Division gave up all hope of cutting
+its way through, and at about four o'clock beat a hasty
+retreat northwards, leaving two guns behind.</p>
+
+<p>The Bavarians had in the meantime taken possession
+of the farm of Thibaudine, and the Prussians that of
+Harnoterie. The wooded hills prevented a clear view
+of the surrounding country; the enemy had completely
+disappeared.</p>
+
+<p>General de Failly was making strenuous efforts to
+collect his scattered forces in front of Mouzon, under
+cover of a rear-guard halted at La Sartelle; and
+General Lebrun had left behind on the left side of the
+Meuse an infantry and a cavalry brigade and three
+batteries belonging to the XIIth Corps, to render him
+assistance.</p>
+
+<p>At five o'clock the 8th Division, headed by the 13th
+Brigade, was pushing toilsomely through the dense
+forest of Givodeau, on its way to operate against this
+new defensive position. On emerging from the wood the
+battalions, which had fallen into some confusion, were
+received by a brisk fire at short range. The repeated
+efforts of the riflemen to advance were unsuccessful,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>
+and the dense underwood hindered the clubbed mass
+behind them from forming. By the time the Saxon
+Corps had succeeded with extreme difficulty in extricating
+itself from the forest and swamps of the Wamme
+stream, and had reached Létanne, the impracticability
+of further progress in the Meuse valley became apparent,
+since numerous French batteries, in unassailable
+positions on the opposite side of the river, commanded
+all the low ground. The Corps therefore ascended the
+plateau, moved in its turn through the Givodeau woods,
+and debouching thence swelled the strength of the
+forces assembled on the northern border, where, however,
+their development on a broader front was impossible.
+So about six o'clock the infantry engagement
+came to a stand for a time in this quarter.</p>
+
+<p>On the left the 14th Brigade had come up into line
+with the 13th, and this body (the 7th Division) was
+followed by the 8th Division in two columns.</p>
+
+<p>The 93rd Regiment had carried the height to the
+north-east of Yoncq, and advanced in pursuit of the
+enemy as far as to the foot of Mont de Brune. Four
+mitrailleuses and eight guns, some of them with their
+entire teams, fell thus into the hands of the Anhalters.</p>
+
+<p>When, at half-past five, the artillery had come up into
+position, and at the same time the 27th Regiment was
+approaching, General Zychlinski (commanding 14th
+Brigade) advanced to the enveloping attack.</p>
+
+<p>The French occupied in strength the summit of the
+entirely isolated hill; their batteries faced to eastward
+against the Bois de Givodeau, whence an assault
+threatened; but they swiftly changed front to the south
+and directed a heavy fire on the 93rd and the 2nd Battalion
+of the 27th, as they charged up on this face while
+the Fusilier battalion was at the same time pressing
+forward from the west. Regardless of their losses, the
+assailants eagerly scaled the ascent, the brigade and
+regimental commanders at their head. Six French
+guns were seized while in action, in spite of a brave<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>
+resistance by the gunners and covering troops, and the
+enemy was pursued as far as the Roman road. Here
+four more guns, completely horsed, which had been
+abandoned by the artillerymen, fell into the hands of
+the conquerors.</p>
+
+<p>The three battalions<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> hurried on towards Mouzon,
+without waiting for the support of the<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a> 14th Brigade
+following in rear, but they suddenly found themselves
+threatened by a cavalry-charge.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal MacMahon had recognized the fact that the
+only thing left him now to do was to effect as orderly
+an evacuation as possible of the left bank of the Meuse;
+the reinforcements sent across from the right had
+already been recalled. The 5th Cuirassier Regiment
+alone still remained. When, a little to the north of the
+Faubourg de Mouzon, it was reached by the fire of
+the advancing Prussians, the French regiment hurled
+itself upon the enemy with a noble contempt for death.</p>
+
+<p>The shock struck the 10th Company of the 27th
+Regiment. The soldiers, without closing their ranks,
+waited for the word of command of their leader, Captain
+Helmuth, and then fired a volley at close range, which
+struck down eleven officers and 100 men, the brave
+commander of the band of horsemen falling fifteen
+paces in front of his men. The survivors rushed back
+towards the Meuse, and, as all the bridges had been
+removed, they strove to gain the other side by swimming.</p>
+
+<p>Considerable masses of the enemy were still in front
+of Mouzon, and upon these the batteries of the IVth
+Corps, as one after another they came into action,
+directed their fire. Two Bavarian batteries brought
+under their fire the bridge at Villers, lower down the
+river, and prevented it from being used. Then the
+suburb was carried after a fierce encounter, and here
+too the bridge across the Meuse was taken and held.
+The enemy, deprived of every way of retreat, received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>
+with a hot fire the 8th Division emerging from the valley
+of the Yoncq, but was gradually driven back towards
+the river. The French troops in front of the Bois de
+Givodeau were also in a hopeless plight; they were
+assailed by the 7th Division and XIIth Corps, and
+were dispersed after an obstinate struggle. By nightfall
+the French had ceased their resistance on the hither
+side of the Meuse. Many lagging stragglers were taken
+prisoners, others hid themselves in the copses and farmhouses,
+or tried to escape by swimming the river.</p>
+
+<p>In this battle, as in the preceding ones, the attack
+suffered far heavier loss than the defence. The Army
+of the Meuse lost 3500 combatants, the preponderating
+loss falling on the IVth Corps. The French estimated
+their loss at 1800; but in the course of the day and on
+the following morning, 3000 prisoners, mostly unwounded,
+fell into the hands of the victors, with 51
+guns, 33 ammunition and many other waggons, and a
+military chest containing 150,000 francs. And, what
+was of supreme importance, by the result of this battle
+the French army had been driven into an extremely
+unfavourable position.</p>
+
+<p>While the IVth Corps had been chiefly sustaining the
+day's battle, the Saxon Cavalry had pushed forward
+on the right bank of the Meuse, and had reconnoitred
+towards Mouzon and Carignan. The Guard Corps
+reached Beaumont, and General von der Tann with the
+1st Bavarian Corps was at Raucourt, having marched
+by way of La Besace with some slight skirmishing on
+the way. The IInd Bavarian Corps was assembled at
+Sommauthe, the Vth Corps had reached Stonne, the
+XIth, La Besace. Thus seven Corps now stood in
+close concentration between the Meuse and the Bar.</p>
+
+<p>The King rode back to Buzancy after the battle, as
+all the villages in the vicinity of the battle-field were
+crowded with the wounded. Here, as previously at
+Clermont, was felt the great inconvenience of inadequate
+lodging for hundreds of illustrious guests and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>
+their suites, when, for once in a way for military
+reasons, head-quarters were established in a small
+village, instead of in a large town. Shelter for those
+officers whose duty it was to prepare the necessary
+orders for the morrow was only found late at night,
+and with considerable difficulty.</p>
+
+<p>These orders instructed that on the 31st two Corps
+of the Army of the Meuse should cross over to the
+right bank of the river, to prevent the possibility of
+further progress of the French to Metz by way of
+Montmédy. Two Corps of the army besieging Metz
+were besides already posted in that direction about
+Etain and Briey. The IIIrd Army was to continue its
+movement in the northward direction.</p>
+
+<p>As the situation had now developed itself, it already
+seemed within sight that the Army of Châlons might
+be compelled to cross over into neutral territory, and
+the Belgian Government was therefore asked through
+diplomatic channels to concern itself with its disarmament
+in that event. The German troops had orders at
+once to cross the Belgian frontier, should the enemy
+not lay down his arms there.</p>
+
+<p>While the Vth French Corps was still fighting about
+Beaumont, and when the rest of the army had crossed
+the Meuse, General MacMahon had ordered the concentration
+of his army on Sedan. He did not intend
+to offer battle there, but it was indispensable to give
+his troops a short rest, and provide them with food and
+ammunition. He then meant to continue the retreat
+by way of Mézières, which General Vinoy was just
+then approaching with the newly-formed XIIIth Corps.
+The Ist Corps, which had arrived at Carignan early in
+the afternoon, detached two of its divisions to Douzy in
+the evening to check any further advance of the Germans.</p>
+
+<p>Though any pursuit immediately after the battle of
+Beaumont was prevented by the intervening river, the
+retreat of the French soon assumed the ominous
+character of a rout. The troops were utterly worn out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>
+by their exertions by day and night, in continuous
+rain and with but scanty supplies of food. The marching
+to and fro, to no visible purpose, had undermined
+their confidence in their leaders, and a series of luckless
+fights had shaken their self-reliance. Thousands of
+fugitives, crying for bread, crowded round the waggons
+as they struggled forward to reach the little fortress
+which had so unexpectedly become the central rallying
+point of a great army.</p>
+
+<p>The Emperor Napoleon arrived at Sedan from
+Carignan late in the evening of the 30th; the VIIth
+Corps reached Floing during the night, but the XIIth
+Corps did not arrive at Bazeilles until the following
+morning. The Vth Corps mustered at the eastern
+suburb of Sedan in a fearfully shattered state, followed
+in the afternoon of the 31st by the Ist, which, after
+many rear-guard actions with the German cavalry,
+took up a position behind the Givonne valley. To
+pursue the march to Mézières on that day was not to
+be thought of. The XIIth Corps had that same
+evening to show a front at Bazeilles, where the thunder
+of their cannon already heralded the arrival of the
+Germans. The destruction of the bridges there and at
+Donchery was ordered, but the order remained unexecuted,
+owing to the worn-out condition of the men.</p>
+
+<p><i>August 31st.</i>&mdash;Of the army of the Meuse the Guard
+and 12th Cavalry Divisions had crossed the Meuse
+at Pouilly, and by a pontoon bridge at Létanne,
+and swept the country between the Meuse and the
+Chiers. Following close upon the rear of the French
+and harassing them in skirmishes till they reached
+their new position, they brought in as prisoners
+numbers of stragglers. The Guard Corps then crossed
+the Chiers at Carignan and halted at Sachy; the XIIth
+pushed on to about Douzy on the Meuse,<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> while its
+advanced guard thrust ahead on the further side (of
+the Chiers) as far as Francheval. The IVth Corps
+remained at Mouzon.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p>
+<p>The 4th Cavalry Division of the IIIrd Army reconnoitred
+in the direction of Sedan, drove back the
+French outposts from Wadelincourt and Frénois, and,
+moving from the latter place, seized the railroad under
+the fire of hostile artillery. The 6th Cavalry Division
+on the left flank proceeded on the way to Mézières as
+far as Poix.</p>
+
+<p>When the Ist Bavarian Corps reached Remilly before
+noon, it came under heavy fire from the opposite side
+of the river, and at once brought up its batteries in
+position on the hither slope of the valley of the Meuse.
+A sharp cannonade ensued, by the end of which sixty
+Bavarian guns were engaged. It was only now that
+the French attempted to blow up the railway bridge
+south of Bazeilles, but the vigorous fire of the 4th
+Jäger Battalion drove off the enemy with his engineers,
+the Jägers threw the powder-barrels into the river,
+and at midday crossed the bridge. The battalion
+entered Bazeilles in the face of a storm of bullets, and
+occupied the northern fringe of the straggling place.
+Thus the XIIth French Corps was forced to move up
+into a position between Balan and Moncelle, where,
+having been reinforced by batteries belonging to the Ist
+Corps, it had to encounter, and that with considerable
+waste of power, the daring little band of Germans.</p>
+
+<p>General von der Tann<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a> did not however hold it
+advisable to commit himself on that day to a serious
+conflict on the further side of the Meuse with a closely
+compacted enemy, while his own Corps was still unconcentrated;
+and, since the weak detachment in Bazeilles
+had no hope of being reinforced, it withdrew therefrom
+at about half-past three without being pursued.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile two pontoon bridges had been laid at
+Allicourt, without molestation from the French.
+These and the railway bridge were barricaded for the
+night, while eighty-four guns further secured them from
+being crossed. The Ist Bavarian Corps went into
+bivouac at Angecourt, the IInd at Hancourt.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p>
+<p>To the left of the Bavarians the XIth Corps marched
+towards Donchery, followed by the Vth. The advanced
+guard found the place unoccupied, and extended
+itself on the further side of the river. By three o'clock
+two other bridges were completed close below Donchery,
+whilst the railway bridge above the place, also
+found unguarded, was destroyed.</p>
+
+<p>On the extreme left the Würtemberg and the 6th
+Cavalry Divisions came in contact with the XIIIth
+French Corps, which had just arrived at Mézières.</p>
+
+<p>The King removed his head-quarters to Vendresse.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of a succession of occasionally very severe
+marches in bad weather, and of being in regard to supplies
+chiefly beholden to requisitioning, the Army of the
+Meuse advancing on the east, and the IIIrd Army on
+the south, were now directly in face of the concentrated
+French Army. Marshal MacMahon could scarcely have
+realized that the only chance of safety for his army, or
+even for part of it, lay in the immediate prosecution of
+his retreat on the 1st of September. It is true that
+the Crown Prince of Prussia, in possession as he was of
+every passage over the Meuse, would have promptly
+taken that movement in flank in the narrow space, little
+more than four miles wide, which was bounded on the
+north by the frontier. That nevertheless the attempt
+was not risked was only to be explained by the actual
+condition of the exhausted troops; for on this day the
+French Army was not yet capable of undertaking a
+disciplined march involving fighting; it could only
+fight where it stood.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side it was still expected that the
+Marshal would strike for Mézières. The Army of the
+Meuse was ordered to attack the enemy's positions with
+the object of detaining him in them; the IIIrd Army,
+leaving only one Corps on the left bank, was to press
+forward on the right side of the river.</p>
+
+<p>The French position about Sedan was covered to rearward
+by the fortress. The Meuse and the valleys of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>
+the Givonne and the Floing brooks offered formidable
+obstructions, but it was imperative that those outmost
+lines should be obstinately held. The Calvary height
+of Illy was a very important point, strengthened as it
+was by the Bois de Garenne in its rear, whence a high
+ridge stretching to Bazeilles afforded much cover in its
+numerous dips and shoulders. In the event of a retreat
+into neutral territory in the last extremity, the road
+thereto lay through Illy. Bazeilles, on the other hand,
+locally a very strong point of support to the Givonne
+front, constituted an acute salient, which, after the loss
+of the bridges across the Meuse, was open to attack on
+two sides.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> The Army of the Meuse constituted the right wing; the IIIrd
+Army, the left.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> Of 27th and 93rd Regiments.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Read in "rest of the."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Douzy is on the north bank of the Chiers.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Commanding Ist Bavarian Corps.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Sedan.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(September 1st.)</div>
+
+
+<p>In order, in co-operation with the Army of the
+Meuse, to hold fast the enemy in his position, General
+von der Tann sent his Ist Brigade over the pontoon-bridges
+against Bazeilles so early as four o'clock in a
+thick morning mist. The troops attacked the place,
+but now found the streets barricaded, and were fired on
+from every house. The leading company pressed on as
+far as to the northern egress, suffering great losses,
+but the others, while engaged in arduous street-fighting,
+were driven out of the western part of Bazeilles
+by the arrival of the 2nd Brigade of the French XIIth
+Corps. They however kept possession of the buildings
+at the southern end, and from thence issued to repeated
+assaults. As fresh troops were constantly coming up
+on both sides, the French being reinforced to the extent
+even of a brigade of the Ist and one of the Vth Corps,
+the murderous combat long swayed to and fro; in
+particular the struggle for the possession of the Villa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>
+Beurmann, situated in front of the exit, and commanding
+the main street throughout its whole length, lasted
+for a stricken hour. The inhabitants took an active
+part in the fighting, and so they inevitably drew fire
+upon themselves.</p>
+
+<p>The fire of the strong array of guns drawn up on the
+left slope of the valley of the Meuse naturally could not
+be directed on the surging strife in Bazeilles, which
+was now blazing in several places, but at eight o'clock,
+on the arrival of the 8th Prussian Division at Remilly,
+General von der Tann threw his last brigades into the
+fight. The walled park of the château of Monvillers
+was stormed and an entrance won into the Villa Beurmann.
+The artillery crossed the bridges at about nine
+o'clock, and the 8th Division was requested to support
+the combat in which the right wing of the Bavarians was
+also engaged southward of Bazeilles about Moncelle.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a></p>
+
+<p>In this direction Prince George of Saxony<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a> had so
+early as five o'clock despatched an advanced guard of
+seven battalions from Douzy. They drove the French
+from Moncelle, pressed ahead to Platinerie and the
+bridge there, and, in spite of the enemy's heavy fire,
+took possession of the houses bordering the further
+side of the Givonne brook, which they immediately
+occupied for defensive purposes. Communication with
+the Bavarians was now established, and the battery of
+the advanced guard moved up quickly into action on
+the eastern slope; but a further infantry support could
+not at first be afforded to this bold advance.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal MacMahon had been struck by a splinter
+from a shell near Moncelle at 6 a.m. He had named
+General Ducrot as his successor in the chief command,
+passing over two senior Corps commanders. Apprized
+of this promotion at seven o'clock, that General issued
+the necessary orders for the prompt assemblage of the
+army at Illy, in preparation for an immediate retreat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>
+on Mézières. He had already despatched Lartigue's
+Division of his own Corps to safeguard the crossing
+of the Givonne ravine at Daigny; the Divisions of
+Lacretelle and Bassoigne were ordered to take the
+offensive against the Saxons and Bavarians, to gain
+time for the withdrawal of the rest of the troops. The
+divisions forming the second line were to start
+immediately in a northerly direction.</p>
+
+<p>But the Minister of War had appointed General de
+Wimpffen, recently returned from Algiers, to the command
+of the Vth Corps in room of General de Failly,
+and had at the same time given him a commission
+empowering him to assume the command of the Army in
+case of the disability of the Marshal.</p>
+
+<p>General de Wimpffen knew the army of the Crown
+Prince to be in the neighbourhood of Donchery. He
+regarded the retreat to Mézières as utterly impracticable,
+and was bent on the diametrically opposite course of
+breaking out to Carignan, not doubting that he
+could drive aside the Bavarians and Saxons, and so
+succeed in effecting a junction with Marshal Bazaine.
+When he heard of the orders just issued by General
+Ducrot, and at the same time observed that an
+assault on Moncelle seemed to be taking an auspicious
+course, he produced&mdash;to his ruin&mdash;the authoritative
+commission which had been bestowed on him.</p>
+
+<p>General Ducrot submitted without any remonstrance;
+he might probably not have been averse to be relieved
+of so heavy a responsibility. The Divisions of the
+second line which were in the act of starting immediately
+were recalled; and the further advance of
+the weak Bavarian and Saxon detachments was soon
+hard pressed by the impact of the first stroke of the
+enemy rushing on to the attack.</p>
+
+<p>By seven in the morning, while one regiment of the
+Saxon advanced guard had gone in upon Moncelle,
+the other on its right had to concern itself with the
+threatening advance of Lartigue's Division. With that
+body it soon became engaged in a heavy fire-fight.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>
+The regiment had laid down its packs on the march,
+and had omitted to take out the cartridges carried in
+them. Thus it soon ran short of ammunition, and the
+repeated and violent onslaughts of the Zouaves, directed
+principally against its unprotected right flank, had to
+be repulsed with the bayonet.</p>
+
+<p>On the left in this quarter a strong artillery line had
+gradually been formed, which by half-past eight o'clock
+amounted to twelve batteries. But Lacretelle's Division
+was now approaching by the Givonne bottom,
+and dense swarms of tirailleurs forced the German
+batteries to retire at about nine o'clock. The guns,
+withdrawn into a position at a somewhat greater
+distance, drove back with their fire the enemy in the
+hollow, and presently returned to the position previously
+occupied.</p>
+
+<p>The 4th Bavarian Brigade had meanwhile pushed
+forward into Moncelle, and the 46th Saxon Brigade
+also came up, so that it was possible to check the
+trifling progress made by Bassoigne's Division.</p>
+
+<p>On the right flank of the Saxons, which had been
+hard pressed, much-needed supports now arrived from
+the 24th Division, and at once took the offensive. The
+French were driven back upon Daigny, with the loss
+of five guns. Then in conjunction with the Bavarians,
+who were pushing on through the valley to the northward,
+the village of Daigny, the bridge and the farmstead
+of La Rapaille were carried after a bitter fight.</p>
+
+<p>About ten o'clock the Guard Corps reached the upper
+Givonne. Having started in the night, the Corps was
+marching in two columns, when cannon thunder from
+Bazeilles heard afar off caused the troops to quicken
+their pace. In order to render assistance by the
+shortest road, the left column would have had to
+traverse two deep ravines and the pathless wood of
+Chevallier, so it took the longer route by Villers
+Cernay, which place the head of the right column
+passed in ample time to take part with the Saxons in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>
+the contest with Lartigue's Division, and to capture
+two of its guns.</p>
+
+<p>The Divisions ordered back by General Ducrot had
+already resumed their former positions on the western
+slopes, and fourteen batteries of the Guard Corps now
+opened fire upon them from the east.</p>
+
+<p>At the same hour (ten o'clock) the 7th Division of
+the IVth Corps had arrived near Lamécourt, and the
+8th near Remilly, both places rearward of Bazeilles;
+the head of the latter had reached the Remilly railway
+station.</p>
+
+<p>The first attempt of the French to break out eastward
+to Carignan proved a failure, and their retreat
+westward to Mézières was also already cut off, for the
+Vth and XIth Corps of the IIIrd Army, together with
+the Würtemberg Division, had been detailed to move
+northward to the road leading to that place. These
+troops had started early in the night, and at six
+a.m. had crossed the Meuse at Donchery, and by the
+three pontoon bridges further down the river. The
+advanced patrols found the Mézières road quite clear
+of the enemy, and the heavy cannonade heard from the
+direction of Bazeilles made it appear probable that the
+French had accepted battle in their position at Sedan.
+The Crown Prince, therefore, ordered the two Corps,
+which already had reached the upland of Vrigne, to
+swing to their right and advance on St. Menges; the
+Würtembergers were to remain behind to watch
+Mézières. General von Kirchbach then indicated
+Fleigneux to his advanced guard as the objective of
+the further movement, which had for its purpose the
+barring of the escape of the French into Belgium, and
+the establishment of a junction with the right wing of
+the Army of the Meuse.</p>
+
+<p>The narrow pass about 2000 paces long between the
+heights and the river traversed by the road to St.
+Albert, was neither held nor watched by the French.
+It was not till the advanced guard reached St. Menges<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>
+that it encountered a French detachment, which soon
+withdrew. The German advance then deployed against
+Illy. Two companies moved to the right and took
+possession of Floing, where they maintained themselves
+for the next two hours without assistance against
+repeated attacks.</p>
+
+<p>The earliest arriving Prussian batteries had to exert
+themselves to the utmost to maintain themselves
+against the much superior strength of French artillery
+in action about Illy. At first they had for their only
+escort some cavalry and a few companies of infantry,
+and as these bodies debouched from the defile of St.
+Albert, they found themselves an enticing object of attack
+to Margueritte's Cavalry Division halted on the aforesaid
+plateau of Illy. It was at nine o'clock that General
+Galliffet rode down to the attack at the head of three
+regiments of Chasseurs d'Afrique and two squadrons
+of Lancers formed in three lines. The first fury of the
+charge fell upon two companies of the 87th Regiment,
+which met it with a hail of bullets at sixty yards range.
+The first line charged some horse-lengths further
+forward, then wheeled outward to both flanks, and
+came under the fire of the supporting troops occupying
+the broom copses. The Prussian batteries, too, showered
+their shell fire into the throng of French horsemen,
+who finally went about in confusion, and, having suffered
+great losses, sought refuge in the Bois de Garenne.</p>
+
+<p>At ten o'clock, the same hour at which the assaults
+of the French on Bazeilles and about Daigny were
+being repulsed, fourteen batteries of the XIth Corps
+were already in action on and near the ridge south-east
+of St. Menges; to swell which mass presently
+came up those of the Vth Corps. Powerful infantry
+columns were in march upon Fleigneux, and thus the
+ring surrounding Sedan was already at this hour nearly
+closed. The one Bavarian Corps and the artillery reserves
+on the left bank of the Meuse were considered
+strong enough to repel any attempt of the French to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>
+break through in that direction; five Corps were on
+the right bank, ready for a concentric attack.</p>
+
+<p>The Bavarians and Saxons, reinforced by the head
+of the IVth Corps, issued from the burning Bazeilles
+and from Moncelle, and, in spite of a stubborn resistance,
+drove the detachments of the French XIIth Corps
+in position eastward of Balan back upon Fond de
+Givonne.</p>
+
+<p>Once in possession of the southern spur of the ridge
+sloping down from Illy, and while awaiting the renewed
+attacks of the French, the extreme urgency was realized
+of reassembling the different Corps and of re-forming
+the troops, which had fallen into great confusion.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as this was done, the 5th Bavarian Brigade
+advanced on Balan. The troops found but a feeble
+resistance in the village itself; but it was only after a
+hard fight that they succeeded in occupying the park
+of the château situated at its extreme end. From
+thence, soon after midday, the foremost battalion extended
+close up to the walls of the fortress, and exchanged
+shots with the garrison. There now ensued a
+stationary musketry fight with the enemy once again
+firmly posted about Fond de Givonne. At one o'clock
+the French, having evidently been reinforced, took the
+offensive, after a preparatory cannonade and mitrailleuse
+fire. The 5th Bavarian Brigade was driven back
+for some considerable distance, but presently, supported
+by the 6th, regained its old position after an hour's
+hard fighting.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the Saxon Corps had extended itself in the
+northern part of the valley against Givonne. There
+also the foremost detachments of the Guard Corps were
+already established, as well as in Haybés. The Prussian
+artillery forced the French batteries to change their
+positions more than once, and had already caused
+several of them to go out of action. To gain breathing
+space here, the French repeatedly tried to send forward
+large bodies of tirailleurs, and ten guns were brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>
+up into the still occupied Givonne, but these were
+taken before they could unlimber. The Prussian shells
+also fell with some effect among the French troops
+massed in the Bois de Garenne, though fired from a
+long distance.</p>
+
+<p>After the Franctireurs de Paris had been driven out
+of Chapelle, the Guard-cavalry dashed through Givonne
+and up the valley, and at noon the Hussars had succeeded
+in establishing direct contact with the left flank
+of the IIIrd Army.</p>
+
+<p>The 41st Brigade of that army had left Fleigneux
+and was descending the upper valley of the Givonne,
+and the retreat of the French from Illy in a southern
+direction had already begun. The 87th Regiment
+seized eight guns which were in action, and captured
+thirty baggage waggons with their teams, as well as
+hundreds of cavalry horses wandering riderless. The
+cavalry of the advanced guard of the Vth Corps also
+made prisoners of General Brahaut and his staff, besides
+a great number of dispersed infantrymen and 150
+draught-horses, together with forty ammunition and
+baggage waggons.</p>
+
+<p>In the direction of Floing there was also an attempt
+on the part of the French to break through; but the
+originally very weak infantry posts at that point had
+gradually been strengthened, and the French were
+driven from the locality as quickly as they had entered.
+And now twenty-six batteries of the Army of the
+Meuse<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> crossed their fire with that of the Guard batteries,
+in position on the eastern slope of the Givonne
+valley. The effect was overwhelming. The French
+batteries were shattered and many ammunition waggons
+exploded.</p>
+
+<p>General de Wimpffen at first took the advance of
+the Germans from the north for nothing more than a
+demonstration, but toward midday became completely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>
+convinced that it was a real attack. He therefore
+ordered that the two Divisions of the Ist Corps halted in
+second line behind the Givonne front, should now return
+to the Illy height in support of General Douay. On
+rejoining the XIIth Corps he found it in full retreat
+on Sedan, and now urgently requested General Douay
+to despatch assistance in the direction of Bazeilles.
+Maussion's Brigade did actually go thither, followed by
+Dumont's Division, which latter was relieved in the
+foremost line by Conseil Dumesnil's Division. All this
+marching and counter-marching was executed in the
+space south of the Bois de Garenne dominated by the
+cross fire of the German artillery. The recoil of the
+cavalry heightened the confusion, and several battalions
+drew back into the insecure protection of the forest.
+General Douay, it is true, reinforced by portions of the
+Vth Corps, retook the Calvary (of Illy), but was forced
+to abandon it by two o'clock; and the forest (of
+Garenne) behind it was then shelled by sixty guns of
+the Guard artillery.</p>
+
+<p>Liébert's Division alone had up to now maintained
+its very strong position on the heights north of Casal.
+The amassing at Floing of a sufficient strength from
+the German Vth and XIth Corps could only be effected
+very gradually. After one o'clock, however, detachments
+began to climb the steep hill immediately in its
+front, while others went round to the south towards
+Gaulier and Casal, and yet others came down from
+Fleigneux. The complete intermixture of the troops
+prevented any unity of command; and a bloody contest
+was carried on for a long time with varying fortunes.
+The French Division, attacked on both flanks and also
+heavily shelled, at last had its power of resistance
+undermined; and the reserves of the VIIth Corps
+having already been called off to other parts of the
+battle-field, the French cavalry once more devotedly
+struck in to maintain the fight.</p>
+
+<p>General Margueritte, with five regiments of light
+horse, and two of Lancers, charged to the rescue out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>
+the Bois de Garenne. Almost at the outset he fell
+severely wounded, and General Galliffet took his place.
+The advance was over very treacherous ground, and
+even before the actual charge was delivered the cohesion
+of the ranks was broken by the heavy flanking fire
+of the Prussian batteries. Still, with thinned ranks but
+with unflinching resolution, the individual squadrons
+charged on the troops of the 43rd Infantry Brigade, partly
+lying in cover, partly standing out on the bare slope
+in swarms and groups; and also on the reinforcements
+hurrying from Fleigneux. The first line of the former
+was pierced at several points, and a band of these
+brave troopers dashed from Casal through the intervals
+between eight guns blazing into them with case-shot, but
+the companies beyond stopped their further progress.
+Cuirassiers issuing from Gaulier fell on the hostile
+rear, but encountering the Prussian Hussars in the
+Meuse valley, galloped off northward. Other detachments
+cut their way through the infantry as far as the
+narrow pass of St. Albert, where they were met by the
+battalions debouching therefrom. Others again entered
+Floing only to succumb to the 5th Jägers, who had to
+form front back to back. These attacks were repeated
+by the French again and again in the shape of detached
+fights, and the murderous turmoil lasted for half an hour
+with steadily diminishing fortune for the French. The
+volleys of the German infantry delivered steadily at a
+short range strewed the whole field with dead and
+wounded horsemen. Many fell into the quarries or
+down the steep declivities, a few may have escaped by
+swimming the Meuse; and scarcely more than half of
+these brave troops returned to the protection of the forest.</p>
+
+<p>But this magnificent sacrifice and glorious effort of
+the French cavalry could not change the fate of the
+day. The Prussian infantry had lost but little in the
+cut-and-thrust encounters, and at once resumed the
+attack against Liébert's Division. But in this onslaught
+they sustained heavy losses; for instance, all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>
+three battalions of the 6th Regiment had to be
+commanded by lieutenants. But when Casal had been
+stormed, the French, after a spirited resistance, withdrew
+at about three o'clock to their last refuge in the
+Bois de Garenne.</p>
+
+<p>When between one and two o'clock the fighting in
+Bazeilles had at first taken a favourable turn, General
+de Wimpffen reverted to his original plan of driving
+from the village the Bavarians, now exhausted by a
+long struggle, and of breaking a way through to
+Carignan with the Ist, Vth, and XIIth Corps; while
+the VIIth Corps was to cover the rear of this movement.
+But the orders issued to that effect in part never
+reached the Corps; in part did so so late that circumstances
+forbade their being carried out.</p>
+
+<p>In consequence of previously mentioned orders,
+besides Bassoigne's Division, the Divisions of Goze
+and Grandchamp were still available. Now, at
+about three in the afternoon, the two last-named
+advanced from Fond de Givonne, over the ridge to the
+eastward, and the 23rd Saxon Division, which was
+marching up the valley on the left bank of the Givonne,
+found itself suddenly attacked by closed battalions accompanied
+by batteries. With the support of the left
+wing of the Guard Corps and of the artillery fire from
+the eastern slope, it soon succeeded in repulsing the
+hostile masses, and indeed drove them across the valley
+back to Fond de Givonne. The energy of the French
+appeared to be by this time exhausted, for they
+allowed themselves to be taken prisoners by hundreds.
+As soon as a firm footing had been gained on the
+heights west of the Givonne, the German artillery
+established itself there, and by three o'clock an artillery
+line of twenty-one batteries stretching from Bazeilles to
+Haybés was in action.</p>
+
+<p>The Bois de Garenne, in which many broken bands
+of all Corps and of all arms were straggling in search
+of refuge, still remained to be gained. After a short<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>
+cannonade the 1st Guard-Division climbed the
+heights from Givonne, and were joined by Saxon
+battalions, the left wing of the IIIrd army at the
+same time coming on from Illy. A wild turmoil
+ensued, in which isolated bands offered violent resistance,
+while others surrendered by thousands; nor was
+it until five o'clock that the Germans had complete
+possession of the forest.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile long columns of French could be seen
+pouring down on Sedan from the surrounding heights.
+Disordered bodies of troops huddled closer and closer
+in and up to the fortress, and shells from the German
+batteries on both sides of the Meuse were constantly
+exploding in the midst of the chaos. Pillars of fire were
+soon rising from the city, and the Bavarian riflemen,
+who had pushed forward through Torcy, were preparing
+to climb the palisades at the gate when, at about half-past
+four, the white flags were visible on the towers.</p>
+
+<p>The Emperor Napoleon had declined to follow
+General de Wimpffen in his attempt to break through
+the German lines; he had, on the contrary, ordered
+him to enter into negotiations with the enemy. In
+consequence of the renewal of the order to that effect
+the French suddenly ceased firing.</p>
+
+<p>General Reille now made his appearance in the
+presence of the King, who had watched the action
+since early morning from the hill south of Frénois.
+He was the bearer of an autograph letter from the
+Emperor, whose presence in Sedan was till then unknown.
+He placed his sword in the hand of the
+King, but as this was clearly only an act of personal
+surrender, the answer stipulated that an officer should
+be commissioned with full powers to treat with General
+von Moltke as to the surrender of the French Army.</p>
+
+<p>This painful duty was imposed on General de
+Wimpffen, who was in no way responsible for the
+desperate straits into which the French army had been
+brought.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The negotiations were held at Donchery in the night
+between the 1st and 2nd September. On the part of
+the Germans it had to be insisted on that they durst
+not forego the advantages gained over so powerful an
+enemy as France. Since the French had regarded
+the victory of German arms over other nationalities
+in the light of an offence to France, any untimely
+generosity might cause them to forget their own defeat.
+The only course to pursue was to insist upon the
+disarmament and captivity of their entire army,
+with the exception that the officers were to be free on
+parole.</p>
+
+<p>General de Wimpffen declared it impossible to accept
+conditions so hard, the negotiations were broken
+off, and the French officers returned to Sedan at one
+o'clock on the morning of the 2nd. Before their
+departure they were given to understand that unless
+the offered terms were accepted by nine o'clock that
+morning the artillery would reopen fire.</p>
+
+<p>The capitulation was signed by General de Wimpffen
+on the morning of the 2nd, further resistance being
+obviously impossible.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal MacMahon was very fortunate in having
+been disabled so early in the battle, else on him would
+have inevitably devolved the duty of signing the capitulation;
+and though he had only carried out the
+orders forced upon him by the Paris authorities, he
+could hardly have sat in judgment, as he afterwards
+did, on the comrade he had failed to relieve.</p>
+
+<p>It is difficult to understand why we Germans celebrate
+the 2nd of September&mdash;a day on which nothing
+memorable happened, but what was the inevitable
+result of the previous day's work; the day on which the
+army really crowned itself with glory was the 1st of
+September.</p>
+
+<p>The splendid victory of that day had cost the Germans
+460 officers and 8500 men. The French losses were far
+greater; they amounted to 17,000 men, and were chiefly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>
+wrought because of the full development of the fire
+of the German artillery.</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">During the battle there were taken prisoners</td><td align="right">21,000</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">By the Capitulation</td><td align="right">83,000</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">A total of&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="right">104,000</td><td align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;sent into captivity.</td></tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<p>The prisoners for the present were assembled on the
+peninsula of Iges formed by the Meuse. As supplies
+for them were entirely lacking, the Commandant of
+Mézières permitted the unrestricted transport of provisions
+by the railway as far as Donchery. Two Army
+Corps were assigned to the duty of guarding and
+escorting the convoys of prisoners, who were sent off in
+successive bodies 2000 strong by two roads, one to
+Etain, and the other by Clermont to Pont à Mousson,
+where the prisoners were taken over by the army
+investing Metz, and forwarded to various parts of
+Germany.</p>
+
+<p>On Belgian territory 3000 men had been disarmed.</p>
+
+<p>The spoils of war taken at Sedan consisted of three
+standards, 419 field-pieces, 139 fortress guns, 66,000
+rifles, over 1000 waggons, and 6000 serviceable
+horses.</p>
+
+<p>With the entire nullification of this army fell the
+Empire in France.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Moncelle is northward of Bazeilles.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> Now commanding XIIth Corps, since his elder brother's appointment
+to command of the Army of the Meuse.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> Sense and accuracy alike indicate that "Army of the Meuse" in
+text should be "Third Army," <i>vide</i> Staff History, part I. 2nd vol.
+pp. 361, 367, and 370.&mdash;Clarke's authorized Trs.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>PART II.</h2>
+
+
+<p>While one half of the German Army was thus engaged
+in a victorious advance, the other half remained stationary
+before Metz.</p>
+
+<p>The foremost line of outposts of the investment
+embraced a circuit of more than twenty-eight miles.
+An attempt of the concentrated forces of the enemy
+to break through would have met at the beginning
+of the blockade with but slight opposition. It was
+therefore extremely urgent that the several posts
+should be strengthened by fortifications. These works,
+the clearing of the neighbouring battle-fields, the close
+watch kept over every movement of the enemy, the
+construction of a telegraph-line connecting the quarters
+of the several Staffs, and finally the erection of a sufficiency
+of shelter, kept the troops and their leaders
+amply occupied. Besides the care of the wounded,
+provision had to be made for the sick, whose number
+was daily increased by the unusually severe weather
+and lack of shelter. The provisioning of the troops
+was, however, facilitated by their stationary attitude,
+and in addition there now flowed in upon them from
+their homes a copious supply of love-gifts.</p>
+
+<p>The first days of the investment went by without
+any attempts to break out on the part of the French.
+They too were busy reorganizing, collecting ammunition
+and supplies.</p>
+
+<p>On the 20th of August Marshal Bazaine had
+written to Châlons: "I will give due notice of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>
+march if, taking everything into consideration, I can
+undertake any such attempt." On the 23rd he reported
+to the Emperor: "If the news of the extensive reductions
+in the besieging army is confirmed, I shall set
+out on the march, and that by way of the northern
+fortresses, in order to risk nothing."</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Sortie from Metz.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 26th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>On the 26th of August, when the Army of Châlons
+was still nearly seventy miles distant from the Ardennes
+Canal, and its advance on Metz was as yet not generally
+known, Marshal Bazaine collected his main forces on
+the right bank of the Moselle.</p>
+
+<p>This movement had not escaped the notice of the
+German posts of observation, and the field-telegraph
+at once disseminated the information.</p>
+
+<p>To support the 3rd Reserve Division at Malroy, ten
+battalions of the Xth Corps crossed from the left bank
+of the Moselle to Argancy on the right bank. The
+25th Division held itself in readiness at the bridge of
+Hauconcourt, and the Ist Corps closed up towards
+Servigny. In the event of the success of a breach
+towards the north, the IIIrd, IVth, and part of the IXth
+Corps were available to intercept the enemy's march
+about Thionville.</p>
+
+<p>The crossing from the island of Chambière by the
+field-bridges which had been built, seriously delayed
+the French advance; the IIIrd, IInd, IVth, and VIth
+Corps, however, by about noon stood closely concentrated
+between Mey and Grimont. Advanced detachments
+had already at several points driven in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>
+German posts south-east of Metz, but instead of now
+entering upon a general attack, Marshal Bazaine summoned
+all his Corps Commanders to a conference at
+Grimont. The Commandant of Metz then made it
+known that the artillery ammunition in hand would
+suffice for only one battle, that when it was exhausted
+the army would find itself defenceless in midst of the
+German hosts; the fortress, he continued, was not
+defensible in its present state, and could not stand a
+siege if the army were to be withdrawn from the place.
+All those things might certainly have been seen into
+during the stay in Metz; and much more did they
+behove to have been known before the army should
+cut loose. It was particularly enforced, "That the
+preservation of the Army was the best service that could
+be rendered to the country, more especially if negotiations
+for peace should be entered into." The generals
+present all spoke against the prosecution of the proposed
+movement; and the Commander-in-Chief, who
+had refrained from expressing any opinion in the
+matter, gave the order to retire at four o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>The whole affair of the 26th of August can only be
+regarded in the light of a parade man&oelig;uvre. Bazaine
+reported to the Minister of War that the scarcity of
+artillery ammunition made it "impossible" to break
+through the hostile lines, unless an offensive operation
+from the outside "should force the enemy to raise the
+investment." Information as to the "temper of the
+people" was earnestly requested.</p>
+
+<p>There is no doubt that Bazaine was influenced, not
+wholly by military, but also by political considerations;
+still it may be asked whether he could have
+acted differently in the prevailing confusion of France.
+From the correspondence referred to, and his behaviour
+in the battles before Metz, his reluctance to quit the
+place was evident. Under its walls he could maintain
+a considerable army in unimpaired condition till the
+given moment. At the head of the only French army<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>
+not yet shattered,<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> he might find himself in a position
+of greater power than any other man in the country.
+This army must, of course, first be freed from the
+bonds which now confined it. Even if it should succeed
+in forcibly breaking out it would be greatly
+weakened; and it was not inconceivable that the
+Marshal, as the strongest power in the land, might be
+able to offer a price which should induce the enemy to
+grant him a passage. Then when at length the time
+for making peace should come, the Germans would no
+doubt ask: "Who in France is the authority with whom
+we can negotiate now that the Empire is overthrown,
+and who is strong enough to give a guarantee that the
+obligations which he will have undertaken shall be performed?"
+That the Marshal, if his plans had come
+to fulfilment, would have acted otherwise than in the
+interest of France is neither proved nor to be assumed.</p>
+
+<p>But presently a number of men combined in Paris,
+who, without consulting the nation, constituted themselves
+the Government of the country, and took the
+direction of its affairs into their own hands. In opposition
+to this party, Marshal Bazaine, with his army at
+his back, could well come forward as a rival or a foe;
+nay, and&mdash;this was his crime in the eyes of the Paris
+Government&mdash;he might restore the authority of the
+Emperor to whom he had sworn allegiance. Whether
+he might not thus have spared his country longer
+misery and greater sacrifices may be left undecided.
+But that he was subsequently charged with treason
+obviously arose, no doubt, from the national vanity of
+the French, which demanded a "Traitor" as a scapegoat
+for the national humiliation.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after this demonstration, for it was nothing
+more, of the besieged army, the investing forces were,
+in fact, reduced by the despatch, on the 29th, in accordance
+with orders from the supreme Headquarter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>
+of the IInd and IIIrd Corps to Briey and Conflans, there
+to remain. To be sure, from those positions it was in
+their power to attack either of the French Marshals, as
+might prove requisite; while the XIIIth Corps, newly
+formed of the 17th Division, hitherto retained to
+defend the coast, and from the Landwehr, was already
+within a short distance of Metz.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Marshal Bazaine might have realized
+that he must abandon his delusion as to a release by
+means of negotiations; and he now firmly resolved to
+cut his way out by dint of force. The troops were
+served out with three days' provisions, and the intendance
+was furnished with a supply of "iron rations"
+from the magazines of the fortress. That the attempt
+should again be made on the right bank of the Moselle
+was only to be expected; since by far the larger portion
+of the enemy's forces stood entrenched on the left bank.
+It would have been very difficult to traverse that hilly
+region, intersected by deep ravines; and finally the
+army of the Crown Prince on the march to Paris
+would have had to be encountered. East of Metz, on
+the other hand, there afforded ample space for the
+full development of the French forces. By bending of
+the south the open country was to be reached, offering
+no effective intercepting position to the enemy, whose
+line of investment was weakest in that direction. The
+march to the north and along the Belgian frontier
+entailed more danger and greater obstacles, yet the
+Marshal had explicitly indicated this particular road as
+that by which he intended to move. The Army of
+Châlons was also marching in that direction; its
+approach was already reported; and on the 31st of
+August, on which day, in fact, Marshal MacMahon's
+forces reached Stenay<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> in such disastrous circumstances,
+Bazaine's army also issued from Metz.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p>
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> The Army of Châlons was still unimpaired on August 26th.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> "Stenay," probably a slip of the pen for "Sedan," where
+MacMahon's army was gathered on August 31st. It never reached
+Stenay.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Noisseville.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(August 31st.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Of the French Corps then located on the right bank
+of the Moselle,<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> the IIIrd was to cover on the right
+flank the advance of the others; one Division was
+ordered to move early in a south-easterly direction
+with intent to mislead the enemy, its other three
+Divisions to take position threatening Noisseville.
+Three pontoon bridges were constructed for the crossing
+of the rest of the army, and accesses to the heights
+in front of St. Julien were prepared. The passage of
+the IVth and VIth Corps was to begin at six o'clock,
+and they were to take a position which, linking on its
+right with the IIIrd Corps, should extend from the
+village of Mey by Grimont to the Moselle; the IInd
+Corps and the Guard were to follow and form a second
+line. With the passage of the artillery reserve and
+the cavalry it was expected that the crossing of the
+Moselle should be finished by ten o'clock; the trains
+were halted on the Isle of Chambière. Thus it was
+intended that by noon five Corps should be ready for
+the assault of the section of the line of investment from
+Retonfay (on the French right) to Argancy (on the left),
+a distance of about seven miles, which space had for its
+defenders only two German Divisions.</p>
+
+<p>So early as seven o'clock Montaudon's Division issued
+from Fort Queuleu, and heading eastward drove the
+opposing outposts back on Aubigny. But this demonstration
+did not in the least deceive the Germans.
+The stir in the French camp had been observed quite
+early, and when the mist cleared off and great masses
+of French troops were seen in front of Fort St.
+Julien, an attempt to break through to the north
+was anticipated with certainty, and the necessary dispositions
+were immediately undertaken to foil the
+effort.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p>
+<p>The 28th Brigade of the VIIth Corps was dispatched
+to protect Courcelles, so that thus the 3rd Brigade of
+the Ist Corps could be brought nearer to Servigny. The
+troops of the Xth Corps which could be spared from
+their own section of the line of defence on the left bank
+were again set in motion to cross to the right, and the
+IXth Corps was held in readiness in anticipation of its
+having eventually to follow. The IIIrd Corps and the
+Ist Cavalry Division were recalled from Briey and
+directed to the plateau of Privat; the IInd was to
+stand ready to move off.</p>
+
+<p>The attempt of the French to break out proved on
+this day even less successful than on the 26th; the
+IVth and VIth Corps crossed each other at the bridges,
+and they only reached their rendezvous position at one
+o'clock, though it was little more than three miles
+further; they then abandoned the intention of an immediate
+assault, and set about cooking. A few skirmishes
+on the east of Aubigny and on the north towards
+Rupigny came to nothing. The Imperial Guard did
+not come up till three o'clock, the artillery and cavalry
+were still behind.</p>
+
+<p>As entire quiescence now supervened, the Germans
+came to the conclusion that the attack must be intended
+for the following day. To save the strength of the
+troops, part of the reinforcements ordered up had
+already been sent back, when, at about four o'clock,
+the French suddenly opened a heavy artillery fire.</p>
+
+<p>The Marshal had again summoned his commanders
+to assemble at Grimont, this time to inform them of
+his dispositions for the attack. It was evident that the
+French could not advance towards the north until they
+had gained elbow-room by means of an offensive movement
+in the eastern direction, and had secured their
+right flank. For even if they succeeded in breaking
+through the Malroy-Charly line, they could get no
+further so long as the Germans were at Servigny and
+swept with their fire the plain as far as the Moselle, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>
+space not more than 5000 paces broad. The Marshal
+could not in any case reckon on carrying through his
+Artillery Reserve, which did not reach the battle-field
+until six o'clock, and the extrication of the baggage
+trains which had been left behind on the Isle of
+Chambière was clearly impossible. The Cavalry Corps
+was still defiling, and could not come up until nine
+o'clock in the evening.</p>
+
+<p>This unsatisfactory aspect of affairs was in complete
+accord with the character of the dispositions of the
+French commanders.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal Le B&oelig;uf received orders to advance with
+the IInd and IIIrd Corps on both sides of the valley of
+St. Barbe, and outflank from the south the 1st Prussian
+Division at Servigny, while the IVth Corps assailed it
+in front. The VIth Corps had the task of thrusting
+forward against the Reserve Division at Charly-Malroy.
+Marshal Canrobert was to command the two latter
+Corps, and the Guard was to be held back as reserve.</p>
+
+<p>Thus General von Manteuffel had at first to confront
+with a small force a greatly superior enemy. This
+opposition might be undertaken either in the St. Barbe
+position, to outflank which was by no means easy, or on
+the line of Servigny&mdash;Poix&mdash;Failly, which, though more
+exposed, afforded much greater scope for the use of
+artillery. The latter position was chosen on the advice
+of General von Bergmann commanding the artillery,
+and the Landwehr Brigade was ordered into it from
+Antilly, where its place was taken by the 25th Division.
+Ten batteries were advanced to a distance of 1000 paces
+in front of the line of villages held by the infantry.
+Their fire proved so superior to that of the enemy, that
+the hostile batteries were soon silenced. The attack on
+Rupigny by the French IVth Corps, supported on the
+flank though it was by three batteries, remained
+stationary for a considerable time, and as the Prussians
+had not yet been driven back on St. Barbe, the VIth
+French Corps meanwhile could not enter upon any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>
+serious attack on the Reserve Division at Malroy-Charly.
+For the same reason Marshal Canrobert received
+the order for the present only to send a
+detachment of his force to the attack of the village of
+Failly, the northern point of support of the Servigny
+position.</p>
+
+<p>Tixier's Division therefore moved out at 7.30 in the
+evening from Villers L'Orme, but met with a most
+obstinate resistance at Failly. Though attacked on two
+sides, pelted by a storm of projectiles, and, as regarded
+a part of them, engaged in hand-to-hand fighting, the
+East Prussians stoutly held possession of their ground
+till the Landwehr Brigade came to their assistance from
+Vremy.</p>
+
+<p>Up till now the situation southward of Servigny had
+worn a more favourable aspect for the French than
+in this northern re-entering angle between two hostile
+positions; their IInd and IIIrd Corps in the former
+quarter had only the 3rd Brigade of the Ist Prussian
+Corps to deal with in front of Retonfay. Montaudon's
+and Metman's Divisions moved down by way of Nouilly
+into the valley of the Vallières brook; Clinchant's
+Brigade stormed the brewery in the face of strong
+resistance, and by seven o'clock the defenders of Noisseville
+were forced to evacuate the place. Montoy and
+Flanville were also taken possession of by the French,
+and further south the outposts of the German 4th Brigade
+were thrown back through Coincy and Château
+Aubigny. The batteries of the 1st Division, after enduring
+for a long time the fire of strong swarms of
+tirailleurs from the deep hollow south of them, were
+forced about seven o'clock to retire in echelon to the
+infantry position on the Poix&mdash;Servigny line, fending off
+for a time the pursuing enemy with case-shot.</p>
+
+<p>But to this position the Prussians now held on
+staunchly, although completely out-flanked on their
+left. Potier's Brigade ascended the northern slope of
+the Vallières valley, but found it impossible to reach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>
+Servigny. A moment later Cissey's Brigade rushed forward
+from the west, and seized the graveyard outside
+the village. The French IVth Corps struck at the centre
+of the Prussian position, but without success. Its effort
+to penetrate between Poix and Servigny was frustrated
+by the offensive stroke delivered by the battalions of the
+2nd Brigade constituting the last reserve&mdash;a counter
+attack in which all the troops at hand at once joined.
+With drums beating they hurled themselves on the
+French, swept them out of the graveyard, and drove
+them back down the slope.</p>
+
+<p>In support of the fierce fight here, the 3rd Brigade
+about half-past eight marched on Noisseville, whence
+it promptly expelled the small detachment found in
+possession, but subsequently yielded to superior numbers,
+and withdrew to St. Marais.</p>
+
+<p>The din of strife had now fallen silent at all points,
+and the fight seemed to be ended. The infantry of the
+1st Division were moving into the villages, and the
+artillery was going into bivouac, when suddenly at nine
+o'clock a great mass of French infantry advanced in the
+darkness to an attack on Servigny. This proved to be
+Aymard's Division; it entered the village without
+firing a shot, surprised the garrison, and drove it out
+after a fierce hand-to-hand fight. This episode remained
+unnoticed for a long time, even by the nearest
+troops; but these then rushed to arms, and pouring in
+from all sides, drove the French back beyond the
+graveyard, which thenceforth remained in German
+possession.</p>
+
+<p>It was now ten o'clock at night. The 1st Division
+had kept its ground against an enemy of superior
+strength; but the French had penetrated into the unoccupied
+gap between the 3rd and 4th Brigades, and
+were a standing menace to the German flank at Servigny
+from their position at Noisseville.</p>
+
+<p><i>September 1st.</i>&mdash;The 18th Division, by a night-march,
+crossed from the left to the right bank of the Moselle at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>
+four o'clock in the morning, and reinforced with a
+brigade both flanks of the line Malroy&mdash;Charly&mdash;Bois
+de Failly. The 25th Division was now able to fall back
+from Antilly to St. Barbe, where, with the 6th Landwehr
+Brigade, it formed a reserve for the Poix&mdash;Servigny
+position.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of the 1st of September a thick mist
+still shrouded the plain when all the troops stood to
+arms.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal Bazaine now again indicated to his generals
+the seizure of St. Barbe as the prime objective, since
+that alone could render possible the march to the
+north; and he added, "In the event of failure, we shall
+maintain our positions." This expression could only
+indicate the intention, in the event specified, of remaining
+under shelter of the cannon of Metz, and evinced
+but little confidence in the success of the enterprise
+now engaged in.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></p>
+
+<p>So early as five o'clock the 3rd Brigade had deployed
+on the Saarlouis road to prevent the further progress
+of the enemy on the left flank of the 1st Division. It
+swept the slopes in the direction of Montoy with the
+fire of twenty guns, and when Noisseville had been
+well plied for a considerable time by the fire of the
+artillery of the 2nd Brigade, about seven o'clock the
+43rd Regiment carried the village by storm. A fierce
+fight ensued in and about the houses: two French
+brigades struck into the combat, and after a long whirl
+of fighting the German regiment was driven out again.
+Battalions of the 3rd Brigade came up just as the fight
+was over, but the attack was not renewed.</p>
+
+<p>Now that the direction of the French effort to break
+out was no longer doubtful, the 28th Brigade had
+started from Courcelles at six in the morning to reinforce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>
+the Ist Corps. Its two batteries silenced those of
+the French at Montoy, and then directed their fire on
+Flanville. The enemy soon began to abandon the
+burning village, which, at nine o'clock, the Rhinelanders
+entered from the south and the East Prussians
+from the north. Marshal Le B&oelig;uf again sent forward
+Bastoul's Division on Montoy, but the extremely
+effective fire of the Prussian artillery compelled it to
+turn back.</p>
+
+<p>The 3rd Brigade had meanwhile taken up a position
+on the upland of Retonfay, where it was now joined by
+the 28th. The 3rd Cavalry Division was reinforced by
+the Hessian Horse Brigade, and these troops with the
+artillery mass made up presently to 114 guns, formed
+a rampart against any further progress of the IInd and
+IIIrd French Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The fighting had now died out on the right wing
+of the French army; but the IVth Corps had been
+enjoined to await the direct advance of the troops of that
+wing before renewing its attack on the artillery-front
+and village entrenchments of the line from Servigny to
+Poix, whose strength had been proved on the previous
+day. But towards eleven o'clock, after Noisseville
+had been heavily bombarded, the 3rd Prussian Brigade,
+supported by the Landwehr, advanced southward of the
+position, pushed its attack against that point, and
+compelled the French to withdraw from the burning
+village.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal Canrobert, on the northern front of the
+sortie, had brought up his batteries at Chieulles by
+half-past eight, and their fire, seconded by that of the
+artillery of the fortress, caused a temporary evacuation
+of Rupigny; but the village was soon reoccupied.
+Tixier's Division had made two fruitless attempts to
+seize Failly, and now, on the other hand, the 36th
+Brigade of the 18th Division came up, and taking the
+offensive in conjunction with the Reserve Division, at
+ten o'clock drove the French back over the Chieulles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>
+stream. They made still another onslaught on Failly,
+but the flanking fire made this also a failure.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal Le B&oelig;uf, though he still had more than
+two Divisions to oppose it, held himself obliged to
+retreat on account of the approach of the Prussian 3rd
+Brigade on his right flank; and in consequence of the
+receipt of this intelligence, Marshal Bazaine at mid-day
+ordered the fighting to be broken off at all other points.</p>
+
+<p>The Army of the Rhine which issued from Metz on
+August 31st, with a strength of 137,000 men,<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> had
+been successfully opposed by no more than 36,000
+Prussians. In this battle for the first time in the war
+the French were the assailants, the Germans had the
+rôle of the defence. That the Germans lost 3400 men
+against the loss of 3000 by the French, must be attributed
+to the higher properties of the infantry weapon
+of the latter. But the superiority of the Prussian
+artillery was decisively proved, and this it was which
+rendered possible General von Manteuffel's unshaken
+resistance.</p>
+
+<p>The VIIth Corps remained on the right bank of the
+Norelle, where the line of investment was now further
+strengthened by the arrival of the XIIIth Corps under
+the command of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. On
+the left bank the IInd and IIIrd Corps were now able
+to return to their respective previous positions. On
+the same day and at about the same hour when the destruction
+of one French army was completed at Sedan,
+the other was returning to an apparently more and more
+hopeless detention in Metz. Thus the issue of the war
+was already beyond doubt after a campaign of but two
+months' duration; though the war itself was far from
+being ended.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p>
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> The IInd and IIIrd Army.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> The wording of Bazaine's order dispenses with any speculation
+on this point. He wrote, "In the event of failure, we shall
+maintain our positions, strengthen ourselves therein, <i>and retire in the
+evening under Forts St. Julien and Queuleu</i>."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> The estimate of the total strength of the Army of the Rhine
+on the 22nd August is given at 137,728 men in the German Staff
+History. It deducts for garrison and normal outpost duty details
+amounting to over 17,000 men; and reckons the marching out
+strength for the battle of 31st August&mdash;1st September at "about
+120,000 men."</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Change of Government in Paris.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>When, in the night of the 4th of September, the
+news of the disaster of Sedan and the Emperor's
+surrender became known in Paris, the Legislative Body
+met in a rapidly successive series of sittings for the purpose
+of selecting an Administrative Committee. The
+mob cut those deliberations short by forcing its way
+into the Chamber and proclaiming the Republic there
+and at the Hôtel de Ville, amidst the acclamations of
+the people. Though the troops were under arms in
+their barracks, the Government till now in power
+offered no resistance; the Empress left Paris; General
+Trochu and several members of the Minority in the
+Chamber combined to form a Government, which they
+styled "The Government of National Defence and
+War." "War to the bitter end" was its motto, and
+the entire nation was to be called to arms. Not an inch
+of territory, not a stone of the fortresses was to be
+yielded up to the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Such a Government, devoid of any legitimate foundation,
+necessarily thirsted for results, and could be little
+disposed to allow the war to end in peace.</p>
+
+<p>Notwithstanding all the early reverses of the war,
+France was too rich in resources to find herself as yet
+by any means defenceless. General Vinoy was still in
+the field. All the scattered Corps, the Marine troops
+and the Gendarmerie could gather to him. There was,
+too, the "Territorial Militia," numbering 468,000 men,
+an institution which the country owed to Marshal Niel,
+whose far-seeing work of reorganization had been cut
+short only too soon. Further, there was available
+to be called up the falling-due contingent of 100,000
+conscripts, as well as the National Guard. It followed
+that France was thus able to put into the field
+a million of men, without reckoning Franctireurs and
+Volunteer Corps. The reserve store of 2000 guns and
+400,000 Chassepôts assured the means of armament,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>
+and the workshops of neutral England were ready and
+willing to fulfil commissions. Such resources for war,
+backed by the active patriotism of the nation, could
+maintain a prolonged resistance if a master will
+should inspire it with energy.</p>
+
+<p>And such a will was disclosed in the person of
+Gambetta.</p>
+
+<p>Minister of War, he had at the same time, by the
+French system of government, the direction of military
+operations, and certainly he was not the man to loosen
+his grasp of the chief command. For in a Republic, a
+victorious general at the head of the Army would at once
+have become Dictator in his stead. M. de Freycinet,
+another civilian, served under Gambetta as a sort of
+Chief of the General Staff, and the energetic, but dilettante,
+commandership exercised by these gentlemen cost
+France very dear. Gambetta's rare energy and unrelenting
+determination availed, indeed, to induce the
+entire population to take up arms, but not to direct
+these hasty levies with comprehensive unity of purpose.
+Without giving them time to be trained into fitness for
+the field, with ruthless severity he despatched them
+into the field in utter inefficiency as they were called
+out, to attempt the execution of ill-digested plans
+against an enemy on whose firm solidity all their
+courage and devotion was inevitably wrecked. He
+prolonged the struggle at the cost of heavy sacrifices
+on both sides, without turning the balance in favour of
+France.</p>
+
+<p>In any event the German chiefs had still great difficulties
+to overcome.</p>
+
+<p>The battles already won had cost heavy losses; in
+officers especially the losses were irreparable. Half the
+army was detained before Metz and Strasburg. The
+transport and guarding of already more than 200,000
+prisoners required the services of a large part of the
+new levies being formed at home. The numerous
+fortresses had not indeed hindered the invasion of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>
+German army, but they had to be invested or kept
+under observation to secure the rearward communications,
+and to safeguard the forwarding and victualling
+of troops; and each further advance into the enemy's
+country involved increased drafts of armed men. After
+the battle of Sedan only 150,000 men were available for
+further operations in the field. There could be no
+doubt that the new objective must be Paris, as the seat
+of the new Government and the centre of gravity, so to
+speak, of the whole country. On the very day of the
+capitulation of Sedan, all the dispositions were made
+for the renewal of the advance.</p>
+
+<p>To spare the troops, the movement was to be carried
+out on a very broad front, which involved no risk, for
+of the French Corps, the XIIIth alone could possibly
+cause any detention. And, indeed, only Blanchard's
+Division of that Corps was now at Mézières; its other
+two Divisions had but just begun their march when they
+received orders to halt preparatory to returning (to
+Paris).</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Retreat of General Vinoy.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>General Vinoy's most urgent anxiety was&mdash;very
+rightly&mdash;to reach Paris with the least possible loss.
+This was not very easy to accomplish, since the VIth
+Prussian Corps, which had taken no part in the battle
+of Sedan, was at Attigny in such a position that as a
+matter of distance, as far as to Laon, it could reach any
+point of any line of the enemy's retreat before, or as
+soon as the latter. General von Tümpling, commanding
+that Corps, had already taken possession of Rethel
+with the 12th Division by the evening of September
+1st, thus closing the high-road to Paris. Only extraordinary
+forced marching and a succession of fortunate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>
+circumstances could save from destruction Blanchard's
+Division, which had already wasted its ammunition in
+small conflicts.</p>
+
+<p>General Vinoy supplied the troops with several days'
+rations, enjoined the strictest discipline on the march,
+and during the night between 1st and 2nd September
+set out on the road to Rethel, where he expected to
+find Exéa's Division; which, however, availing itself of
+the section of railway still undestroyed, had already
+gone back to Soissons.</p>
+
+<p>It was still early morning (of 2nd) when the French
+column of march came in contact with the 5th and
+presently with the 6th Prussian Cavalry Divisions,
+without, however, being seriously attacked. It was not
+till about ten o'clock, and within about seven miles of
+Rethel, that the French general learnt that place was
+in hostile possession, whereupon he decided on turning
+westward to Novion Porcien. He sent his rear-guard
+against the enemy's horse-artillery, but seeing hardly
+anything but cavalry in its front, it soon resumed the
+march. At about four in the afternoon the Division
+reached Novion, where it went into bivouac.</p>
+
+<p>General von Hoffmann (commanding the 12th
+Prussian Division) had taken up a position at Rethel,
+and was awaiting the enemy, of whose approach he
+had been warned. Having ridden out in person, he
+became aware of Vinoy's deviation from the Rethel road,
+and at four in the afternoon marched to Ecly, where
+he arrived late in the evening. Part of his troops
+scouted forward toward Château Porcien.</p>
+
+<p>General Vinoy, on learning that this road, too, was
+closed to him, quited his bivouac again at half-past one
+on the morning (of 3rd), leaving his fires burning, and
+set out on a second night-march in pouring rain and
+total darkness.</p>
+
+<p>At first he took a northerly direction, to reach Laon
+at worst by the byways. By tracks fathomless in mud,
+and with frequent alarms, but without being reached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>
+by the enemy, he trudged into Château Porcien at
+half-past seven on the morning of the 3rd, and there
+halted for a couple of hours. The trend of the roads
+now compelled him again to take a southerly direction,
+and when the head of his column reached Séraincourt,
+the sound of firing told him that his rear had been
+attacked by the Germans.</p>
+
+<p>The Prussian cavalry had, early the same morning,
+discovered the French departure, but this important
+information found General von Hoffmann no longer in
+Ecly. He had already started thence to search for the
+enemy at Novion-Porcien, where he might well be
+expected to be after his first night-march, but at half-past
+nine the Prussian general found the place empty.
+Thus, that morning, the German and French Divisions
+had marched past each other in different directions at
+a distance apart of little more than four miles. The
+thick weather had prevented them seeing each other.
+General Vinoy this day reached Montcornet, in what
+plight may be imagined. The 12th Division continued
+its pursuit in the westerly direction, but came up
+only with the rear stragglers of the fast-retreating
+enemy, and took up alarm-quarters in Chaumont
+Porcien.</p>
+
+<p>This march of the enemy ought not indeed to have
+remained unobserved and unchecked under the eye of
+two Cavalry Divisions, but it has to be said that these
+were called off at an unfortunate moment.</p>
+
+<p>It was, in fact, in consequence of a report that the
+French forces were assembled at Rheims, that the
+Headquarter of the IIIrd Army had ordered the
+immediate return of the VIth Corps and the two Divisions
+of cavalry. These at once relinquished the
+pursuit, and General von Tümpling ordered his two
+Infantry Divisions to march at once on Rheims. The
+11th, which had been holding Rethel, set out forthwith.
+General von Hoffmann, on the contrary, followed up the
+French, on his own responsibility, as far as was possible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>
+without cavalry to overtake them. Not till the following
+day did the 12th Division reach the Suippe.</p>
+
+<p><i>September 4th.</i>&mdash;General Vinoy made his way northward
+again, by way of Marle, where he received the news
+of the Emperor's surrender and of the outbreak of the
+revolution in Paris. His presence there was now of
+the greatest importance, and on the 13th he reached
+the French capital with the two other divisions of his
+Corps from Laon and Soissons.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>THE MARCH ON PARIS<br />
+<span class="smcap">of the IIIrd Army and the Army of the Meuse.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>During these occurrences the German armies, on the
+4th September, had begun their advance on Paris.
+The first thing to be done was to disentangle the mass
+of troops assembled in the cramped space around Sedan.
+The IIIrd Army, of which the XIth and the Ist
+Bavarian Corps were still remaining there, had to
+make two long marches forward in order that the
+Army of the Meuse should regain its line of supply
+(Etappen-line).</p>
+
+<p>The news of a great assemblage of French troops at
+Rheims soon proved to be unfounded. Early on the
+4th, detachments of Prussian horse entered the hostile
+and excited city, the 11th Division arrived that afternoon,
+and on the following day the German King's
+head-quarters were established in the old city where
+the French Kings had been wont to be crowned.</p>
+
+<p>On the 10th of September the IIIrd Army had
+reached the line Dormans&mdash;Sezanne, and the VIth Corps
+had pushed forward to Château Thierry. The Army
+of the Meuse, after the failure of a coup-de-main on
+Montmédy, was advancing between Rheims and Laon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>
+Cavalry sent far in advance covered this march executed
+on a front so exceptionally broad. The scouts everywhere
+found the inhabitants in a very hostile temper;
+the franctireurs attacked with great recklessness, and
+had to be driven out of several villages by dismounted
+troopers. The roads were in many places wrecked by
+the tearing up of the stone pavement, and the bridges
+were blown up.</p>
+
+<p>On the approach of the 6th Cavalry Division Laon
+had capitulated. Small detachments of troops of the
+line were taken prisoners, 25 guns, 100 stores of arms
+and ammunition were seized as prizes, and 2000
+Gardes-Mobiles were dismissed to their homes on
+parole to take no further part in the war. While
+friends and foes were assembled in large numbers in
+the courtyard of the citadel, the powder-magazine
+blew up, having probably been intentionally fired, and
+did great damage both there and in the town. The
+Prussians had fifteen officers and ninety-nine men killed
+and wounded; among the wounded were the Division-Commander
+and his general-staff officer. The French
+lost 300 men; the commandant of the fortress was
+mortally wounded.</p>
+
+<p>On the 16th the Army of the Meuse was between
+Nanteuil and Lizy-on-Ourcq; the 5th Cavalry Division
+had advanced to Dammartin; the 6th to beyond Beaumont,
+sending patrols up to before St. Denis. The
+IIIrd Army was spread over the area from Meaux to
+Compte Robert. Strong military bridges had been
+thrown over the Marne at Trilport and Lagny to
+replace the permanent ones which had been blown up,
+and on the 17th the Vth Corps reached the Upper
+Seine.</p>
+
+<p>To secure the draw-bridges at Villeneuve St. Georges,
+the 17th Brigade pushed on down the right bank of the
+Seine towards Paris, and at Mont Mesly it encountered
+Exéa's Division, which had been sent out by General
+Vinoy to bring in or destroy stores of supplies. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>
+fight which ensued ended in the French being driven
+back under shelter of Fort Charenton.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Bavarian Corps also reached the Seine on
+this day and bridged the river at Corbeil. The 2nd
+Cavalry Division was in observation in front of Saclay,
+towards Paris. The Royal head-quarter moved to
+Meaux by way of Château Thierry. The complete
+investment of the French capital was now imminent.</p>
+
+<p>The works constructed under Louis Philippe effectually
+protected the city from being taken by storm.
+The artillery armament of the place consisted of over
+2627 pieces, including 200 of the largest calibres of naval
+ordnance. There were 500 rounds for each gun, and
+in addition a reserve of three million kilogrammes of
+powder. As concerned the active strength of the
+garrison, besides the XIIIth Corps which had returned
+from Mézières, a new Corps, the XIVth, had been
+raised in Paris itself. These 50,000 troops of the line,
+14,000 highly efficient and staunch marines and sailors,
+and about 8000 gensd'armes, customs officers, and
+forest-guards, formed the core of the defence. There
+were besides 115,000 Gardes-Mobiles, who had been
+drawn in from outside at an earlier date. The National
+Guard was formed into 130 battalions, which, however,
+being defective in equipment and poorly disciplined,
+could be employed only in the defence of the inner
+circle of fortifications. The volunteers, though
+numerous, proved for the most part useless.</p>
+
+<p>In all the besieged force was over 300,000 strong,
+thus it was far more than double the strength of the
+besiegers as yet on the spot, of whom there were at
+the outside only about 60,000 men available, with 5000
+cavalry and 124 field-batteries. On the Seine the
+defence had five floating batteries and nine section-built
+gunboats originally intended for the Rhine; on the
+railways were some guns mounted on armour-plated
+trucks.</p>
+
+<p>Great difficulties necessarily attended the victualling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>
+of two million human beings for a long period; however,
+the authorities had succeeded in gathering into
+Paris 3000 oxen, 6000 swine, and 180,000 sheep, with
+considerable stores of other provisions, so that perfect
+confidence was justifiable, that Paris could hold out for
+six weeks at least.</p>
+
+<p>Orders issued from the head-quarter at Meaux
+charged the Army of the Meuse with the investment
+of the capital on the right bank of the Seine and
+Marne,<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> and the IIIrd Army with the section on the
+left bank of both rivers. As a general rule the troops
+were to remain beyond range of the fire of the fortress,
+but, short of that, were to keep as close as possible so
+as to curtail the circuit of environment. The close
+connection of the two armies was to be secured above
+Paris by several bridges across both the rivers, and
+below the city, by the cavalry occupying Poissy. To
+the IIIrd Army was to belong the duty of reconnoitring
+in the direction of Orleans. In case of any
+attempt to relieve the capital it was to allow the
+relieving force to approach within a short distance, and
+then, leaving the investment to be maintained by
+weak details, to strike the enemy with its main body.</p>
+
+<p>Without relief from outside, a close passive blockade
+must inevitably result in the capitulation of Paris,
+though probably not for some weeks or even months.
+As an ultimate compulsory measure there remained
+recourse to a bombardment.</p>
+
+<p>At the time when Paris was fortified it was not
+foreseen that improvements in the artillery arm would
+double or treble the range of fire. The exterior forts,
+especially on the south, were at so short a distance
+from the enceinte that the city could easily be reached
+by the fire of heavy batteries.</p>
+
+<p>The Germans have been blamed for not having had
+recourse at an earlier date to this expedient of bombardment;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>
+but this criticism indicates an inadequate
+appreciation of the difficulties which stood in the way
+of its earlier execution.</p>
+
+<p>It may safely be accepted that the attack of a large
+fortified place in the heart of an enemy's country is
+simply impossible so long as the invader is not master
+of the railways or waterways leading to it, by which
+may be brought up in full quantity the requisite
+material. The conveyance of this by the ordinary
+highways, even for a short distance, is in itself a
+herculean undertaking. Up to this time the German
+army had the control of only one railway in French
+territory, and this was fully occupied in the maintenance
+of supplies for the armies in the field: in bringing
+up reinforcements and equipment; in conveying
+rearward wounded, sick and prisoners. But even this
+much of railway service ended at Toul; and the
+attempt to turn that fortress by laying a temporary
+section of line found insurmountable difficulties in the
+nature of the ground. Further forward there interposed
+itself a scarcely inferior obstacle in the complete
+destruction of the Nanteuil tunnel, to repair which
+would probably require weeks.</p>
+
+<p>Even then, for the further transport from Nanteuil
+up to the Paris front of 300 heavy guns with 500
+rounds for each gun, there were requisite 4500 four-wheeled
+waggons, such as were not in use in the
+country, and 10,000 horses. Thus a bombardment was,
+in the earlier period, not to be thought of, and in any
+case the object of it would not be to destroy Paris, but
+merely to exert a final pressure on the inhabitants; and
+this influence would be more effectual when a long
+blockade had shaken the resolution of the besieged than
+it was likely to be at the beginning of the investment.</p>
+
+<p><i>September 18th.</i>&mdash;Corresponding directions communicated
+to the respective army commands, ordered
+the resumption of the march on the enemy's capital.</p>
+
+<p>On the 18th the Army of the Meuse, swinging leftward,
+had the XIIth Corps at Claye, the Guard Corps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>
+at Mitry, and the IVth Corps at Dammartin, one march
+from Paris.</p>
+
+<p>All the villages in front of St. Denis were occupied
+by the French. It seemed as if the investment on the
+north front of Paris would be resisted, and the Crown
+Prince of Saxony took measures for next day to follow
+up and support the IVth Corps, which led the advance.
+The 5th and 6th Cavalry Divisions, hastening on to
+Pontoise, were given two companies of Jägers and a
+pontoon train, and after a bridge had been laid they
+crossed the Oise.</p>
+
+<p>The Vth Corps of the IIIrd Army passed over the
+Seine at Villeneuve-St.-Georges and advanced to
+Palaiseau and the Upper Bièvre. The advanced guard
+came into collision with Bernis' French Cavalry Brigade.
+The 47th Regiment at once proceeded to the attack,
+and stormed the walled farmsteads of Dame Rose and
+Trivaux. But on the southern skirt of the forest of
+Meudon the whole of the French XIVth Corps was
+drawn up; on its left stood a Division of the XIIIth
+Corps. The regiment retired on Petit Bicêtre without
+being followed, and there took up a defensive position.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Bavarian Corps marched from Corbeil by
+Longjumeau on a parallel front with the Vth Corps,
+and on the right the VIth occupied both banks of the
+Seine. These Corps, too, had several brushes with the
+enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The Würtemberg Division at Lagny and Gournay
+was to cross the Marne forthwith, and so establish
+communication between the two armies.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> Viz., from the Marne above Paris in a wide half-circle to
+the Seine below it. The rayon of the Army of the Meuse subsequently
+extended to the right bank of the Seine above Paris.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Investment of Paris.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(September 19th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>On the 19th September the IVth Corps met with
+no opposition in its advance to St. Brice; it drove detachments<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>
+of the enemy from the neighbouring villages
+back under cover of the heavy guns of St. Denis, and
+pushed forward towards the Lower Seine. The Guard
+Corps followed it as far as Dugny, and lined the
+Morée brook, which was dammed up at its mouth, and
+afforded useful cover for the line of investment along
+a considerable distance. Further to the left the XIIth
+Corps took up a position extending to the Marne, and
+on the left bank of that river the Würtemberg Division
+advanced to Champigny.</p>
+
+<p>On this day the Vth Corps of the IIIrd Army
+marched on Versailles in two columns. The 47th
+Regiment had again the duty of covering the march
+along the hostile front. The French evidently were
+anxious to remain masters of the important heights in
+front of the fortifications of Paris, and in the early
+morning two divisions of their XIVth Corps marched
+out of the neighbouring forest of Meudon against Petit
+Bicêtre and Villacoublay. Supported by a numerous
+artillery, which set on fire the farm-buildings of Petit
+Bicêtre, they drove back the German outposts; but
+reinforcements from the Vth Corps presently came
+up to Villacoublay, and to Abbaye aux Bois from the
+IInd Bavarian Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The left brigade of the latter had crossed the
+columns marching on Versailles in the valley of the
+Bièvre; but the sound of fighting from the field of
+strife induced General von Dietl<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> to advance with his
+detachments as they came up singly, on both sides of
+the high-road to Bicêtre. A conjunct assault with the
+Prussians still fighting in the Bois de Garenne, was
+successful in repulsing the French at Pavé blanc.
+Meanwhile the enemy by half-past eight had formed an
+artillery front of fifty guns, and three regiments of
+march advanced to renew the attack on Petit Bicêtre
+and the Bois de Garenne. They were received with
+a destructive musketry fire, and not even General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>
+Ducrot's personal influence could persuade the troops,
+who were young recruits, to go forward. The Zouaves
+posted about the farm of Trivaux were finally thrown
+into such confusion by some shells falling among them
+that they hurried back to Paris in headlong flight.</p>
+
+<p>General Ducrot had to abandon his attempt. His
+Divisions retired in evident disorder on Clamart and
+Fontenay, under cover of the artillery and of the
+cavalry, which had resolutely endured the hostile fire;
+pursued at their heels by the German troops. The
+Bavarians stormed Pavé blanc under a heavy cannon
+fire; the Prussians retook Dame Rose after a trivial
+skirmish, and pushed on past the farm of Trivaux into
+the forest of Meudon. The French still held the
+heights of Plessis-Piquet, which were to them of vast
+importance and very easy of defence, as well as the
+redoubt at Moulin de la Tour, where nine field-batteries
+at once came into action, the fire from which commanded
+the whole of the western field of operations.</p>
+
+<p>The main body of the Bavarian Corps had meanwhile
+moved southward, and during its advance on
+Fontenay aux Roses, about nine o'clock, it came under
+a hot fire from the height, as well as a flanking fire
+from a redoubt near Hautes Bruyères. Being informed
+of the situation at the scene of conflict on the
+plateau of Bicêtre, General von Hartmann (the Corps
+Commander) at once sent thither an artillery reinforcement,
+and ordered the 5th Brigade to attempt a junction
+to his left by way of Malabry. As soon as this brigade
+had deployed under a hot Chassepôt and artillery fire
+between Pavé blanc and Malabry, General von Walther
+(commanding 3rd Bavarian Division) passed to the
+attack of Plessis-Piquet. The artillery advanced to a
+short distance on the hither side of the park wall, and
+then the infantry broke out from the wood of Verrières,
+and, after a brief but sharp struggle, took possession of
+the mill lying to the southward. After half an hour's
+artillery preparation, the Bavarians advanced on Hachette<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>
+by rushes, and broke into the park of Plessis. The
+French kept up a hot fire from the redoubt of Moulin
+de la Tour on the localities wrenched from them, by
+which the Bavarian field batteries suffered severely;
+but they still effectively supported the further advance
+of the infantry, who now got close in under the earthworks.
+However, the defenders were already on the
+point of retiring, and when about three o'clock one
+Bavarian company entered, it found the place deserted
+and the guns left in position.</p>
+
+<p>Caussade's Division had left Clamart and was on the
+way to Paris; Maussion's had abandoned the heights of
+Bagneux on the pretence of having received mistaken
+orders, and Hughes' Division was with difficulty brought
+to a halt under cover of Fort Montrouge.</p>
+
+<p>The Bavarian Corps now took up the position it had
+won on the plateau of Bicêtre to the right of the Vth
+Corps. The fight had cost the former 265 men and the
+latter 178; the French lost 661 killed and above 300
+prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>The condition in which the French XIVth Corps
+returned to Paris caused such dismay that General
+Trochu found himself obliged to withdraw a Division
+of the XIIIth from Vincennes for the defence of the
+enceinte.</p>
+
+<p>It was subsequently argued that it would have
+been possible to capture one of the forts on this
+day by forcing an entrance along with the fugitive
+enemy, with the result of materially shortening
+the siege. But the forts did not need to open their
+gates to shelter fugitives, to whom those of the
+capital stood open. The escalade of masonry escarpments
+eighteen feet high can never be successful
+without much preparation. Ventures of this character
+are rarely ordered by superior authority; but can be
+attempted only in a propitious moment by those on the
+spot. In this case probable failure would have endangered
+the important success of the day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Vth Corps had meanwhile proceeded on its march
+to Versailles; a few National Guards, who had collected
+at the entrance to the town, were driven off or disarmed
+by the German Hussars. The 9th Division
+held the eastern exits of the town, the 10th encamped
+at Rocquencourt, and strong outposts were
+pushed out on the Bougival&mdash;Sèvres line. The 18th
+Brigade, which remained at Villacoubay to support the
+Bavarians in case of need, did not reach Versailles
+until the evening.</p>
+
+<p>The 3rd Bavarian Division remained on the heights
+in front of Plessis Piquet, its outposts confronting the
+forest of Meudon, where the French were still in possession
+of the château; and the pioneers at once altered
+the redoubt of La Tour du Moulin so as to front north.
+The 12th Division was encamped at Fontenay and
+rearward as far as Châtenay.</p>
+
+<p>The main body of the VIth Corps had taken position
+at Orly, its outposts extending from Choisy le Roi past
+Thiais to Chevilly. Maud'huy's Division attempted to
+drive in the outpost line at the last-named village, but
+without success. A brigade of the same Corps at
+Limeil, on the right bank of the Seine, was engaged in
+skirmishing with the French at Créteil. Within touch,
+further to the right, the Würtemberg Division held the
+(left) bank of the Marne from Ormesson to Noisy le
+Grand, behind which latter place the pontoon bridge
+near Gournay assured communication with the Saxon
+Corps.</p>
+
+<p>Thus on the 19th of September the investment of
+Paris was complete on all sides. Six Army Corps
+stood in a deployment some fifty miles in circumference
+immediately in front of the enemy's capital,
+in some places actually within range of his guns, its
+rear guarded by a large force of cavalry.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Commanding 1st Bavarian Infantry Brigade.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">First Negotiations for Peace.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>In full expectation of a battle to the north of Paris,
+the King had ridden out to join the Guard Corps, and
+in the evening his head-quarters were moved to
+Ferrières.</p>
+
+<p>Here thus early Monsieur Jules Favre made his
+appearance to negotiate for peace on the basis of "not
+one foot of soil." He believed that after all their
+victories and losses, the Germans would come to terms
+on payment of a sum of money. It was self-evident
+that such a proposal could not be taken into consideration,
+and only the eventuality of granting an armistice
+was seriously discussed.</p>
+
+<p>It was in the political interest of Germany as well,
+to afford the French nation the possibility of establishing
+by its own free and regular election a government
+which should have full right to conclude a peace
+creditable to the people; for the self-constituted de
+facto Government ruling in Paris was the offspring of
+a revolution, and might at any moment be removed by
+a counter-revolution.</p>
+
+<p>From a military point of view it was true that any
+pause in the active operations was a disadvantage. It
+would afford the enemy time to push forward his preparations,
+and by raising for a time the investment of
+Paris would give the capital the opportunity to reprovision
+itself at discretion.</p>
+
+<p>The armistice could, therefore, only be granted in
+consideration of a corresponding equivalent.</p>
+
+<p>To secure the subsistence of the respective German
+armies, Strasburg and Toul, which now intercepted the
+railway communication, must be given over. The
+siege of Metz was to be maintained; but with regard to
+Paris, either the blockade was to continue; or, if it were
+raised, one of the forts commanding the capital was to
+be occupied by the Germans. The Chamber of Deputies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>
+was to be allowed to meet at Tours in full
+freedom.</p>
+
+<p>These conditions, especially the surrender of the
+fortified places, were absolutely rejected on the French
+side, and the negotiations were broken off. Eight days
+later Toul and Strasburg were in the hands of the
+Germans.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Reduction of Toul.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(September 23rd.)</div>
+
+
+<p>As soon as the German coast seemed no longer
+threatened by the danger of a landing of French troops,
+the 17th Division, which had been left behind there,
+was ordered to join the army in France. It arrived
+before Toul on September 12th.</p>
+
+<p>This place, in itself exempt from capture by storm
+but commanded by neighbouring heights, had till now
+been invested by Etappen troops of the IIIrd Army,
+and shelled by the guns taken at Marsal and with field-guns,
+but without any particular effect. The infantry
+on the other hand had established a footing behind
+the railway embankment and in the suburbs close up to
+the foot of the glacis, so that sorties by the garrison were
+rendered almost impossible. In view of these circumstances
+half the Division was presently sent to Châlons,
+where sixteen battalions and fifteen squadrons barely
+sufficed to deal with the extremely hostile attitude of
+the people, hold the Etappen-lines and safeguard the
+communication with Germany. Thus only seven
+battalions, four squadrons, and four field-batteries remained
+before Toul.</p>
+
+<p>On the 18th there arrived from Nancy by railway
+ten 15 cm. and sixteen 12 cm. siege guns. The intention<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>
+was to attack the western face, which was
+enfiladed from Mont St. Michel, and then to breach the
+south-west bastion; but first an (unsuccessful) attempt
+was made to reduce the place by the shorter process of
+subjecting it to a bombardment with field artillery.</p>
+
+<p>On the night of the 22nd battery-emplacements for
+the siege artillery were constructed by the infantry;
+three on Mont St. Michel, seven on the heights on the
+left bank of the Moselle, and one on the right bank.
+Next morning sixty-two guns opened fire, and at half-past
+three in the afternoon the white flag was hoisted
+on the Cathedral.</p>
+
+<p>The handing over of the place followed the same
+day (23rd), on the conditions as had been granted
+at Sedan. A hundred and nine officers were released
+on parole, 2240 rank and file were taken prisoners.
+Six companies took possession the same evening of the
+city, which on the whole had suffered little.</p>
+
+<p>Twenty-one heavy guns, about 3000 stand of arms,
+and large stores of provisions and forage were the prizes
+of success.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Reduction of Strasburg.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(September 28th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Immediately after the victory of Wörth, the reduction
+of Strasburg became a primary object. This
+strong fortified position, bridge-head as it was commanding
+the Rhine, was a standing menace to Southern
+Germany.</p>
+
+<p>When Marshal MacMahon evacuated Alsace, only
+three battalions of the line were left with the commandant
+of Strasburg. But with stragglers from the
+various regiments engaged at Wörth, with sundry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>
+fourth battalions and reserve detachments, and finally
+with Mobiles and National Guards, the strength of the
+garrison had increased to 23,000 men. There was a
+complete absence of engineer troops, but 130 marines
+formed an excellent nucleus; the armament of the
+fortress was also ample.</p>
+
+<p>So early as on the 11th August the Baden Division had
+been detailed to observe Strasburg. Notwithstanding
+the smallness of its force the Division had advanced
+unchecked by the enemy on the Ruprechtsau as
+far as the Rhine-and-Ill Canal; had occupied the
+village of Schiltigheim, almost within rifle-shot of the
+fortifications: and, having promptly prepared it for
+defence, pushed forward into the suburb of Königshofen.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of eight days there arrived, under the
+command of General von Werder, the Guard Landwehr
+and 1st Reserve Divisions, and one cavalry brigade, in
+all 46 battalions, 24 squadrons, and 18 field-batteries;
+as well as a siege-train of 200 rifled cannon and 88
+mortars, with 6000 foot artillerymen and ten companies
+of fortress-pioneers; a total strength of 40,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>The unloading of the guns brought from Magdeburg,
+Coblentz, and Wesel was begun on August 18th at the
+railway station of Vendenheim, by a detachment of the
+Railway Battalion.</p>
+
+<p>The engineer-depôt was established at Hausberge,
+a wagon-park at Lampertsheim, and provision made
+for permanent magazines. A complete blockade was
+established, and the field-telegraph kept up communication
+between all the posts.</p>
+
+<p>To attain the desired end with the least possible
+delay, an attempt was made, contrary to the advice of
+General of Engineers Schultz, though with the sanction
+of the supreme Head-quarter, to force the town to
+surrender by stress of a bombardment. The request
+that the women and children should be allowed to
+withdraw was necessarily refused.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The erection of the batteries for the bombardment in
+the dark, wet nights was attended with great difficulties.
+Meanwhile only the field-guns could fire on the city;
+but the batteries whose armament of heavy guns was
+complete opened fire on the night of the 24th&mdash;25th;
+and soon a great fire was raging. Kehl, on the
+right bank of the river, was also set on fire by the
+shell-fire.</p>
+
+<p>The Bishop of Strasburg came out to the outposts at
+Schiltigheim to entreat forbearance for the citizens.
+Much as damage to this German city was to be
+regretted, since the Prelate was not empowered to
+negotiate the bombardment was continued through
+the night of the 25th, when it reached its height.
+But the headquarter staff at Mundolsheim became
+convinced that this mode of attack would not accomplish
+the desired object, and that the more
+deliberate course of a regular siege would have to be
+resorted to. General von Mertens was placed in charge
+of the engineer operations, General Decker was given
+the direction of the artillery.</p>
+
+<p>During the night of the 29th&mdash;30th August the first
+parallel was opened very close to the glacis, and soon
+was prolonged from the Rhine and Marne canal, through
+the churchyard of St. Helena, to the Jewish cemetery
+at Königshofen.</p>
+
+<p>The number of batteries on the left bank of the
+Rhine was soon increased to 21, on the right bank to
+4; so that 124 guns of the heaviest calibre were ready
+in protected positions to begin the contest with the
+guns of the fortress. The further offensive operations
+were directed against bastions Nos. 11 and 12 on the
+north-west salient of the fortress. In the night of
+September 1st&mdash;2nd the second parallel was completed,
+but not without opposition. A strong sortie of
+fourteen companies of the garrison made at daybreak
+(of 2nd) upon the island of Waken, and in front of
+Kronenburg and Königshofen, was repulsed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The fortress then opened a heavy fire, pouring such
+a storm of projectiles on the siege-works that they had
+to be abandoned, till at about nine o'clock the artillery
+of the attack had silenced the guns of the fortress. A
+second sortie followed on the 3rd September, which
+was not repulsed before it had reached the second
+parallel.</p>
+
+<p>A short truce was granted at the request of the
+commandant, to allow of the burial of the dead lying
+in front of the works. And on this day a grand
+salvo announced to the besieged the victory of Sedan.</p>
+
+<p>Incessant rain had filled the trenches of the second
+parallel, 2400 paces in length, ankle-deep with water,
+and it was not till the 9th that they were completely
+repaired. Five batteries were moved forward from the
+first parallel, as special batteries were required to crush
+the fire of lunette No. 44, which took in flank all the
+approaches. These soon silenced its guns, and the
+lunette was abandoned by the garrison.</p>
+
+<p>There were now 96 rifled cannon pieces and 38
+mortars in full fire at very short range. Each gun
+was authorized to fire twenty rounds a day and ten
+shrapnel each night. The large Finkmatt Barracks
+were destroyed by fire, and the Stone Gate was so much
+injured that it had to be buttressed with sandbags.
+The garrison withdrew the guns behind the parapet,
+and only fired their mortars. However, in order to
+push forward the siege-works, sap-rollers had to be
+brought into use.</p>
+
+<p>When it was discovered that mining galleries were
+being driven in front of lunette No. 53, Captain Ledebour
+let himself down by a rope into the ditches, and with
+the help of his pioneers removed the charges of powder.</p>
+
+<p>During the night of the 13th&mdash;14th, the crest of
+the glacis in front of both the lunettes Nos. 52
+and 53 was reached. The crowning was then begun
+by means of the double traverse sap, and was finished
+in four days.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The attack henceforth was exclusively directed against
+bastion No. 11.</p>
+
+<p>To run off the water from the ditches of the fortress
+it was necessary to destroy the sluices by the Jews'
+Gate. These were invisible from any part of the field
+of attack, and the desired result could only be very
+incompletely obtained by artillery fire at a distance of
+more than a mile. Detachments of the 34th Fusilier
+Regiment, therefore, on the 15th, marched on the
+sluices under a heavy rifle fire from the besieged, and
+destroyed the dam.</p>
+
+<p>The island of Sporen was at this time taken possession
+of by the Baden corps.</p>
+
+<p>When the mortar-batteries had for the most part
+been moved up into the second parallel, the gun-batteries
+were also advanced nearer, and the wall-piece
+detachments did such execution by their accurate
+practice that the defenders never more dared to show
+themselves by day.</p>
+
+<p>The retaining wall of lunette No. 53 could only be
+reached by indirect fire; but 1000 shells made a breach,
+and on the 19th September two mines were fired, which
+blew up the counterscarp and brought it down to the
+level of the water of the ditch. The pioneers immediately
+set about laying a dam of fascines across the
+ditch. A party sent over in a boat found the work
+abandoned. The gorge was closed under heavy rifle fire
+from the ramparts of the main fortress, and the parapet
+reversed so as to face the place.</p>
+
+<p>The next lunette to the left, No. 52, was merely an
+earthwork, and the attack had already been pushed
+forward as far as the edge of the ditch, but earth
+screens had first to be thrown up and covered in with
+railway iron, as a protection against the heavy fire
+of shell from bastion No. 12. The construction of a
+dam of fascines or earth, more than sixty paces across,
+and with the ditch full of water almost fathom deep,
+would have taken a long time; so it was decided to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>
+make a cask bridge of beer-barrels, of which a quantity
+had been found in Schiltigheim. This work was begun
+at dusk on the 21st, under no better protection than a
+screen of boards to prevent observation, and it was
+finished by ten o'clock. Here again the defenders had
+not waited for the escalade, and this lunette, too, was
+immediately prepared for being held. Both lunettes
+were now furnished with batteries of mortars and guns
+to silence the fire from the ravelines and counter-guards
+of the front of attack, against which five dismounted
+and counter-batteries were also directed.</p>
+
+<p>During the night of the 22nd&mdash;23rd the Germans
+advanced from lunette No. 52, partly by flying sap and
+partly by the deep sap, and there followed the crowning
+of the glacis in the front of counter-guard No. 51.
+A breaching fire was immediately opened against the
+east face of bastion No. 11, and the west face of bastion
+No. 12. The splinters of stone compelled the defenders
+to abandon the counter-guards. The scarp of bastion
+No. 11 fell on the 24th, after a shell-fire of 600 rounds.
+The bringing down of the earthwork angle which
+remained standing, was postponed till the beginning of
+the assault.</p>
+
+<p>It was more difficult to breach bastion No. 12,
+because of the limited opportunity for observing the
+effect of the fire. It was not till the 26th that a breach
+thirty-six feet wide was made, after firing 467 long
+shells. And even then, for the actual assault to
+succeed, the deep wet ditch at the foot of the bastion
+had to be crossed.</p>
+
+<p>News of the fall of the Empire had indeed reached
+Strasburg, but General Uhrich would not listen
+to the prayers of the citizens that he would put
+an end to their sufferings. The Republic was proclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>The siege had lasted thirty days, but the place was
+still well supplied with food and stores; the garrison
+was not materially weakened by the loss of 2500 men,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>
+but its heterogeneous elements prevented its effective
+employment in large bodies outside the walls. From
+the first the small blockading force had been allowed to
+approach close to the works; and the moment when
+the artillery of a fortress always has the advantage
+over the attack had been little utilized.</p>
+
+<p>The German artillery had proved much the stronger,
+both as regards material and in its advantageous
+employment. Under its powerful protection the work
+of the pioneers and infantry was carried on with equal
+courage and caution, never swerving from the object in
+view. The storming of the main walls was now to be
+imminently expected, and no relief from outside could
+be hoped for.</p>
+
+<p>On the afternoon of September 27th, the white flag
+was seen flying from the Cathedral tower; firing ceased
+and the sapper-works were stopped.</p>
+
+<p>In Königshofen at two in the following morning the
+capitulation was settled, on the Sedan conditions. Five
+hundred officers and 17,000 men were made prisoners,
+but the former were free to go on their parole. The
+National Guards and franctireurs were dismissed to
+their homes, after laying down their arms and pledging
+themselves to fight no more. All the cash remaining
+in the state bank, 1200 guns, 200,000 small arms and
+considerable stores proved a valuable prize of war.</p>
+
+<p>At eight o'clock in the morning of the 28th, companies
+of Prussian and Baden troops took over the
+National, Fischer, and Austerlitz gates. The French
+garrison marched out at the National Gate, General
+Uhrich at their head. At first the march was conducted
+in good order, but before long numbers of
+drunken men broke the ranks and refused to obey, or
+threw down their arms. The prisoners were taken in
+the first instance to Rastatt, under the escort of two
+battalions and two squadrons.</p>
+
+<p>The old city of the German Reich, which had been
+seized by France in time of peace nearly two centuries<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>
+earlier, was now restored by German valour to the
+German fatherland.</p>
+
+<p>The siege had cost the Germans 39 officers and 894
+men. The city unhappily could not have been spared
+great suffering. Four hundred and fifty houses were
+utterly destroyed, 10,000 inhabitants were roofless,
+nearly 2000 were killed or wounded. The museum
+and picture gallery, the town hall and theatre, the
+new church, the gymnasium, the Commandant's residence,
+and alas! the public library of 200,000 volumes
+had fallen a prey to the flames.</p>
+
+<p>The noble Cathedral showed many marks of shot,
+and the citadel was a heap of ruins. Under the wreck
+of the assailed works in the western front lay buried
+burst cannon.</p>
+
+<p>The fall of Toul and of Strasburg produced a not
+unimportant change in the military situation. Considerable
+forces were now free for other services, and
+the railway transport could be brought up nearer to
+the armies. The material no longer required at
+Strasburg could not indeed be at once employed
+for the artillery offensive against Paris; it needed
+considerable re-equipment, and was to do duty meanwhile
+in the reduction of several smaller places.
+The newly-opened railway line was made use of to
+bring up the Guard Landwehr Division to the army
+investing Paris. A new Army Corps, the XIVth, was
+created of the Baden Division, a combined brigade
+consisting of the 30th and 34th Prussian regiments,
+and one cavalry brigade; which, under the command
+of General von Werder, marched on the Upper Seine.
+The 1st Reserve Division remained behind as the
+garrison of Strasburg.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p>
+<h2><span class="smcap">Operations round Paris to 15th October.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The Government in the now closely-blockaded
+capital, could not make its behests heard and obeyed
+throughout France. It therefore decided on sending a
+delegation of two of its members out into the provinces,
+their seat of direction to be at Tours. They could quit
+Paris only in a balloon. One of these delegates was
+Gambetta, whose restless energy soon made itself
+conspicuously felt, and lasted during the continuance
+of the war. Monsieur Thiers, meanwhile, had been
+visiting the European courts on the errand of inducing
+them to interpose their good offices in favour
+of France.</p>
+
+<p>After the mishap of September 19th the feeling in
+Paris was against any great offensive demonstrations for
+the present; but the troops of the line still remained
+outside the walls under protection of the outlying forts.
+The Divisions of the XIIIth Corps were encamped on
+the south front and on the plateau of Vincennes; the
+XIVth was at Boulogne, Neuilly and Clichy behind
+the loops of the Seine, with Mont Valérien in its front,
+which was held by two line-battalions, after the flight,
+on the 20th, of the Gardes-Mobiles from that impregnable
+stronghold, in great disorder back into Paris. The
+defence of the northern front of the city remained
+entrusted to the Gardes-Mobiles.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side the positions of the Army of
+the Meuse, which were to be occupied and defended to
+the uttermost, extended from Chatou along the Seine
+to the heights of Montmorency, and onward along the
+Morée and the skirts of the forest of Bondy as far
+as the Marne. In close touch with the flank of the
+Army of the Meuse at the Marne, the lines of the
+Würtemberg Division carried on the investment from
+Noisy le Grand across the Joinville peninsula to
+Ormesson. The XIth Corps arriving from Sedan on
+the 23rd filled up the interval from Ormesson to Villeneuve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>
+St. Georges, and the 1st Bavarian Corps occupied
+Longjumeau as a protection against attempts from the
+direction of Orleans. The VIth Corps could now be
+entirely transferred to the left bank of the Seine, where
+the line of defence extended along the wooded heights
+south of Paris to Bougival.</p>
+
+<p>The Head-quarter of the King and that of the IIIrd
+Army were at Versailles, that of the Army of the
+Meuse was transferred to Vert-Galant. Numerous
+bridges facilitated the inter-communication of the
+various portions of the forces, telegraphs and signal-lights
+insured their rapid concentration, and every
+movement of the French was watched from eligible
+posts of observation.</p>
+
+<p>There was no lack of accommodation for the troops, for
+every village was deserted; but this made the difficulty
+of obtaining supplies all the greater. The fugitive
+inhabitants had driven off their cattle and destroyed their
+stores; there remained only the apparently inexhaustible
+wine-cellars. For the first few days all the food
+needed had to be drawn from the Commissariat trains,
+but ere long the cavalry succeeded in obtaining considerable
+supplies. High prices and good discipline secured
+a market. Only the troops in advanced positions had
+to bivouac or build huts, many within range of the
+hostile artillery, some even within rifle-shot of the
+enemy. Near St. Cloud, for instance, no one could show
+himself without becoming a mark for the chassepôts
+from behind the shutters of the houses opposite. The
+outposts here could only be relieved at night, and
+sometimes had to remain on duty two or three days at
+a time. The advanced positions of the Bavarians at
+Moulin la Tour were also much exposed, and the visits
+of superior officers to them always drew a sharp
+cannonade. Le Bourget, standing as it did in advance
+of the line of inundation, was especially liable to a
+surprise. That village had been seized on 20th (Sept.)
+by a battalion of the Guard Corps, at whose approach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>
+400 Gardes-Mobiles had fled, leaving their baggage.
+Only one company occupied this post, on account of
+the heavy fire of the adjacent forts.</p>
+
+<p>Some petty sorties from St. Denis met with no
+success; but an attempt by detachments of the VIth
+Corps to occupy the village of Villejuif and the
+redoubt of Hautes Bruyères proved unsuccessful.
+They forced their way in several times, but always had
+to retire under the fire of the neighbouring forts of
+Bicêtre and Ivry, and because of the superior strength
+of Maud'huy's Division. The French afterwards armed
+the redoubts with heavy guns.</p>
+
+<p><i>September 30th.</i>&mdash;Early on this day a cannonade of
+an hour and a half's duration from the southern forts
+and batteries announced a sortie in that direction. By
+six o'clock two brigades of the XIIIth French Corps
+deployed against Thiais and Choisy le Roi. Strong
+swarms of tirailleurs drove in the outposts of the VIth
+Corps, and forced the field-guns in position between
+those two villages to retire; but then the fire of the
+infantry garrisons checked any further attack on the
+part of the French. Further to the west a third
+brigade got into Chevilly and seized a factory on
+the road to Belle Epine; but its determined attack
+failed to obtain possession of the whole village.
+The 11th Division was alarmed in its rearward
+quarters, and hurried forward to the support of the
+12th. The factory was recovered from the French,
+and the Prussian batteries now opened fire, and worked
+such havoc among the enemy as he retired on Saussaye,
+that, shunning the attack of the infantry, he
+fled in great disorder to Hautes Bruyères and Villejuif.
+A brigade which had forced its way into L'Hay was in
+the same way driven back, leaving 120 prisoners for
+the most part unwounded. In the farmstead at the
+north entrance of Chevilly, however, the French still
+held their ground with great obstinacy. Not till they
+were completely surrounded, and had made an ineffectual<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>
+attempt to force a passage, did surrender
+those brave defenders, who numbered about 100.</p>
+
+<p>The whole series of attacks was entirely defeated by
+about nine o'clock, and General Vinoy vainly endeavoured
+to incite the diminished battalions at Hautes
+Bruyères to renew the struggle.</p>
+
+<p>These few morning hours had cost the VIth Corps
+28 officers and 413 men; and the French many more.</p>
+
+<p>Two simultaneous feint-attacks on Sèvres and on
+Mesly on the right bank of the Seine, came to nothing.
+The German outposts, at first driven in, re-occupied
+their ground by about nine o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>After thus failing to gain space towards the southward
+by this sortie, the besieged proceeded to assure
+themselves of the ground already in their possession
+by the construction of entrenchments. They fortified
+Villejuif and extended their lines from Hautes Bruyères
+past Arcueil to the Mill of Pichon, so that there the
+Bavarian outposts had to be drawn in nearer to Bourg-la-Reine.</p>
+
+<p>Otherwise, throughout the first half of the month of
+October the garrison of Paris restricted itself for the
+most part to daily cannonades. Guns of the heaviest
+calibre were directed on the most petty objects. It was
+sheer waste of ammunition, just as though the aim was
+to get rid of the stores on hand. If one of the gigantic
+long shells happened to fall on an outpost, the destruction
+was of course terrible; but on the whole they did
+little execution.</p>
+
+<p>Apart from the noise of the cannonade to which one
+soon became accustomed, in Versailles, whence none of
+the residents had fled, it might have been thought a
+time of profound peace. The admirable discipline of
+the German troops allowed the townsfolk to pursue
+their business undisturbed; the hosts were well paid
+for the billeting imposed on them, and the country
+people could cultivate their fields and gardens in peace.
+At St. Cloud every room was kept in the same order<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>
+as when the Imperial family had left it, till the shells
+from Mont Valérien reduced that delightful palace with
+all its treasures of art to a heap of charred ruins. It
+was the French fire, too, which wrecked the Château of
+Meudon, the porcelain factory of Sèvres, and whole
+villages in the nearer environs. And it was also the
+French themselves who, without any necessity, felled
+half the Bois de Boulogne.</p>
+
+<p>The investment line was considerably strengthened
+on the 10th and 16th of October, when the 17th Division
+arriving from Toul relieved the 21st at Bonneuil,
+and the latter took up a position between the Bavarians
+and the Vth Corps, in the Meudon&mdash;Sèvres tract; and
+when the Guard Landwehr Division came up and
+occupied St. Germain.</p>
+
+<p>These movements were observed from Paris, and
+to clear up the situation, General Vinoy advanced at
+nine o'clock on 13th October with about 26,000 men
+and 80 guns, against the position held by the IInd
+Bavarian Corps.</p>
+
+<p>Four battalions of Gardes-Mobiles, protected by the
+fire of the nearest forts and of field batteries, advanced
+to the attack of Bagneux, and forced their way over
+the entrenchments wrecked by artillery fire, into the
+heart of the place, whence the defenders retired to
+Fontenay, when at eleven o'clock the French 10th
+Regiment of the line had also come up. Reinforced by
+a fresh battalion, and supported by an effective flanking
+fire from Châtillon, the Bavarians now made so firm a
+stand that the enemy could make no further progress,
+but began to put Bagneux in a state of defence. Meanwhile
+the 4th Bavarian Division had stood to arms, and
+by about 1.30 General von Bothmer (its commander)
+moved it up from Sceaux and from Fontenay, and proceeded
+to surround Bagneux. The barricades erected
+by the enemy were carried, who however still offered
+an obstinate resistance in the northern part of the
+village.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A French battalion had also made its way into
+Châtillon, but the Bavarian battalion in occupation
+there held its own until assistance came, and
+the enemy was driven out of the place after a sharp
+conflict.</p>
+
+<p>A third brigade seized Clamart, which at that time
+was not yet included in the German intrenched lines;
+but it failed to climb the ascent to Moulin de la Tour,
+although the defenders on the plateau above were
+exposed to the fire of the forts.</p>
+
+<p>General Vinoy had convinced himself that forces which
+were a match for him confronted him at every point,
+and at three o'clock he decided to break off the fight.
+The French bodies of troops gradually disappeared
+behind the forts, and had all vanished by dusk. The
+Bavarians returned to their former fore-post positions,
+and the garrison of Bagneux was increased to two
+battalions.</p>
+
+<p>All France had meanwhile been arming with eager
+haste. Armies of considerable strength were being
+massed at Rouen and Evreux, at Besançon, and especially
+behind the Loire, of very various composition no
+doubt, and above all lacking in professional officers to
+drill and discipline them. Great battles were therefore
+in the first instance to be avoided; the enemy was
+to be constantly harassed by small engagements.
+Thus, towards the end of September, General Delarue
+advanced from Evreux with his "Eclaireurs de la
+Seine" up to the vicinity of St. Germain. But the
+5th Cavalry Division, supported by two Bavarian
+battalions, drove these bands back to Dreux behind
+the Eure. The woods in front of the 6th Cavalry
+Division were also full of hostile parties, who were,
+however, swept out without much difficulty beyond
+Rambouillet to Epernon.</p>
+
+<p>Matters looked more serious to the south of Paris,
+in front of the 4th Cavalry Division, which was in
+observation towards the Loire.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The newly-formed French XVth Corps had assembled
+at Orleans in three Divisions with a strength of 60,000
+men, and it occupied the whole forest-belt on the
+right bank of the river. To counteract the danger
+threatening the investment from that direction, the 1st
+Bavarian Corps and the 22nd Division of the XIth
+had been put in march on Arpajon and Montcléry
+as soon as they were freed from duty at Sedan; and
+on the 6th of October they were placed, with the 2nd
+Cavalry Division, under the command of General von
+der Tann.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Action of Artenay.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 10th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>When General von der Tann received instructions
+to take the offensive against Orleans, he marched
+on the 9th of October to the vicinity of St. Péravy
+without meeting any serious opposition, and on the
+10th advanced on Artenay. The 4th Cavalry Division
+covered the right flank; the 2nd remained near
+Pithiviers, where the enemy had collected in great
+force.</p>
+
+<p>General La Motterouge on the same day also moved
+out on Artenay with the XVth French Corps, having the
+wood in his rear occupied by Gardes-Mobiles; and so
+the advanced guards of both sides met at a short
+distance to the north of the common objective.</p>
+
+<p>While the Bavarian light horse on the right were
+driving the French cavalry before them, the infantry
+deployed across the road near to Dambron. The
+22nd Division marched forward on Dambron with
+both Cavalry Divisions on its flanks. Under the
+fire of the Bavarian batteries, the French had gone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>
+about to Artenay, where the Germans were ready to
+receive them. Attacked in front and threatened by
+bodies of horse, at about two o'clock, leaving their
+tents standing, they began a retreat which soon degenerated
+into flight. The cavalry seized four field-guns
+and took above 250 prisoners. Six hundred
+more, who had reached Croix Briquet, surrendered
+there to the Bavarian infantry on the arrival of the
+latter.</p>
+
+<p>The German troops had made a long march; General
+von der Tann therefore allowed them rest for the day
+in and around Artenay, and only the advanced guard
+went on to Chevilly, to pursue the march to Orleans
+next day.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Engagement at Orleans.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 11th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>On this day, the 22nd Division, for the time only
+6000 strong, moved to the right flank of the advance,
+and drove the French out of several villages partly
+prepared for defence; it was not till about ten o'clock
+that it met with serious opposition from an intrenched
+position at Ormes.</p>
+
+<p>The French Commander after the disaster at Artenay
+had decided on a retreat behind the Loire, to cover
+which he had halted about 15,000 men on the right
+bank of the river, in a position which possessed many
+essentials towards a good defence.</p>
+
+<p>General von Wittich (commanding 22nd Division)
+first sent the 44th Brigade against this position at
+Ormes, and opened fire from seven batteries. The
+troops of his left wing, supported by the Bavarian
+right, made their way but slowly over the plain east of
+the enemy's position, and various enclosures and buildings<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>
+had to be stormed and taken as they advanced.
+This threatening attitude of the German right, however,
+shook the firmness of the defence, and, after some hours'
+hard fighting, the French began to retreat. No sooner
+was this observed by the Germans than two batteries
+were brought up to within 800 paces, and the 83rd
+Regiment stormed the entrenchments at two in the afternoon,
+but with heavy loss. Detachments of the 43rd
+Brigade had meanwhile reached the road in rear of
+Ormes, and took 800 prisoners. But the villages, gardens
+and vineyards which line the road to Orleans for
+more than four miles on either side, were serious
+obstacles to the advance of the Germans in close
+formation, and the Division did not arrive at Petit St.
+Jean till three o'clock, of which the nearest buildings
+were forcibly taken possession of.</p>
+
+<p>The Bavarian Corps, which had also met with a
+stout resistance at Saran, pushed forward to Bel Air,
+but with great loss, especially in the artillery. Here
+the nature of the ground did not allow of the deployment
+of the guns, a further attack came to a standstill,
+and at half-past four the French were still stoutly holding
+their own at Les Aides, till the advance of the 4th
+Bavarian Brigade to Murlins threatened their line of
+retreat. They made a renewed stand behind the railway
+embankment, 1000 paces in front of the town, and
+the railway-station and gas-works had also to be taken
+by assault.</p>
+
+<p>It was already five o'clock when General von der
+Tann led his reserve, the 1st Bavarian Brigade, to the
+decisive assault of Grand Ormes. The 32nd Prussian
+Regiment crossed the embankment on the left flank of
+the French, who now retired into the suburb of St. Jean.
+The 1st Bavarian Regiment, hurrying in their rear,
+was received with a hot fire at the gate of the city;
+but with its officers marching at its head it reached the
+market-place about seven o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>The French hurried across the bridge over the Loire,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>
+while the 43rd Prussian and 1st Bavarian Brigades
+seized the principal buildings and the passages across
+the river; but as darkness fell they desisted from
+further advance and bivouacked on the open places
+of the city.</p>
+
+<p>The day had cost the Germans a loss of 900 men, the
+3rd Bavarian Brigade having suffered most severely.
+But their hard-won victory promptly dispelled the disquietude
+of the investing armies caused by the threatening
+attitude of the French; and 5000 rifles, ten
+locomotives and sixty railway-carriages were welcome
+prizes.</p>
+
+<p>The French rear-guard had lost in detached combats
+and retreats alone 1800 prisoners; but it had covered
+the retreat of the main body of the Army of the South
+for a whole day against superior forces, with praiseworthy
+determination. In the open field, where skilful
+handling of masses is possible, it would soon have been
+defeated; but in street-fighting unflinching personal
+courage is all that is needed in the defender, and the
+latest recruits of the newly created French levies did
+not lack that attribute.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day the 1st Bavarian Division
+took possession of the suburb of St. Marceau, on the
+further side of the Loire, and advanced to the Loiret.
+The 2nd Cavalry Division scouted through the Sologne,
+the 4th on the right bank ranged to the westward.</p>
+
+<p>The French XVth Corps had continued its retreat to
+Salbris and Pierrefitte, behind the Sauldre.</p>
+
+<p>It was certainly to be wished that its pursuit could
+have been followed up to Vierzon and Tours, so that
+the vast arsenals at the first-named town might have
+been destroyed, and the Government Delegation driven
+away from the other. But it must not be forgotten
+that though the French forces had been discomfited at
+Artenay, favoured by the nature of the locality they
+had escaped utter defeat by retreat. General von der
+Tann was disproportionately weak in the infantry arm,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>
+and hostile masses were disclosing themselves on all
+sides. A new French Army Corps, the XVIth, appeared
+at Blois, below Orleans, and at Gien, above
+that city; the German cavalry met with resistance
+in the forest of Marchénoir and before Châteaudun;
+and everywhere the inhabitants and volunteers appeared
+so full of confidence that the proximity of
+reinforcements was to be presumed.</p>
+
+<p>So it behoved the Germans to restrict themselves to
+the occupation of Orleans and the line of the Loire;
+and for this purpose the Bavarian Corps, with the 2nd
+Cavalry Division, seemed a sufficient force. The 22nd
+Infantry and 4th Cavalry Divisions were recalled to
+the IIIrd Army; on their return march they were
+charged to disperse the volunteers who had made their
+appearance at Châteaudun and Chartres.</p>
+
+<p>General von der Tann had the bridges over the
+Loiret and the Loire prepared for destruction, an
+Etappen-line was established to Longjumeau, and the
+Bavarian Railway Detachment set to work to restore
+the line to Villeneuve.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Reduction of Soissons.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 15th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Soissons still hindered the further utilization of the
+railway, which had been re-opened at the time of the
+fall of Toul as far as Rheims. This fortress had been
+bombarded by field artillery without success when the
+Army of the Meuse passed by it on the march to Paris,
+and since then it had only been kept under observation
+until on October 6th eight Landwehr battalions, four
+squadrons, two batteries, two companies of pioneers,
+and four of fortress artillery made good the investment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Soissons, with its walls about 26 feet high, had complete
+immunity from escalade, and the damming of the
+Crise brook made it unassailable on the south. The
+south-west front, on the other hand, had only a dry
+ditch, with no counterscarp of masonry; here, too, the
+town was commanded by Mont Marion, rising to a
+height of 300 feet at a distance of little more than
+a mile. Against this face of the fortress, therefore, the
+artillery attack was directed at short range, when on
+the 11th October there arrived from Toul 26 Prussian
+siege-guns with 170 rounds for each, and 10 French
+mortars. The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg took over
+the command.</p>
+
+<p>In a clear moonlight night the artillery with the help
+of the infantry was brought up on to the heights of
+Ste. Geneviève; the construction of the batteries about
+Belleu and in Mont Marion was completed and the
+arming of them effected. At six in the morning of
+12th October they opened fire simultaneously.</p>
+
+<p>The besieged answered with great spirit but with
+small results, and the accurate fire of the Prussian
+artillery soon subdued that of the enemy in the particular
+front.</p>
+
+<p>A narrow breach was visible by next day, and the
+fire from the fortress was evidently much enfeebled;
+but the commandant decidedly rejected the demand
+that he should capitulate. On the 14th he increased
+the number of guns on his south front, so that the
+batteries on Ste. Geneviève had an arduous struggle.
+The French also laboured hard along the front of the
+attack to restore the severely damaged works, brought
+more guns up to the ramparts, and closed the breach by
+retrenchment.</p>
+
+<p>But on the 15th these repairs were soon demolished
+again by the artillery of the attack, and a breach was
+made 40 paces wide and amply spread with earth. As
+the fortress still kept up a brisk fire, it was determined
+to bring up the field-batteries within 900 paces. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>
+at eight in the evening, when this operation was just
+begun, the commandant opened negotiations and surrendered
+the place on the Sedan terms. The garrison
+marched out next morning, for the most part drunk.
+A thousand Gardes-Mobiles were dismissed on parole,
+3800 regulars were made prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>The attack had cost 120 men; 128 guns and 8000
+small arms became prize of war, besides vast stores of
+provisions.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Storming of Châteaudun.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 18th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>In obedience to instructions, General von Wittich
+marched on Châteaudun with the 22nd Division on the
+afternoon of the 18th. The French troops of the line
+had already been ordered to retire on Blois, but about
+1800 National Guards and volunteers still remained,
+prepared under cover of barricades and walls to receive
+the enemy. The infantry attack was also made more
+difficult by the nature of the ground, and four batteries
+had to keep up a hot fire for a long time.</p>
+
+<p>It was not till dusk that a general assault was had
+recourse to. Inside the town the enemy made a desperate
+resistance. House after house had to be won, the
+fighting lasted until late into the night, and a large
+part of the place was set on fire. The volunteers
+finally escaped, leaving 150 prisoners and abandoning
+the inhabitants to their fate; and these, though they
+had taken part in the struggle, were let off with a fine.</p>
+
+<p>At noon on the 21st the Division arrived in front of
+Chartres, where 10,000 French were said to have assembled.
+The marine infantry and Gardes-Mobiles
+advanced to the attack, but were repulsed by the fire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>
+of seven batteries. The General commanding the
+Division had deployed both his brigades southward of the
+city, and with the assistance of his cavalry, which had
+been joined by the 6th (Cavalry) Division, completely
+surrounded it. The fate of Châteaudun had been a
+warning to the municipal authorities, and at three
+o'clock an agreement was come to by which the troops
+were to be withdrawn, the National Guards to lay down
+their arms, and the gates to be thrown open.</p>
+
+<p>General Wittich's orders were to remain at Chartres
+for the present, while the 6th Cavalry Division was to
+occupy Maintenon, and so cover the investing army to
+the west.</p>
+
+<p>Not less fervid was the rush to arms in the north, in
+Picardy and Normandy. The Saxon Cavalry Division,
+supported by detachments of the Army of the Meuse,
+had in the early part of October driven the franctireurs
+and Gardes-Mobiles beyond the Oise and the
+Epte on Amiens, taking some hundreds of prisoners.
+But fresh swarms were constantly coming on, and had
+to be attacked at Breteuil, Montdidier, and Etrêpagny,
+so that no less than eleven battalions, twenty-four
+squadrons, and four batteries, were by degrees employed
+in this direction for the protection of the besieging
+force. But by the end of the month the French
+forces were so systematically organized and in so great
+strength, that for the time the Germans had to confine
+themselves to holding on the defensive the line of the
+Epte.</p>
+
+<p>To the south-east also, in the forest-land of Fontainebleau,
+hostilities were prosecuted by the volunteers,
+particularly against requisition-parties of cavalry; and
+from Nangis obstruction was threatened to the transport
+of the siege-guns. A small force of Würtemberg
+troops seized Montereau, which, though barricaded, was
+not defended; the inhabitants gave up their arms, and
+the detachment marched on Nogent. This town was
+held by a large body of Gardes-Mobiles. After breaching<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>
+the walls of the churchyard, the Würtembergers,
+in the face of a hot fire, made their way into the place.
+The French still offered a stout resistance in its interior,
+but finally retired on Troyes, leaving 600 dead and
+wounded. The small flying column rejoined its
+Division, having traversed over 126 miles in six days.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Sortie Against Malmaison.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 21st.)</div>
+
+
+<p>The French capital had now been invested for more
+than four weeks, and it seemed not impossible, because
+of the long continuance of inactivity, that it might be
+brought to surrender by famine. All the sorties hitherto
+attempted had only had for their object to drive
+the enemy from the closest vicinity; a new effort was
+to aim at greater results. The project was to cross the
+Seine below Paris at Bezons and Carrières, and to make
+a simultaneous attack on the positions of the IVth
+Prussian Corps on the heights of Argenteuil from the
+south, and from St.-Denis from the east. A march on
+Rouen by Pontoise was to follow, into a district not
+yet altogether exhausted of resources. The Army of
+the Loire was also to proceed thither by railway by
+way of Le Mans, and so there would be massed in that
+region an army of 250,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>The Prussian Vth Corps, it was true, stood right on
+the flank of such an advance across the Seine; its
+outposts had several times been seen in Rueil. As a
+preliminary step, General Ducrot undertook to force
+back this body with 10,000 men and 120 field-guns.
+Then an intrenched line from Valérien to Carrières
+would close the peninsula against interference from the
+southward.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Perhaps, in the face of much-dreaded "public
+opinion" and the growing restlessness of political
+parties in Paris, it was more the urgency to be doing
+something than any serious hope of success which gave
+rise to such far-reaching schemes. Considerable difficulties
+had to be met in attacking the enemy's lines, and
+greater must inevitably arise if the attack should
+succeed. It was vain to think of bringing through the
+miles-long trains which are indispensable for victualling
+an army. Serious embarrassment would ensue when
+the troops had consumed the three days' rations they
+would carry with them. To live on the country the
+army must disperse itself; but with the enemy at its
+heels close concentration was indispensable. And, in
+any case, it is hard to see what would have been gained
+by withdrawing from Paris the forces which had been
+assembled for the defence of the capital. Success could
+only have been hoped for if an army from without had
+been so near as to be able immediately to give the hand
+to the troops marching out.</p>
+
+<p>However, on the 21st of October, after Mont Valérien
+had all the morning kept up a seemingly ineffective fire,
+General Ducrot advanced at about one o'clock to attack
+the position of the Prussian 19th Brigade whose supports
+held the line Bougival&mdash;Jonchère&mdash;Fohlenkoppel.
+Fourteen French field-batteries deployed on either side
+of Rueil and about the southern base of Valérien; the
+infantry advanced in five columns behind this artillery
+front.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side only two batteries could at first
+engage in the unequal duel, and one of these near the
+Villa Metternich had very soon to retire. The French
+guns advanced rightward to within 1400 paces of Bougival,
+and at three o'clock four companies of Zouaves
+rushed out of Rueil. Being received with a hot fire,
+they wheeled into the park of Malmaison, and without
+opposition seized the Château of Buzanval and the
+eastern slope of the deep-cut ravine of Cucufa. And<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>
+here one of their batteries was brought up into the
+fighting-line to support them.</p>
+
+<p>While the main body of the 9th Division advanced
+from Versailles on Vaucresson, the 10th deployed
+against the ravine and at Villa Metternich. The infantry
+fire lasted for a full hour, and wrought the
+French much loss. When at about four o'clock they
+seemed sufficiently shaken, and a reinforcement of the
+Guard Landwehr had come up from St. Germain on the
+left, the German left wing advanced from Bougival and
+over the height of Jonchère, forced its way into
+Malmaison in spite of violent opposition, and followed
+the retreating Zouaves as far as Rueil. The right wing
+at the same time having turned the head of the Cucufa
+ravine, charged against its eastern slope, drove out the
+enemy, seized the battery of two guns, and occupied
+the Château of Buzanval.</p>
+
+<p>The French now retired on all sides, firing ceased by
+six o'clock, and the 10th Division, which had repulsed
+the enemy's assaults single-handed, re-established its
+previous fore-post line.</p>
+
+<p>The struggle had cost the Germans 400 men. The
+French, on the other hand, had in this luckless enterprise
+left 500 dead and wounded, and 120 prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after this affair the French began to throw up
+entrenchments within 800 paces of the line of the
+Guard Corps; and in the early morning of the 28th,
+General Bellemare, under cover of the darkness,
+advanced on Le Bourget with a force of several
+battalions.</p>
+
+<p>The German company in occupation there, taken
+completely by surprise, could only retire before such
+overwhelming numbers, to Pont Iblon and Blanc Mesnil.
+The French promptly barricaded themselves in the
+place and prepared it for an obstinate defence. A
+German battalion made a vain attempt that evening to
+drive them out; it was repulsed with heavy loss.
+Equally unsuccessful next day was the fire of thirty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>
+field-guns directed against the place from Pont Iblon.
+Then, however, the Crown Prince of Saxony issued
+imperative orders to the Guard Corps to recapture Le
+Bourget without delay.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Storming of Le Bourget.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 30th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Accordingly on October 30th, nine battalions of the
+2nd Guard-Division and five batteries, under the command
+of Lieutenant-General von Budritzki,<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> were assembled
+at Dugny, Pont Iblon and Blanc Mesnil for a concentric
+attack on Le Bourget. The artillery in action
+along the bank of the Morée inundation opened the
+attack at about eight in the morning, and then the infantry
+went forward. The terrain was perfectly open,
+and the advance was under fire, not merely from Le
+Bourget, but also from the heavy guns of the forts.
+Nevertheless the Grenadier Battalion of the Queen
+Elizabeth Regiment, at the head of the central column,
+at nine o'clock made a successful assault, charging
+over the barricade at the northern end of the village,
+and entering it through a breach in the wall promptly
+made by the pioneers. The Emperor Francis Grenadier
+Regiment advanced against its western face and took
+possession of the park. A fierce street-fight ensued on
+a further advance into the village, in the course of
+which there fell the commanders of both regiments,
+Colonels von Zaluskowski and Count Waldersee. The
+walled farmsteads left of the main street, were stormed
+one after another in spite of a determined defence; the
+windows of the church, high up in the walls as they
+were, were broken in and scaled, and a hand-to-hand
+fight raged furiously inside the sacred building. The
+Guard Rifle-Battalion forced its way into the glass-works.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p>
+<p>At half-past nine the French attempted to bring up
+into Le Bourget reinforcements from Aubervillers and
+Drancy; but the left German column had meanwhile
+seized the railway-embankment, placed a detachment
+of the Emperor Alexander Regiment to hold it, and
+was forcing its way into the southern quarter of the
+village. Two batteries had taken up position on the
+Mollette brook, and their fire drove back the enemy
+and even compelled him to evacuate Drancy.</p>
+
+<p>At ten o'clock the French still held the buildings on
+the north side of the Mollette. These were now
+assailed from the south. The 4th Company of the
+Emperor Alexander Regiment crossed the stream and
+forced its way through a breach made by the sappers
+into the farmstead in which the enemy's main force
+was gathered. The defenders had to be quelled with
+the bayonet and with clubbed arms, and here the
+French Colonel de Baroche met his death.</p>
+
+<p>Although by this time&mdash;eleven o'clock&mdash;all the three
+attacking columns had struck hands in the heart of Le
+Bourget, the enemy continued the struggle in detached
+houses and gardens with embittered desperation till
+the afternoon, while all the forts on the north front
+of Paris overwhelmed the place with shell-fire. It was
+not till half-past one that the troops of the attack could
+withdraw by companies to their respective quarters.
+Two battalions remained to garrison Le Bourget.</p>
+
+<p>The desperate resistance of the French showed how
+important they considered their retention of this post.
+Its success had cost the 2nd (Guard) Division 500 men.
+The enemy's loss is not known, but 1200 prisoners
+were taken. This new disaster added to the dissatisfaction
+of the inhabitants of Paris. The revolutionary
+factions, which at all times lurk in the French capital,
+came ominously to the front.</p>
+
+<p>Highly-coloured reports could no longer conceal
+utter lack of results; the authority of the Government
+was steadily on the wane. It was accused of incapacity,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>
+nay, of treason. Noisy mobs clamoured for
+arms, and even a part of the National Guard took part
+in the tumult. The Hôtel de Ville was surrounded by
+a throng shouting "Vive la Commune!" and though
+other troops dispersed these gatherings, the ringleaders,
+though well known, went unpunished.</p>
+
+<p>On the 31st of October uproarious masses again
+paraded the streets. As General Trochu had forbidden
+the sentries at the Hôtel de Ville to use their
+arms, the rebels forced their way in. The Ministers
+were their prisoners till the evening, when some battalions
+which remained staunch liberated them.</p>
+
+<p>Monsieur Thiers, who had returned from his fruitless
+tour among the European Courts, thought the time
+had come for re-opening negotiations with Versailles.
+On the part of the Germans there was still the readiness
+to grant an armistice, but it was naturally impossible
+to accede to the condition demanded by the French, that
+the city should be re-provisioned, and so hostilities had
+to take their course.</p>
+
+<p>At this time, towards the end of October, the situation
+on the Moselle had assumed an aspect which
+essentially modified that of the whole war.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="right"><a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></div>
+
+<p>By the exchange of German prisoners for French
+who had fought at Sedan, details of the disaster which
+had befallen France in that battle were currently
+known in Metz. But Marshal Bazaine declared that
+the Army of the Rhine would continue to defend
+the country against the invaders, and maintain
+public order against the evil passions of disloyal men&mdash;a
+resolution which certainly could be interpreted
+in more ways than one. It would have been
+eminently satisfactory to the Germans, politically
+speaking, if there had been in France an available<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>
+power, apart from the pretentious but feeble Government
+in Paris, with which to come to an understanding
+as regarded the termination of the war. Permission
+was therefore given for the admission to
+Metz of a person representing himself to have a commission
+from the exiled Imperial family. As he was
+unable to authenticate himself in this capacity to the
+satisfaction of Marshal Bazaine, General Bourbaki was
+allowed to pass through the German lines that he
+might betake himself to London, where, however, the
+Empress Eugénie declined all intervention in the
+already so disastrous affairs of France. The General
+then placed his services at the disposal of the National
+Defence Government at Tours.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the army which had been beleaguered
+in Metz since the day of Noisseville maintained a
+waiting attitude. The necessary supplies for 70,000
+inhabitants, including the country-folk who had taken
+refuge in the city, had originally been enough to last
+three months and a half, those for the regular garrison
+were calculated for about five months; but for the
+Army of the Rhine there was sustenance in store for
+only forty-one days, and there was forage for only
+twenty-five.</p>
+
+<p>Certainly it was possible to supplement the supplies
+for the troops by purchase from the abundant stores of
+the citizens; but ere long smaller rations of bread
+were served out and horses were being slaughtered to
+furnish animal food, so that most of the cavalry regiments
+were reduced to two squadrons.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side, the service of supplying
+197,326 men and 33,136 horses was one of great difficulty.
+The outbreak of cattle-plague in Germany
+restricted the importation of live beasts to those purchased
+in Holland and Belgium. The meat rations had
+to be supplemented by tinned provisions; and increased
+rations of oats had to take the place of hay and straw.</p>
+
+<p>The losses of the army had hitherto been made good
+from the reserves, but the transport of the prisoners from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>
+Sedan alone required the services of fourteen battalions
+of the force blockading Metz. Thus it had not
+yet been possible to provide sufficient shelter for the
+troops near the wide extension of the entrenched line.
+Raw, rainy weather had come on early in the season,
+and a fourth part of the men were still roofless; so that
+by degrees the sick in hospital reached the alarming
+number of 40,000.</p>
+
+<p>Although fifty heavy guns had been brought up
+from Germany, they were useless for the bombardment
+of Metz, since in consequence of the superior calibre of
+the fortress artillery they could only be fired at night,
+and with frequent change of position. There was
+nothing for it but to hope for the best, and have
+patience.</p>
+
+<p>For four weeks already had the besieged been consuming
+their stores. To replenish those in some degree,
+and at the same time to revive the spirit of the troops
+by active measures, the Marshal decided on fetching
+in all the provisions to be found in the villages inside
+the line of the German investment, under cover of a
+sortie.</p>
+
+<p>At noon on September 22nd Fort St. Julien opened
+a heavy fire on the outposts of the Ist Corps. Strong
+bodies of infantry then advanced on the villages to the
+eastward, drove in the picquets of the enemy, and returned
+to Metz with the stores which had been seized.
+But a similar attempt made next afternoon on the villages
+to the north was less successful. Most of the waggons
+had to return empty, under the fire of the Prussian
+batteries quickly brought up into position. Finally,
+on the 27th, a sortie for the same purpose was made to
+the southward, which led to a series of small conflicts
+and the capture in Peltre of a German company,
+which was surrounded by a much stronger force. A
+simultaneous sally on the left bank of the Moselle was
+baffled by the fire of the alert artillery of the besieging
+force.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Thionville, on the north of Metz, had hitherto only
+been kept under observation by a small force, which
+could not hinder the garrison from scouring the country
+as far as the neighbouring frontier, taking many prisoners,
+seizing fifty waggon-loads of supplies, and even
+diverting into the fortress a whole train of provision-trucks
+while passing by the now restored railway from
+Luxemburg.</p>
+
+<p>In point of fact, the Army of the Rhine would have
+found in Thionville an important rallying-point at the
+end of its first day's march, if the blockade of Metz
+could have been broken through. Prince Frederick
+Charles, realizing this, took care to strengthen the
+investing lines to the north, on the right bank of the
+Moselle. On October 1st the Xth Corps took up the
+position hitherto held by the Reserve Division Kummer,
+which was transferred to the left bank of the river.
+The Ist, VIIth, and VIIIth Corps closed up to the right,
+and the IInd occupied the space between the Seille and
+the Moselle; the troops before Thionville were also reinforced.</p>
+
+<p>The Marshal had really once more determined to
+break out to the northward, and that on both banks
+of the river. New bridges were constructed behind
+St. Julien and from the island of Chambière, the
+nearest German outposts on the north and west of Metz
+were pushed back by a series of daily skirmishes.
+Under cover of the fire of the forts the French established
+themselves firmly in Lessy and Ladonchamps.
+The troops to be left in Metz were expressly selected;
+the others tested as to their marching powers.
+Light-signals were arranged with Thionville, and all
+preparations made for a sortie on the 7th.</p>
+
+<p>Then the French commander suddenly changed his
+mind, and the proposed enterprise collapsed into a
+foraging expedition.</p>
+
+<p>For this, indeed, large forces were set in motion;
+the Guard Voltigeur Division, the VIth Corps, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>
+the IVth in the forest of Woippy. The movement was
+also to be supported by the IIIrd Corps on the right
+bank of the river.</p>
+
+<p>Four hundred waggons were in readiness to carry
+off the stores from the large farms lying north of
+Ladonchamps.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> Commanding 2nd Guard-Division.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> In text there is at this point no Section-Headline, although the
+subject changes; but the succeeding pages till commencement of
+new Section are headed: "Die Lage vor Metz im October." This
+heading is followed in translation.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Sortie from Metz against Bellevue.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 7th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Although the start from Woippy planned for eleven
+o'clock, was not effected till one, the Landwehr companies
+on outpost duty were driven in by superior
+numbers, and as they defended their positions till their
+ammunition was exhausted, they also lost a considerable
+number of prisoners. But the artillery of the
+Landwehr Division prevented the removal of the
+stores; the 5th Division advancing from Norroy struck
+the left flank of the French attack and drove the enemy
+back on Bellevue, where a stationary fight developed
+itself.</p>
+
+<p>The French IIIrd Corps advanced on the right bank
+of the Moselle against Malroy and Noisseville. Here,
+too, the outpost line fell back; but behind it stood the
+Xth and Ist Corps, ready for action. The respective
+Corps commanders at once perceived that this attack
+was only a feint. Although threatened himself, General
+von Voigts-Rhetz sent his 38th Brigade across the
+Moselle at Argancy by half-past two to assist the
+Landwehr Division, and when General von Manteuffel
+forwarded him supports to Charly, the 37th Brigade
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>No sooner had the first reinforcements arrived than
+General von Kummer on his side took the offensive,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>
+recaptured the farmsteads from the enemy after a
+sharp struggle just as the latter were about to retire,
+and then, supported on the right by part of the 5th
+Division, moved on Bellevue at about six in the evening.
+Ladonchamps, however, still remained in the
+hands of the French. Late in the evening the 19th
+and Reserve Divisions advanced on this place. The
+premises of the château, which were surrounded by a
+moat, were carefully intrenched and strongly defended
+by infantry and guns. The darkness precluded effective
+artillery action, and the attack failed; but all the
+other points previously held by the Germans were re-occupied.</p>
+
+<p>The day had cost the Prussians 1700 killed and
+wounded, besides 500 reported missing. The French
+loss was given out to be no more than 1193.</p>
+
+<p>This attempt on the part of the French might be
+regarded as tentative, and preliminary only to a real
+effort to break through; perhaps it was so intended.
+The German troops therefore remained in the positions
+they had occupied at the close of the fighting,
+in expectation of renewed hostilities on the morrow.</p>
+
+<p>The forts in fact opened a heavy fire on the farm-buildings
+early on the 8th, while the German batteries
+directed their fire on Ladonchamps. Strong columns
+also advanced along the right bank of the Moselle, but
+nowhere attempted a serious attack. The Prussian
+troops therefore presently retired to their quarters.</p>
+
+<p>The artillery duel was carried on for the next few
+days, but with diminished energy. Constant rain
+made all field operations very difficult, and increased
+the sufferings of the men on both sides. In Metz the
+lack of victuals was becoming very painfully felt. So
+early as on the 8th the commandant had announced
+that his stores would not last longer than for twelve
+days. A council of war, held on the 10th, was, however,
+of opinion that the greatest service the Army of
+the Rhine could do to France was to hold out as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>
+long as possible, since it thus continued to detain a
+hostile army under the walls of Metz.</p>
+
+<p>The Marshal now sent General Boyer to negotiate at
+Versailles, but his instructions were to demand a free
+exit for the army and explicitly to refuse the terms of
+the Sedan capitulation.</p>
+
+<p>The state of affairs in Metz was perfectly well
+known to the Germans. The number of men who
+were taken willing prisoners while digging potatoes
+increased every day. They reported that disturbances
+had broken out in the city, in which even part of the
+soldiers had taken part, and that the commander-in-chief
+had been compelled to proclaim the Republic.
+And since the Empress had declared that she would
+never give her consent to any diminution of French
+territory, no further political negotiations were possible
+with the chiefs of the Army of the Rhine.</p>
+
+<p>On the 20th the distribution of stores came to an
+end within the fortress, and the troops thenceforth for
+the most part subsisted on horseflesh. The original
+stock of 20,000 horses was reduced by a thousand a
+day. The want of bread and salt was severely felt,
+and the soaked, deep ground made living in camp
+almost unendurable.</p>
+
+<p>After the failure of the negotiations at Versailles,
+the imperative necessity of entering into negotiations
+with the Headquarter of the besieging army was
+recognized by a council of war held on the 24th.</p>
+
+<p>The first interview had no result, as the Marshal
+still stipulated for free egress on condition of withdrawing
+to Algiers, or the alternative of an armistice
+with the reprovisioning of Metz. On the German side
+the surrender of the fortress and the march out of the
+garrison as prisoners of war were insisted on, and on
+these conditions the capitulation was signed on the
+evening of the 27th of October.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span></p>
+<h2><span class="smcap">Capitulation of Metz.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 27th.)<a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a></div>
+
+
+<p>On the morning of the 29th<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> Prussian flags were
+hoisted on the great outworks of Metz. At one o'clock
+the French garrison marched out by six roads in
+perfect silence and correct military formation.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a> At
+each specified position a Prussian Army Corps stood
+to receive the prisoners, who were immediately placed
+in bivouacs previously prepared, and supplied with
+food. The officers were allowed to keep their swords
+and to return to Metz; provisions were immediately
+sent in.</p>
+
+<p>Marshal Bazaine set out for Cassel.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of the day the 26th Brigade occupied
+Metz. The city had suffered no injury, but the
+state of the camps showed what the troops had suffered
+during the siege of seventy-two days.</p>
+
+<p>The Germans during that time had lost 240 officers
+and 5500 men in killed and wounded.</p>
+
+<p>Six thousand French officers and 167,000 men were
+taken prisoners, beside 20,000 sick who could not be
+at once removed, about 200,000 in all.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> Fifty-six
+Imperial eagles, 622 field and 876 fortress guns, 72
+mitrailleuses and 260,000 rifles fell into the hands of
+the Germans.</p>
+
+<p>The prisoners were transported by way of Trèves
+and Saarbrücken, escorted by Landwehr battalions,
+and as these would have also to guard them when in
+Germany, their return to field service was not to be
+reckoned on.
+</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span></p><div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> The Protocol embodying the terms of capitulation was signed on
+the evening of the 27th; its provisions came into effect at and after
+10 a.m. of the 29th.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> On the contrary, there were much drunkenness and disorder.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> The 20,000 sick were included in the total of 173,000 officers
+and men surrendered.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">New Distribution of the Army.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The capitulation of Metz, which Prince Frederick
+Charles had brought about under such serious difficulties,
+materially improved the prospects of the war for
+Germany.</p>
+
+<p>At the Royal Headquarter at Versailles, even before
+the catastrophe but in confident anticipation of it,
+decisions had been arrived at as to the respective
+destinations of the forces it would release for service,
+and communicated in advance to the superior Commanders.</p>
+
+<p>The Ist, VIIth and VIIIth Corps, with the 3rd
+Cavalry Division, were thenceforth to constitute the
+Ist Army, under the command of General von Manteuffel.
+Its orders were to advance into the Compiègne
+region and cover the investment of Paris on
+the north. But apart from these orders it had various
+other duties to fulfil; it was to occupy Metz and lay
+siege to Thionville and Montmédy.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd, IIIrd, IXth and Xth Corps, with the 1st
+Cavalry Division, were to constitute the IInd Army
+under the command of Prince Frederick Charles, which
+was ordered to advance on the Middle Loire.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Operations of the XIVth Corps in the
+South-East.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Since the fall of Strasburg the newly-formed
+XIVth Corps had been employed in safe-guarding the
+communications between the German armies standing
+fast respectively before Metz and before Paris.
+General von Werder had no great battle to look<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>
+forward to, but a succession of small engagements.
+To prepare his four infantry brigades for independent
+action under such circumstances, he detailed artillery
+and cavalry to each. In this formation the Corps
+crossed the Vosges by the two roads through Schirmeck
+and Barr, driving swarms of hostile Franctireurs
+out of the narrow passes without material delay.
+But on emerging from the mountains it at once met
+with serious opposition.</p>
+
+<p>The French General Cambriels had been at Epinal
+with about 30,000 men ever since the beginning of
+October, and under cover of this force numerous
+battalions of National Guards and Gardes-Mobiles had
+been formed in the south of France.</p>
+
+<p>On the 6th, General von Degenfeld<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> with the advanced
+guard of the Baden force approached St. Dié,
+marching on both banks of the Meurthe. The weak
+column was beset on all sides by far superior forces, yet
+after repeated attacks it succeeded in taking the villages
+which the enemy had been holding.</p>
+
+<p>The struggle, which lasted seven hours, ended with
+the eccentric retreat of the enemy to Rambervillers and
+Bruyères. It had cost the Germans 400 and the French
+1400 men. The Baden force bivouacked on the field,
+and presently found that the French had evacuated St.
+Dié. General Cambriels had, in fact, collected all his
+available forces in intrenched positions about Bruyères.
+The Baden Brigade advanced on these on the 11th,
+drove the Gardes-Mobiles and volunteers from the outlying
+villages, climbed the heights on both sides of the
+town, and forced its way into it with inconsiderable
+loss. The enemy retired to the southward on Remiremont.</p>
+
+<p>From the small resistance hitherto made by the
+French, though so far superior in numbers, General
+von Werder assumed that they would hardly make a
+stand before reaching Besançon, so he immediately<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>
+countermanded further pursuit, though somewhat early
+in the day, and concentrated his forces on Epinal,
+which place was taken possession of by the Germans
+after insignificant fighting. From thence an etappen-route
+and telegraph-line were opened to Lunéville and
+Nancy, magazines were formed, and the trains, which
+were following the Corps from Saverne by Blamont to
+Baccarat, were brought up. The railway along the
+Moselle remained, however, useless for a long time, in
+consequence of injury done to it by the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder was now anxious, in accordance
+with his instructions of September 30th, to march on
+the Upper Seine by Neufchâteau, but a telegram from
+the supreme Headquarter directed him in the first
+instance to complete the rout of the enemy in his
+vicinity under General Cambriels.</p>
+
+<p>The Corps accordingly put itself in motion forthwith
+through Conflans and Luxeuil on Vesoul, and
+information was received that the enemy had in fact
+halted at the Ognon, taken up quarters there, and
+received reinforcements. General von Werder determined
+to attack at once. He ordered that the passages
+over the river should be secured on the 22nd; further
+decisions were postponed till reports should be brought
+in. The 1st Baden Brigade came up on the right by
+nine o'clock, reaching Marnay and Pin without having
+encountered the French; it secured the bridges there,
+and then halted to await further orders. On the left
+flank the franctireurs were driven out of the woods
+by the 3rd Brigade, which also stormed Perrouse, and
+at about half-past two seized the bridge over the
+Ognon at Voray. In the centre the head of the
+advanced guard of the 2nd Brigade entered Etuz after
+a slight skirmish, but had to withdraw at eleven
+o'clock to the northern bank, before the enemy's flank
+attack from out the woods. Afterwards, when the
+main force came up and the artillery opened fire,
+the place was taken for the second time at one o'clock.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>
+But a prolonged fire-fight ensued, the French making
+an obstinate stand in front of the passage over the
+river at Cussey. Orders had already been sent to the
+1st Brigade to move up on the southern bank from Pin
+on the enemy's flank and rear. But it could not reach
+the ground until six o'clock, when the battle was over.
+When two batteries had made good the possession of
+the bridge over the Ognon under a heavy fire, the
+enemy hastily retired, pursued by the Badeners; he
+was again driven out of his rearward positions, but
+when night fell he still remained in possession of several
+points in front of Besançon.</p>
+
+<p>The Germans had lost 120 men, the French 150 and
+200 prisoners. In opposition to Gambetta, who was
+himself in Besançon, General Cambriels obstinately
+resisted every order to renew the advance, and would
+only consent to maintain his strong position under the
+walls of the fortress.</p>
+
+<p>Parties sent out to reconnoitre on the right reported
+the presence of French forces at Dôle and Auxonne,
+the advance-guard probably of an "Army of the Vosges"
+under Garibaldi, which was assembling on the
+Doubs. General von Werder disregarded it, and on
+the 26th moved his Corps to Dampierre and Gray.
+Beyond the Saône all the roads were broken up, the
+woods choked with abatis, and the whole population in
+arms. But the franctireurs and Gardes-Mobiles were
+dispersed without difficulty, and a column marching
+without any precautions was driven back on the Vingeanne
+brook, where 15 officers and 430 men laid down
+their arms.</p>
+
+<p>From further reports and the information of the prisoners
+it was known that Dijon was strongly garrisoned.
+In expectation, therefore, of an attack from that side,
+the XIVth Corps was assembled behind the Vingeanne,
+whence early on October 30th General von Beyer<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a>
+marched on Dijon with the 1st and 3rd Brigades.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>
+Filled with apprehension by recent events, the National
+Guards in Dijon had already laid down their
+arms, the Gardes-Mobiles and the line troops of the
+garrison had retreated southwards; but the inhabitants
+were assured that the forces would be brought back to
+defend them. About 8000 men were available, but
+they insisted on their commander pledging himself to
+fight only outside the city.</p>
+
+<p>The advanced posts on the Tille were driven in by the
+Baden advanced guard; the village of St. Apollinaire
+and the neighbouring heights were taken with a rush at
+noon, in spite of a hot fire. Meanwhile the main body
+had come up, and at three o'clock six German batteries
+opened fire. The vineyards and numerous farmsteads
+in the neighbourhood of Dijon, and especially the
+strongly barricaded park south of the city, gave the
+defence a great advantage. Nevertheless, the Baden
+infantry continued its steady advance and closed in on
+the northern and eastern suburbs by a wide encircling
+movement.</p>
+
+<p>Here a fierce combat ensued, in which the inhabitants
+took part. House after house had to be stormed,
+but the attack came to a stand at the deep-cut bed of
+the Suzon brook, which borders the city on the east. It
+was four o'clock, and the impending struggle could not
+be ended before dark. General von Beyer therefore
+broke off the fight; the battalions were withdrawn and
+retired to quarters in the adjacent villages; only the
+artillery still kept up its fire.</p>
+
+<p>The Germans had lost about 150 and the French 100
+men; but of the latter 200 were taken prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of the night a deputation came out
+to beg that the town might be spared; its members
+undertook to furnish supplies for 20,000 men, and to
+guarantee the good behaviour of the inhabitants.
+The Baden troops took possession of Dijon on the 31st.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile fresh instructions had reached General
+von Werder. They prescribed that he was to protect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>
+the left flank of the IInd Army advancing to the Loire
+and at the same time to cover Alsace and the troops
+besieging Belfort, where two reserve Divisions had now
+arrived. It was intended that the XIVth Corps, while
+retaining its hold on Dijon, should also move to Vesoul
+and hold in check from there the gathering of hostile
+troops round Besançon and at Langres. Some offensive
+movement on Châlons<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> and Dôle was also insisted on.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder's position was more difficult
+than was recognized at Versailles. At Besançon alone
+there were 45,000 French troops, under the command
+of a new leader, General Crouzat. Garibaldi had collected
+12,000 between Dôle and Auxonne; lower down
+the Saône valley a new Corps was being formed of
+18,000 men, and 12,000 National Guards and Gardes-Mobiles
+threatened from Langres the flank of the isolated
+German Corps. But the French, instead of
+attacking this slender force with overwhelming numbers&mdash;spread
+out as it was over a distance of fifty-six miles
+from Lure to Dijon and Gray&mdash;were haunted by the
+apprehension that the Germans, reinforced from Metz,
+might be intending an attack on Lyons. General
+Crouzat, leaving a strong garrison in Besançon, consequently
+marched to Chagny, where up to November
+12th he was reinforced from the south to a strength of
+50,000 men. The Garibaldian volunteers moved up to
+Autun to protect Bourges.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder meanwhile had occupied Vesoul,
+and had the south face of the city put in a state of
+defence.</p>
+
+<p>The only event of importance during the course of
+October which remains to be mentioned was the action
+taken against the French forts lying rearward of the
+German armies.</p>
+
+<p>At the beginning of the month the newly constituted
+4th Reserve Division, of fifteen battalions, eight squadrons,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>
+thirty-six guns, and a company of fortress-pioneers,
+had assembled in Baden, and crossed the
+Rhine at Neuenburg. The vicinity was first cleared
+of franctireurs, Mülhausen was occupied, and, by the
+express desire of its municipal authorities, the excited
+artisan inhabitants were disarmed. General von
+Schmeling (commanding the Division) was instructed
+to besiege Neu-Breisach and Schlettstadt, and at once
+set about the investment of each of these places with a
+brigade. On October 7th the East Prussian Landwehr
+invested Breisach, and the field-batteries shelled the
+place, but without effect. The other brigade, having
+been forced to detach considerably, reached Schlettstadt
+very weak, but was reinforced by Etappen troops
+to such extent that the place was invested with 8
+battalions, 2 squadrons, and 2 batteries. At the same
+time 12 companies of fortress-artillery and 4 companies
+of pioneers arrived from Strasburg with the necessary
+siege material, and an artillery park of fifty-six heavy
+guns was established at St. Pilt; the engineer park
+was located at Kinzheim.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Commanding 2nd Baden Brigade.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Commanding Baden Division.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Châlons-sur-Saône.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Reduction of Schlettstadt.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(October 24th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>At the beginning of the blockade, inundations and
+marsh-land rendered Schlettstadt, a fortified town of
+10,000 inhabitants, unapproachable on the east and
+south, and partly on the north. The place itself, perfectly
+safe from storm, with high walls and a wet ditch,
+was armed with 120 guns, but garrisoned with only
+2000 men, for the most part Gardes-Mobiles. There
+was a deficiency of safe casemates, and on the west<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>
+front vineyards and hedgerows favoured the near
+approach of assaults, while the railway embankment
+was a ready-made protecting wall for the construction
+of the first parallel. To divert the attention of the
+besieged from this front of attack, a battery was constructed
+on the 20th at the Kappel Mill on the south-east,
+from which fire was opened on the barracks and
+magazine in the town, and on the sluice which maintained
+the inundation. By the evening of the 21st,
+the infantry posts had advanced to within 400 paces
+of the glacis, and the construction of the first parallel
+was proceeded with that night, immediately behind
+the railway, as well as of emplacements for six
+batteries within 1230 feet from the ramparts. The
+garrison fired in the dark on the entire field of
+attack, but almost without effect. By the morning
+the trenches were two feet wide and three and a half
+feet deep, and 20 heavy guns and 8 mortars were ready
+to open fire. A hot artillery duel now began with
+the fortress, which replied very steadily. The battery
+at the mill subjected the west front to a telling
+reverse fire, and several guns and embrasures were
+severely damaged. The town was fired at several
+points, and the defenders' fire gradually ceased.
+During the night, which was very stormy, the batteries
+of the attack kept up their fire, the parallel was
+widened and two new batteries were begun.</p>
+
+<p>At daybreak of the 24th the white flag was seen
+flying, and a capitulation was forthwith signed, by
+which Schlettstadt surrendered with its garrison and
+war-material. The commandant begged the Germans
+to take possession at once, as the greatest disorder
+reigned within the town. The public buildings were
+being plundered by the mob and the drunken soldiery,
+and a powder-magazine was actually on fire. The
+German battalions promptly restored order, extinguished
+the flames, and took away the prisoners.
+Seven thousand stand of arms fell into German hands,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>
+besides the fortress artillery and a large quantity of
+stores. The siege had cost the victors only twenty men.
+Schlettstadt was occupied by Etappen troops, and
+the battalions released from duty there marched into
+southern Alsace, three of them going to strengthen the
+siege of Breisach, which was now being proceeded
+with.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Reduction of Breisach.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(November 10th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>This fortress, lying in the plain and of very symmetrical
+shape, was proof against a coup-de-main
+because of its ditches, which were dry indeed, but faced
+with solid masonry. The garrison of over 5000 men
+had well-protected quarters in the bomb-proof casemates
+of the ravelins. Fort Mortier, standing near the Rhine,
+and constructed for independent defence, effectually
+commanded the ground over which the intended attack
+must be made on the north-west front of the fortress.
+Therefore 12 heavy guns were brought up from Rastatt
+to Alt Breisach, where the right bank of the Rhine
+commands the fort at effective range.</p>
+
+<p>It was not till near the end of October that the siege-guns
+arrived before New Breisach from Schlettstadt,
+and when the infantry had closed up and all preparations
+were complete, fire from 24 heavy guns was
+opened on the fortress on November 2nd from Wolfgantzen,
+Biesheim and Alt Breisach.</p>
+
+<p>By three o'clock a large part of the town was on
+fire, and detachments of infantry were skirmishing
+with the French posts at the foot of the glacis. Fort
+Mortier had suffered exceptionally severely. Nevertheless,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span>
+an attempt to storm it was repulsed, but at
+six o'clock it capitulated, an utter ruin. Only one
+gun remained in serviceable condition. Two new
+mortar batteries were erected to shell the main
+fortress, the defence became perceptibly more feeble,
+and on November 10th Breisach surrendered on the
+same terms as Schlettstadt, but the garrison was
+allowed to march out with the honours of war. The
+fortifications were almost uninjured, but the town was
+for the most part burnt down or severely damaged.
+The success had cost the Germans only 70 men; 108
+guns, 6000 small arms and large quantities of stores
+fell into their hands.</p>
+
+<p>While these strongholds in Alsace-Lorraine were
+thus being reduced, Verdun still intercepted the line of
+railway which formed the shortest line of communication
+with Germany.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Taking of Verdun.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(November 9th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>This place, too, was made quite storm-free by high
+walls and deep wet ditches; but, on the other hand, it
+was surrounded by a ring of heights whence it could
+be seen into, and at the foot of these heights villages
+and vineyards favoured an approach to within a short
+distance of the outworks.</p>
+
+<p>The fortress was armed with 140 guns and abundantly
+victualled, and the garrison, which had been
+supplemented by escaped prisoners, was 6000 strong.
+A bombardment by field-artillery had already proved
+perfectly ineffectual. For a long time Verdun was only
+under observation, at first by cavalry, and afterwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>
+by a small mixed force. At the end of September the
+65th Regiment and twelve companies of Landwehr
+assembled under General von Gayl before the east face
+of the place. It was not till October 9th that two companies
+of fortress-artillery brought up some French
+heavy guns from Toul and Sedan. The infantry now
+advanced to within a few hundred paces of the west
+and north fronts and there established itself. Under
+this cover the construction of the batteries was begun
+on the evening of October 12th.</p>
+
+<p>The heavy ground after the rain, and the rocky
+subsoil very thinly covered, made the work uncommonly
+difficult, yet by next morning fifty-two
+guns were able to open fire. But the fortress replied
+with such effect that before noon two batteries on the
+Côte de Hayvaux on the westward were reduced to
+inaction.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of this three days' artillery engagement,
+15 German guns were placed out of action,
+the artillery lost 60 men and the infantry 40. The
+disabled guns on the walls of the enemy were constantly
+replaced by fresh ones.</p>
+
+<p>The garrison, which was far stronger than the
+besiegers, now assumed the offensive. During the
+stormy night of the 19th&mdash;20th, the picquets on the
+Hayvaux were overpowered, and the guns in the
+battery there were spiked. On the 28th a sortie in
+greater force was made. The French climbed up Mont
+St. Michel, lying northward of Verdun, and destroyed
+the breast-works and bomb-proofs of the batteries,
+from which, however, the guns had been withdrawn.
+Another body pushed up the Hayvaux, and as the
+soaked state of the ground prevented the guns from
+being withdrawn, they were totally disabled. The
+villages in the neighbourhood were also occupied by
+the French.</p>
+
+<p>It was now evident that the means hitherto brought
+to bear on the reduction of Verdun were quite inadequate.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>
+But after the fall of Metz the Ist Army was
+able to send up reinforcements. At the end of the
+month 5 battalions and 2 companies of pioneers and
+several of artillery arrived, and also a quantity of
+German material.</p>
+
+<p>The siege park now numbered 102 guns with abundant
+ammunition, and preparations were at once made
+for a regular attack.</p>
+
+<p>But for this the garrison did not wait. After an
+armistice had been granted, the place capitulated on
+November 8th, in virtue of which the garrison, with
+exception of the local National Guards, became prisoners
+of war. The officers were dismissed on parole
+with their swords and personal property, and it was
+agreed that the war-material in store should be given
+back on the conclusion of peace.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Advance of Ist and IInd Armies up to
+Mid November.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The Ist Army having in addition undertaken the
+siege of Mézières, the 1st Infantry Division moved
+on that place, and the 3rd Brigade, sent forward by
+railway to Soissons, on November 15th set about the
+siege of the small fortress of La Fère. The rest of the
+Ist Corps reached Rethel on the same day, the VIIIth
+Rheims, and the 3rd Cavalry Division Tagnon, between
+the two places named. The VIIth Corps was still
+fully engaged in guarding the prisoners and in besieging
+Thionville and Montmédy.</p>
+
+<p>Of the IInd Army the IXth Corps and 1st Cavalry
+Division reached Troyes on the 10th, the IIIrd Vendeuvre,
+the Xth Neufchâteau and Chaumont. The
+important railway connections there and at Bologne<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>
+were occupied, and the injury done to the line to
+Blesme was repaired, so as to open up a new line of
+communication. The health of the German forces had
+been materially improved by short marches along
+good roads and by abundant supplies; but a telegram
+from Versailles now ordered an accelerated advance.</p>
+
+<p>The Government in Paris being powerless, the Delegation
+at Tours was displaying increased activity.
+Gambetta, as Minister both of War and of the Interior,
+was exercising the power almost of a Dictator, and the
+fiery energy of this remarkable man had achieved the
+feat of placing 600,000 armed men and 1400 guns in
+the field in the course of a few weeks.</p>
+
+<p>In the Arrondissements the National Guards were
+formed into companies and battalions; then in each
+Department these were consolidated into brigades; and
+finally the brigades were incorporated along with the
+nearest troops of the line and Gardes-Mobiles into the
+larger Army-Corps.</p>
+
+<p>Thus, in the course of October, under cover of the
+troops of General d'Aurelle de Paladines which had
+re-crossed the Loire, a new XVIIth Corps was made up
+at Blois, another, the XVIIIth, at Gien, and a third,
+under Admiral Jaurès, at Nogent le Rotrou. A large
+force was in Picardy under General Bourbaki, another
+at Rouen under Briand, and a third on the left bank of
+the Seine under Fiéreck.</p>
+
+<p>The detachments of the army investing Paris, which
+were pushed forward to the south, west, and north,
+already met in all directions strong forces of the enemy,
+which they indeed repulsed in many small encounters,
+but could not follow up to the places of their origin.
+For such purposes the arrival of the army released from
+the siege of Metz was needed, and this was not to be
+looked for before some time in November, while now in
+October there was threatened a general advance of the
+French forces on Paris.</p>
+
+<p>Having regard to the inferior strength of General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>
+von Tann's Division holding Orleans, at a French
+council of war held at Tours it was decided to recover
+that important place. The attack was to be delivered
+chiefly from the west. The French XVth Corps&mdash;two
+Infantry Divisions and one of Cavalry&mdash;therefore assembled
+at Mer on the northern bank of the Lower Loire,
+and the main body of the XVIth behind the forest of
+Marchénoir. The remaining portions of both Corps
+were to co-operate on the Upper Loire by way of Gien.
+Any further advance was not projected, at any rate for
+the present; on the contrary, General d'Aurelle's
+instructions were to form an intrenched camp about
+Orleans for 200,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>General von Tann's reconnoitring parties to the westward
+everywhere met hostile detachments, which were
+indeed driven back by restraining skirmishes into the
+forest of Marchénoir without much difficulty, but which
+betrayed the vicinity of large forces of the enemy. On
+the whole an attack from the south-west on the investing
+army before Paris seemed the likeliest event, since
+this would threaten both the German Head-quarter in
+Versailles and the siege-park at Villacoublay; while the
+German reinforcements from the eastward would have
+the furthest distance to reach the quarter indicated.</p>
+
+<p>The French forces to the west of Orleans were already
+extended over a wide stretch of country from Beaugency
+to Châteaudun. The volunteers grew bolder
+every day, and the people more hostile.</p>
+
+<p>At last, in quest of some more accurate information,
+Count Stolberg (commanding 2nd Cavalry Division)
+on November 7th made a reconnaissance in force.
+Three regiments of the 2nd Cavalry Division, two
+batteries, and some companies of Bavarian Infantry
+advanced by Ouzouer and drove the enemy out of
+Marolles, but they found the skirts of the forest strongly
+held.</p>
+
+<p>General Chanzy had brought up all his immediately
+available troops to St. Laurent des Bois. A sharp fire-fight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>
+ensued, lasting about half an hour, which caused
+severe losses in the Bavarian infantry; and then, as
+the great superiority of the French was evident, the
+engagement was broken off.</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, both the French Corps were
+already in full march on Orleans. Reaching the forest
+on the 8th, they occupied it firmly, their right wing at
+Messas and Meung, their left at Ouzouer. The XVth
+Corps was next to move to the right to the Mauve and
+the XVIth to the left on Coulmiers. The heads of
+those Corps showed themselves at Bardon and Charsonville
+respectively. Both the French Cavalry Divisions
+were directed northward on Prénouvellon to turn the
+right wing of the Bavarians with a force of ten regiments,
+six batteries, and numerous volunteer bands,
+and thus to cut off their retreat on Paris.</p>
+
+<p>To counteract this attempt the Bavarian Cuirassier
+Brigade started for St. Péravy, the 2nd Cavalry Division
+for Baccon, and, further south, the 2nd Bavarian
+Infantry Division advancing from Orleans held the
+country about Huisseau and St. Ay.</p>
+
+<p>But an attack was also threatening the German rear
+from the considerable force at Gien. General von der
+Tann realized that it was now the last moment when
+he could hope to extricate himself from so hazardous a
+position; and that same evening he issued the necessary
+orders. However desirable it was to keep possession
+of Orleans, he could not accept battle in so thickly
+wooded country, where the action of his relatively strong
+artillery and cavalry would be seriously impeded, and
+where indeed he might be entirely hemmed in. The
+General, however, determined to strike at the most
+immediately threatening hostile force in the open
+country about Coulmiers, where he would at the same
+time be nearer to the 22nd Division at Chartres, on
+which he could call for support.</p>
+
+<p>General von Wittich had already asked and obtained
+permission to fall back on Orleans, but on the 9th<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>
+he had only reached Voves, with his cavalry at Orgères;
+thus he could not take any direct part in that
+day's fighting.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Army was in full march from Metz, but on
+this day its head had but just arrived at Troyes.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Engagement at Coulmiers.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(November 9th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Left thus to its own resources, the Ist Bavarian
+Corps moved out in the night, and on the morning
+of the 9th stood concentrated on the skirts of the forest
+between Château Montpipeau and Rosières, with the
+village of Coulmiers in its front. The Bavarian Cuirassiers
+on the right wing protected the line of retreat
+by St. Sigismond; the 2nd Cavalry Division was distributed
+by brigades along the whole front, with detachments
+well in advance and infantry posts ready in
+support. Only a small detachment remained in Orleans
+after the bridge over the Loiret had been destroyed,
+to protect the numerous sick and wounded in
+the field hospitals, and occupy the city at any rate till
+the result of the fight was decided.</p>
+
+<p>The first reports brought in that morning were of
+the advance of a strong hostile column from Cravant
+on Fontaines and Le Bardon. This was Rébillard's
+Brigade, which, as it seemed, aimed at turning the
+Bavarian left flank and marching direct on Orleans.
+To oppose it on the bank of the Mauve, General von
+der Tann at about nine o'clock sent the 3rd Brigade in
+a southerly direction to Préfort, a little over two miles
+distant, and as at the same time a sharp contest had
+now begun at the outposts near Baccon, the 1st Brigade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>
+marched to La Renardière. The remainder of the
+Corps remained in and behind Coulmiers. The General's
+intention was to assume the offensive from this
+point against the enemy's left flank, if, as seemed probable,
+the latter should attempt to push his chief
+attack across the Mauve. In furtherance of this intention
+the cavalry of the right flank was ordered to close
+in to Coulmiers.</p>
+
+<p>But the superior strength of the French allowed of
+their fetching a much wider compass to the left.
+While General d'Aurelle with the XVth Corps detained
+the Bavarians southward of the road from
+Ouzouer to Orleans, General Chanzy advanced with
+Barry's Division against their centre and directed
+Jauréguiberry's Division northward against their right;
+and finally the strong force of French cavalry under
+General Reyau moved in the direction of Patay, thus
+threatening the German communication with Paris.</p>
+
+<p>This movement of the French XVIth Corps compelled
+General von Tann, at the very beginning of the
+engagement, to despatch the 2nd Brigade, which had
+constituted his reserve, to prolong his right wing
+northwards towards Champs, and thus obtain touch
+with the 4th Cavalry Brigade. The Bavarian Cuirassiers,
+retiring according to orders from St. Péravy to
+the southward, about eleven o'clock encountered
+Reyau's cavalry, which, however, restricted itself to a
+mere cannonade.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, after a stout resistance, the advanced
+posts of the Bavarians had been driven in by the
+enemy's superior strength. The 1st Rifle Battalion,
+after having retarded the advance of the French horse-batteries
+through Champdry for a long time, retreated
+from Baccon to La Rivière,<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> where it expected to be
+received by the 2nd (Rifle Battalion). But the situation<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>
+of the latter soon became very critical. Peytavin's
+Division closely followed up through Baccon, beset
+La Rivière with five batteries, and then attacked the
+burning village from three sides at once. After energetic
+reprisals the Riflemen retired in good order on
+the 1st Brigade in Renardière, where General Dietl
+had taken up a position for defence.</p>
+
+<p>After the evacuation of Baccon by the Bavarians,
+Barry's Division had continued its advance through
+Champdry, and its batteries deployed opposite Coulmiers
+and in front of Saintry, in preparation for an
+assault by strong lines of tirailleurs.</p>
+
+<p>The 4th Bavarian Brigade occupied the park extending
+to the west; the quarries further in front were
+occupied by two battalions, two others were sent to the
+right to the farmsteads of Ormeteau and Vaurichard,
+so as to keep up some sort of communication with the
+2nd Brigade. One battery to the south and four
+batteries to the north of Coulmiers were supported by
+the 5th Cavalry Brigade.</p>
+
+<p>Thus at noon the Bavarian Corps, with only three
+brigades, held the ground from Renardière to the
+front of Gémigny, its front disproportionately extended
+to a length of more than four miles. But the French
+right wing remained quite inactive, so that the 3rd
+Brigade which had been sent to Préfort was recalled
+to Renardière.</p>
+
+<p>When the French Corps had made good its foothold
+opposite the thin Bavarian line, it attacked in earnest
+at about one o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>The Riflemen in Renardière had indeed repulsed the
+enemy's first rush, but this position was no longer
+tenable with only four battalions against the whole of
+Peytavin's Division. At about one o'clock General
+Dietl retired unmolested, under cover of an intermediate
+position, on the wood of Montpipeau, and
+occupied its border. Here he was joined by the 3rd
+Brigade, which on its retirement from Préfort had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>
+found Renardière already evacuated. The French had
+followed up from thence but hesitatingly, came under
+the fire of six batteries between the points of the forests
+at La Planche and Coulmiers, and made no further
+advance with their right wing.</p>
+
+<p>In the centre Barry's Division about one o'clock
+had driven the Bavarian Riflemen out of the stone-quarries
+in front of Coulmiers. Not till three o'clock
+did it advance to a renewed general attack on the 4th
+Brigade, which was repulsed by the fire of the German
+guns and the repeated charges of the 5th Cavalry
+Brigade.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, d'Aries' Brigade of the XVth French
+Corps, after leaving Renardière, arrived southward of
+Coulmiers, and its batteries strengthened the fire which
+was being directed on that village. The Bavarian
+guns were compelled before the rush of the French
+tirailleurs to take ground further in rear, where
+they resumed their activity, while the infantry
+drove the French out of the park at the point of the
+bayonet.</p>
+
+<p>But after four hours' fighting the resistance of this
+single brigade against three French brigades had become
+extremely arduous. Of the whole Corps only
+two battalions remained intact as a reserve at Bonneville,
+no reinforcement was to be looked for from anywhere,
+and on the right flank the French threatened
+the communications with Chartres as well as with
+Paris. At four in the afternoon General von der
+Tann gave orders to break off the fight and to retire
+by brigades from the left wing on Artenay.</p>
+
+<p>Fresh troops of the enemy at this moment forced
+their way into the park of Coulmiers. Colonel Count
+von Ysenburg held the eastern outlets of the village,
+and withdrew his troops by alternate echelons through
+Gémigmy in good order.</p>
+
+<p>It now proved of the greatest importance that the
+2nd Brigade should have been able to maintain its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>
+position in front of this village, thus covering the
+further retreat.</p>
+
+<p>At noon, General von Orff (in command of the
+Brigade), on approaching Champs and Cheminiers, had
+found these villages occupied by Deplanque's French
+Brigade. First he silenced its artillery, then he
+deployed his four battalions for action, with the 4th
+Cavalry Brigade on the right flank.</p>
+
+<p>Reyau's Cavalry ere long came up between these
+two villages, after it had given up its two hours'
+cannonade against the Bavarian Cuirassiers and had
+been driven out of St. Sigismond by dismounted
+hussars. But this body of horse soon got out from
+under the fire of the Bavarian guns and moved off to
+the westward, it was said because it mistook Lipkowski's
+volunteers, skirmishing further to the north, for
+German reinforcements advancing. And when the
+Bavarian horse-batteries opened fire on Champs from
+the north-east, the French abandoned the place at
+about two o'clock, in great disorder.</p>
+
+<p>General von Orff now brought the artillery up to
+within 500 paces of Cheminiers, and marched the
+infantry up through the intervals.</p>
+
+<p>Admiral Jauréguiberry, however, arriving in person,
+succeeded in rallying the wavering troops, and this
+attack failed. The French batteries soon compelled
+the Bavarian horse-batteries to retire.</p>
+
+<p>When, at about three o'clock, Bourdillon's Brigade
+and the reserve artillery of the XVIth French Corps
+also arrived at Champs, and news was brought of the
+state of the fighting at Coulmiers, General von Orff
+determined to refrain from all further attack, and confined
+himself to maintaining his position in front of
+Gémigny to the last extremity. Unshaken by the fire
+of the numerous hostile batteries, the weak brigade
+repulsed the repeated attacks of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the 4th Brigade was enabled unmolested to
+retire from Coulmiers by Gémigny and St. Péravy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>
+and the 1st, from Montpipeau further eastward, on
+Coinces. The 2nd Brigade followed to Coinces, and
+finally the 3rd formed the rear-guard as far as St.
+Sigismond, where it halted and bivouacked. The
+cavalry covered the retreat on all sides.</p>
+
+<p>After a short rest the retreat of the main body was
+continued during the night, by very bad roads. Artenay
+was reached by the morning. Orleans was
+evacuated, and the garrison which had been left there
+rejoined its Corps. The stores were conveyed by railway
+back to Toury; but one ammunition column, 150
+prisoners, and the sick who could not be moved, fell
+into the hands of the French.</p>
+
+<p>This contest of 20,000 Germans against 70,000
+French cost the former about 800 in killed and
+wounded; the enemy's loss was nearly double.</p>
+
+<p>From Artenay, on November 10th, the 2nd Brigade
+undertook the duty of covering the further march on
+Toury, where close quarters were available. Thither,
+too, came the 22nd Division from Chartres, and took
+up a position at Janville close to the Bavarians.
+General von der Tann had extricated himself from a
+difficult position with much skill and good fortune.
+The enemy did not attempt a pursuit. General
+d'Aurelle restricted himself to awaiting further reinforcements
+in a strong position before Orleans. The
+French preparations were, however, in greater activity
+on the Upper Loir and the Eure.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side the IInd Army Corps arrived
+before Paris on the 5th of November; the 3rd Division
+was included in the investing line between the Seine
+and Marne; the 4th moved on to Longjumeau.</p>
+
+<p>When the Guard Landwehr took possession of the
+peninsula of Argenteuil, a brigade of the IVth Corps
+became available for service on the north side of the
+capital. On the south side, the 17th Division at Rambouillet,
+the 22nd at Chartres, and the Bavarian Corps,
+which had moved to Ablis, with the 4th and 6th<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>
+Cavalry Divisions, were ultimately formed into a separate
+Army-Detachment of the IIIrd Army, under the
+command of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, and it
+was ordered to betake itself in the first instance to
+Dreux.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> According to the <i>Staff History</i>, on La Renardière and La Grande
+Motte.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Operations of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>On the 17th of November the 17th Division advanced
+by Maintenon. On the left, a French detachment was
+driven back across the Blaise; and when a few companies
+of marines, who attempted to block the high-road,
+had been disposed of, General von Tresckow
+(commanding the Division) marched into Dreux that
+evening. The combat had cost the Germans 50 men,
+the French 150 and 50 prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Prince Frederick Charles, whose forces were now
+at length assembled before Orleans in face of the
+enemy, expressed the wish that the (Grand Duke's)
+Detachment should advance on Tours by way of Le
+Mans. The Grand Duke accordingly marched on
+Nogent le Rotrou, which place, being the central
+rendezvous of the French levies, promised to be the
+scene of an obstinate resistance.</p>
+
+<p>After several skirmishes the Detachment approached
+the place, but when on the 22nd preparations were
+being made to storm it from three sides, it was found
+that the enemy had already evacuated it. At the
+same time orders arrived from the supreme Headquarter,
+instructing the Grand Duke to fall back at
+once on Beaugency to join the right wing of the IInd
+Army, which it was necessary should immediately be
+reinforced in view of the superior strength of the
+enemy. "The force now massing before Orleans is to
+postpone all hostilities until the arrival of the Detachment.
+The slight opposition offered by the French<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>
+on the Eure and Huisne sufficiently shows that no
+serious danger threatens on that side; the enemy in
+that quarter need only be kept under observation by
+cavalry." The Detachment was not to be permitted
+even a single rest day, and its march was to be
+conducted with the utmost speed.</p>
+
+<p>On the 23rd, the Divisions had closed up on their
+respective heads, and the Grand Duke on the 24th
+moved on Châteaudun and Vendôme; but the
+Bavarian Corps only got as far as Vibraye, while the
+two Prussian Divisions withdrew from the difficult
+country of the Perche, and the cavalry found the whole
+line of the Loir held by the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>In fact, the French had sent a brigade of the troops
+massed behind the forest of Marchénoir by railway to
+Vendôme, expressly to protect the Government at
+Tours, while General de Sonis had advanced with the
+rest of the XVIIth Corps on Brou. Here on the 25th
+his advance met an ammunition column and bridge-train
+of the Bavarian Corps. At first only the 10th
+Cavalry Brigade could engage the enemy, but when
+presently two companies and eight guns had occupied
+the bridge over the Loir at Yèvres, the waggons were
+got through Brou in safety, and the enemy could not
+enter that place till the cavalry had continued its
+march.</p>
+
+<p>The Bavarian Corps was meanwhile advancing on
+Mondoubleau and St. Calais, not certainly the shortest
+route to Beaugency, but, on the contrary, on the direct
+road to Tours. The two Divisions only reached the
+vicinity of Vibraye and Authon.</p>
+
+<p>The appearance of a hostile force at Brou was
+deemed of sufficient importance to justify a détour by
+that place, postponing for the moment the prescribed
+march on the Loire. But when the 22nd Division
+approached Brou on the 26th, it found that the enemy
+had already retired during the night. The Government
+at Tours had ordered the whole of the XVIIth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>
+Corps to concentrate at Vendôme for their protection.
+But when the German cavalry made its appearance
+at Cloyes and Fréteval, General Sonis considered that
+he could not pursue his march further along the Loir,
+and made a détour by Marchénoir. But two night-marches
+so shattered the levies for the first time
+collected in mass that whole swarms of stragglers
+wandered about the neighbourhood all day and could
+only with difficulty be re-assembled at Beaugency.</p>
+
+<p>To imbue the operations with unity of command, the
+Grand Duke was now, by instruction from the supreme
+Head-quarter, placed under Prince Frederick Charles's
+orders, and General von Stosch<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> was despatched to
+undertake the duties of Chief of the Staff to the
+Detachment. That force by the Prince's orders was
+to come in with all speed to Janville, whither troops of
+the IXth Corps would be sent to meet it by way of
+Orgères.</p>
+
+<p>The Grand Duke therefore marched, on the 27th,
+with both his (Prussian) Divisions (17th and 22nd) to
+Bonneval, where there was already a squadron of the
+2nd Cavalry Division. The Bavarian Corps, which,
+after finding Brou abandoned, had been directed on
+Courtalin, marched to Châteaudun. Having thus
+accomplished a junction with the IInd Army, the sorely
+fatigued troops of the Detachment were allowed a day's
+rest on the 28th, in quarters on the Loir.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> Until then Commissary-General. He succeeded Colonel von
+Krenski as the Grand Duke's Chief of Staff.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Situation of IInd Army.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(Second half of November.)</div>
+
+
+<p>Prince Frederick Charles had hastened the advance
+of his army as much as possible, but it had met<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>
+with many hindrances. The roads were broken up,
+National Guards and franctireurs stood watchful for
+mischief, and even the country people had taken
+up arms. However, by November 14th the IXth
+Corps with the 1st Cavalry Division reached Fontainebleau,
+whence it pursued its march to Angerville.
+The IIIrd Corps was following on Pithiviers. Of the
+Xth Corps the 40th Brigade was left at Chaumont, to
+make connection with the XIVth Corps; the 36th
+reached Montargis and Beaune la Rolande on the 21st.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a>
+The two brigades following in rear (37th and 39th)
+had a sharp encounter on the 24th at Ladon and
+Maizières. In this combat 170 French prisoners
+were taken, who belonged to a corps which, as General
+von Werder had already reported, was proceeding
+under General Crouzat's command from Chagny to
+Gien by railway. The order of battle was found on an
+officer who was among the prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>That while the Grand Duke's Detachment was
+marching to join it, the IInd Army, only now fully
+concentrated, was in very close proximity to considerable
+forces of the enemy, was ascertained beyond doubt
+by several reconnoissances.</p>
+
+<p>On the 24th troops of the IXth Corps advanced
+along the great high-road. A few shells caused the
+enemy to evacuate Artenay, pursued by the cavalry as
+far as Croix Briquet. Early in the same day a mixed
+detachment of all arms from the IIIrd Corps reached
+Neuville aux Bois. Two detachments of the 38th
+Brigade marched on Bois Commun and Bellegarde,
+but everywhere those inquisitive reconnaissances were
+met by very superior numbers of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>It was ascertained that the position of the French<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>
+before Orleans extended for about 37 miles from the
+Conie to Loing; and the massing of troops, especially
+on their (right) flank, made it highly probable that
+they proposed advancing by Fontainebleau on the rear
+of the besieging army. Still, this intention was not
+so evident as to justify Prince Frederick Charles in
+leaving the great highways from Orleans to Paris unguarded.
+However, to enable him to lend his left wing
+timely support in case of need, he moved the 5th
+Infantry Division of the IIIrd Corps and the 1st
+Cavalry Division to Boynes, nearer to the Xth Corps
+which was weak, and the 6th Division occupied
+Pithiviers in their stead. The quarters at Bazoches
+vacated by the 6th Division, were assigned to the IXth
+Corps. Finally, the Grand Duke received orders to
+reach Toury with his heads of columns by the 29th at
+latest. These dispositions were all carried out in due
+course.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately after its success at Coulmiers the French
+Army of the Loire seemed for the moment only to have
+thought of securing itself against a counter-blow. It
+retired on Orleans, threw up extensive entrenchments,
+for which marine artillery was even brought up from
+Cherbourg, and awaited the arrival of further reinforcements.
+The XXth Corps, already mentioned,
+40,000 strong, joined the XVth, XVIth, and XVIIth
+at Gien, in addition to one Division of the XVIIIth
+newly assembled at Nevers, and finally the volunteer
+bands under Cathelineau and Lipowski.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the French Army round Orleans numbered
+200,000; the German infantry opposed to this host for
+the time reached a strength of not more than 45,000
+men.</p>
+
+<p>Gambetta soon became urgent for renewed offensive
+operations. As General d'Aurelle raised objections to
+an advance by Pithiviers and Malesherbes, the Dictator
+himself took in hand the dispositions. In the night of
+the 22nd&mdash;23rd he telegraphed orders from Tours that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>
+the XVth Corps was at once to assemble at Chilleurs
+aux Bois and reach Pithiviers on the 24th; the
+XXth to march to Beaune la Rolande; and that then
+both Corps were to advance by way of Fontainebleau
+on Paris. The General pointed out that, according
+to his reckoning, 80,000 Germans must be encountered
+in an open country, and that it would be
+more advisable to await their attack in an intrenched
+position. Further, that this movement could be of no
+service in affording succour to the distressed capital,
+and that meanwhile there would remain unperformed
+the strengthening of the right wing, where on the 24th
+the unsteadiness of the XVIIIth and XXth Corps had
+caused the loss of the already mentioned fight at Ladon
+and Maizières.</p>
+
+<p>In accordance with instructions received from Tours
+on the 26th, General Crouzat ordered the advance for
+the 28th of the two Corps he commanded&mdash;the XVIIIth
+by the right through Juranville, the XXth by the left
+through Bois Commun&mdash;for an encompassing attack on
+Beaune la Rolande. The XVth Corps in addition was
+moved up to Chambon in support, and Cathelineau's
+volunteers went forward to Courcelles.</p>
+
+<p>As we have seen, on this same day the Grand Duke's
+Detachment had come up on the extreme right of the
+IInd German Army. On the left stood the Xth Corps
+with the 38th Brigade at Beaune, the 39th at Les
+Côtelles; the 37th, with the Corps artillery, had
+advanced to Marcilly between these two places.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> There seems some confusion here. The 36th Brigade belonged,
+not to the Xth, but to the IXth Corps. The 38th Brigade is stated
+in the <i>Staff History</i> to have reached Beaune la Rolande on 23rd, the
+rest of the Corps (exclusive of the 40th Brigade) still behind at
+Montargis.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Beaune la Rolande.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(November 28th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>The French attack on November 28th failed because
+of the miscarriage of the projected combination, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>
+two separate attempts exerting little reciprocal influence.
+On the right, the head of the XVIIIth Corps struck
+the outposts of the 39th Brigade at an early hour, in
+front of Juranville and Lorcy. Not until after a stout
+resistance were these driven in by about nine o'clock
+on Les Côtelles and behind the railway-embankment
+at Corbeilles, where they took possession of the park.</p>
+
+<p>The French could now deploy in the open country
+in front of Juranville, and following up with strong
+lines of tirailleurs preceding them, they forced their
+way into Corbeilles and drove the garrison out to the
+north and west. But meanwhile, on the other side, a
+reinforcement from the reserve at Marcilly reached Les
+Côtelles, and now Colonel von Valentini passed to
+the attack of Juranville with the 56th Regiment. The
+artillery could afford no co-operation, the enemy made
+an obstinate resistance, and not till noon did he begin
+to retreat, while bitter fighting still continued round
+some detached houses. But when strong columns
+came up from Maizières and Corbeilles, the Germans
+were compelled to abandon the conquered village,
+carrying off with them 300 prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>About two o'clock the greater portion of the French
+Corps deployed near Juranville for an attack on the
+position at Long Cour, into which the 39th Brigade
+had retired. But since the attack had not been prepared
+by artillery, it came to nothing under the fire of
+five Prussian batteries.</p>
+
+<p>The first attack on Les Côtelles was also repulsed,
+but when it was repeated an hour later, the Germans had
+to abandon the place with the loss of fifty men taken
+prisoners. A gun, seven of the gunners of which had
+fallen, sank so deep in the soft ground that the few
+men left could not drag it out.</p>
+
+<p>The XVIIIth French Corps, however, made no
+further way, but, as dusk came on, contented itself with
+an ineffective cannonade, and finally the 39th Brigade
+was able to maintain its position abreast of Beaune.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the left wing of the French line of battle the
+attack had also from the first been of an encompassing
+tendency, the 2nd Division of the XXth Corps having
+advanced on Beaune, and the 1st on Batilly. But it
+was near noon before the arrival of part of its 3rd
+Division, which had remained in reserve, enabled the
+enemy to drive in the German advanced posts from
+Bois de la Leu to the cross-roads north-west of Beaune.
+And here also the 38th Brigade soon found itself under
+the artillery and infantry fire from Pierre Percée, the
+enemy continually gaining ground from the northward.
+The retreat had to be continued along the Cæsar
+road, whereon a gun, of which the men and horses had
+for the most part perished, fell into the enemy's hands.
+About the same time the 2nd French Division ascended
+the heights to the east of Beaune, and Colonel von
+Cranach was first enabled to rally the 57th Regiment
+further rearward, near La Rue Boussier, whereby the
+withdrawal of the batteries hurrying away from Marcilly
+was covered, and the further advance of the enemy was
+then arrested. Any such effort on his part entirely
+ceased when he was suddenly threatened on his own flank
+by the 1st Prussian Cavalry Division advancing from
+Boynes, and came under fire of its horse-batteries.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the 16th Regiment found itself completely
+isolated in Beaune, and surrounded on three sides by
+the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The town, which was surrounded by the remains of
+a high wall, and the churchyard were as far as possible
+prepared for defence. The enemy, after his first onset
+by strong swarms of riflemen had been driven back,
+set about bombarding the town. His shells burst
+through the walls of the churchyard and set a few
+buildings on fire, but every attempt at an assault was
+steadfastly repulsed.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, General von Woyna had replenished
+the ammunition of his batteries, and while occupying
+Romainville on the right, he also took up a position<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>
+opposite the copses of Pierre Percée, so that by three
+o'clock he was able to bring up seven companies on the
+east side of Beaune.</p>
+
+<p>About this time assistance came with the arrival
+of the IIIrd Army Corps. While the 6th Division was
+still pressing on towards Pithiviers, the 5th had already
+that morning stood to arms in front of that place.
+The first news from Beaune had sounded so far from
+alarming, that the Corps-artillery retired to its quarters.
+Nevertheless, in consequence of the increasing cannon
+thunder and later information of a serious encounter,
+General von Alvensleben gave the word for the Corps
+to advance, with the 5th Division of which General
+von Stülpnagel had already set out of his own initiative.
+The 6th followed, and detached a battalion to observe
+towards Courcelles; wherein, however, Cathelineau's
+volunteers remained inactive.</p>
+
+<p>Part of the 52nd Regiment, which was marching at
+the head of the column, turned off to the right, and,
+supported by artillery, began a fire-fight about 4.30
+against Arconville and Batilly. Another part penetrated
+into the Bois de la Leu and the copses near La
+Pierre Percée, where it recaptured the gun which had
+been lost there earlier. Four batteries in position on
+the road from Pithiviers, behind Fosse des Prés,
+directed their fire on the enemy still holding his ground
+on the west side of Beaune, from which he was finally
+driven by the 12th Regiment, and pursued as far as
+Mont Barrois.</p>
+
+<p>After dark the Xth Corps encamped about Long Cour,
+Beaune and Batilly, and the 5th Division in its rear;
+the 6th remained at Boynes, where the 1st Division of
+Cavalry also found accommodation.</p>
+
+<p>In the battle of Beaune la Rolande General von
+Voigts-Rhetz had to hold his ground against the enemy
+with 11,000 men against 60,000, with three brigades
+against six Divisions, until help reached him towards
+evening. This action cost the Germans 900 and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>
+French 1300 men in killed and wounded; and 1800
+unwounded prisoners fell into the hands of the
+Germans.</p>
+
+<p>In the evening the French XXth Corps had retreated
+as far as Bois Commun and Bellegarde; the XVIIIth,
+on the contrary, had taken up its position near Vernouille
+and Juranville, in fact, directly in front of the
+Xth German Corps, on the ground which the former
+had won. The expectation was therefore not unnatural
+that the fighting would recommence on the morrow.</p>
+
+<p>Prince Frederick Charles, therefore, directed the Xth
+and IIIrd Corps to assemble on the 29th in full preparedness.
+The IXth received orders to advance with
+two brigades towards Boynes and Bazoches, and the
+remaining troops were to follow as soon as the Grand
+Duke's Detachment should have reached the main road
+to Paris. Of it in the course of the day the heads
+arrived, the 4th Cavalry Division at Toury, the infantry
+at Allaines and Orgères. The 6th Cavalry Division,
+which was marching on the right flank, met first with
+opposition at Tournoisis.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile General Crouzat had been instructed from
+Tours by a message which reached him on the evening
+of the 28th, to desist for the present from further
+offensive attack, and the French right wing was thereupon
+drawn further back. On the 30th both Corps
+moved leftward, in order to be again nearer to the
+XVth. For the purpose of disguising this lateral
+movement, detachments were sent in a northerly
+direction and met reconnoitring parties of the German
+Xth and IIIrd Corps, with which skirmishes took
+place at Maizières, St. Loup and Mont Barrois; and
+the movement of the French was soon detected, in the
+first instance on their left flank.</p>
+
+<p>The Government at Tours had received news from
+Paris that General Ducrot would attempt on the
+29th to break through the German investing lines with
+100,000 men and 400 guns, and endeavour to connect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>
+with the Army of the Loire in a southerly direction.
+The balloon which carried this despatch had descended
+in Norway, whence the message had been forwarded.
+It was concluded from this that the General was already
+vigorously engaged, and that help must be no longer
+delayed. Commissioned by Gambetta, M. Freycinet
+submitted to a council of war called by General
+d'Aurelle, a scheme for the advance of the whole army
+on Pithiviers. In the event of a refusal by the Commander-in-Chief
+to accept the same, M. Freycinet carried
+an order for his supersession.</p>
+
+<p>It was decided in the first place to execute a wheel
+to the right with the left wing, Chilleurs aux Bois
+forming the pivot of the movement. While a front was
+thus being formed against Pithiviers, the Corps of
+the right wing on a parallel front were to await the
+order to move until this was accomplished. The
+XXIst Corps was to be sent to Vendôme to cover the
+left flank.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Advance of the Army of the Loire to the
+Relief of Paris.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>As the result of those dispositions, on the 1st of
+December the XVIth Corps moved on Orgères, in the
+direction of the railway; the XVIIth followed to Patay
+and St. Péravy.</p>
+
+<p>Opposite to these forces, on the right wing of the
+IInd German Army the 17th Division of the Grand
+Duke's Detachment had arrived at Bazoches, the 22nd
+at Toury, and the Bavarian Corps reached the vicinity
+of Orgères. Thus the hostile shock fell first on the
+last body. Attacked in front by a far superior force,
+and threatened in flank by Michel's Cavalry Division,
+the 1st Bavarian Brigade was forced to retreat at three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>
+o'clock to Villepion. The 2nd Brigade approaching
+from Orgères, halted to the west of Nonneville, and the
+4th marched up to between Villepion and Faverolles,
+which position the Bavarians, in spite of heavy losses,
+succeeded in holding for a long time. On their right
+wing Prince Leopold of Bavaria, with the four guns
+of his battery still serviceable, arrested the enemy's
+advance on Nonneville, but under the personal leadership
+of Admiral Jauréguiberry the French forced their
+way into Villepion. As night drew on, and the want
+of ammunition was becoming serious, the 1st Bavarian
+Brigade went to Loigny; the 2nd, however, did not retreat
+until five o'clock to Orgères, where also the 3rd
+arrived in the evening, whilst the 4th joined the 1st
+at Loigny.</p>
+
+<p>The engagement cost both sides about 1000 men, and
+only the foremost Bavarian detachments were forced
+back for a short distance.</p>
+
+<p>This measure of success, and the news from Paris, rekindled
+in Tours ardent hopes of victory. As will be
+seen further on, a sortie from Paris on 30th November
+had certainly so far succeeded that the village of Epinay
+on the northern section of the line of investment
+was occupied for a short time. Thereupon it was
+summarily concluded that this was the village of the
+same name which lay to the south near Longjumeau,
+and that there was now scarcely any obstacle to the
+junction of the Army of Orleans with that of Paris.
+Cathelineau's volunteer Corps was directed at once
+to occupy the forest of Fontainebleau, and the imminent
+annihilation of the Germans was announced to the
+country.</p>
+
+<p>The head of the Army of Orleans, nevertheless, had
+barely made half a day's march in the direction of Paris,
+and the right wheel of the left wing remained to be accomplished.
+The XVIth Corps was to attempt to reach
+the line Allaines-Toury by the 2nd of December; the
+XVIIth was to follow, and the XVth, marching from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span>
+Chilleurs through Artenay, was to close to the right.
+The Grand Duke, on the report of the great force in
+which the enemy was approaching, determined to
+march to meet him with the whole strength of the
+Detachment. The requisite orders were issued at eight
+o'clock in the morning to the Divisions, which were
+already standing prepared on their respective assembling-grounds.
+The Bavarian Corps was directed to
+take up a position opposite Loigny with its left wing
+at Château-Goury; the 17th Division to march immediately
+from Santilly to Lumeau, and the 22nd from
+Tivernon to Baigneaux. The cavalry was to undertake
+the protection of both wings.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Loigny&mdash;Poupry.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(December 2nd.)</div>
+
+
+<p>The Bavarian Corps was still engaged in the advance
+from Maladerie when the French ascended the heights
+to the west of Loigny. The 1st Division, therefore,
+marched towards Villeprévost, and the 2nd held the
+line Beauvilliers-Goury.</p>
+
+<p>At 8 a.m. General Chanzy set out with his 2nd
+and 3rd Divisions from Terminiers, for Loigny and
+Lumeau. The 1st followed in reserve, and Michel's
+Cavalry Division covered the left flank. In spite of
+the strong fire of the defenders, the 2nd Division by
+nine o'clock advanced close upon Beauvilliers, but then
+it had to give way before the onset of the Bavarians,
+who now on their side attacked Loigny. When,
+however, at 10.30 the whole French Corps advanced,
+deployed on a broad front from Nonneville to Neuvilliers,
+they had to fall back with great losses. They,
+however, found a rallying point at Beauvilliers, where
+the fire of the Corps artillery gave pause to the
+advance of the enemy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The combat surged backwards and forwards until, at
+11.30, the 2nd Bavarian Brigade joined in the fray.
+The 4th Cavalry Division charged the left flank of the
+enemy; and Michel's Division fell back on the XVIIth
+Corps, numerous prisoners thus falling into the hands
+of the German troopers. In the meantime the Bavarian
+infantry had marched to Ferme Morâle with intent to
+renew the attack, but there found itself under fire so
+destructive that it was forced to turn back. Thereupon
+the horse-batteries on the flank enfiladed the enemy's
+wing with such effect, that the farm was set on fire and
+General von Orff found himself able to take possession
+of it.</p>
+
+<p>At Beauvilliers, meanwhile, the 2nd Division had
+only with great difficulty resisted the vigorous onslaughts
+of the French, whose rifle-swarms were already
+so close that the batteries were compelled to retire
+to positions further back. But the success of the right
+wing soon extended to the left. Breaking out from Beauvilliers,
+as well as from Château Goury, the Bavarians
+drove Jauréguiberry's Division back to Loigny.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after noon the firing of the French became
+again remarkably energetic, especially against Château
+Goury. The battalions of the Bavarian left wing were
+forced back upon the park.</p>
+
+<p>During these events the two Prussian Divisions had
+continued their advance. The artillery of the 17th
+pressed on in order to engage the enemy, while the
+head of the infantry reached Lumeau in time to prevent
+its occupation by the opposing forces. Strong swarms
+of French riflemen fought their way up quite close to
+the place, but they were finally driven back by
+a well-directed fire of musketry and shell; whereupon
+the Division assailed the right flank of the French
+attack.</p>
+
+<p>The 22nd Division also marched through Baigneaux
+to Anneux, and joined in the pursuit of the retreating
+enemy. A number of prisoners and a battery
+were captured, and the enemy, after a vain attempt to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span>
+make another stand near Neuvilliers, at last fled towards
+Terminiers in utter disorder.</p>
+
+<p>After this result of the fighting about Lumeau,
+General von Tresckow was able to go to the assistance
+of the hard-pressed left wing of the Bavarians. Under
+cover of the fire of eight batteries the 33rd Brigade
+moved against the flank of the French masses which
+were now making a fierce attack on Château Goury.
+Taken by surprise, these retired upon Loigny. But
+there, too, the Mecklenburg battalions forced in,
+shoulder to shoulder with the Bavarians, and it was
+only in the churchyard on high ground at the west
+end of the village, that an obstinate resistance was
+made for some time longer. The French, as they
+retired on Villepion, suffered from a destructive fire
+from eighty guns massed near Loigny.</p>
+
+<p>At 2.30 General von der Tann caused the whole of
+his 1st Division, after the replenishment of its ammunition,
+to advance once more; this movement, however,
+was arrested by the fire of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Michel's Division moved up to oppose the advance of
+the German cavalry on the right flank, but went about
+as soon as it came within range of the horse-batteries.</p>
+
+<p>Because of the exposed condition of his right flank,
+General Chanzy had sent a few battalions to form a
+refused flank<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> near Terre-noire. Behind this a brigade
+of the XVIIth Corps came up near Faverolles, and to
+the right of Villepion the Papal Zouaves advanced
+against Villours.</p>
+
+<p>General von Tresckow now threw in his last reserves.
+Two battalions of the 75th Regiment broke
+into the place at the first charge, and in conjunction
+with all the troops fighting in the vicinity, drove back
+the French columns to Villepion.</p>
+
+<p>The approach of darkness brought the fighting here
+to a close.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span></p>
+<p>While the French XVIth Corps had been fighting
+single-handed with great persistence all day, the XVth,
+according to orders, had advanced through Artenay
+along the Paris high-road. There it was opposed only
+by the 3rd Cavalry Brigade. That force was attacked
+about mid-day near Dambron by the 3rd French
+Division, which formed the left-flank column, while the
+other two Divisions held much further to the right.</p>
+
+<p>So soon as this information came in from the cavalry,
+General von Wittich moved off with the whole of the
+22nd Division from Anneux in the direction of Poupry.
+The head of the column reached that place at the
+double, and succeeded in driving back the enemy, who
+had already broken in there and occupied the forest
+belts to the north. Six batteries then came into action,
+resting on Morâle to the south. The French deployed
+between Dambron and Autroches, and maintained a
+persistent fire while their remaining Divisions came up.
+After an encounter with the troops from Poupry, they
+occupied with their right wing the small copses which
+lay near, in front of the forest-land to the north, placed
+the artillery in the intervals, and began at three o'clock
+an attack from thence. This, however, withered under
+a fire of grape-shot from the defenders, and the menace
+of a charge by the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, which General
+von Colomb had set in motion in the open country to
+the west of Dambron. An attack on Morâle by the
+left wing from Autroches likewise miscarried. But at
+four o'clock the French advanced along their whole
+front, preceded by great swarms of tirailleurs. They
+were repulsed at Poupry, and likewise at Morâle, at
+which latter place two companies of pioneers joined in
+the fight; on the other hand, their right wing pushed
+into the forest, and compelled its defenders to retreat.
+But Prussian battalions yet remaining in reserve,
+advanced from Poupry, and drove the enemy back into
+the copses, where he had still to defend himself against
+an attack by the cavalry.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The fighting was now stopped by the approach of
+night. The 22nd Division remained under arms till
+eleven o'clock in the position which it had seized, and
+only then withdrew to Anneux. The 3rd Cavalry
+Division quartered for the night in Baigneaux. The
+17th Division remained in position near Lumeau, having
+Loigny in its front, which it occupied in concert with
+the Bavarians, who extended further to the right as
+far as Orgères.</p>
+
+<p>The day had cost the French 4000 killed and wounded,
+and the Germans fully as many, but 2500 unwounded
+prisoners, eight guns, one mitrailleuse and a standard belonging
+to the enemy were left in possession of the latter.</p>
+
+<p>On the French side, the XVth Corps retired to
+Artenay and received orders, under cover of a Division
+to be left there, to occupy the defensive position previously
+held on the skirt of the forest.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the intended further advance of the left wing
+of the Army of Orleans had not succeeded. The XVIth
+Corps, lacking the support of the XVIIth, had indeed
+lost ground, but still maintained itself with its most
+advanced line on Villepion, Faverolles and Terminiers.
+General Chanzy therefore considered himself justified
+in making yet another effort against the German right
+wing on the following day.</p>
+
+<p>The German strength consisted of five Corps, and
+stood close in front of the enemy; further reinforcements
+could not be immediately expected, but by the
+supreme Command it was judged that the moment had
+now come to put an end to the standing menace from
+the south against the investment of Paris.</p>
+
+<p>At mid-day of the 2nd, the order came from the Royal
+Head-quarter to undertake an attack on Orleans in full
+strength, and in the course of that day Prince Frederick
+Charles gave the requisite instructions to this end.</p>
+
+<p>It is here necessary to go back a little in order to see
+how circumstances developed events during November
+at various other points.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> To the German term "Haken-stellung" there is perhaps no precisely
+equivalent expression in our military vocabulary. "Refused
+flank" is probably approximate.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Paris in November.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The tidings, which became known on the 14th November,
+of the happy result of the action at Coulmiers on
+the 9th, had rekindled in Paris universal hope. No one
+doubted that the enemy would find it necessary to send
+large forces in the Orleans direction, which would considerably
+weaken the investment line, particularly in
+its southern section.</p>
+
+<p>In order to contribute towards the hoped-for approaching
+relief by active co-operation, three separate
+armies were formed out of the garrison of Paris.</p>
+
+<p>The first, under General Clément Thomas, consisted
+of 226 battalions of the National Guard, in round
+numbers 130,000 men. Its duty was the defence of the
+enceinte and the maintenance of quietude within the
+city. The second, under General Ducrot, constituted the
+most trustworthy element, especially the troops of the
+former XIIIth and XIVth Corps. This army was
+apportioned into three (Infantry) Corps and one Cavalry
+Division, and it consisted of fully 100,000 men and
+more than 300 guns. It was designed for active service
+in the field, and for making sorties on the investing
+forces. The third army, under General Vinoy,
+70,000 strong, was made up of six Divisions of Gardes-Mobiles
+and one Cavalry Division; and to it also
+Maud'huy's Division of the line was assigned. It was
+to aid the more important sorties by diversions on subordinate
+fronts. In addition to all these details, 80,000
+Gardes-Mobiles were in the forts, and 35,000 more in
+St. Denis under Admiral de la Roncière.</p>
+
+<p>The available military strength consequently amounted
+to above 400,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>The garrison exhibited a lively activity in petty
+nocturnal enterprises. The heavy guns of the defences
+carried to Choisy le Roi, and even as far as Beauregard,
+near Versailles. On the peninsula of Gennevilliers
+trenchwork was energetically set about, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span>
+task of bridge-building was undertaken. Many signs
+pointed to an intended effort on the part of the French
+to break out in a westerly direction. But since, as
+long as the IInd Army was still incomplete, the
+greatest danger threatened from the south, the supreme
+Command in Versailles, as already mentioned, ordered
+the IInd Corps into the position behind the Yvette
+from Villeneuve to Saclay. On the north of Paris the
+Guard Corps extended itself leftward as far as Aulnay,
+the XIIth sent one brigade across to the south bank of
+the Marne, and the Würtemberg Division moved into
+the interval between the Marne and the Seine caused by
+the shifting of the IInd Corps.</p>
+
+<p>On November 18th the summons from Tours reached
+Paris, calling on the latter with all promptitude to
+reach the hand to the Army of the Loire; certainly
+somewhat prematurely, since, as we know, that army
+was at the time concerning itself only in regard to
+defensive measures.</p>
+
+<p>In Paris all preparations were actually made for a
+great sortie. But as the earlier attacks on the front of
+the VIth Corps had shown that this section of the investment
+was materially strengthened by fortifications
+about Thiais and Chevilly, it was decided in the first
+instance to gain the plateau east of Joinville and from
+thence to bend rightward towards the south. The attention
+of the Germans was to be distracted by attacks in
+the opposite direction.</p>
+
+<p>On the 18th,<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> the day on which the Army of Orleans
+had vainly striven to press forward to Beaune la Rolande,
+General Ducrot assembled the IInd Army of
+Paris in the neighbourhood of Vincennes, and Mont
+Avron was occupied on the following day by Hugues'
+Division of the IIIrd Army. As, however, the construction
+of the bridges (over the Marne) at Champigny
+and Bry was delayed, the battle was postponed
+till the 30th; but it was left to the commanders of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>
+subordinate affairs to carry them out simultaneously
+with the chief enterprise or in advance of it. Accordingly,
+Maud'huy's Division assembled in the night of
+28th&mdash;29th behind the redoubt of Hautes Bruyères,
+and advanced against L'Hay before daybreak.</p>
+
+<p>Warned by the heavy firing from the southern forts,
+General von Tümpling (commanding VIth Corps) had
+early ordered the 12th Division to get under arms in its
+fighting positions, and the 11th to assemble at Fresnes.</p>
+
+<p>The French, favoured by the darkness, made their
+way through the vineyards into L'Hay; but were successfully
+driven back by the Germans with the bayonet
+and clubbed arms.</p>
+
+<p>After a prolonged fire-fight, the French renewed
+their onslaught at 8.30, but without success; and then
+the defenders, reinforced from the reserve, retaliated
+with a vigorous counterstroke. At ten o'clock the
+enemy retreated to Villejuif.</p>
+
+<p>Admiral Pothuau at the same time had moved up the
+Seine with Marines and National Guards. An outpost
+at Gare aux B&oelig;ufs was surprised and captured, and
+Choisy le Roi was fired upon by field-guns, fortress
+artillery, and gunboats which appeared on the Seine.
+Just as the Grenadiers of the 10th (Prussian) Regiment
+were on the point of making an attack, General
+Vinoy broke off the fight.</p>
+
+<p>This demonstration cost the French 1000 men and
+300 uninjured prisoners; the Prussians, remaining
+under cover, lost only 140 men. The fortress kept up
+its fire till mid-day, and then the enemy was allowed a
+short truce, to remove his numerous wounded.</p>
+
+<p>Against the front of the Vth Corps also, a strong
+infantry force advanced at eight o'clock upon Garches
+and Malmaison, and drove in part of the outposts. But
+it soon found itself opposed by closed battalions, and at
+noon retreated to Valérien.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> Obvious misprint for 28th.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Attempt of the Army of Paris to break
+out.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(November 30th and December 2nd.)</div>
+
+
+<p>On November 30th the IInd Paris Army opened
+the battle which was to decide the fate of the capital.</p>
+
+<p>To hinder the reinforcement of the Germans towards
+the real point of attack, almost every section of their
+line of investment was again engrossed by sorties.</p>
+
+<p>To the duty of pushing an attack against the southern
+front, General Ducrot assigned Susbielle's Division of
+his IInd Corps. It reached Rosny so early as three
+o'clock in the morning, crossed the Marne at Créteil by
+a field-bridge, and from thence, briskly supported by
+the nearest forts, opened fire on the outpost line of the
+Würtemberg Division, which had been pushed forward
+to Bonneuil and Mesly.</p>
+
+<p>General von Obernitz (commanding the Division) had
+an extended position to maintain. His 1st Brigade was
+at Villiers on the peninsula of Joinville, his 2nd at
+Sucy en Brie, and his 3rd at Brévannes. The Division
+was placed under the Commander of the Army of the
+Meuse, who had been instructed from Versailles to reinforce
+it strongly by the XIIth Corps, or even by
+troops of the Guard Corps.</p>
+
+<p>From the great accumulation of hostile forces on
+Mont Avron, the Saxon Corps believed itself directly
+threatened on the right bank of the Marne, and requested
+to be immediately transferred to the left; the
+Crown Prince of Saxony gave the order that the whole
+24th Division should assemble there on the following day.</p>
+
+<p>Thus for the present the only aid that could be rendered
+to the Würtembergers was from the wing of the
+IInd Corps at Villeneuve, of which the 7th Infantry
+Brigade moved up near Brévannes to Valenton.</p>
+
+<p>The fire of its three batteries hurrying thither, first
+brought the advance of the French Division to a stand.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>
+The attempt of the Würtembergers to seize Mont-Mesly
+failed at first; but after a strenuous artillery fire they
+succeeded in carrying the hill by twelve o'clock, and
+the Prussian battalions forced their way into Mesly.
+The Würtemberg horse cut in upon the enemy's retreating
+guns with great success. At 1.30 the re-opening
+of the fire from the forts proclaimed the end of
+this sortie. It cost the Germans 350 men, and the
+French 1200.</p>
+
+<p>During this time the front of the VIth Corps had not
+been at all molested. General Vinoy, who had not
+been informed of the advance of Susbielle's Division,
+when its retreat was noticed caused to be opened from
+Fort Ivry and the adjoining works a brisk fire, which
+was augmented by gunboats on the Seine and armour-plated
+batteries on the railway. Then Admiral
+Pothuau advanced against Choisy le Roi and Thiais.
+His Marines, after driving out the Prussian fore-posts,
+again settled themselves firmly in Gare aux
+B&oelig;ufs. But the further advance failed, and General
+Vinoy recalled his troops, after which the fighting
+at Mesly ceased, and only the thunder of artillery
+continued till five o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>After a preliminary cannonade from Valérien the
+Gardes-Mobiles advanced against the front of the Vth
+Corps about seven o'clock. They were, however, repulsed
+by the outposts and supporting troops in readiness,
+and retired at eleven o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>On the northern front of Paris there occurred also
+a sharp fight. At mid-day Fort de la Briche, supported
+by field-guns and a floating battery, opened a
+heavy fire on the low-lying village of Epinay on the
+right bank of the Seine. At two o'clock Haurion's
+Brigade advanced, two companies of marines pressed
+into the place along the bank of the river, and drove
+out the garrison, which consisted of only one company.
+A second also retired from the defence-works in a
+northerly direction towards Ormesson. At three<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>
+o'clock in the afternoon, the village, up to some still
+obstinately defended farms on the further side of the
+mill-race, fell into the hands of the French.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the troops of the IVth Corps had assembled,
+and seven batteries came into action on the overhanging
+heights. The infantry rushed upon the village
+from all sides with loud cheers, and about four o'clock,
+after a fierce street-fight, recovered possession of the
+posts which had been lost; and it was this transitory
+conquest that was to raise so great hopes in Tours.
+The losses on both sides amounted to 300 men.</p>
+
+<p>Those affairs were all mere feints to facilitate the chief
+action; and whilst the investing troops were thus
+engaged and held fast at all points, two Corps of the
+IInd French Army at 6.30 in the morning crossed the
+bridges at Joinville and Nogent which had been completed
+during the night. After repulsing the German
+outposts they both deployed, and stretched completely
+across the peninsula between Champigny and Bry.
+The IIIrd Corps had taken the road along the north
+bank of the Marne, towards Neuilly, to cross the river
+there, thus threatening to compromise the position
+of the Saxon Corps, which therefore still detained the
+47th Brigade on the right bank, though it had been
+assigned to the assistance of the Würtembergers.
+Consequently there were available to oppose the two
+French Corps on the left bank, only two German
+brigades extended over about four miles, the Saxon
+48th about Noisy, and the Würtemberg 1st from
+Villiers to Chennevières.</p>
+
+<p>At ten o'clock Maussion's Division advanced against
+the Park of Villiers. Supported by Saxon detachments
+from Noisy, the Würtembergers repulsed a first attack,
+but in following it up met with heavy losses. The
+French batteries of two Divisions and those of the
+Artillery Reserve formed line in front of the park.
+On their right Faron's Division, not without heavy
+losses, succeeded in gaining possession of Champigny,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>
+and had then established itself in front of that village
+to defend the occupation of it.</p>
+
+<p>General Ducrot's original idea had been to maintain
+a stationary fight on the peninsula until he should be
+joined at Noisy by his IIIrd Corps. But as news
+arrived that at eleven o'clock it was still on the
+northern side of the Marne, he ordered an immediate
+general attack by both his other Corps.</p>
+
+<p>On the left the advance was checked for a considerable
+time by the German batteries which had been
+pushed forward between Noisy and Villiers, and when
+Colonel von Abendroth moved out from both villages
+with six companies of the 48th Brigade to an attack in
+close formation, the French fell back into the vineyards
+on the western slope of the plateau, leaving
+behind two guns, which, however, the Saxons could
+not carry away for want of teams.</p>
+
+<p>In the centre of the line of fight, Berthaut's Division
+tried to push forward south of Villiers, but by the fire
+of five batteries in position there and at Coeuilly its
+ranks were so severely thinned that it gave ground
+before the advance of a Saxon battalion.</p>
+
+<p>On the right wing, the guns which had been brought
+up into position in front of Champigny had at last been
+compelled by the German artillery to withdraw, and
+had sought cover further north, near the lime-kilns. A
+body of French infantry had advanced along the riverside
+to Maison Blanche, but meanwhile the 2nd Würtemberg
+Brigade, although itself attacked at Sucy, despatched
+a reinforcement of two companies and a battery
+to Chennevières. Advancing from the Hunting-lodge,
+the Würtembergers took 200 French prisoners at
+Maison Blanche; though, on the other hand, an attempt
+to carry the heights in front of Champigny with the companies
+assembled at Coeuilly failed with heavy loss. As
+the result, however, of a renewed flank-attack from the
+Hunting-lodge, Faron's Division, which had already been
+severely shaken, was obliged to retreat to Champigny.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>General Ducrot decided to be content, for that day,
+with having established a firm footing on the left bank
+of the Marne, and he brought up sixteen batteries to a
+position in his front, to secure the wedge of ground he
+had gained. On the following day the attack was to be
+renewed by all the three Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The Germans, on their part, had to congratulate
+themselves on having maintained their ground against
+greatly superior numbers. And so in the afternoon the
+fight gradually died away, until it broke out again in
+the north.</p>
+
+<p>The French IIIrd Corps, marching up the right bank
+of the Marne, had occupied Neuilly in force, and had
+driven in the outposts of the Saxon 47th Brigade.
+Under cover of six batteries the construction of two
+military bridges below Neuilly was begun at ten o'clock,
+and finished by noon. But just at this time it happened,
+as we have seen, that the French were in retreat
+from the plateau, so the crossing did not occur until
+two o'clock in the afternoon. Bellemare's Division
+marched down the valley to Bry, where it closed on
+the left flank of the IInd Corps. A regiment of
+Zouaves, trying to ascend the plateau from Bry, lost half
+its men and all its officers. Notwithstanding, General
+Ducrot decided to employ his reinforced strength
+in the immediate renewal of the attack on Villiers.</p>
+
+<p>Strengthened by four battalions, the Division advanced
+in this direction, although the artillery had not
+succeeded in battering down the park wall; repeated
+onslaughts by rifle-swarms were repulsed, and finally
+the French retreated into the valley. The simultaneous
+attacks of Berthaut's Division along the railway
+line and of Faron's Division on the Hunting-lodge
+also miscarried. Not till darkness had set in did the
+firing cease on both sides.</p>
+
+<p>Near Chelles, on the line in which the French IIIrd
+Corps had been advancing in the morning, the Crown
+Prince of Saxony had collected the 23rd Division; but as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>
+soon as the enemy's real objective was penetrated, he
+despatched part of the 47th Brigade and a portion of
+the Corps Artillery to the threatened position held by
+the Würtembergers. Not less opportunely had General
+von Obernitz, as soon as the fighting at Mesly was
+over, sent three battalions to the Hunting-lodge. In the
+night orders came from the supreme Head-quarter for
+the IInd and VIth Corps to send reinforcements to the
+endangered points of the line of investment, and the
+7th and 21st Brigades arrived at Sucy on the following
+day, the 1st of December.</p>
+
+<p>On the French side the attempt to break through
+without help from outside was already considered as
+well-nigh hopeless, and it was only the fear of popular
+indignation which caused the IIIrd Army to remain
+longer on the left bank of the Marne. Instead of
+attacking, the French began to intrench themselves,
+and in order to clear the battle-field a truce was
+arranged. The thunder of the cannon from Mont
+Avron had to serve for the present to keep up the
+spirits of the Parisians. The Germans also worked
+at the strengthening of their positions, but, suffering
+from the sudden and extreme cold, part at least of the
+troops withdrew into quarters further rearward.</p>
+
+<p>The command of the whole of the German Army
+between the Marne and the Seine was assumed by
+General von Fransecky (commanding IInd Corps).
+The Head-quarter of the Army of the Meuse had
+already given instructions that Prince George (of
+Saxony) with all the available troops of the XIIth
+Corps, should make surprise-attacks on Bry and Champigny
+in the early morning of the 2nd.</p>
+
+<p>With this object, on the morning specified the 24th
+Division assembled at Noisy, the 1st Würtemberg
+Brigade at Villiers, and the 7th Prussian Brigade at
+the Hunting-lodge.</p>
+
+<p>The foremost battalions of the Saxon Division drove
+back the enemy's outposts by a sudden rush, took<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>
+100 prisoners, and after storming a barricade entered
+Bry. Here ensued an embittered fight in the streets
+and houses, in which the 2nd Battalion of the 107th
+Regiment lost nearly all its officers. Nevertheless it
+maintained its hold on the northern part of the village,
+in spite of the heavy fire of the forts.</p>
+
+<p>The Würtembergers also forced an entrance into
+Champigny, but soon met with fierce resistance from
+the enemy sheltered in the buildings. The previously
+occupied Bois de la Lande had to be abandoned, and
+General Ducrot now determined to resort to the offensive.
+The strong artillery line on his front came into
+action at about nine o'clock, and two Divisions deployed
+in rear of it.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the Fusilier battalion of the Colberg
+Regiment marched once more from the Hunting-lodge
+on Bois de la Lande, and carried it with the first
+onslaught. The French, firing heavily from the railway
+embankments, struck down the Pomeranians with
+clubbed rifles and at the point of the bayonet. A
+fierce fight was carried on at the same time at the lime-pits,
+where at noon 160 French laid down their arms.
+When six Würtemberg and nine Prussian batteries
+had been by degrees brought into action against
+Champigny, General Hartmann<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> succeeded in getting as
+far as the road leading to Bry. As, however, the
+batteries were now being masked by their own infantry,
+and were suffering, too, under the heavy projectiles fired
+from the forts, they were withdrawn into the hollow of
+the Hunting-lodge. At two o'clock the 1st Würtemberg
+and 7th Prussian Brigades established themselves
+firmly in the line from the churchyard of
+Champigny to the Bois de la Lande.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the French divisions of Bellemare and
+Susbielle had reached the battle-field from the right
+bank of the Marne. The two Saxon battalions in Bry,
+having already lost 36 officers and 638 men, were compelled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>
+by the approach of the enemy in very superior
+force, to evacuate the village and retire on Noisy, but
+not without taking 300 prisoners with them. The rest
+of the Saxon forces held Villiers, where the still available
+batteries also were in position.</p>
+
+<p>While, at two o'clock, the French were bringing up
+a strong artillery mass against this point, four batteries
+of the IInd Corps rushed out of the hollow near the
+Hunting-lodge at a gallop upon their flank, and opened
+fire at a range of 2000 paces. In less than ten minutes
+the French batteries fell back and the Prussian batteries
+returned to their sheltered position. Several hostile
+battalions which, at about three o'clock, attempted a
+renewed assault on Villiers, were repulsed with no
+difficulty, and at five o'clock the fighting ceased. The
+French merely kept up a fire of field and fortress
+artillery until dark.</p>
+
+<p>General Ducrot had received information in the
+course of the day, that the Army of the Loire was
+marching on Fontainebleau, and he was, therefore, very
+anxious to continue to maintain his position outside
+Paris.</p>
+
+<p>During the night of December 2nd&mdash;3rd, provisions
+were procured, and the teams and ammunition of the
+batteries were made up; but the approach of support
+from without was in no wise confirmed.</p>
+
+<p>The troops were completely exhausted by the previous
+disastrous fighting, and the Commander-in-Chief was
+justified in apprehending a repulse on the Marne by
+the enemy's invigorated forces. He therefore ordered
+a retreat, the troops being informed that the attack
+should be renewed as soon as their preparedness for
+fighting should have been re-established.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after midnight the divisions were assembled
+behind the outposts, and the trains were sent back first.
+At noon the troops were able to follow over the bridges
+at Neuilly, Bry, and Joinville. Only one brigade
+remained in position to cover the passage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The retreat was very skilfully covered by a series of
+small attacks on the German outposts. The French
+batteries had opened fire at Le Plant and Bry by daybreak,
+and the withdrawal of the enemy's army was
+completely hidden by the thick mist.</p>
+
+<p>General Fransecky assembled the Saxon and the
+Würtemberg Divisions in a fighting position at Villiers
+and C&oelig;uilly, the 7th Brigade with the Corps-Artillery
+of the IInd Corps and two regiments of the VIth at
+Chennevières, intending to wait for the expected reinforcement
+which the VIth Corps had agreed to furnish
+for the 4th. The 23rd Division also received orders
+from the Crown Prince of Saxony to cross to the left
+bank of the Marne, whilst the Guard Corps had meanwhile
+extended its outposts to Chelles.</p>
+
+<p>So remained matters on the 3rd, with the exception
+of petty frays, and at four o'clock in the afternoon the
+troops were able to return to quarters. When early on
+the 4th patrols rode forward towards Bry and Champigny,
+they found these places vacated, and the
+peninsula of Joinville deserted by the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd French Army, which had been severely
+reduced and its internal cohesion much shaken, returned
+to Paris; on its own report it had lost 12,000 men.
+The German troops engaged had lost 6200 men, but
+resumed their former positions in the investing line.</p>
+
+<p>This energetic attempt on the part of General Ducrot
+was the most serious effort that was made for the relief
+of Paris. It was directed towards what was at the
+moment the weakest point of the investment, but met
+with any success only at the outset.<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p>
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Commanding 3rd Infantry Division.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> A legend was subsequently circulated that the voice of one
+general in a German council of war had, in opposition to all the
+others, prevented the removal of the chief head-quarters from Versailles.
+Apart from the fact that during the whole course of the
+invasion no council of war was ever held, it never occurred to any
+member of the King's military suite to set so bad an example to the
+army. [Moltke.]</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Advance of the Ist Army in November.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The newly-formed levies in northern France were not
+remaining inactive. Rouen and Lille were their chief
+centres. In front of the latter place, the Somme with
+its fortified passages at Ham, Péronne, Amiens, and
+Abbeville afforded a line equally advantageous for
+attacks to the front or for secure retreat. Isolated
+advances had, indeed, on various occasions, been driven
+back by detachments of the Army of the Meuse, but
+these were too weak to rid themselves of the continued
+molestation by pursuit pushed home.</p>
+
+<p>We have already seen how, after the fall of Metz, the
+IInd Army marched to the Loire, and the Ist into the
+northern departments of France.</p>
+
+<p>A large portion of the Ist Army was at first detained
+on the Moselle by having had to undertake the transport
+of the numerous prisoners and the observation of
+the fortresses which interrupted the communications
+with Germany. The whole VIIth Corps was either in
+Metz or before Thionville and Montmédy. Of the Ist
+Corps, the 1st Division was detached to Rethel,<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a> the 4th
+Brigade transported by railway through Soissons to
+the investment of La Fère, and the 3rd Cavalry
+Division sent on towards the forest of Argonnes. The
+remaining five brigades followed with the artillery on
+the 7th November.<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a></p>
+
+<p>Marching on a wide front, the force reached the
+Oise between Compiègne and Chauny on the 20th.
+In front of the right wing the cavalry, supported by a
+battalion of Jägers, came in contact with Gardes-Mobiles
+at Ham and Guiscard; in face of the infantry<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>
+columns the hostile bodies fell back on Amiens. It
+was learned that 15,000 men were there, and that
+reinforcements were continually joining.</p>
+
+<p>On the 25th the 3rd Brigade reached Le Quesnel.
+The 15th Division of the VIIIth Corps advanced beyond
+Montdidier, and the 16th to Breteuil, whence it established
+connection with the Saxon detachments about
+Clermont. On the 26th the right wing closed up to Le
+Quesnel, the left to Moreuil and Essertaux. The cavalry
+scouted forward towards the Somme, the right bank of
+which it found occupied. The enemy's attitude indicated
+that he was confining himself to the defence of
+that position. General von Manteuffel thereupon determined
+to attack, without waiting for the arrival of the
+1st Division, the transport of which from Rethel was
+extraordinarily delayed. His intention, in the first
+instance, was to utilize the 27th in drawing closer in
+his forces, which were extended along a front of some
+nineteen miles. But the battle was unexpectedly
+fought on that same day.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> According to statement on p. <a href="#Page_177">177</a>, to Mézières.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> The "five brigades" mentioned in the text consisted of the 3rd
+of Ist Corps, and the four composing the VIIIth Corps, of which,
+the Ist and VIIth, the Ist Army was made up. The 1st Cavalry
+Division, originally belonging to the Ist Army, was transferred to the
+IInd Army by the reorganization following the capitulation of Metz.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Amiens.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(November 17th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>General Farre, with his 17,500 men distributed into
+three brigades, stood eastward of Amiens on the south
+bank of the Somme, about Villers Bretonneux and
+Longueau along the road to Péronne, holding also the
+villages and copses on his front. Besides these troops
+there were 8000 Gardes-Mobiles occupying an intrenched
+position about two and a half miles in front
+of the city.</p>
+
+<p>In accordance with instructions from the Army
+Headquarter, General von Goeben (commanding the
+VIIIth Corps) had given orders for the 27th that the
+15th Division should take up quarters at Fouencamps
+and Sains; the 16th at Rumigny and Plachy and in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>
+villages further back; the Corps-Artillery at Grattepanche.
+Consequently the VIIIth Corps was to be
+assembled before Amiens between the Celle and the
+Noye, at the distance, then, of nearly two and a half
+miles from the Ist Corps, and divided from it by the
+latter brook and the Avre. General von Bentheim
+(commanding the 1st Division, Ist Corps<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a>) on the other
+hand, had sent his advanced guard, the 3rd Brigade,
+into quarters north of the Luce.</p>
+
+<p>At an early hour that brigade seized the passages of
+the brook at Démuin, Hangard, and Domart. At ten
+o'clock it moved forward in order to occupy the
+appointed quarters, and as the enemy were already in
+possession, a fight began which gradually increased in
+magnitude.</p>
+
+<p>The wooded heights on the north bank of the Luce
+were taken without any particular resistance, and
+maintained in spite of several counter strokes by the
+French. The artillery pushed forward through the
+intervals of the infantry. On the left the 4th Regiment
+seized the village of Gentelles, on the right the
+44th Regiment rushed up to within 300 paces of the
+left flank of the French position, and by a vigorous
+onslaught carried by storm the earthworks at the railway
+cutting east of Villers Bretonneux. Soon after
+mid-day heavy hostile masses drew up at Bretonneux
+and in Cachy, directly opposite the 3rd Brigade,
+which was extended along a front of some four miles.</p>
+
+<p>On the left wing of the Germans the 16th Division
+had by eleven o'clock already reached its assigned
+quarters, and had driven the enemy out of Hébecourt,
+as well as out of the woods north of that village towards
+Dury. The 15th Division, in compliance with the
+enjoined assemblage of the VIIIth Corps on the left bank
+of the Noye, moved westward from Moreuil through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>
+Ailly to Dommartin, its advance guard which had been
+holding Hailles marching direct on Fouencamps. Thus
+it happened that before noon the roads from Roye and
+Montdidier between the two Corps were left completely
+uncovered by troops on the German side, while a French
+brigade was standing at the fork of these roads at
+Longueau, though, in fact, it remained absolutely inactive.
+This interval was at first screened only by the
+numerous retinue and staff escort of the Commander-in-Chief;
+and then it was to some extent filled by the
+battalion constituting the guard of the headquarter.
+As, however, after ten o'clock the French on their side
+commenced an attack on the 3rd Brigade, General von
+Manteuffel ordered the 15th Division to join in the
+fight as far as possible toward the right wing.</p>
+
+<p>After a staunch defence the companies of the 4th
+Regiment were driven back out of the Bois de Hangard
+towards the declivity of the height in front of Démuin,
+and subsequently, having expended all their ammunition,
+the defenders of Gentelles were driven back to
+Domart.</p>
+
+<p>General von Strubberg (commanding 30th Infantry
+Brigade, VIIIth Corps), on instructions from the scene of
+combat in front of the Luce, had sent four battalions in
+that direction, which crossed the Avre, but came under
+such a heavy fire from the Bois de Gentelles that their
+further advance was prevented, and they had to change
+front against the wood. Behind them, however, the
+other detachments of the 30th Brigade pressed forward
+to St. Nicolas on the right bank, and to Boves on the
+left, and in co-operation with the 29th Brigade drove
+the French from the neighbouring Ruinenberg.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile a part of the approaching 1st Division
+came up behind the 3rd Brigade. The artillery positions
+were considerably strengthened, and the cannon
+fire was directed against the earthworks south of Bretonneux.
+As the nearest support the Crown Prince's
+Regiment went forward, and soon the French were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span>
+again driven out of the Bois de Hangard. The East
+Prussians following them up, took cover in front of the
+earthworks; several detachments of the 4th and 44th
+Regiments gradually collected there from the neighbouring
+woods, and the enemy was then driven back
+from this position. Thirteen batteries now silenced
+the French artillery, and, after they had fired for some
+time on Bretonneux, the place was, at four o'clock,
+seized by the Prussians pouring in from all sides with
+drums beating. The French in its interior made
+only a weak defence at isolated points; for the most
+part they hurried over the Somme at Corbie under
+cover of the darkness, and with the loss of 180 unwounded
+prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>When, somewhat later, the French General Lecointe
+advanced with the reserve brigade on Domart, he found
+that crossing point already in possession of the 1st
+Division, and turned back. Cachy only was held by
+the French till late in the evening.</p>
+
+<p>The troops of the Ist Corps were distributed for the
+night in the hamlets to the south of the Luce; but
+the outposts were established on the northern bank of
+the Somme, and Bretonneux also remained occupied.</p>
+
+<p>On the left wing of the battle-field the 16th Division
+had advanced to Dury, and had driven the French out
+of the neighbouring churchyard, but had been forced to
+withdraw from an attack on the enemy's extensive and
+strongly defended line of intrenchment. It bivouacked
+behind Dury.</p>
+
+<p>It was night before General von Manteuffel received
+information which proved that the enemy had been
+completely defeated. Early in the morning of the
+28th the patrols of the Ist Corps found the region
+clear of the enemy as far as the Somme, and all the
+bridges across the river destroyed. At noon General
+von Goeben entered Amiens, the citadel of which
+capitulated two days later with its garrison of 400 men
+and 30 cannon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>One peculiarity of the battle of the 27th November
+was the disproportionately great extent of the battle-field
+to the number of the troops engaged. General
+Farre, with 25,000 men in round numbers, covered a
+front of about fourteen miles from Pont de Metz south
+of Amiens to the east of Villers Bretonneux, and with
+the Somme close on his rear. The Germans attacked
+on approximately the same breadth of front, with the
+result that there was a break in the middle of their
+line. The danger caused by this gap was not taken
+advantage of during the morning through the inactivity
+of the enemy, and it was then nullified by the
+occupation of St. Nicolas.</p>
+
+<p>The superiority of numbers was on the side of the
+Germans, for, although of the approaching 1st Division
+only the Crown Prince's Regiment could take part in
+the fighting, they were 30,000 strong. The 3rd
+Brigade bore the brunt of the battle, losing 630
+men and 34 officers out of a total of 1300. The
+French also lost about 1300, besides 1000 reported
+missing. Part of the National Guard threw down
+their arms and fled to their homes. The main body of
+the French Corps retired on Arras.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately after the battle the Ist Army was
+reinforced by the 4th Brigade, which had been brought
+from La Fère.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> In effect commanding the whole Ist Corps, although nominally
+Manteuffel was still chief of it, as well as in command of the Ist
+Army.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Reduction of La Fère.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(November 27th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>This little fortress became of importance since it
+closed the line of railway passing through Rheims,
+both to Amiens and to Paris. Lying in open, wet, low
+ground overflowed by the Somme and its tributaries,
+it was difficult of approach; otherwise, the fortifications<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>
+merely consisted of an isolated wall, with sundry
+earthworks close in front of it, and it was entirely
+seen into from heights on the east at a distance of not
+more than 1500 metres.</p>
+
+<p>The brigade (4th of Ist Corps) as a preliminary
+measure had invested La Fère on the 15th November,
+and when the siege-train arrived from Soissons with
+thirty-two heavy guns, seven batteries were built and
+armed during the night of the 25th on the heights
+already mentioned. On the following morning these
+opened fire, and on the 27th the place capitulated.
+Gardes-Mobiles to the number of 2300 were taken
+prisoners, and the most serviceable of the 113 guns
+found were brought away to arm the citadel of Amiens.
+The reinforcement of the Ist Army by the VIIth Corps
+meanwhile was not yet even in prospect, since the latter
+still had further work to do on the Moselle; the
+greater part of the 14th Division only arrived before
+Thionville on November 13th.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Reduction of Thionville.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(November 24th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>This fortress, shut in on all sides by hills, was
+entirely without bomb-proof protection; direct
+approach from the south was, on the other hand,
+rendered difficult by artificial inundations, and on
+the west and north by swamps. General von Kameke
+therefore decided to await the result of a heavy
+bombardment before resorting to a regular attack.
+Batteries were erected on both banks of the Moselle,
+and on the morning of the 22nd eighty-five guns
+opened fire. At first the fortress answered briskly.
+In the following night the infantry detailed to the task
+of throwing up the first parallel, advanced to within<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>
+600 paces of the west front, but, in consequence
+of pouring rain and the condition of the ground the
+work made but small progress. However, on the 24th
+at mid-day the commandant proposed negotiations
+for the surrender of the place. The garrison, 4000
+strong, with the exception of the National Guard
+belonging to the place, became prisoners and were sent
+to Germany; and 199 guns, besides a considerable
+amount of supplies, arms and ammunition, fell into the
+hands of the conqueror.</p>
+
+<p>The 14th Division was now required to lay siege to
+the northern frontier fortresses, which would occupy it
+for some time. The 13th Division, by orders from the
+supreme Head-quarter, was assigned to the operations
+in southern France.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Investment of Belfort in November.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>On the south-east section of the theatre of war Belfort
+had become the centre of continual petty enterprises
+on the part of French flying detachments in rear of
+the XIVth Corps, which under General von Werder
+stood about Vesoul.</p>
+
+<p>But when the troops previously before Strasburg
+had been relieved by a newly formed body from
+Germany, the troops before Neu-Breisach became
+available, and were set in march on Upper Alsace;
+while the 1st Reserve Division reached Belfort on the
+3rd November, and by the 8th had effected the preliminary
+investment of that place. The greater part of
+the 4th Reserve Division marched to join the XIVth
+Corps at Vesoul, a detachment under General von
+Debschitz occupied Montbéliard, and the 67th
+Regiment held Mulhouse and Delle.</p>
+
+<p>Glancing back on the German successes during<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>
+November and the general military position at the end
+of the month, we see the great sortie from Paris
+repulsed<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a>; in the north the menace to the investment
+of being hemmed in done away with by General von
+Manteuffel's victory at Amiens; in the east Thionville,
+Breisach, Verdun, and La Fère taken, Montmédy and
+Belfort surrounded; and in the south Prince Frederick
+Charles ready to attack the French army before Orleans.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> The great sortie to the east of Paris was not repulsed until
+December 2nd.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Orleans.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(December 3rd and 4th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>When soon after noon of 2nd December the telegraphed
+order to take the offensive against Orleans
+reached the headquarter of the IInd Army, the Prince
+on the same day assembled the Xth Corps at Beaune la
+Rolande and Boynes, the IIIrd at Pithiviers, and the
+IXth at Bazoches les Gallerandes. By evening the
+collected forces had their marching orders.</p>
+
+<p>The attack was to comprise two days of fighting.
+The IIIrd Corps was first to advance on Loury by way
+of Chilleurs aux Bois; the Xth was to follow to Chilleurs;
+and the IXth was to attack Artenay at half-past
+nine. The 1st Cavalry Division supported by infantry
+was to be on observation on the left flank towards the
+Yonne; the 6th was to follow the right wing. The
+Grand Duke, to whom it had been left to arrange the
+details of his own march westward of the Paris main
+road, ordered the 22nd Division to support the attack
+on Artenay, the Bavarian Corps to advance on Lumeau,
+the 17th Division to remain for the present at Anneux.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>
+The 4th Cavalry Division was charged with the duty
+of scouting on the right flank.</p>
+
+<p>So early as nine o'clock in the morning on the 3rd of
+December the IIIrd Corps met eight battalions and six
+batteries of the enemy at Santeau. The 12th Brigade
+and the artillery of the 6th Division intercalated in the
+columns of march in rear of the foremost battalions,
+thereupon deployed about La Brosse. After a few
+rounds a battery of the left wing had to be withdrawn
+from the fight which had now commenced; on the right,
+on the other hand, the Corps-Artillery gradually came up,
+and by noon seventy-eight Prussian guns were in action.</p>
+
+<p>The French, yielding to strength so overwhelming,
+retired on Chilleurs; but, when the German batteries
+had advanced within 2000 paces of that place, and the
+right flank of the former was threatened by an assault
+of the Jäger battalions, they began a retreat towards
+the forest, and at three o'clock part of the 5th Division
+followed them up through the glen leading to the
+southward, and the 6th by the high road. As these had
+been obstructed in many places, it was six o'clock in
+the evening before the clearing by Loury was reached.</p>
+
+<p>On the right, heavy musketry-firing was heard in the
+region of Neuville, and tidings also arrived that on the
+left the French had occupied Nancray.</p>
+
+<p>In consequence of this, a reinforcement from the
+reserve remaining in Chilleurs was brought up; one
+regiment was thrown out fronting towards the west, a
+second towards the east, and under cover of the outposts
+extended toward the south the remainder of the
+troops went into bivouac and quarters at Loury.</p>
+
+<p>The IXth Corps had first assembled at Château
+Gaillard on the main road to Paris, and then advanced
+along the chaussée through Dambron against Villereau.
+At Assas it met the enemy, who was soon driven back
+by its artillery, and disappeared towards Artenay.
+At about ten o'clock an obstinate contest was engaged
+in against the batteries of the 2nd French Division in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>
+position here, in which part of the Corps-Artillery presently
+bore part, seconded later by the batteries of the
+22nd Division, which had come up to Poupry. General
+Martineau retreated slowly by successive detachments,
+his artillery leading, before the overwhelming fire of
+ninety guns, on La Croix Briquet and Ferme d'Arblay.</p>
+
+<p>At twelve o'clock the Germans occupied Artenay,
+and after half an hour's rest they renewed the offensive.
+There occurred a long and obstinate fire-fight both of
+infantry and artillery, while the 22nd Division pushed
+forward on the enemy's left flank. At two o'clock his
+guns were silenced, the left-wing column of the IXth
+Corps seized the farm of Arblay, and the centre by
+hard fighting drove the enemy back along the high
+road through La Croix Briquet to Andeglou, where
+under cover of the marine artillery resistance was kept
+up till dark.</p>
+
+<p>General Puttkamer<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> had brought up five batteries to
+within 800 paces of Chevilly, and the 22nd Division
+was advancing on the burning village, when the chief
+Command gave the order to halt, the Grand Duke hesitating
+to engage in a night attack on the intrenched
+village. But when, soon after, a Hussar patrol brought
+the information that it was already evacuated, General
+von Wittich ordered its occupation. The troops
+bivouacked in a heavy snowstorm, in and to the rear
+of La Croix Briquet.</p>
+
+<p>About the time of the first advance the IXth Corps
+had sent a detachment of four Hessian battalions leftward
+against St. Lyé. They met with opposition at
+La Tour, drove the enemy back on St. Germain, but
+could not dislodge him from that place.</p>
+
+<p>When the Xth Corps, marching round by Pithiviers
+unmolested, about three o'clock reached the vicinity of
+Chilleurs in rear of the IIIrd Corps, part of the 20th
+Division went on in the direction of the fighting about
+Neuville, the noise of which in the evening was also<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>
+heard at Loury. Darkness had already come on and
+precluded the use of artillery, but the infantry broke
+into the village at several points. But it found the
+streets barricaded, and met with obstinate resistance,
+so that the prosecution of the attack had to be postponed
+till the following day.</p>
+
+<p>The XVth French Corps had sustained single-handed
+the onslaught of three Prussian Corps. Strong masses
+of the Army of Orleans, to right and to left of that
+Corps, made but feeble efforts in the course of the
+day to support it. General Chanzy alone, when at
+about two o'clock he heard heavy firing from Artenay,
+ordered forward the 2nd Division of the XVIth Corps,
+though he had already that morning begun his retreat
+on St. Péravy and Boulay. But this reinforcement
+encountered the Prussian 17th Division, which, coming
+up from Anneux, was on the point of joining in the
+fight at Andeglou, and with it the Bavarian Corps
+advancing from Lumeau. Their strong united artillery
+in position at Chameul and Sougy, soon forced the
+enemy to retire. Douzy and then Huêtre were taken,
+and the château of Chevilly was occupied by the 17th
+Division. Here too darkness put an end to the fighting.
+The troops of the right wing quartered at Provenchères,
+Chameul and rearward.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the German army had made its way without
+very heavy fighting to within nine miles of Orleans.
+The French, indeed, had maintained their ground till
+evening in the neighbourhood of Neuville, but the
+forces holding on there were ordered to retire in the
+night. They were to gain the road from Pithiviers by
+Rebréchien, and make a circuit by Orleans to Chevilly.
+But they thus came under the fire of the IIIrd German
+Corps quartered in Loury, and fled in disorder back
+into the forest, whence they attempted to reach their
+destination by detachments.</p>
+
+<p>It was only to be expected that the French would
+stoutly defend their intrenchments at Gidy and Cercottes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>
+on the following day, if only to keep open their
+way of retreat through Orleans. Prince Frederick
+Charles therefore ordered the Grand Duke's Detachment
+and the IXth Corps to make an encompassing
+attack on both points on the 4th. The IIIrd Corps
+was to advance from Loury on Orleans, and the Xth,
+again forming the reserve, was to follow to Chevilly.</p>
+
+<p>General d'Aurelle had retired to Saran on the evening
+of the 3rd. Here he saw the 2nd Division of the
+XVth Corps fleeing by in utter rout, and heard also that
+the 1st had failed to make a stand at Chilleurs. The
+Corps of his right wing were altogether shattered as
+regarded their internal cohesion by the battle of Beaune,
+and those of his left no less by the fight at Loigny.
+The French General could not but dread being driven
+on the Loire with undisciplined masses, and the consequent
+block of the only passage of the river at Orleans.
+He decided therefore on an eccentric retreat. Only the
+XVth Corps was to retire by Orleans; General Crouzat
+was to cross the Loire at Gien, General Chanzy at
+Beaugency. The reassemblage remained to be attempted
+behind the Sauldre. The necessary dispositions
+were made during the night, and communicated to the
+Government. From the Board of Green Cloth at
+Tours, counter orders of course came next morning to
+maintain the Orleans position, which practically was
+already wrecked; but the General adhered firmly to his
+own determination.</p>
+
+<p>On December 4th the IIIrd Army Corps marched
+out of Loury in two columns by the high road and the
+tracks through Vennecy. Both bodies reached Boigny
+by noon, having met only stragglers. A detachment
+was sent to the right to Neuville, which made prize
+of seven derelict guns and many rifles. To the left,
+another detachment occupied Chézy on the Loire.
+After a short rest the main columns advanced, and by
+two o'clock the 6th Division reached Vaumainbert,
+which was occupied by detachments of the French<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>
+XVth Corps. Although the country was not open
+enough to allow of the employment of artillery, the
+place was taken by the Brandenburgers in spite of the
+stout resistance of the French Marine Infantry, and the
+fire of the batteries on the heights to the north of St.
+Loup could now be directed on the suburb of Orleans.</p>
+
+<p>The 5th Division had meanwhile come up behind the
+6th and took part in the fight.</p>
+
+<p>The XXth French Corps, which was still at Chambon,
+in the eastern part of the forest opposite Beaune la
+Rolande, had received orders at four in the morning
+from Tours direct, to march on Orleans. Contrary
+orders had previously arrived from General d'Aurelle,
+but nothing subsequently came to hand. General
+Crouzat had, as a precaution, sent his train across the
+Loire by way of Jargeau, and then marched in the prescribed
+direction. When, at half-past two he met at
+Pont aux Moines the German detachment despatched to
+Chézy, he determined to cut his way through by force
+of arms; but as General von Stülpnagel reinforced his
+two battalions with the rest of his Division, the French
+general gave up that attempt and retreated across the
+river, making the passage at Jargeau.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side the attack on St. Loup<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a> was
+unsuccessful; and since from the locality of the fighting
+on the part of the other Corps no tidings reached him,
+and darkness was approaching, General von Alvensleben
+postponed any further attack on the city till the
+following day.</p>
+
+<p>North of Orleans the IXth Army Corps advanced
+from La Croix Briquet on the intrenched position of
+Cercottes. At about one o'clock the foremost detachments
+of infantry entered the place. The 2nd Division
+of the French XVth Corps was driven back by the fire
+of the artillery into the vineyards in front of the city.
+Here the infantry alone could continue the struggle.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>
+The French defended every tenable spot, and especially
+in the railway station close to Orleans held their own
+with great persistency. It and the adjacent deep road-cutting
+were fortified with barricades and rifle-pits,
+and armed with naval guns. It was not till nightfall,
+about half-past five, that these posts were abandoned,
+but the contest was continued further back. To avoid
+street-fighting in the dark, General von Manstein
+broke off the fight for the day at about seven o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>The advanced guard of the 17th Division of the Grand
+Duke's Detachment had found Gidy intrenched and
+strongly occupied. But at the approach of the IXth
+Corps the French about eleven o'clock thought proper
+to abandon the position, leaving behind eight guns.
+The German Division, to avoid the wood, now moved
+in a westerly direction on Boulay, whither the 22nd
+and the 2nd Cavalry Division followed as a reserve.</p>
+
+<p>Here the Bavarian Corps and the 4th Cavalry
+Division were already engaged in a fight, having previously
+driven the French out of Bricy and Janvry.
+When the artillery had for some time been in action,
+General von der Tann passed to the assault at about
+twelve o'clock. But the French did not wait for this;
+they beat a hasty retreat, leaving some of their guns in
+the defences.</p>
+
+<p>The 2nd Cavalry Division took up the pursuit. The
+4th Hussars of the 5th Brigade, trotting forward through
+Montaigu, charged a dismounted French battery and
+seized all its guns; another near Ormes was left to be
+carried off by the horse battery. From thence a strong
+body of French horse suddenly appeared on the left
+flank of the 4th Brigade as it was crossing the Châteaudun
+road. But the Blücher Hussars, promptly
+wheeling into line, drove the enemy back through the
+village on Ingré.</p>
+
+<p>The 4th Cavalry Division was placed on observation
+on the right flank of the Detachment; and the Hussars
+of the 2nd Life Regiment here rode down 250 men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>
+forming the escort of a waggon column escaping by the
+road to Châteaudun, and captured the convoy.</p>
+
+<p>While the Germans were thus converging on Orleans
+from the east and north, in the west the XVIIth French
+Corps and the 1st Division of the XVIth were still in the
+field about Patay and St. Péravy. General Chanzy had
+assembled the latter about Coinces, and, to protect himself
+against its threatened attack on his flank, General
+von der Tann formed front at Bricy with his 3rd Infantry
+Brigade, the Cuirassiers, and the artillery reserve.
+The 4th Cavalry Division marched on Coinces, where
+General von Bernhardi, clearing a wide ditch with four
+squadrons of Uhlans, drove a body of French horse
+back on St. Péravy without its having been able to do
+more than fire one carbine-volley. Other squadrons
+of the 9th Brigade rode down the French tirailleurs,
+and pursued the cavalry till it reached the protection
+of strong bodies of infantry. The 8th Brigade was in
+observation toward Patay, and after that place had
+come under the fire of a battery and been abandoned,
+General Chanzy gave up all further attack and retired
+behind the forest of Montpipeau.</p>
+
+<p>The 2nd Cavalry Division now made for the Loire
+immediately below Orleans. Its artillery destroyed a
+bridge at Chapelle over which a baggage-train was
+passing, and compelled the French troops, which were
+marching towards Cléry along the further bank, to flee
+back to Orleans. Two military railway-trains from
+thence were not to be stopped by the firing, but a train
+coming from Tours, in which, as it happened, was
+Gambetta himself, returned thither with all speed.</p>
+
+<p>The Bavarian Corps meanwhile was advancing by the
+high road, and the 22nd Division, in touch with the IXth
+Corps, on the old Châteaudun road; the 17th Division
+between the two on La Borde. This last Division
+at about 3.30 had to carry on its way the strongly
+defended village of Heurdy; and when the Bavarians
+from Ormes turned to the right on Ingré, it proceeded<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>
+by the high road towards St. Jean de la Ruelle.
+Having overcome all opposition there too, the head of
+the Division reached the gates of Orleans at about six
+o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>General von Tresckow entered into negotiations with
+the military authorities there for the orderly occupation
+of the town. An agreement was arrived at by ten
+o'clock, and shortly after midnight the Grand Duke
+marched in with the 17th Division, promptly followed
+by the 2nd Bavarian Brigade. The bridge over the
+Loire, which the French had not found time to blow
+up, was secured with all speed. The rest of the troops
+found quarters for the night, to the west and north of
+the city.</p>
+
+<p>The peremptory orders from the Government to hold
+Orleans had shaken General d'Aurelle's original determination.
+When the mass of the XVth Corps arrived
+there in the forenoon, he was anxious to make a final
+stand. But the necessary orders could not be transmitted
+to the Corps of the right wing, nor carried out
+by those of the left; and by five o'clock the General in
+command was convinced of the futility of any further
+resistance. The artillery of the XVth Corps was in the
+first instance forwarded to La Ferté St. Aubin; the
+infantry followed. The XXth Corps, as we have seen,
+was at Jargeau; the XVIIIth recrossed the Loire at
+Sully; the XVIth and XVIIth moved off westward
+in the direction of Beaugency, but remained on the
+right bank of the river.</p>
+
+<p>The two days' battle had cost the Germans 1700
+men; the French lost 20,000, of whom 1800 were taken
+prisoners. Their large army lately massed before
+Orleans, was now split up into three separate bodies.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Commanding Artillery of IXth Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> The northern suburb of Orleans.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Offensive Operations South, East, and West.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The troops were too much exhausted for immediate
+pursuit in any of these three directions.</p>
+
+<p>It was ordered that only the 6th Cavalry Division,
+reinforced by an infantry detachment of the 18th Division,
+should follow up the enemy making to the southward,
+ascertain his whereabouts, and destroy the concentration
+of the railways from Bourges, Orleans and Tours
+at the Vierzon junction. This Cavalry was in quarters
+to the north of the city; the French XVth Corps had a
+considerable start of it, and the main body of the latter
+had reached Salbris, when, on December 6th, two days
+after the battle, General von Schmidt (commanding
+14th Brigade, 6th Cavalry Division) arrived by a forced
+march at La Ferté St. Aubin. Here he found a detachment
+of the 18th Division, which had already driven
+the French rear-guard back on La Motte Beuvron, but
+was now recalled to the Loiret. Only two companies
+of the 36th Regiment and one of pioneers joined the
+further advance, and followed the cavalry partly in
+waggons and partly on gun-limbers.</p>
+
+<p>On the 7th, under direct orders from Tours, the
+French Corps left the high road to the south, and made
+a flank march of twenty miles in an easterly direction
+to Aubigny Ville. The cavalry, supported to the best
+of their power by its artillery and the small infantry
+detachment, had a sharp fight with the French rear-guard
+at Nouan le Fuzelier, and again in the evening
+at Salbris, in which the French finally had the best of
+it. The neighbourhood being very thinly populated,
+the Division had to return in the night to Nouan, to
+find shelter from the bitter winter weather.</p>
+
+<p>Long before daybreak on the 8th, the French rear-guard
+evacuated Salbris to avoid a further encounter
+with the enemy, whose strength was greatly overestimated.
+After some slight skirmishes the Cavalry
+Division reached Vierzon that evening. The telegraph<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>
+wires were cut and the railway line torn up in
+several places, 70 goods vans were made prize of,
+the direction of the enemy's retreat was ascertained,
+and any offensive movement on the part of the
+French from that side for the time was reckoned very
+improbable.</p>
+
+<p>The Division had fulfilled its task; it was now
+ordered to leave one brigade in observation, and to
+advance in the direction of Blois with the rest. General
+(Count) von der Groeben (commanding 14th Cavalry
+Brigade) maintained his positions at Vierzon and Salbris
+till the 14th.</p>
+
+<p>The winter marches of the 6th Cavalry Division were
+exceptionally arduous. It was almost impossible to
+travel excepting by the high roads, and they were so
+slippery with ice that it was often necessary to dismount
+and lead the horses. The inhabitants of the Sologne
+were extremely hostile, and troopers patrolling in
+advance were fired upon in every village. The French
+forces, on the other hand, made but a feeble resistance.
+Numerous prisoners and large quantities of abandoned
+war matériel bore witness to a hasty retreat, in many
+cases indicated panic-flight. Nevertheless, in spite of
+much desultory marching and counter-marching, the
+Corps on December 13th finally succeeded in joining the
+right wing of the Army of Orleans at Bourges. The
+plight in which it arrived there may be gathered from
+the telegraphic <i>Correspondance Urgente</i> of the Tours
+Government with General Bourbaki, who, when General
+d'Aurelle was dismissed from the command in chief, had
+assumed command of the three Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The delegate Freycinet, who was no doubt kept well
+informed by the country people, assured General
+Bourbaki that he had only a weak force of cavalry in
+his front, and called upon him repeatedly, and in the
+most urgent terms, to advance against Blois. The
+General retorted that if he were to undertake that
+operation, not a gun, not a man of his three Corps would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>
+ever be seen again. His intention was to retreat
+without delay from Bourges on St. Amand, and if
+necessary yet further; all he dreaded was lest he should
+be attacked before he could accomplish this, and so
+be involved in overwhelming disaster.</p>
+
+<p>The Minister of War himself went to Bourges, but
+he too renounced all idea of a serious offensive movement
+when he saw the disorder of the troops; "I have
+never seen anything so wretched." It was with difficulty
+that he carried his point that the Corps should not
+retreat, but should await events under cover of one of
+them pushed forward towards Vierzon.</p>
+
+<p>On the day when General von Schmidt entered
+Vierzon, the XVth Corps was in the vicinity of Henrichemont,
+at about an equal distance with himself
+from Bourges. The XVIIIth and XXth Corps were
+at Aubigny Ville and Cernay, from two to three
+marches away. It can scarcely be doubted that if the
+18th Division had followed the advance of the 6th
+Cavalry Division, possession would have been obtained
+of Bourges and of the vast military establishments
+there.</p>
+
+<p>To the east of Orleans the IIIrd German Corps
+marched up the river through Châteauneuf. It met
+only stragglers, till on the 7th two Divisions of the
+XVIIIth French Corps attempted to cross to the right
+bank of the Loire at Gien. There came about an
+advanced-guard fight at Nevoy, with the result that
+these Divisions retreated across the bridge in the night,
+and continued their march on Bourges.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Fighting of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(December 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>The Grand Duke's Detachment stood westward, close
+to the retreating left wing of the enemy. In contrast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>
+to the disorder of the right wing, General Chanzy, probably
+the most capable of all the leaders whom the
+Germans had to encounter in the battle-field, had very
+rapidly in so great measure restored the discipline and
+spirit of his defeated troops, that they were able not
+only to make a stand, but even to take the offensive.
+They had, it is true, been considerably reinforced by
+the newly formed XXIst Corps and by Camô's Division.
+The latter formed the advanced guard at Meung; behind
+it were the XVIth Corps at Beaugency, the
+XVIIth at Cravant, and the XXIst at St. Laurent on
+the edge of the forest of Marchénoir.</p>
+
+<p>On the day after the fight the troops of the Grand
+Duke were given a rest-day; only the cavalry pursued
+the French. The 4th Cavalry Division reached
+Ouzouer; the 2nd came upon considerable masses of
+infantry behind Meung.</p>
+
+<p>On the 7th, the Grand Duke's forces advanced on a
+very wide front. The 17th Division, on the left wing,
+marched on Meung, where its artillery opened a combat
+with that of the enemy. The French held possession of
+the narrow lanes of the village, which further westward
+was pierced by the main road to Beaugency. Towards
+four o'clock a Mecklenburg battalion carried Langlochère
+by storm, but found itself threatened on both
+sides by the approach of hostile columns. On the left
+Foinard was presently occupied, and a gun captured
+there, while on the right the 1st Bavarian Brigade
+advanced on La Bourie. Here, almost at the same
+moment, the 2nd Cavalry Division came up by by-roads
+from Renardière, having driven the enemy out of Le
+Bardon by the fire of its guns. The Bavarians had now
+to march out to meet a hostile mass advancing from
+Grand Chatre. Supported by the horse batteries, they
+maintained till nightfall a stubborn fight, which ended
+in the retreat of the French on Beaumont.</p>
+
+<p>During this conflict on the left wing of the Detachment,
+the 1st Bavarian Division, considerably on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>
+right, were marching on Baccon, the 22nd on Ouzouer;
+and finding that the French were offering a determined
+resistance, the Grand Duke decided on closing in his
+forces to the left.</p>
+
+<p><i>December 8th.</i>&mdash;To this end the 22nd Division moved
+southward from Ouzouer through Villermain. After
+repulsing the swarms of tirailleurs which attacked its
+left flank under cover of a thick fog, General von
+Wittich directed his march on Cravant, to effect a
+junction with the right wing of the 1st Bavarian Division
+already engaged in a hot struggle. They had repulsed
+an attack of the enemy pushed forward from
+Villechaumont, and the 2nd (Bavarian) Division advanced
+by the road from Cravant to Beaugency; but
+when three French Divisions came on afresh, it retreated
+on Beaumont. Here it found support from the 1st
+(Bavarian Division) and 17 batteries were gradually
+brought up into the fighting line. Their fire and an
+impetuous attack from three Bavarian brigades at last
+forced the enemy to fall back, and the position on the
+high road was recovered.</p>
+
+<p>The French now, on their side, brought up a strong
+force of artillery, and prepared to advance on Cravant
+with their XVIIth Corps. But the 22nd German Division
+having taken Beauvert and Layes by the way, had
+already reached Cravant at about one o'clock, and was
+in position there with the 4th Cavalry Division on
+its right and the 2nd on its left. So when, at about
+three o'clock, dense French columns advanced on
+Cravant, they were repulsed by a powerful counter-stroke
+delivered by the 44th Brigade, in conjunction
+with the Bavarians, and were soon driven out
+of Layes, which they had entered while advancing.
+The five batteries nearest to Cravant had suffered
+so severely meanwhile that they had to be withdrawn.
+When finally at about four o'clock the Bavarian
+battalions advanced to storm the height in their front,
+they were met by fresh troops of the enemy, and after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>
+losing a great part of their officers were compelled
+to retreat on the artillery position at Beaumont.
+Later, however, the French abandoned Villechaumont.</p>
+
+<p>On the left wing of the Detachment the 17th Division
+pursued the retreating French through Vallées and
+Villeneuve, and then at about noon made an attack
+on Messas. The defence was obstinate, and it was
+not till dusk that it succeeded in gaining full possession
+of the place. The artillery directed its fire on dense
+masses showing about Vernon, the infantry stormed the
+height of Beaugency, and finally forced its way into
+the town itself, where a French battery fell into its
+hand. Camô's Division then retired on Tavers, and at
+midnight General von Tresckow fell upon Vernon,
+whence the French, taken entirely by surprise, fled to
+Bonvalet.</p>
+
+<p>The Headquarter of the IInd Army had determined
+to set in march on Bourges the IIIrd, Xth, and IXth
+Corps, from Gien, from Orleans, and also from Blois.
+But the Detachment in its advance on Blois by
+the right bank of the Loire had met with unexpected
+resistance lasting for two days. In the supreme
+Headquarter at Versailles it was regarded as indispensable
+that the Grand Duke should immediately be
+reinforced by at least one Division. Telegraphic orders
+to that effect arrived at ten o'clock on December 9th.
+The IXth Corps, which was already on the march along
+the left bank and had found no enemy in its front,
+could not give the requisite support, since all the
+bridges over the river had been blown up. The IIIrd
+Corps was therefore ordered to leave only a detachment
+in observation at Gien, and to turn back to
+Orleans. The Xth Corps was to call in its detachments
+standing eastward of the city and march forward
+to Meung. Meanwhile on the 9th the Detachment
+remained still quite unsupported while actually confronting
+with four Infantry Divisions, eleven French<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>
+Divisions. And early on that morning General Chanzy
+took the offensive.</p>
+
+<p><i>December 9th.</i>&mdash;The two Prussian Divisions at Beauvert
+and Messas stood firmly awaiting the hostile onslaught.
+The two Bavarian Divisions, because of their
+severe losses, were held in reserve at Cravant, but soon
+had to come up into the fighting line, when at seven
+o'clock strong columns of the enemy advanced on Le
+Mée.</p>
+
+<p>Dense swarms of tirailleurs were repulsed both there
+and before Vernon, and were later shattered by the fire
+of the devoted German artillery, which silenced the
+French guns and then directed its fire on Villorceau.
+In spite of a stout defence, this village was
+carried and occupied about half-past ten by the Bavarian
+infantry. The French advance on Villechaumont
+in greatly superior force was also repulsed, with the
+assistance of three battalions and two batteries of the
+22nd Division. The Thüringers<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> then stormed Cernay,
+where 200 French laid down their arms, and one of
+their batteries lost its teams and limbers.</p>
+
+<p>On the right wing of the Detachment, in consequence
+of a misunderstanding, the Germans evacuated
+Layes and Beauvert, and the French occupied these
+villages. However, with the assistance of the 2nd
+Bavarian Brigade, the 44th (Brigade) drove them out
+again from both places. Further to the north, the
+4th Cavalry Division was in observation of a French
+detachment approaching Villermain.</p>
+
+<p>The French made renewed efforts, advancing again
+at mid-day on Cravant in strong columns; but this
+movement General Tresckow took in flank from Messas.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>
+He left only a weak detachment in Beaugency, and
+secured himself towards Tavers in the villages on his
+left. The main body of the 17th Division advanced
+on Bonvalet, reinforced the hardly-pressed Bavarians
+in Villorceau, and occupied itself Villemarceau in front
+of that place. Here the Division had to maintain a
+severe struggle, at about three o'clock, with close
+columns of the French XVIth and XVIIth Corps.
+The infantry rushing on the enemy with cheers succeeded,
+however, in repulsing him and holding its
+ground in spite of a hot fire. At the same time three
+Bavarian battalions, accompanied by cavalry and artillery,
+marched up from Cravant and drove the French
+out of Villejouan. Yet further to the right a battalion
+of the 32nd Regiment took possession of Ourcelle. A
+line from thence to Tavers defined the section of terrain
+laboriously wrung from the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The fight ended with the retreat of the enemy on
+Josnes and Dugny.</p>
+
+<p>On this day the IIIrd Corps was still on the march to
+Orleans. The IXth from its position on the left bank,
+could only take part in the fighting by the fire of its
+artillery on Meung and Beaugency. It was not till
+near Blois that it met French detachments. Fifty
+men of one of the Hessian battalions carried the defended
+château of Chambord lying rightward of the
+line of march, and there took 200 prisoners and made
+prize of twelve ammunition waggons with their
+teams.</p>
+
+<p>Of the Xth Corps only the head of its infantry reached
+Meung, but it sent forward a regiment of Hussars
+with eight batteries, which arrived at Grand Chatre
+by about three o'clock in the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>By order of the Headquarter of the IInd Army the
+Bavarian Corps was now to retire to Orleans, to recruit
+after its heavy losses. But even after the arrival
+of the Xth Corps the Grand Duke had still in his
+front an enemy double his strength, and instead of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span>
+engaging in a pursuit he had rather to study how to
+maintain himself on the defensive.</p>
+
+<p><i>December 10th.</i>&mdash;At dawn General Chanzy renewed
+his attack, which even the Bavarians were presently
+required to join in repulsing.</p>
+
+<p>At seven o'clock the French XVIIth Corps rushed
+in dense masses on Origny, took there 150 prisoners,
+and forced its way into Villejouan. This advance was
+met directly in front by the 43rd Brigade at Cernay,
+and by the 4th Bavarian Brigade with six batteries
+at Villechaumont; while on the right flank General von
+Tresckow pushed forward on Villorceau and Villemarceau.
+In this latter village two of his battalions, supported
+by four batteries, resisted every onslaught of the
+French from Origny and Toupenay. At noon the main
+body of the 17th Division advanced to the recapture of
+Villejouan. Here the French made an obstinate stand.
+An embittered and bloody fight in the streets and
+houses was prolonged till four o'clock, and then fresh
+troops of the enemy came up to recover the post
+the Germans still held in one detached farmstead.
+The artillery mass of the Prussian Division had, however,
+deployed to the south of Villemarceau; it was
+joined by two horse batteries of the Xth Corps, and the
+batteries of the 22nd Division also came into action from
+Cernay. The concentric fire of this body of artillery
+wrecked the subsequent attacks of the XVIIth French
+Corps.</p>
+
+<p>Beaugency was now occupied by part of the Xth
+Corps. During the previous days the left flank of the
+German fighting position had a secure point d'appui
+on the Loire, but on the right such a support had been
+wholly lacking. The French had nevertheless hitherto
+made no attempt to take advantage of their superiority
+by a wider extension of their front. For the first
+time on this day did they come in on the unprotected
+left flank of their enemy. The greater part of the
+XXIst Corps deployed opposite to it, between Poisly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span>
+and Mézierès, and at half-past ten strong columns advanced
+on Villermain. The Bavarians were compelled
+to take up with their 2nd Brigade the "hook" formation
+from Jouy to Coudray. Seven batteries were
+brought up into that line, and on its right flank the 4th
+Cavalry Division stood in readiness to act. By two
+o'clock two more horse batteries, and from Cravant
+four batteries of the Xth Corps arrived, which massed
+there with three brigades as a reserve. The fire of over
+a hundred German guns compelled the French to hurry
+their artillery out of action at three o'clock, and weak
+independent attacks by their infantry were repulsed
+without difficulty by the Germans persevering staunchly
+on the defence.</p>
+
+<p>The French losses in this four days' battle are
+unknown. The Detachment lost 3400 men, of
+whom the larger half belonged to the two Bavarian
+Divisions.</p>
+
+<p>The Grand Duke had succeeded in holding his own
+against three Corps of the enemy till the arrival of the
+first reinforcement, and this he owed to the bravery of
+all his troops, and not least to the exertions of the artillery.
+This arm alone lost 255 men and 356 horses.
+Its material was tasked to the utmost, so that finally
+almost all the steel guns of the light batteries of the
+22nd Division, and most of the Bavarian, were rendered
+useless by the burning out of their vent-pieces.</p>
+
+<p>The IIIrd Corps had on this day just arrived at St.
+Denis, and the IXth at Vienne opposite Blois; but
+here, too, the bridge over the Loire was found to be
+blown up.</p>
+
+<p>On the French side, General Chanzy had learnt from
+the telegraphic correspondence of the Government at
+Tours with General Bourbaki, that nothing had come
+of that commander's attempt to divert part of the German
+IInd Army upon himself. The long delay gave
+General Chanzy the daily apprehension of an attack
+by it with its full strength; and he therefore decided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span>
+on a retreat, which resulted in the removal of the
+Assembly from Tours to Bordeaux.</p>
+
+<p>In the Grand Duke's Head-quarter the renewed
+offensive had been decided on for December 11th. The
+villages in his front remained strongly occupied, and
+it was only at noon of that day that the enemy's
+retreat became known. He was at once pursued on
+the left by the Xth Corps, and on the right, south of
+the forest of Marchénoir, by the Detachment. On the
+north, the 4th Cavalry Division took up the scouting.</p>
+
+<p>A thaw had followed the hard frost, making the
+march equally difficult for friend and foe. The Germans
+found the roads littered with abandoned waggons
+and cast-away arms; the bodies of men and horses lay
+unburied in the fields, and in the villages were hundreds
+of wounded uncared for. Several thousands of
+stragglers were captured.</p>
+
+<p>The directions<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> of the Chief of the General Staff from
+Versailles suggested an immediate pursuit, which should
+render the enemy incapable of further action for some
+time to come; but not to be maintained beyond Tours.
+The IInd Army was then to assemble at Orleans and
+the Detachment at Chartres, and the troops were to
+obtain the rest they needed. From the former point
+constant and strict watch could be kept on General
+Bourbaki's army, and to this end a connection was to
+be made with General von Zastrow, who with the
+VIIth Corps was to reach Châtillon sur Seine on the
+13th. But the operations in this quarter were not to
+extend beyond Bourges and Nevers.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span></p>
+<p>The IInd Army was accordingly in the first instance
+marched toward the Loir, and on the 13th reached
+the line Oucques&mdash;Conan&mdash;Blois, which last town was
+found evacuated.</p>
+
+<p>On the 14th the 17th Division marched to Morée, and
+reached the Loir at Fréteval. A fight occurred at both
+these points. Though the French had yielded thus far,
+they seemed resolved to make a firm stand on the
+Loir, and had occupied Cloyes and Vendôme in great
+strength.</p>
+
+<p>In order to attack with success, Prince Frederick
+Charles first proceeded to concentrate all his forces.
+The IIIrd Corps, which was hurrying after the army
+by forced marches, was in the first instance to come
+up into the interval between the Detachment and
+the Xth Corps, which was to march from Blois and
+Herbault on Vendôme.</p>
+
+<p>But when, on the 15th, the Xth Corps was moving
+in the prescribed direction, its main body encountered
+so determined a resistance close in front of Vendôme
+that it could not be overcome before dark. The troops
+therefore retired to quarters in the rear of Ste. Anne.
+A left-flank detachment had found St. Amand occupied
+by heavy masses, and halted at Gombergean. The IIIrd
+Corps had advanced in the course of the day on Coulommiers,
+in the vicinity of Vendôme, had fought the French
+at Bel Essert, driven them back across the Loir and
+established connection with the Xth. The Grand Duke,
+in compliance with instructions, stood meanwhile on
+the defensive. The IXth Corps, after the restoration
+of the bridge of Blois, was at last able to follow the
+army, leaving a brigade in occupation of Blois.</p>
+
+<p>A greatly superior force was now assembled opposite
+the enemy's position, and a general attack was decided
+on; but to give the wearied troops some rest it was
+postponed till the 17th, and meanwhile, on the 16th,
+General Chanzy withdrew.</p>
+
+<p>It had certainly been his intention to make a longer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span>
+stand in the Loir angle; but his Generals convinced him
+that the condition of the troops did not permit the prolongation
+of active hostilities. He accordingly gave
+the order for the retreat of the army at daybreak by
+way of Montoire, St. Calais, and Vibraye to Le Mans.</p>
+
+<p>Thus in the early morning (of the 17th) the Xth
+Corps found the French position in front of Vendôme
+abandoned, and it entered the city without opposition.
+On the French left wing only, where the marching
+orders had not yet arrived, General Jaurès made an
+attack on Fréteval, but in the evening he followed the
+other Corps.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> In the 22nd Division of the XIth Corps&mdash;a Corps of a curiously
+composite character, there were three Thüringian regiments. The
+43rd Brigade was wholly Thüringian, consisting as it did of the
+32nd and 95th regiments (2nd and 6th Thüringers), and in the
+44th Brigade was the 94th (5th Thüringers). It was the 2nd
+battalion of this last regiment which is referred to in the text.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> The expression "Directiven" in the text cannot be succinctly
+translated. It was rarely, except when actually himself in the
+field, that the Chief of the General Staff issued actual "orders" to the
+higher commanders. His communications for the most part consisted
+of "Directiven"&mdash;messages of general suggestions as to the appropriate
+line of action to be pursued, leaving a wide discretion to the
+commanders to whom they were addressed, and refraining almost entirely
+from details. A collection of Moltke's "Directiven" would be
+perhaps the finest tribute to his military genius.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Interruption of Important Offensive Operations
+in December.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>On the 17th of December general directions were
+issued from Versailles to the Armies both to the north
+and south of Paris.</p>
+
+<p>Now that General von Manteuffel was across the
+Somme, and Prince Frederick Charles had advanced to
+the Loir, the Germans held possession of almost a third
+of France. The enemy was everywhere driven back;
+and that the German forces should not be split up, it
+was thought advisable that they should be concentrated
+into three principal groups. The Ist Army was therefore
+to assemble at Beauvais, the Detachment at
+Chartres, the IInd Army near Orleans, where the troops
+were to have the needful rest, and their full efficiency
+was to be re-established by the arrival of reservists and
+equipment. If the French should engage in any new
+enterprises, they were to be allowed to approach within
+striking distance, and then were to be driven back by a
+vigorous offensive.</p>
+
+<p>For the IInd Army there was but little prospect at
+present of overtaking the enemy beyond the Loir; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span>
+the reports from the Upper Loire now necessitated the
+bestowal of increased attention in that direction. News
+came from Gien that the posts left there had been
+driven back to Ouzouer sur Loire; and it seemed
+not unlikely that General Bourbaki would take the
+opportunity of advancing by Montargis towards Paris,
+or at least towards Orleans, which for the moment was
+occupied only by part of the Ist Bavarian Corps.</p>
+
+<p>Prince Frederick Charles had got quit of his enemy
+probably for some considerable time, and he decided, in
+accordance with directions from Versailles, to assemble
+his forces at Orleans and maintain a waiting attitude.
+Only the Xth Corps was to remain behind in observation
+on the Loir. To secure immediate support for the
+Bavarian Corps in any event, the IXth Corps, on its
+arrival from Blois at La Chapelle Vendômoise on the
+16th December, was ordered to march to Beaugency
+that same day, and to Orleans on the morrow. It
+covered nearly 52 miles in twenty-four hours, notwithstanding
+the badness of the weather. The IIIrd Corps
+followed it.</p>
+
+<p>However, it was soon known that the enemy's
+detachment which had been seen at Gien did not form
+part of a large body of troops, and was intrenching
+itself at Briare for its own safety. So the Germans
+retired into comfortable rest-quarters, the Ist Bavarian
+Corps at Orleans, the IIIrd there and along to Beaugency,
+the IXth in the plain of the Loire up as far as
+Châteauneuf, with a strong post at Montargis.</p>
+
+<p>The Bavarian Corps was later transferred to Etampes,
+to recover at its leisure, to recruit its numbers, and refit
+as to its clothing and equipment. Nor was the Grand
+Duke of Mecklenburg's detachment in a condition to
+follow General Chanzy beyond the Loir. Six weeks of
+daily marching and fighting had tried the troops to the
+utmost. The dreadful weather and the state of the
+roads had reduced their clothing and foot-gear to a
+miserable state. A reconnoissance beyond the Loir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span>
+showed that the French could be overtaken by only
+long and rapid marches. So the Grand Duke allowed
+his troops a long rest, from the 18th, in the villages on
+the left bank of the river.</p>
+
+<p>Of the IIIrd Army, General von Rheinbaben, on the
+other hand, occupied with the three Brigades of the
+5th Cavalry Division Courtlain, Brou, and Chartres,
+strengthened by five battalions of Guard Landwehr and
+four batteries. A letter from the Chief of the General
+Staff at Versailles had pointed out that this cavalry
+might probably be employed with great success in
+attacking the flank and rear of the enemy's retreating
+columns, and the Crown Prince had already given
+orders that it should push forward by way of Brou in
+full strength on the 15th. Contrary to these orders,
+the Division obeyed a subsequent order which reached
+it on the 16th from the Grand Duke, under whose command
+the Division had not been placed, to take up a
+position on the Yères.</p>
+
+<p>On this day patrols had found the roads open to
+Montmirail and Mondoubleau, except for French
+infantry in front of Cloyes, which retired after a short
+fray. On the left, a connection was opened with the
+4th Cavalry Division. On the 17th, the 12th Cavalry
+Brigade entered Cloyes, already evacuated by the
+French; on the 13th it advanced on Arrou, and only
+General von Barby (commanding the 11th Cavalry
+Brigade) marched on Droue with a force of all arms,
+where he surprised the French at their cooking, and
+carried off much booty.</p>
+
+<p>On the 18th, the 12th Brigade did make prisoners of a
+few stragglers there, but the other two brigades only
+made a short march to the westward to La Bazoche Gouet
+and Arville, whence the enemy had quite disappeared.
+To the south of Arville a battalion of the Guard Landwehr
+drove the French infantry out of St. Agil.</p>
+
+<p>With this the pursuit ended on the 19th. The Division
+retired on Nogent le Rotrou by the Grand Duke's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span>
+desire, and subsequently undertook the observation of
+the left bank of the Seine at Vernon and Dreux.</p>
+
+<p>The Grand Duke's Detachment left its quarters on
+the Loir on the 21st. The 22nd Division occupied
+Nogent le Roi, and the 17th Chartres, till the 24th.
+The 4th Bavarian Brigade rejoined its own Corps at
+Orleans.</p>
+
+<p>During the remainder of December only the Xth
+Corps had any fighting, it having been detailed to keep
+watch beyond the Loir from Blois and Vendôme.</p>
+
+<p>Two brigades were set on march towards Tours on
+the 20th. On the further side of Monnaie they met the
+newly-formed troops of General Ferri-Pisani, 10,000 to
+15,000 strong, which were advancing from Angers and
+had passed through Tours.</p>
+
+<p>The soaked ground made the deployment of the
+artillery and cavalry exceedingly difficult. The
+cavalry, indeed, could only pursue the retreating
+French in deep columns along the high roads, thus
+suffering severely from the enemy's fire delivered at
+very short range.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day General von Woyna (commanding
+39th Infantry Brigade) advanced unopposed with
+six battalions on the bridge at Tours. A light battery
+was brought up on the bank of the river and dispersed
+the rabble firing from the opposite shore, but it would
+have cost too many lives to storm the city, which, since
+the removal of the seat of Government, had ceased to
+be of any great importance. The detachment was
+withdrawn to Monnaie, and the Xth Corps went into
+quarters, the 19th Division at Blois, the 20th at
+Herbault and Vendôme.</p>
+
+<p>From the latter place on the 27th, a detachment of
+two battalions, one squadron, and two guns marched
+through Montoire on Sougé on the Braye, and there
+met a greatly superior force. General Chanzy had in
+fact marched a Division of his XVIIth Corps towards
+Vendôme in order to draw the Prussians away from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span>
+Tours. Behind St. Quentin the weak Prussian detachment
+found itself hemmed in between the river and the
+cliff, enclosed on every side, and under heavy fire.
+Lieutenant-Colonel von Boltenstern succeeded, however,
+in cutting his way through. Without firing a
+shot the two Hanoverian battalions hurled themselves
+on the dense body of tirailleurs blocking their retreat,
+and fought their way out fighting hand to hand.
+Through the gap thus made the guns dashed after
+firing one round of grape-shot, and notwithstanding
+losses to the teams they ultimately got back safely to
+Montoire. The squadron also charged through two lines
+of riflemen and rejoined the infantry.</p>
+
+<p>As a result of this incident General von Kraatz
+Koschlau (commanding 20th Division) brought up
+the remainder of his Division from Herbault, determined
+to clear up the situation by a fresh reconnoissance.
+Four battalions were to advance from
+Vendôme, and the 1st Cavalry Brigade from Fréteval
+was to scout towards Epuisay. On this same day, however,
+General de Jouffroy was marching with two
+Divisions to the attack of Vendôme.</p>
+
+<p>When, at about ten o'clock, the reconnoitring force
+from Vendôme reached the Azay, it came under a hot
+fire from the further slope of the valley. Soon after
+six hostile battalions attacked its flank from the south,
+and repeated notice was brought in that considerable
+forces of the enemy were marching on Vendôme direct,
+from north of Azay by Espéreuse. General von Kraatz
+perceived that he would have to face a planned attack
+made by very superior numbers, and determined to
+restrict himself to the local defence of Vendôme. Under
+cover of a battalion firmly maintaining its position at
+Huchepie, he accomplished in perfect order the retreat
+of the detachment, which then took up a position on the
+railway embankment to the west of the city.</p>
+
+<p>Further to the north the hostile columns, advancing
+over Espéreuse, had already reached Bel Air. A<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span>
+battalion hastening up from Vendôme re-occupied the
+château, but being outflanked on the right by a superior
+force withdrew, and likewise took up a position behind
+the railway. At about two o'clock the French attacked
+this position in dense swarms of sharpshooters, but came
+under the quick-fire of six batteries in position on the
+heights behind Vendôme, which caused their right
+wing to give way. A column of the enemy advanced
+along the left bank of the Loir from Varennes against
+this artillery position, but hastily retreated out of range
+of the fire from it.</p>
+
+<p>The attacks directed against the railway from Bel Air
+and Tuileries were more serious; but eight companies
+posted there repelled them. At four o'clock the French
+once more advanced in strength; fortune wavered for
+some time, and at length, as darkness fell, they retired.</p>
+
+<p>The 1st Cavalry Brigade, accompanied by two companies
+and a horse battery, marched on this day on
+Danzé. Captain Spitz, with a handful of his Westphalian
+Fusiliers fell on two batteries halted there, and
+captured two guns and three limbers. With these and
+fifty prisoners General von Lüderitz (commanding 1st
+Cavalry Brigade) returned to Fréteval by about one
+o'clock, after pursuing the enemy as far as Epuisay.</p>
+
+<p>The attempt of the French on Vendôme had utterly
+failed, and they now retreated to a greater distance.
+General von Kraatz, however, was ordered, in the prospect
+of a greater enterprise to be described later, to
+remain meanwhile in waiting on the Loir.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The XIVth Corps in December.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>In the south-eastern theatre of war the French had
+at last decided on some definite action.</p>
+
+<p>Garibaldi's Corps, assembled at Autun, advanced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span>
+toward Dijon on the 24th (November); its detachments
+closed up by Sombernon and St. Seine, with various
+skirmishes, and subjected to night surprises. Crémer's
+Division advanced as far as Gevrey from the south.
+But as soon as reinforcements reached Dijon from Gray
+and Is sur Tille, the enemy was driven back, and now
+General von Werder on his part ordered the 1st
+Brigade of his Corps to march on Autun. General
+Keller (commanding 3rd Infantry Brigade, Baden
+Division), arrived in front of the town on December 1st,
+driving the hostile detachments before him. The preparations
+had been made to attack on the following day,
+when orders came for a rapid retreat. Fresh troops had
+become necessary at Châtillon, to replace the posts which
+had been stationed to protect the railway and which
+had been surprised at Gray, to cope with sorties by the
+garrison of Besançon and also to observe Langres.</p>
+
+<p>The Prussian Brigade (26th) marched on Langres, along
+with two cavalry regiments and three batteries, and on
+the 16th it met the French in the vicinity of Longeau,
+in number about 2000. They were repulsed, losing
+200 wounded, fifty prisoners, two guns, and two ammunition
+waggons. General von der Goltz (commanding
+the Brigade) in the next few days surrounded
+Langres, drove the Gardes-Mobiles posted outside into
+the fortress, and occupied a position opposite the
+northern front for the protection of the railways.</p>
+
+<p>In the country south of Dijon fresh assemblages of
+French troops had also now been observed. To disperse
+these General von Werder advanced on the 18th with
+two Baden Brigades on Nuits. In Boncourt, close to the
+town on the east, the advanced guard met with lively
+opposition, but carried the place by noon. The French,
+aided by their batteries posted on the heights west of
+Nuits, offered an obstinate defence in the deep railway
+cutting and at the Meuzin brook. When the main body
+of the Brigade came up at two o'clock, General von
+Glümer (commanding Baden Division) ordered a general<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span>
+attack. With heavy losses, especially in superior officers,
+the infantry now rushed across the open plain at the
+double against the enemy, who was under cover, and
+who, after maintaining a fire at short range, was driven
+back on Nuits so late as four o'clock in the course of a
+hand-to-hand struggle. At five o'clock he abandoned
+the place before the on-coming battalions.</p>
+
+<p>The Germans had had to do with Crémer's Division,
+10,000 strong, which lost 1700 men, among them 650
+unwounded prisoners. The Baden Division had lost
+900 men. It encamped for the night on the market-place
+of the town and in the villages to the eastward.
+Next morning the French were found to have retreated
+still further, but the Germans were not strong enough
+for pursuit. The XIVth Corps had already been
+obliged to spare seven battalions for the investment of
+Belfort. General von Werder therefore returned to
+Dijon, where he assembled all the forces still left to
+him with those of General von der Goltz from Langres,
+and waited to see whether the enemy would again
+advance against him. But the month of December
+ended without any further disturbance.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Ist Army in December.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>While the IInd Army was fighting on the Loire,
+General von Manteuffel, after the victory of Amiens,
+marched on Rouen.</p>
+
+<p>General Farre was indeed at Arras, in the rear of
+this movement, but the disorder in which his troops
+had retired after the battle made it probable that he
+would do nothing, at any rate for the present. The
+3rd Brigade, too, was left in Amiens, with two cavalry
+regiments and three batteries, to occupy the place and
+protect the important line of railway to Laon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The outlook to the west was more serious than to the
+north, for from thence at this juncture hostile forces
+threatened to interfere with the investment of Paris.
+General Briand was at Rouen with some 20,000 men,
+and had advanced his leading troops up to the Epte,
+where at Beauvais and Gisors he came in contact with
+the Guard Dragoon regiment and the Saxon Cavalry
+Division detached from the Army of the Meuse. The
+detachment of infantry which accompanied the latter
+had lost 150 men and a gun in a night surprise.</p>
+
+<p>When the Ist Army reached the Epte on December
+3rd, both bodies of cavalry joined its further march,
+and the French retired behind the Andelles. The
+VIIIth Corps reached the vicinity of Rouen after petty
+skirmishes by the way, and found an intrenched position
+abandoned at Isneauville; and on December 5th
+General von Goeben entered the chief city of Normandy.
+The 29th Brigade advanced on Pont Audemer,
+the Ist Corps crossed the Seine higher up at Les Andelys
+and Pont de l'Arche. Vernon and Evreux were occupied,
+whence numbers of Gardes-Mobiles had retreated
+by railway to Liseux. On the northern bank the Guard
+Dragoon Regiment reconnoitred as far as Bolbec, and
+the Uhlan Brigade found no enemy in Dieppe.</p>
+
+<p>The French had retired to Havre, and a considerable
+force had been conveyed in ships that were in readiness,
+to Honfleur on the other bank of the Seine. The 16th
+Division continued its march on Havre, reaching Bolbec
+and Lillebonne on the 11th.</p>
+
+<p>The already-mentioned directions from Versailles had
+been communicated in advance by the Chief of the
+General Staff, and in accordance with them General
+Manteuffel now decided on leaving only the Ist Corps
+on the Lower Seine, and returning with the VIIIth to
+the Somme, where the French in Arras were now becoming
+active.</p>
+
+<p>Besides making this evident by various small encounters,
+on December 9th they had attacked a company<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span>
+detailed to protect the reconstruction of the railway at
+Ham, surprising it at night, and taking most of the men
+prisoners; while on the 11th several French battalions
+advanced as far as La Fère.</p>
+
+<p>To check their further progress, the Army of the
+Meuse had meantime sent detachments to Soissons and
+Compiègne. General Count von der Groeben<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> (commanding
+3rd Cavalry Division) took up a position at
+Roye with part of the garrison of Amiens, and on
+the 16th met the 15th Division at Montdidier, which
+immediately moved up to the Somme.</p>
+
+<p>Only the citadel of Amiens now remained in German
+occupation; but General von Manteuffel, who had not
+approved of the evacuation of the city, ordered its immediate
+reoccupation. The inhabitants had, however,
+remained peaceable, and on the 20th the 16th Division,
+which had given up the attack on Havre, arrived by
+way of Dieppe.</p>
+
+<p>A reconnoissance fight near Querrieux made it certain
+that great numbers of French were drawn up on
+the Hallue, and General von Manteuffel now drew in
+the whole (VIIIth) Corps on Amiens. Reinforcements
+were shortly to be expected, for the 3rd Reserve Division
+was on the march, and had already reached St. Quentin.
+The Ist Corps was also ordered to send a brigade from
+Rouen to Amiens by railway, and the Commanding
+General determined to take the offensive at once with
+22,600 men, all his available force at the moment.</p>
+
+<p>General Faidherbe had assembled two Corps, the
+XXIInd and XXIIIrd. His advance on Ham and La
+Fère, intended to divert the Prussians from attacking
+Havre, had succeeded. He next turned toward Amiens,
+advanced to within nine miles of the city, and now
+stood, with 43,000 men and eighty-two guns, fronting
+to the west behind the Hallue. Two Divisions held
+the left bank of this stream for about seven miles, from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span>
+its confluence at Daours up to Contay, two standing
+further back, at Corbie and Fravillers. The Somme
+secured the left flank.</p>
+
+<p>On December 23rd General von Manteuffel, with the
+VIIIth Corps, advanced on the road to Albert. The
+3rd Brigade of the Ist Corps formed his reserve. His
+design was to keep the French engaged by the 15th
+Division on their front and left wing, and with the 16th
+Division to outflank their right. The unexpected extension
+of the French right wing prevented this, and it
+became a frontal battle along the whole line. The
+greater height of the eastern bank afforded the French
+a commanding artillery position, and the villages lying
+at the foot had in every instance to be stormed.</p>
+
+<p>The French had drawn in their advanced posts to this
+line when at eleven o'clock the head of the 15th Division
+reached the grove of Querrieux, and brought up a
+battery. Two battalions of the 29th Brigade took the
+village at mid-day at the first onslaught, crossed the
+stream, and drove the French on the further bank out
+of Noyelles; but they now found themselves overwhelmed
+by an artillery and infantry fire from all sides.
+The East Prussians<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> stormed the acclivity at about four
+o'clock, and took two guns which were in action, but
+were forced to fall back into the village before the
+advancing French masses.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after mid-day Féchencourt was won on the left,
+and Bussy on the right; and the enemy after a feeble
+resistance was driven back across the stream. On the
+other hand, the German Artillery could at first do
+nothing against the strong and well-posted batteries<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span>
+of the enemy. Vecquemont, however, was stormed,
+though stoutly defended, and a bitter street-fight lasted
+till the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>The 15th Division, against the intention of General
+Manteuffel, had become involved in fighting before the
+16th, engaged further to the left, could afford it any
+assistance. Not till four o'clock did the 31st Brigade
+arrive in front of Béhencourt, when, crossing the river
+by flying bridges, it threw the enemy back into the
+village, where he maintained a stout resistance, but had
+ultimately to give way. The 32nd Brigade, on the
+extreme left, crossed the Hallue and entered Bavelincourt.</p>
+
+<p>Thus all the hamlets on the river were in German
+possession; but the short December day was closing in,
+and further progress had to be postponed till the
+morrow. Even in the dark the French made several
+attempts to recover the positions they had lost, especially
+about Contay, where they outflanked the German
+position. But their attacks were repulsed both there
+and at Noyelles. They succeeded, indeed, in getting
+into Vecquemont, but were driven out again, and
+were lost to the Prussians now following across the
+stream, who even seized Daours, so that ultimately
+the Germans held dominion over every passage of
+the Hallue.</p>
+
+<p>The battle was over by six o'clock. The troops
+moved into alarm-quarters in the captured villages,
+their foreposts standing close in front of the outlets.</p>
+
+<p>The attack had cost the Germans 900 men; the defence
+had cost the French about 1000, besides 1000
+unwounded prisoners who were taken into Amiens.</p>
+
+<p>At daybreak on the 24th the French opened fire on
+General Manteuffel's position in the angle bounded by
+the Hallue and the Somme.</p>
+
+<p>It having been ascertained that the enemy's strength
+was almost double that of the Germans, it was decided
+this day on the latter side to remain on the defensive,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span>
+pending the arrival of reinforcements, and to strengthen
+the defence of the positions gained. The Army-Reserve
+was pushed forward to Corbie to threaten the left flank
+of the French.</p>
+
+<p>But at two o'clock in the afternoon General Faidherbe
+took up his retreat. His insufficiently-equipped
+troops had suffered fearfully through the bitter winter
+night, and were much shaken by the unfavourable issue
+of the fighting of the previous day. He therefore drew
+them back within the area of the covering fortresses.
+When on the 25th the two Prussian Divisions and the
+cavalry pursued beyond Albert, and then close up to
+Arras and as far as Cambrai, they found no formed
+bodies at all in front of those places, and only captured
+some hundreds of stragglers.</p>
+
+<p>When General Manteuffel had thus disposed of the
+enemy, he sent General von Mirus (commanding 6th
+Cavalry Brigade) to invest Péronne, while he himself
+returned to Rouen.</p>
+
+<p>Since it had detached to Amiens six battalions as a
+reinforcement, the Ist Army Corps (at Rouen) now remained
+only two brigades strong. The French had
+10,000 men on the right bank, and 12,000 on the left
+bank of the lower Seine. And these forces had come
+very close to Rouen; particularly on the south side
+within nine miles. Meanwhile, however, the Commanding-General
+had ordered back the 2nd Brigade
+from Amiens, and on its arrival the hostile bodies
+were once more driven back.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> Lieut.-General, not to be confounded with Major-General of
+same name commanding 14th Cavalry Brigade.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> Men of the 2nd battalion 33rd Regiment (East Prussian
+Fusiliers), belonging to the VIIIth Corps, whose territory is the
+Rhine Provinces. It would be interesting to know how an East
+Prussian Regiment came to be incorporated into the Rhineland Corps.
+The Ist is the East Prussian Corps, and it was also under General v.
+Manteuffel, who had been the Corps Commander until the beginning
+of December, when its command passed to General v. Bentheim.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Reduction of Mézières.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(1st January, 1871.)</div>
+
+
+<p>In the northern section of hostilities, before the end
+of the year, the siege of Mézières was brought to an
+end. After the battle of Sedan the Commandant had
+contributed supplies from the magazines of the fortress<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span>
+for the maintenance of the great mass of prisoners, and
+it had remained, therefore, for the time exempt from
+attack. Later the place precluded the use of the railroad;
+still it was only kept under provisional observation
+till the 19th of December, when, after the fall
+of Montmédy, the 14th Division moved up before
+Mézières.</p>
+
+<p>The garrison numbered only 2000 men, but it was
+effectively assisted by bands of volunteers outside, who
+displayed extraordinary activity in this broken and
+wooded country. The place was not completely invested
+till the 25th.</p>
+
+<p>Mézières stands on a mountain-spur which is surrounded
+on three sides by the Moselle,<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> but it is hemmed
+by a ring of heights. The character of the defences,
+which had been strengthened by Vauban, with their
+numerous salient angles, was not calculated to resist
+modern long-range artillery. The place exposed an
+isolated rampart of masonry in a circumference of
+from 2160 to 3250 yards, and although the long
+delay had been utilized in repairing the weak points by
+throwing up earthworks, a bombardment could not fail
+to be destructive to the defenders.</p>
+
+<p>When Verdun had surrendered, heavy siege guns
+were brought by rail from Clermont to a position close
+in front of the southern face of the fortress. The only
+hindrance to the erection of the batteries was the state
+of the soil, frozen to a depth of twenty inches; and at
+a quarter past eight on the morning of the 31st of
+December 68 siege guns and 8 field-pieces opened fire.
+At first the fortress replied vigorously, but by the afternoon
+its artillery was utterly silenced, and the white
+flag was hoisted next day. The garrison were taken
+prisoners; considerable stores and 132 guns fell into
+the hands of the besiegers. But the chief advantage
+gained was the opening of a new line of railway to
+Paris.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p>
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> Slip of pen for "Meuse."</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Paris in December.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>In Paris General Ducrot had been busily employed
+in making good the losses sustained in the battle of
+Villiers. A part of the greatly reduced Ist Corps had
+to be consigned to the reserve; the IInd Army was reorganized.
+A projected sortie by way of the peninsula
+of Gennevillers and the heights of Franconville
+had not been approved by the government. There was
+the confident expectation of seeing the Army of Orleans
+appear within a short time before the capital, and steps
+were being taken to reach it the hand, when on
+the 6th December a letter from General von Moltke
+announced the defeat of General d'Aurelle and the
+occupation of Orleans. A sortie to the south would
+thenceforth be aimless, and after long deliberation it
+was at length decided to break through the enemy's
+lines in a northern direction by a sortie in great
+force.</p>
+
+<p>It was true that the Morée brook afforded the besiegers
+some cover on that side, but only so long as the ice
+would not bear. And there were but three German
+corps of the gross strength of 81,200, extended over a
+front of about twenty-seven miles.<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a></p>
+
+<p>By way of preparation earthworks were begun to be
+thrown up on the 13th, between Bondy and Courneuve,
+the forts of the north front were furnished with a
+heavier artillery equipment, and the plateau of Mont
+Avron was occupied by batteries. Ninety rounds of
+ammunition were served out to each man, with six
+days' rations; and four days' fodder for the horses.
+Packs were not to be carried, but rolled tent-pieces
+were to be worn as breast-protection. December 19th<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span>
+was the day first set for the enterprise, but there
+was a postponement to the 21st.</p>
+
+<p>Thus, during the larger half of December the investing
+army had remained almost wholly undisturbed
+by the defenders. Regular food, warm winter clothing,
+and abundant supplies of comforts which the exertions
+of the postal service afforded, had maintained the troops
+in a thoroughly satisfactory condition.</p>
+
+<p>The preparations which the garrison was making for
+a new effort did not escape the notice of the besieging
+forces. Deserters brought in reports of an imminent
+sortie. On the 20th information came from the posts
+of observation that large masses of troops were assembling
+about Merlan and Noisy le Sec; and early on the
+21st the 2nd Guard Division, by order of the Commander-in-Chief
+of the Army of the Meuse, stood in
+readiness at the passages of the Morée. Part of the 1st
+Division remained in reserve at Gonesse; the other
+portion was to be relieved by the 7th Division, and
+made available for action. On the right wing the
+Guard Landwehr Division occupied the section from
+Chatou to Carrières St. Denis; on the left a brigade
+of the Saxon Corps held Sévran. The 4th Infantry
+Division of the IInd Corps moved to Malnoue to
+support, in case of need, the Würtembergers, to whom
+was allotted the task of holding resolutely the advanced
+position of Joinville opposite the French.</p>
+
+<p>To divert the attention of the Germans from the
+true point of attack, a brisk fire was to be opened in
+early morning from Fort Valérien; strong bodies were
+to assail the right wing of the Guard Corps, General
+Vinoy was to lead the IIIrd Army against the Saxons,
+and Admiral de la Roncière was to fall upon Le
+Bourget with his Army Corps. This latter post, projecting
+as it did so prominently, it was essential to
+seize first of all, and not till then was General Ducrot,
+with the IInd Paris Army, to cross the Morée near
+Blanc Mesnil and Aulnay.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>(<span class="smcap">Combat of le Bourget, 21st December.</span>)&mdash;Le
+Bourget was held by only four companies of the
+Queen Elizabeth Regiment, and one Guard Rifle
+battalion. When the mist rose at a quarter to eight,
+there was rained on the garrison a heavy fire from the
+guns of the forts and many batteries, as well as from
+armour-clad railway trucks. Half an hour later closed
+hostile columns marched on the place from east and
+west. In the former direction its outskirts were successfully
+defended for some time against seven French
+battalions, and on the opposite side five more were
+brought to a halt by the quick fire of the defenders in
+front of the cemetery<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a>; but a detachment of marine
+fusiliers penetrated unhindered into the village by its
+northern entrance. Pressed upon on all sides by overwhelming
+numbers, the defenders were compelled to
+fall back into the southern part of the village. The
+garrison of the cemetery also strove to force its way
+thither, but part of it fell into the enemy's hands.
+The French advanced only step by step, suffering
+heavy loss in bloody street-fighting, but they did not
+succeed in obtaining possession of the buildings or glass-factory.
+Five fresh battalions of the French reserve
+marched up from St. Denis on the gas-works, and
+battered down the garden-wall with cannon-fire, but
+still could not crush there the steady resistance of the
+Germans.</p>
+
+<p>At nine o'clock the latter were reinforced by one
+company, and at ten o'clock by seven more companies,
+which in a bloody hand-to-hand struggle, fought their
+way to the cemetery and glass-factory. By eleven the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span>
+last bodies of assailants were driven out, and Le
+Bourget, in expectation of a renewed attack, was occupied
+by fifteen companies. Two batteries of field
+artillery, which had been in brisk action on the Morée,
+were brought up to the village.</p>
+
+<p>General Ducrot had meanwhile waited in vain for the
+signal which was to have announced the capture of Le
+Bourget. He had pushed forward the heads of his
+columns beyond Bondy and Drancy, when he was
+warned by the disastrous issue of the struggle on his
+left to abandon his intended attack on the line of the
+Morée.</p>
+
+<p>The anticipated important enterprise lapsed into a
+mere cannonade, to which the German field-guns did
+their best to reply. In the afternoon the French retired
+from the field.</p>
+
+<p>They had lost, by their own account, about 600 men.
+The troops of the Prussian Guard Corps lost 400, but
+360 prisoners remained in their hands. In the evening
+the outposts resumed their previous positions.</p>
+
+<p>The various feigned attacks of the Parisian garrison
+were without effect, and produced no alteration in the
+dispositions made on the German side. An advance
+from St. Denis against Stains was repulsed, and two
+gunboats on the Seine had to go about in consequence
+of the fire of four field batteries on Orgemont. The
+trivial sortie on Chatou was scarcely heeded. General
+Vinoy indeed led forward a large force along the right
+bank of the Marne, but that was not till the afternoon,
+when the fight at Le Bourget was over. The Saxon
+outposts retired into the fighting position near Le
+Chenay. One of the battalions massed there drove
+the enemy out of Maison Blanche that same evening,
+another made a grasp at Ville Evrart, where fighting
+went on till midnight; it lost seventy men, but brought
+in 600 prisoners. Next morning the French abandoned
+Ville Evrart, under heavy fire from the German artillery
+on the heights on the opposite side of the river.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Paris had now been invested for three months. The
+always distasteful expedient of a bombardment of a
+place so extensive could not of itself bring about a
+decisive result; and on the German side there was the
+full conviction that only a regular siege could accomplish
+the wished-for end. But the operations of the
+engineers had to be delayed till the artillery should
+be in a position to co-operate with them.</p>
+
+<p>It has already been shown that the siege-artillery
+had been first employed against those fortified places
+which interrupted the rearward communications of the
+army. There were indeed 235 heavy pieces standing
+ready at Villacoublay; but it had proved impossible as
+yet to bring up the necessary ammunition for the attack
+which, once begun, must on no account be interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>By the end of November, railway communication
+had been restored up to Chelles, but the greater part of
+the ammunition had meanwhile been deposited at
+Lagny, and from thence would now have to be carried
+forward by the country roads. The ordinary two-wheeled
+country carts proved totally unfit for the
+transport of shells, and only 2000 four-wheeled waggons
+had been collected by requisitions made over a wide
+area. There were brought up from Metz 960 more
+with horses sent from Germany, and even the teams of
+the IIIrd Army were taken into the service, though
+they were almost indispensable just then to contribute
+towards the efficiency of the army fighting on the
+Loire. Finally, all the draught horses of the pontoon
+columns, of the field-bridge trains, and of the trench-tool
+columns were brought into the ammunition-transport
+service. A new difficulty arose when the breaking-up
+of the ice necessitated the removal of the
+pontoon bridges over the Seine. The roads were so
+bad that it took the waggons nine days to get from
+Nanteuil to Villacoublay and back. Many broke
+down under their loads, and the drivers constantly
+took to flight. And moreover, at the instance of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span>
+Chief of the Staff there was now laid upon the artillery
+yet an additional task to be carried out forthwith.</p>
+
+<p>Though the besieged had not hitherto succeeded in
+forcing their way through the enemy's lines, they now
+set about widening their elbow room, with intent that
+by their counter-approaches the ring of investment
+should be further and yet further pushed back, until
+at last it should reach the breaking point. On the
+south side the French entrenchments already extended
+beyond Vitry and Villejuif to the Seine; and on the
+north, between Drancy and Fort de l'Est, there was an
+extensive system of trenches and batteries reaching to
+within 1100 yards of Le Bourget, which in part might
+in a manner be dignified with the title of a regular
+engineer-attack. The hard frost had indeed hindered
+the further progress of these works, but they were
+armed with artillery and occupied by the IInd Army.
+And further, a singularly favourable point of support for
+a sortie to the east as well as to the north, was afforded
+to the French in the commanding eminence of Mont
+Avron, which, armed with seventy heavy guns, projected
+into the Marne valley like a wedge between the
+northern and southern investing lines.</p>
+
+
+<p>(<span class="smcap">Bombardment of Mont Avron, December 27th.</span>)&mdash;In
+order to expel the French from this position fifty
+heavy guns from Germany, and twenty-six from before
+La Fère were brought up under the command of
+Colonel Bartsch. By the exertions of a whole battalion
+as a working party, two groups of battery emplacements
+were erected in spite of the severe frost on the
+western slope of the heights behind Raincy and Gagny,
+and on the left upland of the Marne Valley near Noisy
+le Grand, thus encompassing Mont Avron on two sides
+at a distance of from 2160 to 3250 feet.</p>
+
+<p>At half-past eight on the morning of 27th December
+those seventy-six guns opened fire. A heavy snowstorm
+interfered with accurate aim, and prevented any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span>
+observation of the execution done. Mont Avron and
+Forts Nogent and Rosny replied rapidly and heavily.</p>
+
+<p>The German batteries lost two officers and twenty-five
+gunners, several gun-carriages broke down under
+their own fire, and everything pointed to the prospect
+that no definite result would be obtained on that
+day.</p>
+
+<p>But the batteries had fired more effectually than had
+been supposed. The clear weather of the 28th allowed
+of greater precision; the Prussian fire proved most
+telling, making fearful havoc in the numerous and
+exposed French infantry garrison. Mont Avron was
+silenced, and only the forts kept up a feeble fire.
+General Trochu, who was present in person, ordered
+the abandonment of the position, which was so effectually
+accomplished in the night by the energetic
+commander, Colonel Stoffel, that only one disabled
+gun was left behind.</p>
+
+<p>On the 29th the French fire was silent, and the hill
+was found deserted. The Germans had no intention of
+continuing to occupy the position. Their batteries
+now turned their fire on the forts, which suffered
+severely, and on the earthworks near Bondy.</p>
+
+<p>By the end of the year the besiegers had succeeded
+in collecting the most indispensable ammunition in
+Villacoublay. The engineer operations were entrusted
+to General Kameke; the artillery was under the command
+of General Prince Hohenlohe.<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> The battery
+emplacements had long been finished, and with
+the dawn of the new year 100 guns of the largest
+calibres stood ready to open fire on the south front of
+Paris.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p>
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> Viz., the section of the investment line on the northern side,
+from the Marne above, to the Seine below Paris, held by the Army of
+the Meuse, consisting of the IVth, the Guard, and XIIth (Saxon)
+Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> "Kirchhof" seems to stand in German not only for our "churchyard,"
+but also for our "graveyard," in which latter there need be no
+church. In the case of Le Bourget the church stands in the village
+street&mdash;the reader will remember de Neuville's striking picture&mdash;and
+the graveyard lies outside the shabby village, and has the
+aspect of the modern "cemetery." That term has therefore been
+used.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> Details as to the personnel of the artillery and engineer commands
+of the siege operations will be found on a later page.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Army of the East under General Bourbaki.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>While the French forces were engaged in constant
+fighting, in the north on the Seine and the Somme, in
+the south on the Loire and the Saône, General Bourbaki's
+army had nowhere made itself prominent. Since
+the 8th of December, when the 6th Cavalry Division
+had reported its presence at Vierzon, all trace of it had
+been lost. It was of course of the greatest importance to
+the supreme Command that it should know the whereabouts
+of so large an army; only the IInd German
+Army could acquire this information, and on the 22nd
+it received instructions to obtain the required enlightenment
+by means of reconnaissances.</p>
+
+<p>On this errand General von Rantzau (commanding
+25th Cavalry Brigade) set out from Montargis by the
+right bank of the Loire towards Briare, where he found
+that the French had abandoned their position on the
+25th; in the course of the next few days he met them,
+and was defeated.</p>
+
+<p>The Hessian detachment was reinforced to a strength
+of three battalions, four squadrons and six guns, but
+was nevertheless driven back to Gien on the 1st of
+January. The French had displayed a force of several
+thousand Gardes-Mobiles, twelve guns, and a body of
+marine infantry. A noticeable fact was that some of
+the prisoners brought in belonged to the XVIIIth
+French Corps, which formed part of the Ist Army of
+the Loire.</p>
+
+<p>A regiment of the 6th Cavalry Division sent out to
+reconnoitre into the Sologne, returned with the report
+that strong hostile columns were marching on Aubigny
+Ville. On the other hand, two waggon-drivers who had
+been taken prisoners declared that the French troops had
+been already moved from Bourges by rail, and the newspaper
+reports also pointed to the same conclusion; still,
+too much weight could not be attached to mere rumour
+as against circumstantial intelligence. It was therefore<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span>
+assumed at Versailles that the Ist Army of the Loire
+was still about Bourges, and that General Bourbaki,
+when again in a condition to fight, would act in
+concert with General Chanzy.</p>
+
+<p>The two armies might attack the Germans at Orleans
+from opposite sides, or one might engage and detain
+them there, while the other marched to relieve the
+capital.</p>
+
+<p>This, in fact, was what General Chanzy had in view.
+Since the 21st of December he had been resting in
+quarters in and about Le Mans, where railways from
+four directions facilitated the bringing up of new levies.
+His troops had no doubt great hardships to contend
+with there. In lack of shelter for such great masses
+part had to camp out under canvas in the snow, and
+suffered severely from the intense cold. The hospitals
+were crammed with wounded and small-pox patients.
+On the other hand, this close concentration was
+favourable to the reorganization of the details and the
+restoration of discipline; and the news from Paris
+urged the General to renewed action.</p>
+
+<p>General Trochu had sent word that Paris unaided
+could not accomplish her freedom. Even if a sortie
+should prove successful, the necessary supplies for the
+maintenance of an army could not be carried with it,
+and therefore nothing but the simultaneous appearance
+of an army from without could meet the case. Now
+General Chanzy was quite ready to march on Paris,
+but it was indispensable that he should first know
+exactly what Generals Bourbaki and Faidherbe were
+doing.</p>
+
+<p>It was clearly evident that concerted action on the
+part of three great Army Corps could only be devised
+and controlled by the chief power. The General therefore
+sent an officer of his Staff on the 23rd of December
+to Gambetta at Lyons, to express his conviction that
+only a combined and prompt advance could avert the
+fall of the capital. But the Minister believed that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span>
+knew better. The first news of a quite different disposition
+of Bourbaki's army only reached General
+Chanzy on the 29th, when it was already entered upon.
+Nor in other respects did Gambetta's reply convey
+either distinct orders or sufficient information. "You
+have decimated the Mecklenburgers," wrote Gambetta,
+"the Bavarians no longer exist, the rest of the German
+Army is a prey to disquietude and exhaustion. Let
+us persevere, and we shall drive these hordes from our
+soil with empty hands." The plan of the Provisional
+Government was to be the one "which would most
+demoralize the German army."<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a></p>
+
+<p>Under instructions so obscure from the chief authority
+General Chanzy, relying on his own strength,
+determined to make his way to Paris without other
+assistance; but he soon found himself in serious
+difficulties.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side there was no time to be lost in
+utilizing their position between the two hostile armies,
+advantageous as it was so long as those armies were
+not too near. The simultaneous attacks on the 31st
+December at Vendôme on the Loir, and at Briare on
+the Loire, seemed to indicate that the two were already
+acting on a concerted plan.</p>
+
+<p>On New Year's day Prince Frederick Charles received
+telegraphic instructions to re-cross the Loir without
+delay, and strike at General Chanzy, as being the
+nearest and most imminently dangerous enemy. With
+this object the IInd Army was strengthened by the
+addition of the XIIIth Corps of the Grand Duke of
+Mecklenburg (17th and 22nd Divisions) and the 2nd
+and 4th Divisions of Cavalry. And in addition the
+5th Cavalry Division was detailed to the duty of
+covering the right flank of the advance.</p>
+
+<p>Only the 25th (Hessian) Division was to be left in
+Orleans as a possible check on General Bourbaki,
+and to maintain observation on Gien. But as a further<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span>
+provision, in case of need against a possible advance
+of the IInd Army of the Loire, General von Zastrow
+was ordered to the Armançon with the VIIth Corps;<a name="FNanchor_63_63" id="FNanchor_63_63"></a><a href="#Footnote_63_63" class="fnanchor">[63]</a>
+and further the IInd Corps from the besieging lines
+was set in march to Montargis.</p>
+
+<p>Prince Frederick Charles' arrangement was to have
+his three corps assembled on the line Vendôme&mdash;Morée
+by 6th January, and to order the XIIIth from Chartres
+on Brou.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> "Qui démoralisera le plus l'armée Allemande."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_63_63" id="Footnote_63_63"></a><a href="#FNanchor_63_63"><span class="label">[63]</span></a> In effect, with only the Corps-headquarter and the 13th Division&mdash;the
+14th Division being still in the north-east.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Advance of the IInd Army to Le Mans.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The Germans had hoped to strike the enemy in his
+winter quarters; but General Chanzy had provided
+against surprise by a cordon of strong advanced positions.
+Nogent le Rotrou on his left was held by Rousseau's
+Division, and numerous bands of volunteers;
+from thence strong detachments were posted through
+Vibraye and St. Calais up to the Braye brook, where
+General Jouffroy had made a halt after the last attack
+on Vendôme; and on the right were General Barry at La
+Chartre and de Curten's Division at Château Renault.</p>
+
+<p>Both wings of the German army came into collision
+with these forces on the 5th of January.</p>
+
+<p>General Baumgarth (commanding 2nd Cavalry
+Brigade), on the German left, had assembled at St.
+Amand three battalions, two cavalry regiments and
+two batteries. The 57th regiment stormed Villeporcher
+in the direction of Château Renault, evacuated it in
+face of an attack by four French battalions, and finally
+recaptured and held it. This much, at any rate, was
+thus ascertained, that a not inconsiderable force of the
+enemy was assembled in front of the left wing of the
+German army now marching westward. While this
+movement was in prosecution General Baumgarth was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span>
+thenceforth to undertake its protection, and with this
+object he was reinforced by the addition of the 6th
+Cavalry Division and the 1st Cavalry Brigade.</p>
+
+<p>On the right wing the 44th Brigade, in its advance
+on Nogent le Rotrou, also had had a sharp encounter.
+It carried the enemy's position at La Fourche, and
+captured three guns, with a large number of prisoners.
+The main body of the Corps (the XIIIth) reached
+Beaumont les Autels and Brou, but the cavalry failed
+to penetrate the woods to the north of Nogent.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 6th.</i>&mdash;At six in the morning the advanced
+guard of General Baumgarth's detachment started on
+march to Prunay, but the main body could not follow,
+since it was attacked in force at about half-past nine.
+With the object of observing the enemy, the infantry
+had been scattered in detached posts in a wide extension
+from Ambloy to Villeporcher, and only a small
+reserve remained at La Noue. The fight soon assumed
+greater expansion, and the defence with difficulty maintained
+the line Les Haies&mdash;Pias, the turning of the
+German left flank being seriously threatened, upon
+which the 6th Cavalry Division moved up, but could
+only enter the fight with one horse battery. The
+reserve, however, moved up along the high road to
+Château Renault and repulsed the enemy, who had
+already forced his way into Les Haies. But when
+he renewed the attack in strong columns and developed
+four batteries against the place, the reserve was obliged
+to retire behind the Brenne.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the 16th Regiment, which had already
+reached Ambloy on its march to Vendôme, turned
+back to St. Amand in support, and the just assembled
+38th Infantry Brigade deployed between Neuve St.
+Amand and St. Amand with a strong force of cavalry
+on its flanks. But as by some mistake St. Amand was
+evacuated, Duke William of Mecklenburg (commanding
+6th Cavalry Division) ordered a further retreat.
+The infantry, however, had already come to a halt at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span>
+Huisseau and took quarters there. The advanced
+guard turned into Ambloy; the cavalry fell back
+partly on that place and partly on Villeromain.</p>
+
+<p>During the engagement about St. Amand the Xth
+Corps itself advanced on Montoire in two columns
+along the left bank of the Loire, leaving on its right a
+battalion in front of Vendôme to secure the debouche
+of the IIIrd Corps through that place.</p>
+
+<p>When the 20th Division reached St. Rimay at
+about one o'clock, it found the heights on the opposite
+side of the Loir occupied by General Barry's troops.
+The massed German batteries were brought up to the
+southern ridge of the valley and soon drove the French
+off the broad flats; but the defile of Les Roches in the
+front remained quite unassailable. The broken bridge
+at Lavardin, lower down the stream, was therefore
+made practicable by the pioneers. The 19th Division
+having meanwhile reached that place, several battalions
+crossed from the south side to attack Les
+Roches, and easily dislodged the French. As darkness
+came on, preventing any further advance, the Corps
+found quarters in and about Montoire.</p>
+
+<p>The Commander of the IIIrd Corps had intended to
+make a halt on this day before Vendôme, and only push
+forward his advanced guard as far as the Azay brook;
+but this detachment soon met with so stout opposition,
+that the main force was compelled to advance to its
+assistance. General de Jouffroy, with intent to disengage
+General de Curten, had renewed the attack on
+Vendôme, and so the advanced guard of the 5th Division,
+approaching Villiers at about half-past one, found
+the 10th Jäger Battalion, which had accompanied the
+march of its Corps along the right bank of the Loir,
+engaged at that place in a sharp fight which had
+already lasted four hours. The advanced guard
+brought up its two batteries on to the plateau north of
+the village, and the 48th Regiment made its way
+forward to the slope of the lower Azay valley, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span>
+broad flat meadows of which were commanded by the
+French long-range rifles and completely swept by the
+fire of the artillery. And here then the enemy came
+over to the attack in dense swarms of sharp-shooters.</p>
+
+<p>The 8th Regiment presently came up in support,
+and after a short fight took possession of Le Gué du
+Loir on its left flank; then the further reinforcement
+arrived of the 10th Infantry Brigade, and by degrees
+the number of Prussian guns increased to thirty-six.
+The French artillery could not endure their fire, and
+within half an hour it was possible to turn it on the
+hostile infantry. At about half-past four the German
+battalions crossed the valley, made themselves masters
+of the vineyards and farms on the opposite heights, and
+finally stormed Mazange. Under cover of the darkness
+the French retired to Lunay.</p>
+
+<p>Further to the right the advance guard of the 6th
+Division, having left Vendôme at eleven o'clock, found
+the battalion left by the Xth Corps at Courtiras fighting
+hard against a very superior force of the French.
+The 11th Brigade advanced on the Azay ravine,
+though not without heavy loss, and when at about
+half-past three the 12th also came up, and the artillery
+went to work vigorously, Azay was successfully stormed
+and the force established itself firmly on the heights
+beyond. Repeated counterstrokes of the enemy were
+repulsed in succession, and by five o'clock the fighting
+ended with the retirement of the French.</p>
+
+<p>The IIIrd Army Corps took up quarters between
+the Azay stream and the Loir. A detachment
+occupied Danzé, higher up the river. The Corps lost
+thirty-nine officers and above 400 men, but captured
+400 prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of the day the IXth Corps crossed
+the upper Loir about Fréteval and St. Hilaire, without
+opposition, and advanced along the high road to St.
+Calais, as far as Busloup. The XIIIth remained at
+Unverre, Beaumont, and La Fourche.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Prince Frederick Charles had not been led into any
+change of purpose by the attack at St. Amand and the
+obstinate resistance at Azay. The XIIIth Corps was
+expected to reach Montmirail, and the XIth Epuisay,
+both on the 7th; the IIIrd was to continue the attack
+on the deep-cut channel of the Braye brook. But after
+the reverse experienced at St. Amand, the presence of a
+strong hostile force on the left flank could not be suffered
+to remain unregarded. Duke William had already been
+given verbal orders at the Head-quarter in Vendôme,
+to turn back forthwith to St. Amand with the 6th
+Cavalry Division, and in addition General von Voigts-Rhetz
+was ordered to support General Baumgarth if
+necessary with his whole Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The country between the Loir and the Sarthe
+through which the Germans had to march, presents
+peculiar difficulties to an invading force, and affords
+marked advantages to the defence.</p>
+
+<p>All the roads leading to Le Mans intersect at right
+angles, stream after stream flowing through broad and
+deeply cut meadow-valleys. Groves, villages, and
+châteaux with walled parks cover the highly cultivated
+upland; vineyards, orchards and gardens are enclosed
+by hedges, ditches or fences.</p>
+
+<p>Hence almost the whole burthen of the impending
+fighting would have to be borne by the infantry;
+nowhere was there space for the deployment of cavalry,
+and the use of artillery needs must be extremely
+limited, since in a country so greatly enclosed guns
+could only singly be brought into action. The enemy's
+central position could be approached by only four main
+roads, and the communications between the marching
+columns, starting at the least some thirty miles apart,
+would be confined to the cross roads, almost impassable
+from the severity of the season and the hostility of the
+inhabitants. Any lateral mutual support was at first
+quite out of the question.</p>
+
+<p>Under such conditions the movements could only<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span>
+be guided by general instructions, and even the leaders
+of lower grades had to be left free to act at their own
+individual discretion. Specific orders for each day,
+though they would of course be issued, could not in
+many cases be possibly carried out. In the Army
+Headquarter it could not be foreseen in what situation
+each individual corps might find itself after a day's
+fighting. Reports could only come in very late at
+night, and the orders drawn up however early would
+often arrive only after the troops, because of the shortness
+of the day, had already set out on the march.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 7th.</i>&mdash;In obedience to orders from the Army
+Headquarter, General Voigts-Rhetz on the 7th sent
+the part of the 19th Division which had already
+reached Vendôme, back to St. Amand in reinforcement.
+The 38th Brigade had again entered that
+place early in the day, and General von Hartmann,
+taking over its command, advanced along the Château
+Renault high road, the cavalry moving on both flanks.</p>
+
+<p>The column first struck the enemy near Villechauve
+at mid-day. A thick fog prevented the employment of
+the artillery, and it was at the cost of heavy loss that
+Villechauve, Pias, and various other farmsteads were
+captured. Villeporcher and the adjacent villages
+remained in possession of the French, who at about
+two o'clock advanced by the high road to the attack
+with several battalions. The weather had cleared, and
+it was soon evident that this offensive was only intended
+to mask the beginning of the enemy's retreat to the
+westward. The troops took quarters where they stood,
+and the reinforcements forwarded to them remained at
+St. Amand.</p>
+
+<p>The Xth Corps, awaiting the return of the latter,
+remained in its quarters about La Chartre; only the
+14th Cavalry Brigade went on up to La Richardière to
+establish connection with the IIIrd Corps. But it did
+not succeed in taking the village with dismounted
+troopers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>General von Alvensleben<a name="FNanchor_64_64" id="FNanchor_64_64"></a><a href="#Footnote_64_64" class="fnanchor">[64]</a> hoped to overtake the
+French on the hither side of the glen of Braye, and
+by turning their left wing to drive them on to the Xth
+Corps, whose co-operation had been promised. The
+IIIrd Corps advanced in the direction of Epuisay,
+leaving one brigade to garrison Mazange, and when
+tidings reached it on the march that the French had
+evacuated Lunay and Fortan, that brigade also
+followed by way of the latter village.</p>
+
+<p>Epuisay was found to be strongly held, and in the
+meantime the advanced guard of the IXth Corps,
+advancing from Busloup, also arrived there. But it was
+not till half-past one that the French were expelled from
+the little town, which they had strongly barricaded; and
+on the hither side of the Braye they renewed their resistance
+in the numerous hamlets and farmsteads. A
+long fire fight was kept up in the thick fog; but at
+length, at about four o'clock, the 12th Brigade pushed
+forward to the edge of the valley. The 9th Brigade
+took possession of Savigny without meeting any serious
+opposition, and Sargé was stormed in the dusk.</p>
+
+<p>The IIIrd Corps had lost forty-five men and had
+taken 200 prisoners. It found quarters behind the
+Braye, but threw forward outposts on its western bank.
+The IXth Corps found shelter in and about Epuisay,
+and thus, as a matter of fact, two corps were now
+crowded on one of the few available roads. The 2nd
+Cavalry Division went to the right, towards Mondoubleau,
+to make connection with the XIIIth Corps.
+The French retreated to St. Calais.</p>
+
+<p>The order from the Army Head-quarter that the
+XIIIth Corps was to march to Montmirail, had been
+issued on the presumption that it would have reached
+Nogent le Rotrou on the 6th, whereas in fact, as has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>
+been shown, it had remained at La Fourche, Beaumont,
+and Unverre. The Grand Duke, who expected
+to experience a stout resistance, did not pass to the
+attack of Nogent till the 7th. When the 22nd Division
+arrived there, it found all the villages deserted in the
+Upper Huisne valley and was able to enter Nogent without
+any fighting at two o'clock. It took up quarters
+there, the 4th Cavalry Division at Thirion Gardais;
+and only an advanced guard followed the enemy. It
+found the wood near Le Gibet strongly occupied, and
+did not succeed in forcing it till after nightfall.</p>
+
+<p>The French had retired to La Ferté Bernard.</p>
+
+<p>The 17th Division had at first followed in reserve.
+But at one o'clock, in consequence of the reports
+brought in, the Grand Duke detached it southward to
+Authon; and in order to follow the Head-quarter instructions
+as closely as possible he did at least push a
+detachment of two battalions, two cavalry regiments,
+and one battery towards Montmirail, under the command
+of General von Rauch.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 8th.</i>&mdash;Finding on the morning of the 8th
+that the enemy was not advancing to the attack of St.
+Amand, General von Hartmann at nine o'clock sent
+back the troops which had crossed the river to his
+support. At ten o'clock also he received instructions
+to join the Xth Corps; but the French still continued
+to hold Villeporcher and the forest lying behind it, and
+were also drawn up across the Château Renault high
+road in a very advantageous position behind the
+Brenne. The General recognized the necessity of
+making a decisive stand here, and took the best means
+to that end by acting himself on the offensive. Supported
+by the fire of his battery, and accompanied by the
+cavalry on either flank, six companies of the 60th
+Regiment marched on Villeporcher, drove back its
+defenders in flight into the forest of Château Renault,
+and took 100 prisoners. On the left the 9th Uhlans drove
+the Chasseurs d'Afrique before them. Not till darkness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span>
+had set in did General von Hartmann proceed in the
+direction of Montoire.</p>
+
+<p>General von Voigts-Rhetz had already set out from
+thence very early in the day. The night's frost had
+covered the roads with ice, which cruelly impeded all
+movements of troops. The road on the right bank of
+the Loir was in many places broken up. It passed
+through a succession of narrow defiles, and on emerging
+from these the advanced guard found itself face to face
+with a force of about 1000 Gardes-Mobiles, who had
+taken up a position in front of La Chartre. Their
+mitrailleuses were soon forced to a hasty retreat by the
+fire of two field-guns, but it was only after a prolonged
+struggle that the infantry, moving with difficulty,
+succeeded at 4 o'clock in entering the town, where it
+took up quarters. Two battalions which were sent
+further on the road, had to fight for their night's
+shelter, and all through the night were exchanging shots
+with the enemy at close quarters, of whom 230 were
+taken prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>The 39th Brigade, which left Ambloy in the
+morning, could follow the corps only as far as
+Sougé.</p>
+
+<p>General von Schmidt with the 14th Cavalry Brigade
+was sent to the right, to try to make connection with
+the IIIrd Corps. He was received at Vancé with a
+sharp fire. The leading squadron made way for the
+horse battery, and a volley of grape-shot from the
+foremost gun drove the dismounted hostile Cuirassiers
+behind the hedges. When two more guns were brought
+up into position, their shell fire dispersed in every
+direction a long column of cavalry.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel von Alvensleben pursued the French cavalry
+with the 15th Uhlan Regiment till he came upon a
+body of infantry guarding the Etang-fort brook. The
+brigade halted at Vancé, after putting about 100
+French <i>hors de combat</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Of the IIIrd Corps the 6th Division had moved forward<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span>
+through St. Calais. The French tried to hold the
+cuttings on the greatly broken up roads; but they
+nowhere awaited a serious attack, and made off, for
+the most part in carts which were in waiting. The
+5th Division, proceeding on a parallel front on the left,
+met with no opposition; but the state of the roads
+made the march extremely difficult. The corps halted
+on the hither side of Bouloire. The IXth Corps came
+up behind it into St. Calais.</p>
+
+<p>The Grand Duke had moved both Divisions of the
+XIIIth Corps on La Ferté Bernard. On their way
+they came across none but stragglers, but they found
+the roads so utterly cut up that not till four in the
+afternoon did they reach the place, where they took up
+quarters. The French had retired to Connerré. The
+4th Cavalry Division was to secure the right flank on
+the further advance, but could not get as far forward
+as Bellême; on the other hand, General von Rauch's
+(commanding 15th Cavalry Division) detachment
+despatched leftward towards Montmirail, surprised the
+French in Vibraye, and took possession of the bridge
+over the Braye.</p>
+
+<p>By the evening of this day the two flank Corps of
+the German Army were at an equal distance from
+Le Mans, both on the same high road which crosses
+the district of the Quere from La Ferté Bernard in
+a southerly direction through St. Calais and La
+Chartre; the IIIrd Corps was further in advance,
+separated from each of them by the interval of a long
+march. A closer concentration of the forces could be
+attained only by a further advance along the converging
+highways. Prince Frederick Charles therefore
+issued an order at ten o'clock that evening, for the
+Xth Corps to march next day to Parigné l'Evêque, the
+IIIrd to Ardenay, and the XIIIth on to the heights of
+Montfort, the advanced guard of each to be pushed
+forward beyond these respective points. The IXth,
+in the centre, was to follow, while General von Hartmann<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span>
+was to protect Vendôme with the 38th Brigade
+and the 1st Division of Cavalry.</p>
+
+<p>But the distances prevented the flanking corps
+advancing from La Chartre and La Ferté from reaching
+their respective destinations, and, on the 9th of January,
+snow-storms, ice-bound roads, and thick fog further
+combined to make their progress arduous beyond
+conception.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 9th.</i>&mdash;General von Hartmann marched the
+38th Infantry Brigade on Château Renault, and entered
+the town at one o'clock, to find that Curten's French
+Division had started early in the morning for St.
+Laurent.</p>
+
+<p>The incomplete Xth Corps moved this day in two
+columns; the detachment of General von Woyna (commanding
+39th Infantry Brigade) was to march from
+Pont de Braye by Vancé, the remainder of the corps
+from La Chartre by way of Brives to Grand Lucé.</p>
+
+<p>The 20th Division had scarcely set out by this route
+from L'Homme, when it encountered shell and mitrailleuse-fire.
+Here there happened for once to be room
+for three batteries to advance, but in the heavy snow-fall
+aim was out of the question. The infantry, however,
+by degrees drove the enemy out of sundry hamlets
+and farmsteads, and back across the Brives. To pursue
+him beyond that stream a makeshift bridge needed first
+to be thrown across with some loss of time, and then
+Chahaignes was to be seized. But in the narrow valley
+which had to be now traversed a vigorous resistance
+was to be counted on. The state of the road was such
+that the artillerymen and cavalry had to dismount and
+lead their horses. The General in command rode on
+a gun-carriage; his staff went on foot. Some horses
+which had fallen in front presently stopped the way
+for the whole column; and it therefore became necessary
+to send back all the Corps-artillery, which was to
+try next day to come on by way of Vancé.</p>
+
+<p>To facilitate the march of the 20th Division, General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span>
+von Woyna had been instructed to deviate from his
+direct road and attack the enemy's left. When he approached
+the valley the fighting had fallen silent, and
+the detachment turned back to Vancé; but at Brives
+at about half-past three the main column met with
+fresh resistance, being received with a brisk fire from
+the heights north-east of the village. Not even the infantry
+could move outside of the high road, so there
+was no alternative to a frontal advance along it. A
+closed attack by the 39th Brigade broke up and routed
+the enemy. At half-past six in the evening, when quite
+dark, Colonel von Valentini set out for St. Pierre with
+four battalions, and took there 100 French prisoners
+and a loaded train of 100 waggons. The Xth Corps
+spent the night with only its advance in Brives and
+Vancé, but its quarters reached back nearly to the valley
+of the Loir. Nor had the 14th Brigade of Cavalry
+been able to make any further headway.</p>
+
+<p>Of the IIIrd Corps the 6th Division had marched
+by the high road through Bouloire, with the artillery
+corps; the 5th on the left along the by-roads. The
+advanced guard of the 6th Division, after a lively
+fire-fight, expelled the enemy from his positions
+in front of Ardenay, but there at two o'clock had to
+encounter a determined resistance. After General de
+Jouffroy had withdrawn from St. Calais to the southward,
+General Chanzy pushed forward Paris' Division to
+secure the high road leading from thence to Le Mans.
+It had taken up a position near Ardenay, occupying the
+château on the right, and on the left posting four guns
+and two mitrailleuses near La Butte. To oppose
+these there was only room on the road for two German
+guns, which, however, in the course of half an hour
+silenced the mitrailleuses, and carried on the unequal
+contest with the greatest obstinacy. At about four
+o'clock five companies of the 12th Brigade stormed the
+château of Ardenay, while others, crossing the meadowland
+to the right, forced their way through a patch of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span>
+wood towards La Butte. As night came on the French
+tried to effect a general attack along the chaussée; but
+this was repulsed, and the Brandenburgers<a name="FNanchor_65_65" id="FNanchor_65_65"></a><a href="#Footnote_65_65" class="fnanchor">[65]</a> plunged
+through the heavy fire of the defenders, and without
+firing a shot took La Butte and Ardenay with a rush
+and a cheer. The French were thrown back into the
+valley of the Narais, losing many prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>On the right a detachment of one battalion, two
+squadrons, and two guns, accompanied the 6th Division.
+It drove before it franctireur bodies, but at La Belle
+Inutile met with more serious resistance. The post
+was, however, carried by the 24th Regiment, which
+made prize of a large ammunition and provision train,
+and took above 100 unwounded prisoners. Count zu
+Lynar moved into the village for its defence.</p>
+
+<p>The 5th Division met with no opposition, but the
+state of the roads caused extreme delay to its progress.
+It was not till the afternoon that its head reached the
+Narais at Gué de l'Aune and took up quarters there
+and rearward to St. Mars de Locquenay. Its advanced
+guard went on, however, to La Buzardière, thus forming
+the absolute head of the whole army. Parigné
+l'Evêque, on its left flank, was found to be held by the
+enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The IXth Corps followed the IIIrd to Bouloire.</p>
+
+<p>Orders from head-quarters had not yet reached La
+Ferté when, at nine in the morning, the Grand Duke
+set the XIIIth Corps in motion on Connerré. Soon
+after midday the 17th Division came upon the French
+near Sceaux, and in a struggle wherein it slowly
+gained ground, drove them first out of the village
+precincts and then off the road. The French, who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span>
+had retreated to Connerré by a forced night march,
+lost above 500 prisoners in this small affair. But the
+short day was closing in, and the advanced guard
+halted at dusk at Duneau. A detachment going
+further forward found Connerré occupied by the
+French, and many watch-fires blazing in the valley
+of the Due. The main body of the infantry found
+quarters in and about Sceaux.</p>
+
+<p>Rauch's detachment, ordered to rejoin the Corps,
+took possession of Le Croset and of the bridge over the
+Due in front of that village, and also expelled the
+French from Thorigné.</p>
+
+<p>The French stayed in Connerré only till the evening;
+then, leaving a company in occupation, they continued
+their retreat. This necessarily led from the left bank
+of the Huisne through the quarters taken up by the
+IIIrd German Corps, which was disturbed all night by
+wandering detachments of the enemy, even at Nuillé,
+where the Divisional headquarters lay.</p>
+
+<p>On the extreme right the 4th Cavalry Division occupied
+Bellême, after driving out the French battalion
+which had been in occupation there.</p>
+
+<p>Thus on this day the centre of the IInd Army had
+fought its way to within about nine miles of Le Mans;
+while the two wings were still some distance behind.
+As it was probable that the French would accept battle
+in a prepared position behind the Huisne, it seemed
+advisable to await the arrival of the Xth and XIIIth
+Corps; but on the other hand, this would also give the
+enemy time to strengthen himself. Were an immediate
+attack determined on, the two Divisions which had
+been delayed respectively at Château Renault and Le
+Chartre, could scarcely reach Le Mans in time, and
+the rest of the army would be involved everywhere in
+a disadvantageous contest with the hostile bodies which
+were being driven back concentrically on that place.
+Prince Frederick Charles therefore ordered the IIIrd
+Corps to push on through Ardenay; the Xth was to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span>
+advance to Parigné, and the XIIIth on St. Mars la
+Bruyère, though these points could scarcely be reached
+from the positions actually occupied by the respective
+Corps this same evening (9th).</p>
+
+<p>As we have seen, the French army now assembled
+about Le Mans had been acting on the offensive on
+January 6th, when General Jouffroy had advanced on
+Vendôme, and de Curten on St. Amand. But so early
+as the 7th the French found themselves reduced to the
+defensive along their whole front, some 50 miles in length.
+General Rousseau, on the left wing, had evacuated Nogent
+le Rotrou, and, without being pressed, began his retreat
+by a night march to Connerré. In the centre, the
+trough of the Braye was wrested from General Jouffroy;
+he quitted St. Calais, not rearward on Le Mans, but
+southward to join General Barry. On the right, General
+Curten had abandoned Château Renault, and set out, unpursued,
+on the line through Château du Loir. To effect
+some concert in the operations of the three Divisions
+of his right wing, General Chanzy placed them under
+the superior orders of Admiral Jauréguiberry. He
+pushed forward the Division Paris on Ardenay by the
+high road General Jouffroy had uncovered, and on the
+left wing he reinforced General Rousseau by stationing
+three Divisions more on either side of his line of
+retreat. General Jouffroy was to retire to Parigné
+l'Evêque, and a Division was sent to meet him there
+and at Changé.</p>
+
+<p>General de Curten succeeded on the 9th in checking
+the progress of the German left wing for some time
+about Chahaignes; but the Division Paris was driven
+back through Ardenay, and General Rousseau, thus
+beset in Connerré, evacuated that village the same
+evening. The two Divisions of the right wing were
+behind as far as Jupilles and Neuillé Pont Pierre.</p>
+
+<p>Under these circumstances General Chanzy ordered
+that on the 10th the Division Jouffroy should fall back
+on Parigné l'Evêque, but that the Division Paris should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span>
+once more move forward on Ardenay. He sent the
+remaining three Divisions of the XXIst Corps to meet
+General Rousseau, with instructions that he was to
+retake Connerré and Thorigné.</p>
+
+<p>The offensive movements thus planned by both sides
+developed into the fierce battle which, on the German
+side, was fought out single-handed by the IIIrd
+Corps.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_64_64" id="Footnote_64_64"></a><a href="#FNanchor_64_64"><span class="label">[64]</span></a> Lieut.-General Alvensleben II, commanding IIIrd Army Corps,
+not to be confounded with Infantry-General Alvensleben I, commanding
+IVth Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_65_65" id="Footnote_65_65"></a><a href="#FNanchor_65_65"><span class="label">[65]</span></a> Brandenburg is the territorial province of the IIIrd Army
+Corps. It was the nucleus of the Prussian monarchy, and the Hohenzollerns
+were Margraves and then Electors of Brandenburg for 300
+years before they became Kings of Prussia. The IIIrd is unquestionably
+the most distinguished Corps of the Prussian line. The late
+Prince Frederick Charles long commanded it.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle in Front of le Mans.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(10th, 11th, and 12th of January.)</div>
+
+
+<p><i>January 10th.</i>&mdash;<i>The Fighting about Parigné and
+Changé.</i>&mdash;Owing to the peculiar nature of the country,
+deep columns could not deploy without great loss of
+time. General von Alvensleben therefore advanced in
+the centre with the 9th and 11th Infantry Brigades on
+Changé from Gué de l'Aune and Ardenay, moving
+on a broad front in comparatively small separate
+bodies. On the right the 12th marched by the high
+road to Le Mans; on the left the 10th was to start from
+Volnay when Parigné should be found abandoned by
+the French, and leaving that place on its left, was also
+to converge on Changé.</p>
+
+<p>Parigné had, in fact, been deserted by the French,
+but had been reoccupied before daybreak by a brigade
+of the Division Deplanque; and even before the German
+troops had started, the far-advanced outposts towards
+the forest of Loudon were smartly attacked. The
+greater part of the 9th Brigade had to be deployed by
+degrees between Blinières and the point of the forest, but
+only seven guns could be brought into action against the
+numerous French artillery. General von Stülpnagel
+decided to reserve his strength for the struggle at
+Changé, and to carry on merely a stationary fight<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[285]</a></span>
+here, which must be inevitably decided as soon as the
+10th Brigade should make its appearance on the left.</p>
+
+<p>That brigade, delayed by the badness of the roads,
+did not arrive by way of Challes till noon; but it
+brought two batteries to reinforce the German artillery
+strength, which now vigorously prepared the infantry
+attack on the high-lying Parigné. Half an hour
+later the battalions rushed on the place with shouts
+of "Hurrah Brandenburg!" taking a gun which the
+enemy had abandoned, and two mitrailleuses still in
+action. When the French returned to try to recover
+them they were again repulsed, and sacrificed another
+gun, two colours, and several waggons. After losing
+2150 prisoners they fled to the shelter of the forest of
+Ruaudin. General von Stülpnagel left two battalions
+at Parigné to maintain observation in that quarter, and
+hurried on to Changé in two columns. In front of this
+village, at about three o'clock, the 11th Brigade met
+with a violent resistance at the Gué Perray brook from
+the other brigade of Deplanque's Division. The 2nd
+Battalion of the 35th Regiment lost nine officers and
+above 100 men in a severe struggle at Les Gars. The
+General in command, who was on the spot, dislodged
+both flanks of the enemy from his strong position, and
+on the left two companies succeeded in crossing the
+stream at La Goudrière.</p>
+
+<p>These at four o'clock now fell in with the advanced
+guard of the 9th Brigade, which Colonel Count von der
+Groeben was bringing up from Parigné, having taken
+possession of the Château of Girardrie on the way.
+When the companies of the 11th Brigade sent to the
+right reached Auvigné simultaneously, the "General
+Advance" was sounded. Auvigné was stormed, the
+bridge north of Gué la Hart was crossed, and that
+village carried after a hard fight. Over 1000 prisoners
+more were taken from the flying French.</p>
+
+<p>It was already dark, but Changé, the goal of the
+struggle, was not yet reached. But when a barricade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[286]</a></span>
+outside the village had been won it was found that the
+10th Brigade was already in possession. This brigade,
+on its way along the high road from Parigné, had met
+with resistance at the Châteaux Chef Raison and Paillerie.
+Having only two guns, it failed to silence the French
+artillery, but General von Stülpnagel left there only
+a battalion in observation, and hurried forward with
+part of the brigade to reinforce the fight at Gué la
+Hart; the other portion was directed against Changé.
+Here the French had already been for the most part
+dismissed to quarters, but they soon assembled and made
+a prompt and determined resistance. There ensued an
+embittered street-fight, which ended in about an hour's
+time in the surrender of the whole garrison of 800 men,
+who had been crowded together into the market-place.</p>
+
+<p>The 12th Brigade had at last left Ardenay at eleven
+o'clock; it advanced along the high road without opposition
+as far as St. Hubert, where an abandoned
+commissariat train was seized. Having there aligned
+itself with the rest of the Corps it halted for a while,
+but after one o'clock was fired upon by French artillery;
+and the enemy again advancing along the highway,
+General von Buddenbrock<a name="FNanchor_66_66" id="FNanchor_66_66"></a><a href="#Footnote_66_66" class="fnanchor">[66]</a> on his part passed to the
+attack, and drove back the enemy out of Champagné,
+in part across the Huisne, and in part to the heights
+behind the village. Two guns successfully dealt with
+the fire of the French artillery near Lune d'Auvours,
+and then the infantry expelled the French from that
+shelter also.</p>
+
+<p>Further to the right a German battalion had taken
+St. Mars la Bruyère after a slight skirmish, and was
+subsequently joined there by General Count zu Lynar's
+detachment.</p>
+
+<p>Fighting thus with equal skill and success the IIIrd
+Corps had indeed already lost 450 men; but it had
+brought in more than 5000 prisoners, and had won
+many trophies of which it had a right to be proud.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[287]</a></span></p>
+<p>The Xth Corps had started this day from Vancé and
+Brives, and unobstructed indeed by the enemy, but
+along very heavy roads, reached Grand Lucé at two
+o'clock. Here it took up quarters.</p>
+
+<p>The IXth Corps remained at Nuillé.</p>
+
+<p>Of the XIIIth Corps the 17th Division had continued
+its advance along the left bank of the Huisne, and found
+Connerré already deserted by the French. But on the
+further side of the river the heights of Cohernières, the
+railway station, and the wood to the north, were occupied
+by the 2nd Division of the French XXIst Corps.
+General von Rauch led two battalions to the attack
+from the south, in which shared the 22nd Division from
+the east, having crossed the Huisne at Sceaux and taken
+the direction of Beillé by the right bank. A stubborn
+resistance was encountered, and the fight swayed to and
+fro till darkness fell. The Château of Couléon, indeed,
+and several villages at the foot of the wooded heights
+were taken, but the French maintained their hold on
+the heights and their position at Cohernières.</p>
+
+<p>The 17th Division had meanwhile continued its advance
+along roads frozen as smooth as glass, and reached
+La Belle Inutile; the 22nd passed the night at Beillé.</p>
+
+<p>This division had in the morning sent a detachment
+sideward to Bonnétable, whither the 4th Cavalry
+Division now proceeded. The 12th Cavalry Brigade
+followed to Bellême. Colonel von Beckedorff then
+continued his advance to Chanteloup, whence he drove
+out the French in spite of an obstinate defence.</p>
+
+<p>General Chanzy had determined to risk a decisive
+battle in front of Le Mans. Curten's Division had not
+yet reached him, and only a part of Barry's had come up,
+but on the other hand the army from the camp of
+Conlie, in strength some 10,000 men, had arrived. The
+right wing of the French position rested its flank on the
+Sarthe near Arnaye<a name="FNanchor_67_67" id="FNanchor_67_67"></a><a href="#Footnote_67_67" class="fnanchor">[67]</a>; it extended for more than four<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[288]</a></span>
+miles along the Chemin aux B&oelig;ufs, and continued in a
+slight curve leftward to the Huisne. Barry's Division,
+already weakened by previous reverses, and General
+Lalande's National Guards&mdash;undisciplined and badly
+armed troops&mdash;were posted on the extreme right which
+was the least threatened. Deplanque's and Roquebrune's
+Divisions, Desmaison's Brigade and Jouffroy's
+Division, held the centre and left, the last body in the first
+instance opposite to General von Alvensleben. Behind
+this line Bouëdec's Division and Colonel Marty's detachment
+constituted a reserve. In all from 50,000 to 60,000
+men under the command of Admiral Jauréguiberry,
+with full ranks and well commanded, crowded the
+entrenched front of the most important section of the
+line&mdash;that between the two rivers (Sarthe and Huisne).
+Five Divisions more, under the command of General
+de Colomb, lined the right bank of the Huisne for a
+distance of about eight and a half miles, the Division
+Paris was at Yvré; Gougeard's Division, also
+holding the heights of Auvours on the hither side, was
+northward of Champagné; then came Rousseau's Division
+at Montfort and Pont de Gesnes, and finally, Collin's
+Division in hook-formation about Lombron. Besides
+these Villeneuve's Division, quite on the flank, fronted
+toward Chanteloup.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 11th.</i>&mdash;On this day the IIIrd German
+Army Corps was directly opposed to the main body
+of the French forces. It could not for the present
+hope for any assistance from the corps of the
+flanks, and had before it the certainty of an arduous
+struggle.</p>
+
+<p>On the left, the Xth Corps was still this morning at
+Grand Lucé, and on the right the XIIIth Corps had
+been detained on the previous day by the obstinate
+resistance of the French, who had held their own
+between Les Cohernières and La Chapelle, and occupied
+Le Chêne in their front.</p>
+
+<p>The troops of the 22nd Division had necessarily lost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[289]</a></span>
+their formations and become mixed up in the course of
+the struggle in the wood, and it was not till they
+had been re-formed and the enemy's position had been
+reconnoitred by both the Divisional Commanders that
+the attack was renewed at about eleven o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>Two battalions of the 17th Division and one battery
+were left in observation in front of Pont de Gesnes,
+on the southern bank of the Huisne; on the northern
+side, the Mecklenburg battalions stormed Cohernières
+in the afternoon after a sharp contest, and in conjunction
+with the Hessians forced their way westward
+up to the Gué and on towards Lombron about four
+o'clock.</p>
+
+<p>Further to the right two companies of the 90th
+Regiment (22nd Division) meanwhile took Le Chêne
+by a closed attack on the obstinate defenders; the
+83rd Regiment, after a sharp fire fight, stormed the
+farmsteads of Flouret and La Grande Métairie. Colonel
+von Beckedorff, on being relieved at Chanteloup by the
+4th Cavalry Division, had driven the French out of St.
+Célerin, and he then advanced to La Chapelle-St. Rémy
+on the right of the Division, which occupied wide
+quarters behind the points it had seized.</p>
+
+<p>The Mecklenburg Grenadiers had held their own for
+a long time at Le Gué and La Brosse against superior
+numbers attacking from Pont de Gesnes; but the
+main body of the 17th Division was retired in the
+evening further back to Connerré.</p>
+
+<p>The more completely that General von Alvensleben
+had to rely solely on his own command, the more essential
+it was to keep the troops composing it closely concentrated.
+But a strong force of the enemy was now
+on his flank, almost indeed in his rear, on the heights of
+Auvours, where it was only kept at bay by his 12th
+Brigade, which therefore for the present was not free
+to advance.</p>
+
+<p>And here it was that the battle first really began.
+The French had repossessed themselves of Champagné,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[290]</a></span>
+and had deployed artillery on the heights behind
+it. When their fire had been subdued by four guns
+of the brigade, two battalions advanced to an attack
+on the village. It was not till after an obstinate
+street-fight, that the enemy at eleven o'clock was
+driven back to the heights, and the bridge over the
+Huisne carried. General von Buddenbrock now let
+the two battalions remain in observation, sent a third
+to Lune d'Auvours, and at noon started with the rest
+of the brigade to rejoin the Corps.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the conflict had been raging with such fury
+all along the front of the latter that at twelve o'clock
+Prince Frederick Charles sent orders from St. Hubert to
+General Voigts-Rhetz, to hurry forward by the shortest
+roads to the battle-field with the Xth Corps; and at
+the same time General von Manstein was instructed
+to seize the heights of Auvours with the IXth.</p>
+
+<p>It was already one o'clock when the advanced guard
+of the IXth climbed up the hollow way, deep in snow,
+followed by two battalions of the 12th Brigade, and
+by two batteries straining every nerve. The infantry
+plunged forward through the wood, strongly held as it
+was by the enemy, straight on Villiers; the skirmishers
+of the Fusilier battalion of the 11th Regiment seized
+three mitrailleuses in action, and when the French had
+abandoned the village, turned them against the wood.</p>
+
+<p>Further to the left, at about three o'clock, two
+battalions of the 85th Regiment from the main body
+of the 18th Division, were directed on the western
+end of the ridge, supported by the Jägers and two
+batteries which were brought up near Les Hêtres. To
+cover them two companies moved on La Lune, and
+baulked for the moment the hostile rush along the high
+road. But against these movements the French opened
+a heavy fire from their commanding batteries behind
+Yvré. Regardless thereof the Holsteiners<a name="FNanchor_68_68" id="FNanchor_68_68"></a><a href="#Footnote_68_68" class="fnanchor">[68]</a> on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[291]</a></span>
+left charged on a hostile battery and seized three of its
+guns. On the right they took possession of the neighbouring
+farmsteads; and soon after five the French
+abandoned the whole plateau as far as its western
+edge.</p>
+
+<p>Over it, however, a strong counter-attack was
+delivered in the evening, when part of Gougeard's
+Division charged up the slope from Yvré. Its further
+advance was arrested; but the French could not be
+prevented from remaining there during the evening
+and night. Nevertheless, this offensive struggle on the
+part of the 18th Division had relieved the pressure on
+the rear and flank of the IIIrd Corps. It received
+the further order in the evening to secure the
+passage over the Huisne for use next day. Three
+battalions and one battery immediately crossed over to
+the northern bank and drove from the bridge the hostile
+detachments in its vicinity. The Division lost 275
+men.</p>
+
+<p>General von Alvensleben had delayed the advance
+of the IIIrd Corps till eleven o'clock, in anticipation of
+the arrival of the 12th Brigade.</p>
+
+<p>During the night (10&mdash;11th) the French had completed
+their entrenchments on the skirts of the wood and
+had taken up their position there; they also lined the
+heights on the further side of the river with numerous
+batteries. Thus a frontal attack must involve heavy
+loss, and it was impossible to out-flank lines so extensive.
+General von Alvensleben therefore decided
+on advancing at first only against the enemy's left
+wing, and assigned to that task the 11th Brigade.
+The 10th and 9th remained in reserve for the present
+about Changé and Gué la Hart. The 12th, released at
+Mont-Auvours, was indeed marching up, but on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[292]</a></span>
+circuitous ways, because the high road was everywhere
+entirely commanded by the batteries on the
+heights.</p>
+
+<p>The 11th Brigade, scarcely 3000 strong, followed
+the course of the Gué Perray streamlet up to the
+northern end of the wood. To protect it against
+the French columns threatening it from the heights,
+the 35th Regiment had to form front towards the brook
+and also occupied the Château of Les Arches. The
+20th Regiment tried to get forward by the cattle-path,
+and while holding firmly the Château of Les Noyers
+and the bridge there over the Huisnes, drove back
+the enemy by sheer hard fighting to Les Granges.
+But he presently returned so considerably reinforced
+that the whole brigade had to be gradually
+brought up into the fighting line. Les Granges
+was lost and retaken several times with heavy loss,
+particularly of officers; but the Brandenburgers
+fought on staunchly.</p>
+
+<p>On the left of the 11th the 10th Brigade now made
+its appearance, coming up from Changé at one o'clock.
+After an hour-long bloody struggle the 52nd Regiment
+made itself master of the farm of Le Pavillon, of the
+wooded slope in front, and the farm of Grand Anneau.
+Strong columns advancing from Pontlieue were driven
+back, two batteries dashed up into the Chassepôt fire
+to within 800 paces of Le Tertre; yet the 12th Regiment
+did not succeed in getting into the farmstead till
+two battalions of the 9th Brigade from Changé had
+come up to its assistance. The farmstead whose possession
+was so obstinately disputed was taken by storm at
+about five o'clock, with the co-operation of the Grenadiers
+of the 8th Life-Regiment.</p>
+
+<p>The 52nd Regiment, having expended all its ammunition,
+had to retire, but the Grenadier battalions pushed
+further forward on the cattle-path, where two French
+guns in action were captured after a bloody mêlée;
+and the enemy's repeated attempts to recover them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[293]</a></span>
+were steadily frustrated. A hostile battery which had
+been brought up westward of the wood was driven
+back by quick fire.</p>
+
+<p>As the 35th Regiment had to be brought forward
+from the Gué Perray brook to support the 20th, the
+French had recovered possession of Les Arches. The
+12th Brigade, only three battalions strong, arrived there
+from Auvours at two o'clock. The 64th Regiment
+recaptured the château after a short fight. The overwhelming
+artillery and musketry fire from the heights
+on the further side of the river prevented the German
+artillery from coming into action, and it was only with
+great difficulty and a heavy sacrifice of gunners that
+the pieces were brought away again; but every attack
+on the château by the French from Yvré was steadily
+repulsed.</p>
+
+<p>It was now quite dark, and only the fire of the
+cannon still lasted. The IIIrd Corps had taken 600
+prisoners, but had also lost 500 men. It had fought its
+way into the heart of the French position, and its outposts
+were in the closest proximity to the enemy's
+front. And now strong, though late, reinforcements
+arrived.</p>
+
+<p>The Xth Corps had marched from Grand Lucé to
+the westward in the morning, to gain the high road
+from Tours to Le Mans, but slippery roads again
+delayed its march, so that it only reached Teloche in
+the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>The cannon thunder heard to the northward left no
+doubt that General von Alvensleben was engaged in
+arduous fighting. The orders sent at noon from the
+Army Headquarter in St. Hubert sped to General
+Voigts-Rhetz; but that officer rightly judged that his
+appearance would now have a more telling effect on the
+enemy's flank than on the field where the IIIrd Corps
+was engaged. So in spite of the exhausted state of his
+men, who had had no opportunity to cook on the
+way, he at once pushed forward without halting.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[294]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>To protect himself against Curten's Division on
+the watch for him from Château du Loir, he despatched
+a battalion to Ecommoy. It was received
+with firing from the houses, surrounded on all sides in
+the darkness, and compelled to withdraw from the
+place; but it then kept the road clear in the rear of
+the corps.</p>
+
+<p>The head of the 20th Division found Mulsanne but
+feebly defended, and drove the detachment back beyond
+the cutting of La Monnerie.</p>
+
+<p>The nature of the country which here had to be
+traversed greatly favoured the enemy. Ditches and
+fences afforded his marksmen complete cover, farmsteads
+and copses furnished excellent defensive positions.
+Only eight guns could at first be brought to bear against
+the enemy's artillery; but nevertheless four Westphalian
+and Brunswick<a name="FNanchor_69_69" id="FNanchor_69_69"></a><a href="#Footnote_69_69" class="fnanchor">[69]</a> battalions steadily repelled the French,
+and by nightfall reached Point du Jour. The fight
+first became stationary on the cattle-path in front of
+Les Mortes Aures. Here the French swept the whole
+foreground with a continuous rolling fire from tiers of
+shelter-trenches rising one above the other.</p>
+
+<p>The fight swayed to and fro for a long time, but
+finally the German left gained ground. The 1st
+Battalion of the 17th Regiment rushed on the enemy,
+who delivered his fire at point blank range and then
+made for the wood. And when now the 1st Battalion of
+the 56th Regiment advanced from Point du Jour, its
+drums beating the charge, the French carried away
+their mitrailleuses and evacuated Les Mortes Aures.</p>
+
+<p>This battalion had received orders from the Commanding
+General to settle the business with the
+bayonet. Captain von Monbart led it on locked up close
+at the charging pace; all the detachments at hand
+joined it, and in spite of a heavy fire from the wood
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[295]</a></span>La Tuilerie was reached by half-past eight; and here
+the 40th Brigade deployed, while the 37th stood ready
+to support it in front of Mulsanne. The enemy drifted
+away in the darkness. The constant roll of wheels, the
+noise of departing railway trains and the confusion of
+cries indicated a retreat. Yet the prisoners who were
+constantly being brought in, with one accord reported
+that a strong force was still encamped in the forest.
+Numerous watch-fires blazed there through the night,
+and instead of resting, it seemed evident that the
+hostile troops were preparing to engage in fresh
+attempts. At half-past ten the outposts reported the
+approach of a strong force from Pontlieue.</p>
+
+<p>Hitherto it had been only the little-to-be-relied-on
+National Guards under General Lalande at this point
+with whom the German troops in this quarter of the
+field had had to deal; but the Admiral now sent
+Bouëdec's Division against La Tuilerie, and ordered
+General Roquebrune to support his advance.</p>
+
+<p>For a full hour the Prussian battalions in first line
+were scourged with rifle fire in front and flank, and
+pelted by a hail-storm of projectiles, but no serious
+attack occurred.</p>
+
+<p>According to French reports, the officers strove in
+vain to bring forward their troops; but the latter constantly
+hung back. A later assault made by Gardes-Mobiles
+was equally fruitless.</p>
+
+<p>But still there was to be no rest. At two in the
+morning the din of fighting again made itself heard on
+the right. Deplanque's Division had been disturbed by
+a flank detachment of the 40th Brigade. This body was
+advancing by the road from Ruaudin to Pontlieue, to be
+at hand in case of need; without returning the enemy's
+fire, it had driven out the holders of Epinettes, and had
+established itself there close to the cattle-path.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 12th.</i>&mdash;For the impending struggle of the
+following day only the IIIrd and Xth Corps could be
+counted on. The other two Corps could only co-operate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[296]</a></span>
+indirectly by holding engaged a part of the
+hostile forces.</p>
+
+<p>Of the XIIIth Corps the 17th Division was to advance
+by Lombron to St. Corneille, without committing
+itself to a contest with the enemy still holding
+the bank of the Huisne; the 22nd was ordered from
+La Chapelle to Savigné. The Gué brook was to be
+lightly held, and part of the artillery was to remain at
+Connerré with the 7th Brigade of Cavalry.</p>
+
+<p>On advancing it was found that the enemy had
+already abandoned Lombron, Pont de Gesnes, and
+Montfort. Arms and equipments thrown away betrayed
+how hurried had been the flight. Many stragglers
+were brought in prisoners, and it was not till
+reaching the Merdereau brook at noon, that the 17th
+Division met with opposition. The Château of Hyre
+and St. Corneille were won about four o'clock by
+an enveloping attack, and 500 French were taken
+prisoners. The enemy was then driven back behind
+the Parance brook, where the advanced guard halted
+at dusk.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel von Beckedorff's detachment of the 22nd
+Division marched through Chanteloup from Sillé,
+throwing back the enemy on La Croix, where a large
+body of hostile troops made a stand. But when, after
+a long halt, the main body of the Division came up, it
+at once passed to the attack. Entire formed bodies of
+French here laid down their arms, and 3000 men
+with many officers became prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>An attempt of the cavalry to advance across the
+Sarthe to break up the railway on the further side of
+the river was, however, unsuccessful.</p>
+
+<p>The whole force occupying the heights of Auvours
+surrendered to the IXth Corps. The 35th Brigade
+marched up to Villiers, but patrols sent ahead soon
+reported that the French had retired across the Huisne.
+When the noise of fighting was heard at mid-day
+from St. Corneille, the brigade in question was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[297]</a></span>
+ordered to proceed northward to support the 17th
+Division engaged there. The 84th Regiment, passing
+through La Commune, lent efficient assistance in
+the attack on Château Hyre. Outposts were left on
+the Parance for the night, but the main body of
+the 35th Brigade returned to Fatines, and the 36th
+took up quarters between Villiers and St. Mars la
+Bruyère.</p>
+
+<p>By the battle of the previous day the position of
+the French before Le Mans had been forced; but they
+still stood firm behind the Huisnes, and as their left
+wing had been driven in on their centre, the latter section
+had been considerably strengthened. There still
+remained the stream to be crossed, and the steep slope
+to be climbed, where every row of the vineyards in
+terraced ascent was held by strong firing lines, and the
+crest of which was crowned with batteries. The passage
+of the Huisnes near Ivré, on the left, was covered by
+entrenchments with special carefulness, and the ground
+in front of the wood of Pontlieue had been made impassable
+in many places by abatis. Against such a
+position the artillery could be of little and the cavalry
+of no service, while deep snow hampered every movement
+of the infantry. General von Alvensleben therefore
+decided on standing for the present on the defensive
+with his right wing, while he prepared to support
+the advance of General von Voigts-Rhetz with his left.</p>
+
+<p>The troops were roused from their short rest at
+six in the morning. Two French companies made
+their way towards the bridge at Château Les Noyers
+with powder-bags, but they were compelled to retreat,
+leaving the explosives behind them. At eight
+o'clock the French made a determined attack on the
+outposts of the 12th Regiment in the wood, and drove
+them in on Le Tertre. Again a combat raged furiously
+about this farmstead, which was almost demolished by
+shell fire. One by one the last battalions of the 10th
+Brigade were drawn into the struggle, to replace<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[298]</a></span>
+bodies which, their ammunition exhausted, had to
+retire. Only four guns could be used with effect, but
+by eleven o'clock the enemy's fire gradually died away,
+and he was seen to retire on Pontlieue. The battalions
+of the left wing pursued, and came out on the Parigné
+road in immediate touch with the Xth Corps.</p>
+
+<p>General von Voigts-Rhetz had left two battalions at
+Mulsanne, for his protection from the direction of Ecommoy;
+the whole Corps, after many detachments had been
+unavoidably detailed from it, was assembled by about
+half-past seven for a further advance on Pontlieue.
+The main body of the 20th Division closed up by the
+Mulsanne road on La Tuilerie. Three battalions of
+the 19th Division massed at Ruaudin to strengthen
+the sideward detachments in Epinettes, while two
+battalions with the 14th Cavalry Brigade and the
+Corps' artillery, which could find no opening in the
+region further to the left, moved up by the roads from
+Parigné.</p>
+
+<p>The reinforcement meanwhile arrived from Ruaudin,
+and General von Woyna made his way without hindrance
+through the forest to La Source, where he
+halted at one o'clock, his front parallel with that of the
+20th Division. A heavy battery of the latter had
+already driven away the French mitrailleuses in front
+of Pontlieue. On the right a light battery of the 19th
+Division was brought up to La Source, and ten horse-artillery
+guns on to the road from Parigné. The
+atmosphere was, however, so thick that their fire
+could only be directed by the map.</p>
+
+<p>At two o'clock General von Kraatz advanced in close
+column on Pontlieue, whither General von Woyna was
+now also marching. The southern part of the village
+was taken after a slight resistance; but on the further
+side of the Huisne the French held the houses along
+the river-bank, and just as the Germans approached
+the bridge it was blown up. The demolition, however,
+was not complete, and the foremost battalions got across<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[299]</a></span>
+over the débris to reach the enemy. Two made their
+way into the high street of Pontlieue, one turned left to
+the railway station, whence were heard signals for departing
+trains. Nothing interposed to hinder the railway
+bridge here from being blown up, and thus many
+prisoners were taken, besides 150 provision waggons
+and 1000 hundred-weight of flour.</p>
+
+<p>The artillery fire was immediately directed on the
+town of Le Mans.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the detachments of the IIIrd Corps, which
+had become mixed up in the forest fight, had re-formed.
+After a ration of meat, the first for three days, had
+been served out to the troops, the 10th Brigade resumed
+its march. The Brandenburg Jäger Battalion
+crossed the river by the paper-mill of L'Epau, and two
+batteries strengthened from Château Funay the artillery
+fire directed on Le Mans.</p>
+
+<p>When presently the infantry entered the town, a
+fierce struggle began in the streets, which were entirely
+blocked by the French trains. Entrance into individual
+houses had to be cleared by artillery fire; a large
+number of French were taken prisoners, and a vast
+quantity of waggons were seized. The fighting lasted
+till nightfall, and then the Xth Corps and half of the
+IIIrd took up alarm quarters in the town. The 6th
+Division took possession of Yvré, which the enemy
+had abandoned, and threw out foreposts to Les Noyers
+and Les Arches on the further side of the Huisne.</p>
+
+<p>The actions fought by the French on this day, had
+been engaged in for the sole purpose of gaining time
+for the extrication of the army.</p>
+
+<p>On learning from Admiral Jauréguiberry that every
+effort to get the troops to advance had failed, and that
+the last reserves were shattered, General Chanzy had
+at eight in the morning issued orders for a general
+retreat on Alençon, where the Minister of War had
+arranged for the arrival of two Divisions of the XIXth
+Corps from Carentan.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[300]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The advance of the IInd Army to Le Mans had
+been a series of seven days' incessant fighting. It was
+made at a season when the winter was in extremest
+severity. Ice and snow-drifts had rendered every
+movement one long struggle. Bivouacking was out of
+the question; and the troops had to seek their night
+shelter often at a distance of some miles in rear; their
+reassembling in the morning cost precious hours, and
+the shortness of the day then prevented their taking
+full advantage of their successes. Whole battalions were
+employed in guarding the prisoners. The roads were
+in such a state that the trains of the army could not
+be brought up; officers and men alike marched insufficiently
+clothed and on scanty rations. But zeal,
+endurance, and discipline conquered every difficulty.</p>
+
+<p>The army had sacrificed in this prolonged struggle
+3200 men and 200 officers, the larger half belonging to
+the IIIrd Corps alone. Many companies fought under
+the command of non-commissioned officers.</p>
+
+<p>The French estimated their losses at 6200 men, and
+20,000 taken prisoners; seventeen guns, two colours,
+and an abundant supply of matériel remained as
+trophies in the hands of the victors.</p>
+
+<p>After exertions so severe the troops imperatively
+needed some rest. The instructions from the supreme
+Headquarter were that the operations were not to be
+extended beyond a certain limit; and it was possible
+that the services of the IInd Army might almost immediately
+be required on the Seine and the Loire. Prince
+Frederick Charles therefore determined to follow up
+the retreating enemy with only a small force.</p>
+
+<p>On the French side, that each Corps might have a
+separate road for the retreat to Alençon, two Corps had
+necessarily to draw out westward in the first instance.
+On the evening of the last day's fight the XVIth Corps
+reached Chauffour on the Laval road, and the XVIIth
+Conlie on the road to Mayenne, each covered by
+its rear-guard. The XXIst was assembled at Ballon,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[301]</a></span>
+on the left bank of the Sarthe. From these points all
+were to march in a northerly direction. General
+Chanzy still deluded himself with the hope of coming
+up by Evreux to the assistance of the besieged capital.
+He would have had thus to make a wide circuit&mdash;an
+arc by moving on the chord of which the Germans could
+easily have anticipated him; and in a country where all
+arms were available, his army, in the condition to which
+it was now reduced, must have inevitably been destroyed.
+Ultimately the defeated French army retired
+in the direction to the westward of the Sarthe.</p>
+
+<p>After the distribution of rations and forage, General
+von Schmidt set forth at mid-day on the 13th with four
+battalions, eleven squadrons, and ten guns, and reached
+Chauffour after some skirmishing. The XIIIth Corps
+advanced to the Sarthe, the 17th Division sending its
+outposts across the river at Neuville, and the 22nd
+drove the French out of Ballon, whence they retired in
+full flight to Beaumont. The XXIst French Corps had
+taken up quarters this day at Sillé. The National
+Guards of Brittany fled wildly to Coron, and thence
+made homeward toward their own province. They
+were joined by the troops left in camp at Conlie, after
+the camp there had been plundered. The XVIIth
+Corps also went off, without halting by the Vègre as
+it had been ordered to do, but retreating direct on Ste.
+Suzanne. The XVIth withdrew on Laval, leaving
+Barry's Division at Chassillé as rear-guard. Numbers
+of abandoned waggons and cast-away arms, everywhere
+testified to the demoralization of the defeated forces.</p>
+
+<p>On the 14th the French were driven out of Chassillé.
+The XVIth Corps had by this time almost entirely lost
+its organization; it retired during the night to St. Jean
+sur Erve. In the camp at Conlie were found 8000
+stands of arms and 5,000,000 cartridges, as well as
+various other war matériel.</p>
+
+<p>The Grand Duke had marched on Alençon along the
+right bank of the Sarthe. The French in Beaumont<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[302]</a></span>
+made a feeble resistance to the advanced guard of the
+22nd Division, and lost 1400 prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day General von Schmidt advanced
+further on the road to Laval, but found that the
+French had concentrated at St. Jean and posted a
+strong force of artillery on the heights behind the
+Erve. The Oldenburg Regiment<a name="FNanchor_70_70" id="FNanchor_70_70"></a><a href="#Footnote_70_70" class="fnanchor">[70]</a> forced its way as far
+as the church of the little town, and the Brunswickers
+drove the enemy back on Ste. Suzanne, higher up the
+river, but there the pursuit ended.</p>
+
+<p>Barry's and Deplanque's Divisions, according to the
+French estimate, had now no more than 6000 fighting
+men, and Curten's Division had still not yet come up,
+but this strength was considerably superior to that of
+the weak German detachment confronting it. The rest
+of the Xth Corps was moving up in support, but had
+as yet only reached Chasillé. A battalion advancing
+from Conlie came into conflict at Sillé with the XXIst
+French Corps assembled there, and sustained heavy loss.
+The 22nd Division of the XIIIth Corps also met with
+serious opposition before reaching Alençon, from the
+National Guards and the volunteers under Lipowski;
+and the attack on the town was postponed till next
+day.</p>
+
+<p>But on the following morning the French positions
+in Alençon as well as in Sillé and St. Jean were abandoned.
+Those places were at once occupied by the Germans,
+and General von Schmidt marched forward,
+close up to Laval. Numerous stragglers from the
+retreating army were taken prisoners.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[303]</a></span></p>
+<p>Behind the Mayenne, whither now Curten's Division
+had arrived, the remnants of the IInd Army of
+the Loire re-assembled. Reduced to half its original
+strength, and its morale gravely shaken, it could
+but be unfit for service for a long time to come, and
+the object of the German advance on Le Mans was
+fully attained.</p>
+
+<p>To the north of Paris, however, the French were
+meanwhile threatening a renewed offensive. It was
+necessary to draw in on the Somme the portions of the
+Ist Army which were still on the Lower Seine; and
+orders came from the supreme Head-quarter that
+the XIIIth Corps of the IInd Army should march on
+Rouen.</p>
+
+<p>On the Upper Loire also French detachments had
+advanced against the Hessian posts about Briare, and
+had driven them back, on the 14th, to Ouzouer; while
+from the Sologne came a report of the advance of a
+newly-formed French Army Corps&mdash;the XXVth.</p>
+
+<p>The German IXth Corps, after evacuating and
+destroying the camp at Conlie, was therefore sent to
+Orleans in support. The remainder of the IInd Army,
+the IIIrd and Xth Corps with the three cavalry divisions&mdash;in
+a strength of about 27,000 foot, 9000 horse, and
+186 guns&mdash;was assembled by Prince Frederick Charles
+round Le Mans. The cavalry in observation on the
+front and flanks had several small skirmishes, but no
+further serious hostilities were attempted.</p>
+
+<p>The 4th Cavalry Division held Alençon on the right,
+and on the left General von Hartmann entered Tours
+without any opposition.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_66_66" id="Footnote_66_66"></a><a href="#FNanchor_66_66"><span class="label">[66]</span></a> Commanding 6th Division, IIIrd Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_67_67" id="Footnote_67_67"></a><a href="#FNanchor_67_67"><span class="label">[67]</span></a> "Arnage" on the map and in the <i>Staff History</i>.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_68_68" id="Footnote_68_68"></a><a href="#FNanchor_68_68"><span class="label">[68]</span></a> The "Holsteiners" mentioned in the text were two battalions
+of the 85th Regiment, which belonged to the 36th Brigade, 18th
+Division, IXth Army Corps, whose territorial region consists of
+Schleswig-Holstein, the Hanse towns, Mecklenburg, &amp;c.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_69_69" id="Footnote_69_69"></a><a href="#FNanchor_69_69"><span class="label">[69]</span></a> The 17th and 92nd Regiments comprising the 46th Brigade
+commanded by General von Diringshofen.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_70_70" id="Footnote_70_70"></a><a href="#FNanchor_70_70"><span class="label">[70]</span></a> The 91st Regiment, 37th Brigade, 10th Army Corps, whose
+recruiting ground is Hanover, Oldenburg, and Brunswick. The
+Hanoverian Corps consists mainly of the regiments of the old
+Hanoverian army of the kingdom long ruled by British sovereigns;
+an army whose valour, proved side by side with British troops on
+countless battle-fields from Minden and Dettingen to the Peninsula
+and Waterloo, culminated in its final battle on the glorious but luckless
+field of Langensalza.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>OCCURRENCES NORTHWARD OF PARIS
+DURING JANUARY.</h2>
+
+
+<p>At the beginning of the New Year a considerable
+part of the Ist German Army was engaged in besieging<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[304]</a></span>
+Péronne, which had afforded a safe crossing-point for
+the debouche of the French on the southern bank of
+the Somme. General Barnekow held the little place
+invested with the 3rd Reserve Division and the 31st
+Infantry Brigade. Previously it had only been kept
+under observation by cavalry, but circumstances had
+temporarily given it importance. What of the VIIIth
+Corps formerly on the Somme was available formed a
+wide curve from Amiens northward as far as Bapaume,
+to cover the siege.</p>
+
+<p>The Ist Corps, posted at Rouen for the time, consisted
+only of three brigades; but the 4th was on the
+march thither from before Péronne, where it had been
+relieved. No reinforcement of the Ist Army had been
+effected. The 14th Division, after reducing Mézières
+and, soon after, Rocroy, had received fresh orders from
+Versailles which transferred it to another part of the
+theatre of war.</p>
+
+<p>General Faidherbe had concentrated his troops behind
+the Scarpe, from their resting quarters south of Arras,
+and had begun his forward march on January 2nd.
+He advanced with the XXIInd Corps to the relief of
+Péronne by way of Bucquoy. The XXIIIrd followed
+by the high road to Bapaume. About half-past ten
+Derroja's Division of the former Corps obliged the 3rd
+Cavalry Division, as well as those battalions of the 32nd
+Brigade which had been attached to it, to fall back on
+Miraumont, followed, however, only as far as Achiet
+le Petit.</p>
+
+<p>The other Division, under General Bessol, did not
+advance towards Achiet le Grand till the afternoon.
+There it was opposed for several hours by two companies
+of the 68th, a sub-division of Hussars, and two
+guns, which only retired in the evening on Avesnes.
+The French did not follow up the detachment, but
+threw out outposts about Bihucourt.</p>
+
+<p>Payen's Division deployed on the high road at Béhagnies,
+and its batteries opened fire on Sapignies, where,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[305]</a></span>
+however, General von Strubberg had posted five battalions.
+These repulsed the attack, and at two o'clock
+entered Béhagnies with a rush, took 240 prisoners,
+and prepared the village for defence. The enemy withdrew
+to Ervillers, and there once again drew out, but
+attempted no further attack.</p>
+
+<p>The other Division of the French XXIIIrd Corps,
+consisting of mobilized National Guards under General
+Robin, moved forward on the left on Mory. There were
+only one battalion and a squadron of Hussars to oppose
+it. By extending their line on the heights of Beugnâtre,
+the German detachment succeeded in deceiving
+the enemy in regard to its weakness. The latter
+marched and counter-marched, and also brought up
+artillery, but did not attempt an attack, and remained
+at Mory.</p>
+
+<p>The 30th German Brigade and the 3rd Cavalry Division
+assembled for the night in and about Bapaume.
+The 29th Brigade occupied the neighbouring villages on
+the right and the left of the Arras road.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Battle of Bapaume.</span>&mdash;<i>January 3rd.</i>&mdash;General Faidherbe
+had brought his forces close up to the position
+which covered the investment of Péronne. His four
+Divisions consisted of fifty-seven battalions, which were
+opposed by only seventeen German battalions. He
+decided on the 3rd to push on in four columns to
+Grévillers and Biefvillers, on the high road, and to
+Favreuil on the east.</p>
+
+<p>But General von Goeben was not inclined to give up
+his position at Bapaume. Under cover of a force in occupation
+of Favreuil, General von Kummer in the morning
+assembled the 30th Brigade in front of Bapaume, and
+behind it the 29th, of which, however, three battalions
+were left in the villages to left and to right. A
+reserve was established further to the rear at Tronsloy,
+whither the 8th Rifle Battalion, with two batteries, was
+detached; and General von Barnekow received orders to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[306]</a></span>
+hold three battalions and the 2nd Foot Detachment in
+readiness at Sailly Saillisel, without raising the blockade.
+Finally the detachment under Prince Albrecht, jun.&mdash;three
+battalions, eight squadrons, and three batteries&mdash;advanced
+on Bertincourt, near to the subsequent battle-field.
+In this disposition, in bitterly cold and sullen
+weather, the attack of the French was awaited.</p>
+
+<p>General Count von der Groeben had already sent the
+7th Cavalry Brigade against the enemy's right flank,
+but it did not succeed in forcing its way through the
+villages occupied by the hostile infantry.</p>
+
+<p>On the right wing the Division Robin was at Beugnâtre
+met by so sharp a fire from two battalions of the
+65th Regiment and two horse batteries which had joined
+them from Transloy, that it withdrew again on Mory.
+The garrison of Favreuil was reinforced by two battalions
+and two batteries against the approach of the Division
+Payen, which was marching by the high road to the
+eastward of that place. The first French gun moving
+out from Sapignies was immediately destroyed, but
+several batteries soon became engaged on both sides,
+and the French forced their way into Favreuil and
+St. Aubin.</p>
+
+<p>The 40th Regiment advanced on these places at noon
+from Bertincourt, and after a lively action re-occupied
+them; but had to evacuate Favreuil again, and took up
+a position alongside of the 2nd Guard Uhlan regiment
+and a horse battery sideward of Frémicourt, which
+secured the right flank of the Division.</p>
+
+<p>On the left, the Division Bessol had driven the weak
+garrison out of Biefvillers. The 1st Battalion of the
+33rd Regiment, which moved forward to retake that
+place, became hotly engaged; it lost all but three of
+its officers, and had to retire upon Avesnes. The Division
+Derroja also took part in this fight. The French
+now brought up a strong force of artillery, and extended
+their firing-line to the south nearly as far as the road
+to Albert.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[307]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Therefore, at mid-day, General von Kummer decided
+to confine himself to the local defence of Bapaume. At
+the cost of serious loss, the artillery covered the drawing
+in thither of the infantry. The 1st Heavy Battery,
+which was the last to withdraw, lost 2 officers, 17 men,
+and 36 horses; its guns could only be brought out of
+action with the help of the infantry.</p>
+
+<p>In Bapaume the 29th Brigade now prepared for an
+obstinate defence of the old city wall, and the 30th
+assembled behind the place. The French advanced
+leisurely as far as the suburb. Then ensued a long pause
+in the fighting. General Faidherbe hoped to take the
+town by further encompassing it, without exposing it
+to a bombardment followed by a storm. A brigade of
+the Division Derroja endeavoured to advance through
+Tilloy, but met there with stubborn resistance from
+the Rifle Battalion and two batteries which had come up
+from Péronne. At the same time twenty-four guns of
+the batteries which had retired behind Bapaume opened
+fire on the advancing columns, which then withdrew, at
+half-past three, across the road to Albert. They soon
+resumed the attack, and succeeded in entering Tilloy.
+All the neighbouring batteries now opened fire upon this
+village. General von Mirus, who on the advance of the
+3rd Cavalry Division had been left behind in Miraumont,
+saw no enemy in his front there, but heard the fighting
+at Bapaume, and advanced from the west, as did
+General von Strubberg from the town, to renew the
+attack. The French did not await their arrival, and
+were driven back out of the suburb and also Avesnes.
+The French Divisions spent the night at Grévillers,
+Bihucourt, Favreuil, and Beugnâtre, thus surrounding
+Bapaume on three sides. The day had cost the Germans
+52 officers and 698 men, and the French 53 officers and
+2066 men.</p>
+
+<p>But only by exerting the whole available strength
+of the VIIIth Corps had it been possible to withstand
+the preponderating attack of the enemy. It had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[308]</a></span>
+not yet been possible to replenish the Corps' supply of
+ammunition, and General von Goeben decided to
+immediately move back the fighting ground to behind
+the Somme. This movement was actually in process
+when the patrols brought information that the enemy
+was also evacuating the neighbouring villages.</p>
+
+<p>The French troops, as yet unaccustomed to the
+vicissitudes of warfare, had suffered extremely from
+the previous day's fighting and the severe cold of the
+ensuing night. General Faidherbe could perceive that
+the forces before Péronne had been brought forward to
+Bapaume, and that the Germans thus reinforced would
+take the offensive. His chief object, the interruption
+of the siege of Péronne, had been obtained, and the
+General thought it best not to endanger that result by
+a second encounter. He led his Corps back in the
+direction of Arras. Of the German cavalry detachments
+following up the retirement the 8th Cuirassiers
+succeeded in breaking a French square. The 15th
+Division withdrew behind the Somme, immediately
+below Péronne, and the Saxon cavalry joined the right
+wing at St. Quentin.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Fighting on the Lower Seine.</span>&mdash;<i>January 4th.</i>&mdash;Exactly
+at the same time the other Corps of the Ist
+Army was in conflict with the enemy on the Lower
+Seine. The French had not undertaken any new enterprise
+on the right bank of the river, but on the left bank
+they held the wooded heights of Bois de la Londe,
+which overhang the southern outlet of the Seine after
+its encircling the peninsula of Grand Couronne. Here
+General von Bentheim,<a name="FNanchor_71_71" id="FNanchor_71_71"></a><a href="#Footnote_71_71" class="fnanchor">[71]</a> with a view of gaining room
+in this direction, had assembled half the Ist Army
+Corps, and advanced on the 4th of January on Les<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[309]</a></span>
+Moulineaux. Before daybreak Lieut.-Colonel von
+Hüllessem surprised the enemy's outposts there, stormed
+the rock-crowned fortalice of Château Robert le Diable,
+and took prisoners the defenders who had sought
+refuge amid the ruins of the castle. The heights of
+Maison Brulet were then scaled under the heavy fire
+of the enemy, and two of his guns were taken. After a
+renewed resistance at St. Ouen the French withdrew on
+Bourgachard in the afternoon, pursued towards six in
+the evening by a half squadron of dragoons, two guns,
+and a company carried on waggons, which took from
+them two 12-pounders posted at the entrance of Rougemontier,
+killing the gunners and capturing an ammunition
+waggon.</p>
+
+<p>After a slight skirmish the enemy was also driven
+out of Bourgtheroulde and thrown back in the direction
+of Brionne. The French right wing at Elbeuf
+during the night hastily withdrew from a position
+rendered precarious by the wavering of the other detachments.
+The affair cost 5 officers and 160 men.
+The loss of the French must have been equal, besides
+which they lost 300 prisoners and 4 guns.</p>
+
+<p>General Roye posted his troops behind the Rille on
+the line Pont-Audemer&mdash;Brionne, but the Germans
+now held Bourgachard, Bourgtheroulde, and Elbeuf
+strongly garrisoned, with three battalions at Grand-Couronne
+in readiness to furnish support. The other
+troops returned to Rouen. An attempted advance of
+the French on the same day by the northern bank of
+the Seine had been arrested in front of Fauville, whence
+they again withdrew towards Harfleur.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile it had not escaped the observation of the
+VIIIth Army Corps that this time the French did not
+seek the cover of the northern fortresses, but that
+they had halted south of Arras, thus betraying an intention
+shortly to renew the attack on the force investing
+Péronne.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[310]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>General von Goeben therefore decided to return to
+the northern bank of the Somme, to cover that operation,
+and there to take up a flanking position whose
+front the enemy would have to cross in his advance.</p>
+
+<p>On January 6th, after the troops had been permitted
+one day's rest and the ammunition had been replenished,
+the 30th Brigade moved to Bray, the 29th to Albert.
+In close vicinity to the enemy was the 3rd Cavalry
+Division at Bapaume, behind it the Guard Cavalry
+Brigade. For the protection of the left flank Lieut.-Colonel
+von Pestel<a name="FNanchor_72_72" id="FNanchor_72_72"></a><a href="#Footnote_72_72" class="fnanchor">[72]</a> occupied Acheux, and from the
+investing Corps the 3rd Reserve Division moved westward
+of Péronne to Feuillères. The Corps-Artillery
+remained for the time on the left bank of the Somme,
+since it almost seemed as if the enemy intended to direct
+his attack on Amiens.</p>
+
+<p>But during the next day the French did not undertake
+anything of importance, and on the 9th Péronne
+fell.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Reduction of Péronne.</span>&mdash;<i>January 9th.</i>&mdash;For fourteen
+days this little place had been invested by eleven battalions,
+sixteen squadrons, and ten batteries. Flooded
+meadows on one side, and on the other walls with
+medieval towers, had secured it against a surprise;
+but for the rest it was commanded on all sides by
+overhanging heights.</p>
+
+<p>Although the fire of fifty-eight field guns had not
+done it much damage, yet in any case it must have
+been very soon discontinued for want of ammunition.
+A bombardment with captured French siege-artillery
+remained without result. The fortress stoutly maintained
+its fire, and its garrison of only 3500 men even
+attempted sorties.</p>
+
+<p>As before mentioned, on the day of the battle of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[311]</a></span>
+Bapaume, a portion of the besieging troops had been
+necessarily withdrawn to the support of the VIIIth
+Army Corps, and in the uncertainty as to the result of
+this fight it had been imperative to take precautions for
+the safety of the siege material. The troops that remained
+behind stood ready to march, and part of the
+heavy guns had been withdrawn. But the garrison
+maintained a waiting attitude.</p>
+
+<p>Two days later arrived a siege-train of fifty-five
+heavy guns which had been brought together at La
+Fère. A second, of twenty-eight French siege-pieces,
+was on the way from Mézières. The preliminaries of a
+regular siege were undertaken, and when at length on
+the 8th of January a large ammunition-convoy arrived,
+the commandant was summoned to give up a defence
+that had now become hopeless.</p>
+
+<p>On the 10th of January, General von Barnekow
+entered the fortress, which was found amply provided
+with arms, ammunition and provisions. The garrison
+were made prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>On the 7th of January, his Majesty the King had
+assigned General von Manteuffel to another section of
+the theatre of war, and had given the supreme command
+of the Ist Army to General von Goeben.</p>
+
+<p>Freed from concern as to Péronne, that General's
+only duty thenceforward was to insure the protection of
+the investment of Paris. For this purpose the Somme,
+whose passages were all in the hands of the Germans,
+formed a natural bulwark, behind which the attack even
+of a greatly superior enemy could be awaited. And
+some reinforcements now arrived for the VIIIth Army
+Corps. The peaceful condition of the Lower Seine
+allowed of two infantry regiments and two batteries
+being sent from thence to Amiens. By instructions from
+the supreme Head-quarter an infantry brigade of the
+Meuse Army was held in readiness, which in case of need
+was to be sent up by rail to reinforce the Ist Army.</p>
+
+<p>It was still uncertain whither the enemy would direct<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[312]</a></span>
+his stroke. General von Goeben, therefore, spread his
+forces behind the Somme on a prolonged extension of
+some forty-five miles, still holding fast the points gained
+in front of the river, to meet the contingency of his
+having to renew the offensive. In the middle of the
+month, the detachments of the Ist Corps under the command
+of General Count von der Groeben occupied
+Amiens, Corbie, and the line of the Hallue as a flank
+position. The 15th Division, holding Bray firmly, took
+up quarters south of that village. Next to it, on the left
+of Péronne, was the 3rd Reserve Division, right of it
+were the 16th Division and the 3rd Reserve Cavalry
+Brigade, holding Roisel and Vermand to the front.
+The 12th Cavalry Division was at St. Quentin.</p>
+
+<p>The French army had already begun to advance on
+the Cambrai high-road, and its XXIInd Corps had
+pushed back the 3rd Cavalry Division first out of
+Bapaume and then out of Albert behind the Hallue.
+The XXIIIrd followed by the same road, and their
+objective really appears to have been Amiens. But a
+reconnaissance had exposed the difficulty of attacking
+in that direction, besides which a telegram from the
+War Minister announced that the Army of Paris within
+the next few days was to make a last supreme effort to
+burst the bonds of the investment, and the Army of the
+North was enjoined to divert, as far as possible, the
+enemy's forces from the capital, and draw them on itself.</p>
+
+<p>In accordance with these orders General Faidherbe
+decided to advance without delay on St. Quentin,
+whither the Brigade Isnard was already marching from
+Cambrai. An attack on their right wing, consisting
+for the time solely of cavalry, directly threatened the
+communications of the Germans, while the vicinity of
+the northern forts afforded the French army shelter
+and also greater liberty of action.</p>
+
+<p>But General von Goeben had foreseen such a leftward
+movement of the enemy, and concentrated all his
+forces to meet it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[313]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The convalescents who were fit for service joined the
+ranks. Only weak detachments were left at Amiens,
+and because of the approach of the XIIIth Corps from
+the Sarthe to the Lower Seine, it was now safe to transfer
+the 3rd Grenadier Regiment and a heavy battery
+from thence to the Somme.</p>
+
+<p>The departure of the French from Albert and the
+march of their Corps on Combles and Sailly Saillisel
+were soon reported by the cavalry in observation.
+The newly-formed Brigade Pauly occupied Bapaume,
+and the Brigade Isnard entered St. Quentin, whence
+General zur Lippe (commanding the 12th (Saxon)
+Cavalry Division detailed from the Army of the Meuse)
+retired on Ham in accordance with orders. General
+von Goeben now moved eastward, using the roads on
+both banks of the Somme so that he might the sooner
+reach the enemy.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 17th.</i>&mdash;The 12th Cavalry Brigade moved
+further to the right on La Fère, the 16th Division to
+Ham. The 3rd Reserve Division and the Guard
+Cavalry Brigade arrived at Nesle; the 15th Division and
+the Corps Artillery, at Villers Carbonnel. An Army-Reserve
+had been formed of the troops last brought up
+from Rouen, and it followed to Harbonnières. On the
+northern bank, the detachment under Count von der
+Groeben moved to the vicinity of Péronne.</p>
+
+<p>The four French Divisions had so far advanced on
+Vermand as to be able to unite next day near St.
+Quentin. The XXIIIrd Corps was to move straight
+upon the town, the XXIInd to cross the Somme lower
+down, and take up a position south of St. Quentin.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 18th.</i>&mdash;On the German side, the 16th and
+the 3rd Reserve Division moved by the south bank of
+the Somme to Jussy and Flavy, the Army-Reserve to
+Ham. The 12th Cavalry Division at Vendeuil found
+the country east of the Oise still free from the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>With the object of obtaining touch of the approaching
+enemy, the 15th Division was on its part to cross<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[314]</a></span>
+the Somme at Brie, and, together with the troops of
+General Count von der Groeben, to advance on Vermand
+and Etreillers. General von Kummer was enjoined, in
+case he found that the French had taken up a position,
+merely to watch them and to follow them should they
+retire northward, but should they march towards the
+south, to attack them with all his force.</p>
+
+<p>At half-past ten, the 29th Brigade came up on the
+hither side of Tertry with the rear-guard of the XXIInd
+Corps and its trains. The Hussars charged one of the
+battalions guarding the latter, and drove the waggons
+in the greatest disorder back on Caulaincourt, but had
+to abandon prisoners and prize under the fire of the
+approaching infantry. The French brigade had turned
+about, and it advanced to an attack on Trescon. This
+was resisted by the 65th Regiment and three batteries
+until after two o'clock, when General du Bessol
+reached the scene of the fight and ordered the French
+brigade to resume its march on St. Quentin.</p>
+
+<p>The XXIIIrd had also halted and detached a brigade
+against the left flank of the 15th Division. This, however,
+on reaching Cauvigny Farm, came upon two
+German battalions, which after a protracted fire-fight
+pursued the retreating enemy and entered Caulaincourt
+at half-past three, making 100 prisoners and capturing
+fourteen provision-waggons.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Count von der Groeben had hurried
+forward at the sound of firing. The General realized
+that he could help most efficaciously by marching
+straight on Vermand. Four batteries came into action
+against P&oelig;uilly, which was occupied by the enemy, and
+when the 4th Grenadier Regiment passed to the assault
+the French retreated, losing some prisoners. Many
+Gardes-Mobiles were dispersed by the Uhlans. About
+Vermand the whole of the XXIIIrd Corps was now in
+the act of beginning to march off.</p>
+
+<p>Count von der Groeben therefore posted his troops
+behind the P&oelig;uilly bottom, thereby retarding the withdrawal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[315]</a></span>
+of the enemy by forcing him to halt and form front
+against each display of pressure. The 15th Division
+took up quarters about Beauvois and Caulaincourt.</p>
+
+<p>The sole aim of the French Generals on this day
+seemed to be to reach St. Quentin. They neglected
+the opportunity of falling with their two Corps upon
+the single 15th Division. The XXIIIrd Corps passed
+the night in and westward of St. Quentin, and the
+XXIInd, after crossing the Somme at Séraucourt,
+southward of the town. A further advance either on
+Paris or on the German lines of communications depended
+now, when the latter had approached so close,
+on the issue of a battle; and this General Faidherbe
+wished to await at St. Quentin.</p>
+
+<p>It was important to hold on here in case the sortie of
+the Paris Army should result in success. The ground
+offered certain advantages&mdash;the heights in front of the
+town gave a free range of fire and afforded a sheltered
+position for the reserves. It was true that the Somme
+divided the army in two halves, but the bridge of St.
+Quentin made mutual assistance possible. The enemy
+also occupied both sides of the river, and including the
+Isnard and Pauly Brigades which had come up, he finally
+counted 40,000 men, opposed to an enemy numerically
+weaker.<a name="FNanchor_73_73" id="FNanchor_73_73"></a><a href="#Footnote_73_73" class="fnanchor">[73]</a> The Germans, all told, numbered exactly
+32,580 combatants, of whom nearly 6000 were cavalry.</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[316]</a></span></p>
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_71_71" id="Footnote_71_71"></a><a href="#FNanchor_71_71"><span class="label">[71]</span></a> Who had succeeded General Manteuffel in the command of the
+Ist Corps, when at the beginning of December the latter found
+oppressive the command of a Corps along with the Command-in-Chief
+of the Ist Army.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_72_72" id="Footnote_72_72"></a><a href="#FNanchor_72_72"><span class="label">[72]</span></a> Commanding the 7th (Rhineland) Uhlan Regiment, the officer
+who so long and so gallantly defended Saarbrücken on his own
+responsibility in the earliest days of the war.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_73_73" id="Footnote_73_73"></a><a href="#FNanchor_73_73"><span class="label">[73]</span></a> Whether the author intends, in the two first sentences of this
+paragraph, that the advantages of the St. Quentin position should be
+enjoyed by Faidherbe or Goeben, appears somewhat obscure. The
+third sentence certainly refers to the German Army, as the succeeding
+one clearly shows. But this being so, there is a discrepancy
+between the text and the <i>Staff History</i>, as regards the side which
+the bridge of St. Quentin would serve in the battle. The following
+is quoted from that work: "Moreover, the German troops were separated
+by the Somme, whilst the bridges at St. Quentin enabled the
+French Corps to afford one another easy support."</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of St. Quentin.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(January 19th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>General von Goeben had ordered the general attack
+for this day.</p>
+
+<p>Covered by the occupation of Séraucourt, General
+von Barnekow advanced along the southern bank of
+the Somme, with the 16th and the 3rd Reserve Divisions
+from Jussy through Essigny; the 12th Cavalry
+Division advanced on the road leading from La Fère.</p>
+
+<p>The French columns were still on the march to take
+up their position with its rear towards the town; and
+Grugies was already occupied by them. While the
+32nd German Brigade advanced northward of Essigny
+the Reserve Division halted behind the village, and the
+31st Brigade at a quarter to ten advanced on Grugies.</p>
+
+<p>This attack was taken in flank on its left by the
+French Brigade Gislain, which had meanwhile occupied
+the hamlets of Contescourt and Castres. It was met in
+front by the Brigades Foerster and Pittié which had
+promptly come into action.</p>
+
+<p>The fire of the German batteries was at once
+returned vigorously from Le Moulin de Tout Vent.
+At eleven o'clock the second battalion of the 69th
+Regiment marched in company columns across the
+entirely open ground against the heights on the hither
+side of Grugies; but the attempt, renewed four times,
+was frustrated by the destructive cross-fire of the enemy.
+The ammunition of the isolated battalion was nearly
+exhausted, and only when followed by six fresh companies
+of the 29th Regiment did it succeed in forcing
+the French back, after a desperate hand-to-hand fight:
+but the latter held their ground in front of Grugies
+and in the sugar-factory there.</p>
+
+<p>On the right wing, the 12th Cavalry Division were advancing
+on the La Fère road. The French Brigade
+Aynès, hitherto held in reserve, rushed forward at the
+double to encounter it, and as Count zur Lippe had at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[317]</a></span>
+disposition but one battalion of infantry, his advance at
+first was arrested at Cornet d'Or. But when at noon the
+Division was joined by reinforcements from Tergnier,
+the Saxon rifles stormed the park by the high-road,
+and the Schleswig-Holstein Fusiliers carried La Neuville.
+The French, with the loss of many prisoners,
+were vigorously pursued back to the suburb of St.
+Quentin, where first they found shelter.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, the 31st Brigade was engaged in a hot
+fight on both sides of the railway-line in front of Grugies;
+behind its right wing was the 32nd in the hollow ground
+on the high-road, where it suffered severely from the
+enemy's shell-fire; and on the left, the detachment
+advancing from Séraucourt did not succeed in entering
+Contescourt. And now the French made so determined
+and overwhelming an attack from Grugies, that the
+16th Division had to be withdrawn as far as Essigny.</p>
+
+<p>When after noon General Faidherbe joined the
+XXIIIrd Corps, he had reason to hope that the XXIInd
+Corps would be able to maintain its position. But
+certainly the most important result was to be looked
+for on the northern section of the battle-field.</p>
+
+<p>Here the Division Robin had taken up a position between
+Fayet and Francilly. The Brigade Isnard had
+marched up it on its left, and the Brigade Lagrange of
+the Division Payen extended as far as the Somme. The
+Brigade Michelet remained in reserve, and the Brigade
+Pauly at Gricourt secured the communications rearward.</p>
+
+<p>On the German left, so early as eight o'clock, General
+Count von der Groeben set out from P&oelig;uilly with eight
+battalions and twenty-eight guns and advanced along
+the Roman road; the Cavalry Brigade accompanied the
+march on the left.</p>
+
+<p>The East-Prussians<a name="FNanchor_74_74" id="FNanchor_74_74"></a><a href="#Footnote_74_74" class="fnanchor">[74]</a> immediately hurled the French
+back from Holnon, cleared them out of Selency, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[318]</a></span>
+then advanced against Fayet and on to the heights of
+Moulin Coutte. A gun in action, ammunition-waggons,
+and many prisoners were there taken from the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>By degrees the twenty-eight guns were massed on
+the Windmill Height and entered into a contest with
+the artillery of the Division Robin. But in the course
+of half an hour the ammunition failed, since the waggons
+which had been sent on the previous day to the
+ammunition column of the VIIIth Corps had not yet
+come up with the reserve supply. The batteries, which
+were moreover suffering from infantry fire, had to
+retire to Holnon, and as Francilly, immediately on the
+flank and to the rear, was still occupied by the enemy,
+a further advance was temporarily postponed.</p>
+
+<p>On the right, General von Kummer with the 15th
+Division, marching from Beauvois, had reached Etreillers
+at ten. The King's Hussars cut in upon the
+enemy's horse in retreat, and drove them back upon
+L'Epine de Dallon, and the 29th Brigade entered Savy.
+North of that place three batteries opened fire against
+the artillery of the Division Payen, and then the 65th
+Regiment passed to the attack of the forward-lying
+copses. The smaller one to the south was carried, but
+here, as at Francilly, the Brigade Isnard maintained
+itself in the larger one to the north.</p>
+
+<p>At noon the Brigade Lagrange also advanced once
+more on the small copse and forced its way into it for a
+short time, but was again driven back by the 65th.</p>
+
+<p>The 33rd Regiment was posted in readiness on the
+threatened right flank of the 29th Brigade, and near it
+stood in action two heavy batteries of the Corps
+Artillery just arrived at Savy. At the same time the
+30th Brigade also advanced through Roupy on the right
+of the 29th.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Colonel von Massow at one o'clock renewed
+the offensive on the much more advanced left wing.
+Six companies of the 44th Regiment advanced on
+Fayet, and after firing into them at the shortest range,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[319]</a></span>
+drove the French from the place. Two batteries followed,
+and resumed action against the enemy's great
+artillery position at Moulin de Cépy.</p>
+
+<p>General Paulze D'Ivoy, who saw the communications
+of his Corps with Cambrai in such imminent danger, had
+already called up the Brigade Michelet from its reserve
+post west of the town, and thus reinforced now advanced
+on Fayet. The Prussian detachments that were in the
+place had to be withdrawn to Moulin Coutte; but the
+further advance of the enemy towards these heights
+was arrested by a flank attack from Selency, and at
+the same time the farmstead of Bois des Roses was
+carried. The French again withdrew on Fayet.</p>
+
+<p>There, at Francilly, and in the northern copses, they
+still held their own at half-past one, while at that hour,
+on the German side, all three brigades had been
+brought up into the fighting-line. The Army-Reserve
+had arrived from Ham at Roupy, but General von
+Goeben, who from the latter place had been watching
+the slow progress of the 16th Division, had already
+sent it at eleven o'clock through Séraucourt to the
+support of that Division.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel von Boecking (commanding the Army-Reserve),
+with his three battalions, three squadrons, and
+two batteries, advanced from Séraucourt against Contescourt.
+Hastening forward with the cavalry, he brought
+his artillery promptly into action; and then the 41st
+Regiment, immediately on its arrival, passed to the
+attack. The battalion of the 19th Regiment which was
+already on the spot, joined in the fighting, and the
+enemy with the loss of many prisoners, was at one o'clock
+driven out of Contescourt and of Castres as well, towards
+the heights of Grugies. Against these heights the fire
+of the artillery, which had gradually been increased to
+thirty guns, was now directed.</p>
+
+<p>Bent on further disputing the position, General
+Lecomte brought up several battalions from the brigades
+of Pittié and Aynès for the reinforcement of the Brigade<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[320]</a></span>
+Gislain. The East-Prussian Regiment (41st) succeeded,
+nevertheless, by half-past two o'clock, in hurling the
+enemy by an outflanking attack from the heights into
+the hollow in front of Grugies. Colonel von Boecking's
+vigorous attack made itself felt throughout the whole
+front of fight.</p>
+
+<p>With a view to renewing a general advance, General
+von Barnekow had ordered up his last reserves from
+Essigny, when towards three o'clock the Brigade Pittié
+unexpectedly pushed forward an attack along the railway
+line. Its right scourged by artillery fire from
+Castres, it found its left taken at unawares by the
+charge of five squadrons of reserve cavalry from the
+Urvilliers hollow. Simultaneously Colonel von Hartzberg
+advanced with the 32nd Brigade, and drove the
+enemy back to Moulin de Tout Vent.</p>
+
+<p>The Brigade Foerster, south of Grugies, had still held
+out stubbornly, although now seriously threatened on
+the right from Giffécourt, as well as by the 12th Cavalry
+Division on its left flank. Its left flank now completely
+uncovered by the retreat of the Brigade Pittié, and its
+last strength exhausted by a long struggle, the brigade
+found itself finally forced to evacuate its long-held
+position. The 31st Brigade advanced along the railway-line
+as far as the sugar-factory, and Colonel von
+Boecking drove the last French detachments out of
+Grugies. He then prepared with his artillery the attack
+upon Moulin de Tout Vent. Against these heights the
+41st Regiment, the battalions already ordered up from
+Essigny, and the 32nd Brigade advanced to a concentric
+attack. The French did not prolong their resistance,
+and indeed were already in retreat. The entire German
+fighting line, with the 12th Cavalry Division on its
+right, moved forward on the town, which was now
+reached by the fire of the artillery posted at
+Gauchy. The cavalry repeatedly broke in on the
+retreating hostile bodies; and the railway-station and
+suburb, in which was found only the rear-guard of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[321]</a></span>
+the XXth French Corps, was occupied after a short
+struggle.</p>
+
+<p>Whilst on the southern section of the battle-field the
+action took this turn, on the northern side the attacks
+were also being pushed.</p>
+
+<p>By two o'clock the 28th Regiment advancing from
+Roupy by the road from Ham had carried the farmstead
+of L'Epine de Dallon; and almost simultaneously
+Count von der Groeben's infantry came up to renew
+the offensive.</p>
+
+<p>Whilst on the right some companies of the 4th and
+44th Regiments opposed the advance of French detachments
+from the larger copse, Major von Elpons with
+six companies of the Crown Prince Grenadiers, advanced
+from Holnon and Selency upon Francilly, and,
+notwithstanding the hot fire of the defenders, forced an
+entrance into this very straggling village, in which
+many prisoners were made. As, however, the East-Prussian
+Regiment then advanced further south of the
+Roman road, it had in its turn to sustain a formidable
+attack.</p>
+
+<p>To cover its threatened line of retreat, the Brigade
+Michelet once more advanced from Fayet, and the
+Brigade Pauly also marched from Gricourt upon Moulin
+Coutte. This position, which had in the meantime
+been strengthened by artillery, was, however, obstinately
+held by the 44th Regiment, and when the
+Grenadier companies poured in leftward towards the
+Roman road, the enemy's attack was here also repulsed.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the 29th Brigade, followed by the 30th,
+had already advanced in the direction of St. Quentin, the
+33rd Regiment on its right and the 65th Regiment on the
+left. The latter regiment now took complete possession
+of the larger copse, and forty-eight guns were brought
+up on both sides of the road from Savy. The further
+advance of the infantry was effected in column of companies
+and on an extended line, because of the heavy
+shell fire of the French. The Brigades of Lagrange<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[322]</a></span>
+and Isnard did not await the shock, but at four o'clock
+retired on St. Quentin with the loss of one gun.</p>
+
+<p>Their artillery once more took up a position at
+Rocourt, but at five o'clock had to abandon it abruptly,
+and the French now confined themselves to the defence
+of the barricaded accesses into the St. Martin suburb of
+St. Quentin.</p>
+
+<p>Six Prussian batteries were brought up against
+these, and the 29th Brigade for some time maintained
+a stationary fire fight on the strongly held buildings and
+gardens; but presently several companies from Rocourt
+established themselves in the suburb, in which street-fighting
+was still continued, even after Lieutenant-Colonel
+von Hüllessem had succeeded in crossing the
+canal bridge and entering the town itself.</p>
+
+<p>By four o'clock, General Faidherbe had already the
+conviction that the XXIIIrd Corps would probably be
+unable to hold its ground. In this event his choice
+was limited to the alternative of a night retreat, or of
+being shut up in St. Quentin. He had not yet formed
+a decision, when he met in the town General Lecointe,
+who reported that he had abandoned the defence of
+the left bank of the Somme. Thanks to the resistance
+still maintained by the XXIIIrd Corps on the north,
+the XXIInd was enabled to retire unmolested on Le
+Cateau.</p>
+
+<p>The Commanding General now ordered General
+Paulze d'Ivoy to retire on that place, but the latter
+only received the order at six in the evening, when
+the brigades of the right wing&mdash;Pauly's and Michelet's&mdash;had
+already started of their own accord for
+Cambrai. The more obstinately the two remaining
+brigades now defended the suburb of St. Martin, the
+more ominous for them must prove the result of the
+action. Attacked in rear by the battalions of Colonel
+von Boecking, the greater portion were made prisoners.
+The 41st Regiment alone took prisoners 54 officers and
+2260 men, besides capturing 4 guns. General Faidherbe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[323]</a></span>
+himself only escaped the same fate by the help of the
+inhabitants.</p>
+
+<p>The action ended at half-past six in the evening,
+and the troops passed the night in the town and in
+the captured villages.</p>
+
+<p>The hard-won victory had cost the Germans 96
+officers and 2304 men; 3000 wounded Frenchmen
+were found on the battle-field, and the number of
+unwounded prisoners exceeded 9000.</p>
+
+<p>According to theory, the pursuit should invariably
+clinch the victory&mdash;a postulate assented to by all, and
+particularly by civilians; and yet in practice it is
+seldom observed. Military history furnishes but few
+instances, such as the famous one of Belle Alliance.
+It requires a very strong and pitiless will to impose
+fresh exertions and dangers upon troops who have
+marched, fought and fasted for ten or twelve hours,
+in place of the longed-for rest and food. But even
+given the possession of this will, the question of pursuit
+will yet depend on the circumstances under which the
+victory has been won. It will be difficult of execution
+when all the bodies on the field of battle, as at Königgrätz,
+have become so intermixed that hours are
+required to re-form them into tactical cohesion; or
+when, as at St. Quentin, all, even the troops last thrown
+into the action, have become so entangled that not one
+single tactically complete body of infantry remains at
+disposition. Without the support of such a body,
+cavalry at night will be seriously detained before every
+obstacle and each petty post of the enemy, and thus
+alone its exertions will rarely be repaid.<a name="FNanchor_75_75" id="FNanchor_75_75"></a><a href="#Footnote_75_75" class="fnanchor">[75]</a></p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[324]</a></span></p>
+<p>General von Goeben did not pursue the defeated
+enemy till the following day. His advanced cavalry
+ranged up to the suburb of Cambrai and the glacis
+of Landrecies, without meeting with any resistance,
+and merely brought in some hundreds of stragglers.
+The Infantry Divisions followed to within four miles of
+Cambrai. Against this fortress nothing could be undertaken
+through want of siege material, and there was
+no military advantage to be derived in extending
+further north. Among the news to hand it was
+reported that a considerable portion of the French
+Army of the North had retired upon Lille, Douai and
+Valenciennes. As fresh enterprises on its part were
+consequently not to be expected, General von Goeben
+brought his force back to the Somme, where towards
+the end of the month it took up rest quarters between
+Amiens and St. Quentin.</p>
+
+<p>On the Lower Seine, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
+entered Rouen with the XIIIth Corps on the
+25th, after having encountered on the march only a
+few franctireurs. Although General Loysel had increased
+his force to a strength of nearly 30,000 by
+reinforcements from Cherbourg, he had remained
+entirely inactive.</p>
+
+<p>General von Goeben had in view the transfer to the
+Army of the Somme of that portion of the Ist Corps
+still about Rouen; but this was disapproved of by
+telegram from the supreme Head-quarter, which on
+political grounds ordered its continued retention there.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_74_74" id="Footnote_74_74"></a><a href="#FNanchor_74_74"><span class="label">[74]</span></a> Companies of the Crown Prince's Grenadier Regiment (the 1st
+of the Prussian line), and of the East Prussian Infantry Regiment
+No. 44, belonging respectively to the 1st and 3rd Brigades, 1st
+Division, Ist Army Corps.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_75_75" id="Footnote_75_75"></a><a href="#FNanchor_75_75"><span class="label">[75]</span></a> Moltke, although not quite inexperienced in the practical conduct
+of war on a large scale, would scarcely have ventured to express
+himself as above, if he had studied the teachings of <i>The Soldier's
+Pocket-Book</i>. The distinguished author of that profound and
+accurate treatise writes of pursuits in quite a different tone. "You
+have won a great battle," writes Lord Wolseley, "and the enemy
+are in full retreat; run after him; hammer him with guns; charge
+him with cavalry; harass him with mounted infantry; pass round
+his flanks, and keep pushing him and hitting him from morning until
+night. Caution is out of place when you have a beaten army before
+you. Wellington never delivered any crushing blow, <i>because he
+failed to pursue</i>."</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Occurrences in the South-Eastern Seat of
+War up to 17th of January.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Siege of Belfort.</span>&mdash;In the south-eastern theatre
+of war, the forces detailed to operate against Belfort<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[325]</a></span>
+had been only gradually brought together under cover
+of the XIVth Army Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The town is surrounded by a bastioned enceinte.
+The citadel has a wide command, built as it is on lofty
+rocks, which, to increase the development of fire, are
+encircled by successive tiers of works in terrace-formation.
+On the left bank of the Savoureuse, newly constructed
+lines of defence protected the suburb and railway
+station. On the high adjacent ridge to the north-east
+the forts of La Miotte and La Justice, with the
+enclosing lines connecting them with the main fortress,
+formed a spacious intrenched camp. Hostile occupation
+of the lofty eminences of the two Perches (Hautes
+and Basses) would certainly endanger the whole defensive
+position, dominating as they did even the citadel
+from the south at a distance of only 1100 yards, and
+whence the works on the left bank of the river could
+be brought under fire. But two forts of masonry
+had been constructed on the Perches before the advent
+of the enemy, and further to strengthen the defence
+the nearest copses and villages, as for instance Pérouse
+and Danjoutin, had been intrenched.</p>
+
+<p>The fortress was by no means deficient in bomb-proof
+accommodation. Its armament consisted of 341
+heavy guns, and it was provisioned for five months.</p>
+
+<p>When immediately after the opening of the campaign,
+the VIIth French Corps vacated Alsace, only about
+5000 Gardes-Mobiles remained in Belfort, but its
+garrison, increased by calling in National Guards, now
+exceeded 17,000.</p>
+
+<p>The vigilant Commandant, Colonel Denfert, laid
+great stress on the maintenance in force of the environs
+in his front. The advanced posts were every day
+assigned to fresh operations, which the artillery of the
+fortress had to cover at extreme ranges.</p>
+
+<p>On the opposite side, General von Tresckow (commanding
+1st Reserve Division) had available at the
+outset, a force of not more than twenty weak battalions
+of Landwehr, five squadrons and six field-batteries, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[326]</a></span>
+all barely 15,000 men. He had at first to confine himself
+to a mere investment. The troops, intrenched in
+the villages round a wide circumference, had to repel
+many sorties.</p>
+
+<p>Orders were received from the supreme Headquarter
+to set about the regular siege of the place.
+General von Mertens was charged with the direction
+of the engineer operations, and Lieut.-Col. Scheliha
+with that of the artillery attack. The difficulties
+of the undertaking were obvious. The rocky nature
+of the soil could not but increase the labour of
+throwing up earthworks, and the cold season was
+approaching. The attack could be carried on successfully
+only from the south against the main work&mdash;the
+formidable citadel. Only fifty heavy guns were
+available for the time, and the infantry strength was
+not sufficient to efficiently invest the place on all
+sides.</p>
+
+<p>In these circumstances, there devolved on General
+von Tresckow the task of attempting the reduction
+of Belfort by a mere bombardment. Towards
+this purpose the attack was chiefly directed from
+the west, in which quarter, after the enemy's garrison
+had been driven out of Valdoye, the infantry occupied
+Essert and Bavilliers, as well as the adjacent wooded
+heights. On December 2nd seven batteries were constructed
+on the plateau between these two villages by
+3000 men, under cover of two battalions. The hard-frozen
+ground added to the difficulties of the work;
+yet, notwithstanding the moonlight night, the operations
+would appear to have escaped the attention of
+the besieged. When on the following morning the sun
+had dispersed the fog and made visible the objects, fire
+was opened.</p>
+
+<p>The fortress replied at first but feebly, but afterwards
+with increasing vigour from the entire line of works,
+even from Forts La Miotte and La Justice at a range
+of 4700 yards, and the losses in the trenches were
+considerable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[327]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Four more batteries in front of Bavilliers were
+armed, and on the fall of La Tuilerie the infantry
+pressed on to within 170 yards of the enemy's most
+advanced trenches. The artillery fire caused a conflagration
+in the town; but the ammunition was soon
+exhausted, whilst the lofty citadel maintained unchecked
+an effective fire, and repeated sorties on the
+part of the garrison had to be repelled. It was now
+clear, since no decisive result had followed the methods
+hitherto resorted to, that only by a regular attack could
+that be attained.</p>
+
+<p>On the south Colonel von Ostrowski on December
+13th had carried the French positions of Adelnans and
+the wooded heights of Le Bosmont and La Brosse. On
+the eastern point of the latter two batteries, and on
+its northern skirt four additional batteries had been
+thrown up, not without great difficulty arising from
+thaw having made the ground a swamp. On January
+7th, fifty guns opened fire. The superiority of the
+artillery of the attack was soon manifest. Fort
+Bellevue suffered severely, and notably the fire from
+Basses Perches was entirely silenced.</p>
+
+<p>But it was of grave importance that the village
+of Danjoutin, strongly garrisoned and intrenched by
+the enemy, stood in the way of a further advance.
+During the night of the 8th January seven companies
+attacked this position, and also from the northward at
+the same time took possession of the railway-embankment.
+With empty rifles the Landwehr hurled themselves
+against the enemy in the face of a hot fire, and
+charged along the village street up to the church. The
+supports hastening from the fortress were driven back
+at the railway-embankment, but the fight about the
+buildings in the southern quarter of the village lasted
+till towards noon. Of the defenders, twenty officers and
+700 men were taken prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Typhus and small-pox had broken out in Belfort;
+and in the besieging force also the number of the sick
+reached a considerable figure, caused by arduous work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[328]</a></span>
+in inclement weather. Most of the battalions could
+only muster 500 men, and this weakness led General
+von Tresckow to devote half his force to the lighter
+duty of protecting the investment from without, principally
+towards the south.</p>
+
+<p>Trustworthy intelligence estimated the French
+strength at Besançon at 62,000. Although hitherto entirely
+inactive, this force now seemed in strong earnest to
+press on to the relief of the hard-pressed fortress by the
+line of the Doubs. On this line was the fortified château
+of Montbéliard, held by one German battalion, and armed
+with heavy guns. Between the Doubs and the Swiss
+frontier about Delle stood General Debschitz with eight
+battalions, two squadrons, and two batteries, and General
+von Werder concentrated the XIVth Corps at Noroy,
+Aillevans, and Athésans, to oppose with all his strength
+any interruption of the siege of Belfort.</p>
+
+<p>From January 5th onwards there ensued a series of
+engagements in front of Vesoul, as the result of which
+the enemy advanced from the south and west to within
+four miles of that town. There could be no doubt that
+very considerable forces were engaged in this advance.
+East also of the Ognon, the enemy's posts were advanced
+beyond Rougemont, although in lesser force. In these
+actions 500 prisoners were made; and it was at once
+evident that besides the XVIIIth, the XXIVth and
+XXth Corps also formed part of Bourbaki's army; a
+circumstance which threw a sudden light upon a totally
+changed phase of the war.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Transfer of the French Army of the East to the
+South-Eastern Seat of War, end of December.</span>&mdash;As
+had been expected by the supreme Headquarter at Versailles,
+about the beginning of January an attempt had
+been made to bring about combined action on the part
+of Generals Chanzy and Bourbaki. As we have already
+seen, the advance of the former had been thwarted by
+Prince Frederick Charles on the Loir, and Bourbaki<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[329]</a></span>
+had actually made preparations for an advance by Montargis
+to the relief of Paris. But he delayed its execution
+until the 19th December, when the IInd German Army
+had already returned to Orleans from its expedition to
+Le Mans. General Bourbaki had now to realize that
+the IInd Army would fall on the flank of his projected
+movement, and he thus the more readily concurred in
+another plan, devised by the Delegate de Freycinet,
+and approved of by the Dictator Gambetta.</p>
+
+<p>This was for the XVth Corps to remain about Bourges
+and to cover that town in intrenched positions about
+Vierzon and Nevers; the XVIIIth and XXth were to
+proceed to Beaune by railway, and, when raised to a
+strength of 70,000 by an union with Garibaldi and
+Crémer, to occupy Dijon. The newly-formed XXIVth
+Corps was also to be moved by railway from Lyons to
+Besançon, where, with the forces already there, a
+strength of 50,000 would be attained. In co-operation
+with the "invincibles of Dijon," it then would be
+easy to raise the siege of Belfort "without even
+striking a blow." It was expected that the mere
+existence of this mass of considerably above 100,000
+men would avert any attacks upon the Northern
+fortresses; in any case, there was the certainty of
+severing the enemy's various lines of communication,
+and the later prospect also of combined action with
+Faidherbe.</p>
+
+<p>The railway transport of Bourbaki's army from the
+Loir to the Saône had already commenced by December
+23rd. In the absence of all preparations, many
+interruptions and breaks-down in the traffic naturally
+occurred, and the troops suffered severely from the
+intense cold and from being insufficiently cared for.
+When Chagny and Châlons sur Saône had been reached,
+and it was ascertained that the Germans had already
+evacuated Dijon, it was decided to again entrain the
+troops so as to bring them nearer to Besançon; whence
+arose a fresh delay, and it was only in the beginning of
+the new year that the Army of the East stood in readiness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[330]</a></span>
+between Dijon and Besançon. The XVth Corps
+was now also ordered thither, but fourteen days were
+required for its transportation.</p>
+
+<p>The comprehensive plan of M. Freycinet, and his
+sanguine expectations, were essentially favoured by the
+circumstance that the transfer of those great bodies of
+troops to a remote section of the field of war had
+remained concealed for a fortnight from the IInd
+Army, as well as from the XIVth Corps, and consequently
+from the chief Head-quarter. Rumours and
+newspaper articles had no doubt given somewhat
+earlier hints, but General von Werder's telegram of
+January 5th was the first really authentic announcement
+by which it was known beyond doubt that the
+Germans now stood face to face with an entirely altered
+aspect of the military situation. In Versailles the appropriate
+dispositions and arrangements were promptly
+made, and steps taken for the formation of a new Army
+of the South.</p>
+
+<p>There was available for this purpose the IInd Corps
+at Montargis, and half of the VIIth under General von
+Zastrow at Auxerre, which during this period of uncertainty
+had been constantly moving to and fro between
+the Saône and Yonne, according as the one or
+the other quarter appeared to be threatened. The
+chief command of these two Corps, to which was afterwards
+added that of the XIVth, was entrusted to
+General von Manteuffel. General von Werder could
+not be immediately reinforced, and for a time the
+XIVth Corps was thrown upon its own resources.</p>
+
+<p>Notwithstanding their superiority of strength, the
+French did more man&oelig;uvring than fighting. General
+Bourbaki aimed at outflanking the left wing of the
+XIVth Corps, and thus entirely cutting it off from Belfort.
+On January 5th the XVIIIth Corps advanced by
+Grandvelle, and the XXth by Echenoz le Sec, on Vesoul;
+but, as we have seen, they there met with opposition,
+and as the XXIVth Corps sent to the right to Esprels<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[331]</a></span>
+learned that Villersexel was occupied by the Germans,
+Bourbaki determined upon a still more easterly and
+circuitous route. On the 8th the two Corps of the left
+wing marched off to the right, the XVIIIth to Montbozon,
+the XXth to Rougemont; the XXIVth went
+back to Cuse. At the same time General Crémer
+received orders to move from Dijon on Vesoul. On
+the 9th the XXIVth and XXth Corps were at Vellechevreux
+and Villargent on the Arcey-Villersexel road,
+while the head of the XVIIIth Corps reached Villersexel
+and Esprels.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder had no alternative but to
+follow this sideward movement in all haste. He ordered
+the Baden Division to Athésans, the 4th Reserve
+Division to Aillevans, and Von der Goltz's Brigade
+to Noroy le Bourg. The trains were put in march to
+Lure.</p>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Action of Villersexel</span>, January 9th.&mdash;Accordingly
+at seven in the morning the Reserve Division was sent
+on from Noroy to Aillevans, and began bridging the
+Ognon to admit of the continuation of the march. A
+flanking detachment of the 25th Regiment sent to the
+right, was fired on near Villersexel, and the attempt to
+carry the stone bridge at that place failed shortly after.
+The French with two and a half battalions occupied
+the town, situated on a height on the further bank of
+the river. Shortly afterwards reinforcements came up
+on the German side. Two batteries opened fire upon the
+place and upon the still advancing bodies of the enemy.
+The 25th Regiment crossed the river by the suspension
+bridge and broke into the walled park and into the
+château. At one o'clock the French were driven out
+of the town with the loss of many prisoners, and a
+pause in the fighting ensued.</p>
+
+<p>The Prussian force during the fighting had been
+seriously threatened on its flank by the advance from
+Esprels of the 1st Division of the French XVIIIth Corps,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[332]</a></span>
+with the artillery-reserve. General von der Goltz,
+however, opposed it by occupying the village of Moimay.
+He also sent to Villersexel nine companies of the
+30th Regiment, to relieve the 25th Regiment there, so
+as to allow the latter to rejoin its own Division in the
+further march. His combined brigade was eventually
+to form the rear-guard of the whole movement.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder, who observed the considerable
+force in which the French were advancing on Villersexel
+from the south, concluded that there was less to
+be gained by forcing his own passage across the
+Ognon than by opposing that of the French, since
+the river covered his line of approach to Belfort. He
+therefore recalled the infantry already issuing to the
+southward from the town, and withdrew the batteries
+to the northern side of the river. Here the main body
+of the 4th Reserve Division took up a defensive position,
+and the Baden Division was called in on its
+march at Arpenans and Lure, as a much-needed reinforcement
+to the former.</p>
+
+<p>It was already evening when large columns of the
+French advanced on Villersexel and shelled the town.</p>
+
+<p>Favoured by the darkness, they penetrated into the
+park and château, from which the German garrison had
+already been withdrawn; and as the general condition
+of things did not seem to necessitate the occupation of
+Villersexel, the responsible officers ordered the evacuation
+of the town. Though hard pressed by the enemy,
+this movement had been nearly completed, when
+orders arrived from General von Werder to hold the
+town.</p>
+
+<p>At once four battalions from the Reserve Division
+advanced to the renewed attack. The 25th Regiment
+turned about at the bridge over the Ognon and joined
+them. The Landwehr rushed into the ground floor of
+the straggling château, but the French defended themselves
+in the upper floors and the cellars. On the
+staircase and in the passages of the already burning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[333]</a></span>
+buildings there ensued a hot and changeful combat, and
+the fight was maintained in the streets. Not till the
+General in command took the matter in hand, and himself
+ordered it to be broken off, were dispositions made
+at one o'clock in the morning for a gradual retirement,
+which was completed by three. The Reserve Division
+then recrossed the bridge at Aillevans, and occupied
+St. Sulpice on the right.</p>
+
+<p>General von der Goltz had held Moimay until
+evening.</p>
+
+<p>Of the XIVth Corps only 15,000 had been engaged,
+of whom 26 officers and 553 men had fallen. The French
+losses amounted to 27 officers and 627 men; and they
+also left behind in the hands of the Germans 700 unwounded
+prisoners. The French troops which chiefly
+took part in the operations were the XVIIIth and
+XXth Corps; the XXIVth Corps, on account of the
+fighting in its rear, had suspended its march to
+Arcey through Sevenans. Detachments of the gradually
+incoming XVth Corps advanced from southward in
+the direction of Belfort.</p>
+
+<p>On the morning of January 10th, General von
+Werder massed his Corps in the vicinity of Aillevans,
+ready to engage the enemy should the latter attempt an
+advance through Villersexel. But no attack was made,
+and so the march could be resumed that same morning.
+As a matter of fact, the French with three Corps were as
+near to Belfort as the Germans were with three Divisions.
+To cover the departure the Reserve Division
+took up a position at Athésans, and on the following
+day all the forces reached and occupied the line of
+the Lisaine. On the right wing about Frahier and
+Chalonvillars stood the Baden Division; in the centre,
+the Reserve Brigade between Chagey and Couthenans;
+on the left, the Reserve Division at Héricourt and
+Tavey. On the south, General von Debschitz stood
+in observation at Delle, and Colonel von Bredow at
+Arcey; towards the west Colonel von Willisen was at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[334]</a></span>
+Lure with the detachment of eight companies, thirteen
+squadrons, two batteries, which had come up from
+Vesoul.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder had in fact, succeeded in interposing
+his force between the enemy and Belfort.</p>
+
+<p>The French commander, under the intoxicating
+impression of a victory, had resigned himself to inactivity.
+"General Billot," he reported to the Government
+at Bordeaux, "has occupied Esprels and maintains
+himself there." We know that he was never
+attacked there at all, and that he did not succeed in
+driving away General von der Goltz from the vicinity
+of Moimay. "General Clinchant has carried Villersexel
+with extraordinary dash;" but the fight of the 9th
+was, as regards the Germans, maintained with only a portion
+of the XIVth Corps, to cover the right flank of the
+main body on its march. Whilst, then, this movement
+of the latter was prosecuted with the utmost energy,
+the French army remained passive for two days, ready
+for action and in the confident expectation that the
+enemy described as beaten, would come on again to fight
+for the supremacy. Not until the 13th did the XXIVth
+Corps advance on Arcey, the XXth on Saulnot, and
+the XVIIIth follow to Sevenans. The XVth was to
+support an attack on Arcey by way of Ste. Marie.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder had utilized this interval, while
+the troops were hastening forward, in ascertaining the
+eligibility of the Lisaine position and in a consultation
+with General von Tresckow in rear of it.</p>
+
+<p>A detailed inspection showed that at Frahier the
+Lisaine, there but an unimportant streamlet, flows
+through a broad grassy hollow, and thence to Chagey
+through steep wooded slopes. About Héricourt the
+valley opens out into a wide plain, which is however
+commanded by the rocky heights of Mont Vaudois.
+Lower down the wooded heights line the river as far as
+Montbéliard, which with the Allaine brook forms a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[335]</a></span>
+strong point of support and the extremity of the
+line.</p>
+
+<p>The wooded character of the plain west of the Lisaine
+would necessarily increase the assailants' difficulties in
+the deployment of large infantry masses and a strong
+artillery line. It is true that during the prevailing
+severe cold the river was everywhere frozen over; but
+only two high-roads led through the forest into the
+valley from the direction by which the French army
+was advancing, one to Montbéliard, the other to Héricourt.
+The other accesses were narrow, hollow roads
+rendered difficult of use by frost.</p>
+
+<p>General von Tresckow had already armed the most
+important points with siege guns, the castle of Montbéliard
+with six, and the neighbouring height of La
+Grange Dame with five heavy cannon. Seven were
+placed on Mont Vaudois and near Héricourt; besides
+these, twenty-one others commanded the valley of the
+Allaine southward as far as Delle.</p>
+
+<p>All the troops that could be spared from the investing
+force were also withdrawn from before Belfort. Still
+there remained the important consideration that the
+available forces might not suffice to entirely cover the
+whole of the Lisaine line. The right wing was the locally
+weakest portion of the whole position, but here there was
+the least to be apprehended, the enemy's main attack,
+since the many needs of the numerous but inadequately
+equipped French army made the nearest possible
+vicinity of one of the railroads a necessity. The
+Vesoul line by way of Lure was broken in many
+places, and the Besançon line led towards the strong
+left wing. The country north of Chagey might therefore
+more weakly be held, and a reserve was formed of
+the largest part of the Baden Division, which was distributed
+in rear of the centre and left about Mandrevillars,
+Brévilliers and Charmont.</p>
+
+<p>The respite accorded by the enemy was turned to
+account with the utmost zeal in the construction of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[336]</a></span>
+rifle-pits and of battery emplacements, the establishment
+of telegraph and relay lines, the improvement of
+roads and the replenishment of supplies and ammunition.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 13th.</i>&mdash;On the morning of the 13th the
+advanced posts of the 3rd Reserve Division were now
+attacked at Arcey, Ste. Marie and Gonvillars. They
+were instructed to withdraw before a superior force,
+but to hold their own long enough to compel the deployment
+of the hostile columns. The combat with
+French artillery coming up at wide intervals was therefore
+prolonged for a considerable time; then, after a three
+hours' resistance, a new position was taken up behind
+the Rupt brook, and the retirement on Tavey delayed
+until four in the afternoon. The advanced guard of
+General von der Goltz, after a whole brigade had deployed
+against it, also took up a position at Chavanni
+on a parallel front with that at Couthenans.</p>
+
+<p>Before the Allaine front the French did not succeed
+in driving General von Debschitz's advanced posts out
+of Dasle and Croix.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 14th.</i>&mdash;On the 14th General von Willisen
+with fifty dismounted Dragoons drove back the enemy
+advancing on Lure, and then retired with his detachment
+on Ronchamp.</p>
+
+<p>The French army did not yet on this day undertake
+a serious attack. It stood with the XVth, XXIVth, and
+XXth Corps, closely concentrated opposite the German
+left and centre at a distance of scarcely four-and-a-half
+miles. The German right was supposed by General
+Bourbaki to rest upon Mont Vaudois. His plan was to
+cross the Lisaine in force above this point of support,
+and by thus turning the hostile flank to facilitate a
+frontal attack. The XVIIIth Army Corps and the
+Division Crémer were assigned to this service. A drawback
+to this judicious arrangement was, that the two
+above-mentioned bodies designed by the officer in
+supreme command to open the fight on the 14th, would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[337]</a></span>
+have the longest distance to march to their task. On
+this day the leading troops of the XVIIIth Army Corps
+barely succeeded in reaching the vicinity of Lomont
+through difficult hill and woodland region, and
+Crémer's Brigade<a name="FNanchor_76_76" id="FNanchor_76_76"></a><a href="#Footnote_76_76" class="fnanchor">[76]</a> had only then begun to advance
+from Vesoul. A postponement to the 15th was thereupon
+determined.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side, a general attack by the greatly
+superior enemy was hourly expected, and General von
+Werder felt himself bound to send by telegraph to
+Versailles a representation of the extreme seriousness
+of his position. The rivers, being frozen over, were passable,
+and the duty of covering Belfort deprived him of
+freedom of movement and endangered the existence of
+his corps. He earnestly prayed that the question
+should be weighed, whether the investment of Belfort
+should continue to be maintained.</p>
+
+<p>In the supreme Head-quarter it was considered that
+any further retirement of the XVth<a name="FNanchor_77_77" id="FNanchor_77_77"></a><a href="#Footnote_77_77" class="fnanchor">[77]</a> Army Corps
+would have the immediate effect of raising the siege of
+Belfort, and causing the loss of the considerable
+material which had been provided therefor; that it
+was impossible to foresee where such further retirement
+would end; and that it could but delay the co-operation
+of the army advancing by forced marches under General
+von Manteuffel. At three o'clock on the afternoon of
+15th January a positive order was despatched to General
+von Werder to accept battle in front of Belfort. He
+was, as was only fair, relieved of the moral responsibility
+of the consequences of a possibly disastrous issue.
+But before this order reached him, the General had
+already come to the same resolution.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[338]</a></span></p><div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_76_76" id="Footnote_76_76"></a><a href="#FNanchor_76_76"><span class="label">[76]</span></a> Slip of the pen for "Division."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_77_77" id="Footnote_77_77"></a><a href="#FNanchor_77_77"><span class="label">[77]</span></a> So in text; a slip of the pen, or printer's error, for the XIVth
+Corps, which von Werder commanded. There was no XVth Corps
+in 1871.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle on the Lisaine.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(January 15th to 17th.)</div>
+
+
+<p><i>January 15th.</i>&mdash;On the morning of the 15th of
+January, two Divisions of the French XVth Corps,
+strengthened by artillery, advanced on Montbéliard;
+a third followed in reserve. The East-Prussian Landwehr
+battalions, which had pushed forward to the
+Mont Chevis Farm and Ste. Suzanne, held their position
+for a long time, advanced on their part to the attack,
+and drove the heads of the enemy's columns back upon
+the Rupt brook. But when the latter in the afternoon
+deployed in greater force along the edge of the wood, the
+Landwehr advanced posts were at two o'clock ordered
+back to the left bank of the Lisaine. The town of
+Montbéliard, entirely commanded by the surrounding
+heights, was also voluntarily evacuated, only its fortified
+castle being held. But east of Montbéliard General von
+Glümer with the 1st Baden Brigade had taken up a position,
+and had brought up four field-batteries alongside
+the siege guns on the plateau of La Grange Dame.</p>
+
+<p>Towards the close of the day the French, after a
+continuous but ineffective bombardment from eight
+batteries, took possession of the town, but did not make
+any further advance.</p>
+
+<p>Neither had they prospered in their attempt to cross
+the Lisaine at Béthoncourt. An officer and sixty men,
+who had sought cover within a walled graveyard from
+the sharp fire of the defenders, were taken prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Further to the north the French XXIVth Corps
+continued to advance, but it was two o'clock before its
+columns were able to deploy from the wood. Four
+battalions did, indeed, succeed in taking possession of
+the village of Bussurel on the western bank of the
+Lisaine, but their further advance was frustrated by
+the fire of the defenders in cover behind the railway<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[339]</a></span>
+embankment, and by that of the Baden battalions and
+batteries brought up from the main reserve.</p>
+
+<p>Héricourt, on the great high road from Besançon and
+only little more than four miles from Belfort, became a
+point of special importance in the German fighting line.
+Here in front of the Lisaine the right wing of the 4th
+Reserve Division struck the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>The little wooded knoll of Mougnot, which forms a
+sort of bridge-head to the narrow gorge through which
+the road passes, had been fortified by the pioneers with
+abatis, battery emplacements and rifle-pits, the town
+in its rear prepared for defence, and the base of the
+heights on either of its sides faced with artillery. Four
+East-Prussian Landwehr battalions were in touch on
+the right with the Reserve Brigade, which held the
+slope of Mont Vaudois as far as Luze.</p>
+
+<p>About ten o'clock the French deployed their artillery
+on the bare heights close to the line of approach in
+the vicinity of Trémoins. Upon their infantry advancing
+leftwards through Byans, the German detachment
+which till then had been left in Tavey fell back on
+Héricourt in reserve, and the enemy's first attack on
+Mougnot was shattered by the resistance of its defenders,
+and by the fire of sixty-one guns on the further bank
+of the river. The attempt was not repeated that day,
+and the French confined themselves to a heavy but
+ineffective cannonade.</p>
+
+<p>According to the instructions issued by General
+Bourbaki, the XXth Corps was to await the result of
+the great outflanking movement which was to be carried
+out by General Billot with the XVIIIth Corps and
+Crémer's Division. As, however, these had not yet
+put in an appearance, the Army-Reserve had to be
+brought up leftward to Coisevaux to protect General
+Clinchant's flank.</p>
+
+<p>The orders from the Army Head-quarter had not
+reached the XVIIIth Corps until midnight. It had
+moreover to accomplish a difficult march by deeply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[340]</a></span>
+snowed-up woodland paths. This entailed crossings,
+not only between the flank columns of its 1st and 3rd
+Divisions, but even with the Division Crémer at
+Lyoffans. This Division had only by dint of the
+greatest exertion reached Lure during the night, and
+could not get further on to Béverne until nine in the
+morning. A fresh delay was occasioned by the order
+to bring up in front of the infantry the artillery&mdash;even
+the reserve artillery which was marching in the very
+rear; and thus it happened that the XVIIIth Corps did
+not succeed in deploying two of its Divisions opposite
+Luze and Chagey till between 12 and 2 in the afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>The 1st Division occupied Couthenans with one
+battalion, and brought up five batteries on the reverse
+slope of the heights to the north of that place. But
+the fire from the opposite bank prevented their further
+progress, and in a short time several of the batteries
+had but two guns left fit for action, although the Germans,
+in view of the difficulty of replenishment, used
+their ammunition as sparingly as possible. At three
+o'clock there was a pause in the artillery fight, which
+however was resumed energetically on the arrival of
+reinforcements, when the artillery of the XXIVth
+Corps coming from Byans took part in it. An
+infantry attack on a large scale was not yet attempted.</p>
+
+<p>There was scarcely more vigour in the advance of
+the 3rd Division against Chagey, which was occupied
+only by a Baden battalion; yet it was from here that
+the outflanking movement of the German right wing by
+turning Mont Vaudois was to be gone upon. The
+wood reached to the first houses of the village, and the
+only difficulty was the climb up the steep face of the
+height. Two French battalions suddenly burst from the
+gorge south of it, and drove in the Baden outposts;
+the further attack was to have been supported from
+Couthenans on the south, but the infantry advancing
+from thence found itself forced to turn back by the fire
+from the opposite bank. Only by a renewed effort did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[341]</a></span>
+the Zouaves succeed in entering Chagey, where a stubborn
+fight raged in and around the houses. Meanwhile
+two Baden battalions came up, who, at five o'clock,
+drove the enemy out of the village back into the wood.
+Fresh reinforcements hastened to the support of the
+latter from the reserve near by, the short winter's day
+was over, and here during the night the French
+attempted nothing further. The 2nd Division of the
+French Corps had only advanced as far as Béverne, the
+cavalry had not moved from Lyoffans.</p>
+
+<p>The Division Crémer, despite its late arrival at
+Lure, had continued the march in the early morning.
+After the above-mentioned crossings and resultant
+delays the 1st Brigade advanced on Etobon, and there
+at noon it engaged in a fight with a Baden detachment
+under the command of General von Degenfeld.
+When the 2nd Brigade also came up, the 1st moved
+forward through the Bois de la Thure, with intent to
+cross the Lisaine above Chagey. Parts of the roads
+had first to be made practicable by the pioneers, involving
+considerable delay. The 2nd Brigade then followed
+in the dark, having left a detachment in
+observation at Etobon. A fresh collision with some
+Baden detachments determined General Crémer to
+extinguish all the watch-fires. His troops remained
+under arms throughout the hard winter night.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side, all the troops not on guard
+duty found shelter in the neighbouring villages, the
+pioneers only being kept at work with their pickaxes.
+The actions had cost both sides about 600 men, without
+bringing about any decisive result; but every day was
+a gain to the defenders.</p>
+
+<p>General Von Werder, on the heights north of Héricourt,
+had received constant reports regarding the
+course of the fighting from the General Staff officers
+sent out in various directions, by which he was able to
+regulate the abstraction from the reserves of reinforcements
+to the fighting line. The diminution of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[342]</a></span>
+ammunition was a cause of anxiety, since a consignment
+announced from Baden had not yet arrived.</p>
+
+<p>General Bourbaki informed his Government that he
+had taken Montbéliard, it was true without the castle,
+had occupied the villages on the west bank of the
+Lisaine, and that he would attack on the 16th. He
+had learned from General Billot that the German right
+wing extended considerably beyond Mont Vaudois,
+whence he inferred that important reinforcements had
+reached the enemy, whose strength he estimated at
+80,000 to 100,000 men. Nevertheless he anticipated
+a fortunate issue for the outflanking operation by fetching
+a yet wider compass to the left.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 16th.</i>&mdash;At half-past six on the morning of
+the 16th the Germans again stood to arms in the positions
+of the previous day.</p>
+
+<p>The French again began the attack with their right
+wing. From the loopholed houses they fired on the
+Landwehr company holding the castle of Montbéliard,
+causing some loss among the latter as well as among
+the gunners. The summons to surrender was disregarded,
+and the fire of the fortress artillery was
+used to such good purpose against two batteries which
+showed themselves on the neighbouring height, that
+these were obliged to retire, leaving behind them two
+guns. Neither could they advance from a new position
+they had taken up at the farm of Mont Chevis, and
+where they had been reinforced by three batteries,
+against the fire from La Grange Dame, although the
+cannonade continued until dark. No attempt was
+made from Montbéliard to pierce the German line.</p>
+
+<p>Further to the left the reinforced 1st Division of the
+French XVth Corps advanced on Béthoncourt. At
+one o'clock the fire of its artillery from Mont Chevis
+and Byans obliged a Baden battery to limber up, and
+it was then directed on the village. Large bodies
+had been massed in the neighbouring forest, from
+out which at three o'clock they advanced. General<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[343]</a></span>
+Glümer had meantime despatched reinforcements to the
+threatened front. Two determined attempts pushed
+close up to the village were frustrated by the destructive
+artillery and rifle fire of the defenders. A third
+attack made with a whole brigade at four o'clock, was
+not permitted even to approach. The losses on the
+French side were considerable, and the snowy field was
+strewn with the fallen. Some unwounded prisoners
+were also taken.</p>
+
+<p>One Division of the XXIVth French Corps had
+taken up a covered position in the woods behind Byans,
+and as it had already occupied Bussurel on the previous
+day, the German defensive position here in the rear
+of the railway embankment appeared to be threatened
+from the immediate vicinity. The General in command
+therefore sent General Keller with two Baden Fusilier
+battalions and one heavy battery from Brévilliers in
+this direction. The latter joined the two batteries
+which had been engaged on the slope of the hill since
+morning. The fire of five of the enemy's batteries was
+soon silenced by the unerring projectiles from the
+German guns. At noon the French artillery retired
+from Byans, leaving there also two guns, which could
+only be brought away later. The infantry, one Division
+strong, had only threatened to pierce the line, without
+proceeding to carry out the attempt.</p>
+
+<p>The XXth Corps brought up two Divisions against
+the line Héricourt&mdash;Luze. A thick fog covered the
+valley, and the early cannonade was at first scarcely
+answered by the Germans. To obtain some insight
+into the intentions of the enemy, two companies
+advanced to the height west of St. Valbert, and surprised
+the enemy moving up from Byans with so rapid a fire
+that he turned back. But soon after, at half-past nine,
+several battalions burst out from Tavey against the
+Mougnot. Two attacks were frustrated by the steady
+resistance of the Landwehr battalions, and a third
+attempt directed against the southern exit from Héricourt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[344]</a></span>
+did not succeed. About four o'clock fresh masses
+of infantry again gathered against the Mougnot, but
+coming under fire from Mont Salamou, they shrank
+from further attacks, and confined themselves till
+evening to an ineffective cannonade.</p>
+
+<p>At Chagey two Divisions of the XVIIIth Corps
+found themselves face to face with the Germans. They
+did not attempt anything.</p>
+
+<p>The little spirit with which on January 16th the
+action along the whole front from Montbéliard to
+Chagey was conducted, pointed to the conclusion that
+the French were everywhere awaiting the issue of the
+scheme of out-flanking the German right wing.</p>
+
+<p>This task now devolved on General Crémer. The
+2nd Division of the XVIIIth Corps joined him at
+Etobon.</p>
+
+<p>Two Divisions advanced thence on Chenebier, where
+General von Degenfeld stood with two battalions, two
+batteries, and one squadron. There could be no doubt
+as to the result. At eleven o'clock the Division Penhoat
+of the XVIIIth Corps advanced to encompass the
+place on the west and north, and the Division Crémer,
+for the purpose of barring the defenders' line of retreat
+on Belfort, advanced on the south, where the wood of
+La Thure covered his approach. The batteries of both
+Divisions were brought up in the afternoon on its
+northern edge, where they opened fire. After they
+had been in action for two hours, the infantry masses
+advanced from three sides. Under General Crémer's
+personal leading the Baden Fusiliers were driven from
+the southern to the northern part of the village, and
+as his encompassment therein through the wood of
+Montedin was practicable, General von Degenfeld,
+after an obstinate resistance, at three o'clock was
+obliged to take up his retreat in a northerly direction
+through Frahier. Thence he again turned south-east
+and took up a position in front of Chalonvillars,
+about the high-lying windmill of Rougeot, where,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[345]</a></span>
+at six o'clock, he was joined by Colonel Bayer with
+reinforcements. The French did not pursue; the Division
+Crémer, which had lost 1000 men, retired, on the
+contrary, into the wood of La Thure, while Penhoat's
+Division confined itself to the occupation of Chenebier.</p>
+
+<p>Thus the German line of defence was nowhere
+broken on this day; still, its extreme right wing had
+been driven back to within little more than three miles
+of Belfort.</p>
+
+<p>The fortress celebrated the success of the French
+arms by a victory-salute, but made no serious sortie on
+the investing forces, weakened as they were by the
+despatch of reinforcements; and the latter, on their side,
+quietly continued the construction of batteries.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder, anxious above all things to
+re-establish the fighting position on his right wing,
+could however only gather in as a general reserve
+four battalions, four squadrons, and two batteries,
+bringing up these from the least exposed places and
+even from Belfort, to Brévilliers and Mandrevillars.
+At eight o'clock in the evening General Keller was
+ordered to retake Chenebier. On this errand he left
+Mandrevillars with two Baden battalions, reached
+Moulin Rougeot at midnight, and found Frahier already
+occupied by Colonel Bayer.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 17th.</i>&mdash;On this morning eight battalions, two
+squadrons, and four batteries were assembled in Frahier.
+Three of the battalions advanced on the northern, three
+on the southern part of Chenebier; the others remained
+in reserve at the windmill, where also three 15 cm.
+cannon were to be stationed.</p>
+
+<p>At half-past four a.m. the first column, advancing in
+dead silence, surprised an outpost of the enemy's at
+Echevanne, but it was unavoidable that its rifle fire
+should make the French in Chenebier aware of the
+danger by which they were menaced. In the wood
+north of the village, the Germans met with serious
+resistance; and the danger that in the darkness and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[346]</a></span>
+the dense undergrowth the troops might fall on each
+other obliged their withdrawal to the outer edge of the
+wood.</p>
+
+<p>The other column, advancing in the valley of the
+Lisaine, had quickened its pace from Moulin Colin
+as soon as the first shots were heard. The 2nd
+battalion of the 4th Baden Regiment rushed with
+cheers into the southern part of Chenebier, where a
+great confusion ensued. But daybreak showed that
+the heights on the west of the village were strongly
+occupied, and that columns of all arms were approaching
+from Etobon. At 8.30 Colonel Payen had to resolve
+on retirement from the half-conquered village, carrying
+with him 400 prisoners, and on taking up a position
+at the Bois de Féry, to cover the road to Belfort
+through Chalonvillars.</p>
+
+<p>At the same time the right column, strengthened by
+a battalion from the reserve, renewed the attack on the
+wood, and after a struggle which lasted for two hours
+with heavy losses on both sides, at last took possession of
+it. But the attempt to penetrate into the barricaded
+and strongly-defended village was vain. A destructive
+fire met every attack; a single round of mitrailleuse
+fire, for instance, struck down twenty-one men of the
+Baden assailants. At three o'clock in the afternoon
+General Keller therefore assembled his troops at
+Frahier, where they were supported by four batteries.</p>
+
+<p>With such inferior strength, and after failing in this
+attempt, it was useless to think of driving back the
+enemy beyond Chenebier; the only course to pursue was
+to hinder his further advance on Belfort. And this
+object was fully accomplished; the French did not
+pursue. Instead of out-flanking the German right,
+they seemed chiefly concerned for their own left.
+They defended Chenebier stoutly, but gave up all
+further offensive movements.</p>
+
+<p>While awaiting the expected success of the out-flanking
+movement, General Bourbaki's intention
+seems to have been merely to occupy the enemy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[347]</a></span>
+along his front and to hold him fast where he stood.
+Even during the night the Germans were alarmed at
+Béthoncourt and before Héricourt, while they, on
+their part, disturbed the French at Bussurel and in
+the Bois de La Thure. The infantry fire went on for
+hours, and numerous detachments had to spend the
+bitter winter's night under arms. In the morning two
+Divisions of the XVIIIth French Corps advanced on
+Chagey and Luze, but their batteries, although supported
+by the artillery of the Army Reserve, they
+could not advance against those of the Germans, and
+repeated attacks on those villages were unsuccessful.
+After one o'clock a cannonade only was maintained
+here. In front of Héricourt also there was an exchange
+of shell fire, and Bussurel, held by the French, was
+set on fire.</p>
+
+<p>To drive the French out of Montbéliard, the town
+was fired on from La Grange Dame and from the
+Château, but ceased when the inhabitants begged forbearance
+on the assurance that the place was evacuated,
+which subsequently proved not quite true. Ten
+battalions of the French XVth Corps advanced from
+the woods in the forenoon, and tried to push on past
+Montbéliard, but suffered severely from the flanking
+fire of the heavy guns at La Grange Dame, and only
+a handful got into the valley of the Lisaine. The
+western exits from Montbéliard, and the heights immediately
+behind it, remained in French possession, but
+the offensive movements ceased at about two in the
+afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>Further to the south, General von Debschitz's posts
+in front of Allaine had easily repulsed the French
+assailants.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side there was now the conviction
+that no further attack would be attempted.</p>
+
+<p>The condition of the French troops, not yet inured to
+war, was, in fact, very critical. They had been obliged
+to bivouac in the bitterly cold nights, sometimes under
+arms, and for the most part without food. Their losses<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[348]</a></span>
+were not inconsiderable, and the superior officers whom
+the commanding General assembled at three in the afternoon,
+in the neighbourhood of Chagey, expressed their
+objections to a yet more extensive outflanking attempt
+to the left, since supplies would be utterly impossible,
+and the risk would be entailed of the Germans seizing
+the line of the communications of the army through
+Montbéliard. Then came the news that the heads of
+General von Manteuffel's Corps had already reached
+Fontaine-Française, and were also approaching Gray.</p>
+
+<p>In these circumstances General Bourbaki considered
+he must resolve on a retreat. He telegraphed
+to the Government that by the advice of his generals,
+and to his deep regret, he had been compelled to take
+up a position further in the rear, and only hoped that
+the enemy might follow him. Hence this experienced
+general could have felt no doubt that his army, its
+attack on the Lisaine, once gone to wreck, could
+only escape from a very critical position by an immediate
+retreat.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 18th.</i>&mdash;This morning the Germans were
+under arms in their positions of the previous day, the
+French still in full force before the whole front. It
+was significant that they were busy in the construction
+of earthworks. They had evacuated Montbéliard the
+evening before in disorderly retreat, and now held
+the country west of the place in strength and
+entrenched.</p>
+
+<p>During this day nothing occurred but a cannonade
+and small skirmishes. General Keller having been
+reinforced came up on the right, and as the enemy
+retired to Etobon he was able to re-occupy Chenebier
+in the afternoon. Further north, Colonel von Willisen
+again marched on Ronchamp. In the centre
+Coutenans was taken possession of, and the enemy
+driven out of Byans by artillery fire; but on the
+other hand the Germans could not yet penetrate the
+belt of forest. On the southern bank of the Allaine<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[349]</a></span>
+General von Debschitz's detachments drove the enemy
+back beyond the line Exincourt-Croix.</p>
+
+<p>In the three days' fighting on the Lisaine the Germans
+lost 1200, the French from 4000 to 5000 men.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of much necessary detaching, and of the
+threatening proximity of the enemy, the siege-works
+against Belfort were uninterruptedly carried on, and as
+soon as the complement of the investing forces was
+again made up, General von Werder followed the
+retiring French to Etobon, Saulnot and Arcey.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Artillery Attack on Paris.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(January, 1871.)</div>
+
+
+<p>In the place of the IInd Corps, which had been
+assigned to the German Army of the South, there had
+come up into the Paris front the Ist Bavarian Corps,
+of which Gambetta had said, "The Bavarians no longer
+exist." It had made so good use of its time of rest in
+quarters south of Longjumeau that by the beginning of
+the New Year it was already restored to a strength of
+17,500 men, with 108 guns. It was positioned on both
+banks of the Seine between the VIth Prussian Corps
+and the Würtemberg Division. The Würtembergers
+reached from Ormesson to the Marne, from which river
+the Saxons extended rightward to the Sausset brook,
+so as to narrow the front of the Guard Corps now that
+the Morée was frozen over and afforded no cover.</p>
+
+<p>The duty of watching so vast a place of arms as
+Paris had made great demands on the endurance of the
+troops.</p>
+
+<p>The French had gradually so extended their entrenchments
+outwards from Villejuif and Bruyères,
+that they threatened to outflank the IInd Bavarian
+Corps. To thwart such a flank attack the VIth Corps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[350]</a></span>
+was obliged to keep a strong force constantly in
+readiness at L'Hay.</p>
+
+<p>It need not be said that the supporting troops on
+the south front could nowhere be safe from the fire
+of the heavy fortress guns, nor the foreposts from that
+of the Chassepôts. The latter consequently often could
+not be relieved for several days, and the relief was
+usually effected at night. The less the success of the
+French arms in the open field, the more lavish were they
+in the expenditure of ammunition from their works.
+Mont Valérien hurled its giant shells to a distance
+of from four to five miles, but this incessant cannonade,
+to the din of which the ear was soon accustomed, did
+little damage.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The Artillery Attack on the Southern Front.</span>&mdash;Till
+Mont Avron was taken, the Germans had only
+been able to oppose field guns to French fortress
+artillery. But early in January their preparations were
+at last so far forward that seventeen batteries, long
+since completed, could be armed with heavy guns against
+the south front of Paris. A battery stood apart on
+the left flank in the park of St. Cloud to the north of
+Sèvres; four were close together on the steep slope
+of the height west of the Château Meudon; five on the
+edge of the plateau of Moulin de la Tour, where the
+mill, serving to guide the aim of the enemy, had
+been blown up. Four more batteries occupied a
+lower position between Fontenay and Bagneux. Two,
+between Chevilly and La Rue, served as protection
+against a flank movement from Villejuif, with the field
+artillery of the IInd Bavarian and VIth Corps. Dressing-stations
+were prepared, and intermediate depôts
+were supplied with reserve ammunition from the great
+magazines at Villacoublay.</p>
+
+<p>Under Generals von Kameke<a name="FNanchor_78_78" id="FNanchor_78_78"></a><a href="#Footnote_78_78" class="fnanchor">[78]</a> and Prince Hohenlohe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[351]</a></span><a name="FNanchor_79_79" id="FNanchor_79_79"></a><a href="#Footnote_79_79" class="fnanchor">[79]</a>
+Colonels von Rieff and von Ramm conducted the artillery
+attack, General Schulz commanded the engineer
+attack. The men served twenty-four hours in the
+batteries, and then had two days' rest. The officers
+had but one day's rest.</p>
+
+<p>The heavy guns were brought up on January 3rd,
+by day, into the batteries which lay covered, without
+any interference; into all the others during the night,
+after the enemy's outposts had been driven in. Thus
+on the morning of the 4th 98 guns were ready to open
+fire: of these 28 were directed on Issy, 28 on Vanves,
+and 18 on Montrouge, 10 against the emplacements
+between the first two forts. But a thick fog hid every
+object, and it was not till January 5th at 8.30 in
+the morning, that the signal shot was given for opening
+fire.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 5th.</i>&mdash;The enemy promptly replied. There
+were in Fort Valérien 106 guns, in Issy 90, in Vanves
+84, and in Montrouge 52; there were about 70 in the
+sectors of the enceinte concerned and at Villejuif,
+16-cm. guns for the most part; so the attack at first
+was heavily taxed. But when at about noon all its
+batteries came into action, the situation gradually
+improved and the greater accuracy of the German fire
+told. Fort Issy had almost entirely ceased firing by two
+o'clock, nine guns were dismounted in Vanves, and its
+garrison had lost thirty men; only Montrouge still
+replied with vigour. The fire was now taken up by the
+guns of the enceinte, but the forts never again gained<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[352]</a></span>
+the upper hand of the attack. Some gunboats appearing
+about Point du Jour very soon had to retire. The
+field artillery of the IInd Bavarian and VIth Corps
+also co-operated so energetically that no attack was
+attempted from the works at Villejuif, nor was a single
+shot fired on the batteries at Bagneux. A number of
+wall-pieces and long-range Chassepôts taken from the
+enemy did such good service that the French abandoned
+more and more of their rayon. The German outposts
+took possession of the trenches of Clamart, and
+in the course of the night reversed them against the
+defence.</p>
+
+<p>Only a couple of 15-cm. shells were thrown into the
+city itself as a serious warning; the first thing to be done
+was to batter down the outworks, and for some few
+days the firing was exclusively directed on these. A
+stubborn return fire came from Montrouge and from a
+mortar-battery in a very advantageous position behind
+the high railway embankment to the east of Issy; and
+especially from the south front of the enceinte, nearly
+four and a half miles long in a straight line. Foggy
+weather on some days necessitated the suspension or
+entire cessation of firing. But meanwhile the foreposts
+had advanced to within 815 and 490 yards of Forts
+Issy and Vanves respectively. New batteries were
+constructed further forward, and armed with thirty-six
+guns from those evacuated in rear.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 10th.</i>&mdash;The French garrison meanwhile
+was again displaying great activity. On January 10th
+it succeeded in the dark hours in surprising the weakly-held
+post of Clamart. Three battalions were now
+posted in the place, and a shelter-trench some 1300
+yards long was dug connecting Clamart with Châtillon.<a name="FNanchor_80_80" id="FNanchor_80_80"></a><a href="#Footnote_80_80" class="fnanchor">[80]</a></p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[353]</a></span></p>
+<p><i>January 13th.</i>&mdash;The IInd Army of Paris was still
+outside the city on the east and north fronts from
+Nogent to Aubervillers. After some small alarms, on
+the evening of the 13th strong bodies advanced from
+Courneuve and Drancy against Le Bourget under cover
+of a heavy fire from the forts. But the troops in
+occupation there were on the alert, and being
+soon reinforced by several companies, repulsed the
+attempts of the French to storm it, repeated as they
+were until two o'clock in the morning.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 14th.</i>&mdash;On this day the French made a
+renewed sortie on Clamart with 500 marine infantry
+and several battalions of National Guards. These last
+assembled at the adjacent railway-station with a great
+deal of noise, and their approach was reported about
+midnight. The fight lasted a full hour, and ended
+with the retreat, or rather flight, of the assailants.
+Patrols followed them close up to the trenches of
+Issy.</p>
+
+<p>The ranges were so great that hitherto the fire from
+the enceinte was not yet subdued. Battery No. 1, lying
+isolated in the Park of St. Cloud, suffered most, being
+fired upon from two bastions of the enceinte, from Point
+du Jour, and from Mont Valérien. The steep cliff
+behind the battery facilitated the aim of the enemy.
+Its parapet was repeatedly shattered, and it was only
+the most zealous devotion which enabled the struggle
+to be continued at this point. The enemy also concentrated
+a heavy fire on batteries Nos. 19 and 21,
+pushed forward into a position specially threatening
+to Fort Vanves. The long-range fire from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[354]</a></span>
+enceinte dropped from a high angle close behind the
+parapet, breaking through the platforms, and inflicting
+serious injuries on a great many gunners. The powder-magazines
+blew up in two of the batteries, and both
+the battery commanders and several other superior
+officers were wounded.</p>
+
+<p>On the east front of Paris, the fifty-eight German
+guns remaining there after the reduction of Mont
+Avron were opposed by 151 of the enemy. The
+former nevertheless soon proved their superiority; the
+forts only occasionally came into action; the
+French withdrew their outposts up to the works, and
+altogether vacated the peninsula of St. Maur. By
+degrees the heavy siege-guns could be removed from
+their previous positions to the Morée brook.</p>
+
+<p>The forts on the south front had meanwhile suffered
+severely. The ruin in Issy was visible to the naked
+eye; fires broke out there repeatedly, and the powder-magazine
+had to be cleared out at great risk in the
+night of January 16th. Fort Vanves had lost seventy
+men; it opened fire usually every morning, but soon
+became silent. Montrouge, on the contrary, on some
+days still fired over 500 rounds from eighteen guns.
+But here, too, the casemates no longer afforded
+any shelter, and one of the bastions lay a heap of
+ruins.</p>
+
+<p>In spite of the steady fire from the enceinte, a
+part of Paris itself was disturbed by the 15-cm. shells.
+An elevation of 30 degrees, obtained by a special contrivance,
+sent the projectiles into the heart of the city.
+From 300 to 400 shells were fired daily.</p>
+
+<p>Under the pressure of "public opinion" the Government,
+after repeated deliberations, decided once more
+on a new enterprise in force, to be directed this time
+against the German batteries about Châtillon. The collective
+superior commanders agreed, indeed, that sorties
+could promise no success without the co-operation of
+a relieving army from the outside; but, on the 8th,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[355]</a></span>
+Gambetta had announced the "victory" of the Army
+of the North at Bapaume, and further had promised
+that both the Armies of the Loire should advance.
+Hereupon General Trochu advised that at least the moment
+should be awaited when the investing army before
+Paris should be weakened by having to detach anew part
+of its strength; but he was opposed by the other members
+of the Government, especially by Monsieur Jules
+Favre. That gentleman declared that the Maires of
+Paris were indignant at the bombardment, that the
+representatives of the city must be allowed some insight
+into the military situation, and, above all, that
+negotiations ought long since to have been entered into.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, on January 15th, it was determined that the
+German lines should be broken through at Montretout,
+Garches, and Buzanval.</p>
+
+<p>While confusion and dissensions thus prevailed in
+Paris, the unity of the German nation, under the
+Emperor William, was solemnly proclaimed at Versailles.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_78_78" id="Footnote_78_78"></a><a href="#FNanchor_78_78"><span class="label">[78]</span></a> Previously commanding the XIVth Infantry Division.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_79_79" id="Footnote_79_79"></a><a href="#FNanchor_79_79"><span class="label">[79]</span></a> Previously commanding the artillery of the Guard Corps, the well-known
+military author, best known in England as "Prince Kraft."
+The slight ambiguity in the text may be removed by the more specific
+statement that General von Kameke was Chief Director of the
+Engineer attack, Prince Kraft Chief Director of the Artillery attack
+on Paris as a whole. On the south front Colonel von Rieff commanded
+the siege artillery, Major-General Schulz was Engineer-in-chief. On
+the north and east fronts within the Army of the Meuse Colonels
+Bartsch and Oppermann had the corresponding commands. Colonel
+von Ramm is nowhere mentioned in the official distribution of the
+respective staffs.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_80_80" id="Footnote_80_80"></a><a href="#FNanchor_80_80"><span class="label">[80]</span></a> A casual reader might perhaps infer from these curt sentences,
+that the French, having possessed themselves by surprise of
+the weak German post of Clamart, placed in it a garrison of
+three battalions. The facts were, that the French battalion was
+scarcely in possession of Clamart when it abandoned village and
+redoubt; whereupon, to guard against any future attempt on the
+place on the part of the French, the Germans occupied the village
+with three battalions and the redoubt with two companies;
+and further to ensure the security of the position, since it was
+one of some importance, connected it with Châtillon in the manner
+described.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Battle of Mont Valérien.</span></h2>
+
+<div class="center">(January 19th.)</div>
+
+
+<p>The sortie was planned to take place on January
+19th. On that day, as we have seen, General Faidherbe
+advanced as far as St. Quentin on the way to Paris,
+and the army which was to make the sortie stood on
+the eastern and northern fronts of the capital. The
+attempt to break through was, however, made in the
+opposite direction. But in fact, the peninsula of
+Gennevilliers was now the only ground on which large
+masses of troops could still be deployed without being
+exposed for hours while they were being assembled, to
+the fire of the German artillery.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[356]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Two days previously the mobilized National Guards
+had already relieved the three Divisions of the sortie-Army
+from the positions they had held; and those
+Divisions, collectively 90,000 strong, were to move to
+the attack in three columns simultaneously. General
+Vinoy on the left, supported by the fire from the
+enceinte, was to carry the height of Montretout;
+General Bellemare in the centre was to push forward
+through Garches; General Ducrot on the right by way
+of the Château of Buzanval.</p>
+
+<p>The attack was set to begin at six in the morning, but
+blocks occurred at the bridges of Asnières and Neuilly,
+as no specific orders had been issued for regulating
+the crossing. When at seven o'clock the signal to advance
+was made from Mont Valérien, only the advance
+of General Vinoy's force was ready, the other
+columns had not yet deployed, and the last detachments
+tailed back as far as Courbevoix. Before they
+had reached their rendezvous-points the left wing was
+already marching on St. Cloud with fifteen battalions.</p>
+
+<p>These at first met only isolated posts and patrols,
+eighty-nine men in all, who rushed into the open gorge
+of the redoubt of Montretout, and there made a stand
+for some time; they then fought their way out with
+great bravery, but some of them were taken prisoners.
+There, and in the northern part of St. Cloud, the
+French promptly prepared for defence.</p>
+
+<p>The centre column under General Bellemare also
+took possession without difficulty of the height of
+Maison du Curé.</p>
+
+<p>Not till now, at nearly nine o'clock, did the first supports
+of the German forepost line appear on the scene.
+Till within a short time the observatories had been
+able to report nothing but "thick fog;" but reports
+from the right and left wings announced that a serious
+attack was threatened on the whole front from St.
+Cloud to Bougival. The Vth Corps was now alarmed,
+and General von Kirchbach betook himself to the 9th<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[357]</a></span>
+Division. On the German right, in the park of St.
+Cloud, stood the 17th Brigade; on the left, behind the
+Porte de Longboyau, the 20th; the other troops of the
+Corps marched from their quarters in Versailles and
+the villages to its north, to Jardy and Beauregard.
+The Crown Prince ordered six battalions of the Guard
+Landwehr and a Bavarian Brigade to Versailles, and
+himself rode to the Hospice of Brezin; the King went
+to Marly.</p>
+
+<p>The French meanwhile had seized the foremost
+houses of Garches, and made their eastward way here
+and there through the breaches in the wall into the
+park of the Château of Buzanval. The 5th Jäger Battalion,
+supported by single companies of the 58th and
+59th Regiments, hurried forward and drove the enemy
+back out of Garches, occupied the cemetery on its north,
+and still reached the advanced post of La Bergerie just
+at the right time. The other bodies under General von
+Bothmer (commanding 17th Brigade, 9th Division, Vth
+Corps), by order from the commanding General, maintained
+a stationary fight on the skirts of the park of St.
+Cloud, to gain time. About half-past nine they
+repulsed an attack by Bellemare's column, arrested
+the advance of the enemy along the Rue Impériale of
+St. Cloud, and themselves took the offensive from the
+Grille d'Orleans and the Porte Jaune. Five French
+battalions unsuccessfully assaulted La Bergerie. A
+section of Engineers tried with great devotion to
+demolish the wall surrounding the court, but the
+frozen dynamite did not explode, and the Jägers held
+the position steadfastly throughout the day.</p>
+
+<p>The attacks of the French had hitherto been undertaken
+without assistance from their artillery. The
+batteries of General Vinoy's advance had been seriously
+delayed by crossing with the centre column, and were
+now detained at Briqueterie to meet the contingency
+of a repulse. General Bellemare's batteries tried to
+get up the slope of the height of Garches, but the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[358]</a></span>
+exhaustion of the teams made it necessary to take up
+a position at Fouilleuse. Meanwhile the batteries of
+the German 9th Division came up by degrees, and
+by noon thirty-six guns had opened fire. In St. Cloud
+a hot street-fight was going on.</p>
+
+<p>Only General Ducrot on the French right wing had
+opened the battle with his strong force of artillery,
+which came into position on both sides of Rueil. The
+tirailleurs then advanced and made their way through
+the park of Buzanval to its western boundary-wall, but
+were driven back by the 50th Fusilier Regiment which
+had hastened forward.</p>
+
+<p>At half-past ten the chief attack ensued at this
+point, supported by part of the central column. It
+found only an under-officer's post at Malmaison, but at
+the eastern exit from Bougival near La Jouchère and
+Porte de Longboyau, it encountered the already reinforced
+line of posts of the 20th Infantry Brigade.
+General von Schmidt (commanding 10th Infantry
+Division) still held back at Beauregard the reserve of
+the 10th Division. A murderous fire from the well-covered
+German infantry broke the onset of the French,
+and converted it by mid-day into a stationary fire fight,
+in which the German artillery also took part with great
+effect. Two batteries of the 10th Division at St.
+Michel were reinforced by two Guard batteries brought
+up from St. Germain to Louvenciennes; a third came
+into action near Chatou and forced an armour-plated
+train halted at the railway station north of Rueil to
+retire rapidly to Nanterre. Four batteries of the IVth
+Corps finally opened fire from Carrières, heedless of the
+fire of Valérien, and shelled the dense masses of hostile
+infantry halted in rear of Rueil.</p>
+
+<p>At two o'clock the French decided on renewing the
+attack. When two of their batteries had shelled Porte
+de Longboyau a brigade marched on that point, and a
+second on the western wall of the park of the Château
+Buzanval; a third followed in support. Not less bold<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[359]</a></span>
+than unsuccessful was the attempt of a section of
+Engineers, one officer and ten men, to blow up part of
+the wall; they all fell together. The attacking
+columns had advanced to within 200 paces, when
+thirteen German companies at the moment met them,
+broke and stopped their rush by pouring fire into them
+at short range, and presently routed the hostile columns
+in disorder, in spite of the devoted exertions of the
+officers.</p>
+
+<p>The French, however, still found a strong protection
+in the park-wall, which had been prepared for defence
+with great skill and with the utmost rapidity; and
+the advance of several companies from Brezin and La
+Bergerie on this wall was repulsed with heavy loss.</p>
+
+<p>But the strength of the French attack was already
+broken. So early as three o'clock a movement of
+retreat was observable in their left wing, and as dusk
+fell the French centre began to withdraw from the
+heights of Maison du Curé. When Colonel von Köthen
+pursued, with a small force, several battalions indeed
+fronted, and even threatened a sharp counter-attack;
+but timely support arrived from La Bergerie, Garches,
+and Porte Jaune, and, backed by the fire of the batteries,
+the pursuit was followed up. The King's Grenadiers
+drove back the enemy to the vicinity of
+Fouilleuse.</p>
+
+<p>The Germans, however, had not yet succeeded in
+repossessing themselves of the Montretout redoubt.
+The chief hindrance arose from their having been
+unable to advance through the town of St. Cloud. As,
+however, the possession of this position was indispensable
+for the protection of the right wing, General von
+Kirchbach gave orders that it was to be retaken either
+that evening or early next morning.</p>
+
+<p>General von Sandrart (commanding 9th Infantry
+Division) decided on immediate action, and at eight
+that evening five battalions went forward on this duty.
+Only a few French were found in the redoubt and were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[360]</a></span>
+taken prisoners; but in the town the struggle was
+severe. Finally the Germans had to restrict themselves
+to blockading the houses held temporarily by the
+enemy. The French also clung to the outer park-wall
+of Buzanval throughout the night. The Guard
+Landwehr and the Bavarian Brigade were therefore
+assigned quarters in Versailles, to form a strong reserve
+at hand in case of need on the following day. The
+remainder of the troops withdrew into their former
+quarters.</p>
+
+<p>At half-past five General Trochu had issued the order
+for a retreat. He perceived that the prolongation of
+the struggle could afford no success, especially as the
+National Guards were becoming insubordinate. The
+brave defenders of St. Cloud were forgotten in these
+directions. They did not surrender till the day after,
+when artillery was brought against the houses they
+occupied. And the park-wall was not relinquished
+till the following morning.</p>
+
+<p>The French attack of January 19th was wrecked even
+before it had reached the main position of the defenders.
+The reserves in readiness on the German side had not
+needed to be brought into action. The Vth Corps
+alone had driven back an enemy of four times its
+own strength. It lost 40 officers and 570 men; the
+loss of the French in killed and wounded was 145
+officers and 3423 men, besides 44 officers and 458 men
+taken prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>When the fog lifted at about eleven o'clock on the
+morning of the 20th, their long columns were seen
+retreating on Paris across the peninsula of Gennevilliers.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[361]</a></span></p>
+<h2><span class="smcap">Prosecution of the Artillery Attack on Paris
+up to the Armistice.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>After the repulse of this last struggle for release on
+the part of the garrison, the extension of the artillery
+attack to the north front of the defensive position was
+now determined on. The siege guns no longer needed
+against the minor French fortresses and on the Marne
+had been parked for this object at Villiers le Bel. The
+Army of the Meuse had prepared abundant material for
+the construction of batteries, and had collected a waggon
+park of above 600 vehicles. Twelve batteries had already
+been built in the lines between Le Bourget and the Lake
+of Enghien, the arming of which followed, for the most
+part, under cover of night. On January 21st eighty-one
+heavy guns were ready for action, and Colonel
+Bartsch opened fire at nine that morning on Forts La
+Briche, Double Couronne, and de l'Est.</p>
+
+<p>The forts, which opposed the attack with 143 heavy
+guns, replied vigorously, and on the following day
+the thick weather prevented the German batteries from
+resuming their fire till the afternoon. But the ground
+in front was abandoned by the French, and the outposts
+of the Guards and IVth Corps took possession of Villetaneuse
+and Temps Perdu. During the nights the fire
+was directed on St. Denis, with every endeavour to spare
+the Cathedral, and many conflagrations occurred. By
+the 23rd the vigorous prosecution of the cannonade had
+materially subdued the fire of the defence. La Briche
+was wholly silenced, and the other forts only fired
+occasional salvos. During the night of the 25th four
+batteries were advanced to within 1300 and 950 yards
+respectively of the enemy's main works. The engineer
+attack also could now be undertaken, and a series of
+new batteries was constructed, which, however, were
+never used.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[362]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The effect of this bombardment of only six days'
+duration was decisive. The forts had suffered extraordinarily.
+In contrast to those of the south front
+they were destitute of the powerful backing of the
+enceinte, and they lacked, too, bomb-proof shelter.
+The provisional bomb-proofs were pierced by shells,
+the powder-magazines were in the greatest danger,
+and the garrisons had nowhere any more cover. The
+inhabitants of St. Denis fled to Paris in crowds, and
+the impaired immunity from storm of the sorely
+battered works was an insuperable obstacle to a longer
+maintenance of the defence. This northern attack
+cost the Germans one officer and 25 men; the French
+stated their loss at 180.</p>
+
+<p>The fire of the forts on the east front was kept
+under, and the Würtemberg Field Artillery sufficed to
+prevent the enemy from renewing his foothold on the
+peninsula of St. Maur.</p>
+
+<p>The south front meanwhile suffered more and more
+from the steady bombardment. The enceinte and the
+sunken mortar batteries behind the ceinture railway
+were still active, but in the forts the barracks were
+reduced to ruins, partly battered in and partly burnt
+down, and the garrisons had to take shelter in the emptied
+powder-magazines. The covered ways could no longer
+be traversed safely, the parapets afforded no protection.
+In Vanves the embrasures were filled up with
+sandbags; in the southern curtain of Issy five blocks
+of casemates had been pierced by shells penetrating
+the shielding walls. Even the detached gorge-walls of
+Vanves and Montrouge were destroyed, forty guns
+were dismounted, and seventy gun carriages wrecked.</p>
+
+<p>The whole condition of France, political and military,
+and above all the situation in Paris, was such as to
+cause the Government the gravest anxiety.</p>
+
+<p>Since the return of Monsieur Thiers from his diplomatic
+tour, it was certain that no mediatory interposition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[363]</a></span>
+by any foreign power could be expected. The
+distress of the capital had become more and more
+severe. Scarcity and high prices had long borne
+heavily on its population; provisions were exhausted,
+and even the stores of the garrison had been seriously
+encroached on. Fuel was lacking in the lasting
+cold, and petroleum was an inefficient substitute for
+gas. When the long-deferred bombardment of the
+south side of Paris was had recourse to, the people
+took refuge in the cellars or fled to the remoter quarters
+of the city; and when it was also begun on the
+northern side the inhabitants of St. Denis crowded into
+the capital.</p>
+
+<p>The great sortie of the 19th had proved a total
+failure, and no relief was to be hoped for from outside
+since Gambetta had sent news of the disaster at Le
+Mans. The Paris Army, of whose inactivity he complained,
+was reduced to a third of its original strength
+by cold, sickness, and desertion, and the heart taken
+out of it by repeated miscarriages. Its horses had to
+be slaughtered to provide meat for the inhabitants, and
+General Trochu declared any further offensive movements
+to be quite hopeless; the means even of passive
+resistance were exhausted.</p>
+
+<p>Hitherto the Government had been able to keep the
+populace in good humour by highly-coloured reports,
+but now the disastrous state of affairs could no longer
+be concealed. All its projects were now denounced.</p>
+
+<p>There was a large class of people in Paris who were
+but little affected by the general distress. Numbers of
+civilians had been armed for the defence of their
+country and were fed and well paid by the authorities,
+without having too much to do in return. They were
+joined by all the dubious social elements, which found
+their reckoning in the disorganized situation. These
+had been quite satisfied with the condition which the
+4th of September had created, and a little later they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[364]</a></span>
+displayed themselves in the hideous form of the Commune.
+Already some popular gatherings had been
+dispersed only by force of arms, and even a part of the
+National Guard were not free from mutinous tendencies.
+The revolutionary clubs, too, supported by the press,
+clamoured for further enterprises, even a sortie <i>en
+masse</i> of all the inhabitants of Paris. Thus the feeble
+Government, dependent as it was on popular favour
+alone, was under pressure from the impossible demands
+of an ignorant mob on the one hand, and, on the
+other, the inexorable force of actual facts.</p>
+
+<p>There was absolutely no expedient possible but the
+capitulation of the capital; every delay intensified the
+necessity, and enforced the acceptance of harder terms.
+Unless all the railways were at once thrown open for
+the transport of supplies from a very wide area, the
+horrors of famine would inevitably fall on a population
+of more than two million souls; and later it might not
+be practicable to cope with the emergency. Yet no
+one dared utter the fatal word "capitulation," no one
+would undertake the responsibility for the inevitable.</p>
+
+<p>A great council of war was held on the 21st. In it
+all the elder Generals pronounced any further offensive
+measures to be quite impossible. It was proposed that
+a council of the younger officers should also be held,
+but no decision was arrived at. As, however, some one
+must be made answerable for every misfortune, General
+Trochu, originally the most popular member of the
+Government, was dismissed from his position as
+Governor, and the chief military command was entrusted
+to General Vinoy. General Ducrot resigned
+his command.</p>
+
+<p>All this did nothing to improve the situation, so on
+the 23rd, Monsieur Jules Favre made his appearance at
+Versailles to negotiate in the first instance for an
+armistice.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side there was readiness to meet this
+request; but of course some guarantee had to be forthcoming<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[365]</a></span>
+that the capital, after having been reprovisioned,
+would not renew its resistance. The surrender of the
+forts, inclusive of Mont Valérien and the town of St.
+Denis, as well as the disarmament of the enceinte was
+demanded and acceded to.</p>
+
+<p>Hostilities were to be suspended on the evening of
+the 26th, so far as Paris was concerned, and all supplies
+to be freely given. A general armistice of twenty-one
+days was then to come in force on the 31st of January,
+exclusive, however, of the departments of Doubs, Jura,
+and Côte d'Or, and the fortress of Belfort, where for the
+time operations were still being carried on, in which
+both sides were hopeful of success.</p>
+
+<p>This armistice gave the Government of National
+Defence the time necessary for assembling a freely-elected
+National Assembly at Bordeaux, which should
+decide whether the war should be continued, or on what
+conditions peace should be concluded. The election
+of the deputies was unimpeded and uninfluenced even
+in the parts of the country occupied by the Germans.</p>
+
+<p>The regular forces of the Paris garrison, troops of
+the line, marines, and Gardes-Mobiles, had to lay down
+their arms at once; only 12,000 men and the National
+Guard were allowed to retain them for the preservation
+of order inside the city. The troops of the garrison
+were interned there during the armistice; on its expiry
+they were to be regarded as prisoners. As to their
+subsequent transfer to Germany, where every available
+place was already overflowing with prisoners, the question
+was postponed in expectation of a probable peace.</p>
+
+<p>The forts were occupied on the 29th without opposition.</p>
+
+<p>There were taken over from the Field Army of Paris
+602 guns, 1,770,000 stand of arms, and above 1000
+ammunition waggons; from the fortress 1362 heavy
+guns, 1680 gun-carriages, 860 limbers, 3,500,000 cartridges,
+4000 hundred-weight of powder, 200,000 shells,
+and 100,000 bombs.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[366]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The blockade of Paris, which had lasted 132 days,
+was over, and the greater part of the German forces
+which had so long stood fast under its walls, was
+released to end the war in the open field.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Operations of the Army of the South under
+General von Manteuffel.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>The two Army Corps under General von Manteuffel
+consisted altogether of fifty-six battalions, twenty
+squadrons, and 168 guns. When it arrived at
+Châtillon sur Seine on January 12th, the IInd Corps
+was on the right, and the VIIth on the left on an
+extension from Noyers Montigny of about forty-five
+miles. One brigade, under General von Dannenberg,
+which had already several times been in contact with
+portions of the French Army of the Vosges, was pushed
+forward to Vilaines and was charged with the duty of
+covering the right flank.</p>
+
+<p>Several good roads led from the quarters specified in
+the direction of Dijon; to Vesoul, on the contrary,
+there were only bad tracks deep in snow over the
+southern slope of the wild plateau of Langres. The
+Commander-in-Chief, nevertheless, chose this direction,
+that he might as soon as possible afford General von
+Werder at least indirect assistance by approaching in
+the rear of the enemy threatening his brother-officer.</p>
+
+<p>The march had to pass midway between the towns
+of Dijon and Langres, both points strongly occupied by
+the French. Wooded heights and deep ravines separated
+the columns and precluded mutual support; each
+body had to provide for its individual safety in every
+direction. The troops had previously undergone severe
+fatigues, and badly as they needed rest not one halt-day
+could be granted, nor could the evil plight of their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[367]</a></span>
+boots and the horses' shoes be in any way remedied.
+On January 14th the march was begun in a thick
+fog and bitter cold, along roads frozen as smooth as
+glass.</p>
+
+<p>The maintenance of supplies required special attention,
+and at first the 8th Brigade had to be left behind
+to secure the all-important railway-line Tonnerre&mdash;Nuits&mdash;Châtillon,
+until connections could be established
+by way of Epinal.</p>
+
+<p>On the very first day's march the advanced guard
+of the VIIth Corps had a fight before Langres. A force
+from the garrison of 15,000 men was driven in on the
+fortress with the loss of a flag, and a detachment had
+to be left behind in observation of the place. Under
+cover of it the VIIth Corps marched past the fortress
+next day, while the IInd advanced to the Ignon
+Brook.</p>
+
+<p>The weather changed during the night of the 15th.
+As a change from fourteen degrees of frost there came
+storm and rain. The water lay on the frozen roads,
+and it was with the greatest difficulty that the VIIth
+Corps reached Prauthoy, and the IInd Moloy, closing in
+to the left.</p>
+
+<p>On the 18th the left wing advanced South-East on
+Frettes and Champlitte, the right assembled at Is sur
+Tille, and its advanced guard, after a march of thirty-one
+miles, reached the bridges at Gray. On the flank
+and rear of the Corps there had been some trivial
+fighting, but the cruel march across the mountains had
+been accomplished, and the cultivated valley of the
+Saône was reached.</p>
+
+<p>General von Manteuffel had already received news of
+the satisfactory course of the first day's fighting on the
+Lisaine. Later telegrams from General von Werder
+reported that the French Army of the East would
+probably be obliged to retire under difficulties, and the
+German commander at once determined to cut off its
+retreat by advancing to the Doubs below Besançon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[368]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The defeated French army was still numerically
+greatly superior to the German force. The troops had
+to be again called upon for severe exertions. They
+were required once more to cross a thinly-populated
+mountainous region, where it would be a matter of
+great difficulty to procure food and the shelter needful
+during the bitter winter nights. Strong hostile forces
+had to be left in the rear at Langres, Dijon, and
+Auxonne, and that under very insufficient observation.
+However, in spite of every obstacle the advance in this
+new direction was begun on the 19th.</p>
+
+<p>The first difficulty would have been the crossing of
+the Saône, here very deep and about sixty-six yards
+wide, and full of drifting ice, had not the advanced
+guard of the IInd Corps found Gray abandoned by the
+French and both the bridges uninjured; whereupon it
+occupied the town. The head of the VIIth Corps
+crossed the river by the intact railway-bridge at
+Savayeux, and by a pontoon bridge thrown across by
+the pioneers higher up.</p>
+
+<p>On the following day both Corps advanced in a
+southerly direction, the VIIth to Gy, the IInd to
+Pesmes. Here the latter also now crossed the Ognon
+after driving off by artillery fire a French detachment
+which tried to oppose the construction of the
+bridges.</p>
+
+<p>On the 21st, at half past two, the advanced guard
+of the IInd Corps found Dôle occupied by the enemy.
+General von Koblinski (commanding 5th Infantry Brigade)
+attacked at once. In spite of a violent street-fight
+in which the townspeople took part, the Grenadiers of
+the 2nd Regiment made their way through the town
+and on the further side seized a train of 230 waggons
+of provisions and military necessaries, intended for
+Besançon and left standing in the railway-station.</p>
+
+<p>While the Doubs was thus crossed by the IInd Corps
+at this point, so the VIIth Corps opened itself a passage
+across the Ognon at Marmay and Pin.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[369]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>General von Werder had been instructed to follow
+close on the heels of the retreating enemy, and while
+the latter still maintained his position on the front of the
+XIVth Corps, the 2nd Baden Brigade on the right
+wing had advanced to Etobon, while Colonel von
+Willisen with his twelve squadrons had moved out
+beyond Lure. On the left, Colonel von Zimmermann
+with the East-Prussian Landwehr had driven the
+French out of Ste. Marie. These detachments everywhere
+found cast-away arms and portions of equipment,
+and hundreds willingly gave themselves up as
+prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>During the next few days General von Werder
+effected a general left-wheel to the south. The right
+wing held Villersexel, and it was the left wing only
+that met the enemy in great masses at L'Isle sur
+le Doubs, and afterwards at Clerval and Baume les
+Dames.</p>
+
+<p>General Bourbaki had withdrawn from the Lisaine on
+the 18th. The XXIVth Corps only was left on the left
+bank of the Doubs, with orders to defend toward the north
+the defiles in the steep mountain-paths of the Lomont
+range eastward of Clerval; all the other troops withdrew
+between the Doubs and the Ognon, with the Division
+Crémer as rearguard. The Ognon might have formed
+a natural protection for the right flank of the French
+army, and orders had been given for the destruction of
+all the bridges over it; but we have seen how little
+they had been obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>On the 21st the XVth and XXth Corps arrived in
+the neighbourhood of Baume les Dames, the XVIIIth
+at Marchaux; and here, having the stronghold of
+Besançon close at his back, General Bourbaki desired
+to await for the present the further movements of the
+enemy. In order that his forces should still muster in
+full strength, the commandant of Besançon was instructed
+to send forward to Blamont all the battalions
+of Mobiles-Guards he could spare so as to relieve the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[370]</a></span>
+XXIVth Corps. Nine battalions of mobilized National
+Guards had actually previously reached Besançon, which
+might have been substituted as desired, but they came
+armed with Enfield rifles, for which there was no
+ammunition in the fortress. Thus they would there
+only have added to the mouths to be filled, and General
+Rolland had simply sent them back again. The Intendant-General
+declared it impossible any longer to bring
+up the supplies ordered by him for the maintenance
+of the army; but what proved decisive was the news
+received this day that not only was the line of the Ognon
+lost, but that the Germans had already crossed the
+Doubs.</p>
+
+<p>Under these circumstances the French Commander-in-Chief
+determined to continue his retreat on Besançon
+and there cross to the southern bank of the Doubs, so as
+not to be compelled to give battle with the river in his
+rear. The trains were sent off during the night, but
+above all things the XVth Corps was ordered at
+once to occupy Quingey with a whole division,
+and defend that position to extremity, in order to
+keep open the communications of the Corps with the
+interior. All the other Corps were to concentrate
+round Besançon, even the XXIVth, which consequently
+gave up the defence of the Lomont passes.</p>
+
+<p>General Bourbaki reported his situation to the
+Minister of War, who held out hopes of supporting him
+with the portion of the XVth Corps still remaining on
+the Loire. Assistance could have been more quickly
+and effectually given from Dijon.</p>
+
+<p>The Government had assembled there a very considerable
+force to replace the Division Crémer gone to
+join the Army of the East, for the defence of the ancient
+capital of Burgundy and to constitute a point of support
+to the operations of General Bourbaki. A Corps of
+20,000 men was assigned to the local defence; a very
+inappropriately-named Army of the Vosges, more than
+40,000 strong, was to do duty in the field. But this was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[371]</a></span>
+of little effect in hindering the toilsome advance of the
+Germans over the mountains. The detachments in
+observation allowed themselves to be driven in by
+General von Kettler (commanding 8th Infantry
+Brigade), who followed the movement of both Corps
+on the right flank; and they retired on Dijon. Colonel
+Bombonnel, stationed at Gray, urgently begged for
+reinforcements to enable him to defend the passages
+of the Saône; his applications were refused because
+Dijon was in too great peril, and it was not till the
+Prussians had already crossed the river that "General"
+Garibaldi began to move.</p>
+
+<p>He set out on the 19th in three columns in the
+direction of Is sur Tille, where there still remained
+only part of the (German) 4th Infantry Division. But
+he advanced little more than four miles. Garibaldi subsequently
+confined himself to watching reconnoitring
+parties which advanced to meet him from the heights
+of Messigny, and he then retired on Dijon with his
+troops marching to the strains of the Marseillaise.</p>
+
+<p>Nevertheless, the enemy was held in too small estimation
+in General Manteuffel's headquarter, when General
+von Kettler was simply ordered to go and take Dijon.</p>
+
+<p>The greatest care had been bestowed in strengthening
+the place. Numerous earthworks, and other erections
+specially constructed for defence protected it to the
+northward; more especially had Talant and Fontaine
+les Dijon been transformed into two detached forts and
+armed with heavy guns which commanded all the approaches
+on that side. The whole constituted a position
+which could be held against a much larger force than
+the five and a half battalions of the 8th Brigade with
+which General Kettler advanced to the attack.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Fighting at Dijon, January 21st and 22nd.</span>&mdash;This
+force had reached Turcey and St. Seine, and on
+the 21st advanced in two columns from the west on
+Dijon, still distant some fourteen miles. Major von<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[372]</a></span>
+Conta from Is sur Tille on the north was approaching
+with a small reinforcement. The "Franctireurs de la
+Mort," the "Compagnie de la Revanche," and other volunteer
+bands as well as Mobiles-Guards were without much
+difficulty driven out of the villages on the way, and
+beyond the deep ravine of the Suzon; the village of
+Plombieres on the right, which was defended with
+spirit, was stormed, and Daix was carried on the left;
+but in front of the fortified position of the French, and
+within reach of the fire of their heavy batteries, the bold
+advance was forced to come to a stand. Major von
+Conta had also pushed on with continuous fighting, but
+failed to effect a junction with the brigade before dark.
+General von Kettler, recognizing the overwhelming
+superiority of the French, finally restricted himself
+to repulsing their sorties.</p>
+
+<p>The French lost seven officers and 430 men in
+prisoners alone; but the fighting also cost the brigade
+nineteen officers and 322 men. The troops had performed
+a severe march in bad weather along heavy
+roads, and had not been able to cook either before or
+after the fight; the ammunition could only be replenished
+from a convoy which was expected next
+day. Nevertheless General von Kettler did not hesitate
+to remain for the night in the positions he had gained
+immediately in front of the enemy, and then to seek
+shelter-quarters in the nearest villages.</p>
+
+<p>The French allowed him to do so without any serious
+opposition. Inactivity so utter caused General von
+Kettler the suspicion that the main body of the enemy
+had probably withdrawn by Auxonne to the support of
+the Army of the East, and he determined to bring it
+back on Dijon by a renewed attack.</p>
+
+<p>On the 23rd at eleven o'clock, by a flank march
+along the enemy's front, after his advanced guard had
+routed a detachment of Gardes-Mobiles, he reached the
+farm of Valmy on the Langres road, and advanced with
+his two batteries against the walled and strongly-held<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[373]</a></span>
+village of Pouilly. Here, as was almost always the
+case when engaged in the defence of buildings, the
+French made a stout resistance. The 61st Regiment
+had to storm each house in turn, and it was not till the
+château was in flames that the strong body of defenders
+who had taken refuge in the upper floors,
+surrendered.</p>
+
+<p>Beyond this place the enemy were found deployed in
+an entrenched position between Talant, which had been
+converted into a fort, and a large factory-building on the
+high-road. Here the advance was checked till the
+remainder of the regiment came up from Valmy, and
+the defenders at various points were driven back on
+the suburb.</p>
+
+<p>It was evident that the French were still at Dijon in
+full force, and the object of the undertaking had therefore
+been attained. But now unfortunately a tragic
+episode occurred, for the storming of the factory was absolutely
+insisted on&mdash;a great building, almost impregnable
+against infantry unaided. When all the senior
+officers had been killed, a first-lieutenant, whose horse had
+been shot and he himself wounded, took the command
+of the 2nd battalion. No sooner had the 5th company,
+only forty strong, advanced from the neighbouring
+quarry, than it came under a hot fire from all sides.
+The leader was at once wounded, and the sergeant
+who carried the colour fell dead after a few steps; so
+did the second-lieutenant and the battalion adjutant,
+who had again raised the standard. It was passed
+from hand to hand, carried first by the officers then by
+the men; every bearer fell. The brave Pomeranians<a name="FNanchor_81_81" id="FNanchor_81_81"></a><a href="#Footnote_81_81" class="fnanchor">[81]</a>
+nevertheless rushed on the building, but there was no
+entrance anywhere on that side, and at last the under-officer
+retreated on the quarry with the remnant of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[374]</a></span>
+little band. Here, for the first time, the colour was
+missed. Volunteers went out again in the darkness to
+search for it, but only one man returned unwounded.
+It was not till afterwards that the French found the
+banner, shot to ribbons, in a pool of blood under the dead.
+This was the only German colour lost throughout
+the war, and only thus was this one lost.</p>
+
+<p>The enemy took prisoners eight officers and 150 men,
+and the brigade sustained a fresh loss of sixteen officers
+and 362 men. It mustered at Pouilly, and remained
+under arms till eight o'clock to meet possible pursuit;
+only then were quarters taken in the neighbouring
+villages.</p>
+
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Operations of the Army of the South.</span>&mdash;The
+commission to take Dijon could not be executed;
+but the bold advance of this weak brigade cowed the
+hostile army into inactivity, so that General von
+Manteuffel was able to pursue his march unopposed.</p>
+
+<p>He had given to both his corps as their objective the
+enemy's line of retreat south of Besançon.</p>
+
+<p>From this fortress there were but few roads to the
+south of France available for troops, through the
+riven and rugged regions of the western Jura. The
+most direct connection was by the road and railway to
+Lons le Saulnier, on which Quingey and Byans were
+the most important barriers. Further to the east, but
+by a wide détour, a road runs by Ornans, Salins and
+Champagnole to St. Laurent and Morez. Several
+ways, however, radiate from Besançon and converge in
+Pontarlier, by using the passes peculiar to this range,
+called "Cluses," which pierce transversely the mountain
+chains and afford the valleys intercommunication.
+From Pontarlier one road only runs past Mouthe, and
+along the Swiss frontier in awkward proximity thereto.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 22nd.</i>&mdash;On this day the advanced guard of
+the 13th Division marched from Audeux to St. Vit,
+and after breaking up the railway and plundering<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[375]</a></span>
+a number of loaded waggons, down the riverside to
+Dampierre. On the way four bridges over the Doubs
+were found uninjured and were taken possession of.
+The advanced guard of the 14th Division moved from
+Emagny to observe Besançon. The IInd Corps closed on
+Dôle and pushed reconnoitring parties across the river.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 23rd.</i>&mdash;The concentric movement of all the
+bodies of the German army was continued.</p>
+
+<p>General Debschitz, approaching from the north, in
+passing Roches found only the abandoned camping
+ground of the French XXIVth Corps. The 4th Reserve
+Division occupied L'Isle without opposition, and met
+no resistance till it reached Clerval and Baume.</p>
+
+<p>On the Ognon the Baden Division drove the French
+out of Montbozon.</p>
+
+<p>In the centre of the army the VIIth Corps pushed
+the advanced guard of the 14th Division forward on
+Dannemarie, near Besançon. A fight ensued there in
+the form only of a cannonade which lasted till night.
+The 13th Division, again, which had crossed the Doubs
+at Dampierre, advanced on Quingey.</p>
+
+<p>For want of rolling stock it had been possible to forward
+only one French brigade by railway, and the last
+trains were received at the Byans station with Prussian
+shells. These troops were in so bad case that they
+were unable even to place outposts. They abandoned
+Quingey almost without a struggle, and their hurried
+retreat on Besançon and beyond the Loue, stopped the
+advance of reinforcements already on the way. Thus
+800 prisoners and a train of 400 convalescents fell into
+the hands of the Prussian advanced guard, who at
+once broke up the railway at Abbans-dessous.</p>
+
+<p>On the right wing, the head of the IInd Corps
+advanced by the valley of the Loue on the southern
+bank. Several cuttings on this road had been prepared
+for defence, but were found undefended. It was
+at Villers Farlay that it first encountered a strong body
+of the enemy.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[376]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the evening of this day, of the French forces the
+XXth Corps was on the north and the XVIIIth on
+the west of Besançon, at the distance of about four
+miles. Cavalry, artillery and the train were passing
+through the town or encamped on the glacis of the
+fortress. The XXIVth Corps was on the march thither,
+and the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the XVth were in
+possession of the southern bank of the Doubs about
+Baume and Larnod; but the 1st Division had not succeeded
+in holding Quingey. Thus the most direct and
+important line of communications of the French army
+was cut, and its position, by this fresh mischance,
+seriously compromised. Impracticable projects and
+counsels from Bordeaux poured in freely, but did not
+mend matters; and on the 24th General Bourbaki
+summoned the superior officers to a council of war.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 24th.</i>&mdash;The Generals declared that they had
+scarcely more than half their men under arms, and
+these were more inclined to fly than to fight. General
+Pallu alone thought he might answer for the men of the
+army reserve. The Intendant-General reported that,
+without trenching on the magazines of the place, the
+supplies in hand would last for four days at most.
+General Billot was in favour of attempting to fight a way
+through to Auxonne, but he declined to take the command
+in chief which was offered him. The exhaustion
+of the troops and their evidently increasing insubordination
+gave little hope of the success of offensive
+operations. So there was no alternative but to retire
+on Pontarlier, as the Commander-in-Chief had proposed.</p>
+
+<p>This recourse, even, was seriously threatened. To
+relieve himself from pressure on the north, General
+Bourbaki ordered the XXIVth Corps to advance
+once more and hold the Lomont passes. On the
+south the XVth was to defend the deep mountain-ravine
+of the Loue, and General Crémer was more
+especially to cover the retreat of the army on the right<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[377]</a></span>
+flank, which was most seriously threatened. For this
+difficult task, in addition to his own Division, a Division
+of the XXth Corps and the army reserve as the
+most trustworthy troops were placed under his command.
+The XVIIIth and the remainder of the XXth
+were to await marching-orders at Besançon.</p>
+
+<p>In the German Head-quarter, where of course the
+plans of the French could not be known, various
+possibilities had to be reckoned with.</p>
+
+<p>If the French remained at Besançon there would be
+no need to attack them there; the place was not suited
+for the accommodation of a large army, and its supplies
+could not long hold out. That they would again attempt
+to advance northwards was scarcely likely; by
+doing so they would be cutting loose from all their
+resources, and must encounter the larger part of the
+XIVth German Corps on the Ognon.</p>
+
+<p>An attempt to break through to Dijon seemed more
+possible. But this would be opposed at St. Vit by the
+13th Division, at Pesmes by Colonel von Willisen's
+detachment, and finally by General von Kettler.</p>
+
+<p>Thus a retreat on Pontarlier seemed the most likely
+course; and to hinder their further march from that
+place would in the first instance be the duty of the IInd
+Corps, while in the meantime the VIIth was observing
+the enemy massed in Besançon, and opposing his
+sorties on both sides of the river.</p>
+
+<p>The Commander-in-Chief therefore confined himself
+to giving general directions to his Generals, expressly
+authorizing them to act on their own judgment in
+eventualities which could not be foreseen.</p>
+
+<p>General von Werder was instructed to advance by
+Marnay, and to place the 14th Division in touch with
+the Baden Division and Von der Goltz's Brigade, and
+then to distribute these bodies along the right bank of
+the Doubs. The 4th Reserve Division restored the
+bridges at L'Isle and Baume, and crossed over to the
+left bank. Colonel von Willisen was to join the VIIth<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[378]</a></span>
+Corps to supply its lack of cavalry. The IInd Corps
+was assembled behind Villers Farlay.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 25th.</i>&mdash;Reconnaissances on a large scale were
+arranged for next day. The reconnaissance of the
+VIIth Corps resulted in a sharp fight at Vorges. The
+head of the IInd Corps met the enemy in front of Salins
+and at Arbois, but found that the latter had not yet
+reached Poligny.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 26th.</i>&mdash;The advanced guard of the IInd Corps
+advanced on Salins. The fronts of the high-perched forts
+of St. André and Belin near the town, looked toward
+Switzerland, but their fire commanded also on flank
+and rear the plain to the south and west on the enemy's
+line of march. Salins constituted a strong barrier on
+the road to St. Laurent, and as long as it was held
+would cover the line of retreat of columns marching
+from Besançon to Pontarlier.</p>
+
+<p>The two field-batteries of the advanced guard could,
+of course, do little against the heavy guns of the forts;
+but the Fusiliers of the 2nd Regiment advanced in
+rushes of small detachments up the narrow ravine, scaled
+its rugged faces, and, supported by the two Grenadier
+battalions, forced their way, about half-past two, into the
+railway-station and suburb of St. Pierre; but with the
+loss of 3 officers and 109 men.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after General von Koblinski arrived by way of
+St. Thiébaud with the 42nd Regiment. As in consequence
+of the representations of the Mayor the commandant
+refrained from bombarding the town, the
+advanced guard was able to take up its quarters therein;
+the main body of the 3rd Division retreated from under
+the fire of the forts on Mouchard, and the defile remained
+closed again to further penetration. It was necessary
+to turn it by the south.</p>
+
+<p>In that direction the 4th Division had already marched
+to Arbois, its head further forward up to Pont d'Héry;
+it found Poligny and Champagnole on the right still
+unoccupied.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[379]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The VIIth Corps reconnoitred both banks of the
+Doubs, and found the enemy in strong positions at
+Busy and at Vorges.</p>
+
+<p>The 4th Reserve Division advanced along the southern
+bank as far as St. Juan d'Adam, near Besançon; the
+remainder of the XIVth Corps marched on Etuz and
+Marnay.</p>
+
+<p>General von Kettler's report of the fighting on the
+21st and 23rd determined General von Manteuffel to
+make a renewed attempt on Dijon. He detailed to this
+duty General Hann von Weyhern (commanding 4th
+Infantry Division, IInd Corps), placing him in command
+of the 8th Brigade, with Colonel von Willisen's troops
+and Degenfeld's Baden Brigade.</p>
+
+<p>On the French side, General Bressoles had started on
+the 24th, in obedience to orders, to take renewed possession
+of the passages of the Doubs and the Lomont
+defiles. He had, in the first instance, turned against
+Baume with d'Aries' Division; but as he did not succeed
+even in driving the German outposts out of Pont les
+Moulins, he retired to Vercel. In consequence of this,
+on the morning of the 26th, Carré's Division, which had
+found the passes of the Lomont unoccupied, also moved
+to Pierre Fontaine. Comagny's Division had already
+retreated to Morteau, and was making its way unmolested
+to Pontarlier.</p>
+
+<p>General Bourbaki was greatly disturbed by this
+failure of his right wing; more perhaps than was needful,
+since, in fact, only one German division stood north
+of him, which at most could drive his rearguard on
+Pontarlier, while the main force of the enemy threatened
+him far more seriously on the west. He nevertheless
+ordered a renewed advance, on the 26th, of the XXIVth
+Corps, which was now to be supported by the XVIIIth.
+But the march through Besançon of the latter, through
+streets covered with ice, took up the whole of the day
+which should have been devoted to the attack, so that
+nothing came of the scheme.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[380]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>The Army Reserve had reached Ornans, and stood
+there in readiness. The two other Divisions advanced
+on the road to Salins, but heard while on the march
+that the Germans had just carried that place. They
+then occupied in Déservillers and Villeneuve d'Amont,
+the roads leading from thence to Pontarlier.</p>
+
+<p>The War Minister, meanwhile, had decisively refused
+permission for the general retreat of the army, without
+any regard to the imperative necessities of the case.</p>
+
+<p>The military dilettanteism which fancied it could
+direct the movements of the army from Bordeaux is
+characterized in a telegram of the afternoon of the 25th.
+Monsieur de Freycinet gives it as his "firm conviction"<a name="FNanchor_82_82" id="FNanchor_82_82"></a><a href="#Footnote_82_82" class="fnanchor">[82]</a>
+that General Bourbaki, if he would concentrate his
+troops, and, if necessary come to an understanding with
+Garibaldi, would be strong enough to fight his way out,
+"either by Dôle, or by Mouchard, or by Gray, or by
+Pontailler" (north of Auxonne). The choice was left
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>Still more amazing was the further suggestion that
+if indeed the state of the army prohibited a long march,
+it should be embarked on the railway at Chagey, under
+the eye, no doubt, of the pursuing enemy.</p>
+
+<p>Such communications could only avail to shatter the
+brave commander's self-confidence. The disastrous
+reports which poured in from all sides, and the state
+of the troops which he had seen for himself as the
+XVIIIth Corps marched through the town, crushed his
+last hope and led him to attempt his own life.</p>
+
+<p>The Commander had of course to bear the blame of
+the total failure of a campaign planned by Freycinet;
+his dismissal from the command was already on its way.
+General Clinchant was appointed in his stead, and under
+these disastrous circumstances took the command of the
+army.</p>
+
+<p>All the Generals were, no doubt, extremely reluctant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[381]</a></span>
+to bring their weary and dispirited troops into serious
+contact with the enemy. Every line of retreat was closely
+threatened, excepting only that on Pontarlier. The
+new Commander-in-Chief had no choice but to carry
+out the plans of his predecessor. He at once ordered
+the further march. He himself proceeded to Pontarlier.
+In that strong position he hoped to be able at least to
+give the troops a short rest. No large bodies of the
+Germans had been met with so far, the ammunition
+columns had got safely through, and if the defiles of
+Vaux, Les Planches, and St. Laurent could be reached
+and held in advance of the enemy there was still a
+possibility of escape to the southwards.</p>
+
+<p>On the evening of the 27th, the Division Poullet was at
+Levier, nearest to the Germans; the two other Divisions
+under General Crémer, with the XVth and XXth Corps,
+were écheloned on the road from Ornans to Sombacourt;
+the XVIIIth Corps alone was on the eastern road
+through Nods. The XXIVth, in a miserable condition,
+had reached Montbenoît with its head at Pontarlier;
+two Divisions were still in Besançon.</p>
+
+<p>On this same day General von Fransecky collected
+the main body of the IInd Corps at Arbois, and reinforced
+General du Trossel's posts at Pont d'Héry.</p>
+
+<p>The XIVth Corps relieved the 14th Division of the
+VIIth Corps at St. Vit; the latter advanced to the
+right of the 13th Division into the Loue angle, which
+the French had already abandoned.</p>
+
+<p>On the north, General von Debschitz held Blamont
+and Pont du Roide, while General von Schmeling
+watched Besançon from St. Juan, and General von der
+Goltz marched on Arbois to form a reserve.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 28th.</i>&mdash;Suspecting that the French were
+already on the march by Champagnole on St. Laurent,
+General Fransecky, to cut off from them that line of
+retreat, advanced on the following day in a southerly
+direction with the IInd Corps.</p>
+
+<p>General du Trossel reached Champagnole without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[382]</a></span>
+opposition, and thence sent his cavalry along the road to
+Pontarlier. Lieutenant-Colonel von Guretzky arrived
+at Nozeroy with a squadron of the 11th Dragoons, and
+found the place occupied; but he made prize of fifty-six
+provision-waggons and the military-chest, taking the
+escort prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>The 5th and 6th Brigades advanced on Poligny and
+Pont du Navoy.</p>
+
+<p>The 13th Division of the VIIth Corps, having been
+relieved at Quingey by the Baden troops, assembled at
+La Chapelle, while the 14th advanced on Déservillers.
+Its head found no enemy in Bolandoz, although his
+camp-fires were still smouldering; so that the main
+hostile army was not overtaken on that day.</p>
+
+<p>General Clinchant had in fact moved his Corps closer
+on Pontarlier. But it soon became evident that
+supplies were not procurable for any long stay there.
+General Crémer received orders that night to move
+forward at once to Les Planches and St. Laurent with
+three cavalry regiments standing already on the road
+to Mouthe. The mountain-roads were deep in snow,
+but by forced marching he reached the points designated
+on the following afternoon. The XXIVth Corps and a
+brigade of the Division Poullett followed next day, and
+the latter also occupied with two battalions the village
+of Bonneveaux at the entrance to the defiles of Vaux.
+On the evening of the 28th the rest of the French army
+stood as follows: the XVIIIth Corps was behind the
+Drugeon at Houtaud close before Pontarlier; the 1st
+Division of the XVth had advanced over the brook to
+Sombacourt, the 3rd Division was in the town. On
+the left the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the XXth Corps
+held the villages from Chaffois to Frasne, and on the
+right the army reserve occupied Byans.</p>
+
+<p>General von Manteuffel had ordered for the 29th a
+general advance on Pontarlier, where at last the French
+must certainly be found.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 29th.</i>&mdash;Of the IInd Corps General Koblinsky<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[383]</a></span>
+had set out from Poligny in the night. When he reached
+Champagnole and had assembled the whole of the 5th
+Brigade he moved forward therefrom at about seven
+o'clock. General du Trossel with the 7th Brigade also
+reached Censeau without finding the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>On the right Colonel von Wedell marched from Pont
+du Navoy on Les Planches with four battalions of the
+6th Brigade. He found only dismounted troopers,
+posts probably left by General Crémer which were
+easily dispersed by the Jägers. Detachments were then
+sent out in different directions, and everywhere met
+with scattered troops; but at Foncine le Bas the head
+of the XXIVth Corps was found, and Colonel von Wedell
+now blocked the last line of retreat which had remained
+to the French.</p>
+
+<p>With the rest of the IInd Corps General von Hartmann
+marched unopposed on Nozeroy.</p>
+
+<p>The 14th Division of the VIIth Corps had not received
+the order to advance on Pontarlier till somewhat
+late; it did not start from Déservillers until noon,
+and only reached Levier at three o'clock, where, at the
+same hour, the head of the 13th Division also arrived
+from Villeneuve d'Amont, the state of the roads having
+greatly delayed its march.</p>
+
+<p>The advanced guard of three battalions, half a
+squadron, and one battery, had met only stragglers on
+the way, and General von Zastrow commanded it to
+push forward to the Drugeon brook. In the forest on
+the left of the road closed detachments of the enemy
+were retiring on Sombacourt, and Major von Brederlow
+with the 1st battalion of the 77th Regiment turned off
+to attack that village lying on the flank. The 2nd
+company under Captain von Vietinghof dashed into it
+through Sept Fontaines with loud cheers, and was at
+once closely surrounded by strong bodies of the enemy;
+but the other companies soon came to its assistance.
+The first Division of the XVth French Corps was
+here completely routed without the Army Reserve<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[384]</a></span>
+close at hand in Byans having come to its support.
+Fifty officers, including two generals, and 2700 men
+were taken prisoners; ten guns, seven mitrailleuses,
+forty-eight waggons, 319 horses and 3500 stand of arms
+fell into the hands of the Hanoverian battalion<a name="FNanchor_83_83" id="FNanchor_83_83"></a><a href="#Footnote_83_83" class="fnanchor">[83]</a> which
+was left in occupation of Sombacourt.</p>
+
+<p>The rest of the advanced guard had meanwhile approached
+Chaffois, where the road opens out from the
+mountains into the wide valley of the Drugeon. That
+village, as we have seen, was occupied by the 2nd
+Division of the XXth Corps.</p>
+
+<p>Colonel von Cosel passed at once to the attack.
+Three companies of the 53rd Regiment surprised the
+French field-posts and took possession of the first houses
+of the village, but then the whole mass of the French
+XVIIIth Corps barred his further progress. By degrees
+all the available forces had to join in the
+fighting, and also reinforcements had to be brought up
+from the main body of the 14th Division. The fight
+lasted with great obstinacy for an hour and a half, when
+suddenly the French ceased firing and laid down their
+arms. They claimed that an armistice had already
+been agreed on.</p>
+
+<p>Monsieur Jules Favre had, in fact, telegraphed to
+Bordeaux at a quarter-past eleven on the night of the
+28th, that an armistice of twenty-one days had been
+concluded, without adding, however, that, with his consent,
+the three eastern departments had been excluded
+from its operations. The information, in this imperfect
+form, was transmitted to the civil authorities by the
+Delegation at 12.15 of the 29th; but Monsieur Freycinet
+did not forward it to the military authorities, whom
+the matter principally concerned, till 3.30 in the
+afternoon.</p>
+
+<p>Thus could General Clinchant in all good faith transmit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[385]</a></span>
+to General Thornton, in command of the Divisions
+at Chaffois, a message which, as regarded the Army of
+the East, was altogether incorrect. The latter at once
+sent his staff officer to the Prussian advanced guard,
+which was still in action, who demanded the cessation
+of the firing in recognition of the official communication.</p>
+
+<p>General von Manteuffel had received in Arbois at
+five in the morning, full particulars from the supreme
+Head-quarter of the terms of the armistice, according
+to which the army of the South was to prosecute its
+operations to a final issue. An army order announcing
+this to all the troops was at once sent out, but did not
+reach the VIIth Corps till evening.</p>
+
+<p>Nothing was known there of any armistice; however,
+the tidings might be on the way, and General von
+Zastrow granted the temporary cessation of hostilities,
+and even sanctioned the release of his prisoners, but
+without their arms.</p>
+
+<p>Chaffois, with the exception of a couple of farmsteads,
+remained in possession of the 14th Division,
+which found such quarters there as might be; the
+13th occupied the villages from Sept Fontaines back
+to Déservillers.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 30th.</i>&mdash;In full confidence in the news from
+the seat of Government, General Clinchant, on the 30th,
+suspended the movements of his army. The newly-appointed
+Commander of the XXIVth Corps, General
+Comagny, also gave up his intended attempt to cut his
+way with 10,000 men at Foncine through Colonel von
+Wedell's weak brigade. The other Corps, after the unfortunate
+course of the fighting on the previous evening,
+had drawn in close on Pontarlier; but detachments of
+cavalry were sent out on the roads to Besançon and St.
+Laurent, to establish a line of demarcation and also to
+keep up communications with the fortress and with
+Southern France.</p>
+
+<p>On receiving the army order at about eleven o'clock,
+General Zastrow gave notice to the enemy in his front<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[386]</a></span>
+of the resumption of hostilities, but restricted his immediate
+demands to the complete evacuation of Chaffois,
+which was complied with. Otherwise the Corps remained
+inactive where it was.</p>
+
+<p>Of the IInd Corps General du Trossel had set out
+very early from Censeau, but the appearance of a French
+flag of truce, and his fear of offending against the law
+of nations, here too occasioned considerable hesitation.
+The forest of Frasne was not clear of the French till evening.
+Lieutenant-Colonel von Guretzky made his way
+into the village with quite a small force, and took
+prisoners twelve officers and 1500 men who held it, with
+two colours. The 5th Brigade then also moved up
+into Frasne; the rest of the Corps occupied the same
+quarters as on the previous day.</p>
+
+<p>A flag of truce had presented itself at Les Planches,
+but Colonel von Wedell had simply dismissed the bearer.
+The outposts of the XIVth Corps did the same.</p>
+
+<p>On the north of Pontarlier, General von Schmeling
+advanced to Pierre Fontaine, General von Debschitz
+to Maiche.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 31st.</i>&mdash;Early in the morning of this day the
+French Colonel Varaigne made his appearance at
+General von Manteuffel's head-quarters at Villeneuve,
+with the proposal that a cessation of hostilities for thirty-six
+hours should be agreed upon, till the existing condition
+of uncertainty should be removed; but this
+proposal was refused, as on the German side there were
+no doubts whatsoever. Permission was granted for the
+despatch of an application to Versailles, but it was at the
+same time explained that the movements of the Army
+of the South would not be suspended pending the arrival
+of the answer.</p>
+
+<p>On this day, however, the IInd Army Corps marched
+only to Dompierre on a parallel front with the VIIth,
+its advanced guard pushing forward on the Drugeon to
+Ste. Colombe and La Rivière. Thence, in the evening,
+a company of the Colberg Grenadiers crossed the steep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[387]</a></span>
+mountain ridge and descended on La Planée, where it
+took 500 prisoners. A right-flank detachment of two
+battalions and one battery under Lieutenant-Colonel
+Liebe marched unopposed up the long pass of Bonnevaux
+to Vaux, and took prisoners 2 officers and 688
+men. The enemy then abandoned the defile of Granges
+Ste. Marie and retired to St. Antoine in the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>The Corps had found every road strewn with cast-away
+arms and camp utensils, and had taken in all
+4000 prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Of the VIIth Corps, as soon as the enemy had been
+informed of the resumption of hostilities, the 14th Division
+bent leftward on the Drugeon and up to La Vrine,
+whence a connection was effected with the 4th Reserve
+Division of the XIVth Corps in St. Gorgon. The 13th
+Division advanced to Sept Fontaines. Pontarlier was
+now completely surrounded, and General von Manteuffel
+fixed February 1st for the general attack thereon. The
+IInd Corps was to advance from the south-west, the
+VIIth from the north-west; General von der Goltz was
+to establish himself in front of Levier in reserve.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the French Commander-in-Chief had conceived
+doubts whether everything was quite right with
+the communications from his Government. All the
+mountain-passes leading to the south were now lost, and
+an escape in that direction was no longer to be hoped for.
+General Clinchant had already sent rearward the baggage
+and ammunition columns, the sick and worn-out men,
+through La Cluse under shelter of the forts of Joux
+and Neuv. And when in the afternoon a message from
+Bordeaux brought the intelligence that in fact the
+Army of the East had been excluded from the armistice,
+the Commander-in-Chief summoned his generals to a
+council of war. Every General present declared that
+he could no longer answer for his troops. General
+Clinchant himself therefore went out the same evening
+to Les Verrières, to conclude negotiations he had already
+opened, in virtue of which on the following day,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[388]</a></span>
+February 1st, the army was to cross the Swiss frontier
+by three roads.</p>
+
+<p>To cover this retreat, the Army Reserve was to hold
+Pontarlier till all the baggage-trains should have passed
+La Cluse, while the XVIIIth Corps was to take up a
+covering position between the two forts. Defensive
+works there were at once set about. What of the XVth
+Corps on the way by Morez had failed in getting
+through with the cavalry was to try to cross into
+Switzerland at any available point.</p>
+
+<p><i>February 1st.</i>&mdash;When the advanced guard of the IInd
+Corps now advanced on Pontarlier from Ste. Colombe,
+it met with but slight resistance at the railway station.
+The Colberg Grenadiers took possession of the town
+without a struggle, and captured many prisoners, but
+then found the road on the further side entirely blocked
+by guns and waggons. They could pass beyond on
+either side of the road only with difficulty through
+deep snow. Just in front of La Cluse the road winds
+between high rocky precipices into the wide basin of the
+Doubs, completely commanded by the isolated fortalice
+of Joux perched on the solid rock. On debouching into
+the open the foremost companies were received by a hot
+fire. Four guns, dragged up thither with the greatest
+exertions, could make no head against the heavy guns
+of the fort, and the French themselves here passed to
+the attack.</p>
+
+<p>The Colberg Fusiliers had meanwhile climbed the
+heights to the left, followed by the 2nd Battalion of the
+Regiment and a battalion of the 49th Regiment, which
+drove the French out of the farmsteads on the rifted
+upland. The steep cliff on the right was also scaled,
+several rifle sub-divisions of the 49th climbed the
+acclivity up to La Cluse, and the Colberg Grenadiers
+advanced to the foot of Fort Neuv.</p>
+
+<p>To take the strong fortalices by storm was obviously
+impossible, and furthermore because of the nature of the
+ground the fugitive enemy could scarcely be overtaken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[389]</a></span>
+in force. Of the French, 23 officers and 1600 men were
+taken prisoners, with 400 loaded waggons; of the
+Germans, 19 officers and 365 men had fallen, mostly of
+the Colberg Regiment. The troops spent the night on
+the field of the fighting.</p>
+
+<p>As no large force could come into action at La Cluse,
+General von Fransecky had ordered the main body of
+the Corps to march further southward to Ste. Marie.
+To avoid the necessity of crossing the steep chain of
+the Jura, General von Hartmann first betook himself
+to Pontarlier to avail himself of the better roads
+from thence, but his progress was stopped, the fight
+at La Cluse having assumed unexpected proportions.
+The VIIth Corps and the 4th Reserve Division, which
+had reached the Doubs at noon, were equally unable to
+get at the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>During the whole day the French columns were
+crossing the Swiss frontier. The Army Reserve in
+Pontarlier was at the beginning swept away by the
+tide of baggage-waggons and drivers, and only joined
+the XVIIIth Corps on reaching La Cluse. During the
+night they both followed the general line of retreat.
+Only the cavalry and the 1st Division of the XXIVth
+Corps reached the neighbouring department of l'Ain
+to the southward, the latter force reduced to a few
+hundred men. There crossed the frontier on to Swiss
+soil some 80,000 Frenchmen.</p>
+
+<p>General Manteuffel had transferred his headquarters
+to Pontarlier. There, in the course of the night, he
+first heard through Berlin of the convention arranged
+between General Clinchant and Colonel Herzog of the
+Swiss Confederation.</p>
+
+<p>General von Manteuffel had achieved the important
+success of his three weeks' campaign by hard marching
+and constant fighting, although there had been no
+pitched battle since that of the Lisaine. These marches,
+indeed, had been such as none but well-seasoned troops
+could have accomplished under bold and skilful leadership,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[390]</a></span>
+under every form of fatigue and hardship, in the
+worst season and through a difficult country.</p>
+
+<p>Thus two French armies were now prisoners in
+Germany, a third interned in the capital, and the fourth
+disarmed on foreign soil.</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_81_81" id="Footnote_81_81"></a><a href="#FNanchor_81_81"><span class="label">[81]</span></a> Men of the 2nd Battalion, 61st Regiment, 8th Brigade, 4th
+Division, IInd Corps, which Corps consisted exclusively of Pomeranians.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_82_82" id="Footnote_82_82"></a><a href="#FNanchor_82_82"><span class="label">[82]</span></a> "Conviction bien arrêtée."</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_83_83" id="Footnote_83_83"></a><a href="#FNanchor_83_83"><span class="label">[83]</span></a> The 77th Hanoverian Fusilier Regiment, of which this was the
+2nd battalion, belonged to the 25th Brigade, 13th Division, VIIth
+(Westphalian) Army Corps.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">General Hann von Weyhern's March on Dijon.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>It only remains to cast a backward glance on the advance
+on Dijon, with the conduct of which General Hann
+von Weyhern was charged on January 26th.</p>
+
+<p>On that same day Garibaldi received instructions
+there to take energetic measures against Dôle and
+Mouchard.</p>
+
+<p>To support him, the Government, indefatigable in
+the evolution of new forces, was to put in march 15,000
+Gardes-Mobiles under General Crouzat from Lyons to
+Lons le Saulnier, and a XXVIth Corps in course of
+formation at Châtellerault was to be sent from thence
+to Beaune. As it was beyond doubt that General von
+Manteuffel had moved with a strong force on the communications
+of the Army of the East, the specific order
+was transmitted on the 27th to the Commander of the
+Army of the Vosges, to leave only from 8000 to 10,000
+men in Dijon and to advance at once with his main
+force beyond Dôle.</p>
+
+<p>But the General was always greatly concerned for the
+safety of Dijon; he occupied the principal positions on
+the slopes of the Côte d'Or and detached a small force
+to St. Jean de Losne, behind the canal of Bourgogne.
+Of 700 volunteers who had marched on Dôle, no trace
+was ever found there.</p>
+
+<p>Langres had shown more energy; several and
+often successful attacks on small outpost companies and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[391]</a></span>
+etappen troops had been made from it from time to
+time.</p>
+
+<p>General Hann von Weyhern's purpose of attacking
+Dijon from the south had to be abandoned, because the
+bridge over the Saône at St. Jean de Losne had been
+destroyed. He therefore on the 29th crossed the river
+at Apremont, and on the 31st assembled his detachments
+at Arc sur Tille. Here again General Bordone,
+the Chief of the general staff of the Army of the
+Vosges, vainly insisted that an armistice was in force.
+On the 31st General von Kettler marched with an
+advanced guard on Varois. To cut off the enemy's
+communications with Auxonne a left-flank detachment
+made itself master of the bridge over the Ouche at
+Fauverney. The first shells drove the French back on
+their intrenched position on the line St. Apollinaire&mdash;Mirande.</p>
+
+<p>When the attempt to establish an armistice failed,
+General Bordone determined to evacuate Dijon in the
+course of the night and retire upon assured neutral
+ground. Thus, on February 1st, the head of the advanced
+guard found the position in front of the city
+abandoned, and General von Kettler marched in without
+encountering any opposition, just as the last train
+of French troops moved out of the railway-station.
+Sombernon and Nuits were also occupied on the 2nd.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">Occupation of the Departments of the Doubs, Jura,
+and Côte d'Or.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>Nothing now remained for General von Manteuffel
+but to establish the military occupation of the three
+Departments which he had won, and to guard them
+from without.</p>
+
+<p>General Pelissier was still in the open field within
+their bounds, having reached Lons le Saulnier with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[392]</a></span>
+15,000 Gardes-Mobiles who had come up from Lyons
+and had been joined by the battalions sent back
+from Besançon by General Rolland, by no means an
+insignificant force numerically, but practically of no
+great efficiency. The commanders were recommended
+to retire and avoid further bloodshed; and they did so,
+as soon as some detachments of the IInd German Corps
+advanced on Lons le Saulnier and St. Laurent. Others
+occupied Mouthe and Les Allemands, where were
+found twenty-eight field-guns which had been abandoned
+by the French. As a measure of precaution,
+the Swiss frontier was watched by eight battalions.
+The fortalices of Salins, the little fortress of Auxonne,
+and Besançon, were kept under observation from the
+eastward. Although the Department of Haute-Marne
+was included in the armistice, the commandant of
+Langres had refused to recognize the authority of his
+Government. So this place had to be invested, and
+probably besieged. General von der Goltz was
+promptly ordered to advance once more on it, and
+General von Krenski was already on the march thither
+with seven battalions, two squadrons and two batteries,
+and a siege train from Longwy, which he had brought
+to capitulate on January 25th, after a bombardment of
+six days' duration. But it was not called into requisition
+at Langres. General von Manteuffel aimed at
+no further tactical results; he was anxious to save his
+troops from further losses, and to afford them all possible
+relief after their exceptional exertions. Not
+till now were the baggage-waggons brought up, even
+those of the superior staff officers having been necessarily
+left behind during the advance into the Jura.
+The troops were distributed for the sake of comfort
+in roomy quarters, but in readiness for action at any
+moment, the IInd Corps in the Jura, the VIIth in the
+Côte d'Or, the XIVth in the department of the Doubs.
+But the siege of Belfort was still to be vigorously
+carried on.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[393]</a></span></p>
+<h2><span class="smcap">Prosecution of the Siege of Belfort.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>Immediately after the battle on the Lisaine the forces
+investing Belfort were increased to 27 battalions, 6
+squadrons, 6 field batteries, 24 companies of fortress
+artillery, and 6 companies of fortress pioneers; 17,602
+infantry, 4699 artillerymen, and 1166 pioneers, in all
+23,467 men, with 707 horses and 34 field-guns.</p>
+
+<p>The place was invested on the north and west by
+only a few battalions, and the main force was assembled
+to the south and east.</p>
+
+<p>On January 20th the eastern batteries opened a
+heavy fire on Pérouse. Colonel Denfert concluded that
+an attack was imminent, and placed four battalions of
+his most trusted troops in the village, which had been
+prepared for an obstinate defence.</p>
+
+<p>At about midnight, two battalions of the 67th Regiment
+advanced from Chêvremont on the Haut Taillis
+wood without firing a shot. Once inside it there was a
+determined struggle, but the French were driven back
+on the village, and the pioneers immediately intrenched
+the skirt of the wood towards Pérouse under a heavy
+fire from the forts. Half an hour later two Landwehr
+battalions advanced from Bessoncourt to the copse on
+the north of the village. They were received with a
+heavy fire, but made their way onward over abatis,
+pits and wire-entanglements, driving the enemy back
+into the quarries. A stationary fight now ensued, but
+the 67th presently renewed the attack, and without
+allowing themselves to be checked by the earthworks
+forced their way into Pérouse. They took possession
+of the eastern half of the straggling village at about
+half-past two, and the detachment defending the
+quarries, finding itself threatened, retreated. At five
+o'clock, Colonel Denfert abandoned the western part of
+the village, which was now completely occupied by the
+Germans. The losses on the German side were 8 officers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[394]</a></span>
+and 178 men; the French left 5 officers and 93 men
+prisoners.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 21st to 27th.</i>&mdash;The next day the construction
+of the first parallel was undertaken, extending about
+2000 yards from Donjoutin to Haut Taillis. Five battalions
+and two companies of Sappers were employed in
+this work, and were undisturbed by the French; but
+the rocky soil prevented its being constructed of the
+prescribed width.</p>
+
+<p>General von Tresckow considered that he might thus
+early succeed in carrying both the Perches forts by a
+determined assault. Two half redoubts with ditches
+more than three yards deep cut perpendicularly in the
+solid rock, casemated traverses and bomb-proof blockhouses
+in the gorge, afforded protection to the defenders.
+Each work was armed with seven 12-cm. cannon, and
+they were connected by trenches, behind which reserves
+were in readiness. On the right flank this position was
+protected by a battalion and a sortie-battery in Le
+Fourneau; on the left the adjacent wood was cleared,
+cut down to a distance of 650 yards, and wire-entanglements
+between the stumps formed an almost impenetrable
+obstacle. In front the gentle slope of the ridge
+was under the cross-fire of the two forts.</p>
+
+<p>When on the previous evening of the 26th the construction
+of the parallel was sufficiently advanced to
+allow of its being occupied by larger detachments, the
+assault was fixed for the 27th. Two columns, each of
+one battalion, one company of Sappers, and two guns,
+passed to the attack at daybreak on that morning. Two
+companies of Schneidemühl's Landwehr Battalion advanced
+against the front of Basses Perches and threw
+themselves on the ground within from 65 to 110 yards
+of the work. A sub-division of sharp-shooters and a few
+pioneers reached the ditch and unhesitatingly leaped
+in; the two other (Landwehr) companies, going round
+the fort by the left, got into its rear, and here too the
+men jumped into the ditch of the gorge. But the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[395]</a></span>
+French who had been driven out of their shelter-trenches
+were now assembled, and the battalion from
+Le Fourneau came up. All the forts of the place
+opened fire on the bare and unprotected space in
+front of the parallel, and an attempt of reinforcements
+to cross it failed. The 7th Company of the Landwehr
+Battalion was surrounded by greatly superior numbers,
+and after a brave struggle was for the most part made
+captive. Most of the men in the ditch were still able
+to escape.</p>
+
+<p>The advance of the right column against Hautes-Perches
+also failed. It had to cross 1100 yards of open
+ground. The encompassment of the fort was attempted,
+but it was impossible to force through the abatis and
+other obstacles under the destructive fire of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>This abortive attempt cost 10 officers and 427 men;
+and the slower process of an engineer attack had to be
+resumed.</p>
+
+<p><i>January 28th to February 15th.</i>&mdash;As the approaches
+to the forts progressed the flying sap could be
+carried forward about 330 yards every night unopposed
+by the enemy. In spite of all the difficulties
+caused by the nature of the soil, on February 1st
+the second parallel was thrown up at half distance
+from the Perches.</p>
+
+<p>As the Fort of la Justice was a special hindrance to
+the operations, two new batteries had to be constructed
+to the east of Pérouse against it. Four mortar-batteries
+on the flanks of the parallel now directed their
+fire on the Perches at very short range. Three batteries
+were also constructed in the Bois des Perches to
+fire on the citadel, and one on the skirt of the wood
+near Bavilliers against the defences of the city. Henceforward
+1500 shells a day were fired on the fortress
+and its outworks.</p>
+
+<p>But further the prosecution of the attack became more
+and more difficult. The withdrawal of General Debschitz
+had seriously reduced the working strength of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[396]</a></span>
+besieging force. There were only nine battalions for
+the exhausting service in the trenches. Specially serious
+was the heavy loss in pioneers, and two fresh companies
+had to be brought up from Strasburg. The
+bright moonlight illuminating the fields of snow far
+and wide made it impossible to proceed with the flying
+saps. Sap-rollers had to be used; the heads of the
+saps had to be protected by sandbags and the sides by
+gabions, while the earth for filling had often to be
+brought from a long distance in the rear.</p>
+
+<p>On the head of all this, on February 3rd, a thaw set
+in, and the water from the heights filled the trenches,
+so that all communication had to be carried on across
+the open ground. Torrents of rain damaged the
+finished works; the parapet of the first parallel gave
+way altogether in places, and the banquette was washed
+away. The bottomless tracks made the arming of the
+batteries unspeakably difficult, and the teams of the
+columns and field artillery had to be employed in
+bringing up the ammunition. Many guns had become
+useless by overheating, while the enemy understood, by
+rapidly running out their guns, firing, and then running
+them back again, how to interrupt the work. Not
+merely was it necessary to continue the shelling of the
+Perches during the night, but a brisk rifle fire had
+to be kept up against them. Only now and then
+did the batteries newly placed in the parallels succeed
+in entirely silencing the guns of Hautes Perches.
+Epaulments had to be erected against Fort Bellevue
+and the defences of the railway-station, and Fort
+des Barres resumed activity. That under such exertions
+and the abominable weather the health of
+the troops suffered severely, need not be said; the
+battalions could often only muster 300 men for
+duty.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, however, the artillery of the attack had
+unquestionably become very much superior to that of
+the defence, and, in spite of every obstacle, the saps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[397]</a></span>
+were pushed on to the edge of the ditch of Les
+Perches.</p>
+
+<p>On February 8th, at one in the afternoon, Captain
+Roese had gabions flung into the ditch of Hautes
+Perches, sprang into it with five sappers, and rapidly
+scaled the parapet by the steps hewn in the scarp. He
+was immediately followed by the trench guard, but only
+a few of the French were surprised in the casemated
+traverses. The situation of the garrison of the forts had
+in fact become extremely difficult. Ammunition had to
+be brought up under the enemy's fire, water could only
+be had from the pond at Vernier, and cooking could
+only be done inside the works. Colonel Denfert had
+already given orders to bury the material. Unseen
+by the besiegers the guns of which the carriages
+could still be moved had been withdrawn, and only
+one company left in each fort, which in case of a
+surprise was to fire and fly. Nothing was to be found
+in the abandoned work but wrecked gun-carriages and
+four damaged guns. This fort was at once reversed
+so that its front faced the fortress, but at three o'clock
+the latter opened so heavy a fire on the lost positions
+that the working parties had to take shelter in the
+ditches.</p>
+
+<p>The garrison in Basses Perches attempted some
+resistance, but under cover of a reserve it soon
+retired to Le Fourneau, leaving five guns and much
+shattered material. Here also the fire of the place
+at first compelled the working parties to break off, but
+four 15-cm. mortars were at length brought into the
+fort, and two 9-cm. guns were placed on the spur of
+the hill to the westward, which directed their fire on
+Le Fourneau and Bellevue. During the night of the
+9th the two works were connected by a shelter-trench
+680 yards long, and thus the third parallel was
+established.</p>
+
+<p>The position was now such that the attack could
+immediately be directed on the citadel, and on it the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[398]</a></span>
+batteries in the Bois des Perches and presently those
+in the second parallel opened fire. Moitte, Justice,
+and Bellevue were shelled simultaneously. General
+von Debschitz had returned, so that the investing
+corps was thus again brought up to its full strength,
+and all the conditions were improved by the return of
+the frost. By the 13th ninety-seven guns were ready
+in the third parallel.</p>
+
+<p>The town had suffered terribly from the prolonged
+bombardment. Nearly all the buildings were damaged,
+fifteen completely burnt down, and in the adjoining
+villages 164 houses had been destroyed by the defenders
+themselves. The fortifications showed not less visible
+indications of serious damage, particularly the citadel.
+The hewn-stone facing of its front-wall had crumbled
+into the ditch. Half of the mantleted embrasures had
+been shattered, the expense powder magazines had been
+blown up, and a number of casemated traverses pierced.
+The guns in the upper batteries could only be reached
+by ladders. The garrison, of its original strength of
+372 officers and 17,322 men, had lost 32 officers and
+4713 men, besides 336 citizens. The place was no
+longer tenable; besides there now came the news that
+the army from which alone relief was to be expected,
+had laid down its arms.</p>
+
+<p>Under these circumstances General von Tresckow
+summoned the commandant after a defence so brave to
+surrender the fortress, with free withdrawal for the
+garrison, this concession having the sanction of his
+Majesty. The French Government itself authorized
+the commandant to accept these terms. Colonel
+Denfert, however, insisted that he must be given a
+more direct order. To procure this an officer was
+sent to Basle, pending whose return there was a provisional
+armistice.</p>
+
+<p>On the 15th a convention was signed at Versailles,
+which extended the armistice to the three departments
+which till then had been excluded from it, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[399]</a></span>
+also to Belfort; but the 1st article demanded the
+surrender of that place.</p>
+
+<p>After the conclusion of the definitive treaty, the
+garrison, in the course of the 17th and 18th, with its
+arms and trains, left the precincts of the fortress and
+withdrew by way of L'Isle sur Doubs and St. Hippolyte
+into the country occupied by French troops. The
+march was effected in detachments of 1000 men at
+intervals of 5 km., the last of which Colonel Denfert
+accompanied. The supplies which remained in the fortress
+were conveyed in rear of the departing troops in
+150 Prussian proviant waggons. At 3 o'clock in the
+afternoon of February 18th Lieutenant-General von
+Tresckow entered the place at the head of detachments
+from all the troops of the investing corps.</p>
+
+<p>There were found 341 guns, of which 56 were
+useless, 356 gun-carriages, of which 119 were shot to
+pieces, and 22,000 stand of arms, besides considerable
+supplies of ammunition and provisions.</p>
+
+<p>The siege had cost the Germans 88 officers and
+2049 men, 245 of whom were released from imprisonment
+by the capitulation. Immediately was set about
+the work of restoring and arming the fortress, and of
+the levelling of the siege works.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Armistice.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>On the basis of the agreement of January 28th a line
+of demarcation was drawn, from which both parties
+were to withdraw their outposts to a distance of 10 km.
+The line ran south from the mouth of the Seine as far
+as the Sarthe, crossed the Loire at Saumur, followed
+the Creuse, turned eastward past Vierzon, Clamécy and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[400]</a></span>
+Chagny, and then met the Swiss frontier, after bending
+to the north of Châlons sur Saône and south of Lons le
+Saulnier and St. Laurent. The two departments of
+Pas de Calais and du Nord, as well as the promontory
+of Havre, were particularly excluded.</p>
+
+<p>The fortresses still held by French troops in the
+districts occupied by the Germans were assigned a
+rayon in proportion to their importance.</p>
+
+<p>In carrying out the details of the agreement a liberal
+interpretation was in most instances allowed. The
+arrangements had the sanction of those members of the
+Government of National Defence who were in Paris;
+while the delegates at Bordeaux, who had hitherto
+conducted the war, at first held aloof, and indeed, as
+yet had not been made acquainted with the detailed
+conditions. Gambetta, it is true, allowed the suspension
+of operations, but could not give the commanders more
+precise instructions.</p>
+
+<p>General Faidherbe was thus without orders with
+regard to the evacuation of Dieppe and Abbeville.
+General von Goeben, however, refrained from taking
+immediate possession of these places. On the west of
+the Seine, the Grand Duke was forced to proclaim that
+the non-recognition of the line of demarcation would
+be followed by an immediate recommencement of
+hostilities.</p>
+
+<p>The commandant of the garrison at Langres also
+raised difficulties, and only withdrew within his rayon on
+February 7th, as did General Rolland later at Besançon.
+Auxonne was at first unwilling to give up control of the
+railway. Bitsch, which had not been worth the trouble
+of a serious attack, repudiated the convention; the
+investment had therefore to be strengthened, and only
+in March, when threatened with a determined attack,
+did the garrison abandon its peak of rock.</p>
+
+<p>Nor did the volunteers acquiesce at once, and there
+were collisions with them at various points. But after
+the conditions were finally settled, no more serious<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[401]</a></span>
+quarrels occurred between the inhabitants and the
+German troops during the whole course of the
+armistice.</p>
+
+<p>All the German corps before Paris occupied the forts
+lying in their front, more specifically the Vth took over
+Mont Valérien, and the IVth the town of St. Denis.
+Between the forts and the enceinte there lay a neutral
+zone, which civilians were allowed to cross only by
+specified roads placed under control of German examining
+troops.</p>
+
+<p>Apprehensive as it was of the indignation of the
+populace, the French Government had hesitated so long
+to utter the word "capitulation," that now, even with
+the resumption of free communication, Paris was
+threatened with an outbreak of actual famine. The
+superfluous stores in the German magazines were
+therefore placed at the disposal of its authorities. The
+respective chief-Commands, the local Governments-General,
+and the Etappen-Inspections received instructions
+to place no difficulties in the way of the
+repair of the railways and roads in their districts, and
+the French authorities were even allowed to make use,
+under German supervision, of the repaired railroads
+which the invaders used to supply their own army.
+Nevertheless, the first provision-train only arrived in
+Paris on February 3rd, and it was the middle of the
+month before the French had succeeded in remedying
+the prevalent distress in the capital.</p>
+
+<p>The German prisoners were at once given up. The
+surrender of arms and war-material followed by degrees,
+also the payment of the 200 million francs war-contribution
+imposed on the city.</p>
+
+<p>But it was still doubtful if the party of "war to the
+bitter end" in Bordeaux would fall in with the arrangements
+made by the Paris Government, and whether the
+National Assembly about to be convened would finally
+ratify the conditions of peace imposed by the conquerors.
+The necessary measures in case of the resumption of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[402]</a></span>
+hostilities were therefore taken on the French as well as
+on the German side.</p>
+
+<p>The distribution of the French forces at the establishment
+of the armistice was not favourable.</p>
+
+<p>By General Faidherbe's advice the Army of the
+North was wholly disbanded, as being too weak to face
+the strength opposing it. After the XXIInd Corps
+had been transported by sea to Cherbourg, the Army
+of Brittany under General de Colomb was composed of
+it, the XXVIIth and part of the XIXth Corps, and,
+including Lipowski's volunteers, Cathelineau's and other
+details, its strength was some 150,000 men. General
+Loysel with 30,000 ill-armed and raw Gardes-Mobiles
+remained in the trenches of Havre.</p>
+
+<p>General Chanzy, after his retreat on Mayenne, had
+made a movement to the left, preparatory to a new
+operation with the IInd Army of the Loire from the
+Caen base, which, however, was never carried out.
+The XVIIIth, XXIst, XVIth, and XXVIth Corps stood
+between the lower Loire and the Cher from Angers to
+Châteauroux, in a strength of about 160,000 men strong,
+the XXVth under General Pourcet was at Bourges,
+and General de Pointe's Corps at Nevers. The Army
+of the Vosges had withdrawn southward of Châlons sur
+Saône, and the remains of the Army of the East
+assembled under General Crémer at Chambéry as the
+XXIVth Corps.</p>
+
+<p>The total of all the field-troops amounted to 534,452
+men. The volunteers, even those most to be relied on,
+were dismissed, and the National Guard was designated
+as for the present "incapable of rendering any military
+service." In the depôts, the camps of instruction, and
+in Algiers there were still 354,000 men, and 132,000
+recruits were on the lists as the contingent for 1871,
+but had not yet been called up.</p>
+
+<p>In case the war should be persisted in, a plan for
+limiting it to the defensive in the south-east of France
+was under consideration, for which, however, according<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[403]</a></span>
+to the report sent on February 8th by the Committee
+of Inquiry to the National Assembly, scarcely more
+than 252,000 men in fighting condition were available.
+The fleet, besides, had given up so considerable a
+number of its men and guns for service on land, that
+it was no longer able for any great undertaking at
+sea.</p>
+
+<p>On the German side the first consideration was to
+reinforce the troops to their full war-strength, and
+replenish the magazines.</p>
+
+<p>The forts round Paris were at once armed on their
+fronts facing the enceinte. In and between these were
+680 guns, 145 of which were captured French pieces;
+more than enough to keep the restless population under
+control. A part of the forces previously occupied
+in the siege, being no longer required, were removed,
+in order that the remaining troops should have better
+accommodation. Besides, it seemed desirable to
+strengthen the IInd Army, which had in its front the
+enemy's principal force. In consequence the IVth
+Corps marched to Nogent le Rotrou, the Vth to Orleans,
+and the IXth, relieved there, to Vendôme; so that
+now the quarters of this army extended from Alençon
+to Tours, and up the Loire as far as Gien and Auxerre.</p>
+
+<p>The Ist Army was in the north with the VIIIth
+Corps on the Somme, and the Ist on both sides of the
+Lower Seine; in the south the Army of the South
+occupied the line of demarcation from Baume to
+Switzerland, and the country in the rear.</p>
+
+<p>At the end of February the German field-army on
+French soil consisted of:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">Infantry</td><td align="right">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;464,221</td><td align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;men with 1674 guns.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Cavalry</td><td align="right">55,562</td><td align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;horses.</td></tr>
+</table>
+</div>
+
+<p>Troops in garrison:&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">Infantry</td><td align="right">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;105,272</td><td align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;men with 68 guns.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Cavalry</td><td align="right">5681</td><td align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;horses.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Total</td><td align="right">630,736</td><td align="left">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;men and 1742 guns.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p>Reserve forces remaining in Germany:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="right">3288</td><td align="left">officers.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">204,684</td><td align="left">men.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">26,603</td><td align="left">horses.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p>Arrangements were so made, that in case of a recommencement
+of hostilities, the strongest resistance could
+be made at all points. The armistice had nearly
+reached its end, and the troops had already been more
+closely collected to be ready to take the initiative of
+the offensive towards the south, when the Chancellor
+of the Confederation announced the extension of the
+armistice to the 24th, which was again prolonged to
+midnight on the 26th.</p>
+
+<p>Considerable difficulties had arisen from the differences
+of opinion with regard to the election of the
+National Assembly, between the Government in Paris
+and the Delegation at Bordeaux. The Germans wished
+to see carried out the choice, not of a party, but of the
+whole nation, expressed by a free suffrage. But Gambetta
+had ruled, in violation of the conditions of the
+armistice, that all who after December 2nd, 1851, had
+held any position in the Imperial Government should
+be ineligible to vote. It was not till the Parisian
+Government had obtained a majority by sending several
+of its members to Bordeaux, and after the dictator had
+resigned on February 6th, that the elections proceeded
+quickly and unhindered.</p>
+
+<p>The deputies duly assembled in Bordeaux by the
+12th, the appointed day. M. Thiers was elected chief
+of the executive, and went to Paris on the 19th with
+Jules Favre, determined to end the aimless war at any
+cost.</p>
+
+<p>Negotiations for peace were opened, and after five
+days' vigorous discussion, when at last on the German
+side the concession to restore Belfort was made, the
+preliminaries were signed on the afternoon of the 26th.</p>
+
+<p>France bound herself to give up in favour of Germany
+a part of Lorraine, and the province of Alsace with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[405]</a></span>
+exception of Belfort, and also to pay a war indemnity
+of five milliards of francs.</p>
+
+<p>The evacuation of the districts in occupation of the
+German armies was to begin immediately on the ratification
+of the treaty, and be continued by degrees in
+proportion as the money was paid. While the German
+troops remained on French soil they were to be maintained
+at the charge of the country. On the other
+hand all requisitioning on the part of the Germans was
+to cease. Immediately on the first instalment of
+evacuation the French forces were to retire behind the
+Loire, with the exception of 20,000 men in Paris and
+the necessary garrisons in the fortresses.</p>
+
+<p>After the ratification of these preliminaries, further
+terms were to be discussed in Brussels, and the return
+of the French prisoners would begin. The armistice
+was prolonged to March 12th; but it was in the option
+of either of the belligerent powers to end it after March
+3rd by giving three days' notice.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, it was stipulated that the German Army
+should have the satisfaction of marching into Paris, and
+remaining there till the ratification of the treaty; but
+would be restricted to the section of the city from Point
+du Jour to the Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré. The
+entry was made on March 1st, after a parade at Longchamps
+before his Majesty of 30,000 men, consisting
+of 11,000 of the VIth, 11,000 of the IInd Bavarian,
+and 8000 of the XIth Army Corps. On the 3rd and
+5th of March this force was to have been relieved by
+successive bodies of the same strength, but M. Thiers
+succeeded by March 1st in getting the National
+Assembly at Bordeaux to accept the treaty, after the
+deposition of the Napoleonic dynasty had been decreed.
+The exchange of ratifications took place in the afternoon
+of the 2nd, and on the 3rd the first instalment of troops
+of occupation marched out of Paris back into its
+quarters.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[406]</a></span></p>
+<h2><span class="smcap">The Homeward March of the German Army.</span></h2>
+
+
+<p>By the IIIrd Article, the whole territory between
+the Seine and the Loire, excepting Paris, was to be
+evacuated with as little delay as possible by the troops
+of both sides; the right bank of the former river, on
+the other hand, was only to be cleared on the conclusion
+of the definitive treaty of peace. Even then the six
+eastern departments were still to remain in German
+possession as a pledge for the last three milliards; not,
+however, to be occupied by more than 50,000 men.</p>
+
+<p>The marching directions were drawn up in the
+supreme Headquarter, with a view as well to the comfort
+of the troops as to the reconstitution of the
+original order of battle, and the possibility of rapid
+assembly in case of need.</p>
+
+<p>The forces detailed for permanent occupation of the
+ceded provinces marched thither at once.</p>
+
+<p>The Reserve and Landwehr troops at home were to
+be disbanded, as well as the Baden Division, which, however,
+for the present was to remain there as a mobilized
+force. The Governments-General in Lorraine, Rheims,
+and Versailles were to be done away with, and their
+powers taken over by the local Commanding-Generals.
+In the maintenance of order in the rear of the army,
+the VIth and XIIth Corps, as well as the Würtemberg
+Field Division, were placed at the direct disposition of
+the supreme Headquarter.</p>
+
+<p>By March 31st the Army had taken full possession
+of the new territory assigned to it, bounded on the
+west by the course of the Seine from its source to its
+mouth.</p>
+
+<p>The Ist Army was in the departments of Seine-Inférieure
+and Somme, the IInd in front of Paris in
+the departments of Oise and Seine et Marne, the IIIrd
+in the departments of Aube and Haute Marne, the
+Army of the South in the districts most lately hostile.
+The forts of Paris on the left bank were given up to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[407]</a></span>
+the French authorities; the siege park and the captured
+war material had been removed. In consideration
+of the desire of the French Government that the
+National Assembly might be allowed as early
+as possible to sit at Versailles, the supreme Headquarter
+was removed to Ferrières, even sooner than
+had been agreed. On March 15th his Majesty left
+Nancy for Berlin.</p>
+
+<p>All the troops that were left before Paris were
+placed under the command of the Crown Prince of
+Saxony, and General von Manteuffel was nominated
+Commander of the Army of Occupation.</p>
+
+<p>At the moment when France had freed herself by a
+heavy sacrifice, an enemy of the most dangerous
+character appeared from within, in the Commune of
+Paris.</p>
+
+<p>The 40,000 men left there proved themselves unequal
+to the task of keeping the rebellious agitation under
+control; which even during the siege had on several
+occasions betrayed its existence, and now actually
+broke out in open civil war. Large masses of people,
+fraternizing with the National and Mobile Guards, possessed
+themselves of the guns and set themselves in
+armed resistance to the Government. M. Thiers had
+already, by March 18th, summoned to Versailles such
+regiments as could still be trusted, to withdraw them
+from the disquieting influence of party impulses, and
+for the protection of the National Assembly there.
+The French capital was a prey to revolution, and now
+became an object of pillage by French troops.</p>
+
+<p>The Germans could easily have put a speedy end to
+the matter, but what Government could allow its rights
+to be vindicated by foreign bayonets? The German
+Commanders consequently limited themselves to forbidding
+at least within their own districts any movement
+of disturbance, and to preventing all further
+ingress into Paris from outside. The disarmament
+operations which had commenced were interrupted;
+the troops of the IIIrd Army were drawn closer to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[408]</a></span>
+forts, and the outposts were replaced along the line
+of demarcation, whereon 200,000 men could now
+be collected within two days. The authorities in
+Paris were also warned that any attempt to arm
+the fronts facing the Germans would be followed
+by the immediate bombardment of the city. The
+insurgents however, were fully occupied in destroying
+and burning, and in executing their commanders in the
+interior of Paris. They did not turn against their
+foreign enemy, but against the Government chosen by
+the nation, and prepared for an attack on Versailles.</p>
+
+<p>The high officers of State there, bound by the
+conditions of the armistice treaty, were almost defenceless;
+meanwhile the Germans were prepared and
+willing to allow a reinforcement of 80,000 French
+troops to be moved up from Besançon, Auxerre and
+Cambrai, the transport of whom would be furthered by
+the German troops in occupation of the districts
+through which they would have to pass.</p>
+
+<p>The release of the prisoners on the other hand was
+temporarily restricted. These were, for the most part,
+disciplined regulars; but they might not improbably
+join the hostile party, so in the first instance only
+20,000 troops of the line were set free.</p>
+
+<p>On April 4th General MacMahon advanced with
+the Government troops against Paris, and entered
+the city on the 21st. As he was then engaged for
+eight days in barricade fighting, and as great bands of
+fugitives threatened to break through the German
+lines, the IIIrd Army was ordered to take closer
+order. The outposts advanced almost to the gates of
+the city, and barred all communication through them
+until, at the end of the month, Paris was again in the
+control of the French Government.</p>
+
+<p>In the meantime, the negotiations commenced in
+Brussels and continued in Frankfort were making
+rapid progress, and on May 10th the definitive treaty
+of peace based on the preliminaries was signed. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[409]</a></span>
+mutual ratification followed within the appointed time
+of ten days.</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p>Thus a war, carried on with such a vast expenditure
+of force on both sides, was brought to an end by
+incessant and restless energy in the short period of
+seven months.</p>
+
+<p>Even in the first four weeks eight battles were
+fought, under which the French Empire crumbled, and
+the French Army was swept from the field.</p>
+
+<p>Fresh forces, numerous but incompetent, equalized
+the original numerical superiority of the Germans,
+and twelve more battles needed to be fought, to safeguard
+the decisive siege of the enemy's capital.</p>
+
+<p>Twenty fortified places were taken, and not a single
+day passed on which there was not fighting somewhere,
+on a larger or smaller scale.</p>
+
+<p>The war cost the Germans heavy sacrifice; they
+lost 6247 officers, 123,453 men, 1 colour, 6 guns.</p>
+
+<p>The total losses of the French were incalculable; in
+prisoners only they amounted to:&mdash;</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="">
+<tr><td align="left">In Germany</td><td align="right">11,860</td><td align="center">officers,</td><td align="right">371,981</td><td align="center">men.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">In Paris</td><td align="right">7,456</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">241,686</td><td align="center">"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Disarmed in Switzerland.</td><td align="right">2,192</td><td align="center">"</td><td align="right">88,381</td><td align="center">"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;</td><td align="center"></td><td align="right">&mdash;&mdash;&mdash;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left"></td><td align="right">21,508</td><td align="center">officers,</td><td align="right">702,048</td><td align="center">men.</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p>There were captured 107 colours and eagles, 1915
+field-guns, 5526 fortress guns.</p>
+
+<p>Strasburg and Metz, which had been alienated from
+the Fatherland in a time of weakness, were recovered,
+and the German Empire had risen anew.</p>
+
+
+
+<div class="center">THE END.</div>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[410]</a></span></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[411]</a></span></p>
+<h2>APPENDIX.</h2>
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[412]</a></span></p>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[413]</a></span></p>
+<h2>APPENDIX.</h2>
+
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Memorandum on the pretended Council of War in the Wars<br />
+of King William I.</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>In the accounts of historical events, as they are handed down to posterity,
+mistakes assume the form of legends which it is not always easy subsequently
+to disprove.</p>
+
+<p>Among others is the fable which ascribes, with particular zest and as
+a matter of regular custom, the great decisions taken in the course of our
+latest campaigns, to the deliberations of a council of war previously convened.</p>
+
+<p>For instance, the battle of Königgrätz.</p>
+
+<p>I can relate in a few lines the circumstances under which an event of
+such far-reaching importance had birth.</p>
+
+<p>Feldzeugmeister Benedek had, in his advance to the northward, to
+secure himself against the IInd Prussian Army marching on the east over
+the mountains of Silesia. To this end four of his Corps had one after
+another been pushed forward on his right flank, and had all been beaten
+within three days. They now joined the main body of the Austrian Army,
+which had meanwhile reached the vicinity of Dubenetz.</p>
+
+<p>Here, then, on June 30th, almost the whole of the Austrian forces were
+standing actually inside the line of operations between the two Prussian
+armies; of which the Ist was already fighting its way to Gitschin, designated
+from Berlin as the common point of concentration, and the IInd
+had also advanced close on the Upper Elbe; thus they were both so near
+that the enemy could not attack the one without the other falling on his
+rear. The strategic advantage was nullified by the tactical disadvantage.</p>
+
+<p>In these circumstances, and having already lost 40,000 men in previous
+battles, General Benedek gave up the advance, and during the night of
+June 30th began his retreat on Königgrätz.</p>
+
+<p>The movement of six Army Corps and four Cavalry Divisions, marching
+in only four columns, which were necessarily very deep, could not be
+accomplished in the course of a single day. They halted very closely
+concentrated between Trotina and Lipa; but when on July 2nd they
+still remained there, it was owing to the extreme fatigue of the troops,
+and the difficulty, nay, impossibility, of withdrawing so large a body of
+men beyond the Elbe, under the eyes of an active enemy and by a limited
+number of passages. In fact, the Austrian general could no longer
+man&oelig;uvre; he had no alternative but to fight.</p>
+
+<p>It is a noteworthy fact that neither his advance on Dubenetz nor his
+retreat on Lipa was known to the Prussians. These movements were concealed
+from the IInd Army by the Elbe, and the cavalry of the Ist was
+a mass of more than 8000 horse collected in one unwieldy Corps. The
+four squadrons attached to each Infantry Division were of course not able
+to undertake reconnoissances, as subsequently was later done in 1870 by a
+more advantageous plan of formation.</p>
+
+<p>Thus in the Royal head-quarters at Gitschin nothing certain was known.
+It was supposed that the main body of the hostile army was still advancing,
+and that it would take up a position with the Elbe in its front and its
+flanks resting on the fortresses of Josephstadt and Königgrätz. There<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[414]</a></span>
+were, then, these alternatives&mdash;either to turn this extremely strong position,
+or attack it in front.</p>
+
+<p>By the adoption of the first the communications of the Austrian Army with
+Pardubitz would be so seriously threatened that it might probably be compelled
+to retreat. But to secure the safety of such a movement our IInd
+Army must relieve our Ist and cross over to the right bank of the Elbe.
+And in this case the flank march of the latter close past the enemy's
+front might easily be interfered with, if passages enough across the river
+had been prepared by him.</p>
+
+<p>In the second case, success could only be hoped for if an advance of the
+IInd Army on the right flank of the enemy's position could be combined
+with the attack in front. For this it must be kept on the left bank.</p>
+
+<p>The separation of the two armies, which was for the present intentionally
+maintained, allowed of either plan being followed; but mine was the
+serious responsibility of advising his Majesty which should be chosen.</p>
+
+<p>To keep both alternatives open for the present, General von Herwarth
+was ordered to occupy Pardubitz, and the Crown Prince to remain on the
+left bank of the Elbe, to reconnoitre that river as well as the Aupa and
+the Metau, and to remove all obstacles which might oppose a crossing in
+one or the other direction. At length, on July 2nd, Prince Frederick
+Charles was ordered, in the event of his finding a large force in front of
+the Elbe, to attack it at once. But, on the evening of that day, it came
+to the knowledge of the Prince that the whole Austrian Army had marched
+to and was in position on the Bistritz; and in obedience to instructions
+received, he at once ordered the Ist Army and the Army of the Elbe to
+assemble close in front of the enemy by daybreak next morning.</p>
+
+<p>General von Voigts-Rhetz brought the news at eleven o'clock in the
+evening to the King at Gitschin, and his Majesty sent him over to me.</p>
+
+<p>This information dispelled all doubts and lifted a weight from my heart.
+With a "Thank God!" I sprang out of bed, and hastened across to the
+King, who was lodged on the other side of the Market Place.</p>
+
+<p>His Majesty also had gone to rest in his little camp-bed. After a brief
+explanation on my part, he said he fully understood the situation, decided
+on giving battle next day with all three armies in co-operation, and desired
+me to transmit the necessary orders to the Crown Prince, who was at
+once to cross the Elbe.</p>
+
+<p>The whole interview with his Majesty lasted barely ten minutes. No
+one else was present.</p>
+
+<p>This was the "Council of War" before Königgrätz.</p>
+
+<p>General von Podbielski and Major Count Wartensleben shared my
+quarters. The orders to the IInd Army were drawn up forthwith and
+despatched in duplicate by two different routes by midnight. One, carried
+by General von Voigts-Rhetz, informed Prince Frederick Charles of all the
+dispositions; the other was sent direct to Königinhof.</p>
+
+<p>In the course of his night-ride of above twenty-eight miles, Lieutenant-Colonel
+Count Finckenstein had to pass the rayon of the Ist Army Corps,
+which was furthest to the rear. He handed to the officer on duty a special
+letter to be forwarded immediately to the general in command, ordering
+an immediate assemblage of his troops and an independent advance,
+even before orders should reach him from Königinhof.</p>
+
+<p>The position of the Austrians on July 3rd had a front of not more
+than 4-3/4 miles. Our three armies advanced on it in an encompassing arc
+of about twenty-four miles in extent. But while in the centre the Ist and
+IInd Corps of the Ist Army stood before daylight close in front of the
+enemy, on the right wing General von Herwarth had to advance on the
+Bistritz from Smidar in the dark, by very bad roads, above nine miles; and
+on the left, the orders from the Royal head-quarter could not even reach
+the Crown Prince before four in the morning. It was therefore decided
+that the centre would have to maintain a detaining engagement for several<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[415]</a></span>
+hours. Above all, a possible offensive on the part of the enemy must here
+be met, and for this the whole IIIrd Corps and the cavalry corps stood
+ready; but the battle could only be decided by the double flank attack by
+both the flanking armies.<a name="FNanchor_84_84" id="FNanchor_84_84"></a><a href="#Footnote_84_84" class="fnanchor">[84]</a></p>
+
+<p>I had ridden out early to the heights in front of Sadowa with my officers,
+and at eight o'clock the King also arrived there.</p>
+
+<p>It was a dull morning, and from time to time a shower fell. The
+horizon was dim, yet on the right the white clouds of smoke showed that
+the heads of the Ist Army were already fighting some way off, in front of
+the villages on the Bistritz. On the left, in the woods of Swip, brisk
+rifle-firing was audible. Behind the King, besides his staff, were his royal
+guests, with their numerous suites of adjutants, equerries, and led
+horses, in number as many as two squadrons. An Austrian battery seemed
+to have selected them to aim at, and compelled him to move away with a
+smaller following.</p>
+
+<p>Soon afterwards, with Count Wartensleben, I rode through the village
+of Sadowa, which the enemy had already abandoned. The advanced guard
+of the 8th Division had massed its guns behind the wood under cover of
+the sharpshooters who had been sent forward, but many shells fell there
+from a large battery in front of the exits from the copses. As we rode
+further along the road we admired the coolness of a huge ox, which went
+on its way, heedless of the shot, and seemed determined to charge the
+enemy's position.</p>
+
+<p>The formidable array of the IIIrd and Xth Austrian Corps' Artillery
+opposite the wood prevented any attempt to break through it, and I was in
+time to countermand an order which had been given to do so.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, further to the left, General von Fransecky had vigorously
+passed to the offensive. After a sharp struggle he had driven the
+enemy out of the Swip woods, and come through to the further side.
+Against him he had the IVth Austrian Corps; but now the IInd and part
+of the IIIrd Austrian Corps turned on the 7th Division; 57 battalions
+against 14. In the thick brushwood all the bodies had become mixed, personal
+command was impossible, and, in spite of our obstinate resistance,
+isolated detachments were taken prisoners, and others were dispersed.</p>
+
+<p>Such a rabble rushed out of the wood at the very moment when the King
+and his staff rode up; his Majesty looked on with some displeasure,<a name="FNanchor_85_85" id="FNanchor_85_85"></a><a href="#Footnote_85_85" class="fnanchor">[85]</a> but the
+wounded officer, who was trying to keep his little band together, at once
+led it back into the fight. In spite of heavy losses the division got firm
+possession of the northern side of the wood. It had drawn on itself very
+considerable forces of the enemy, which were subsequently missing from
+the positions which it was their duty to have defended.</p>
+
+<p>It was now eleven o'clock. The heads of the Ist Army had crossed the
+Bistritz, and taken most of the villages on its further bank; but these
+were only the enemy's advanced posts, which he had no intention of
+obstinately holding. His Corps held a position behind, whence their
+250 guns commanded the open plain which had to be crossed for the
+delivery of a further attack. On the right, General von Herwarth had
+reached the Bistritz, but on the left nothing was yet to be seen of the
+Crown Prince.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[416]</a></span></p><p>The battle had come to a standstill. In the centre the Ist Army was
+still fighting about the villages on the Bistritz; the cavalry could not get
+forward, and the artillery found no good position to occupy. The troops
+had been for five hours under the enemy's lively fire, without food,
+to prepare which there had been no time.</p>
+
+<p>Some doubt as to the issue of the battle existed probably in many minds;
+perhaps in that of Count Bismarck, as he offered me his cigar case. As I
+was subsequently informed, he took it for a good sign that of two cigars I
+coolly selected the better one.</p>
+
+<p>The King asked me at about this time what I thought of the prospects of
+the battle. I replied, "Your Majesty to-day will not only win the battle,
+but decide the war."</p>
+
+<p>It could not be otherwise.</p>
+
+<p>We had the advantage in numbers,<a name="FNanchor_86_86" id="FNanchor_86_86"></a><a href="#Footnote_86_86" class="fnanchor">[86]</a> which in war is never to be
+despised; and it was certain that our IInd Army must finally appear on
+the flank and rear of the Austrians.</p>
+
+<p>At about 1.30 a white cloud was seen on the height, crowned with trees,
+and visible from afar, on which our field-glasses had been centred. It was
+indeed not yet the IInd Army, but the smoke of the fire which, directed
+thereon, announced its near approach. The joyful shout, "The Crown
+Prince is coming!" ran through the ranks. I sent the wished-for news
+to General von Herwarth, who meanwhile had carried Problus, in spite of
+the heroic defence of the Saxons.</p>
+
+<p>The IInd Army had started at 7.30 in the morning; only the Ist Corps
+had delayed till about 9.15. The advance by bad roads, in part across the
+fields, had taken much time. The hill-road stretching from Horenowes to
+Trotina, if efficiently held, could not but be a serious obstacle. But in its
+eager pressure on Fransecky's Division the enemy's right wing had made
+a wheel to the left, so that it lay open to some extent to the attack on its
+rear now impending.</p>
+
+<p>The Crown Prince's progress was not yet visible to us, but at about half-past
+three the King ordered the advance of the Ist Army also.</p>
+
+<p>As we emerged from the wood of Sadowa into the open we found still a
+part of the great battery which had so long prevented us from debouching
+here, but the teams and gunners lay stretched by the wrecked guns.
+There was nothing else to be seen of the enemy over a wide distance.</p>
+
+<p>The Austrian retreat from the position grasped by us on two sides, had
+become inevitable, and had, in fact, been effected some time before. Their
+admirable artillery, firing on to the last moment, had screened their retreat
+and given the infantry a long start. The crossing of the Bistritz seriously<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[417]</a></span>
+delayed the advance, especially of the cavalry, so that only isolated
+detachments of it yet came up with the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>We rode at a smart gallop across the wide field of battle, without looking
+much about us on the scene of horror. Finally, we found our three armies
+which had at last pushed on into a circumscribed space from their several
+directions, and had got much mixed. It took twenty-four hours to remedy
+the confusion and re-form the bodies; an immediate pursuit was impossible,
+but the victory was complete.</p>
+
+<p>The exhausted men now sought resting-places in the villages or the open
+field as best they might. Anything that came to hand by way of food
+was of course taken; my wandering ox probably among the rest. The
+death-cries of pigs and geese were heard; but necessity knows no law, and
+the baggage-waggons were naturally not on the spot.</p>
+
+<p>The King, too, remained at a hamlet on the field. Only I and my two
+officers had to journey some twenty-four miles back to Gitschin, where the
+bureaux were.</p>
+
+<p>We had set out thence at four in the morning, and had been fourteen
+hours in the saddle. In the hurry of departure no one had thought of
+providing himself with food. An Uhlan of the 2nd Regiment had bestowed
+on me a slice of sausage, bread he had none himself. On our way back we
+met the endless train of provision and ammunition waggons, often extending
+all across the road. We did not reach our quarters till midnight.
+There was nothing to eat even here at this hour, but I was so exhausted
+that I threw myself on my bed in great-coat and sash, and fell asleep
+instantly. Next morning new orders had to be prepared and laid before
+his Majesty at Horitz.</p>
+
+<p>The Great King<a name="FNanchor_87_87" id="FNanchor_87_87"></a><a href="#Footnote_87_87" class="fnanchor">[87]</a> had needed to struggle for seven years to reduce the
+might of Austria, which his more fortunate and also more powerful grandson<a name="FNanchor_88_88" id="FNanchor_88_88"></a><a href="#Footnote_88_88" class="fnanchor">[88]</a>
+had achieved in as many weeks. The campaign had proved decisive in the
+first eight days from June 27th to July 3rd.</p>
+
+<p>The war of 1866 was entered on not as a defensive measure to meet a
+threat against the existence of Prussia, nor in obedience to public
+opinion and the voice of the people: it was a struggle, long foreseen
+and calmly prepared for, recognized as a necessity by the Cabinet, not for
+territorial aggrandizement or material advantage, but for an ideal end&mdash;the
+establishment of power. Not a foot of land was exacted from defeated
+Austria, but she had to renounce all part in the hegemony of Germany.</p>
+
+<p>The Princes of the Reich had themselves to blame that the old Empire
+had now for centuries allowed domestic politics to override German national
+politics. Austria had exhausted her strength in conquests south of the
+Alps while she left the western German provinces unprotected, instead
+of following the road pointed out by the course of the Danube. Her centre
+of gravity lay outside of Germany; Prussia's lay within it. Prussia felt
+her strength, and that it behoved her to assume the leadership of the German
+races. The regrettable but unavoidable exclusion of one of them from
+the new Reich could only be to a small extent remedied by a subsequent
+alliance. But Germany has become immeasurably greater without Austria,
+than it was before with Austria.</p>
+
+<p>But all this has nothing to do with the legends of which I am telling.</p>
+
+<p>One of these has been sung in verse, and in fine verse too.</p>
+
+<p>The scene is Versailles. The French are making a sortie from Paris, and
+the generals, instead of betaking themselves to their fighting troops, are
+assembled to consider whether head-quarters may safely remain any longer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[418]</a></span>
+at Versailles. Opinions are divided, no one dares speak out. The Chief of
+the General Staff, who is above all called on to express his views, remains
+silent. The perplexity seems to be great. Only the War Minister rises and
+protests with the greatest emphasis against a measure so injurious from a
+political and military point of view as a removal. He is warmly thanked
+by the King as being the only man who has the courage to speak the truth
+freely and fearlessly.</p>
+
+<p>The truth is that while the King and his whole escort had ridden out to
+the Vth Army Corps, the Marshal of the household, in his over-anxiety,
+had the horses put to the royal carriages, and this became known in the
+town; and indeed may have excited all sorts of hopes in the sanguine
+inhabitants.</p>
+
+<p>Versailles was protected by four Army Corps. It never entered anybody's
+head to think of evacuating the town.</p>
+
+<p>I can positively assert no Council of War was ever held either in 1866
+or 1870&mdash;71.</p>
+
+<p>Excepting on the march and on days of battle, an audience was regularly
+held by his Majesty at ten o'clock, at which I, accompanied by the Quartermaster-General,
+laid the latest reports and information before him, and made
+our suggestions on that basis. The Chief of the Military Cabinet and the
+Minister of War were also present, and while the head-quarters of the
+IIIrd Army were at Versailles, the Crown Prince also; but all merely as
+listeners. The King occasionally required them to give him information
+on one point or another; but I do not remember that he ever asked for
+advice concerning the operations in the field or the suggestions I made.</p>
+
+<p>These, which I always discussed beforehand with my staff officers,
+were, on the contrary, generally maturely weighed by his Majesty himself.
+He always pointed out with a military eye and an invariably correct
+estimate of the situation, all the objections that might be raised to their
+execution; but as in war every step is beset with danger, the plans laid
+before him were invariably adopted.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[419]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_84_84" id="Footnote_84_84"></a><a href="#FNanchor_84_84"><span class="label">[84]</span></a> viz. The IInd Army, commanded by the Crown Prince of Prussia,
+which was to strike the Austrian right flank and right rear; and the Army
+of the Elbe, commanded by General Herwarth von Bittenfeld, which was to
+strike the Austrian left flank.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_85_85" id="Footnote_85_85"></a><a href="#FNanchor_85_85"><span class="label">[85]</span></a> I have a history of the war, published at Tokio, in the Japanese
+language, with very original illustrations. One of these has for its title,
+"The King scolding the Army." [<span class="smcap">Moltke.</span>]</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_86_86" id="Footnote_86_86"></a><a href="#FNanchor_86_86"><span class="label">[86]</span></a> During a long peace the sphere of action of the War Minister's
+department and the General Staff were not distinctly defined. The providing
+for the troops in peace was the function of the former, and in war
+time a number of official duties which could be superintended by the central
+authorities at home. Thus the place of the Minister of War was not at
+head-quarters, but at Berlin. The Chief of the General Staff, on the other
+hand, from the moment when the mobilization is ordered, assumes the whole
+responsibility for the marching and transport already prepared for during
+peace, both for the first assembling of the forces, and for their subsequent
+employment, for which he has only to ask the consent of the Commander-in-Chief&mdash;always,
+with us, the King.
+</p><p>
+How necessary this disjunction of the two authorities is, I had to experience
+in June, 1866. Without my knowledge the order had been given
+for the VIIth Corps to remain on the Rhine. It was only by my representations
+that the 16th Division was moved up into Bohemia, and our
+numerical superiority thus brought up to a decisive strength. [<span class="smcap">Moltke.</span>]</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_87_87" id="Footnote_87_87"></a><a href="#FNanchor_87_87"><span class="label">[87]</span></a> Frederick the Great.</p></div>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_88_88" id="Footnote_88_88"></a><a href="#FNanchor_88_88"><span class="label">[88]</span></a> Wilhelm was not the grandson, but the great-grand-nephew of
+Frederick the Great. The term is very rarely used in the wider sense of
+"descendant;" but Frederick was childless.</p></div>
+</div>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>ORDERS OF BATTLE</h2>
+
+<div class="center">OF THE</div>
+
+<h2>FRENCH AND GERMAN ARMIES IN THE FIRST
+PERIOD OF THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.</h2>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<h3>ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE FRENCH ARMIES.</h3>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<h4>ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE "ARMY OF THE RHINE."</h4>
+
+<p>
+Commander-in-Chief: The Emperor Napoleon III.<br />
+Major-General: Marshal Le B&oelig;uf.<br />
+Aide-Major-General: General Dejean.<br />
+Chiefs of Staff: Generals Jarras and Lebrun.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Soleille.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: General Coffinières de Nordeck.<br />
+Aides-de-camp to the Emperor: Generals Prince de la Moscawa, de<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Castlenau, Count Reille, Viscount Pajol.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">The Imperial Guard.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Bourbaki.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General d'Auvergne.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Pé-de-Arros.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Deligny.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Brincourt.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Chasseurs of the Guard.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 2nd Voltigeurs of the Guard.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Garnier.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 4th Voltigeurs of the Guard.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Picard.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Jeanningros.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Zouaves of the Guard (two battalions).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Grenadiers of the Guard.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Poitevin de la Croix.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd and 3rd Grenadiers of the Guard.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General Desvaux.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[420]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Halma du Frétay.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Guides.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Chasseurs of the Guard.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de France.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lancers of the Guard.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Dragoons of the Guard.</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Brigade: General du Preuil.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Cuirassiers of the Guard.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Carabiniers of the Guard.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve Artillery</i>: Colonel Clappier.</div>
+
+<p>
+Four horse-artillery batteries.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">1st Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Marshal MacMahon, afterwards General Ducrot.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Colson.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Forgeot.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Ducrot.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Moreno.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">13th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">18th and 96th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Postis du Houlbec.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">45th and 74th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries and one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Abel Douay, afterwards General Pellé.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Pelletier de Montmarie.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">16th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">50th and 78th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Pellé.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st regiment of Zouaves.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st regiment of Turcos.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General Raoult.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General L'Heriller.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Zouave regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">36th Line regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Lefèvre.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd regiment of Turcos.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">48th Line regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>4th Infantry Division</i>: General de Lartigue.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Frabonlet de Kerléadec.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st battalion of Chasseurs.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Zouave regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">56th Line regiment.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[421]</a></span>
+2nd Brigade: General Lacretelle.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd regiment of Turcos.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">87th Line regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General Duhesme.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General de Septeuil.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Hussar regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">11th Chasseur regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Nansouty.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd and 6th Lancer regiments.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">10th Dragoon regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Brigade: General Michel.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th and 9th Cuirassier regiments.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve Artillery</i>: Colonel de Vassart.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four horse-artillery batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">2nd Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Frossard.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Saget.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Gagneux.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Verge.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Letellier-Valazé.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd battalion of Chasseurs.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">32nd and 55th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Jobivet.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">76th and 77th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Bataille.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Pouget.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">12th battalion of Chasseurs.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th and 23rd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Fauvart-Bastoul.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">66th and 67th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General Laveaucoupet.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Doens.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">10th battalion of Chasseurs.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd and 63rd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Michelet.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">24th and 40th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General Lichtlin.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General de Valabrèque.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th and 5th regiments of Chasseurs.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[422]</a></span>
+2nd Brigade: General Bachelier.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th and 12th regiments of Dragoons.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve-Artillery</i>: Colonel Baudouin.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two mitrailleuse batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">3rd Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Marshal Bazaine, afterwards General Decaen.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Manèque.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General de Rochebouet.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Montaudon.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Aymard.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">18th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">51st and 62nd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Clinchant.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">81st and 95th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General de Castagny.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Cambriels.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">15th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">19th and 41st Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Duplessis.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">69th and 90th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General Metman.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General de Potier.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th and 29th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Arnaudeau.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">59th and 71st Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>4th Infantry Division</i>: General Decaen.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General de Brauer.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">11th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">44th and 60th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Sanglé-Ferrières.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">80th and 85th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General de Clérembault.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General de Bruchard.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd, 3rd, and 10th Chasseur regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Maubranches.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd and 4th Dragoon regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Brigade: General de Juniac.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th and 8th Dragoon regiments.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve Artillery</i>: Colonel de Lajaille.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[423]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four horse-artillery batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">4th Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General de Ladmirault.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Desaint de Martille.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Laffaile.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General de Cissey.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Count Brayer.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">20th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 6th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Golberg.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">57th and 73rd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Rose.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Bellecourt.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">13th and 43rd Line Regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Pradier.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">64th and 98th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General de Lorencez.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Pajol.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">15th and 33rd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Berger.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">54th and 65th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General Legrand.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General de Montaigu.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd and 7th Hussar regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Gondrecourt.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 11th Dragoon regiments.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve-Artillery</i>: Colonel Soleille.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two horse-artillery batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">5th Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General de Failly.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Besson.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Liédot.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Goze.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[424]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Grenier.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">11th and 46th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Nicolas.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">61st and 86th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General de l'Abadie d'Aydroin.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Lapasset.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">14th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">49th and 84th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Maussion.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">88th and 97th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General Guyot de Lespart.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Abbatucci.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">19th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">17th and 27th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Fontanges de Couzan.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">30th and 68th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General Brahaut.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Pierre de Bernis.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th and 12th Chasseur regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de la Mortière.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 5th Lancer regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve-Artillery</i>: Colonel de Salignac-Fénelon.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two horse-artillery batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">6th Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Marshal Canrobert.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Henri.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General de Berkheim.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Tixier.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Péchot.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">9th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th and 10th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Le Roy de Dais.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">12th and 100th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Bisson.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[425]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Noël.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">9th and 14th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Maurice.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">20th and 30th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General La Font de Villiers.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Becquet de Sonnay.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">75th and 91st Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Colin.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">93rd Line regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>4th Infantry Division</i>: General Levassor-Sorval.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General de Marguenat.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">25th and 26th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Chanaleilles.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">28th and 70th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General de Salignac-Fénelon.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Tilliard.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Hussar regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Chasseur regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Savaresse.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 7th Lancer regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Brigade: General de Béville.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th and 6th Cuirassier regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve-Artillery</i>: Colonel de Montluisant.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">7th Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Félix Douay.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Renson.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Liègard.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Conseil-Dumesnil.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Le Norman de Bretteville.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">17th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 21st Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Maire.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">47th and 99th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Liébert.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[426]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Guiomar.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th and 37th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de la Bastide.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">53rd and 89th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General Dumont.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Bordas.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">52nd and 72nd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Bittard des Portes.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">82nd and 83rd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General Ameil.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Cambriel.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Hussar regiments.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th and 8th Lancer regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Jolif du Coulombier.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Hussar regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Dragoon regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve Artillery.</i></div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Reserve Cavalry.</span></div>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Division</i>: General du Barrail.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Margueritte.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 3rd regiments Chasseurs d'Afrique.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Lajaille.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd and 4th regiments Chasseurs d'Afrique.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Division</i>: General de Bonnemains.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Girard.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 2nd Cuirassier regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 4th Cuirassier regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Division</i>: General Marquis de Forton.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Prince J. Murat.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 9th Dragoon regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Grammont.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th and 10th Cuirassier regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Great Artillery Reserve.</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[427]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Cann.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel Laffont de Ladébat.<br />
+13th Field-Artillery regiment.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Eight 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+18th Field-Artillery regiment.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Eight batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+Three mountain batteries.<br />
+</p>
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+
+<p><i>Note</i>.&mdash;The 6th Corps (Canrobert), when ordered to Metz from Châlons,
+left there three line regiments, its cavalry division, and reserve artillery.</p>
+
+<p>The battle of Wörth divided the original Army of the Rhine into two parts,
+one of which is generally known as "The Army of Metz," and the other,
+with additions, became "The Army of Châlons." Their respective "Orders
+of Battle" follow:&mdash;</p>
+
+
+<h4>ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF CHÂLONS.</h4>
+
+<p>
+Commander-in-Chief: Marshal MacMahon, Duke of Magenta, afterwards General de Wimpfen.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Faure.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Forgeot.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: General Dejean.<br />
+Intendant-General: Rousillon.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">1st Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Ducrot.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel Robert.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Frigola.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Wolff.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Moreno.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">13th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">18th and 96th Line regiments.</span><br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Postis du Houlbec.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">45th Line regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1st Zouave regiment.</span><br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Pellé.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Pelletier de Montmarie.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">16th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">50th and 74th Line regiments.</span><br />
+2nd Brigade: General Gandil.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">78th Line regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1st regiment of Turcos.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">1st "marching" regiment.</span><br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General L'Heriller.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[428]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Carteret-Trécourt.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Zouave regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">36th Line regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Lefébvre.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd regiment of Turcos.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">48th Line regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st battalion of Franctireurs of Paris.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4 pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>4th Infantry Division</i>: General de Lartigue.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Fraboulet de Kerléadec.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd regiment of Tirailleurs (Turcos).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">56th Line regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Bellemare.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Zouave regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd "marching" regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General Duhesme; after August 25, General Michel.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General de Septeuil.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Hussar regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">11th Chasseur regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Nansouty.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd and 6th Lancer regiments.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">10th Dragoon regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Brigade: General Michel.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th and 9th Cuirassier regiments.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve Artillery</i>: Colonel Grouvell.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">5th Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General de Failly.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Besson.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Liédot.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Goze.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Grenier, later General Saurin.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">11th and 46th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Baron Nicolas-Nicolas.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">61st and 86th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General de l'Abadie d'Aydrein.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[429]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Lapasset.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(With the army of Metz.)</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Maussion.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">88th and 97th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General Guyot de Lespart.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Abbatucci.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">19th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">17th and 27th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Fontanges de Couzan.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">30th and 68th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General Brahaut.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Viscount Pierre de Bernis.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th and 6th Chasseur regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de la Mortière.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 5th Lancer regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve Artillery</i>: Colonel de Salignac-Fénelon.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">7th Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Félix Douay.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Renson.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Liègard.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Conseil-Dumesnil.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Morand, afterwards General la Brettevillois.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">17th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 21st Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General St. Hilaire.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">47th and 99th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Liébert.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Guiomar.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th and 37th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de la Bastide.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">53rd and 89th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General Dumont.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[430]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Bordas.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">52nd and 72nd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Bittard des Portes.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">82nd and 83rd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Brigade</i>: General Ameil.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Cambriel.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Hussar regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th and 8th Lancer regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General du Coulombier (appointed).<br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve-Artillery</i>: Colonel Aubac.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">12th Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Lebrun.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Gresley.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General d'Ouvrier de Villegly.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: General Grandchamp.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Cambriels.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1 Chasseur marching battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">22nd and 34th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Villeneuve.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">58th and 72nd Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: General Lacretelle.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Bernier Maligny.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">14th, 20th, and 30th Line regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Marquisan.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 4th marching regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: General de Vassoigne.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Reboul.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 2nd regiments of marine infantry.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General Martin de Paillières.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd and 4th regiments of marine infantry.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division</i>: General de Salignac-Fénelon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[431]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Savaresse.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 7th Lancer regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Béville.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th and 6th Cuirassier regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Brigade: General Leforestier de Vendeune.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th and 8th Chasseurs.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Reserve Artillery</i>: Colonel Brisac.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 12-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Reserve Cavalry.</span></div>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Reserve Cavalry Division</i>: General Margueritte.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Tillard.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 2nd Chasseurs regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Galiffet.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st, 3rd and 4th Chasseurs d'Afrique.</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Reserve Cavalry Division</i>: General de Bonnemains.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Girard.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Hussar regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">47th Chasseur regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Brauer.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd and 3rd Cuirassiers.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+
+<h4>ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF METZ.</h4>
+
+<p>
+Commander-in-Chief: Marshal Bazaine.<br />
+Chief of Staff: General Jarras.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Soleille.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: General Viala.<br />
+</p>
+
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">The Imperial Guard.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Bourbaki (afterwards General Desvaux).<br />
+Chief of Staff: General d'Auvergne.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: General Pé-de-Arros.<br />
+</p>
+<div class="center">(Detail as above.)<br /><br /></div>
+
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">2nd Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Frossard.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>(Detail as above with the exception of the 3rd Division (Laveaucoupet's)
+detached to garrison duty.)</p>
+
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">3rd Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+General Decaen, afterwards Marshal Le B&oelig;uf.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center">(Detail as above.)<br /><br /></div>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">4th Corps.</span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">[432]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+General de Ladmirault.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center">(Detail as above.)<br /><br /></div>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">6th Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Marshal Canrobert.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>(Detail as above, with the exception that the Corps when ordered up to
+Metz, left behind at Châlons three infantry regiments, its cavalry division,
+its reserve artillery, and division artillery of the 2nd Division.)</p>
+
+<p>
+<span class="smcap">Lapasset's Brigade</span> (from attached 5th Corps).<br />
+<br />
+General Lapasset.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">14th Chasseur battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">49th and 84th Line regiments.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Reserve Cavalry.</span></div>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Reserve Cavalry Division</i>: General du Barrail.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Margueritte.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(Vide Army of Châlons.)</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Lajaille.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(The 4th regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique remained at Châlons.)</span><br />
+<br />
+Division-Artillery.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Reserve Cavalry Division</i>: General de Forton.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: General Prince J. Murat.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st and 9th Dragoon regiments.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: General de Grammont.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th and 10th Cuirassier regiments.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Great Artillery Reserve.</span></div>
+
+<div class="center">(As above, less six batteries detached to the 6th Corps.)</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 45%;" />
+<h2>ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE GERMAN ARMIES<br />
+ON 1<span class="smcap">ST</span> AUGUST, 1870.</h2>
+
+
+<p>Commander-in-Chief: H.M. the King of Prussia.</p>
+
+<p>King's aides-de-camp: General von Boyen; Lieut.-General von Treskow;
+Major-General von Steinäcker; Colonel Count Lehndorff; Lieut.-Colonel
+Prince Radziwill; Lieut.-Colonel Count Waldersee; Major
+von Alten.</p>
+
+<p>
+Chief of Staff: General Baron von Moltke.<br />
+Quarter-Master General: Lieut.-General von Podbielski.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Divisional Chiefs of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel Bronsart von Schellendorf;
+Lieut.-Colonel von Verdy du Vernois; Lieut.-Colonel von Brandenstein.</p>
+
+<p>
+Inspector-General of Artillery: General von Hindersin.<br />
+Inspector-General of Engineers: Lieut.-General von Kleist.<br />
+Commissary-General: Lieut.-General von Stosch.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center">I. ARMY.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">[433]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+Commander-in-Chief: General von Steinmetz, afterwards General von Manteuffel.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Major-General von Sperling.<br />
+Quartermaster-General: Colonel Count von Wartensleben.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General Schwartz.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major-General Biehler.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">7th Corps&mdash;Westphalia.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General von Zastrow.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel von Unger.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Zimmermann.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Treumann.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>13th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Glümer.</div>
+
+<p>
+25th Brigade: Major-General Baron v. d. Osten Sacken.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 13.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hanoverian Fusilier regiment, No. 73.</span><br />
+<br />
+26th Brigade: Major-General Baron v. d. Goltz.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 15.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 55.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Westphalian Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Westphalian Hussar regiment, No. 8.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Five batteries (two heavy, two light, and one horse-artillery) of the</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">7th field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Field-pioneer company, 7th corps, with entrenching tool-column.<br />
+<br />
+3rd Field-pioneer company, 7th corps.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>14th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Kamecke.</div>
+
+<p>
+27th Brigade: Major-General von François.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lower Rhine Fusilier regiment, No. 39.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 74.</span><br />
+<br />
+28th Brigade: Major-General von Woyna.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 53.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 77.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy and two light) of the 7th Westphalian</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hanoverian Hussar regiment, No. 15.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 7th corps, with light bridging-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel von Helden-Sarnowski.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two Horse artillery, two light, and two heavy field-batteries of the</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">7th Field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Artillery Ammunition columns.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Infantry&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"&nbsp; &nbsp;  Pontoon&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "</span><br />
+<br />
+The 7th Westphalian train-battalion.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">8th Corps&mdash;Rhine Provinces.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General von Goeben.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel von Witzendorff.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Colonel von Kamecke.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Schulz.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>15th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Weltzien.
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">[434]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+29th Brigade: Major-General von Wedell.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">East Prussian Fusilier regiment, No. 33.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 60.</span><br />
+<br />
+30th Brigade: Major-General von Strubberg.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 28.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 67.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th Rhine Province Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">King's Hussar regiment (1st Rhine), No. 7.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 8th Field-Artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 8th corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>16th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Barnekow.</div>
+
+<p>
+31st Brigade: Major-General Count Neidhardt v. Gneisenau.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 29.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 69.</span><br />
+<br />
+32nd Brigade: Colonel von Rex.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hohenzollern Fusilier regiment, No. 40.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Thüringian Infantry regiment, No. 72.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Rhine Hussar regiment, No. 9.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 8th Field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 8th corps, with light bridging-train.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 8th corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps Artillery</i>: Colonel von Broecker.</div>
+
+<p>
+Two batteries of horse-artillery, two heavy and two light field batteries,<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of the 8th Field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery, Infantry, and pontoon columns belonging to the 8th Field-artillery<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+The 8th, Rhenish, train-battalion.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">3rd Cavalry Division.</span></div>
+
+<p>Lieut.-General Count v. d. Gröben.</p>
+
+<p>
+6th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Mirus.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Rhine Prov. Cuirassier regiment, No. 8.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 4em;">"&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp;  Uhlan regiment, No. 7.</span><br />
+<br />
+7th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Count zu Dohna.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Westphalian Uhlan regiment, No. 5.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Hanoverian Uhlan regiment, No. 14.</span><br />
+<br />
+One battery of horse-artillery of the 7th Westphalian Field-artillery<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">1st Corps&mdash;East Prussia.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Cavalry-General Baron von Manteuffel.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel v. d. Burg.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Bergmann.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Fahland.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Bentheim.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: Major-General von Gayl.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Crown Prince's Grenadier regiment (1st East Prussian), No. 1.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th East Prussian Infantry regiment, No. 41.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>
+2nd Brigade: Major-General von Falkenstein.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">[435]</a></span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 3.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th&nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  Infantry regiment, No. 43.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">East Prussian Jäger battalion, No. 1.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lithuanian Dragoon regiment, No. 1.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 1st East Prussian Field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 1st corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 1st corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: Major-General von Pritzelwitz.</div>
+
+<p>
+3rd Brigade: Major-General von Memerty.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 4.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th&nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  Infantry regiment, No. 44.</span><br />
+<br />
+4th Brigade: Major-General von Zzlinitzki.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 5.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th&nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  Infantry regiment, No. 45.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">East Prussian Dragoon regiment, No. 10.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 1st, East Prussian, Field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 1st corps, with light bridging-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel Junge.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } of 1st, East Prussian,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy " "&nbsp;  &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }&nbsp;  Field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns belonging to 1st<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+The 1st East Prussian train-battalion.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">1st Cavalry Division.</span></div>
+
+<p>Lieut.-General von Hartmann.</p>
+
+<p>
+1st Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Lüderitz.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Queen's Cuirassier regiment (Pomeranian), No. 2.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Pomeranian Uhlan regiment, No. 4.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  No. 9.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baumgarth.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">East Prussian Cuirassier regiment, No. 3.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">"&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp;  Uhlan regiment, No. 8.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lithuanian&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; No. 12.</span><br />
+<br />
+One battery of horse-artillery of the 1st, East Prussian, Field-artillery<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+
+<div class="center">II. ARMY.</div>
+
+<p>
+Commander-in-Chief: Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince Frederic Charles<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">of Prussia.</span><br />
+Chief of Staff: Major-General von Stiehle.<br />
+Quartermaster-General: Colonel von Hertzberg.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General von Colomier.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Colonel Leuthaus.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Guard Corps&mdash;General.</span>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">[436]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince August of Würtemberg.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Major-General von Dannenberg.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General Prince Kraft of Hohenloh<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ingelsingen.</span><br />
+Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Bogun von Wangenheim.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Guard-Infantry Division</i>: Major-General von Pape.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: Major-General von Kessel.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st regiment of Foot Guards.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: Major-General Baron von Medem.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd regiment of Foot Guards.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Guard Fusilier regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th regiment of Foot Guards.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Guard Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">"&nbsp;  Hussar regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Guard field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company of the Guard with light bridging-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Guard-Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Budritzki.</div>
+
+<p>
+3rd Brigade: Colonel Knappe von Knappstaedt.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Guard Grenadier regiment (Emperor Alexander's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (Queen Elizabeth's).</span><br />
+<br />
+4th Brigade: Major-General von Berger.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Guard Grenadier regiment (Emperor Francis').</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th&nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; (Queen's).</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Guard Rifle battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Guard Uhlan regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Guard field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company of the Guard with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company of the Guard.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Guard-Cavalry Division</i>: Lieut.-General Count v. d. Goltz.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: Major-General Count von Brandenburg I.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Regiment of the Guard du Corps.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Guard Cuirassier regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: Major-General H.R.H. Prince Albert of Prussia.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Guard Uhlan regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Brigade: Major-General Count von Brandenburg II.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Guard Dragoon regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel von Scherbening.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Three batteries of horse-artillery&nbsp; }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  }&nbsp; of the Guard field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }&nbsp; regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery ammunition, Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of the<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Guard field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Guard train-battalion.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">3rd Corps&mdash;Brandenburg.</span>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">[437]</a></span></div>
+
+<p>
+Lieut.-General von Alvensleben II.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel von Voigts-Rhetz.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Bülow.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Sabarth.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>5th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Stülpnagel.</div>
+
+<p>
+9th Brigade: Major-General von Döring.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Leib.-Grenadier regiment (1st Brandenburg), No. 8.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 48.</span><br />
+<br />
+10th Brigade: Major-General von Schwerin.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Brandenburg Grenadier regiment, No. 12.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 52.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Brandenburg Jäger battalion, No. 3.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Brandenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 12.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Brandenburg Field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">regiment, No. 3.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>6th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General Baron von Buddenbrock.</div>
+
+<p>
+11th Brigade: Major-General von Rothmaler.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 20.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Brandenburg Fusilier regiment, No. 35.</span><br />
+<br />
+12th Brigade: Colonel von Bismarck.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 24.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 64.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Brandenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 2.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Brandenburg field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">regiment, No. 3.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel von Dresky.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } of the Brandenburg field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }&nbsp;  regiment, No. 3.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps, with light bridging-train.</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery ammunition, Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of the<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brandenburg field-artillery regiment, No. 3.</span><br />
+<br />
+Brandenburg train battalion.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">4th Corps&mdash;Saxon Provinces and Anhalt.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General von Alvensleben I.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel von Thile.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Scherbening.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel von Eltester.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>7th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Grosz von Schwarzhoff.</div>
+
+<p>
+13th Brigade: Major-General von Vorries.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 26.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 66.</span><br />
+<br />
+14th Brigade: Major-General von Zychlinski.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 27.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Anhalt Infantry regiment, No. 93.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">[438]</a></span>
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Magdeburg Jäger battalion, No. 4.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Westphalian Dragoon regiment, No. 7.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Magdeburg field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 4th corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 4th corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>8th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Schöler.</div>
+
+<p>
+15th Brigade: Major-General von Kessler.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Thüringian Infantry regiment, No. 31.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  No. 71.</span><br />
+<br />
+16th Brigade: Colonel von Scheffler.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Schleswig-Holstein Fusilier regiment, No. 86.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Thüringian Infantry regiment, No. 96.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thüringian Hussar regiment, No. 12.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Magdeburg field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">regiment, No. 4.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 4th corps, with light bridge-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel Crusius.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; } of the Magdeburg field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy&nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  }&nbsp;  regiment, No. 4.</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery ammunition, infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns belonging<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">to Magdeburg field-artillery regiment, No. 4.</span><br />
+<br />
+Magdeburg train-battalion, No. 4.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">9th Corps&mdash;Schleswig-Holstein and Hesse.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General von Manstein.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Major Bronsart von Schellendorf.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General Baron von Puttkammer.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Hutier.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>18th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General Baron von Wrangel.</div>
+
+<p>
+35th Brigade: Major-General von Blumenthal.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Magdeburg Fusilier regiment, No. 36.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Schleswig Infantry regiment, No. 84.</span><br />
+<br />
+36th Brigade: Major-General von Below.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Silesian Grenadier regiment, No. 11.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Holstein Infantry regiment, No. 85.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lauenburg Jäger battalion, No. 9.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Magdeburg Dragoon regiment, No. 6.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Schleswig-Holstein field-artillery regiment, No. 9.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 9th corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 9th corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Hessian Division</i> (<i>25th</i>): Lieut.-General Prince Louis of Hesse.</div>
+
+<p>
+49th Brigade: Major-General von Wittich.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Infantry regiment (Body Guard).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  (Grand Duke's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st (Guard) Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">[439]</a></span>
+50th Brigade: Colonel von Lynker.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Infantry regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+(25th) Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Schlotheim.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Reiter regiment (Guard Cheveauxlegers).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp;  (Leib Chevauxlegers).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Five field-batteries (two heavy, three light).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Pioneer company with light field bridge-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel von Jagemann.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery&nbsp;  }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }&nbsp; of the Schleswig-Holstein field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  }&nbsp; &nbsp; regiment, No. 9.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">10th Corps&mdash;Hanover, Oldenburg, and Brunswick.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General von Voigts-Rhetz.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Caprivi.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Colonel Baron v. d. Becke.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Cramer.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>19th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Schwartzkoppen.</div>
+
+<p>
+37th Brigade: Colonel Lehmann.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">East Frisian Infantry regiment, No. 78.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Oldenburg Infantry regiment, No. 91.</span><br />
+<br />
+38th Brigade: Major-General von Wedell.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 16.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; No. 57.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Hanoverian Dragoon regiment, No. 9.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hanoverian field-artillery regiment, No. 10.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 10th corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 10th corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>20th Infantry Division</i>: Major-General von Kraatz-Koschlan.</div>
+
+<p>
+39th Brigade: Major-General von Woyna.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 56.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 79.</span><br />
+<br />
+40th Brigade: Major-General von Diringshofen.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 17.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Brunswick Infantry regiment, No. 92.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hanoverian Jäger battalion, No. 10.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Hanoverian Dragoon regiment, No. 16.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hanoverian field-artillery regiment, No. 10.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 10th corps, with light bridge-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel Baron v. d. Goltz.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery } of Hanoverian field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;  } regiment, No. 10.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light&nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery and Infantry ammunition columns belonging to Hanoverian<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">field-artillery regiment, No. 10.</span><br />
+<br />
+Hanoverian train-battalion, No. 10.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">[440]</a></span><span class="smcap">12th Corps&mdash;Kingdom of Saxony.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General H.R.H. the Crown Prince of Saxony, afterwards Prince George.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Zeschwitz.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General Köhler.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Klemna.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division, No. 23</i>: Lieut.-General H.R.H. Prince George of
+Saxony, afterwards Major-General von Montbé.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade, No. 45: Major-General von Craushaar.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st (Leib) Grenadier regiment, No. 100.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd (King William of Prussia) Grenadier regiment, No. 101.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Rifle (Fusilier) regiment, No. 108.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade, No. 46: Colonel von Montbé.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Infantry regiment (Crown Prince's), No. 102.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  No. 103.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Reiter regiment (Crown Prince's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 12th field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd company of 12th Pioneer battalion with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th company of 12th Pioneer battalion.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division, No. 24</i>: Major-General Nehrhoff von Holderberg.</div>
+
+<p>
+3rd Brigade, No. 47: Major-General Tauscher.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th Infantry regiment (Prince Frederic August's), No. 104.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Infantry regiment, No. 105.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Jäger battalion (Crown Prince's), No. 12.</span><br />
+<br />
+4th Brigade, No. 48: Colonel von Schulz.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Infantry regiment (Prince George's), No. 106.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  No. 107.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Jäger battalion, No. 13.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Reiter regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 12th field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd company of 12th Pioneer battalion with light bridge-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Cavalry Division, No. 12</i>: Major-General Count Lippe.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Cavalry Brigade, No. 23: Major-General Krug von Nidda.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Guard Reiter regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Uhlan regiment, No. 17.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Cavalry Brigade, No. 24: Major-General Senfft von Pilsach.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Reiter regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Uhlan regiment, No. 18.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery of 12th field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel Funcke.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Three light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;} of the 12th field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Three heavy&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  }</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of the 12th field-artillery regiment.<br />
+<br />
+12th train-battalion.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">[441]</a></span><span class="smcap">5th Cavalry Division.</span></div>
+
+<p>Lieut.-General Baron von Rheinbaben.</p>
+
+<p>
+11th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Barby.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Westphalian Cuirassier regiment, No. 4.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Hanoverian Uhlan regiment, No. 13.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Oldenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 19.</span><br />
+<br />
+12th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Bredow.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Magdeburg Cuirassier regiment, No. 7.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Altmark Uhlan regiment, No. 16.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Schleswig-Holstein Dragoon regiment, No. 13.</span><br />
+<br />
+13th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Redern.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Magdeburg Hussar regiment, No. 10.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Westphalian Hussar regiment, No. 11.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Brunswick Hussar regiment, No. 17.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">6th Cavalry Division.</span></div>
+
+<p>Lieut.-General H.S.H. Duke William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.</p>
+
+<p>
+14th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Diepenbroick-Grüter.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Brandenburg Cuirassier regiment, No. 6 (Emp. Nicholas I. of Russia).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Brandenburg Uhlan regiment, No. 3 (Emperor of Russia).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Schleswig-Holstein Uhlan regiment, No. 15.</span><br />
+<br />
+15th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Rauch.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Brandenburg Hussar regiment, No. 3 (Zieten's Hussars).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Schleswig-Holstein Hussar regiment, No. 16.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">2nd Corps&mdash;Pomerania.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General von Fransecky.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel von Wichmann.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Kleist.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Sandkuhl.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: Major-General von Hartmann.</div>
+
+<p>
+5th Brigade: Major-General von Koblinski.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Grenadier regiment: King Frederic William IV. (1st Pomeranian), No. 2.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 42.</span><br />
+<br />
+6th Brigade: Colonel v. d. Decken.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Pomeranian Infantry Regiment, No. 14.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 54.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Pomeranian Jäger battalion, No. 2.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Neumark Dragoon regiment, No. 3.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the 2nd Pomeranian field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps, with light bridge-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>4th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General Hann von Weyhern.</div>
+
+<p>
+7th Brigade: Major-General du Trossel.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Colberg Grenadier regiment (2nd Pomeranian), No. 9.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 49.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">[442]</a></span>
+8th Brigade: Major-General von Kettler.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 21.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 61.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Pomeranian Dragoon regiment, No. 11.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Pomeranian field-artillery regiment, No. 2.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel Petzel.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Pomeranian field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; } regiment, No. 2.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery and infantry ammunition and pontoon columns of Pomeranian<br />
+field-artillery regiment, No. 2.<br />
+<br />
+Pomeranian train-battalion, No. 2.<br />
+</p>
+
+
+<div class="center">III. ARMY.</div>
+
+<p>
+Commander-in-Chief: Infantry-General H.R.H. the Crown Prince of<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Prussia.</span><br />
+Chief of Staff: Lieut.-General von Blumenthal.<br />
+Quartermaster-General: Colonel von Gottberg.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General Herkt.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major-General Schulz.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">5th Corps&mdash;Posen and Liegnitz.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Lieutenant-General von Kirchbach.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel v. d. Esch.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Colonel Gaede.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Owstein.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>9th Infantry Division</i>: Major-General von Sandrart.</div>
+
+<p>
+17th Brigade: Colonel von Bothmer.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Posen Infantry regiment, No. 58.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; No. 59.</span><br />
+<br />
+18th Brigade: Major-General von Voigts-Rhetz.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">King's Grenadier regiment (2nd West Prussian), No. 7.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 47.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Silesian Jäger battalion, No. 5.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Silesian Dragoon regiment, No 4.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Lower Silesian field-artillery regiment, No. 5.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 5th corps, with light bridge-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>10th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Schmidt.</div>
+
+<p>
+19th Brigade: Colonel von Henning auf Schönhoff.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st West Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 6.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 46.</span><br />
+<br />
+20th Brigade: Major-General Walther von Montbary.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Westphalian Fusilier regiment, No. 37.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 50.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">[443]</a></span>
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Kurmark Dragoon regiment, No. 14.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of field-artillery regiment, No. 5.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 5th corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp;  "</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Lieut.-Colonel Köhler.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } of the Lower Silesian field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy "&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }&nbsp;  regiment, No. 5.</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery and infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of field-artillery<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1.5em;">regiment, No. 5.</span><br />
+<br />
+Lower Silesian train-battalion, No. 5.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">11th Corps&mdash;Hesse, Nassau, Saxe-Weimar, &amp;c.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Lieut.-General von Bose.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Major-General Stein von Kaminski.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Major-General Hausmann.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Crüger.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>21st Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Schachtmeyer.</div>
+
+<p>
+41st Brigade: Colonel von Koblinski.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hessian Fusilier regiment, No. 80.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Nassau Infantry regiment, No. 87.</span><br />
+<br />
+42nd Brigade: Major-General von Thiele.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Hessian Infantry regiment, No. 82.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Nassau Infantry regiment, No. 88.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Hessian Jäger battalion, No. 11.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Hessian Hussar regiment, No. 14.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hessian field-artillery regiment,</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">No. 11.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 11th corps, with light bridge-train.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>22nd Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Gersdorff.</div>
+
+<p>
+43rd Brigade: Colonel von Kontzki.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Thüringian Infantry regiment, No. 32.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th&nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  No. 95.</span><br />
+<br />
+44th Brigade: Major-General von Schkopp.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Hessian Infantry regiment, No. 83.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th Thüringian "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; No. 94.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Hessian Hussar regiment, No. 13.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hessian field-artillery regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 11th corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 11th corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel von Oppeln-Bronikowski.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } of Hessian field artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy "&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } regiment, No. 11.</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of 11th field-artillery<br />
+regiment.<br />
+<br />
+Hessian train-battalion, No. 11.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">[444]</a></span><span class="smcap">1st Bavarian Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General Baron von der Tann-Rathsamhausen.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Heinleth.<br />
+Director of Field-Artillery: Major-General von Malaisé.<br />
+Director of Engineers: Lieut.-Colonel Riem.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>1st Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Stephan.</div>
+
+<p>
+1st Brigade: Major-General Dietl.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Infantry body-guard regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two battalions of 1st Infantry regiment (King's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: Major-General von Orff.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Infantry regiment (Crown Prince's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two battalions of 11th Infantry regiment (v. d. Tann).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">9th Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Chevauxlegers regiment (Duke Maximilian's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>2nd Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General Count Pappenheim.</div>
+
+<p>
+3rd Brigade: Major-General Schumacher.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Infantry regiment (Prince Charles of Bavaria).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two battalions of 12th Infantry regiment (Queen Amalie of Greece).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+4th Brigade: Major-General Baron von der Tann.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">10th Infantry regiment (Prince Louis).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two battalions of 13th Infantry regiment (Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Chevauxlegers regiment (King's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<br />
+Cuirassier Brigade: Major-General von Tausch.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Cuirassier regiment (Prince Charles of Bavaria).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp;  (Prince Adalbert).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Chevauxlegers regiment (Grand Duke Constantine Nicolajusitch).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Brigade of Reserve-Artillery</i>: Colonel Bronzetti.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Division. Two 6-pounder, one 4-pounder battery. }</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Two 6-pounder batteries.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; } 42 guns.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Two 6-pounder batteries.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  }</span><br />
+<br />
+1st Field-Engineer Division.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">2nd Bavarian Corps.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Infantry-General von Hartmann.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel Baron von Horn.<br />
+Director of Field-Artillery: Major-General Lutz.<br />
+Director of Field-Engineering: Lieut.-Colonel Fogt.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>3rd Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Walther.</div>
+
+<p>
+5th Brigade: Major-General von Schleich.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Infantry regiment (King William of Prussia).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two battalions of 7th Infantry regiment (Hohenhausen).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p>
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">[445]</a></span>
+6th Brigade: Colonel Borries von Wissell.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two battalions of 14th Infantry regiment (Hartmann).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">15th Infantry regiment (King John of Saxony).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Chevauxlegers regiment (Emperor Alexander of Russia).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>4th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General Count von Bothmer.</div>
+
+<p>
+7th Brigade: Major-General von Thiereck.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two battalions of 5th Infantry regiments (Grand Duke of Hesse).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">9th Infantry regiment (Werde).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">6th Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+8th Brigade: Major-General Maillinger.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd battalion of 1st Infantry regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; 5th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; 7th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; " 11th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; " 14th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">10th Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Chevauxlegers regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<br />
+Uhlan Brigade: Major-General Baron von Mulzer.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Uhlan regiment (Archduke Nicholas of Russia).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Uhlan regiment (King's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th Chevauxlegers regiment (Prince Otto's).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+<br />
+Brigade of Reserve Artillery: Colonel von Pillement.<br />
+<br />
+1st Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One 4-pounder horse-artillery battery.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 6-pounder field batteries.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 6-pounder field batteries.</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 6-pounder field batteries.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Field-Engineer Division.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Würtemberg Division.</span></div>
+
+<p>Lieut.-General von Obernitz.</p>
+
+<p>
+Chief of Staff: Colonel von Friebig.<br />
+<br />
+1st Brigade: Major-General von Reitzenstein.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Infantry regiment (Queen Olga) (two battalions).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">7th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  (two battalions).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Brigade: Major-General von Strakloff.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Infantry regiment (two battalions).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp;  (King Charles's battalion).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+3rd Brigade: Major-General Baron von Hügel.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Infantry regiment (two battalions).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">8th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Jäger battalion.</span><br />
+<br />
+Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Count von Scheler.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Reiter regiment (King Charles) (four squadrons).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp;  (King William) (two&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; ).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp;  (Queen Olga)&nbsp;  (four&nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; ).</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">[446]</a></span><i>Artillery.</i></div>
+
+<p>
+1st Field-artillery Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<br />
+2nd Field-artillery Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-artillery Division:</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Baden Division.</span><a name="FNanchor_89_89" id="FNanchor_89_89"></a><a href="#Footnote_89_89" class="fnanchor">[89]</a></div>
+
+<div class="center">Lieut.-General von Beyer.</div>
+
+<p>
+Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Leszczynski.<br />
+<br />
+1st Brigade: Lieut.-General du Jarrys Baron La Roche.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Leib Grenadier regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Fusilier battalion of 4th Infantry regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Grenadier regiment (King of Prussia).</span><br />
+<br />
+Combined (3rd) Brigade: Major-General Keller.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Infantry regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">5th&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Dragoon regiment (Prince Charles).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Company of pontooners with light bridge-train and entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+<br />
+Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron La Roche-Starkenfels.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Leib Dragoon regiment.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Dragoon regiment (Margrave Maximilian).</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">One battery of horse-artillery.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery.</i></div>
+
+<p>
+Two heavy and two light field batteries.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">4th Cavalry Division.</span></div>
+
+<div class="center">Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince Albert of Prussia.</div>
+
+<p>
+8th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Hontheim.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">West Prussian Cuirassier regiment, No. 5.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Posen Uhlan regiment, No. 10.</span><br />
+<br />
+9th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Bernhardi.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">West Prussian Uhlan regiment, No. 1.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Thüringian Uhlan regiment, No. 6.</span><br />
+<br />
+10th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Krosigk.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Leib Hussar regiment, No. 2.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Rhine Province Dragoon regiment, No. 5.</span><br />
+<br />
+Two batteries of horse-artillery.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">6th Army Corps&mdash;Silesia.</span></div>
+
+<p>
+Cavalry-General von Tümpling.<br />
+Chief of Staff: Colonel von Salviati.<br />
+Commanding Artillery: Colonel von Ramm.<br />
+Commanding Engineer: Major Albrecht.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">[447]</a></span>
+<i>11th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Gordon.</div>
+
+<p>
+21st Brigade: Major-General von Malachowski.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Silesian Grenadier regiment, No. 10.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Posen Infantry regiment, No. 18.</span><br />
+<br />
+22nd Brigade: Major-General von Eckartsberg.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Silesian Fusilier regiment, No. 38.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 51.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Silesian Jäger battalion, No. 6.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Silesian Dragoon regiment, No. 8.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Silesian field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">regiment, No. 6.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Field-pioneer company, 6th corps.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>12th Infantry Division</i>: Lieut.-General von Hoffmann.</div>
+
+<p>
+23rd Brigade: Major-General Gündell.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Upper Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 22.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; No. 62.</span><br />
+<br />
+24th Brigade: Major-General von Fabeck.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Upper Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 23.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">4th&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; No. 63.</span><br />
+<br />
+Attached to Division:<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">3rd Silesian Dragoon regiment, No. 15.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Silesian field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 3em;">regiment, No. 6.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Field-pioneer company, 6th corps, with light bridge-train.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd Field-pioneer company, 6th corps, with entrenching tool-column.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><i>Corps-Artillery</i>: Colonel Arnold.</div>
+
+<p>
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two batteries of horse-artillery&nbsp; } of the Silesian field-artillery</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two light field-batteries&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  }&nbsp; regiment, No. 6</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Two heavy&nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }</span><br />
+<br />
+Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of Silesian field-artillery<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 1em;">regiment.</span><br />
+<br />
+Silesian train battalion, No. 6.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="center"><span class="smcap">2nd Cavalry Division.</span></div>
+
+<div class="center">Lieut.-General Count Stolberg-Wernigerode.</div>
+
+<p>
+3rd Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Colomb.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Silesian Leib Cuirassier regiment, No. 1.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Silesian Uhlan regiment, No. 2.</span><br />
+<br />
+4th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Barnekow.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Leib Hussar regiment, No. 1.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Pomeranian Hussar regiment (Blucher's Hussars), No. 5.</span><br />
+<br />
+5th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Baumbach.<br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">1st Silesian Hussar regiment, No. 4.</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">2nd&nbsp; &nbsp; "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;  "&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; No. 6.</span><br />
+<br />
+Two batteries of horse-artillery.<br />
+</p>
+
+<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTE:</h3>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_89_89" id="Footnote_89_89"></a><a href="#FNanchor_89_89"><span class="label">[89]</span></a> Subsequently many changes in the commands.</p></div>
+
+</div>
+
+<div class="center">
+<br /><br />THE END.<br />
+</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<div class="center"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">[448]</a></span>
+LONDON:<br />
+PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LIMITED,<br />
+ST. JOHN'S HOUSE, CLERKENWELL, E.C.<br />
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 1198px;">
+<br /><br /><br />
+<a href="images/fgw-map-hi.png">
+<img src="images/fgw-map-low.png" width="1198" height="826" alt="Map of the Franco-German War of 1870-71.
+Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.
+James R. Osgood, McIlvaine &amp; Co., Publishers, 45 Albemarle St., London, W." title="" /></a>
+<span class="caption">Map of the Franco-German War of 1870-71.<br />
+Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.<br />
+James R. Osgood, M<sup>c</sup>Ilvaine &amp; Co., Publishers, 45 Albemarle St., London, W.</span>
+<br />
+</div>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<div class="tnote">
+<div class="center">Transcriber's Notes</div>
+
+<p>Click on the map to display a high-resolution image.</p>
+
+<p>Obvious punctuation and accent errors repaired.
+Note that it was customary to write a captial "E" without
+an "accent aigu" and this has been retained.</p>
+
+<p>There are two distinct rivers "Loir" and "Loire" so no attempt has
+been made to consider one as a typo of the other.</p>
+
+<p>Hyphen removed: "left[-]ward" (page 34),
+"franc[-]tireur(s)" (pages 70, 281, 428),
+"gun[-]boats" (page 121),
+"grave[-]yard" (page 110, twice),
+"night[-]fall" (pages 276, 294),
+"re[-]captured" (page 195),
+"re[-]organized" (page 40),
+"re[-]organization" (page 25),
+"sand[-]bags" (page 362),
+"side[-]ward" (page 298),
+"St.[-]Menges" (page 92).</p>
+
+<p>Hyphen added: "battle[-]field" (page 212), "grape[-]shot" (page 53),
+re[-]opening (page 208).</p>
+
+<p>The following words appear both with and without hyphens and have not
+been changed: "counter[-]stroke(s)", "mid[-]day", "out[-]flank",
+"rear[-]guard", "re[-]cross(ed)", "re[-]provisioned", "sharp[-]shooters".</p>
+
+<p>Page 29: "committeed" changed to "committed" (already committed themselves).</p>
+
+<p>Pages 32, 321: "l" changed to "L" (Villers L'Orme, L'Epine de Dallon).</p>
+
+<p>Page 49: "Pont a Mousson" changed to "Pont à Mousson".</p>
+
+<p>Page 57: "to" changed to "of" (the small leaderless bodies of).</p>
+
+<p>Page 71: "of" added to "a halt on this side of the Meuse".</p>
+
+<p>Page 159: "beleagured" changed to "beleaguered" (had been beleaguered in Metz).</p>
+
+<p>Page 174: "Wolfganzen" changed to "Wolfgantzen".</p>
+
+<p>Page 178: "D" changed to "d" (d'Aurelle de Paladines).</p>
+
+<p>Page 191: "Ist" changed to "1st" (1st Cavalry Division).</p>
+
+<p>Page 195: Missing "t" added (observe towards Courcelles).</p>
+
+<p>Page 248: "Chatres" changed to "Chartres".</p>
+
+<p>Page 291: "Sleswig" changed to "Schleswig".</p>
+
+<p>Page 304: "Divison" changed to "Division" (The 14th Division).</p>
+
+<p>Page 315: "Sérancourt" changed to "Séraucourt".</p>
+
+<p>Page 325: "occupapation" changed to "occupation" (Hostile occupation).</p>
+
+<p>Page 346: "approach" changed to "approaching" (columns of all arms were approaching).</p>
+
+<p>Page 351: "Vannes" changed to "Vanves".</p>
+
+<p>Page 365: "Côte d'or" changed to "Côte d'Or".</p>
+
+<p>Page 414: "General von Herwath" changed to "General von Herwarth".</p>
+
+<p>Page 415: "fnrther" changed to "further" (further to the left).</p>
+
+<p>Page 415: "intentiou" changed to "intention" (which he had no intention).</p>
+
+<p>Page 417: "soene" changed to "scene" (The scene is Versailles).</p>
+
+<p>Page 418: "Versailes" changed to "Versailles".</p>
+
+<p>Page 429: "Guyot de l'Lespart" changed to "Guyot de Lespart".</p>
+
+<p>Page 436: "Connt" changed to "Count" (Count von Brandenburg).</p>
+
+<p>Page 442: "Fonr" changed to "Four" (Four batteries).</p>
+
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Franco-German War of 1870-71, by
+Count Helmuth, von Moltke
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Franco-German War of 1870-71
+
+Author: Count Helmuth, von Moltke
+
+Translator: Archibald Forbes
+
+Release Date: May 24, 2011 [EBook #36209]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR OF 1870-71 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Adrian Mastronardi, Moti Ben-Ari and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+    THE
+    FRANCO-GERMAN WAR
+    OF
+    1870--71
+
+
+    BY
+    FIELD-MARSHAL
+    COUNT HELMUTH VON MOLTKE
+
+
+    TRANSLATION REVISED BY
+    ARCHIBALD FORBES
+
+
+    _WITH A MAP, NOTES, AND ORDERS OF BATTLE_
+
+
+    LONDON
+    JAMES R. OSGOOD, McILVAINE & CO.
+    45, ALBEMARLE STREET, W.
+    1893
+    [_All rights reserved_]
+
+
+
+
+NOTE.
+
+
+The translation has been thoroughly revised for the sense as well as in
+regard to technical military terms and expressions. To the name of every
+German general officer mentioned in the text has been affixed, within
+brackets, his specific command, a liberty which the reader will perhaps
+not resent, since the interpolation is intended to facilitate his
+clearer understanding of a narrative condensed by the author with
+extreme severity.
+
+In further aid of elucidation there has been occasionally inserted, also
+within brackets, a date, a figure, or a word.
+
+A few footnotes will be found, which may perhaps be excused as not
+wholly irrelevant. In the Appendix have been inserted the "Orders of
+Battle" of both sides, as in the first period of the war.
+
+                                                       A. F.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+Field-Marshal von Moltke began this history of the War of 1870--1 in the
+spring of the year 1887, and during his residence at Creisau he worked
+at it for about three hours every morning. On his return to Berlin in
+the autumn of that year, the work was not quite finished, but he
+completed it by January, 1888, at Berlin, placed it in my hands, and
+never again alluded to the subject.
+
+The origin of the book was as follows. I had several times entreated
+him, but in vain, to make use of his leisure hours at Creisau in noting
+down some of his rich store of reminiscences. He always objected, in the
+same words: "Everything official that I have had occasion to write, or
+that is worth remembering, is to be seen in the Archives of the Staff
+Corps. My personal experiences had better be buried with me." He had a
+dislike to memoirs in general, which he was at no pains to conceal,
+saying that they only served to gratify the writer's vanity, and often
+contributed to distort important historical events by the subjective
+views of an individual, and the intrusion of trivial details. It might
+easily happen that a particular character which in history stood forth
+in noble simplicity should be hideously disfigured by the narrative of
+some personal experiences, and the ideal halo which had surrounded it be
+destroyed. And highly characteristic of Moltke's magnanimity are the
+words he once uttered on such an occasion, and which I noted at the
+time: "Whatever is published in a military history is always dressed for
+effect: yet it is a duty of piety and patriotism never to impair the
+prestige which identifies the glory of our Army with personages of lofty
+position."
+
+Not long after our arrival at Creisau, early in 1887, I repeated my
+suggestion. In reply to my request that he would write an account of the
+Campaign of 1870--1, he said: "You have the official history of the war.
+That contains everything. I admit," he added, "that it is too full of
+detail for the general type of readers, and far too technical. An
+abridgment must be made some day." I asked him whether he would allow me
+to lay the work on his table, and next morning he began the narrative
+contained in this volume, and comparing it as he went on with the
+official history, carried it through to the end.
+
+His purpose was to give a concise account of the war. But, while keeping
+this in view, he involuntarily--as was unavoidable in his
+position--regarded the undertaking from his own standpoint as Chief of
+the General Staff, and marshalled results so as to agree as a whole with
+the plan of campaign which was known only to the higher military
+authorities. Thus this work, which was undertaken in all simplicity of
+purpose, as a popular history, is practically from beginning to end the
+expression of a private opinion of the war by the Field-Marshal himself.
+
+The Appendix: "On a pretended Council of War in the Wars of William I.
+of Prussia," was written in 1881. In a book by Fedor von Koppen, "Maenner
+und Thaten, vaterlaendische Balladen" (_Men and Deeds: Patriotic Songs_),
+which the poet presented to the Field-Marshal, there is a poem entitled,
+"_A German Council of War at Versailles_" (with a historical note
+appended), describing an incident which never occurred, and which, under
+the conditions by which the relations of the Chief of the Staff to his
+Majesty were regulated, never could have occurred. To preclude any such
+mistakes for the future, and to settle once and for all the truth as to
+the much-discussed question of the Council of War, the Field-Marshal
+wrote this paper, to which he added a description of his personal
+experience of the battle of Koeniggraetz. It is this narrative which,
+shortly after the writer's death, was published in the _Allgemeine
+Zeitung_ of Munich, in the somewhat abridged and altered form in which
+the Field-Marshal had placed it at the disposal of Professor von
+Treitscke, the well-known historian.
+
+                             COUNT HELMUTH VON MOLTKE,
+                               Major and Adjutant to his
+                                 Imperial Majesty.
+
+Berlin, June 25th, 1891.
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+
+  PART I.
+                                                                 PAGE
+  Preparations for War                                              2
+  Combat of Weissenburg (4th August)                               12
+  Battle of Woerth (6th August)                                     14
+  Battle of Spicheren (6th August)                                 19
+  Right-wheel of the German Army                                   26
+  Battle of Colombey-Nouilly (14th August)                         29
+  Battle of Vionville--Mars la Tour (16th August)                  34
+  Battle of Gravelotte--St. Privat (18th August)                   49
+  New Distribution of the Army                                     64
+  The Army of Chalons                                              66
+  Battle of Beaumont (30th August)                                 76
+  Battle of Sedan (1st September)                                  87
+
+
+  PART II.
+
+  Sortie from Metz (26th August)                                  102
+  Battle of Noisseville (31st August)                             106
+  Change of Government in Paris                                   114
+  Retreat of General Vinoy                                        116
+  March on Paris of IIIrd Army and the Army of the Meuse          119
+  Investment of Paris (19th September)                            124
+  First Negotiations for Peace                                    129
+  Reduction of Toul (23rd September)                              130
+  Reduction of Strasburg (28th September)                         131
+  Operations round Paris to 15th October                          139
+  Action of Artenay (10th October)                                145
+  Engagement at Orleans (11th October)                            146
+  Reduction of Soissons (15th October)                            149
+  Storming of Chateaudun (18th October)                           151
+  Sortie against Malmaison (21st October)                         153
+  Storming of Le Bourget (30th October)                           156
+  Sortie from Metz against Bellevue (7th October)                 162
+  Capitulation of Metz (27th October)                             165
+  New Distribution of the Army                                    166
+  Operations of the XIVth Corps in the South-East (October)       166
+  Reduction of Schlettstadt (24th October)                        172
+  Reduction of Breisach (10th November)                           174
+  Reduction of Verdun (9th November)                              175
+  Advance of Ist and IInd Armies (up to mid-November)             177
+  Engagement at Coulmiers (9th November)                          181
+  Operations of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg                     187
+  Situation of IInd Army (second half of November)                189
+  Battle of Beaune la Rolande (28th November)                     192
+  Advance of the Army of the Loire to the relief of Paris         197
+  Battle of Loigny--Poupry (2nd December)                         199
+  Paris in November                                               204
+  Attempt of the Army of Paris to break out (30th November and
+    2nd December)                                                 207
+  Advance of the Ist Army in November                             216
+  Battle of Amiens (17th November)                                217
+  Reduction of La Fere (27th November)                            221
+  Reduction of Thionville (24th November)                         222
+  Investment of Belfort in November                               223
+  Battle of Orleans (3rd and 4th December)                        224
+  Offensive Operations South, East, and West                      233
+  Fighting of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (7th--10th December)  235
+  Interruption of important offensive operations in December      245
+  The XIVth Corps in December                                     250
+  The Ist Army in December                                        252
+  Reduction of Mezieres (1st January, 1871)                       257
+  Paris in December                                               259
+    Combat of Le Bourget (21st December)                          261
+    Bombardment of Mont-Avron (27th December)                     264
+  The Army of the East under General Bourbaki                     266
+  Advance of the IInd Army to Le Mans                             269
+  Battle in front of Le Mans (10th--12th January)                 284
+  Occurrences northward of Paris during January                   303
+    Battle of Bapaume (3rd January)                               305
+    Fighting on the Lower Seine (4th January)                     308
+    Reduction of Peronne (9th January)                            310
+  Battle of St. Quentin (19th January)                            316
+  Occurrences in the South-Eastern Seat of War up to 17th January 324
+    Siege of Belfort                                              324
+    Transfer of the French Army of the East to the South-Eastern
+      Seat of War (end of December)                               328
+    Action of Villersexel (9th January)                           331
+  Battle on the Lisaine (15th--17th January)                      338
+  The Artillery Attack on Paris (January, 1871)                   349
+  Battle of Mont Valerien (19th January)                          355
+  Prosecution of the Artillery Attack on Paris to the Armistice   361
+  Operations of the Army of the South under General von
+    Manteuffel                                                    366
+  General Hann von Weyhern's March on Dijon                       390
+  Occupation of the Departments of the Doubs, Jura, and Cote
+    d'Or                                                          391
+  Prosecution of the Siege of Belfort                             393
+  The Armistice                                                   399
+  The Homeward March of the German Army                           406
+
+  APPENDIX.
+
+  On the pretended Council of War in the Wars of King
+    William I.                                                    413
+  "Orders of Battle" of the French and German Armies in the
+    first period of the war                                       419
+
+
+
+
+THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.
+
+PART I.
+
+
+The days are gone by when, for dynastical ends, small armies of
+professional soldiers went to war to conquer a city, or a province, and
+then sought winter quarters or made peace. The wars of the present day
+call whole nations to arms; there is scarcely a family that has not had
+to bewail lost ones. The entire financial resources of the State are
+appropriated to military purposes, and the seasons of the year have no
+influence on the unceasing progress of hostilities. As long as nations
+exist distinct one from the other there will be quarrels that can only
+be settled by force of arms; but, in the interests of humanity, it is to
+be hoped that wars will become the less frequent, as they become the
+more terrible.
+
+Generally speaking, it is no longer the ambition of monarchs which
+endangers peace; but the impulses of a nation, its dissatisfaction with
+its internal conditions, the strife of parties and the intrigues of
+their leaders. A declaration of war, so serious in its consequences, is
+more easily carried by a large assembly, of which no one of the members
+bears the sole responsibility, than by a single individual, however
+lofty his position; and a peace-loving sovereign is less rare than a
+parliament composed of wise men. The great wars of recent times have
+been declared against the wish and will of the reigning powers.
+Now-a-days the Bourse possesses so great influence that it is able to
+have armies called into the field merely to protect its interests.
+Mexico and Egypt have had European armies of occupation inflicted upon
+them simply to satisfy the demands of the _haute finance_. To-day the
+question is not so much whether a nation is strong enough to make war,
+as whether its Government is powerful enough to prevent war. For
+example, united Germany has hitherto used her strength only to maintain
+European peace; while the weakness of a neighbouring Government
+continues to involve the gravest risk of war.
+
+It was, indeed, from such a condition of relations that the war of
+1870--71 originated. A Napoleon on the throne of France was bound to
+justify his pretensions by political and military successes. Only
+temporarily was the French nation contented by the victories of its arms
+in remote fields of war; the triumphs of the Prussian armies excited
+jealousy, they were regarded as arrogant, as a challenge; and the French
+demanded revenge for Sadowa. The liberal spirit of the epoch set itself
+against the autocratic Government of the Emperor; he was forced to make
+concessions, his internal authority was weakened, and one day the nation
+was informed by its representatives that it desired war with Germany.
+
+
+
+
+PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
+
+
+The wars carried on by France beyond seas, essentially on behalf of
+financial interests, had consumed immense sums and had undermined the
+discipline of the army. Her army was by no means in thorough
+preparedness for a great war, but, in the temper of the nation, the
+Spanish succession question furnished an opportune pretext on which to
+go to war. The French Reserves were called out on July 15th, and, as if
+the opportunity for a rupture was on no account to be let slip, only
+four days later the French declaration of war was presented at Berlin.
+
+One Division of the French Army was ordered to the Spanish frontier as a
+corps of observation; only such troops as were absolutely necessary were
+left in Algiers and in Civita Vecchia; Paris and Lyons were sufficiently
+garrisoned. The entire remainder of the army: 332 battalions, 220
+squadrons, 924 guns, in all about 300,000 men, formed the Army of the
+Rhine, which, divided into eight Corps, was, at any rate in the first
+instance, to be under the sole direction of a central head. The Emperor
+himself was the fitting person to undertake this weighty duty, pending
+whose arrival Marshal Bazaine was to command the gathering forces.
+
+It is very probable that the French reckoned on the old dissensions of
+the German races. Not that they dared to look forward to the South
+Germans as allies, but they hoped to paralyze their offensive by an
+early victory, perhaps even to win them over to their side. It was true
+that Prussia by herself was still a mighty antagonist, and that her
+armed forces were of superior strength; but peradventure this advantage
+might be counterbalanced by rapidity of action.
+
+The French plan of campaign was indeed based on the delivery of sudden
+unexpected attacks. The powerful fleet of war-ships and transports was
+to be utilized to land a considerable force in Northern Prussia, which
+should there engage a part of the Prussian troops, while the main body
+of the German army, it was assumed, would await the first French attack
+behind the strong defensive line of the Rhine. A French force was to
+cross the Rhine promptly, at and below Strasburg, thus avoiding the
+great German fortresses; its function being, at the very outset of the
+campaign, to cut off the South-German army charged with the defence of
+the Black Forest, and prevent it from effecting a junction with the
+North Germans. In the execution of this plan it was imperative that
+the main body of the French army should be massed in Alsace. Railway
+accommodation, however, was so inadequate that in the first instance it
+was only possible to transport 100,000 men to Strasburg; 150,000 had to
+leave the railway at Metz, and remain there till they could be moved
+forward. Fifty thousand men in the Chalons camp were intended to serve
+as supports, and 115 battalions were destined for field service as soon
+as the National Guard should relieve them in the interior. The various
+Corps were distributed as follows:--
+
+      Imperial Guard, General Bourbaki--Nancy.
+      Ist Corps, Marshal MacMahon--Strasburg.
+     IInd Corps, General Frossard--St. Avold.
+    IIIrd Corps, Marshal Bazaine--Metz.
+     IVth Corps, General Ladmirault--Thionville.
+      Vth Corps, General Failly--Bitsch.
+     VIth Corps, Marshal Canrobert--Chalons.
+    VIIth Corps, General Felix Douay--Belfort.
+
+Thus while there were but two Corps in Alsace, there were five on the
+Moselle; and, so early as the day of the declaration of war, one of the
+latter, the IInd Corps, had been pushed forward close to the German
+frontier, about St. Avold and Forbach. General Frossard, its commander,
+was, however, under strict injunctions to commit himself to no serious
+undertaking.
+
+The regiments had been hurried away from their peace stations before the
+arrival of their complement of men, and without waiting for their
+equipments. Meanwhile the called-out reservists accumulated in the
+depots, overflowed the railway stations and choked the traffic. Their
+transmission to their destinations was at a standstill, for it was often
+unknown at the depots where the regiments to which the reservists were
+to be sent were for the time encamped. When at length they joined they
+were destitute of the most necessary articles of equipment. The Corps
+and Divisions lacked trains, hospitals and nearly the whole of the
+_personnel_ of their administration. No magazines had been established
+in advance, and the troops were to depend on the stores in the
+fortresses. These were in a neglected state, for in the assured
+expectation that the armies would be almost immediately launched into
+the enemy's country they had received little attention. It was of a
+piece with this that the French Staff-officers had been provided with
+maps of Germany, but not of their own country. The Ministry of War in
+Paris was overwhelmed with claims, protestations, and expostulations,
+till finally it was left to the troops to help themselves as best they
+could. "_On se debrouillera_," was the hope of the authorities.
+
+When the Emperor arrived at Metz eight days after the declaration of
+war, the forces were not yet up to their strength, and even the precise
+whereabouts of whole bodies of troops was for the time unknown. He
+ordered the advance of the army, but his Marshals protested that its
+internal plight was so unsatisfactory as to make this impossible for the
+time. The general conviction was gradually impressing itself on the
+French, that instead of continuing to aim at invasion of the enemy's
+country, their exertions would have to be confined to the defence of
+their own territory. A strong German army was reported to be assembling
+between Mayence and Coblentz; and instead of reinforcements being sent
+forward from Metz to Strasburg, much heavier ones would have to be
+ordered from the Rhine to the Saar. The determination to invade South
+Germany was already abandoned; the fleet sailed, but without carrying a
+force to be landed on the north German coast.
+
+Germany had been surprised by the declaration of war, but she was not
+unprepared. That was a possibility which had been foreseen.
+
+After the withdrawal of Austria from the German connection, Prussia had
+taken upon itself the sole leadership, and had gradually formed closer
+relations with the South-German States. The idea of national
+unification had been revived, and found an echo in the patriotic
+sentiments of the entire people.
+
+The mobilization machinery of the North-German army had been elaborated
+from year to year, in accord with the changing conditions, by the
+combined exertions of the War Ministry and the General Staff. Every
+branch of the administration throughout the country had been kept
+informed of all it needed to know in this relation. The Berlin
+authorities had also come to a confidential understanding with the
+Chiefs of the General Staffs of the South-German States on all important
+points. The principle was established that Prussian assistance was not
+to be reckoned on for the defence of any particular point, such as the
+Black Forest; and that South Germany would be best protected by an
+offensive movement into Alsace from the middle Rhine, to be effectively
+supported by a large army massed there. That the Governments of Bavaria,
+Wuertemberg, Baden and Hesse, to all appearance uncovering their own
+territories, were ready to place their contingents under the command of
+King William, proved their entire confidence in the Prussian leadership.
+
+This understanding enabled the preparations which it entailed to be
+proceeded with. The train and march tables were worked out for each body
+of troops, with the most minute directions as to the respective
+starting-points, the day and hour of departure, the duration of the
+journey, the refreshment stations, and points of detrainment. In the
+locality of concentration cantonments were assigned to each Corps and
+Division, and magazines were established with due regard to the most
+convenient sites; and thus, when the stroke of war inevitably impended,
+there was required only the Royal signature to start the whole mighty
+movement in its smooth, swift course. Nothing needed to be changed in
+the directions originally given; it sufficed to follow the plans
+previously thought out and prepared.
+
+The aggregated mobile forces were formed into three separate Armies, on
+the basis of an elaborate tabular statement drawn up by the Chief of the
+Prussian General Staff.
+
+The Ist Army, under the command of General von Steinmetz, consisted of,
+in the first instance, only the VIIth and VIIIth Corps, with one
+Division of cavalry; 60,000 men all told. It was ordered to assemble at
+Wittlich and form the right wing.
+
+The IInd Army, under the command of Prince Frederick Charles, consisted
+of the IIIrd, IVth, Xth, and Guard Corps, with two Divisions of cavalry.
+Assembling in the vicinity of Homburg and Neunkirchen, it was to form
+the centre, with a strength of 134,000 men.
+
+The IIIrd Army, under the command of the Crown Prince of Prussia,
+consisted of the Vth and XIth Prussian, and the Ist and IInd Bavarian
+Corps, the Wuertemberg and Baden Field Divisions, with one Division of
+cavalry. Its approximate strength was 130,000 men; it was to constitute
+the left wing, and to concentrate about Landau and Rastatt.
+
+The IXth Corps, consisting of the 18th and the Hesse Divisions, was
+along with the XIIth Royal Saxon Corps to form a reserve of 60,000 men
+in front of Mayence, for the reinforcement of the IInd Army to a
+strength of 194,000 men.
+
+The three Armies numbered together 384,000 men.
+
+There still remained the Ist, IInd, and VIth Corps, numbering 100,000
+men; but they were not at first included, as railway transport for them
+was not available for three weeks to come. The 17th Division and certain
+bodies of Landwehr troops were detailed to defend the coasts.
+
+It is apparent that numerically the German armies were considerably
+superior to the French. Inclusive of the garrisons and reserves about
+one million of men and over 200,000 horses were on the ration list.
+
+On the night of July 16th the Royal order for mobilization was issued,
+and when his Majesty arrived in Mayence fourteen days later, he found
+300,000 men assembled on the Rhine and beyond.
+
+The plan of campaign submitted by the Chief of the General Staff, and
+accepted by the King, proves that officer to have had his eye fixed,
+from the first, upon the capture of the enemy's capital, the possession
+of which is of more importance in France than in other countries. On the
+way thither the hostile forces were to be driven as persistently as
+possible back from the fertile southern provinces into the more confined
+background to the north. But beyond everything the plan of campaign was
+based on the resolve to attack the enemy at once, wherever found, and
+keep the German forces always so compact that this could be done with
+the advantage of superior numbers. The specific dispositions for the
+accomplishment of those objects were left to be adopted on the spot; the
+advance to the frontier was alone pre-arranged in every detail.
+
+It is a delusion to imagine that a plan of campaign can be laid down far
+ahead and fulfilled with exactitude. The first collision with the enemy
+creates a new situation in accordance with its result. Some things
+intended will have become impracticable; others, which originally seemed
+impossible, become feasible. All that the leader of an army can do is to
+form a correct estimate of the circumstances, to decide for the best for
+the moment, and carry out his purpose unflinchingly.
+
+The advance of the French troops to the frontier, while as yet
+imperfectly mobilized, which was an extremely hazardous measure in
+itself, was evidently with the intent of utilizing the temporary
+advantage of having a superior force at immediate disposition by taking
+at unawares the German armies in the act of developing their
+advance-movements. But, notwithstanding, the German commanders did not
+deviate from their purpose of promptly effecting this first advance in
+front of the Rhine. The railway transport of the Corps of the IInd and
+IIIrd Armies, however, ended at the Rhine; thence the troops marched on
+foot into the cantonments prepared on the left bank of the river. They
+moved in echelon, advancing only so many at a time as would make room
+for the body in rear, in the first instance to the line
+Bingen-Duerkheim-Landau. The farther advance towards the frontier was not
+to be undertaken until the Divisions and Corps were all assembled, and
+provided with the necessary trains; and then they were to march forward
+in a state of readiness to confront the enemy at any moment.
+
+The massing of the Ist Army appeared to be less threatened, because its
+route was protected by neutral territory, and was covered by the
+garrisons of Treves, Saarlouis and Saarbruecken, the German outposts on
+the Saar.
+
+The Ist Army, 50,000 strong, was concentrated at Wadern, in the first
+days of August. The IInd Army, which meanwhile had been increased to a
+strength of 194,000 men, had pushed forward its cantonments to
+Alsenz-Guennstadt, at the farther base of the Haardt Mountains, a
+position which had been thoroughly inspected by an officer of the
+General Staff, and where the troops might confidently await an attack.
+The 5th and 6th cavalry Divisions were reconnoitring the country in
+front. The IIIrd Army was still assembling on both banks of the Rhine.
+
+The French so far had made no serious attempt at Saarbruecken;
+Lieutenant-Colonel Pestel, with one battalion and three squadrons, was
+able successfully to withstand their petty attacks. It had meanwhile
+been observed that the hostile forces were moving farther to the right,
+towards Forbach and Bitsch. This seemed to indicate that the two French
+Corps known to be about Belfort and Strasburg, might purpose crossing
+the Rhine and marching through the Black Forest. It seemed therefore all
+the more important that the IIIrd Army should be set in motion as early
+as possible, for one thing to protect the right bank of the Upper Rhine
+by an advance on the left; for another, to cover the left flank of the
+IInd Army during its advance.
+
+A telegraphic order to that effect was despatched on the evening of July
+30th, but the Head-quarters of the IIIrd Army wished to wait for the
+arrival of the VIth Corps and of the trains. Whereupon, regardless of
+this delay, the IInd Army was put in march towards the Saar, where the
+French were beginning to be active.
+
+The time had gone by when they might have taken advantage of their
+over-hasty mobilization; the inefficient condition of the troops had
+paralyzed every attempt at activity. France had been long waiting for
+the news of a victory, and something had to be done to appease public
+impatience. So, in order to do something, it was resolved (as is usual
+in such circumstances) to undertake a reconnoissance in force, and, it
+may be added, with the usual result.
+
+On August 2nd three entire Army Corps were set in motion against three
+battalions, four squadrons, and one battery in Saarbruecken. The Emperor
+himself and the Prince Imperial shared in the enterprise. The IIIrd
+Corps advanced on Voelklingen, the Vth through Saargemuend, the IInd on
+Saarbruecken.
+
+Saarbruecken was evacuated after a gallant defence and repeated
+counter-strokes, but the French did not press across the Saar;
+convinced, possibly, that they had wasted their strength in a stroke in
+the air, and had nowhere gained any insight into the dispositions of the
+enemy.
+
+The French military chiefs now hesitated for a long while between
+conflicting resolutions. Orders were given and recalled on the strength
+of mere rumours. The left wing was reinforced because 40,000 Prussians
+were supposed to have marched through Treves, the Guard received
+contradictory orders, and the bare apparition of a small German force
+about Loerrach in the Black Forest occasioned the order that the VIIth
+Corps must remain in Alsace. Thus the French forces were straggled over
+the wide area between the Nied and the Upper Rhine, while the Germans
+were advancing in compact masses towards the Saar.
+
+This scattered state of their forces finally induced the French leaders
+to divide them into two separate Armies. Marshal MacMahon took command,
+but only provisionally, of the Ist, VIIth, and Vth Corps, of which the
+latter had therefore to draw in to him from Bitsch. The other Corps
+remained under Marshal Bazaine, with the exception of the Imperial
+Guard, the command of which the Emperor reserved to himself.
+
+It had now become a pressing necessity to protect the left wing of the
+advancing IInd German Army against the French forces in Alsace, and the
+IIIrd Army was therefore ordered to cross the frontier on August 4th,
+without waiting any longer for its trains. The Ist Army, forming the
+right wing, was in complete readiness near Wadern and Losheim, three or
+four days' march nearer to the Saar than the IInd Army in the centre. It
+received the order to concentrate in the neighbourhood of Tholey and
+there halt for the present. For one thing, this army, the weakest of the
+three, could not be exposed single-handed to an encounter with the
+enemy's main force; and for another, it was available to serve as an
+offensive flank in case the IInd Army should meet the enemy on emerging
+from the forest zone of the Palatinate.
+
+In the execution of this order, the Ist Army had so extended its
+cantonments southward that they trenched on the line of march of the
+IInd Army, and it had to evacuate the quarters about Ottweiler in favour
+of the latter. This involved a difficulty, as all the villages to the
+north were full, and as room had also to be found for the Ist Corps, now
+advancing by Birkenfeld. General von Steinmetz therefore decided to
+march his whole army in the direction of Saarlouis and Saarbruecken. The
+IInd Army, on August 4th, stood assembled ready for action, and received
+orders to deploy on the farther side of the forest zone of
+Kaiserslautern.
+
+
+
+
+COMBAT OF WEISSENBURG.
+
+(August 4th.)
+
+
+On this day the Corps of the IIIrd Army, consisting of 128 battalions,
+102 squadrons, and 80 batteries, which had been assembled in bivouac
+behind the Klingsbach, crossed the French frontier, marching on a broad
+front to reach the Lauter between Weissenburg and Lauterburg. This
+stream affords an exceptionally strong defensive position, but on August
+4th only one weak Division and a cavalry brigade of the Ist French Corps
+covered this point, the main body of that Corps being still on the march
+towards the Palatinate.
+
+Early in the morning the Bavarians forming the right wing encountered a
+lively resistance before the walls of Weissenburg, which were too strong
+to be stormed. But very soon after the two Prussian Corps crossed the
+Lauter lower down. General von Bose led forward the XIth Corps (which he
+commanded) with intent to turn the French right flank on the Geisberg,
+while General von Kirchbach, with the Vth Corps (which he commanded)
+advanced against the enemy's front. Thirty field-guns were meanwhile
+massed against the railway station of Weissenburg. It and subsequently
+the town were taken, after a bloody struggle.
+
+So early as ten o'clock General Douay had ordered a retreat, which was
+seriously threatened by the movement against the Geisburg; and the
+chateau of that name, a very defensible building, was most obstinately
+defended to enable the French to retire. The Grenadiers of the King's
+Regiment No. 7 in vain assailed it by storm, suffering heavy loss; nor
+did its defenders surrender until, with the greatest difficulty,
+artillery had been dragged up on to the height.
+
+The French Division, which had been attacked by three German Corps,
+effected a retreat after an obstinate struggle, though in great
+disorder, having suffered much loss. Its gallant Commander had been
+killed. The Germans had to bewail a proportionately considerable loss;
+their casualties were 91 officers and 1460 men. General von Kirchbach
+had been wounded while fighting in the foremost rank.
+
+The 4th Division of cavalry had met with much delay in the course of a
+nineteen miles' march by the crossing of the columns of infantry. It did
+not reach the scene of combat, and all touch of the enemy, now retiring
+to the westward, was lost.
+
+Uncertain as to the direction whence fresh hostile forces might be
+approaching, the IIIrd Army advanced on the 5th of August by diverging
+roads in the direction of Hagenau and Reichshofen; yet not so far apart
+but that it should be possible for the Corps to reconcentrate in one
+short march. The Crown Prince intended to allow his troops a rest on the
+following day, so as to have them fresh for a renewed attack as soon as
+the situation was made clear.
+
+But already, that same evening, the Bavarians on the right flank and the
+Vth Corps in the front had a sharp encounter with the enemy, who showed
+behind the Sauer in considerable strength. It was to be assumed that
+Marshal MacMahon had brought up the VIIth Corps from Strasburg, but it
+remained a question whether he intended to join Marshal Bazaine by way
+of Bitsch, or whether, having secured his line of retreat thither, he
+meant to accept battle at Woerth. Yet again there was the possibility
+that he might himself initiate the offensive. The Crown Prince, to make
+sure in any case of a preponderance of force, determined to concentrate
+his army in the neighbourhood of Sulz on August 6th. The IInd Bavarian
+Corps received separate instructions to watch the road from Bitsch with
+one Division; the other Division was to strike the hostile attack in
+flank on the western bank of the Sauer, in the event of artillery fire
+about Woerth being heard.
+
+Marshal MacMahon was endeavouring with all his might to concentrate his
+three Corps, and he really had the intention to make an immediate attack
+on his invading foe. A Division of the VIIth Corps, which had but just
+been sent to Muelhausen to strengthen the defence of Alsace, was at once
+recalled to Hagenau, and early on the 6th formed the right wing of the
+strong position which the Ist Corps had taken up behind the Sauer, and
+in front of Froeschwiller, Elsasshausen, and Eberbach. On the left,
+Lespart's Division of the Vth Corps was expected from Bitsch, of which
+the other Divisions were only now on march from Saargemuend by way of
+Rohrbach. Meanwhile Ducrot's Division formed a refused flank on the
+French left.
+
+Neither the German nor the French leaders expected the collision before
+the following day, but when, as in this case, the adversaries are in so
+close proximity, the conflict may break out at any moment, even against
+the wish of the higher commanders.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF WOeRTH.
+
+(August 6th.)
+
+
+After a good deal of skirmishing between the respective outposts during
+the night, the Commander of the 20th German Brigade[1] thought it
+expedient to seize a passage over the Sauer, which flowed just in his
+front and constituted a serious obstacle. The bridge leading to Woerth
+had been destroyed, but the sharp-shooters waded through the river, and
+at seven o'clock pressed into the town, which the French had left
+unoccupied.
+
+Soon enough they realized that before them was a numerous enemy in a
+strong position.
+
+The broad meadows of the Sauer all lie within effective range of the
+commanding slopes on the right bank; and the long-ranging chassepot fire
+could not but tell heavily. On the French side of the river the terrain
+was dotted with vineyards and hop-gardens, which afforded great
+advantages for defensive purposes.
+
+The combat which had begun at Woerth was broken off after lasting half an
+hour, but the artillery of both sides had taken part in it, and the
+sound of cannon-fire had been the signal prescribed to Hartmann's IInd
+Bavarian Corps, acting on which it now advanced from Langensulzbach, and
+was soon engaged in a brisk fight with the left flank of the French. The
+latter on their side had advanced on their right to the attack of
+Gunstett, where they came in contact with the advancing XIth Prussian
+Corps.
+
+The din of battle, rolling from the north and south alike, was heard by
+the Vth Corps in its position opposite to Woerth; and it seemed
+imperative that it should engage with vigour the enemy's centre in order
+to hinder him from throwing himself with all his strength on one or
+other of the German flanks.
+
+The artillery was brought up, and by ten o'clock 108 guns were in action
+on the eastern slope of the Sauer valley.
+
+Some infantry detachments waded breast-high through the river, but this
+dashing attempt, undertaken in inadequate strength, miscarried, and it
+was only by strenuous efforts that a foothold was maintained on the
+other side.
+
+The Crown Prince sent orders that nothing was to be undertaken that
+would bring on a battle on that day. But by this time the Vth Corps was
+so seriously engaged that the fight could not be broken off without
+obvious disadvantage. General von Kirchbach therefore determined to
+continue the contest on his own responsibility.
+
+The frontal attack was an undertaking of great difficulty, and could
+scarcely succeed unless with the co-operation of another on the flank.
+But at this juncture the Bavarians, who, in position as they were on the
+right, could have afforded this co-operation, obeyed the breaking off
+command, which had also reached them in the course of the fighting, and
+withdrew to Langensulzbach. There was, however, the XIth Corps in
+position on the left, eager to strike in. It seized the Albrechts-haeuser
+farm, and pressed forward into the Niederwald.
+
+In front of Woerth the battle hung, consisting of a succession of attacks
+renewed again and again on either side; each assailant in turn getting
+worsted, in consequence of the nature of the country. By degrees,
+however, the collective battalions, and finally the artillery of the Vth
+Corps, were brought over to the west bank of the Sauer; while the XIth
+Corps had already won there a firm point of support for further advance.
+
+Just then, near Morsbronn, notwithstanding the evident unfavourable
+nature of the ground, two Cuirassier and one Lancer regiments of
+Michel's brigade hurled themselves with reckless daring on a body of
+German infantry taken in the act of wheeling to the right. But the 32nd
+Regiment, far from seeking cover, received in open order the charging
+mass of over 1000 horse with a steady fire which did great execution.
+The Cuirassiers especially suffered immense loss. Only a few horsemen
+broke through the firing line and gained the open ground; many were
+taken prisoners in the village, the remainder rode in wild gallop as
+far as Walburg. There they encountered the Prussian 13th Hussars,
+suffered further loss, and disappeared from the field.
+
+It is true that the infantry of the French right wing succeeded in
+driving back the foremost detachments of the Germans about
+Albrechts-haeuser farm, but the further advance of the former was
+shattered by the fire of newly-unmasked artillery.
+
+When finally the last battalions had crossed the Sauer, the XIth Corps
+made its way through the Niederwald, fighting its way step by step. The
+northern edge of the forest was reached by 2.30, and there a junction
+was formed with the left flank of the Vth Corps. The burning village of
+Elsasshausen was carried by storm, and the little copse south of
+Froeschwiller was also won after a gallant defence.
+
+Thus crowded together in a limited space, the French army was in a
+situation of imminent danger. Its left flank, it is true, still held out
+against the renewed attack of the Bavarians, who had re-entered the
+action, but its front and right flank were terribly hard pressed, and
+even its retreat was seriously threatened. Marshal MacMahon therefore
+tried to obtain a breathing space by a heavy counter-stroke to the
+south. The weak German detachments standing to the east of Elsasshausen,
+thrown into confusion by the vehement attack, were in part driven back
+into the Niederwald, but were quickly rallied and brought up again. Here
+the French cavalry strove once more to change the fortunes of the day.
+Bonnemain's Division, notwithstanding the unfavourable nature of the
+ground, threw itself on the dishevelled front of the enemy, suffered
+terrible losses, and was shattered without having been able effectively
+to charge home.
+
+The Wuertembergers now came up from the south, and the Bavarians from the
+north. General von Bose, though twice wounded, led what of his troops
+he could collect to the storm of the burning Froeschwiller, the enemy's
+last stronghold. The artillery moved up within case-shot range, and thus
+cleared the road for the infantry which was pushing forward from all
+sides. After maintaining to the utmost a resolute and gallant resistance
+until five o'clock, the French retreated in great disorder towards
+Reichshofen and Niederbronn.
+
+At the Falkenstein stream, Lespart's Division, just arrived on the
+field, made a short stand, but these fresh troops offered only brief
+resistance, and were swept away in the general rout.
+
+This victory of the IIIrd Army had been dearly paid for with the loss of
+489 officers and 10,000 men. The loss on the French side is not exactly
+known, but of prisoners alone they left 200 officers and 9000 men, and
+in the German hands there remained 33 guns and 2000 horses.
+
+The disintegration of the French army must have been so complete as to
+throw it altogether out of hand. Only one brigade of Lespart's Division
+took the road by Bitsch to join the French main army at St. Avold; all
+the rest of the army, following an infectious impulse, rolled
+unhaltingly in a south-western direction towards Saverne.
+
+As in the Head-quarter of the IIIrd Army it had not been intended to
+fight on August 6th, the 4th Division of cavalry had not left its
+quarters in the rear, and was therefore not available to take up the
+pursuit; it did not reach Gunstett until nine o'clock in the evening.
+But, in order to be at hand at any rate for the next day, Prince Albert
+marched his command on during the night as far as Eberbach; after three
+hours' rest he started again, and after covering thirty-six miles,[2]
+came up in the evening with the rearguard of the enemy near Steinberg,
+at the foot of the Vosges. Without infantry it would have been
+impossible for the Division to push farther, but the sight of it gave
+the enemy a fresh impulse of flight. The Ist Corps stampeded again in
+the night and reached Saarburg, where it joined the Vth Corps. Thus the
+French had a start of twenty-three and a half miles, and continued their
+retreat on Luneville, unmolested by the Germans.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[1] General Walther von Montbary. It is Molkte's custom throughout this
+work, except in regard to his prime aversion, Prince Frederick Charles,
+to refrain from naming an officer whom by implication he is censuring,
+but this is simply a _nuance_, since he specifies the culprit's military
+position.
+
+[2] Throughout the miles are English miles.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF SPICHEREN.
+
+(August 6th.)
+
+
+Let us now turn to the events which occurred, on this same 6th of
+August, in another part of the theatre of war.
+
+The IInd Army, its southern (left) flank covered by the IIIrd Army, had
+been moving to the westward, while the Corps it still lacked were being
+brought up by railway. Its leading Corps, having traversed unmolested
+the long defiles of the forest-belt of Kaiserslautern, reached on the
+5th the line Neunkirchen-Zweibruecken. The cavalry, scouting into French
+territory, reported that the enemy was retreating. Everything seemed to
+indicate that the French would await the attack of the Germans in a
+strong defensive position. The nearest position of the kind that offered
+was that on the farther bank of the Moselle, of which Metz protected one
+flank, Thionville the other. It was decided that if the French were
+found in that position, the Ist Army should hold the enemy in front,
+while the IInd made a circuit south of Metz, and so the enemy be forced
+either to retire or to fight. In case of disaster the IInd Army was to
+fall back on the IIIrd, now advancing over the Vosges.
+
+The protrusion to the south-westward[3] of the Ist Army towards the
+Saar, which had not been intended by the supreme Command, had brought
+its left wing in upon the line of march laid down for the IInd, and
+detachments of the two armies had to cross each other at Saarbruecken on
+the 6th. Thus there was indeed no lack of strength at that point; but as
+a battle on that day was neither expected nor probable, the synchronous
+arrival of troops had not been pre-arranged, and so detachments could
+only come up by quite unprescribed routes and arrive one after the other
+at different hours.
+
+The 14th Division of the VIIth Corps was the first to reach Saarbruecken,
+towards noon on the 6th.
+
+General Frossard, considering his position there very hazardous, had
+left the night before, without waiting for permission, and had fallen
+back with the IInd Corps on Spicheren, where it had entrenched itself.
+The IIIrd, IVth, and Vth Corps were behind, at distances of from nine to
+nineteen miles, and the Imperial Guard was about twenty-three miles
+rearward. The Emperor, therefore, had it in his power to collect five
+Corps for a battle in the vicinity of Cocheren, or, on the other hand,
+to support Frossard with at least four Divisions, if that General were
+confident that his position was strong enough to hold.
+
+The range of heights which upheaves itself immediately behind
+Saarbruecken is capable of affording a serious obstacle to a hostile
+passage of the Saar. It was known that the French had evacuated those
+heights, but General von Kameke thought it prudent to seize them at
+once, in order to secure the debouche of the columns following him.
+When, in the forenoon, two squadrons of the 5th Cavalry Division showed
+themselves on the drill-ground on the ridge above the farther bank, they
+were greeted with a hot fire from the Spicheren heights. But as it
+seemed highly probable, from the previous behaviour of the French, that
+the force seen there was only the rear-guard of the retiring enemy,
+General von Kameke (commanding 14th Infantry Division) ordered an
+immediate attack, since he had the promise of reinforcements. General
+von Zastrow (commanding VIIth Corps), as soon as he recognized that the
+14th Division had involved itself in a serious engagement, allowed the
+13th to go forward. General von Alvensleben (its commander) also ordered
+up to Saarbruecken all the available troops of the IIIrd Corps, and with
+equal promptitude General von Goeben (commanding VIIIth Corps) hurried
+thither the entire 16th Division. Generals von Doering (commanding 9th
+Infantry Brigade) and von Barnekow (commanding 16th Infantry Division),
+belonging respectively to these two Corps (IIIrd and VIIIth), had
+besides already struck forward from Tudweiler and Fischbach in the
+direction of the cannon-thunder, even before receiving orders to that
+effect.
+
+The position occupied by the French was one of exceptional advantage. In
+the centre projected the Red Hill (der Rothe Berg), a precipitous and
+almost inaccessible cliff; and the steep slopes on either side were
+densely wooded. On the left the massive buildings of the Stiering-Wendel
+ironworks furnished a separate defensive position.
+
+Had the strength of the enemy been fully known the attack would
+certainly have been delayed until the whole of the 14th Division had
+arrived. As a matter of fact, at the beginning of the fight, about noon,
+only von Francois' Brigade (27th) had come up, and this force, in the
+effort to facilitate an attack on the naturally strong position held by
+the enemy's front, assailed in the first instance both his flanks.
+
+At first it succeeded in making progress. On the left the 39th Regiment
+drove the swarms of hostile skirmishers out of the wood of Gifert, but
+then became exposed to the bitter fire of a French battalion lining the
+farther side of a deep hollow. On the right flank its 3rd Battalion,
+together with the 74th Regiment, seized the wood of Stiering. But the
+enemy's superior strength soon displayed itself in violent
+counter-attacks, and when Von Woyna's[4] Brigade (28th) reached the
+field it had to furnish reinforcements to both flanks. Thus, at an early
+stage, intermingling of battalions and companies began, which increased
+with every subsequent rush, and made the control of the combat a matter
+of extraordinary difficulty. Added to this was the circumstance that
+three Commanding Generals in succession came up to the scene of the
+conflict, and one after the other took the chief control.
+
+At about one o'clock, simultaneously with the flanks, the Fusilier
+Battalion of the 74th Regiment pushed forward in front, under a severe
+fire across the open ground towards the Red Hill, and, under such
+trivial cover as offered, established itself at the foot of the cliff.
+When at about three o'clock the Prussian artillery compelled the foe to
+move his guns farther up the hill, the Fusiliers, with General von
+Francois at their head, began to climb the cliff. The French Chasseurs,
+evidently taken by surprise, were driven from the most advanced
+entrenchments with clubbed rifles and at the point of the bayonet. The
+9th company of the 39th Regiment followed close, and the gallant
+General, charging farther forward along with it, fell pierced by five
+bullets. Nothing daunted, the small body of Fusiliers made good its grip
+of the narrow spur of the cliff.
+
+Nevertheless, a crisis was imminent. The 14th Division was extended over
+a distance of about three and a half miles, its left wing had been
+repulsed by greatly superior forces in the wood of Gifert, its right
+wing was hard pressed at Stiering. But now, at four o'clock, the heads
+of the 5th and 16th Divisions simultaneously struck in, shortly after
+their batteries, which had been sent on ahead, had come into action.
+
+The left wing, strongly reinforced, now again pressed forward. General
+von Barnekow[5] led trusty succours up on to the Red Hill, where the
+Fusiliers had almost entirely exhausted their ammunition, and drove the
+French out from all their entrenchments. As the result of a fierce
+struggle the Germans also succeeded in taking possession of the western
+part of the wood of Gifert. The right wing with sharp fighting had
+pressed on to Alt Stiering and was approaching the enemy's line of
+retreat, the Forbach highway. General Frossard had, however, recognized
+the danger threatened at this point, and reinforced his left wing to the
+strength of a Division and a half. This force advanced to the attack at
+five o'clock. On the German side there was no formed force to oppose to
+it, so all the previously gained advantages were lost.
+
+If the 13th Division[6] had here struck in with a resolute attack, the
+battle would have ended. This Division after, indeed, a march of nearly
+nineteen miles had reached Puttlingen at one o'clock, where it was
+little more than four miles distant from Stiering. When the fighting
+about Saarbruecken was heard it is true that at four p.m. the advanced
+guard moved forward to Rossel. It would seem that the roar of the cannon
+was not audible in that wooded region; the impression was that the
+combat was over, and the Division bivouacked at Voelkingen, which place
+had been previously named as the end of its march by the Corps Commander
+at a time when he was, of course, unable to foresee the change in the
+situation.
+
+The French offensive movement had meanwhile been brought to a stand by
+the seven batteries in position on the Folster height; the infantry then
+succeeded in making fresh progress, under the personal leadership of
+General von Zastrow.
+
+The nature of the ground entirely prohibited the twenty-nine squadrons
+of cavalry which had arrived from all directions and were drawn up out
+of the range of fire, from taking part in the action. The Hussars tried
+in vain to ride up the Red Hill, but in spite of incredible
+difficulties Major von Lyncker finally gained the summit with eight
+guns, amid the loud cheering of the hard-pressed infantry. The guns, as
+each one came up, at once came into action against three French
+batteries; but quite half of the gunners were shot down by sheltered
+French tirailleurs, at a range of about 800 paces. A small strip of
+ground in front was indeed won, but the narrow space allowed of no
+deployment against the wide front of the enemy.
+
+But effective assistance was coming from the right. General von Goeben
+had despatched all the battalions of the 16th Division not yet engaged,
+in the decisive direction toward Stiering. While one part of these
+troops made a frontal attack on the village, the rest climbed from the
+high-road up the defiles of the Spicheren woods, in a hand-to-hand
+encounter drove the French from the saddle leading to the Red Hill, and
+pushed them farther and farther back towards the Forbach height.
+
+Even as late as seven o'clock on the French right wing Laveaucoupet's
+Division, supported by part of Bataille's, advanced to the attack and
+once more penetrated into the oft-contested Gifert wood, but the danger
+threatening the French left wing from the Spicheren wood paralyzed this
+effort. By nightfall the French were falling back over the whole
+plateau.
+
+At nine o'clock, when their "Retreat" call was sounding from the
+heights, General von Schwerin (commanding 10th Infantry Brigade) made
+sure of night quarters by occupying Stiering, where resistance was only
+quelled, at many points, after a hand-to-hand fight. The advanced guard
+of the 13th Division advanced on Forbach, but did not occupy it, having
+allowed itself to be hoodwinked by some French Dragoons in possession.
+
+Apart from this, General Frossard had abandoned the line of retreat by
+the so seriously threatened Forbach-St. Avold road, and fell back with
+all his three divisions on Oetingen. The darkness, and the impossibility
+of handling large bodies of cavalry in such a country, saved him from
+further pursuit.
+
+General von Steinmetz ordered the reorganization of the dislocated
+bodies of troops that same night. Some of them had marched more than
+twenty-eight miles; two batteries, arriving from Koenigsberg by rail, had
+immediately set out for the battle-field. But it remains that the
+Germans at no time of the day attained the numerical strength of the
+enemy in this engagement, which had been begun with insufficient forces.
+Only thirteen batteries could be brought into action in the limited
+space, and the cavalry remained excluded from all participation. It was
+only natural, under the circumstances, that the losses of the assailants
+were greater than those of the defence. The Prussians lost 4871, the
+French 4078 men. The fact was significant that a considerable number of
+unwounded French prisoners were taken in this early action.
+
+In strong contrast to the comradeship and mutual helpfulness displayed
+by the Prussian Generals, and the eagerness of their troops to hurry
+into the fight, was the strange vacillation of the Divisions in General
+Frossard's rear; of which three, indeed, were sent forward to his
+support, but only two came up, and that when the fight was already
+ended.
+
+It has been vehemently asserted that the battle of Spicheren was fought
+in an ill-judged locality, and that it interfered with more important
+plans. It certainly had not been anticipated. But, generally speaking, a
+tactical victory rarely fails to fit in with a strategic design. Success
+in battle has always been thankfully accepted, and turned to account. By
+the battle of Spicheren the IInd French Corps was prevented from
+withdrawing unharmed; touch of the enemy's main force was obtained, and
+to the supreme Direction of the armies was afforded a basis for further
+resolutions.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[3] South-eastward.
+
+[4] There were two Major-Generals of this name, both commanding
+Brigades; one the 28th, VIIth Corps, the other 39th, Xth Corps.
+
+[5] Commanding 16th Division, VIIIth Corps.
+
+[6] Commanded by General Gluemen.
+
+
+
+
+RIGHT WHEEL OF THE GERMAN ARMY.
+
+
+Marshal MacMahon in his retreat had taken a direction which entirely
+severed his touch with Marshal Bazaine.
+
+As he was not pursued, he could have used the Luneville-Metz railway to
+effect his union with the French main army; for up to the 9th it was
+still open. But rumour had it that the Prussians had already appeared in
+Pont a Mousson, and the state of his troops did not permit him thus
+early to risk another engagement.
+
+His Ist Corps, therefore, marched southwards on Neufchateau, whence
+Chalons could be reached by railway. The Vth Corps was being shifted to
+and fro by contradictory orders from the Emperor's head-quarters. First
+it was to proceed to Nancy, then to take an opposite direction towards
+Langres. On arriving at Charmes it was ordered to Toul, but from
+Chaumont it was finally directed to proceed to Chalons. General Trochu
+had there located the newly-formed XIIth Corps, and behind this
+gathering point the VIIth Corps also managed to get away from Alsace and
+reach Rheims by rail by way of Bar sur Aube and Paris.
+
+Thus by August 22nd a Reserve Army was formed, consisting of four Corps
+and two Cavalry Divisions, under the command of Marshal MacMahon, who,
+however, at a distance, as he was, of about 120 miles, was unable to
+render timely assistance to Marshal Bazaine, who stood directly in the
+line of the advancing enemy.
+
+When the news of the double disaster of August 6th reached the Imperial
+Head-quarter, the first impression there was that it would be necessary
+to retreat immediately on Chalons with Bazaine's army; and the VIth
+Corps, a portion of which was already being transported thence to Metz,
+was ordered to retrace its steps. But this resolution was presently
+retracted. The Emperor had not merely to consider the foreign enemy,
+but public opinion within his own realm. The sacrifice of entire
+provinces at the very beginning of a war which had been undertaken with
+such high anticipations, would have provoked the unbounded indignation
+of the French people. There were still 200,000 men who could be brought
+together in front of the Moselle, supported by a large fortress, and
+though the enemy would still have the superiority in numbers, his army
+was holding a line nearly sixty miles long. It had yet to cross the
+Moselle, and this would necessitate a dislocation which might create a
+weakness at the critical moment.
+
+In the IIIrd German Army the disorderly condition of the defeated enemy
+was not known, nor even the direction of his retreat. It was expected
+that MacMahon's Army would be found rallied on the farther side of the
+Vosges for renewed resistance; and as it was impossible to cross the
+mountains except in detached columns, the German advance was very
+cautious, and by short marches only. Though the distance between
+Reichshofen and the Saar is not more than about twenty-eight miles in a
+straight line, that river was only reached in five days. Nothing was
+seen of the enemy, except in the fortified places, small indeed, but too
+strong to be taken by storm, which command the highways in the
+mountains. Bitsch had to be avoided by a fatiguing circuit, Lichtenberg
+was captured by surprise, Luetzelstein had been abandoned by its
+garrison, the investment of Pfalzburg was handed over to the approaching
+VIth Corps, and Marsal capitulated after a short resistance.
+
+The German left wing had no enemy before it, and could be brought into
+closer connection with the centre. To bring the three armies abreast of
+each other a wheel to the right was requisite. The advance of the Ist
+and IInd Armies had, however, to be delayed, as the IIIrd did not reach
+the Saar until August 12th. The whole movement was so arranged that the
+IIIrd Army was to use the roads by Saarunion and Dieuze, and to
+southward; the IInd those by St. Avold and Nomeny and to southward; the
+Ist those by Saarlouis and Les Etangs, the last also taking the
+direction of Metz.
+
+The cavalry Divisions which were reconnoitring far to the front,
+reported the enemy as retreating all along the line. They ranged close
+up to Metz, and across the Moselle both above and below the place,
+forcing the detachments of Canrobert's Corps, which had again been
+ordered up from Chalons, to return thither. All their information
+indicated that very large masses were encamped in front of Metz. From
+this it might equally be inferred that the enemy intended to retreat
+further, or, with his whole force concentrated, to strike hard at the
+right wing of the German Army, at the moment when the impending crossing
+of the Moselle should make its severance from the left wing unavoidable.
+
+The chief Head-quarter restricted itself in ordinary course to issuing
+general directions, the execution of which was left in detail to the
+army commanders; but in this instance it was deemed necessary in the
+momentary circumstances to regulate the movements of each separate corps
+by specific orders. On August 11th the Head-quarter of his Majesty was
+therefore transferred to St. Avold, in the front line, and midway
+between the Ist and IInd Armies, so as, by being in the immediate
+vicinity, to be able to exercise timely authority to either hand. The
+three Corps of the Ist Army advanced towards the German Nied on August
+12th, only to find that the French had evacuated that position. Three
+Corps of the IInd Army on the left of the Ist also moved forward in
+prolongation of the same front by Faulquemont and Morhange, while two
+others followed.
+
+On the next day the IInd Army reached the Seille, without encountering
+the enemy, and occupied Pont a Mousson with infantry.
+
+The strangely inactive attitude of the French made it seem quite
+probable that they might not make any stand in front of Metz, a
+probability strengthened by the reports of the German cavalry, which was
+scouting as far as Toul and on to the Verdun road. But there always
+loomed the possibility that the enemy would throw himself with 200
+battalions on the Ist Army, now in his immediate front. The two Corps
+forming the right wing of the IInd Army were therefore ordered to halt
+for the present, a little to the south of Metz, ready to deliver a
+shattering blow on the flank of any such attack. If the enemy preferred
+to assail these Corps, then would devolve on the Ist Army on its part
+the prompt assumption of the offensive.
+
+Meanwhile the other Corps of the IInd Army were pursuing the march
+towards the Moselle farther to the southward; if the enemy should attack
+them with superior forces after they had crossed the river, it would be
+possible for them, in case of need, to fall back on the IIIrd Army.
+
+So much caution was not universally deemed essential; it was argued that
+the French seemed already committed to full retreat, they ought not to
+be allowed to get away without punishment, and it followed that the
+German Army should strike without delay. The French had, indeed, already
+committed themselves to a further retreat; but when in the afternoon (of
+the 14th) the VIIth Corps discerned their retrograde movement, a fight
+began on the hither side of the Moselle, which, by the voluntary
+intervention of the nearest bodies of troops, developed into a battle in
+the course of the evening.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF COLOMBEY--NOUILLY.
+
+(August 14th.)
+
+
+The Commandant of Metz had declared his inability to hold that place for
+a fortnight, if left to his own resources; but the chosen and intrenched
+position on the Nied, taken up to cover the fortress, had been found
+locally defective, and the French Head-quarter hoped to find a more
+favourable defensive position in the vicinity of Verdun.
+
+Military necessity outweighed even a politic regard for public opinion,
+and the Emperor, although he had transferred the command-in-chief to
+Marshal Bazaine, still remained with the army, for it would have been
+impossible for him to return to Paris in existing circumstances.
+
+Very early in the morning of the 14th August the multitudinous trains
+were being withdrawn through the city, and towards noon the IInd, IVth,
+and VIth Corps got in motion, while the IIIrd Corps remained in position
+behind the deep valley of the Colombey brook, to cover the retirement.
+
+When, at four in the afternoon, the break-up of the enemy was perceived,
+General von der Goltz (commanding 26th Infantry Brigade) with the
+advanced guard of the VIIth Corps struck him in the act, and wrenched
+from him Colombey and the Chateau d'Aubigny on his right flank. But, at
+the first cannon sound, the French columns immediately turned about,
+fully equipped for fighting, and eager, after their many previous
+disasters, to break the spell by a desperate effort. Castagny's Division
+threw itself in greatly superior force upon the weak German detachment
+in the isolated position of Colombey, which held its own only by the
+utmost exertion.
+
+Already the advanced guard of the Ist Army Corps was approaching by both
+the high-roads from Saarbruecken and Saarlouis; and its batteries having
+pushed on ahead, at once took part in the engagement. Passing through
+Lauvallier, the infantry followed close, climbed the eastern slope of
+the plateau of Bellecroix, and farther to the right drove the enemy out
+of the wood east of Mey. But the presence at this point of the main body
+of the French IIIrd Corps gave pause to the German offensive for the
+time.
+
+The 13th, 1st, and 2nd Divisions had meanwhile followed their respective
+advanced guards, the two latter having been held in full readiness by
+General von Manteuffel ever since his outposts had reported that the
+enemy was moving. General von Zastrow, too, arrived on the field, and
+took over the command of the left wing. Soon sixty field-pieces were in
+action against the enemy. General von Osten-Sacken hurried forward the
+25th Brigade through the hollow of Coincy, and climbed on to the edge of
+the upland. The clump of fir-trees on the road to Bellecroix was taken
+by storm, was surrounded on three sides, was lost again in a bloody
+conflict, and was once more recaptured. Soon afterwards two batteries
+succeeded in establishing themselves above Planchette, whose fire drove
+the French back as far as Borny; yet still the conflict raged on both
+sides with the utmost fury.
+
+But now there threatened the German right the danger of being
+out-flanked. General Ladmirault, on learning that Grenier's Division had
+been driven out of Mey, immediately set out to its support with his
+other two Divisions, retook the village, and pressed farther forward by
+the Bouzonville road. General von Manteuffel had meanwhile given the
+necessary orders for holding, at all hazards, the deep-cut trough of the
+Vallieres brook which covered the flank. The 1st Brigade was posted
+behind Noisseville as general reserve, the 4th, and part of the
+artillery of the Ist Corps, marched by the Bouzonville road to confront
+General Ladmirault near Poix, while the remaining batteries from the
+southern slopes to the eastward of Nouilly enfiladed his advance. On the
+left, Gluemer's Division (13th) had all this time been holding its ground
+at Colombey, and now, at seven o'clock in the evening, Woyna's Brigade
+came to its assistance, and took possession of the copses westward of
+Colombey. A very welcome reinforcement now arrived from the IInd Army
+remaining halted on the Seille.
+
+The 18th Infantry Division, after a heavy march, had bivouacked near
+Buchy in the afternoon, but when General von Wrangel (its commander) was
+informed that fighting was audible from the locality of the Ist Army, he
+promptly set his Division in motion in that direction. He drove the
+enemy out of Peltre, and then in conjunction with Woyna's Brigade
+occupied Grigy, somewhat in rear of the French position in front of
+Borny.
+
+On the right wing of the fighting line, the 2nd Division had also pushed
+on towards Mey, by way of Nouilly and through the adjacent vineyards;
+and, as darkness was setting in, that village and the adjoining woods
+were wrenched from the enemy. The French had not advanced beyond Villers
+L'Orme, and they now withdrew all along their line from that village to
+Grigy. The Prussians, as they followed up after dark, were molested only
+by the fire of the heavy guns of the forts, more especially Fort St.
+Julien.
+
+The engagement of August 14th cost them the heavy loss of 5000 men,
+inclusive of 200 officers; while the French lost only 3600 men, their
+IIIrd Corps being the heaviest sufferer. The vicinity of a great
+fortress of course prevented the reaping of the fruits of victory by an
+immediate pursuit. It was for the same reason that a battle on the part
+of the Ist Army on that day had not been included in the concerted plan
+of action, though the possibility of such an occurrence had been
+foreseen. Although it was true that but one Division of the IInd Army
+(the 18th) had been able to hasten to the aid of the Ist, and that after
+the late opening of the fight, its assault on the left[7] flank of the
+enemy had not failed of its effect.
+
+The manner in which the battle originated rendered unity of direction
+impossible.
+
+It was but the advanced-guards of four Divisions which were the troops
+principally engaged; and the daring attacks made on greatly superior
+hostile forces by small bodies unfollowed by immediate supports
+occasioned many critical moments, which might have been dangerous if the
+enemy had pushed forward more energetically in closely concentrated
+strength. But while, for instance, his IIIrd Corps received no support
+from the Imperial Guard standing close behind it, the contrast presented
+itself that on the Prussian side, in this as in the previous battles,
+there shone forth, along with their ready acceptance of personal
+responsibility, the eager mutual helpfulness of all the commanders
+within reach of the battle-field.
+
+An essential share of the success of the day must be attributed to the
+artillery. Hurrying along in front, leaving the responsibility of
+covering it to the advanced guards which reached forward before the main
+bodies of the Divisions had time to come up, it drove the French
+completely out of their positions before Metz, and back under the guns
+of the defences of the place.
+
+The protection so afforded to the enemy rendered it impossible that the
+victory of Colombey-Nouilly should yield any trophies, but the supreme
+Command was quite content with the results obtained. The retreat of the
+enemy had been arrested, and a day had been gained for the crossing of
+the Moselle by the IInd and IIIrd Armies.
+
+_August 15th._--In the early morning of the 15th the cavalry had ridden
+forward to the outworks of Metz, but found none of the enemy on this
+side of the fortress. A few shells scared away the Imperial Head-quarter
+from Longeville on the further side of the Moselle.
+
+As King William was riding over to visit the Ist Army, immense clouds of
+dust were observed rising on the further side of the fortress; and it
+was no longer doubtful that the French had begun their retreat, and that
+the IInd Army was henceforth free to follow across the Moselle with all
+its Corps.
+
+The Ist Corps of the Ist Army was necessarily left at Courcelles, south
+of Metz, to protect the railway, the other two were brought up leftward
+towards the Seille; and they were also by-and-by to cross the Moselle
+higher up, so as to avoid interference from the fortress.
+
+The French had started again on the retreat interrupted on the previous
+day, but proceeded little more than four miles[8] beyond Metz on August
+15th. Their cavalry only went somewhat farther ahead, by both the roads
+to Verdun.
+
+The IIIrd Corps of the German IInd Army crossed the Moselle at Noveant,
+by the bridge which was found intact, and by a flying pontoon bridge;
+its artillery, however, was forced to make a detour by Pont a Mousson.
+
+It was not until late at night that the troops were all across and in
+bivouac close to the left bank. One Division of the Xth Corps remained
+at Pont a Mousson and the other advanced to Thiaucourt. The cavalry
+scouted farther forward towards the Metz-Verdun road, and struck in on
+the French cavalry near Mars la Tour. Several small engagements took
+place, but when early in the afternoon twenty-four Prussian squadrons
+had assembled, the French retired on Vionville. The Guard Corps and the
+IVth Corps crossed at Dieulouard and Marbache, higher up the river.
+
+The IIIrd Army advanced to the line Nancy-Bayon. On this day an attempt
+to seize the fortress of Thionville by surprise proved a failure.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[7] Clearly should be "right."
+
+[8] On the night of 15th, four of Bazaine's five Corps (less one
+Division) bivouacked at distances of from eight to ten miles westward of
+Metz; viz., from beyond Rezonville rearward to Gravelotte.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF VIONVILLE--MARS LA TOUR.
+
+(August 16th.)
+
+
+In the Head-quarter of the IInd Army there was the belief that serious
+fighting with the French was no more to be anticipated on the Moselle,
+and therefore two Corps, the IIIrd and the Xth, were ordered to march on
+August 16th, northwards toward the road to Verdun by way of Gorze and
+Thiaucourt, while the other Corps were directed to advance by forced
+marches westwards towards the Meuse.
+
+The French retreat from Metz was, however, not completely effected on
+this day. The trains blocked every road, and in the forenoon three
+Divisions still remained behind in the Moselle valley. The Emperor,
+however, escorted by two brigades of cavalry, had departed at an early
+hour by the road through Etain, which was still comparatively safe. As
+the right wing of the army could not yet follow, the prosecution of the
+retreat was postponed until the afternoon, and the left wing, which had
+already begun the march, was sent back again into its bivouacs. But so
+early as nine o'clock Prussian shells startled the troops from their
+rest.
+
+Major Koerber had advanced with four batteries close up to Vionville
+under cover of the cavalry, and the French troopers, surprised by their
+fire, fled in utter confusion through the camp of the infantry. The
+latter, however, briskly got under arms in good order, and the artillery
+opened a heavy fire. Destitute at first of infantry supports, the
+Prussian guns were withdrawn. Matters soon became serious.
+
+General von Alvensleben, fearing lest he should fail to overtake the
+enemy, had started again with the IIIrd Corps after a short night's
+rest. The 6th Division marched on the left, by Onville; the 5th, on the
+right, followed the long forest valley on the way to Gorze. This valley
+so capable of defence was found unoccupied by the enemy, who indeed had
+taken very few precautions. The advanced-guard presently encountered
+Berges' French Division on the open plateau south of Flavigny, and
+General von Stuelpnagel (commanding 5th Infantry Division) soon
+discovered that he had before him an enemy whom it would take all his
+strength to beat. At ten o'clock he began operations by sending forward
+the 10th Brigade (commanded by General von Schwerin); and opened fire
+with twenty-four guns.
+
+Both sides now assumed the offensive. The Prussians, on the right,
+fought their way with varying fortunes through the wood, often in
+hand-to-hand encounter, and, towards eleven o'clock, succeeded in
+reaching the spur of the wood of St. Arnould projecting in the direction
+of Flavigny. Their left wing, on the contrary, was repulsed; even the
+artillery was in danger; but the 52nd Regiment hurried forward and
+re-established the fight at the cost of bloody sacrifices. Its 1st
+Battalion lost every one of its officers, the colours passed from hand
+to hand as its bearers were successively shot down, and the commander of
+the 9th Brigade, General von Doering, fell mortally wounded. General von
+Stuelpnagel rode up into the foremost line of fire, inspiriting the men
+with brave words, while General von Schwerin collected the remnants of
+troops bereft of their leaders, and, reinforced by a detachment of the
+Xth Corps from Noveant, carried the height in front of Flavigny, whence
+the French presently retired.
+
+On the assumption that the French were already prosecuting the retreat,
+the 6th Division had been ordered forward towards Etain by way of Mars
+la Tour, to bar the enemy also from the northern road to Verdun. When it
+reached the height of Tronville, whence could be seen how things really
+stood, the brigades wheeled to the right in the direction of Vionville
+and Flavigny. The artillery going on in advance, formed a formidable
+line of batteries, the fire of which prepared the way for a farther
+advance, and by half-past eleven the 11th Brigade had taken possession
+of Vionville in spite of heavy losses. From thence, and from the south,
+in conjunction with the 10th Brigade, an attack was then directed on
+Flavigny, which had been set on fire by shell-fire. The different
+detachments were hereabouts very much mixed, but by skilfully taking
+advantage of every fold of the ground, the individual regimental
+officers succeeded in getting their men steadily forward, in spite of
+the heavy fire of the hostile infantry and artillery. Flavigny was taken
+by assault, and one cannon and a number of prisoners fell into the hands
+of the brave Brandenburgers.
+
+Vionville, Flavigny and the northern end of the forest of St. Arnould
+constituted the points of support of the Prussian front now facing to
+the east; but this front was more than four miles long, and the whole
+infantry and artillery were engaged up to the hilt all in one line. The
+second line consisted only of the 5th and 6th Cavalry Divisions and half
+of the 37th Brigade near Tronville.
+
+The position of the French was one of great advantage. Their left flank
+leaned on Metz, their right was protected by formidable batteries on the
+old Roman road and a strong force of cavalry; and so they could await
+with confidence a frontal attack on the part of a venturesome enemy.
+
+The possibility of continuing the march to Verdun on this day, under the
+protection of a strong covering rearguard, was, no doubt, out of the
+question. Supposing the Marshal earnest above everything to effect his
+retreat, he could do so only by fighting hard for his right of way, and
+by so freeing himself from the enemy blocking his path.
+
+It is not easy to discern, from a purely military standpoint, why this
+course was not resorted to. There was the full certainty that only part,
+and probably only a small part, of the German host could as yet have
+reached the left side of the Moselle, and when in the course of the day
+the Divisions detained about Metz arrived, the French had greatly the
+superiority in strength. But it seems that the Marshal's chief
+solicitude was lest he should be forced to relinquish his touch of
+Metz; and he gave almost his whole attention to his left wing.
+Constantly sending fresh reinforcements thither, he massed the whole
+Guard Corps and part of the VIth Corps opposite the Bois des Ognons,
+whence an attack was exceptionally improbable. One is tempted to assume
+that political reasons alone thus early actuated Bazaine in his resolve
+to cling to Metz.
+
+Meanwhile the Prussians slowly but surely made their way beyond Flavigny
+and Vionville, and, assisted by a heavy fire from the artillery,
+compelled the right wing of the IInd French Corps to retire on
+Rezonville, a movement which became a flight when the French Generals
+Bataille and Valaze were killed.
+
+To regain the lost ground the French Guard Cuirassier Regiment threw
+itself resolutely on the pursuers. But its attack was cut short by the
+rapid fire of two companies of the 52nd Regiment drawn up in line, which
+reserved their fire till the enemy were within 250 paces. The horsemen
+sweeping right and left rushed into the fire of more infantry behind;
+243 horses strewed the field, and only the remnants of the regiment
+wheeled about in swift flight, pursued by two Hussar regiments which had
+dashed forward from Flavigny. A French battery in front of Rezonville
+had hardly time to discharge a few shots before it was surrounded. For
+want of teams the Prussians could not, indeed, carry off the captured
+guns; but the Commander-in-Chief of the French army, who had himself
+brought them up, was for several minutes in imminent danger of being
+taken prisoner.
+
+The 6th Prussian Cavalry Division had also been ordered to the front.
+After passing through the line of artillery and deploying as well as the
+limited space permitted, it found itself face to face with fresh and
+completely formed troops. Marshal Bazaine had taken the precaution of
+substituting for the routed bodies of the IInd Corps the Guard Grenadier
+Division, which he had at last prevailed on himself to bring up from
+his unengaged left wing, but not without filling the vacancy by a
+Division of the IIIrd Corps. Thus the Prussian cavalry was received with
+such an overwhelming musketry and artillery fire that it halted, and
+deliberately retired, its retreat being covered by two squadrons of
+Uhlans, which time after time showed a front against the enemy. The
+cavalry had not actually engaged, but its advance had gained time and
+opportunity for the artillery to move further forward in one line from
+the spur of the wood to Flavigny.
+
+It was now two o'clock. So far General von Alvensleben had deceived the
+enemy with regard to the slenderness of his force by acting incessantly
+on the offensive. But the battle was now at a standstill, the battalions
+were visibly thinned, their strength was sapped by four hours of hard
+fighting, and the ammunition of the infantry was almost exhausted. Not a
+battalion, not a battery remained in reserve behind the fighting line
+standing there in the fire. It was now required to conserve the success
+won with so much blood by acting thenceforth on the defensive.
+
+The left wing was in especial danger, being under the fire of the
+powerful artillery deployed on the Roman road. Their greatly superior
+numbers enabled the French to extend farther and farther to the right,
+threatening thus completely to envelop the Prussian flank.
+
+Marshal Canrobert, in the French centre, had discerned the right moment
+to press forward against Vionville with all his might. At this critical
+instant there was on the German side only a small detachment of the 5th
+Cavalry Division available to check this effort. Two brigades had
+necessarily been sent to strengthen the left flank, and of the 12th
+Brigade remaining in rear of Vionville two squadrons had been detached
+to the Tronville copses. The two regiments ordered to undertake the task
+of charging the advancing enemy--the Magdeburg Cuirassiers and the
+Altmark Uhlans--were consequently each but three squadrons strong, in
+all 800 horses.
+
+General von Bredow, commanding the 12th Cavalry Brigade, first traversed
+in column the shallow hollow sinking down from Vionville, then wheeled
+to the right and mounted the slope to the eastward, both his regiments
+on one front. Received immediately with heavy artillery and infantry
+fire, he threw himself on the hostile ranks. The first line is ridden
+over, the line of guns is broken through, gunners and teams are put to
+the sword. The second French line is powerless to resist this vigorous
+onslaught, and even the more distant batteries limbered up to drive
+away.
+
+But the rapture of victory and the impetuosity of the charge carried the
+handful of troopers too far, and after a gallop of 3000 paces they found
+themselves surrounded by the French cavalry, which attacked them from
+all sides. There was no scope for a second charge, and so after several
+encounters with the French horse the brigade was forced to cut its way
+back through the French infantry, whose bullets accompanied it home.
+Only one-half of the command returned to Flavigny, where it was
+reorganized into two squadrons. The devoted self-sacrifice of the two
+heroic regiments effected the result, that the French entirely
+discontinued their attack on Vionville.
+
+At three o'clock four of their Divisions advanced towards the Tronville
+copses. Barby's cavalry brigade (11th), watching the western verge, had
+to retire before the enemy's fire, and the German infantry occupying the
+wood also had to yield to a strength so superior; the batteries which
+were in action between Vionville and the copses were assailed in rear
+from the west through the glades of the copses, and were likewise forced
+to retire. But not until the lapse of an hour did the French succeed in
+overcoming the obstinate resistance of four staunch battalions.
+
+At the subsequent roll-call near Tronville, it was ascertained that the
+24th Regiment had lost 1000 men and 52 officers, and that the 2nd
+Battalion of the 20th Regiment had lost all its officers. The 37th
+demi-Brigade, which of its own accord had been fighting valiantly in
+support since noon, took possession of the village of Tronville and
+prepared it for an obstinate defence.
+
+It was not till after three that the IIIrd Corps, which had been
+fighting for seven[9] hours almost single-handed, received effective
+assistance.
+
+While the Xth Corps was on the march through Thiaucourt, its advanced
+guard heard cannon-fire from the direction of Vionville. The Corps
+Commander, General von Voigts-Rhetz, immediately set out for the
+battle-field, and having personally ascertained how matters stood, he
+sent back the requisite orders to his approaching troops.
+
+In this instance again it was the artillery which, hurrying on in
+advance, masterfully struck into the conflict. Its fire, in conjunction
+with that of the promptly further advancing batteries of the IIIrd
+Corps, checked the French rush made on both sides of the Tronville
+copses simultaneously. At half-past three the head of von Woyna's
+Brigade (39th) fell on, drove the enemy back into the wood, and finally,
+supported by Diringshofen's Brigade (40th), took possession of its
+northern outskirts.
+
+The right wing of the IIIrd Corps had also received some reinforcement.
+
+The 32nd Brigade of the VIIIth Corps, on being called upon to assist the
+5th Division, fatigued though it was by a long march, immediately
+advanced from the Moselle by Arry. The 11th Regiment joined it, and
+three batteries were sent ahead to commence operations; this force
+emerged at five o'clock from the forest of St. Arnould. It at once made
+an assault on the heights in front of Maison Blanche, but, though it
+made three strenuous efforts in succession, failed to carry them, since
+Marshal Bazaine had greatly strengthened his position in front of
+Rezonville. Then the French, in their turn, took the offensive there;
+but were equally unable to establish themselves firmly on the heights,
+swept as they were by the well-directed fire of the Prussian artillery;
+and they had to withdraw from the attempt. Petty struggles for this
+position were renewed later on both sides, but those spurts came to
+nothing because of the fire of the respective artillery; and the
+fighting on the German right became in the main stationary.
+
+That on the German left two French Divisions had retired before a few
+newly-arrived battalions, and had evacuated the Tronville copses, can
+only be explained by a report having reached Bazaine's head-quarters
+that the enemy was coming in upon his right flank in the vicinity of
+Hannonville.
+
+The enemy referred to was Wedell's Brigade (38th), which, while on the
+march in the direction of Etain according to its original orders, had
+received counter-instructions while halted at St. Hilaire at noon, to
+hurry to the field of battle. General von Schwartzkoppen (commanding
+19th Infantry Division) decided to march by the highway to Mars la Tour,
+in the hope of falling on the enemy either in flank or in rear. But the
+French meanwhile had extended their reinforced right wing to the sunken
+valley west of Bruville, where three Divisions of their cavalry were
+massed in position.
+
+Thus when General von Wedell advanced to the attack on both sides of
+Tronville, which the French themselves had fired, his brigade--only five
+battalions strong--found itself in face of the long deployed front of
+the 4th French Corps. The two Westphalian regiments advanced steadily
+under the storm of shell and mitrailleuse fire till they suddenly
+reached the edge of a deep ravine hitherto unseen. This, however, they
+soon traversed, and were climbing the farther ascent, when they were met
+by a murderous shower of bullets from the French infantry which hemmed
+them in closely on every side. After almost every one of the commanders
+and regimental officers had fallen, the wreck of the battalions fell
+back into the ravine; 300 men were taken prisoners, having no strength
+left to ascend the steep southern rise after the fatigue of a
+twenty-eight miles march. The remainder rallied at Tronville under the
+shot-torn colours which Colonel von Cranach, the only officer who still
+had a horse under him, had brought back in his own hand. Seventy-two
+officers and 2542 men were missing out of 95 officers and 4546 men--more
+than half. The French followed up their success, but were checked on the
+right by the headlong charge of the 1st Guard Dragoons, which cost that
+regiment 250 horses and nearly all its officers; and on the left by the
+4th squadron of the 2nd Guard Dragoons, which attacked three times its
+strength of Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+
+But there now imminently threatened the charge of a great mass of French
+cavalry, which disclosed itself on the open plateau of Ville sur Yron.
+This consisted of Legrand's Division and de France's Guard Brigade in
+four compact echelons, overlapping each other to the right. On the
+German side, all the still disposable cavalry joined Barby's brigade,
+and the body thus made up, consisting only of sixteen squadrons, was
+formed for action in two lines west of Mars la Tour. Farther in advance
+stood the 13th Dragoons, halted to receive the Guard-squadron on its
+return from its recent charge. The 13th galloped forward to meet the
+charge of Montaigu's Hussar Brigade, which constituted the first line of
+the French cavalry mass, and which broke through the (over-wide)
+intervals of the Prussian squadrons. But General von Barby promptly
+appeared with the other regiments on the upland of Ville sur Yron, where
+at a quarter to seven the cavalry masses came into collision.
+
+A mighty cloud of dust concealed the varying phases of the hand-to-hand
+encounter of 5000 horsemen which gradually declared itself in favour of
+the Prussians. General Montaigu, severely wounded, was taken prisoner,
+and General Legrand fell while leading his Dragoons to the assistance of
+the Hussars.
+
+De France's Brigade allowed the enemy to approach within 150 paces, and
+then its Lancer regiment rushed impetuously upon the Hanoverian Uhlans;
+but the latter outflanked it, and received unexpected assistance from
+the 5th squadron of the 2nd Guard Dragoons, which, returning from a
+reconnaissance, plunged forward over fences and ditches and fell upon
+the enemy in flank, while the Westphalian Cuirassiers at the same time
+broke his front. The Chasseurs d'Afrique strove in vain to hinder the
+enveloping tactics of the Hanoverian Dragoons; the clouds of dust
+drifted farther and farther northward, and the whole mass of French
+horse drew away towards the wooded slopes of Bruville, behind which
+there were still five regiments of Clerembault's Cavalry Division.
+Clerembault permitted one of his brigades to cross the valley, but the
+fleeing Hussars and some misunderstood signals threw it into confusion.
+It was borne back, and not until the French infantry confronted the
+Prussian pursuers in the covering valley did the latter desist from the
+pursuit.
+
+The Prussian regiments quietly re-formed and then withdrew at a walk to
+Mars la Tour, followed at a great distance by part of Clerembault's
+Division.
+
+This, the greatest cavalry combat of the war, had the effect of making
+the French right wing give up all further attempts to act on the
+offensive. The Germans mourned the loss of many superior officers, who
+always, at the head of their men, had set them a glorious example.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles had hastened to the field of battle. The day
+was nearly at an end, darkness approaching, and the battle won. The
+Prussians in the evening stood on the ground which in the morning had
+been occupied by the French. Though General von Alvensleben had in the
+first instance been under the impression that he would have only the
+French rear-guard to deal with, he did not hesitate for a moment to
+become the assailant when he found the entire French Army before him.
+With his single Corps he maintained the fight till the afternoon, and
+drove back the enemy from Flavigny to Rezonville, a distance of more
+than two miles. This was one of the most brilliant achievements of all
+the war.
+
+Thanks to the valuable assistance of the Xth Corps it was possible to
+carry on the battle through the afternoon on the defensive, but only by
+most resolute counter-attacks by the cavalry, and by the unflinching
+tenacity of the artillery.
+
+It was clearly most unadvisable to challenge by renewed attacks an enemy
+who still outnumbered the Germans; which action, since no further
+reinforcements could be hoped for, could not but jeopardize the success
+so dearly bought. The troops were exhausted, most of their ammunition
+was spent, the horses had been under the saddle for fifteen hours
+without fodder; some of the batteries could only move at a walk, and the
+nearest Army Corps on the left bank of the Moselle, the XIIth,[10] was
+distant more than a day's march.
+
+Notwithstanding all these considerations, an order from Prince Frederick
+Charles's Head-quarter issued at seven o'clock, commanded a renewed and
+general attack on the enemy's positions. The Xth Corps was quite
+incapable of answering this demand; and only part of the artillery went
+forward on the right followed by some infantry. The batteries indeed
+reached the much-disputed plateau south of Rezonville, but only to be
+exposed on two sides to the fire of infantry and artillery. Fifty-four
+guns of the French Guard alone, in position on the farther side of the
+valley, were taking them in flank. The Prussian batteries were compelled
+to retreat to their previous position, but two brigades of the 6th
+Cavalry Division still pressed forward. Scarcely able to discern in the
+increasing darkness where lay their proper line of attack, they came
+under very sharp infantry fire, and withdrew with great loss.
+
+Fighting did not entirely cease until ten o'clock. On either side 16,000
+men had fallen. On either side pursuit was out of the question. The
+Germans reaped the fruits of this victory solely in its results. The
+troops, worn out by a twelve hours' struggle, bivouacked on the
+victorious but bloody field, immediately opposite the French position.
+
+Those Corps of the IInd Army which had not taken part in the battle,
+were on that day on march towards the Meuse. The advanced guard of the
+IVth Corps on the left wing was heading towards Toul. This fortress,
+commanding a railway-line of importance to the further progress of the
+German Army, was reported to be but feebly held, and it was resolved to
+attempt its capture by a _coup de main_. But the bombardment of it by
+field-artillery proved quite ineffective. Bastions of masonry and wide
+wet ditches made a storm impossible. An attempt to batter down the gates
+by shot and thus gain an entrance proved a failure. Finally the
+undertaking was given up, and not without some loss on the part of the
+Germans.
+
+At the Royal Head-quarter in Pont a Mousson it had become known by about
+noon on the 16th that the IIIrd Corps was engaged in serious conflict,
+and that the Xth and IXth were hastening up to its support. The
+far-reaching consequences of this information were recognized at once.
+
+The French were arrested in their withdrawal from Metz, but it was to be
+presumed as a certainty that they would again make strenuous efforts to
+force open their interrupted line of retreat. The XIIth Corps was
+therefore ordered to set out for Mars la Tour as early as three o'clock
+next morning; the VIIth and VIIIth Corps to stand in readiness at Corny
+and Arry. The bridging operations were to be pushed with the utmost
+vigour during the night. The Head-quarter of the IInd Army sent from
+Gorze the order to the Guard Corps to make a forced march to Mars la
+Tour, and there take up a position on the left of the XIIth Corps. The
+execution of these orders was facilitated by the foresight of the
+Commanders, who had in the course of the day received news of the battle
+which was being fought. Prince George of Saxony at once placed his
+Division on the march to Thiaucourt, and the Prince of Wuertemberg
+assembled the Infantry of the Guard in its cantonments farther northward
+in readiness for an early march.
+
+_August 17th._--On this morning, at sunrise, the French outposts were
+observed still occupying the sweep of front from Bruville to Rezonville.
+Behind them were noticed a stir and much noise of signalling, which
+might be the indications equally of an attack or of a retirement.
+
+The King arrived from Pont a Mousson at Flavigny as early as six
+o'clock. The reports sent in to headquarters until noon by the
+reconnoitring cavalry were somewhat contradictory; they left it
+uncertain whether the French were concentrating towards Metz, or were
+pursuing their retreat by the two still open roads through Etain and
+Briey. Preparations for the offensive were nowhere observed. By one
+o'clock, after a skirmish on the way, the head of the VIIth Corps had
+reached the northern skirt of the Bois des Ognons, over against which
+the French subsequently abandoned Gravelotte. The VIIIth Corps stood
+ready at Gorze, the IXth, IIIrd, and Xth remained in their positions,
+the XIIth and the Guard Corps were on the march. Seven Corps and three
+Cavalry Divisions could be counted on for the following day; for to-day
+all attacks were forbidden.
+
+In making the dispositions for the impending battle of August 18th, two
+possible contingencies were foreseen and had to be provided for. To meet
+both the left wing was to be sent forward in a northerly direction
+through Doncourt towards the nearest of the routes still open for the
+retreat of the French. If the enemy were already retiring, he was to be
+at once attacked and detained while the right wing was hurrying up in
+support.
+
+In case the enemy should be remaining about Metz, the German left wing
+was to swing eastwards and out-flank his farthest north position, while
+the right was to hold his left closely engaged until this movement was
+accomplished. The battle, under these circumstances, probably could not
+be decided until late in the day, owing to the wide-sweeping movement of
+a portion of the army. A peculiar feature of the situation was that both
+parties had to fight with inverted front, and sacrifice for the time
+their respective lines of communication. The consequences of victory or
+defeat would thus be greatly enhanced or aggravated, but the French had
+the advantage of having as their base a large place of arms with its
+resources.
+
+A decision having been arrived at, by two o'clock orders were published
+at Flavigny for an advance by echelons from the left wing. The guidance
+of individual Corps during the battle was to turn on the reports which
+should be brought in. The King then returned to Pont a Mousson.
+
+As early as nine o'clock in the morning the Saxon Cavalry Division had
+reached the Etain road to the west of Conflans, and had reported no
+enemy visible except a few stragglers. Still, this only proved that on
+the 17th the French had not yet taken up their retreat.
+
+In rear of its cavalry the XIIth Corps arrived during the day in the
+vicinity of Mars la Tour and Puxieux, and left of it the Guard
+bivouacked in the evening at Hannonville sur Yron, in accordance with
+order. The IInd Corps, which ever since it left the railway had followed
+close on the IInd Army, reached Pont a Mousson, and was ordered to march
+forward by Buxieres at four next morning.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[9] Five; viz. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
+
+[10] The Hessian Division of the IXth Corps was on the left bank, much
+nearer the field than the XIIth--so near indeed that portions of it were
+actually engaged; and its other Division crossed the river in the night.
+The _Staff History_ assigns the proximity of the IXth Corps as a leading
+reason for the action of Prince Frederick Charles which Moltke
+denounces. Both the VIIth and VIIIth Corps (the latter of which had a
+brigade engaged in the battle) were more immediately available than the
+distant XIIth.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF GRAVELOTTE--ST. PRIVAT.
+
+(August 18th.)
+
+
+Marshal Bazaine had not thought it advisable to prosecute the march to
+Verdun now that the Germans were so close on the flank of such a
+movement. He preferred to concentrate his forces near Metz, in a
+position which he rightly considered as almost impregnable.
+
+Such an one was afforded him by the range of heights stretching along
+the western verge of the valley of Chatel. Their face looking toward the
+enemy sloped away like a glacis, while the short and steep decline in
+the rear afforded cover for the reserves. Along the flat crown of the
+heights from Roncourt to Rozerieulles, a distance of about seven miles,
+were posted the VIth, IVth, IIIrd, and IInd Corps in succession from the
+north; for which distance there were available from eight to ten men to
+the pace (Schritt). A brigade of the Vth Corps stood near Ste. Ruffine
+in the valley of the Moselle; the cavalry was in rear of both flanks. In
+front of the IInd and IIIrd Corps shelter-trenches had been thrown up,
+battery emplacements and covered ways of communication constructed, and
+the farmsteads lying out to the front converted into little forts. To
+approach this (left) wing from the west it was necessary to cross the
+deep ravine of the Mance. The VIth Corps on the other hand was wholly
+without an engineer park; and it is indicative of the general
+ill-equipment of the French that, for the transport of the wounded to
+the rear, in spite of the enormous trains, provision waggons had to be
+unloaded and their contents burnt. This Corps was therefore unable to
+construct fortified flank defences toward the forest of Jaumont, such as
+would have given to the right wing the character of formidable strength.
+This would undoubtedly have been the place for the Guard, but in his
+apprehension of an attack from the south the Marshal held that Corps in
+reserve at Plappeville.
+
+The King returned to Flavigny at six o'clock on the morning of the 18th.
+All commanding officers were instructed to send their reports thither,
+and officers of the General Staff belonging to the Royal Head-quarter
+were besides sent out in different directions to report information as
+to the progress of the engagement.
+
+The following were the initial dispositions. The VIIth Army Corps, which
+was to form the pivot for the eventual wheel to the right, occupied the
+Bois de Vaux and Bois des Ognons; the VIIIth, which the King had
+reserved at his own disposition, stood halted near Rezonville ready to
+march to the north or to the east, as might be required. The IXth Corps,
+on its left, advanced towards St. Marcel, while the IIIrd and Xth
+followed in second line. The Guard and XIIth Corps moved in a northerly
+direction.
+
+In consequence of the Head-quarter of the IInd Army having ordered the
+XIIth Corps, although it stood on the right,[11] to form the extreme
+left, a serious delay occurred from the crossing of the respective lines
+of march. The Saxon troops had not entirely passed through Mars-la-Tour
+until nine o'clock, and till then the Guard Corps could not follow.
+
+Meanwhile the advanced guard of the XIIth Corps had already reached
+Jarny, and pursued its march as far as Briey without encountering the
+enemy.
+
+Before information to this effect came in, the conviction had been
+reached in the Royal Head-quarter that at all events the main forces of
+the enemy still remained before Metz; there was, however, a difference
+of opinion as to the extension of the French front, which it was assumed
+did not reach beyond Montigny. The Head-quarter of the IInd Army was
+therefore instructed not to extend further northward, but to attack the
+enemy's right wing with the IXth Corps, and push in the direction of
+Batilly with the Guard and the XIIth Corps. The Ist Army was not to
+begin its frontal attack until the IInd should be ready to co-operate.
+
+In obedience to those instructions Prince Frederick Charles ordered the
+IXth Corps to march towards Verneville, and, in case the French right
+wing should be found there, to begin the action by promptly bringing a
+large force of artillery into action. The Guard was to continue its
+advance by way of Doncourt to support the IXth as soon as possible. The
+XIIth was to remain at Jarny for the present.
+
+A little later fresh reports came in, which indicated that the IXth
+Corps, should it proceed in the manner ordered, would not strike the
+enemy on his flank, but full on his front. The Prince, in the discretion
+of his high position, therefore determined that the Corps should
+postpone its attack till the Guard Corps should have been brought to
+bear upon Amanvillers. At the same time the XIIth Corps was to push on
+to Ste. Marie aux Chenes.
+
+But while these orders were being expedited, there was heard from
+Verneville at twelve o'clock the roar of the first cannon shots.
+
+The two Corps of the left wing had, moreover, of their own accord, taken
+an easterly direction, and the IIIrd Corps moved up in rear of the IXth
+to the Caulre farm.
+
+General von Manstein, the commander of the IXth Corps, had observed from
+Verneville a French camp at Amanvillers, which apparently lay in
+negligent repose. From his standpoint it could not be discerned that to
+his left about St. Privat great masses of troops were in position.
+Thinking that in this camp he had the enemy's right wing before him, he
+determined to act on his original orders and at once take the foe by
+surprise. Eight of his batteries at once opened fire.
+
+But the French troops showed great alacrity in moving up into their
+prepared positions. The isolated initiative of the single Corps
+naturally drew upon it not only the fire of the troops opposite to it,
+but also that of the hostile Corps to right and left.
+
+In the effort to find a location affording something of shelter, the
+Prussian batteries had taken position in a fold of the slope looking
+towards Amanvillers, and facing to the south-east, where, however, they
+were exposed from the north, on the flank and even in the rear, to the
+fire of the enemy's artillery, as well as to the massed fire of his
+infantry.
+
+To meet this, it was necessary to send forward the infantry battalions
+nearest at hand. They took possession of the eastern point of the Bois
+de la Cusse on the left, and on the right seized the farmhouses of
+L'Envie and Chantrenne, and forced their way into the Bois des Genivaux.
+Thus the front of the 18th Division in action extended along a distance
+of 4000 paces.
+
+It had to endure very heavy loss from the circumstance that the French
+with their long-range Chassepot rifles could afford to keep out of the
+effective range of the needle-gun; the artillery suffered exceptionally
+severely. One of the batteries had already lost forty-five gunners when
+the enemy's sharpshooters swarmed forward on it. Infantry protection was
+not available at the moment, and two guns were lost. By two o'clock the
+batteries still remaining in position were almost unserviceable, and no
+relief arrived till the Hessian Division reached Habonville, and
+brought up on the left of the distressed batteries, five batteries on
+either side of the railway, which diverted on themselves to a
+considerable extent the concentrated fire of the enemy. The batteries of
+the 18th Division, which had suffered most, could now be withdrawn in
+succession, but even in the act of retreat they had to drive off the
+pursuers by grape-shot.
+
+The artillery of the IIIrd Corps and the Guard also came to the aid of
+the IXth, and those of the damaged guns of the last, which were still at
+all fit for service, were at once brought up again into the fighting
+line. Thus there was formed in front of Verneville and as far as St. Ail
+an artillery front of 130 pieces, whose fire now opposed the enemy's
+artillery with conspicuous success. Now that the IIIrd Corps was
+approaching Verneville and the 3rd Guard Brigade had reached Habonville,
+it was no longer to be apprehended that the French would succeed in
+piercing this line.
+
+The main body of the Guard Corps reached St. Ail so early as two
+o'clock. General von Pape (commanding Ist Guard Division) at once
+recognized that by wheeling to the east he would not only not strike the
+enemy on that right flank of his which had to be turned, but would
+expose his own left flank to the hostile force occupying Ste. Marie aux
+Chenes. This town-like village, in itself extremely strong, and also
+strongly flanked by the main stronghold of the enemy's right, it was
+necessary to gain before making any further advance; but, in obedience
+to superior orders, the General had to await the co-operation of the
+Saxon Corps.
+
+The foremost troops of this Corps had already reached the vicinity of
+Batilly, but it was still distant from Ste. Marie more than two miles,
+so that its batteries could not be pushed forward into position west of
+that place until three o'clock. But as the Guard had sent most of its
+own artillery to the support of the IXth Corps the Saxon batteries were
+of essential service. Ten batteries now directed their fire upon Ste.
+Marie, and by the time its effect was discernible, the 47th Brigade of
+the XIIth Corps came up. At half-past three the Prussian and Saxon
+battalions hurled themselves on the town from the south, the west, and
+the north, with loud hurrahs and without returning the fire of the
+enemy. The French were driven from it with the loss of several hundred
+men taken prisoners.
+
+The Saxons eagerly followed up, and north of Ste. Marie there ensued a
+lively infantry fight, which masked the fire of the artillery. The
+brigade having obeyed the order to retire, the batteries immediately
+re-opened fire, and the repeated efforts of the French to recover the
+lost position were frustrated.
+
+Soon afterwards the IXth Corps succeeded in storming and firmly holding
+the farm of Champenois, but all further attempts by isolated battalions
+or companies to force their way forward against the broad and compact
+front of the French were then manifestly futile. Thus, towards five
+o'clock, the infantry fire altogether died out, and the artillery fired
+only an occasional shot. The exhaustion of both sides caused for the
+time an almost total suspension of hostilities in this part of the
+field.
+
+The Royal Head-quarter had firmly maintained the resolution, that the
+Ist Army should not commit itself to a serious offensive until the IInd
+had grappled with the enemy. But when the day was half-spent and when
+about noon heavy firing was heard from Vionville,[12] it was to be
+assumed that the moment for action had arrived; still, for the present,
+permission was only given to the Ist Army to engage in the artillery
+preparation.
+
+Sixteen batteries of the VIIth and VIIIth Corps accordingly drew up
+right and left of Gravelotte on the highway passing through that
+village. Their fire was ineffective, because they were too far distant
+from the enemy; and furthermore they suffered from the fire of the
+French tirailleurs nestling in the opposite woods. It became necessary
+to drive those out, and thus there occurred here a premature infantry
+fight. The French were cleared out from the eastern declivity of the
+Mance ravine, and the artillery line, now increased to twenty batteries,
+was able to advance closer up to the western brink and now direct the
+strength of its fire against the main position of the enemy.
+
+But the battalions of the 29th Brigade pushed the attack further. They
+pressed on leftward into the southern section of the Bois des Genivaux,
+but were unable to obtain touch of the IXth Corps in possession of the
+northern portion of the forest, since the French firmly held the
+intervening ground. On the right sundry detachments took possession of
+the quarries and gravel-pits near St. Hubert.
+
+The artillery meanwhile had gained the mastery over that of the enemy,
+several of whose batteries were silenced, and others prevented from
+coming into position. The French fire was in part directed on the
+farm-steading of St. Hubert, to the vicinity of which portions of the
+30th Brigade had spurted forward. These formidable premises close under
+the face of the enemy's main position, and in spite of a very heavy fire
+therefrom, were stormed at three o'clock. The 31st Brigade also now
+promptly crossed the ravine, but a further advance against the farms of
+Moscou and Leipzig, over a bare stretch of ground encompassed by the
+enemy on its wooded edges, did not succeed, and resulted only in heavy
+loss. On the extreme right, the 26th Brigade had taken possession of
+Jussy, thus securing the connection of the German army towards Metz, but
+found it impossible to cross the deep valley of Rozerieulles.
+
+Everywhere the advanced positions of the French had been driven in, the
+farms in their front were blazing, their artillery appeared to be
+crushed, and, as the situation was viewed from Gravelotte, there needed
+nothing but to follow up the success. General von Steinmetz therefore,
+at four o'clock, ordered a renewed attack with fresh forces.
+
+While the VIIth Corps occupied the border of the woodland, four
+batteries, backed by the 1st Cavalry Division, moved at a trot through
+the ravine, about 1500 paces across, which lies east of Gravelotte. But
+as soon as the head of the deep column came in sight of the enemy he
+redoubled his rifle and artillery fire, which had till now been kept
+under. One battery lost in a twinkling the men serving four of its guns,
+and it was only by an extreme effort that it was withdrawn to the border
+of the wood; another never succeeded in deploying. On the other hand,
+Hasse's battery remained in action, in spite of the loss of seventy-five
+horses, and Gnuegge's battery stood fast near St. Hubert, regardless of
+the return fire from the quarries.
+
+The foremost regiment of cavalry bent to the right at a gallop on
+leaving the hollow way, and advanced towards Point du Jour, but the
+enemy, being completely under cover, offered no mark for an attack.
+Clearly there was no field here for the utilization of this arm, so the
+regiments withdrew across the Mance ravine under a heavy fire from all
+sides.
+
+The result of the ill-success of this attempt was that swarms of French
+tirailleurs now poured down from Point du Jour, and drove the Prussian
+detachments still remaining on the bare plateau backward to the skirts
+of the wood. Chassepot bullets even reached the position of the Royal
+Commander-in-Chief and his personal staff, and Prince Adalbert's horse
+was shot under him.
+
+Fresh forces pushed forward and drove the enemy back into his main
+position. St. Hubert remained in German possession, though the gunners
+of the battery in post there were equal to the service of but one gun.
+But all partial attempts to advance over the exposed plateau proved a
+failure; and here also at about five o'clock in the afternoon there
+occurred a lull in the fighting, during which the weary troops on both
+sides reorganized themselves and took breath.
+
+About this time King William and his staff rode forward to the swell
+south of Malmaison. But from there nothing could be discerned of the
+situation of the left flank of the army, at a distance as it was of more
+than four miles. The French artillery had almost entirely ceased along
+the whole front from La Folie to Point du Jour; but to the northward the
+thunder of the cannon fire roared louder than ever. It was six o'clock,
+the day was nearly at an end, and it was imperative that the decisive
+result should be precipitated. The King therefore ordered the Ist Army
+to make a renewed advance in support of which he placed the IInd Corps,
+just arrived after a long march, at the disposal of General von
+Steinmetz.
+
+The battalions of the VIIth Corps which were still serviceable, except
+five which remained in reserve, were again sent across the Mance ravine,
+and in support of them the battalions holding the Bois de Vaux advanced
+in the direction of Point du Jour and the quarries.
+
+The IInd Corps of the French Army thus assailed was now reinforced by
+the Guard Voltigeur Division. All the reserves were hurried up into the
+foremost line. The artillery burst into redoubled fire, and a crushing
+musketry fire was concentrated on the advancing enemy. Then the French
+themselves took the offensive with a huge swarm of tirailleurs, which
+hurled backward upon the wood-fringes the small leaderless bodies of
+German troops that had been lying in the shallow folds of the plateau.
+
+There, however, the sally found its limit; and there still remained at
+disposition a fresh Army Corps in full strength.
+
+The IInd Corps, the last to come up by rail into the theatre of war,
+had hitherto followed in the wake of the army by forced marches, and had
+not been able to take part in any engagement. It had started from Pont a
+Mousson at 2 a.m. and, taking the road by Buxieres and Rezonville,
+arrived south of Gravelotte towards evening. The Pomeranians expressed
+their eager desire to get at the enemy before the day should end.
+
+It would have been more proper if the Chief of the General Staff of the
+Army, who was personally on the spot at the time, had not permitted this
+movement at so late an hour of the evening. A body of troops, still
+completely intact, might have been of great value the next day; but it
+could hardly be expected on this evening to effect a decisive reversal
+of the situation.
+
+Hurrying through Gravelotte, the foremost battalions of the IInd Corps
+pushed forward to the quarries, and up to within a few hundred paces of
+Point du Jour; but those following soon found themselves involved in the
+throng of the broken detachments remaining under fire south of St.
+Hubert, and the further advance towards Moscou was arrested. In the
+growing darkness friend became indistinguishable from foe, and the
+firing had to be broken off. Not, however, until ten o'clock did it
+entirely cease.
+
+It was, to be sure, an advantage that the fresh troops of the IInd Corps
+were available to hold the foremost fighting-line for the night, behind
+which the intermixed detachments of the VIIth and VIIIth Corps were
+enabled to reorganize themselves.
+
+The whole course of the struggle had conclusively proved that the French
+left flank, almost impregnable as it was by nature and art, could not be
+forced even by the most devoted bravery and the greatest sacrifices.
+Both sides were now facing each other in threatening proximity, and both
+in attitude to renew the battle on the following morning. The result of
+the day turned on the events evolving themselves on the opposite flank.
+
+The Prince of Wuertemberg,[13] then in St. Ail, had judged at a
+quarter-past five that the moment was come for an attack on the French
+right wing; but that wing extended considerably further north than the
+front of the Guard Corps reached; further, indeed, than the French
+Commander-in-Chief himself was aware. The Saxons had, indeed,
+participated in the seizure of Ste. Marie aux Chenes, but after that
+event the Crown Prince[14] deemed it necessary to assemble his Corps in
+front of the Bois d'Auboue, before proceeding to attack the enemy in
+flank. One of his brigades had to come up from Jarny, another from Ste.
+Marie; and, since the Corps had been delayed in getting away from Mars
+la Tour, its direct attack could not be expected at the earliest for an
+hour to come.
+
+The 4th Infantry Brigade of the Guard Corps, in accordance with orders
+received, proceeded in the prescribed direction of Jerusalem,
+immediately south of St. Privat. As soon as General von Manstein
+observed this movement, he ordered the 3rd Guard Brigade, which had been
+placed at his orders, immediately to advance from Habonville direct upon
+Amanvillers. Between and abreast of these two brigades marched Hessian
+battalions. It was not till half-an-hour later that the 1st Guard
+Division leftward of the 2nd moved forward from Ste. Marie against St.
+Privat. This combined offensive movement was directed against the broad
+front of the French VIth and IVth Corps. Their respective strongholds of
+St. Privat and Amanvillers had as yet hardly felt the fire of the German
+batteries, which had hitherto found enough to do in combating the
+enemy's artillery outside the villages.
+
+In front of the French main position on the crown of the height had been
+prepared on the slope behind the hedges and low walls, which rose
+terrace-wise backward, tier on tier of shelter trenches. Behind these
+defences towered the village named St. Privat, castle-like with its
+massive houses, which were garrisoned to the very roofs. The bare slope
+stretching in its front was thus exposed to an overwhelming storm of
+projectiles.
+
+The losses of the Guard Corps marching forward to attack a front so
+formidable were simply enormous. In the course of half an hour five
+battalions lost all, the others the greater part of their officers,
+especially those of the higher grades. Thousands of dead and wounded
+marked the track of the battalions pressing valiantly forward in spite
+of their cruel losses. The ranks as fast as they were thinned constantly
+closed up again, and their cohesion was not lost even under the
+leadership of young lieutenants and ensigns. As they drew nearer to the
+enemy the needle-gun came into full utility. The French were driven from
+all their foremost positions, in which, for the most part, they did not
+await the final struggle. By a quarter-past six the battalions had
+advanced to within 600 to 800 paces of Amanvillers and St. Privat. The
+troops, weary from the strained exertion, halted under the steeper
+slopes offering some, though small, protection, and in the shelter
+trenches abandoned by the enemy. Only four battalions now remained in
+reserve at Ste. Marie, behind the line which now extended to a length of
+4000 paces. Every charge of the French cavalry and of de Cissey's
+Division had been steadily repelled with the aid of twelve batteries of
+the Guard Corps which had hastened up; but detachments commingled under
+stress of untold losses, had to show a resolute front against two French
+Corps in close proximity for more than half-an-hour, before relief came
+to them.
+
+It was nearly seven o'clock when on the left of the Guard, two brigades
+of Saxon infantry reached the scene of strife; the other two were still
+assembling in the forest of Auboue; their artillery, however, had for a
+considerable time been maintaining a lively fire on Roncourt.
+
+When Bazaine received word that the Germans were stretching out in
+constantly increasing extension with intent to outflank his right, he at
+three p.m. ordered Picard's Guard Grenadier Division posted at
+Plappeville, to march towards the threatened flank. Though the distance
+to be covered was little more than four miles, this all-important
+reinforcement, having diverged to rightward from the direct road through
+the woodland, had not yet arrived; and Marshal Canrobert, who was
+fending off with all his might the converging masses of Prussian
+assailants, decided to concentrate his troops more closely about the
+strong position of St. Privat. The retreat from Roncourt would be
+adequately covered by a small rearguard, since the border of the Bois de
+Jaumont was being held.
+
+Thus it happened that the Saxons did not find the strong resistance at
+Roncourt which they had expected, and after a slight skirmish entered
+the village together with the companies of the extreme left of the
+Guard; a body of Saxon infantry had previously been diverted to the
+right from the road to Roncourt and marched direct on St. Privat to the
+support of the Guard.
+
+The fire of twenty-four batteries of the two German Corps wrought awful
+havoc there. Many houses were set on fire, or crumbled under the
+concentrated crash of the shells. But the French were determined to hold
+to the last extremity this point, decisive as it was of the fate of the
+day. The batteries of their right flank were hurried into position
+between St. Privat and the Bois de Jaumont, whence their fire would
+enfilade the further advance of the Saxons on the former place. Other
+batteries went southward to confront the Prussians, and the simultaneous
+final rush of the German battalions was met by a rattling fire from the
+French riflemen under cover in their lines of shelter trenches.
+
+All those obstacles were gradually overcome in the course of the
+assault, although again with heavy loss; some detachments halting
+occasionally for a moment to pour in a volley, others again never
+firing a shot. By sundown the attack had swept up to within 300 paces of
+St. Privat. Some detachments of the Xth Corps, which had reached St.
+Ail, closed up, and now the final onset was made from every side at
+once. The French still defended the burning houses and the church with
+great obstinacy, till, finding themselves completely surrounded, they
+surrendered at about eight o'clock. More than 2000 men were here taken
+prisoners, and the wounded were rescued from the burning houses.
+
+The defeated troops of the VIth French Corps hurriedly retired into the
+valley of the Moselle, their retreat covered by the brigade holding the
+Bois de Jaumont and by the cavalry. Only then did the Guard Grenadier
+Division make its first appearance, and the Reserve Artillery of the
+French Army deployed east of Amanvillers. The German batteries at once
+took up the fight, which lasted till late in the night, and in the
+course of which Amanvillers was burned.
+
+In that quarter the retirement of the IVth French Corps had also already
+commenced, masked, however, by repeated heavy attacks to the front. In
+the course of these there occurred a hand-to-hand encounter with the
+charging battalions of the right wing of the Guard and the left of the
+IXth Corps. Amanvillers, however, remained in the hands of the French
+for the night. Not until three o'clock on the morning of the 19th did
+the IIIrd French Corps evacuate its position about Moscou; and the IInd
+Corps held its ground until five o'clock, engaged in constant sharp
+frays with the outposts of the Pomeranians, who on its withdrawal took
+possession of the plateaus of Moscou and Point du Jour.
+
+The results attained on the 18th of August had been made possible only
+by the battles of the 14th and 16th.
+
+The French estimate their losses at 13,000 men. In October 173,000 were
+still in Metz, consequently it is certain that the enemy had at
+disposition in the battle of the 18th of August more than 180,000 men.
+The exact strength of the seven[15] German Corps on that day amounted to
+178,818 men. Thus with the forces on either side of approximately equal
+strength, the French had been driven out of a position of almost
+unrivalled natural advantage.
+
+Naturally the loss of the assailants was much heavier than that of the
+defence; it amounted to 20,584 men, among them 899 officers.
+
+Whereas by the war-establishment the average is one officer to every
+forty men, in this battle one officer fell to every twenty-three men;
+glorious testimony to the example set by their leaders to their brave
+men, but also a loss which could not be restored during the course of
+the war. Altogether the six battles fought in the first fourteen days of
+August had cost the German army 50,000 men.[16] It was naturally
+impossible immediately to call out at home a sufficient levy in
+substitution for the losses; but reinforcements drawn from the
+time-expired cadres were already bespoken.
+
+First of all that same evening the earliest instalment of the trains and
+the Field-Hospitals had to be brought up from the right bank of the
+Moselle; and the ammunition had to be replenished throughout. In
+Rezonville, thronged as it was with the wounded, it was with difficulty
+that a little garret for the King and shelter for his General Staff
+were found. Its members were engrossed throughout the night in preparing
+the dispositions which the new phase of the situation created by the
+victory rendered immediately necessary. This exertion enabled all those
+orders to be laid before his Majesty for approval on the morning of the
+19th.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[11] The XIIth Corps never stood on the right. It occupied its assigned
+position on the extreme left, and the delay arose from the Guard Corps
+having occupied a position other than that designed for it, and having
+been allowed to remain there.
+
+[12] Vionville in text seems a slip of the pen for Verneville.
+
+[13] Commanding the Guard Corps.
+
+[14] Of Saxony, commanding XIIth Corps.
+
+[15] These figures represent only the infantry of the eight (not seven)
+Corps engaged; they do not include the cavalry, 24,584; the artillery,
+at least as strong; nor the officerhood of the two armies, numbering
+several thousands. Inclusive of those items the German host "employed"
+in the battle of Gravelotte--St. Privat numbered, in round figures,
+232,000 combatants. Accepting Moltke's own estimate of ten defenders per
+"Schrith" of front, there works out a total of 133,000 men, as the
+strength of the French army "employed" in the battle.
+
+[16] During the first fourteen days of August, the German troops were in
+conflict with the enemy on five occasions: viz. Saarbruecken, 2nd, loss
+79; Weissenburg, 4th, loss 1551; Woerth, 6th, loss 10,642; Spicheren,
+6th, loss 4871; Borny, 14th, loss 5000. Total losses during the fourteen
+days, 22,143.
+
+
+
+
+NEW DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY.
+
+
+The siege of Metz had formed no part of the original plan of campaign;
+it had been intended to do no more than merely to maintain an
+observation on the place when the main army should have passed it on the
+advance towards Paris; and a Reserve Division, consisting of eighteen
+battalions, sixteen squadrons, and thirty-six guns, detailed for that
+duty, was now near at hand.
+
+Under the altered conditions, however, the regular investment of Metz
+was now necessary, and this involved a radical alteration of the
+existing arrangements throughout the whole army.
+
+A separate army under the command of Prince Frederick Charles,
+consisting of the Ist, VIIth, and VIIIth Corps of the former Ist Army,
+the IInd, IIIrd, IXth, and Xth Corps of the IInd Army, the Reserve
+Division and the 1st and 3rd Cavalry Divisions, in all 150,000 men, was
+assigned to the duty of investing Metz.
+
+The Guard, IVth, and XIIth Corps and the 5th and 6th Cavalry Divisions
+were formed into a separate army under the command of the Crown Prince
+of Saxony; it was styled "The Army of the Meuse" and was 138,000
+strong.[17] This and the IIIrd Army, which numbered 223,000 men, were
+directed to advance against the new French army forming at Chalons.
+
+Certainly the army investing Metz was left weaker than the blockaded
+enemy. It was to be expected that the latter would renew his efforts to
+break out to the westward. Prince Frederick Charles' main forces were
+therefore to remain on the left bank of the Moselle.
+
+All these orders received the approval of the King, and were dispatched
+to the commanding officers by eleven o'clock on the morning of the 19th.
+
+In accordance with the orders of Prince Frederick Charles, the Xth Corps
+occupied the woodland districts of the lower Moselle as far as St.
+Privat, while the IInd held the high ridge from that point to Moscou. To
+the right of the IInd, the VIIIth and VIIth Corps followed on, the
+latter positioned on both sides of the Upper Moselle. The Ist Corps
+occupied the Pouilly upland to left and right of the Seille, specially
+charged to protect the great magazines which were being established at
+Remilly and Pont a Mousson. The 3rd Reserve Division moved to the
+vicinity of Retonfay, north-east of Metz. The IXth and IIIrd Corps
+cantoned at St. Marie and Verneville as reserve. All the troops
+immediately set about the construction of earthworks, and of bridges
+over the Moselle above and below the fortress.
+
+Of the Corps now belonging to the Army of the Meuse, the XIIth assembled
+at Conflans and the Guards at Mars la Tour; the IVth Corps, which had
+not been ordered to Metz, had already reached Commercy.
+
+The IIIrd Army, after crossing the Vosges range, and having left a
+Bavarian brigade blockading Toul, was pressing forward in three
+columns. Its foremost Corps had already reached the Meuse, but were
+obliged to halt there for two days, so as to cross the river
+approximately abreast of the Meuse army. Its cavalry meanwhile patrolled
+three marches ahead as far as Chalons and Vitry, where, for the first
+time since Woerth, it regained touch of the enemy. The French encountered
+were only guarding posts on the Marne railway-line, which retired when
+the traffic thereon ceased.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[17] These figures are erroneous. It is manifest that three Corps and
+two Cavalry Divisions, most of which had been materially weakened by
+casualties, could not furnish a strength of 138,000 men; nor could the
+IIIrd Army, originally 130,000 strong, swelled by one Corps and
+diminished by battle losses of 12,000, approximate a strength of
+223,000. As a matter of fact, on August 22nd, the Meuse Army was 86,275
+strong, and the IIIrd Army 137,622; the two armies together had a total
+strength, in round numbers, of 224,000 men.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARMY OF CHALONS.
+
+
+Meanwhile at Chalons there had been formed a French army of 166
+battalions, 100 squadrons, and 380 guns, consisting of the Ist, Vth,
+VIIth, and XIIth Corps.
+
+Of the last the Division which had been left behind on the Spanish
+frontier formed the nucleus, to which was added a body of very superior
+troops, consisting of four regiments of marines; later the two cavalry
+divisions also joined. General Trochu, who had been made Governor of
+Paris, had taken back with him thither eighteen battalions of
+Gardes-Mobiles, they having already given such proofs of insubordination
+that it was thought unsafe to confront them with the enemy.
+
+The Emperor had arrived in Chalons and had placed Marshal MacMahon in
+command of the newly-formed army. In the French Head-quarter it was not
+unnaturally assumed that Marshal Bazaine was in retreat from Metz. By an
+advance of the Army of Chalons merely to Verdun the armies could form a
+junction with each other in the course of a few days, and so a fighting
+force be formed which might make head against the hitherto victorious
+enemy. On the other hand, MacMahon had to concern himself with the duty
+of covering Paris, and that capital, no less than his own right flank,
+was threatened by the appearance of the Crown Prince of Prussia's army
+on the Meuse.
+
+For the attainment of a decision between advancing and retiring, it was
+beyond everything necessary to know the direction which Marshal Bazaine
+might have taken.
+
+On the 18th tidings had come from him, that he had maintained his
+position in a battle about Rezonville, but that his troops had to be
+supplied with ammunition and supplies before they could renew the march.
+From this it seemed only too probable that the communications of the
+Army of the Rhine were already threatened; and MacMahon determined to
+march on Rheims, whence he could either reach Paris, though by a
+somewhat circuitous route, or move in the direction of the other army.
+
+But when it became known that the Crown Prince of Prussia's army had not
+even been near Metz, and that Prussian cavalry had already appeared
+before Vitry, the Marshal could not deceive himself as to the danger
+involved in the latter alternative. With sound judgment, therefore, he
+stood out against the order of the Empress and the Ministry to undertake
+that enterprise; he determined against it, and announced his resolution
+to march to Paris. Under its walls he could accept a battle with
+advantage, since the fortifications, even in the event of defeat,
+assured a safe retreat and precluded pursuit.
+
+Further reports from Metz did not afford a clear insight into the
+situation there. Also on the 18th, "the army had held its position," the
+narrative ran--only the right wing had changed front. "The troops
+required two or three days' rest," but the Marshal "counted still on
+being able to move out in a northerly direction," and fight his way to
+Chalons by the Montmedy--Ste. Menehould route, if this road was not
+strongly held by the enemy. In that case, he would march on Sedan, and
+even by Mezieres, in order to reach Chalons.
+
+Bazaine might already have committed himself to the movement thus
+indicated, and therefore Marshal MacMahon, who was not the man to leave
+his fellow-soldier in the lurch, instead of marching on Paris, set forth
+on the 23rd in the direction of Stenay.
+
+The suddenness of this decision caused all the preparations for the
+undertaking to be left unexecuted. At the end of the first day's march
+the troops reached the Suippe late in the evening in pouring rain. They
+lacked every necessary, and two Corps remained entirely without food.
+The Marshal was therefore forced to move his army further northward to
+Rethel, where large magazines of provisions had been established, and
+where the railway facilitated the bringing up of stores. Even on the
+third day's march the army had made little progress eastward. The left
+wing remained at Rethel, the right reached the Aisne, near Vouziers. On
+August 26th the main army was still standing between Attigny and Le
+Chene on the Ardennes canal, while the VIIth Corps and a regiment of
+Hussars lay in front of Vouziers for the protection of the right flank.
+
+While the French army was thus marching eastward by a wide detour, the
+German forces, which had been put in motion at the same time, were for
+their part marching due westward.
+
+According to orders issued from the supreme Head-quarter at Pont a
+Mousson, the advance on the enemy, supposed to be at Chalons, was to be
+effected in such manner that the IIIrd Army, marching on the left of the
+Army of the Meuse, should have the start by a day's march, so that the
+enemy, wherever he might stand halted, could be struck simultaneously in
+front and on his right flank, and thus forced away northward from the
+direction of Paris. The two armies were to converge as they advanced,
+and to reach the line of Ste. Menehould--Vitry on the 26th.
+
+On the first day's march, the armies still on a front some fifty-six
+miles long, the Meuse was reached; on the second day, the 24th, they
+advanced to the line St. Dizier--Bar le Duc--Verdun. The attempts to
+take the latter place and Toul in the by-going proved unsuccessful.
+
+So early as on that day the 4th Cavalry Division, which had pushed far
+ahead, sent in important news. The Rhenish dragoons had found Chalons
+and the camp at Mourmelon deserted, and notwithstanding the destruction
+effected, there still remained in the latter considerable booty. An
+intercepted letter written by a French officer, which intimated that the
+relief of Metz was in prospect, and another which stated that Marshal
+MacMahon was at Rheims with 150,000 men and was fortifying his position
+there, were corroborated by the Paris newspapers.
+
+On the 25th the Army of the Meuse formed a line from Sommeille to
+Dombasle, while the heads of columns of the IIIrd Army were already
+executing the march prescribed for the following day, on the Ste.
+Menehould--Vitry road. The small fortress of Vitry, a few hours after a
+battalion of Mobiles had left the place, surrendered to the 4th Cavalry
+Division. On its march to Ste. Menehould, thence to be forwarded by
+train to Paris, this battalion, 1000 strong, fell into the hands of the
+6th Cavalry Division as it was moving on Dampierre, and was carried away
+captive.
+
+The 5th Cavalry Division reached Ste. Menehould, and the 12th followed
+on the same road as far as Clermont, patrolling the country up to
+Varennes, within nine miles of the French outposts at Grand Pre, but
+without learning anything as to the whereabouts of the French army.
+
+The scouting service to any great distance on the right of the army was
+hindered by the vicinity of the forest of Argonnes, which it was
+difficult for the cavalry to penetrate without the assistance of
+infantry. The inhabitants of the country began to show themselves
+extremely hostile. The Government had provided them with arms, and
+organized a general rising. The Germans, who hitherto had made war on
+the Emperor alone, were now forced to use their arms against the
+population. The franctireurs, though not affecting operations on a large
+scale, were a source of much annoyance to the smaller undertakings, and
+as it naturally embittered the soldiers to realize that they were no
+longer safe either by day or night, the character of the war became more
+stern, and the sufferings of the country were increased.
+
+A Paris telegram, sent by way of London, reached this day (25th) the
+Royal Head-quarter at Bar le Duc. It stated that MacMahon was at Rheims,
+and sought to effect a junction with Bazaine.
+
+It is always a serious matter to exchange, without the most pressing
+necessity, a once-settled and well-devised plan for a new and unprepared
+scheme. It would have been unwise and unskilful hastily to alter the
+whole direction of the advance because of rumours and information which
+might later probably turn out to be unfounded. Endless difficulties must
+result from such a course; the arrangements for bringing up baggage and
+reinforcements would have to be cancelled, and aimless marches might
+impair the confidence of the troops in their commanders.
+
+The orders for the following day, issued at eleven o'clock in the
+morning, prescribed therefore for both armies merely a slight alteration
+of direction; Rheims instead of Chalons was indicated as the objective.
+The cavalry of the right wing, however, was explicitly ordered to
+advance to Buzancy and Vouziers, where a thorough insight into the
+situation could not but be obtained.
+
+In war it is for the most part with probabilities only that the
+strategist can reckon; and the probability, as a rule, is that the enemy
+will do the right thing. Such a course could not be anticipated as that
+the French army would uncover Paris and march along the Belgian frontier
+to Metz. Such a move seemed strange, and indeed somewhat venturesome;
+but nevertheless it was possible. The chief of the General Staff,
+therefore, that same day worked out a tabular detail of marches, upon
+which the three Corps of the Army of the Meuse, together with the two
+Bavarian Corps which were nearest that army, could be brought together
+in the vicinity of Damvillers, on the right bank of the Meuse, in three
+not over-severe marches.
+
+These forces, with the two Corps standing in reserve at Metz, which
+could be brought up, would constitute a force of 150,000 men, which
+might give battle in the specified vicinity, or compel the enemy to do
+so on the march to Longuyon. Without employing this reserve, there was
+every prospect that the advance of the French could be brought to a halt
+on this side of the Meuse, and then another Corps of the IIIrd Army
+could be brought up.
+
+This march-table was soon to be brought into service. Fresh news arrived
+in the course of the same afternoon. The newspapers revealed the secret
+by publishing vehement speeches delivered in the National Assembly to
+the effect "that the French general who should leave his comrade in the
+lurch, deserved the execration of the country." It would be a disgrace,
+it was protested, to the French nation if the brave Bazaine were left
+unsuccoured: from all this, and considering the effect of such phrases
+on the French, it was to be expected that military considerations would
+give way to political. A telegram from London, quoting the Paris
+_Temps_, stated that MacMahon had suddenly resolved to hasten to the
+assistance of Bazaine, though the abandonment of the road to Paris
+endangered the safety of France.
+
+The King, before night, approved of the march to the right, and the
+orders were dispatched that night direct to the respective Army Corps on
+the march.
+
+On the 26th his Majesty moved his head-quarter to Clermont. The Crown
+Prince of Saxony had set out for Varennes early in the morning with the
+XIIth Corps, and had ordered the Guards to Dombasle, the IVth Corps to
+Fleury.
+
+The cavalry, sent forward in every direction, found that the enemy had
+evacuated the region of the Suippe valley and had not yet entered that
+of the Meuse; that Buzancy and Grand Pre were in occupation of the
+French, and that a large encampment of their VIIth Corps had been
+specifically perceived on the height of Vouziers. The apparition of a
+few handsful of cavalry, despatched thither on observation duty,
+occasioned an almost unaccountable excitement. General Douay, quartered
+at Vouziers, received the most exaggerated reports, and must have
+thought that a general attack by the German army was imminent. The VIIth
+Corps was kept under arms the entire night in pouring rain, and the
+Marshal resolved to advance towards Vouziers and Buzancy with all his
+forces on the following morning. Thus the march to the east received a
+check as early as the 27th, but the untruthfulness of the reports very
+soon became sufficiently apparent.
+
+If the German chiefs were deeply interested in gaining an insight into
+the enemy's movements, so on the French side this requisite was
+certainly urgent in no less imperative degree. With judicious disposal
+of their cavalry on the right flank, a surprise like that above
+mentioned would have been impossible, but the 1st French Cavalry
+Division was placed on the left flank, where there was no danger
+whatever, and the 2nd was rearmost of everything. It seemed as though in
+the French army less attention was paid to the repulse of an attack than
+to the evasion of one, and to the unobserved attainment of Montmedy,
+the point of rendezvous with the other army. When the movement of the
+Germans from southward could no longer be doubted, it would certainly
+have been best for the French to take the vigorous offensive in that
+direction with intent to defeat them, or at least to sweep them out of
+the vicinity of their own line of march. If they had failed in this they
+would, at any rate, have readily learnt that their undertaking was
+impracticable, and that its further prosecution must certainly result in
+a catastrophe. It must, however, be admitted that the German cavalry
+formed an almost impenetrable screen. The Marshal could not know that
+his enemy was echeloned from Vitry to Varennes, a distance of more than
+thirty-seven miles, and was not at all in form to attack him just then
+in serious earnest.
+
+_August 27th._--The Marshal had cleared up his misconception, and on the
+27th he continued his march, at least with part of his troops. The VIIth
+and Vth Corps covered the movement at Vouziers and Buzancy, the XIIth
+advanced to Le Chene, and the 1st Cavalry Division to Beaumont, probably
+to ascertain the whereabouts of Marshal Bazaine. The Ist Corps and the
+2nd Cavalry Division remained behind on the Aisne.
+
+The Saxon Corps, the furthest forward of the German Army, had received
+direct orders to march to Dun on the 27th, and secure on the right bank
+the passages over the Meuse, as far as Stenay. It reached Stenay at
+three o'clock in the afternoon, and threw forward a post on the left
+bank.
+
+The cavalry clung closely to the enemy and followed his movements, often
+engaging in petty skirmishes. The departure of the Vth French Corps from
+Buzancy in the direction of Le Chene was at once detected, as also was
+the march to Beaumont; and the Saxon Cavalry Division pushed forward
+that evening to Nouart. The Bavarian Corps reached the Clermont-Verdun
+road, the 5th Ste. Menehould; the other Corps of the IIIrd Army were
+hurrying by forced marches in a northerly direction.
+
+The prospect now seemed certain that the enemy would be overtaken on the
+left bank of the Meuse. Word was sent to the blockading army before Metz
+that the two Corps asked for were no longer required, but they had
+already set out.
+
+The latest dispositions made by Marshal MacMahon clearly betokened a
+last effort on his part to persevere in the original direction. He was
+echeloned along the northernmost of the roads by which he could reach
+Metz, but had left a strong reserve on the Aisne on which he might fall
+back. When he now learnt that nothing had been seen of the Army of the
+Rhine at Montmedy, but that it actually was still at Metz, he resolved
+on retreating, and, after giving orders to that effect for the following
+morning, reported his intention to Paris.
+
+From thence during the night came the most strenuous remonstrances. The
+Minister of War telegraphed, "If you leave Bazaine in the lurch, the
+revolution will break out," and the Council of Ministers issued a
+peremptory order to relieve Metz. The troops in front of the Marshal, it
+was urged, were nothing more than part of the army investing Metz; he
+had the start of the Crown Prince of Prussia by several days' march; and
+General Vinoy had already left Paris for Rheims with the newly-formed
+XIIIth Corps as a reinforcement to him.
+
+The Marshal silenced his military convictions and issued new orders. But
+the troops had started in advance of the promulgation of them. The
+change of route gave rise to much confusion; the roads were bad, and
+quarters for the night were not reached until darkness had long set in;
+the men were weary, wet to the skin, and depressed in spirits.
+
+_August 28th._--Little more than nine miles' distance eastward was
+attained. The XIIth Corps reached La Besace, the Ist was on the march
+to Le Chene, the VIIth was halted at Boult aux Bois because of a false
+report that two Prussian Corps were occupying Buzancy, further ahead. On
+the strength of this report the Vth Corps moved toward that town by way
+of Bar, but went on to Bois des Dames in the afternoon. Neither of these
+movements was interfered with. The German cavalry had strict orders,
+while watching the French as closely as possible, not in any way to
+check or press them, and the Saxon cavalry evacuated Nouart on the
+approach of the enemy. The Germans had to await the coming up of the
+IIIrd Army, the rearmost Corps of which, the VIth, had only just reached
+Ste. Menehould.
+
+_August 29th._--For this day also a non-offensive attitude was
+prescribed, and the bringing on of decisive operations was postponed
+until the 30th.
+
+The Marshal in his head-quarter at Stonne had been informed that the
+Germans occupied Dun, and that the bridges over the Meuse had been
+destroyed. He had no pontoon-train, and could cross the river only lower
+down, at Mouzon and Villers. His XIIth Corps and 1st Cavalry Division
+passed over to the right bank unhindered at these points; the Ist Corps
+and the 2nd Cavalry Division proceeded to Raucourt. The VIIth Corps,
+delayed on march by petty skirmishes on its right flank, did not reach
+its destination at La Besace, but went into bivouac at Oches. The Vth
+Corps was to have moved to Beaumont, but the staff officer carrying the
+order fell into the hands of the Prussian cavalry together with his
+escort. General de Failly therefore marched upon Stenay, according to
+his original instructions.
+
+Up to this time, apart from the cavalry, the Saxon Corps alone had been
+in contact with the enemy, but the Guard now came up to Buzancy in
+parallel line, while the Saxon Corps crossed over to the left bank of
+the Meuse at Dun. Its advanced guard at once took possession of the
+wooded spur to the north-east of Nouart, drove out the French cavalry,
+and pressed ahead to Champy, where it encountered a strong force in
+Lespart's Division. The purpose of the reconnaissance having been
+attained, the advanced guard was called in. The French Division, in
+consequence of fresh orders received from the Marshal, withdrew
+simultaneously in a northerly direction.
+
+On the German side four Corps of the IIIrd Army were now within nine
+miles rearward of the Army of the Meuse. The 5th Cavalry Division stood
+at Attigny on the enemy's line of communication; the 6th was hanging on
+the heels of the French columns of march, and, among other things, had
+taken Boncq with a dismounted party. The Royal Head-quarter was now
+advanced to Grand Pre, and, as the result of the various reports which
+had poured in, the resolution was taken to attack the enemy on the
+following day, before he should cross the Meuse. The Army of the Meuse
+was to march towards Beaumont, the IIIrd Army to move forward between
+that place and Le Chene. To bring both armies to a parallel front, the
+right wing was not to move until ten o'clock, while the left[18] was to
+start before six o'clock. Only the trains absolutely requisite for the
+battle were to follow.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[18] The Army of the Meuse constituted the right wing; the IIIrd Army,
+the left.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF BEAUMONT.
+
+(August 30th.)
+
+
+On the 30th of August, at ten o'clock, the King set out for Sommauthe by
+way of Buzancy. Both the Bavarian Corps were on the march thither, the
+Vth Corps advanced in the centre towards Oches, the XIth, together with
+the Wuertemberg Division, was heading for Le Chene, the VIth for
+Vouziers. The IVth Corps on the right was advancing by Belval, the XIIth
+reached to the Meuse, while the Guard Corps followed in rear as a
+reserve.
+
+Marshal MacMahon had issued orders for the attainment of the object that
+his entire army should on this day cross to the right bank of the Meuse;
+only the baggage trains and sick were to remain behind.
+
+His Ist Corps and the 2nd Cavalry Division had left Raucourt so early as
+seven; they crossed the river at Remilly, light bridges having been
+thrown over for the infantry. The VIIth Corps at Oches had struck camp
+still earlier at four o'clock, but as it took with it in the march all
+its waggons, even the empty ones, the trains formed a column more than
+nine miles in length, and seven of its battalions were forced to march
+alongside the road in the capacity of baggage guard; so that the brigade
+bringing up the rear was unable to start until ten o'clock. This long
+procession soon came into contact with the Prussian cavalry, was fired
+upon by artillery, and compelled to arrest its march. Not till one
+o'clock could the movement on La Besace be resumed, and then, as heavy
+firing was heard from Beaumont, General Douay conceived it right to
+abandon the road to Mouzon and take that to Remilly.
+
+To the Vth Corps had been precautionally assigned the duty of covering
+the march of the other two. The troops had reached the vicinity of
+Beaumont only at 4 a.m., and were thoroughly exhausted by fighting and
+the night-march. General de Failly therefore determined to halt his
+Corps for cooking and rest before pursuing the march. Precautionary
+measures seem to have been altogether neglected, though it must have
+been known that the enemy was now close at hand. While at half-past one
+the officers and men were engaged in their meal, Prussian shells
+suddenly burst among these heedless groups.
+
+The two Corps of the German right wing had to move through a wooded
+tract in four wholly independent columns, by ways sodden with rain. The
+Crown Prince of Saxony therefore ordered that no single column should
+attempt to enter on an attack before the neighbouring one was ready to
+co-operate.
+
+The IVth Corps had started very early, and after a short rest had
+pursued its march at ten o'clock. When at noon the head of the 8th
+Division emerged from the forest, it discerned from its elevated
+position the enemy's camp about 800 paces distant, in the condition as
+described. General Schoeler (commanding the Division) held that the
+opportunity of so complete a surprise was not to be let pass; the
+proximity of his force could not long remain undetected by the enemy. He
+announced it by his cannon-fire.
+
+The Division soon recognized that it had drawn upon itself an enemy of
+immensely superior strength. The French rapidly got under arms, and
+dense swarms of riflemen hurried to the front, whose long-range
+Chassepots inflicted great losses, especially upon the artillerymen. The
+main body of the 8th Division had meanwhile come up to the assistance of
+its advanced guard, and ere long the 7th Division appeared on the right.
+The French assailed it too with great impetuosity, and could only be
+repulsed at the bayonet-point. Presently, however, the foremost
+battalions of both Divisions made their way into the French camp in
+front of Beaumont, into the town itself, and finally into a second camp
+located northward of it. Seven guns, of which the teams were missing,
+and which continued firing up to the last moment, a number of gunners,
+waggons and horses, fell into the hands of the assailants.
+
+Whilst now, about two o'clock, a pause occurred in the infantry fight,
+fourteen batteries of the IVth Corps engaged in a contest with the
+French artillery deployed on the stretch of heights north of Beaumont.
+The German artillery mass was presently strengthened by the Saxon
+artillery on the right, and by the Bavarian batteries on the left. This
+formidable and commanding artillery line, constantly advancing in
+echelon, promptly squandered the mitrailleuses, and at three o'clock the
+remaining French batteries also were silenced.
+
+The IInd Bavarian Corps, on the left of the Prussian IVth, was advancing
+on La Thibaudine, when it was quite unexpectedly attacked from the west
+by a strong force of the enemy.
+
+These troops were Conseil Dumesnil's Division of the VIIth French Corps,
+which was continuing in march to Mouzon in error, acting on its original
+orders. Completely surprised as it was, and attacked in front and flank,
+the Division gave up all hope of cutting its way through, and at about
+four o'clock beat a hasty retreat northwards, leaving two guns behind.
+
+The Bavarians had in the meantime taken possession of the farm of
+Thibaudine, and the Prussians that of Harnoterie. The wooded hills
+prevented a clear view of the surrounding country; the enemy had
+completely disappeared.
+
+General de Failly was making strenuous efforts to collect his scattered
+forces in front of Mouzon, under cover of a rear-guard halted at La
+Sartelle; and General Lebrun had left behind on the left side of the
+Meuse an infantry and a cavalry brigade and three batteries belonging to
+the XIIth Corps, to render him assistance.
+
+At five o'clock the 8th Division, headed by the 13th Brigade, was
+pushing toilsomely through the dense forest of Givodeau, on its way to
+operate against this new defensive position. On emerging from the wood
+the battalions, which had fallen into some confusion, were received by a
+brisk fire at short range. The repeated efforts of the riflemen to
+advance were unsuccessful, and the dense underwood hindered the clubbed
+mass behind them from forming. By the time the Saxon Corps had succeeded
+with extreme difficulty in extricating itself from the forest and swamps
+of the Wamme stream, and had reached Letanne, the impracticability of
+further progress in the Meuse valley became apparent, since numerous
+French batteries, in unassailable positions on the opposite side of the
+river, commanded all the low ground. The Corps therefore ascended the
+plateau, moved in its turn through the Givodeau woods, and debouching
+thence swelled the strength of the forces assembled on the northern
+border, where, however, their development on a broader front was
+impossible. So about six o'clock the infantry engagement came to a stand
+for a time in this quarter.
+
+On the left the 14th Brigade had come up into line with the 13th, and
+this body (the 7th Division) was followed by the 8th Division in two
+columns.
+
+The 93rd Regiment had carried the height to the north-east of Yoncq, and
+advanced in pursuit of the enemy as far as to the foot of Mont de Brune.
+Four mitrailleuses and eight guns, some of them with their entire teams,
+fell thus into the hands of the Anhalters.
+
+When, at half-past five, the artillery had come up into position, and at
+the same time the 27th Regiment was approaching, General Zychlinski
+(commanding 14th Brigade) advanced to the enveloping attack.
+
+The French occupied in strength the summit of the entirely isolated
+hill; their batteries faced to eastward against the Bois de Givodeau,
+whence an assault threatened; but they swiftly changed front to the
+south and directed a heavy fire on the 93rd and the 2nd Battalion of the
+27th, as they charged up on this face while the Fusilier battalion was
+at the same time pressing forward from the west. Regardless of their
+losses, the assailants eagerly scaled the ascent, the brigade and
+regimental commanders at their head. Six French guns were seized while
+in action, in spite of a brave resistance by the gunners and covering
+troops, and the enemy was pursued as far as the Roman road. Here four
+more guns, completely horsed, which had been abandoned by the
+artillerymen, fell into the hands of the conquerors.
+
+The three battalions[19] hurried on towards Mouzon, without waiting for
+the support of the[20] 14th Brigade following in rear, but they suddenly
+found themselves threatened by a cavalry-charge.
+
+Marshal MacMahon had recognized the fact that the only thing left him
+now to do was to effect as orderly an evacuation as possible of the left
+bank of the Meuse; the reinforcements sent across from the right had
+already been recalled. The 5th Cuirassier Regiment alone still remained.
+When, a little to the north of the Faubourg de Mouzon, it was reached by
+the fire of the advancing Prussians, the French regiment hurled itself
+upon the enemy with a noble contempt for death.
+
+The shock struck the 10th Company of the 27th Regiment. The soldiers,
+without closing their ranks, waited for the word of command of their
+leader, Captain Helmuth, and then fired a volley at close range, which
+struck down eleven officers and 100 men, the brave commander of the band
+of horsemen falling fifteen paces in front of his men. The survivors
+rushed back towards the Meuse, and, as all the bridges had been removed,
+they strove to gain the other side by swimming.
+
+Considerable masses of the enemy were still in front of Mouzon, and upon
+these the batteries of the IVth Corps, as one after another they came
+into action, directed their fire. Two Bavarian batteries brought under
+their fire the bridge at Villers, lower down the river, and prevented it
+from being used. Then the suburb was carried after a fierce encounter,
+and here too the bridge across the Meuse was taken and held. The enemy,
+deprived of every way of retreat, received with a hot fire the 8th
+Division emerging from the valley of the Yoncq, but was gradually driven
+back towards the river. The French troops in front of the Bois de
+Givodeau were also in a hopeless plight; they were assailed by the 7th
+Division and XIIth Corps, and were dispersed after an obstinate
+struggle. By nightfall the French had ceased their resistance on the
+hither side of the Meuse. Many lagging stragglers were taken prisoners,
+others hid themselves in the copses and farmhouses, or tried to escape
+by swimming the river.
+
+In this battle, as in the preceding ones, the attack suffered far
+heavier loss than the defence. The Army of the Meuse lost 3500
+combatants, the preponderating loss falling on the IVth Corps. The
+French estimated their loss at 1800; but in the course of the day and on
+the following morning, 3000 prisoners, mostly unwounded, fell into the
+hands of the victors, with 51 guns, 33 ammunition and many other
+waggons, and a military chest containing 150,000 francs. And, what was
+of supreme importance, by the result of this battle the French army had
+been driven into an extremely unfavourable position.
+
+While the IVth Corps had been chiefly sustaining the day's battle, the
+Saxon Cavalry had pushed forward on the right bank of the Meuse, and had
+reconnoitred towards Mouzon and Carignan. The Guard Corps reached
+Beaumont, and General von der Tann with the 1st Bavarian Corps was at
+Raucourt, having marched by way of La Besace with some slight
+skirmishing on the way. The IInd Bavarian Corps was assembled at
+Sommauthe, the Vth Corps had reached Stonne, the XIth, La Besace. Thus
+seven Corps now stood in close concentration between the Meuse and the
+Bar.
+
+The King rode back to Buzancy after the battle, as all the villages in
+the vicinity of the battle-field were crowded with the wounded. Here, as
+previously at Clermont, was felt the great inconvenience of inadequate
+lodging for hundreds of illustrious guests and their suites, when, for
+once in a way for military reasons, head-quarters were established in a
+small village, instead of in a large town. Shelter for those officers
+whose duty it was to prepare the necessary orders for the morrow was
+only found late at night, and with considerable difficulty.
+
+These orders instructed that on the 31st two Corps of the Army of the
+Meuse should cross over to the right bank of the river, to prevent the
+possibility of further progress of the French to Metz by way of
+Montmedy. Two Corps of the army besieging Metz were besides already
+posted in that direction about Etain and Briey. The IIIrd Army was to
+continue its movement in the northward direction.
+
+As the situation had now developed itself, it already seemed within
+sight that the Army of Chalons might be compelled to cross over into
+neutral territory, and the Belgian Government was therefore asked
+through diplomatic channels to concern itself with its disarmament in
+that event. The German troops had orders at once to cross the Belgian
+frontier, should the enemy not lay down his arms there.
+
+While the Vth French Corps was still fighting about Beaumont, and when
+the rest of the army had crossed the Meuse, General MacMahon had ordered
+the concentration of his army on Sedan. He did not intend to offer
+battle there, but it was indispensable to give his troops a short rest,
+and provide them with food and ammunition. He then meant to continue the
+retreat by way of Mezieres, which General Vinoy was just then
+approaching with the newly-formed XIIIth Corps. The Ist Corps, which had
+arrived at Carignan early in the afternoon, detached two of its
+divisions to Douzy in the evening to check any further advance of the
+Germans.
+
+Though any pursuit immediately after the battle of Beaumont was
+prevented by the intervening river, the retreat of the French soon
+assumed the ominous character of a rout. The troops were utterly worn
+out by their exertions by day and night, in continuous rain and with
+but scanty supplies of food. The marching to and fro, to no visible
+purpose, had undermined their confidence in their leaders, and a series
+of luckless fights had shaken their self-reliance. Thousands of
+fugitives, crying for bread, crowded round the waggons as they struggled
+forward to reach the little fortress which had so unexpectedly become
+the central rallying point of a great army.
+
+The Emperor Napoleon arrived at Sedan from Carignan late in the evening
+of the 30th; the VIIth Corps reached Floing during the night, but the
+XIIth Corps did not arrive at Bazeilles until the following morning. The
+Vth Corps mustered at the eastern suburb of Sedan in a fearfully
+shattered state, followed in the afternoon of the 31st by the Ist,
+which, after many rear-guard actions with the German cavalry, took up a
+position behind the Givonne valley. To pursue the march to Mezieres on
+that day was not to be thought of. The XIIth Corps had that same evening
+to show a front at Bazeilles, where the thunder of their cannon already
+heralded the arrival of the Germans. The destruction of the bridges
+there and at Donchery was ordered, but the order remained unexecuted,
+owing to the worn-out condition of the men.
+
+_August 31st._--Of the army of the Meuse the Guard and 12th Cavalry
+Divisions had crossed the Meuse at Pouilly, and by a pontoon bridge at
+Letanne, and swept the country between the Meuse and the Chiers.
+Following close upon the rear of the French and harassing them in
+skirmishes till they reached their new position, they brought in as
+prisoners numbers of stragglers. The Guard Corps then crossed the Chiers
+at Carignan and halted at Sachy; the XIIth pushed on to about Douzy on
+the Meuse,[21] while its advanced guard thrust ahead on the further side
+(of the Chiers) as far as Francheval. The IVth Corps remained at Mouzon.
+
+The 4th Cavalry Division of the IIIrd Army reconnoitred in the direction
+of Sedan, drove back the French outposts from Wadelincourt and Frenois,
+and, moving from the latter place, seized the railroad under the fire of
+hostile artillery. The 6th Cavalry Division on the left flank proceeded
+on the way to Mezieres as far as Poix.
+
+When the Ist Bavarian Corps reached Remilly before noon, it came under
+heavy fire from the opposite side of the river, and at once brought up
+its batteries in position on the hither slope of the valley of the
+Meuse. A sharp cannonade ensued, by the end of which sixty Bavarian guns
+were engaged. It was only now that the French attempted to blow up the
+railway bridge south of Bazeilles, but the vigorous fire of the 4th
+Jaeger Battalion drove off the enemy with his engineers, the Jaegers threw
+the powder-barrels into the river, and at midday crossed the bridge. The
+battalion entered Bazeilles in the face of a storm of bullets, and
+occupied the northern fringe of the straggling place. Thus the XIIth
+French Corps was forced to move up into a position between Balan and
+Moncelle, where, having been reinforced by batteries belonging to the
+Ist Corps, it had to encounter, and that with considerable waste of
+power, the daring little band of Germans.
+
+General von der Tann[22] did not however hold it advisable to commit
+himself on that day to a serious conflict on the further side of the
+Meuse with a closely compacted enemy, while his own Corps was still
+unconcentrated; and, since the weak detachment in Bazeilles had no hope
+of being reinforced, it withdrew therefrom at about half-past three
+without being pursued.
+
+Meanwhile two pontoon bridges had been laid at Allicourt, without
+molestation from the French. These and the railway bridge were
+barricaded for the night, while eighty-four guns further secured them
+from being crossed. The Ist Bavarian Corps went into bivouac at
+Angecourt, the IInd at Hancourt.
+
+To the left of the Bavarians the XIth Corps marched towards Donchery,
+followed by the Vth. The advanced guard found the place unoccupied, and
+extended itself on the further side of the river. By three o'clock two
+other bridges were completed close below Donchery, whilst the railway
+bridge above the place, also found unguarded, was destroyed.
+
+On the extreme left the Wuertemberg and the 6th Cavalry Divisions came in
+contact with the XIIIth French Corps, which had just arrived at
+Mezieres.
+
+The King removed his head-quarters to Vendresse.
+
+In spite of a succession of occasionally very severe marches in bad
+weather, and of being in regard to supplies chiefly beholden to
+requisitioning, the Army of the Meuse advancing on the east, and the
+IIIrd Army on the south, were now directly in face of the concentrated
+French Army. Marshal MacMahon could scarcely have realized that the only
+chance of safety for his army, or even for part of it, lay in the
+immediate prosecution of his retreat on the 1st of September. It is true
+that the Crown Prince of Prussia, in possession as he was of every
+passage over the Meuse, would have promptly taken that movement in flank
+in the narrow space, little more than four miles wide, which was bounded
+on the north by the frontier. That nevertheless the attempt was not
+risked was only to be explained by the actual condition of the exhausted
+troops; for on this day the French Army was not yet capable of
+undertaking a disciplined march involving fighting; it could only fight
+where it stood.
+
+On the German side it was still expected that the Marshal would strike
+for Mezieres. The Army of the Meuse was ordered to attack the enemy's
+positions with the object of detaining him in them; the IIIrd Army,
+leaving only one Corps on the left bank, was to press forward on the
+right side of the river.
+
+The French position about Sedan was covered to rearward by the fortress.
+The Meuse and the valleys of the Givonne and the Floing brooks offered
+formidable obstructions, but it was imperative that those outmost lines
+should be obstinately held. The Calvary height of Illy was a very
+important point, strengthened as it was by the Bois de Garenne in its
+rear, whence a high ridge stretching to Bazeilles afforded much cover in
+its numerous dips and shoulders. In the event of a retreat into neutral
+territory in the last extremity, the road thereto lay through Illy.
+Bazeilles, on the other hand, locally a very strong point of support to
+the Givonne front, constituted an acute salient, which, after the loss
+of the bridges across the Meuse, was open to attack on two sides.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[19] Of 27th and 93rd Regiments.
+
+[20] Read in "rest of the."
+
+[21] Douzy is on the north bank of the Chiers.
+
+[22] Commanding Ist Bavarian Corps.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF SEDAN.
+
+(September 1st.)
+
+
+In order, in co-operation with the Army of the Meuse, to hold fast the
+enemy in his position, General von der Tann sent his Ist Brigade over
+the pontoon-bridges against Bazeilles so early as four o'clock in a
+thick morning mist. The troops attacked the place, but now found the
+streets barricaded, and were fired on from every house. The leading
+company pressed on as far as to the northern egress, suffering great
+losses, but the others, while engaged in arduous street-fighting, were
+driven out of the western part of Bazeilles by the arrival of the 2nd
+Brigade of the French XIIth Corps. They however kept possession of the
+buildings at the southern end, and from thence issued to repeated
+assaults. As fresh troops were constantly coming up on both sides, the
+French being reinforced to the extent even of a brigade of the Ist and
+one of the Vth Corps, the murderous combat long swayed to and fro; in
+particular the struggle for the possession of the Villa Beurmann,
+situated in front of the exit, and commanding the main street throughout
+its whole length, lasted for a stricken hour. The inhabitants took an
+active part in the fighting, and so they inevitably drew fire upon
+themselves.
+
+The fire of the strong array of guns drawn up on the left slope of the
+valley of the Meuse naturally could not be directed on the surging
+strife in Bazeilles, which was now blazing in several places, but at
+eight o'clock, on the arrival of the 8th Prussian Division at Remilly,
+General von der Tann threw his last brigades into the fight. The walled
+park of the chateau of Monvillers was stormed and an entrance won into
+the Villa Beurmann. The artillery crossed the bridges at about nine
+o'clock, and the 8th Division was requested to support the combat in
+which the right wing of the Bavarians was also engaged southward of
+Bazeilles about Moncelle.[23]
+
+In this direction Prince George of Saxony[24] had so early as five
+o'clock despatched an advanced guard of seven battalions from Douzy.
+They drove the French from Moncelle, pressed ahead to Platinerie and the
+bridge there, and, in spite of the enemy's heavy fire, took possession
+of the houses bordering the further side of the Givonne brook, which
+they immediately occupied for defensive purposes. Communication with the
+Bavarians was now established, and the battery of the advanced guard
+moved up quickly into action on the eastern slope; but a further
+infantry support could not at first be afforded to this bold advance.
+
+Marshal MacMahon had been struck by a splinter from a shell near
+Moncelle at 6 a.m. He had named General Ducrot as his successor in the
+chief command, passing over two senior Corps commanders. Apprized of
+this promotion at seven o'clock, that General issued the necessary
+orders for the prompt assemblage of the army at Illy, in preparation for
+an immediate retreat on Mezieres. He had already despatched Lartigue's
+Division of his own Corps to safeguard the crossing of the Givonne
+ravine at Daigny; the Divisions of Lacretelle and Bassoigne were ordered
+to take the offensive against the Saxons and Bavarians, to gain time for
+the withdrawal of the rest of the troops. The divisions forming the
+second line were to start immediately in a northerly direction.
+
+But the Minister of War had appointed General de Wimpffen, recently
+returned from Algiers, to the command of the Vth Corps in room of
+General de Failly, and had at the same time given him a commission
+empowering him to assume the command of the Army in case of the
+disability of the Marshal.
+
+General de Wimpffen knew the army of the Crown Prince to be in the
+neighbourhood of Donchery. He regarded the retreat to Mezieres as
+utterly impracticable, and was bent on the diametrically opposite course
+of breaking out to Carignan, not doubting that he could drive aside the
+Bavarians and Saxons, and so succeed in effecting a junction with
+Marshal Bazaine. When he heard of the orders just issued by General
+Ducrot, and at the same time observed that an assault on Moncelle seemed
+to be taking an auspicious course, he produced--to his ruin--the
+authoritative commission which had been bestowed on him.
+
+General Ducrot submitted without any remonstrance; he might probably not
+have been averse to be relieved of so heavy a responsibility. The
+Divisions of the second line which were in the act of starting
+immediately were recalled; and the further advance of the weak Bavarian
+and Saxon detachments was soon hard pressed by the impact of the first
+stroke of the enemy rushing on to the attack.
+
+By seven in the morning, while one regiment of the Saxon advanced guard
+had gone in upon Moncelle, the other on its right had to concern itself
+with the threatening advance of Lartigue's Division. With that body it
+soon became engaged in a heavy fire-fight. The regiment had laid down
+its packs on the march, and had omitted to take out the cartridges
+carried in them. Thus it soon ran short of ammunition, and the repeated
+and violent onslaughts of the Zouaves, directed principally against its
+unprotected right flank, had to be repulsed with the bayonet.
+
+On the left in this quarter a strong artillery line had gradually been
+formed, which by half-past eight o'clock amounted to twelve batteries.
+But Lacretelle's Division was now approaching by the Givonne bottom, and
+dense swarms of tirailleurs forced the German batteries to retire at
+about nine o'clock. The guns, withdrawn into a position at a somewhat
+greater distance, drove back with their fire the enemy in the hollow,
+and presently returned to the position previously occupied.
+
+The 4th Bavarian Brigade had meanwhile pushed forward into Moncelle, and
+the 46th Saxon Brigade also came up, so that it was possible to check
+the trifling progress made by Bassoigne's Division.
+
+On the right flank of the Saxons, which had been hard pressed,
+much-needed supports now arrived from the 24th Division, and at once
+took the offensive. The French were driven back upon Daigny, with the
+loss of five guns. Then in conjunction with the Bavarians, who were
+pushing on through the valley to the northward, the village of Daigny,
+the bridge and the farmstead of La Rapaille were carried after a bitter
+fight.
+
+About ten o'clock the Guard Corps reached the upper Givonne. Having
+started in the night, the Corps was marching in two columns, when cannon
+thunder from Bazeilles heard afar off caused the troops to quicken their
+pace. In order to render assistance by the shortest road, the left
+column would have had to traverse two deep ravines and the pathless wood
+of Chevallier, so it took the longer route by Villers Cernay, which
+place the head of the right column passed in ample time to take part
+with the Saxons in the contest with Lartigue's Division, and to capture
+two of its guns.
+
+The Divisions ordered back by General Ducrot had already resumed their
+former positions on the western slopes, and fourteen batteries of the
+Guard Corps now opened fire upon them from the east.
+
+At the same hour (ten o'clock) the 7th Division of the IVth Corps had
+arrived near Lamecourt, and the 8th near Remilly, both places rearward
+of Bazeilles; the head of the latter had reached the Remilly railway
+station.
+
+The first attempt of the French to break out eastward to Carignan proved
+a failure, and their retreat westward to Mezieres was also already cut
+off, for the Vth and XIth Corps of the IIIrd Army, together with the
+Wuertemberg Division, had been detailed to move northward to the road
+leading to that place. These troops had started early in the night, and
+at six a.m. had crossed the Meuse at Donchery, and by the three pontoon
+bridges further down the river. The advanced patrols found the Mezieres
+road quite clear of the enemy, and the heavy cannonade heard from the
+direction of Bazeilles made it appear probable that the French had
+accepted battle in their position at Sedan. The Crown Prince, therefore,
+ordered the two Corps, which already had reached the upland of Vrigne,
+to swing to their right and advance on St. Menges; the Wuertembergers
+were to remain behind to watch Mezieres. General von Kirchbach then
+indicated Fleigneux to his advanced guard as the objective of the
+further movement, which had for its purpose the barring of the escape of
+the French into Belgium, and the establishment of a junction with the
+right wing of the Army of the Meuse.
+
+The narrow pass about 2000 paces long between the heights and the river
+traversed by the road to St. Albert, was neither held nor watched by the
+French. It was not till the advanced guard reached St. Menges that it
+encountered a French detachment, which soon withdrew. The German advance
+then deployed against Illy. Two companies moved to the right and took
+possession of Floing, where they maintained themselves for the next two
+hours without assistance against repeated attacks.
+
+The earliest arriving Prussian batteries had to exert themselves to the
+utmost to maintain themselves against the much superior strength of
+French artillery in action about Illy. At first they had for their only
+escort some cavalry and a few companies of infantry, and as these bodies
+debouched from the defile of St. Albert, they found themselves an
+enticing object of attack to Margueritte's Cavalry Division halted on
+the aforesaid plateau of Illy. It was at nine o'clock that General
+Galliffet rode down to the attack at the head of three regiments of
+Chasseurs d'Afrique and two squadrons of Lancers formed in three lines.
+The first fury of the charge fell upon two companies of the 87th
+Regiment, which met it with a hail of bullets at sixty yards range. The
+first line charged some horse-lengths further forward, then wheeled
+outward to both flanks, and came under the fire of the supporting troops
+occupying the broom copses. The Prussian batteries, too, showered their
+shell fire into the throng of French horsemen, who finally went about in
+confusion, and, having suffered great losses, sought refuge in the Bois
+de Garenne.
+
+At ten o'clock, the same hour at which the assaults of the French on
+Bazeilles and about Daigny were being repulsed, fourteen batteries of
+the XIth Corps were already in action on and near the ridge south-east
+of St. Menges; to swell which mass presently came up those of the Vth
+Corps. Powerful infantry columns were in march upon Fleigneux, and thus
+the ring surrounding Sedan was already at this hour nearly closed. The
+one Bavarian Corps and the artillery reserves on the left bank of the
+Meuse were considered strong enough to repel any attempt of the French
+to break through in that direction; five Corps were on the right bank,
+ready for a concentric attack.
+
+The Bavarians and Saxons, reinforced by the head of the IVth Corps,
+issued from the burning Bazeilles and from Moncelle, and, in spite of a
+stubborn resistance, drove the detachments of the French XIIth Corps in
+position eastward of Balan back upon Fond de Givonne.
+
+Once in possession of the southern spur of the ridge sloping down from
+Illy, and while awaiting the renewed attacks of the French, the extreme
+urgency was realized of reassembling the different Corps and of
+re-forming the troops, which had fallen into great confusion.
+
+As soon as this was done, the 5th Bavarian Brigade advanced on Balan.
+The troops found but a feeble resistance in the village itself; but it
+was only after a hard fight that they succeeded in occupying the park of
+the chateau situated at its extreme end. From thence, soon after midday,
+the foremost battalion extended close up to the walls of the fortress,
+and exchanged shots with the garrison. There now ensued a stationary
+musketry fight with the enemy once again firmly posted about Fond de
+Givonne. At one o'clock the French, having evidently been reinforced,
+took the offensive, after a preparatory cannonade and mitrailleuse fire.
+The 5th Bavarian Brigade was driven back for some considerable distance,
+but presently, supported by the 6th, regained its old position after an
+hour's hard fighting.
+
+Meanwhile the Saxon Corps had extended itself in the northern part of
+the valley against Givonne. There also the foremost detachments of the
+Guard Corps were already established, as well as in Haybes. The Prussian
+artillery forced the French batteries to change their positions more
+than once, and had already caused several of them to go out of action.
+To gain breathing space here, the French repeatedly tried to send
+forward large bodies of tirailleurs, and ten guns were brought up into
+the still occupied Givonne, but these were taken before they could
+unlimber. The Prussian shells also fell with some effect among the
+French troops massed in the Bois de Garenne, though fired from a long
+distance.
+
+After the Franctireurs de Paris had been driven out of Chapelle, the
+Guard-cavalry dashed through Givonne and up the valley, and at noon the
+Hussars had succeeded in establishing direct contact with the left flank
+of the IIIrd Army.
+
+The 41st Brigade of that army had left Fleigneux and was descending the
+upper valley of the Givonne, and the retreat of the French from Illy in
+a southern direction had already begun. The 87th Regiment seized eight
+guns which were in action, and captured thirty baggage waggons with
+their teams, as well as hundreds of cavalry horses wandering riderless.
+The cavalry of the advanced guard of the Vth Corps also made prisoners
+of General Brahaut and his staff, besides a great number of dispersed
+infantrymen and 150 draught-horses, together with forty ammunition and
+baggage waggons.
+
+In the direction of Floing there was also an attempt on the part of the
+French to break through; but the originally very weak infantry posts at
+that point had gradually been strengthened, and the French were driven
+from the locality as quickly as they had entered. And now twenty-six
+batteries of the Army of the Meuse[25] crossed their fire with that of
+the Guard batteries, in position on the eastern slope of the Givonne
+valley. The effect was overwhelming. The French batteries were shattered
+and many ammunition waggons exploded.
+
+General de Wimpffen at first took the advance of the Germans from the
+north for nothing more than a demonstration, but toward midday became
+completely convinced that it was a real attack. He therefore ordered
+that the two Divisions of the Ist Corps halted in second line behind the
+Givonne front, should now return to the Illy height in support of
+General Douay. On rejoining the XIIth Corps he found it in full retreat
+on Sedan, and now urgently requested General Douay to despatch
+assistance in the direction of Bazeilles. Maussion's Brigade did
+actually go thither, followed by Dumont's Division, which latter was
+relieved in the foremost line by Conseil Dumesnil's Division. All this
+marching and counter-marching was executed in the space south of the
+Bois de Garenne dominated by the cross fire of the German artillery. The
+recoil of the cavalry heightened the confusion, and several battalions
+drew back into the insecure protection of the forest. General Douay, it
+is true, reinforced by portions of the Vth Corps, retook the Calvary (of
+Illy), but was forced to abandon it by two o'clock; and the forest (of
+Garenne) behind it was then shelled by sixty guns of the Guard
+artillery.
+
+Liebert's Division alone had up to now maintained its very strong
+position on the heights north of Casal. The amassing at Floing of a
+sufficient strength from the German Vth and XIth Corps could only be
+effected very gradually. After one o'clock, however, detachments began
+to climb the steep hill immediately in its front, while others went
+round to the south towards Gaulier and Casal, and yet others came down
+from Fleigneux. The complete intermixture of the troops prevented any
+unity of command; and a bloody contest was carried on for a long time
+with varying fortunes. The French Division, attacked on both flanks and
+also heavily shelled, at last had its power of resistance undermined;
+and the reserves of the VIIth Corps having already been called off to
+other parts of the battle-field, the French cavalry once more devotedly
+struck in to maintain the fight.
+
+General Margueritte, with five regiments of light horse, and two of
+Lancers, charged to the rescue out of the Bois de Garenne. Almost at
+the outset he fell severely wounded, and General Galliffet took his
+place. The advance was over very treacherous ground, and even before the
+actual charge was delivered the cohesion of the ranks was broken by the
+heavy flanking fire of the Prussian batteries. Still, with thinned ranks
+but with unflinching resolution, the individual squadrons charged on the
+troops of the 43rd Infantry Brigade, partly lying in cover, partly
+standing out on the bare slope in swarms and groups; and also on the
+reinforcements hurrying from Fleigneux. The first line of the former was
+pierced at several points, and a band of these brave troopers dashed
+from Casal through the intervals between eight guns blazing into them
+with case-shot, but the companies beyond stopped their further progress.
+Cuirassiers issuing from Gaulier fell on the hostile rear, but
+encountering the Prussian Hussars in the Meuse valley, galloped off
+northward. Other detachments cut their way through the infantry as far
+as the narrow pass of St. Albert, where they were met by the battalions
+debouching therefrom. Others again entered Floing only to succumb to the
+5th Jaegers, who had to form front back to back. These attacks were
+repeated by the French again and again in the shape of detached fights,
+and the murderous turmoil lasted for half an hour with steadily
+diminishing fortune for the French. The volleys of the German infantry
+delivered steadily at a short range strewed the whole field with dead
+and wounded horsemen. Many fell into the quarries or down the steep
+declivities, a few may have escaped by swimming the Meuse; and scarcely
+more than half of these brave troops returned to the protection of the
+forest.
+
+But this magnificent sacrifice and glorious effort of the French cavalry
+could not change the fate of the day. The Prussian infantry had lost but
+little in the cut-and-thrust encounters, and at once resumed the attack
+against Liebert's Division. But in this onslaught they sustained heavy
+losses; for instance, all three battalions of the 6th Regiment had to
+be commanded by lieutenants. But when Casal had been stormed, the
+French, after a spirited resistance, withdrew at about three o'clock to
+their last refuge in the Bois de Garenne.
+
+When between one and two o'clock the fighting in Bazeilles had at first
+taken a favourable turn, General de Wimpffen reverted to his original
+plan of driving from the village the Bavarians, now exhausted by a long
+struggle, and of breaking a way through to Carignan with the Ist, Vth,
+and XIIth Corps; while the VIIth Corps was to cover the rear of this
+movement. But the orders issued to that effect in part never reached the
+Corps; in part did so so late that circumstances forbade their being
+carried out.
+
+In consequence of previously mentioned orders, besides Bassoigne's
+Division, the Divisions of Goze and Grandchamp were still available.
+Now, at about three in the afternoon, the two last-named advanced from
+Fond de Givonne, over the ridge to the eastward, and the 23rd Saxon
+Division, which was marching up the valley on the left bank of the
+Givonne, found itself suddenly attacked by closed battalions accompanied
+by batteries. With the support of the left wing of the Guard Corps and
+of the artillery fire from the eastern slope, it soon succeeded in
+repulsing the hostile masses, and indeed drove them across the valley
+back to Fond de Givonne. The energy of the French appeared to be by this
+time exhausted, for they allowed themselves to be taken prisoners by
+hundreds. As soon as a firm footing had been gained on the heights west
+of the Givonne, the German artillery established itself there, and by
+three o'clock an artillery line of twenty-one batteries stretching from
+Bazeilles to Haybes was in action.
+
+The Bois de Garenne, in which many broken bands of all Corps and of all
+arms were straggling in search of refuge, still remained to be gained.
+After a short cannonade the 1st Guard-Division climbed the heights from
+Givonne, and were joined by Saxon battalions, the left wing of the IIIrd
+army at the same time coming on from Illy. A wild turmoil ensued, in
+which isolated bands offered violent resistance, while others
+surrendered by thousands; nor was it until five o'clock that the Germans
+had complete possession of the forest.
+
+Meanwhile long columns of French could be seen pouring down on Sedan
+from the surrounding heights. Disordered bodies of troops huddled closer
+and closer in and up to the fortress, and shells from the German
+batteries on both sides of the Meuse were constantly exploding in the
+midst of the chaos. Pillars of fire were soon rising from the city, and
+the Bavarian riflemen, who had pushed forward through Torcy, were
+preparing to climb the palisades at the gate when, at about half-past
+four, the white flags were visible on the towers.
+
+The Emperor Napoleon had declined to follow General de Wimpffen in his
+attempt to break through the German lines; he had, on the contrary,
+ordered him to enter into negotiations with the enemy. In consequence of
+the renewal of the order to that effect the French suddenly ceased
+firing.
+
+General Reille now made his appearance in the presence of the King, who
+had watched the action since early morning from the hill south of
+Frenois. He was the bearer of an autograph letter from the Emperor,
+whose presence in Sedan was till then unknown. He placed his sword in
+the hand of the King, but as this was clearly only an act of personal
+surrender, the answer stipulated that an officer should be commissioned
+with full powers to treat with General von Moltke as to the surrender of
+the French Army.
+
+This painful duty was imposed on General de Wimpffen, who was in no way
+responsible for the desperate straits into which the French army had
+been brought.
+
+The negotiations were held at Donchery in the night between the 1st and
+2nd September. On the part of the Germans it had to be insisted on that
+they durst not forego the advantages gained over so powerful an enemy as
+France. Since the French had regarded the victory of German arms over
+other nationalities in the light of an offence to France, any untimely
+generosity might cause them to forget their own defeat. The only course
+to pursue was to insist upon the disarmament and captivity of their
+entire army, with the exception that the officers were to be free on
+parole.
+
+General de Wimpffen declared it impossible to accept conditions so hard,
+the negotiations were broken off, and the French officers returned to
+Sedan at one o'clock on the morning of the 2nd. Before their departure
+they were given to understand that unless the offered terms were
+accepted by nine o'clock that morning the artillery would reopen fire.
+
+The capitulation was signed by General de Wimpffen on the morning of the
+2nd, further resistance being obviously impossible.
+
+Marshal MacMahon was very fortunate in having been disabled so early in
+the battle, else on him would have inevitably devolved the duty of
+signing the capitulation; and though he had only carried out the orders
+forced upon him by the Paris authorities, he could hardly have sat in
+judgment, as he afterwards did, on the comrade he had failed to relieve.
+
+It is difficult to understand why we Germans celebrate the 2nd of
+September--a day on which nothing memorable happened, but what was the
+inevitable result of the previous day's work; the day on which the army
+really crowned itself with glory was the 1st of September.
+
+The splendid victory of that day had cost the Germans 460 officers and
+8500 men. The French losses were far greater; they amounted to 17,000
+men, and were chiefly wrought because of the full development of the
+fire of the German artillery.
+
+    During the battle there
+      were taken prisoners      21,000
+    By the Capitulation         83,000
+                                ------
+                    A total of 104,000 sent into captivity.
+
+The prisoners for the present were assembled on the peninsula of Iges
+formed by the Meuse. As supplies for them were entirely lacking, the
+Commandant of Mezieres permitted the unrestricted transport of
+provisions by the railway as far as Donchery. Two Army Corps were
+assigned to the duty of guarding and escorting the convoys of prisoners,
+who were sent off in successive bodies 2000 strong by two roads, one to
+Etain, and the other by Clermont to Pont a Mousson, where the prisoners
+were taken over by the army investing Metz, and forwarded to various
+parts of Germany.
+
+On Belgian territory 3000 men had been disarmed.
+
+The spoils of war taken at Sedan consisted of three standards, 419
+field-pieces, 139 fortress guns, 66,000 rifles, over 1000 waggons, and
+6000 serviceable horses.
+
+With the entire nullification of this army fell the Empire in France.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[23] Moncelle is northward of Bazeilles.
+
+[24] Now commanding XIIth Corps, since his elder brother's appointment
+to command of the Army of the Meuse.
+
+[25] Sense and accuracy alike indicate that "Army of the Meuse" in text
+should be "Third Army," _vide_ Staff History, part I. 2nd vol. pp. 361,
+367, and 370.--Clarke's authorized Trs.
+
+
+
+
+PART II.
+
+
+While one half of the German Army was thus engaged in a victorious
+advance, the other half remained stationary before Metz.
+
+The foremost line of outposts of the investment embraced a circuit of
+more than twenty-eight miles. An attempt of the concentrated forces of
+the enemy to break through would have met at the beginning of the
+blockade with but slight opposition. It was therefore extremely urgent
+that the several posts should be strengthened by fortifications. These
+works, the clearing of the neighbouring battle-fields, the close watch
+kept over every movement of the enemy, the construction of a
+telegraph-line connecting the quarters of the several Staffs, and
+finally the erection of a sufficiency of shelter, kept the troops and
+their leaders amply occupied. Besides the care of the wounded, provision
+had to be made for the sick, whose number was daily increased by the
+unusually severe weather and lack of shelter. The provisioning of the
+troops was, however, facilitated by their stationary attitude, and in
+addition there now flowed in upon them from their homes a copious supply
+of love-gifts.
+
+The first days of the investment went by without any attempts to break
+out on the part of the French. They too were busy reorganizing,
+collecting ammunition and supplies.
+
+On the 20th of August Marshal Bazaine had written to Chalons: "I will
+give due notice of my march if, taking everything into consideration, I
+can undertake any such attempt." On the 23rd he reported to the Emperor:
+"If the news of the extensive reductions in the besieging army is
+confirmed, I shall set out on the march, and that by way of the northern
+fortresses, in order to risk nothing."
+
+
+
+
+SORTIE FROM METZ.
+
+(August 26th.)
+
+
+On the 26th of August, when the Army of Chalons was still nearly seventy
+miles distant from the Ardennes Canal, and its advance on Metz was as
+yet not generally known, Marshal Bazaine collected his main forces on
+the right bank of the Moselle.
+
+This movement had not escaped the notice of the German posts of
+observation, and the field-telegraph at once disseminated the
+information.
+
+To support the 3rd Reserve Division at Malroy, ten battalions of the Xth
+Corps crossed from the left bank of the Moselle to Argancy on the right
+bank. The 25th Division held itself in readiness at the bridge of
+Hauconcourt, and the Ist Corps closed up towards Servigny. In the event
+of the success of a breach towards the north, the IIIrd, IVth, and part
+of the IXth Corps were available to intercept the enemy's march about
+Thionville.
+
+The crossing from the island of Chambiere by the field-bridges which had
+been built, seriously delayed the French advance; the IIIrd, IInd, IVth,
+and VIth Corps, however, by about noon stood closely concentrated
+between Mey and Grimont. Advanced detachments had already at several
+points driven in the German posts south-east of Metz, but instead of
+now entering upon a general attack, Marshal Bazaine summoned all his
+Corps Commanders to a conference at Grimont. The Commandant of Metz then
+made it known that the artillery ammunition in hand would suffice for
+only one battle, that when it was exhausted the army would find itself
+defenceless in midst of the German hosts; the fortress, he continued,
+was not defensible in its present state, and could not stand a siege if
+the army were to be withdrawn from the place. All those things might
+certainly have been seen into during the stay in Metz; and much more did
+they behove to have been known before the army should cut loose. It was
+particularly enforced, "That the preservation of the Army was the best
+service that could be rendered to the country, more especially if
+negotiations for peace should be entered into." The generals present all
+spoke against the prosecution of the proposed movement; and the
+Commander-in-Chief, who had refrained from expressing any opinion in the
+matter, gave the order to retire at four o'clock.
+
+The whole affair of the 26th of August can only be regarded in the light
+of a parade manoeuvre. Bazaine reported to the Minister of War that the
+scarcity of artillery ammunition made it "impossible" to break through
+the hostile lines, unless an offensive operation from the outside
+"should force the enemy to raise the investment." Information as to the
+"temper of the people" was earnestly requested.
+
+There is no doubt that Bazaine was influenced, not wholly by military,
+but also by political considerations; still it may be asked whether he
+could have acted differently in the prevailing confusion of France. From
+the correspondence referred to, and his behaviour in the battles before
+Metz, his reluctance to quit the place was evident. Under its walls he
+could maintain a considerable army in unimpaired condition till the
+given moment. At the head of the only French army not yet
+shattered,[26] he might find himself in a position of greater power than
+any other man in the country. This army must, of course, first be freed
+from the bonds which now confined it. Even if it should succeed in
+forcibly breaking out it would be greatly weakened; and it was not
+inconceivable that the Marshal, as the strongest power in the land,
+might be able to offer a price which should induce the enemy to grant
+him a passage. Then when at length the time for making peace should
+come, the Germans would no doubt ask: "Who in France is the authority
+with whom we can negotiate now that the Empire is overthrown, and who is
+strong enough to give a guarantee that the obligations which he will
+have undertaken shall be performed?" That the Marshal, if his plans had
+come to fulfilment, would have acted otherwise than in the interest of
+France is neither proved nor to be assumed.
+
+But presently a number of men combined in Paris, who, without consulting
+the nation, constituted themselves the Government of the country, and
+took the direction of its affairs into their own hands. In opposition to
+this party, Marshal Bazaine, with his army at his back, could well come
+forward as a rival or a foe; nay, and--this was his crime in the eyes of
+the Paris Government--he might restore the authority of the Emperor to
+whom he had sworn allegiance. Whether he might not thus have spared his
+country longer misery and greater sacrifices may be left undecided. But
+that he was subsequently charged with treason obviously arose, no doubt,
+from the national vanity of the French, which demanded a "Traitor" as a
+scapegoat for the national humiliation.
+
+Soon after this demonstration, for it was nothing more, of the besieged
+army, the investing forces were, in fact, reduced by the despatch, on
+the 29th, in accordance with orders from the supreme Headquarter, of
+the IInd and IIIrd Corps to Briey and Conflans, there to remain. To be
+sure, from those positions it was in their power to attack either of the
+French Marshals, as might prove requisite; while the XIIIth Corps, newly
+formed of the 17th Division, hitherto retained to defend the coast, and
+from the Landwehr, was already within a short distance of Metz.
+
+Meanwhile Marshal Bazaine might have realized that he must abandon his
+delusion as to a release by means of negotiations; and he now firmly
+resolved to cut his way out by dint of force. The troops were served out
+with three days' provisions, and the intendance was furnished with a
+supply of "iron rations" from the magazines of the fortress. That the
+attempt should again be made on the right bank of the Moselle was only
+to be expected; since by far the larger portion of the enemy's forces
+stood entrenched on the left bank. It would have been very difficult to
+traverse that hilly region, intersected by deep ravines; and finally the
+army of the Crown Prince on the march to Paris would have had to be
+encountered. East of Metz, on the other hand, there afforded ample space
+for the full development of the French forces. By bending of the south
+the open country was to be reached, offering no effective intercepting
+position to the enemy, whose line of investment was weakest in that
+direction. The march to the north and along the Belgian frontier
+entailed more danger and greater obstacles, yet the Marshal had
+explicitly indicated this particular road as that by which he intended
+to move. The Army of Chalons was also marching in that direction; its
+approach was already reported; and on the 31st of August, on which day,
+in fact, Marshal MacMahon's forces reached Stenay[27] in such disastrous
+circumstances, Bazaine's army also issued from Metz.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[26] The Army of Chalons was still unimpaired on August 26th.
+
+[27] "Stenay," probably a slip of the pen for "Sedan," where MacMahon's
+army was gathered on August 31st. It never reached Stenay.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF NOISSEVILLE.
+
+(August 31st.)
+
+
+Of the French Corps then located on the right bank of the Moselle,[28]
+the IIIrd was to cover on the right flank the advance of the others; one
+Division was ordered to move early in a south-easterly direction with
+intent to mislead the enemy, its other three Divisions to take position
+threatening Noisseville. Three pontoon bridges were constructed for the
+crossing of the rest of the army, and accesses to the heights in front
+of St. Julien were prepared. The passage of the IVth and VIth Corps was
+to begin at six o'clock, and they were to take a position which, linking
+on its right with the IIIrd Corps, should extend from the village of Mey
+by Grimont to the Moselle; the IInd Corps and the Guard were to follow
+and form a second line. With the passage of the artillery reserve and
+the cavalry it was expected that the crossing of the Moselle should be
+finished by ten o'clock; the trains were halted on the Isle of
+Chambiere. Thus it was intended that by noon five Corps should be ready
+for the assault of the section of the line of investment from Retonfay
+(on the French right) to Argancy (on the left), a distance of about
+seven miles, which space had for its defenders only two German
+Divisions.
+
+So early as seven o'clock Montaudon's Division issued from Fort Queuleu,
+and heading eastward drove the opposing outposts back on Aubigny. But
+this demonstration did not in the least deceive the Germans. The stir in
+the French camp had been observed quite early, and when the mist cleared
+off and great masses of French troops were seen in front of Fort St.
+Julien, an attempt to break through to the north was anticipated with
+certainty, and the necessary dispositions were immediately undertaken to
+foil the effort.
+
+The 28th Brigade of the VIIth Corps was dispatched to protect
+Courcelles, so that thus the 3rd Brigade of the Ist Corps could be
+brought nearer to Servigny. The troops of the Xth Corps which could be
+spared from their own section of the line of defence on the left bank
+were again set in motion to cross to the right, and the IXth Corps was
+held in readiness in anticipation of its having eventually to follow.
+The IIIrd Corps and the Ist Cavalry Division were recalled from Briey
+and directed to the plateau of Privat; the IInd was to stand ready to
+move off.
+
+The attempt of the French to break out proved on this day even less
+successful than on the 26th; the IVth and VIth Corps crossed each other
+at the bridges, and they only reached their rendezvous position at one
+o'clock, though it was little more than three miles further; they then
+abandoned the intention of an immediate assault, and set about cooking.
+A few skirmishes on the east of Aubigny and on the north towards Rupigny
+came to nothing. The Imperial Guard did not come up till three o'clock,
+the artillery and cavalry were still behind.
+
+As entire quiescence now supervened, the Germans came to the conclusion
+that the attack must be intended for the following day. To save the
+strength of the troops, part of the reinforcements ordered up had
+already been sent back, when, at about four o'clock, the French suddenly
+opened a heavy artillery fire.
+
+The Marshal had again summoned his commanders to assemble at Grimont,
+this time to inform them of his dispositions for the attack. It was
+evident that the French could not advance towards the north until they
+had gained elbow-room by means of an offensive movement in the eastern
+direction, and had secured their right flank. For even if they succeeded
+in breaking through the Malroy-Charly line, they could get no further so
+long as the Germans were at Servigny and swept with their fire the plain
+as far as the Moselle, a space not more than 5000 paces broad. The
+Marshal could not in any case reckon on carrying through his Artillery
+Reserve, which did not reach the battle-field until six o'clock, and the
+extrication of the baggage trains which had been left behind on the Isle
+of Chambiere was clearly impossible. The Cavalry Corps was still
+defiling, and could not come up until nine o'clock in the evening.
+
+This unsatisfactory aspect of affairs was in complete accord with the
+character of the dispositions of the French commanders.
+
+Marshal Le Boeuf received orders to advance with the IInd and IIIrd
+Corps on both sides of the valley of St. Barbe, and outflank from the
+south the 1st Prussian Division at Servigny, while the IVth Corps
+assailed it in front. The VIth Corps had the task of thrusting forward
+against the Reserve Division at Charly-Malroy. Marshal Canrobert was to
+command the two latter Corps, and the Guard was to be held back as
+reserve.
+
+Thus General von Manteuffel had at first to confront with a small force
+a greatly superior enemy. This opposition might be undertaken either in
+the St. Barbe position, to outflank which was by no means easy, or on
+the line of Servigny--Poix--Failly, which, though more exposed, afforded
+much greater scope for the use of artillery. The latter position was
+chosen on the advice of General von Bergmann commanding the artillery,
+and the Landwehr Brigade was ordered into it from Antilly, where its
+place was taken by the 25th Division. Ten batteries were advanced to a
+distance of 1000 paces in front of the line of villages held by the
+infantry. Their fire proved so superior to that of the enemy, that the
+hostile batteries were soon silenced. The attack on Rupigny by the
+French IVth Corps, supported on the flank though it was by three
+batteries, remained stationary for a considerable time, and as the
+Prussians had not yet been driven back on St. Barbe, the VIth French
+Corps meanwhile could not enter upon any serious attack on the Reserve
+Division at Malroy-Charly. For the same reason Marshal Canrobert
+received the order for the present only to send a detachment of his
+force to the attack of the village of Failly, the northern point of
+support of the Servigny position.
+
+Tixier's Division therefore moved out at 7.30 in the evening from
+Villers L'Orme, but met with a most obstinate resistance at Failly.
+Though attacked on two sides, pelted by a storm of projectiles, and, as
+regarded a part of them, engaged in hand-to-hand fighting, the East
+Prussians stoutly held possession of their ground till the Landwehr
+Brigade came to their assistance from Vremy.
+
+Up till now the situation southward of Servigny had worn a more
+favourable aspect for the French than in this northern re-entering angle
+between two hostile positions; their IInd and IIIrd Corps in the former
+quarter had only the 3rd Brigade of the Ist Prussian Corps to deal with
+in front of Retonfay. Montaudon's and Metman's Divisions moved down by
+way of Nouilly into the valley of the Vallieres brook; Clinchant's
+Brigade stormed the brewery in the face of strong resistance, and by
+seven o'clock the defenders of Noisseville were forced to evacuate the
+place. Montoy and Flanville were also taken possession of by the French,
+and further south the outposts of the German 4th Brigade were thrown
+back through Coincy and Chateau Aubigny. The batteries of the 1st
+Division, after enduring for a long time the fire of strong swarms of
+tirailleurs from the deep hollow south of them, were forced about seven
+o'clock to retire in echelon to the infantry position on the
+Poix--Servigny line, fending off for a time the pursuing enemy with
+case-shot.
+
+But to this position the Prussians now held on staunchly, although
+completely out-flanked on their left. Potier's Brigade ascended the
+northern slope of the Vallieres valley, but found it impossible to
+reach Servigny. A moment later Cissey's Brigade rushed forward from the
+west, and seized the graveyard outside the village. The French IVth
+Corps struck at the centre of the Prussian position, but without
+success. Its effort to penetrate between Poix and Servigny was
+frustrated by the offensive stroke delivered by the battalions of the
+2nd Brigade constituting the last reserve--a counter attack in which all
+the troops at hand at once joined. With drums beating they hurled
+themselves on the French, swept them out of the graveyard, and drove
+them back down the slope.
+
+In support of the fierce fight here, the 3rd Brigade about half-past
+eight marched on Noisseville, whence it promptly expelled the small
+detachment found in possession, but subsequently yielded to superior
+numbers, and withdrew to St. Marais.
+
+The din of strife had now fallen silent at all points, and the fight
+seemed to be ended. The infantry of the 1st Division were moving into
+the villages, and the artillery was going into bivouac, when suddenly at
+nine o'clock a great mass of French infantry advanced in the darkness to
+an attack on Servigny. This proved to be Aymard's Division; it entered
+the village without firing a shot, surprised the garrison, and drove it
+out after a fierce hand-to-hand fight. This episode remained unnoticed
+for a long time, even by the nearest troops; but these then rushed to
+arms, and pouring in from all sides, drove the French back beyond the
+graveyard, which thenceforth remained in German possession.
+
+It was now ten o'clock at night. The 1st Division had kept its ground
+against an enemy of superior strength; but the French had penetrated
+into the unoccupied gap between the 3rd and 4th Brigades, and were a
+standing menace to the German flank at Servigny from their position at
+Noisseville.
+
+_September 1st._--The 18th Division, by a night-march, crossed
+from the left to the right bank of the Moselle at four o'clock
+in the morning, and reinforced with a brigade both flanks of the line
+Malroy--Charly--Bois de Failly. The 25th Division was now able to fall
+back from Antilly to St. Barbe, where, with the 6th Landwehr Brigade, it
+formed a reserve for the Poix--Servigny position.
+
+On the morning of the 1st of September a thick mist still shrouded the
+plain when all the troops stood to arms.
+
+Marshal Bazaine now again indicated to his generals the seizure of St.
+Barbe as the prime objective, since that alone could render possible the
+march to the north; and he added, "In the event of failure, we shall
+maintain our positions." This expression could only indicate the
+intention, in the event specified, of remaining under shelter of the
+cannon of Metz, and evinced but little confidence in the success of the
+enterprise now engaged in.[29]
+
+So early as five o'clock the 3rd Brigade had deployed on the Saarlouis
+road to prevent the further progress of the enemy on the left flank of
+the 1st Division. It swept the slopes in the direction of Montoy with
+the fire of twenty guns, and when Noisseville had been well plied for a
+considerable time by the fire of the artillery of the 2nd Brigade, about
+seven o'clock the 43rd Regiment carried the village by storm. A fierce
+fight ensued in and about the houses: two French brigades struck into
+the combat, and after a long whirl of fighting the German regiment was
+driven out again. Battalions of the 3rd Brigade came up just as the
+fight was over, but the attack was not renewed.
+
+Now that the direction of the French effort to break out was no longer
+doubtful, the 28th Brigade had started from Courcelles at six in the
+morning to reinforce the Ist Corps. Its two batteries silenced those of
+the French at Montoy, and then directed their fire on Flanville. The
+enemy soon began to abandon the burning village, which, at nine o'clock,
+the Rhinelanders entered from the south and the East Prussians from the
+north. Marshal Le Boeuf again sent forward Bastoul's Division on Montoy,
+but the extremely effective fire of the Prussian artillery compelled it
+to turn back.
+
+The 3rd Brigade had meanwhile taken up a position on the upland of
+Retonfay, where it was now joined by the 28th. The 3rd Cavalry Division
+was reinforced by the Hessian Horse Brigade, and these troops with the
+artillery mass made up presently to 114 guns, formed a rampart against
+any further progress of the IInd and IIIrd French Corps.
+
+The fighting had now died out on the right wing of the French army; but
+the IVth Corps had been enjoined to await the direct advance of the
+troops of that wing before renewing its attack on the artillery-front
+and village entrenchments of the line from Servigny to Poix, whose
+strength had been proved on the previous day. But towards eleven
+o'clock, after Noisseville had been heavily bombarded, the 3rd Prussian
+Brigade, supported by the Landwehr, advanced southward of the position,
+pushed its attack against that point, and compelled the French to
+withdraw from the burning village.
+
+Marshal Canrobert, on the northern front of the sortie, had brought up
+his batteries at Chieulles by half-past eight, and their fire, seconded
+by that of the artillery of the fortress, caused a temporary evacuation
+of Rupigny; but the village was soon reoccupied. Tixier's Division had
+made two fruitless attempts to seize Failly, and now, on the other hand,
+the 36th Brigade of the 18th Division came up, and taking the offensive
+in conjunction with the Reserve Division, at ten o'clock drove the
+French back over the Chieulles stream. They made still another
+onslaught on Failly, but the flanking fire made this also a failure.
+
+Marshal Le Boeuf, though he still had more than two Divisions to oppose
+it, held himself obliged to retreat on account of the approach of the
+Prussian 3rd Brigade on his right flank; and in consequence of the
+receipt of this intelligence, Marshal Bazaine at mid-day ordered the
+fighting to be broken off at all other points.
+
+The Army of the Rhine which issued from Metz on August 31st, with a
+strength of 137,000 men,[30] had been successfully opposed by no more
+than 36,000 Prussians. In this battle for the first time in the war the
+French were the assailants, the Germans had the role of the defence.
+That the Germans lost 3400 men against the loss of 3000 by the French,
+must be attributed to the higher properties of the infantry weapon of
+the latter. But the superiority of the Prussian artillery was decisively
+proved, and this it was which rendered possible General von Manteuffel's
+unshaken resistance.
+
+The VIIth Corps remained on the right bank of the Norelle, where the
+line of investment was now further strengthened by the arrival of the
+XIIIth Corps under the command of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. On the
+left bank the IInd and IIIrd Corps were now able to return to their
+respective previous positions. On the same day and at about the same
+hour when the destruction of one French army was completed at Sedan, the
+other was returning to an apparently more and more hopeless detention in
+Metz. Thus the issue of the war was already beyond doubt after a
+campaign of but two months' duration; though the war itself was far from
+being ended.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[28] The IInd and IIIrd Army.
+
+[29] The wording of Bazaine's order dispenses with any speculation on
+this point. He wrote, "In the event of failure, we shall maintain our
+positions, strengthen ourselves therein, _and retire in the evening
+under Forts St. Julien and Queuleu_."
+
+[30] The estimate of the total strength of the Army of the Rhine on the
+22nd August is given at 137,728 men in the German Staff History. It
+deducts for garrison and normal outpost duty details amounting to over
+17,000 men; and reckons the marching out strength for the battle of 31st
+August--1st September at "about 120,000 men."
+
+
+
+
+CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN PARIS.
+
+
+When, in the night of the 4th of September, the news of the disaster of
+Sedan and the Emperor's surrender became known in Paris, the Legislative
+Body met in a rapidly successive series of sittings for the purpose of
+selecting an Administrative Committee. The mob cut those deliberations
+short by forcing its way into the Chamber and proclaiming the Republic
+there and at the Hotel de Ville, amidst the acclamations of the people.
+Though the troops were under arms in their barracks, the Government till
+now in power offered no resistance; the Empress left Paris; General
+Trochu and several members of the Minority in the Chamber combined to
+form a Government, which they styled "The Government of National Defence
+and War." "War to the bitter end" was its motto, and the entire nation
+was to be called to arms. Not an inch of territory, not a stone of the
+fortresses was to be yielded up to the enemy.
+
+Such a Government, devoid of any legitimate foundation, necessarily
+thirsted for results, and could be little disposed to allow the war to
+end in peace.
+
+Notwithstanding all the early reverses of the war, France was too rich
+in resources to find herself as yet by any means defenceless. General
+Vinoy was still in the field. All the scattered Corps, the Marine troops
+and the Gendarmerie could gather to him. There was, too, the
+"Territorial Militia," numbering 468,000 men, an institution which the
+country owed to Marshal Niel, whose far-seeing work of reorganization
+had been cut short only too soon. Further, there was available to be
+called up the falling-due contingent of 100,000 conscripts, as well as
+the National Guard. It followed that France was thus able to put into
+the field a million of men, without reckoning Franctireurs and Volunteer
+Corps. The reserve store of 2000 guns and 400,000 Chassepots assured the
+means of armament, and the workshops of neutral England were ready and
+willing to fulfil commissions. Such resources for war, backed by the
+active patriotism of the nation, could maintain a prolonged resistance
+if a master will should inspire it with energy.
+
+And such a will was disclosed in the person of Gambetta.
+
+Minister of War, he had at the same time, by the French system of
+government, the direction of military operations, and certainly he was
+not the man to loosen his grasp of the chief command. For in a Republic,
+a victorious general at the head of the Army would at once have become
+Dictator in his stead. M. de Freycinet, another civilian, served under
+Gambetta as a sort of Chief of the General Staff, and the energetic, but
+dilettante, commandership exercised by these gentlemen cost France very
+dear. Gambetta's rare energy and unrelenting determination availed,
+indeed, to induce the entire population to take up arms, but not to
+direct these hasty levies with comprehensive unity of purpose. Without
+giving them time to be trained into fitness for the field, with ruthless
+severity he despatched them into the field in utter inefficiency as they
+were called out, to attempt the execution of ill-digested plans against
+an enemy on whose firm solidity all their courage and devotion was
+inevitably wrecked. He prolonged the struggle at the cost of heavy
+sacrifices on both sides, without turning the balance in favour of
+France.
+
+In any event the German chiefs had still great difficulties to overcome.
+
+The battles already won had cost heavy losses; in officers especially
+the losses were irreparable. Half the army was detained before Metz and
+Strasburg. The transport and guarding of already more than 200,000
+prisoners required the services of a large part of the new levies being
+formed at home. The numerous fortresses had not indeed hindered the
+invasion of the German army, but they had to be invested or kept under
+observation to secure the rearward communications, and to safeguard the
+forwarding and victualling of troops; and each further advance into the
+enemy's country involved increased drafts of armed men. After the battle
+of Sedan only 150,000 men were available for further operations in the
+field. There could be no doubt that the new objective must be Paris, as
+the seat of the new Government and the centre of gravity, so to speak,
+of the whole country. On the very day of the capitulation of Sedan, all
+the dispositions were made for the renewal of the advance.
+
+To spare the troops, the movement was to be carried out on a very broad
+front, which involved no risk, for of the French Corps, the XIIIth alone
+could possibly cause any detention. And, indeed, only Blanchard's
+Division of that Corps was now at Mezieres; its other two Divisions had
+but just begun their march when they received orders to halt preparatory
+to returning (to Paris).
+
+
+
+
+RETREAT OF GENERAL VINOY.
+
+
+General Vinoy's most urgent anxiety was--very rightly--to reach Paris
+with the least possible loss. This was not very easy to accomplish,
+since the VIth Prussian Corps, which had taken no part in the battle of
+Sedan, was at Attigny in such a position that as a matter of distance,
+as far as to Laon, it could reach any point of any line of the enemy's
+retreat before, or as soon as the latter. General von Tuempling,
+commanding that Corps, had already taken possession of Rethel with the
+12th Division by the evening of September 1st, thus closing the
+high-road to Paris. Only extraordinary forced marching and a succession
+of fortunate circumstances could save from destruction Blanchard's
+Division, which had already wasted its ammunition in small conflicts.
+
+General Vinoy supplied the troops with several days' rations, enjoined
+the strictest discipline on the march, and during the night between 1st
+and 2nd September set out on the road to Rethel, where he expected to
+find Exea's Division; which, however, availing itself of the section of
+railway still undestroyed, had already gone back to Soissons.
+
+It was still early morning (of 2nd) when the French column of march came
+in contact with the 5th and presently with the 6th Prussian Cavalry
+Divisions, without, however, being seriously attacked. It was not till
+about ten o'clock, and within about seven miles of Rethel, that the
+French general learnt that place was in hostile possession, whereupon he
+decided on turning westward to Novion Porcien. He sent his rear-guard
+against the enemy's horse-artillery, but seeing hardly anything but
+cavalry in its front, it soon resumed the march. At about four in the
+afternoon the Division reached Novion, where it went into bivouac.
+
+General von Hoffmann (commanding the 12th Prussian Division) had taken
+up a position at Rethel, and was awaiting the enemy, of whose approach
+he had been warned. Having ridden out in person, he became aware of
+Vinoy's deviation from the Rethel road, and at four in the afternoon
+marched to Ecly, where he arrived late in the evening. Part of his
+troops scouted forward toward Chateau Porcien.
+
+General Vinoy, on learning that this road, too, was closed to him,
+quited his bivouac again at half-past one on the morning (of 3rd),
+leaving his fires burning, and set out on a second night-march in
+pouring rain and total darkness.
+
+At first he took a northerly direction, to reach Laon at worst by the
+byways. By tracks fathomless in mud, and with frequent alarms, but
+without being reached by the enemy, he trudged into Chateau Porcien at
+half-past seven on the morning of the 3rd, and there halted for a couple
+of hours. The trend of the roads now compelled him again to take a
+southerly direction, and when the head of his column reached
+Seraincourt, the sound of firing told him that his rear had been
+attacked by the Germans.
+
+The Prussian cavalry had, early the same morning, discovered the French
+departure, but this important information found General von Hoffmann no
+longer in Ecly. He had already started thence to search for the enemy at
+Novion-Porcien, where he might well be expected to be after his first
+night-march, but at half-past nine the Prussian general found the place
+empty. Thus, that morning, the German and French Divisions had marched
+past each other in different directions at a distance apart of little
+more than four miles. The thick weather had prevented them seeing each
+other. General Vinoy this day reached Montcornet, in what plight may be
+imagined. The 12th Division continued its pursuit in the westerly
+direction, but came up only with the rear stragglers of the
+fast-retreating enemy, and took up alarm-quarters in Chaumont Porcien.
+
+This march of the enemy ought not indeed to have remained unobserved and
+unchecked under the eye of two Cavalry Divisions, but it has to be said
+that these were called off at an unfortunate moment.
+
+It was, in fact, in consequence of a report that the French forces were
+assembled at Rheims, that the Headquarter of the IIIrd Army had ordered
+the immediate return of the VIth Corps and the two Divisions of cavalry.
+These at once relinquished the pursuit, and General von Tuempling ordered
+his two Infantry Divisions to march at once on Rheims. The 11th, which
+had been holding Rethel, set out forthwith. General von Hoffmann, on the
+contrary, followed up the French, on his own responsibility, as far as
+was possible without cavalry to overtake them. Not till the following
+day did the 12th Division reach the Suippe.
+
+_September 4th._--General Vinoy made his way northward again, by way of
+Marle, where he received the news of the Emperor's surrender and of the
+outbreak of the revolution in Paris. His presence there was now of the
+greatest importance, and on the 13th he reached the French capital with
+the two other divisions of his Corps from Laon and Soissons.
+
+
+
+
+THE MARCH ON PARIS
+OF THE IIIRD ARMY AND THE ARMY OF THE MEUSE.
+
+
+During these occurrences the German armies, on the 4th September, had
+begun their advance on Paris. The first thing to be done was to
+disentangle the mass of troops assembled in the cramped space around
+Sedan. The IIIrd Army, of which the XIth and the Ist Bavarian Corps were
+still remaining there, had to make two long marches forward in order
+that the Army of the Meuse should regain its line of supply
+(Etappen-line).
+
+The news of a great assemblage of French troops at Rheims soon proved to
+be unfounded. Early on the 4th, detachments of Prussian horse entered
+the hostile and excited city, the 11th Division arrived that afternoon,
+and on the following day the German King's head-quarters were
+established in the old city where the French Kings had been wont to be
+crowned.
+
+On the 10th of September the IIIrd Army had reached the line
+Dormans--Sezanne, and the VIth Corps had pushed forward to Chateau
+Thierry. The Army of the Meuse, after the failure of a coup-de-main on
+Montmedy, was advancing between Rheims and Laon. Cavalry sent far in
+advance covered this march executed on a front so exceptionally broad.
+The scouts everywhere found the inhabitants in a very hostile temper;
+the franctireurs attacked with great recklessness, and had to be driven
+out of several villages by dismounted troopers. The roads were in many
+places wrecked by the tearing up of the stone pavement, and the bridges
+were blown up.
+
+On the approach of the 6th Cavalry Division Laon had capitulated. Small
+detachments of troops of the line were taken prisoners, 25 guns, 100
+stores of arms and ammunition were seized as prizes, and 2000
+Gardes-Mobiles were dismissed to their homes on parole to take no
+further part in the war. While friends and foes were assembled in large
+numbers in the courtyard of the citadel, the powder-magazine blew up,
+having probably been intentionally fired, and did great damage both
+there and in the town. The Prussians had fifteen officers and
+ninety-nine men killed and wounded; among the wounded were the
+Division-Commander and his general-staff officer. The French lost 300
+men; the commandant of the fortress was mortally wounded.
+
+On the 16th the Army of the Meuse was between Nanteuil and
+Lizy-on-Ourcq; the 5th Cavalry Division had advanced to Dammartin; the
+6th to beyond Beaumont, sending patrols up to before St. Denis. The
+IIIrd Army was spread over the area from Meaux to Compte Robert. Strong
+military bridges had been thrown over the Marne at Trilport and Lagny to
+replace the permanent ones which had been blown up, and on the 17th the
+Vth Corps reached the Upper Seine.
+
+To secure the draw-bridges at Villeneuve St. Georges, the 17th Brigade
+pushed on down the right bank of the Seine towards Paris, and at Mont
+Mesly it encountered Exea's Division, which had been sent out by General
+Vinoy to bring in or destroy stores of supplies. The fight which ensued
+ended in the French being driven back under shelter of Fort Charenton.
+
+The IInd Bavarian Corps also reached the Seine on this day and bridged
+the river at Corbeil. The 2nd Cavalry Division was in observation in
+front of Saclay, towards Paris. The Royal head-quarter moved to Meaux by
+way of Chateau Thierry. The complete investment of the French capital
+was now imminent.
+
+The works constructed under Louis Philippe effectually protected the
+city from being taken by storm. The artillery armament of the place
+consisted of over 2627 pieces, including 200 of the largest calibres of
+naval ordnance. There were 500 rounds for each gun, and in addition a
+reserve of three million kilogrammes of powder. As concerned the active
+strength of the garrison, besides the XIIIth Corps which had returned
+from Mezieres, a new Corps, the XIVth, had been raised in Paris itself.
+These 50,000 troops of the line, 14,000 highly efficient and staunch
+marines and sailors, and about 8000 gensd'armes, customs officers, and
+forest-guards, formed the core of the defence. There were besides
+115,000 Gardes-Mobiles, who had been drawn in from outside at an earlier
+date. The National Guard was formed into 130 battalions, which, however,
+being defective in equipment and poorly disciplined, could be employed
+only in the defence of the inner circle of fortifications. The
+volunteers, though numerous, proved for the most part useless.
+
+In all the besieged force was over 300,000 strong, thus it was far more
+than double the strength of the besiegers as yet on the spot, of whom
+there were at the outside only about 60,000 men available, with 5000
+cavalry and 124 field-batteries. On the Seine the defence had five
+floating batteries and nine section-built gunboats originally intended
+for the Rhine; on the railways were some guns mounted on armour-plated
+trucks.
+
+Great difficulties necessarily attended the victualling of two million
+human beings for a long period; however, the authorities had succeeded
+in gathering into Paris 3000 oxen, 6000 swine, and 180,000 sheep, with
+considerable stores of other provisions, so that perfect confidence was
+justifiable, that Paris could hold out for six weeks at least.
+
+Orders issued from the head-quarter at Meaux charged the Army of the
+Meuse with the investment of the capital on the right bank of the Seine
+and Marne,[31] and the IIIrd Army with the section on the left bank of
+both rivers. As a general rule the troops were to remain beyond range of
+the fire of the fortress, but, short of that, were to keep as close as
+possible so as to curtail the circuit of environment. The close
+connection of the two armies was to be secured above Paris by several
+bridges across both the rivers, and below the city, by the cavalry
+occupying Poissy. To the IIIrd Army was to belong the duty of
+reconnoitring in the direction of Orleans. In case of any attempt to
+relieve the capital it was to allow the relieving force to approach
+within a short distance, and then, leaving the investment to be
+maintained by weak details, to strike the enemy with its main body.
+
+Without relief from outside, a close passive blockade must inevitably
+result in the capitulation of Paris, though probably not for some weeks
+or even months. As an ultimate compulsory measure there remained
+recourse to a bombardment.
+
+At the time when Paris was fortified it was not foreseen that
+improvements in the artillery arm would double or treble the range of
+fire. The exterior forts, especially on the south, were at so short a
+distance from the enceinte that the city could easily be reached by the
+fire of heavy batteries.
+
+The Germans have been blamed for not having had recourse at an earlier
+date to this expedient of bombardment; but this criticism indicates an
+inadequate appreciation of the difficulties which stood in the way of
+its earlier execution.
+
+It may safely be accepted that the attack of a large fortified place in
+the heart of an enemy's country is simply impossible so long as the
+invader is not master of the railways or waterways leading to it, by
+which may be brought up in full quantity the requisite material. The
+conveyance of this by the ordinary highways, even for a short distance,
+is in itself a herculean undertaking. Up to this time the German army
+had the control of only one railway in French territory, and this was
+fully occupied in the maintenance of supplies for the armies in the
+field: in bringing up reinforcements and equipment; in conveying
+rearward wounded, sick and prisoners. But even this much of railway
+service ended at Toul; and the attempt to turn that fortress by laying a
+temporary section of line found insurmountable difficulties in the
+nature of the ground. Further forward there interposed itself a scarcely
+inferior obstacle in the complete destruction of the Nanteuil tunnel, to
+repair which would probably require weeks.
+
+Even then, for the further transport from Nanteuil up to the Paris front
+of 300 heavy guns with 500 rounds for each gun, there were requisite
+4500 four-wheeled waggons, such as were not in use in the country, and
+10,000 horses. Thus a bombardment was, in the earlier period, not to be
+thought of, and in any case the object of it would not be to destroy
+Paris, but merely to exert a final pressure on the inhabitants; and this
+influence would be more effectual when a long blockade had shaken the
+resolution of the besieged than it was likely to be at the beginning of
+the investment.
+
+_September 18th._--Corresponding directions communicated to the
+respective army commands, ordered the resumption of the march on the
+enemy's capital.
+
+On the 18th the Army of the Meuse, swinging leftward, had the XIIth
+Corps at Claye, the Guard Corps at Mitry, and the IVth Corps at
+Dammartin, one march from Paris.
+
+All the villages in front of St. Denis were occupied by the French. It
+seemed as if the investment on the north front of Paris would be
+resisted, and the Crown Prince of Saxony took measures for next day to
+follow up and support the IVth Corps, which led the advance. The 5th and
+6th Cavalry Divisions, hastening on to Pontoise, were given two
+companies of Jaegers and a pontoon train, and after a bridge had been
+laid they crossed the Oise.
+
+The Vth Corps of the IIIrd Army passed over the Seine at
+Villeneuve-St.-Georges and advanced to Palaiseau and the Upper Bievre.
+The advanced guard came into collision with Bernis' French Cavalry
+Brigade. The 47th Regiment at once proceeded to the attack, and stormed
+the walled farmsteads of Dame Rose and Trivaux. But on the southern
+skirt of the forest of Meudon the whole of the French XIVth Corps was
+drawn up; on its left stood a Division of the XIIIth Corps. The regiment
+retired on Petit Bicetre without being followed, and there took up a
+defensive position.
+
+The IInd Bavarian Corps marched from Corbeil by Longjumeau on a parallel
+front with the Vth Corps, and on the right the VIth occupied both banks
+of the Seine. These Corps, too, had several brushes with the enemy.
+
+The Wuertemberg Division at Lagny and Gournay was to cross the Marne
+forthwith, and so establish communication between the two armies.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[31] Viz., from the Marne above Paris in a wide half-circle to the Seine
+below it. The rayon of the Army of the Meuse subsequently extended to
+the right bank of the Seine above Paris.
+
+
+
+
+INVESTMENT OF PARIS.
+
+(September 19th.)
+
+
+On the 19th September the IVth Corps met with no opposition in its
+advance to St. Brice; it drove detachments of the enemy from the
+neighbouring villages back under cover of the heavy guns of St. Denis,
+and pushed forward towards the Lower Seine. The Guard Corps followed it
+as far as Dugny, and lined the Moree brook, which was dammed up at its
+mouth, and afforded useful cover for the line of investment along a
+considerable distance. Further to the left the XIIth Corps took up a
+position extending to the Marne, and on the left bank of that river the
+Wuertemberg Division advanced to Champigny.
+
+On this day the Vth Corps of the IIIrd Army marched on Versailles in two
+columns. The 47th Regiment had again the duty of covering the march
+along the hostile front. The French evidently were anxious to remain
+masters of the important heights in front of the fortifications of
+Paris, and in the early morning two divisions of their XIVth Corps
+marched out of the neighbouring forest of Meudon against Petit Bicetre
+and Villacoublay. Supported by a numerous artillery, which set on fire
+the farm-buildings of Petit Bicetre, they drove back the German
+outposts; but reinforcements from the Vth Corps presently came up to
+Villacoublay, and to Abbaye aux Bois from the IInd Bavarian Corps.
+
+The left brigade of the latter had crossed the columns marching on
+Versailles in the valley of the Bievre; but the sound of fighting from
+the field of strife induced General von Dietl[32] to advance with his
+detachments as they came up singly, on both sides of the high-road to
+Bicetre. A conjunct assault with the Prussians still fighting in the
+Bois de Garenne, was successful in repulsing the French at Pave blanc.
+Meanwhile the enemy by half-past eight had formed an artillery front of
+fifty guns, and three regiments of march advanced to renew the attack on
+Petit Bicetre and the Bois de Garenne. They were received with a
+destructive musketry fire, and not even General Ducrot's personal
+influence could persuade the troops, who were young recruits, to go
+forward. The Zouaves posted about the farm of Trivaux were finally
+thrown into such confusion by some shells falling among them that they
+hurried back to Paris in headlong flight.
+
+General Ducrot had to abandon his attempt. His Divisions retired in
+evident disorder on Clamart and Fontenay, under cover of the artillery
+and of the cavalry, which had resolutely endured the hostile fire;
+pursued at their heels by the German troops. The Bavarians stormed Pave
+blanc under a heavy cannon fire; the Prussians retook Dame Rose after a
+trivial skirmish, and pushed on past the farm of Trivaux into the forest
+of Meudon. The French still held the heights of Plessis-Piquet, which
+were to them of vast importance and very easy of defence, as well as the
+redoubt at Moulin de la Tour, where nine field-batteries at once came
+into action, the fire from which commanded the whole of the western
+field of operations.
+
+The main body of the Bavarian Corps had meanwhile moved southward, and
+during its advance on Fontenay aux Roses, about nine o'clock, it came
+under a hot fire from the height, as well as a flanking fire from a
+redoubt near Hautes Bruyeres. Being informed of the situation at the
+scene of conflict on the plateau of Bicetre, General von Hartmann (the
+Corps Commander) at once sent thither an artillery reinforcement, and
+ordered the 5th Brigade to attempt a junction to his left by way of
+Malabry. As soon as this brigade had deployed under a hot Chassepot and
+artillery fire between Pave blanc and Malabry, General von Walther
+(commanding 3rd Bavarian Division) passed to the attack of
+Plessis-Piquet. The artillery advanced to a short distance on the hither
+side of the park wall, and then the infantry broke out from the wood of
+Verrieres, and, after a brief but sharp struggle, took possession of the
+mill lying to the southward. After half an hour's artillery preparation,
+the Bavarians advanced on Hachette by rushes, and broke into the park
+of Plessis. The French kept up a hot fire from the redoubt of Moulin de
+la Tour on the localities wrenched from them, by which the Bavarian
+field batteries suffered severely; but they still effectively supported
+the further advance of the infantry, who now got close in under the
+earthworks. However, the defenders were already on the point of
+retiring, and when about three o'clock one Bavarian company entered, it
+found the place deserted and the guns left in position.
+
+Caussade's Division had left Clamart and was on the way to Paris;
+Maussion's had abandoned the heights of Bagneux on the pretence of
+having received mistaken orders, and Hughes' Division was with
+difficulty brought to a halt under cover of Fort Montrouge.
+
+The Bavarian Corps now took up the position it had won on the plateau of
+Bicetre to the right of the Vth Corps. The fight had cost the former 265
+men and the latter 178; the French lost 661 killed and above 300
+prisoners.
+
+The condition in which the French XIVth Corps returned to Paris caused
+such dismay that General Trochu found himself obliged to withdraw a
+Division of the XIIIth from Vincennes for the defence of the enceinte.
+
+It was subsequently argued that it would have been possible to capture
+one of the forts on this day by forcing an entrance along with the
+fugitive enemy, with the result of materially shortening the siege. But
+the forts did not need to open their gates to shelter fugitives, to whom
+those of the capital stood open. The escalade of masonry escarpments
+eighteen feet high can never be successful without much preparation.
+Ventures of this character are rarely ordered by superior authority; but
+can be attempted only in a propitious moment by those on the spot. In
+this case probable failure would have endangered the important success
+of the day.
+
+The Vth Corps had meanwhile proceeded on its march to Versailles; a few
+National Guards, who had collected at the entrance to the town, were
+driven off or disarmed by the German Hussars. The 9th Division held the
+eastern exits of the town, the 10th encamped at Rocquencourt, and strong
+outposts were pushed out on the Bougival--Sevres line. The 18th Brigade,
+which remained at Villacoubay to support the Bavarians in case of need,
+did not reach Versailles until the evening.
+
+The 3rd Bavarian Division remained on the heights in front of Plessis
+Piquet, its outposts confronting the forest of Meudon, where the French
+were still in possession of the chateau; and the pioneers at once
+altered the redoubt of La Tour du Moulin so as to front north. The 12th
+Division was encamped at Fontenay and rearward as far as Chatenay.
+
+The main body of the VIth Corps had taken position at Orly, its outposts
+extending from Choisy le Roi past Thiais to Chevilly. Maud'huy's
+Division attempted to drive in the outpost line at the last-named
+village, but without success. A brigade of the same Corps at Limeil, on
+the right bank of the Seine, was engaged in skirmishing with the French
+at Creteil. Within touch, further to the right, the Wuertemberg Division
+held the (left) bank of the Marne from Ormesson to Noisy le Grand,
+behind which latter place the pontoon bridge near Gournay assured
+communication with the Saxon Corps.
+
+Thus on the 19th of September the investment of Paris was complete on
+all sides. Six Army Corps stood in a deployment some fifty miles in
+circumference immediately in front of the enemy's capital, in some
+places actually within range of his guns, its rear guarded by a large
+force of cavalry.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[32] Commanding 1st Bavarian Infantry Brigade.
+
+
+
+
+FIRST NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.
+
+
+In full expectation of a battle to the north of Paris, the King had
+ridden out to join the Guard Corps, and in the evening his head-quarters
+were moved to Ferrieres.
+
+Here thus early Monsieur Jules Favre made his appearance to negotiate
+for peace on the basis of "not one foot of soil." He believed that after
+all their victories and losses, the Germans would come to terms on
+payment of a sum of money. It was self-evident that such a proposal
+could not be taken into consideration, and only the eventuality of
+granting an armistice was seriously discussed.
+
+It was in the political interest of Germany as well, to afford the
+French nation the possibility of establishing by its own free and
+regular election a government which should have full right to conclude a
+peace creditable to the people; for the self-constituted de facto
+Government ruling in Paris was the offspring of a revolution, and might
+at any moment be removed by a counter-revolution.
+
+From a military point of view it was true that any pause in the active
+operations was a disadvantage. It would afford the enemy time to push
+forward his preparations, and by raising for a time the investment of
+Paris would give the capital the opportunity to reprovision itself at
+discretion.
+
+The armistice could, therefore, only be granted in consideration of a
+corresponding equivalent.
+
+To secure the subsistence of the respective German armies, Strasburg and
+Toul, which now intercepted the railway communication, must be given
+over. The siege of Metz was to be maintained; but with regard to Paris,
+either the blockade was to continue; or, if it were raised, one of the
+forts commanding the capital was to be occupied by the Germans. The
+Chamber of Deputies was to be allowed to meet at Tours in full freedom.
+
+These conditions, especially the surrender of the fortified places, were
+absolutely rejected on the French side, and the negotiations were broken
+off. Eight days later Toul and Strasburg were in the hands of the
+Germans.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF TOUL.
+
+(September 23rd.)
+
+
+As soon as the German coast seemed no longer threatened by the danger of
+a landing of French troops, the 17th Division, which had been left
+behind there, was ordered to join the army in France. It arrived before
+Toul on September 12th.
+
+This place, in itself exempt from capture by storm but commanded by
+neighbouring heights, had till now been invested by Etappen troops of
+the IIIrd Army, and shelled by the guns taken at Marsal and with
+field-guns, but without any particular effect. The infantry on the other
+hand had established a footing behind the railway embankment and in the
+suburbs close up to the foot of the glacis, so that sorties by the
+garrison were rendered almost impossible. In view of these circumstances
+half the Division was presently sent to Chalons, where sixteen
+battalions and fifteen squadrons barely sufficed to deal with the
+extremely hostile attitude of the people, hold the Etappen-lines and
+safeguard the communication with Germany. Thus only seven battalions,
+four squadrons, and four field-batteries remained before Toul.
+
+On the 18th there arrived from Nancy by railway ten 15 cm. and sixteen
+12 cm. siege guns. The intention was to attack the western face, which
+was enfiladed from Mont St. Michel, and then to breach the south-west
+bastion; but first an (unsuccessful) attempt was made to reduce the
+place by the shorter process of subjecting it to a bombardment with
+field artillery.
+
+On the night of the 22nd battery-emplacements for the siege artillery
+were constructed by the infantry; three on Mont St. Michel, seven on the
+heights on the left bank of the Moselle, and one on the right bank. Next
+morning sixty-two guns opened fire, and at half-past three in the
+afternoon the white flag was hoisted on the Cathedral.
+
+The handing over of the place followed the same day (23rd), on the
+conditions as had been granted at Sedan. A hundred and nine officers
+were released on parole, 2240 rank and file were taken prisoners. Six
+companies took possession the same evening of the city, which on the
+whole had suffered little.
+
+Twenty-one heavy guns, about 3000 stand of arms, and large stores of
+provisions and forage were the prizes of success.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF STRASBURG.
+
+(September 28th.)
+
+
+Immediately after the victory of Woerth, the reduction of Strasburg
+became a primary object. This strong fortified position, bridge-head as
+it was commanding the Rhine, was a standing menace to Southern Germany.
+
+When Marshal MacMahon evacuated Alsace, only three battalions of the
+line were left with the commandant of Strasburg. But with stragglers
+from the various regiments engaged at Woerth, with sundry fourth
+battalions and reserve detachments, and finally with Mobiles and
+National Guards, the strength of the garrison had increased to 23,000
+men. There was a complete absence of engineer troops, but 130 marines
+formed an excellent nucleus; the armament of the fortress was also
+ample.
+
+So early as on the 11th August the Baden Division had been detailed to
+observe Strasburg. Notwithstanding the smallness of its force the
+Division had advanced unchecked by the enemy on the Ruprechtsau as far
+as the Rhine-and-Ill Canal; had occupied the village of Schiltigheim,
+almost within rifle-shot of the fortifications: and, having promptly
+prepared it for defence, pushed forward into the suburb of Koenigshofen.
+
+In the course of eight days there arrived, under the command of General
+von Werder, the Guard Landwehr and 1st Reserve Divisions, and one
+cavalry brigade, in all 46 battalions, 24 squadrons, and 18
+field-batteries; as well as a siege-train of 200 rifled cannon and 88
+mortars, with 6000 foot artillerymen and ten companies of
+fortress-pioneers; a total strength of 40,000 men.
+
+The unloading of the guns brought from Magdeburg, Coblentz, and Wesel
+was begun on August 18th at the railway station of Vendenheim, by a
+detachment of the Railway Battalion.
+
+The engineer-depot was established at Hausberge, a wagon-park at
+Lampertsheim, and provision made for permanent magazines. A complete
+blockade was established, and the field-telegraph kept up communication
+between all the posts.
+
+To attain the desired end with the least possible delay, an attempt was
+made, contrary to the advice of General of Engineers Schultz, though
+with the sanction of the supreme Head-quarter, to force the town to
+surrender by stress of a bombardment. The request that the women and
+children should be allowed to withdraw was necessarily refused.
+
+The erection of the batteries for the bombardment in the dark, wet
+nights was attended with great difficulties. Meanwhile only the
+field-guns could fire on the city; but the batteries whose armament of
+heavy guns was complete opened fire on the night of the 24th--25th; and
+soon a great fire was raging. Kehl, on the right bank of the river, was
+also set on fire by the shell-fire.
+
+The Bishop of Strasburg came out to the outposts at Schiltigheim to
+entreat forbearance for the citizens. Much as damage to this German city
+was to be regretted, since the Prelate was not empowered to negotiate
+the bombardment was continued through the night of the 25th, when it
+reached its height. But the headquarter staff at Mundolsheim became
+convinced that this mode of attack would not accomplish the desired
+object, and that the more deliberate course of a regular siege would
+have to be resorted to. General von Mertens was placed in charge of the
+engineer operations, General Decker was given the direction of the
+artillery.
+
+During the night of the 29th--30th August the first parallel was opened
+very close to the glacis, and soon was prolonged from the Rhine and
+Marne canal, through the churchyard of St. Helena, to the Jewish
+cemetery at Koenigshofen.
+
+The number of batteries on the left bank of the Rhine was soon increased
+to 21, on the right bank to 4; so that 124 guns of the heaviest calibre
+were ready in protected positions to begin the contest with the guns of
+the fortress. The further offensive operations were directed against
+bastions Nos. 11 and 12 on the north-west salient of the fortress. In
+the night of September 1st--2nd the second parallel was completed, but
+not without opposition. A strong sortie of fourteen companies of the
+garrison made at daybreak (of 2nd) upon the island of Waken, and in
+front of Kronenburg and Koenigshofen, was repulsed.
+
+The fortress then opened a heavy fire, pouring such a storm of
+projectiles on the siege-works that they had to be abandoned, till at
+about nine o'clock the artillery of the attack had silenced the guns of
+the fortress. A second sortie followed on the 3rd September, which was
+not repulsed before it had reached the second parallel.
+
+A short truce was granted at the request of the commandant, to allow of
+the burial of the dead lying in front of the works. And on this day a
+grand salvo announced to the besieged the victory of Sedan.
+
+Incessant rain had filled the trenches of the second parallel, 2400
+paces in length, ankle-deep with water, and it was not till the 9th that
+they were completely repaired. Five batteries were moved forward from
+the first parallel, as special batteries were required to crush the fire
+of lunette No. 44, which took in flank all the approaches. These soon
+silenced its guns, and the lunette was abandoned by the garrison.
+
+There were now 96 rifled cannon pieces and 38 mortars in full fire at
+very short range. Each gun was authorized to fire twenty rounds a day
+and ten shrapnel each night. The large Finkmatt Barracks were destroyed
+by fire, and the Stone Gate was so much injured that it had to be
+buttressed with sandbags. The garrison withdrew the guns behind the
+parapet, and only fired their mortars. However, in order to push forward
+the siege-works, sap-rollers had to be brought into use.
+
+When it was discovered that mining galleries were being driven in front
+of lunette No. 53, Captain Ledebour let himself down by a rope into the
+ditches, and with the help of his pioneers removed the charges of
+powder.
+
+During the night of the 13th--14th, the crest of the glacis in front of
+both the lunettes Nos. 52 and 53 was reached. The crowning was then
+begun by means of the double traverse sap, and was finished in four
+days.
+
+The attack henceforth was exclusively directed against bastion No. 11.
+
+To run off the water from the ditches of the fortress it was necessary
+to destroy the sluices by the Jews' Gate. These were invisible from any
+part of the field of attack, and the desired result could only be very
+incompletely obtained by artillery fire at a distance of more than a
+mile. Detachments of the 34th Fusilier Regiment, therefore, on the 15th,
+marched on the sluices under a heavy rifle fire from the besieged, and
+destroyed the dam.
+
+The island of Sporen was at this time taken possession of by the Baden
+corps.
+
+When the mortar-batteries had for the most part been moved up into the
+second parallel, the gun-batteries were also advanced nearer, and the
+wall-piece detachments did such execution by their accurate practice
+that the defenders never more dared to show themselves by day.
+
+The retaining wall of lunette No. 53 could only be reached by indirect
+fire; but 1000 shells made a breach, and on the 19th September two mines
+were fired, which blew up the counterscarp and brought it down to the
+level of the water of the ditch. The pioneers immediately set about
+laying a dam of fascines across the ditch. A party sent over in a boat
+found the work abandoned. The gorge was closed under heavy rifle fire
+from the ramparts of the main fortress, and the parapet reversed so as
+to face the place.
+
+The next lunette to the left, No. 52, was merely an earthwork, and the
+attack had already been pushed forward as far as the edge of the ditch,
+but earth screens had first to be thrown up and covered in with railway
+iron, as a protection against the heavy fire of shell from bastion No.
+12. The construction of a dam of fascines or earth, more than sixty
+paces across, and with the ditch full of water almost fathom deep, would
+have taken a long time; so it was decided to make a cask bridge of
+beer-barrels, of which a quantity had been found in Schiltigheim. This
+work was begun at dusk on the 21st, under no better protection than a
+screen of boards to prevent observation, and it was finished by ten
+o'clock. Here again the defenders had not waited for the escalade, and
+this lunette, too, was immediately prepared for being held. Both
+lunettes were now furnished with batteries of mortars and guns to
+silence the fire from the ravelines and counter-guards of the front of
+attack, against which five dismounted and counter-batteries were also
+directed.
+
+During the night of the 22nd--23rd the Germans advanced from lunette No.
+52, partly by flying sap and partly by the deep sap, and there followed
+the crowning of the glacis in the front of counter-guard No. 51. A
+breaching fire was immediately opened against the east face of bastion
+No. 11, and the west face of bastion No. 12. The splinters of stone
+compelled the defenders to abandon the counter-guards. The scarp of
+bastion No. 11 fell on the 24th, after a shell-fire of 600 rounds. The
+bringing down of the earthwork angle which remained standing, was
+postponed till the beginning of the assault.
+
+It was more difficult to breach bastion No. 12, because of the limited
+opportunity for observing the effect of the fire. It was not till the
+26th that a breach thirty-six feet wide was made, after firing 467 long
+shells. And even then, for the actual assault to succeed, the deep wet
+ditch at the foot of the bastion had to be crossed.
+
+News of the fall of the Empire had indeed reached Strasburg, but General
+Uhrich would not listen to the prayers of the citizens that he would put
+an end to their sufferings. The Republic was proclaimed.
+
+The siege had lasted thirty days, but the place was still well supplied
+with food and stores; the garrison was not materially weakened by the
+loss of 2500 men, but its heterogeneous elements prevented its
+effective employment in large bodies outside the walls. From the first
+the small blockading force had been allowed to approach close to the
+works; and the moment when the artillery of a fortress always has the
+advantage over the attack had been little utilized.
+
+The German artillery had proved much the stronger, both as regards
+material and in its advantageous employment. Under its powerful
+protection the work of the pioneers and infantry was carried on with
+equal courage and caution, never swerving from the object in view. The
+storming of the main walls was now to be imminently expected, and no
+relief from outside could be hoped for.
+
+On the afternoon of September 27th, the white flag was seen flying from
+the Cathedral tower; firing ceased and the sapper-works were stopped.
+
+In Koenigshofen at two in the following morning the capitulation was
+settled, on the Sedan conditions. Five hundred officers and 17,000 men
+were made prisoners, but the former were free to go on their parole. The
+National Guards and franctireurs were dismissed to their homes, after
+laying down their arms and pledging themselves to fight no more. All the
+cash remaining in the state bank, 1200 guns, 200,000 small arms and
+considerable stores proved a valuable prize of war.
+
+At eight o'clock in the morning of the 28th, companies of Prussian and
+Baden troops took over the National, Fischer, and Austerlitz gates. The
+French garrison marched out at the National Gate, General Uhrich at
+their head. At first the march was conducted in good order, but before
+long numbers of drunken men broke the ranks and refused to obey, or
+threw down their arms. The prisoners were taken in the first instance to
+Rastatt, under the escort of two battalions and two squadrons.
+
+The old city of the German Reich, which had been seized by France in
+time of peace nearly two centuries earlier, was now restored by German
+valour to the German fatherland.
+
+The siege had cost the Germans 39 officers and 894 men. The city
+unhappily could not have been spared great suffering. Four hundred and
+fifty houses were utterly destroyed, 10,000 inhabitants were roofless,
+nearly 2000 were killed or wounded. The museum and picture gallery, the
+town hall and theatre, the new church, the gymnasium, the Commandant's
+residence, and alas! the public library of 200,000 volumes had fallen a
+prey to the flames.
+
+The noble Cathedral showed many marks of shot, and the citadel was a
+heap of ruins. Under the wreck of the assailed works in the western
+front lay buried burst cannon.
+
+The fall of Toul and of Strasburg produced a not unimportant change in
+the military situation. Considerable forces were now free for other
+services, and the railway transport could be brought up nearer to the
+armies. The material no longer required at Strasburg could not indeed be
+at once employed for the artillery offensive against Paris; it needed
+considerable re-equipment, and was to do duty meanwhile in the reduction
+of several smaller places. The newly-opened railway line was made use of
+to bring up the Guard Landwehr Division to the army investing Paris. A
+new Army Corps, the XIVth, was created of the Baden Division, a combined
+brigade consisting of the 30th and 34th Prussian regiments, and one
+cavalry brigade; which, under the command of General von Werder, marched
+on the Upper Seine. The 1st Reserve Division remained behind as the
+garrison of Strasburg.
+
+
+
+
+OPERATIONS ROUND PARIS TO 15TH OCTOBER.
+
+
+The Government in the now closely-blockaded capital, could not make its
+behests heard and obeyed throughout France. It therefore decided on
+sending a delegation of two of its members out into the provinces, their
+seat of direction to be at Tours. They could quit Paris only in a
+balloon. One of these delegates was Gambetta, whose restless energy soon
+made itself conspicuously felt, and lasted during the continuance of the
+war. Monsieur Thiers, meanwhile, had been visiting the European courts
+on the errand of inducing them to interpose their good offices in favour
+of France.
+
+After the mishap of September 19th the feeling in Paris was against any
+great offensive demonstrations for the present; but the troops of the
+line still remained outside the walls under protection of the outlying
+forts. The Divisions of the XIIIth Corps were encamped on the south
+front and on the plateau of Vincennes; the XIVth was at Boulogne,
+Neuilly and Clichy behind the loops of the Seine, with Mont Valerien in
+its front, which was held by two line-battalions, after the flight, on
+the 20th, of the Gardes-Mobiles from that impregnable stronghold, in
+great disorder back into Paris. The defence of the northern front of the
+city remained entrusted to the Gardes-Mobiles.
+
+On the German side the positions of the Army of the Meuse, which were to
+be occupied and defended to the uttermost, extended from Chatou along
+the Seine to the heights of Montmorency, and onward along the Moree and
+the skirts of the forest of Bondy as far as the Marne. In close touch
+with the flank of the Army of the Meuse at the Marne, the lines of the
+Wuertemberg Division carried on the investment from Noisy le Grand across
+the Joinville peninsula to Ormesson. The XIth Corps arriving from Sedan
+on the 23rd filled up the interval from Ormesson to Villeneuve St.
+Georges, and the 1st Bavarian Corps occupied Longjumeau as a protection
+against attempts from the direction of Orleans. The VIth Corps could now
+be entirely transferred to the left bank of the Seine, where the line of
+defence extended along the wooded heights south of Paris to Bougival.
+
+The Head-quarter of the King and that of the IIIrd Army were at
+Versailles, that of the Army of the Meuse was transferred to
+Vert-Galant. Numerous bridges facilitated the inter-communication of the
+various portions of the forces, telegraphs and signal-lights insured
+their rapid concentration, and every movement of the French was watched
+from eligible posts of observation.
+
+There was no lack of accommodation for the troops, for every village was
+deserted; but this made the difficulty of obtaining supplies all the
+greater. The fugitive inhabitants had driven off their cattle and
+destroyed their stores; there remained only the apparently inexhaustible
+wine-cellars. For the first few days all the food needed had to be drawn
+from the Commissariat trains, but ere long the cavalry succeeded in
+obtaining considerable supplies. High prices and good discipline secured
+a market. Only the troops in advanced positions had to bivouac or build
+huts, many within range of the hostile artillery, some even within
+rifle-shot of the enemy. Near St. Cloud, for instance, no one could show
+himself without becoming a mark for the chassepots from behind the
+shutters of the houses opposite. The outposts here could only be
+relieved at night, and sometimes had to remain on duty two or three days
+at a time. The advanced positions of the Bavarians at Moulin la Tour
+were also much exposed, and the visits of superior officers to them
+always drew a sharp cannonade. Le Bourget, standing as it did in advance
+of the line of inundation, was especially liable to a surprise. That
+village had been seized on 20th (Sept.) by a battalion of the Guard
+Corps, at whose approach 400 Gardes-Mobiles had fled, leaving their
+baggage. Only one company occupied this post, on account of the heavy
+fire of the adjacent forts.
+
+Some petty sorties from St. Denis met with no success; but an attempt by
+detachments of the VIth Corps to occupy the village of Villejuif and the
+redoubt of Hautes Bruyeres proved unsuccessful. They forced their way in
+several times, but always had to retire under the fire of the
+neighbouring forts of Bicetre and Ivry, and because of the superior
+strength of Maud'huy's Division. The French afterwards armed the
+redoubts with heavy guns.
+
+_September 30th._--Early on this day a cannonade of an hour and a half's
+duration from the southern forts and batteries announced a sortie in
+that direction. By six o'clock two brigades of the XIIIth French Corps
+deployed against Thiais and Choisy le Roi. Strong swarms of tirailleurs
+drove in the outposts of the VIth Corps, and forced the field-guns in
+position between those two villages to retire; but then the fire of the
+infantry garrisons checked any further attack on the part of the French.
+Further to the west a third brigade got into Chevilly and seized a
+factory on the road to Belle Epine; but its determined attack failed to
+obtain possession of the whole village. The 11th Division was alarmed in
+its rearward quarters, and hurried forward to the support of the 12th.
+The factory was recovered from the French, and the Prussian batteries
+now opened fire, and worked such havoc among the enemy as he retired on
+Saussaye, that, shunning the attack of the infantry, he fled in great
+disorder to Hautes Bruyeres and Villejuif. A brigade which had forced
+its way into L'Hay was in the same way driven back, leaving 120
+prisoners for the most part unwounded. In the farmstead at the north
+entrance of Chevilly, however, the French still held their ground with
+great obstinacy. Not till they were completely surrounded, and had made
+an ineffectual attempt to force a passage, did surrender those brave
+defenders, who numbered about 100.
+
+The whole series of attacks was entirely defeated by about nine o'clock,
+and General Vinoy vainly endeavoured to incite the diminished battalions
+at Hautes Bruyeres to renew the struggle.
+
+These few morning hours had cost the VIth Corps 28 officers and 413 men;
+and the French many more.
+
+Two simultaneous feint-attacks on Sevres and on Mesly on the right bank
+of the Seine, came to nothing. The German outposts, at first driven in,
+re-occupied their ground by about nine o'clock.
+
+After thus failing to gain space towards the southward by this sortie,
+the besieged proceeded to assure themselves of the ground already in
+their possession by the construction of entrenchments. They fortified
+Villejuif and extended their lines from Hautes Bruyeres past Arcueil to
+the Mill of Pichon, so that there the Bavarian outposts had to be drawn
+in nearer to Bourg-la-Reine.
+
+Otherwise, throughout the first half of the month of October the
+garrison of Paris restricted itself for the most part to daily
+cannonades. Guns of the heaviest calibre were directed on the most petty
+objects. It was sheer waste of ammunition, just as though the aim was to
+get rid of the stores on hand. If one of the gigantic long shells
+happened to fall on an outpost, the destruction was of course terrible;
+but on the whole they did little execution.
+
+Apart from the noise of the cannonade to which one soon became
+accustomed, in Versailles, whence none of the residents had fled, it
+might have been thought a time of profound peace. The admirable
+discipline of the German troops allowed the townsfolk to pursue their
+business undisturbed; the hosts were well paid for the billeting imposed
+on them, and the country people could cultivate their fields and gardens
+in peace. At St. Cloud every room was kept in the same order as when
+the Imperial family had left it, till the shells from Mont Valerien
+reduced that delightful palace with all its treasures of art to a heap
+of charred ruins. It was the French fire, too, which wrecked the Chateau
+of Meudon, the porcelain factory of Sevres, and whole villages in the
+nearer environs. And it was also the French themselves who, without any
+necessity, felled half the Bois de Boulogne.
+
+The investment line was considerably strengthened on the 10th and 16th
+of October, when the 17th Division arriving from Toul relieved the 21st
+at Bonneuil, and the latter took up a position between the Bavarians and
+the Vth Corps, in the Meudon--Sevres tract; and when the Guard Landwehr
+Division came up and occupied St. Germain.
+
+These movements were observed from Paris, and to clear up the situation,
+General Vinoy advanced at nine o'clock on 13th October with about 26,000
+men and 80 guns, against the position held by the IInd Bavarian Corps.
+
+Four battalions of Gardes-Mobiles, protected by the fire of the nearest
+forts and of field batteries, advanced to the attack of Bagneux, and
+forced their way over the entrenchments wrecked by artillery fire, into
+the heart of the place, whence the defenders retired to Fontenay, when
+at eleven o'clock the French 10th Regiment of the line had also come up.
+Reinforced by a fresh battalion, and supported by an effective flanking
+fire from Chatillon, the Bavarians now made so firm a stand that the
+enemy could make no further progress, but began to put Bagneux in a
+state of defence. Meanwhile the 4th Bavarian Division had stood to arms,
+and by about 1.30 General von Bothmer (its commander) moved it up from
+Sceaux and from Fontenay, and proceeded to surround Bagneux. The
+barricades erected by the enemy were carried, who however still offered
+an obstinate resistance in the northern part of the village.
+
+A French battalion had also made its way into Chatillon, but the
+Bavarian battalion in occupation there held its own until assistance
+came, and the enemy was driven out of the place after a sharp conflict.
+
+A third brigade seized Clamart, which at that time was not yet included
+in the German intrenched lines; but it failed to climb the ascent to
+Moulin de la Tour, although the defenders on the plateau above were
+exposed to the fire of the forts.
+
+General Vinoy had convinced himself that forces which were a match for
+him confronted him at every point, and at three o'clock he decided to
+break off the fight. The French bodies of troops gradually disappeared
+behind the forts, and had all vanished by dusk. The Bavarians returned
+to their former fore-post positions, and the garrison of Bagneux was
+increased to two battalions.
+
+All France had meanwhile been arming with eager haste. Armies of
+considerable strength were being massed at Rouen and Evreux, at
+Besancon, and especially behind the Loire, of very various composition
+no doubt, and above all lacking in professional officers to drill and
+discipline them. Great battles were therefore in the first instance to
+be avoided; the enemy was to be constantly harassed by small
+engagements. Thus, towards the end of September, General Delarue
+advanced from Evreux with his "Eclaireurs de la Seine" up to the
+vicinity of St. Germain. But the 5th Cavalry Division, supported by two
+Bavarian battalions, drove these bands back to Dreux behind the Eure.
+The woods in front of the 6th Cavalry Division were also full of hostile
+parties, who were, however, swept out without much difficulty beyond
+Rambouillet to Epernon.
+
+Matters looked more serious to the south of Paris, in front of the 4th
+Cavalry Division, which was in observation towards the Loire.
+
+The newly-formed French XVth Corps had assembled at Orleans in three
+Divisions with a strength of 60,000 men, and it occupied the whole
+forest-belt on the right bank of the river. To counteract the danger
+threatening the investment from that direction, the 1st Bavarian Corps
+and the 22nd Division of the XIth had been put in march on Arpajon and
+Montclery as soon as they were freed from duty at Sedan; and on the 6th
+of October they were placed, with the 2nd Cavalry Division, under the
+command of General von der Tann.
+
+
+
+
+ACTION OF ARTENAY.
+
+(October 10th.)
+
+
+When General von der Tann received instructions to take the offensive
+against Orleans, he marched on the 9th of October to the vicinity of St.
+Peravy without meeting any serious opposition, and on the 10th advanced
+on Artenay. The 4th Cavalry Division covered the right flank; the 2nd
+remained near Pithiviers, where the enemy had collected in great force.
+
+General La Motterouge on the same day also moved out on Artenay with the
+XVth French Corps, having the wood in his rear occupied by
+Gardes-Mobiles; and so the advanced guards of both sides met at a short
+distance to the north of the common objective.
+
+While the Bavarian light horse on the right were driving the French
+cavalry before them, the infantry deployed across the road near to
+Dambron. The 22nd Division marched forward on Dambron with both Cavalry
+Divisions on its flanks. Under the fire of the Bavarian batteries, the
+French had gone about to Artenay, where the Germans were ready to
+receive them. Attacked in front and threatened by bodies of horse, at
+about two o'clock, leaving their tents standing, they began a retreat
+which soon degenerated into flight. The cavalry seized four field-guns
+and took above 250 prisoners. Six hundred more, who had reached Croix
+Briquet, surrendered there to the Bavarian infantry on the arrival of
+the latter.
+
+The German troops had made a long march; General von der Tann therefore
+allowed them rest for the day in and around Artenay, and only the
+advanced guard went on to Chevilly, to pursue the march to Orleans next
+day.
+
+
+
+
+ENGAGEMENT AT ORLEANS.
+
+(October 11th.)
+
+
+On this day, the 22nd Division, for the time only 6000 strong, moved to
+the right flank of the advance, and drove the French out of several
+villages partly prepared for defence; it was not till about ten o'clock
+that it met with serious opposition from an intrenched position at
+Ormes.
+
+The French Commander after the disaster at Artenay had decided on a
+retreat behind the Loire, to cover which he had halted about 15,000 men
+on the right bank of the river, in a position which possessed many
+essentials towards a good defence.
+
+General von Wittich (commanding 22nd Division) first sent the 44th
+Brigade against this position at Ormes, and opened fire from seven
+batteries. The troops of his left wing, supported by the Bavarian right,
+made their way but slowly over the plain east of the enemy's position,
+and various enclosures and buildings had to be stormed and taken as
+they advanced. This threatening attitude of the German right, however,
+shook the firmness of the defence, and, after some hours' hard fighting,
+the French began to retreat. No sooner was this observed by the Germans
+than two batteries were brought up to within 800 paces, and the 83rd
+Regiment stormed the entrenchments at two in the afternoon, but with
+heavy loss. Detachments of the 43rd Brigade had meanwhile reached the
+road in rear of Ormes, and took 800 prisoners. But the villages, gardens
+and vineyards which line the road to Orleans for more than four miles on
+either side, were serious obstacles to the advance of the Germans in
+close formation, and the Division did not arrive at Petit St. Jean till
+three o'clock, of which the nearest buildings were forcibly taken
+possession of.
+
+The Bavarian Corps, which had also met with a stout resistance at Saran,
+pushed forward to Bel Air, but with great loss, especially in the
+artillery. Here the nature of the ground did not allow of the deployment
+of the guns, a further attack came to a standstill, and at half-past
+four the French were still stoutly holding their own at Les Aides, till
+the advance of the 4th Bavarian Brigade to Murlins threatened their line
+of retreat. They made a renewed stand behind the railway embankment,
+1000 paces in front of the town, and the railway-station and gas-works
+had also to be taken by assault.
+
+It was already five o'clock when General von der Tann led his reserve,
+the 1st Bavarian Brigade, to the decisive assault of Grand Ormes. The
+32nd Prussian Regiment crossed the embankment on the left flank of the
+French, who now retired into the suburb of St. Jean. The 1st Bavarian
+Regiment, hurrying in their rear, was received with a hot fire at the
+gate of the city; but with its officers marching at its head it reached
+the market-place about seven o'clock.
+
+The French hurried across the bridge over the Loire, while the 43rd
+Prussian and 1st Bavarian Brigades seized the principal buildings and
+the passages across the river; but as darkness fell they desisted from
+further advance and bivouacked on the open places of the city.
+
+The day had cost the Germans a loss of 900 men, the 3rd Bavarian Brigade
+having suffered most severely. But their hard-won victory promptly
+dispelled the disquietude of the investing armies caused by the
+threatening attitude of the French; and 5000 rifles, ten locomotives and
+sixty railway-carriages were welcome prizes.
+
+The French rear-guard had lost in detached combats and retreats alone
+1800 prisoners; but it had covered the retreat of the main body of the
+Army of the South for a whole day against superior forces, with
+praiseworthy determination. In the open field, where skilful handling of
+masses is possible, it would soon have been defeated; but in
+street-fighting unflinching personal courage is all that is needed in
+the defender, and the latest recruits of the newly created French levies
+did not lack that attribute.
+
+On the following day the 1st Bavarian Division took possession of the
+suburb of St. Marceau, on the further side of the Loire, and advanced to
+the Loiret. The 2nd Cavalry Division scouted through the Sologne, the
+4th on the right bank ranged to the westward.
+
+The French XVth Corps had continued its retreat to Salbris and
+Pierrefitte, behind the Sauldre.
+
+It was certainly to be wished that its pursuit could have been followed
+up to Vierzon and Tours, so that the vast arsenals at the first-named
+town might have been destroyed, and the Government Delegation driven
+away from the other. But it must not be forgotten that though the French
+forces had been discomfited at Artenay, favoured by the nature of the
+locality they had escaped utter defeat by retreat. General von der Tann
+was disproportionately weak in the infantry arm, and hostile masses
+were disclosing themselves on all sides. A new French Army Corps, the
+XVIth, appeared at Blois, below Orleans, and at Gien, above that city;
+the German cavalry met with resistance in the forest of Marchenoir and
+before Chateaudun; and everywhere the inhabitants and volunteers
+appeared so full of confidence that the proximity of reinforcements was
+to be presumed.
+
+So it behoved the Germans to restrict themselves to the occupation of
+Orleans and the line of the Loire; and for this purpose the Bavarian
+Corps, with the 2nd Cavalry Division, seemed a sufficient force. The
+22nd Infantry and 4th Cavalry Divisions were recalled to the IIIrd Army;
+on their return march they were charged to disperse the volunteers who
+had made their appearance at Chateaudun and Chartres.
+
+General von der Tann had the bridges over the Loiret and the Loire
+prepared for destruction, an Etappen-line was established to Longjumeau,
+and the Bavarian Railway Detachment set to work to restore the line to
+Villeneuve.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF SOISSONS.
+
+(October 15th.)
+
+
+Soissons still hindered the further utilization of the railway, which
+had been re-opened at the time of the fall of Toul as far as Rheims.
+This fortress had been bombarded by field artillery without success when
+the Army of the Meuse passed by it on the march to Paris, and since then
+it had only been kept under observation until on October 6th eight
+Landwehr battalions, four squadrons, two batteries, two companies of
+pioneers, and four of fortress artillery made good the investment.
+
+Soissons, with its walls about 26 feet high, had complete immunity from
+escalade, and the damming of the Crise brook made it unassailable on the
+south. The south-west front, on the other hand, had only a dry ditch,
+with no counterscarp of masonry; here, too, the town was commanded by
+Mont Marion, rising to a height of 300 feet at a distance of little more
+than a mile. Against this face of the fortress, therefore, the artillery
+attack was directed at short range, when on the 11th October there
+arrived from Toul 26 Prussian siege-guns with 170 rounds for each, and
+10 French mortars. The Grand Duke of Mecklenburg took over the command.
+
+In a clear moonlight night the artillery with the help of the infantry
+was brought up on to the heights of Ste. Genevieve; the construction of
+the batteries about Belleu and in Mont Marion was completed and the
+arming of them effected. At six in the morning of 12th October they
+opened fire simultaneously.
+
+The besieged answered with great spirit but with small results, and the
+accurate fire of the Prussian artillery soon subdued that of the enemy
+in the particular front.
+
+A narrow breach was visible by next day, and the fire from the fortress
+was evidently much enfeebled; but the commandant decidedly rejected the
+demand that he should capitulate. On the 14th he increased the number of
+guns on his south front, so that the batteries on Ste. Genevieve had an
+arduous struggle. The French also laboured hard along the front of the
+attack to restore the severely damaged works, brought more guns up to
+the ramparts, and closed the breach by retrenchment.
+
+But on the 15th these repairs were soon demolished again by the
+artillery of the attack, and a breach was made 40 paces wide and amply
+spread with earth. As the fortress still kept up a brisk fire, it was
+determined to bring up the field-batteries within 900 paces. But at
+eight in the evening, when this operation was just begun, the commandant
+opened negotiations and surrendered the place on the Sedan terms. The
+garrison marched out next morning, for the most part drunk. A thousand
+Gardes-Mobiles were dismissed on parole, 3800 regulars were made
+prisoners.
+
+The attack had cost 120 men; 128 guns and 8000 small arms became prize
+of war, besides vast stores of provisions.
+
+
+
+
+STORMING OF CHATEAUDUN.
+
+(October 18th.)
+
+
+In obedience to instructions, General von Wittich marched on Chateaudun
+with the 22nd Division on the afternoon of the 18th. The French troops
+of the line had already been ordered to retire on Blois, but about 1800
+National Guards and volunteers still remained, prepared under cover of
+barricades and walls to receive the enemy. The infantry attack was also
+made more difficult by the nature of the ground, and four batteries had
+to keep up a hot fire for a long time.
+
+It was not till dusk that a general assault was had recourse to. Inside
+the town the enemy made a desperate resistance. House after house had to
+be won, the fighting lasted until late into the night, and a large part
+of the place was set on fire. The volunteers finally escaped, leaving
+150 prisoners and abandoning the inhabitants to their fate; and these,
+though they had taken part in the struggle, were let off with a fine.
+
+At noon on the 21st the Division arrived in front of Chartres, where
+10,000 French were said to have assembled. The marine infantry and
+Gardes-Mobiles advanced to the attack, but were repulsed by the fire of
+seven batteries. The General commanding the Division had deployed both
+his brigades southward of the city, and with the assistance of his
+cavalry, which had been joined by the 6th (Cavalry) Division, completely
+surrounded it. The fate of Chateaudun had been a warning to the
+municipal authorities, and at three o'clock an agreement was come to by
+which the troops were to be withdrawn, the National Guards to lay down
+their arms, and the gates to be thrown open.
+
+General Wittich's orders were to remain at Chartres for the present,
+while the 6th Cavalry Division was to occupy Maintenon, and so cover the
+investing army to the west.
+
+Not less fervid was the rush to arms in the north, in Picardy and
+Normandy. The Saxon Cavalry Division, supported by detachments of the
+Army of the Meuse, had in the early part of October driven the
+franctireurs and Gardes-Mobiles beyond the Oise and the Epte on Amiens,
+taking some hundreds of prisoners. But fresh swarms were constantly
+coming on, and had to be attacked at Breteuil, Montdidier, and
+Etrepagny, so that no less than eleven battalions, twenty-four
+squadrons, and four batteries, were by degrees employed in this
+direction for the protection of the besieging force. But by the end of
+the month the French forces were so systematically organized and in so
+great strength, that for the time the Germans had to confine themselves
+to holding on the defensive the line of the Epte.
+
+To the south-east also, in the forest-land of Fontainebleau, hostilities
+were prosecuted by the volunteers, particularly against
+requisition-parties of cavalry; and from Nangis obstruction was
+threatened to the transport of the siege-guns. A small force of
+Wuertemberg troops seized Montereau, which, though barricaded, was not
+defended; the inhabitants gave up their arms, and the detachment marched
+on Nogent. This town was held by a large body of Gardes-Mobiles. After
+breaching the walls of the churchyard, the Wuertembergers, in the face
+of a hot fire, made their way into the place. The French still offered a
+stout resistance in its interior, but finally retired on Troyes, leaving
+600 dead and wounded. The small flying column rejoined its Division,
+having traversed over 126 miles in six days.
+
+
+
+
+SORTIE AGAINST MALMAISON.
+
+(October 21st.)
+
+
+The French capital had now been invested for more than four weeks, and
+it seemed not impossible, because of the long continuance of inactivity,
+that it might be brought to surrender by famine. All the sorties
+hitherto attempted had only had for their object to drive the enemy from
+the closest vicinity; a new effort was to aim at greater results. The
+project was to cross the Seine below Paris at Bezons and Carrieres, and
+to make a simultaneous attack on the positions of the IVth Prussian
+Corps on the heights of Argenteuil from the south, and from St.-Denis
+from the east. A march on Rouen by Pontoise was to follow, into a
+district not yet altogether exhausted of resources. The Army of the
+Loire was also to proceed thither by railway by way of Le Mans, and so
+there would be massed in that region an army of 250,000 men.
+
+The Prussian Vth Corps, it was true, stood right on the flank of such an
+advance across the Seine; its outposts had several times been seen in
+Rueil. As a preliminary step, General Ducrot undertook to force back
+this body with 10,000 men and 120 field-guns. Then an intrenched line
+from Valerien to Carrieres would close the peninsula against
+interference from the southward.
+
+Perhaps, in the face of much-dreaded "public opinion" and the growing
+restlessness of political parties in Paris, it was more the urgency to
+be doing something than any serious hope of success which gave rise to
+such far-reaching schemes. Considerable difficulties had to be met in
+attacking the enemy's lines, and greater must inevitably arise if the
+attack should succeed. It was vain to think of bringing through the
+miles-long trains which are indispensable for victualling an army.
+Serious embarrassment would ensue when the troops had consumed the three
+days' rations they would carry with them. To live on the country the
+army must disperse itself; but with the enemy at its heels close
+concentration was indispensable. And, in any case, it is hard to see
+what would have been gained by withdrawing from Paris the forces which
+had been assembled for the defence of the capital. Success could only
+have been hoped for if an army from without had been so near as to be
+able immediately to give the hand to the troops marching out.
+
+However, on the 21st of October, after Mont Valerien had all the morning
+kept up a seemingly ineffective fire, General Ducrot advanced at about
+one o'clock to attack the position of the Prussian 19th Brigade whose
+supports held the line Bougival--Jonchere--Fohlenkoppel. Fourteen French
+field-batteries deployed on either side of Rueil and about the southern
+base of Valerien; the infantry advanced in five columns behind this
+artillery front.
+
+On the German side only two batteries could at first engage in the
+unequal duel, and one of these near the Villa Metternich had very soon
+to retire. The French guns advanced rightward to within 1400 paces of
+Bougival, and at three o'clock four companies of Zouaves rushed out of
+Rueil. Being received with a hot fire, they wheeled into the park of
+Malmaison, and without opposition seized the Chateau of Buzanval and the
+eastern slope of the deep-cut ravine of Cucufa. And here one of their
+batteries was brought up into the fighting-line to support them.
+
+While the main body of the 9th Division advanced from Versailles on
+Vaucresson, the 10th deployed against the ravine and at Villa
+Metternich. The infantry fire lasted for a full hour, and wrought the
+French much loss. When at about four o'clock they seemed sufficiently
+shaken, and a reinforcement of the Guard Landwehr had come up from St.
+Germain on the left, the German left wing advanced from Bougival and
+over the height of Jonchere, forced its way into Malmaison in spite of
+violent opposition, and followed the retreating Zouaves as far as Rueil.
+The right wing at the same time having turned the head of the Cucufa
+ravine, charged against its eastern slope, drove out the enemy, seized
+the battery of two guns, and occupied the Chateau of Buzanval.
+
+The French now retired on all sides, firing ceased by six o'clock, and
+the 10th Division, which had repulsed the enemy's assaults
+single-handed, re-established its previous fore-post line.
+
+The struggle had cost the Germans 400 men. The French, on the other
+hand, had in this luckless enterprise left 500 dead and wounded, and 120
+prisoners.
+
+Soon after this affair the French began to throw up entrenchments within
+800 paces of the line of the Guard Corps; and in the early morning of
+the 28th, General Bellemare, under cover of the darkness, advanced on Le
+Bourget with a force of several battalions.
+
+The German company in occupation there, taken completely by surprise,
+could only retire before such overwhelming numbers, to Pont Iblon and
+Blanc Mesnil. The French promptly barricaded themselves in the place and
+prepared it for an obstinate defence. A German battalion made a vain
+attempt that evening to drive them out; it was repulsed with heavy loss.
+Equally unsuccessful next day was the fire of thirty field-guns
+directed against the place from Pont Iblon. Then, however, the Crown
+Prince of Saxony issued imperative orders to the Guard Corps to
+recapture Le Bourget without delay.
+
+
+
+
+STORMING OF LE BOURGET.
+
+(October 30th.)
+
+
+Accordingly on October 30th, nine battalions of the 2nd Guard-Division
+and five batteries, under the command of Lieutenant-General von
+Budritzki,[33] were assembled at Dugny, Pont Iblon and Blanc Mesnil for
+a concentric attack on Le Bourget. The artillery in action along the
+bank of the Moree inundation opened the attack at about eight in the
+morning, and then the infantry went forward. The terrain was perfectly
+open, and the advance was under fire, not merely from Le Bourget, but
+also from the heavy guns of the forts. Nevertheless the Grenadier
+Battalion of the Queen Elizabeth Regiment, at the head of the central
+column, at nine o'clock made a successful assault, charging over the
+barricade at the northern end of the village, and entering it through a
+breach in the wall promptly made by the pioneers. The Emperor Francis
+Grenadier Regiment advanced against its western face and took possession
+of the park. A fierce street-fight ensued on a further advance into the
+village, in the course of which there fell the commanders of both
+regiments, Colonels von Zaluskowski and Count Waldersee. The walled
+farmsteads left of the main street, were stormed one after another in
+spite of a determined defence; the windows of the church, high up in the
+walls as they were, were broken in and scaled, and a hand-to-hand fight
+raged furiously inside the sacred building. The Guard Rifle-Battalion
+forced its way into the glass-works.
+
+At half-past nine the French attempted to bring up into Le Bourget
+reinforcements from Aubervillers and Drancy; but the left German column
+had meanwhile seized the railway-embankment, placed a detachment of the
+Emperor Alexander Regiment to hold it, and was forcing its way into the
+southern quarter of the village. Two batteries had taken up position on
+the Mollette brook, and their fire drove back the enemy and even
+compelled him to evacuate Drancy.
+
+At ten o'clock the French still held the buildings on the north side of
+the Mollette. These were now assailed from the south. The 4th Company of
+the Emperor Alexander Regiment crossed the stream and forced its way
+through a breach made by the sappers into the farmstead in which the
+enemy's main force was gathered. The defenders had to be quelled with
+the bayonet and with clubbed arms, and here the French Colonel de
+Baroche met his death.
+
+Although by this time--eleven o'clock--all the three attacking columns
+had struck hands in the heart of Le Bourget, the enemy continued the
+struggle in detached houses and gardens with embittered desperation till
+the afternoon, while all the forts on the north front of Paris
+overwhelmed the place with shell-fire. It was not till half-past one
+that the troops of the attack could withdraw by companies to their
+respective quarters. Two battalions remained to garrison Le Bourget.
+
+The desperate resistance of the French showed how important they
+considered their retention of this post. Its success had cost the 2nd
+(Guard) Division 500 men. The enemy's loss is not known, but 1200
+prisoners were taken. This new disaster added to the dissatisfaction of
+the inhabitants of Paris. The revolutionary factions, which at all times
+lurk in the French capital, came ominously to the front.
+
+Highly-coloured reports could no longer conceal utter lack of results;
+the authority of the Government was steadily on the wane. It was accused
+of incapacity, nay, of treason. Noisy mobs clamoured for arms, and even
+a part of the National Guard took part in the tumult. The Hotel de Ville
+was surrounded by a throng shouting "Vive la Commune!" and though other
+troops dispersed these gatherings, the ringleaders, though well known,
+went unpunished.
+
+On the 31st of October uproarious masses again paraded the streets. As
+General Trochu had forbidden the sentries at the Hotel de Ville to use
+their arms, the rebels forced their way in. The Ministers were their
+prisoners till the evening, when some battalions which remained staunch
+liberated them.
+
+Monsieur Thiers, who had returned from his fruitless tour among the
+European Courts, thought the time had come for re-opening negotiations
+with Versailles. On the part of the Germans there was still the
+readiness to grant an armistice, but it was naturally impossible to
+accede to the condition demanded by the French, that the city should be
+re-provisioned, and so hostilities had to take their course.
+
+At this time, towards the end of October, the situation on the Moselle
+had assumed an aspect which essentially modified that of the whole war.
+
+      *      *      *      *      *[34]
+
+By the exchange of German prisoners for French who had fought at Sedan,
+details of the disaster which had befallen France in that battle were
+currently known in Metz. But Marshal Bazaine declared that the Army of
+the Rhine would continue to defend the country against the invaders, and
+maintain public order against the evil passions of disloyal men--a
+resolution which certainly could be interpreted in more ways than one.
+It would have been eminently satisfactory to the Germans, politically
+speaking, if there had been in France an available power, apart from
+the pretentious but feeble Government in Paris, with which to come to an
+understanding as regarded the termination of the war. Permission was
+therefore given for the admission to Metz of a person representing
+himself to have a commission from the exiled Imperial family. As he was
+unable to authenticate himself in this capacity to the satisfaction of
+Marshal Bazaine, General Bourbaki was allowed to pass through the German
+lines that he might betake himself to London, where, however, the
+Empress Eugenie declined all intervention in the already so disastrous
+affairs of France. The General then placed his services at the disposal
+of the National Defence Government at Tours.
+
+Meanwhile the army which had been beleaguered in Metz since the day of
+Noisseville maintained a waiting attitude. The necessary supplies for
+70,000 inhabitants, including the country-folk who had taken refuge in
+the city, had originally been enough to last three months and a half,
+those for the regular garrison were calculated for about five months;
+but for the Army of the Rhine there was sustenance in store for only
+forty-one days, and there was forage for only twenty-five.
+
+Certainly it was possible to supplement the supplies for the troops by
+purchase from the abundant stores of the citizens; but ere long smaller
+rations of bread were served out and horses were being slaughtered to
+furnish animal food, so that most of the cavalry regiments were reduced
+to two squadrons.
+
+On the German side, the service of supplying 197,326 men and 33,136
+horses was one of great difficulty. The outbreak of cattle-plague in
+Germany restricted the importation of live beasts to those purchased in
+Holland and Belgium. The meat rations had to be supplemented by tinned
+provisions; and increased rations of oats had to take the place of hay
+and straw.
+
+The losses of the army had hitherto been made good from the reserves,
+but the transport of the prisoners from Sedan alone required the
+services of fourteen battalions of the force blockading Metz. Thus it
+had not yet been possible to provide sufficient shelter for the troops
+near the wide extension of the entrenched line. Raw, rainy weather had
+come on early in the season, and a fourth part of the men were still
+roofless; so that by degrees the sick in hospital reached the alarming
+number of 40,000.
+
+Although fifty heavy guns had been brought up from Germany, they were
+useless for the bombardment of Metz, since in consequence of the
+superior calibre of the fortress artillery they could only be fired at
+night, and with frequent change of position. There was nothing for it
+but to hope for the best, and have patience.
+
+For four weeks already had the besieged been consuming their stores. To
+replenish those in some degree, and at the same time to revive the
+spirit of the troops by active measures, the Marshal decided on fetching
+in all the provisions to be found in the villages inside the line of the
+German investment, under cover of a sortie.
+
+At noon on September 22nd Fort St. Julien opened a heavy fire on the
+outposts of the Ist Corps. Strong bodies of infantry then advanced on
+the villages to the eastward, drove in the picquets of the enemy, and
+returned to Metz with the stores which had been seized. But a similar
+attempt made next afternoon on the villages to the north was less
+successful. Most of the waggons had to return empty, under the fire of
+the Prussian batteries quickly brought up into position. Finally, on the
+27th, a sortie for the same purpose was made to the southward, which led
+to a series of small conflicts and the capture in Peltre of a German
+company, which was surrounded by a much stronger force. A simultaneous
+sally on the left bank of the Moselle was baffled by the fire of the
+alert artillery of the besieging force.
+
+Thionville, on the north of Metz, had hitherto only been kept under
+observation by a small force, which could not hinder the garrison from
+scouring the country as far as the neighbouring frontier, taking many
+prisoners, seizing fifty waggon-loads of supplies, and even diverting
+into the fortress a whole train of provision-trucks while passing by the
+now restored railway from Luxemburg.
+
+In point of fact, the Army of the Rhine would have found in Thionville
+an important rallying-point at the end of its first day's march, if the
+blockade of Metz could have been broken through. Prince Frederick
+Charles, realizing this, took care to strengthen the investing lines to
+the north, on the right bank of the Moselle. On October 1st the Xth
+Corps took up the position hitherto held by the Reserve Division Kummer,
+which was transferred to the left bank of the river. The Ist, VIIth, and
+VIIIth Corps closed up to the right, and the IInd occupied the space
+between the Seille and the Moselle; the troops before Thionville were
+also reinforced.
+
+The Marshal had really once more determined to break out to the
+northward, and that on both banks of the river. New bridges were
+constructed behind St. Julien and from the island of Chambiere, the
+nearest German outposts on the north and west of Metz were pushed back
+by a series of daily skirmishes. Under cover of the fire of the forts
+the French established themselves firmly in Lessy and Ladonchamps. The
+troops to be left in Metz were expressly selected; the others tested as
+to their marching powers. Light-signals were arranged with Thionville,
+and all preparations made for a sortie on the 7th.
+
+Then the French commander suddenly changed his mind, and the proposed
+enterprise collapsed into a foraging expedition.
+
+For this, indeed, large forces were set in motion; the Guard Voltigeur
+Division, the VIth Corps, and the IVth in the forest of Woippy. The
+movement was also to be supported by the IIIrd Corps on the right bank
+of the river.
+
+Four hundred waggons were in readiness to carry off the stores from the
+large farms lying north of Ladonchamps.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[33] Commanding 2nd Guard-Division.
+
+[34] In text there is at this point no Section-Headline, although the
+subject changes; but the succeeding pages till commencement of new
+Section are headed: "Die Lage vor Metz im October." This heading is
+followed in translation.
+
+
+
+
+SORTIE FROM METZ AGAINST BELLEVUE.
+
+(October 7th.)
+
+
+Although the start from Woippy planned for eleven o'clock, was not
+effected till one, the Landwehr companies on outpost duty were driven in
+by superior numbers, and as they defended their positions till their
+ammunition was exhausted, they also lost a considerable number of
+prisoners. But the artillery of the Landwehr Division prevented the
+removal of the stores; the 5th Division advancing from Norroy struck the
+left flank of the French attack and drove the enemy back on Bellevue,
+where a stationary fight developed itself.
+
+The French IIIrd Corps advanced on the right bank of the Moselle against
+Malroy and Noisseville. Here, too, the outpost line fell back; but
+behind it stood the Xth and Ist Corps, ready for action. The respective
+Corps commanders at once perceived that this attack was only a feint.
+Although threatened himself, General von Voigts-Rhetz sent his 38th
+Brigade across the Moselle at Argancy by half-past two to assist the
+Landwehr Division, and when General von Manteuffel forwarded him
+supports to Charly, the 37th Brigade followed.
+
+No sooner had the first reinforcements arrived than General von Kummer
+on his side took the offensive, recaptured the farmsteads from the
+enemy after a sharp struggle just as the latter were about to retire,
+and then, supported on the right by part of the 5th Division, moved on
+Bellevue at about six in the evening. Ladonchamps, however, still
+remained in the hands of the French. Late in the evening the 19th and
+Reserve Divisions advanced on this place. The premises of the chateau,
+which were surrounded by a moat, were carefully intrenched and strongly
+defended by infantry and guns. The darkness precluded effective
+artillery action, and the attack failed; but all the other points
+previously held by the Germans were re-occupied.
+
+The day had cost the Prussians 1700 killed and wounded, besides 500
+reported missing. The French loss was given out to be no more than 1193.
+
+This attempt on the part of the French might be regarded as tentative,
+and preliminary only to a real effort to break through; perhaps it was
+so intended. The German troops therefore remained in the positions they
+had occupied at the close of the fighting, in expectation of renewed
+hostilities on the morrow.
+
+The forts in fact opened a heavy fire on the farm-buildings early on the
+8th, while the German batteries directed their fire on Ladonchamps.
+Strong columns also advanced along the right bank of the Moselle, but
+nowhere attempted a serious attack. The Prussian troops therefore
+presently retired to their quarters.
+
+The artillery duel was carried on for the next few days, but with
+diminished energy. Constant rain made all field operations very
+difficult, and increased the sufferings of the men on both sides. In
+Metz the lack of victuals was becoming very painfully felt. So early as
+on the 8th the commandant had announced that his stores would not last
+longer than for twelve days. A council of war, held on the 10th, was,
+however, of opinion that the greatest service the Army of the Rhine
+could do to France was to hold out as long as possible, since it thus
+continued to detain a hostile army under the walls of Metz.
+
+The Marshal now sent General Boyer to negotiate at Versailles, but his
+instructions were to demand a free exit for the army and explicitly to
+refuse the terms of the Sedan capitulation.
+
+The state of affairs in Metz was perfectly well known to the Germans.
+The number of men who were taken willing prisoners while digging
+potatoes increased every day. They reported that disturbances had broken
+out in the city, in which even part of the soldiers had taken part, and
+that the commander-in-chief had been compelled to proclaim the Republic.
+And since the Empress had declared that she would never give her consent
+to any diminution of French territory, no further political negotiations
+were possible with the chiefs of the Army of the Rhine.
+
+On the 20th the distribution of stores came to an end within the
+fortress, and the troops thenceforth for the most part subsisted on
+horseflesh. The original stock of 20,000 horses was reduced by a
+thousand a day. The want of bread and salt was severely felt, and the
+soaked, deep ground made living in camp almost unendurable.
+
+After the failure of the negotiations at Versailles, the imperative
+necessity of entering into negotiations with the Headquarter of the
+besieging army was recognized by a council of war held on the 24th.
+
+The first interview had no result, as the Marshal still stipulated for
+free egress on condition of withdrawing to Algiers, or the alternative
+of an armistice with the reprovisioning of Metz. On the German side the
+surrender of the fortress and the march out of the garrison as prisoners
+of war were insisted on, and on these conditions the capitulation was
+signed on the evening of the 27th of October.
+
+
+
+
+CAPITULATION OF METZ.
+
+(October 27th.)[35]
+
+
+On the morning of the 29th[35] Prussian flags were hoisted on the great
+outworks of Metz. At one o'clock the French garrison marched out by six
+roads in perfect silence and correct military formation.[36] At each
+specified position a Prussian Army Corps stood to receive the prisoners,
+who were immediately placed in bivouacs previously prepared, and
+supplied with food. The officers were allowed to keep their swords and
+to return to Metz; provisions were immediately sent in.
+
+Marshal Bazaine set out for Cassel.
+
+In the course of the day the 26th Brigade occupied Metz. The city had
+suffered no injury, but the state of the camps showed what the troops
+had suffered during the siege of seventy-two days.
+
+The Germans during that time had lost 240 officers and 5500 men in
+killed and wounded.
+
+Six thousand French officers and 167,000 men were taken prisoners,
+beside 20,000 sick who could not be at once removed, about 200,000 in
+all.[37] Fifty-six Imperial eagles, 622 field and 876 fortress guns, 72
+mitrailleuses and 260,000 rifles fell into the hands of the Germans.
+
+The prisoners were transported by way of Treves and Saarbruecken,
+escorted by Landwehr battalions, and as these would have also to guard
+them when in Germany, their return to field service was not to be
+reckoned on.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[35] The Protocol embodying the terms of capitulation was signed on the
+evening of the 27th; its provisions came into effect at and after 10
+a.m. of the 29th.
+
+[36] On the contrary, there were much drunkenness and disorder.
+
+[37] The 20,000 sick were included in the total of 173,000 officers and
+men surrendered.
+
+
+
+
+NEW DISTRIBUTION OF THE ARMY.
+
+
+The capitulation of Metz, which Prince Frederick Charles had brought
+about under such serious difficulties, materially improved the prospects
+of the war for Germany.
+
+At the Royal Headquarter at Versailles, even before the catastrophe but
+in confident anticipation of it, decisions had been arrived at as to the
+respective destinations of the forces it would release for service, and
+communicated in advance to the superior Commanders.
+
+The Ist, VIIth and VIIIth Corps, with the 3rd Cavalry Division, were
+thenceforth to constitute the Ist Army, under the command of General von
+Manteuffel. Its orders were to advance into the Compiegne region and
+cover the investment of Paris on the north. But apart from these orders
+it had various other duties to fulfil; it was to occupy Metz and lay
+siege to Thionville and Montmedy.
+
+The IInd, IIIrd, IXth and Xth Corps, with the 1st Cavalry Division, were
+to constitute the IInd Army under the command of Prince Frederick
+Charles, which was ordered to advance on the Middle Loire.
+
+
+
+
+OPERATIONS OF THE XIVTH CORPS IN THE SOUTH-EAST.
+
+(October.)
+
+
+Since the fall of Strasburg the newly-formed XIVth Corps had been
+employed in safe-guarding the communications between the German armies
+standing fast respectively before Metz and before Paris. General von
+Werder had no great battle to look forward to, but a succession of
+small engagements. To prepare his four infantry brigades for independent
+action under such circumstances, he detailed artillery and cavalry to
+each. In this formation the Corps crossed the Vosges by the two roads
+through Schirmeck and Barr, driving swarms of hostile Franctireurs out
+of the narrow passes without material delay. But on emerging from the
+mountains it at once met with serious opposition.
+
+The French General Cambriels had been at Epinal with about 30,000 men
+ever since the beginning of October, and under cover of this force
+numerous battalions of National Guards and Gardes-Mobiles had been
+formed in the south of France.
+
+On the 6th, General von Degenfeld[38] with the advanced guard of the
+Baden force approached St. Die, marching on both banks of the Meurthe.
+The weak column was beset on all sides by far superior forces, yet after
+repeated attacks it succeeded in taking the villages which the enemy had
+been holding.
+
+The struggle, which lasted seven hours, ended with the eccentric retreat
+of the enemy to Rambervillers and Bruyeres. It had cost the Germans 400
+and the French 1400 men. The Baden force bivouacked on the field, and
+presently found that the French had evacuated St. Die. General Cambriels
+had, in fact, collected all his available forces in intrenched positions
+about Bruyeres. The Baden Brigade advanced on these on the 11th, drove
+the Gardes-Mobiles and volunteers from the outlying villages, climbed
+the heights on both sides of the town, and forced its way into it with
+inconsiderable loss. The enemy retired to the southward on Remiremont.
+
+From the small resistance hitherto made by the French, though so far
+superior in numbers, General von Werder assumed that they would hardly
+make a stand before reaching Besancon, so he immediately countermanded
+further pursuit, though somewhat early in the day, and concentrated his
+forces on Epinal, which place was taken possession of by the Germans
+after insignificant fighting. From thence an etappen-route and
+telegraph-line were opened to Luneville and Nancy, magazines were
+formed, and the trains, which were following the Corps from Saverne by
+Blamont to Baccarat, were brought up. The railway along the Moselle
+remained, however, useless for a long time, in consequence of injury
+done to it by the enemy.
+
+General von Werder was now anxious, in accordance with his instructions
+of September 30th, to march on the Upper Seine by Neufchateau, but a
+telegram from the supreme Headquarter directed him in the first instance
+to complete the rout of the enemy in his vicinity under General
+Cambriels.
+
+The Corps accordingly put itself in motion forthwith through Conflans
+and Luxeuil on Vesoul, and information was received that the enemy had
+in fact halted at the Ognon, taken up quarters there, and received
+reinforcements. General von Werder determined to attack at once. He
+ordered that the passages over the river should be secured on the 22nd;
+further decisions were postponed till reports should be brought in. The
+1st Baden Brigade came up on the right by nine o'clock, reaching Marnay
+and Pin without having encountered the French; it secured the bridges
+there, and then halted to await further orders. On the left flank the
+franctireurs were driven out of the woods by the 3rd Brigade, which also
+stormed Perrouse, and at about half-past two seized the bridge over the
+Ognon at Voray. In the centre the head of the advanced guard of the 2nd
+Brigade entered Etuz after a slight skirmish, but had to withdraw at
+eleven o'clock to the northern bank, before the enemy's flank attack
+from out the woods. Afterwards, when the main force came up and the
+artillery opened fire, the place was taken for the second time at one
+o'clock. But a prolonged fire-fight ensued, the French making an
+obstinate stand in front of the passage over the river at Cussey. Orders
+had already been sent to the 1st Brigade to move up on the southern bank
+from Pin on the enemy's flank and rear. But it could not reach the
+ground until six o'clock, when the battle was over. When two batteries
+had made good the possession of the bridge over the Ognon under a heavy
+fire, the enemy hastily retired, pursued by the Badeners; he was again
+driven out of his rearward positions, but when night fell he still
+remained in possession of several points in front of Besancon.
+
+The Germans had lost 120 men, the French 150 and 200 prisoners. In
+opposition to Gambetta, who was himself in Besancon, General Cambriels
+obstinately resisted every order to renew the advance, and would only
+consent to maintain his strong position under the walls of the fortress.
+
+Parties sent out to reconnoitre on the right reported the presence of
+French forces at Dole and Auxonne, the advance-guard probably of an
+"Army of the Vosges" under Garibaldi, which was assembling on the Doubs.
+General von Werder disregarded it, and on the 26th moved his Corps to
+Dampierre and Gray. Beyond the Saone all the roads were broken up, the
+woods choked with abatis, and the whole population in arms. But the
+franctireurs and Gardes-Mobiles were dispersed without difficulty, and a
+column marching without any precautions was driven back on the Vingeanne
+brook, where 15 officers and 430 men laid down their arms.
+
+From further reports and the information of the prisoners it was known
+that Dijon was strongly garrisoned. In expectation, therefore, of an
+attack from that side, the XIVth Corps was assembled behind the
+Vingeanne, whence early on October 30th General von Beyer[39] marched on
+Dijon with the 1st and 3rd Brigades. Filled with apprehension by recent
+events, the National Guards in Dijon had already laid down their arms,
+the Gardes-Mobiles and the line troops of the garrison had retreated
+southwards; but the inhabitants were assured that the forces would be
+brought back to defend them. About 8000 men were available, but they
+insisted on their commander pledging himself to fight only outside the
+city.
+
+The advanced posts on the Tille were driven in by the Baden advanced
+guard; the village of St. Apollinaire and the neighbouring heights were
+taken with a rush at noon, in spite of a hot fire. Meanwhile the main
+body had come up, and at three o'clock six German batteries opened fire.
+The vineyards and numerous farmsteads in the neighbourhood of Dijon, and
+especially the strongly barricaded park south of the city, gave the
+defence a great advantage. Nevertheless, the Baden infantry continued
+its steady advance and closed in on the northern and eastern suburbs by
+a wide encircling movement.
+
+Here a fierce combat ensued, in which the inhabitants took part. House
+after house had to be stormed, but the attack came to a stand at the
+deep-cut bed of the Suzon brook, which borders the city on the east. It
+was four o'clock, and the impending struggle could not be ended before
+dark. General von Beyer therefore broke off the fight; the battalions
+were withdrawn and retired to quarters in the adjacent villages; only
+the artillery still kept up its fire.
+
+The Germans had lost about 150 and the French 100 men; but of the latter
+200 were taken prisoners.
+
+In the course of the night a deputation came out to beg that the town
+might be spared; its members undertook to furnish supplies for 20,000
+men, and to guarantee the good behaviour of the inhabitants. The Baden
+troops took possession of Dijon on the 31st.
+
+Meanwhile fresh instructions had reached General von Werder. They
+prescribed that he was to protect the left flank of the IInd Army
+advancing to the Loire and at the same time to cover Alsace and the
+troops besieging Belfort, where two reserve Divisions had now arrived.
+It was intended that the XIVth Corps, while retaining its hold on Dijon,
+should also move to Vesoul and hold in check from there the gathering of
+hostile troops round Besancon and at Langres. Some offensive movement on
+Chalons[40] and Dole was also insisted on.
+
+General von Werder's position was more difficult than was recognized at
+Versailles. At Besancon alone there were 45,000 French troops, under the
+command of a new leader, General Crouzat. Garibaldi had collected 12,000
+between Dole and Auxonne; lower down the Saone valley a new Corps was
+being formed of 18,000 men, and 12,000 National Guards and
+Gardes-Mobiles threatened from Langres the flank of the isolated German
+Corps. But the French, instead of attacking this slender force with
+overwhelming numbers--spread out as it was over a distance of fifty-six
+miles from Lure to Dijon and Gray--were haunted by the apprehension that
+the Germans, reinforced from Metz, might be intending an attack on
+Lyons. General Crouzat, leaving a strong garrison in Besancon,
+consequently marched to Chagny, where up to November 12th he was
+reinforced from the south to a strength of 50,000 men. The Garibaldian
+volunteers moved up to Autun to protect Bourges.
+
+General von Werder meanwhile had occupied Vesoul, and had the south face
+of the city put in a state of defence.
+
+The only event of importance during the course of October which remains
+to be mentioned was the action taken against the French forts lying
+rearward of the German armies.
+
+At the beginning of the month the newly constituted 4th Reserve
+Division, of fifteen battalions, eight squadrons, thirty-six guns, and
+a company of fortress-pioneers, had assembled in Baden, and crossed the
+Rhine at Neuenburg. The vicinity was first cleared of franctireurs,
+Muelhausen was occupied, and, by the express desire of its municipal
+authorities, the excited artisan inhabitants were disarmed. General von
+Schmeling (commanding the Division) was instructed to besiege
+Neu-Breisach and Schlettstadt, and at once set about the investment of
+each of these places with a brigade. On October 7th the East Prussian
+Landwehr invested Breisach, and the field-batteries shelled the place,
+but without effect. The other brigade, having been forced to detach
+considerably, reached Schlettstadt very weak, but was reinforced by
+Etappen troops to such extent that the place was invested with 8
+battalions, 2 squadrons, and 2 batteries. At the same time 12 companies
+of fortress-artillery and 4 companies of pioneers arrived from Strasburg
+with the necessary siege material, and an artillery park of fifty-six
+heavy guns was established at St. Pilt; the engineer park was located at
+Kinzheim.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[38] Commanding 2nd Baden Brigade.
+
+[39] Commanding Baden Division.
+
+[40] Chalons-sur-Saone.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF SCHLETTSTADT.
+
+(October 24th.)
+
+
+At the beginning of the blockade, inundations and marsh-land rendered
+Schlettstadt, a fortified town of 10,000 inhabitants, unapproachable on
+the east and south, and partly on the north. The place itself, perfectly
+safe from storm, with high walls and a wet ditch, was armed with 120
+guns, but garrisoned with only 2000 men, for the most part
+Gardes-Mobiles. There was a deficiency of safe casemates, and on the
+west front vineyards and hedgerows favoured the near approach of
+assaults, while the railway embankment was a ready-made protecting wall
+for the construction of the first parallel. To divert the attention of
+the besieged from this front of attack, a battery was constructed on the
+20th at the Kappel Mill on the south-east, from which fire was opened on
+the barracks and magazine in the town, and on the sluice which
+maintained the inundation. By the evening of the 21st, the infantry
+posts had advanced to within 400 paces of the glacis, and the
+construction of the first parallel was proceeded with that night,
+immediately behind the railway, as well as of emplacements for six
+batteries within 1230 feet from the ramparts. The garrison fired in the
+dark on the entire field of attack, but almost without effect. By the
+morning the trenches were two feet wide and three and a half feet deep,
+and 20 heavy guns and 8 mortars were ready to open fire. A hot artillery
+duel now began with the fortress, which replied very steadily. The
+battery at the mill subjected the west front to a telling reverse fire,
+and several guns and embrasures were severely damaged. The town was
+fired at several points, and the defenders' fire gradually ceased.
+During the night, which was very stormy, the batteries of the attack
+kept up their fire, the parallel was widened and two new batteries were
+begun.
+
+At daybreak of the 24th the white flag was seen flying, and a
+capitulation was forthwith signed, by which Schlettstadt surrendered
+with its garrison and war-material. The commandant begged the Germans to
+take possession at once, as the greatest disorder reigned within the
+town. The public buildings were being plundered by the mob and the
+drunken soldiery, and a powder-magazine was actually on fire. The German
+battalions promptly restored order, extinguished the flames, and took
+away the prisoners. Seven thousand stand of arms fell into German
+hands, besides the fortress artillery and a large quantity of stores.
+The siege had cost the victors only twenty men. Schlettstadt was
+occupied by Etappen troops, and the battalions released from duty there
+marched into southern Alsace, three of them going to strengthen the
+siege of Breisach, which was now being proceeded with.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF BREISACH.
+
+(November 10th.)
+
+
+This fortress, lying in the plain and of very symmetrical shape, was
+proof against a coup-de-main because of its ditches, which were dry
+indeed, but faced with solid masonry. The garrison of over 5000 men had
+well-protected quarters in the bomb-proof casemates of the ravelins.
+Fort Mortier, standing near the Rhine, and constructed for independent
+defence, effectually commanded the ground over which the intended attack
+must be made on the north-west front of the fortress. Therefore 12 heavy
+guns were brought up from Rastatt to Alt Breisach, where the right bank
+of the Rhine commands the fort at effective range.
+
+It was not till near the end of October that the siege-guns arrived
+before New Breisach from Schlettstadt, and when the infantry had closed
+up and all preparations were complete, fire from 24 heavy guns was
+opened on the fortress on November 2nd from Wolfgantzen, Biesheim and
+Alt Breisach.
+
+By three o'clock a large part of the town was on fire, and detachments
+of infantry were skirmishing with the French posts at the foot of the
+glacis. Fort Mortier had suffered exceptionally severely. Nevertheless,
+an attempt to storm it was repulsed, but at six o'clock it capitulated,
+an utter ruin. Only one gun remained in serviceable condition. Two new
+mortar batteries were erected to shell the main fortress, the defence
+became perceptibly more feeble, and on November 10th Breisach
+surrendered on the same terms as Schlettstadt, but the garrison was
+allowed to march out with the honours of war. The fortifications were
+almost uninjured, but the town was for the most part burnt down or
+severely damaged. The success had cost the Germans only 70 men; 108
+guns, 6000 small arms and large quantities of stores fell into their
+hands.
+
+While these strongholds in Alsace-Lorraine were thus being reduced,
+Verdun still intercepted the line of railway which formed the shortest
+line of communication with Germany.
+
+
+
+
+TAKING OF VERDUN.
+
+(November 9th.)
+
+
+This place, too, was made quite storm-free by high walls and deep wet
+ditches; but, on the other hand, it was surrounded by a ring of heights
+whence it could be seen into, and at the foot of these heights villages
+and vineyards favoured an approach to within a short distance of the
+outworks.
+
+The fortress was armed with 140 guns and abundantly victualled, and the
+garrison, which had been supplemented by escaped prisoners, was 6000
+strong. A bombardment by field-artillery had already proved perfectly
+ineffectual. For a long time Verdun was only under observation, at first
+by cavalry, and afterwards by a small mixed force. At the end of
+September the 65th Regiment and twelve companies of Landwehr assembled
+under General von Gayl before the east face of the place. It was not
+till October 9th that two companies of fortress-artillery brought up
+some French heavy guns from Toul and Sedan. The infantry now advanced to
+within a few hundred paces of the west and north fronts and there
+established itself. Under this cover the construction of the batteries
+was begun on the evening of October 12th.
+
+The heavy ground after the rain, and the rocky subsoil very thinly
+covered, made the work uncommonly difficult, yet by next morning
+fifty-two guns were able to open fire. But the fortress replied with
+such effect that before noon two batteries on the Cote de Hayvaux on the
+westward were reduced to inaction.
+
+In the course of this three days' artillery engagement, 15 German guns
+were placed out of action, the artillery lost 60 men and the infantry
+40. The disabled guns on the walls of the enemy were constantly replaced
+by fresh ones.
+
+The garrison, which was far stronger than the besiegers, now assumed the
+offensive. During the stormy night of the 19th--20th, the picquets on
+the Hayvaux were overpowered, and the guns in the battery there were
+spiked. On the 28th a sortie in greater force was made. The French
+climbed up Mont St. Michel, lying northward of Verdun, and destroyed the
+breast-works and bomb-proofs of the batteries, from which, however, the
+guns had been withdrawn. Another body pushed up the Hayvaux, and as the
+soaked state of the ground prevented the guns from being withdrawn, they
+were totally disabled. The villages in the neighbourhood were also
+occupied by the French.
+
+It was now evident that the means hitherto brought to bear on the
+reduction of Verdun were quite inadequate. But after the fall of Metz
+the Ist Army was able to send up reinforcements. At the end of the month
+5 battalions and 2 companies of pioneers and several of artillery
+arrived, and also a quantity of German material.
+
+The siege park now numbered 102 guns with abundant ammunition, and
+preparations were at once made for a regular attack.
+
+But for this the garrison did not wait. After an armistice had been
+granted, the place capitulated on November 8th, in virtue of which the
+garrison, with exception of the local National Guards, became prisoners
+of war. The officers were dismissed on parole with their swords and
+personal property, and it was agreed that the war-material in store
+should be given back on the conclusion of peace.
+
+
+
+
+ADVANCE OF IST AND IIND ARMIES UP TO MID NOVEMBER.
+
+
+The Ist Army having in addition undertaken the siege of Mezieres, the
+1st Infantry Division moved on that place, and the 3rd Brigade, sent
+forward by railway to Soissons, on November 15th set about the siege of
+the small fortress of La Fere. The rest of the Ist Corps reached Rethel
+on the same day, the VIIIth Rheims, and the 3rd Cavalry Division Tagnon,
+between the two places named. The VIIth Corps was still fully engaged in
+guarding the prisoners and in besieging Thionville and Montmedy.
+
+Of the IInd Army the IXth Corps and 1st Cavalry Division reached Troyes
+on the 10th, the IIIrd Vendeuvre, the Xth Neufchateau and Chaumont. The
+important railway connections there and at Bologne were occupied, and
+the injury done to the line to Blesme was repaired, so as to open up a
+new line of communication. The health of the German forces had been
+materially improved by short marches along good roads and by abundant
+supplies; but a telegram from Versailles now ordered an accelerated
+advance.
+
+The Government in Paris being powerless, the Delegation at Tours was
+displaying increased activity. Gambetta, as Minister both of War and of
+the Interior, was exercising the power almost of a Dictator, and the
+fiery energy of this remarkable man had achieved the feat of placing
+600,000 armed men and 1400 guns in the field in the course of a few
+weeks.
+
+In the Arrondissements the National Guards were formed into companies
+and battalions; then in each Department these were consolidated into
+brigades; and finally the brigades were incorporated along with the
+nearest troops of the line and Gardes-Mobiles into the larger
+Army-Corps.
+
+Thus, in the course of October, under cover of the troops of General
+d'Aurelle de Paladines which had re-crossed the Loire, a new XVIIth
+Corps was made up at Blois, another, the XVIIIth, at Gien, and a third,
+under Admiral Jaures, at Nogent le Rotrou. A large force was in Picardy
+under General Bourbaki, another at Rouen under Briand, and a third on
+the left bank of the Seine under Fiereck.
+
+The detachments of the army investing Paris, which were pushed forward
+to the south, west, and north, already met in all directions strong
+forces of the enemy, which they indeed repulsed in many small
+encounters, but could not follow up to the places of their origin. For
+such purposes the arrival of the army released from the siege of Metz
+was needed, and this was not to be looked for before some time in
+November, while now in October there was threatened a general advance of
+the French forces on Paris.
+
+Having regard to the inferior strength of General von Tann's Division
+holding Orleans, at a French council of war held at Tours it was decided
+to recover that important place. The attack was to be delivered chiefly
+from the west. The French XVth Corps--two Infantry Divisions and one of
+Cavalry--therefore assembled at Mer on the northern bank of the Lower
+Loire, and the main body of the XVIth behind the forest of Marchenoir.
+The remaining portions of both Corps were to co-operate on the Upper
+Loire by way of Gien. Any further advance was not projected, at any rate
+for the present; on the contrary, General d'Aurelle's instructions were
+to form an intrenched camp about Orleans for 200,000 men.
+
+General von Tann's reconnoitring parties to the westward everywhere met
+hostile detachments, which were indeed driven back by restraining
+skirmishes into the forest of Marchenoir without much difficulty, but
+which betrayed the vicinity of large forces of the enemy. On the whole
+an attack from the south-west on the investing army before Paris seemed
+the likeliest event, since this would threaten both the German
+Head-quarter in Versailles and the siege-park at Villacoublay; while the
+German reinforcements from the eastward would have the furthest distance
+to reach the quarter indicated.
+
+The French forces to the west of Orleans were already extended over a
+wide stretch of country from Beaugency to Chateaudun. The volunteers
+grew bolder every day, and the people more hostile.
+
+At last, in quest of some more accurate information, Count Stolberg
+(commanding 2nd Cavalry Division) on November 7th made a reconnaissance
+in force. Three regiments of the 2nd Cavalry Division, two batteries,
+and some companies of Bavarian Infantry advanced by Ouzouer and drove
+the enemy out of Marolles, but they found the skirts of the forest
+strongly held.
+
+General Chanzy had brought up all his immediately available troops to
+St. Laurent des Bois. A sharp fire-fight ensued, lasting about half an
+hour, which caused severe losses in the Bavarian infantry; and then, as
+the great superiority of the French was evident, the engagement was
+broken off.
+
+As a matter of fact, both the French Corps were already in full march on
+Orleans. Reaching the forest on the 8th, they occupied it firmly, their
+right wing at Messas and Meung, their left at Ouzouer. The XVth Corps
+was next to move to the right to the Mauve and the XVIth to the left on
+Coulmiers. The heads of those Corps showed themselves at Bardon and
+Charsonville respectively. Both the French Cavalry Divisions were
+directed northward on Prenouvellon to turn the right wing of the
+Bavarians with a force of ten regiments, six batteries, and numerous
+volunteer bands, and thus to cut off their retreat on Paris.
+
+To counteract this attempt the Bavarian Cuirassier Brigade started for
+St. Peravy, the 2nd Cavalry Division for Baccon, and, further south, the
+2nd Bavarian Infantry Division advancing from Orleans held the country
+about Huisseau and St. Ay.
+
+But an attack was also threatening the German rear from the considerable
+force at Gien. General von der Tann realized that it was now the last
+moment when he could hope to extricate himself from so hazardous a
+position; and that same evening he issued the necessary orders. However
+desirable it was to keep possession of Orleans, he could not accept
+battle in so thickly wooded country, where the action of his relatively
+strong artillery and cavalry would be seriously impeded, and where
+indeed he might be entirely hemmed in. The General, however, determined
+to strike at the most immediately threatening hostile force in the open
+country about Coulmiers, where he would at the same time be nearer to
+the 22nd Division at Chartres, on which he could call for support.
+
+General von Wittich had already asked and obtained permission to fall
+back on Orleans, but on the 9th he had only reached Voves, with his
+cavalry at Orgeres; thus he could not take any direct part in that day's
+fighting.
+
+The IInd Army was in full march from Metz, but on this day its head had
+but just arrived at Troyes.
+
+
+
+
+ENGAGEMENT AT COULMIERS.
+
+(November 9th.)
+
+
+Left thus to its own resources, the Ist Bavarian Corps moved out in the
+night, and on the morning of the 9th stood concentrated on the skirts of
+the forest between Chateau Montpipeau and Rosieres, with the village of
+Coulmiers in its front. The Bavarian Cuirassiers on the right wing
+protected the line of retreat by St. Sigismond; the 2nd Cavalry Division
+was distributed by brigades along the whole front, with detachments well
+in advance and infantry posts ready in support. Only a small detachment
+remained in Orleans after the bridge over the Loiret had been destroyed,
+to protect the numerous sick and wounded in the field hospitals, and
+occupy the city at any rate till the result of the fight was decided.
+
+The first reports brought in that morning were of the advance of a
+strong hostile column from Cravant on Fontaines and Le Bardon. This was
+Rebillard's Brigade, which, as it seemed, aimed at turning the Bavarian
+left flank and marching direct on Orleans. To oppose it on the bank of
+the Mauve, General von der Tann at about nine o'clock sent the 3rd
+Brigade in a southerly direction to Prefort, a little over two miles
+distant, and as at the same time a sharp contest had now begun at the
+outposts near Baccon, the 1st Brigade marched to La Renardiere. The
+remainder of the Corps remained in and behind Coulmiers. The General's
+intention was to assume the offensive from this point against the
+enemy's left flank, if, as seemed probable, the latter should attempt to
+push his chief attack across the Mauve. In furtherance of this intention
+the cavalry of the right flank was ordered to close in to Coulmiers.
+
+But the superior strength of the French allowed of their fetching a much
+wider compass to the left. While General d'Aurelle with the XVth Corps
+detained the Bavarians southward of the road from Ouzouer to Orleans,
+General Chanzy advanced with Barry's Division against their centre and
+directed Jaureguiberry's Division northward against their right; and
+finally the strong force of French cavalry under General Reyau moved in
+the direction of Patay, thus threatening the German communication with
+Paris.
+
+This movement of the French XVIth Corps compelled General von Tann, at
+the very beginning of the engagement, to despatch the 2nd Brigade, which
+had constituted his reserve, to prolong his right wing northwards
+towards Champs, and thus obtain touch with the 4th Cavalry Brigade. The
+Bavarian Cuirassiers, retiring according to orders from St. Peravy to
+the southward, about eleven o'clock encountered Reyau's cavalry, which,
+however, restricted itself to a mere cannonade.
+
+Meanwhile, after a stout resistance, the advanced posts of the Bavarians
+had been driven in by the enemy's superior strength. The 1st Rifle
+Battalion, after having retarded the advance of the French
+horse-batteries through Champdry for a long time, retreated from Baccon
+to La Riviere,[41] where it expected to be received by the 2nd (Rifle
+Battalion). But the situation of the latter soon became very critical.
+Peytavin's Division closely followed up through Baccon, beset La Riviere
+with five batteries, and then attacked the burning village from three
+sides at once. After energetic reprisals the Riflemen retired in good
+order on the 1st Brigade in Renardiere, where General Dietl had taken up
+a position for defence.
+
+After the evacuation of Baccon by the Bavarians, Barry's Division had
+continued its advance through Champdry, and its batteries deployed
+opposite Coulmiers and in front of Saintry, in preparation for an
+assault by strong lines of tirailleurs.
+
+The 4th Bavarian Brigade occupied the park extending to the west; the
+quarries further in front were occupied by two battalions, two others
+were sent to the right to the farmsteads of Ormeteau and Vaurichard, so
+as to keep up some sort of communication with the 2nd Brigade. One
+battery to the south and four batteries to the north of Coulmiers were
+supported by the 5th Cavalry Brigade.
+
+Thus at noon the Bavarian Corps, with only three brigades, held the
+ground from Renardiere to the front of Gemigny, its front
+disproportionately extended to a length of more than four miles. But the
+French right wing remained quite inactive, so that the 3rd Brigade which
+had been sent to Prefort was recalled to Renardiere.
+
+When the French Corps had made good its foothold opposite the thin
+Bavarian line, it attacked in earnest at about one o'clock.
+
+The Riflemen in Renardiere had indeed repulsed the enemy's first rush,
+but this position was no longer tenable with only four battalions
+against the whole of Peytavin's Division. At about one o'clock General
+Dietl retired unmolested, under cover of an intermediate position, on
+the wood of Montpipeau, and occupied its border. Here he was joined by
+the 3rd Brigade, which on its retirement from Prefort had found
+Renardiere already evacuated. The French had followed up from thence but
+hesitatingly, came under the fire of six batteries between the points of
+the forests at La Planche and Coulmiers, and made no further advance
+with their right wing.
+
+In the centre Barry's Division about one o'clock had driven the Bavarian
+Riflemen out of the stone-quarries in front of Coulmiers. Not till three
+o'clock did it advance to a renewed general attack on the 4th Brigade,
+which was repulsed by the fire of the German guns and the repeated
+charges of the 5th Cavalry Brigade.
+
+Meanwhile, d'Aries' Brigade of the XVth French Corps, after leaving
+Renardiere, arrived southward of Coulmiers, and its batteries
+strengthened the fire which was being directed on that village. The
+Bavarian guns were compelled before the rush of the French tirailleurs
+to take ground further in rear, where they resumed their activity, while
+the infantry drove the French out of the park at the point of the
+bayonet.
+
+But after four hours' fighting the resistance of this single brigade
+against three French brigades had become extremely arduous. Of the whole
+Corps only two battalions remained intact as a reserve at Bonneville, no
+reinforcement was to be looked for from anywhere, and on the right flank
+the French threatened the communications with Chartres as well as with
+Paris. At four in the afternoon General von der Tann gave orders to
+break off the fight and to retire by brigades from the left wing on
+Artenay.
+
+Fresh troops of the enemy at this moment forced their way into the park
+of Coulmiers. Colonel Count von Ysenburg held the eastern outlets of the
+village, and withdrew his troops by alternate echelons through Gemigmy
+in good order.
+
+It now proved of the greatest importance that the 2nd Brigade should
+have been able to maintain its position in front of this village, thus
+covering the further retreat.
+
+At noon, General von Orff (in command of the Brigade), on approaching
+Champs and Cheminiers, had found these villages occupied by Deplanque's
+French Brigade. First he silenced its artillery, then he deployed his
+four battalions for action, with the 4th Cavalry Brigade on the right
+flank.
+
+Reyau's Cavalry ere long came up between these two villages, after it
+had given up its two hours' cannonade against the Bavarian Cuirassiers
+and had been driven out of St. Sigismond by dismounted hussars. But this
+body of horse soon got out from under the fire of the Bavarian guns and
+moved off to the westward, it was said because it mistook Lipkowski's
+volunteers, skirmishing further to the north, for German reinforcements
+advancing. And when the Bavarian horse-batteries opened fire on Champs
+from the north-east, the French abandoned the place at about two
+o'clock, in great disorder.
+
+General von Orff now brought the artillery up to within 500 paces of
+Cheminiers, and marched the infantry up through the intervals.
+
+Admiral Jaureguiberry, however, arriving in person, succeeded in
+rallying the wavering troops, and this attack failed. The French
+batteries soon compelled the Bavarian horse-batteries to retire.
+
+When, at about three o'clock, Bourdillon's Brigade and the reserve
+artillery of the XVIth French Corps also arrived at Champs, and news was
+brought of the state of the fighting at Coulmiers, General von Orff
+determined to refrain from all further attack, and confined himself to
+maintaining his position in front of Gemigny to the last extremity.
+Unshaken by the fire of the numerous hostile batteries, the weak brigade
+repulsed the repeated attacks of the enemy.
+
+Thus the 4th Brigade was enabled unmolested to retire from Coulmiers by
+Gemigny and St. Peravy, and the 1st, from Montpipeau further eastward,
+on Coinces. The 2nd Brigade followed to Coinces, and finally the 3rd
+formed the rear-guard as far as St. Sigismond, where it halted and
+bivouacked. The cavalry covered the retreat on all sides.
+
+After a short rest the retreat of the main body was continued during the
+night, by very bad roads. Artenay was reached by the morning. Orleans
+was evacuated, and the garrison which had been left there rejoined its
+Corps. The stores were conveyed by railway back to Toury; but one
+ammunition column, 150 prisoners, and the sick who could not be moved,
+fell into the hands of the French.
+
+This contest of 20,000 Germans against 70,000 French cost the former
+about 800 in killed and wounded; the enemy's loss was nearly double.
+
+From Artenay, on November 10th, the 2nd Brigade undertook the duty of
+covering the further march on Toury, where close quarters were
+available. Thither, too, came the 22nd Division from Chartres, and took
+up a position at Janville close to the Bavarians. General von der Tann
+had extricated himself from a difficult position with much skill and
+good fortune. The enemy did not attempt a pursuit. General d'Aurelle
+restricted himself to awaiting further reinforcements in a strong
+position before Orleans. The French preparations were, however, in
+greater activity on the Upper Loir and the Eure.
+
+On the German side the IInd Army Corps arrived before Paris on the 5th
+of November; the 3rd Division was included in the investing line between
+the Seine and Marne; the 4th moved on to Longjumeau.
+
+When the Guard Landwehr took possession of the peninsula of Argenteuil,
+a brigade of the IVth Corps became available for service on the north
+side of the capital. On the south side, the 17th Division at
+Rambouillet, the 22nd at Chartres, and the Bavarian Corps, which had
+moved to Ablis, with the 4th and 6th Cavalry Divisions, were ultimately
+formed into a separate Army-Detachment of the IIIrd Army, under the
+command of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg, and it was ordered to betake
+itself in the first instance to Dreux.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[41] According to the _Staff History_, on La Renardiere and La Grande
+Motte.
+
+
+
+
+OPERATIONS OF THE GRAND DUKE OF MECKLENBURG.
+
+
+On the 17th of November the 17th Division advanced by Maintenon. On the
+left, a French detachment was driven back across the Blaise; and when a
+few companies of marines, who attempted to block the high-road, had been
+disposed of, General von Tresckow (commanding the Division) marched into
+Dreux that evening. The combat had cost the Germans 50 men, the French
+150 and 50 prisoners.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles, whose forces were now at length assembled
+before Orleans in face of the enemy, expressed the wish that the (Grand
+Duke's) Detachment should advance on Tours by way of Le Mans. The Grand
+Duke accordingly marched on Nogent le Rotrou, which place, being the
+central rendezvous of the French levies, promised to be the scene of an
+obstinate resistance.
+
+After several skirmishes the Detachment approached the place, but when
+on the 22nd preparations were being made to storm it from three sides,
+it was found that the enemy had already evacuated it. At the same time
+orders arrived from the supreme Headquarter, instructing the Grand Duke
+to fall back at once on Beaugency to join the right wing of the IInd
+Army, which it was necessary should immediately be reinforced in view of
+the superior strength of the enemy. "The force now massing before
+Orleans is to postpone all hostilities until the arrival of the
+Detachment. The slight opposition offered by the French on the Eure and
+Huisne sufficiently shows that no serious danger threatens on that side;
+the enemy in that quarter need only be kept under observation by
+cavalry." The Detachment was not to be permitted even a single rest day,
+and its march was to be conducted with the utmost speed.
+
+On the 23rd, the Divisions had closed up on their respective heads, and
+the Grand Duke on the 24th moved on Chateaudun and Vendome; but the
+Bavarian Corps only got as far as Vibraye, while the two Prussian
+Divisions withdrew from the difficult country of the Perche, and the
+cavalry found the whole line of the Loir held by the enemy.
+
+In fact, the French had sent a brigade of the troops massed behind the
+forest of Marchenoir by railway to Vendome, expressly to protect the
+Government at Tours, while General de Sonis had advanced with the rest
+of the XVIIth Corps on Brou. Here on the 25th his advance met an
+ammunition column and bridge-train of the Bavarian Corps. At first only
+the 10th Cavalry Brigade could engage the enemy, but when presently two
+companies and eight guns had occupied the bridge over the Loir at
+Yevres, the waggons were got through Brou in safety, and the enemy could
+not enter that place till the cavalry had continued its march.
+
+The Bavarian Corps was meanwhile advancing on Mondoubleau and St.
+Calais, not certainly the shortest route to Beaugency, but, on the
+contrary, on the direct road to Tours. The two Divisions only reached
+the vicinity of Vibraye and Authon.
+
+The appearance of a hostile force at Brou was deemed of sufficient
+importance to justify a detour by that place, postponing for the moment
+the prescribed march on the Loire. But when the 22nd Division approached
+Brou on the 26th, it found that the enemy had already retired during the
+night. The Government at Tours had ordered the whole of the XVIIth
+Corps to concentrate at Vendome for their protection. But when the
+German cavalry made its appearance at Cloyes and Freteval, General Sonis
+considered that he could not pursue his march further along the Loir,
+and made a detour by Marchenoir. But two night-marches so shattered the
+levies for the first time collected in mass that whole swarms of
+stragglers wandered about the neighbourhood all day and could only with
+difficulty be re-assembled at Beaugency.
+
+To imbue the operations with unity of command, the Grand Duke was now,
+by instruction from the supreme Head-quarter, placed under Prince
+Frederick Charles's orders, and General von Stosch[42] was despatched to
+undertake the duties of Chief of the Staff to the Detachment. That force
+by the Prince's orders was to come in with all speed to Janville,
+whither troops of the IXth Corps would be sent to meet it by way of
+Orgeres.
+
+The Grand Duke therefore marched, on the 27th, with both his (Prussian)
+Divisions (17th and 22nd) to Bonneval, where there was already a
+squadron of the 2nd Cavalry Division. The Bavarian Corps, which, after
+finding Brou abandoned, had been directed on Courtalin, marched to
+Chateaudun. Having thus accomplished a junction with the IInd Army, the
+sorely fatigued troops of the Detachment were allowed a day's rest on
+the 28th, in quarters on the Loir.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[42] Until then Commissary-General. He succeeded Colonel von Krenski as
+the Grand Duke's Chief of Staff.
+
+
+
+
+SITUATION OF IIND ARMY.
+
+(Second half of November.)
+
+
+Prince Frederick Charles had hastened the advance of his army as much as
+possible, but it had met with many hindrances. The roads were broken
+up, National Guards and franctireurs stood watchful for mischief, and
+even the country people had taken up arms. However, by November 14th the
+IXth Corps with the 1st Cavalry Division reached Fontainebleau, whence
+it pursued its march to Angerville. The IIIrd Corps was following on
+Pithiviers. Of the Xth Corps the 40th Brigade was left at Chaumont, to
+make connection with the XIVth Corps; the 36th reached Montargis and
+Beaune la Rolande on the 21st.[43] The two brigades following in rear
+(37th and 39th) had a sharp encounter on the 24th at Ladon and
+Maizieres. In this combat 170 French prisoners were taken, who belonged
+to a corps which, as General von Werder had already reported, was
+proceeding under General Crouzat's command from Chagny to Gien by
+railway. The order of battle was found on an officer who was among the
+prisoners.
+
+That while the Grand Duke's Detachment was marching to join it, the IInd
+Army, only now fully concentrated, was in very close proximity to
+considerable forces of the enemy, was ascertained beyond doubt by
+several reconnoissances.
+
+On the 24th troops of the IXth Corps advanced along the great high-road.
+A few shells caused the enemy to evacuate Artenay, pursued by the
+cavalry as far as Croix Briquet. Early in the same day a mixed
+detachment of all arms from the IIIrd Corps reached Neuville aux Bois.
+Two detachments of the 38th Brigade marched on Bois Commun and
+Bellegarde, but everywhere those inquisitive reconnaissances were met by
+very superior numbers of the enemy.
+
+It was ascertained that the position of the French before Orleans
+extended for about 37 miles from the Conie to Loing; and the massing of
+troops, especially on their (right) flank, made it highly probable that
+they proposed advancing by Fontainebleau on the rear of the besieging
+army. Still, this intention was not so evident as to justify Prince
+Frederick Charles in leaving the great highways from Orleans to Paris
+unguarded. However, to enable him to lend his left wing timely support
+in case of need, he moved the 5th Infantry Division of the IIIrd Corps
+and the 1st Cavalry Division to Boynes, nearer to the Xth Corps which
+was weak, and the 6th Division occupied Pithiviers in their stead. The
+quarters at Bazoches vacated by the 6th Division, were assigned to the
+IXth Corps. Finally, the Grand Duke received orders to reach Toury with
+his heads of columns by the 29th at latest. These dispositions were all
+carried out in due course.
+
+Immediately after its success at Coulmiers the French Army of the Loire
+seemed for the moment only to have thought of securing itself against a
+counter-blow. It retired on Orleans, threw up extensive entrenchments,
+for which marine artillery was even brought up from Cherbourg, and
+awaited the arrival of further reinforcements. The XXth Corps, already
+mentioned, 40,000 strong, joined the XVth, XVIth, and XVIIth at Gien, in
+addition to one Division of the XVIIIth newly assembled at Nevers, and
+finally the volunteer bands under Cathelineau and Lipowski.
+
+Thus the French Army round Orleans numbered 200,000; the German infantry
+opposed to this host for the time reached a strength of not more than
+45,000 men.
+
+Gambetta soon became urgent for renewed offensive operations. As General
+d'Aurelle raised objections to an advance by Pithiviers and Malesherbes,
+the Dictator himself took in hand the dispositions. In the night of the
+22nd--23rd he telegraphed orders from Tours that the XVth Corps was at
+once to assemble at Chilleurs aux Bois and reach Pithiviers on the 24th;
+the XXth to march to Beaune la Rolande; and that then both Corps were to
+advance by way of Fontainebleau on Paris. The General pointed out that,
+according to his reckoning, 80,000 Germans must be encountered in an
+open country, and that it would be more advisable to await their attack
+in an intrenched position. Further, that this movement could be of no
+service in affording succour to the distressed capital, and that
+meanwhile there would remain unperformed the strengthening of the right
+wing, where on the 24th the unsteadiness of the XVIIIth and XXth Corps
+had caused the loss of the already mentioned fight at Ladon and
+Maizieres.
+
+In accordance with instructions received from Tours on the 26th, General
+Crouzat ordered the advance for the 28th of the two Corps he
+commanded--the XVIIIth by the right through Juranville, the XXth by the
+left through Bois Commun--for an encompassing attack on Beaune la
+Rolande. The XVth Corps in addition was moved up to Chambon in support,
+and Cathelineau's volunteers went forward to Courcelles.
+
+As we have seen, on this same day the Grand Duke's Detachment had come
+up on the extreme right of the IInd German Army. On the left stood the
+Xth Corps with the 38th Brigade at Beaune, the 39th at Les Cotelles; the
+37th, with the Corps artillery, had advanced to Marcilly between these
+two places.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[43] There seems some confusion here. The 36th Brigade belonged, not to
+the Xth, but to the IXth Corps. The 38th Brigade is stated in the _Staff
+History_ to have reached Beaune la Rolande on 23rd, the rest of the
+Corps (exclusive of the 40th Brigade) still behind at Montargis.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF BEAUNE LA ROLANDE.
+
+(November 28th.)
+
+
+The French attack on November 28th failed because of the miscarriage of
+the projected combination, the two separate attempts exerting little
+reciprocal influence. On the right, the head of the XVIIIth Corps struck
+the outposts of the 39th Brigade at an early hour, in front of
+Juranville and Lorcy. Not until after a stout resistance were these
+driven in by about nine o'clock on Les Cotelles and behind the
+railway-embankment at Corbeilles, where they took possession of the
+park.
+
+The French could now deploy in the open country in front of Juranville,
+and following up with strong lines of tirailleurs preceding them, they
+forced their way into Corbeilles and drove the garrison out to the north
+and west. But meanwhile, on the other side, a reinforcement from the
+reserve at Marcilly reached Les Cotelles, and now Colonel von Valentini
+passed to the attack of Juranville with the 56th Regiment. The artillery
+could afford no co-operation, the enemy made an obstinate resistance,
+and not till noon did he begin to retreat, while bitter fighting still
+continued round some detached houses. But when strong columns came up
+from Maizieres and Corbeilles, the Germans were compelled to abandon the
+conquered village, carrying off with them 300 prisoners.
+
+About two o'clock the greater portion of the French Corps deployed near
+Juranville for an attack on the position at Long Cour, into which the
+39th Brigade had retired. But since the attack had not been prepared by
+artillery, it came to nothing under the fire of five Prussian batteries.
+
+The first attack on Les Cotelles was also repulsed, but when it was
+repeated an hour later, the Germans had to abandon the place with the
+loss of fifty men taken prisoners. A gun, seven of the gunners of which
+had fallen, sank so deep in the soft ground that the few men left could
+not drag it out.
+
+The XVIIIth French Corps, however, made no further way, but, as dusk
+came on, contented itself with an ineffective cannonade, and finally the
+39th Brigade was able to maintain its position abreast of Beaune.
+
+On the left wing of the French line of battle the attack had also from
+the first been of an encompassing tendency, the 2nd Division of the XXth
+Corps having advanced on Beaune, and the 1st on Batilly. But it was near
+noon before the arrival of part of its 3rd Division, which had remained
+in reserve, enabled the enemy to drive in the German advanced posts from
+Bois de la Leu to the cross-roads north-west of Beaune. And here also
+the 38th Brigade soon found itself under the artillery and infantry fire
+from Pierre Percee, the enemy continually gaining ground from the
+northward. The retreat had to be continued along the Caesar road, whereon
+a gun, of which the men and horses had for the most part perished, fell
+into the enemy's hands. About the same time the 2nd French Division
+ascended the heights to the east of Beaune, and Colonel von Cranach was
+first enabled to rally the 57th Regiment further rearward, near La Rue
+Boussier, whereby the withdrawal of the batteries hurrying away from
+Marcilly was covered, and the further advance of the enemy was then
+arrested. Any such effort on his part entirely ceased when he was
+suddenly threatened on his own flank by the 1st Prussian Cavalry
+Division advancing from Boynes, and came under fire of its
+horse-batteries.
+
+Meanwhile the 16th Regiment found itself completely isolated in Beaune,
+and surrounded on three sides by the enemy.
+
+The town, which was surrounded by the remains of a high wall, and the
+churchyard were as far as possible prepared for defence. The enemy,
+after his first onset by strong swarms of riflemen had been driven back,
+set about bombarding the town. His shells burst through the walls of the
+churchyard and set a few buildings on fire, but every attempt at an
+assault was steadfastly repulsed.
+
+In the meantime, General von Woyna had replenished the ammunition of his
+batteries, and while occupying Romainville on the right, he also took up
+a position opposite the copses of Pierre Percee, so that by three
+o'clock he was able to bring up seven companies on the east side of
+Beaune.
+
+About this time assistance came with the arrival of the IIIrd Army
+Corps. While the 6th Division was still pressing on towards Pithiviers,
+the 5th had already that morning stood to arms in front of that place.
+The first news from Beaune had sounded so far from alarming, that the
+Corps-artillery retired to its quarters. Nevertheless, in consequence of
+the increasing cannon thunder and later information of a serious
+encounter, General von Alvensleben gave the word for the Corps to
+advance, with the 5th Division of which General von Stuelpnagel had
+already set out of his own initiative. The 6th followed, and detached a
+battalion to observe towards Courcelles; wherein, however, Cathelineau's
+volunteers remained inactive.
+
+Part of the 52nd Regiment, which was marching at the head of the column,
+turned off to the right, and, supported by artillery, began a fire-fight
+about 4.30 against Arconville and Batilly. Another part penetrated into
+the Bois de la Leu and the copses near La Pierre Percee, where it
+recaptured the gun which had been lost there earlier. Four batteries in
+position on the road from Pithiviers, behind Fosse des Pres, directed
+their fire on the enemy still holding his ground on the west side of
+Beaune, from which he was finally driven by the 12th Regiment, and
+pursued as far as Mont Barrois.
+
+After dark the Xth Corps encamped about Long Cour, Beaune and Batilly,
+and the 5th Division in its rear; the 6th remained at Boynes, where the
+1st Division of Cavalry also found accommodation.
+
+In the battle of Beaune la Rolande General von Voigts-Rhetz had to hold
+his ground against the enemy with 11,000 men against 60,000, with three
+brigades against six Divisions, until help reached him towards evening.
+This action cost the Germans 900 and the French 1300 men in killed and
+wounded; and 1800 unwounded prisoners fell into the hands of the
+Germans.
+
+In the evening the French XXth Corps had retreated as far as Bois Commun
+and Bellegarde; the XVIIIth, on the contrary, had taken up its position
+near Vernouille and Juranville, in fact, directly in front of the Xth
+German Corps, on the ground which the former had won. The expectation
+was therefore not unnatural that the fighting would recommence on the
+morrow.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles, therefore, directed the Xth and IIIrd Corps to
+assemble on the 29th in full preparedness. The IXth received orders to
+advance with two brigades towards Boynes and Bazoches, and the remaining
+troops were to follow as soon as the Grand Duke's Detachment should have
+reached the main road to Paris. Of it in the course of the day the heads
+arrived, the 4th Cavalry Division at Toury, the infantry at Allaines and
+Orgeres. The 6th Cavalry Division, which was marching on the right
+flank, met first with opposition at Tournoisis.
+
+Meanwhile General Crouzat had been instructed from Tours by a message
+which reached him on the evening of the 28th, to desist for the present
+from further offensive attack, and the French right wing was thereupon
+drawn further back. On the 30th both Corps moved leftward, in order to
+be again nearer to the XVth. For the purpose of disguising this lateral
+movement, detachments were sent in a northerly direction and met
+reconnoitring parties of the German Xth and IIIrd Corps, with which
+skirmishes took place at Maizieres, St. Loup and Mont Barrois; and the
+movement of the French was soon detected, in the first instance on their
+left flank.
+
+The Government at Tours had received news from Paris that General Ducrot
+would attempt on the 29th to break through the German investing lines
+with 100,000 men and 400 guns, and endeavour to connect with the Army
+of the Loire in a southerly direction. The balloon which carried this
+despatch had descended in Norway, whence the message had been forwarded.
+It was concluded from this that the General was already vigorously
+engaged, and that help must be no longer delayed. Commissioned by
+Gambetta, M. Freycinet submitted to a council of war called by General
+d'Aurelle, a scheme for the advance of the whole army on Pithiviers. In
+the event of a refusal by the Commander-in-Chief to accept the same, M.
+Freycinet carried an order for his supersession.
+
+It was decided in the first place to execute a wheel to the right with
+the left wing, Chilleurs aux Bois forming the pivot of the movement.
+While a front was thus being formed against Pithiviers, the Corps of the
+right wing on a parallel front were to await the order to move until
+this was accomplished. The XXIst Corps was to be sent to Vendome to
+cover the left flank.
+
+
+
+
+THE ADVANCE OF THE ARMY OF THE LOIRE TO THE RELIEF OF PARIS.
+
+
+As the result of those dispositions, on the 1st of December the XVIth
+Corps moved on Orgeres, in the direction of the railway; the XVIIth
+followed to Patay and St. Peravy.
+
+Opposite to these forces, on the right wing of the IInd German Army the
+17th Division of the Grand Duke's Detachment had arrived at Bazoches,
+the 22nd at Toury, and the Bavarian Corps reached the vicinity of
+Orgeres. Thus the hostile shock fell first on the last body. Attacked in
+front by a far superior force, and threatened in flank by Michel's
+Cavalry Division, the 1st Bavarian Brigade was forced to retreat at
+three o'clock to Villepion. The 2nd Brigade approaching from Orgeres,
+halted to the west of Nonneville, and the 4th marched up to between
+Villepion and Faverolles, which position the Bavarians, in spite of
+heavy losses, succeeded in holding for a long time. On their right wing
+Prince Leopold of Bavaria, with the four guns of his battery still
+serviceable, arrested the enemy's advance on Nonneville, but under the
+personal leadership of Admiral Jaureguiberry the French forced their way
+into Villepion. As night drew on, and the want of ammunition was
+becoming serious, the 1st Bavarian Brigade went to Loigny; the 2nd,
+however, did not retreat until five o'clock to Orgeres, where also the
+3rd arrived in the evening, whilst the 4th joined the 1st at Loigny.
+
+The engagement cost both sides about 1000 men, and only the foremost
+Bavarian detachments were forced back for a short distance.
+
+This measure of success, and the news from Paris, rekindled in Tours
+ardent hopes of victory. As will be seen further on, a sortie from Paris
+on 30th November had certainly so far succeeded that the village of
+Epinay on the northern section of the line of investment was occupied
+for a short time. Thereupon it was summarily concluded that this was the
+village of the same name which lay to the south near Longjumeau, and
+that there was now scarcely any obstacle to the junction of the Army of
+Orleans with that of Paris. Cathelineau's volunteer Corps was directed
+at once to occupy the forest of Fontainebleau, and the imminent
+annihilation of the Germans was announced to the country.
+
+The head of the Army of Orleans, nevertheless, had barely made half a
+day's march in the direction of Paris, and the right wheel of the left
+wing remained to be accomplished. The XVIth Corps was to attempt to
+reach the line Allaines-Toury by the 2nd of December; the XVIIth was to
+follow, and the XVth, marching from Chilleurs through Artenay, was to
+close to the right. The Grand Duke, on the report of the great force in
+which the enemy was approaching, determined to march to meet him with
+the whole strength of the Detachment. The requisite orders were issued
+at eight o'clock in the morning to the Divisions, which were already
+standing prepared on their respective assembling-grounds. The Bavarian
+Corps was directed to take up a position opposite Loigny with its left
+wing at Chateau-Goury; the 17th Division to march immediately from
+Santilly to Lumeau, and the 22nd from Tivernon to Baigneaux. The cavalry
+was to undertake the protection of both wings.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF LOIGNY--POUPRY.
+
+(December 2nd.)
+
+
+The Bavarian Corps was still engaged in the advance from Maladerie when
+the French ascended the heights to the west of Loigny. The 1st Division,
+therefore, marched towards Villeprevost, and the 2nd held the line
+Beauvilliers-Goury.
+
+At 8 a.m. General Chanzy set out with his 2nd and 3rd Divisions from
+Terminiers, for Loigny and Lumeau. The 1st followed in reserve, and
+Michel's Cavalry Division covered the left flank. In spite of the strong
+fire of the defenders, the 2nd Division by nine o'clock advanced close
+upon Beauvilliers, but then it had to give way before the onset of the
+Bavarians, who now on their side attacked Loigny. When, however, at
+10.30 the whole French Corps advanced, deployed on a broad front from
+Nonneville to Neuvilliers, they had to fall back with great losses.
+They, however, found a rallying point at Beauvilliers, where the fire of
+the Corps artillery gave pause to the advance of the enemy.
+
+The combat surged backwards and forwards until, at 11.30, the 2nd
+Bavarian Brigade joined in the fray. The 4th Cavalry Division charged
+the left flank of the enemy; and Michel's Division fell back on the
+XVIIth Corps, numerous prisoners thus falling into the hands of the
+German troopers. In the meantime the Bavarian infantry had marched to
+Ferme Morale with intent to renew the attack, but there found itself
+under fire so destructive that it was forced to turn back. Thereupon the
+horse-batteries on the flank enfiladed the enemy's wing with such
+effect, that the farm was set on fire and General von Orff found himself
+able to take possession of it.
+
+At Beauvilliers, meanwhile, the 2nd Division had only with great
+difficulty resisted the vigorous onslaughts of the French, whose
+rifle-swarms were already so close that the batteries were compelled to
+retire to positions further back. But the success of the right wing soon
+extended to the left. Breaking out from Beauvilliers, as well as from
+Chateau Goury, the Bavarians drove Jaureguiberry's Division back to
+Loigny.
+
+Shortly after noon the firing of the French became again remarkably
+energetic, especially against Chateau Goury. The battalions of the
+Bavarian left wing were forced back upon the park.
+
+During these events the two Prussian Divisions had continued their
+advance. The artillery of the 17th pressed on in order to engage the
+enemy, while the head of the infantry reached Lumeau in time to prevent
+its occupation by the opposing forces. Strong swarms of French riflemen
+fought their way up quite close to the place, but they were finally
+driven back by a well-directed fire of musketry and shell; whereupon the
+Division assailed the right flank of the French attack.
+
+The 22nd Division also marched through Baigneaux to Anneux, and joined
+in the pursuit of the retreating enemy. A number of prisoners and a
+battery were captured, and the enemy, after a vain attempt to make
+another stand near Neuvilliers, at last fled towards Terminiers in utter
+disorder.
+
+After this result of the fighting about Lumeau, General von Tresckow was
+able to go to the assistance of the hard-pressed left wing of the
+Bavarians. Under cover of the fire of eight batteries the 33rd Brigade
+moved against the flank of the French masses which were now making a
+fierce attack on Chateau Goury. Taken by surprise, these retired upon
+Loigny. But there, too, the Mecklenburg battalions forced in, shoulder
+to shoulder with the Bavarians, and it was only in the churchyard on
+high ground at the west end of the village, that an obstinate resistance
+was made for some time longer. The French, as they retired on Villepion,
+suffered from a destructive fire from eighty guns massed near Loigny.
+
+At 2.30 General von der Tann caused the whole of his 1st Division, after
+the replenishment of its ammunition, to advance once more; this
+movement, however, was arrested by the fire of the enemy.
+
+Michel's Division moved up to oppose the advance of the German cavalry
+on the right flank, but went about as soon as it came within range of
+the horse-batteries.
+
+Because of the exposed condition of his right flank, General Chanzy had
+sent a few battalions to form a refused flank[44] near Terre-noire.
+Behind this a brigade of the XVIIth Corps came up near Faverolles, and
+to the right of Villepion the Papal Zouaves advanced against Villours.
+
+General von Tresckow now threw in his last reserves. Two battalions of
+the 75th Regiment broke into the place at the first charge, and in
+conjunction with all the troops fighting in the vicinity, drove back the
+French columns to Villepion.
+
+The approach of darkness brought the fighting here to a close.
+
+While the French XVIth Corps had been fighting single-handed with great
+persistence all day, the XVth, according to orders, had advanced through
+Artenay along the Paris high-road. There it was opposed only by the 3rd
+Cavalry Brigade. That force was attacked about mid-day near Dambron by
+the 3rd French Division, which formed the left-flank column, while the
+other two Divisions held much further to the right.
+
+So soon as this information came in from the cavalry, General von
+Wittich moved off with the whole of the 22nd Division from Anneux in the
+direction of Poupry. The head of the column reached that place at the
+double, and succeeded in driving back the enemy, who had already broken
+in there and occupied the forest belts to the north. Six batteries then
+came into action, resting on Morale to the south. The French deployed
+between Dambron and Autroches, and maintained a persistent fire while
+their remaining Divisions came up. After an encounter with the troops
+from Poupry, they occupied with their right wing the small copses which
+lay near, in front of the forest-land to the north, placed the artillery
+in the intervals, and began at three o'clock an attack from thence.
+This, however, withered under a fire of grape-shot from the defenders,
+and the menace of a charge by the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, which General von
+Colomb had set in motion in the open country to the west of Dambron. An
+attack on Morale by the left wing from Autroches likewise miscarried.
+But at four o'clock the French advanced along their whole front,
+preceded by great swarms of tirailleurs. They were repulsed at Poupry,
+and likewise at Morale, at which latter place two companies of pioneers
+joined in the fight; on the other hand, their right wing pushed into the
+forest, and compelled its defenders to retreat. But Prussian battalions
+yet remaining in reserve, advanced from Poupry, and drove the enemy back
+into the copses, where he had still to defend himself against an attack
+by the cavalry.
+
+The fighting was now stopped by the approach of night. The 22nd Division
+remained under arms till eleven o'clock in the position which it had
+seized, and only then withdrew to Anneux. The 3rd Cavalry Division
+quartered for the night in Baigneaux. The 17th Division remained in
+position near Lumeau, having Loigny in its front, which it occupied in
+concert with the Bavarians, who extended further to the right as far as
+Orgeres.
+
+The day had cost the French 4000 killed and wounded, and the Germans
+fully as many, but 2500 unwounded prisoners, eight guns, one
+mitrailleuse and a standard belonging to the enemy were left in
+possession of the latter.
+
+On the French side, the XVth Corps retired to Artenay and received
+orders, under cover of a Division to be left there, to occupy the
+defensive position previously held on the skirt of the forest.
+
+Thus the intended further advance of the left wing of the Army of
+Orleans had not succeeded. The XVIth Corps, lacking the support of the
+XVIIth, had indeed lost ground, but still maintained itself with its
+most advanced line on Villepion, Faverolles and Terminiers. General
+Chanzy therefore considered himself justified in making yet another
+effort against the German right wing on the following day.
+
+The German strength consisted of five Corps, and stood close in front of
+the enemy; further reinforcements could not be immediately expected, but
+by the supreme Command it was judged that the moment had now come to put
+an end to the standing menace from the south against the investment of
+Paris.
+
+At mid-day of the 2nd, the order came from the Royal Head-quarter to
+undertake an attack on Orleans in full strength, and in the course of
+that day Prince Frederick Charles gave the requisite instructions to
+this end.
+
+It is here necessary to go back a little in order to see how
+circumstances developed events during November at various other points.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[44] To the German term "Haken-stellung" there is perhaps no precisely
+equivalent expression in our military vocabulary. "Refused flank" is
+probably approximate.
+
+
+
+
+PARIS IN NOVEMBER.
+
+
+The tidings, which became known on the 14th November, of the happy
+result of the action at Coulmiers on the 9th, had rekindled in Paris
+universal hope. No one doubted that the enemy would find it necessary to
+send large forces in the Orleans direction, which would considerably
+weaken the investment line, particularly in its southern section.
+
+In order to contribute towards the hoped-for approaching relief by
+active co-operation, three separate armies were formed out of the
+garrison of Paris.
+
+The first, under General Clement Thomas, consisted of 226 battalions of
+the National Guard, in round numbers 130,000 men. Its duty was the
+defence of the enceinte and the maintenance of quietude within the city.
+The second, under General Ducrot, constituted the most trustworthy
+element, especially the troops of the former XIIIth and XIVth Corps.
+This army was apportioned into three (Infantry) Corps and one Cavalry
+Division, and it consisted of fully 100,000 men and more than 300 guns.
+It was designed for active service in the field, and for making sorties
+on the investing forces. The third army, under General Vinoy, 70,000
+strong, was made up of six Divisions of Gardes-Mobiles and one Cavalry
+Division; and to it also Maud'huy's Division of the line was assigned.
+It was to aid the more important sorties by diversions on subordinate
+fronts. In addition to all these details, 80,000 Gardes-Mobiles were in
+the forts, and 35,000 more in St. Denis under Admiral de la Ronciere.
+
+The available military strength consequently amounted to above 400,000
+men.
+
+The garrison exhibited a lively activity in petty nocturnal enterprises.
+The heavy guns of the defences carried to Choisy le Roi, and even as far
+as Beauregard, near Versailles. On the peninsula of Gennevilliers
+trenchwork was energetically set about, and the task of bridge-building
+was undertaken. Many signs pointed to an intended effort on the part of
+the French to break out in a westerly direction. But since, as long as
+the IInd Army was still incomplete, the greatest danger threatened from
+the south, the supreme Command in Versailles, as already mentioned,
+ordered the IInd Corps into the position behind the Yvette from
+Villeneuve to Saclay. On the north of Paris the Guard Corps extended
+itself leftward as far as Aulnay, the XIIth sent one brigade across to
+the south bank of the Marne, and the Wuertemberg Division moved into the
+interval between the Marne and the Seine caused by the shifting of the
+IInd Corps.
+
+On November 18th the summons from Tours reached Paris, calling on the
+latter with all promptitude to reach the hand to the Army of the Loire;
+certainly somewhat prematurely, since, as we know, that army was at the
+time concerning itself only in regard to defensive measures.
+
+In Paris all preparations were actually made for a great sortie. But as
+the earlier attacks on the front of the VIth Corps had shown that this
+section of the investment was materially strengthened by fortifications
+about Thiais and Chevilly, it was decided in the first instance to gain
+the plateau east of Joinville and from thence to bend rightward towards
+the south. The attention of the Germans was to be distracted by attacks
+in the opposite direction.
+
+On the 18th,[45] the day on which the Army of Orleans had vainly striven
+to press forward to Beaune la Rolande, General Ducrot assembled the IInd
+Army of Paris in the neighbourhood of Vincennes, and Mont Avron was
+occupied on the following day by Hugues' Division of the IIIrd Army. As,
+however, the construction of the bridges (over the Marne) at Champigny
+and Bry was delayed, the battle was postponed till the 30th; but it was
+left to the commanders of the subordinate affairs to carry them out
+simultaneously with the chief enterprise or in advance of it.
+Accordingly, Maud'huy's Division assembled in the night of 28th--29th
+behind the redoubt of Hautes Bruyeres, and advanced against L'Hay before
+daybreak.
+
+Warned by the heavy firing from the southern forts, General von Tuempling
+(commanding VIth Corps) had early ordered the 12th Division to get under
+arms in its fighting positions, and the 11th to assemble at Fresnes.
+
+The French, favoured by the darkness, made their way through the
+vineyards into L'Hay; but were successfully driven back by the Germans
+with the bayonet and clubbed arms.
+
+After a prolonged fire-fight, the French renewed their onslaught at
+8.30, but without success; and then the defenders, reinforced from the
+reserve, retaliated with a vigorous counterstroke. At ten o'clock the
+enemy retreated to Villejuif.
+
+Admiral Pothuau at the same time had moved up the Seine with Marines and
+National Guards. An outpost at Gare aux Boeufs was surprised and
+captured, and Choisy le Roi was fired upon by field-guns, fortress
+artillery, and gunboats which appeared on the Seine. Just as the
+Grenadiers of the 10th (Prussian) Regiment were on the point of making
+an attack, General Vinoy broke off the fight.
+
+This demonstration cost the French 1000 men and 300 uninjured prisoners;
+the Prussians, remaining under cover, lost only 140 men. The fortress
+kept up its fire till mid-day, and then the enemy was allowed a short
+truce, to remove his numerous wounded.
+
+Against the front of the Vth Corps also, a strong infantry force
+advanced at eight o'clock upon Garches and Malmaison, and drove in part
+of the outposts. But it soon found itself opposed by closed battalions,
+and at noon retreated to Valerien.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[45] Obvious misprint for 28th.
+
+
+
+
+THE ATTEMPT OF THE ARMY OF PARIS TO BREAK OUT.
+
+(November 30th and December 2nd.)
+
+
+On November 30th the IInd Paris Army opened the battle which was to
+decide the fate of the capital.
+
+To hinder the reinforcement of the Germans towards the real point of
+attack, almost every section of their line of investment was again
+engrossed by sorties.
+
+To the duty of pushing an attack against the southern front, General
+Ducrot assigned Susbielle's Division of his IInd Corps. It reached Rosny
+so early as three o'clock in the morning, crossed the Marne at Creteil
+by a field-bridge, and from thence, briskly supported by the nearest
+forts, opened fire on the outpost line of the Wuertemberg Division, which
+had been pushed forward to Bonneuil and Mesly.
+
+General von Obernitz (commanding the Division) had an extended position
+to maintain. His 1st Brigade was at Villiers on the peninsula of
+Joinville, his 2nd at Sucy en Brie, and his 3rd at Brevannes. The
+Division was placed under the Commander of the Army of the Meuse, who
+had been instructed from Versailles to reinforce it strongly by the
+XIIth Corps, or even by troops of the Guard Corps.
+
+From the great accumulation of hostile forces on Mont Avron, the Saxon
+Corps believed itself directly threatened on the right bank of the
+Marne, and requested to be immediately transferred to the left; the
+Crown Prince of Saxony gave the order that the whole 24th Division
+should assemble there on the following day.
+
+Thus for the present the only aid that could be rendered to the
+Wuertembergers was from the wing of the IInd Corps at Villeneuve, of
+which the 7th Infantry Brigade moved up near Brevannes to Valenton.
+
+The fire of its three batteries hurrying thither, first brought the
+advance of the French Division to a stand. The attempt of the
+Wuertembergers to seize Mont-Mesly failed at first; but after a strenuous
+artillery fire they succeeded in carrying the hill by twelve o'clock,
+and the Prussian battalions forced their way into Mesly. The Wuertemberg
+horse cut in upon the enemy's retreating guns with great success. At
+1.30 the re-opening of the fire from the forts proclaimed the end of
+this sortie. It cost the Germans 350 men, and the French 1200.
+
+During this time the front of the VIth Corps had not been at all
+molested. General Vinoy, who had not been informed of the advance of
+Susbielle's Division, when its retreat was noticed caused to be opened
+from Fort Ivry and the adjoining works a brisk fire, which was augmented
+by gunboats on the Seine and armour-plated batteries on the railway.
+Then Admiral Pothuau advanced against Choisy le Roi and Thiais. His
+Marines, after driving out the Prussian fore-posts, again settled
+themselves firmly in Gare aux Boeufs. But the further advance failed,
+and General Vinoy recalled his troops, after which the fighting at Mesly
+ceased, and only the thunder of artillery continued till five o'clock.
+
+After a preliminary cannonade from Valerien the Gardes-Mobiles advanced
+against the front of the Vth Corps about seven o'clock. They were,
+however, repulsed by the outposts and supporting troops in readiness,
+and retired at eleven o'clock.
+
+On the northern front of Paris there occurred also a sharp fight. At
+mid-day Fort de la Briche, supported by field-guns and a floating
+battery, opened a heavy fire on the low-lying village of Epinay on the
+right bank of the Seine. At two o'clock Haurion's Brigade advanced, two
+companies of marines pressed into the place along the bank of the river,
+and drove out the garrison, which consisted of only one company. A
+second also retired from the defence-works in a northerly direction
+towards Ormesson. At three o'clock in the afternoon, the village, up to
+some still obstinately defended farms on the further side of the
+mill-race, fell into the hands of the French.
+
+Meanwhile the troops of the IVth Corps had assembled, and seven
+batteries came into action on the overhanging heights. The infantry
+rushed upon the village from all sides with loud cheers, and about four
+o'clock, after a fierce street-fight, recovered possession of the posts
+which had been lost; and it was this transitory conquest that was to
+raise so great hopes in Tours. The losses on both sides amounted to 300
+men.
+
+Those affairs were all mere feints to facilitate the chief action; and
+whilst the investing troops were thus engaged and held fast at all
+points, two Corps of the IInd French Army at 6.30 in the morning crossed
+the bridges at Joinville and Nogent which had been completed during the
+night. After repulsing the German outposts they both deployed, and
+stretched completely across the peninsula between Champigny and Bry. The
+IIIrd Corps had taken the road along the north bank of the Marne,
+towards Neuilly, to cross the river there, thus threatening to
+compromise the position of the Saxon Corps, which therefore still
+detained the 47th Brigade on the right bank, though it had been assigned
+to the assistance of the Wuertembergers. Consequently there were
+available to oppose the two French Corps on the left bank, only two
+German brigades extended over about four miles, the Saxon 48th about
+Noisy, and the Wuertemberg 1st from Villiers to Chennevieres.
+
+At ten o'clock Maussion's Division advanced against the Park of
+Villiers. Supported by Saxon detachments from Noisy, the Wuertembergers
+repulsed a first attack, but in following it up met with heavy losses.
+The French batteries of two Divisions and those of the Artillery Reserve
+formed line in front of the park. On their right Faron's Division, not
+without heavy losses, succeeded in gaining possession of Champigny, and
+had then established itself in front of that village to defend the
+occupation of it.
+
+General Ducrot's original idea had been to maintain a stationary fight
+on the peninsula until he should be joined at Noisy by his IIIrd Corps.
+But as news arrived that at eleven o'clock it was still on the northern
+side of the Marne, he ordered an immediate general attack by both his
+other Corps.
+
+On the left the advance was checked for a considerable time by the
+German batteries which had been pushed forward between Noisy and
+Villiers, and when Colonel von Abendroth moved out from both villages
+with six companies of the 48th Brigade to an attack in close formation,
+the French fell back into the vineyards on the western slope of the
+plateau, leaving behind two guns, which, however, the Saxons could not
+carry away for want of teams.
+
+In the centre of the line of fight, Berthaut's Division tried to push
+forward south of Villiers, but by the fire of five batteries in position
+there and at Coeuilly its ranks were so severely thinned that it gave
+ground before the advance of a Saxon battalion.
+
+On the right wing, the guns which had been brought up into position in
+front of Champigny had at last been compelled by the German artillery to
+withdraw, and had sought cover further north, near the lime-kilns. A
+body of French infantry had advanced along the riverside to Maison
+Blanche, but meanwhile the 2nd Wuertemberg Brigade, although itself
+attacked at Sucy, despatched a reinforcement of two companies and a
+battery to Chennevieres. Advancing from the Hunting-lodge, the
+Wuertembergers took 200 French prisoners at Maison Blanche; though, on
+the other hand, an attempt to carry the heights in front of Champigny
+with the companies assembled at Coeuilly failed with heavy loss. As the
+result, however, of a renewed flank-attack from the Hunting-lodge,
+Faron's Division, which had already been severely shaken, was obliged to
+retreat to Champigny.
+
+General Ducrot decided to be content, for that day, with having
+established a firm footing on the left bank of the Marne, and he brought
+up sixteen batteries to a position in his front, to secure the wedge of
+ground he had gained. On the following day the attack was to be renewed
+by all the three Corps.
+
+The Germans, on their part, had to congratulate themselves on having
+maintained their ground against greatly superior numbers. And so in the
+afternoon the fight gradually died away, until it broke out again in the
+north.
+
+The French IIIrd Corps, marching up the right bank of the Marne, had
+occupied Neuilly in force, and had driven in the outposts of the Saxon
+47th Brigade. Under cover of six batteries the construction of two
+military bridges below Neuilly was begun at ten o'clock, and finished by
+noon. But just at this time it happened, as we have seen, that the
+French were in retreat from the plateau, so the crossing did not occur
+until two o'clock in the afternoon. Bellemare's Division marched down
+the valley to Bry, where it closed on the left flank of the IInd Corps.
+A regiment of Zouaves, trying to ascend the plateau from Bry, lost half
+its men and all its officers. Notwithstanding, General Ducrot decided to
+employ his reinforced strength in the immediate renewal of the attack on
+Villiers.
+
+Strengthened by four battalions, the Division advanced in this
+direction, although the artillery had not succeeded in battering down
+the park wall; repeated onslaughts by rifle-swarms were repulsed, and
+finally the French retreated into the valley. The simultaneous attacks
+of Berthaut's Division along the railway line and of Faron's Division on
+the Hunting-lodge also miscarried. Not till darkness had set in did the
+firing cease on both sides.
+
+Near Chelles, on the line in which the French IIIrd Corps had been
+advancing in the morning, the Crown Prince of Saxony had collected the
+23rd Division; but as soon as the enemy's real objective was
+penetrated, he despatched part of the 47th Brigade and a portion of the
+Corps Artillery to the threatened position held by the Wuertembergers.
+Not less opportunely had General von Obernitz, as soon as the fighting
+at Mesly was over, sent three battalions to the Hunting-lodge. In the
+night orders came from the supreme Head-quarter for the IInd and VIth
+Corps to send reinforcements to the endangered points of the line of
+investment, and the 7th and 21st Brigades arrived at Sucy on the
+following day, the 1st of December.
+
+On the French side the attempt to break through without help from
+outside was already considered as well-nigh hopeless, and it was only
+the fear of popular indignation which caused the IIIrd Army to remain
+longer on the left bank of the Marne. Instead of attacking, the French
+began to intrench themselves, and in order to clear the battle-field a
+truce was arranged. The thunder of the cannon from Mont Avron had to
+serve for the present to keep up the spirits of the Parisians. The
+Germans also worked at the strengthening of their positions, but,
+suffering from the sudden and extreme cold, part at least of the troops
+withdrew into quarters further rearward.
+
+The command of the whole of the German Army between the Marne and the
+Seine was assumed by General von Fransecky (commanding IInd Corps). The
+Head-quarter of the Army of the Meuse had already given instructions
+that Prince George (of Saxony) with all the available troops of the
+XIIth Corps, should make surprise-attacks on Bry and Champigny in the
+early morning of the 2nd.
+
+With this object, on the morning specified the 24th Division assembled
+at Noisy, the 1st Wuertemberg Brigade at Villiers, and the 7th Prussian
+Brigade at the Hunting-lodge.
+
+The foremost battalions of the Saxon Division drove back the enemy's
+outposts by a sudden rush, took 100 prisoners, and after storming a
+barricade entered Bry. Here ensued an embittered fight in the streets
+and houses, in which the 2nd Battalion of the 107th Regiment lost nearly
+all its officers. Nevertheless it maintained its hold on the northern
+part of the village, in spite of the heavy fire of the forts.
+
+The Wuertembergers also forced an entrance into Champigny, but soon met
+with fierce resistance from the enemy sheltered in the buildings. The
+previously occupied Bois de la Lande had to be abandoned, and General
+Ducrot now determined to resort to the offensive. The strong artillery
+line on his front came into action at about nine o'clock, and two
+Divisions deployed in rear of it.
+
+Meanwhile the Fusilier battalion of the Colberg Regiment marched once
+more from the Hunting-lodge on Bois de la Lande, and carried it with the
+first onslaught. The French, firing heavily from the railway
+embankments, struck down the Pomeranians with clubbed rifles and at the
+point of the bayonet. A fierce fight was carried on at the same time at
+the lime-pits, where at noon 160 French laid down their arms. When six
+Wuertemberg and nine Prussian batteries had been by degrees brought into
+action against Champigny, General Hartmann[46] succeeded in getting as
+far as the road leading to Bry. As, however, the batteries were now
+being masked by their own infantry, and were suffering, too, under the
+heavy projectiles fired from the forts, they were withdrawn into the
+hollow of the Hunting-lodge. At two o'clock the 1st Wuertemberg and 7th
+Prussian Brigades established themselves firmly in the line from the
+churchyard of Champigny to the Bois de la Lande.
+
+Meanwhile the French divisions of Bellemare and Susbielle had reached
+the battle-field from the right bank of the Marne. The two Saxon
+battalions in Bry, having already lost 36 officers and 638 men, were
+compelled by the approach of the enemy in very superior force, to
+evacuate the village and retire on Noisy, but not without taking 300
+prisoners with them. The rest of the Saxon forces held Villiers, where
+the still available batteries also were in position.
+
+While, at two o'clock, the French were bringing up a strong artillery
+mass against this point, four batteries of the IInd Corps rushed out of
+the hollow near the Hunting-lodge at a gallop upon their flank, and
+opened fire at a range of 2000 paces. In less than ten minutes the
+French batteries fell back and the Prussian batteries returned to their
+sheltered position. Several hostile battalions which, at about three
+o'clock, attempted a renewed assault on Villiers, were repulsed with no
+difficulty, and at five o'clock the fighting ceased. The French merely
+kept up a fire of field and fortress artillery until dark.
+
+General Ducrot had received information in the course of the day, that
+the Army of the Loire was marching on Fontainebleau, and he was,
+therefore, very anxious to continue to maintain his position outside
+Paris.
+
+During the night of December 2nd--3rd, provisions were procured, and the
+teams and ammunition of the batteries were made up; but the approach of
+support from without was in no wise confirmed.
+
+The troops were completely exhausted by the previous disastrous
+fighting, and the Commander-in-Chief was justified in apprehending a
+repulse on the Marne by the enemy's invigorated forces. He therefore
+ordered a retreat, the troops being informed that the attack should be
+renewed as soon as their preparedness for fighting should have been
+re-established.
+
+Soon after midnight the divisions were assembled behind the outposts,
+and the trains were sent back first. At noon the troops were able to
+follow over the bridges at Neuilly, Bry, and Joinville. Only one brigade
+remained in position to cover the passage.
+
+The retreat was very skilfully covered by a series of small attacks on
+the German outposts. The French batteries had opened fire at Le Plant
+and Bry by daybreak, and the withdrawal of the enemy's army was
+completely hidden by the thick mist.
+
+General Fransecky assembled the Saxon and the Wuertemberg Divisions in a
+fighting position at Villiers and Coeuilly, the 7th Brigade with the
+Corps-Artillery of the IInd Corps and two regiments of the VIth at
+Chennevieres, intending to wait for the expected reinforcement which the
+VIth Corps had agreed to furnish for the 4th. The 23rd Division also
+received orders from the Crown Prince of Saxony to cross to the left
+bank of the Marne, whilst the Guard Corps had meanwhile extended its
+outposts to Chelles.
+
+So remained matters on the 3rd, with the exception of petty frays, and
+at four o'clock in the afternoon the troops were able to return to
+quarters. When early on the 4th patrols rode forward towards Bry and
+Champigny, they found these places vacated, and the peninsula of
+Joinville deserted by the enemy.
+
+The IInd French Army, which had been severely reduced and its internal
+cohesion much shaken, returned to Paris; on its own report it had lost
+12,000 men. The German troops engaged had lost 6200 men, but resumed
+their former positions in the investing line.
+
+This energetic attempt on the part of General Ducrot was the most
+serious effort that was made for the relief of Paris. It was directed
+towards what was at the moment the weakest point of the investment, but
+met with any success only at the outset.[47]
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[46] Commanding 3rd Infantry Division.
+
+[47] A legend was subsequently circulated that the voice of one general
+in a German council of war had, in opposition to all the others,
+prevented the removal of the chief head-quarters from Versailles. Apart
+from the fact that during the whole course of the invasion no council of
+war was ever held, it never occurred to any member of the King's
+military suite to set so bad an example to the army. [Moltke.]
+
+
+
+
+THE ADVANCE OF THE IST ARMY IN NOVEMBER.
+
+
+The newly-formed levies in northern France were not remaining inactive.
+Rouen and Lille were their chief centres. In front of the latter place,
+the Somme with its fortified passages at Ham, Peronne, Amiens, and
+Abbeville afforded a line equally advantageous for attacks to the front
+or for secure retreat. Isolated advances had, indeed, on various
+occasions, been driven back by detachments of the Army of the Meuse, but
+these were too weak to rid themselves of the continued molestation by
+pursuit pushed home.
+
+We have already seen how, after the fall of Metz, the IInd Army marched
+to the Loire, and the Ist into the northern departments of France.
+
+A large portion of the Ist Army was at first detained on the Moselle by
+having had to undertake the transport of the numerous prisoners and the
+observation of the fortresses which interrupted the communications with
+Germany. The whole VIIth Corps was either in Metz or before Thionville
+and Montmedy. Of the Ist Corps, the 1st Division was detached to
+Rethel,[48] the 4th Brigade transported by railway through Soissons to
+the investment of La Fere, and the 3rd Cavalry Division sent on towards
+the forest of Argonnes. The remaining five brigades followed with the
+artillery on the 7th November.[49]
+
+Marching on a wide front, the force reached the Oise between Compiegne
+and Chauny on the 20th. In front of the right wing the cavalry,
+supported by a battalion of Jaegers, came in contact with Gardes-Mobiles
+at Ham and Guiscard; in face of the infantry columns the hostile bodies
+fell back on Amiens. It was learned that 15,000 men were there, and that
+reinforcements were continually joining.
+
+On the 25th the 3rd Brigade reached Le Quesnel. The 15th Division of the
+VIIIth Corps advanced beyond Montdidier, and the 16th to Breteuil,
+whence it established connection with the Saxon detachments about
+Clermont. On the 26th the right wing closed up to Le Quesnel, the left
+to Moreuil and Essertaux. The cavalry scouted forward towards the Somme,
+the right bank of which it found occupied. The enemy's attitude
+indicated that he was confining himself to the defence of that position.
+General von Manteuffel thereupon determined to attack, without waiting
+for the arrival of the 1st Division, the transport of which from Rethel
+was extraordinarily delayed. His intention, in the first instance, was
+to utilize the 27th in drawing closer in his forces, which were extended
+along a front of some nineteen miles. But the battle was unexpectedly
+fought on that same day.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[48] According to statement on p. 177, to Mezieres.
+
+[49] The "five brigades" mentioned in the text consisted of the 3rd of
+Ist Corps, and the four composing the VIIIth Corps, of which, the Ist
+and VIIth, the Ist Army was made up. The 1st Cavalry Division,
+originally belonging to the Ist Army, was transferred to the IInd Army
+by the reorganization following the capitulation of Metz.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF AMIENS.
+
+(November 17th.)
+
+
+General Farre, with his 17,500 men distributed into three brigades,
+stood eastward of Amiens on the south bank of the Somme, about Villers
+Bretonneux and Longueau along the road to Peronne, holding also the
+villages and copses on his front. Besides these troops there were 8000
+Gardes-Mobiles occupying an intrenched position about two and a half
+miles in front of the city.
+
+In accordance with instructions from the Army Headquarter, General von
+Goeben (commanding the VIIIth Corps) had given orders for the 27th that
+the 15th Division should take up quarters at Fouencamps and Sains; the
+16th at Rumigny and Plachy and in the villages further back; the
+Corps-Artillery at Grattepanche. Consequently the VIIIth Corps was to
+be assembled before Amiens between the Celle and the Noye, at the
+distance, then, of nearly two and a half miles from the Ist Corps,
+and divided from it by the latter brook and the Avre. General von
+Bentheim (commanding the 1st Division, Ist Corps[50]) on the other
+hand, had sent his advanced guard, the 3rd Brigade, into quarters
+north of the Luce.
+
+At an early hour that brigade seized the passages of the brook at
+Demuin, Hangard, and Domart. At ten o'clock it moved forward in order to
+occupy the appointed quarters, and as the enemy were already in
+possession, a fight began which gradually increased in magnitude.
+
+The wooded heights on the north bank of the Luce were taken without any
+particular resistance, and maintained in spite of several counter
+strokes by the French. The artillery pushed forward through the
+intervals of the infantry. On the left the 4th Regiment seized the
+village of Gentelles, on the right the 44th Regiment rushed up to
+within 300 paces of the left flank of the French position, and by a
+vigorous onslaught carried by storm the earthworks at the railway
+cutting east of Villers Bretonneux. Soon after mid-day heavy hostile
+masses drew up at Bretonneux and in Cachy, directly opposite the 3rd
+Brigade, which was extended along a front of some four miles.
+
+On the left wing of the Germans the 16th Division had by eleven
+o'clock already reached its assigned quarters, and had driven the enemy
+out of Hebecourt, as well as out of the woods north of that village
+towards Dury. The 15th Division, in compliance with the enjoined
+assemblage of the VIIIth Corps on the left bank of the Noye, moved
+westward from Moreuil through Ailly to Dommartin, its advance guard
+which had been holding Hailles marching direct on Fouencamps. Thus it
+happened that before noon the roads from Roye and Montdidier between the
+two Corps were left completely uncovered by troops on the German side,
+while a French brigade was standing at the fork of these roads at
+Longueau, though, in fact, it remained absolutely inactive. This
+interval was at first screened only by the numerous retinue and staff
+escort of the Commander-in-Chief; and then it was to some extent filled
+by the battalion constituting the guard of the headquarter. As, however,
+after ten o'clock the French on their side commenced an attack on the
+3rd Brigade, General von Manteuffel ordered the 15th Division to join in
+the fight as far as possible toward the right wing.
+
+After a staunch defence the companies of the 4th Regiment were driven
+back out of the Bois de Hangard towards the declivity of the height in
+front of Demuin, and subsequently, having expended all their ammunition,
+the defenders of Gentelles were driven back to Domart.
+
+General von Strubberg (commanding 30th Infantry Brigade, VIIIth Corps),
+on instructions from the scene of combat in front of the Luce, had sent
+four battalions in that direction, which crossed the Avre, but came
+under such a heavy fire from the Bois de Gentelles that their further
+advance was prevented, and they had to change front against the wood.
+Behind them, however, the other detachments of the 30th Brigade pressed
+forward to St. Nicolas on the right bank, and to Boves on the left, and
+in co-operation with the 29th Brigade drove the French from the
+neighbouring Ruinenberg.
+
+Meanwhile a part of the approaching 1st Division came up behind the 3rd
+Brigade. The artillery positions were considerably strengthened, and the
+cannon fire was directed against the earthworks south of Bretonneux. As
+the nearest support the Crown Prince's Regiment went forward, and soon
+the French were again driven out of the Bois de Hangard. The East
+Prussians following them up, took cover in front of the earthworks;
+several detachments of the 4th and 44th Regiments gradually collected
+there from the neighbouring woods, and the enemy was then driven back
+from this position. Thirteen batteries now silenced the French
+artillery, and, after they had fired for some time on Bretonneux, the
+place was, at four o'clock, seized by the Prussians pouring in from all
+sides with drums beating. The French in its interior made only a weak
+defence at isolated points; for the most part they hurried over the
+Somme at Corbie under cover of the darkness, and with the loss of 180
+unwounded prisoners.
+
+When, somewhat later, the French General Lecointe advanced with the
+reserve brigade on Domart, he found that crossing point already in
+possession of the 1st Division, and turned back. Cachy only was held by
+the French till late in the evening.
+
+The troops of the Ist Corps were distributed for the night in the
+hamlets to the south of the Luce; but the outposts were established on
+the northern bank of the Somme, and Bretonneux also remained occupied.
+
+On the left wing of the battle-field the 16th Division had advanced to
+Dury, and had driven the French out of the neighbouring churchyard, but
+had been forced to withdraw from an attack on the enemy's extensive and
+strongly defended line of intrenchment. It bivouacked behind Dury.
+
+It was night before General von Manteuffel received information which
+proved that the enemy had been completely defeated. Early in the morning
+of the 28th the patrols of the Ist Corps found the region clear of the
+enemy as far as the Somme, and all the bridges across the river
+destroyed. At noon General von Goeben entered Amiens, the citadel of
+which capitulated two days later with its garrison of 400 men and 30
+cannon.
+
+One peculiarity of the battle of the 27th November was the
+disproportionately great extent of the battle-field to the number of the
+troops engaged. General Farre, with 25,000 men in round numbers, covered
+a front of about fourteen miles from Pont de Metz south of Amiens to the
+east of Villers Bretonneux, and with the Somme close on his rear. The
+Germans attacked on approximately the same breadth of front, with the
+result that there was a break in the middle of their line. The danger
+caused by this gap was not taken advantage of during the morning through
+the inactivity of the enemy, and it was then nullified by the occupation
+of St. Nicolas.
+
+The superiority of numbers was on the side of the Germans, for, although
+of the approaching 1st Division only the Crown Prince's Regiment could
+take part in the fighting, they were 30,000 strong. The 3rd Brigade bore
+the brunt of the battle, losing 630 men and 34 officers out of a total
+of 1300. The French also lost about 1300, besides 1000 reported missing.
+Part of the National Guard threw down their arms and fled to their
+homes. The main body of the French Corps retired on Arras.
+
+Immediately after the battle the Ist Army was reinforced by the 4th
+Brigade, which had been brought from La Fere.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[50] In effect commanding the whole Ist Corps, although nominally
+Manteuffel was still chief of it, as well as in command of the Ist
+Army.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF LA FERE.
+
+(November 27th.)
+
+
+This little fortress became of importance since it closed the line of
+railway passing through Rheims, both to Amiens and to Paris. Lying in
+open, wet, low ground overflowed by the Somme and its tributaries, it
+was difficult of approach; otherwise, the fortifications merely
+consisted of an isolated wall, with sundry earthworks close in front of
+it, and it was entirely seen into from heights on the east at a distance
+of not more than 1500 metres.
+
+The brigade (4th of Ist Corps) as a preliminary measure had invested La
+Fere on the 15th November, and when the siege-train arrived from
+Soissons with thirty-two heavy guns, seven batteries were built and
+armed during the night of the 25th on the heights already mentioned. On
+the following morning these opened fire, and on the 27th the place
+capitulated. Gardes-Mobiles to the number of 2300 were taken prisoners,
+and the most serviceable of the 113 guns found were brought away to arm
+the citadel of Amiens. The reinforcement of the Ist Army by the VIIth
+Corps meanwhile was not yet even in prospect, since the latter still had
+further work to do on the Moselle; the greater part of the 14th Division
+only arrived before Thionville on November 13th.
+
+
+
+
+REDUCTION OF THIONVILLE.
+
+(November 24th.)
+
+
+This fortress, shut in on all sides by hills, was entirely without
+bomb-proof protection; direct approach from the south was, on the other
+hand, rendered difficult by artificial inundations, and on the west and
+north by swamps. General von Kameke therefore decided to await the
+result of a heavy bombardment before resorting to a regular attack.
+Batteries were erected on both banks of the Moselle, and on the morning
+of the 22nd eighty-five guns opened fire. At first the fortress answered
+briskly. In the following night the infantry detailed to the task of
+throwing up the first parallel, advanced to within 600 paces of the
+west front, but, in consequence of pouring rain and the condition of the
+ground the work made but small progress. However, on the 24th at mid-day
+the commandant proposed negotiations for the surrender of the place. The
+garrison, 4000 strong, with the exception of the National Guard
+belonging to the place, became prisoners and were sent to Germany; and
+199 guns, besides a considerable amount of supplies, arms and
+ammunition, fell into the hands of the conqueror.
+
+The 14th Division was now required to lay siege to the northern frontier
+fortresses, which would occupy it for some time. The 13th Division, by
+orders from the supreme Head-quarter, was assigned to the operations in
+southern France.
+
+
+
+
+INVESTMENT OF BELFORT IN NOVEMBER.
+
+
+On the south-east section of the theatre of war Belfort had become the
+centre of continual petty enterprises on the part of French flying
+detachments in rear of the XIVth Corps, which under General von Werder
+stood about Vesoul.
+
+But when the troops previously before Strasburg had been relieved by a
+newly formed body from Germany, the troops before Neu-Breisach became
+available, and were set in march on Upper Alsace; while the 1st Reserve
+Division reached Belfort on the 3rd November, and by the 8th had
+effected the preliminary investment of that place. The greater part of
+the 4th Reserve Division marched to join the XIVth Corps at Vesoul, a
+detachment under General von Debschitz occupied Montbeliard, and the
+67th Regiment held Mulhouse and Delle.
+
+Glancing back on the German successes during November and the general
+military position at the end of the month, we see the great sortie from
+Paris repulsed[51]; in the north the menace to the investment of being
+hemmed in done away with by General von Manteuffel's victory at Amiens;
+in the east Thionville, Breisach, Verdun, and La Fere taken, Montmedy
+and Belfort surrounded; and in the south Prince Frederick Charles ready
+to attack the French army before Orleans.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[51] The great sortie to the east of Paris was not repulsed until
+December 2nd.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF ORLEANS.
+
+(December 3rd and 4th.)
+
+
+When soon after noon of 2nd December the telegraphed order to take the
+offensive against Orleans reached the headquarter of the IInd Army, the
+Prince on the same day assembled the Xth Corps at Beaune la Rolande and
+Boynes, the IIIrd at Pithiviers, and the IXth at Bazoches les
+Gallerandes. By evening the collected forces had their marching orders.
+
+The attack was to comprise two days of fighting. The IIIrd Corps was
+first to advance on Loury by way of Chilleurs aux Bois; the Xth was to
+follow to Chilleurs; and the IXth was to attack Artenay at half-past
+nine. The 1st Cavalry Division supported by infantry was to be on
+observation on the left flank towards the Yonne; the 6th was to follow
+the right wing. The Grand Duke, to whom it had been left to arrange the
+details of his own march westward of the Paris main road, ordered the
+22nd Division to support the attack on Artenay, the Bavarian Corps to
+advance on Lumeau, the 17th Division to remain for the present at
+Anneux. The 4th Cavalry Division was charged with the duty of scouting
+on the right flank.
+
+So early as nine o'clock in the morning on the 3rd of December the IIIrd
+Corps met eight battalions and six batteries of the enemy at Santeau.
+The 12th Brigade and the artillery of the 6th Division intercalated in
+the columns of march in rear of the foremost battalions, thereupon
+deployed about La Brosse. After a few rounds a battery of the left wing
+had to be withdrawn from the fight which had now commenced; on the
+right, on the other hand, the Corps-Artillery gradually came up, and by
+noon seventy-eight Prussian guns were in action.
+
+The French, yielding to strength so overwhelming, retired on Chilleurs;
+but, when the German batteries had advanced within 2000 paces of that
+place, and the right flank of the former was threatened by an assault of
+the Jaeger battalions, they began a retreat towards the forest, and at
+three o'clock part of the 5th Division followed them up through the glen
+leading to the southward, and the 6th by the high road. As these had
+been obstructed in many places, it was six o'clock in the evening before
+the clearing by Loury was reached.
+
+On the right, heavy musketry-firing was heard in the region of Neuville,
+and tidings also arrived that on the left the French had occupied
+Nancray.
+
+In consequence of this, a reinforcement from the reserve remaining in
+Chilleurs was brought up; one regiment was thrown out fronting towards
+the west, a second towards the east, and under cover of the outposts
+extended toward the south the remainder of the troops went into bivouac
+and quarters at Loury.
+
+The IXth Corps had first assembled at Chateau Gaillard on the main road
+to Paris, and then advanced along the chaussee through Dambron against
+Villereau. At Assas it met the enemy, who was soon driven back by its
+artillery, and disappeared towards Artenay. At about ten o'clock an
+obstinate contest was engaged in against the batteries of the 2nd French
+Division in position here, in which part of the Corps-Artillery
+presently bore part, seconded later by the batteries of the 22nd
+Division, which had come up to Poupry. General Martineau retreated
+slowly by successive detachments, his artillery leading, before the
+overwhelming fire of ninety guns, on La Croix Briquet and Ferme
+d'Arblay.
+
+At twelve o'clock the Germans occupied Artenay, and after half an hour's
+rest they renewed the offensive. There occurred a long and obstinate
+fire-fight both of infantry and artillery, while the 22nd Division
+pushed forward on the enemy's left flank. At two o'clock his guns were
+silenced, the left-wing column of the IXth Corps seized the farm of
+Arblay, and the centre by hard fighting drove the enemy back along the
+high road through La Croix Briquet to Andeglou, where under cover of the
+marine artillery resistance was kept up till dark.
+
+General Puttkamer[52] had brought up five batteries to within 800 paces
+of Chevilly, and the 22nd Division was advancing on the burning village,
+when the chief Command gave the order to halt, the Grand Duke hesitating
+to engage in a night attack on the intrenched village. But when, soon
+after, a Hussar patrol brought the information that it was already
+evacuated, General von Wittich ordered its occupation. The troops
+bivouacked in a heavy snowstorm, in and to the rear of La Croix Briquet.
+
+About the time of the first advance the IXth Corps had sent a detachment
+of four Hessian battalions leftward against St. Lye. They met with
+opposition at La Tour, drove the enemy back on St. Germain, but could
+not dislodge him from that place.
+
+When the Xth Corps, marching round by Pithiviers unmolested, about three
+o'clock reached the vicinity of Chilleurs in rear of the IIIrd Corps,
+part of the 20th Division went on in the direction of the fighting about
+Neuville, the noise of which in the evening was also heard at Loury.
+Darkness had already come on and precluded the use of artillery, but the
+infantry broke into the village at several points. But it found the
+streets barricaded, and met with obstinate resistance, so that the
+prosecution of the attack had to be postponed till the following day.
+
+The XVth French Corps had sustained single-handed the onslaught of three
+Prussian Corps. Strong masses of the Army of Orleans, to right and to
+left of that Corps, made but feeble efforts in the course of the day to
+support it. General Chanzy alone, when at about two o'clock he heard
+heavy firing from Artenay, ordered forward the 2nd Division of the XVIth
+Corps, though he had already that morning begun his retreat on St.
+Peravy and Boulay. But this reinforcement encountered the Prussian 17th
+Division, which, coming up from Anneux, was on the point of joining in
+the fight at Andeglou, and with it the Bavarian Corps advancing from
+Lumeau. Their strong united artillery in position at Chameul and Sougy,
+soon forced the enemy to retire. Douzy and then Huetre were taken, and
+the chateau of Chevilly was occupied by the 17th Division. Here too
+darkness put an end to the fighting. The troops of the right wing
+quartered at Provencheres, Chameul and rearward.
+
+Thus the German army had made its way without very heavy fighting to
+within nine miles of Orleans. The French, indeed, had maintained their
+ground till evening in the neighbourhood of Neuville, but the forces
+holding on there were ordered to retire in the night. They were to gain
+the road from Pithiviers by Rebrechien, and make a circuit by Orleans to
+Chevilly. But they thus came under the fire of the IIIrd German Corps
+quartered in Loury, and fled in disorder back into the forest, whence
+they attempted to reach their destination by detachments.
+
+It was only to be expected that the French would stoutly defend their
+intrenchments at Gidy and Cercottes on the following day, if only to
+keep open their way of retreat through Orleans. Prince Frederick Charles
+therefore ordered the Grand Duke's Detachment and the IXth Corps to make
+an encompassing attack on both points on the 4th. The IIIrd Corps was to
+advance from Loury on Orleans, and the Xth, again forming the reserve,
+was to follow to Chevilly.
+
+General d'Aurelle had retired to Saran on the evening of the 3rd. Here
+he saw the 2nd Division of the XVth Corps fleeing by in utter rout, and
+heard also that the 1st had failed to make a stand at Chilleurs. The
+Corps of his right wing were altogether shattered as regarded their
+internal cohesion by the battle of Beaune, and those of his left no less
+by the fight at Loigny. The French General could not but dread being
+driven on the Loire with undisciplined masses, and the consequent block
+of the only passage of the river at Orleans. He decided therefore on an
+eccentric retreat. Only the XVth Corps was to retire by Orleans; General
+Crouzat was to cross the Loire at Gien, General Chanzy at Beaugency. The
+reassemblage remained to be attempted behind the Sauldre. The necessary
+dispositions were made during the night, and communicated to the
+Government. From the Board of Green Cloth at Tours, counter orders of
+course came next morning to maintain the Orleans position, which
+practically was already wrecked; but the General adhered firmly to his
+own determination.
+
+On December 4th the IIIrd Army Corps marched out of Loury in two columns
+by the high road and the tracks through Vennecy. Both bodies reached
+Boigny by noon, having met only stragglers. A detachment was sent to the
+right to Neuville, which made prize of seven derelict guns and many
+rifles. To the left, another detachment occupied Chezy on the Loire.
+After a short rest the main columns advanced, and by two o'clock the 6th
+Division reached Vaumainbert, which was occupied by detachments of the
+French XVth Corps. Although the country was not open enough to allow of
+the employment of artillery, the place was taken by the Brandenburgers
+in spite of the stout resistance of the French Marine Infantry, and the
+fire of the batteries on the heights to the north of St. Loup could now
+be directed on the suburb of Orleans.
+
+The 5th Division had meanwhile come up behind the 6th and took part in
+the fight.
+
+The XXth French Corps, which was still at Chambon, in the eastern part
+of the forest opposite Beaune la Rolande, had received orders at four in
+the morning from Tours direct, to march on Orleans. Contrary orders had
+previously arrived from General d'Aurelle, but nothing subsequently came
+to hand. General Crouzat had, as a precaution, sent his train across the
+Loire by way of Jargeau, and then marched in the prescribed direction.
+When, at half-past two he met at Pont aux Moines the German detachment
+despatched to Chezy, he determined to cut his way through by force of
+arms; but as General von Stuelpnagel reinforced his two battalions with
+the rest of his Division, the French general gave up that attempt and
+retreated across the river, making the passage at Jargeau.
+
+On the German side the attack on St. Loup[53] was unsuccessful; and
+since from the locality of the fighting on the part of the other Corps
+no tidings reached him, and darkness was approaching, General von
+Alvensleben postponed any further attack on the city till the following
+day.
+
+North of Orleans the IXth Army Corps advanced from La Croix Briquet on
+the intrenched position of Cercottes. At about one o'clock the foremost
+detachments of infantry entered the place. The 2nd Division of the
+French XVth Corps was driven back by the fire of the artillery into the
+vineyards in front of the city. Here the infantry alone could continue
+the struggle. The French defended every tenable spot, and especially in
+the railway station close to Orleans held their own with great
+persistency. It and the adjacent deep road-cutting were fortified with
+barricades and rifle-pits, and armed with naval guns. It was not till
+nightfall, about half-past five, that these posts were abandoned, but
+the contest was continued further back. To avoid street-fighting in the
+dark, General von Manstein broke off the fight for the day at about
+seven o'clock.
+
+The advanced guard of the 17th Division of the Grand Duke's Detachment
+had found Gidy intrenched and strongly occupied. But at the approach of
+the IXth Corps the French about eleven o'clock thought proper to abandon
+the position, leaving behind eight guns. The German Division, to avoid
+the wood, now moved in a westerly direction on Boulay, whither the 22nd
+and the 2nd Cavalry Division followed as a reserve.
+
+Here the Bavarian Corps and the 4th Cavalry Division were already
+engaged in a fight, having previously driven the French out of Bricy and
+Janvry. When the artillery had for some time been in action, General von
+der Tann passed to the assault at about twelve o'clock. But the French
+did not wait for this; they beat a hasty retreat, leaving some of their
+guns in the defences.
+
+The 2nd Cavalry Division took up the pursuit. The 4th Hussars of the 5th
+Brigade, trotting forward through Montaigu, charged a dismounted French
+battery and seized all its guns; another near Ormes was left to be
+carried off by the horse battery. From thence a strong body of French
+horse suddenly appeared on the left flank of the 4th Brigade as it was
+crossing the Chateaudun road. But the Bluecher Hussars, promptly wheeling
+into line, drove the enemy back through the village on Ingre.
+
+The 4th Cavalry Division was placed on observation on the right flank of
+the Detachment; and the Hussars of the 2nd Life Regiment here rode down
+250 men forming the escort of a waggon column escaping by the road to
+Chateaudun, and captured the convoy.
+
+While the Germans were thus converging on Orleans from the east and
+north, in the west the XVIIth French Corps and the 1st Division of the
+XVIth were still in the field about Patay and St. Peravy. General Chanzy
+had assembled the latter about Coinces, and, to protect himself against
+its threatened attack on his flank, General von der Tann formed front at
+Bricy with his 3rd Infantry Brigade, the Cuirassiers, and the artillery
+reserve. The 4th Cavalry Division marched on Coinces, where General von
+Bernhardi, clearing a wide ditch with four squadrons of Uhlans, drove a
+body of French horse back on St. Peravy without its having been able to
+do more than fire one carbine-volley. Other squadrons of the 9th Brigade
+rode down the French tirailleurs, and pursued the cavalry till it
+reached the protection of strong bodies of infantry. The 8th Brigade was
+in observation toward Patay, and after that place had come under the
+fire of a battery and been abandoned, General Chanzy gave up all further
+attack and retired behind the forest of Montpipeau.
+
+The 2nd Cavalry Division now made for the Loire immediately below
+Orleans. Its artillery destroyed a bridge at Chapelle over which a
+baggage-train was passing, and compelled the French troops, which were
+marching towards Clery along the further bank, to flee back to Orleans.
+Two military railway-trains from thence were not to be stopped by the
+firing, but a train coming from Tours, in which, as it happened, was
+Gambetta himself, returned thither with all speed.
+
+The Bavarian Corps meanwhile was advancing by the high road, and the
+22nd Division, in touch with the IXth Corps, on the old Chateaudun road;
+the 17th Division between the two on La Borde. This last Division at
+about 3.30 had to carry on its way the strongly defended village of
+Heurdy; and when the Bavarians from Ormes turned to the right on Ingre,
+it proceeded by the high road towards St. Jean de la Ruelle. Having
+overcome all opposition there too, the head of the Division reached the
+gates of Orleans at about six o'clock.
+
+General von Tresckow entered into negotiations with the military
+authorities there for the orderly occupation of the town. An agreement
+was arrived at by ten o'clock, and shortly after midnight the Grand Duke
+marched in with the 17th Division, promptly followed by the 2nd Bavarian
+Brigade. The bridge over the Loire, which the French had not found time
+to blow up, was secured with all speed. The rest of the troops found
+quarters for the night, to the west and north of the city.
+
+The peremptory orders from the Government to hold Orleans had shaken
+General d'Aurelle's original determination. When the mass of the XVth
+Corps arrived there in the forenoon, he was anxious to make a final
+stand. But the necessary orders could not be transmitted to the Corps of
+the right wing, nor carried out by those of the left; and by five
+o'clock the General in command was convinced of the futility of any
+further resistance. The artillery of the XVth Corps was in the first
+instance forwarded to La Ferte St. Aubin; the infantry followed. The
+XXth Corps, as we have seen, was at Jargeau; the XVIIIth recrossed the
+Loire at Sully; the XVIth and XVIIth moved off westward in the direction
+of Beaugency, but remained on the right bank of the river.
+
+The two days' battle had cost the Germans 1700 men; the French lost
+20,000, of whom 1800 were taken prisoners. Their large army lately
+massed before Orleans, was now split up into three separate bodies.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[52] Commanding Artillery of IXth Corps.
+
+[53] The northern suburb of Orleans.
+
+
+
+
+OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.
+
+
+The troops were too much exhausted for immediate pursuit in any of these
+three directions.
+
+It was ordered that only the 6th Cavalry Division, reinforced by an
+infantry detachment of the 18th Division, should follow up the enemy
+making to the southward, ascertain his whereabouts, and destroy the
+concentration of the railways from Bourges, Orleans and Tours at the
+Vierzon junction. This Cavalry was in quarters to the north of the city;
+the French XVth Corps had a considerable start of it, and the main body
+of the latter had reached Salbris, when, on December 6th, two days after
+the battle, General von Schmidt (commanding 14th Brigade, 6th Cavalry
+Division) arrived by a forced march at La Ferte St. Aubin. Here he found
+a detachment of the 18th Division, which had already driven the French
+rear-guard back on La Motte Beuvron, but was now recalled to the Loiret.
+Only two companies of the 36th Regiment and one of pioneers joined the
+further advance, and followed the cavalry partly in waggons and partly
+on gun-limbers.
+
+On the 7th, under direct orders from Tours, the French Corps left the
+high road to the south, and made a flank march of twenty miles in an
+easterly direction to Aubigny Ville. The cavalry, supported to the best
+of their power by its artillery and the small infantry detachment, had a
+sharp fight with the French rear-guard at Nouan le Fuzelier, and again
+in the evening at Salbris, in which the French finally had the best of
+it. The neighbourhood being very thinly populated, the Division had to
+return in the night to Nouan, to find shelter from the bitter winter
+weather.
+
+Long before daybreak on the 8th, the French rear-guard evacuated Salbris
+to avoid a further encounter with the enemy, whose strength was greatly
+overestimated. After some slight skirmishes the Cavalry Division reached
+Vierzon that evening. The telegraph wires were cut and the railway line
+torn up in several places, 70 goods vans were made prize of, the
+direction of the enemy's retreat was ascertained, and any offensive
+movement on the part of the French from that side for the time was
+reckoned very improbable.
+
+The Division had fulfilled its task; it was now ordered to leave one
+brigade in observation, and to advance in the direction of Blois with
+the rest. General (Count) von der Groeben (commanding 14th Cavalry
+Brigade) maintained his positions at Vierzon and Salbris till the 14th.
+
+The winter marches of the 6th Cavalry Division were exceptionally
+arduous. It was almost impossible to travel excepting by the high roads,
+and they were so slippery with ice that it was often necessary to
+dismount and lead the horses. The inhabitants of the Sologne were
+extremely hostile, and troopers patrolling in advance were fired upon in
+every village. The French forces, on the other hand, made but a feeble
+resistance. Numerous prisoners and large quantities of abandoned war
+materiel bore witness to a hasty retreat, in many cases indicated
+panic-flight. Nevertheless, in spite of much desultory marching and
+counter-marching, the Corps on December 13th finally succeeded in
+joining the right wing of the Army of Orleans at Bourges. The plight in
+which it arrived there may be gathered from the telegraphic
+_Correspondance Urgente_ of the Tours Government with General Bourbaki,
+who, when General d'Aurelle was dismissed from the command in chief, had
+assumed command of the three Corps.
+
+The delegate Freycinet, who was no doubt kept well informed by the
+country people, assured General Bourbaki that he had only a weak force
+of cavalry in his front, and called upon him repeatedly, and in the most
+urgent terms, to advance against Blois. The General retorted that if he
+were to undertake that operation, not a gun, not a man of his three
+Corps would ever be seen again. His intention was to retreat without
+delay from Bourges on St. Amand, and if necessary yet further; all he
+dreaded was lest he should be attacked before he could accomplish this,
+and so be involved in overwhelming disaster.
+
+The Minister of War himself went to Bourges, but he too renounced all
+idea of a serious offensive movement when he saw the disorder of the
+troops; "I have never seen anything so wretched." It was with difficulty
+that he carried his point that the Corps should not retreat, but should
+await events under cover of one of them pushed forward towards Vierzon.
+
+On the day when General von Schmidt entered Vierzon, the XVth Corps was
+in the vicinity of Henrichemont, at about an equal distance with himself
+from Bourges. The XVIIIth and XXth Corps were at Aubigny Ville and
+Cernay, from two to three marches away. It can scarcely be doubted that
+if the 18th Division had followed the advance of the 6th Cavalry
+Division, possession would have been obtained of Bourges and of the vast
+military establishments there.
+
+To the east of Orleans the IIIrd German Corps marched up the river
+through Chateauneuf. It met only stragglers, till on the 7th two
+Divisions of the XVIIIth French Corps attempted to cross to the right
+bank of the Loire at Gien. There came about an advanced-guard fight at
+Nevoy, with the result that these Divisions retreated across the bridge
+in the night, and continued their march on Bourges.
+
+
+
+
+FIGHTING OF THE GRAND DUKE OF MECKLENBURG.
+
+(December 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th.)
+
+
+The Grand Duke's Detachment stood westward, close to the retreating left
+wing of the enemy. In contrast to the disorder of the right wing,
+General Chanzy, probably the most capable of all the leaders whom the
+Germans had to encounter in the battle-field, had very rapidly in so
+great measure restored the discipline and spirit of his defeated troops,
+that they were able not only to make a stand, but even to take the
+offensive. They had, it is true, been considerably reinforced by the
+newly formed XXIst Corps and by Camo's Division. The latter formed the
+advanced guard at Meung; behind it were the XVIth Corps at Beaugency,
+the XVIIth at Cravant, and the XXIst at St. Laurent on the edge of the
+forest of Marchenoir.
+
+On the day after the fight the troops of the Grand Duke were given a
+rest-day; only the cavalry pursued the French. The 4th Cavalry Division
+reached Ouzouer; the 2nd came upon considerable masses of infantry
+behind Meung.
+
+On the 7th, the Grand Duke's forces advanced on a very wide front. The
+17th Division, on the left wing, marched on Meung, where its artillery
+opened a combat with that of the enemy. The French held possession of
+the narrow lanes of the village, which further westward was pierced by
+the main road to Beaugency. Towards four o'clock a Mecklenburg battalion
+carried Langlochere by storm, but found itself threatened on both sides
+by the approach of hostile columns. On the left Foinard was presently
+occupied, and a gun captured there, while on the right the 1st Bavarian
+Brigade advanced on La Bourie. Here, almost at the same moment, the 2nd
+Cavalry Division came up by by-roads from Renardiere, having driven the
+enemy out of Le Bardon by the fire of its guns. The Bavarians had now to
+march out to meet a hostile mass advancing from Grand Chatre. Supported
+by the horse batteries, they maintained till nightfall a stubborn fight,
+which ended in the retreat of the French on Beaumont.
+
+During this conflict on the left wing of the Detachment, the 1st
+Bavarian Division, considerably on the right, were marching on Baccon,
+the 22nd on Ouzouer; and finding that the French were offering a
+determined resistance, the Grand Duke decided on closing in his forces
+to the left.
+
+_December 8th._--To this end the 22nd Division moved southward from
+Ouzouer through Villermain. After repulsing the swarms of tirailleurs
+which attacked its left flank under cover of a thick fog, General von
+Wittich directed his march on Cravant, to effect a junction with the
+right wing of the 1st Bavarian Division already engaged in a hot
+struggle. They had repulsed an attack of the enemy pushed forward from
+Villechaumont, and the 2nd (Bavarian) Division advanced by the road from
+Cravant to Beaugency; but when three French Divisions came on afresh, it
+retreated on Beaumont. Here it found support from the 1st (Bavarian
+Division) and 17 batteries were gradually brought up into the fighting
+line. Their fire and an impetuous attack from three Bavarian brigades at
+last forced the enemy to fall back, and the position on the high road
+was recovered.
+
+The French now, on their side, brought up a strong force of artillery,
+and prepared to advance on Cravant with their XVIIth Corps. But the 22nd
+German Division having taken Beauvert and Layes by the way, had already
+reached Cravant at about one o'clock, and was in position there with the
+4th Cavalry Division on its right and the 2nd on its left. So when, at
+about three o'clock, dense French columns advanced on Cravant, they were
+repulsed by a powerful counter-stroke delivered by the 44th Brigade, in
+conjunction with the Bavarians, and were soon driven out of Layes, which
+they had entered while advancing. The five batteries nearest to Cravant
+had suffered so severely meanwhile that they had to be withdrawn. When
+finally at about four o'clock the Bavarian battalions advanced to storm
+the height in their front, they were met by fresh troops of the enemy,
+and after losing a great part of their officers were compelled to
+retreat on the artillery position at Beaumont. Later, however, the
+French abandoned Villechaumont.
+
+On the left wing of the Detachment the 17th Division pursued the
+retreating French through Vallees and Villeneuve, and then at about noon
+made an attack on Messas. The defence was obstinate, and it was not till
+dusk that it succeeded in gaining full possession of the place. The
+artillery directed its fire on dense masses showing about Vernon, the
+infantry stormed the height of Beaugency, and finally forced its way
+into the town itself, where a French battery fell into its hand. Camo's
+Division then retired on Tavers, and at midnight General von Tresckow
+fell upon Vernon, whence the French, taken entirely by surprise, fled to
+Bonvalet.
+
+The Headquarter of the IInd Army had determined to set in march on
+Bourges the IIIrd, Xth, and IXth Corps, from Gien, from Orleans, and
+also from Blois. But the Detachment in its advance on Blois by the right
+bank of the Loire had met with unexpected resistance lasting for two
+days. In the supreme Headquarter at Versailles it was regarded as
+indispensable that the Grand Duke should immediately be reinforced by at
+least one Division. Telegraphic orders to that effect arrived at ten
+o'clock on December 9th. The IXth Corps, which was already on the march
+along the left bank and had found no enemy in its front, could not give
+the requisite support, since all the bridges over the river had been
+blown up. The IIIrd Corps was therefore ordered to leave only a
+detachment in observation at Gien, and to turn back to Orleans. The Xth
+Corps was to call in its detachments standing eastward of the city and
+march forward to Meung. Meanwhile on the 9th the Detachment remained
+still quite unsupported while actually confronting with four Infantry
+Divisions, eleven French Divisions. And early on that morning General
+Chanzy took the offensive.
+
+_December 9th._--The two Prussian Divisions at Beauvert and Messas stood
+firmly awaiting the hostile onslaught. The two Bavarian Divisions,
+because of their severe losses, were held in reserve at Cravant, but
+soon had to come up into the fighting line, when at seven o'clock strong
+columns of the enemy advanced on Le Mee.
+
+Dense swarms of tirailleurs were repulsed both there and before Vernon,
+and were later shattered by the fire of the devoted German artillery,
+which silenced the French guns and then directed its fire on Villorceau.
+In spite of a stout defence, this village was carried and occupied about
+half-past ten by the Bavarian infantry. The French advance on
+Villechaumont in greatly superior force was also repulsed, with the
+assistance of three battalions and two batteries of the 22nd Division.
+The Thueringers[54] then stormed Cernay, where 200 French laid down their
+arms, and one of their batteries lost its teams and limbers.
+
+On the right wing of the Detachment, in consequence of a
+misunderstanding, the Germans evacuated Layes and Beauvert, and the
+French occupied these villages. However, with the assistance of the 2nd
+Bavarian Brigade, the 44th (Brigade) drove them out again from both
+places. Further to the north, the 4th Cavalry Division was in
+observation of a French detachment approaching Villermain.
+
+The French made renewed efforts, advancing again at mid-day on Cravant
+in strong columns; but this movement General Tresckow took in flank from
+Messas. He left only a weak detachment in Beaugency, and secured
+himself towards Tavers in the villages on his left. The main body of the
+17th Division advanced on Bonvalet, reinforced the hardly-pressed
+Bavarians in Villorceau, and occupied itself Villemarceau in front of
+that place. Here the Division had to maintain a severe struggle, at
+about three o'clock, with close columns of the French XVIth and XVIIth
+Corps. The infantry rushing on the enemy with cheers succeeded, however,
+in repulsing him and holding its ground in spite of a hot fire. At the
+same time three Bavarian battalions, accompanied by cavalry and
+artillery, marched up from Cravant and drove the French out of
+Villejouan. Yet further to the right a battalion of the 32nd Regiment
+took possession of Ourcelle. A line from thence to Tavers defined the
+section of terrain laboriously wrung from the enemy.
+
+The fight ended with the retreat of the enemy on Josnes and Dugny.
+
+On this day the IIIrd Corps was still on the march to Orleans. The IXth
+from its position on the left bank, could only take part in the fighting
+by the fire of its artillery on Meung and Beaugency. It was not till
+near Blois that it met French detachments. Fifty men of one of the
+Hessian battalions carried the defended chateau of Chambord lying
+rightward of the line of march, and there took 200 prisoners and made
+prize of twelve ammunition waggons with their teams.
+
+Of the Xth Corps only the head of its infantry reached Meung, but it
+sent forward a regiment of Hussars with eight batteries, which arrived
+at Grand Chatre by about three o'clock in the afternoon.
+
+By order of the Headquarter of the IInd Army the Bavarian Corps was now
+to retire to Orleans, to recruit after its heavy losses. But even after
+the arrival of the Xth Corps the Grand Duke had still in his front an
+enemy double his strength, and instead of engaging in a pursuit he had
+rather to study how to maintain himself on the defensive.
+
+_December 10th._--At dawn General Chanzy renewed his attack, which even
+the Bavarians were presently required to join in repulsing.
+
+At seven o'clock the French XVIIth Corps rushed in dense masses on
+Origny, took there 150 prisoners, and forced its way into Villejouan.
+This advance was met directly in front by the 43rd Brigade at Cernay,
+and by the 4th Bavarian Brigade with six batteries at Villechaumont;
+while on the right flank General von Tresckow pushed forward on
+Villorceau and Villemarceau. In this latter village two of his
+battalions, supported by four batteries, resisted every onslaught of the
+French from Origny and Toupenay. At noon the main body of the 17th
+Division advanced to the recapture of Villejouan. Here the French made
+an obstinate stand. An embittered and bloody fight in the streets and
+houses was prolonged till four o'clock, and then fresh troops of the
+enemy came up to recover the post the Germans still held in one detached
+farmstead. The artillery mass of the Prussian Division had, however,
+deployed to the south of Villemarceau; it was joined by two horse
+batteries of the Xth Corps, and the batteries of the 22nd Division also
+came into action from Cernay. The concentric fire of this body of
+artillery wrecked the subsequent attacks of the XVIIth French Corps.
+
+Beaugency was now occupied by part of the Xth Corps. During the previous
+days the left flank of the German fighting position had a secure point
+d'appui on the Loire, but on the right such a support had been wholly
+lacking. The French had nevertheless hitherto made no attempt to take
+advantage of their superiority by a wider extension of their front. For
+the first time on this day did they come in on the unprotected left
+flank of their enemy. The greater part of the XXIst Corps deployed
+opposite to it, between Poisly and Mezieres, and at half-past ten
+strong columns advanced on Villermain. The Bavarians were compelled to
+take up with their 2nd Brigade the "hook" formation from Jouy to
+Coudray. Seven batteries were brought up into that line, and on its
+right flank the 4th Cavalry Division stood in readiness to act. By two
+o'clock two more horse batteries, and from Cravant four batteries of the
+Xth Corps arrived, which massed there with three brigades as a reserve.
+The fire of over a hundred German guns compelled the French to hurry
+their artillery out of action at three o'clock, and weak independent
+attacks by their infantry were repulsed without difficulty by the
+Germans persevering staunchly on the defence.
+
+The French losses in this four days' battle are unknown. The Detachment
+lost 3400 men, of whom the larger half belonged to the two Bavarian
+Divisions.
+
+The Grand Duke had succeeded in holding his own against three Corps of
+the enemy till the arrival of the first reinforcement, and this he owed
+to the bravery of all his troops, and not least to the exertions of the
+artillery. This arm alone lost 255 men and 356 horses. Its material was
+tasked to the utmost, so that finally almost all the steel guns of the
+light batteries of the 22nd Division, and most of the Bavarian, were
+rendered useless by the burning out of their vent-pieces.
+
+The IIIrd Corps had on this day just arrived at St. Denis, and the IXth
+at Vienne opposite Blois; but here, too, the bridge over the Loire was
+found to be blown up.
+
+On the French side, General Chanzy had learnt from the telegraphic
+correspondence of the Government at Tours with General Bourbaki, that
+nothing had come of that commander's attempt to divert part of the
+German IInd Army upon himself. The long delay gave General Chanzy the
+daily apprehension of an attack by it with its full strength; and he
+therefore decided on a retreat, which resulted in the removal of the
+Assembly from Tours to Bordeaux.
+
+In the Grand Duke's Head-quarter the renewed offensive had been decided
+on for December 11th. The villages in his front remained strongly
+occupied, and it was only at noon of that day that the enemy's retreat
+became known. He was at once pursued on the left by the Xth Corps, and
+on the right, south of the forest of Marchenoir, by the Detachment. On
+the north, the 4th Cavalry Division took up the scouting.
+
+A thaw had followed the hard frost, making the march equally difficult
+for friend and foe. The Germans found the roads littered with abandoned
+waggons and cast-away arms; the bodies of men and horses lay unburied in
+the fields, and in the villages were hundreds of wounded uncared for.
+Several thousands of stragglers were captured.
+
+The directions[55] of the Chief of the General Staff from Versailles
+suggested an immediate pursuit, which should render the enemy incapable
+of further action for some time to come; but not to be maintained beyond
+Tours. The IInd Army was then to assemble at Orleans and the Detachment
+at Chartres, and the troops were to obtain the rest they needed. From
+the former point constant and strict watch could be kept on General
+Bourbaki's army, and to this end a connection was to be made with
+General von Zastrow, who with the VIIth Corps was to reach Chatillon sur
+Seine on the 13th. But the operations in this quarter were not to extend
+beyond Bourges and Nevers.
+
+The IInd Army was accordingly in the first instance marched toward the
+Loir, and on the 13th reached the line Oucques--Conan--Blois, which last
+town was found evacuated.
+
+On the 14th the 17th Division marched to Moree, and reached the Loir at
+Freteval. A fight occurred at both these points. Though the French had
+yielded thus far, they seemed resolved to make a firm stand on the Loir,
+and had occupied Cloyes and Vendome in great strength.
+
+In order to attack with success, Prince Frederick Charles first
+proceeded to concentrate all his forces. The IIIrd Corps, which was
+hurrying after the army by forced marches, was in the first instance to
+come up into the interval between the Detachment and the Xth Corps,
+which was to march from Blois and Herbault on Vendome.
+
+But when, on the 15th, the Xth Corps was moving in the prescribed
+direction, its main body encountered so determined a resistance close in
+front of Vendome that it could not be overcome before dark. The troops
+therefore retired to quarters in the rear of Ste. Anne. A left-flank
+detachment had found St. Amand occupied by heavy masses, and halted at
+Gombergean. The IIIrd Corps had advanced in the course of the day on
+Coulommiers, in the vicinity of Vendome, had fought the French at Bel
+Essert, driven them back across the Loir and established connection with
+the Xth. The Grand Duke, in compliance with instructions, stood
+meanwhile on the defensive. The IXth Corps, after the restoration of the
+bridge of Blois, was at last able to follow the army, leaving a brigade
+in occupation of Blois.
+
+A greatly superior force was now assembled opposite the enemy's
+position, and a general attack was decided on; but to give the wearied
+troops some rest it was postponed till the 17th, and meanwhile, on the
+16th, General Chanzy withdrew.
+
+It had certainly been his intention to make a longer stand in the Loir
+angle; but his Generals convinced him that the condition of the troops
+did not permit the prolongation of active hostilities. He accordingly
+gave the order for the retreat of the army at daybreak by way of
+Montoire, St. Calais, and Vibraye to Le Mans.
+
+Thus in the early morning (of the 17th) the Xth Corps found the French
+position in front of Vendome abandoned, and it entered the city without
+opposition. On the French left wing only, where the marching orders had
+not yet arrived, General Jaures made an attack on Freteval, but in the
+evening he followed the other Corps.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[54] In the 22nd Division of the XIth Corps--a Corps of a curiously
+composite character, there were three Thueringian regiments. The 43rd
+Brigade was wholly Thueringian, consisting as it did of the 32nd and 95th
+regiments (2nd and 6th Thueringers), and in the 44th Brigade was the 94th
+(5th Thueringers). It was the 2nd battalion of this last regiment which
+is referred to in the text.
+
+[55] The expression "Directiven" in the text cannot be succinctly
+translated. It was rarely, except when actually himself in the field,
+that the Chief of the General Staff issued actual "orders" to the higher
+commanders. His communications for the most part consisted of
+"Directiven"--messages of general suggestions as to the appropriate line
+of action to be pursued, leaving a wide discretion to the commanders to
+whom they were addressed, and refraining almost entirely from details. A
+collection of Moltke's "Directiven" would be perhaps the finest tribute
+to his military genius.
+
+
+
+
+INTERRUPTION OF IMPORTANT OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS IN DECEMBER.
+
+
+On the 17th of December general directions were issued from Versailles
+to the Armies both to the north and south of Paris.
+
+Now that General von Manteuffel was across the Somme, and Prince
+Frederick Charles had advanced to the Loir, the Germans held possession
+of almost a third of France. The enemy was everywhere driven back; and
+that the German forces should not be split up, it was thought advisable
+that they should be concentrated into three principal groups. The Ist
+Army was therefore to assemble at Beauvais, the Detachment at Chartres,
+the IInd Army near Orleans, where the troops were to have the needful
+rest, and their full efficiency was to be re-established by the arrival
+of reservists and equipment. If the French should engage in any new
+enterprises, they were to be allowed to approach within striking
+distance, and then were to be driven back by a vigorous offensive.
+
+For the IInd Army there was but little prospect at present of overtaking
+the enemy beyond the Loir; and the reports from the Upper Loire now
+necessitated the bestowal of increased attention in that direction. News
+came from Gien that the posts left there had been driven back to Ouzouer
+sur Loire; and it seemed not unlikely that General Bourbaki would take
+the opportunity of advancing by Montargis towards Paris, or at least
+towards Orleans, which for the moment was occupied only by part of the
+Ist Bavarian Corps.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles had got quit of his enemy probably for some
+considerable time, and he decided, in accordance with directions from
+Versailles, to assemble his forces at Orleans and maintain a waiting
+attitude. Only the Xth Corps was to remain behind in observation on the
+Loir. To secure immediate support for the Bavarian Corps in any event,
+the IXth Corps, on its arrival from Blois at La Chapelle Vendomoise on
+the 16th December, was ordered to march to Beaugency that same day, and
+to Orleans on the morrow. It covered nearly 52 miles in twenty-four
+hours, notwithstanding the badness of the weather. The IIIrd Corps
+followed it.
+
+However, it was soon known that the enemy's detachment which had been
+seen at Gien did not form part of a large body of troops, and was
+intrenching itself at Briare for its own safety. So the Germans retired
+into comfortable rest-quarters, the Ist Bavarian Corps at Orleans, the
+IIIrd there and along to Beaugency, the IXth in the plain of the Loire
+up as far as Chateauneuf, with a strong post at Montargis.
+
+The Bavarian Corps was later transferred to Etampes, to recover at its
+leisure, to recruit its numbers, and refit as to its clothing and
+equipment. Nor was the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg's detachment in a
+condition to follow General Chanzy beyond the Loir. Six weeks of daily
+marching and fighting had tried the troops to the utmost. The dreadful
+weather and the state of the roads had reduced their clothing and
+foot-gear to a miserable state. A reconnoissance beyond the Loir showed
+that the French could be overtaken by only long and rapid marches. So
+the Grand Duke allowed his troops a long rest, from the 18th, in the
+villages on the left bank of the river.
+
+Of the IIIrd Army, General von Rheinbaben, on the other hand, occupied
+with the three Brigades of the 5th Cavalry Division Courtlain, Brou, and
+Chartres, strengthened by five battalions of Guard Landwehr and four
+batteries. A letter from the Chief of the General Staff at Versailles
+had pointed out that this cavalry might probably be employed with great
+success in attacking the flank and rear of the enemy's retreating
+columns, and the Crown Prince had already given orders that it should
+push forward by way of Brou in full strength on the 15th. Contrary to
+these orders, the Division obeyed a subsequent order which reached it on
+the 16th from the Grand Duke, under whose command the Division had not
+been placed, to take up a position on the Yeres.
+
+On this day patrols had found the roads open to Montmirail and
+Mondoubleau, except for French infantry in front of Cloyes, which
+retired after a short fray. On the left, a connection was opened with
+the 4th Cavalry Division. On the 17th, the 12th Cavalry Brigade entered
+Cloyes, already evacuated by the French; on the 13th it advanced on
+Arrou, and only General von Barby (commanding the 11th Cavalry Brigade)
+marched on Droue with a force of all arms, where he surprised the French
+at their cooking, and carried off much booty.
+
+On the 18th, the 12th Brigade did make prisoners of a few stragglers
+there, but the other two brigades only made a short march to the
+westward to La Bazoche Gouet and Arville, whence the enemy had quite
+disappeared. To the south of Arville a battalion of the Guard Landwehr
+drove the French infantry out of St. Agil.
+
+With this the pursuit ended on the 19th. The Division retired on Nogent
+le Rotrou by the Grand Duke's desire, and subsequently undertook the
+observation of the left bank of the Seine at Vernon and Dreux.
+
+The Grand Duke's Detachment left its quarters on the Loir on the 21st.
+The 22nd Division occupied Nogent le Roi, and the 17th Chartres, till the
+24th. The 4th Bavarian Brigade rejoined its own Corps at Orleans.
+
+During the remainder of December only the Xth Corps had any fighting, it
+having been detailed to keep watch beyond the Loir from Blois and
+Vendome.
+
+Two brigades were set on march towards Tours on the 20th. On the further
+side of Monnaie they met the newly-formed troops of General
+Ferri-Pisani, 10,000 to 15,000 strong, which were advancing from Angers
+and had passed through Tours.
+
+The soaked ground made the deployment of the artillery and cavalry
+exceedingly difficult. The cavalry, indeed, could only pursue the
+retreating French in deep columns along the high roads, thus suffering
+severely from the enemy's fire delivered at very short range.
+
+On the following day General von Woyna (commanding 39th Infantry
+Brigade) advanced unopposed with six battalions on the bridge at Tours.
+A light battery was brought up on the bank of the river and dispersed
+the rabble firing from the opposite shore, but it would have cost too
+many lives to storm the city, which, since the removal of the seat of
+Government, had ceased to be of any great importance. The detachment was
+withdrawn to Monnaie, and the Xth Corps went into quarters, the 19th
+Division at Blois, the 20th at Herbault and Vendome.
+
+From the latter place on the 27th, a detachment of two battalions, one
+squadron, and two guns marched through Montoire on Souge on the Braye,
+and there met a greatly superior force. General Chanzy had in fact
+marched a Division of his XVIIth Corps towards Vendome in order to draw
+the Prussians away from Tours. Behind St. Quentin the weak Prussian
+detachment found itself hemmed in between the river and the cliff,
+enclosed on every side, and under heavy fire. Lieutenant-Colonel von
+Boltenstern succeeded, however, in cutting his way through. Without
+firing a shot the two Hanoverian battalions hurled themselves on the
+dense body of tirailleurs blocking their retreat, and fought their way
+out fighting hand to hand. Through the gap thus made the guns dashed
+after firing one round of grape-shot, and notwithstanding losses to the
+teams they ultimately got back safely to Montoire. The squadron also
+charged through two lines of riflemen and rejoined the infantry.
+
+As a result of this incident General von Kraatz Koschlau (commanding
+20th Division) brought up the remainder of his Division from Herbault,
+determined to clear up the situation by a fresh reconnoissance. Four
+battalions were to advance from Vendome, and the 1st Cavalry Brigade
+from Freteval was to scout towards Epuisay. On this same day, however,
+General de Jouffroy was marching with two Divisions to the attack of
+Vendome.
+
+When, at about ten o'clock, the reconnoitring force from Vendome reached
+the Azay, it came under a hot fire from the further slope of the valley.
+Soon after six hostile battalions attacked its flank from the south, and
+repeated notice was brought in that considerable forces of the enemy
+were marching on Vendome direct, from north of Azay by Espereuse.
+General von Kraatz perceived that he would have to face a planned attack
+made by very superior numbers, and determined to restrict himself to the
+local defence of Vendome. Under cover of a battalion firmly maintaining
+its position at Huchepie, he accomplished in perfect order the retreat
+of the detachment, which then took up a position on the railway
+embankment to the west of the city.
+
+Further to the north the hostile columns, advancing over Espereuse, had
+already reached Bel Air. A battalion hastening up from Vendome
+re-occupied the chateau, but being outflanked on the right by a superior
+force withdrew, and likewise took up a position behind the railway. At
+about two o'clock the French attacked this position in dense swarms of
+sharpshooters, but came under the quick-fire of six batteries in
+position on the heights behind Vendome, which caused their right wing to
+give way. A column of the enemy advanced along the left bank of the Loir
+from Varennes against this artillery position, but hastily retreated out
+of range of the fire from it.
+
+The attacks directed against the railway from Bel Air and Tuileries were
+more serious; but eight companies posted there repelled them. At four
+o'clock the French once more advanced in strength; fortune wavered for
+some time, and at length, as darkness fell, they retired.
+
+The 1st Cavalry Brigade, accompanied by two companies and a horse
+battery, marched on this day on Danze. Captain Spitz, with a handful of
+his Westphalian Fusiliers fell on two batteries halted there, and
+captured two guns and three limbers. With these and fifty prisoners
+General von Luederitz (commanding 1st Cavalry Brigade) returned to
+Freteval by about one o'clock, after pursuing the enemy as far as
+Epuisay.
+
+The attempt of the French on Vendome had utterly failed, and they now
+retreated to a greater distance. General von Kraatz, however, was
+ordered, in the prospect of a greater enterprise to be described later,
+to remain meanwhile in waiting on the Loir.
+
+
+
+
+THE XIVTH CORPS IN DECEMBER.
+
+
+In the south-eastern theatre of war the French had at last decided on
+some definite action.
+
+Garibaldi's Corps, assembled at Autun, advanced toward Dijon on the
+24th (November); its detachments closed up by Sombernon and St. Seine,
+with various skirmishes, and subjected to night surprises. Cremer's
+Division advanced as far as Gevrey from the south. But as soon as
+reinforcements reached Dijon from Gray and Is sur Tille, the enemy was
+driven back, and now General von Werder on his part ordered the 1st
+Brigade of his Corps to march on Autun. General Keller (commanding 3rd
+Infantry Brigade, Baden Division), arrived in front of the town on
+December 1st, driving the hostile detachments before him. The
+preparations had been made to attack on the following day, when orders
+came for a rapid retreat. Fresh troops had become necessary at
+Chatillon, to replace the posts which had been stationed to protect the
+railway and which had been surprised at Gray, to cope with sorties by
+the garrison of Besancon and also to observe Langres.
+
+The Prussian Brigade (26th) marched on Langres, along with two cavalry
+regiments and three batteries, and on the 16th it met the French in the
+vicinity of Longeau, in number about 2000. They were repulsed, losing
+200 wounded, fifty prisoners, two guns, and two ammunition waggons.
+General von der Goltz (commanding the Brigade) in the next few days
+surrounded Langres, drove the Gardes-Mobiles posted outside into the
+fortress, and occupied a position opposite the northern front for the
+protection of the railways.
+
+In the country south of Dijon fresh assemblages of French troops had
+also now been observed. To disperse these General von Werder advanced on
+the 18th with two Baden Brigades on Nuits. In Boncourt, close to the
+town on the east, the advanced guard met with lively opposition, but
+carried the place by noon. The French, aided by their batteries posted
+on the heights west of Nuits, offered an obstinate defence in the deep
+railway cutting and at the Meuzin brook. When the main body of the
+Brigade came up at two o'clock, General von Gluemer (commanding Baden
+Division) ordered a general attack. With heavy losses, especially in
+superior officers, the infantry now rushed across the open plain at the
+double against the enemy, who was under cover, and who, after
+maintaining a fire at short range, was driven back on Nuits so late as
+four o'clock in the course of a hand-to-hand struggle. At five o'clock
+he abandoned the place before the on-coming battalions.
+
+The Germans had had to do with Cremer's Division, 10,000 strong, which
+lost 1700 men, among them 650 unwounded prisoners. The Baden Division
+had lost 900 men. It encamped for the night on the market-place of the
+town and in the villages to the eastward. Next morning the French were
+found to have retreated still further, but the Germans were not strong
+enough for pursuit. The XIVth Corps had already been obliged to spare
+seven battalions for the investment of Belfort. General von Werder
+therefore returned to Dijon, where he assembled all the forces still
+left to him with those of General von der Goltz from Langres, and waited
+to see whether the enemy would again advance against him. But the month
+of December ended without any further disturbance.
+
+
+
+
+THE IST ARMY IN DECEMBER.
+
+
+While the IInd Army was fighting on the Loire, General von Manteuffel,
+after the victory of Amiens, marched on Rouen.
+
+General Farre was indeed at Arras, in the rear of this movement, but the
+disorder in which his troops had retired after the battle made it
+probable that he would do nothing, at any rate for the present. The 3rd
+Brigade, too, was left in Amiens, with two cavalry regiments and three
+batteries, to occupy the place and protect the important line of railway
+to Laon.
+
+The outlook to the west was more serious than to the north, for from
+thence at this juncture hostile forces threatened to interfere with the
+investment of Paris. General Briand was at Rouen with some 20,000 men,
+and had advanced his leading troops up to the Epte, where at Beauvais
+and Gisors he came in contact with the Guard Dragoon regiment and the
+Saxon Cavalry Division detached from the Army of the Meuse. The
+detachment of infantry which accompanied the latter had lost 150 men and
+a gun in a night surprise.
+
+When the Ist Army reached the Epte on December 3rd, both bodies of
+cavalry joined its further march, and the French retired behind the
+Andelles. The VIIIth Corps reached the vicinity of Rouen after petty
+skirmishes by the way, and found an intrenched position abandoned at
+Isneauville; and on December 5th General von Goeben entered the chief
+city of Normandy. The 29th Brigade advanced on Pont Audemer, the Ist
+Corps crossed the Seine higher up at Les Andelys and Pont de l'Arche.
+Vernon and Evreux were occupied, whence numbers of Gardes-Mobiles had
+retreated by railway to Liseux. On the northern bank the Guard Dragoon
+Regiment reconnoitred as far as Bolbec, and the Uhlan Brigade found no
+enemy in Dieppe.
+
+The French had retired to Havre, and a considerable force had been
+conveyed in ships that were in readiness, to Honfleur on the other bank
+of the Seine. The 16th Division continued its march on Havre, reaching
+Bolbec and Lillebonne on the 11th.
+
+The already-mentioned directions from Versailles had been communicated
+in advance by the Chief of the General Staff, and in accordance with
+them General Manteuffel now decided on leaving only the Ist Corps on the
+Lower Seine, and returning with the VIIIth to the Somme, where the
+French in Arras were now becoming active.
+
+Besides making this evident by various small encounters, on December 9th
+they had attacked a company detailed to protect the reconstruction of
+the railway at Ham, surprising it at night, and taking most of the men
+prisoners; while on the 11th several French battalions advanced as far
+as La Fere.
+
+To check their further progress, the Army of the Meuse had meantime sent
+detachments to Soissons and Compiegne. General Count von der Groeben[56]
+(commanding 3rd Cavalry Division) took up a position at Roye with part
+of the garrison of Amiens, and on the 16th met the 15th Division at
+Montdidier, which immediately moved up to the Somme.
+
+Only the citadel of Amiens now remained in German occupation; but
+General von Manteuffel, who had not approved of the evacuation of the
+city, ordered its immediate reoccupation. The inhabitants had, however,
+remained peaceable, and on the 20th the 16th Division, which had given
+up the attack on Havre, arrived by way of Dieppe.
+
+A reconnoissance fight near Querrieux made it certain that great numbers
+of French were drawn up on the Hallue, and General von Manteuffel now
+drew in the whole (VIIIth) Corps on Amiens. Reinforcements were shortly
+to be expected, for the 3rd Reserve Division was on the march, and had
+already reached St. Quentin. The Ist Corps was also ordered to send a
+brigade from Rouen to Amiens by railway, and the Commanding General
+determined to take the offensive at once with 22,600 men, all his
+available force at the moment.
+
+General Faidherbe had assembled two Corps, the XXIInd and XXIIIrd. His
+advance on Ham and La Fere, intended to divert the Prussians from
+attacking Havre, had succeeded. He next turned toward Amiens, advanced
+to within nine miles of the city, and now stood, with 43,000 men and
+eighty-two guns, fronting to the west behind the Hallue. Two Divisions
+held the left bank of this stream for about seven miles, from its
+confluence at Daours up to Contay, two standing further back, at Corbie
+and Fravillers. The Somme secured the left flank.
+
+On December 23rd General von Manteuffel, with the VIIIth Corps, advanced
+on the road to Albert. The 3rd Brigade of the Ist Corps formed his
+reserve. His design was to keep the French engaged by the 15th Division
+on their front and left wing, and with the 16th Division to outflank
+their right. The unexpected extension of the French right wing prevented
+this, and it became a frontal battle along the whole line. The greater
+height of the eastern bank afforded the French a commanding artillery
+position, and the villages lying at the foot had in every instance to be
+stormed.
+
+The French had drawn in their advanced posts to this line when at eleven
+o'clock the head of the 15th Division reached the grove of Querrieux,
+and brought up a battery. Two battalions of the 29th Brigade took the
+village at mid-day at the first onslaught, crossed the stream, and drove
+the French on the further bank out of Noyelles; but they now found
+themselves overwhelmed by an artillery and infantry fire from all sides.
+The East Prussians[57] stormed the acclivity at about four o'clock, and
+took two guns which were in action, but were forced to fall back into
+the village before the advancing French masses.
+
+Soon after mid-day Fechencourt was won on the left, and Bussy on the
+right; and the enemy after a feeble resistance was driven back across
+the stream. On the other hand, the German Artillery could at first do
+nothing against the strong and well-posted batteries of the enemy.
+Vecquemont, however, was stormed, though stoutly defended, and a bitter
+street-fight lasted till the afternoon.
+
+The 15th Division, against the intention of General Manteuffel, had
+become involved in fighting before the 16th, engaged further to the
+left, could afford it any assistance. Not till four o'clock did the 31st
+Brigade arrive in front of Behencourt, when, crossing the river by
+flying bridges, it threw the enemy back into the village, where he
+maintained a stout resistance, but had ultimately to give way. The 32nd
+Brigade, on the extreme left, crossed the Hallue and entered
+Bavelincourt.
+
+Thus all the hamlets on the river were in German possession; but the
+short December day was closing in, and further progress had to be
+postponed till the morrow. Even in the dark the French made several
+attempts to recover the positions they had lost, especially about
+Contay, where they outflanked the German position. But their attacks
+were repulsed both there and at Noyelles. They succeeded, indeed, in
+getting into Vecquemont, but were driven out again, and were lost to the
+Prussians now following across the stream, who even seized Daours, so
+that ultimately the Germans held dominion over every passage of the
+Hallue.
+
+The battle was over by six o'clock. The troops moved into alarm-quarters
+in the captured villages, their foreposts standing close in front of the
+outlets.
+
+The attack had cost the Germans 900 men; the defence had cost the French
+about 1000, besides 1000 unwounded prisoners who were taken into Amiens.
+
+At daybreak on the 24th the French opened fire on General Manteuffel's
+position in the angle bounded by the Hallue and the Somme.
+
+It having been ascertained that the enemy's strength was almost double
+that of the Germans, it was decided this day on the latter side to
+remain on the defensive, pending the arrival of reinforcements, and to
+strengthen the defence of the positions gained. The Army-Reserve was
+pushed forward to Corbie to threaten the left flank of the French.
+
+But at two o'clock in the afternoon General Faidherbe took up his
+retreat. His insufficiently-equipped troops had suffered fearfully
+through the bitter winter night, and were much shaken by the
+unfavourable issue of the fighting of the previous day. He therefore
+drew them back within the area of the covering fortresses. When on the
+25th the two Prussian Divisions and the cavalry pursued beyond Albert,
+and then close up to Arras and as far as Cambrai, they found no formed
+bodies at all in front of those places, and only captured some hundreds
+of stragglers.
+
+When General Manteuffel had thus disposed of the enemy, he sent General
+von Mirus (commanding 6th Cavalry Brigade) to invest Peronne, while he
+himself returned to Rouen.
+
+Since it had detached to Amiens six battalions as a reinforcement, the
+Ist Army Corps (at Rouen) now remained only two brigades strong. The
+French had 10,000 men on the right bank, and 12,000 on the left bank of
+the lower Seine. And these forces had come very close to Rouen;
+particularly on the south side within nine miles. Meanwhile, however,
+the Commanding-General had ordered back the 2nd Brigade from Amiens, and
+on its arrival the hostile bodies were once more driven back.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[56] Lieut.-General, not to be confounded with Major-General of same
+name commanding 14th Cavalry Brigade.
+
+[57] Men of the 2nd battalion 33rd Regiment (East Prussian Fusiliers),
+belonging to the VIIIth Corps, whose territory is the Rhine Provinces.
+It would be interesting to know how an East Prussian Regiment came to be
+incorporated into the Rhineland Corps. The Ist is the East Prussian
+Corps, and it was also under General v. Manteuffel, who had been the
+Corps Commander until the beginning of December, when its command passed
+to General v. Bentheim.
+
+
+
+
+THE REDUCTION OF MEZIERES.
+
+(1st January, 1871.)
+
+
+In the northern section of hostilities, before the end of the year, the
+siege of Mezieres was brought to an end. After the battle of Sedan the
+Commandant had contributed supplies from the magazines of the fortress
+for the maintenance of the great mass of prisoners, and it had remained,
+therefore, for the time exempt from attack. Later the place precluded
+the use of the railroad; still it was only kept under provisional
+observation till the 19th of December, when, after the fall of Montmedy,
+the 14th Division moved up before Mezieres.
+
+The garrison numbered only 2000 men, but it was effectively assisted by
+bands of volunteers outside, who displayed extraordinary activity in
+this broken and wooded country. The place was not completely invested
+till the 25th.
+
+Mezieres stands on a mountain-spur which is surrounded on three sides by
+the Moselle,[58] but it is hemmed by a ring of heights. The character of
+the defences, which had been strengthened by Vauban, with their numerous
+salient angles, was not calculated to resist modern long-range
+artillery. The place exposed an isolated rampart of masonry in a
+circumference of from 2160 to 3250 yards, and although the long delay
+had been utilized in repairing the weak points by throwing up
+earthworks, a bombardment could not fail to be destructive to the
+defenders.
+
+When Verdun had surrendered, heavy siege guns were brought by rail from
+Clermont to a position close in front of the southern face of the
+fortress. The only hindrance to the erection of the batteries was the
+state of the soil, frozen to a depth of twenty inches; and at a quarter
+past eight on the morning of the 31st of December 68 siege guns and 8
+field-pieces opened fire. At first the fortress replied vigorously, but
+by the afternoon its artillery was utterly silenced, and the white flag
+was hoisted next day. The garrison were taken prisoners; considerable
+stores and 132 guns fell into the hands of the besiegers. But the chief
+advantage gained was the opening of a new line of railway to Paris.
+
+FOOTNOTE:
+
+[58] Slip of pen for "Meuse."
+
+
+
+
+PARIS IN DECEMBER.
+
+
+In Paris General Ducrot had been busily employed in making good the
+losses sustained in the battle of Villiers. A part of the greatly
+reduced Ist Corps had to be consigned to the reserve; the IInd Army was
+reorganized. A projected sortie by way of the peninsula of Gennevillers
+and the heights of Franconville had not been approved by the government.
+There was the confident expectation of seeing the Army of Orleans appear
+within a short time before the capital, and steps were being taken to
+reach it the hand, when on the 6th December a letter from General von
+Moltke announced the defeat of General d'Aurelle and the occupation of
+Orleans. A sortie to the south would thenceforth be aimless, and after
+long deliberation it was at length decided to break through the enemy's
+lines in a northern direction by a sortie in great force.
+
+It was true that the Moree brook afforded the besiegers some cover on
+that side, but only so long as the ice would not bear. And there were
+but three German corps of the gross strength of 81,200, extended over a
+front of about twenty-seven miles.[59]
+
+By way of preparation earthworks were begun to be thrown up on the 13th,
+between Bondy and Courneuve, the forts of the north front were furnished
+with a heavier artillery equipment, and the plateau of Mont Avron was
+occupied by batteries. Ninety rounds of ammunition were served out to
+each man, with six days' rations; and four days' fodder for the horses.
+Packs were not to be carried, but rolled tent-pieces were to be worn as
+breast-protection. December 19th was the day first set for the
+enterprise, but there was a postponement to the 21st.
+
+Thus, during the larger half of December the investing army had remained
+almost wholly undisturbed by the defenders. Regular food, warm winter
+clothing, and abundant supplies of comforts which the exertions of the
+postal service afforded, had maintained the troops in a thoroughly
+satisfactory condition.
+
+The preparations which the garrison was making for a new effort did not
+escape the notice of the besieging forces. Deserters brought in reports
+of an imminent sortie. On the 20th information came from the posts of
+observation that large masses of troops were assembling about Merlan and
+Noisy le Sec; and early on the 21st the 2nd Guard Division, by order of
+the Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Meuse, stood in readiness at
+the passages of the Moree. Part of the 1st Division remained in reserve
+at Gonesse; the other portion was to be relieved by the 7th Division,
+and made available for action. On the right wing the Guard Landwehr
+Division occupied the section from Chatou to Carrieres St. Denis; on the
+left a brigade of the Saxon Corps held Sevran. The 4th Infantry Division
+of the IInd Corps moved to Malnoue to support, in case of need, the
+Wuertembergers, to whom was allotted the task of holding resolutely the
+advanced position of Joinville opposite the French.
+
+To divert the attention of the Germans from the true point of attack, a
+brisk fire was to be opened in early morning from Fort Valerien; strong
+bodies were to assail the right wing of the Guard Corps, General Vinoy
+was to lead the IIIrd Army against the Saxons, and Admiral de la
+Ronciere was to fall upon Le Bourget with his Army Corps. This latter
+post, projecting as it did so prominently, it was essential to seize
+first of all, and not till then was General Ducrot, with the IInd Paris
+Army, to cross the Moree near Blanc Mesnil and Aulnay.
+
+(COMBAT OF LE BOURGET, 21ST DECEMBER.)--Le Bourget was held by only four
+companies of the Queen Elizabeth Regiment, and one Guard Rifle
+battalion. When the mist rose at a quarter to eight, there was rained on
+the garrison a heavy fire from the guns of the forts and many batteries,
+as well as from armour-clad railway trucks. Half an hour later closed
+hostile columns marched on the place from east and west. In the former
+direction its outskirts were successfully defended for some time against
+seven French battalions, and on the opposite side five more were brought
+to a halt by the quick fire of the defenders in front of the
+cemetery[60]; but a detachment of marine fusiliers penetrated unhindered
+into the village by its northern entrance. Pressed upon on all sides by
+overwhelming numbers, the defenders were compelled to fall back into the
+southern part of the village. The garrison of the cemetery also strove
+to force its way thither, but part of it fell into the enemy's hands.
+The French advanced only step by step, suffering heavy loss in bloody
+street-fighting, but they did not succeed in obtaining possession of the
+buildings or glass-factory. Five fresh battalions of the French reserve
+marched up from St. Denis on the gas-works, and battered down the
+garden-wall with cannon-fire, but still could not crush there the steady
+resistance of the Germans.
+
+At nine o'clock the latter were reinforced by one company, and at ten
+o'clock by seven more companies, which in a bloody hand-to-hand
+struggle, fought their way to the cemetery and glass-factory. By eleven
+the last bodies of assailants were driven out, and Le Bourget, in
+expectation of a renewed attack, was occupied by fifteen companies. Two
+batteries of field artillery, which had been in brisk action on the
+Moree, were brought up to the village.
+
+General Ducrot had meanwhile waited in vain for the signal which was to
+have announced the capture of Le Bourget. He had pushed forward the
+heads of his columns beyond Bondy and Drancy, when he was warned by the
+disastrous issue of the struggle on his left to abandon his intended
+attack on the line of the Moree.
+
+The anticipated important enterprise lapsed into a mere cannonade, to
+which the German field-guns did their best to reply. In the afternoon
+the French retired from the field.
+
+They had lost, by their own account, about 600 men. The troops of the
+Prussian Guard Corps lost 400, but 360 prisoners remained in their
+hands. In the evening the outposts resumed their previous positions.
+
+The various feigned attacks of the Parisian garrison were without
+effect, and produced no alteration in the dispositions made on the
+German side. An advance from St. Denis against Stains was repulsed, and
+two gunboats on the Seine had to go about in consequence of the fire of
+four field batteries on Orgemont. The trivial sortie on Chatou was
+scarcely heeded. General Vinoy indeed led forward a large force along
+the right bank of the Marne, but that was not till the afternoon, when
+the fight at Le Bourget was over. The Saxon outposts retired into the
+fighting position near Le Chenay. One of the battalions massed there
+drove the enemy out of Maison Blanche that same evening, another made a
+grasp at Ville Evrart, where fighting went on till midnight; it lost
+seventy men, but brought in 600 prisoners. Next morning the French
+abandoned Ville Evrart, under heavy fire from the German artillery on
+the heights on the opposite side of the river.
+
+Paris had now been invested for three months. The always distasteful
+expedient of a bombardment of a place so extensive could not of itself
+bring about a decisive result; and on the German side there was the full
+conviction that only a regular siege could accomplish the wished-for
+end. But the operations of the engineers had to be delayed till the
+artillery should be in a position to co-operate with them.
+
+It has already been shown that the siege-artillery had been first
+employed against those fortified places which interrupted the rearward
+communications of the army. There were indeed 235 heavy pieces standing
+ready at Villacoublay; but it had proved impossible as yet to bring up
+the necessary ammunition for the attack which, once begun, must on no
+account be interrupted.
+
+By the end of November, railway communication had been restored up to
+Chelles, but the greater part of the ammunition had meanwhile been
+deposited at Lagny, and from thence would now have to be carried forward
+by the country roads. The ordinary two-wheeled country carts proved
+totally unfit for the transport of shells, and only 2000 four-wheeled
+waggons had been collected by requisitions made over a wide area. There
+were brought up from Metz 960 more with horses sent from Germany, and
+even the teams of the IIIrd Army were taken into the service, though
+they were almost indispensable just then to contribute towards the
+efficiency of the army fighting on the Loire. Finally, all the draught
+horses of the pontoon columns, of the field-bridge trains, and of the
+trench-tool columns were brought into the ammunition-transport service.
+A new difficulty arose when the breaking-up of the ice necessitated the
+removal of the pontoon bridges over the Seine. The roads were so bad
+that it took the waggons nine days to get from Nanteuil to Villacoublay
+and back. Many broke down under their loads, and the drivers constantly
+took to flight. And moreover, at the instance of the Chief of the Staff
+there was now laid upon the artillery yet an additional task to be
+carried out forthwith.
+
+Though the besieged had not hitherto succeeded in forcing their way
+through the enemy's lines, they now set about widening their elbow room,
+with intent that by their counter-approaches the ring of investment
+should be further and yet further pushed back, until at last it should
+reach the breaking point. On the south side the French entrenchments
+already extended beyond Vitry and Villejuif to the Seine; and on the
+north, between Drancy and Fort de l'Est, there was an extensive system
+of trenches and batteries reaching to within 1100 yards of Le Bourget,
+which in part might in a manner be dignified with the title of a regular
+engineer-attack. The hard frost had indeed hindered the further progress
+of these works, but they were armed with artillery and occupied by the
+IInd Army. And further, a singularly favourable point of support for a
+sortie to the east as well as to the north, was afforded to the French
+in the commanding eminence of Mont Avron, which, armed with seventy
+heavy guns, projected into the Marne valley like a wedge between the
+northern and southern investing lines.
+
+(BOMBARDMENT OF MONT AVRON, DECEMBER 27TH.)--In order to expel the
+French from this position fifty heavy guns from Germany, and twenty-six
+from before La Fere were brought up under the command of Colonel
+Bartsch. By the exertions of a whole battalion as a working party, two
+groups of battery emplacements were erected in spite of the severe frost
+on the western slope of the heights behind Raincy and Gagny, and on the
+left upland of the Marne Valley near Noisy le Grand, thus encompassing
+Mont Avron on two sides at a distance of from 2160 to 3250 feet.
+
+At half-past eight on the morning of 27th December those seventy-six
+guns opened fire. A heavy snowstorm interfered with accurate aim, and
+prevented any observation of the execution done. Mont Avron and Forts
+Nogent and Rosny replied rapidly and heavily.
+
+The German batteries lost two officers and twenty-five gunners, several
+gun-carriages broke down under their own fire, and everything pointed to
+the prospect that no definite result would be obtained on that day.
+
+But the batteries had fired more effectually than had been supposed. The
+clear weather of the 28th allowed of greater precision; the Prussian
+fire proved most telling, making fearful havoc in the numerous and
+exposed French infantry garrison. Mont Avron was silenced, and only the
+forts kept up a feeble fire. General Trochu, who was present in person,
+ordered the abandonment of the position, which was so effectually
+accomplished in the night by the energetic commander, Colonel Stoffel,
+that only one disabled gun was left behind.
+
+On the 29th the French fire was silent, and the hill was found deserted.
+The Germans had no intention of continuing to occupy the position. Their
+batteries now turned their fire on the forts, which suffered severely,
+and on the earthworks near Bondy.
+
+By the end of the year the besiegers had succeeded in collecting the
+most indispensable ammunition in Villacoublay. The engineer operations
+were entrusted to General Kameke; the artillery was under the command of
+General Prince Hohenlohe.[61] The battery emplacements had long been
+finished, and with the dawn of the new year 100 guns of the largest
+calibres stood ready to open fire on the south front of Paris.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[59] Viz., the section of the investment line on the northern side, from
+the Marne above, to the Seine below Paris, held by the Army of the
+Meuse, consisting of the IVth, the Guard, and XIIth (Saxon) Corps.
+
+[60] "Kirchhof" seems to stand in German not only for our "churchyard,"
+but also for our "graveyard," in which latter there need be no church.
+In the case of Le Bourget the church stands in the village street--the
+reader will remember de Neuville's striking picture--and the graveyard
+lies outside the shabby village, and has the aspect of the modern
+"cemetery." That term has therefore been used.
+
+[61] Details as to the personnel of the artillery and engineer commands
+of the siege operations will be found on a later page.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARMY OF THE EAST UNDER GENERAL BOURBAKI.
+
+
+While the French forces were engaged in constant fighting, in the north
+on the Seine and the Somme, in the south on the Loire and the Saone,
+General Bourbaki's army had nowhere made itself prominent. Since the 8th
+of December, when the 6th Cavalry Division had reported its presence at
+Vierzon, all trace of it had been lost. It was of course of the greatest
+importance to the supreme Command that it should know the whereabouts of
+so large an army; only the IInd German Army could acquire this
+information, and on the 22nd it received instructions to obtain the
+required enlightenment by means of reconnaissances.
+
+On this errand General von Rantzau (commanding 25th Cavalry Brigade) set
+out from Montargis by the right bank of the Loire towards Briare, where
+he found that the French had abandoned their position on the 25th; in
+the course of the next few days he met them, and was defeated.
+
+The Hessian detachment was reinforced to a strength of three battalions,
+four squadrons and six guns, but was nevertheless driven back to Gien on
+the 1st of January. The French had displayed a force of several thousand
+Gardes-Mobiles, twelve guns, and a body of marine infantry. A noticeable
+fact was that some of the prisoners brought in belonged to the XVIIIth
+French Corps, which formed part of the Ist Army of the Loire.
+
+A regiment of the 6th Cavalry Division sent out to reconnoitre into the
+Sologne, returned with the report that strong hostile columns were
+marching on Aubigny Ville. On the other hand, two waggon-drivers who had
+been taken prisoners declared that the French troops had been already
+moved from Bourges by rail, and the newspaper reports also pointed to
+the same conclusion; still, too much weight could not be attached to
+mere rumour as against circumstantial intelligence. It was therefore
+assumed at Versailles that the Ist Army of the Loire was still about
+Bourges, and that General Bourbaki, when again in a condition to fight,
+would act in concert with General Chanzy.
+
+The two armies might attack the Germans at Orleans from opposite sides,
+or one might engage and detain them there, while the other marched to
+relieve the capital.
+
+This, in fact, was what General Chanzy had in view. Since the 21st of
+December he had been resting in quarters in and about Le Mans, where
+railways from four directions facilitated the bringing up of new levies.
+His troops had no doubt great hardships to contend with there. In lack
+of shelter for such great masses part had to camp out under canvas in
+the snow, and suffered severely from the intense cold. The hospitals
+were crammed with wounded and small-pox patients. On the other hand,
+this close concentration was favourable to the reorganization of the
+details and the restoration of discipline; and the news from Paris urged
+the General to renewed action.
+
+General Trochu had sent word that Paris unaided could not accomplish her
+freedom. Even if a sortie should prove successful, the necessary
+supplies for the maintenance of an army could not be carried with it,
+and therefore nothing but the simultaneous appearance of an army from
+without could meet the case. Now General Chanzy was quite ready to march
+on Paris, but it was indispensable that he should first know exactly
+what Generals Bourbaki and Faidherbe were doing.
+
+It was clearly evident that concerted action on the part of three great
+Army Corps could only be devised and controlled by the chief power. The
+General therefore sent an officer of his Staff on the 23rd of December
+to Gambetta at Lyons, to express his conviction that only a combined and
+prompt advance could avert the fall of the capital. But the Minister
+believed that he knew better. The first news of a quite different
+disposition of Bourbaki's army only reached General Chanzy on the 29th,
+when it was already entered upon. Nor in other respects did Gambetta's
+reply convey either distinct orders or sufficient information. "You have
+decimated the Mecklenburgers," wrote Gambetta, "the Bavarians no longer
+exist, the rest of the German Army is a prey to disquietude and
+exhaustion. Let us persevere, and we shall drive these hordes from our
+soil with empty hands." The plan of the Provisional Government was to be
+the one "which would most demoralize the German army."[62]
+
+Under instructions so obscure from the chief authority General Chanzy,
+relying on his own strength, determined to make his way to Paris without
+other assistance; but he soon found himself in serious difficulties.
+
+On the German side there was no time to be lost in utilizing their
+position between the two hostile armies, advantageous as it was so long
+as those armies were not too near. The simultaneous attacks on the 31st
+December at Vendome on the Loir, and at Briare on the Loire, seemed to
+indicate that the two were already acting on a concerted plan.
+
+On New Year's day Prince Frederick Charles received telegraphic
+instructions to re-cross the Loir without delay, and strike at General
+Chanzy, as being the nearest and most imminently dangerous enemy. With
+this object the IInd Army was strengthened by the addition of the XIIIth
+Corps of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (17th and 22nd Divisions) and the
+2nd and 4th Divisions of Cavalry. And in addition the 5th Cavalry
+Division was detailed to the duty of covering the right flank of the
+advance.
+
+Only the 25th (Hessian) Division was to be left in Orleans as a possible
+check on General Bourbaki, and to maintain observation on Gien. But as a
+further provision, in case of need against a possible advance of the
+IInd Army of the Loire, General von Zastrow was ordered to the Armancon
+with the VIIth Corps;[63] and further the IInd Corps from the besieging
+lines was set in march to Montargis.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles' arrangement was to have his three corps
+assembled on the line Vendome--Moree by 6th January, and to order the
+XIIIth from Chartres on Brou.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[62] "Qui demoralisera le plus l'armee Allemande."
+
+[63] In effect, with only the Corps-headquarter and the 13th
+Division--the 14th Division being still in the north-east.
+
+
+
+
+THE ADVANCE OF THE IIND ARMY TO LE MANS.
+
+
+The Germans had hoped to strike the enemy in his winter quarters; but
+General Chanzy had provided against surprise by a cordon of strong
+advanced positions. Nogent le Rotrou on his left was held by Rousseau's
+Division, and numerous bands of volunteers; from thence strong
+detachments were posted through Vibraye and St. Calais up to the Braye
+brook, where General Jouffroy had made a halt after the last attack on
+Vendome; and on the right were General Barry at La Chartre and de
+Curten's Division at Chateau Renault.
+
+Both wings of the German army came into collision with these forces on
+the 5th of January.
+
+General Baumgarth (commanding 2nd Cavalry Brigade), on the German left,
+had assembled at St. Amand three battalions, two cavalry regiments and
+two batteries. The 57th regiment stormed Villeporcher in the direction
+of Chateau Renault, evacuated it in face of an attack by four French
+battalions, and finally recaptured and held it. This much, at any rate,
+was thus ascertained, that a not inconsiderable force of the enemy was
+assembled in front of the left wing of the German army now marching
+westward. While this movement was in prosecution General Baumgarth was
+thenceforth to undertake its protection, and with this object he was
+reinforced by the addition of the 6th Cavalry Division and the 1st
+Cavalry Brigade.
+
+On the right wing the 44th Brigade, in its advance on Nogent le Rotrou,
+also had had a sharp encounter. It carried the enemy's position at La
+Fourche, and captured three guns, with a large number of prisoners. The
+main body of the Corps (the XIIIth) reached Beaumont les Autels and
+Brou, but the cavalry failed to penetrate the woods to the north of
+Nogent.
+
+_January 6th._--At six in the morning the advanced guard of General
+Baumgarth's detachment started on march to Prunay, but the main body
+could not follow, since it was attacked in force at about half-past
+nine. With the object of observing the enemy, the infantry had been
+scattered in detached posts in a wide extension from Ambloy to
+Villeporcher, and only a small reserve remained at La Noue. The fight
+soon assumed greater expansion, and the defence with difficulty
+maintained the line Les Haies--Pias, the turning of the German left
+flank being seriously threatened, upon which the 6th Cavalry Division
+moved up, but could only enter the fight with one horse battery. The
+reserve, however, moved up along the high road to Chateau Renault and
+repulsed the enemy, who had already forced his way into Les Haies. But
+when he renewed the attack in strong columns and developed four
+batteries against the place, the reserve was obliged to retire behind
+the Brenne.
+
+Meanwhile the 16th Regiment, which had already reached Ambloy on its
+march to Vendome, turned back to St. Amand in support, and the just
+assembled 38th Infantry Brigade deployed between Neuve St. Amand and St.
+Amand with a strong force of cavalry on its flanks. But as by some
+mistake St. Amand was evacuated, Duke William of Mecklenburg (commanding
+6th Cavalry Division) ordered a further retreat. The infantry, however,
+had already come to a halt at Huisseau and took quarters there. The
+advanced guard turned into Ambloy; the cavalry fell back partly on that
+place and partly on Villeromain.
+
+During the engagement about St. Amand the Xth Corps itself advanced on
+Montoire in two columns along the left bank of the Loire, leaving on its
+right a battalion in front of Vendome to secure the debouche of the
+IIIrd Corps through that place.
+
+When the 20th Division reached St. Rimay at about one o'clock, it found
+the heights on the opposite side of the Loir occupied by General Barry's
+troops. The massed German batteries were brought up to the southern
+ridge of the valley and soon drove the French off the broad flats; but
+the defile of Les Roches in the front remained quite unassailable. The
+broken bridge at Lavardin, lower down the stream, was therefore made
+practicable by the pioneers. The 19th Division having meanwhile reached
+that place, several battalions crossed from the south side to attack Les
+Roches, and easily dislodged the French. As darkness came on, preventing
+any further advance, the Corps found quarters in and about Montoire.
+
+The Commander of the IIIrd Corps had intended to make a halt on this day
+before Vendome, and only push forward his advanced guard as far as the
+Azay brook; but this detachment soon met with so stout opposition, that
+the main force was compelled to advance to its assistance. General de
+Jouffroy, with intent to disengage General de Curten, had renewed the
+attack on Vendome, and so the advanced guard of the 5th Division,
+approaching Villiers at about half-past one, found the 10th Jaeger
+Battalion, which had accompanied the march of its Corps along the right
+bank of the Loir, engaged at that place in a sharp fight which had
+already lasted four hours. The advanced guard brought up its two
+batteries on to the plateau north of the village, and the 48th Regiment
+made its way forward to the slope of the lower Azay valley, the broad
+flat meadows of which were commanded by the French long-range rifles and
+completely swept by the fire of the artillery. And here then the enemy
+came over to the attack in dense swarms of sharp-shooters.
+
+The 8th Regiment presently came up in support, and after a short fight
+took possession of Le Gue du Loir on its left flank; then the further
+reinforcement arrived of the 10th Infantry Brigade, and by degrees the
+number of Prussian guns increased to thirty-six. The French artillery
+could not endure their fire, and within half an hour it was possible to
+turn it on the hostile infantry. At about half-past four the German
+battalions crossed the valley, made themselves masters of the vineyards
+and farms on the opposite heights, and finally stormed Mazange. Under
+cover of the darkness the French retired to Lunay.
+
+Further to the right the advance guard of the 6th Division, having left
+Vendome at eleven o'clock, found the battalion left by the Xth Corps at
+Courtiras fighting hard against a very superior force of the French. The
+11th Brigade advanced on the Azay ravine, though not without heavy loss,
+and when at about half-past three the 12th also came up, and the
+artillery went to work vigorously, Azay was successfully stormed and the
+force established itself firmly on the heights beyond. Repeated
+counterstrokes of the enemy were repulsed in succession, and by five
+o'clock the fighting ended with the retirement of the French.
+
+The IIIrd Army Corps took up quarters between the Azay stream and the
+Loir. A detachment occupied Danze, higher up the river. The Corps lost
+thirty-nine officers and above 400 men, but captured 400 prisoners.
+
+In the course of the day the IXth Corps crossed the upper Loir about
+Freteval and St. Hilaire, without opposition, and advanced along the
+high road to St. Calais, as far as Busloup. The XIIIth remained at
+Unverre, Beaumont, and La Fourche.
+
+Prince Frederick Charles had not been led into any change of purpose by
+the attack at St. Amand and the obstinate resistance at Azay. The XIIIth
+Corps was expected to reach Montmirail, and the XIth Epuisay, both on
+the 7th; the IIIrd was to continue the attack on the deep-cut channel of
+the Braye brook. But after the reverse experienced at St. Amand, the
+presence of a strong hostile force on the left flank could not be
+suffered to remain unregarded. Duke William had already been given
+verbal orders at the Head-quarter in Vendome, to turn back forthwith to
+St. Amand with the 6th Cavalry Division, and in addition General von
+Voigts-Rhetz was ordered to support General Baumgarth if necessary with
+his whole Corps.
+
+The country between the Loir and the Sarthe through which the Germans
+had to march, presents peculiar difficulties to an invading force, and
+affords marked advantages to the defence.
+
+All the roads leading to Le Mans intersect at right angles, stream after
+stream flowing through broad and deeply cut meadow-valleys. Groves,
+villages, and chateaux with walled parks cover the highly cultivated
+upland; vineyards, orchards and gardens are enclosed by hedges, ditches
+or fences.
+
+Hence almost the whole burthen of the impending fighting would have to
+be borne by the infantry; nowhere was there space for the deployment of
+cavalry, and the use of artillery needs must be extremely limited, since
+in a country so greatly enclosed guns could only singly be brought into
+action. The enemy's central position could be approached by only four
+main roads, and the communications between the marching columns,
+starting at the least some thirty miles apart, would be confined to the
+cross roads, almost impassable from the severity of the season and the
+hostility of the inhabitants. Any lateral mutual support was at first
+quite out of the question.
+
+Under such conditions the movements could only be guided by general
+instructions, and even the leaders of lower grades had to be left free
+to act at their own individual discretion. Specific orders for each day,
+though they would of course be issued, could not in many cases be
+possibly carried out. In the Army Headquarter it could not be foreseen
+in what situation each individual corps might find itself after a day's
+fighting. Reports could only come in very late at night, and the orders
+drawn up however early would often arrive only after the troops, because
+of the shortness of the day, had already set out on the march.
+
+_January 7th._--In obedience to orders from the Army Headquarter,
+General Voigts-Rhetz on the 7th sent the part of the 19th Division which
+had already reached Vendome, back to St. Amand in reinforcement. The
+38th Brigade had again entered that place early in the day, and General
+von Hartmann, taking over its command, advanced along the Chateau
+Renault high road, the cavalry moving on both flanks.
+
+The column first struck the enemy near Villechauve at mid-day. A thick
+fog prevented the employment of the artillery, and it was at the cost of
+heavy loss that Villechauve, Pias, and various other farmsteads were
+captured. Villeporcher and the adjacent villages remained in possession
+of the French, who at about two o'clock advanced by the high road to the
+attack with several battalions. The weather had cleared, and it was soon
+evident that this offensive was only intended to mask the beginning of
+the enemy's retreat to the westward. The troops took quarters where they
+stood, and the reinforcements forwarded to them remained at St. Amand.
+
+The Xth Corps, awaiting the return of the latter, remained in its
+quarters about La Chartre; only the 14th Cavalry Brigade went on up to
+La Richardiere to establish connection with the IIIrd Corps. But it did
+not succeed in taking the village with dismounted troopers.
+
+General von Alvensleben[64] hoped to overtake the French on the hither
+side of the glen of Braye, and by turning their left wing to drive them
+on to the Xth Corps, whose co-operation had been promised. The IIIrd
+Corps advanced in the direction of Epuisay, leaving one brigade to
+garrison Mazange, and when tidings reached it on the march that the
+French had evacuated Lunay and Fortan, that brigade also followed by way
+of the latter village.
+
+Epuisay was found to be strongly held, and in the meantime the advanced
+guard of the IXth Corps, advancing from Busloup, also arrived there. But
+it was not till half-past one that the French were expelled from the
+little town, which they had strongly barricaded; and on the hither side
+of the Braye they renewed their resistance in the numerous hamlets and
+farmsteads. A long fire fight was kept up in the thick fog; but at
+length, at about four o'clock, the 12th Brigade pushed forward to the
+edge of the valley. The 9th Brigade took possession of Savigny without
+meeting any serious opposition, and Sarge was stormed in the dusk.
+
+The IIIrd Corps had lost forty-five men and had taken 200 prisoners. It
+found quarters behind the Braye, but threw forward outposts on its
+western bank. The IXth Corps found shelter in and about Epuisay, and
+thus, as a matter of fact, two corps were now crowded on one of the few
+available roads. The 2nd Cavalry Division went to the right, towards
+Mondoubleau, to make connection with the XIIIth Corps. The French
+retreated to St. Calais.
+
+The order from the Army Head-quarter that the XIIIth Corps was to march
+to Montmirail, had been issued on the presumption that it would have
+reached Nogent le Rotrou on the 6th, whereas in fact, as has been
+shown, it had remained at La Fourche, Beaumont, and Unverre. The Grand
+Duke, who expected to experience a stout resistance, did not pass to the
+attack of Nogent till the 7th. When the 22nd Division arrived there, it
+found all the villages deserted in the Upper Huisne valley and was able
+to enter Nogent without any fighting at two o'clock. It took up quarters
+there, the 4th Cavalry Division at Thirion Gardais; and only an advanced
+guard followed the enemy. It found the wood near Le Gibet strongly
+occupied, and did not succeed in forcing it till after nightfall.
+
+The French had retired to La Ferte Bernard.
+
+The 17th Division had at first followed in reserve. But at one o'clock,
+in consequence of the reports brought in, the Grand Duke detached it
+southward to Authon; and in order to follow the Head-quarter
+instructions as closely as possible he did at least push a detachment of
+two battalions, two cavalry regiments, and one battery towards
+Montmirail, under the command of General von Rauch.
+
+_January 8th._--Finding on the morning of the 8th that the enemy was not
+advancing to the attack of St. Amand, General von Hartmann at nine
+o'clock sent back the troops which had crossed the river to his support.
+At ten o'clock also he received instructions to join the Xth Corps; but
+the French still continued to hold Villeporcher and the forest lying
+behind it, and were also drawn up across the Chateau Renault high road
+in a very advantageous position behind the Brenne. The General
+recognized the necessity of making a decisive stand here, and took the
+best means to that end by acting himself on the offensive. Supported by
+the fire of his battery, and accompanied by the cavalry on either flank,
+six companies of the 60th Regiment marched on Villeporcher, drove back
+its defenders in flight into the forest of Chateau Renault, and took 100
+prisoners. On the left the 9th Uhlans drove the Chasseurs d'Afrique
+before them. Not till darkness had set in did General von Hartmann
+proceed in the direction of Montoire.
+
+General von Voigts-Rhetz had already set out from thence very early in
+the day. The night's frost had covered the roads with ice, which cruelly
+impeded all movements of troops. The road on the right bank of the Loir
+was in many places broken up. It passed through a succession of narrow
+defiles, and on emerging from these the advanced guard found itself face
+to face with a force of about 1000 Gardes-Mobiles, who had taken up a
+position in front of La Chartre. Their mitrailleuses were soon forced to
+a hasty retreat by the fire of two field-guns, but it was only after a
+prolonged struggle that the infantry, moving with difficulty, succeeded
+at 4 o'clock in entering the town, where it took up quarters. Two
+battalions which were sent further on the road, had to fight for their
+night's shelter, and all through the night were exchanging shots with
+the enemy at close quarters, of whom 230 were taken prisoners.
+
+The 39th Brigade, which left Ambloy in the morning, could follow the
+corps only as far as Souge.
+
+General von Schmidt with the 14th Cavalry Brigade was sent to the right,
+to try to make connection with the IIIrd Corps. He was received at Vance
+with a sharp fire. The leading squadron made way for the horse battery,
+and a volley of grape-shot from the foremost gun drove the dismounted
+hostile Cuirassiers behind the hedges. When two more guns were brought
+up into position, their shell fire dispersed in every direction a long
+column of cavalry.
+
+Colonel von Alvensleben pursued the French cavalry with the 15th Uhlan
+Regiment till he came upon a body of infantry guarding the Etang-fort
+brook. The brigade halted at Vance, after putting about 100 French _hors
+de combat_.
+
+Of the IIIrd Corps the 6th Division had moved forward through St.
+Calais. The French tried to hold the cuttings on the greatly broken up
+roads; but they nowhere awaited a serious attack, and made off, for the
+most part in carts which were in waiting. The 5th Division, proceeding
+on a parallel front on the left, met with no opposition; but the state
+of the roads made the march extremely difficult. The corps halted on the
+hither side of Bouloire. The IXth Corps came up behind it into St.
+Calais.
+
+The Grand Duke had moved both Divisions of the XIIIth Corps on La Ferte
+Bernard. On their way they came across none but stragglers, but they
+found the roads so utterly cut up that not till four in the afternoon
+did they reach the place, where they took up quarters. The French had
+retired to Connerre. The 4th Cavalry Division was to secure the right
+flank on the further advance, but could not get as far forward as
+Belleme; on the other hand, General von Rauch's (commanding 15th Cavalry
+Division) detachment despatched leftward towards Montmirail, surprised
+the French in Vibraye, and took possession of the bridge over the Braye.
+
+By the evening of this day the two flank Corps of the German Army were
+at an equal distance from Le Mans, both on the same high road which
+crosses the district of the Quere from La Ferte Bernard in a southerly
+direction through St. Calais and La Chartre; the IIIrd Corps was further
+in advance, separated from each of them by the interval of a long march.
+A closer concentration of the forces could be attained only by a further
+advance along the converging highways. Prince Frederick Charles
+therefore issued an order at ten o'clock that evening, for the Xth Corps
+to march next day to Parigne l'Eveque, the IIIrd to Ardenay, and the
+XIIIth on to the heights of Montfort, the advanced guard of each to be
+pushed forward beyond these respective points. The IXth, in the centre,
+was to follow, while General von Hartmann was to protect Vendome with
+the 38th Brigade and the 1st Division of Cavalry.
+
+But the distances prevented the flanking corps advancing from La Chartre
+and La Ferte from reaching their respective destinations, and, on the
+9th of January, snow-storms, ice-bound roads, and thick fog further
+combined to make their progress arduous beyond conception.
+
+_January 9th._--General von Hartmann marched the 38th Infantry Brigade
+on Chateau Renault, and entered the town at one o'clock, to find that
+Curten's French Division had started early in the morning for St.
+Laurent.
+
+The incomplete Xth Corps moved this day in two columns; the detachment
+of General von Woyna (commanding 39th Infantry Brigade) was to march
+from Pont de Braye by Vance, the remainder of the corps from La Chartre
+by way of Brives to Grand Luce.
+
+The 20th Division had scarcely set out by this route from L'Homme, when
+it encountered shell and mitrailleuse-fire. Here there happened for once
+to be room for three batteries to advance, but in the heavy snow-fall
+aim was out of the question. The infantry, however, by degrees drove the
+enemy out of sundry hamlets and farmsteads, and back across the Brives.
+To pursue him beyond that stream a makeshift bridge needed first to be
+thrown across with some loss of time, and then Chahaignes was to be
+seized. But in the narrow valley which had to be now traversed a
+vigorous resistance was to be counted on. The state of the road was such
+that the artillerymen and cavalry had to dismount and lead their horses.
+The General in command rode on a gun-carriage; his staff went on foot.
+Some horses which had fallen in front presently stopped the way for the
+whole column; and it therefore became necessary to send back all the
+Corps-artillery, which was to try next day to come on by way of Vance.
+
+To facilitate the march of the 20th Division, General von Woyna had
+been instructed to deviate from his direct road and attack the enemy's
+left. When he approached the valley the fighting had fallen silent, and
+the detachment turned back to Vance; but at Brives at about half-past
+three the main column met with fresh resistance, being received with a
+brisk fire from the heights north-east of the village. Not even the
+infantry could move outside of the high road, so there was no
+alternative to a frontal advance along it. A closed attack by the 39th
+Brigade broke up and routed the enemy. At half-past six in the evening,
+when quite dark, Colonel von Valentini set out for St. Pierre with four
+battalions, and took there 100 French prisoners and a loaded train of
+100 waggons. The Xth Corps spent the night with only its advance in
+Brives and Vance, but its quarters reached back nearly to the valley of
+the Loir. Nor had the 14th Brigade of Cavalry been able to make any
+further headway.
+
+Of the IIIrd Corps the 6th Division had marched by the high road through
+Bouloire, with the artillery corps; the 5th on the left along the
+by-roads. The advanced guard of the 6th Division, after a lively
+fire-fight, expelled the enemy from his positions in front of Ardenay,
+but there at two o'clock had to encounter a determined resistance. After
+General de Jouffroy had withdrawn from St. Calais to the southward,
+General Chanzy pushed forward Paris' Division to secure the high road
+leading from thence to Le Mans. It had taken up a position near Ardenay,
+occupying the chateau on the right, and on the left posting four guns
+and two mitrailleuses near La Butte. To oppose these there was only room
+on the road for two German guns, which, however, in the course of half
+an hour silenced the mitrailleuses, and carried on the unequal contest
+with the greatest obstinacy. At about four o'clock five companies of the
+12th Brigade stormed the chateau of Ardenay, while others, crossing the
+meadowland to the right, forced their way through a patch of wood
+towards La Butte. As night came on the French tried to effect a general
+attack along the chaussee; but this was repulsed, and the
+Brandenburgers[65] plunged through the heavy fire of the defenders, and
+without firing a shot took La Butte and Ardenay with a rush and a cheer.
+The French were thrown back into the valley of the Narais, losing many
+prisoners.
+
+On the right a detachment of one battalion, two squadrons, and two guns,
+accompanied the 6th Division. It drove before it franctireur bodies, but
+at La Belle Inutile met with more serious resistance. The post was,
+however, carried by the 24th Regiment, which made prize of a large
+ammunition and provision train, and took above 100 unwounded prisoners.
+Count zu Lynar moved into the village for its defence.
+
+The 5th Division met with no opposition, but the state of the roads
+caused extreme delay to its progress. It was not till the afternoon that
+its head reached the Narais at Gue de l'Aune and took up quarters there
+and rearward to St. Mars de Locquenay. Its advanced guard went on,
+however, to La Buzardiere, thus forming the absolute head of the whole
+army. Parigne l'Eveque, on its left flank, was found to be held by the
+enemy.
+
+The IXth Corps followed the IIIrd to Bouloire.
+
+Orders from head-quarters had not yet reached La Ferte when, at nine in
+the morning, the Grand Duke set the XIIIth Corps in motion on Connerre.
+Soon after midday the 17th Division came upon the French near Sceaux,
+and in a struggle wherein it slowly gained ground, drove them first out
+of the village precincts and then off the road. The French, who had
+retreated to Connerre by a forced night march, lost above 500 prisoners
+in this small affair. But the short day was closing in, and the advanced
+guard halted at dusk at Duneau. A detachment going further forward found
+Connerre occupied by the French, and many watch-fires blazing in the
+valley of the Due. The main body of the infantry found quarters in and
+about Sceaux.
+
+Rauch's detachment, ordered to rejoin the Corps, took possession of Le
+Croset and of the bridge over the Due in front of that village, and also
+expelled the French from Thorigne.
+
+The French stayed in Connerre only till the evening; then, leaving a
+company in occupation, they continued their retreat. This necessarily
+led from the left bank of the Huisne through the quarters taken up by
+the IIIrd German Corps, which was disturbed all night by wandering
+detachments of the enemy, even at Nuille, where the Divisional
+headquarters lay.
+
+On the extreme right the 4th Cavalry Division occupied Belleme, after
+driving out the French battalion which had been in occupation there.
+
+Thus on this day the centre of the IInd Army had fought its way to
+within about nine miles of Le Mans; while the two wings were still some
+distance behind. As it was probable that the French would accept battle
+in a prepared position behind the Huisne, it seemed advisable to await
+the arrival of the Xth and XIIIth Corps; but on the other hand, this
+would also give the enemy time to strengthen himself. Were an immediate
+attack determined on, the two Divisions which had been delayed
+respectively at Chateau Renault and Le Chartre, could scarcely reach Le
+Mans in time, and the rest of the army would be involved everywhere in a
+disadvantageous contest with the hostile bodies which were being driven
+back concentrically on that place. Prince Frederick Charles therefore
+ordered the IIIrd Corps to push on through Ardenay; the Xth was to
+advance to Parigne, and the XIIIth on St. Mars la Bruyere, though these
+points could scarcely be reached from the positions actually occupied by
+the respective Corps this same evening (9th).
+
+As we have seen, the French army now assembled about Le Mans had been
+acting on the offensive on January 6th, when General Jouffroy had
+advanced on Vendome, and de Curten on St. Amand. But so early as the 7th
+the French found themselves reduced to the defensive along their whole
+front, some 50 miles in length. General Rousseau, on the left wing, had
+evacuated Nogent le Rotrou, and, without being pressed, began his
+retreat by a night march to Connerre. In the centre, the trough of the
+Braye was wrested from General Jouffroy; he quitted St. Calais, not
+rearward on Le Mans, but southward to join General Barry. On the right,
+General Curten had abandoned Chateau Renault, and set out, unpursued, on
+the line through Chateau du Loir. To effect some concert in the
+operations of the three Divisions of his right wing, General Chanzy
+placed them under the superior orders of Admiral Jaureguiberry. He
+pushed forward the Division Paris on Ardenay by the high road General
+Jouffroy had uncovered, and on the left wing he reinforced General
+Rousseau by stationing three Divisions more on either side of his line
+of retreat. General Jouffroy was to retire to Parigne l'Eveque, and a
+Division was sent to meet him there and at Change.
+
+General de Curten succeeded on the 9th in checking the progress of the
+German left wing for some time about Chahaignes; but the Division Paris
+was driven back through Ardenay, and General Rousseau, thus beset in
+Connerre, evacuated that village the same evening. The two Divisions of
+the right wing were behind as far as Jupilles and Neuille Pont Pierre.
+
+Under these circumstances General Chanzy ordered that on the 10th the
+Division Jouffroy should fall back on Parigne l'Eveque, but that the
+Division Paris should once more move forward on Ardenay. He sent the
+remaining three Divisions of the XXIst Corps to meet General Rousseau,
+with instructions that he was to retake Connerre and Thorigne.
+
+The offensive movements thus planned by both sides developed into the
+fierce battle which, on the German side, was fought out single-handed by
+the IIIrd Corps.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[64] Lieut.-General Alvensleben II, commanding IIIrd Army Corps, not to
+be confounded with Infantry-General Alvensleben I, commanding IVth
+Corps.
+
+[65] Brandenburg is the territorial province of the IIIrd Army Corps. It
+was the nucleus of the Prussian monarchy, and the Hohenzollerns were
+Margraves and then Electors of Brandenburg for 300 years before they
+became Kings of Prussia. The IIIrd is unquestionably the most
+distinguished Corps of the Prussian line. The late Prince Frederick
+Charles long commanded it.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE IN FRONT OF LE MANS.
+
+(10th, 11th, and 12th of January.)
+
+
+_January 10th._--_The Fighting about Parigne and Change._--Owing to the
+peculiar nature of the country, deep columns could not deploy without
+great loss of time. General von Alvensleben therefore advanced in the
+centre with the 9th and 11th Infantry Brigades on Change from Gue de
+l'Aune and Ardenay, moving on a broad front in comparatively small
+separate bodies. On the right the 12th marched by the high road to Le
+Mans; on the left the 10th was to start from Volnay when Parigne should
+be found abandoned by the French, and leaving that place on its left,
+was also to converge on Change.
+
+Parigne had, in fact, been deserted by the French, but had been
+reoccupied before daybreak by a brigade of the Division Deplanque; and
+even before the German troops had started, the far-advanced outposts
+towards the forest of Loudon were smartly attacked. The greater part of
+the 9th Brigade had to be deployed by degrees between Blinieres and the
+point of the forest, but only seven guns could be brought into action
+against the numerous French artillery. General von Stuelpnagel decided to
+reserve his strength for the struggle at Change, and to carry on merely
+a stationary fight here, which must be inevitably decided as soon as
+the 10th Brigade should make its appearance on the left.
+
+That brigade, delayed by the badness of the roads, did not arrive by way
+of Challes till noon; but it brought two batteries to reinforce the
+German artillery strength, which now vigorously prepared the infantry
+attack on the high-lying Parigne. Half an hour later the battalions
+rushed on the place with shouts of "Hurrah Brandenburg!" taking a gun
+which the enemy had abandoned, and two mitrailleuses still in action.
+When the French returned to try to recover them they were again
+repulsed, and sacrificed another gun, two colours, and several waggons.
+After losing 2150 prisoners they fled to the shelter of the forest of
+Ruaudin. General von Stuelpnagel left two battalions at Parigne to
+maintain observation in that quarter, and hurried on to Change in two
+columns. In front of this village, at about three o'clock, the 11th
+Brigade met with a violent resistance at the Gue Perray brook from the
+other brigade of Deplanque's Division. The 2nd Battalion of the 35th
+Regiment lost nine officers and above 100 men in a severe struggle at
+Les Gars. The General in command, who was on the spot, dislodged both
+flanks of the enemy from his strong position, and on the left two
+companies succeeded in crossing the stream at La Goudriere.
+
+These at four o'clock now fell in with the advanced guard of the 9th
+Brigade, which Colonel Count von der Groeben was bringing up from
+Parigne, having taken possession of the Chateau of Girardrie on the way.
+When the companies of the 11th Brigade sent to the right reached Auvigne
+simultaneously, the "General Advance" was sounded. Auvigne was stormed,
+the bridge north of Gue la Hart was crossed, and that village carried
+after a hard fight. Over 1000 prisoners more were taken from the flying
+French.
+
+It was already dark, but Change, the goal of the struggle, was not yet
+reached. But when a barricade outside the village had been won it was
+found that the 10th Brigade was already in possession. This brigade, on
+its way along the high road from Parigne, had met with resistance at the
+Chateaux Chef Raison and Paillerie. Having only two guns, it failed to
+silence the French artillery, but General von Stuelpnagel left there only
+a battalion in observation, and hurried forward with part of the brigade
+to reinforce the fight at Gue la Hart; the other portion was directed
+against Change. Here the French had already been for the most part
+dismissed to quarters, but they soon assembled and made a prompt and
+determined resistance. There ensued an embittered street-fight, which
+ended in about an hour's time in the surrender of the whole garrison of
+800 men, who had been crowded together into the market-place.
+
+The 12th Brigade had at last left Ardenay at eleven o'clock; it advanced
+along the high road without opposition as far as St. Hubert, where an
+abandoned commissariat train was seized. Having there aligned itself
+with the rest of the Corps it halted for a while, but after one o'clock
+was fired upon by French artillery; and the enemy again advancing along
+the highway, General von Buddenbrock[66] on his part passed to the
+attack, and drove back the enemy out of Champagne, in part across the
+Huisne, and in part to the heights behind the village. Two guns
+successfully dealt with the fire of the French artillery near Lune
+d'Auvours, and then the infantry expelled the French from that shelter
+also.
+
+Further to the right a German battalion had taken St. Mars la Bruyere
+after a slight skirmish, and was subsequently joined there by General
+Count zu Lynar's detachment.
+
+Fighting thus with equal skill and success the IIIrd Corps had indeed
+already lost 450 men; but it had brought in more than 5000 prisoners,
+and had won many trophies of which it had a right to be proud.
+
+The Xth Corps had started this day from Vance and Brives, and
+unobstructed indeed by the enemy, but along very heavy roads, reached
+Grand Luce at two o'clock. Here it took up quarters.
+
+The IXth Corps remained at Nuille.
+
+Of the XIIIth Corps the 17th Division had continued its advance along
+the left bank of the Huisne, and found Connerre already deserted by the
+French. But on the further side of the river the heights of Cohernieres,
+the railway station, and the wood to the north, were occupied by the 2nd
+Division of the French XXIst Corps. General von Rauch led two battalions
+to the attack from the south, in which shared the 22nd Division from the
+east, having crossed the Huisne at Sceaux and taken the direction of
+Beille by the right bank. A stubborn resistance was encountered, and the
+fight swayed to and fro till darkness fell. The Chateau of Couleon,
+indeed, and several villages at the foot of the wooded heights were
+taken, but the French maintained their hold on the heights and their
+position at Cohernieres.
+
+The 17th Division had meanwhile continued its advance along roads frozen
+as smooth as glass, and reached La Belle Inutile; the 22nd passed the
+night at Beille.
+
+This division had in the morning sent a detachment sideward to
+Bonnetable, whither the 4th Cavalry Division now proceeded. The 12th
+Cavalry Brigade followed to Belleme. Colonel von Beckedorff then
+continued his advance to Chanteloup, whence he drove out the French in
+spite of an obstinate defence.
+
+General Chanzy had determined to risk a decisive battle in front of Le
+Mans. Curten's Division had not yet reached him, and only a part of
+Barry's had come up, but on the other hand the army from the camp of
+Conlie, in strength some 10,000 men, had arrived. The right wing of the
+French position rested its flank on the Sarthe near Arnaye[67]; it
+extended for more than four miles along the Chemin aux Boeufs, and
+continued in a slight curve leftward to the Huisne. Barry's Division,
+already weakened by previous reverses, and General Lalande's National
+Guards--undisciplined and badly armed troops--were posted on the extreme
+right which was the least threatened. Deplanque's and Roquebrune's
+Divisions, Desmaison's Brigade and Jouffroy's Division, held the centre
+and left, the last body in the first instance opposite to General von
+Alvensleben. Behind this line Bouedec's Division and Colonel Marty's
+detachment constituted a reserve. In all from 50,000 to 60,000 men under
+the command of Admiral Jaureguiberry, with full ranks and well
+commanded, crowded the entrenched front of the most important section of
+the line--that between the two rivers (Sarthe and Huisne). Five
+Divisions more, under the command of General de Colomb, lined the right
+bank of the Huisne for a distance of about eight and a half miles, the
+Division Paris was at Yvre; Gougeard's Division, also holding the
+heights of Auvours on the hither side, was northward of Champagne; then
+came Rousseau's Division at Montfort and Pont de Gesnes, and finally,
+Collin's Division in hook-formation about Lombron. Besides these
+Villeneuve's Division, quite on the flank, fronted toward Chanteloup.
+
+_January 11th._--On this day the IIIrd German Army Corps was directly
+opposed to the main body of the French forces. It could not for the
+present hope for any assistance from the corps of the flanks, and had
+before it the certainty of an arduous struggle.
+
+On the left, the Xth Corps was still this morning at Grand Luce, and on
+the right the XIIIth Corps had been detained on the previous day by the
+obstinate resistance of the French, who had held their own between Les
+Cohernieres and La Chapelle, and occupied Le Chene in their front.
+
+The troops of the 22nd Division had necessarily lost their formations
+and become mixed up in the course of the struggle in the wood, and it
+was not till they had been re-formed and the enemy's position had been
+reconnoitred by both the Divisional Commanders that the attack was
+renewed at about eleven o'clock.
+
+Two battalions of the 17th Division and one battery were left in
+observation in front of Pont de Gesnes, on the southern bank of the
+Huisne; on the northern side, the Mecklenburg battalions stormed
+Cohernieres in the afternoon after a sharp contest, and in conjunction
+with the Hessians forced their way westward up to the Gue and on towards
+Lombron about four o'clock.
+
+Further to the right two companies of the 90th Regiment (22nd Division)
+meanwhile took Le Chene by a closed attack on the obstinate defenders;
+the 83rd Regiment, after a sharp fire fight, stormed the farmsteads of
+Flouret and La Grande Metairie. Colonel von Beckedorff, on being
+relieved at Chanteloup by the 4th Cavalry Division, had driven the
+French out of St. Celerin, and he then advanced to La Chapelle-St. Remy
+on the right of the Division, which occupied wide quarters behind the
+points it had seized.
+
+The Mecklenburg Grenadiers had held their own for a long time at Le Gue
+and La Brosse against superior numbers attacking from Pont de Gesnes;
+but the main body of the 17th Division was retired in the evening
+further back to Connerre.
+
+The more completely that General von Alvensleben had to rely solely on
+his own command, the more essential it was to keep the troops composing
+it closely concentrated. But a strong force of the enemy was now on his
+flank, almost indeed in his rear, on the heights of Auvours, where it
+was only kept at bay by his 12th Brigade, which therefore for the
+present was not free to advance.
+
+And here it was that the battle first really began. The French had
+repossessed themselves of Champagne, and had deployed artillery on the
+heights behind it. When their fire had been subdued by four guns of the
+brigade, two battalions advanced to an attack on the village. It was not
+till after an obstinate street-fight, that the enemy at eleven o'clock
+was driven back to the heights, and the bridge over the Huisne carried.
+General von Buddenbrock now let the two battalions remain in
+observation, sent a third to Lune d'Auvours, and at noon started with
+the rest of the brigade to rejoin the Corps.
+
+Meanwhile the conflict had been raging with such fury all along the
+front of the latter that at twelve o'clock Prince Frederick Charles sent
+orders from St. Hubert to General Voigts-Rhetz, to hurry forward by the
+shortest roads to the battle-field with the Xth Corps; and at the same
+time General von Manstein was instructed to seize the heights of Auvours
+with the IXth.
+
+It was already one o'clock when the advanced guard of the IXth climbed
+up the hollow way, deep in snow, followed by two battalions of the 12th
+Brigade, and by two batteries straining every nerve. The infantry
+plunged forward through the wood, strongly held as it was by the enemy,
+straight on Villiers; the skirmishers of the Fusilier battalion of the
+11th Regiment seized three mitrailleuses in action, and when the French
+had abandoned the village, turned them against the wood.
+
+Further to the left, at about three o'clock, two battalions of the 85th
+Regiment from the main body of the 18th Division, were directed on the
+western end of the ridge, supported by the Jaegers and two batteries
+which were brought up near Les Hetres. To cover them two companies moved
+on La Lune, and baulked for the moment the hostile rush along the high
+road. But against these movements the French opened a heavy fire from
+their commanding batteries behind Yvre. Regardless thereof the
+Holsteiners[68] on the left charged on a hostile battery and seized
+three of its guns. On the right they took possession of the neighbouring
+farmsteads; and soon after five the French abandoned the whole plateau
+as far as its western edge.
+
+Over it, however, a strong counter-attack was delivered in the evening,
+when part of Gougeard's Division charged up the slope from Yvre. Its
+further advance was arrested; but the French could not be prevented from
+remaining there during the evening and night. Nevertheless, this
+offensive struggle on the part of the 18th Division had relieved the
+pressure on the rear and flank of the IIIrd Corps. It received the
+further order in the evening to secure the passage over the Huisne for
+use next day. Three battalions and one battery immediately crossed over
+to the northern bank and drove from the bridge the hostile detachments
+in its vicinity. The Division lost 275 men.
+
+General von Alvensleben had delayed the advance of the IIIrd Corps till
+eleven o'clock, in anticipation of the arrival of the 12th Brigade.
+
+During the night (10--11th) the French had completed their entrenchments
+on the skirts of the wood and had taken up their position there; they
+also lined the heights on the further side of the river with numerous
+batteries. Thus a frontal attack must involve heavy loss, and it was
+impossible to out-flank lines so extensive. General von Alvensleben
+therefore decided on advancing at first only against the enemy's left
+wing, and assigned to that task the 11th Brigade. The 10th and 9th
+remained in reserve for the present about Change and Gue la Hart. The
+12th, released at Mont-Auvours, was indeed marching up, but on
+circuitous ways, because the high road was everywhere entirely commanded
+by the batteries on the heights.
+
+The 11th Brigade, scarcely 3000 strong, followed the course of the Gue
+Perray streamlet up to the northern end of the wood. To protect it
+against the French columns threatening it from the heights, the 35th
+Regiment had to form front towards the brook and also occupied the
+Chateau of Les Arches. The 20th Regiment tried to get forward by the
+cattle-path, and while holding firmly the Chateau of Les Noyers and the
+bridge there over the Huisnes, drove back the enemy by sheer hard
+fighting to Les Granges. But he presently returned so considerably
+reinforced that the whole brigade had to be gradually brought up into
+the fighting line. Les Granges was lost and retaken several times with
+heavy loss, particularly of officers; but the Brandenburgers fought on
+staunchly.
+
+On the left of the 11th the 10th Brigade now made its appearance, coming
+up from Change at one o'clock. After an hour-long bloody struggle the
+52nd Regiment made itself master of the farm of Le Pavillon, of the
+wooded slope in front, and the farm of Grand Anneau. Strong columns
+advancing from Pontlieue were driven back, two batteries dashed up into
+the Chassepot fire to within 800 paces of Le Tertre; yet the 12th
+Regiment did not succeed in getting into the farmstead till two
+battalions of the 9th Brigade from Change had come up to its assistance.
+The farmstead whose possession was so obstinately disputed was taken by
+storm at about five o'clock, with the co-operation of the Grenadiers of
+the 8th Life-Regiment.
+
+The 52nd Regiment, having expended all its ammunition, had to retire,
+but the Grenadier battalions pushed further forward on the cattle-path,
+where two French guns in action were captured after a bloody melee; and
+the enemy's repeated attempts to recover them were steadily frustrated.
+A hostile battery which had been brought up westward of the wood was
+driven back by quick fire.
+
+As the 35th Regiment had to be brought forward from the Gue Perray brook
+to support the 20th, the French had recovered possession of Les Arches.
+The 12th Brigade, only three battalions strong, arrived there from
+Auvours at two o'clock. The 64th Regiment recaptured the chateau after a
+short fight. The overwhelming artillery and musketry fire from the
+heights on the further side of the river prevented the German artillery
+from coming into action, and it was only with great difficulty and a
+heavy sacrifice of gunners that the pieces were brought away again; but
+every attack on the chateau by the French from Yvre was steadily
+repulsed.
+
+It was now quite dark, and only the fire of the cannon still lasted. The
+IIIrd Corps had taken 600 prisoners, but had also lost 500 men. It had
+fought its way into the heart of the French position, and its outposts
+were in the closest proximity to the enemy's front. And now strong,
+though late, reinforcements arrived.
+
+The Xth Corps had marched from Grand Luce to the westward in the
+morning, to gain the high road from Tours to Le Mans, but slippery roads
+again delayed its march, so that it only reached Teloche in the
+afternoon.
+
+The cannon thunder heard to the northward left no doubt that General von
+Alvensleben was engaged in arduous fighting. The orders sent at noon
+from the Army Headquarter in St. Hubert sped to General Voigts-Rhetz;
+but that officer rightly judged that his appearance would now have a
+more telling effect on the enemy's flank than on the field where the
+IIIrd Corps was engaged. So in spite of the exhausted state of his men,
+who had had no opportunity to cook on the way, he at once pushed forward
+without halting.
+
+To protect himself against Curten's Division on the watch for him from
+Chateau du Loir, he despatched a battalion to Ecommoy. It was received
+with firing from the houses, surrounded on all sides in the darkness,
+and compelled to withdraw from the place; but it then kept the road
+clear in the rear of the corps.
+
+The head of the 20th Division found Mulsanne but feebly defended, and
+drove the detachment back beyond the cutting of La Monnerie.
+
+The nature of the country which here had to be traversed greatly
+favoured the enemy. Ditches and fences afforded his marksmen complete
+cover, farmsteads and copses furnished excellent defensive positions.
+Only eight guns could at first be brought to bear against the enemy's
+artillery; but nevertheless four Westphalian and Brunswick[69]
+battalions steadily repelled the French, and by nightfall reached Point
+du Jour. The fight first became stationary on the cattle-path in front
+of Les Mortes Aures. Here the French swept the whole foreground with a
+continuous rolling fire from tiers of shelter-trenches rising one above
+the other.
+
+The fight swayed to and fro for a long time, but finally the German left
+gained ground. The 1st Battalion of the 17th Regiment rushed on the
+enemy, who delivered his fire at point blank range and then made for the
+wood. And when now the 1st Battalion of the 56th Regiment advanced from
+Point du Jour, its drums beating the charge, the French carried away
+their mitrailleuses and evacuated Les Mortes Aures.
+
+This battalion had received orders from the Commanding General to settle
+the business with the bayonet. Captain von Monbart led it on locked up
+close at the charging pace; all the detachments at hand joined it, and
+in spite of a heavy fire from the wood La Tuilerie was reached by
+half-past eight; and here the 40th Brigade deployed, while the 37th
+stood ready to support it in front of Mulsanne. The enemy drifted away
+in the darkness. The constant roll of wheels, the noise of departing
+railway trains and the confusion of cries indicated a retreat. Yet the
+prisoners who were constantly being brought in, with one accord reported
+that a strong force was still encamped in the forest. Numerous
+watch-fires blazed there through the night, and instead of resting, it
+seemed evident that the hostile troops were preparing to engage in fresh
+attempts. At half-past ten the outposts reported the approach of a
+strong force from Pontlieue.
+
+Hitherto it had been only the little-to-be-relied-on National Guards
+under General Lalande at this point with whom the German troops in this
+quarter of the field had had to deal; but the Admiral now sent Bouedec's
+Division against La Tuilerie, and ordered General Roquebrune to support
+his advance.
+
+For a full hour the Prussian battalions in first line were scourged with
+rifle fire in front and flank, and pelted by a hail-storm of
+projectiles, but no serious attack occurred.
+
+According to French reports, the officers strove in vain to bring
+forward their troops; but the latter constantly hung back. A later
+assault made by Gardes-Mobiles was equally fruitless.
+
+But still there was to be no rest. At two in the morning the din of
+fighting again made itself heard on the right. Deplanque's Division had
+been disturbed by a flank detachment of the 40th Brigade. This body was
+advancing by the road from Ruaudin to Pontlieue, to be at hand in case
+of need; without returning the enemy's fire, it had driven out the
+holders of Epinettes, and had established itself there close to the
+cattle-path.
+
+_January 12th._--For the impending struggle of the following day only
+the IIIrd and Xth Corps could be counted on. The other two Corps could
+only co-operate indirectly by holding engaged a part of the hostile
+forces.
+
+Of the XIIIth Corps the 17th Division was to advance by Lombron to St.
+Corneille, without committing itself to a contest with the enemy still
+holding the bank of the Huisne; the 22nd was ordered from La Chapelle to
+Savigne. The Gue brook was to be lightly held, and part of the artillery
+was to remain at Connerre with the 7th Brigade of Cavalry.
+
+On advancing it was found that the enemy had already abandoned Lombron,
+Pont de Gesnes, and Montfort. Arms and equipments thrown away betrayed
+how hurried had been the flight. Many stragglers were brought in
+prisoners, and it was not till reaching the Merdereau brook at noon,
+that the 17th Division met with opposition. The Chateau of Hyre and St.
+Corneille were won about four o'clock by an enveloping attack, and 500
+French were taken prisoners. The enemy was then driven back behind the
+Parance brook, where the advanced guard halted at dusk.
+
+Colonel von Beckedorff's detachment of the 22nd Division marched through
+Chanteloup from Sille, throwing back the enemy on La Croix, where a
+large body of hostile troops made a stand. But when, after a long halt,
+the main body of the Division came up, it at once passed to the attack.
+Entire formed bodies of French here laid down their arms, and 3000 men
+with many officers became prisoners.
+
+An attempt of the cavalry to advance across the Sarthe to break up the
+railway on the further side of the river was, however, unsuccessful.
+
+The whole force occupying the heights of Auvours surrendered to the IXth
+Corps. The 35th Brigade marched up to Villiers, but patrols sent ahead
+soon reported that the French had retired across the Huisne. When the
+noise of fighting was heard at mid-day from St. Corneille, the brigade
+in question was ordered to proceed northward to support the 17th
+Division engaged there. The 84th Regiment, passing through La Commune,
+lent efficient assistance in the attack on Chateau Hyre. Outposts were
+left on the Parance for the night, but the main body of the 35th Brigade
+returned to Fatines, and the 36th took up quarters between Villiers and
+St. Mars la Bruyere.
+
+By the battle of the previous day the position of the French before Le
+Mans had been forced; but they still stood firm behind the Huisnes, and
+as their left wing had been driven in on their centre, the latter
+section had been considerably strengthened. There still remained the
+stream to be crossed, and the steep slope to be climbed, where every row
+of the vineyards in terraced ascent was held by strong firing lines, and
+the crest of which was crowned with batteries. The passage of the
+Huisnes near Ivre, on the left, was covered by entrenchments with
+special carefulness, and the ground in front of the wood of Pontlieue
+had been made impassable in many places by abatis. Against such a
+position the artillery could be of little and the cavalry of no service,
+while deep snow hampered every movement of the infantry. General von
+Alvensleben therefore decided on standing for the present on the
+defensive with his right wing, while he prepared to support the advance
+of General von Voigts-Rhetz with his left.
+
+The troops were roused from their short rest at six in the morning. Two
+French companies made their way towards the bridge at Chateau Les Noyers
+with powder-bags, but they were compelled to retreat, leaving the
+explosives behind them. At eight o'clock the French made a determined
+attack on the outposts of the 12th Regiment in the wood, and drove them
+in on Le Tertre. Again a combat raged furiously about this farmstead,
+which was almost demolished by shell fire. One by one the last
+battalions of the 10th Brigade were drawn into the struggle, to replace
+bodies which, their ammunition exhausted, had to retire. Only four guns
+could be used with effect, but by eleven o'clock the enemy's fire
+gradually died away, and he was seen to retire on Pontlieue. The
+battalions of the left wing pursued, and came out on the Parigne road in
+immediate touch with the Xth Corps.
+
+General von Voigts-Rhetz had left two battalions at Mulsanne, for his
+protection from the direction of Ecommoy; the whole Corps, after many
+detachments had been unavoidably detailed from it, was assembled by
+about half-past seven for a further advance on Pontlieue. The main body
+of the 20th Division closed up by the Mulsanne road on La Tuilerie.
+Three battalions of the 19th Division massed at Ruaudin to strengthen
+the sideward detachments in Epinettes, while two battalions with the
+14th Cavalry Brigade and the Corps' artillery, which could find no
+opening in the region further to the left, moved up by the roads from
+Parigne.
+
+The reinforcement meanwhile arrived from Ruaudin, and General von Woyna
+made his way without hindrance through the forest to La Source, where he
+halted at one o'clock, his front parallel with that of the 20th
+Division. A heavy battery of the latter had already driven away the
+French mitrailleuses in front of Pontlieue. On the right a light battery
+of the 19th Division was brought up to La Source, and ten
+horse-artillery guns on to the road from Parigne. The atmosphere was,
+however, so thick that their fire could only be directed by the map.
+
+At two o'clock General von Kraatz advanced in close column on Pontlieue,
+whither General von Woyna was now also marching. The southern part of
+the village was taken after a slight resistance; but on the further side
+of the Huisne the French held the houses along the river-bank, and just
+as the Germans approached the bridge it was blown up. The demolition,
+however, was not complete, and the foremost battalions got across over
+the debris to reach the enemy. Two made their way into the high street
+of Pontlieue, one turned left to the railway station, whence were heard
+signals for departing trains. Nothing interposed to hinder the railway
+bridge here from being blown up, and thus many prisoners were taken,
+besides 150 provision waggons and 1000 hundred-weight of flour.
+
+The artillery fire was immediately directed on the town of Le Mans.
+
+Meanwhile the detachments of the IIIrd Corps, which had become mixed up
+in the forest fight, had re-formed. After a ration of meat, the first
+for three days, had been served out to the troops, the 10th Brigade
+resumed its march. The Brandenburg Jaeger Battalion crossed the river by
+the paper-mill of L'Epau, and two batteries strengthened from Chateau
+Funay the artillery fire directed on Le Mans.
+
+When presently the infantry entered the town, a fierce struggle began in
+the streets, which were entirely blocked by the French trains. Entrance
+into individual houses had to be cleared by artillery fire; a large
+number of French were taken prisoners, and a vast quantity of waggons
+were seized. The fighting lasted till nightfall, and then the Xth Corps
+and half of the IIIrd took up alarm quarters in the town. The 6th
+Division took possession of Yvre, which the enemy had abandoned, and
+threw out foreposts to Les Noyers and Les Arches on the further side of
+the Huisne.
+
+The actions fought by the French on this day, had been engaged in for
+the sole purpose of gaining time for the extrication of the army.
+
+On learning from Admiral Jaureguiberry that every effort to get the
+troops to advance had failed, and that the last reserves were shattered,
+General Chanzy had at eight in the morning issued orders for a general
+retreat on Alencon, where the Minister of War had arranged for the
+arrival of two Divisions of the XIXth Corps from Carentan.
+
+The advance of the IInd Army to Le Mans had been a series of seven days'
+incessant fighting. It was made at a season when the winter was in
+extremest severity. Ice and snow-drifts had rendered every movement one
+long struggle. Bivouacking was out of the question; and the troops had
+to seek their night shelter often at a distance of some miles in rear;
+their reassembling in the morning cost precious hours, and the shortness
+of the day then prevented their taking full advantage of their
+successes. Whole battalions were employed in guarding the prisoners. The
+roads were in such a state that the trains of the army could not be
+brought up; officers and men alike marched insufficiently clothed and on
+scanty rations. But zeal, endurance, and discipline conquered every
+difficulty.
+
+The army had sacrificed in this prolonged struggle 3200 men and 200
+officers, the larger half belonging to the IIIrd Corps alone. Many
+companies fought under the command of non-commissioned officers.
+
+The French estimated their losses at 6200 men, and 20,000 taken
+prisoners; seventeen guns, two colours, and an abundant supply of
+materiel remained as trophies in the hands of the victors.
+
+After exertions so severe the troops imperatively needed some rest. The
+instructions from the supreme Headquarter were that the operations were
+not to be extended beyond a certain limit; and it was possible that the
+services of the IInd Army might almost immediately be required on the
+Seine and the Loire. Prince Frederick Charles therefore determined to
+follow up the retreating enemy with only a small force.
+
+On the French side, that each Corps might have a separate road for the
+retreat to Alencon, two Corps had necessarily to draw out westward in
+the first instance. On the evening of the last day's fight the XVIth
+Corps reached Chauffour on the Laval road, and the XVIIth Conlie on the
+road to Mayenne, each covered by its rear-guard. The XXIst was assembled
+at Ballon, on the left bank of the Sarthe. From these points all were
+to march in a northerly direction. General Chanzy still deluded himself
+with the hope of coming up by Evreux to the assistance of the besieged
+capital. He would have had thus to make a wide circuit--an arc by moving
+on the chord of which the Germans could easily have anticipated him; and
+in a country where all arms were available, his army, in the condition
+to which it was now reduced, must have inevitably been destroyed.
+Ultimately the defeated French army retired in the direction to the
+westward of the Sarthe.
+
+After the distribution of rations and forage, General von Schmidt set
+forth at mid-day on the 13th with four battalions, eleven squadrons, and
+ten guns, and reached Chauffour after some skirmishing. The XIIIth Corps
+advanced to the Sarthe, the 17th Division sending its outposts across
+the river at Neuville, and the 22nd drove the French out of Ballon,
+whence they retired in full flight to Beaumont. The XXIst French Corps
+had taken up quarters this day at Sille. The National Guards of Brittany
+fled wildly to Coron, and thence made homeward toward their own
+province. They were joined by the troops left in camp at Conlie, after
+the camp there had been plundered. The XVIIth Corps also went off,
+without halting by the Vegre as it had been ordered to do, but
+retreating direct on Ste. Suzanne. The XVIth withdrew on Laval, leaving
+Barry's Division at Chassille as rear-guard. Numbers of abandoned
+waggons and cast-away arms, everywhere testified to the demoralization
+of the defeated forces.
+
+On the 14th the French were driven out of Chassille. The XVIth Corps had
+by this time almost entirely lost its organization; it retired during
+the night to St. Jean sur Erve. In the camp at Conlie were found 8000
+stands of arms and 5,000,000 cartridges, as well as various other war
+materiel.
+
+The Grand Duke had marched on Alencon along the right bank of the
+Sarthe. The French in Beaumont made a feeble resistance to the advanced
+guard of the 22nd Division, and lost 1400 prisoners.
+
+On the following day General von Schmidt advanced further on the road to
+Laval, but found that the French had concentrated at St. Jean and posted
+a strong force of artillery on the heights behind the Erve. The
+Oldenburg Regiment[70] forced its way as far as the church of the little
+town, and the Brunswickers drove the enemy back on Ste. Suzanne, higher
+up the river, but there the pursuit ended.
+
+Barry's and Deplanque's Divisions, according to the French estimate, had
+now no more than 6000 fighting men, and Curten's Division had still not
+yet come up, but this strength was considerably superior to that of the
+weak German detachment confronting it. The rest of the Xth Corps was
+moving up in support, but had as yet only reached Chasille. A battalion
+advancing from Conlie came into conflict at Sille with the XXIst French
+Corps assembled there, and sustained heavy loss. The 22nd Division of
+the XIIIth Corps also met with serious opposition before reaching
+Alencon, from the National Guards and the volunteers under Lipowski; and
+the attack on the town was postponed till next day.
+
+But on the following morning the French positions in Alencon as well as
+in Sille and St. Jean were abandoned. Those places were at once occupied
+by the Germans, and General von Schmidt marched forward, close up to
+Laval. Numerous stragglers from the retreating army were taken
+prisoners.
+
+Behind the Mayenne, whither now Curten's Division had arrived, the
+remnants of the IInd Army of the Loire re-assembled. Reduced to half its
+original strength, and its morale gravely shaken, it could but be unfit
+for service for a long time to come, and the object of the German
+advance on Le Mans was fully attained.
+
+To the north of Paris, however, the French were meanwhile threatening a
+renewed offensive. It was necessary to draw in on the Somme the portions
+of the Ist Army which were still on the Lower Seine; and orders came
+from the supreme Head-quarter that the XIIIth Corps of the IInd Army
+should march on Rouen.
+
+On the Upper Loire also French detachments had advanced against the
+Hessian posts about Briare, and had driven them back, on the 14th, to
+Ouzouer; while from the Sologne came a report of the advance of a
+newly-formed French Army Corps--the XXVth.
+
+The German IXth Corps, after evacuating and destroying the camp at
+Conlie, was therefore sent to Orleans in support. The remainder of the
+IInd Army, the IIIrd and Xth Corps with the three cavalry divisions--in
+a strength of about 27,000 foot, 9000 horse, and 186 guns--was assembled
+by Prince Frederick Charles round Le Mans. The cavalry in observation on
+the front and flanks had several small skirmishes, but no further
+serious hostilities were attempted.
+
+The 4th Cavalry Division held Alencon on the right, and on the left
+General von Hartmann entered Tours without any opposition.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[66] Commanding 6th Division, IIIrd Corps.
+
+[67] "Arnage" on the map and in the _Staff History_.
+
+[68] The "Holsteiners" mentioned in the text were two battalions of the
+85th Regiment, which belonged to the 36th Brigade, 18th Division, IXth
+Army Corps, whose territorial region consists of Schleswig-Holstein, the
+Hanse towns, Mecklenburg, &c.
+
+[69] The 17th and 92nd Regiments comprising the 46th Brigade commanded
+by General von Diringshofen.
+
+[70] The 91st Regiment, 37th Brigade, 10th Army Corps, whose recruiting
+ground is Hanover, Oldenburg, and Brunswick. The Hanoverian Corps
+consists mainly of the regiments of the old Hanoverian army of the
+kingdom long ruled by British sovereigns; an army whose valour, proved
+side by side with British troops on countless battle-fields from Minden
+and Dettingen to the Peninsula and Waterloo, culminated in its final
+battle on the glorious but luckless field of Langensalza.
+
+
+
+
+OCCURRENCES NORTHWARD OF PARIS DURING JANUARY.
+
+
+At the beginning of the New Year a considerable part of the Ist German
+Army was engaged in besieging Peronne, which had afforded a safe
+crossing-point for the debouche of the French on the southern bank of
+the Somme. General Barnekow held the little place invested with the 3rd
+Reserve Division and the 31st Infantry Brigade. Previously it had only
+been kept under observation by cavalry, but circumstances had
+temporarily given it importance. What of the VIIIth Corps formerly on
+the Somme was available formed a wide curve from Amiens northward as far
+as Bapaume, to cover the siege.
+
+The Ist Corps, posted at Rouen for the time, consisted only of three
+brigades; but the 4th was on the march thither from before Peronne,
+where it had been relieved. No reinforcement of the Ist Army had been
+effected. The 14th Division, after reducing Mezieres and, soon after,
+Rocroy, had received fresh orders from Versailles which transferred it
+to another part of the theatre of war.
+
+General Faidherbe had concentrated his troops behind the Scarpe, from
+their resting quarters south of Arras, and had begun his forward march
+on January 2nd. He advanced with the XXIInd Corps to the relief of
+Peronne by way of Bucquoy. The XXIIIrd followed by the high road to
+Bapaume. About half-past ten Derroja's Division of the former Corps
+obliged the 3rd Cavalry Division, as well as those battalions of the
+32nd Brigade which had been attached to it, to fall back on Miraumont,
+followed, however, only as far as Achiet le Petit.
+
+The other Division, under General Bessol, did not advance towards Achiet
+le Grand till the afternoon. There it was opposed for several hours by
+two companies of the 68th, a sub-division of Hussars, and two guns,
+which only retired in the evening on Avesnes. The French did not follow
+up the detachment, but threw out outposts about Bihucourt.
+
+Payen's Division deployed on the high road at Behagnies, and its
+batteries opened fire on Sapignies, where, however, General von
+Strubberg had posted five battalions. These repulsed the attack, and at
+two o'clock entered Behagnies with a rush, took 240 prisoners, and
+prepared the village for defence. The enemy withdrew to Ervillers, and
+there once again drew out, but attempted no further attack.
+
+The other Division of the French XXIIIrd Corps, consisting of mobilized
+National Guards under General Robin, moved forward on the left on Mory.
+There were only one battalion and a squadron of Hussars to oppose it. By
+extending their line on the heights of Beugnatre, the German detachment
+succeeded in deceiving the enemy in regard to its weakness. The latter
+marched and counter-marched, and also brought up artillery, but did not
+attempt an attack, and remained at Mory.
+
+The 30th German Brigade and the 3rd Cavalry Division assembled for the
+night in and about Bapaume. The 29th Brigade occupied the neighbouring
+villages on the right and the left of the Arras road.
+
+BATTLE OF BAPAUME.--_January 3rd._--General Faidherbe had brought his
+forces close up to the position which covered the investment of Peronne.
+His four Divisions consisted of fifty-seven battalions, which were
+opposed by only seventeen German battalions. He decided on the 3rd to
+push on in four columns to Grevillers and Biefvillers, on the high road,
+and to Favreuil on the east.
+
+But General von Goeben was not inclined to give up his position at
+Bapaume. Under cover of a force in occupation of Favreuil, General von
+Kummer in the morning assembled the 30th Brigade in front of Bapaume,
+and behind it the 29th, of which, however, three battalions were left in
+the villages to left and to right. A reserve was established further to
+the rear at Tronsloy, whither the 8th Rifle Battalion, with two
+batteries, was detached; and General von Barnekow received orders to
+hold three battalions and the 2nd Foot Detachment in readiness at Sailly
+Saillisel, without raising the blockade. Finally the detachment under
+Prince Albrecht, jun.--three battalions, eight squadrons, and three
+batteries--advanced on Bertincourt, near to the subsequent battle-field.
+In this disposition, in bitterly cold and sullen weather, the attack of
+the French was awaited.
+
+General Count von der Groeben had already sent the 7th Cavalry Brigade
+against the enemy's right flank, but it did not succeed in forcing its
+way through the villages occupied by the hostile infantry.
+
+On the right wing the Division Robin was at Beugnatre met by so sharp a
+fire from two battalions of the 65th Regiment and two horse batteries
+which had joined them from Transloy, that it withdrew again on Mory. The
+garrison of Favreuil was reinforced by two battalions and two batteries
+against the approach of the Division Payen, which was marching by the
+high road to the eastward of that place. The first French gun moving out
+from Sapignies was immediately destroyed, but several batteries soon
+became engaged on both sides, and the French forced their way into
+Favreuil and St. Aubin.
+
+The 40th Regiment advanced on these places at noon from Bertincourt, and
+after a lively action re-occupied them; but had to evacuate Favreuil
+again, and took up a position alongside of the 2nd Guard Uhlan regiment
+and a horse battery sideward of Fremicourt, which secured the right
+flank of the Division.
+
+On the left, the Division Bessol had driven the weak garrison out of
+Biefvillers. The 1st Battalion of the 33rd Regiment, which moved forward
+to retake that place, became hotly engaged; it lost all but three of its
+officers, and had to retire upon Avesnes. The Division Derroja also took
+part in this fight. The French now brought up a strong force of
+artillery, and extended their firing-line to the south nearly as far as
+the road to Albert.
+
+Therefore, at mid-day, General von Kummer decided to confine himself to
+the local defence of Bapaume. At the cost of serious loss, the artillery
+covered the drawing in thither of the infantry. The 1st Heavy Battery,
+which was the last to withdraw, lost 2 officers, 17 men, and 36 horses;
+its guns could only be brought out of action with the help of the
+infantry.
+
+In Bapaume the 29th Brigade now prepared for an obstinate defence of the
+old city wall, and the 30th assembled behind the place. The French
+advanced leisurely as far as the suburb. Then ensued a long pause in the
+fighting. General Faidherbe hoped to take the town by further
+encompassing it, without exposing it to a bombardment followed by a
+storm. A brigade of the Division Derroja endeavoured to advance through
+Tilloy, but met there with stubborn resistance from the Rifle Battalion
+and two batteries which had come up from Peronne. At the same time
+twenty-four guns of the batteries which had retired behind Bapaume
+opened fire on the advancing columns, which then withdrew, at half-past
+three, across the road to Albert. They soon resumed the attack, and
+succeeded in entering Tilloy. All the neighbouring batteries now opened
+fire upon this village. General von Mirus, who on the advance of the 3rd
+Cavalry Division had been left behind in Miraumont, saw no enemy in his
+front there, but heard the fighting at Bapaume, and advanced from the
+west, as did General von Strubberg from the town, to renew the attack.
+The French did not await their arrival, and were driven back out of the
+suburb and also Avesnes. The French Divisions spent the night at
+Grevillers, Bihucourt, Favreuil, and Beugnatre, thus surrounding Bapaume
+on three sides. The day had cost the Germans 52 officers and 698 men,
+and the French 53 officers and 2066 men.
+
+But only by exerting the whole available strength of the VIIIth Corps
+had it been possible to withstand the preponderating attack of the
+enemy. It had not yet been possible to replenish the Corps' supply of
+ammunition, and General von Goeben decided to immediately move back the
+fighting ground to behind the Somme. This movement was actually in
+process when the patrols brought information that the enemy was also
+evacuating the neighbouring villages.
+
+The French troops, as yet unaccustomed to the vicissitudes of warfare,
+had suffered extremely from the previous day's fighting and the severe
+cold of the ensuing night. General Faidherbe could perceive that the
+forces before Peronne had been brought forward to Bapaume, and that the
+Germans thus reinforced would take the offensive. His chief object, the
+interruption of the siege of Peronne, had been obtained, and the General
+thought it best not to endanger that result by a second encounter. He
+led his Corps back in the direction of Arras. Of the German cavalry
+detachments following up the retirement the 8th Cuirassiers succeeded in
+breaking a French square. The 15th Division withdrew behind the Somme,
+immediately below Peronne, and the Saxon cavalry joined the right wing
+at St. Quentin.
+
+FIGHTING ON THE LOWER SEINE.--_January 4th._--Exactly at the same time
+the other Corps of the Ist Army was in conflict with the enemy on the
+Lower Seine. The French had not undertaken any new enterprise on the
+right bank of the river, but on the left bank they held the wooded
+heights of Bois de la Londe, which overhang the southern outlet of the
+Seine after its encircling the peninsula of Grand Couronne. Here General
+von Bentheim,[71] with a view of gaining room in this direction, had
+assembled half the Ist Army Corps, and advanced on the 4th of January on
+Les Moulineaux. Before daybreak Lieut.-Colonel von Huellessem surprised
+the enemy's outposts there, stormed the rock-crowned fortalice of
+Chateau Robert le Diable, and took prisoners the defenders who had
+sought refuge amid the ruins of the castle. The heights of Maison Brulet
+were then scaled under the heavy fire of the enemy, and two of his guns
+were taken. After a renewed resistance at St. Ouen the French withdrew
+on Bourgachard in the afternoon, pursued towards six in the evening by a
+half squadron of dragoons, two guns, and a company carried on waggons,
+which took from them two 12-pounders posted at the entrance of
+Rougemontier, killing the gunners and capturing an ammunition waggon.
+
+After a slight skirmish the enemy was also driven out of Bourgtheroulde
+and thrown back in the direction of Brionne. The French right wing at
+Elbeuf during the night hastily withdrew from a position rendered
+precarious by the wavering of the other detachments. The affair cost 5
+officers and 160 men. The loss of the French must have been equal,
+besides which they lost 300 prisoners and 4 guns.
+
+General Roye posted his troops behind the Rille on the line
+Pont-Audemer--Brionne, but the Germans now held Bourgachard,
+Bourgtheroulde, and Elbeuf strongly garrisoned, with three battalions at
+Grand-Couronne in readiness to furnish support. The other troops
+returned to Rouen. An attempted advance of the French on the same day by
+the northern bank of the Seine had been arrested in front of Fauville,
+whence they again withdrew towards Harfleur.
+
+Meanwhile it had not escaped the observation of the VIIIth Army Corps
+that this time the French did not seek the cover of the northern
+fortresses, but that they had halted south of Arras, thus betraying an
+intention shortly to renew the attack on the force investing Peronne.
+
+General von Goeben therefore decided to return to the northern bank of
+the Somme, to cover that operation, and there to take up a flanking
+position whose front the enemy would have to cross in his advance.
+
+On January 6th, after the troops had been permitted one day's rest and
+the ammunition had been replenished, the 30th Brigade moved to Bray, the
+29th to Albert. In close vicinity to the enemy was the 3rd Cavalry
+Division at Bapaume, behind it the Guard Cavalry Brigade. For the
+protection of the left flank Lieut.-Colonel von Pestel[72] occupied
+Acheux, and from the investing Corps the 3rd Reserve Division moved
+westward of Peronne to Feuilleres. The Corps-Artillery remained for the
+time on the left bank of the Somme, since it almost seemed as if the
+enemy intended to direct his attack on Amiens.
+
+But during the next day the French did not undertake anything of
+importance, and on the 9th Peronne fell.
+
+REDUCTION OF PERONNE.--_January 9th._--For fourteen days this little
+place had been invested by eleven battalions, sixteen squadrons, and ten
+batteries. Flooded meadows on one side, and on the other walls with
+medieval towers, had secured it against a surprise; but for the rest it
+was commanded on all sides by overhanging heights.
+
+Although the fire of fifty-eight field guns had not done it much damage,
+yet in any case it must have been very soon discontinued for want of
+ammunition. A bombardment with captured French siege-artillery remained
+without result. The fortress stoutly maintained its fire, and its
+garrison of only 3500 men even attempted sorties.
+
+As before mentioned, on the day of the battle of Bapaume, a portion of
+the besieging troops had been necessarily withdrawn to the support of
+the VIIIth Army Corps, and in the uncertainty as to the result of this
+fight it had been imperative to take precautions for the safety of the
+siege material. The troops that remained behind stood ready to march,
+and part of the heavy guns had been withdrawn. But the garrison
+maintained a waiting attitude.
+
+Two days later arrived a siege-train of fifty-five heavy guns which had
+been brought together at La Fere. A second, of twenty-eight French
+siege-pieces, was on the way from Mezieres. The preliminaries of a
+regular siege were undertaken, and when at length on the 8th of January
+a large ammunition-convoy arrived, the commandant was summoned to give
+up a defence that had now become hopeless.
+
+On the 10th of January, General von Barnekow entered the fortress, which
+was found amply provided with arms, ammunition and provisions. The
+garrison were made prisoners.
+
+On the 7th of January, his Majesty the King had assigned General von
+Manteuffel to another section of the theatre of war, and had given the
+supreme command of the Ist Army to General von Goeben.
+
+Freed from concern as to Peronne, that General's only duty thenceforward
+was to insure the protection of the investment of Paris. For this
+purpose the Somme, whose passages were all in the hands of the Germans,
+formed a natural bulwark, behind which the attack even of a greatly
+superior enemy could be awaited. And some reinforcements now arrived for
+the VIIIth Army Corps. The peaceful condition of the Lower Seine allowed
+of two infantry regiments and two batteries being sent from thence to
+Amiens. By instructions from the supreme Head-quarter an infantry
+brigade of the Meuse Army was held in readiness, which in case of need
+was to be sent up by rail to reinforce the Ist Army.
+
+It was still uncertain whither the enemy would direct his stroke.
+General von Goeben, therefore, spread his forces behind the Somme on a
+prolonged extension of some forty-five miles, still holding fast the
+points gained in front of the river, to meet the contingency of his
+having to renew the offensive. In the middle of the month, the
+detachments of the Ist Corps under the command of General Count von der
+Groeben occupied Amiens, Corbie, and the line of the Hallue as a flank
+position. The 15th Division, holding Bray firmly, took up quarters south
+of that village. Next to it, on the left of Peronne, was the 3rd Reserve
+Division, right of it were the 16th Division and the 3rd Reserve Cavalry
+Brigade, holding Roisel and Vermand to the front. The 12th Cavalry
+Division was at St. Quentin.
+
+The French army had already begun to advance on the Cambrai high-road,
+and its XXIInd Corps had pushed back the 3rd Cavalry Division first out
+of Bapaume and then out of Albert behind the Hallue. The XXIIIrd
+followed by the same road, and their objective really appears to have
+been Amiens. But a reconnaissance had exposed the difficulty of
+attacking in that direction, besides which a telegram from the War
+Minister announced that the Army of Paris within the next few days was
+to make a last supreme effort to burst the bonds of the investment, and
+the Army of the North was enjoined to divert, as far as possible, the
+enemy's forces from the capital, and draw them on itself.
+
+In accordance with these orders General Faidherbe decided to advance
+without delay on St. Quentin, whither the Brigade Isnard was already
+marching from Cambrai. An attack on their right wing, consisting for the
+time solely of cavalry, directly threatened the communications of the
+Germans, while the vicinity of the northern forts afforded the French
+army shelter and also greater liberty of action.
+
+But General von Goeben had foreseen such a leftward movement of the
+enemy, and concentrated all his forces to meet it.
+
+The convalescents who were fit for service joined the ranks. Only weak
+detachments were left at Amiens, and because of the approach of the
+XIIIth Corps from the Sarthe to the Lower Seine, it was now safe to
+transfer the 3rd Grenadier Regiment and a heavy battery from thence to
+the Somme.
+
+The departure of the French from Albert and the march of their Corps on
+Combles and Sailly Saillisel were soon reported by the cavalry in
+observation. The newly-formed Brigade Pauly occupied Bapaume, and the
+Brigade Isnard entered St. Quentin, whence General zur Lippe (commanding
+the 12th (Saxon) Cavalry Division detailed from the Army of the Meuse)
+retired on Ham in accordance with orders. General von Goeben now moved
+eastward, using the roads on both banks of the Somme so that he might
+the sooner reach the enemy.
+
+_January 17th._--The 12th Cavalry Brigade moved further to the right on
+La Fere, the 16th Division to Ham. The 3rd Reserve Division and the
+Guard Cavalry Brigade arrived at Nesle; the 15th Division and the Corps
+Artillery, at Villers Carbonnel. An Army-Reserve had been formed of the
+troops last brought up from Rouen, and it followed to Harbonnieres. On
+the northern bank, the detachment under Count von der Groeben moved to
+the vicinity of Peronne.
+
+The four French Divisions had so far advanced on Vermand as to be able
+to unite next day near St. Quentin. The XXIIIrd Corps was to move
+straight upon the town, the XXIInd to cross the Somme lower down, and
+take up a position south of St. Quentin.
+
+_January 18th._--On the German side, the 16th and the 3rd Reserve
+Division moved by the south bank of the Somme to Jussy and Flavy, the
+Army-Reserve to Ham. The 12th Cavalry Division at Vendeuil found the
+country east of the Oise still free from the enemy.
+
+With the object of obtaining touch of the approaching enemy, the 15th
+Division was on its part to cross the Somme at Brie, and, together with
+the troops of General Count von der Groeben, to advance on Vermand and
+Etreillers. General von Kummer was enjoined, in case he found that the
+French had taken up a position, merely to watch them and to follow them
+should they retire northward, but should they march towards the south,
+to attack them with all his force.
+
+At half-past ten, the 29th Brigade came up on the hither side of Tertry
+with the rear-guard of the XXIInd Corps and its trains. The Hussars
+charged one of the battalions guarding the latter, and drove the waggons
+in the greatest disorder back on Caulaincourt, but had to abandon
+prisoners and prize under the fire of the approaching infantry. The
+French brigade had turned about, and it advanced to an attack on
+Trescon. This was resisted by the 65th Regiment and three batteries
+until after two o'clock, when General du Bessol reached the scene of the
+fight and ordered the French brigade to resume its march on St. Quentin.
+
+The XXIIIrd had also halted and detached a brigade against the left
+flank of the 15th Division. This, however, on reaching Cauvigny Farm,
+came upon two German battalions, which after a protracted fire-fight
+pursued the retreating enemy and entered Caulaincourt at half-past
+three, making 100 prisoners and capturing fourteen provision-waggons.
+
+Meanwhile Count von der Groeben had hurried forward at the sound of
+firing. The General realized that he could help most efficaciously by
+marching straight on Vermand. Four batteries came into action against
+Poeuilly, which was occupied by the enemy, and when the 4th Grenadier
+Regiment passed to the assault the French retreated, losing some
+prisoners. Many Gardes-Mobiles were dispersed by the Uhlans. About
+Vermand the whole of the XXIIIrd Corps was now in the act of beginning
+to march off.
+
+Count von der Groeben therefore posted his troops behind the Poeuilly
+bottom, thereby retarding the withdrawal of the enemy by forcing him to
+halt and form front against each display of pressure. The 15th Division
+took up quarters about Beauvois and Caulaincourt.
+
+The sole aim of the French Generals on this day seemed to be to reach
+St. Quentin. They neglected the opportunity of falling with their two
+Corps upon the single 15th Division. The XXIIIrd Corps passed the night
+in and westward of St. Quentin, and the XXIInd, after crossing the Somme
+at Seraucourt, southward of the town. A further advance either on Paris
+or on the German lines of communications depended now, when the latter
+had approached so close, on the issue of a battle; and this General
+Faidherbe wished to await at St. Quentin.
+
+It was important to hold on here in case the sortie of the Paris Army
+should result in success. The ground offered certain advantages--the
+heights in front of the town gave a free range of fire and afforded a
+sheltered position for the reserves. It was true that the Somme divided
+the army in two halves, but the bridge of St. Quentin made mutual
+assistance possible. The enemy also occupied both sides of the river,
+and including the Isnard and Pauly Brigades which had come up, he
+finally counted 40,000 men, opposed to an enemy numerically weaker.[73]
+The Germans, all told, numbered exactly 32,580 combatants, of whom
+nearly 6000 were cavalry.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[71] Who had succeeded General Manteuffel in the command of the Ist
+Corps, when at the beginning of December the latter found oppressive the
+command of a Corps along with the Command-in-Chief of the Ist Army.
+
+[72] Commanding the 7th (Rhineland) Uhlan Regiment, the officer who so
+long and so gallantly defended Saarbruecken on his own responsibility in
+the earliest days of the war.
+
+[73] Whether the author intends, in the two first sentences of this
+paragraph, that the advantages of the St. Quentin position should be
+enjoyed by Faidherbe or Goeben, appears somewhat obscure. The third
+sentence certainly refers to the German Army, as the succeeding one
+clearly shows. But this being so, there is a discrepancy between the
+text and the _Staff History_, as regards the side which the bridge of
+St. Quentin would serve in the battle. The following is quoted from that
+work: "Moreover, the German troops were separated by the Somme, whilst
+the bridges at St. Quentin enabled the French Corps to afford one
+another easy support."
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF ST. QUENTIN.
+
+(January 19th.)
+
+
+General von Goeben had ordered the general attack for this day.
+
+Covered by the occupation of Seraucourt, General von Barnekow advanced
+along the southern bank of the Somme, with the 16th and the 3rd Reserve
+Divisions from Jussy through Essigny; the 12th Cavalry Division advanced
+on the road leading from La Fere.
+
+The French columns were still on the march to take up their position
+with its rear towards the town; and Grugies was already occupied by
+them. While the 32nd German Brigade advanced northward of Essigny the
+Reserve Division halted behind the village, and the 31st Brigade at a
+quarter to ten advanced on Grugies.
+
+This attack was taken in flank on its left by the French Brigade
+Gislain, which had meanwhile occupied the hamlets of Contescourt and
+Castres. It was met in front by the Brigades Foerster and Pittie which
+had promptly come into action.
+
+The fire of the German batteries was at once returned vigorously from Le
+Moulin de Tout Vent. At eleven o'clock the second battalion of the 69th
+Regiment marched in company columns across the entirely open ground
+against the heights on the hither side of Grugies; but the attempt,
+renewed four times, was frustrated by the destructive cross-fire of the
+enemy. The ammunition of the isolated battalion was nearly exhausted,
+and only when followed by six fresh companies of the 29th Regiment did
+it succeed in forcing the French back, after a desperate hand-to-hand
+fight: but the latter held their ground in front of Grugies and in the
+sugar-factory there.
+
+On the right wing, the 12th Cavalry Division were advancing on the La
+Fere road. The French Brigade Aynes, hitherto held in reserve, rushed
+forward at the double to encounter it, and as Count zur Lippe had at
+disposition but one battalion of infantry, his advance at first was
+arrested at Cornet d'Or. But when at noon the Division was joined by
+reinforcements from Tergnier, the Saxon rifles stormed the park by the
+high-road, and the Schleswig-Holstein Fusiliers carried La Neuville. The
+French, with the loss of many prisoners, were vigorously pursued back to
+the suburb of St. Quentin, where first they found shelter.
+
+Meantime, the 31st Brigade was engaged in a hot fight on both sides of
+the railway-line in front of Grugies; behind its right wing was the 32nd
+in the hollow ground on the high-road, where it suffered severely from
+the enemy's shell-fire; and on the left, the detachment advancing from
+Seraucourt did not succeed in entering Contescourt. And now the French
+made so determined and overwhelming an attack from Grugies, that the
+16th Division had to be withdrawn as far as Essigny.
+
+When after noon General Faidherbe joined the XXIIIrd Corps, he had
+reason to hope that the XXIInd Corps would be able to maintain its
+position. But certainly the most important result was to be looked for
+on the northern section of the battle-field.
+
+Here the Division Robin had taken up a position between Fayet and
+Francilly. The Brigade Isnard had marched up it on its left, and the
+Brigade Lagrange of the Division Payen extended as far as the Somme. The
+Brigade Michelet remained in reserve, and the Brigade Pauly at Gricourt
+secured the communications rearward.
+
+On the German left, so early as eight o'clock, General Count von der
+Groeben set out from Poeuilly with eight battalions and twenty-eight
+guns and advanced along the Roman road; the Cavalry Brigade accompanied
+the march on the left.
+
+The East-Prussians[74] immediately hurled the French back from Holnon,
+cleared them out of Selency, and then advanced against Fayet and on to
+the heights of Moulin Coutte. A gun in action, ammunition-waggons, and
+many prisoners were there taken from the enemy.
+
+By degrees the twenty-eight guns were massed on the Windmill Height and
+entered into a contest with the artillery of the Division Robin. But in
+the course of half an hour the ammunition failed, since the waggons
+which had been sent on the previous day to the ammunition column of the
+VIIIth Corps had not yet come up with the reserve supply. The batteries,
+which were moreover suffering from infantry fire, had to retire to
+Holnon, and as Francilly, immediately on the flank and to the rear, was
+still occupied by the enemy, a further advance was temporarily
+postponed.
+
+On the right, General von Kummer with the 15th Division, marching from
+Beauvois, had reached Etreillers at ten. The King's Hussars cut in upon
+the enemy's horse in retreat, and drove them back upon L'Epine de
+Dallon, and the 29th Brigade entered Savy. North of that place three
+batteries opened fire against the artillery of the Division Payen, and
+then the 65th Regiment passed to the attack of the forward-lying copses.
+The smaller one to the south was carried, but here, as at Francilly, the
+Brigade Isnard maintained itself in the larger one to the north.
+
+At noon the Brigade Lagrange also advanced once more on the small copse
+and forced its way into it for a short time, but was again driven back
+by the 65th.
+
+The 33rd Regiment was posted in readiness on the threatened right flank
+of the 29th Brigade, and near it stood in action two heavy batteries of
+the Corps Artillery just arrived at Savy. At the same time the 30th
+Brigade also advanced through Roupy on the right of the 29th.
+
+Meanwhile Colonel von Massow at one o'clock renewed the offensive on the
+much more advanced left wing. Six companies of the 44th Regiment
+advanced on Fayet, and after firing into them at the shortest range,
+drove the French from the place. Two batteries followed, and resumed
+action against the enemy's great artillery position at Moulin de Cepy.
+
+General Paulze D'Ivoy, who saw the communications of his Corps with
+Cambrai in such imminent danger, had already called up the Brigade
+Michelet from its reserve post west of the town, and thus reinforced now
+advanced on Fayet. The Prussian detachments that were in the place had
+to be withdrawn to Moulin Coutte; but the further advance of the enemy
+towards these heights was arrested by a flank attack from Selency, and
+at the same time the farmstead of Bois des Roses was carried. The French
+again withdrew on Fayet.
+
+There, at Francilly, and in the northern copses, they still held their
+own at half-past one, while at that hour, on the German side, all three
+brigades had been brought up into the fighting-line. The Army-Reserve
+had arrived from Ham at Roupy, but General von Goeben, who from the
+latter place had been watching the slow progress of the 16th Division,
+had already sent it at eleven o'clock through Seraucourt to the support
+of that Division.
+
+Colonel von Boecking (commanding the Army-Reserve), with his three
+battalions, three squadrons, and two batteries, advanced from Seraucourt
+against Contescourt. Hastening forward with the cavalry, he brought his
+artillery promptly into action; and then the 41st Regiment, immediately
+on its arrival, passed to the attack. The battalion of the 19th Regiment
+which was already on the spot, joined in the fighting, and the enemy
+with the loss of many prisoners, was at one o'clock driven out of
+Contescourt and of Castres as well, towards the heights of Grugies.
+Against these heights the fire of the artillery, which had gradually
+been increased to thirty guns, was now directed.
+
+Bent on further disputing the position, General Lecomte brought up
+several battalions from the brigades of Pittie and Aynes for the
+reinforcement of the Brigade Gislain. The East-Prussian Regiment (41st)
+succeeded, nevertheless, by half-past two o'clock, in hurling the enemy
+by an outflanking attack from the heights into the hollow in front of
+Grugies. Colonel von Boecking's vigorous attack made itself felt
+throughout the whole front of fight.
+
+With a view to renewing a general advance, General von Barnekow had
+ordered up his last reserves from Essigny, when towards three o'clock
+the Brigade Pittie unexpectedly pushed forward an attack along the
+railway line. Its right scourged by artillery fire from Castres, it
+found its left taken at unawares by the charge of five squadrons of
+reserve cavalry from the Urvilliers hollow. Simultaneously Colonel von
+Hartzberg advanced with the 32nd Brigade, and drove the enemy back to
+Moulin de Tout Vent.
+
+The Brigade Foerster, south of Grugies, had still held out stubbornly,
+although now seriously threatened on the right from Giffecourt, as well
+as by the 12th Cavalry Division on its left flank. Its left flank now
+completely uncovered by the retreat of the Brigade Pittie, and its last
+strength exhausted by a long struggle, the brigade found itself finally
+forced to evacuate its long-held position. The 31st Brigade advanced
+along the railway-line as far as the sugar-factory, and Colonel von
+Boecking drove the last French detachments out of Grugies. He then
+prepared with his artillery the attack upon Moulin de Tout Vent. Against
+these heights the 41st Regiment, the battalions already ordered up from
+Essigny, and the 32nd Brigade advanced to a concentric attack. The
+French did not prolong their resistance, and indeed were already in
+retreat. The entire German fighting line, with the 12th Cavalry Division
+on its right, moved forward on the town, which was now reached by the
+fire of the artillery posted at Gauchy. The cavalry repeatedly broke in
+on the retreating hostile bodies; and the railway-station and suburb, in
+which was found only the rear-guard of the XXth French Corps, was
+occupied after a short struggle.
+
+Whilst on the southern section of the battle-field the action took this
+turn, on the northern side the attacks were also being pushed.
+
+By two o'clock the 28th Regiment advancing from Roupy by the road from
+Ham had carried the farmstead of L'Epine de Dallon; and almost
+simultaneously Count von der Groeben's infantry came up to renew the
+offensive.
+
+Whilst on the right some companies of the 4th and 44th Regiments opposed
+the advance of French detachments from the larger copse, Major von
+Elpons with six companies of the Crown Prince Grenadiers, advanced from
+Holnon and Selency upon Francilly, and, notwithstanding the hot fire of
+the defenders, forced an entrance into this very straggling village, in
+which many prisoners were made. As, however, the East-Prussian Regiment
+then advanced further south of the Roman road, it had in its turn to
+sustain a formidable attack.
+
+To cover its threatened line of retreat, the Brigade Michelet once more
+advanced from Fayet, and the Brigade Pauly also marched from Gricourt
+upon Moulin Coutte. This position, which had in the meantime been
+strengthened by artillery, was, however, obstinately held by the 44th
+Regiment, and when the Grenadier companies poured in leftward towards
+the Roman road, the enemy's attack was here also repulsed.
+
+Meanwhile the 29th Brigade, followed by the 30th, had already advanced
+in the direction of St. Quentin, the 33rd Regiment on its right and the
+65th Regiment on the left. The latter regiment now took complete
+possession of the larger copse, and forty-eight guns were brought up on
+both sides of the road from Savy. The further advance of the infantry
+was effected in column of companies and on an extended line, because of
+the heavy shell fire of the French. The Brigades of Lagrange and Isnard
+did not await the shock, but at four o'clock retired on St. Quentin with
+the loss of one gun.
+
+Their artillery once more took up a position at Rocourt, but at five
+o'clock had to abandon it abruptly, and the French now confined
+themselves to the defence of the barricaded accesses into the St. Martin
+suburb of St. Quentin.
+
+Six Prussian batteries were brought up against these, and the 29th
+Brigade for some time maintained a stationary fire fight on the strongly
+held buildings and gardens; but presently several companies from Rocourt
+established themselves in the suburb, in which street-fighting was still
+continued, even after Lieutenant-Colonel von Huellessem had succeeded in
+crossing the canal bridge and entering the town itself.
+
+By four o'clock, General Faidherbe had already the conviction that the
+XXIIIrd Corps would probably be unable to hold its ground. In this event
+his choice was limited to the alternative of a night retreat, or of
+being shut up in St. Quentin. He had not yet formed a decision, when he
+met in the town General Lecointe, who reported that he had abandoned the
+defence of the left bank of the Somme. Thanks to the resistance still
+maintained by the XXIIIrd Corps on the north, the XXIInd was enabled to
+retire unmolested on Le Cateau.
+
+The Commanding General now ordered General Paulze d'Ivoy to retire on
+that place, but the latter only received the order at six in the
+evening, when the brigades of the right wing--Pauly's and
+Michelet's--had already started of their own accord for Cambrai. The
+more obstinately the two remaining brigades now defended the suburb of
+St. Martin, the more ominous for them must prove the result of the
+action. Attacked in rear by the battalions of Colonel von Boecking, the
+greater portion were made prisoners. The 41st Regiment alone took
+prisoners 54 officers and 2260 men, besides capturing 4 guns. General
+Faidherbe himself only escaped the same fate by the help of the
+inhabitants.
+
+The action ended at half-past six in the evening, and the troops passed
+the night in the town and in the captured villages.
+
+The hard-won victory had cost the Germans 96 officers and 2304 men; 3000
+wounded Frenchmen were found on the battle-field, and the number of
+unwounded prisoners exceeded 9000.
+
+According to theory, the pursuit should invariably clinch the victory--a
+postulate assented to by all, and particularly by civilians; and yet in
+practice it is seldom observed. Military history furnishes but few
+instances, such as the famous one of Belle Alliance. It requires a very
+strong and pitiless will to impose fresh exertions and dangers upon
+troops who have marched, fought and fasted for ten or twelve hours, in
+place of the longed-for rest and food. But even given the possession of
+this will, the question of pursuit will yet depend on the circumstances
+under which the victory has been won. It will be difficult of execution
+when all the bodies on the field of battle, as at Koeniggraetz, have
+become so intermixed that hours are required to re-form them into
+tactical cohesion; or when, as at St. Quentin, all, even the troops last
+thrown into the action, have become so entangled that not one single
+tactically complete body of infantry remains at disposition. Without the
+support of such a body, cavalry at night will be seriously detained
+before every obstacle and each petty post of the enemy, and thus alone
+its exertions will rarely be repaid.[75]
+
+General von Goeben did not pursue the defeated enemy till the following
+day. His advanced cavalry ranged up to the suburb of Cambrai and the
+glacis of Landrecies, without meeting with any resistance, and merely
+brought in some hundreds of stragglers. The Infantry Divisions followed
+to within four miles of Cambrai. Against this fortress nothing could be
+undertaken through want of siege material, and there was no military
+advantage to be derived in extending further north. Among the news to
+hand it was reported that a considerable portion of the French Army of
+the North had retired upon Lille, Douai and Valenciennes. As fresh
+enterprises on its part were consequently not to be expected, General
+von Goeben brought his force back to the Somme, where towards the end of
+the month it took up rest quarters between Amiens and St. Quentin.
+
+On the Lower Seine, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg entered Rouen with the
+XIIIth Corps on the 25th, after having encountered on the march only a
+few franctireurs. Although General Loysel had increased his force to a
+strength of nearly 30,000 by reinforcements from Cherbourg, he had
+remained entirely inactive.
+
+General von Goeben had in view the transfer to the Army of the Somme of
+that portion of the Ist Corps still about Rouen; but this was
+disapproved of by telegram from the supreme Head-quarter, which on
+political grounds ordered its continued retention there.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[74] Companies of the Crown Prince's Grenadier Regiment (the 1st of the
+Prussian line), and of the East Prussian Infantry Regiment No. 44,
+belonging respectively to the 1st and 3rd Brigades, 1st Division, Ist
+Army Corps.
+
+[75] Moltke, although not quite inexperienced in the practical conduct
+of war on a large scale, would scarcely have ventured to express himself
+as above, if he had studied the teachings of _The Soldier's
+Pocket-Book_. The distinguished author of that profound and accurate
+treatise writes of pursuits in quite a different tone. "You have won a
+great battle," writes Lord Wolseley, "and the enemy are in full retreat;
+run after him; hammer him with guns; charge him with cavalry; harass him
+with mounted infantry; pass round his flanks, and keep pushing him and
+hitting him from morning until night. Caution is out of place when you
+have a beaten army before you. Wellington never delivered any crushing
+blow, _because he failed to pursue_."
+
+
+
+
+OCCURRENCES IN THE SOUTH-EASTERN SEAT OF WAR UP TO 17TH OF JANUARY.
+
+
+SIEGE OF BELFORT.--In the south-eastern theatre of war, the forces
+detailed to operate against Belfort had been only gradually brought
+together under cover of the XIVth Army Corps.
+
+The town is surrounded by a bastioned enceinte. The citadel has a wide
+command, built as it is on lofty rocks, which, to increase the
+development of fire, are encircled by successive tiers of works in
+terrace-formation. On the left bank of the Savoureuse, newly constructed
+lines of defence protected the suburb and railway station. On the high
+adjacent ridge to the north-east the forts of La Miotte and La Justice,
+with the enclosing lines connecting them with the main fortress, formed
+a spacious intrenched camp. Hostile occupation of the lofty eminences of
+the two Perches (Hautes and Basses) would certainly endanger the whole
+defensive position, dominating as they did even the citadel from the
+south at a distance of only 1100 yards, and whence the works on the left
+bank of the river could be brought under fire. But two forts of masonry
+had been constructed on the Perches before the advent of the enemy, and
+further to strengthen the defence the nearest copses and villages, as
+for instance Perouse and Danjoutin, had been intrenched.
+
+The fortress was by no means deficient in bomb-proof accommodation. Its
+armament consisted of 341 heavy guns, and it was provisioned for five
+months.
+
+When immediately after the opening of the campaign, the VIIth French
+Corps vacated Alsace, only about 5000 Gardes-Mobiles remained in
+Belfort, but its garrison, increased by calling in National Guards, now
+exceeded 17,000.
+
+The vigilant Commandant, Colonel Denfert, laid great stress on the
+maintenance in force of the environs in his front. The advanced posts
+were every day assigned to fresh operations, which the artillery of the
+fortress had to cover at extreme ranges.
+
+On the opposite side, General von Tresckow (commanding 1st Reserve
+Division) had available at the outset, a force of not more than twenty
+weak battalions of Landwehr, five squadrons and six field-batteries, in
+all barely 15,000 men. He had at first to confine himself to a mere
+investment. The troops, intrenched in the villages round a wide
+circumference, had to repel many sorties.
+
+Orders were received from the supreme Headquarter to set about the
+regular siege of the place. General von Mertens was charged with the
+direction of the engineer operations, and Lieut.-Col. Scheliha with that
+of the artillery attack. The difficulties of the undertaking were
+obvious. The rocky nature of the soil could not but increase the labour
+of throwing up earthworks, and the cold season was approaching. The
+attack could be carried on successfully only from the south against the
+main work--the formidable citadel. Only fifty heavy guns were available
+for the time, and the infantry strength was not sufficient to
+efficiently invest the place on all sides.
+
+In these circumstances, there devolved on General von Tresckow the task
+of attempting the reduction of Belfort by a mere bombardment. Towards
+this purpose the attack was chiefly directed from the west, in which
+quarter, after the enemy's garrison had been driven out of Valdoye, the
+infantry occupied Essert and Bavilliers, as well as the adjacent wooded
+heights. On December 2nd seven batteries were constructed on the plateau
+between these two villages by 3000 men, under cover of two battalions.
+The hard-frozen ground added to the difficulties of the work; yet,
+notwithstanding the moonlight night, the operations would appear to have
+escaped the attention of the besieged. When on the following morning the
+sun had dispersed the fog and made visible the objects, fire was opened.
+
+The fortress replied at first but feebly, but afterwards with increasing
+vigour from the entire line of works, even from Forts La Miotte and La
+Justice at a range of 4700 yards, and the losses in the trenches were
+considerable.
+
+Four more batteries in front of Bavilliers were armed, and on the fall
+of La Tuilerie the infantry pressed on to within 170 yards of the
+enemy's most advanced trenches. The artillery fire caused a
+conflagration in the town; but the ammunition was soon exhausted, whilst
+the lofty citadel maintained unchecked an effective fire, and repeated
+sorties on the part of the garrison had to be repelled. It was now
+clear, since no decisive result had followed the methods hitherto
+resorted to, that only by a regular attack could that be attained.
+
+On the south Colonel von Ostrowski on December 13th had carried the
+French positions of Adelnans and the wooded heights of Le Bosmont and La
+Brosse. On the eastern point of the latter two batteries, and on its
+northern skirt four additional batteries had been thrown up, not without
+great difficulty arising from thaw having made the ground a swamp. On
+January 7th, fifty guns opened fire. The superiority of the artillery of
+the attack was soon manifest. Fort Bellevue suffered severely, and
+notably the fire from Basses Perches was entirely silenced.
+
+But it was of grave importance that the village of Danjoutin, strongly
+garrisoned and intrenched by the enemy, stood in the way of a further
+advance. During the night of the 8th January seven companies attacked
+this position, and also from the northward at the same time took
+possession of the railway-embankment. With empty rifles the Landwehr
+hurled themselves against the enemy in the face of a hot fire, and
+charged along the village street up to the church. The supports
+hastening from the fortress were driven back at the railway-embankment,
+but the fight about the buildings in the southern quarter of the village
+lasted till towards noon. Of the defenders, twenty officers and 700 men
+were taken prisoners.
+
+Typhus and small-pox had broken out in Belfort; and in the besieging
+force also the number of the sick reached a considerable figure, caused
+by arduous work in inclement weather. Most of the battalions could only
+muster 500 men, and this weakness led General von Tresckow to devote
+half his force to the lighter duty of protecting the investment from
+without, principally towards the south.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Trustworthy intelligence estimated the French strength at Besancon at
+62,000. Although hitherto entirely inactive, this force now seemed in
+strong earnest to press on to the relief of the hard-pressed fortress by
+the line of the Doubs. On this line was the fortified chateau of
+Montbeliard, held by one German battalion, and armed with heavy guns.
+Between the Doubs and the Swiss frontier about Delle stood General
+Debschitz with eight battalions, two squadrons, and two batteries, and
+General von Werder concentrated the XIVth Corps at Noroy, Aillevans, and
+Athesans, to oppose with all his strength any interruption of the siege
+of Belfort.
+
+From January 5th onwards there ensued a series of engagements in front
+of Vesoul, as the result of which the enemy advanced from the south and
+west to within four miles of that town. There could be no doubt that
+very considerable forces were engaged in this advance. East also of the
+Ognon, the enemy's posts were advanced beyond Rougemont, although in
+lesser force. In these actions 500 prisoners were made; and it was at
+once evident that besides the XVIIIth, the XXIVth and XXth Corps also
+formed part of Bourbaki's army; a circumstance which threw a sudden
+light upon a totally changed phase of the war.
+
+
+TRANSFER OF THE FRENCH ARMY OF THE EAST TO THE SOUTH-EASTERN SEAT OF
+WAR, END OF DECEMBER.--As had been expected by the supreme Headquarter
+at Versailles, about the beginning of January an attempt had been made
+to bring about combined action on the part of Generals Chanzy and
+Bourbaki. As we have already seen, the advance of the former had been
+thwarted by Prince Frederick Charles on the Loir, and Bourbaki had
+actually made preparations for an advance by Montargis to the relief of
+Paris. But he delayed its execution until the 19th December, when the
+IInd German Army had already returned to Orleans from its expedition to
+Le Mans. General Bourbaki had now to realize that the IInd Army would
+fall on the flank of his projected movement, and he thus the more
+readily concurred in another plan, devised by the Delegate de Freycinet,
+and approved of by the Dictator Gambetta.
+
+This was for the XVth Corps to remain about Bourges and to cover that
+town in intrenched positions about Vierzon and Nevers; the XVIIIth and
+XXth were to proceed to Beaune by railway, and, when raised to a
+strength of 70,000 by an union with Garibaldi and Cremer, to occupy
+Dijon. The newly-formed XXIVth Corps was also to be moved by railway
+from Lyons to Besancon, where, with the forces already there, a strength
+of 50,000 would be attained. In co-operation with the "invincibles of
+Dijon," it then would be easy to raise the siege of Belfort "without
+even striking a blow." It was expected that the mere existence of this
+mass of considerably above 100,000 men would avert any attacks upon the
+Northern fortresses; in any case, there was the certainty of severing
+the enemy's various lines of communication, and the later prospect also
+of combined action with Faidherbe.
+
+The railway transport of Bourbaki's army from the Loir to the Saone had
+already commenced by December 23rd. In the absence of all preparations,
+many interruptions and breaks-down in the traffic naturally occurred,
+and the troops suffered severely from the intense cold and from being
+insufficiently cared for. When Chagny and Chalons sur Saone had been
+reached, and it was ascertained that the Germans had already evacuated
+Dijon, it was decided to again entrain the troops so as to bring them
+nearer to Besancon; whence arose a fresh delay, and it was only in the
+beginning of the new year that the Army of the East stood in readiness
+between Dijon and Besancon. The XVth Corps was now also ordered thither,
+but fourteen days were required for its transportation.
+
+The comprehensive plan of M. Freycinet, and his sanguine expectations,
+were essentially favoured by the circumstance that the transfer of those
+great bodies of troops to a remote section of the field of war had
+remained concealed for a fortnight from the IInd Army, as well as from
+the XIVth Corps, and consequently from the chief Head-quarter. Rumours
+and newspaper articles had no doubt given somewhat earlier hints, but
+General von Werder's telegram of January 5th was the first really
+authentic announcement by which it was known beyond doubt that the
+Germans now stood face to face with an entirely altered aspect of the
+military situation. In Versailles the appropriate dispositions and
+arrangements were promptly made, and steps taken for the formation of a
+new Army of the South.
+
+There was available for this purpose the IInd Corps at Montargis, and
+half of the VIIth under General von Zastrow at Auxerre, which during
+this period of uncertainty had been constantly moving to and fro between
+the Saone and Yonne, according as the one or the other quarter appeared
+to be threatened. The chief command of these two Corps, to which was
+afterwards added that of the XIVth, was entrusted to General von
+Manteuffel. General von Werder could not be immediately reinforced, and
+for a time the XIVth Corps was thrown upon its own resources.
+
+Notwithstanding their superiority of strength, the French did more
+manoeuvring than fighting. General Bourbaki aimed at outflanking the
+left wing of the XIVth Corps, and thus entirely cutting it off from
+Belfort. On January 5th the XVIIIth Corps advanced by Grandvelle, and
+the XXth by Echenoz le Sec, on Vesoul; but, as we have seen, they there
+met with opposition, and as the XXIVth Corps sent to the right to
+Esprels learned that Villersexel was occupied by the Germans, Bourbaki
+determined upon a still more easterly and circuitous route. On the 8th
+the two Corps of the left wing marched off to the right, the XVIIIth to
+Montbozon, the XXth to Rougemont; the XXIVth went back to Cuse. At the
+same time General Cremer received orders to move from Dijon on Vesoul.
+On the 9th the XXIVth and XXth Corps were at Vellechevreux and
+Villargent on the Arcey-Villersexel road, while the head of the XVIIIth
+Corps reached Villersexel and Esprels.
+
+General von Werder had no alternative but to follow this sideward
+movement in all haste. He ordered the Baden Division to Athesans, the
+4th Reserve Division to Aillevans, and Von der Goltz's Brigade to Noroy
+le Bourg. The trains were put in march to Lure.
+
+
+ACTION OF VILLERSEXEL, January 9th.--Accordingly at seven in the morning
+the Reserve Division was sent on from Noroy to Aillevans, and began
+bridging the Ognon to admit of the continuation of the march. A flanking
+detachment of the 25th Regiment sent to the right, was fired on near
+Villersexel, and the attempt to carry the stone bridge at that place
+failed shortly after. The French with two and a half battalions occupied
+the town, situated on a height on the further bank of the river. Shortly
+afterwards reinforcements came up on the German side. Two batteries
+opened fire upon the place and upon the still advancing bodies of the
+enemy. The 25th Regiment crossed the river by the suspension bridge and
+broke into the walled park and into the chateau. At one o'clock the
+French were driven out of the town with the loss of many prisoners, and
+a pause in the fighting ensued.
+
+The Prussian force during the fighting had been seriously threatened on
+its flank by the advance from Esprels of the 1st Division of the French
+XVIIIth Corps, with the artillery-reserve. General von der Goltz,
+however, opposed it by occupying the village of Moimay. He also sent to
+Villersexel nine companies of the 30th Regiment, to relieve the 25th
+Regiment there, so as to allow the latter to rejoin its own Division in
+the further march. His combined brigade was eventually to form the
+rear-guard of the whole movement.
+
+General von Werder, who observed the considerable force in which the
+French were advancing on Villersexel from the south, concluded that
+there was less to be gained by forcing his own passage across the Ognon
+than by opposing that of the French, since the river covered his line of
+approach to Belfort. He therefore recalled the infantry already issuing
+to the southward from the town, and withdrew the batteries to the
+northern side of the river. Here the main body of the 4th Reserve
+Division took up a defensive position, and the Baden Division was called
+in on its march at Arpenans and Lure, as a much-needed reinforcement to
+the former.
+
+It was already evening when large columns of the French advanced on
+Villersexel and shelled the town.
+
+Favoured by the darkness, they penetrated into the park and chateau,
+from which the German garrison had already been withdrawn; and as the
+general condition of things did not seem to necessitate the occupation
+of Villersexel, the responsible officers ordered the evacuation of the
+town. Though hard pressed by the enemy, this movement had been nearly
+completed, when orders arrived from General von Werder to hold the town.
+
+At once four battalions from the Reserve Division advanced to the
+renewed attack. The 25th Regiment turned about at the bridge over the
+Ognon and joined them. The Landwehr rushed into the ground floor of the
+straggling chateau, but the French defended themselves in the upper
+floors and the cellars. On the staircase and in the passages of the
+already burning buildings there ensued a hot and changeful combat, and
+the fight was maintained in the streets. Not till the General in command
+took the matter in hand, and himself ordered it to be broken off, were
+dispositions made at one o'clock in the morning for a gradual
+retirement, which was completed by three. The Reserve Division then
+recrossed the bridge at Aillevans, and occupied St. Sulpice on the
+right.
+
+General von der Goltz had held Moimay until evening.
+
+Of the XIVth Corps only 15,000 had been engaged, of whom 26 officers and
+553 men had fallen. The French losses amounted to 27 officers and 627
+men; and they also left behind in the hands of the Germans 700 unwounded
+prisoners. The French troops which chiefly took part in the operations
+were the XVIIIth and XXth Corps; the XXIVth Corps, on account of the
+fighting in its rear, had suspended its march to Arcey through Sevenans.
+Detachments of the gradually incoming XVth Corps advanced from southward
+in the direction of Belfort.
+
+On the morning of January 10th, General von Werder massed his Corps in
+the vicinity of Aillevans, ready to engage the enemy should the latter
+attempt an advance through Villersexel. But no attack was made, and so
+the march could be resumed that same morning. As a matter of fact, the
+French with three Corps were as near to Belfort as the Germans were with
+three Divisions. To cover the departure the Reserve Division took up a
+position at Athesans, and on the following day all the forces reached
+and occupied the line of the Lisaine. On the right wing about Frahier
+and Chalonvillars stood the Baden Division; in the centre, the Reserve
+Brigade between Chagey and Couthenans; on the left, the Reserve Division
+at Hericourt and Tavey. On the south, General von Debschitz stood in
+observation at Delle, and Colonel von Bredow at Arcey; towards the west
+Colonel von Willisen was at Lure with the detachment of eight
+companies, thirteen squadrons, two batteries, which had come up from
+Vesoul.
+
+General von Werder had in fact, succeeded in interposing his force
+between the enemy and Belfort.
+
+The French commander, under the intoxicating impression of a victory,
+had resigned himself to inactivity. "General Billot," he reported to the
+Government at Bordeaux, "has occupied Esprels and maintains himself
+there." We know that he was never attacked there at all, and that he did
+not succeed in driving away General von der Goltz from the vicinity of
+Moimay. "General Clinchant has carried Villersexel with extraordinary
+dash;" but the fight of the 9th was, as regards the Germans, maintained
+with only a portion of the XIVth Corps, to cover the right flank of the
+main body on its march. Whilst, then, this movement of the latter was
+prosecuted with the utmost energy, the French army remained passive for
+two days, ready for action and in the confident expectation that the
+enemy described as beaten, would come on again to fight for the
+supremacy. Not until the 13th did the XXIVth Corps advance on Arcey, the
+XXth on Saulnot, and the XVIIIth follow to Sevenans. The XVth was to
+support an attack on Arcey by way of Ste. Marie.
+
+General von Werder had utilized this interval, while the troops were
+hastening forward, in ascertaining the eligibility of the Lisaine
+position and in a consultation with General von Tresckow in rear of it.
+
+A detailed inspection showed that at Frahier the Lisaine, there but an
+unimportant streamlet, flows through a broad grassy hollow, and thence
+to Chagey through steep wooded slopes. About Hericourt the valley opens
+out into a wide plain, which is however commanded by the rocky heights
+of Mont Vaudois. Lower down the wooded heights line the river as far as
+Montbeliard, which with the Allaine brook forms a strong point of
+support and the extremity of the line.
+
+The wooded character of the plain west of the Lisaine would necessarily
+increase the assailants' difficulties in the deployment of large
+infantry masses and a strong artillery line. It is true that during the
+prevailing severe cold the river was everywhere frozen over; but only
+two high-roads led through the forest into the valley from the direction
+by which the French army was advancing, one to Montbeliard, the other to
+Hericourt. The other accesses were narrow, hollow roads rendered
+difficult of use by frost.
+
+General von Tresckow had already armed the most important points with
+siege guns, the castle of Montbeliard with six, and the neighbouring
+height of La Grange Dame with five heavy cannon. Seven were placed on
+Mont Vaudois and near Hericourt; besides these, twenty-one others
+commanded the valley of the Allaine southward as far as Delle.
+
+All the troops that could be spared from the investing force were also
+withdrawn from before Belfort. Still there remained the important
+consideration that the available forces might not suffice to entirely
+cover the whole of the Lisaine line. The right wing was the locally
+weakest portion of the whole position, but here there was the least to
+be apprehended, the enemy's main attack, since the many needs of the
+numerous but inadequately equipped French army made the nearest possible
+vicinity of one of the railroads a necessity. The Vesoul line by way of
+Lure was broken in many places, and the Besancon line led towards the
+strong left wing. The country north of Chagey might therefore more
+weakly be held, and a reserve was formed of the largest part of the
+Baden Division, which was distributed in rear of the centre and left
+about Mandrevillars, Brevilliers and Charmont.
+
+The respite accorded by the enemy was turned to account with the utmost
+zeal in the construction of rifle-pits and of battery emplacements, the
+establishment of telegraph and relay lines, the improvement of roads and
+the replenishment of supplies and ammunition.
+
+_January 13th._--On the morning of the 13th the advanced posts of the
+3rd Reserve Division were now attacked at Arcey, Ste. Marie and
+Gonvillars. They were instructed to withdraw before a superior force,
+but to hold their own long enough to compel the deployment of the
+hostile columns. The combat with French artillery coming up at wide
+intervals was therefore prolonged for a considerable time; then, after a
+three hours' resistance, a new position was taken up behind the Rupt
+brook, and the retirement on Tavey delayed until four in the afternoon.
+The advanced guard of General von der Goltz, after a whole brigade had
+deployed against it, also took up a position at Chavanni on a parallel
+front with that at Couthenans.
+
+Before the Allaine front the French did not succeed in driving General
+von Debschitz's advanced posts out of Dasle and Croix.
+
+_January 14th._--On the 14th General von Willisen with fifty dismounted
+Dragoons drove back the enemy advancing on Lure, and then retired with
+his detachment on Ronchamp.
+
+The French army did not yet on this day undertake a serious attack. It
+stood with the XVth, XXIVth, and XXth Corps, closely concentrated
+opposite the German left and centre at a distance of scarcely
+four-and-a-half miles. The German right was supposed by General Bourbaki
+to rest upon Mont Vaudois. His plan was to cross the Lisaine in force
+above this point of support, and by thus turning the hostile flank to
+facilitate a frontal attack. The XVIIIth Army Corps and the Division
+Cremer were assigned to this service. A drawback to this judicious
+arrangement was, that the two above-mentioned bodies designed by the
+officer in supreme command to open the fight on the 14th, would have
+the longest distance to march to their task. On this day the leading
+troops of the XVIIIth Army Corps barely succeeded in reaching the
+vicinity of Lomont through difficult hill and woodland region, and
+Cremer's Brigade[76] had only then begun to advance from Vesoul. A
+postponement to the 15th was thereupon determined.
+
+On the German side, a general attack by the greatly superior enemy was
+hourly expected, and General von Werder felt himself bound to send by
+telegraph to Versailles a representation of the extreme seriousness of
+his position. The rivers, being frozen over, were passable, and the duty
+of covering Belfort deprived him of freedom of movement and endangered
+the existence of his corps. He earnestly prayed that the question should
+be weighed, whether the investment of Belfort should continue to be
+maintained.
+
+In the supreme Head-quarter it was considered that any further
+retirement of the XVth[77] Army Corps would have the immediate effect of
+raising the siege of Belfort, and causing the loss of the considerable
+material which had been provided therefor; that it was impossible to
+foresee where such further retirement would end; and that it could but
+delay the co-operation of the army advancing by forced marches under
+General von Manteuffel. At three o'clock on the afternoon of 15th
+January a positive order was despatched to General von Werder to accept
+battle in front of Belfort. He was, as was only fair, relieved of the
+moral responsibility of the consequences of a possibly disastrous issue.
+But before this order reached him, the General had already come to the
+same resolution.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[76] Slip of the pen for "Division."
+
+[77] So in text; a slip of the pen, or printer's error, for the XIVth
+Corps, which von Werder commanded. There was no XVth Corps in 1871.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE ON THE LISAINE.
+
+(January 15th to 17th.)
+
+
+_January 15th._--On the morning of the 15th of January, two Divisions of
+the French XVth Corps, strengthened by artillery, advanced on
+Montbeliard; a third followed in reserve. The East-Prussian Landwehr
+battalions, which had pushed forward to the Mont Chevis Farm and Ste.
+Suzanne, held their position for a long time, advanced on their part to
+the attack, and drove the heads of the enemy's columns back upon the
+Rupt brook. But when the latter in the afternoon deployed in greater
+force along the edge of the wood, the Landwehr advanced posts were at
+two o'clock ordered back to the left bank of the Lisaine. The town of
+Montbeliard, entirely commanded by the surrounding heights, was also
+voluntarily evacuated, only its fortified castle being held. But east of
+Montbeliard General von Gluemer with the 1st Baden Brigade had taken up a
+position, and had brought up four field-batteries alongside the siege
+guns on the plateau of La Grange Dame.
+
+Towards the close of the day the French, after a continuous but
+ineffective bombardment from eight batteries, took possession of the
+town, but did not make any further advance.
+
+Neither had they prospered in their attempt to cross the Lisaine at
+Bethoncourt. An officer and sixty men, who had sought cover within a
+walled graveyard from the sharp fire of the defenders, were taken
+prisoners.
+
+Further to the north the French XXIVth Corps continued to advance, but
+it was two o'clock before its columns were able to deploy from the wood.
+Four battalions did, indeed, succeed in taking possession of the village
+of Bussurel on the western bank of the Lisaine, but their further
+advance was frustrated by the fire of the defenders in cover behind the
+railway embankment, and by that of the Baden battalions and batteries
+brought up from the main reserve.
+
+Hericourt, on the great high road from Besancon and only little more
+than four miles from Belfort, became a point of special importance in
+the German fighting line. Here in front of the Lisaine the right wing of
+the 4th Reserve Division struck the enemy.
+
+The little wooded knoll of Mougnot, which forms a sort of bridge-head to
+the narrow gorge through which the road passes, had been fortified by
+the pioneers with abatis, battery emplacements and rifle-pits, the town
+in its rear prepared for defence, and the base of the heights on either
+of its sides faced with artillery. Four East-Prussian Landwehr
+battalions were in touch on the right with the Reserve Brigade, which
+held the slope of Mont Vaudois as far as Luze.
+
+About ten o'clock the French deployed their artillery on the bare
+heights close to the line of approach in the vicinity of Tremoins. Upon
+their infantry advancing leftwards through Byans, the German detachment
+which till then had been left in Tavey fell back on Hericourt in
+reserve, and the enemy's first attack on Mougnot was shattered by the
+resistance of its defenders, and by the fire of sixty-one guns on the
+further bank of the river. The attempt was not repeated that day, and
+the French confined themselves to a heavy but ineffective cannonade.
+
+According to the instructions issued by General Bourbaki, the XXth Corps
+was to await the result of the great outflanking movement which was to
+be carried out by General Billot with the XVIIIth Corps and Cremer's
+Division. As, however, these had not yet put in an appearance, the
+Army-Reserve had to be brought up leftward to Coisevaux to protect
+General Clinchant's flank.
+
+The orders from the Army Head-quarter had not reached the XVIIIth Corps
+until midnight. It had moreover to accomplish a difficult march by
+deeply snowed-up woodland paths. This entailed crossings, not only
+between the flank columns of its 1st and 3rd Divisions, but even with
+the Division Cremer at Lyoffans. This Division had only by dint of the
+greatest exertion reached Lure during the night, and could not get
+further on to Beverne until nine in the morning. A fresh delay was
+occasioned by the order to bring up in front of the infantry the
+artillery--even the reserve artillery which was marching in the very
+rear; and thus it happened that the XVIIIth Corps did not succeed in
+deploying two of its Divisions opposite Luze and Chagey till between 12
+and 2 in the afternoon.
+
+The 1st Division occupied Couthenans with one battalion, and brought up
+five batteries on the reverse slope of the heights to the north of that
+place. But the fire from the opposite bank prevented their further
+progress, and in a short time several of the batteries had but two guns
+left fit for action, although the Germans, in view of the difficulty of
+replenishment, used their ammunition as sparingly as possible. At three
+o'clock there was a pause in the artillery fight, which however was
+resumed energetically on the arrival of reinforcements, when the
+artillery of the XXIVth Corps coming from Byans took part in it. An
+infantry attack on a large scale was not yet attempted.
+
+There was scarcely more vigour in the advance of the 3rd Division
+against Chagey, which was occupied only by a Baden battalion; yet it was
+from here that the outflanking movement of the German right wing by
+turning Mont Vaudois was to be gone upon. The wood reached to the first
+houses of the village, and the only difficulty was the climb up the
+steep face of the height. Two French battalions suddenly burst from the
+gorge south of it, and drove in the Baden outposts; the further attack
+was to have been supported from Couthenans on the south, but the
+infantry advancing from thence found itself forced to turn back by the
+fire from the opposite bank. Only by a renewed effort did the Zouaves
+succeed in entering Chagey, where a stubborn fight raged in and around
+the houses. Meanwhile two Baden battalions came up, who, at five
+o'clock, drove the enemy out of the village back into the wood. Fresh
+reinforcements hastened to the support of the latter from the reserve
+near by, the short winter's day was over, and here during the night the
+French attempted nothing further. The 2nd Division of the French Corps
+had only advanced as far as Beverne, the cavalry had not moved from
+Lyoffans.
+
+The Division Cremer, despite its late arrival at Lure, had continued the
+march in the early morning. After the above-mentioned crossings and
+resultant delays the 1st Brigade advanced on Etobon, and there at noon
+it engaged in a fight with a Baden detachment under the command of
+General von Degenfeld. When the 2nd Brigade also came up, the 1st moved
+forward through the Bois de la Thure, with intent to cross the Lisaine
+above Chagey. Parts of the roads had first to be made practicable by the
+pioneers, involving considerable delay. The 2nd Brigade then followed in
+the dark, having left a detachment in observation at Etobon. A fresh
+collision with some Baden detachments determined General Cremer to
+extinguish all the watch-fires. His troops remained under arms
+throughout the hard winter night.
+
+On the German side, all the troops not on guard duty found shelter in
+the neighbouring villages, the pioneers only being kept at work with
+their pickaxes. The actions had cost both sides about 600 men, without
+bringing about any decisive result; but every day was a gain to the
+defenders.
+
+General Von Werder, on the heights north of Hericourt, had received
+constant reports regarding the course of the fighting from the General
+Staff officers sent out in various directions, by which he was able to
+regulate the abstraction from the reserves of reinforcements to the
+fighting line. The diminution of the ammunition was a cause of anxiety,
+since a consignment announced from Baden had not yet arrived.
+
+General Bourbaki informed his Government that he had taken Montbeliard,
+it was true without the castle, had occupied the villages on the west
+bank of the Lisaine, and that he would attack on the 16th. He had
+learned from General Billot that the German right wing extended
+considerably beyond Mont Vaudois, whence he inferred that important
+reinforcements had reached the enemy, whose strength he estimated at
+80,000 to 100,000 men. Nevertheless he anticipated a fortunate issue for
+the outflanking operation by fetching a yet wider compass to the left.
+
+_January 16th._--At half-past six on the morning of the 16th the Germans
+again stood to arms in the positions of the previous day.
+
+The French again began the attack with their right wing. From the
+loopholed houses they fired on the Landwehr company holding the castle
+of Montbeliard, causing some loss among the latter as well as among the
+gunners. The summons to surrender was disregarded, and the fire of the
+fortress artillery was used to such good purpose against two batteries
+which showed themselves on the neighbouring height, that these were
+obliged to retire, leaving behind them two guns. Neither could they
+advance from a new position they had taken up at the farm of Mont
+Chevis, and where they had been reinforced by three batteries, against
+the fire from La Grange Dame, although the cannonade continued until
+dark. No attempt was made from Montbeliard to pierce the German line.
+
+Further to the left the reinforced 1st Division of the French XVth Corps
+advanced on Bethoncourt. At one o'clock the fire of its artillery from
+Mont Chevis and Byans obliged a Baden battery to limber up, and it was
+then directed on the village. Large bodies had been massed in the
+neighbouring forest, from out which at three o'clock they advanced.
+General Gluemer had meantime despatched reinforcements to the threatened
+front. Two determined attempts pushed close up to the village were
+frustrated by the destructive artillery and rifle fire of the defenders.
+A third attack made with a whole brigade at four o'clock, was not
+permitted even to approach. The losses on the French side were
+considerable, and the snowy field was strewn with the fallen. Some
+unwounded prisoners were also taken.
+
+One Division of the XXIVth French Corps had taken up a covered position
+in the woods behind Byans, and as it had already occupied Bussurel on
+the previous day, the German defensive position here in the rear of the
+railway embankment appeared to be threatened from the immediate
+vicinity. The General in command therefore sent General Keller with two
+Baden Fusilier battalions and one heavy battery from Brevilliers in this
+direction. The latter joined the two batteries which had been engaged on
+the slope of the hill since morning. The fire of five of the enemy's
+batteries was soon silenced by the unerring projectiles from the German
+guns. At noon the French artillery retired from Byans, leaving there
+also two guns, which could only be brought away later. The infantry, one
+Division strong, had only threatened to pierce the line, without
+proceeding to carry out the attempt.
+
+The XXth Corps brought up two Divisions against the line
+Hericourt--Luze. A thick fog covered the valley, and the early cannonade
+was at first scarcely answered by the Germans. To obtain some insight
+into the intentions of the enemy, two companies advanced to the height
+west of St. Valbert, and surprised the enemy moving up from Byans with
+so rapid a fire that he turned back. But soon after, at half-past nine,
+several battalions burst out from Tavey against the Mougnot. Two attacks
+were frustrated by the steady resistance of the Landwehr battalions, and
+a third attempt directed against the southern exit from Hericourt did
+not succeed. About four o'clock fresh masses of infantry again gathered
+against the Mougnot, but coming under fire from Mont Salamou, they
+shrank from further attacks, and confined themselves till evening to an
+ineffective cannonade.
+
+At Chagey two Divisions of the XVIIIth Corps found themselves face to
+face with the Germans. They did not attempt anything.
+
+The little spirit with which on January 16th the action along the whole
+front from Montbeliard to Chagey was conducted, pointed to the
+conclusion that the French were everywhere awaiting the issue of the
+scheme of out-flanking the German right wing.
+
+This task now devolved on General Cremer. The 2nd Division of the
+XVIIIth Corps joined him at Etobon.
+
+Two Divisions advanced thence on Chenebier, where General von Degenfeld
+stood with two battalions, two batteries, and one squadron. There could
+be no doubt as to the result. At eleven o'clock the Division Penhoat of
+the XVIIIth Corps advanced to encompass the place on the west and north,
+and the Division Cremer, for the purpose of barring the defenders' line
+of retreat on Belfort, advanced on the south, where the wood of La Thure
+covered his approach. The batteries of both Divisions were brought up in
+the afternoon on its northern edge, where they opened fire. After they
+had been in action for two hours, the infantry masses advanced from
+three sides. Under General Cremer's personal leading the Baden Fusiliers
+were driven from the southern to the northern part of the village, and
+as his encompassment therein through the wood of Montedin was
+practicable, General von Degenfeld, after an obstinate resistance, at
+three o'clock was obliged to take up his retreat in a northerly
+direction through Frahier. Thence he again turned south-east and took up
+a position in front of Chalonvillars, about the high-lying windmill of
+Rougeot, where, at six o'clock, he was joined by Colonel Bayer with
+reinforcements. The French did not pursue; the Division Cremer, which
+had lost 1000 men, retired, on the contrary, into the wood of La Thure,
+while Penhoat's Division confined itself to the occupation of Chenebier.
+
+Thus the German line of defence was nowhere broken on this day; still,
+its extreme right wing had been driven back to within little more than
+three miles of Belfort.
+
+The fortress celebrated the success of the French arms by a
+victory-salute, but made no serious sortie on the investing forces,
+weakened as they were by the despatch of reinforcements; and the latter,
+on their side, quietly continued the construction of batteries.
+
+General von Werder, anxious above all things to re-establish the
+fighting position on his right wing, could however only gather in as a
+general reserve four battalions, four squadrons, and two batteries,
+bringing up these from the least exposed places and even from Belfort,
+to Brevilliers and Mandrevillars. At eight o'clock in the evening
+General Keller was ordered to retake Chenebier. On this errand he left
+Mandrevillars with two Baden battalions, reached Moulin Rougeot at
+midnight, and found Frahier already occupied by Colonel Bayer.
+
+_January 17th._--On this morning eight battalions, two squadrons, and
+four batteries were assembled in Frahier. Three of the battalions
+advanced on the northern, three on the southern part of Chenebier; the
+others remained in reserve at the windmill, where also three 15 cm.
+cannon were to be stationed.
+
+At half-past four a.m. the first column, advancing in dead silence,
+surprised an outpost of the enemy's at Echevanne, but it was unavoidable
+that its rifle fire should make the French in Chenebier aware of the
+danger by which they were menaced. In the wood north of the village, the
+Germans met with serious resistance; and the danger that in the darkness
+and the dense undergrowth the troops might fall on each other obliged
+their withdrawal to the outer edge of the wood.
+
+The other column, advancing in the valley of the Lisaine, had quickened
+its pace from Moulin Colin as soon as the first shots were heard. The
+2nd battalion of the 4th Baden Regiment rushed with cheers into the
+southern part of Chenebier, where a great confusion ensued. But daybreak
+showed that the heights on the west of the village were strongly
+occupied, and that columns of all arms were approaching from Etobon. At
+8.30 Colonel Payen had to resolve on retirement from the half-conquered
+village, carrying with him 400 prisoners, and on taking up a position at
+the Bois de Fery, to cover the road to Belfort through Chalonvillars.
+
+At the same time the right column, strengthened by a battalion from the
+reserve, renewed the attack on the wood, and after a struggle which
+lasted for two hours with heavy losses on both sides, at last took
+possession of it. But the attempt to penetrate into the barricaded and
+strongly-defended village was vain. A destructive fire met every attack;
+a single round of mitrailleuse fire, for instance, struck down
+twenty-one men of the Baden assailants. At three o'clock in the
+afternoon General Keller therefore assembled his troops at Frahier,
+where they were supported by four batteries.
+
+With such inferior strength, and after failing in this attempt, it was
+useless to think of driving back the enemy beyond Chenebier; the only
+course to pursue was to hinder his further advance on Belfort. And this
+object was fully accomplished; the French did not pursue. Instead of
+out-flanking the German right, they seemed chiefly concerned for their
+own left. They defended Chenebier stoutly, but gave up all further
+offensive movements.
+
+While awaiting the expected success of the out-flanking movement,
+General Bourbaki's intention seems to have been merely to occupy the
+enemy along his front and to hold him fast where he stood. Even during
+the night the Germans were alarmed at Bethoncourt and before Hericourt,
+while they, on their part, disturbed the French at Bussurel and in the
+Bois de La Thure. The infantry fire went on for hours, and numerous
+detachments had to spend the bitter winter's night under arms. In the
+morning two Divisions of the XVIIIth French Corps advanced on Chagey and
+Luze, but their batteries, although supported by the artillery of the
+Army Reserve, they could not advance against those of the Germans, and
+repeated attacks on those villages were unsuccessful. After one o'clock
+a cannonade only was maintained here. In front of Hericourt also there
+was an exchange of shell fire, and Bussurel, held by the French, was set
+on fire.
+
+To drive the French out of Montbeliard, the town was fired on from La
+Grange Dame and from the Chateau, but ceased when the inhabitants begged
+forbearance on the assurance that the place was evacuated, which
+subsequently proved not quite true. Ten battalions of the French XVth
+Corps advanced from the woods in the forenoon, and tried to push on past
+Montbeliard, but suffered severely from the flanking fire of the heavy
+guns at La Grange Dame, and only a handful got into the valley of the
+Lisaine. The western exits from Montbeliard, and the heights immediately
+behind it, remained in French possession, but the offensive movements
+ceased at about two in the afternoon.
+
+Further to the south, General von Debschitz's posts in front of Allaine
+had easily repulsed the French assailants.
+
+On the German side there was now the conviction that no further attack
+would be attempted.
+
+The condition of the French troops, not yet inured to war, was, in fact,
+very critical. They had been obliged to bivouac in the bitterly cold
+nights, sometimes under arms, and for the most part without food. Their
+losses were not inconsiderable, and the superior officers whom the
+commanding General assembled at three in the afternoon, in the
+neighbourhood of Chagey, expressed their objections to a yet more
+extensive outflanking attempt to the left, since supplies would be
+utterly impossible, and the risk would be entailed of the Germans
+seizing the line of the communications of the army through Montbeliard.
+Then came the news that the heads of General von Manteuffel's Corps had
+already reached Fontaine-Francaise, and were also approaching Gray.
+
+In these circumstances General Bourbaki considered he must resolve on a
+retreat. He telegraphed to the Government that by the advice of his
+generals, and to his deep regret, he had been compelled to take up a
+position further in the rear, and only hoped that the enemy might follow
+him. Hence this experienced general could have felt no doubt that his
+army, its attack on the Lisaine, once gone to wreck, could only escape
+from a very critical position by an immediate retreat.
+
+_January 18th._--This morning the Germans were under arms in their
+positions of the previous day, the French still in full force before the
+whole front. It was significant that they were busy in the construction
+of earthworks. They had evacuated Montbeliard the evening before in
+disorderly retreat, and now held the country west of the place in
+strength and entrenched.
+
+During this day nothing occurred but a cannonade and small skirmishes.
+General Keller having been reinforced came up on the right, and as the
+enemy retired to Etobon he was able to re-occupy Chenebier in the
+afternoon. Further north, Colonel von Willisen again marched on
+Ronchamp. In the centre Coutenans was taken possession of, and the enemy
+driven out of Byans by artillery fire; but on the other hand the Germans
+could not yet penetrate the belt of forest. On the southern bank of the
+Allaine General von Debschitz's detachments drove the enemy back beyond
+the line Exincourt-Croix.
+
+In the three days' fighting on the Lisaine the Germans lost 1200, the
+French from 4000 to 5000 men.
+
+In spite of much necessary detaching, and of the threatening proximity
+of the enemy, the siege-works against Belfort were uninterruptedly
+carried on, and as soon as the complement of the investing forces was
+again made up, General von Werder followed the retiring French to
+Etobon, Saulnot and Arcey.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARTILLERY ATTACK ON PARIS.
+
+(January, 1871.)
+
+
+In the place of the IInd Corps, which had been assigned to the German
+Army of the South, there had come up into the Paris front the Ist
+Bavarian Corps, of which Gambetta had said, "The Bavarians no longer
+exist." It had made so good use of its time of rest in quarters south of
+Longjumeau that by the beginning of the New Year it was already restored
+to a strength of 17,500 men, with 108 guns. It was positioned on both
+banks of the Seine between the VIth Prussian Corps and the Wuertemberg
+Division. The Wuertembergers reached from Ormesson to the Marne, from
+which river the Saxons extended rightward to the Sausset brook, so as to
+narrow the front of the Guard Corps now that the Moree was frozen over
+and afforded no cover.
+
+The duty of watching so vast a place of arms as Paris had made great
+demands on the endurance of the troops.
+
+The French had gradually so extended their entrenchments outwards from
+Villejuif and Bruyeres, that they threatened to outflank the IInd
+Bavarian Corps. To thwart such a flank attack the VIth Corps was
+obliged to keep a strong force constantly in readiness at L'Hay.
+
+It need not be said that the supporting troops on the south front could
+nowhere be safe from the fire of the heavy fortress guns, nor the
+foreposts from that of the Chassepots. The latter consequently often
+could not be relieved for several days, and the relief was usually
+effected at night. The less the success of the French arms in the open
+field, the more lavish were they in the expenditure of ammunition from
+their works. Mont Valerien hurled its giant shells to a distance of from
+four to five miles, but this incessant cannonade, to the din of which
+the ear was soon accustomed, did little damage.
+
+THE ARTILLERY ATTACK ON THE SOUTHERN FRONT.--Till Mont Avron was taken,
+the Germans had only been able to oppose field guns to French fortress
+artillery. But early in January their preparations were at last so far
+forward that seventeen batteries, long since completed, could be armed
+with heavy guns against the south front of Paris. A battery stood apart
+on the left flank in the park of St. Cloud to the north of Sevres; four
+were close together on the steep slope of the height west of the Chateau
+Meudon; five on the edge of the plateau of Moulin de la Tour, where the
+mill, serving to guide the aim of the enemy, had been blown up. Four
+more batteries occupied a lower position between Fontenay and Bagneux.
+Two, between Chevilly and La Rue, served as protection against a flank
+movement from Villejuif, with the field artillery of the IInd Bavarian
+and VIth Corps. Dressing-stations were prepared, and intermediate depots
+were supplied with reserve ammunition from the great magazines at
+Villacoublay.
+
+Under Generals von Kameke[78] and Prince Hohenlohe[79] Colonels von
+Rieff and von Ramm conducted the artillery attack, General Schulz
+commanded the engineer attack. The men served twenty-four hours in the
+batteries, and then had two days' rest. The officers had but one day's
+rest.
+
+The heavy guns were brought up on January 3rd, by day, into the
+batteries which lay covered, without any interference; into all the
+others during the night, after the enemy's outposts had been driven in.
+Thus on the morning of the 4th 98 guns were ready to open fire: of these
+28 were directed on Issy, 28 on Vanves, and 18 on Montrouge, 10 against
+the emplacements between the first two forts. But a thick fog hid every
+object, and it was not till January 5th at 8.30 in the morning, that the
+signal shot was given for opening fire.
+
+_January 5th._--The enemy promptly replied. There were in Fort Valerien
+106 guns, in Issy 90, in Vanves 84, and in Montrouge 52; there were
+about 70 in the sectors of the enceinte concerned and at Villejuif,
+16-cm. guns for the most part; so the attack at first was heavily taxed.
+But when at about noon all its batteries came into action, the situation
+gradually improved and the greater accuracy of the German fire told.
+Fort Issy had almost entirely ceased firing by two o'clock, nine guns
+were dismounted in Vanves, and its garrison had lost thirty men; only
+Montrouge still replied with vigour. The fire was now taken up by the
+guns of the enceinte, but the forts never again gained the upper hand
+of the attack. Some gunboats appearing about Point du Jour very soon had
+to retire. The field artillery of the IInd Bavarian and VIth Corps also
+co-operated so energetically that no attack was attempted from the works
+at Villejuif, nor was a single shot fired on the batteries at Bagneux. A
+number of wall-pieces and long-range Chassepots taken from the enemy did
+such good service that the French abandoned more and more of their
+rayon. The German outposts took possession of the trenches of Clamart,
+and in the course of the night reversed them against the defence.
+
+Only a couple of 15-cm. shells were thrown into the city itself as a
+serious warning; the first thing to be done was to batter down the
+outworks, and for some few days the firing was exclusively directed on
+these. A stubborn return fire came from Montrouge and from a
+mortar-battery in a very advantageous position behind the high railway
+embankment to the east of Issy; and especially from the south front of
+the enceinte, nearly four and a half miles long in a straight line.
+Foggy weather on some days necessitated the suspension or entire
+cessation of firing. But meanwhile the foreposts had advanced to within
+815 and 490 yards of Forts Issy and Vanves respectively. New batteries
+were constructed further forward, and armed with thirty-six guns from
+those evacuated in rear.
+
+_January 10th._--The French garrison meanwhile was again displaying
+great activity. On January 10th it succeeded in the dark hours in
+surprising the weakly-held post of Clamart. Three battalions were now
+posted in the place, and a shelter-trench some 1300 yards long was dug
+connecting Clamart with Chatillon.[80]
+
+_January 13th._--The IInd Army of Paris was still outside the city on
+the east and north fronts from Nogent to Aubervillers. After some small
+alarms, on the evening of the 13th strong bodies advanced from Courneuve
+and Drancy against Le Bourget under cover of a heavy fire from the
+forts. But the troops in occupation there were on the alert, and being
+soon reinforced by several companies, repulsed the attempts of the
+French to storm it, repeated as they were until two o'clock in the
+morning.
+
+_January 14th._--On this day the French made a renewed sortie on Clamart
+with 500 marine infantry and several battalions of National Guards.
+These last assembled at the adjacent railway-station with a great deal
+of noise, and their approach was reported about midnight. The fight
+lasted a full hour, and ended with the retreat, or rather flight, of the
+assailants. Patrols followed them close up to the trenches of Issy.
+
+The ranges were so great that hitherto the fire from the enceinte was
+not yet subdued. Battery No. 1, lying isolated in the Park of St. Cloud,
+suffered most, being fired upon from two bastions of the enceinte, from
+Point du Jour, and from Mont Valerien. The steep cliff behind the
+battery facilitated the aim of the enemy. Its parapet was repeatedly
+shattered, and it was only the most zealous devotion which enabled the
+struggle to be continued at this point. The enemy also concentrated a
+heavy fire on batteries Nos. 19 and 21, pushed forward into a position
+specially threatening to Fort Vanves. The long-range fire from the
+enceinte dropped from a high angle close behind the parapet, breaking
+through the platforms, and inflicting serious injuries on a great many
+gunners. The powder-magazines blew up in two of the batteries, and both
+the battery commanders and several other superior officers were wounded.
+
+On the east front of Paris, the fifty-eight German guns remaining there
+after the reduction of Mont Avron were opposed by 151 of the enemy. The
+former nevertheless soon proved their superiority; the forts only
+occasionally came into action; the French withdrew their outposts up to
+the works, and altogether vacated the peninsula of St. Maur. By degrees
+the heavy siege-guns could be removed from their previous positions to
+the Moree brook.
+
+The forts on the south front had meanwhile suffered severely. The ruin
+in Issy was visible to the naked eye; fires broke out there repeatedly,
+and the powder-magazine had to be cleared out at great risk in the night
+of January 16th. Fort Vanves had lost seventy men; it opened fire
+usually every morning, but soon became silent. Montrouge, on the
+contrary, on some days still fired over 500 rounds from eighteen guns.
+But here, too, the casemates no longer afforded any shelter, and one of
+the bastions lay a heap of ruins.
+
+In spite of the steady fire from the enceinte, a part of Paris itself
+was disturbed by the 15-cm. shells. An elevation of 30 degrees, obtained
+by a special contrivance, sent the projectiles into the heart of the
+city. From 300 to 400 shells were fired daily.
+
+Under the pressure of "public opinion" the Government, after repeated
+deliberations, decided once more on a new enterprise in force, to be
+directed this time against the German batteries about Chatillon. The
+collective superior commanders agreed, indeed, that sorties could
+promise no success without the co-operation of a relieving army from the
+outside; but, on the 8th, Gambetta had announced the "victory" of the
+Army of the North at Bapaume, and further had promised that both the
+Armies of the Loire should advance. Hereupon General Trochu advised that
+at least the moment should be awaited when the investing army before
+Paris should be weakened by having to detach anew part of its strength;
+but he was opposed by the other members of the Government, especially by
+Monsieur Jules Favre. That gentleman declared that the Maires of Paris
+were indignant at the bombardment, that the representatives of the city
+must be allowed some insight into the military situation, and, above
+all, that negotiations ought long since to have been entered into.
+
+Finally, on January 15th, it was determined that the German lines should
+be broken through at Montretout, Garches, and Buzanval.
+
+While confusion and dissensions thus prevailed in Paris, the unity of
+the German nation, under the Emperor William, was solemnly proclaimed at
+Versailles.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[78] Previously commanding the XIVth Infantry Division.
+
+[79] Previously commanding the artillery of the Guard Corps, the
+well-known military author, best known in England as "Prince Kraft." The
+slight ambiguity in the text may be removed by the more specific
+statement that General von Kameke was Chief Director of the Engineer
+attack, Prince Kraft Chief Director of the Artillery attack on Paris as
+a whole. On the south front Colonel von Rieff commanded the siege
+artillery, Major-General Schulz was Engineer-in-chief. On the north and
+east fronts within the Army of the Meuse Colonels Bartsch and Oppermann
+had the corresponding commands. Colonel von Ramm is nowhere mentioned in
+the official distribution of the respective staffs.
+
+[80] A casual reader might perhaps infer from these curt sentences, that
+the French, having possessed themselves by surprise of the weak German
+post of Clamart, placed in it a garrison of three battalions. The facts
+were, that the French battalion was scarcely in possession of Clamart
+when it abandoned village and redoubt; whereupon, to guard against any
+future attempt on the place on the part of the French, the Germans
+occupied the village with three battalions and the redoubt with two
+companies; and further to ensure the security of the position, since it
+was one of some importance, connected it with Chatillon in the manner
+described.
+
+
+
+
+BATTLE OF MONT VALERIEN.
+
+(January 19th.)
+
+
+The sortie was planned to take place on January 19th. On that day, as we
+have seen, General Faidherbe advanced as far as St. Quentin on the way
+to Paris, and the army which was to make the sortie stood on the eastern
+and northern fronts of the capital. The attempt to break through was,
+however, made in the opposite direction. But in fact, the peninsula of
+Gennevilliers was now the only ground on which large masses of troops
+could still be deployed without being exposed for hours while they were
+being assembled, to the fire of the German artillery.
+
+Two days previously the mobilized National Guards had already relieved
+the three Divisions of the sortie-Army from the positions they had held;
+and those Divisions, collectively 90,000 strong, were to move to the
+attack in three columns simultaneously. General Vinoy on the left,
+supported by the fire from the enceinte, was to carry the height of
+Montretout; General Bellemare in the centre was to push forward through
+Garches; General Ducrot on the right by way of the Chateau of Buzanval.
+
+The attack was set to begin at six in the morning, but blocks occurred
+at the bridges of Asnieres and Neuilly, as no specific orders had been
+issued for regulating the crossing. When at seven o'clock the signal to
+advance was made from Mont Valerien, only the advance of General Vinoy's
+force was ready, the other columns had not yet deployed, and the last
+detachments tailed back as far as Courbevoix. Before they had reached
+their rendezvous-points the left wing was already marching on St. Cloud
+with fifteen battalions.
+
+These at first met only isolated posts and patrols, eighty-nine men in
+all, who rushed into the open gorge of the redoubt of Montretout, and
+there made a stand for some time; they then fought their way out with
+great bravery, but some of them were taken prisoners. There, and in the
+northern part of St. Cloud, the French promptly prepared for defence.
+
+The centre column under General Bellemare also took possession without
+difficulty of the height of Maison du Cure.
+
+Not till now, at nearly nine o'clock, did the first supports of the
+German forepost line appear on the scene. Till within a short time the
+observatories had been able to report nothing but "thick fog;" but
+reports from the right and left wings announced that a serious attack
+was threatened on the whole front from St. Cloud to Bougival. The Vth
+Corps was now alarmed, and General von Kirchbach betook himself to the
+9th Division. On the German right, in the park of St. Cloud, stood the
+17th Brigade; on the left, behind the Porte de Longboyau, the 20th; the
+other troops of the Corps marched from their quarters in Versailles and
+the villages to its north, to Jardy and Beauregard. The Crown Prince
+ordered six battalions of the Guard Landwehr and a Bavarian Brigade to
+Versailles, and himself rode to the Hospice of Brezin; the King went to
+Marly.
+
+The French meanwhile had seized the foremost houses of Garches, and made
+their eastward way here and there through the breaches in the wall into
+the park of the Chateau of Buzanval. The 5th Jaeger Battalion, supported
+by single companies of the 58th and 59th Regiments, hurried forward and
+drove the enemy back out of Garches, occupied the cemetery on its north,
+and still reached the advanced post of La Bergerie just at the right
+time. The other bodies under General von Bothmer (commanding 17th
+Brigade, 9th Division, Vth Corps), by order from the commanding General,
+maintained a stationary fight on the skirts of the park of St. Cloud, to
+gain time. About half-past nine they repulsed an attack by Bellemare's
+column, arrested the advance of the enemy along the Rue Imperiale of St.
+Cloud, and themselves took the offensive from the Grille d'Orleans and
+the Porte Jaune. Five French battalions unsuccessfully assaulted La
+Bergerie. A section of Engineers tried with great devotion to demolish
+the wall surrounding the court, but the frozen dynamite did not explode,
+and the Jaegers held the position steadfastly throughout the day.
+
+The attacks of the French had hitherto been undertaken without
+assistance from their artillery. The batteries of General Vinoy's
+advance had been seriously delayed by crossing with the centre column,
+and were now detained at Briqueterie to meet the contingency of a
+repulse. General Bellemare's batteries tried to get up the slope of the
+height of Garches, but the exhaustion of the teams made it necessary to
+take up a position at Fouilleuse. Meanwhile the batteries of the German
+9th Division came up by degrees, and by noon thirty-six guns had opened
+fire. In St. Cloud a hot street-fight was going on.
+
+Only General Ducrot on the French right wing had opened the battle with
+his strong force of artillery, which came into position on both sides of
+Rueil. The tirailleurs then advanced and made their way through the park
+of Buzanval to its western boundary-wall, but were driven back by the
+50th Fusilier Regiment which had hastened forward.
+
+At half-past ten the chief attack ensued at this point, supported by
+part of the central column. It found only an under-officer's post at
+Malmaison, but at the eastern exit from Bougival near La Jouchere and
+Porte de Longboyau, it encountered the already reinforced line of posts
+of the 20th Infantry Brigade. General von Schmidt (commanding 10th
+Infantry Division) still held back at Beauregard the reserve of the 10th
+Division. A murderous fire from the well-covered German infantry broke
+the onset of the French, and converted it by mid-day into a stationary
+fire fight, in which the German artillery also took part with great
+effect. Two batteries of the 10th Division at St. Michel were reinforced
+by two Guard batteries brought up from St. Germain to Louvenciennes; a
+third came into action near Chatou and forced an armour-plated train
+halted at the railway station north of Rueil to retire rapidly to
+Nanterre. Four batteries of the IVth Corps finally opened fire from
+Carrieres, heedless of the fire of Valerien, and shelled the dense
+masses of hostile infantry halted in rear of Rueil.
+
+At two o'clock the French decided on renewing the attack. When two of
+their batteries had shelled Porte de Longboyau a brigade marched on that
+point, and a second on the western wall of the park of the Chateau
+Buzanval; a third followed in support. Not less bold than unsuccessful
+was the attempt of a section of Engineers, one officer and ten men, to
+blow up part of the wall; they all fell together. The attacking columns
+had advanced to within 200 paces, when thirteen German companies at the
+moment met them, broke and stopped their rush by pouring fire into them
+at short range, and presently routed the hostile columns in disorder, in
+spite of the devoted exertions of the officers.
+
+The French, however, still found a strong protection in the park-wall,
+which had been prepared for defence with great skill and with the utmost
+rapidity; and the advance of several companies from Brezin and La
+Bergerie on this wall was repulsed with heavy loss.
+
+But the strength of the French attack was already broken. So early as
+three o'clock a movement of retreat was observable in their left wing,
+and as dusk fell the French centre began to withdraw from the heights of
+Maison du Cure. When Colonel von Koethen pursued, with a small force,
+several battalions indeed fronted, and even threatened a sharp
+counter-attack; but timely support arrived from La Bergerie, Garches,
+and Porte Jaune, and, backed by the fire of the batteries, the pursuit
+was followed up. The King's Grenadiers drove back the enemy to the
+vicinity of Fouilleuse.
+
+The Germans, however, had not yet succeeded in repossessing themselves
+of the Montretout redoubt. The chief hindrance arose from their having
+been unable to advance through the town of St. Cloud. As, however, the
+possession of this position was indispensable for the protection of the
+right wing, General von Kirchbach gave orders that it was to be retaken
+either that evening or early next morning.
+
+General von Sandrart (commanding 9th Infantry Division) decided on
+immediate action, and at eight that evening five battalions went forward
+on this duty. Only a few French were found in the redoubt and were
+taken prisoners; but in the town the struggle was severe. Finally the
+Germans had to restrict themselves to blockading the houses held
+temporarily by the enemy. The French also clung to the outer park-wall
+of Buzanval throughout the night. The Guard Landwehr and the Bavarian
+Brigade were therefore assigned quarters in Versailles, to form a strong
+reserve at hand in case of need on the following day. The remainder of
+the troops withdrew into their former quarters.
+
+At half-past five General Trochu had issued the order for a retreat. He
+perceived that the prolongation of the struggle could afford no success,
+especially as the National Guards were becoming insubordinate. The brave
+defenders of St. Cloud were forgotten in these directions. They did not
+surrender till the day after, when artillery was brought against the
+houses they occupied. And the park-wall was not relinquished till the
+following morning.
+
+The French attack of January 19th was wrecked even before it had reached
+the main position of the defenders. The reserves in readiness on the
+German side had not needed to be brought into action. The Vth Corps
+alone had driven back an enemy of four times its own strength. It lost
+40 officers and 570 men; the loss of the French in killed and wounded
+was 145 officers and 3423 men, besides 44 officers and 458 men taken
+prisoners.
+
+When the fog lifted at about eleven o'clock on the morning of the 20th,
+their long columns were seen retreating on Paris across the peninsula of
+Gennevilliers.
+
+
+
+
+PROSECUTION OF THE ARTILLERY ATTACK ON PARIS UP TO THE ARMISTICE.
+
+
+After the repulse of this last struggle for release on the part of the
+garrison, the extension of the artillery attack to the north front of
+the defensive position was now determined on. The siege guns no longer
+needed against the minor French fortresses and on the Marne had been
+parked for this object at Villiers le Bel. The Army of the Meuse had
+prepared abundant material for the construction of batteries, and had
+collected a waggon park of above 600 vehicles. Twelve batteries had
+already been built in the lines between Le Bourget and the Lake of
+Enghien, the arming of which followed, for the most part, under cover of
+night. On January 21st eighty-one heavy guns were ready for action, and
+Colonel Bartsch opened fire at nine that morning on Forts La Briche,
+Double Couronne, and de l'Est.
+
+The forts, which opposed the attack with 143 heavy guns, replied
+vigorously, and on the following day the thick weather prevented the
+German batteries from resuming their fire till the afternoon. But the
+ground in front was abandoned by the French, and the outposts of the
+Guards and IVth Corps took possession of Villetaneuse and Temps Perdu.
+During the nights the fire was directed on St. Denis, with every
+endeavour to spare the Cathedral, and many conflagrations occurred. By
+the 23rd the vigorous prosecution of the cannonade had materially
+subdued the fire of the defence. La Briche was wholly silenced, and the
+other forts only fired occasional salvos. During the night of the 25th
+four batteries were advanced to within 1300 and 950 yards respectively
+of the enemy's main works. The engineer attack also could now be
+undertaken, and a series of new batteries was constructed, which,
+however, were never used.
+
+The effect of this bombardment of only six days' duration was decisive.
+The forts had suffered extraordinarily. In contrast to those of the
+south front they were destitute of the powerful backing of the enceinte,
+and they lacked, too, bomb-proof shelter. The provisional bomb-proofs
+were pierced by shells, the powder-magazines were in the greatest
+danger, and the garrisons had nowhere any more cover. The inhabitants of
+St. Denis fled to Paris in crowds, and the impaired immunity from storm
+of the sorely battered works was an insuperable obstacle to a longer
+maintenance of the defence. This northern attack cost the Germans one
+officer and 25 men; the French stated their loss at 180.
+
+The fire of the forts on the east front was kept under, and the
+Wuertemberg Field Artillery sufficed to prevent the enemy from renewing
+his foothold on the peninsula of St. Maur.
+
+The south front meanwhile suffered more and more from the steady
+bombardment. The enceinte and the sunken mortar batteries behind the
+ceinture railway were still active, but in the forts the barracks were
+reduced to ruins, partly battered in and partly burnt down, and the
+garrisons had to take shelter in the emptied powder-magazines. The
+covered ways could no longer be traversed safely, the parapets afforded
+no protection. In Vanves the embrasures were filled up with sandbags; in
+the southern curtain of Issy five blocks of casemates had been pierced
+by shells penetrating the shielding walls. Even the detached gorge-walls
+of Vanves and Montrouge were destroyed, forty guns were dismounted, and
+seventy gun carriages wrecked.
+
+The whole condition of France, political and military, and above all the
+situation in Paris, was such as to cause the Government the gravest
+anxiety.
+
+Since the return of Monsieur Thiers from his diplomatic tour, it was
+certain that no mediatory interposition by any foreign power could be
+expected. The distress of the capital had become more and more severe.
+Scarcity and high prices had long borne heavily on its population;
+provisions were exhausted, and even the stores of the garrison had been
+seriously encroached on. Fuel was lacking in the lasting cold, and
+petroleum was an inefficient substitute for gas. When the long-deferred
+bombardment of the south side of Paris was had recourse to, the people
+took refuge in the cellars or fled to the remoter quarters of the city;
+and when it was also begun on the northern side the inhabitants of St.
+Denis crowded into the capital.
+
+The great sortie of the 19th had proved a total failure, and no relief
+was to be hoped for from outside since Gambetta had sent news of the
+disaster at Le Mans. The Paris Army, of whose inactivity he complained,
+was reduced to a third of its original strength by cold, sickness, and
+desertion, and the heart taken out of it by repeated miscarriages. Its
+horses had to be slaughtered to provide meat for the inhabitants, and
+General Trochu declared any further offensive movements to be quite
+hopeless; the means even of passive resistance were exhausted.
+
+Hitherto the Government had been able to keep the populace in good
+humour by highly-coloured reports, but now the disastrous state of
+affairs could no longer be concealed. All its projects were now
+denounced.
+
+There was a large class of people in Paris who were but little affected
+by the general distress. Numbers of civilians had been armed for the
+defence of their country and were fed and well paid by the authorities,
+without having too much to do in return. They were joined by all the
+dubious social elements, which found their reckoning in the disorganized
+situation. These had been quite satisfied with the condition which the
+4th of September had created, and a little later they displayed
+themselves in the hideous form of the Commune. Already some popular
+gatherings had been dispersed only by force of arms, and even a part of
+the National Guard were not free from mutinous tendencies. The
+revolutionary clubs, too, supported by the press, clamoured for further
+enterprises, even a sortie _en masse_ of all the inhabitants of Paris.
+Thus the feeble Government, dependent as it was on popular favour alone,
+was under pressure from the impossible demands of an ignorant mob on the
+one hand, and, on the other, the inexorable force of actual facts.
+
+There was absolutely no expedient possible but the capitulation of the
+capital; every delay intensified the necessity, and enforced the
+acceptance of harder terms. Unless all the railways were at once thrown
+open for the transport of supplies from a very wide area, the horrors of
+famine would inevitably fall on a population of more than two million
+souls; and later it might not be practicable to cope with the emergency.
+Yet no one dared utter the fatal word "capitulation," no one would
+undertake the responsibility for the inevitable.
+
+A great council of war was held on the 21st. In it all the elder
+Generals pronounced any further offensive measures to be quite
+impossible. It was proposed that a council of the younger officers
+should also be held, but no decision was arrived at. As, however, some
+one must be made answerable for every misfortune, General Trochu,
+originally the most popular member of the Government, was dismissed from
+his position as Governor, and the chief military command was entrusted
+to General Vinoy. General Ducrot resigned his command.
+
+All this did nothing to improve the situation, so on the 23rd, Monsieur
+Jules Favre made his appearance at Versailles to negotiate in the first
+instance for an armistice.
+
+On the German side there was readiness to meet this request; but of
+course some guarantee had to be forthcoming that the capital, after
+having been reprovisioned, would not renew its resistance. The surrender
+of the forts, inclusive of Mont Valerien and the town of St. Denis, as
+well as the disarmament of the enceinte was demanded and acceded to.
+
+Hostilities were to be suspended on the evening of the 26th, so far as
+Paris was concerned, and all supplies to be freely given. A general
+armistice of twenty-one days was then to come in force on the 31st of
+January, exclusive, however, of the departments of Doubs, Jura, and Cote
+d'Or, and the fortress of Belfort, where for the time operations were
+still being carried on, in which both sides were hopeful of success.
+
+This armistice gave the Government of National Defence the time
+necessary for assembling a freely-elected National Assembly at Bordeaux,
+which should decide whether the war should be continued, or on what
+conditions peace should be concluded. The election of the deputies was
+unimpeded and uninfluenced even in the parts of the country occupied by
+the Germans.
+
+The regular forces of the Paris garrison, troops of the line, marines,
+and Gardes-Mobiles, had to lay down their arms at once; only 12,000 men
+and the National Guard were allowed to retain them for the preservation
+of order inside the city. The troops of the garrison were interned there
+during the armistice; on its expiry they were to be regarded as
+prisoners. As to their subsequent transfer to Germany, where every
+available place was already overflowing with prisoners, the question was
+postponed in expectation of a probable peace.
+
+The forts were occupied on the 29th without opposition.
+
+There were taken over from the Field Army of Paris 602 guns, 1,770,000
+stand of arms, and above 1000 ammunition waggons; from the fortress 1362
+heavy guns, 1680 gun-carriages, 860 limbers, 3,500,000 cartridges, 4000
+hundred-weight of powder, 200,000 shells, and 100,000 bombs.
+
+The blockade of Paris, which had lasted 132 days, was over, and the
+greater part of the German forces which had so long stood fast under its
+walls, was released to end the war in the open field.
+
+
+
+
+THE OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY OF THE SOUTH UNDER GENERAL VON MANTEUFFEL.
+
+
+The two Army Corps under General von Manteuffel consisted altogether of
+fifty-six battalions, twenty squadrons, and 168 guns. When it arrived at
+Chatillon sur Seine on January 12th, the IInd Corps was on the right,
+and the VIIth on the left on an extension from Noyers Montigny of about
+forty-five miles. One brigade, under General von Dannenberg, which had
+already several times been in contact with portions of the French Army
+of the Vosges, was pushed forward to Vilaines and was charged with the
+duty of covering the right flank.
+
+Several good roads led from the quarters specified in the direction of
+Dijon; to Vesoul, on the contrary, there were only bad tracks deep in
+snow over the southern slope of the wild plateau of Langres. The
+Commander-in-Chief, nevertheless, chose this direction, that he might as
+soon as possible afford General von Werder at least indirect assistance
+by approaching in the rear of the enemy threatening his brother-officer.
+
+The march had to pass midway between the towns of Dijon and Langres,
+both points strongly occupied by the French. Wooded heights and deep
+ravines separated the columns and precluded mutual support; each body
+had to provide for its individual safety in every direction. The troops
+had previously undergone severe fatigues, and badly as they needed rest
+not one halt-day could be granted, nor could the evil plight of their
+boots and the horses' shoes be in any way remedied. On January 14th the
+march was begun in a thick fog and bitter cold, along roads frozen as
+smooth as glass.
+
+The maintenance of supplies required special attention, and at first the
+8th Brigade had to be left behind to secure the all-important
+railway-line Tonnerre--Nuits--Chatillon, until connections could be
+established by way of Epinal.
+
+On the very first day's march the advanced guard of the VIIth Corps had
+a fight before Langres. A force from the garrison of 15,000 men was
+driven in on the fortress with the loss of a flag, and a detachment had
+to be left behind in observation of the place. Under cover of it the
+VIIth Corps marched past the fortress next day, while the IInd advanced
+to the Ignon Brook.
+
+The weather changed during the night of the 15th. As a change from
+fourteen degrees of frost there came storm and rain. The water lay on
+the frozen roads, and it was with the greatest difficulty that the VIIth
+Corps reached Prauthoy, and the IInd Moloy, closing in to the left.
+
+On the 18th the left wing advanced South-East on Frettes and Champlitte,
+the right assembled at Is sur Tille, and its advanced guard, after a
+march of thirty-one miles, reached the bridges at Gray. On the flank and
+rear of the Corps there had been some trivial fighting, but the cruel
+march across the mountains had been accomplished, and the cultivated
+valley of the Saone was reached.
+
+General von Manteuffel had already received news of the satisfactory
+course of the first day's fighting on the Lisaine. Later telegrams from
+General von Werder reported that the French Army of the East would
+probably be obliged to retire under difficulties, and the German
+commander at once determined to cut off its retreat by advancing to the
+Doubs below Besancon.
+
+The defeated French army was still numerically greatly superior to the
+German force. The troops had to be again called upon for severe
+exertions. They were required once more to cross a thinly-populated
+mountainous region, where it would be a matter of great difficulty to
+procure food and the shelter needful during the bitter winter nights.
+Strong hostile forces had to be left in the rear at Langres, Dijon, and
+Auxonne, and that under very insufficient observation. However, in spite
+of every obstacle the advance in this new direction was begun on the
+19th.
+
+The first difficulty would have been the crossing of the Saone, here
+very deep and about sixty-six yards wide, and full of drifting ice, had
+not the advanced guard of the IInd Corps found Gray abandoned by the
+French and both the bridges uninjured; whereupon it occupied the town.
+The head of the VIIth Corps crossed the river by the intact
+railway-bridge at Savayeux, and by a pontoon bridge thrown across by the
+pioneers higher up.
+
+On the following day both Corps advanced in a southerly direction, the
+VIIth to Gy, the IInd to Pesmes. Here the latter also now crossed the
+Ognon after driving off by artillery fire a French detachment which
+tried to oppose the construction of the bridges.
+
+On the 21st, at half past two, the advanced guard of the IInd Corps
+found Dole occupied by the enemy. General von Koblinski (commanding 5th
+Infantry Brigade) attacked at once. In spite of a violent street-fight
+in which the townspeople took part, the Grenadiers of the 2nd Regiment
+made their way through the town and on the further side seized a train
+of 230 waggons of provisions and military necessaries, intended for
+Besancon and left standing in the railway-station.
+
+While the Doubs was thus crossed by the IInd Corps at this point, so the
+VIIth Corps opened itself a passage across the Ognon at Marmay and Pin.
+
+General von Werder had been instructed to follow close on the heels of
+the retreating enemy, and while the latter still maintained his position
+on the front of the XIVth Corps, the 2nd Baden Brigade on the right wing
+had advanced to Etobon, while Colonel von Willisen with his twelve
+squadrons had moved out beyond Lure. On the left, Colonel von Zimmermann
+with the East-Prussian Landwehr had driven the French out of Ste. Marie.
+These detachments everywhere found cast-away arms and portions of
+equipment, and hundreds willingly gave themselves up as prisoners.
+
+During the next few days General von Werder effected a general
+left-wheel to the south. The right wing held Villersexel, and it was the
+left wing only that met the enemy in great masses at L'Isle sur le
+Doubs, and afterwards at Clerval and Baume les Dames.
+
+General Bourbaki had withdrawn from the Lisaine on the 18th. The XXIVth
+Corps only was left on the left bank of the Doubs, with orders to defend
+toward the north the defiles in the steep mountain-paths of the Lomont
+range eastward of Clerval; all the other troops withdrew between the
+Doubs and the Ognon, with the Division Cremer as rearguard. The Ognon
+might have formed a natural protection for the right flank of the French
+army, and orders had been given for the destruction of all the bridges
+over it; but we have seen how little they had been obeyed.
+
+On the 21st the XVth and XXth Corps arrived in the neighbourhood of
+Baume les Dames, the XVIIIth at Marchaux; and here, having the
+stronghold of Besancon close at his back, General Bourbaki desired to
+await for the present the further movements of the enemy. In order that
+his forces should still muster in full strength, the commandant of
+Besancon was instructed to send forward to Blamont all the battalions of
+Mobiles-Guards he could spare so as to relieve the XXIVth Corps. Nine
+battalions of mobilized National Guards had actually previously reached
+Besancon, which might have been substituted as desired, but they came
+armed with Enfield rifles, for which there was no ammunition in the
+fortress. Thus they would there only have added to the mouths to be
+filled, and General Rolland had simply sent them back again. The
+Intendant-General declared it impossible any longer to bring up the
+supplies ordered by him for the maintenance of the army; but what proved
+decisive was the news received this day that not only was the line of
+the Ognon lost, but that the Germans had already crossed the Doubs.
+
+Under these circumstances the French Commander-in-Chief determined to
+continue his retreat on Besancon and there cross to the southern bank of
+the Doubs, so as not to be compelled to give battle with the river in
+his rear. The trains were sent off during the night, but above all
+things the XVth Corps was ordered at once to occupy Quingey with a whole
+division, and defend that position to extremity, in order to keep open
+the communications of the Corps with the interior. All the other Corps
+were to concentrate round Besancon, even the XXIVth, which consequently
+gave up the defence of the Lomont passes.
+
+General Bourbaki reported his situation to the Minister of War, who held
+out hopes of supporting him with the portion of the XVth Corps still
+remaining on the Loire. Assistance could have been more quickly and
+effectually given from Dijon.
+
+The Government had assembled there a very considerable force to replace
+the Division Cremer gone to join the Army of the East, for the defence
+of the ancient capital of Burgundy and to constitute a point of support
+to the operations of General Bourbaki. A Corps of 20,000 men was
+assigned to the local defence; a very inappropriately-named Army of the
+Vosges, more than 40,000 strong, was to do duty in the field. But this
+was of little effect in hindering the toilsome advance of the Germans
+over the mountains. The detachments in observation allowed themselves to
+be driven in by General von Kettler (commanding 8th Infantry Brigade),
+who followed the movement of both Corps on the right flank; and they
+retired on Dijon. Colonel Bombonnel, stationed at Gray, urgently begged
+for reinforcements to enable him to defend the passages of the Saone;
+his applications were refused because Dijon was in too great peril, and
+it was not till the Prussians had already crossed the river that
+"General" Garibaldi began to move.
+
+He set out on the 19th in three columns in the direction of Is sur
+Tille, where there still remained only part of the (German) 4th Infantry
+Division. But he advanced little more than four miles. Garibaldi
+subsequently confined himself to watching reconnoitring parties which
+advanced to meet him from the heights of Messigny, and he then retired
+on Dijon with his troops marching to the strains of the Marseillaise.
+
+Nevertheless, the enemy was held in too small estimation in General
+Manteuffel's headquarter, when General von Kettler was simply ordered to
+go and take Dijon.
+
+The greatest care had been bestowed in strengthening the place. Numerous
+earthworks, and other erections specially constructed for defence
+protected it to the northward; more especially had Talant and Fontaine
+les Dijon been transformed into two detached forts and armed with heavy
+guns which commanded all the approaches on that side. The whole
+constituted a position which could be held against a much larger force
+than the five and a half battalions of the 8th Brigade with which
+General Kettler advanced to the attack.
+
+FIGHTING AT DIJON, JANUARY 21ST AND 22ND.--This force had reached Turcey
+and St. Seine, and on the 21st advanced in two columns from the west on
+Dijon, still distant some fourteen miles. Major von Conta from Is sur
+Tille on the north was approaching with a small reinforcement. The
+"Franctireurs de la Mort," the "Compagnie de la Revanche," and other
+volunteer bands as well as Mobiles-Guards were without much difficulty
+driven out of the villages on the way, and beyond the deep ravine of the
+Suzon; the village of Plombieres on the right, which was defended with
+spirit, was stormed, and Daix was carried on the left; but in front of
+the fortified position of the French, and within reach of the fire of
+their heavy batteries, the bold advance was forced to come to a stand.
+Major von Conta had also pushed on with continuous fighting, but failed
+to effect a junction with the brigade before dark. General von Kettler,
+recognizing the overwhelming superiority of the French, finally
+restricted himself to repulsing their sorties.
+
+The French lost seven officers and 430 men in prisoners alone; but the
+fighting also cost the brigade nineteen officers and 322 men. The troops
+had performed a severe march in bad weather along heavy roads, and had
+not been able to cook either before or after the fight; the ammunition
+could only be replenished from a convoy which was expected next day.
+Nevertheless General von Kettler did not hesitate to remain for the
+night in the positions he had gained immediately in front of the enemy,
+and then to seek shelter-quarters in the nearest villages.
+
+The French allowed him to do so without any serious opposition.
+Inactivity so utter caused General von Kettler the suspicion that the
+main body of the enemy had probably withdrawn by Auxonne to the support
+of the Army of the East, and he determined to bring it back on Dijon by
+a renewed attack.
+
+On the 23rd at eleven o'clock, by a flank march along the enemy's front,
+after his advanced guard had routed a detachment of Gardes-Mobiles, he
+reached the farm of Valmy on the Langres road, and advanced with his two
+batteries against the walled and strongly-held village of Pouilly.
+Here, as was almost always the case when engaged in the defence of
+buildings, the French made a stout resistance. The 61st Regiment had to
+storm each house in turn, and it was not till the chateau was in flames
+that the strong body of defenders who had taken refuge in the upper
+floors, surrendered.
+
+Beyond this place the enemy were found deployed in an entrenched
+position between Talant, which had been converted into a fort, and a
+large factory-building on the high-road. Here the advance was checked
+till the remainder of the regiment came up from Valmy, and the defenders
+at various points were driven back on the suburb.
+
+It was evident that the French were still at Dijon in full force, and
+the object of the undertaking had therefore been attained. But now
+unfortunately a tragic episode occurred, for the storming of the factory
+was absolutely insisted on--a great building, almost impregnable against
+infantry unaided. When all the senior officers had been killed, a
+first-lieutenant, whose horse had been shot and he himself wounded, took
+the command of the 2nd battalion. No sooner had the 5th company, only
+forty strong, advanced from the neighbouring quarry, than it came under
+a hot fire from all sides. The leader was at once wounded, and the
+sergeant who carried the colour fell dead after a few steps; so did the
+second-lieutenant and the battalion adjutant, who had again raised the
+standard. It was passed from hand to hand, carried first by the officers
+then by the men; every bearer fell. The brave Pomeranians[81]
+nevertheless rushed on the building, but there was no entrance anywhere
+on that side, and at last the under-officer retreated on the quarry with
+the remnant of the little band. Here, for the first time, the colour
+was missed. Volunteers went out again in the darkness to search for it,
+but only one man returned unwounded. It was not till afterwards that the
+French found the banner, shot to ribbons, in a pool of blood under the
+dead. This was the only German colour lost throughout the war, and only
+thus was this one lost.
+
+The enemy took prisoners eight officers and 150 men, and the brigade
+sustained a fresh loss of sixteen officers and 362 men. It mustered at
+Pouilly, and remained under arms till eight o'clock to meet possible
+pursuit; only then were quarters taken in the neighbouring villages.
+
+OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY OF THE SOUTH.--The commission to take Dijon could
+not be executed; but the bold advance of this weak brigade cowed the
+hostile army into inactivity, so that General von Manteuffel was able to
+pursue his march unopposed.
+
+He had given to both his corps as their objective the enemy's line of
+retreat south of Besancon.
+
+From this fortress there were but few roads to the south of France
+available for troops, through the riven and rugged regions of the
+western Jura. The most direct connection was by the road and railway to
+Lons le Saulnier, on which Quingey and Byans were the most important
+barriers. Further to the east, but by a wide detour, a road runs by
+Ornans, Salins and Champagnole to St. Laurent and Morez. Several ways,
+however, radiate from Besancon and converge in Pontarlier, by using the
+passes peculiar to this range, called "Cluses," which pierce
+transversely the mountain chains and afford the valleys
+intercommunication. From Pontarlier one road only runs past Mouthe, and
+along the Swiss frontier in awkward proximity thereto.
+
+_January 22nd._--On this day the advanced guard of the 13th Division
+marched from Audeux to St. Vit, and after breaking up the railway and
+plundering a number of loaded waggons, down the riverside to Dampierre.
+On the way four bridges over the Doubs were found uninjured and were
+taken possession of. The advanced guard of the 14th Division moved from
+Emagny to observe Besancon. The IInd Corps closed on Dole and pushed
+reconnoitring parties across the river.
+
+_January 23rd._--The concentric movement of all the bodies of the German
+army was continued.
+
+General Debschitz, approaching from the north, in passing Roches found
+only the abandoned camping ground of the French XXIVth Corps. The 4th
+Reserve Division occupied L'Isle without opposition, and met no
+resistance till it reached Clerval and Baume.
+
+On the Ognon the Baden Division drove the French out of Montbozon.
+
+In the centre of the army the VIIth Corps pushed the advanced guard of
+the 14th Division forward on Dannemarie, near Besancon. A fight ensued
+there in the form only of a cannonade which lasted till night. The 13th
+Division, again, which had crossed the Doubs at Dampierre, advanced on
+Quingey.
+
+For want of rolling stock it had been possible to forward only one
+French brigade by railway, and the last trains were received at the
+Byans station with Prussian shells. These troops were in so bad case
+that they were unable even to place outposts. They abandoned Quingey
+almost without a struggle, and their hurried retreat on Besancon and
+beyond the Loue, stopped the advance of reinforcements already on the
+way. Thus 800 prisoners and a train of 400 convalescents fell into the
+hands of the Prussian advanced guard, who at once broke up the railway
+at Abbans-dessous.
+
+On the right wing, the head of the IInd Corps advanced by the valley of
+the Loue on the southern bank. Several cuttings on this road had been
+prepared for defence, but were found undefended. It was at Villers
+Farlay that it first encountered a strong body of the enemy.
+
+On the evening of this day, of the French forces the XXth Corps was on
+the north and the XVIIIth on the west of Besancon, at the distance of
+about four miles. Cavalry, artillery and the train were passing through
+the town or encamped on the glacis of the fortress. The XXIVth Corps was
+on the march thither, and the 2nd and 3rd Divisions of the XVth were in
+possession of the southern bank of the Doubs about Baume and Larnod; but
+the 1st Division had not succeeded in holding Quingey. Thus the most
+direct and important line of communications of the French army was cut,
+and its position, by this fresh mischance, seriously compromised.
+Impracticable projects and counsels from Bordeaux poured in freely, but
+did not mend matters; and on the 24th General Bourbaki summoned the
+superior officers to a council of war.
+
+_January 24th._--The Generals declared that they had scarcely more than
+half their men under arms, and these were more inclined to fly than to
+fight. General Pallu alone thought he might answer for the men of the
+army reserve. The Intendant-General reported that, without trenching on
+the magazines of the place, the supplies in hand would last for four
+days at most. General Billot was in favour of attempting to fight a way
+through to Auxonne, but he declined to take the command in chief which
+was offered him. The exhaustion of the troops and their evidently
+increasing insubordination gave little hope of the success of offensive
+operations. So there was no alternative but to retire on Pontarlier, as
+the Commander-in-Chief had proposed.
+
+This recourse, even, was seriously threatened. To relieve himself from
+pressure on the north, General Bourbaki ordered the XXIVth Corps to
+advance once more and hold the Lomont passes. On the south the XVth was
+to defend the deep mountain-ravine of the Loue, and General Cremer was
+more especially to cover the retreat of the army on the right flank,
+which was most seriously threatened. For this difficult task, in
+addition to his own Division, a Division of the XXth Corps and the army
+reserve as the most trustworthy troops were placed under his command.
+The XVIIIth and the remainder of the XXth were to await marching-orders
+at Besancon.
+
+In the German Head-quarter, where of course the plans of the French
+could not be known, various possibilities had to be reckoned with.
+
+If the French remained at Besancon there would be no need to attack them
+there; the place was not suited for the accommodation of a large army,
+and its supplies could not long hold out. That they would again attempt
+to advance northwards was scarcely likely; by doing so they would be
+cutting loose from all their resources, and must encounter the larger
+part of the XIVth German Corps on the Ognon.
+
+An attempt to break through to Dijon seemed more possible. But this
+would be opposed at St. Vit by the 13th Division, at Pesmes by Colonel
+von Willisen's detachment, and finally by General von Kettler.
+
+Thus a retreat on Pontarlier seemed the most likely course; and to
+hinder their further march from that place would in the first instance
+be the duty of the IInd Corps, while in the meantime the VIIth was
+observing the enemy massed in Besancon, and opposing his sorties on both
+sides of the river.
+
+The Commander-in-Chief therefore confined himself to giving general
+directions to his Generals, expressly authorizing them to act on their
+own judgment in eventualities which could not be foreseen.
+
+General von Werder was instructed to advance by Marnay, and to place the
+14th Division in touch with the Baden Division and Von der Goltz's
+Brigade, and then to distribute these bodies along the right bank of the
+Doubs. The 4th Reserve Division restored the bridges at L'Isle and
+Baume, and crossed over to the left bank. Colonel von Willisen was to
+join the VIIth Corps to supply its lack of cavalry. The IInd Corps was
+assembled behind Villers Farlay.
+
+_January 25th._--Reconnaissances on a large scale were arranged for next
+day. The reconnaissance of the VIIth Corps resulted in a sharp fight at
+Vorges. The head of the IInd Corps met the enemy in front of Salins and
+at Arbois, but found that the latter had not yet reached Poligny.
+
+_January 26th._--The advanced guard of the IInd Corps advanced on
+Salins. The fronts of the high-perched forts of St. Andre and Belin near
+the town, looked toward Switzerland, but their fire commanded also on
+flank and rear the plain to the south and west on the enemy's line of
+march. Salins constituted a strong barrier on the road to St. Laurent,
+and as long as it was held would cover the line of retreat of columns
+marching from Besancon to Pontarlier.
+
+The two field-batteries of the advanced guard could, of course, do
+little against the heavy guns of the forts; but the Fusiliers of the 2nd
+Regiment advanced in rushes of small detachments up the narrow ravine,
+scaled its rugged faces, and, supported by the two Grenadier battalions,
+forced their way, about half-past two, into the railway-station and
+suburb of St. Pierre; but with the loss of 3 officers and 109 men.
+
+Soon after General von Koblinski arrived by way of St. Thiebaud with the
+42nd Regiment. As in consequence of the representations of the Mayor the
+commandant refrained from bombarding the town, the advanced guard was
+able to take up its quarters therein; the main body of the 3rd Division
+retreated from under the fire of the forts on Mouchard, and the defile
+remained closed again to further penetration. It was necessary to turn
+it by the south.
+
+In that direction the 4th Division had already marched to Arbois, its
+head further forward up to Pont d'Hery; it found Poligny and Champagnole
+on the right still unoccupied.
+
+The VIIth Corps reconnoitred both banks of the Doubs, and found the
+enemy in strong positions at Busy and at Vorges.
+
+The 4th Reserve Division advanced along the southern bank as far as St.
+Juan d'Adam, near Besancon; the remainder of the XIVth Corps marched on
+Etuz and Marnay.
+
+General von Kettler's report of the fighting on the 21st and 23rd
+determined General von Manteuffel to make a renewed attempt on Dijon. He
+detailed to this duty General Hann von Weyhern (commanding 4th Infantry
+Division, IInd Corps), placing him in command of the 8th Brigade, with
+Colonel von Willisen's troops and Degenfeld's Baden Brigade.
+
+On the French side, General Bressoles had started on the 24th, in
+obedience to orders, to take renewed possession of the passages of the
+Doubs and the Lomont defiles. He had, in the first instance, turned
+against Baume with d'Aries' Division; but as he did not succeed even in
+driving the German outposts out of Pont les Moulins, he retired to
+Vercel. In consequence of this, on the morning of the 26th, Carre's
+Division, which had found the passes of the Lomont unoccupied, also
+moved to Pierre Fontaine. Comagny's Division had already retreated to
+Morteau, and was making its way unmolested to Pontarlier.
+
+General Bourbaki was greatly disturbed by this failure of his right
+wing; more perhaps than was needful, since, in fact, only one German
+division stood north of him, which at most could drive his rearguard on
+Pontarlier, while the main force of the enemy threatened him far more
+seriously on the west. He nevertheless ordered a renewed advance, on the
+26th, of the XXIVth Corps, which was now to be supported by the XVIIIth.
+But the march through Besancon of the latter, through streets covered
+with ice, took up the whole of the day which should have been devoted to
+the attack, so that nothing came of the scheme.
+
+The Army Reserve had reached Ornans, and stood there in readiness. The
+two other Divisions advanced on the road to Salins, but heard while on
+the march that the Germans had just carried that place. They then
+occupied in Deservillers and Villeneuve d'Amont, the roads leading from
+thence to Pontarlier.
+
+The War Minister, meanwhile, had decisively refused permission for the
+general retreat of the army, without any regard to the imperative
+necessities of the case.
+
+The military dilettanteism which fancied it could direct the movements
+of the army from Bordeaux is characterized in a telegram of the
+afternoon of the 25th. Monsieur de Freycinet gives it as his "firm
+conviction"[82] that General Bourbaki, if he would concentrate his
+troops, and, if necessary come to an understanding with Garibaldi, would
+be strong enough to fight his way out, "either by Dole, or by Mouchard,
+or by Gray, or by Pontailler" (north of Auxonne). The choice was left to
+him.
+
+Still more amazing was the further suggestion that if indeed the state
+of the army prohibited a long march, it should be embarked on the
+railway at Chagey, under the eye, no doubt, of the pursuing enemy.
+
+Such communications could only avail to shatter the brave commander's
+self-confidence. The disastrous reports which poured in from all sides,
+and the state of the troops which he had seen for himself as the XVIIIth
+Corps marched through the town, crushed his last hope and led him to
+attempt his own life.
+
+The Commander had of course to bear the blame of the total failure of a
+campaign planned by Freycinet; his dismissal from the command was
+already on its way. General Clinchant was appointed in his stead, and
+under these disastrous circumstances took the command of the army.
+
+All the Generals were, no doubt, extremely reluctant to bring their
+weary and dispirited troops into serious contact with the enemy. Every
+line of retreat was closely threatened, excepting only that on
+Pontarlier. The new Commander-in-Chief had no choice but to carry out
+the plans of his predecessor. He at once ordered the further march. He
+himself proceeded to Pontarlier. In that strong position he hoped to be
+able at least to give the troops a short rest. No large bodies of the
+Germans had been met with so far, the ammunition columns had got safely
+through, and if the defiles of Vaux, Les Planches, and St. Laurent could
+be reached and held in advance of the enemy there was still a
+possibility of escape to the southwards.
+
+On the evening of the 27th, the Division Poullet was at Levier, nearest
+to the Germans; the two other Divisions under General Cremer, with the
+XVth and XXth Corps, were echeloned on the road from Ornans to
+Sombacourt; the XVIIIth Corps alone was on the eastern road through
+Nods. The XXIVth, in a miserable condition, had reached Montbenoit with
+its head at Pontarlier; two Divisions were still in Besancon.
+
+On this same day General von Fransecky collected the main body of the
+IInd Corps at Arbois, and reinforced General du Trossel's posts at Pont
+d'Hery.
+
+The XIVth Corps relieved the 14th Division of the VIIth Corps at St.
+Vit; the latter advanced to the right of the 13th Division into the Loue
+angle, which the French had already abandoned.
+
+On the north, General von Debschitz held Blamont and Pont du Roide,
+while General von Schmeling watched Besancon from St. Juan, and General
+von der Goltz marched on Arbois to form a reserve.
+
+_January 28th._--Suspecting that the French were already on the march by
+Champagnole on St. Laurent, General Fransecky, to cut off from them that
+line of retreat, advanced on the following day in a southerly direction
+with the IInd Corps.
+
+General du Trossel reached Champagnole without opposition, and thence
+sent his cavalry along the road to Pontarlier. Lieutenant-Colonel von
+Guretzky arrived at Nozeroy with a squadron of the 11th Dragoons, and
+found the place occupied; but he made prize of fifty-six
+provision-waggons and the military-chest, taking the escort prisoners.
+
+The 5th and 6th Brigades advanced on Poligny and Pont du Navoy.
+
+The 13th Division of the VIIth Corps, having been relieved at Quingey by
+the Baden troops, assembled at La Chapelle, while the 14th advanced on
+Deservillers. Its head found no enemy in Bolandoz, although his
+camp-fires were still smouldering; so that the main hostile army was not
+overtaken on that day.
+
+General Clinchant had in fact moved his Corps closer on Pontarlier. But
+it soon became evident that supplies were not procurable for any long
+stay there. General Cremer received orders that night to move forward at
+once to Les Planches and St. Laurent with three cavalry regiments
+standing already on the road to Mouthe. The mountain-roads were deep in
+snow, but by forced marching he reached the points designated on the
+following afternoon. The XXIVth Corps and a brigade of the Division
+Poullett followed next day, and the latter also occupied with two
+battalions the village of Bonneveaux at the entrance to the defiles of
+Vaux. On the evening of the 28th the rest of the French army stood as
+follows: the XVIIIth Corps was behind the Drugeon at Houtaud close
+before Pontarlier; the 1st Division of the XVth had advanced over the
+brook to Sombacourt, the 3rd Division was in the town. On the left the
+2nd and 3rd Divisions of the XXth Corps held the villages from Chaffois
+to Frasne, and on the right the army reserve occupied Byans.
+
+General von Manteuffel had ordered for the 29th a general advance on
+Pontarlier, where at last the French must certainly be found.
+
+_January 29th._--Of the IInd Corps General Koblinsky had set out from
+Poligny in the night. When he reached Champagnole and had assembled the
+whole of the 5th Brigade he moved forward therefrom at about seven
+o'clock. General du Trossel with the 7th Brigade also reached Censeau
+without finding the enemy.
+
+On the right Colonel von Wedell marched from Pont du Navoy on Les
+Planches with four battalions of the 6th Brigade. He found only
+dismounted troopers, posts probably left by General Cremer which were
+easily dispersed by the Jaegers. Detachments were then sent out in
+different directions, and everywhere met with scattered troops; but at
+Foncine le Bas the head of the XXIVth Corps was found, and Colonel von
+Wedell now blocked the last line of retreat which had remained to the
+French.
+
+With the rest of the IInd Corps General von Hartmann marched unopposed
+on Nozeroy.
+
+The 14th Division of the VIIth Corps had not received the order to
+advance on Pontarlier till somewhat late; it did not start from
+Deservillers until noon, and only reached Levier at three o'clock,
+where, at the same hour, the head of the 13th Division also arrived from
+Villeneuve d'Amont, the state of the roads having greatly delayed its
+march.
+
+The advanced guard of three battalions, half a squadron, and one
+battery, had met only stragglers on the way, and General von Zastrow
+commanded it to push forward to the Drugeon brook. In the forest on the
+left of the road closed detachments of the enemy were retiring on
+Sombacourt, and Major von Brederlow with the 1st battalion of the 77th
+Regiment turned off to attack that village lying on the flank. The 2nd
+company under Captain von Vietinghof dashed into it through Sept
+Fontaines with loud cheers, and was at once closely surrounded by strong
+bodies of the enemy; but the other companies soon came to its
+assistance. The first Division of the XVth French Corps was here
+completely routed without the Army Reserve close at hand in Byans
+having come to its support. Fifty officers, including two generals, and
+2700 men were taken prisoners; ten guns, seven mitrailleuses,
+forty-eight waggons, 319 horses and 3500 stand of arms fell into the
+hands of the Hanoverian battalion[83] which was left in occupation of
+Sombacourt.
+
+The rest of the advanced guard had meanwhile approached Chaffois, where
+the road opens out from the mountains into the wide valley of the
+Drugeon. That village, as we have seen, was occupied by the 2nd Division
+of the XXth Corps.
+
+Colonel von Cosel passed at once to the attack. Three companies of the
+53rd Regiment surprised the French field-posts and took possession of
+the first houses of the village, but then the whole mass of the French
+XVIIIth Corps barred his further progress. By degrees all the available
+forces had to join in the fighting, and also reinforcements had to be
+brought up from the main body of the 14th Division. The fight lasted
+with great obstinacy for an hour and a half, when suddenly the French
+ceased firing and laid down their arms. They claimed that an armistice
+had already been agreed on.
+
+Monsieur Jules Favre had, in fact, telegraphed to Bordeaux at a
+quarter-past eleven on the night of the 28th, that an armistice of
+twenty-one days had been concluded, without adding, however, that, with
+his consent, the three eastern departments had been excluded from its
+operations. The information, in this imperfect form, was transmitted to
+the civil authorities by the Delegation at 12.15 of the 29th; but
+Monsieur Freycinet did not forward it to the military authorities, whom
+the matter principally concerned, till 3.30 in the afternoon.
+
+Thus could General Clinchant in all good faith transmit to General
+Thornton, in command of the Divisions at Chaffois, a message which, as
+regarded the Army of the East, was altogether incorrect. The latter at
+once sent his staff officer to the Prussian advanced guard, which was
+still in action, who demanded the cessation of the firing in recognition
+of the official communication.
+
+General von Manteuffel had received in Arbois at five in the morning,
+full particulars from the supreme Head-quarter of the terms of the
+armistice, according to which the army of the South was to prosecute its
+operations to a final issue. An army order announcing this to all the
+troops was at once sent out, but did not reach the VIIth Corps till
+evening.
+
+Nothing was known there of any armistice; however, the tidings might be
+on the way, and General von Zastrow granted the temporary cessation of
+hostilities, and even sanctioned the release of his prisoners, but
+without their arms.
+
+Chaffois, with the exception of a couple of farmsteads, remained in
+possession of the 14th Division, which found such quarters there as
+might be; the 13th occupied the villages from Sept Fontaines back to
+Deservillers.
+
+_January 30th._--In full confidence in the news from the seat of
+Government, General Clinchant, on the 30th, suspended the movements of
+his army. The newly-appointed Commander of the XXIVth Corps, General
+Comagny, also gave up his intended attempt to cut his way with 10,000
+men at Foncine through Colonel von Wedell's weak brigade. The other
+Corps, after the unfortunate course of the fighting on the previous
+evening, had drawn in close on Pontarlier; but detachments of cavalry
+were sent out on the roads to Besancon and St. Laurent, to establish a
+line of demarcation and also to keep up communications with the fortress
+and with Southern France.
+
+On receiving the army order at about eleven o'clock, General Zastrow
+gave notice to the enemy in his front of the resumption of hostilities,
+but restricted his immediate demands to the complete evacuation of
+Chaffois, which was complied with. Otherwise the Corps remained inactive
+where it was.
+
+Of the IInd Corps General du Trossel had set out very early from
+Censeau, but the appearance of a French flag of truce, and his fear of
+offending against the law of nations, here too occasioned considerable
+hesitation. The forest of Frasne was not clear of the French till
+evening. Lieutenant-Colonel von Guretzky made his way into the village
+with quite a small force, and took prisoners twelve officers and 1500
+men who held it, with two colours. The 5th Brigade then also moved up
+into Frasne; the rest of the Corps occupied the same quarters as on the
+previous day.
+
+A flag of truce had presented itself at Les Planches, but Colonel von
+Wedell had simply dismissed the bearer. The outposts of the XIVth Corps
+did the same.
+
+On the north of Pontarlier, General von Schmeling advanced to Pierre
+Fontaine, General von Debschitz to Maiche.
+
+_January 31st._--Early in the morning of this day the French Colonel
+Varaigne made his appearance at General von Manteuffel's head-quarters
+at Villeneuve, with the proposal that a cessation of hostilities for
+thirty-six hours should be agreed upon, till the existing condition of
+uncertainty should be removed; but this proposal was refused, as on the
+German side there were no doubts whatsoever. Permission was granted for
+the despatch of an application to Versailles, but it was at the same
+time explained that the movements of the Army of the South would not be
+suspended pending the arrival of the answer.
+
+On this day, however, the IInd Army Corps marched only to Dompierre on a
+parallel front with the VIIth, its advanced guard pushing forward on the
+Drugeon to Ste. Colombe and La Riviere. Thence, in the evening, a
+company of the Colberg Grenadiers crossed the steep mountain ridge and
+descended on La Planee, where it took 500 prisoners. A right-flank
+detachment of two battalions and one battery under Lieutenant-Colonel
+Liebe marched unopposed up the long pass of Bonnevaux to Vaux, and took
+prisoners 2 officers and 688 men. The enemy then abandoned the defile of
+Granges Ste. Marie and retired to St. Antoine in the mountains.
+
+The Corps had found every road strewn with cast-away arms and camp
+utensils, and had taken in all 4000 prisoners.
+
+Of the VIIth Corps, as soon as the enemy had been informed of the
+resumption of hostilities, the 14th Division bent leftward on the
+Drugeon and up to La Vrine, whence a connection was effected with the
+4th Reserve Division of the XIVth Corps in St. Gorgon. The 13th Division
+advanced to Sept Fontaines. Pontarlier was now completely surrounded,
+and General von Manteuffel fixed February 1st for the general attack
+thereon. The IInd Corps was to advance from the south-west, the VIIth
+from the north-west; General von der Goltz was to establish himself in
+front of Levier in reserve.
+
+Meanwhile the French Commander-in-Chief had conceived doubts whether
+everything was quite right with the communications from his Government.
+All the mountain-passes leading to the south were now lost, and an
+escape in that direction was no longer to be hoped for. General
+Clinchant had already sent rearward the baggage and ammunition columns,
+the sick and worn-out men, through La Cluse under shelter of the forts
+of Joux and Neuv. And when in the afternoon a message from Bordeaux
+brought the intelligence that in fact the Army of the East had been
+excluded from the armistice, the Commander-in-Chief summoned his
+generals to a council of war. Every General present declared that he
+could no longer answer for his troops. General Clinchant himself
+therefore went out the same evening to Les Verrieres, to conclude
+negotiations he had already opened, in virtue of which on the following
+day, February 1st, the army was to cross the Swiss frontier by three
+roads.
+
+To cover this retreat, the Army Reserve was to hold Pontarlier till all
+the baggage-trains should have passed La Cluse, while the XVIIIth Corps
+was to take up a covering position between the two forts. Defensive
+works there were at once set about. What of the XVth Corps on the way by
+Morez had failed in getting through with the cavalry was to try to cross
+into Switzerland at any available point.
+
+_February 1st._--When the advanced guard of the IInd Corps now advanced
+on Pontarlier from Ste. Colombe, it met with but slight resistance at
+the railway station. The Colberg Grenadiers took possession of the town
+without a struggle, and captured many prisoners, but then found the road
+on the further side entirely blocked by guns and waggons. They could
+pass beyond on either side of the road only with difficulty through deep
+snow. Just in front of La Cluse the road winds between high rocky
+precipices into the wide basin of the Doubs, completely commanded by the
+isolated fortalice of Joux perched on the solid rock. On debouching into
+the open the foremost companies were received by a hot fire. Four guns,
+dragged up thither with the greatest exertions, could make no head
+against the heavy guns of the fort, and the French themselves here
+passed to the attack.
+
+The Colberg Fusiliers had meanwhile climbed the heights to the left,
+followed by the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment and a battalion of the
+49th Regiment, which drove the French out of the farmsteads on the
+rifted upland. The steep cliff on the right was also scaled, several
+rifle sub-divisions of the 49th climbed the acclivity up to La Cluse,
+and the Colberg Grenadiers advanced to the foot of Fort Neuv.
+
+To take the strong fortalices by storm was obviously impossible, and
+furthermore because of the nature of the ground the fugitive enemy could
+scarcely be overtaken in force. Of the French, 23 officers and 1600 men
+were taken prisoners, with 400 loaded waggons; of the Germans, 19
+officers and 365 men had fallen, mostly of the Colberg Regiment. The
+troops spent the night on the field of the fighting.
+
+As no large force could come into action at La Cluse, General von
+Fransecky had ordered the main body of the Corps to march further
+southward to Ste. Marie. To avoid the necessity of crossing the steep
+chain of the Jura, General von Hartmann first betook himself to
+Pontarlier to avail himself of the better roads from thence, but his
+progress was stopped, the fight at La Cluse having assumed unexpected
+proportions. The VIIth Corps and the 4th Reserve Division, which had
+reached the Doubs at noon, were equally unable to get at the enemy.
+
+During the whole day the French columns were crossing the Swiss
+frontier. The Army Reserve in Pontarlier was at the beginning swept away
+by the tide of baggage-waggons and drivers, and only joined the XVIIIth
+Corps on reaching La Cluse. During the night they both followed the
+general line of retreat. Only the cavalry and the 1st Division of the
+XXIVth Corps reached the neighbouring department of l'Ain to the
+southward, the latter force reduced to a few hundred men. There crossed
+the frontier on to Swiss soil some 80,000 Frenchmen.
+
+General Manteuffel had transferred his headquarters to Pontarlier.
+There, in the course of the night, he first heard through Berlin of the
+convention arranged between General Clinchant and Colonel Herzog of the
+Swiss Confederation.
+
+General von Manteuffel had achieved the important success of his three
+weeks' campaign by hard marching and constant fighting, although there
+had been no pitched battle since that of the Lisaine. These marches,
+indeed, had been such as none but well-seasoned troops could have
+accomplished under bold and skilful leadership, under every form of
+fatigue and hardship, in the worst season and through a difficult
+country.
+
+Thus two French armies were now prisoners in Germany, a third interned
+in the capital, and the fourth disarmed on foreign soil.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[81] Men of the 2nd Battalion, 61st Regiment, 8th Brigade, 4th Division,
+IInd Corps, which Corps consisted exclusively of Pomeranians.
+
+[82] "Conviction bien arretee."
+
+[83] The 77th Hanoverian Fusilier Regiment, of which this was the 2nd
+battalion, belonged to the 25th Brigade, 13th Division, VIIth
+(Westphalian) Army Corps.
+
+
+
+
+GENERAL HANN VON WEYHERN'S MARCH ON DIJON.
+
+
+It only remains to cast a backward glance on the advance on Dijon, with
+the conduct of which General Hann von Weyhern was charged on January
+26th.
+
+On that same day Garibaldi received instructions there to take energetic
+measures against Dole and Mouchard.
+
+To support him, the Government, indefatigable in the evolution of new
+forces, was to put in march 15,000 Gardes-Mobiles under General Crouzat
+from Lyons to Lons le Saulnier, and a XXVIth Corps in course of
+formation at Chatellerault was to be sent from thence to Beaune. As it
+was beyond doubt that General von Manteuffel had moved with a strong
+force on the communications of the Army of the East, the specific order
+was transmitted on the 27th to the Commander of the Army of the Vosges,
+to leave only from 8000 to 10,000 men in Dijon and to advance at once
+with his main force beyond Dole.
+
+But the General was always greatly concerned for the safety of Dijon; he
+occupied the principal positions on the slopes of the Cote d'Or and
+detached a small force to St. Jean de Losne, behind the canal of
+Bourgogne. Of 700 volunteers who had marched on Dole, no trace was ever
+found there.
+
+Langres had shown more energy; several and often successful attacks on
+small outpost companies and etappen troops had been made from it from
+time to time.
+
+General Hann von Weyhern's purpose of attacking Dijon from the south had
+to be abandoned, because the bridge over the Saone at St. Jean de Losne
+had been destroyed. He therefore on the 29th crossed the river at
+Apremont, and on the 31st assembled his detachments at Arc sur Tille.
+Here again General Bordone, the Chief of the general staff of the Army
+of the Vosges, vainly insisted that an armistice was in force. On the
+31st General von Kettler marched with an advanced guard on Varois. To
+cut off the enemy's communications with Auxonne a left-flank detachment
+made itself master of the bridge over the Ouche at Fauverney. The first
+shells drove the French back on their intrenched position on the line
+St. Apollinaire--Mirande.
+
+When the attempt to establish an armistice failed, General Bordone
+determined to evacuate Dijon in the course of the night and retire upon
+assured neutral ground. Thus, on February 1st, the head of the advanced
+guard found the position in front of the city abandoned, and General von
+Kettler marched in without encountering any opposition, just as the last
+train of French troops moved out of the railway-station. Sombernon and
+Nuits were also occupied on the 2nd.
+
+
+
+
+OCCUPATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS OF THE DOUBS, JURA, AND COTE D'OR.
+
+
+Nothing now remained for General von Manteuffel but to establish the
+military occupation of the three Departments which he had won, and to
+guard them from without.
+
+General Pelissier was still in the open field within their bounds,
+having reached Lons le Saulnier with the 15,000 Gardes-Mobiles who had
+come up from Lyons and had been joined by the battalions sent back from
+Besancon by General Rolland, by no means an insignificant force
+numerically, but practically of no great efficiency. The commanders were
+recommended to retire and avoid further bloodshed; and they did so, as
+soon as some detachments of the IInd German Corps advanced on Lons le
+Saulnier and St. Laurent. Others occupied Mouthe and Les Allemands,
+where were found twenty-eight field-guns which had been abandoned by the
+French. As a measure of precaution, the Swiss frontier was watched by
+eight battalions. The fortalices of Salins, the little fortress of
+Auxonne, and Besancon, were kept under observation from the eastward.
+Although the Department of Haute-Marne was included in the armistice,
+the commandant of Langres had refused to recognize the authority of his
+Government. So this place had to be invested, and probably besieged.
+General von der Goltz was promptly ordered to advance once more on it,
+and General von Krenski was already on the march thither with seven
+battalions, two squadrons and two batteries, and a siege train from
+Longwy, which he had brought to capitulate on January 25th, after a
+bombardment of six days' duration. But it was not called into
+requisition at Langres. General von Manteuffel aimed at no further
+tactical results; he was anxious to save his troops from further losses,
+and to afford them all possible relief after their exceptional
+exertions. Not till now were the baggage-waggons brought up, even those
+of the superior staff officers having been necessarily left behind
+during the advance into the Jura. The troops were distributed for the
+sake of comfort in roomy quarters, but in readiness for action at any
+moment, the IInd Corps in the Jura, the VIIth in the Cote d'Or, the
+XIVth in the department of the Doubs. But the siege of Belfort was still
+to be vigorously carried on.
+
+
+
+
+PROSECUTION OF THE SIEGE OF BELFORT.
+
+
+Immediately after the battle on the Lisaine the forces investing Belfort
+were increased to 27 battalions, 6 squadrons, 6 field batteries, 24
+companies of fortress artillery, and 6 companies of fortress pioneers;
+17,602 infantry, 4699 artillerymen, and 1166 pioneers, in all 23,467
+men, with 707 horses and 34 field-guns.
+
+The place was invested on the north and west by only a few battalions,
+and the main force was assembled to the south and east.
+
+On January 20th the eastern batteries opened a heavy fire on Perouse.
+Colonel Denfert concluded that an attack was imminent, and placed four
+battalions of his most trusted troops in the village, which had been
+prepared for an obstinate defence.
+
+At about midnight, two battalions of the 67th Regiment advanced from
+Chevremont on the Haut Taillis wood without firing a shot. Once inside
+it there was a determined struggle, but the French were driven back on
+the village, and the pioneers immediately intrenched the skirt of the
+wood towards Perouse under a heavy fire from the forts. Half an hour
+later two Landwehr battalions advanced from Bessoncourt to the copse on
+the north of the village. They were received with a heavy fire, but made
+their way onward over abatis, pits and wire-entanglements, driving the
+enemy back into the quarries. A stationary fight now ensued, but the
+67th presently renewed the attack, and without allowing themselves to be
+checked by the earthworks forced their way into Perouse. They took
+possession of the eastern half of the straggling village at about
+half-past two, and the detachment defending the quarries, finding itself
+threatened, retreated. At five o'clock, Colonel Denfert abandoned the
+western part of the village, which was now completely occupied by the
+Germans. The losses on the German side were 8 officers and 178 men; the
+French left 5 officers and 93 men prisoners.
+
+_January 21st to 27th._--The next day the construction of the first
+parallel was undertaken, extending about 2000 yards from Donjoutin to
+Haut Taillis. Five battalions and two companies of Sappers were employed
+in this work, and were undisturbed by the French; but the rocky soil
+prevented its being constructed of the prescribed width.
+
+General von Tresckow considered that he might thus early succeed in
+carrying both the Perches forts by a determined assault. Two half
+redoubts with ditches more than three yards deep cut perpendicularly in
+the solid rock, casemated traverses and bomb-proof blockhouses in the
+gorge, afforded protection to the defenders. Each work was armed with
+seven 12-cm. cannon, and they were connected by trenches, behind which
+reserves were in readiness. On the right flank this position was
+protected by a battalion and a sortie-battery in Le Fourneau; on the
+left the adjacent wood was cleared, cut down to a distance of 650 yards,
+and wire-entanglements between the stumps formed an almost impenetrable
+obstacle. In front the gentle slope of the ridge was under the
+cross-fire of the two forts.
+
+When on the previous evening of the 26th the construction of the
+parallel was sufficiently advanced to allow of its being occupied by
+larger detachments, the assault was fixed for the 27th. Two columns,
+each of one battalion, one company of Sappers, and two guns, passed to
+the attack at daybreak on that morning. Two companies of Schneidemuehl's
+Landwehr Battalion advanced against the front of Basses Perches and
+threw themselves on the ground within from 65 to 110 yards of the work.
+A sub-division of sharp-shooters and a few pioneers reached the ditch
+and unhesitatingly leaped in; the two other (Landwehr) companies, going
+round the fort by the left, got into its rear, and here too the men
+jumped into the ditch of the gorge. But the French who had been driven
+out of their shelter-trenches were now assembled, and the battalion from
+Le Fourneau came up. All the forts of the place opened fire on the bare
+and unprotected space in front of the parallel, and an attempt of
+reinforcements to cross it failed. The 7th Company of the Landwehr
+Battalion was surrounded by greatly superior numbers, and after a brave
+struggle was for the most part made captive. Most of the men in the
+ditch were still able to escape.
+
+The advance of the right column against Hautes-Perches also failed. It
+had to cross 1100 yards of open ground. The encompassment of the fort
+was attempted, but it was impossible to force through the abatis and
+other obstacles under the destructive fire of the enemy.
+
+This abortive attempt cost 10 officers and 427 men; and the slower
+process of an engineer attack had to be resumed.
+
+_January 28th to February 15th._--As the approaches to the forts
+progressed the flying sap could be carried forward about 330 yards every
+night unopposed by the enemy. In spite of all the difficulties caused by
+the nature of the soil, on February 1st the second parallel was thrown
+up at half distance from the Perches.
+
+As the Fort of la Justice was a special hindrance to the operations, two
+new batteries had to be constructed to the east of Perouse against it.
+Four mortar-batteries on the flanks of the parallel now directed their
+fire on the Perches at very short range. Three batteries were also
+constructed in the Bois des Perches to fire on the citadel, and one on
+the skirt of the wood near Bavilliers against the defences of the city.
+Henceforward 1500 shells a day were fired on the fortress and its
+outworks.
+
+But further the prosecution of the attack became more and more
+difficult. The withdrawal of General Debschitz had seriously reduced the
+working strength of the besieging force. There were only nine
+battalions for the exhausting service in the trenches. Specially serious
+was the heavy loss in pioneers, and two fresh companies had to be
+brought up from Strasburg. The bright moonlight illuminating the fields
+of snow far and wide made it impossible to proceed with the flying saps.
+Sap-rollers had to be used; the heads of the saps had to be protected by
+sandbags and the sides by gabions, while the earth for filling had often
+to be brought from a long distance in the rear.
+
+On the head of all this, on February 3rd, a thaw set in, and the water
+from the heights filled the trenches, so that all communication had to
+be carried on across the open ground. Torrents of rain damaged the
+finished works; the parapet of the first parallel gave way altogether in
+places, and the banquette was washed away. The bottomless tracks made
+the arming of the batteries unspeakably difficult, and the teams of the
+columns and field artillery had to be employed in bringing up the
+ammunition. Many guns had become useless by overheating, while the enemy
+understood, by rapidly running out their guns, firing, and then running
+them back again, how to interrupt the work. Not merely was it necessary
+to continue the shelling of the Perches during the night, but a brisk
+rifle fire had to be kept up against them. Only now and then did the
+batteries newly placed in the parallels succeed in entirely silencing
+the guns of Hautes Perches. Epaulments had to be erected against Fort
+Bellevue and the defences of the railway-station, and Fort des Barres
+resumed activity. That under such exertions and the abominable weather
+the health of the troops suffered severely, need not be said; the
+battalions could often only muster 300 men for duty.
+
+Meanwhile, however, the artillery of the attack had unquestionably
+become very much superior to that of the defence, and, in spite of every
+obstacle, the saps were pushed on to the edge of the ditch of Les
+Perches.
+
+On February 8th, at one in the afternoon, Captain Roese had gabions
+flung into the ditch of Hautes Perches, sprang into it with five
+sappers, and rapidly scaled the parapet by the steps hewn in the scarp.
+He was immediately followed by the trench guard, but only a few of the
+French were surprised in the casemated traverses. The situation of the
+garrison of the forts had in fact become extremely difficult. Ammunition
+had to be brought up under the enemy's fire, water could only be had
+from the pond at Vernier, and cooking could only be done inside the
+works. Colonel Denfert had already given orders to bury the material.
+Unseen by the besiegers the guns of which the carriages could still be
+moved had been withdrawn, and only one company left in each fort, which
+in case of a surprise was to fire and fly. Nothing was to be found in
+the abandoned work but wrecked gun-carriages and four damaged guns. This
+fort was at once reversed so that its front faced the fortress, but at
+three o'clock the latter opened so heavy a fire on the lost positions
+that the working parties had to take shelter in the ditches.
+
+The garrison in Basses Perches attempted some resistance, but under
+cover of a reserve it soon retired to Le Fourneau, leaving five guns and
+much shattered material. Here also the fire of the place at first
+compelled the working parties to break off, but four 15-cm. mortars were
+at length brought into the fort, and two 9-cm. guns were placed on the
+spur of the hill to the westward, which directed their fire on Le
+Fourneau and Bellevue. During the night of the 9th the two works were
+connected by a shelter-trench 680 yards long, and thus the third
+parallel was established.
+
+The position was now such that the attack could immediately be directed
+on the citadel, and on it the batteries in the Bois des Perches and
+presently those in the second parallel opened fire. Moitte, Justice, and
+Bellevue were shelled simultaneously. General von Debschitz had
+returned, so that the investing corps was thus again brought up to its
+full strength, and all the conditions were improved by the return of the
+frost. By the 13th ninety-seven guns were ready in the third parallel.
+
+The town had suffered terribly from the prolonged bombardment. Nearly
+all the buildings were damaged, fifteen completely burnt down, and in
+the adjoining villages 164 houses had been destroyed by the defenders
+themselves. The fortifications showed not less visible indications of
+serious damage, particularly the citadel. The hewn-stone facing of its
+front-wall had crumbled into the ditch. Half of the mantleted embrasures
+had been shattered, the expense powder magazines had been blown up, and
+a number of casemated traverses pierced. The guns in the upper batteries
+could only be reached by ladders. The garrison, of its original strength
+of 372 officers and 17,322 men, had lost 32 officers and 4713 men,
+besides 336 citizens. The place was no longer tenable; besides there now
+came the news that the army from which alone relief was to be expected,
+had laid down its arms.
+
+Under these circumstances General von Tresckow summoned the commandant
+after a defence so brave to surrender the fortress, with free withdrawal
+for the garrison, this concession having the sanction of his Majesty.
+The French Government itself authorized the commandant to accept these
+terms. Colonel Denfert, however, insisted that he must be given a more
+direct order. To procure this an officer was sent to Basle, pending
+whose return there was a provisional armistice.
+
+On the 15th a convention was signed at Versailles, which extended the
+armistice to the three departments which till then had been excluded
+from it, and also to Belfort; but the 1st article demanded the
+surrender of that place.
+
+After the conclusion of the definitive treaty, the garrison, in the
+course of the 17th and 18th, with its arms and trains, left the
+precincts of the fortress and withdrew by way of L'Isle sur Doubs and
+St. Hippolyte into the country occupied by French troops. The march was
+effected in detachments of 1000 men at intervals of 5 km., the last of
+which Colonel Denfert accompanied. The supplies which remained in the
+fortress were conveyed in rear of the departing troops in 150 Prussian
+proviant waggons. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of February 18th
+Lieutenant-General von Tresckow entered the place at the head of
+detachments from all the troops of the investing corps.
+
+There were found 341 guns, of which 56 were useless, 356 gun-carriages,
+of which 119 were shot to pieces, and 22,000 stand of arms, besides
+considerable supplies of ammunition and provisions.
+
+The siege had cost the Germans 88 officers and 2049 men, 245 of whom
+were released from imprisonment by the capitulation. Immediately was set
+about the work of restoring and arming the fortress, and of the
+levelling of the siege works.
+
+
+
+
+THE ARMISTICE.
+
+
+On the basis of the agreement of January 28th a line of demarcation was
+drawn, from which both parties were to withdraw their outposts to a
+distance of 10 km. The line ran south from the mouth of the Seine as far
+as the Sarthe, crossed the Loire at Saumur, followed the Creuse, turned
+eastward past Vierzon, Clamecy and Chagny, and then met the Swiss
+frontier, after bending to the north of Chalons sur Saone and south of
+Lons le Saulnier and St. Laurent. The two departments of Pas de Calais
+and du Nord, as well as the promontory of Havre, were particularly
+excluded.
+
+The fortresses still held by French troops in the districts occupied by
+the Germans were assigned a rayon in proportion to their importance.
+
+In carrying out the details of the agreement a liberal interpretation
+was in most instances allowed. The arrangements had the sanction of
+those members of the Government of National Defence who were in Paris;
+while the delegates at Bordeaux, who had hitherto conducted the war, at
+first held aloof, and indeed, as yet had not been made acquainted with
+the detailed conditions. Gambetta, it is true, allowed the suspension of
+operations, but could not give the commanders more precise instructions.
+
+General Faidherbe was thus without orders with regard to the evacuation
+of Dieppe and Abbeville. General von Goeben, however, refrained from
+taking immediate possession of these places. On the west of the Seine,
+the Grand Duke was forced to proclaim that the non-recognition of the
+line of demarcation would be followed by an immediate recommencement of
+hostilities.
+
+The commandant of the garrison at Langres also raised difficulties, and
+only withdrew within his rayon on February 7th, as did General Rolland
+later at Besancon. Auxonne was at first unwilling to give up control of
+the railway. Bitsch, which had not been worth the trouble of a serious
+attack, repudiated the convention; the investment had therefore to be
+strengthened, and only in March, when threatened with a determined
+attack, did the garrison abandon its peak of rock.
+
+Nor did the volunteers acquiesce at once, and there were collisions with
+them at various points. But after the conditions were finally settled,
+no more serious quarrels occurred between the inhabitants and the
+German troops during the whole course of the armistice.
+
+All the German corps before Paris occupied the forts lying in their
+front, more specifically the Vth took over Mont Valerien, and the IVth
+the town of St. Denis. Between the forts and the enceinte there lay a
+neutral zone, which civilians were allowed to cross only by specified
+roads placed under control of German examining troops.
+
+Apprehensive as it was of the indignation of the populace, the French
+Government had hesitated so long to utter the word "capitulation," that
+now, even with the resumption of free communication, Paris was
+threatened with an outbreak of actual famine. The superfluous
+stores in the German magazines were therefore placed at the disposal
+of its authorities. The respective chief-Commands, the local
+Governments-General, and the Etappen-Inspections received instructions
+to place no difficulties in the way of the repair of the railways and
+roads in their districts, and the French authorities were even allowed
+to make use, under German supervision, of the repaired railroads which
+the invaders used to supply their own army. Nevertheless, the first
+provision-train only arrived in Paris on February 3rd, and it was the
+middle of the month before the French had succeeded in remedying the
+prevalent distress in the capital.
+
+The German prisoners were at once given up. The surrender of arms and
+war-material followed by degrees, also the payment of the 200 million
+francs war-contribution imposed on the city.
+
+But it was still doubtful if the party of "war to the bitter end" in
+Bordeaux would fall in with the arrangements made by the Paris
+Government, and whether the National Assembly about to be convened would
+finally ratify the conditions of peace imposed by the conquerors. The
+necessary measures in case of the resumption of hostilities were
+therefore taken on the French as well as on the German side.
+
+The distribution of the French forces at the establishment of the
+armistice was not favourable.
+
+By General Faidherbe's advice the Army of the North was wholly
+disbanded, as being too weak to face the strength opposing it. After the
+XXIInd Corps had been transported by sea to Cherbourg, the Army of
+Brittany under General de Colomb was composed of it, the XXVIIth and
+part of the XIXth Corps, and, including Lipowski's volunteers,
+Cathelineau's and other details, its strength was some 150,000 men.
+General Loysel with 30,000 ill-armed and raw Gardes-Mobiles remained in
+the trenches of Havre.
+
+General Chanzy, after his retreat on Mayenne, had made a movement to the
+left, preparatory to a new operation with the IInd Army of the Loire
+from the Caen base, which, however, was never carried out. The XVIIIth,
+XXIst, XVIth, and XXVIth Corps stood between the lower Loire and the
+Cher from Angers to Chateauroux, in a strength of about 160,000 men
+strong, the XXVth under General Pourcet was at Bourges, and General de
+Pointe's Corps at Nevers. The Army of the Vosges had withdrawn southward
+of Chalons sur Saone, and the remains of the Army of the East assembled
+under General Cremer at Chambery as the XXIVth Corps.
+
+The total of all the field-troops amounted to 534,452 men. The
+volunteers, even those most to be relied on, were dismissed, and the
+National Guard was designated as for the present "incapable of rendering
+any military service." In the depots, the camps of instruction, and in
+Algiers there were still 354,000 men, and 132,000 recruits were on the
+lists as the contingent for 1871, but had not yet been called up.
+
+In case the war should be persisted in, a plan for limiting it to the
+defensive in the south-east of France was under consideration, for
+which, however, according to the report sent on February 8th by the
+Committee of Inquiry to the National Assembly, scarcely more than
+252,000 men in fighting condition were available. The fleet, besides,
+had given up so considerable a number of its men and guns for service on
+land, that it was no longer able for any great undertaking at sea.
+
+On the German side the first consideration was to reinforce the troops
+to their full war-strength, and replenish the magazines.
+
+The forts round Paris were at once armed on their fronts facing the
+enceinte. In and between these were 680 guns, 145 of which were captured
+French pieces; more than enough to keep the restless population under
+control. A part of the forces previously occupied in the siege, being no
+longer required, were removed, in order that the remaining troops should
+have better accommodation. Besides, it seemed desirable to strengthen
+the IInd Army, which had in its front the enemy's principal force. In
+consequence the IVth Corps marched to Nogent le Rotrou, the Vth to
+Orleans, and the IXth, relieved there, to Vendome; so that now the
+quarters of this army extended from Alencon to Tours, and up the Loire
+as far as Gien and Auxerre.
+
+The Ist Army was in the north with the VIIIth Corps on the Somme, and
+the Ist on both sides of the Lower Seine; in the south the Army of the
+South occupied the line of demarcation from Baume to Switzerland, and
+the country in the rear.
+
+At the end of February the German field-army on French soil consisted
+of:--
+
+    Infantry      464,221 men with 1674 guns.
+    Cavalry        55,562 horses.
+
+Troops in garrison:--
+
+    Infantry      105,272 men with 68 guns.
+    Cavalry          5681 horses.
+                  -------
+      Total       630,736 men and 1742 guns.
+
+Reserve forces remaining in Germany:--
+
+       3288 officers.
+    204,684 men.
+     26,603 horses.
+
+Arrangements were so made, that in case of a recommencement of
+hostilities, the strongest resistance could be made at all points. The
+armistice had nearly reached its end, and the troops had already been
+more closely collected to be ready to take the initiative of the
+offensive towards the south, when the Chancellor of the Confederation
+announced the extension of the armistice to the 24th, which was again
+prolonged to midnight on the 26th.
+
+Considerable difficulties had arisen from the differences of opinion
+with regard to the election of the National Assembly, between the
+Government in Paris and the Delegation at Bordeaux. The Germans wished
+to see carried out the choice, not of a party, but of the whole nation,
+expressed by a free suffrage. But Gambetta had ruled, in violation of
+the conditions of the armistice, that all who after December 2nd, 1851,
+had held any position in the Imperial Government should be ineligible to
+vote. It was not till the Parisian Government had obtained a majority by
+sending several of its members to Bordeaux, and after the dictator had
+resigned on February 6th, that the elections proceeded quickly and
+unhindered.
+
+The deputies duly assembled in Bordeaux by the 12th, the appointed day.
+M. Thiers was elected chief of the executive, and went to Paris on the
+19th with Jules Favre, determined to end the aimless war at any cost.
+
+Negotiations for peace were opened, and after five days' vigorous
+discussion, when at last on the German side the concession to restore
+Belfort was made, the preliminaries were signed on the afternoon of the
+26th.
+
+France bound herself to give up in favour of Germany a part of Lorraine,
+and the province of Alsace with the exception of Belfort, and also to
+pay a war indemnity of five milliards of francs.
+
+The evacuation of the districts in occupation of the German armies was
+to begin immediately on the ratification of the treaty, and be continued
+by degrees in proportion as the money was paid. While the German troops
+remained on French soil they were to be maintained at the charge of the
+country. On the other hand all requisitioning on the part of the Germans
+was to cease. Immediately on the first instalment of evacuation the
+French forces were to retire behind the Loire, with the exception of
+20,000 men in Paris and the necessary garrisons in the fortresses.
+
+After the ratification of these preliminaries, further terms were to be
+discussed in Brussels, and the return of the French prisoners would
+begin. The armistice was prolonged to March 12th; but it was in the
+option of either of the belligerent powers to end it after March 3rd by
+giving three days' notice.
+
+Finally, it was stipulated that the German Army should have the
+satisfaction of marching into Paris, and remaining there till the
+ratification of the treaty; but would be restricted to the section of
+the city from Point du Jour to the Rue du Faubourg St. Honore. The entry
+was made on March 1st, after a parade at Longchamps before his Majesty
+of 30,000 men, consisting of 11,000 of the VIth, 11,000 of the IInd
+Bavarian, and 8000 of the XIth Army Corps. On the 3rd and 5th of March
+this force was to have been relieved by successive bodies of the same
+strength, but M. Thiers succeeded by March 1st in getting the National
+Assembly at Bordeaux to accept the treaty, after the deposition of the
+Napoleonic dynasty had been decreed. The exchange of ratifications took
+place in the afternoon of the 2nd, and on the 3rd the first instalment
+of troops of occupation marched out of Paris back into its quarters.
+
+
+
+
+THE HOMEWARD MARCH OF THE GERMAN ARMY.
+
+
+By the IIIrd Article, the whole territory between the Seine and the
+Loire, excepting Paris, was to be evacuated with as little delay as
+possible by the troops of both sides; the right bank of the former
+river, on the other hand, was only to be cleared on the conclusion of
+the definitive treaty of peace. Even then the six eastern departments
+were still to remain in German possession as a pledge for the last three
+milliards; not, however, to be occupied by more than 50,000 men.
+
+The marching directions were drawn up in the supreme Headquarter, with a
+view as well to the comfort of the troops as to the reconstitution of
+the original order of battle, and the possibility of rapid assembly in
+case of need.
+
+The forces detailed for permanent occupation of the ceded provinces
+marched thither at once.
+
+The Reserve and Landwehr troops at home were to be disbanded, as well as
+the Baden Division, which, however, for the present was to remain there
+as a mobilized force. The Governments-General in Lorraine, Rheims, and
+Versailles were to be done away with, and their powers taken over by the
+local Commanding-Generals. In the maintenance of order in the rear of
+the army, the VIth and XIIth Corps, as well as the Wuertemberg Field
+Division, were placed at the direct disposition of the supreme
+Headquarter.
+
+By March 31st the Army had taken full possession of the new territory
+assigned to it, bounded on the west by the course of the Seine from its
+source to its mouth.
+
+The Ist Army was in the departments of Seine-Inferieure and Somme, the
+IInd in front of Paris in the departments of Oise and Seine et Marne,
+the IIIrd in the departments of Aube and Haute Marne, the Army of the
+South in the districts most lately hostile. The forts of Paris on the
+left bank were given up to the French authorities; the siege park and
+the captured war material had been removed. In consideration of the
+desire of the French Government that the National Assembly might be
+allowed as early as possible to sit at Versailles, the supreme
+Headquarter was removed to Ferrieres, even sooner than had been agreed.
+On March 15th his Majesty left Nancy for Berlin.
+
+All the troops that were left before Paris were placed under the command
+of the Crown Prince of Saxony, and General von Manteuffel was nominated
+Commander of the Army of Occupation.
+
+At the moment when France had freed herself by a heavy sacrifice, an
+enemy of the most dangerous character appeared from within, in the
+Commune of Paris.
+
+The 40,000 men left there proved themselves unequal to the task of
+keeping the rebellious agitation under control; which even during the
+siege had on several occasions betrayed its existence, and now actually
+broke out in open civil war. Large masses of people, fraternizing with
+the National and Mobile Guards, possessed themselves of the guns and set
+themselves in armed resistance to the Government. M. Thiers had already,
+by March 18th, summoned to Versailles such regiments as could still be
+trusted, to withdraw them from the disquieting influence of party
+impulses, and for the protection of the National Assembly there. The
+French capital was a prey to revolution, and now became an object of
+pillage by French troops.
+
+The Germans could easily have put a speedy end to the matter, but what
+Government could allow its rights to be vindicated by foreign bayonets?
+The German Commanders consequently limited themselves to forbidding at
+least within their own districts any movement of disturbance, and to
+preventing all further ingress into Paris from outside. The disarmament
+operations which had commenced were interrupted; the troops of the IIIrd
+Army were drawn closer to the forts, and the outposts were replaced
+along the line of demarcation, whereon 200,000 men could now be
+collected within two days. The authorities in Paris were also warned
+that any attempt to arm the fronts facing the Germans would be followed
+by the immediate bombardment of the city. The insurgents however, were
+fully occupied in destroying and burning, and in executing their
+commanders in the interior of Paris. They did not turn against their
+foreign enemy, but against the Government chosen by the nation, and
+prepared for an attack on Versailles.
+
+The high officers of State there, bound by the conditions of the
+armistice treaty, were almost defenceless; meanwhile the Germans were
+prepared and willing to allow a reinforcement of 80,000 French troops to
+be moved up from Besancon, Auxerre and Cambrai, the transport of whom
+would be furthered by the German troops in occupation of the districts
+through which they would have to pass.
+
+The release of the prisoners on the other hand was temporarily
+restricted. These were, for the most part, disciplined regulars; but
+they might not improbably join the hostile party, so in the first
+instance only 20,000 troops of the line were set free.
+
+On April 4th General MacMahon advanced with the Government troops
+against Paris, and entered the city on the 21st. As he was then engaged
+for eight days in barricade fighting, and as great bands of fugitives
+threatened to break through the German lines, the IIIrd Army was ordered
+to take closer order. The outposts advanced almost to the gates of the
+city, and barred all communication through them until, at the end of the
+month, Paris was again in the control of the French Government.
+
+In the meantime, the negotiations commenced in Brussels and continued in
+Frankfort were making rapid progress, and on May 10th the definitive
+treaty of peace based on the preliminaries was signed. The mutual
+ratification followed within the appointed time of ten days.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Thus a war, carried on with such a vast expenditure of force on both
+sides, was brought to an end by incessant and restless energy in the
+short period of seven months.
+
+Even in the first four weeks eight battles were fought, under which the
+French Empire crumbled, and the French Army was swept from the field.
+
+Fresh forces, numerous but incompetent, equalized the original numerical
+superiority of the Germans, and twelve more battles needed to be fought,
+to safeguard the decisive siege of the enemy's capital.
+
+Twenty fortified places were taken, and not a single day passed on which
+there was not fighting somewhere, on a larger or smaller scale.
+
+The war cost the Germans heavy sacrifice; they lost 6247 officers,
+123,453 men, 1 colour, 6 guns.
+
+The total losses of the French were incalculable; in prisoners only they
+amounted to:--
+
+    In Germany                   11,860 officers, 371,981 men.
+    In Paris                      7,456     "     241,686  "
+    Disarmed in Switzerland.      2,192     "      88,381  "
+                                 ------           -------
+                                 21,508 officers, 702,048 men.
+
+There were captured 107 colours and eagles, 1915 field-guns, 5526
+fortress guns.
+
+Strasburg and Metz, which had been alienated from the Fatherland in a
+time of weakness, were recovered, and the German Empire had risen anew.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+
+
+
+APPENDIX.
+
+MEMORANDUM ON THE PRETENDED COUNCIL OF WAR IN THE WARS
+OF KING WILLIAM I.
+
+In the accounts of historical events, as they are handed down to
+posterity, mistakes assume the form of legends which it is not always
+easy subsequently to disprove.
+
+Among others is the fable which ascribes, with particular zest and as a
+matter of regular custom, the great decisions taken in the course of our
+latest campaigns, to the deliberations of a council of war previously
+convened.
+
+For instance, the battle of Koeniggraetz.
+
+I can relate in a few lines the circumstances under which an event of
+such far-reaching importance had birth.
+
+Feldzeugmeister Benedek had, in his advance to the northward, to secure
+himself against the IInd Prussian Army marching on the east over the
+mountains of Silesia. To this end four of his Corps had one after
+another been pushed forward on his right flank, and had all been beaten
+within three days. They now joined the main body of the Austrian Army,
+which had meanwhile reached the vicinity of Dubenetz.
+
+Here, then, on June 30th, almost the whole of the Austrian forces were
+standing actually inside the line of operations between the two Prussian
+armies; of which the Ist was already fighting its way to Gitschin,
+designated from Berlin as the common point of concentration, and the
+IInd had also advanced close on the Upper Elbe; thus they were both so
+near that the enemy could not attack the one without the other falling
+on his rear. The strategic advantage was nullified by the tactical
+disadvantage.
+
+In these circumstances, and having already lost 40,000 men in previous
+battles, General Benedek gave up the advance, and during the night of
+June 30th began his retreat on Koeniggraetz.
+
+The movement of six Army Corps and four Cavalry Divisions, marching in
+only four columns, which were necessarily very deep, could not be
+accomplished in the course of a single day. They halted very closely
+concentrated between Trotina and Lipa; but when on July 2nd they still
+remained there, it was owing to the extreme fatigue of the troops, and
+the difficulty, nay, impossibility, of withdrawing so large a body of
+men beyond the Elbe, under the eyes of an active enemy and by a limited
+number of passages. In fact, the Austrian general could no longer
+manoeuvre; he had no alternative but to fight.
+
+It is a noteworthy fact that neither his advance on Dubenetz nor his
+retreat on Lipa was known to the Prussians. These movements were
+concealed from the IInd Army by the Elbe, and the cavalry of the Ist was
+a mass of more than 8000 horse collected in one unwieldy Corps. The four
+squadrons attached to each Infantry Division were of course not able to
+undertake reconnoissances, as subsequently was later done in 1870 by a
+more advantageous plan of formation.
+
+Thus in the Royal head-quarters at Gitschin nothing certain was known.
+It was supposed that the main body of the hostile army was still
+advancing, and that it would take up a position with the Elbe in its
+front and its flanks resting on the fortresses of Josephstadt and
+Koeniggraetz. There were, then, these alternatives--either to turn this
+extremely strong position, or attack it in front.
+
+By the adoption of the first the communications of the Austrian Army
+with Pardubitz would be so seriously threatened that it might probably
+be compelled to retreat. But to secure the safety of such a movement our
+IInd Army must relieve our Ist and cross over to the right bank of the
+Elbe. And in this case the flank march of the latter close past the
+enemy's front might easily be interfered with, if passages enough across
+the river had been prepared by him.
+
+In the second case, success could only be hoped for if an advance of the
+IInd Army on the right flank of the enemy's position could be combined
+with the attack in front. For this it must be kept on the left bank.
+
+The separation of the two armies, which was for the present
+intentionally maintained, allowed of either plan being followed; but
+mine was the serious responsibility of advising his Majesty which should
+be chosen.
+
+To keep both alternatives open for the present, General von Herwarth was
+ordered to occupy Pardubitz, and the Crown Prince to remain on the left
+bank of the Elbe, to reconnoitre that river as well as the Aupa and the
+Metau, and to remove all obstacles which might oppose a crossing in one
+or the other direction. At length, on July 2nd, Prince Frederick Charles
+was ordered, in the event of his finding a large force in front of the
+Elbe, to attack it at once. But, on the evening of that day, it came to
+the knowledge of the Prince that the whole Austrian Army had marched to
+and was in position on the Bistritz; and in obedience to instructions
+received, he at once ordered the Ist Army and the Army of the Elbe to
+assemble close in front of the enemy by daybreak next morning.
+
+General von Voigts-Rhetz brought the news at eleven o'clock in the
+evening to the King at Gitschin, and his Majesty sent him over to me.
+
+This information dispelled all doubts and lifted a weight from my heart.
+With a "Thank God!" I sprang out of bed, and hastened across to the
+King, who was lodged on the other side of the Market Place.
+
+His Majesty also had gone to rest in his little camp-bed. After a brief
+explanation on my part, he said he fully understood the situation,
+decided on giving battle next day with all three armies in co-operation,
+and desired me to transmit the necessary orders to the Crown Prince, who
+was at once to cross the Elbe.
+
+The whole interview with his Majesty lasted barely ten minutes. No one
+else was present.
+
+This was the "Council of War" before Koeniggraetz.
+
+General von Podbielski and Major Count Wartensleben shared my quarters.
+The orders to the IInd Army were drawn up forthwith and despatched in
+duplicate by two different routes by midnight. One, carried by General
+von Voigts-Rhetz, informed Prince Frederick Charles of all the
+dispositions; the other was sent direct to Koeniginhof.
+
+In the course of his night-ride of above twenty-eight miles,
+Lieutenant-Colonel Count Finckenstein had to pass the rayon of the Ist
+Army Corps, which was furthest to the rear. He handed to the officer on
+duty a special letter to be forwarded immediately to the general in
+command, ordering an immediate assemblage of his troops and an
+independent advance, even before orders should reach him from
+Koeniginhof.
+
+The position of the Austrians on July 3rd had a front of not more than
+4-3/4 miles. Our three armies advanced on it in an encompassing arc of
+about twenty-four miles in extent. But while in the centre the Ist and
+IInd Corps of the Ist Army stood before daylight close in front of the
+enemy, on the right wing General von Herwarth had to advance on the
+Bistritz from Smidar in the dark, by very bad roads, above nine miles;
+and on the left, the orders from the Royal head-quarter could not even
+reach the Crown Prince before four in the morning. It was therefore
+decided that the centre would have to maintain a detaining engagement
+for several hours. Above all, a possible offensive on the part of the
+enemy must here be met, and for this the whole IIIrd Corps and the
+cavalry corps stood ready; but the battle could only be decided by the
+double flank attack by both the flanking armies.[84]
+
+I had ridden out early to the heights in front of Sadowa with my
+officers, and at eight o'clock the King also arrived there.
+
+It was a dull morning, and from time to time a shower fell. The horizon
+was dim, yet on the right the white clouds of smoke showed that the
+heads of the Ist Army were already fighting some way off, in front of
+the villages on the Bistritz. On the left, in the woods of Swip, brisk
+rifle-firing was audible. Behind the King, besides his staff, were his
+royal guests, with their numerous suites of adjutants, equerries, and
+led horses, in number as many as two squadrons. An Austrian battery
+seemed to have selected them to aim at, and compelled him to move away
+with a smaller following.
+
+Soon afterwards, with Count Wartensleben, I rode through the village of
+Sadowa, which the enemy had already abandoned. The advanced guard of the
+8th Division had massed its guns behind the wood under cover of the
+sharpshooters who had been sent forward, but many shells fell there from
+a large battery in front of the exits from the copses. As we rode
+further along the road we admired the coolness of a huge ox, which went
+on its way, heedless of the shot, and seemed determined to charge the
+enemy's position.
+
+The formidable array of the IIIrd and Xth Austrian Corps' Artillery
+opposite the wood prevented any attempt to break through it, and I was
+in time to countermand an order which had been given to do so.
+
+Meanwhile, further to the left, General von Fransecky had vigorously
+passed to the offensive. After a sharp struggle he had driven the enemy
+out of the Swip woods, and come through to the further side. Against him
+he had the IVth Austrian Corps; but now the IInd and part of the IIIrd
+Austrian Corps turned on the 7th Division; 57 battalions against 14. In
+the thick brushwood all the bodies had become mixed, personal command
+was impossible, and, in spite of our obstinate resistance, isolated
+detachments were taken prisoners, and others were dispersed.
+
+Such a rabble rushed out of the wood at the very moment when the King
+and his staff rode up; his Majesty looked on with some displeasure,[85]
+but the wounded officer, who was trying to keep his little band
+together, at once led it back into the fight. In spite of heavy losses
+the division got firm possession of the northern side of the wood. It
+had drawn on itself very considerable forces of the enemy, which were
+subsequently missing from the positions which it was their duty to have
+defended.
+
+It was now eleven o'clock. The heads of the Ist Army had crossed the
+Bistritz, and taken most of the villages on its further bank; but these
+were only the enemy's advanced posts, which he had no intention of
+obstinately holding. His Corps held a position behind, whence their 250
+guns commanded the open plain which had to be crossed for the delivery
+of a further attack. On the right, General von Herwarth had reached the
+Bistritz, but on the left nothing was yet to be seen of the Crown
+Prince.
+
+The battle had come to a standstill. In the centre the Ist Army was
+still fighting about the villages on the Bistritz; the cavalry could not
+get forward, and the artillery found no good position to occupy. The
+troops had been for five hours under the enemy's lively fire, without
+food, to prepare which there had been no time.
+
+Some doubt as to the issue of the battle existed probably in many minds;
+perhaps in that of Count Bismarck, as he offered me his cigar case. As I
+was subsequently informed, he took it for a good sign that of two cigars
+I coolly selected the better one.
+
+The King asked me at about this time what I thought of the prospects of
+the battle. I replied, "Your Majesty to-day will not only win the
+battle, but decide the war."
+
+It could not be otherwise.
+
+We had the advantage in numbers,[86] which in war is never to be
+despised; and it was certain that our IInd Army must finally appear on
+the flank and rear of the Austrians.
+
+At about 1.30 a white cloud was seen on the height, crowned with trees,
+and visible from afar, on which our field-glasses had been centred. It
+was indeed not yet the IInd Army, but the smoke of the fire which,
+directed thereon, announced its near approach. The joyful shout, "The
+Crown Prince is coming!" ran through the ranks. I sent the wished-for
+news to General von Herwarth, who meanwhile had carried Problus, in
+spite of the heroic defence of the Saxons.
+
+The IInd Army had started at 7.30 in the morning; only the Ist Corps had
+delayed till about 9.15. The advance by bad roads, in part across the
+fields, had taken much time. The hill-road stretching from Horenowes to
+Trotina, if efficiently held, could not but be a serious obstacle. But
+in its eager pressure on Fransecky's Division the enemy's right wing had
+made a wheel to the left, so that it lay open to some extent to the
+attack on its rear now impending.
+
+The Crown Prince's progress was not yet visible to us, but at about
+half-past three the King ordered the advance of the Ist Army also.
+
+As we emerged from the wood of Sadowa into the open we found still a
+part of the great battery which had so long prevented us from debouching
+here, but the teams and gunners lay stretched by the wrecked guns. There
+was nothing else to be seen of the enemy over a wide distance.
+
+The Austrian retreat from the position grasped by us on two sides, had
+become inevitable, and had, in fact, been effected some time before.
+Their admirable artillery, firing on to the last moment, had screened
+their retreat and given the infantry a long start. The crossing of the
+Bistritz seriously delayed the advance, especially of the cavalry, so
+that only isolated detachments of it yet came up with the enemy.
+
+We rode at a smart gallop across the wide field of battle, without
+looking much about us on the scene of horror. Finally, we found our
+three armies which had at last pushed on into a circumscribed space from
+their several directions, and had got much mixed. It took twenty-four
+hours to remedy the confusion and re-form the bodies; an immediate
+pursuit was impossible, but the victory was complete.
+
+The exhausted men now sought resting-places in the villages or the open
+field as best they might. Anything that came to hand by way of food was
+of course taken; my wandering ox probably among the rest. The
+death-cries of pigs and geese were heard; but necessity knows no law,
+and the baggage-waggons were naturally not on the spot.
+
+The King, too, remained at a hamlet on the field. Only I and my two
+officers had to journey some twenty-four miles back to Gitschin, where
+the bureaux were.
+
+We had set out thence at four in the morning, and had been fourteen
+hours in the saddle. In the hurry of departure no one had thought of
+providing himself with food. An Uhlan of the 2nd Regiment had bestowed
+on me a slice of sausage, bread he had none himself. On our way back we
+met the endless train of provision and ammunition waggons, often
+extending all across the road. We did not reach our quarters till
+midnight. There was nothing to eat even here at this hour, but I was so
+exhausted that I threw myself on my bed in great-coat and sash, and fell
+asleep instantly. Next morning new orders had to be prepared and laid
+before his Majesty at Horitz.
+
+The Great King[87] had needed to struggle for seven years to reduce the
+might of Austria, which his more fortunate and also more powerful
+grandson[88] had achieved in as many weeks. The campaign had proved
+decisive in the first eight days from June 27th to July 3rd.
+
+The war of 1866 was entered on not as a defensive measure to meet a
+threat against the existence of Prussia, nor in obedience to public
+opinion and the voice of the people: it was a struggle, long foreseen
+and calmly prepared for, recognized as a necessity by the Cabinet, not
+for territorial aggrandizement or material advantage, but for an ideal
+end--the establishment of power. Not a foot of land was exacted from
+defeated Austria, but she had to renounce all part in the hegemony of
+Germany.
+
+The Princes of the Reich had themselves to blame that the old Empire had
+now for centuries allowed domestic politics to override German national
+politics. Austria had exhausted her strength in conquests south of the
+Alps while she left the western German provinces unprotected, instead of
+following the road pointed out by the course of the Danube. Her centre
+of gravity lay outside of Germany; Prussia's lay within it. Prussia felt
+her strength, and that it behoved her to assume the leadership of the
+German races. The regrettable but unavoidable exclusion of one of them
+from the new Reich could only be to a small extent remedied by a
+subsequent alliance. But Germany has become immeasurably greater without
+Austria, than it was before with Austria.
+
+But all this has nothing to do with the legends of which I am telling.
+
+One of these has been sung in verse, and in fine verse too.
+
+The scene is Versailles. The French are making a sortie from Paris, and
+the generals, instead of betaking themselves to their fighting troops,
+are assembled to consider whether head-quarters may safely remain any
+longer at Versailles. Opinions are divided, no one dares speak out. The
+Chief of the General Staff, who is above all called on to express his
+views, remains silent. The perplexity seems to be great. Only the War
+Minister rises and protests with the greatest emphasis against a measure
+so injurious from a political and military point of view as a removal.
+He is warmly thanked by the King as being the only man who has the
+courage to speak the truth freely and fearlessly.
+
+The truth is that while the King and his whole escort had ridden out to
+the Vth Army Corps, the Marshal of the household, in his over-anxiety,
+had the horses put to the royal carriages, and this became known in the
+town; and indeed may have excited all sorts of hopes in the sanguine
+inhabitants.
+
+Versailles was protected by four Army Corps. It never entered anybody's
+head to think of evacuating the town.
+
+I can positively assert no Council of War was ever held either in 1866
+or 1870--71.
+
+Excepting on the march and on days of battle, an audience was regularly
+held by his Majesty at ten o'clock, at which I, accompanied by the
+Quartermaster-General, laid the latest reports and information before
+him, and made our suggestions on that basis. The Chief of the Military
+Cabinet and the Minister of War were also present, and while the
+head-quarters of the IIIrd Army were at Versailles, the Crown Prince
+also; but all merely as listeners. The King occasionally required them
+to give him information on one point or another; but I do not remember
+that he ever asked for advice concerning the operations in the field or
+the suggestions I made.
+
+These, which I always discussed beforehand with my staff officers, were,
+on the contrary, generally maturely weighed by his Majesty himself. He
+always pointed out with a military eye and an invariably correct
+estimate of the situation, all the objections that might be raised to
+their execution; but as in war every step is beset with danger, the
+plans laid before him were invariably adopted.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[84] viz. The IInd Army, commanded by the Crown Prince of Prussia, which
+was to strike the Austrian right flank and right rear; and the Army of
+the Elbe, commanded by General Herwarth von Bittenfeld, which was to
+strike the Austrian left flank.
+
+[85] I have a history of the war, published at Tokio, in the Japanese
+language, with very original illustrations. One of these has for its
+title, "The King scolding the Army." [MOLTKE.]
+
+[86] During a long peace the sphere of action of the War Minister's
+department and the General Staff were not distinctly defined. The
+providing for the troops in peace was the function of the former, and in
+war time a number of official duties which could be superintended by the
+central authorities at home. Thus the place of the Minister of War was
+not at head-quarters, but at Berlin. The Chief of the General Staff, on
+the other hand, from the moment when the mobilization is ordered,
+assumes the whole responsibility for the marching and transport already
+prepared for during peace, both for the first assembling of the forces,
+and for their subsequent employment, for which he has only to ask the
+consent of the Commander-in-Chief--always, with us, the King.
+
+How necessary this disjunction of the two authorities is, I had to
+experience in June, 1866. Without my knowledge the order had been given
+for the VIIth Corps to remain on the Rhine. It was only by my
+representations that the 16th Division was moved up into Bohemia, and
+our numerical superiority thus brought up to a decisive strength.
+[MOLTKE.]
+
+[87] Frederick the Great.
+
+[88] Wilhelm was not the grandson, but the great-grand-nephew of
+Frederick the Great. The term is very rarely used in the wider sense of
+"descendant;" but Frederick was childless.
+
+
+
+
+ORDERS OF BATTLE
+OF THE
+FRENCH AND GERMAN ARMIES IN THE FIRST
+PERIOD OF THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR.
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE FRENCH ARMIES.
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE "ARMY OF THE RHINE."
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: The Emperor Napoleon III.
+    Major-General: Marshal Le Boeuf.
+    Aide-Major-General: General Dejean.
+    Chiefs of Staff: Generals Jarras and Lebrun.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Soleille.
+    Commanding Engineer: General Coffinieres de Nordeck.
+    Aides-de-camp to the Emperor: Generals Prince de la Moscawa, de
+      Castlenau, Count Reille, Viscount Pajol.
+
+
+THE IMPERIAL GUARD.
+
+    General Bourbaki.
+    Chief of Staff: General d'Auvergne.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Pe-de-Arros.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Deligny.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Brincourt.
+        Chasseurs of the Guard.
+        1st and 2nd Voltigeurs of the Guard.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Garnier.
+        3rd and 4th Voltigeurs of the Guard.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Picard.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Jeanningros.
+        Zouaves of the Guard (two battalions).
+        1st Grenadiers of the Guard.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Poitevin de la Croix.
+        2nd and 3rd Grenadiers of the Guard.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Desvaux.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Halma du Fretay.
+        Guides.
+        Chasseurs of the Guard.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de France.
+        Lancers of the Guard.
+        Dragoons of the Guard.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General du Preuil.
+        Cuirassiers of the Guard.
+        Carabiniers of the Guard.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel Clappier
+
+    Four horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+1ST CORPS.
+
+    Marshal MacMahon, afterwards General Ducrot.
+    Chief of Staff: General Colson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Forgeot.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Ducrot.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Moreno.
+        13th Chasseur battalion.
+        18th and 96th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Postis du Houlbec.
+        45th and 74th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries and one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Abel Douay, afterwards General Pelle.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pelletier de Montmarie.
+        16th Chasseur battalion.
+        50th and 78th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Pelle.
+        1st regiment of Zouaves.
+        1st regiment of Turcos.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Raoult.
+
+    1st Brigade: General L'Heriller.
+        8th Chasseur battalion.
+        2nd Zouave regiment.
+        36th Line regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Lefevre.
+        2nd regiment of Turcos.
+        48th Line regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: General de Lartigue.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Frabonlet de Kerleadec.
+        1st battalion of Chasseurs.
+        3rd Zouave regiment.
+        56th Line regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Lacretelle.
+        3rd regiment of Turcos.
+        87th Line regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder batteries, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Duhesme.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Septeuil.
+        3rd Hussar regiment.
+        11th Chasseur regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Nansouty.
+        2nd and 6th Lancer regiments.
+        10th Dragoon regiment.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General Michel.
+        8th and 9th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel de Vassart.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Four horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+2ND CORPS.
+
+    General Frossard.
+    Chief of Staff: General Saget.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Gagneux.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Verge
+
+    1st Brigade: General Letellier-Valaze.
+        3rd battalion of Chasseurs.
+        32nd and 55th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Jobivet.
+        76th and 77th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Bataille.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pouget.
+        12th battalion of Chasseurs.
+        8th and 23rd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Fauvart-Bastoul.
+        66th and 67th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Laveaucoupet.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Doens.
+        10th battalion of Chasseurs.
+        2nd and 63rd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Michelet.
+        24th and 40th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Lichtlin.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Valabreque.
+        4th and 5th regiments of Chasseurs.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Bachelier.
+        7th and 12th regiments of Dragoons.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel Baudouin.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two mitrailleuse batteries.
+
+
+3RD CORPS.
+
+    Marshal Bazaine, afterwards General Decaen.
+    Chief of Staff: General Maneque.
+    Commanding Artillery: General de Rochebouet.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Montaudon.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Aymard.
+        18th Chasseur battalion.
+        51st and 62nd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Clinchant.
+        81st and 95th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General de Castagny.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Cambriels.
+        15th Chasseur battalion.
+        19th and 41st Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Duplessis.
+        69th and 90th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Metman.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Potier.
+        7th Chasseur battalion.
+        7th and 29th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Arnaudeau.
+        59th and 71st Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: General Decaen.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Brauer.
+        11th Chasseur battalion.
+        44th and 60th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Sangle-Ferrieres.
+        80th and 85th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General de Clerembault.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Bruchard.
+        2nd, 3rd, and 10th Chasseur regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Maubranches.
+        2nd and 4th Dragoon regiments.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General de Juniac.
+        5th and 8th Dragoon regiments.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel de Lajaille.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Four horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+4TH CORPS.
+
+    General de Ladmirault.
+    Chief of Staff: General Desaint de Martille.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Laffaile.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General de Cissey.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Count Brayer.
+        20th Chasseur battalion.
+        1st and 6th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Golberg.
+        57th and 73rd Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Rose.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Bellecourt.
+        5th Chasseur battalion.
+        13th and 43rd Line Regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Pradier.
+        64th and 98th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General de Lorencez.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pajol.
+        2nd Chasseur battalion.
+        15th and 33rd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Berger.
+        54th and 65th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Legrand.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Montaigu.
+        2nd and 7th Hussar regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Gondrecourt.
+        3rd and 11th Dragoon regiments.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel Soleille.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+5TH CORPS.
+
+    General de Failly.
+    Chief of Staff: General Besson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Liedot.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Goze.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Grenier.
+        4th Chasseur battalion.
+        11th and 46th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Nicolas.
+        61st and 86th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General de l'Abadie d'Aydroin.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Lapasset.
+        14th Chasseur battalion.
+        49th and 84th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Maussion.
+        88th and 97th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Guyot de Lespart.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Abbatucci.
+        19th Chasseur battalion.
+        17th and 27th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Fontanges de Couzan.
+        30th and 68th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Brahaut.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pierre de Bernis.
+        5th and 12th Chasseur regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de la Mortiere.
+        3rd and 5th Lancer regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel de Salignac-Fenelon.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two horse-artillery batteries.
+
+
+6TH CORPS.
+
+    Marshal Canrobert.
+    Chief of Staff: General Henri.
+    Commanding Artillery: General de Berkheim.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Tixier.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pechot.
+        9th Chasseur battalion.
+        4th and 10th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Le Roy de Dais.
+        12th and 100th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Bisson.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Noel.
+        9th and 14th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Maurice.
+        20th and 30th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General La Font de Villiers.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Becquet de Sonnay.
+        75th and 91st Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Colin.
+        93rd Line regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: General Levassor-Sorval.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Marguenat.
+        25th and 26th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Chanaleilles.
+        28th and 70th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General de Salignac-Fenelon.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Tilliard.
+        1st Hussar regiment.
+        6th Chasseur regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Savaresse.
+        1st and 7th Lancer regiments.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General de Beville.
+        5th and 6th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel de Montluisant.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Four batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+7TH CORPS.
+
+    General Felix Douay.
+    Chief of Staff: General Renson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Liegard.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Conseil-Dumesnil.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Le Norman de Bretteville.
+        17th Chasseur battalion.
+        3rd and 21st Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Maire.
+        47th and 99th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Liebert.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Guiomar.
+        6th Chasseur battalion.
+        5th and 37th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de la Bastide.
+        53rd and 89th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Dumont.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Bordas.
+        52nd and 72nd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Bittard des Portes.
+        82nd and 83rd Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Ameil.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Cambriel.
+        4th Hussar regiments.
+        4th and 8th Lancer regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Jolif du Coulombier.
+        6th Hussar regiment.
+        6th Dragoon regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve Artillery._
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two batteries horse-artillery.
+
+
+RESERVE CAVALRY.
+
+_1st Division_: General du Barrail.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Margueritte.
+        1st and 3rd regiments Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Lajaille.
+        2nd and 4th regiments Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_2nd Division_: General de Bonnemains.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Girard.
+        1st and 2nd Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade:
+        3rd and 4th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_3rd Division_: General Marquis de Forton.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Prince J. Murat.
+        1st and 9th Dragoon regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Grammont.
+        7th and 10th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+GREAT ARTILLERY RESERVE.
+
+    General Cann.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel Laffont de Ladebat.
+    13th Field-Artillery regiment.
+      Eight 12-pounder batteries.
+    18th Field-Artillery regiment.
+      Eight batteries of horse-artillery.
+    Three mountain batteries.
+
+
+_Note_.--The 6th Corps (Canrobert), when ordered to Metz from Chalons,
+left there three line regiments, its cavalry division, and reserve
+artillery.
+
+The battle of Woerth divided the original Army of the Rhine into two
+parts, one of which is generally known as "The Army of Metz," and the
+other, with additions, became "The Army of Chalons." Their respective
+"Orders of Battle" follow:--
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF CHALONS.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: Marshal MacMahon, Duke of Magenta,
+        afterwards General de Wimpfen.
+    Chief of Staff: General Faure.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Forgeot.
+    Commanding Engineer: General Dejean.
+    Intendant-General: Rousillon.
+
+
+1ST CORPS.
+
+    General Ducrot.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel Robert.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Frigola.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Wolff.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Moreno.
+      13th Chasseur battalion.
+      18th and 96th Line regiments.
+    2nd Brigade: General de Postis du Houlbec.
+      45th Line regiment.
+      1st Zouave regiment.
+    Division-Artillery.
+      Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Pelle.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Pelletier de Montmarie.
+      16th Chasseur battalion.
+      50th and 74th Line regiments.
+    2nd Brigade: General Gandil.
+      78th Line regiment.
+      1st regiment of Turcos.
+      1st "marching" regiment.
+    Division-Artillery.
+      Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General L'Heriller.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Carteret-Trecourt.
+        8th Chasseur battalion.
+        2nd Zouave regiment.
+        36th Line regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Lefebvre.
+        2nd regiment of Turcos.
+        48th Line regiment.
+        1st battalion of Franctireurs of Paris.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4 pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: General de Lartigue.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Fraboulet de Kerleadec.
+        1st Chasseur battalion.
+        3rd regiment of Tirailleurs (Turcos).
+        56th Line regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Bellemare.
+        3rd Zouave regiment.
+        2nd "marching" regiment.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Duhesme; after August 25, General Michel.
+
+    1st Brigade: General de Septeuil.
+        3rd Hussar regiment.
+        11th Chasseur regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Nansouty.
+        2nd and 6th Lancer regiments.
+        10th Dragoon regiment.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General Michel.
+        8th and 9th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel Grouvell.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Four batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+5TH CORPS.
+
+    General de Failly.
+    Chief of Staff: General Besson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Liedot.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Goze.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Grenier, later General Saurin.
+        4th Chasseur battalion.
+        11th and 46th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Baron Nicolas-Nicolas.
+        61st and 86th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General de l'Abadie d'Aydrein.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Lapasset.
+        (With the army of Metz.)
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Maussion.
+        88th and 97th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Guyot de Lespart.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Abbatucci.
+        19th Chasseur battalion.
+        17th and 27th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Fontanges de Couzan.
+        30th and 68th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General Brahaut.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Viscount Pierre de Bernis.
+        5th and 6th Chasseur regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de la Mortiere.
+        3rd and 5th Lancer regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel de Salignac-Fenelon.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+7TH CORPS.
+
+    General Felix Douay.
+    Chief of Staff: General Renson.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Liegard.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Conseil-Dumesnil.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Morand, afterwards General la Brettevillois.
+        17th Chasseur battalion.
+        3rd and 21st Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General St. Hilaire.
+        47th and 99th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Liebert.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Guiomar.
+        6th Chasseur battalion.
+        5th and 37th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de la Bastide.
+        53rd and 89th Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General Dumont.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Bordas.
+        52nd and 72nd Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Bittard des Portes.
+        82nd and 83rd Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Brigade_: General Ameil.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Cambriel.
+        4th Hussar regiment.
+        4th and 8th Lancer regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General du Coulombier (appointed).
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel Aubac.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+12TH CORPS.
+
+    General Lebrun.
+    Chief of Staff: General Gresley.
+    Commanding Artillery: General d'Ouvrier de Villegly.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: General Grandchamp.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Cambriels.
+        1 Chasseur marching battalion.
+        22nd and 34th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Villeneuve.
+        58th and 72nd Line regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: General Lacretelle.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Bernier Maligny.
+        14th, 20th, and 30th Line regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Marquisan.
+        3rd and 4th marching regiments.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, two mitrailleuse batteries.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: General de Vassoigne.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Reboul.
+        1st and 2nd regiments of marine infantry.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General Martin de Paillieres.
+        3rd and 4th regiments of marine infantry.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two 4-pounder, one mitrailleuse battery.
+
+_Cavalry Division_: General de Salignac-Fenelon.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Savaresse.
+        1st and 7th Lancer regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Beville.
+        5th and 6th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+    3rd Brigade: General Leforestier de Vendeune.
+        7th and 8th Chasseurs.
+
+_Reserve Artillery_: Colonel Brisac.
+
+    Two 4-pounder batteries.
+    Two 12-pounder batteries.
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+RESERVE CAVALRY.
+
+_1st Reserve Cavalry Division_: General Margueritte.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Tillard.
+        1st and 2nd Chasseurs regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Galiffet.
+        1st, 3rd and 4th Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_2nd Reserve Cavalry Division_: General de Bonnemains.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Girard.
+        1st Hussar regiment.
+        47th Chasseur regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Brauer.
+        2nd and 3rd Cuirassiers.
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE ARMY OF METZ.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: Marshal Bazaine.
+    Chief of Staff: General Jarras.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Soleille.
+    Commanding Engineer: General Viala.
+
+
+THE IMPERIAL GUARD.
+
+    General Bourbaki (afterwards General Desvaux).
+    Chief of Staff: General d'Auvergne.
+    Commanding Artillery: General Pe-de-Arros.
+
+(Detail as above.)
+
+
+2ND CORPS.
+
+    General Frossard.
+
+(Detail as above with the exception of the 3rd Division (Laveaucoupet's)
+detached to garrison duty.)
+
+
+3RD CORPS.
+
+    General Decaen, afterwards Marshal Le Boeuf.
+
+(Detail as above.)
+
+
+4TH CORPS.
+
+    General de Ladmirault.
+
+(Detail as above.)
+
+
+6TH CORPS.
+
+    Marshal Canrobert.
+
+     (Detail as above, with the exception that the Corps when
+     ordered up to Metz, left behind at Chalons three infantry
+     regiments, its cavalry division, its reserve artillery, and
+     division artillery of the 2nd Division.)
+
+    LAPASSET'S BRIGADE (from attached 5th Corps).
+
+    General Lapasset.
+        14th Chasseur battalion.
+        49th and 84th Line regiments.
+
+
+RESERVE CAVALRY.
+
+_1st Reserve Cavalry Division_: General du Barrail.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Margueritte.
+        (Vide Army of Chalons.)
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Lajaille.
+        2nd Regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique.
+        (The 4th regiment of Chasseurs d'Afrique remained at Chalons.)
+
+    Division-Artillery.
+      Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+_2nd Reserve Cavalry Division_: General de Forton.
+
+    1st Brigade: General Prince J. Murat.
+        1st and 9th Dragoon regiments.
+
+    2nd Brigade: General de Grammont.
+        7th and 10th Cuirassier regiments.
+
+GREAT ARTILLERY RESERVE.
+
+(As above, less six batteries detached to the 6th Corps.)
+
+
+
+
+ORDER OF BATTLE OF THE GERMAN ARMIES
+ON 1ST AUGUST, 1870.
+
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: H.M. the King of Prussia.
+    King's aides-de-camp: General von Boyen; Lieut.-General von Treskow;
+        Major-General von Steinaecker; Colonel Count Lehndorff;
+        Lieut.-Colonel Prince Radziwill; Lieut.-Colonel Count Waldersee;
+        Major von Alten.
+    Chief of Staff: General Baron von Moltke.
+    Quarter-Master General: Lieut.-General von Podbielski.
+    Divisional Chiefs of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel Bronsart von
+        Schellendorf; Lieut.-Colonel von Verdy du Vernois;
+        Lieut.-Colonel von Brandenstein.
+    Inspector-General of Artillery: General von Hindersin.
+    Inspector-General of Engineers: Lieut.-General von Kleist.
+    Commissary-General: Lieut.-General von Stosch.
+
+
+I. ARMY.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: General von Steinmetz, afterwards General
+        von Manteuffel.
+    Chief of Staff: Major-General von Sperling.
+    Quartermaster-General: Colonel Count von Wartensleben.
+    Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General Schwartz.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major-General Biehler.
+
+
+7TH CORPS--WESTPHALIA.
+
+    Infantry-General von Zastrow.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Unger.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Zimmermann.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Treumann.
+
+_13th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Gluemer.
+
+    25th Brigade: Major-General Baron v. d. Osten Sacken.
+        1st Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 13.
+        Hanoverian Fusilier regiment, No. 73.
+
+    26th Brigade: Major-General Baron v. d. Goltz.
+        2nd Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 15.
+        6th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 55.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        7th Westphalian Jaeger battalion.
+        1st Westphalian Hussar regiment, No. 8.
+        Five batteries (two heavy, two light, and one horse-artillery)
+            of the 7th field-artillery regiment.
+
+    2nd Field-pioneer company, 7th corps, with entrenching tool-column.
+
+    3rd Field-pioneer company, 7th corps.
+
+_14th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Kamecke.
+
+    27th Brigade: Major-General von Francois.
+        Lower Rhine Fusilier regiment, No. 39.
+        1st Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 74.
+
+    28th Brigade: Major-General von Woyna.
+        5th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 53.
+        2nd Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 77.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Four batteries (two heavy and two light) of the 7th Westphalian
+          field-artillery regiment.
+        Hanoverian Hussar regiment, No. 15.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 7th corps, with light bridging-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Helden-Sarnowski.
+
+        Two Horse artillery, two light, and two heavy field-batteries
+            of the 7th Field-artillery regiment.
+        Artillery Ammunition columns.
+        Infantry      "         "
+            "     Pontoon       "
+
+    The 7th Westphalian train-battalion.
+
+
+8TH CORPS--RHINE PROVINCES.
+
+    Infantry-General von Goeben.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Witzendorff.
+    Commanding Artillery: Colonel von Kamecke.
+    Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Schulz.
+
+_15th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Weltzien.
+
+    29th Brigade: Major-General von Wedell.
+        East Prussian Fusilier regiment, No. 33.
+        7th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 60.
+
+    30th Brigade: Major-General von Strubberg.
+        2nd Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 28.
+        4th Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 67.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        8th Rhine Province Jaeger battalion.
+        King's Hussar regiment (1st Rhine), No. 7.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 8th Field-Artillery
+            regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 8th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+
+_16th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Barnekow.
+
+    31st Brigade: Major-General Count Neidhardt v. Gneisenau.
+        3rd Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 29.
+        7th Rhine Province Infantry regiment, No. 69.
+
+    32nd Brigade: Colonel von Rex.
+        Hohenzollern Fusilier regiment, No. 40.
+        4th Thueringian Infantry regiment, No. 72.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        2nd Rhine Hussar regiment, No. 9.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 8th Field-artillery
+            regiment.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 8th corps, with light bridging-train.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 8th corps.
+
+_Corps Artillery_: Colonel von Broecker.
+
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery, two heavy and two light field
+        batteries, of the 8th Field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Artillery, Infantry, and pontoon columns belonging to the
+        8th Field-artillery regiment.
+
+    The 8th, Rhenish, train-battalion.
+
+
+3RD CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General Count v. d. Groeben.
+
+    6th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Mirus.
+        Rhine Prov. Cuirassier regiment, No. 8.
+            "         "     Uhlan regiment, No. 7.
+
+    7th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Count zu Dohna.
+        Westphalian Uhlan regiment, No. 5.
+        2nd Hanoverian Uhlan regiment, No. 14.
+
+    One battery of horse-artillery of the 7th Westphalian
+        Field-artillery regiment.
+
+
+1ST CORPS--EAST PRUSSIA.
+
+    Cavalry-General Baron von Manteuffel.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel v. d. Burg.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Bergmann.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Fahland.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Bentheim.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General von Gayl.
+        Crown Prince's Grenadier regiment (1st East Prussian), No. 1.
+        5th East Prussian Infantry regiment, No. 41.
+
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General von Falkenstein.
+        2nd East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 3.
+        6th  "      "     Infantry regiment, No. 43.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        East Prussian Jaeger battalion, No. 1.
+        Lithuanian Dragoon regiment, No. 1.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 1st East Prussian
+            Field-artillery regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 1st corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 1st corps.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: Major-General von Pritzelwitz.
+
+    3rd Brigade: Major-General von Memerty.
+        3rd East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 4.
+        7th  "      "     Infantry regiment, No. 44.
+
+    4th Brigade: Major-General von Zzlinitzki.
+        4th East Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 5.
+        8th  "      "     Infantry regiment, No. 45.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        East Prussian Dragoon regiment, No. 10.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 1st, East Prussian,
+            Field-artillery regiment.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 1st corps, with light bridging-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Junge.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery }
+        Two light field-batteries        } of 1st, East Prussian,
+        Two heavy " "                    }   Field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns belonging
+        to 1st Field-artillery regiment.
+
+    The 1st East Prussian train-battalion.
+
+
+1ST CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General von Hartmann.
+
+    1st Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Luederitz.
+        Queen's Cuirassier regiment (Pomeranian), No. 2.
+        1st Pomeranian Uhlan regiment, No. 4.
+        2nd     "       "      "       No. 9.
+
+    2nd Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baumgarth.
+        East Prussian Cuirassier regiment, No. 3.
+          "     "     Uhlan regiment, No. 8.
+        Lithuanian      "      "    No. 12.
+
+    One battery of horse-artillery of the 1st, East Prussian,
+        Field-artillery regiment.
+
+
+II. ARMY.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince Frederic Charles
+      of Prussia.
+    Chief of Staff: Major-General von Stiehle.
+    Quartermaster-General: Colonel von Hertzberg.
+    Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General von Colomier.
+    Commanding Engineer: Colonel Leuthaus.
+
+
+GUARD CORPS--GENERAL.
+
+    Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince August of Wuertemberg.
+    Chief of Staff: Major-General von Dannenberg.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General Prince Kraft of Hohenloh
+      Ingelsingen.
+    Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Bogun von Wangenheim.
+
+_1st Guard-Infantry Division_: Major-General von Pape.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General von Kessel.
+        1st regiment of Foot Guards.
+        3rd     "        "      "
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General Baron von Medem.
+        2nd regiment of Foot Guards.
+        Guard Fusilier regiment.
+        4th regiment of Foot Guards.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Guard Jaeger battalion.
+          "   Hussar regiment.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Guard field-artillery
+            regiment.
+        1st Field-pioneer company of the Guard with light
+            bridging-train.
+
+_2nd Guard-Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Budritzki.
+
+    3rd Brigade: Colonel Knappe von Knappstaedt.
+        1st Guard Grenadier regiment (Emperor Alexander's).
+        3rd  "       "        "      (Queen Elizabeth's).
+
+    4th Brigade: Major-General von Berger.
+        2nd Guard Grenadier regiment (Emperor Francis').
+        4th  "       "        "      (Queen's).
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Guard Rifle battalion.
+        2nd Guard Uhlan regiment.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Guard field-artillery
+            regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company of the Guard with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company of the Guard.
+
+_Guard-Cavalry Division_: Lieut.-General Count v. d. Goltz.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General Count von Brandenburg I.
+        Regiment of the Guard du Corps.
+        Guard Cuirassier regiment.
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General H.R.H. Prince Albert of Prussia.
+        1st Guard Uhlan regiment.
+        3rd   "     "      "
+
+    3rd Brigade: Major-General Count von Brandenburg II.
+        1st Guard Dragoon regiment.
+        2nd   "      "      "
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Scherbening.
+
+        Three batteries of horse-artillery  }
+        Two light field-batteries           }  of the Guard
+        Two heavy   "      "                }  field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Artillery ammunition, Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of
+        the Guard field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Guard train-battalion.
+
+
+3RD CORPS--BRANDENBURG.
+
+    Lieut.-General von Alvensleben II.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Voigts-Rhetz.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Buelow.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Sabarth.
+
+_5th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Stuelpnagel.
+
+    9th Brigade: Major-General von Doering.
+        Leib.-Grenadier regiment (1st Brandenburg), No. 8.
+        5th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 48.
+
+    10th Brigade: Major-General von Schwerin.
+        2nd Brandenburg Grenadier regiment, No. 12.
+        6th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 52.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Brandenburg Jaeger battalion, No. 3.
+        2nd Brandenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 12.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Brandenburg
+            Field-artillery regiment, No. 3.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps.
+
+_6th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Baron von Buddenbrock.
+
+    11th Brigade: Major-General von Rothmaler.
+        3rd Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 20.
+        Brandenburg Fusilier regiment, No. 35.
+
+    12th Brigade: Colonel von Bismarck.
+        4th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 24.
+        8th Brandenburg Infantry regiment, No. 64.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Brandenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 2.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Brandenburg
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 3.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Dresky.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Brandenburg
+        Two heavy field-batteries        } field-artillery regiment,
+        Two light   "       "            } No. 3.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 3rd corps, with light bridging-train.
+
+    Artillery ammunition, Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns
+        of the Brandenburg field-artillery regiment, No. 3.
+
+    Brandenburg train battalion.
+
+
+4TH CORPS--SAXON PROVINCES AND ANHALT.
+
+    Infantry-General von Alvensleben I.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Thile.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Scherbening.
+    Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel von Eltester.
+
+_7th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Grosz von Schwarzhoff.
+
+    13th Brigade: Major-General von Vorries.
+        1st Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 26.
+        3rd Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 66.
+
+    14th Brigade: Major-General von Zychlinski.
+        2nd Magdeburg Infantry regiment, No. 27.
+        Anhalt Infantry regiment, No. 93.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Magdeburg Jaeger battalion, No. 4.
+        Westphalian Dragoon regiment, No. 7.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Magdeburg
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 4th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 4th corps.
+
+_8th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Schoeler.
+
+    15th Brigade: Major-General von Kessler.
+        1st Thueringian Infantry regiment, No. 31.
+        3rd    "         "          "     No. 71.
+
+    16th Brigade: Colonel von Scheffler.
+        Schleswig-Holstein Fusilier regiment, No. 86.
+        7th Thueringian Infantry regiment, No. 96.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Thueringian Hussar regiment, No. 12.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Magdeburg
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 4.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 4th corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Crusius.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Magdeburg
+        Two light field-batteries        } field-artillery
+        Two heavy  "     "               } regiment, No. 4.
+
+    Artillery ammunition, infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns
+        belonging to Magdeburg field-artillery regiment, No. 4.
+
+    Magdeburg train-battalion, No. 4.
+
+
+9TH CORPS--SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN AND HESSE.
+
+    Infantry-General von Manstein.
+    Chief of Staff: Major Bronsart von Schellendorf.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General Baron von Puttkammer.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Hutier.
+
+_18th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Baron von Wrangel.
+
+    35th Brigade: Major-General von Blumenthal.
+        Magdeburg Fusilier regiment, No. 36.
+        Schleswig Infantry regiment, No. 84.
+
+    36th Brigade: Major-General von Below.
+        2nd Silesian Grenadier regiment, No. 11.
+        Holstein Infantry regiment, No. 85.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Lauenburg Jaeger battalion, No. 9.
+        Magdeburg Dragoon regiment, No. 6.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Schleswig-Holstein
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 9.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 9th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 9th corps.
+
+_Hessian Division_ (_25th_): Lieut.-General Prince Louis of Hesse.
+
+    49th Brigade: Major-General von Wittich.
+        1st Infantry regiment (Body Guard).
+        2nd   "       "       (Grand Duke's).
+        1st (Guard) Jaeger battalion.
+
+    50th Brigade: Colonel von Lynker.
+        3rd Infantry regiment.
+        4th    "        "
+        2nd Jaeger battalion.
+
+    (25th) Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Schlotheim.
+        1st Reiter regiment (Guard Cheveauxlegers).
+        2nd   "       "     (Leib Chevauxlegers).
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+        Five field-batteries (two heavy, three light).
+        Pioneer company with light field bridge-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Jagemann.
+
+    One battery of horse-artillery   } of the Schleswig-Holstein
+    Two light field-batteries        } field-artillery
+    Two heavy   "      "             } regiment, No. 9.
+
+
+10TH CORPS--HANOVER, OLDENBURG, AND BRUNSWICK.
+
+    Infantry-General von Voigts-Rhetz.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Caprivi.
+    Commanding Artillery: Colonel Baron v. d. Becke.
+    Commanding Engineer: Lieut.-Colonel Cramer.
+
+_19th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Schwartzkoppen.
+
+    37th Brigade: Colonel Lehmann.
+        East Frisian Infantry regiment, No. 78.
+        Oldenburg Infantry regiment, No. 91.
+
+    38th Brigade: Major-General von Wedell.
+        3rd Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 16.
+        8th     "           "       "      No. 57.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Hanoverian Dragoon regiment, No. 9.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hanoverian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 10.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 10th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 10th corps.
+
+_20th Infantry Division_: Major-General von Kraatz-Koschlan.
+
+    39th Brigade: Major-General von Woyna.
+        7th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 56.
+        3rd Hanoverian Infantry regiment, No. 79.
+
+    40th Brigade: Major-General von Diringshofen.
+        4th Westphalian Infantry regiment, No. 17.
+        Brunswick Infantry regiment, No. 92.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Hanoverian Jaeger battalion, No. 10.
+        2nd Hanoverian Dragoon regiment, No. 16.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hanoverian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 10.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 10th corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Baron v. d. Goltz.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of Hanoverian field-artillery
+        Two heavy field-batteries        } regiment, No. 10.
+        Two light  "      "              }
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition columns belonging to Hanoverian
+      field-artillery regiment, No. 10.
+
+    Hanoverian train-battalion, No. 10.
+
+
+12TH CORPS--KINGDOM OF SAXONY.
+
+    Infantry-General H.R.H. the Crown Prince of Saxony,
+        afterwards Prince George.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Zeschwitz.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General Koehler.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Klemna.
+
+_1st Infantry Division, No. 23_: Lieut.-General H.R.H. Prince George of
+    Saxony, afterwards Major-General von Montbe.
+
+    1st Brigade, No. 45: Major-General von Craushaar.
+        1st (Leib) Grenadier regiment, No. 100.
+        2nd (King William of Prussia) Grenadier regiment, No. 101.
+        Rifle (Fusilier) regiment, No. 108.
+
+    2nd Brigade, No. 46: Colonel von Montbe.
+        3rd Infantry regiment (Crown Prince's), No. 102.
+        4th    "        "     No. 103.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Reiter regiment (Crown Prince's).
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 12th
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        2nd company of 12th Pioneer battalion with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        4th company of 12th Pioneer battalion.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division, No. 24_: Major-General Nehrhoff von Holderberg.
+
+    3rd Brigade, No. 47: Major-General Tauscher.
+        5th Infantry regiment (Prince Frederic August's), No. 104.
+        6th Infantry regiment, No. 105.
+        1st Jaeger battalion (Crown Prince's), No. 12.
+
+    4th Brigade, No. 48: Colonel von Schulz.
+        7th Infantry regiment (Prince George's), No. 106.
+        8th    "        "     No. 107.
+        2nd Jaeger battalion, No. 13.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        2nd Reiter regiment.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of 12th
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        3rd company of 12th Pioneer battalion with light bridge-train.
+
+_Cavalry Division, No. 12_: Major-General Count Lippe.
+
+    1st Cavalry Brigade, No. 23: Major-General Krug von Nidda.
+        Guard Reiter regiment.
+        1st Uhlan regiment, No. 17.
+
+    2nd Cavalry Brigade, No. 24: Major-General Senfft von Pilsach.
+        3rd Reiter regiment.
+        2nd Uhlan regiment, No. 18.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        One battery of horse-artillery of 12th field-artillery regiment.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Funcke.
+
+        One battery of horse-artillery }
+        Three light field-batteries    } of the 12th
+        Three heavy   "      "         } field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of the
+        12th field-artillery regiment.
+
+    12th train-battalion.
+
+
+5TH CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General Baron von Rheinbaben.
+
+    11th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Barby.
+        Westphalian Cuirassier regiment, No. 4.
+        1st Hanoverian Uhlan regiment, No. 13.
+        Oldenburg Dragoon regiment, No. 19.
+
+    12th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Bredow.
+        Magdeburg Cuirassier regiment, No. 7.
+        Altmark Uhlan regiment, No. 16.
+        Schleswig-Holstein Dragoon regiment, No. 13.
+
+    13th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Redern.
+        Magdeburg Hussar regiment, No. 10.
+        2nd Westphalian Hussar regiment, No. 11.
+        Brunswick Hussar regiment, No. 17.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Two batteries horse-artillery.
+
+
+6TH CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General H.S.H. Duke William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
+
+    14th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Diepenbroick-Grueter.
+        Brandenburg Cuirassier regiment, No. 6
+            (Emp. Nicholas I. of Russia).
+        1st Brandenburg Uhlan regiment, No. 3 (Emperor of Russia).
+        Schleswig-Holstein Uhlan regiment, No. 15.
+
+    15th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Rauch.
+        Brandenburg Hussar regiment, No. 3 (Zieten's Hussars).
+        Schleswig-Holstein Hussar regiment, No. 16.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+
+2ND CORPS--POMERANIA.
+
+    Infantry-General von Fransecky.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Wichmann.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General von Kleist.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Sandkuhl.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: Major-General von Hartmann.
+
+    5th Brigade: Major-General von Koblinski.
+        Grenadier regiment: King Frederic William IV.
+            (1st Pomeranian), No. 2.
+        5th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 42.
+
+    6th Brigade: Colonel v. d. Decken.
+        3rd Pomeranian Infantry Regiment, No. 14.
+        7th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 54.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Pomeranian Jaeger battalion, No. 2.
+        Neumark Dragoon regiment, No. 3.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the 2nd Pomeranian
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Hann von Weyhern.
+
+    7th Brigade: Major-General du Trossel.
+        Colberg Grenadier regiment (2nd Pomeranian), No. 9.
+        6th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 49.
+
+    8th Brigade: Major-General von Kettler.
+        4th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 21.
+        8th Pomeranian Infantry regiment, No. 61.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Pomeranian Dragoon regiment, No. 11.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Pomeranian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 2.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 2nd corps.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Petzel.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Pomeranian
+        Two light field-batteries        } field-artillery
+        Two heavy   "       "            } regiment, No. 2.
+
+    Artillery and infantry ammunition and pontoon columns of Pomeranian
+    field-artillery regiment, No. 2.
+
+    Pomeranian train-battalion, No. 2.
+
+
+III. ARMY.
+
+    Commander-in-Chief: Infantry-General H.R.H. the Crown Prince of
+        Prussia.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-General von Blumenthal.
+    Quartermaster-General: Colonel von Gottberg.
+    Commanding Artillery: Lieut.-General Herkt.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major-General Schulz.
+
+
+5TH CORPS--POSEN AND LIEGNITZ.
+
+    Lieutenant-General von Kirchbach.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel v. d. Esch.
+    Commanding Artillery: Colonel Gaede.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Owstein.
+
+_9th Infantry Division_: Major-General von Sandrart.
+
+    17th Brigade: Colonel von Bothmer.
+        3rd Posen Infantry regiment, No. 58.
+        4th   "       "       "      No. 59.
+
+    18th Brigade: Major-General von Voigts-Rhetz.
+        King's Grenadier regiment (2nd West Prussian), No. 7.
+        2nd Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 47.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Silesian Jaeger battalion, No. 5.
+        1st Silesian Dragoon regiment, No 4.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Lower Silesian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 5.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 5th corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_10th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Schmidt.
+
+    19th Brigade: Colonel von Henning auf Schoenhoff.
+        1st West Prussian Grenadier regiment, No. 6.
+        1st Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 46.
+
+    20th Brigade: Major-General Walther von Montbary.
+        Westphalian Fusilier regiment, No. 37.
+        3rd Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 50.
+
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Kurmark Dragoon regiment, No. 14.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 5.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 5th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd    "             "      "   "
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Lieut.-Colonel Koehler.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery } of the Lower Silesian
+        Two light field-batteries        } field-artillery
+        Two heavy   "     "              } regiment, No. 5.
+
+    Artillery and infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of
+        field-artillery regiment, No. 5.
+
+    Lower Silesian train-battalion, No. 5.
+
+
+11TH CORPS--HESSE, NASSAU, SAXE-WEIMAR, &C.
+
+    Lieut.-General von Bose.
+    Chief of Staff: Major-General Stein von Kaminski.
+    Commanding Artillery: Major-General Hausmann.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Crueger.
+
+_21st Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Schachtmeyer.
+
+    41st Brigade: Colonel von Koblinski.
+        Hessian Fusilier regiment, No. 80.
+        1st Nassau Infantry regiment, No. 87.
+
+    42nd Brigade: Major-General von Thiele.
+        2nd Hessian Infantry regiment, No. 82.
+        2nd Nassau Infantry regiment, No. 88.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        Hessian Jaeger battalion, No. 11.
+        2nd Hessian Hussar regiment, No. 14.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hessian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 11.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 11th corps, with light bridge-train.
+
+_22nd Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Gersdorff.
+
+    43rd Brigade: Colonel von Kontzki.
+        2nd Thueringian Infantry regiment, No. 32.
+        6th  "          "       "         No. 95.
+
+    44th Brigade: Major-General von Schkopp.
+        3rd Hessian Infantry regiment, No. 83.
+        5th Thueringian "      "        No. 94.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Hessian Hussar regiment, No. 13.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of Hessian
+            field-artillery regiment.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 11th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 11th corps.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel von Oppeln-Bronikowski.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery }
+        Two light field-batteries        } of Hessian field artillery
+        Two heavy   "     "              } regiment, No. 11.
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of 11th
+        field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Hessian train-battalion, No. 11.
+
+
+1ST BAVARIAN CORPS.
+
+    Infantry-General Baron von der Tann-Rathsamhausen.
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Heinleth.
+    Director of Field-Artillery: Major-General von Malaise.
+    Director of Engineers: Lieut.-Colonel Riem.
+
+_1st Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Stephan.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General Dietl.
+        Infantry body-guard regiment.
+        Two battalions of 1st Infantry regiment (King's).
+        2nd Jaeger battalion.
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General von Orff.
+        2nd Infantry regiment (Crown Prince's).
+        Two battalions of 11th Infantry regiment (v. d. Tann).
+        4th Jaeger battalion.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        9th Jaeger battalion.
+        3rd Chevauxlegers regiment (Duke Maximilian's).
+        Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.
+
+_2nd Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Count Pappenheim.
+
+    3rd Brigade: Major-General Schumacher.
+        3rd Infantry regiment (Prince Charles of Bavaria).
+        Two battalions of 12th Infantry regiment
+            (Queen Amalie of Greece).
+        1st Jaeger battalion.
+
+    4th Brigade: Major-General Baron von der Tann.
+        10th Infantry regiment (Prince Louis).
+        Two battalions of 13th Infantry regiment
+            (Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria).
+        7th Jaeger battalion.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        4th Chevauxlegers regiment (King's).
+        Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.
+
+    Cuirassier Brigade: Major-General von Tausch.
+        1st Cuirassier regiment (Prince Charles of Bavaria).
+        2nd     "         "     (Prince Adalbert).
+        6th Chevauxlegers regiment
+            (Grand Duke Constantine Nicolajusitch).
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Brigade of Reserve-Artillery_: Colonel Bronzetti.
+
+        1st Division. Two 6-pounder, one 4-pounder battery. }
+        2nd    "      Two 6-pounder batteries.              } 42 guns.
+        3rd    "      Two 6-pounder batteries.              }
+
+    1st Field-Engineer Division.
+
+
+2ND BAVARIAN CORPS.
+
+    Infantry-General von Hartmann.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel Baron von Horn.
+    Director of Field-Artillery: Major-General Lutz.
+    Director of Field-Engineering: Lieut.-Colonel Fogt.
+
+_3rd Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Walther.
+
+    5th Brigade: Major-General von Schleich.
+        6th Infantry regiment (King William of Prussia).
+        Two battalions of 7th Infantry regiment (Hohenhausen).
+        8th Jaeger battalion.
+
+
+    6th Brigade: Colonel Borries von Wissell.
+        Two battalions of 14th Infantry regiment (Hartmann).
+        15th Infantry regiment (King John of Saxony).
+        3rd Jaeger battalion.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        1st Chevauxlegers regiment (Emperor Alexander of Russia).
+        Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.
+
+_4th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General Count von Bothmer.
+
+    7th Brigade: Major-General von Thiereck.
+        Two battalions of 5th Infantry regiments (Grand Duke of Hesse).
+        9th Infantry regiment (Werde).
+        6th Jaeger battalion.
+
+    8th Brigade: Major-General Maillinger.
+        3rd battalion of 1st Infantry regiment.
+        3rd    "      "  5th    "        "
+        1st    "      "  7th    "        "
+        3rd    "      " 11th    "        "
+        3rd    "      " 14th    "        "
+        5th Jaeger battalion.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        10th Jaeger battalion.
+        2nd Chevauxlegers regiment.
+        Two 4-pounder and two 6-pounder batteries.
+
+    Uhlan Brigade: Major-General Baron von Mulzer.
+        1st Uhlan regiment (Archduke Nicholas of Russia).
+        2nd Uhlan regiment (King's).
+        5th Chevauxlegers regiment (Prince Otto's).
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+    Brigade of Reserve Artillery: Colonel von Pillement.
+
+    1st Division:
+        One 4-pounder horse-artillery battery.
+        Two 6-pounder field batteries.
+
+    2nd Division:
+        Two 6-pounder field batteries.
+
+    3rd Division:
+        Two 6-pounder field batteries.
+
+    2nd Field-Engineer Division.
+
+
+WUeRTEMBERG DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General von Obernitz.
+
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Friebig.
+
+    1st Brigade: Major-General von Reitzenstein.
+        1st Infantry regiment (Queen Olga) (two battalions).
+        7th    "        "     (two battalions).
+        2nd Jaeger battalion.
+
+    2nd Brigade: Major-General von Strakloff.
+        2nd Infantry regiment (two battalions).
+        5th    "        "     (King Charles's battalion).
+        3rd Jaeger battalion.
+
+    3rd Brigade: Major-General Baron von Huegel.
+        3rd Infantry regiment (two battalions).
+        8th    "        "              "
+        1st Jaeger battalion.
+
+    Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Count von Scheler.
+        1st Reiter regiment (King Charles) (four squadrons).
+        2nd   "       "     (King William) (two      "    ).
+        4th   "       "     (Queen Olga)   (four     "    ).
+
+_Artillery._
+
+    1st Field-artillery Division:
+        Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.
+
+    2nd Field-artillery Division:
+        Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.
+        3rd Field-artillery Division:
+        Two 4-pounder and one 6-pounder batteries.
+
+
+BADEN DIVISION.[89]
+
+    Lieut.-General von Beyer.
+
+    Chief of Staff: Lieut.-Colonel von Leszczynski.
+
+    1st Brigade: Lieut.-General du Jarrys Baron La Roche.
+        1st Leib Grenadier regiment.
+        Fusilier battalion of 4th Infantry regiment.
+        2nd Grenadier regiment (King of Prussia).
+
+    Combined (3rd) Brigade: Major-General Keller.
+        3rd Infantry regiment.
+        5th    "        "
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        3rd Dragoon regiment (Prince Charles).
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light).
+        Company of pontooners with light bridge-train and entrenching
+            tool-column.
+
+    Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron La Roche-Starkenfels.
+        1st Leib Dragoon regiment.
+        2nd Dragoon regiment (Margrave Maximilian).
+        One battery of horse-artillery.
+
+_Corps-Artillery._
+
+    Two heavy and two light field batteries.
+
+
+4TH CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Cavalry-General H.R.H. Prince Albert of Prussia.
+
+    8th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Hontheim.
+        West Prussian Cuirassier regiment, No. 5.
+        Posen Uhlan regiment, No. 10.
+
+    9th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Bernhardi.
+        West Prussian Uhlan regiment, No. 1.
+        Thueringian Uhlan regiment, No. 6.
+
+    10th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Krosigk.
+        2nd Leib Hussar regiment, No. 2.
+        Rhine Province Dragoon regiment, No. 5.
+
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+
+6TH ARMY CORPS--SILESIA.
+
+    Cavalry-General von Tuempling.
+    Chief of Staff: Colonel von Salviati.
+    Commanding Artillery: Colonel von Ramm.
+    Commanding Engineer: Major Albrecht.
+
+_11th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Gordon.
+
+    21st Brigade: Major-General von Malachowski.
+        1st Silesian Grenadier regiment, No. 10.
+        1st Posen Infantry regiment, No. 18.
+
+    22nd Brigade: Major-General von Eckartsberg.
+        Silesian Fusilier regiment, No. 38.
+        4th Lower Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 51.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        2nd Silesian Jaeger battalion, No. 6.
+        2nd Silesian Dragoon regiment, No. 8.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Silesian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 6.
+        3rd Field-pioneer company, 6th corps.
+
+_12th Infantry Division_: Lieut.-General von Hoffmann.
+
+    23rd Brigade: Major-General Guendell.
+        1st Upper Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 22.
+        3rd   "      "        "        "      No. 62.
+
+    24th Brigade: Major-General von Fabeck.
+        2nd Upper Silesian Infantry regiment, No. 23.
+        4th   "      "        "        "      No. 63.
+
+    Attached to Division:
+        3rd Silesian Dragoon regiment, No. 15.
+        Four batteries (two heavy, two light) of the Silesian
+            field-artillery regiment, No. 6.
+        1st Field-pioneer company, 6th corps, with light bridge-train.
+        2nd Field-pioneer company, 6th corps, with entrenching
+            tool-column.
+
+_Corps-Artillery_: Colonel Arnold.
+
+        Two batteries of horse-artillery  } of the Silesian
+        Two light field-batteries         } field-artillery
+        Two heavy   "      "              } regiment, No. 6
+
+    Artillery and Infantry ammunition, and pontoon columns of Silesian
+        field-artillery regiment.
+
+    Silesian train battalion, No. 6.
+
+
+2ND CAVALRY DIVISION.
+
+    Lieut.-General Count Stolberg-Wernigerode.
+
+    3rd Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Colomb.
+        Silesian Leib Cuirassier regiment, No. 1.
+        Silesian Uhlan regiment, No. 2.
+
+    4th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General Baron von Barnekow.
+        1st Leib Hussar regiment, No. 1.
+        Pomeranian Hussar regiment (Blucher's Hussars), No. 5.
+
+    5th Cavalry Brigade: Major-General von Baumbach.
+        1st Silesian Hussar regiment, No. 4.
+        2nd    "       "       "      No. 6.
+
+    Two batteries of horse-artillery.
+
+FOOTNOTES:
+
+[89] Subsequently many changes in the commands.
+
+
+THE END.
+
+LONDON:
+PRINTED BY GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LIMITED,
+ST. JOHN'S HOUSE, CLERKENWELL, E.C.
+
+
+[Illustration: Map of the Franco-German War of 1870-71.
+Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.
+James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., Publishers, 45 Albemarle St., London, W.]
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Transcriber's Notes
+
+Obvious punctuation and accent errors repaired. Note that it was
+customary to write a captial "E" without an "accent aigu" and this has
+been retained.
+
+There are two distinct rivers "Loir" and "Loire" so no attempt has been
+made to consider one as a typo of the other.
+
+Hyphen removed: "left[-]ward" (page 34), "franc[-]tireur(s)" (pages 70,
+281, 428), "gun[-]boats" (page 121), "grave[-]yard" (page 110, twice),
+"night[-]fall" (pages 276, 294), "re[-]captured" (page 195),
+"re[-]organized" (page 40), "re[-]organization" (page 25), "sand[-]bags"
+(page 362), "side[-]ward" (page 298), "St.[-]Menges" (page 92).
+
+Hyphen added: "battle[-]field" (page 212), "grape[-]shot" (page 53),
+re[-]opening (page 208).
+
+The following words appear both with and without hyphens and have not
+been changed: "counter[-]stroke(s)", "mid[-]day", "out[-]flank",
+"rear[-]guard", "re[-]cross(ed)", "re[-]provisioned",
+"sharp[-]shooters".
+
+Page 29: "committeed" changed to "committed" (already committed
+themselves).
+
+Pages 32, 321: "l" changed to "L" (Villers L'Orme, L'Epine de Dallon).
+
+Page 49: "Pont a Mousson" changed to "Pont a Mousson".
+
+Page 57: "to" changed to "of" (the small leaderless bodies of).
+
+Page 71: "of" added to "a halt on this side of the Meuse".
+
+Page 159: "beleagured" changed to "beleaguered" (had been beleaguered in
+Metz).
+
+Page 174: "Wolfganzen" changed to "Wolfgantzen".
+
+Page 178: "D" changed to "d" (d'Aurelle de Paladines).
+
+Page 191: "Ist" changed to "1st" (1st Cavalry Division).
+
+Page 195: Missing "t" added (observe towards Courcelles).
+
+Page 248: "Chatres" changed to "Chartres".
+
+Page 291: "Sleswig" changed to "Schleswig".
+
+Page 304: "Divison" changed to "Division" (The 14th Division).
+
+Page 315: "Serancourt" changed to "Seraucourt".
+
+Page 325: "occupapation" changed to "occupation" (Hostile occupation).
+
+Page 346: "approach" changed to "approaching" (columns of all arms were
+approaching).
+
+Page 351: "Vannes" changed to "Vanves".
+
+Page 365: "Cote d'or" changed to "Cote d'Or".
+
+Page 414: "General von Herwath" changed to "General von Herwarth".
+
+Page 415: "fnrther" changed to "further" (further to the left).
+
+Page 415: "intentiou" changed to "intention" (which he had no
+intention).
+
+Page 417: "soene" changed to "scene" (The scene is Versailles).
+
+Page 418: "Versailes" changed to "Versailles".
+
+Page 429: "Guyot de l'Lespart" changed to "Guyot de Lespart".
+
+Page 436: "Connt" changed to "Count" (Count von Brandenburg).
+
+Page 442: "Fonr" changed to "Four" (Four batteries).
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Franco-German War of 1870-71, by
+Count Helmuth, von Moltke
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR OF 1870-71 ***
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