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diff --git a/36209.txt b/36209.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fcb8315 --- /dev/null +++ b/36209.txt @@ -0,0 +1,16907 @@ +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 *** + +***** This file should be named 36209.txt or 36209.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/6/2/0/36209/ + +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) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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