CAPTURE OF LE MANS,

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 848, 15 April 1871, Page 2

CAPTURE OF LE MANS,

The special correspondent of The Times at the head quarters of Prince Frederick Charles's army gives the following description of the closing scene in the campaign on the Loire, when General Chaiizy was so completely beaten. : — Le Mans is an open town, yet ft was defended even in the streets and squares. •The Germans had, therefore, a:right to treat it with much severity, especially as explosive bullet 9 were used and civilians were supposed to have fired from the houses. -• -Yeirit* was "-by no nfeans'bsdl^ used. So well, indeed, that I saw a jeweller arguing stoutly with an officer against having soldiers quartered on him, while the men stood patiently waiting in the Btreet. On the other hand, a glove shop was besieged by soldiers, who behaved with perfect propriety, calling the woman who kept it "Madame," but laughing vigorously when she asked to be paid. But one step further. While I was out of my quarters to-day, an officer aad several men came in seeking room for themselves. Persuaded at last that the room was occupied with the full permission of the chief command, they went out, after looking round. Two of the men. returned directly afterwards, saying that they had left something behind. That something was a box of excellent Havarinah cigars, incautiously left out by my servant. Now, here was a case in which they took from a person who was neither a Frenchman nor an enemy in any respect. Had I been there I would have given them as many common cigars as they could wish, nor, to tell the truth, could I feel very angry at the " requisition," having lately known what it is to. want both food and tobacco. Turn the page again. Two days ago 1 was toiling along a road dragging a horse which could not keep his legs on the icy roads, when " I met a small party of infantry soldiers, one of whom had a bottle in his hands. Seeing a " Camerad," whom^ perhaps, he recognised, he offered me the bottle entirely of his own free will, and enjoyed the sight of my deep draught almost as. much as I did. These men are as ready to give as to take. They are thoroughly , good fellows, and no authenticated instance of ill-treatment of women has come to my notice. There may be such a case occurring now and then, for they are riot all angels ; but I will venture to say that the number of such cases would show very favorably beside English police Reports ; only, free-giving and free-taking is not quite according to the laws of Mine and Thine. The wisest course for the French citizens to pursue would be to insist on open towns not being defended in the streets, to remain in their homes, and open their shops the day after any place is taken. Thus they will make money out of their conquerers like good French bourgeoisie, and may be sure of the protection of the Prince. If they desert their houses and leave no stores of wood, they cannot expect the sorely-tried Germans to go without fire while there are chairs and tableß to burn. Next morning, the 11th of January, while it was yet dark, the officers rose from their couch of hay and went out to assemble the troops, after taking a morsel of bread and a cup of black coffee. My horse was safe, having been in charge of the 20th Regiment all night. Not a thing had been touched, not a cigar removed from the case, though they must have been a sore temptation. The German soldier had been trusted and was faithful. He had led the horse through a hot fire, and seemed disinclined to take the few small coins slipped into his hand. The beast must have plunged vigorously for all that he carried, .even the cigars, were broken. The 20th had been behind the 3oth the day before, but now it was to be in advance. For some hours there were only dropping shots from the> putposts, but at length the ; Germans ' Advanced to tiyjthe mettle of the French defenders. • "} Change lies in a hollow, witH hills curving round it on two sides, north and west, in the direction of Le Mans. The French position was on the hills, and the German soldiers endeavored to force their way upwards and onwards through the hills which clothed the steep sides. There were patches of 3now-covered fields and a farm or two, but no open country fit for cavalry or artillery. The only chance of seeing anything 'was to climb a series of steep ladders into the little church tower of Change', so I went up there as soon as it was evident that (there was no likelihood, of winning- a view from the top of th,e hill. The firing was inces-r sant and well sustained, but it was chiefly from the rifles of the infantry. The French were in force, and ought to have advanced, sweeping away the small number of Germans opposed fcq them. But they were contented with holding the position. The brigades of the 3rd Corps were not strong enough/to, carry it, and the 10th Corps was still toiling along the slippery road leading north-west from La Chartre, on the Loir. On this, as on other occasions, the Germans multiplied their numbers by audacity and quickness. They ran from hedge to hedge, and from tree to tree, never exposing themselves unnecessarily, yet always ready for a charge and hurrah when a chance presented itself. But chassepots innumerable crackled in front, the mitrailleuse snarled from its coyer, and the perpetually recurring thump' of the Gatling was met on every part. These men can do wonders, they are madly brave, but they cannot do impossibilities, and on the 11th January the 3rd Corps failed to take the heights.. General Alvensleben's face, whose Head Quarters were established in a little house filled with wounded, wore an anxious and un3asis6ed expression. His children were struggling . against heavy odds, and falling wounded or dying in the snow, while the mournful wind sang dirges over them through the pine trees. The junior members of the Staff sat during the morning in an. outer room of the little house, having just enough 1 space without pressing on the crqwded bqdies lying there. It was the little cafe of Change. Where French soldiers had lately sat and laughed a French soldier now lay dead, for there was no time to remove him. A young German, wounded in the stomach, lay on his side, and vomited blood incessantly, his countenance wearing that expression of anxiety and feeble wistfulness which proves that death is not far distant. Side by side, packed pjosely, they laj, all these agonised "human beings; but there was not a word of complaint. One poor lad had two wounds dressed. He was shot through the right arm and right leg. Through the open door could be seen a French officer lying on a table. Major

Andre, the sportsman, the buyer of some of the best English racehorses, was talking t« him tenderly, and helping him to write a letter. So quiet all in W&t hut, and outside the sounds of fierce' battle. I mounted 'aid rode back along the line to see what was going on to the right. Within. the space of a mile my horse fell three times on that icy road. Twe batteries were sent down a cross-road to the right. .Within the space of a mile myiiorse^ell three times on that icy roao7 "Two"batteries were sent down a cross-road to the right to support the 9th Corps in their .attackon Champigne ; but thejuhajj at that time no opening, so I returned to the little town. "A General must not move far from the place whither reports are to be sent, and Alyenilaben could find no spot within fair distance whence a view of the battle-field could be gained. About, half -past, three 1 went up into , the tower and sat there among raftersand dirt in the cruel cold, but' was rewarded by the sight of the fighting among the trees and farms, and the distant attack of the 9th Corps on the range of hills above Champignd. Presently a French, battery began to bombard the town, witt i shrapnel to little purpose, for there were ' fW within it but the Staft and the wounded. They probably took the tower for; their mark, as the battery was 7 hardly within sight of the houses. The* shell -sang through, the air and burst with a crash, making the old wooden spire quiver. But they never once hit it, though the range seemed to be not more than 1600 or IYOO yards. The long-shooting phasseppt, aimed high, sent a few bullets whistling through the air. A man, 'far behind with the train in the road, was struck by one of the " lost bullets " as 'the Germans call them,' coming from the hill on the right. The range cannot have been short of 1600 yards. The< fight continued until nightfall, without any' decisive feshlt. The Germans were matched against overwhelming numbers, arid] the 10th Corp3 had not yet come up. to give the necessary aid, being still kept back by the state of the roads. '.•■■.■.•■•■■■: ■■'liri"", Meanwhile the action on the Ttiain road was progressing. The 12th Brigade, 6th Division, 3rd Corp3, which had occupied Chateau d' Arches, hard by the main road, in the morning,- then joined the rest of its corps, and itcaaie to the turn oft the 18th Division to carry the heights above Champigne, which tower above tne road, not parallel to it, but converging from about a mile to the right of St. Hubert, coming close to the road not far from the river Huisne in the direction of ,Le Mans. The hills are steep, and the end nearest St. Hubert is broken by three ravines. The Prince himself was at, St. JEfulfertj and ordered the attack to be made, he moving near to 'watch it. A road from St. Hubert leads towards the right to : Champigne, at the foot of the heights nearest to the vancing Prussians. One brigade remained at St. Hubert. About four battallions marched alongthemain road towards Ypre", which lies in the rear of the heights arid the river ; nearly the same force took a road through the woods leading to the village of Champigne. The former force, spreading out into company columns, covered by skirmishers, went at the heights in front; withl# left towards the river, and took the hills - before = r ifln gallant style. The other four battalions, or three with some Jagers, pushed through Champigne, and moved steadily at the fiank of the hill. One battalion remained below in reserve ; one company mounted the hill, upwards, onwards, J strongly driving the enemy before them, bver^ one elevation, down into the ravine, up again, always onwards, down and up again, striving td-gain the -flank- of 4ihe-{Prench, and assist their .struggling friends who were attacking the hills in front.. But on the last crest stood three mitrailleuses snarling defiance and causing even the Germans to recoil. The fire was terrible, for the mitrailleuse is not good to face when- artillery, cannot fire at it ; from long range. The small force lay down to save themselves as well as they could. An eye-witnes3 relates that when the company rose afterwards it waa\short.of 13 men. The rest of the brigade cleared the back of the heights. Then Captain Mount, '■ of the llfth Infantry, chose a small body of picked men, determined that the Prince should not see his commands left unfulfilled. Quietly they stole through the TaVinfe, quietly gained the crest where the many barrelled pieces stood snarling and belching forth volleys of bullets. The hill side was so steep that the muzzles of the mitrailleuse could not be pointed,* low enough to meet them until the %frid of brave men had reached the* summit. Qne moment's breath, and then with a wild hurrah they sprang forward. The degenerate sons of the old Gauls could not withstand the onset. , They fled, were slain, or rendered themselves prisoners. "The road was 'cleai^thTmen on the other bank rose to; their* leet — all except the thirteen who never rose more — and the heights commanding the'Huisne were in the hands of the Prussians. '"'- Not completely, however, until the next/day. While Captain Mount and his chosen children stood. beside the pieces they taken, a Prussian battery opened up<in them, not knowing of their gallant deed, and either here or a little later ifrom the French he received a wound, "light" in the phraseology of soldiers, but heavy enough to hinder him from advancing furtheilt&t day. He was lying quietly in a little hamlet on the heights, nameless }v the map, when it was re^ocoupied by the French, wlio held it through the night. They would have carried him off to sigh for liberty in vain, but a woman who -Jmml seen his gentleness to tie French wounded caused him to lie on her bed,- arid 'represented to her countrymen that his' wound was dangerous, so that : they also pitied him and let him lie. Night came/ and. the faithful few whom lie-had led sd'welj consulted how they might reaoqe theircaptain. They moved silently out in the darkneas, and crept utiperceived into the village, where the wearied French were, taking their rest after the battle to renew tho strength so needful for the morrow^s work. The Prussian Kinder knew whefe their father lay, and stole quietly into the house with a stretcher, which they ; had brought. " Here, Captain, now is your time." They set him on the canvas, and, seizing the poles with vigorous arms, slipped out as they lad come, unpeiN ceived, Captain Mount was a free man again, because his men loyed hiu£ lad bepause he himself had shown charity fa the wounded. Such deeds as these throW a colored halo round the horrors of way. Without them surely war would be im-. possible among civilised men . l By this tinie it must have been per-

ceived by General Chanzy that his army was in sore peril, and perhaps the boastful Frenchman repented that he had filing defiance in the face of Prince Frflerick Charles. Before him were the advancing troops of Germany ; on his left the Duke of Mecklenburg was for ever pressing, driving his outstretched wing so closely to the body as to cripple his powers of motion ; behind him was the Sarjihe. Another day and his army would be taken as in a net. There was only one chance for him. He, bad his railways, while the roads were in such a state that the Prussians could hardly move on them. Not unwisely, he commenced at once the work of retreat. The German cavalry saw with bitter disappointment trains moving towards Sille, le Guillaume, Sable, and La Fibche, while they were prevented from cutting the iron way by the ice on the roads and the closeness of the couutry, intersected, like England,, by numerous small hedges, gardens, and farm enclosures. So the French lines became weaker, while the Germans were strengthened by the arrival of the 10th Corps to support the 3rd. The night of the 11th was passed in some anxiety by General Alvensleben. When complimented in the evening on the behaviour of his men he remarked, "Yes, but I am not quite satisfied with what the 4rd Corps has done." Not satisfied, when he had shown bo bold a front that, as before Metz, the French must have believed they had a whole army before them ! That night, the night of the 11 th, wa*s passed by the Staff of the 3rd Corps lying in straw, all in one room at Change, after satisfying the cravings of hunger on a little cold meat which had been brought for luncheon. At a quarter to seven in the morning an officer came suddenly into the room and said, *f Gentlemen, there is an alarm." Where no one has removed a single article of clothing not much time is needed for the toilette. The frosty morning air supplies the place of a bath, and a breakfast of a little bread smeared with lard is acceptable where there is real hunger. :The garden:- wall ;of the house was loop-holed and guarded by German soldiers j the firing was close and incessant, but it soon slackened, and the outposts were exchanged for Brigades marching forwards against the enemy. You know the results, the details of which must be reserved for another letter. After hard fighting, the 3rd Corps and the 10th, which arrived after a long march, pushed the French into Le Mans. The street and squares were the scene of bloody combats, but the town was won in the evening, and the two Corps passed the night in it. Altogether about 20,000 prisoners have been taken, as I told you by telegraph, six engines, and about 400 railway carriages filled with provisions, arms, ammunition. The Army of the Loire is broken up, and Prince Frederick Charles entered Le Mans on the 13th, establishing his head quarters at the Prefecture.