THE BATTLE OF SEDAN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 258, 3 November 1870, Page 4

THE BATTLE OF SEDAN.

[From the Home ]Sews.~]

The whole country ac far as the frontier lies spread out Ike a map before us. Donchery is as clearly to be seen as -though a biscuit could be tossed down into it, and when the mist rises still •further, the course of the Meuse may be traced by stunted willows in the great bend northward which it makes hereabouts. There is no better way of realising the •features of the locality than by taking a •horse shoe, producing one end straight to your left, aud the other end somewhat backward to your right. On the part straight to your left is Doncherry, with its line of hills across the shoe. On the part prolonged to your right is Bazeilles, -with railway bridge in excellent condition. Sedan lies on the river to the right hand, "where the first nail would be, and the offside of the horseshoe bend. Cazal and Floing are further aloug on the right side, and St. Meuges is about at the front of the shoe. The villages of Dasigy and Givonne lie back to the right, or behind the town, where the couDtry is hilly and wooded. The great plain is to the left of the bend, and as the Prussian troops arrive on that side they move quickly forward across the plain to turn round the cud of the horseshoe and come back down its right side, so that there is ample room for the Fifth and Eleventh Corps to act npon the line of retreat in that direction. We can hear a constant rumbling of wagons and clattering of hoofs as the German left is advanced, whilst there is a louder and louder roll of musketry and booming of cannon where the Bavarians are keeping the French in play to the right. At first there is a line of white smokepufis forming less than a semi-circle to the south, south- west, and south-east of (he French. The battle is hotly maintained near Bazeilles, aud the French respond with energy to the attack of the Germans. It is a very sultry day. The smoke-clouds baDg lower and lower over the Meuse, as the mist was hanging a few iiours earlier. Bright sunshine glitters upon the cuirasses of a Prussian regiment that trots down to the right to support the Uavarian guns, at the base of the horseshoe. A second and yet a third regiment

of cavalry follow, with jingling and clatter. The scene upon the hill, near the Crown Prince's Staff, is one of active preparation. There are guns dragged lumberingly at the heels of the cavalry, and innumerable waggons follow as hard as they can go. Stragglers hurry up to join the corps, ride, gallop away with orders reckless of their necks, or gallop back with panting steeds up the steep road. It is thought better for the escort to dismount, and for the officers' horses to be held a little to the rear, so as not to draw the French fire upon the staff by an unnecessary display of force. That same French fire is, however, distracted and dispersed by numerous assailante. The roar of cannon grows more intense with each minute as noontide approaches. It is clear that the army of Macmahon — we afterwards learnt that the Marshal had been wounded at an early hour, aud that De WimpfFen had taken the command — is in desperate peril. Like some ship laboring iv the trough of the sea, the beleagured host of Fiance is pitifully helpless. There was a time when a squadron of light horse, or even a travelling carriage at a brisk trot, might have got away to Belgium. The northern road was open when the battle began, but the French seemed to have no idea of flight. Crushed and hampered as tbey are, they light like brave men. The battle is a mere battu by one o'clock, and the circle of white smoke puffs almost shuts in the French position. This is essentially on affair of artillery, and the Germau guns seem to be well served, besides being powerful. But there is a constant rattle of smallarm fire in the direction of Bazeilles, where flames and black smoke tell of a conflagration. The Crown Prince of Saxony, too, is coming steadily on. It has appeared for a moment that he was checked by the efforts of the despairing French ; but the German right ia growing evidently stronger, and the circle of white smoke puffs is very clearly defined to tbe north-eastward. Then to the left is a sharp engagement ; as the 11th Prussian corps forces its way into Cazal and Floing, a splendid artillery fire supports the attacks of tbe infantry. We can see that all escape is being cut off as the Prussians get from village to village towards the slope of rising ground behind Floing, and north-westward of Sedan. If that ' slope be once cleared of Frenchman, the only thing for the French to do will be to cut their way out through the Crown Prince of Saxony's army, or to retreat almost within the walls of the town. They cannot fight on their present line with Prussians in their rear.

It is a sight of terrible interest. The bill side behind Floing has been the scene of a regular stand up battle between lines of infantry, and there is a cannonade from another slopiug ground more to the left, which smites the French with startling precision. Loud rattle the volleys of the mitrailleurs. [Some four or five pieces are planted on the hill, and work hard to keep back the Prussians. But they seem to be silenced or withdrawn, and the dark masses of King William's soldiers gain several acres. All about the little cottage and the two trees at the hill top there is a fierce encounter. Lines of infantry stand firing at one another, and it is clear that the loss is considerable, for many men fall killed and wounded. What a wild confusion it is, now that the lines have advanced and retired several times ! There are scattered parties of Frenchmen rallied by their officers, aud Germans brought back to the charge with hearty zeal. Both sides fight splendidly. But ou the whok 3 , the Prussian fire seems to prevail, and the French wither before it. The shells are doing much that we cannot appreciate at a distance. Dust flies up now and then ; but it is hard to see what has been done. Yet we notice that the efforts of the French reserves to restoie the battle fail before the steadiness of ihe Prussian attack. When one Prussian battalion hesitates, when even there is a charge in line by a body of French infantry which requires a good deal of ground, there is always a creeping up of more and more of the dark-coated assailants. Their guns cease firing for fear of hitting them, and a gallant dash of French light cavalry is made to recover the hill-side. They ride forward, half hidden in dust, and seem for a moment to succeed; but ihe artillery reopens, the infantry pour in a deadly fire, and we see the ground strewn with men and horses. The cavalry wheel about, and go galloping back like a receding I wave. The hill-side muet remain in

Prussian hands. No, there is another rally by the French infantry. Once more they come on. The thin, blue smoke rises above ehe line, nnd they almost run in their wild attempt to push home. But the attack withers away, and nothing can be seen of the regiment which made it. There haß been heavy loss it is easy to see, though the men who fall cannot vow be well distinguished in the confusion.

'- There are other points carried by the Germans, and a closing in of the circle of white smoke round Sedan. Then a fresh attempt to break through, as though somebody of importance were to be cut out at any cost. We see numbers of Frenchmen making for the gates of the town, others wandering about as though not knowing what to do. There is a gradual cessation of the cannonade, aud by about 5 o'clock, all is quiet, save for the dropping shots from the batteries near the King's position. There is a great outburst of flame and smoke in the town, as if some stores of combustibles had taken light, aud there is a rumour that the white flag has been hoisted hy the French. Then it is whispered that all these crowded troops — sixty, seventy, perhaps eighty thousand men — must surrender, for that they have no food. They surrender ? Not only they, the Imperial soldiers, but the Emperor too. It is known that General Reille, an aide-de-camp of Napoleon, has come to King William with a letter from tbe Emperor to his Prussian Majesty. The troops are wild with joy ; they have caught him, then, and there will be au cud to the war."