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VOL. XIV NO. ' 4G;
FIRST EDITION
THE WAR IN EUROPE.
The Latest Situation;
The Battles Around Metz.
Wien and Where Fought.
A New Movement
i Ik Alleged Cencentrati&ns.
The Latest Advices by Mail.
The Battle of Woerth.
Additional Particulars.
The Battle of Forbach.
Full and Graphic Details
"VPsii 3JLirseelln.iiy
Ktc, iic, r.tc. i:tc, i:tc.
TUB BATTLE-FIELDS SEAR MET.
The Ferrress of Metz and lla (JominuolcRttonn
The Towns In the Yiclnllv The Bnttlee of
LakC Week) and where they were Fought
Hae Bazaine .Escaped to Hie Northwest?
TLe fortress of Metz is situated on the rls;bt
or eastern shore of the Moselle, 1T0 miles due
east from Paris. To illustrate the relative posi
tion of the places which hare figured in the re
ports of the battles fought in its neighborhood
last week we give an outline plan, in which all
the more important ones tire laid down. Thion
ville is directly north ef Metz, at a distance of
17 miles, on the Moselle; while Nancy is 29 miles
to the south, on the Meurlhc, a branch of the
Moselle. Half way between Mete and Nancy is
Pont-a-Mousson. Near Metz the Moselle takes
a torn to the west in its upward course, which
places Pont-a-Mousson, which is on the river, a
little to the west of the direct line between Metz
and Nancy.
The Communlcnttaoa of OTetx and the Nelali
boring Towna.
At Frouard, a few miles northwest of Nancy,
a railroad branches oil from the main line be
tween Ptris and Strasburg, and, following the
conr6 of the Moselle, runs in a northerly direc
tion through Pont-a-Mousson, Champey, Ary,
Jouy, Metz, Thary, and Thionville, beyoni
which it passes into the neutral territory of
Luxemburg. Near Thionville, another railroad
branches off to the left, passing in a north
westerly direction through Longnyon, Mont
raedy, Sedan, and Mezleres, towards Brussels,
a line at right angles connecting Mezleres with
Ilheims and the network of railroads between
that city and Paris. Metz is thus connected by
) 1 1 with Pari Itv tarrt maAa n ama , . . t n
"weet from Frouard, 25 miles south, and the bne
running northwest from Thionville, 17 miles
north.' It is also the terminus of a railroad run
ning from Manhelm west through Saarbruck,
and an extension of this line westward to Ver
dun, on the Meuse, 30 miles distant, has been
. : . T T t . wrt
j jjrvjcuioo. uuiurmuuieiy ior me rreucn, now
I ever, it has never been built.
The only road from Metz to Verdun, there
1 fore, is the common highway. At Gravelotte,
6 miles west of Metz, and brought by the curve
I in the Moselle within two or three miles of th
friver, a high road branches off to the northwest,
V passing through Doncourt and Conflaus te Etaln,
S 25 miles distant, from which point another high
.4 road branches off in a southwest direction to
Verdun. Still another high road starts out from
Metz, and, taking a northwest direction, passes
tbrougo Anbone and Briey, the latter place
being about 15 miles distant. . The high, road
running nearly due weal, and presenting the
most direct route to Verdun, after passing
f through Gravelotte, strikes Vionville, Rezon
l ville, and Mars-la-Tour, all of which have been
given a piace in nisiory oy ine operations oi the
past ten days. - Mars-la-Tour is about 13-miles
from Metz, and' Vionville and Rezonville di
rectly between the first-named place and Grave
lotte. Such, as near as we can get at them, are
time reiauve positions oi me places given in the
ytaccompanying sketch. Until they were given
f vnusual prominence by the recent military
movements, iney wereoi sucn nine consequence
a not to figure in the gazetteers or on the
maps. Most of them are mere hamlets, and
some of them nothing more than chateaux or
country seats of wealthy gentlemen. ,
The French en the Line of the Moselle.
The contests of the 6th of Auznst. of which
the full details have just reached us by mail,
,reaulted in dislodging- the French from tnlr
I jfirst line that directly on the frontier and
t- pacing the Prussian line on the Baar. The bat-
lie oi vvoerm a rove me duik or the trench
forces in the neighborhood of Strasburg west to
Nancy; the battle of Forbach compelled the
falling back of the advance of the French centre
to Metz. The Emperor's army was thus placed
on the line of the Moselle, extending in a north
and -south direction from Nancy to Thionville.
The advance of the Crown Prince at the head
of the victorious Prussian loft after the battle of
Woerth compelled the evacuation of Nancy by
MacMahon on the 13th, the pursuit being kept
up until both pursuers and pursued were lost
eight of la the region west of the Meuse and
isolated from the anxious outside world by the
destruction of railroad and telegraphic
corcomyiicatfODS. As the Prussian left
advanced, the railroad west of Frouard
was destrbyed, and communication between
Metz and Paris by the southern and most direct
route destroyed. With Nancy and Frouard In
the hands of the enemy, and the Prussian centre
and right centre, commanded respectively by
Prince Frederick Charles and General von
Eteinmetz, in front of Metz, the line of the
Moselle became untenable. Marshal Bazaine,
who bad been jilaced in command of . the forces
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Pontoy
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At- too e
JOBfli.UB
Doocctirt
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K&rs-Ja-Tcor Rcsooviile METZ'
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Joay
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Champey
PONT-A-MOtSSON '
in and around Metz, therefore determined upon
abandoning his position, leaving only force
sufficient to hold the stronghold of Metz, his
first object being to withthawthe bulk of his
army to Verdun, whence it was probably his in
tention to continue to fall back across the
Meuse and the plateau of the Argonnes to iho
valley of the Marne, where a stand could be
taken in the neighborhood of Chalons, to keep
the invaders from approaching Paris.
The Battle of Sunday, Aurnat I I.
Bazaine had drawn his own corps and those
of Frossard, L'Admirault, and Bourbaki to the
immediate neighborhood of Metz on the 12th,
and on the morning of Sunday, the 14th, he
began to move his army across the Moselle, to
take up the line of march for Verdun. But
before he had accomplished his purpose the 1st
and 7th Prussian Army Corps, commanded re
spectively by Generals von Manteuffel and Von
Xastrow, were hurled upon his rear, the corps of
Frossard sustaining the brunt of the attack. The
result of the battle was that the French com
mander succeeded in getting the whole of his
army across the river, while the Prussians sus
tained a loss altogether out of proportion to that
which they inflicted. But the westward move
ment of the French was materially delayed, and
the first object of the Prussians was thus
achieved.
i The Baltlea ml Monday, August J 5.
i On Monday, the 15tb, there appears to have
been two different engagements, neither of
tbem, however, on a very extended scale. The
Prussians crossed the Moselle, a portion above
and another portion below Metz, near Pont-a-Mousson,
after which a part of their army ap
proached Metz to reconnoitre, discovering that
the bulk of Bazaine's force had escaped towards
Verdun. Towards evening, however, the Frensh
appeared to have made an effort to throw the
Prussians, some of whom had already penetrated
as far as Mars-la-Tour, back on the Moselle.
The encounter took place near the village of
Gravelotte, where the Emperor had temporarily
established his headquarters. The contest was
brief but bloody, and at its close the relative
positions of the two armies were apparently un
changed. - - -
' The Battle ef Tuesday, August ttt. -
On the morning of Tuesday, the ICth, about
9 o'clock, the two armies encountered each
other beyond Gravelotte, between Doncourt and
Vionville. The French right was towards
Gravelotte, and its left near Doncourt. On the
light it encountered the Prussian left, composed
of the 3d Corps, General Constantia von Alvens
leben; and the Hanoverian Corps, General von
Voigts-Khetz, of Prince Frederick Charles'
army; while on the left it faced General von
Steinmetz's corps. At each end of the line
there was a desperate and protracted struggle,
but the definite result is yet a mystery, as both
theollielal and unofficial reports thus far re
ceived are so contradictory as to render it im
possible to get at the truth. "The enemy were
driven back, and we bivouacked on the position
we had taken," said Marshal Bazaine; while
King William claimed to have had the advan
tage, although be acknowledged a heavy loss.
The Battle of Wednesday, Ana-net 17.
A small portion of the French army, appears
to have been cut off in the engagement of Mon
day, and during the night the right wlug fell
back a few miles to the nelghbornood of Mars-la-Tour,
where it was assailed on the morning
of Wednesday, the 17lh, by the army of Prince.
Frederick Charles, the action lasting until night
fall. A victory was again claimed for both
sides; but, although the Prussian attack was
evidently repulsed at several points, the main
body of the French appear to have been thrown
back towards Metz, showing that the Prussian
left, under Prince Frederick Charles, had suc
ceeded in getting around the enemy and inter
posing itself between the French position and
Verdun.
The Battle of Thuraday, Aacuat IS. .;
On Thursday, the 18th, the conflict was re
newed, und by this time the relative positions
of the two hostile armies appear to have been
changed, the French facing west and the Prus
sians east. The French, at the opening of the
battle, appeared to have advanced some distance
west of Gravelotte towards RezonviUe, having
thus under their partial control both of the roads
to Verdun, which diverge at the former place,
the southern one through Mars-la-Tour, and the
northern one through Doncourt. The battle,
which was the most hotly contested of the whole
series, began about 10 o'clock in the morning
and lasted until 9 at night, the French Uirg
PII IL APE LP HIA, AVKDNKSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1870.
gradually driven back until they lost their hold
upon the two roads to Verdun and were safe
from further assault under the guns of M?iz.
ucb, at least, is the Prussian side of the
story, and there would seem to be but little
doubt that the relative poiltious of the two
armies at the close of the straggle were such as
to render all communications with Paris by way
of Verdun impossible. This much the Prussians
claimed, with apparent justice, and in being
able to do so they witnessed the partial accom
plishment of the task they set a'jout on the
mornirg of the 14th the prevention of a with
drawal of Bazaine's army from Metz by wiy of
the most direct route towards Purit, which lay
through Mars-la-Tour and Verdun.
The Present Nltuaiton.
But the first despatches from King William's
headquarters claimed that the communications
of Bazaine' had been entirely severed, and his
army hemmed in around .Metz. The ISih Prus
sian Corps was said to hold the railroad from
Metz to Thionville, rendering the .hostile cordon
drawn around the French army complete. 1 his
is apparently confirmed by the brilliant and
graphic description of the battle by the New
York Tribune's correspondent, published in full
on another page to-day, who states that late
in the day the army of General von Stcinmetz
.swept down from the northeast, effected a junc
tion with the forces of Prince Frederick Charles,
effectually flanked the French, and completed
the investment of Metz on the northwest. In
still further confirmation is the acknowledgment
by the French authorities that for two whole
days there was no communication between
Paris and Bazaine's army, which tends to show
that, for a time at least, the investment of Molz
was complete on all sides, and the French
forces entirely isolated.
On Monday morning we Lad a report, from
Prussian sources, that at daybreak on Sunday,
the 21st, Bazaine made a determined effort to
break through the Prussian lines, but was driven
Wk after a desperate fight of three hours. Of
this alleged encounter no further tidings have
been received, from either French or Prussian
sources, and the whole report has been gene
rally discredited. But, with hts army com
pletely surrounded, it was necessary that Ba
zaine should do something, starvation and capi
tulation being his only alternative. It was use
less to attempt escape by way of Pout-a-Mous-eon
and Toul, the railroad in that direction
being in the undisputed possession of the Prus
sians. The route direotly west by way of Ver
dun was equally Impracticable; for five days he
bad struggled hard to maintain his hold upon it.
In this dilemma, the route by way of Thion
ville and Montmcdy offered the only possible
chance of escape. And now arises the
vital question as to how his communica
tions with Paris were reopened, as they have
apparently been. Yesterday, wo had two dis
tinct reports, one that he had received supplies
by way of Mezleres and Montmcdy; another to
the effect that he bad made goad his escape,
with the bulk of his army, as far as Montmedy,
which is 25 miles due north of Verdun aud 45
miles northwest of Metz, and was contemplating
a junction with MacMahon's army at the head
of the valley of the Marne. Immediately on top
of this came the announcement that he was still
in the neighborhood of Metz, and thatMacMahon
had succeeded In joining him with a large force,
by way of the route which, it was first stated,
Bazaine had taken on his retreat. Coupled
with this last report is the further announce
ment, but as yet confirmed by no official reports,
that the Crown Prince had abandoned his march
towards the capital, and, marching in a north
east direction, united his army with that com
manded by Prince Frederick Charles and Von
Stcinmetz, to the west of Motz. Thus the matter
stands, and it is useless to indulge in farther
speculations until the mystery is partially cleared
up by later and fuller advices.
Since writing the above a despatch has been
received stating that, according to the very
latest news from Paris, Metz Is completely iso
lated. But it does not tell us whether Bazaine
is at Metz or at Montmedy.J .' ;
THE BATTLE OF FORBACH.
A Graphic Dencrtptlon of Froaaard'e Defeat In
I i'ront of Kaarbruck.
. A correspondent of the New York World
gives a graphic description of Frossard's defeat
at Forbach. He writes from Metz, under date
of August 10, as follows: '
On tne 6th of August, at 7 In the morning, our
regiments on the heights of Saarbruck were ordered
to fall back on a second line or hills in front of the
village of Spikeren. The French had three divisions,
about 20,000 men. The village Itself Is in a hollow,
commanded front and rear by ridges ; lu front the
ridge ends on a plain, in sharp acclivities ; on the
left lies tiie main road to Forbach, and the railway.
On the rljrht there is a Urge wood covering the
Mope and descending into the plsln. -The frontier
line was at the very edge of this wood. At 10 o'clock
fire Is opened. We were expecting the attack from
the Sarreguemines side, and we thought this was
only a feiut; but It is no skirmishing line. The
Prussians are advancing in heavy masses. They
are arriving along the Forbach road by the gorge or
the hill, and as they debouch and open out we see
what la In store for us ; they are at least 60,000 strong.
The atiair will be serious. - - -
The loth Foot Chasseurs were sent forward as
fkirmlshers ; on the left the 40th Hue held the wood.
The lTusslan line began with a close, rapid lire;
they held themselves well down In the ditches aud
lired at our men as they gained the extremity of the
plateau, on the right the work begun at once.
Itound the wood there was terrible flghtlug. The
musketry nre Is one long roll; they climb a sharp
asctntn we mow them down by whole lines; the
blanks are tilled lmttantly, and. the column keeps
presHing upward until at last they make good their
looting, aud entering the wood, eUect a junction with
those who had been coming up on tha other side.
In this busn-lighling I have heard since that the 40th
line and 10th chasseurs unavoidably tired on each
other several times ; but the enemy mnst have suf
fered terribly. The Chassepota had a longer range,
but this advantage was setiMlbiy lessened as they
closed in. The Frisian artillery poured in a heavy
lire of shot und shell, while the French oattertes,
though inferior in force and uumbers, made
up for their deficiency by the extreme rapidity of
their movements and by the certainty ol their prac
tice. The mitrailleuses, from which so much was ex
pected, might have compensated tit the French
inferiority of numbers, but unfortunately they could
not be brought into play: the lighting was so hand-to-hand
In the woods that their explosion would have
been as dangerous to friend as to foe. This cover
fighting, indeed, the French soldiers attribute to tfee
Prussian dislike, first, of the mitrailleuse; secondly,
of the Dayonet. In one Instance 1 saw about three
hundred men of the iilst, who finding themselves in
the open field and short of cartridges, went for the
Prussians with the cold steel; but the Prussians de
clined the honor, and fairly broke, and the French.
mei, not being supported, were obliged to fall into
Hue again.
Aiiout o'clock. In suite of all we could do. the
Prussians itade good their position aud threw up tu-
irencumeuia in me woou. i ne carnage on tne
French aide was severe. The little village church of
Splkeren was turned Into a hospital, and a sad pro
cession of wouuded men was soon formed. Most of
the onicers of the 40th were either killed or wounded.
There was no sursreon. The women of the village
did their best in cleansing away the blood and bind
ing up the w ounds tie first surgeon being the band
muter, and his only medicament a bottle of smell-lng-salt.
A hospital flag has been ran np on the church ; the
PruHMian puns respect the signal, but the shell plays
over us and iroij into the camp in rear of tiie vi
Inpp, for the atla k had been so sodden that there
had own no time to strike the tontt.
Meanwhile reinforcements had come up from For
bach, and tfpi kcren being the key to the position, 1.
was not to be left to the enemy. The ammunition
was served out, for the soldier had usel up their
ciRhty rounds. General Metmann's division opens
lire on the woods wltu tiielr artillery, an J the mi
trailleuses are ordeTed Into action, but the ob
stacles of wood and eover are insuperable, and they
are usolens. During the delay the wounded have
been picked np, the stragglers have been collected,
and now comes a new advance. Charging down the
side of the hill we reach the foot of the next ridge;
many of the men throw themselves flat oa the ground
while the hail of musketry whistles over thlr heads.
And now two ofllcera on horseback clear the Rpace
aud rldouptotherrussians. The troops push on
iigain and the combat is renewed, bat it is in vain
The French foupht desperately, hand to hand. Our
mitrailleuses were never once brought Into play. The
Prussian position wai too strong; k was a task be
yond the strength of mortal man. And at nightfall
we heard the drums and bugles of an approaching
column from Marreguemlnes, but It was too latu.
Jjivancou pet's division was demoralized. The di
visions of Batallle and Verger were not much tetter,
for the 40th, Toih, and Sith line and the 10th
thmseurs were almost exermlnated. Ketrcat
was the only course open. We fell back
on Stetlln, the artillery covering our move
ment. Not a word of complaint was heard
from the troops, though I saw the tears roll down
many a brave fellow s cheeks, forgetful of his own
misfortune and thoughtful onlv of the honor of
France. It was a sad sight. The Prussians had
seized the railway station aud had ttred upon It,
though it was tilled with fugitives. I saw one poor
woman shot dead and others wounded. The vil
lagers accompanied our march, women weeping,
children whining at being dragged abroad in the
night. No fires were permitted along the line of
march for fear of drawing upon us the fire of the
Prussian guns.
I will not offer my own opinions, hut prefer to re
peat whm I heard. The French soldier is a pretty
Impartial critic and no mean judge of the merits of
his superiors. 1 recollect to have read that Prince
Frederick Charles considered one of the defleleuoies
of the French system was Its contempt of scouting
parties. Hart the French in this case been properly
bandied, they must have known that the Prussians
were advancing in force. The woods were full of
them and nobody knew it. The soldiers, interchang
ing opinions freely, commented on this ignorance.
The army wus splendid, the fighting heroic, but
the generalship deplorable. At Forbach there was
a train with four car-loads of powder. A shell
would have exploded tho train and blown the depot
aud village to atoms. So a battery of artillery was
sent to cover it. The sight of this battery brought
on the Prussian Are; the artillery retired, bat were
obliged to Itave the car and the powder. 1 mention
this not as any one's fault; it might have been the
bcBt counc, but it was an incident.
General Ktelnmetz'e Report.
The following istheoflletal report from General
von Stcinmetz regarding the battle:
"To-day, from noon till after dark, a severe and
well-contested battle lias been fought bctweeu Sanr
bi uck and Forbach. The 14th Division commenced
the engagement, and was successively supported
pgainst the enemy, who had fortified themselves, by
three battalions and the battery of the 10th Division
three battailous, two batteries, and cavalry (the tele
gram does not specify which). The heights of Spike
ren, to the South of the exercise ground, were taken
by storm and the enemy driven back upon Forbach
While this was golug ou tho 13th Division advanced
opposite VolkJingen, took Itosseln, and by nightfall
established the head of the column at Forbach.
Ocneral Francois was killed. Very many wouaded
men and a large number of prisoners from the durd
rent regiments of Frossard's corps. The number
has not yet been ascertained.
"I have assumed the command.
"V. Steinmetz."
A French Aeconnt of the Cioalns 8ceneo of the
flattie.
Camille Pclletan, a correspondent of one of
the papers, thus describes tno close of the battle
of Forbach:
Then a horrible scene was presented. Iu the
face of these new enemies detachments or regi
ments and scattered bodies (corps) reformed, and
the soldiers of both nations fought almost hand to
band, firing at each other at one hundred yards
with guns that k Hi at one thousand live hundred.
The Hashes seemed to touoh; the volleys were
delivered point blank. We resisted, we struggled,
but we were crushed. It was impossible to keep
It nn. We were caught between two
Prussian batteries It was at first a retreat order'y
enough-then it became a rout, a night; men,
women and children, wild, panic-stricken and lost,
fled they knew not whither. Then Forbach took
lire, and the flames blazed up in lurid redness
through the darkness of the night. Now the enemy
were masters of all. They lired upon a passing
train, and the carriages ran la the midst of smoke
and through a hail of bullets and canuon balis. The
station was captured ; a train fall of soldiers was
seized, and the locomotive was sent back alone to
tell the tale of our disaster."
The French commander states onlcially that the
Prussians turned one of their batteries upon the
ambulance corps, but it is Impossible to believe that
oermans would willingly be guilty of an atrocity
like this. In the present state of French minds this
may be merely another trick to work them np to
frenzy against the Invader; or It may have been an
accident caused by the disorderly retreat of the
beaten troops who became mixed up with the line
of hospital wagons.
THE BATTLE OF WOERTH,
An American Aeconnt The Battle-field The
Attack-threat Strength of the Pruaalana The
Teniae Flghtinc-The French Ketreat.
We gave yesterday a full account of the battle
of Woerth from French and English sources.
The following details from the correspondent of
the New York Times, writing from Paris on
August 13, will be read with interest:
1 send you, compiled from the letters of our own
correspondents in the Held, and from oillclal sources,
a condensed, but at the same time very full, account
of the battle of Froschweller. (or, as the Prussians
term It, the battle of Woerth), In which, while tne
Prussians gained a substantial advantage, the
French added to their military fame a fresh halo of
Imperishable glory. In the future annals or the
actual conflict between France and Prussia, the
battle fought on the 0th of August, with such fearful
odds against the French side, will bo recorded In
France as the battle of Froschweller, and in Germany
as the battle of Woerth, from the names of the two
villages which formed the principal points of attack
and defense on tho day that proved so disastrous,
though not at all lDglorious, to the French arms,
l-'rosohweller is one of the finest strategical posttious
in this portion of the Vesges mountains. It was
here that lloolie, one of the glorious illustrations
of the First Empire, defeated the Prussian army
during the war of the republic, and it was here,
also, and at Woerth, that Marshal MacMahon had
drawn up his corps d'annee, under the impression
that reinforcements, If needed, might easily be
forthcoming from Ditche, btrasburi?, aud Oolmar.
THE FKEKCB POSITION.
According to information received on the previous
day.it was not expected that the 1'russiaus would
attack before the Ub, but that supposition turned
out to be incorrect, as well as the opinion as to the
number of the enemy likely to bo brought to bear
upon the French forces preseuu This numerical
superiority ultimately proved to be overwhelming, in
spite of the heroic action of every French soldier
engaged In the battle, which lasted from 10 iu the
morning till 1 in the evening.
MacMahon's troops occupied a formidable posi
tion on the heights arouud Woerth ; tne Mirshai's
headquarters were at the chateau of Turckheim ;
be had posted a considerable reserve of cavalry at
Kelcbshofen, to the left of which village the in
fantry aud cavalry of the division which had been
engaged on the 4th were also pouted. The M arshal's
left, commanded by Geueral Ducrot, was at Frosjh.
weller;aud his centre, composed of the divisions
commanded resiectlvely by Oeuerals Kaoult and
Lartigues, was In position at liiscnhaussen aud
Morsbronuer.
OI'EMKO OF TU1 BATTLE.
At an early hour In the morning, an exchange of
shots between outposts Indicated the probability of a
coming engagement, and similar alarms were re
peated several limes till 10 o'clock, when the battle
of Froschweller commenced In earnest, to termi
nate with such losses on both sides that the victory
of the l'rusilans must have cost them dearer even
than the defeat of AiauMahon's eorp d'urnue cost
the French. "Three such victories," writes an en
thusiastic French Journalist, who was dodging about
all day In Woenh amid ahowers of shot aud shells
and cannon balls, "would certainly demoralize, if
not ruin, the aiiuy of .the King of Frussla." When
the Prussian D ring began seriously, ltwasthought
to be only a Ore of sharpshooters, for the
French rather expected to be attacked from
the side of barreguemines; but the Prussian
issued in such dense majises from Kaarbruuk, both
by the high road to Koroicn and along tlie pass be
hind the village of Arneval, that Mdrwlidl MdcMdhon
H once J reived tljat w.iUei were bworo iig vcrj
DOUBLE SHEET TI1REE CENTS.
hoi in that direction. Tho Iflth Foot Chasseurs at
once opesed out as tirailleurs In front of the Spikeren
mameion, while the 40th llegiment of the line occu
pied a wood. On the right the Prussians commenced
a very vigorous and well-sustained fire; they were
an. unseated in ditches, from whence they fired up
ward on the French soldiers, who gradually reached
the extremity of the plateau, whilo the I'russlaus
attacked the wood on two sides.
FIGHTING IN TUB WOODS.
It was In and around this wood that the moit. ter
rible fighting took place. There was an Incessant
roll of shot firing, as the Prussians endeavored to
climb a sten approach; entire lines were swept
down by the French tire, but thev were constantly
replaced by fresh troops, and the attacking column
kept continually advancing. As soon as it reached
the nimmlt the I'rnssians fell upon the woods, to
assist those who had taken up a position on the other
Ride. In the midst of the clumps of trees and bc
hlud the hedges, the 40th Regiment struggled heroi
cally, while the chasseurs, on the outside, were bat
tling with the Prussians on the left. Unfortunately,
owing to the Inevitable confusion arising from fight
ing in a wood, the chasseurs ami the soldiers of the
line did each other much mischief; but It is
also certain that the Prussians suffered dreadfully,
as the French Chassepota carry further than the
ITussian guns: although this superiority was not of
much advantage, owing to the closeness of the prin
cipal part of the sanguinary conflict. While this
horrible combat was proceeding, the Prussian and
Freui-h artillery were actively engaged la other di
rections, and the heavy and noisy projectiles, as they
tfell or exploded, raised Immense clouds of dust, and
spread death and destruction on both shies. The
Prussians were infinitely superior as to the number
of their cannon, and literally fired down the compa
ratively few pieces that were oppoFed to thorn, al
though the French fired throughout the day wicii
freat calmness and regularity.
TDK MITRAILLBUSBS.
Much, and very Justly, was expected from the
mitrailleuses, and they would;certalnly have proved
an efieetlve assistance to make up for the numerical
Inferiority of the French troops. But, unfortu
nately, they conld but rarely be made use of: first
of all, because they require t:e enemy to be upon
open ground, unprotected by obstacles, whereas here
the trees completely neutralized their power of de
struction. Then, again, the French aud tho Prus
sian soldiers were so mixed together, although
always at a certain distance, sometimes advancing,
sometimes retiring, that It would have been
difficult to strike the enemy only. Bv-tho-by, the
mitrailleuse used by the Germans is tho'lnventlon of
an American gentleman, Dr. Gatllng. You will re
member that about two years and a half ago I wrote
you a mass of particulars regarding this arm, and
concerning the shameful wayjln which Dr. Gatllng
was treated by the French authorities. They made
several trials with his gun at Vincennes, stole the
principle of It, and Itt hlra go unrewarded. Of
course he carried it over to the Prussian side, and It
is now being used effectively against the French.
There is, however, a fact connected with the French
mitrailleuse which gives It a certain advantage. By
the removal of one small piece of Its mechanism,
which a gunner csn easily efTect by displacing It
before it takes to flight, the gun Is rendered perfectly
useless.
TERROR OF TnE BAVONET.
There are two things of which the Prussians ap
pear to be particularly afraid the mitrailleuses and
the bayonet charge and during the present war
they have constantly endeavored to avoid coming In
contact with either. In order to Insure tholr com
parative safety, they intrench themselves behind,
no matter what, and manifest a special dread of the
critics bltuKhtH, as the French call their bayonets. In
the battle of the 0th, three hundred men of 24th
Kegiment, (French llnc),:becoraing suddenly without
ammunition while exposed to a heavy lire, marched
straight up to the enemy with their bayonets, amid
a shower of shot. When within fifty yards, the
Prussians took to flight and broke their ranks, but
the charging party was not In sutllsient force to
pursue its advantage.
A FECOND ATTACK I'RUSSI AN VICTORY.
About 18 o'clock the ba'tlc appeared to bo won by
the French ;on the side of Froschwelller, and there
was a short respite of about ten minutes' duration.
Suddenly the Prussian artillery opened, as it were,
an entirely fresh attack upon Woerth, and cannon
aded at the same time the other points of the French
position. Tbta thunder, directed to the right and
left, replied to by the sharp cracking of the mitrail
leuses, lasted for upwards of two hours, during
which tho entire arsenal of modern destruction was
brought to bear upon the brave men of both armies.
At this time (about 2 o'clock) all Marshal Mac
Mahon's disposable troops bad been brought
Into position ; they amounted to about 80,000 men,
and the German forces opposed to them exceeded
100,000, with a proportionate superiority as to artil
lery. Soon after the Prussian commandor-ln-clilcf
ordered the attack of thejeentre at Klsenhaussen.
Ihree times the assault was repulsed, but the Ger
mans had so many troops to spare, that each time
fresh soldiers were led to the attack, while those who
were beaten went to re-form under tne pro
tection of their artillery. Alter each re
pulse Ave or six hundred Turoos and
Zouaves pursued the enemy to the end of the
village, where, on the third occasion, a considerable
number of the heroes of the French bayonet were
surrounded, and either killed, wounded, or taken
prisoners. This achievement turned the tide of tho
battle completely In favor of the Prussians, who, on
the fourth assault, dislodged the troops from the
centre of the French position at Klsenhaussen, while
the hill in front of Froschwelller was the scene of one
or the most determined fights ever witnessed, end
ing in the defeat of the French, who were beaten by
sheer numbers, in whose presence courage became
useless because powerless.
TUB FRENCH RITEIAT.
At 3 o'clock Froschwelller was on llre,and at 4
o'clock Klsenbansscn was burning also. Thu French,
although beaten,' did not appear to be aware than
they were almost surrounded by enemies, and that
It was time to retreat, At 4 o'olock all the Prussian
masses that had not yet been brought into requisi
tion were ordered to advance, descended the hills
of Guastadt, Datlcnbach, and Goresdorf.and were let
loose against those few of the French who were still
capable of offering any resistance. The battle of
Froschwelller was lost and won. x
WHAT FRANCE WANTS.
A Praneo-Amerlean Vew-The Empire II aa
Paaaed.Away, but France Ilemaloa lo vin
cible. The yft tsagrr Franeo-Americain, the Liberal
French organ published in New York, in refer
ring to the alleged terms of peace recently made
public, says:
"If the Germans are obtuse enough to wish for an
Empire after France's example, and their ow n ex-
Eerience during centuries ; If they wish to render
nmovable the absolute authority of the house of
Ilobenzollern, and to prostrate themselves before
William and his defendants, let them do it as much
as they chose ; that Is their business. If that is what
they call progress, they prove their ability aud fit
ness to march at the head of Europe and of civiliza
tion, as they pretend to. With regard to the down
fall of Napoleon, there Is only one word to say: It
was decided some time ago. As for the
Orleans family, we do not believe that It has merited
the insult which it has te-day received fro-u the
Frusslau Government. They have offered
their services to France to tight against I'russta, not
in order to eek shelter under the hated flag of
the llohen.ollei'u. We know not tha plans of the
Imperialist party, to which party our couutry owes
thedisasteisof the past fortnight and its third In
vasion. One thing U certain, au I that is that the
Empire Is defeated, and there Is, therefore, no fur
ther reason lor Us existence. But the empire hav
ing passed away, France remains France; France
remains Invincible. From the time wtu-u the enemy
stepped on Its soil fe Imperial war became a na
tional war. Those only can lead w ho are resolved
to conquer or to die; those only who will pever con
sent to any deed of shame: those only wao have
faith In the destiny of the European demoeraev, ami
who know that It belongs to a free and republican
France to march at the head of the nations."
FEEDING AN A It 31 Y.
The "Phyalcal Baale" of 'lhlln.
The Gazette tie France gives the following details
with regard to the supply of food for the army of the
Ithiue: Meat the contract for fresh meat for the
army of the Kbine has been given to the syndic of
the cattle merchants at the price of isf. csu. the kilo
gramme about W.oouf. a day ; the performance of
this contract to begin on the 5th of August, bait
meat for the fleet la supplied by the Americans. It
is the best and wholesomest, Bay the exporters. The
principal supplies of bacon come from Brittany.
Morlaix is the great storehouse for this article.
Bread A considerable quautlty of dour also
comes from America. It Is w ith tliU flour chiefly
that the bread is made which Is baked in Pari
for the troops. It seems to be decided thai
lu future the bread shall be baked on
the spot near each camp. It has been calculated
that looo journeymen bakers and S5u campaigning
ovens are enough to supply the wanu of 400,000
men. The campaigning oven, of thin iron, can be
set up In three hours and used Immediately. The
bread for the troops in Paris will be baked at the
JnVdlides and other supplementary buildings, Five
hundred thousand rations of food leave Paris ca-h
day for the eastern frontier-biscuit, rice, ry vege
tables, sugar, roasted coffee, brandy, wine, etc
Joragc-Swltzcrland sends it to Nancy in boats.
The forage, taken at the root, comes to crty francs
tho thousand. Tho Hungarian hay, delivered at the
Strasburg; railway station, will cost firty-nve franca
the thdimand. Experience will decide as to the
quality of the forage from these two markets, n is
well known that there is a scarcity In Frae m
regards this article.
riHANClS ANDCOnMCBUC.
Xyzhino Teumrapb Omrii
Wednwday, Aug. S4, 170.
1 he loan market continues active, and borrow
ers aro again in strong force both at the banks
and in tho outside market. Call loans are very
dull in the absence of any disposition to specu
late in stocks, and money is freely loaned at 5' f
5 0 per cent, on good collaterals. Discounticir
is active and firm, tho lowest figure being 7 per
cent., even on the best paper offered in the mar
ket. The exact figure depends as much on
dates as credits at this time.
Gold Is very active and nnsettled; saW open
116' advanccd t0 llWt and closed at
11
Government bonds were dull and wak, in
sympathy with the downward course of co'd
but this tendency is hardly so rapid.
Stocks continue dull and prices are a fra'Jon
off. Sales of City os, new, at lOlJ-f.
Heading sold at 47 09, regular, tap to 47m.
b; ?:;Jenn!lyiv.a?la was fa,rly actlT' "lib f-cs
at.VJJi and58,Y, s. o.; sales of Lehigh ValJey
at 57, and Camden and Amboy at 114.
Canal shares were in letter demand. Bales of
Lehigh at 34. and 33X, b. o., and Schuy.'kai
common at J
The balance of tho list was neglected.
PHILADELPHIA 8TOCK EXCHANGE SALES.
Reported by De Haven A Bro,, No. 40 S. Third street.
PIBST Tin t tr
WJViTty ea, wew.ioi
ao N Pcnna 7a so 00
(20O0 VhU A K 78.1s. 88
1700 Lch 6s, S4.... 88V
223shFennaR..ls. 68.V
200 do.. Is. 830 58!
34 sh Leh V.Sd.ls. 67J
V6 sh Cam A Am R.1H x
VOO sh Lch N.ls.b60. 84',
100 do bS.
- J V Ill,
iM)sh Read R... 2d.47 '.)
goo
100
do ...ls.2d.47 i9
do c. 47
JO 47 "
do 3d. 47
do...; 47.V
fin ii u
600
100
131
100
800 sh Seh Na ' fit.-'
100 do C. ejtf
Nark &Ladnrr, Brokers,
Gold Quotations aa followa?
report th!i morning
10-00 A. M 11? 103 A. M H7v
10-01. " 116ft 18-15 P. M 111.!'
101 117?,' 12-16 ........117 V
10f2 " 117) 12-20 ...Ill';
J at Cookb &. Oa quote Government secnrl'les aa
follows: U. 8. 68 Of 1881, 114V114 J 0-808 Of 182.
ill , 011 Of; do. da, July, 109(A110VS do.tia.18C7.
nooiio.v: do. 1868, Horatio; io-ios, io8,
io9v ;PacInc8,iu.vii2: Gold; in.
Messrs. Dh Haven & Brother, Na 40 S. Third
Street, Philadelphia, report the folio wing quotations
-U. 8. 6s of 1881, U4.veiM ; do. 1862, llWmi
do. 1864,HH4ni V; do. i860; lllfcsiha da i&V,
new, 109 'lio; do. 1867, do. 10v$ii0j,V da W
da 110',-jtllOK; 10-408, 108,v4109. U. A 30 Year
6 per cent. Currency 111 vna. Gold, U7.V117K ;
Silver, U-M114; Lnlon Pacific Railroad ist Morr.
Bonds, 820OS30; Central Pacific Railroad, 875T4tSi'
Union Pacific Land Grant Bonds, 74fta770.
Messrs. William Painter a Co., No. 3 s. Third
street, report the following quotations: U. 8. 6a of
1881, 114(4114); 6-20SOf 1862, 112112 V? 60.18(4.
JiiUll-;J(l0-T18!58' do., July, 1866
109.V110; do., July, 1867, lKWlOi,"; do. July.
1868, liooiio v : oa. 10-40, 107(3107?,' ; U. 3. Pa-jjf.J
RR. Cy. 6, inx8uajtf. Gold, li7ii7-.
Philadelphia Trade Report.
VVeonesdav, Aug. 24. There la more inquiry for
Flour, both for shipment and home consump:ion,
and prices arc steady. Sales of superfine at 15 10$
6-62XS extras at t5-756 l2,v; Iowa, Wisconsin, and
Minnesota extra family at 6sT, the latter rate
for choice ; 100 barrels Pennsylvania da do. at 7
900 barrels Ohio do. do., part at 7-267-tt, and'
part on private terms; 300 barrels Kentucky do. da
at 17-40; and fancy brands at tWbi-S), as la
quality. Rye Flour may bo quoted at tGrao-12
Prices of Corn Meal are nominal. ,
The demand for Wheat has Improved, but prWa
remain without change. Sales of 5500 busnei Indi
ana red at 11 40l 43; isoo bushels Michigan ambr
at tl-45ll ; and 800 bushels Indiana white, choice!
at tl0. Rye is held at9095c. for new Western
and Soutkern. Corn la dull and lower. Sales or
Pennsylvania yellow at omtHc ; Western da at 94
(496c; and Western mixed at 8993c. Oala are
more active.. Sales of 10.000 bushels new Western
at 48(340e.; 2800 bushels do. at 60;.: and ioo)
bushels Maryland at 4sc.
Whisky la two cents lower. 8aleoflJo barrels
Western iron-bound sold at 95&96C.
LATEST SHIPFIKQ INTELLIGENCE,'
For additional Marine Newt see Inside Pagt.
(By Telegraph.)
San Fraxcisco, Aug. 23 Arrived, ships S G
Reed, from Japan; Weathersfleld, from Newcastle
N. S. W. 5 and Debret, from Tahiti!
Sailed, ship Cotnadre, for LI vet pool.
PORT OF PHILADELPHIA. AU JUST 24
STATE OF THERMOMETER AT THE EVENINO TXLB( RAH
OFFICE. ,
7 A.M .76 1 11 A. M 84aP.M ;.6U
CLEARED THIS MORNING.
StY Beverly. Pierce, New ifork, VV. P. Clyde A oa
8chr F. R. Baird, Bowman, Boston, Sinnkkson h Co.
8chr Edith Way, lllggins, VVellfleet da
Schr Ucary Taylor, Borman, New Bedford, da
Bchr C. W. Locke, Huntley, Boston, Day, lladdeil
A Co.
Scbr Emma B. Shaw, Shaw, Boston, da
Schr West Wind, Townsend, Boston, da
8cbr James 8atterthwaite, Kimmey, Boston, do.
8chr H. W. Uuddell. Malloy, Boston, do.
Schr 11. S. Brooks, l.ove, Kast Cambridge, Co
Sehr Stephen Uotchkiss, Hodgson, Boeion, Walter
Donaldson A Co.
Schr K. 11. Cabada, Swain, Boston, da
Kcbr M. A. Folsom, Rose, Boston, do.
Schr C. Young, Young, Boston, ia
8chr Aid, Smith, Cbarlestown, do.
Schr Henry Allen, 'i atem. Commercial Point, da
Schr L. II. Cady, wood, Boston, da
Schr W. S. Doughten, Tatem, Danversport, do.
Schr 11. J. Raymond, EllBwortb, Bobioo, do.
Schr Onkahl, Bryant, Washington, oa
Schr W. 8. llilles, Burgess, Boston, no.
Schr Redondo, Smith, Boston, do.
Tug Hudson, Nicholson, Baltimore, with a tow of
barges, W. P. Clyde & Co.
Tog G. B. Hutcblus, Davis, IIavre-de-Gra:e, with a
tow of barges, W. P. Clyde A Co.
ARRIVED THIS MORNING. .
Steamship Tonawauda, Barrett, 70 hours from
Savannah, with cotton, rice, etc., to Philadelphia and
Southern Mail Steanitdiip ca Passengers Mrs. 8.
(ierstman, Mrs. E. C. Roberts, Miss Annie Roberts.
J. Mack, T. J. liawls, P.B.Walsh, and Mrs. Mary
Gardner.
steamer W. Whilldln, Rlggans, 13 .hours from Bal.
tlmore, with mdw. and passengers to A. Groves, Jr.
Steamer Maytlowcr, Fultz, 24 hours from New
York, with mdse. to w. P. Clyde A Co.
Schr M. Rtuinhart, Hand, from Kennebec River,
with Ice to Penn Ice Co.
Schr Cordelia New kirk, Huntley, from Gardiner.
Me., with ice to Knickerbocker Ice Ca
Scnr Queen of the South, Corson, from Gardiner.
Me., with ice to Knickerbocker Ice Co.
Schr John W. Hall, Powell, from Gardiner, Me.,
with Ice to Knickerbocker Ice Co.
SchrPatbwsy, Haley, from Gardiner, Me., with
ice to Knickerbocker Ice Co.
Scbr J. A. Grinio, Kmivny, from Gardiner, Me.,
with Ice to Knickerbocker Ice Ca
Schr Ocean Bird, Kedey, 4 days from New York,
with salt to William Burum A Son.
Schr J. B. Clayton, Champion, from Providence.
Schr J. B. Austin, Davis, from Boston.
Scbr Harriet N. Miller, Miller, from Boston.
Schr American Eagle, Shaw, from Providen:e.
Schr M. Hand, Norton, from New Bedford.
Schr Addie Murchle, Glbbs, from New Haven.
Tug Too. Jefferson, Allen, from Baltimore, with ft
tow of barges to W. P. Clyde A Ca
Tug Chesapeake, Merrlhew, from Havre-de-Orace,
with a tow of barges to VV. P. Clyde h Co.
MEMORANDA.
Steamer Clyde (new). Hunter, hence, at N.York
at 7 o'clock this morning, after having been detained
some time by the fog.
Steamer Rattlesnake, Wlnnett, for Philade'phla,'
ailed from Boston T P. M. yesterday.
Steamer Leopard, Hughes, for Philadelphia, sa')el
rom Boston A. M. to-day.