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IN THE BATTLES AROUND METZ
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IN THE BATTLES AROUND See also:METZ
FRANCO-See also:GERMAN See also:WAR, 1870
1
.
See also:Colombey-Borny (See also:August 14).—The See also:French See also:army under See also:Marshal See also:Bazaine was in and about See also:Metz
.
The German •I. and II. armies, on the See also:
Corps (7 battalions, 4 squadrons, 2 batteries) See also:hearing from a passing officer that the I
.
Corps on his right was preparing to attack, and noting personally signs of retreat in the enemy's lines, determined at 3 p.m. to advance his whole command to the See also:ridge between Colombey and Borny (which was still occupied by French outposts), in See also:order to clear up the situation
.
The ridge was captured with little resistance, but the See also:sound of the firing at once set all the neighbouring troops in See also:motion, and fortunately so, for the French had immediately retaliated on von der Goltz's audacious attack
.
Between 4 and 6 p.m. there was continuous heavy fighting on the front from Borny to Mey, as both sides brought fresh troops into the See also:
Fortunately for the Prussians, Bazaine had issued similar orders to his subordinates, who, having their men better in See also:hand, were able to obey; and as See also:night began to See also:close in the French See also:broke off the See also:action and retired under the guns of the Metz forts, convinced that at last they had " broken the spell " of German success
.
Finding that, in spite of his orders, the firing at the front continued increasing in intensity, Steinmetz at length rode to the front himself
.
See also:Meeting Manteuffel near the Brasserie of Noisseville, he overwhelmed him with reproaches, and at the crisis of this See also:scene the bands struck up " Heil See also:dir See also:im Siegeskranz
In this action the Germans brought 30,500 rifles and 150 guns on to the battlefield only out of more than See also:Ioo,000 with 300 guns which could have been engaged before darkness
.
Bazaine actually deployed 50,700 rifles and 206 guns to oppose them
.
He might, however, had he been so minded, have struck with his whole army—nearly three times this force, and, judging from the course events actually took, we can have little doubt as to the result of such,a See also:blow
.
The losses on either See also:side were in killed and wounded—French about 3600, Germans about 4800
.
The See also:chain of See also:causation in this action is particularly worthy of See also:attention: A See also:young reserve officer, seeing some troops of the I
.
Corps See also:standing to arms, reported to von der Goltz that the corps was standing to arms and about to attack
.
Von der Goltz thereupon decided to go forward and discover what was actually going on, and this action unchained the whole battle See also:power of all the troops within call
.
When, on the following morning, Steinmetz reported von der Goltz and the commander of the I
.
Corps for disobedience, the See also: The Battle of See also:Vionville—See also:Mars-la-Tour (August z6).—On the following See also:day (15th) the II . German Army approached the Moselle above and below Pont-a-Mousson, with a view to overtaking and heading off Bazaine in his presumed retreat to the See also:Meuse (see FRANCO-GERMAN WAR) . So far, however, from being ahead of the Germans on the road to See also:Verdun, the French were actually, See also:late in the afternoon of the 15th of August, bivouacked on the See also:plateau of Rezonville, and there their outposts were placed, not where they could see the surrounding See also:country, but at the regulation distances of 600 to See also:I000 paces, from the bivouacs . Friendly inhabitants kept Bazaine well informed as to the magnitude of the danger threatening him from the See also:south, and a See also:special telegram from See also:Paris, the true origin of which has never been traced, led him to believe that the I . German Army was See also:crossing the Moselle near Thionville and about to descend on him from the north . This telegram might have exercised the most prejudicial See also:influence on the course of the battle had not Ladmirault (4th Corps), nearer to the seat of the imaginary danger, taken upon himself to disregard the warning transmitted to him by headquarters . At daybreak on the 16th, no Prussians being reported in sight by the outposts, the troops began nonchalantly to prepare for the resumption of the march . On the Prussian side, von See also:Alvensleben's Corps (III.) shortly after daybreak was moving north-westward from the Moselle in two columns, on the right the 5th See also:division, via Gorze and See also:Flavigny on Vionville, on the See also:left the 6th division with corps artillery by Arnaville on Mars-la-Tour, von Alvensleben himself See also:riding a little in advance between the two . The 6th See also:cavalry division from Gorze towards Vionville, whence he could overlook the was ordered to precede the right See also:column and See also:scout towards whole country to the north and west, had met von Rheinbaben Rezonville . No one was aware of the dangerous proximity of (commanding the 5th cavalry division) and had seen the surprise of the French camps . The sound of the heavy firing coming from the eastward convinced him of what had been gradually dawning on him—that with barely 30,000 men he was in the presence of the whole French army, whose attitude at this moment sufficiently indicated their determination to fight . In a few moments his decision was taken . Calling on the X . Corps, away to the south-westward, for support, he determined the French army . About 9 a.m. the 5th cavalry division, reinforced by two See also:horse artillery batteries (flank guard of the X . Corps from Thiancourt), and accompanied by von Caprivi (See also:chief of See also:staff, X . Corps, and afterwards See also:chancellor of the German See also:Empire), were trotting up the western slopes of the ridge which runs between Tronville and Vionville . Reaching its See also:summit they suddenly found themselves in See also:face of at least 40,000 French troops, which were not under arms, but busied with See also:miscellaneous See also:camp duties . The temptation proved too See also:great for the artillery, who promptly fired into the midst of the cavalry camp (Forton's division) which lay nearest to them . The momentary result was a See also:wild panic, especially among the horses; but this panic gave the alarm to the infantry all along the road, and these (Frossard's and Corps) at once stood to arms and moved forward, deployed for attack—one division to the west, another division, from Rezonville, to the south . The latter almost at once en-countered the heads of the 6th cavalry division, at that moment just clearing the See also:defile leading up to the Rezonville plateau from Gorze . The Prussian cavalry promptly See also:bore away to cover to the westward, and reported what they had seen to superior authority, but not to the advanced guard of the 5th infantry division, which, emerging in its turn from the defile, ran right against the deployed French infantry moving to meet them . So sudden was the collision that the Prussian advanced guard See also:battery had to See also:fire See also:case to clear its own front . Meanwhile von Alvensleben himself, riding on the field trackEmsry Walk, . to See also:screen his own weakness by a vigorous attack . By universal consent this is approved as the boldest See also:resolution arrived at by an See also:independent commander throughout the war . Orders were forthwith despatched to the 6th infantry division, at that moment between Puxieux and Tronville, to See also:wheel in to their right and attack, and, their See also:movement being still hidden from the enemy, these troops were formally See also:drawn up for action and sent forward as a whole . The French meanwhile had occupied Vionville and Flavigny, and other troops were moving down the slopes from Rezonville to their support, but the See also:united onset of this whole German division overbore all resistance, and the French began to retire eastward, suffering terribly from the See also:shell fire of the Prussian batteries . Marshal Bazaine had meanwhile arrived on the scene, and ordering forward fresh troops to relieve (not to reinforce) those already engaged, he rode forward with a horse artillery battery to See also:watch the operations . The retreating French troops belonged to Frossard's command, and as they were in considerable See also:con-See also:fusion Frossard called on du Preuil's See also:brigade of the imperial guard cavalry to See also:charge . He gave no See also:objective, and when the brigadier pointed out that the enemy was still beyond the striking See also:radius of his horses, Frossard reiterated the order, which was obeyed to the See also:letter . The result was disastrous . The Prussians, having keen the cavalry whilst yet at a distance, ceased firing, formed their skirmishers into See also:groups, and the closed supports standing in deployed lines, two deep, shattered the cavalry with volleys and See also:file-firing, as with blown and exhausted horses they endeavoured to close with their adversaries . When in addition two See also:hussar regiments struck them in flank they were driven back in wild disorder upon Rezonville . In the dust and confusion of the charge a See also:group of the hussars approached Bazaine and his horse artillery battery, and almost carried off the marshal . Alvensleben, mistaking the withdrawal of the French for the beginning of a retreat, had meanwhile sent orders to the 6th cavalry division to charge in pursuit towards Rezonville; but before it could reach the field the French relieving troops had forced their way through the stragglers and showed such a bold front to the Prussian horsemen that an attack held no promise of success, more especially since they had lost their intervals in E, , YW4{kersq their advance and had no See also:room for a proper deployment .
To steady the young soldiers, the cavalry commander (Carl von See also:Schmidt) halted his men, made them correct their intervals and dressing as in See also:peace, though under a heavy fire from the French infantry, and then withdrew them behind the cover of the nearest See also: Ladmirault, commanding the French 4th Corps had seen, during the afternoon of the 15th, the terrible See also:crowd and confusion prevailing in the defiles leading to See also:Gravelotte, and resolved to disobey his orders and to move direct from his bivouacs by the road from Woippy to St Privat, disregarding altogether the alleged danger from the Prussians supposed to be advancing from Thionville . Thus, about See also:noon on the 16th he reached the high ground between St Privat and Amanvillers, and still without instructions he determined to direct his corps on Bruville and Doncourt, whence he could See also:judge from the See also:drift of the See also:smoke-clouds whether he could fall on the Prussian left . Much time was lost owing to the See also:heat of the day and the fatigue of the troops, but shortly after 3 p.m. he reached a position north of the Tronville copses whence his guns could fire into the left rear of the long line of Prussian guns (6th division and corps artillery) on the heights above Vionville and Flavigny . Their fire threw the latter into serious confusion and he had already decided to attack with his nearest division (de See also:Cissey) in the direction of the See also:steeple of Vionville, when his attention was caught by the outbreak of heavy firing in the copses below him, and the entry of fresh Prussian guns into action . This diversion was brought about by the arrival of the corps artillery of the X . Corps and of the 4oth brigade, which latter had been at once ordered into the Tronville copses to check portions of Tixier's division of the French 3rd Corps, which under cover of these copses had gradually worked See also:round the Prussian flank . Seeing then that the troops before him could hold their own, Ladmirault continued his preparations for his See also:counter-stroke, and Cissey's division had begun to move into its prescribed See also:alignment, facing towards Vionville, when the sudden apparition of a closed See also:mass of Prussian troops detaching itself from the See also:low dust-See also:cloud of a slow-moving infantry column, and forming to the south of Mars-la-Tour, again arrested his attention . Unanimously he and his staff agreed that this fresh enemy could only be the advanced guard of a large Prussian force, possibly, it was suggested, of the See also:crown See also:prince's army, from See also:Alsace and See also:Nancy, and a fresh delay arose while the situation was investigated . Actually this See also:body consisted only of the 38th brigade (von Wedell), forming part of the X . Corps . It had no knowledge of the See also:state of affairs on the battlefield, or in the direction of Bruville, though Prussian cavalry had been observing the approach of Ladmirault's corps for some hours . It was now ordered to deploy and to co-operate with the 4oth brigade in an attack on the Tronville copses .
This meanwhile had been delivered, and had more or less failed
.
The deployment completed, about 4 p.m. the 38th brigade began its advance on the north-west corner of the Tronville copses, this direction taking them diagonally across the frgt?t,
of Cissey's division, still out of their sight but moving due south
.
Hardly had they stepped off when Cissey's first line, catching sight of them, opened a devastating fire upon their left flank, and to meet this fresh danger the Prussians endeavoured to See also:change front half-left whilst still on the move
.
Without pausing to fire, the men raced onward, but the French striking their See also:outer wing rolled up the whole line in See also:succession, the actual collision occurring in and near the Bruville See also:ravine, a deep-cut natural See also:trench which, starting from the Tronville copses, here intersects the plateau from west to east
.
Against the See also:weight of French numbers, nearly three to one, the Prussians were unable to stand, and presently they broke and drifted backwards, completely routed
.
Then the 1st Guard Dragoons (since known as See also:Queen See also:Victoria's See also:regiment), after a brilliant manoeuvre under heavy fire, to get into the best position for delivering a charge, rode down the whole French line of pursuers from left to right, and by their heroic self-sacrifice relieved the remnants of the infantry from further pursuit
.
This was the scene which for the moment held the attention of Prince See also:Frederick See also: Then followed a See also:duel—the one great cavalry duel of the war—between upwards of two thousand horsemen a side . But it was delivered by both sides in a See also:series of regimental charges, and in result was singularly indecisive . For about half an See also:hour great crowds of riders, hidden by dense clouds of dust, drifted aimlessly about the See also:plain, till at length the charge of a single squadron of the See also:Oldenburg Dragoons (who had joined in on their own initiative) delivered on the outer French flank, brought the whole mass into motion north-eastward, and, both sides See also:sounding the rally, the engagement gradually ceased . It was now about 7 p.m. and night was coming on . Seeing the dust-clouds drifting away northward, and noting the lethargy which seemed to have settled over the whole French line, Prince Frederick Charles decided to assert his own independent will to conquer by a final See also:assault along his whole front . Guns, cavalry, infantry, everything that could still stand were to take part in it . Weary as they all were, his indomitable will put fresh See also:life into the whole army . With drums beating and See also:colours flying, every unit within call went forward for the final effort . It was almost dark when the Prussians approached the French position between Rezonville and the woods to the northward, and the troops soon lost direction in the smoke and became involved in the direst confusion; the firing again blazed out for a few moments, only to See also:die away as utter exhaustion at length put an end to the Prussian advance . Then the wearied troops, for the most part, lay down and slept in the positions they had reached . Thus closed the hardest fought battle of the Franco-German War . From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. only 23,700 rifles, 8roo sabres and 126 guns had been brought into action by the Germans against 59,100 rifles, 6700 sabres, and 300 guns on the French side, and even at the close of the day the former had only deployed 47,100 rifles, 8300 sabres and 222 guns against 83,000 rifles, 8000 sabres and 432 guns including 24 mitrailleuses . The chief characteristic of the day's fighting was the terrible effectiveness of the Prussian artillery, which was handled in masses and not, as on the French side, by batteries . The manceuvring power of the latter attracted the admiration of the Germans, but arriving singly on the field they were generally reduced to silencein a few minutes . Deprived of their support, not all the gallantry of the French infantry could avail anything . Again and again, particularly on their left wing, they chased the German infantry before them, but the moment the retreat of the latter downhill uncovered the pursuing French to the Prussian guns, a See also:tornado of shells shattered their order and compelled them to retreat . Though the cavalry were freely engaged, the training of both was so far beneath the See also:standard of the See also:present day that the most that can be credited to them in respect of results is that they from time to time averted imminent disaster, but failed altogether to achieve such a decision as was well within their potential capacities . 3 . Gravelotte—St Privat (August z8).—The position on to which the French army See also:fell back from the field of Vionville is formed by a ridge some six See also:miles long See also:running from Rozerieulles almost due north to Roncourt, a little See also:village overhanging the steep and wooded See also:banks of the See also:Orne, and connected with the general plateau between the Meuse and Moselle by a gentle See also:saddle running from about Amanvillers nearly due west through the Bois de la Cusse towards Doncourt . North of this saddle the slopes show a slight concavity, but are passable by troops of all arms in close order . To the south the rivulet of the Mance soon forms a formidable obstacle as its See also:bed cuts its way through the See also:sandstone . Scrub and woods with dense undergrowth line both its banks, and, except by the great chaussee from Metz to Verdun, See also:access to the French side becomes impossible to troops in ordered bodies . It does not appear that the position had been systematically examined, or apportioned to the several corps in accordance with any predetermined See also:plan . The army merely swung back-wards, pivoting on its left wing. the corps preserving their relative order as it had been on the 16th, with the .exception that the Imperial Guard was withdrawn to the See also:spur on which Fort Plappeville stands, and the 6th Corps (Marshal Canrobert) crossed the line of march of the 3rd and 4th Corps in order to gain St Privat la Montagne . No lines of march were assigned to the several See also:units, consequently the confusion became so great that though the distance to be traversed in no case exceeded six miles, only the right wing and centre reached their destinations as night was falling . Many of them had so little idea of the general situation that they actually placed outposts to the north and east, whilst the whole of the enemy's army lay to the south and west . No See also:attempt was made to entrench the position systematically, but on the left the 2nd and 3rd Corps made some disconnected shelter trenches and See also:gun-pits, while the 4th Corps in the centre began to improve available cover about an hour before the battle began, and the 6th corps on the right, not yet having received any entrenching tools, could do no more than improvise a few loopholes in the walls of the villages of St Privat and Roncourt with such tools as the sappers could obtain from the inhabitants . Fortunately for the French the Germans were too exhausted by the battle of the 16th to attempt to interfere with these movements . At daybreak on the morning of the 18th the royal headquarters (which now for the first time arrived at the front) still had no certain knowledge as to whether the French See also:main army was in retreat—covered by the force which they could see on the high ground north of the Metz road—or whether they had taken up a position in order to fight . Hence the orders issued overnight on the presumption that the main force of the French was retreating to the north and west were allowed to stand, and the whole II . Army (Prince Frederick Charles) moved off in See also:echelon from left to right, the I. army under Steinmetz, consisting for the day of the I., II. and VII . Corps, being left in observation of the troops visible on their front and of the See also:garrison of Metz itself . The I . Corps was kept back beyond the Moselle on the east side of Metz, the II. was not due to arrive at Rezonville before 4 p.m., hence the VII. only was immediately available if the enemy counter-attacked . But Steinmetz had not ordered, nor had von Zastrow, the corps commander, undertaken, any preparations to meet an emergency . About 10 a.m. the corps had reached the following positions: Shortly after 10 a.m .
See also:Moltke, still under the impression that the French right extended no farther than La Folie (2 M. north of the Metz road), determined to attack with the IX. and VIII
.
Corps whilst the Guard executed a turning movement via Habonville against the French right
.
The IX
.
Corps was to engage, but not to push its attack See also:home until the Guard could co-operate
.
The XII
.
Corps was left to its own devices, but fortunately the crown prince of See also:Saxony, who commanded it, had ridden forward and, seeing the French in force towards Roncourt, had issued orders which in the event proved decisive
.
In pursuance of .his instructions von Manstein, commanding the IX
.
Corps, set his two divisions in motion towards La Folie and the Bois de la Cusse, and advanced to reconnoitre the French position
.
From the eastern edge of the above-named copses he suddenly descried the camp of a whole French Corps (the 4th), evidently ignorant of their danger, on the slopes trending west-See also: 
The French infantry ran to their arms, piled along the front of their positions, and moved forward to attack, covering their advance by a See also:hail of bullets . Simultaneously the French artillery also took up the See also:challenge, and from the heights near St Privat the 6th Corps, whose presence had been unsuspected by the Prussians, joined in the fight . In a few minutes the batteries on the extreme Prussian left were completely overwhelmed, and suddenly dense lines of French skirmishers emerged from a See also:fold in the ground upon their flank and front, and the gunners were compelled to resort to case-shot, so imminent was their danger . But at this See also:critical moment the leading companies of the See also:Hessian infantry arrived, re-established the See also:equilibrium (though not before four Prussian batteries had been temporarily overrun by the enemy), and a most obstinate fight ensued . Prince Frederick Charles now rode forward to a point north-east of Verneville, whence the See also:southern boundary of St Privat could be seen . But the See also:northern side of the village and the country towards Roncourt was hidden from his view by the high poplars bordering the Metz-Briey road . Seeing the Hessians hard pressed, he now brought forward the znd division of the Guard to their assistance, sending in the 3rd brigade immediately, and holding the 4th brigade in reserve . The 1st division, warned by their own scouts that French troops were in Ste See also:Marie, deployed to attack this village, and were assisted in their endeavour by a brigade of See also:Saxons detached by the crown prince of Saxony, who from his position could see behind the See also:poplar screen that limited the view of the commander-in-chief . Hence he was already aware that the French position extended to Ron-See also:court at least, and had despatched a whole division down the valley of the Orne to outflank them . No See also:news of this movement, however, appears to have reached Prince Frederick Charles . The French troops in Ste Marie were only an outpost of the 6th corps, and seeing themselves outnumbered; they withdrew about 2.30, the Prussians rushing. the village immediately after-wards . Considerable confusion arose from the convergence of these three brigades upon one village, and more than an hour passed before the troops could be disentangled and massed for further operations . The leaders of the two Guard brigades, still ignorant of the extent of the French position. rallied theirmen on the main bodies of their commands (which had not been engaged) and then lay down facing exactly as they.had done when brought forward to the attack . Thus the 1st brigade lay, facing about east-south-east, south of the chaussee and some five See also:hundred yards west of the village . The znd brigade lay south-west of the village about three hundred yards away from it and facing nearly north-east . The Saxons were on the left rear of the 1st brigade, but took longer to recover themselves than the See also:Guards . With the Hessians and the IX . Corps the action still dragged; the 3rd brigade of the Guards had become involved in the fight, and notwithstanding the arrival of the corps artillery of the III . Corps in the centre the situation was still critical . From the south also came the See also:thunder of guns and no encouraging news from that See also:quarter had as yet reached the prince's headquarters . About 4.30 p.m. the prince therefore had to consider how long it would take to obtain a decision . To postpone it till the morrow seemed undesirable: to achieve it before nightfall was only possible at the cost of immediate effort . He therefore decided to assault St Privat with all the Guards available, and called up the III., X. and Saxons to assist them . The 4th brigade of the Guards now received their orders to attack See also:Jerusalem (a See also:hamlet a little south of St Privat), and the 1st division was ordered to assault St Privat itself . Von Pape, commanding the latter division, pointed out that no artillery force adequate to prepare the way for him was as yet on the ground, and that the Saxons were still a long way to the rear . But his orders were imperative, and the 4th brigade was already moving off and had to be supported at any cost . Actually all available batteries had already been sent for and were trotting forward from every quarter towards the objective . He accordingly transmitted his orders, and the znd brigade was the first to attempt their execution . It had to wheel half-right in mass to bring it in the required direction, and then to advance till its rear was clear of the obstruction formed by the gardens of St Marie . By the time (5.30) it had sufficiently cleared this village it became apparent that the 4th brigade in its See also:extension for attack would overlap the front assigned to the znd, hence a further (half-left) wheel, still in mass, had to be undertaken before room for deployment could be obtained . Almost as the commands were given, the French suddenly opened an overwhelming long-range fire and their bullets swept like hail through the crowded mass of the German troops . Nevertheless the wheel was effected, the fresh direction taken, the troops extended for attack, and then the whole brigade dashed towards the houses assigned them as their objective . Meanwhile the 1st brigade had moved round the north of the village and carried out its extension without serious hindrance . But emerging from the hollow running north from St Marie, they came under a heavy fire not only from St Privat but also from Roncourt, which latter village they now saw for the first time . Instinctively a portion of their line worked to the left to face this new menace, and the front thus became dangerously extended . They were, however, now abreast of the znd brigade, and the whole line raced forward to reach the effective range of their very inferior weapons, which were about equal at zoo yds. to the French See also:rifle at 600 . But the losses of the znd brigade, particularly in See also:officers, had been too heavy, and the See also:rush died out whilst still 500 yds. from the two villages . It was now about 6 p.m. and a long pause ensued, while the 220 guns, which by 'degrees had unlimbered behind them, brought St Privat and Roncourt under fire . About 7 p.m. the Saxon turning-movement took effect; their infantry from the Orne valley attacked Roncourt from the north, and about 7.15 the village was carried . Neither Prince Frederick Charles nor the troops in the fighting-line could see what had taken See also:place; but the former seeing other Saxons moving towards Montois and the masses of the III. and X . Corps approaching, whilst the See also:rain of shells into St Privat exceeded anything hitherto seen on any battlefield, decided to call on the whole of his force to attack . He was in the See also:act of issuing his orders when a psychological See also:wave swept through the fighting-line, and the men See also:rose and rushed the village at the point of the See also:bayonet . It was now about eight o'See also:clock, and the See also:light was rapidly failing . The French artillery had already evaded the coming blow, and had changed position, " right back," to cover the flank of the rest of the army, and the Prussian and Saxon artillery trotting forward conformed to this new front, their shells sweeping the ground for 2000 yds. to the south of Amanvillers . The confusion in and around St Privat, where troops from four several corps were all intermingled, became so extreme that no further infantry-advance could be attempted; so under cover of the fierce artillery duel the remnants of the unfortunate 6th corps drifted away towards Metz down the many ravines leading into the See also:river valley . The " annihilation " of the Guard at St Privat has become historic . Yet, heavy as were the losses of the 1st Guard division they were not excessive compared to those previously endured . In round numbers one-third of their effectives had fallen—most of them in the first great rush forward at 5.30 p.m.; but actually they had been more or less under fire since about 2 p.m., and many were hit by French shells plunging into the turmoil about St Privat from 8 to to p.m . But the'See also:legend cannot be justified when the facts are compared with the slaughter of the Seven Years' War, of See also:Napoleon's battles, the See also:Crimea, and the See also:American See also:Civil War, or with the horrible See also:punishment of von Wedell's brigade (38th) only two days before . It is now time to return to the southern See also:theatre of the battle-field, where an entirely independent engagement had been raging all the afternoon . Von See also:Goeben with the VIII . Corps was standing massed about Rezonville when von Manstein's guns opposite Amanvillers suddenly made themselves heard . See also:Wheeling his corps to face the French to the eastward he immediately sent forward his artillery and prepared to support his comrade . Von Zastrow with the VII . Corps followed his example.' Both corps took as their See also:primary objective the farms of St See also:Hubert and Point du Jour, standing just above the defile made by the Verdun-Metz road where it climbs out of the Mance ravine towards the French position . About 3.30 p.m . St Hubert was carried by a confused mass of some 49 companies, and von Steinmetz, believing the main French position to have been pierced, ordered the 4th cavalry division to See also:cross the ravine by the chaussee and pursue . Simultaneously von Zastrow, under the same impression, had ordered his corps artillery to advance by the same road, and von Goeben, thinking his troops in front required support, had sent forward an infantry brigade by the same line of road . Presently all these columns converged upon the defile and a hopeless entanglement ensued . Three batteries succeeded in struggling through the mass, and, in coming into action, their left resting on St Hubert . But the See also:remainder of the troops had to be withdrawn, and confusion breaking out in their rear, exposed to all the See also:random bullets and shells of the French, a panic ensued, thousands of men breaking away and flying in wildest confusion through Gravelotte towards the west . Hardly had they melted away when the French made a most brilliant counter-attack from their main position between the farms of See also:Leipzig and See also:Moscow . This was stopped almost entirely by the Prussian artillery fire; but the news of its coming spread through the stragglers in the ravine south of the great road, and a wave of panic again swept through the mass, many thousands bolting right upon the front of their own batteries, thus masking their fire at the most critical moment, and some-thing like a crisis in the battle arose . Fortunately the II . Corps was now rapidly approaching (about 6 p.m.), and the king, against Moltke's See also:advice, now ordered von Steinmetz (to whom the II . Corps had been allotted for the day) to attack again with all his forces . Meanwhile a third panic broke out which delayed the preliminary movements and it was now growing dark in the ravine . At length the II . Corps, together with all of the VII. that could be collected, moved down into the valley . Just as the leading German troops were approaching St Hubert the French again began to fire, their bullets plunging down among the fresh arrivals, who knowing nothing of what had taken place about St Hubert (where the remnant of their own infantry were still offering a desperate resistance) opened fire into the backs of their own men, and a See also:fourth panic began which soon spread to the stragglers crowding the Mance ravine . Fortunately, by the superb gallantry of some of the See also:company officers and men, the new arrivals were induced to recognize their See also:mistake, and by degrees about ro p.m. the whole of the II . Corps succeeded in reaching the plateau between St Hubert and Point du Jour, where the debris of the VII. and VIII . Corps had gathered . But in the darkness and confusion no forward movement against the French (only 400 yds. to their front) could be initiated, therefore the whole mass passed the night where they stood until daylight disclosed that the French had retreated . Meanwhile the king, Moltke, and See also:Bismarck, had ridden back behind Gravelotte where they passed two hours of intense anxiety . From the flash of the rifles, it was clear that the French main position was still intact, and as every body of troops within See also:thirty-six hours' call had been engaged there seemed little prospect of renewing the struggle next morning . No news too had come in from Prince Frederick Charles . Ultimately about midnight the welcome tidings of the See also:capture of St Privat arrived, and all anxiety was at an end . 4 . The Investment of Metz (Aug . 19-Oct . 14).—During the night following the battle of Gravelotte the French army withdrew within the line of the forts round Metz . The 6th Corps only was severely shaken, the 4th (the best in the whole army), though it had fought hard twice within See also:forty-eight hours, losing nearly 30% of its strength, was still well in hand, and the 3rd, and and Imperial Guards were almost intact . A fresh issue of See also:ammunition and See also:food was all the men needed to make them a thoroughly efficient fighting force comprising some roo,000 troops capable, with a resolute See also:leader and an efficient staff, of crossing over to the right See also:bank of the Moselle, overrunning the I . German Corps, the only one in their direct path, and then fighting their way across the communications of the II. and III . German Armies until they regained See also:touch with the French See also:railways to the south-west about See also:Troyes . The See also:mere fact of the effort being made would have given the battle of Gravelotte the moral effect of a victory, and the reaction in the German ranks from the feeling of over-confidence, which had mastered them after the See also:early successes of Spicheren and Woerth, must have had most far-reaching consequences . Bazaine, however, withdrew entirely under cover of the forts, and set about the reorganization of his troops in the most leisurely manner . The Metz forts, though neither sufficiently armed nor even completely finished in some cases, were nevertheless, with their deep ditches and self-protecting See also:bastion trace, far too formidable for any field army to attempt without the aid of a See also:siege See also:train of some 200 guns, which for the moment were not available . Of this fact the Germans were well aware, and hence they decided from the first to reduce the place by See also:hunger, calculating that with the extra 15o,000 men thrown back upon the fortress, its food supplies could not last very long . On the morning of the r9th the German army was far too exhausted for further efforts . Except the I . Corps, which had been summoned overnight from its position about Courcelles towards the battlefield of Gravelotte and had almost reached the Moselle before this move could be counterordered, the remainder kept their places of the previous night, only following the French retreat with a screen of outposts . They were sufficiently occupied in See also:collecting the wounded and clearing up the confusion resulting from an See also:accumulation of trains and transport in the defiles of Gorze and about Noveaut . No eastward movement could have taken place that day . In the course of the afternoon of the rnth the royal headquarters, creating a new army under the crown prince of Saxony (Guard, IV. and XII . (Saxons) Corps) for field operations towards the Meuse, assigned the remainder of the II . Army, and the whole of the I., to Prince Frederick Charles as commander-in-chief of the army of investment.' This brought the strength of his command up to eight corps, numbering some 220,000 men; an enormous mass to feed in a See also:district swept See also:bare of supplies by the operations of the preceding See also:week, and with only one railway line, terminating at Courcelles, to depend upon . For the moment the chief care of the Prince was to guard against an attempt of the French army to break out to the westward . The I . Army Corps with Kummer's See also:Landwehr division (which arrived during the night of the 19th–loth of August) were to occupy a position to cover the See also:rail See also:head at Courcelles–Remilly, and the remainder were disposed in the following order: The X . Corps was on the north, with a See also:bridge head at Hauconcourt-sur-Moselle, the II., VIII. and VII. along the eastern slopes overlooking the Moselle valley, the latter having also a fortified bridge head at Ars-sur-Moselle . The III. and IX. were cantoned almost on the battlefield of the 18th, between Caulre See also:Farm and Roncourt, ready to move off to the. left and support the X . Corps in the event of an attempt on the part of the .French to break out towards Thionville . The positions were fortified with a light outpost line, behind which was drawn a main position on which every See also:art of the engineer was expended . Ample arrangements were made for obtaining and circulating intelligence, and all lateral communications were improved and supplemented to the utmost . A light field-railway from Remilly to Pont a Mousson (14 m.) was also put in hand, but progress on this was very slow . The See also:water-See also:supply of the See also:town was promptly interrupted, but the river water Was quite drinkable . Meanwhile, the French in Metz had been diligently at See also:work . There was no real deficiency of ammunition and stores in the fortress, and provisions for forty days were reported in hand . Bazaine was still in communication with the outside See also:world, though return messages came in sparingly . On the afternoon of the 25th he decided to break out to the northward by the right bank of the river, and orders to this effect were duly issued . Many delays arose in their execution, and it was not till 2 p.m. on the 26th that the troops were formed up ready for action . But at the last moment the marshal wavered . Calling a See also:council of war on the heights of Fort St See also:Julien, he asked the See also:opinion of his subordinates, who were unanimously against the proposed sortie, principally because the artillery " had only ammunition enough for a single battle!" Besides, the Germans had long since become aware of the movement in progress, and all See also:chance of surprise was past . It was also raining very heavily . Accordingly the See also:scheme was abandoned . On the 29th of August Bazaine received a despatch, dated the 27th, from See also:MacMahon, according to which his army should have been at Stenay on the Meuse and farther to the south by the 3oth . The marshal accordingly determined to renew the attempt of the 26th, and orders—almost a repetition of those of the previous occasion—were issued . At this moment (Aug . 31) the positions of von Manteuffel's command (I . Corps and 3rd Landwehr division) were most dangerously extended, and a surprise at daybreak might have had far-reaching results . But the See also:habit of excessive bugling and See also:band-playing betrayed the French See also:design even before daybreak . Not until 1.30 p.m. was the concentration completed, and Bazaine again assembled his commanding officers to give them their final instructions . This time he adhered to his decision, and about 4 p.m. the attack opened (battle of Servigny or Noisseville) ; but his opportunity had been allowed to slip, and though his first onset overwhelmed the German outposts, their main line held See also:good, and masses of guns unlimbering over a front of some 4 M. rendered all further attempts to break the German See also:cordon abortive . Firing only ceased as darkness fell, and next morning the fighting was again renewed . But the whole French army was disheartened . It was obvious that what they had failed to do by surprise was hopeless now that twenty-four hours had been given in which the Germans t Steinmetz was shortly afterwards relieved of his command and returned to See also:Germany.could make counter-preparations . Therefore about noon a general retirement under the guns of the forts took place, and the last serious See also:hope of the .French army had vanished . Some 120,000 men with 528 guns had been engaged against 6o,000 Germans with 222 guns, and had been beaten off with a loss of 3500 men . The Germans had lost about 3000 . The investment now resumed its See also:regular course .
The Germans, secure in the strength of their position on the left bank of the Moselle, drew more troops over to the right, and added to their defences and communications
.
The idea was even mooted of damming up the river near Hauconcourt, and thus flooding out the whole of the civil See also:population of Metz; but See also:expert civil See also:engineers, who were sent for from Germany, reported against the proposal
.
As time wore on the conditions in Metz and the surrounding camps became deplorable
.
The hospitals and private houses had been crowded with wounded from the first, and now, owing to the persistent wet See also:weather, smallpox and See also:dysentery became epidemic
.
Towards the close of See also:September rations had to be reduced, and the troops began slaughtering the cavalry horses for food
.
Probably to cheer the men by a semblance of activity, Marshal Bazaine attempted a sortie on a large scale on the 1st of See also:October in the direction of Ladorchamps, and fighting continued into the 2nd, but without prospect of success, and the profound depression following on defeat sent up the sick See also:list rapidly
.
One other sortie towards Noisseville followed on the 7th, the alleged See also:reason for which was the hope of obtaining provisions in the neighbouring villages
.
But it was beaten off with the utmost ease by the investing troops, who were well fed and cared for; and as by this time even the gun-teams had followed the cavalry horses to the slaughter-See also:house, the French army as an army—i.e. a See also:combination of the three arms—had ceased to exist
.
On the recognition of this fact negotiations for the See also:capitulation of Metz were begun on the 13th of October, and on the 14th the Army of the See also:Rhine surrendered
.
Had it held out even forty-eight hours longer events before Paris and See also: (F . N . |
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